Yahoo! Radish

Born to Argentinean parents in Gothenburg, Sweden, José González appeared on the radar of many when his cover of “Heartbeats“, by fellow Swedes The Knife, was used in a Sony Bravia television ad. The commercial featured a quarter million bouncing Super Balls on the steep streets of San Francisco. The ad was extremely effective for two reasons: it was visually spectacular, and José’s beautiful voice and guitar stopped all who heard it dead in their tracks.

José also scored two tracks on the indie music launching pad The O.C. that same year.

His debut Veneer was a great album, and his sophomore effort, titled In Our Nature, is now available on YMU. The record will please every last fan of his debut. It should also help launch José González to a new level in his career.

The album breathes as a living organism, supported by nothing more than acoustic guitar, José’s transcendent voice, and not much else. The guitar playing on the disc is unreservedly mind-boggling. He gets so much sound, so much beauty, and so much dynamic power out of his acoustic guitar that it left me slackjawed and speechless. José makes his guitar playing sound effortless, but what he plays is not easy by a long shot. You’ll hear sustained notes, melodic runs, bass lines, foundational chords and explosive crescendos weaved together so masterfully that you’ll be helplessly awed.

His voice locks on perfectly with his guitar, and the songs have you hearing something new with each listen. If Nick Drake didn’t die in 1974, but continued to master his craft, he may have produced In Our Nature.

This album will make one of my top 10 albums for 2007.  Rolling Stone and Paste can kiss my hairy kiwi and stick their 3-star reviews where the sun don’t shine.

Don’t miss this one.

Web: MySpace

Video: “Down The Line“, “Killing For Love”

Tracklisting:

1. How Low
2. Down the Line
3. Killing For Love
4. In Our Nature
5. Teardrop
6. Abram
7. Time To Send Someone Away
8. The Nest
9. Fold
10. Cycling Trivialities

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High-quality MP3s for your downloading pleasure. All jazz tracks.

Akiko Tsuruga
“Meanie Queenie” (mp3)
“DLG” (mp3)
from “Sweet and Funky”
(18th & Vine)


More On This Album
Albert Ayler Quartet
“Angels” (mp3)
from “The Hilversum Session”
(ESP Disk)

More On This Album

Gero
“Costa Del Sol” (mp3)
from “Déjà Vu”
(Karmatronic Sound Mgmt, LLC)

More On This Album

Jackson Moore
“Alto Duet” (mp3)
from “Duos”
(Aletheia Records)

More On This Album

Jeremy Pelt
“Suspicion” (mp3)
from “Identity”
(MAXJAZZ)

More On This Album

Jodie Borlé
“Round” (mp3)
from “And Then I Did…”
(C4 Records)

More On This Album

Mulgrew Miller
“Song For Darnell” (mp3)
from “Live at The Kennedy Center Volume Two”
(MAXJAZZ)

More On This Album

Preservation Hall Jazz Band
“Complicated Life” (mp3)
from “Made in New Orleans: The Hurricane Sessions”
(Preservation Hall)

More On This Album

Sathima Bea Benjamin
“If You Were The Only Boy In The World” (mp3)
from “Cape Town Love”
(Ekapa RPM)

More On This Album

The Shook/Russo Trio
“Sweet Begonia” (mp3)
from “Introducing the FAB Trio”
(Summit Records)

More On This Album

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The new Farrelly Brothers film, The Heartbreak Kid, is a remake of a 1972 film written by Neil Simon. 

The new version stars Ben Stiller, and I find myself wishing, hoping, dreaming for a match of the brilliant 1998 film There’s Something About Mary. Although I haven’t had a chance to see the film, my high hopes have been dimmed by the initial reviews, which are not kind, to say the least.

However, this should not stop you from enjoying the soundtrack, which is now available on Rhapsody. Good films are harder to make than good soundtracks, and once again, the Farrelly brothers have put together a fine collection of tunes from across the spectrum of popular music.

The new track by The Flaming Lips titled “Tale of The Horny Frog” is worth the price of admission alone. It’s a catchy, quirky and humorous romp that follows the tragic adventures of a frog who faces all types of horror during a journey for love, only to find truth in the end.

The soundtrack also includes the airy, soft-rock tinged “She Makes Me Fall Down” by Buva. And although it’s undeniably saccharine-sweet, it’s still a lovely song no matter which way you slice it. The track features acoustic guitars, steel pedal, strings, and is completely devoid of testosterone.

The remainder of the album features previously released tracks, many of which are classics. Including “Put The Message In The Box” by World Party, “Painting By Chagall” by the Weepies, ”Gypsy Woman” by Brian Hyland and “Ashes To Ashes” and Suffragette City by David Bowie.

I’m still going to see the movie, but no matter how it turns out for me, I’m keeping the soundtrack.

Tracklisting:

1.  The Flaming Lips: The Tale of the Horny Frog
2.  Buva: She Makes Me Fall Down
3.  World Party: Put the Message In the Box
4.  John Alagia: Honey Come Home
5.  David Bowie: Ashes to Ashes
6.  The Weepies: Painting by Chagall
7.  Brian Hyland: Gypsy Woman
8.  Amy LaVere: Take Em or Leave Em
9.  Buva: The First Cut is The Deepest
10. Julietta Venegas: Canciones de Amor
11. The Flaming Lips: Maybe I’m Not The One
12. Ozomatli: After Party
13. Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs: Different Drum
14. David Bowie: Suffragette City

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I freely admit that I’ve not followed the music of Mickey Hart since I recovered from a brief stint as a Grateful Dead fan. When I received his new album Global Drum Project with famed Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain, my first reaction was to expect a really long percussive jam session whose sole appeal would be to drummers and communal hippies.

I was an ignorant boob, completely unaware of the award winning 1991 album Planet Drum, which happens to be the very first recording to win a Grammy award for Best World Music Album.

The first thing you’ll notice about Global Drum Project is the deep African influence found on the opening track titled “Baba”. And while drums certainly drive the composition, spoken word, chanting and a melodic punctuation around the edges make for an undeniably rapturous adventure.

The record continues to charm and stun with undeniably well-crafted traditional elements, but Hart takes it over the top with a melding of styles that feature electronic sweeps of color and verve. The album is layered and complex, but ends up sounding effortless and engulfing, with a standout feature being the way pitched percussive instruments provide melody where their should be none.

Global Drum Project works as both traditional rhythmic world music, and as a deep ambient work. It stands erect on it’s own incredibly strong legs, and is on par with the very best of both genres. A bewitching melding of the two.

In addition to former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart and Indian tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain, GDP includes Nigerian drum legend Babatunde Olatunji, Nigerian talking drum ace Sikiru Adepoju, and Puerto Rico’s master conguero Giovanni Hidalgo.

Although Mickey Hart live shows are surely crawling with wayward Dead fans, it’s fans of world music and Brian Eno that should make it a point not to miss this one.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Most Americans know Ladysmith Black Mambazo from their work on the Paul Simon album Graceland. This seminal album is also sited for helping spark interest in what would become a World Music inferno. The South African vocal group’s roots can be traced back to 1960 when now 66-year old leader Joseph Shabalala founded the earliest incarnation of the band based on the traditional African music called Isicathamiya.

The fact that Shabalala has been performing this music for 47 years is an accomplishment in itself, but his longevity is only a testament to the sound he’s helped bring into the consciousness of the world, and his commitment to keep it alive after he’s gone through the Mambazo Foundation.  The importance of this music goes well beyond entertainment.

When I went to see the eight-man a cappella group perform at the Belk Theatre in Charlotte, NC, I came with the context sharp in my mind. However, we all know that a 2+ hour performance cannot be carried on historical significance alone. When it comes down to it, we attend concerts to be entertained. And I was pleasantly surprised in how entertaining the show was. Mind you, there were no instruments, or fancy lighting, or props of any kind, but what was there (in addition to the mind-boggling vocal harmony) was a group of men shining with an aura of joy, humor, and goodwill.

Although Mambazo did perform “Homeless” from the Graceland LP, the remainder of the songs were from other albums, and this was fine with me. They sang about love, they sang about friendship, they sang about unity, and they transitioned from the lighthearted to the profound without trouble.

As a group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo are one. Their voices blend into an uplifting chorus of calm, and if you’re the musically educated type, you’ll be at a loss trying to figure out who is singing what part for the whole of the show.

What I was not expecting was the wonderful banter, jokes, and dancing that was integrated into the performance. This physical movement and storytelling was important, as it  was the way each individual became real to the audience. But even if the concert was devoid of these key elements, the music would have been enough to keep you in your seat. Shabalala has a way with melody and the voices meld into a style that is absolutely unique and beautiful. Melodious harmony mixed with clicks, chirps, percussive grunts and hand claps to forge a wonderfully enthralling experience.

It was fun watching the little tricks the band employed, like utilizing distance from the microphone to highlight dynamics, or how they introduced movement to kill repetition in its tracks before it could be noticed, or how Shabalala exuded an aire of master and teacher (which he is), without conceit.

I entered the doors of the Belk theater in Charlotte not understanding how an a cappella group could hold my attention for a complete evening, I left wishing I could see it again.

The UK still has the Rolling Stones, the US still has Bob Dylan, and Africa still has Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and it would be a mistake not to see them if the opportunity presents itself. If you do, you’ll not only enjoy the show, but carry the experience with you for a very long time.

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 (Play in Yahoo Music Jukebox)

The first installment of the Star Wars universe hit the big screen over 30 years ago. At the time I was lucky enough to be in the single digit age group. A time when my young impressionable mind could be completely absorbed into the world created by George Lucas’ Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Still to this day, no movie experience has left a bigger impact on me than that film did when I first saw it with my family 3 decades ago.

The special effects were truly groundbreaking (and breathtaking) for the era, but the film’s stunning success was tied to much more than this. The music, the sound effects, and the timeless theme of good vs. evil all helped Star Wars transform into something much bigger than the sum of it’s parts. And although we have had 5 more films since the original, none have had the same impact on me.

The franchise morphed into a multi-billion dollar industry to include 6 films, books, magazines, toys, video games, role playing games, board games, clothing and every imaginable kind of merchandise in between.

The film has engrained itself into our culture deeper than almost any other work of art produced in America. And although at first thought, one pictures the typical Star Wars fan as a complete dork still living at home with mom, we must not forget that it has also inspired legions of a new NASA scientists, writers, filmmakers, artists and musicians.

I wanted to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this American film landmark with a playlist. I could have chosen to do a list of songs by rabid fans of the film (Nerf Herder, Cut Chemist, etc), or I could have done a John Williams retrospective to include the most important musical works from the film itself, but both of these ideas paled in comparison to compiling a list of some of the weirdest, off-the-wall tracks I could find. It includes bands that have found some success in their own right, but also tracks from the unknown underbelly of American culture.

I think this playlist will crack a smile on the faces of NASA scientists and live at home dorks alike.

After all, if the film taught us anything it was that it’s not your position in life that’s important, but whether you’ve chosen the right side of the force.

The World’s Oddest Star Wars Themed Playlist:

Light Saber - Columbia River Entertainment Presents

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Science Fiction Sounds
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

The Saga Begins - Weird Al Yankovic

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Running With Scissors
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Tatooine - The Factory-To-Dealer Incentives

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Second And Eighteen
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Chewbacca’s On My Underwear - Rutherford B. Hayes Is Dead

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album The Animalbum
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Boba Fett Youth - Dweeb

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album No Hit Wonder (Single)
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Jedi Drinking Song - Dust Rhinos

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Got Guinness?
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

A New Hope - Blink 182

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Dude Ranch
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Jabba The Sl*t - StinkMitt

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album The Red Album
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Theme From Star Wars - Force Galactica

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Theme From Star Wars (Maxi-Single)
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Luke And Leia - Teen Heros

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Hey Brother… Can You Spare Some Ska? Vol. 2
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Strange News From Another Star - Blur

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Blur
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Yoda - Weird Al Yankovic

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Dare To Be Stupid
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

I am Han Solo, frozen in Carbonite - Thumpermonkey

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Pigheart
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Wookie - Kipchoge & The Ginger Ninjas

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Where The Rubber Meets The Road
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

C-3PO - Supersnazz

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Diode City
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

R2D2 - Bilk

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album This Bilk Is Radioactive
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Use The Force - Jamiroquai

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Travelling Without Moving
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Ewok Rock - Cloud Full Of Clowns

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Escape From Unm
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Darth Vader - K-Burna

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Beer Ballz FreeStyles Vol. 1
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Chewbacca - Oh, Ranger!

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Bitter Yearnings On A Lonely Farm…
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

R2D2 Is Buddah - 45 Grave

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Debasement Tapes
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Star Wars - Buckethead

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Giant Robot
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

The Throne Room/End Title - John Williams

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

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I’m not what you would call a big iPod fan. Sure, Apple makes great products with fantastic interfaces, but their proprietary approach and buisness model is far from being ideal.  For me the subscription model rules. I can take anything with me for an insignificant monthly fee, and when I discover a truly worthy album, I buy the CD. This way I can rip non-protected MP3 files at the quality I desire, get the cover art, liner notes, and keep the original CD as a back up.

However, I do not fall into the iPod-hater camp either. Apple has found their market, and it’s a huge one. And their continued dominance in the space demonstrates this fact. Another thing I give Apple credit for is the music they’ve selected to promote iPod and iTunes since their first commercial aired back in October of 2001.

Many of us have been mesmerized by at least one song featured in iPod commercial at some point in time. And I have asked on many occasions, “Who sings that?” when a new iPod ad appears on my television.

This playlist contains the majority of songs that Apple has used to promote their iPod devices and iTunes software. If you’re interested, Wikipedia has the full list including links to the video of each ad. 

Even if you don’t drink the Apple Kool-Aid, this playlist makes a fine listen.

The Playlist:

La La La - The Bird And The Bee

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album The Bird And The Bee
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

1234 - Feist

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album The Reminder
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Dance Tonight - Paul McCartney

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Memory Almost Full
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Mi Swing Es Tropical Nickodemus - Nickodemus

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Endangered Species
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Flathead - The Fratellis

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Costello Music
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Who’s Gonna Sing - Prototypes

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Prototypes
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

The Audience Is Listening Theme Song - Cut Chemist

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album The Audience’s Listening
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Someday Baby - Bob Dylan

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Modern Times
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Love Train - Wolfmother

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Wolfmother
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Cubicle (Edit) - Rinôçérôse

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Rinôçérôse
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Lose Yourself - Eminem

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Curtain Call (Edited)
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Original Of The Species - U2

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Feel Good, Inc. - Gorillaz

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Feel Good, Inc.
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Technologic - Daft Punk

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Human After All
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Jerk It Out - The Caesars

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Paper Tigers
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Ride - The Vines

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Winning Days
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Vertigo - U2

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Saturday Night - Ozomatli

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Street Signs
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Walkie Talkie Man - Steriogram

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Walkie Talkie Man
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Are You Gonna Be My Girl
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Hey Mama - Black Eyed Peas

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Elephunk
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Take California - Propellerheads

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Decksandrumsandrockandroll
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

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Hello friends,

This is just a quick note to let you know that I am now officially blogging for the mighty Yahoo!

The most visited web destination in the world has revamped their music site and have included a collection bloggers that I am honored to be a part of.

The blog is called The Y! Music Playlist Blog.

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I listen to more music than your average teenage outcast, and the reward is finding superior albums that stand the test of time. In this playlist series I hope to highlight 15 new-ish albums that have made it to the elite top-tier of my collection.

Listen to select tracks from each album via Yahoo Music Jukebox here.

Or check out the select tracks, full albums and mini-reviews below.

1. “Don’t Make Me A Target” - Spoon
on Yahoo! Music Jukebox
From the album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
I had high expectations for the new Spoon album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, and not only did the band meet them, but they exceeded them. This record is 10 tracks of perfectly crafted pop bliss and is in the running for the best of 2007.

2. “The Wildfire (If It Was True)” - Mando Diao
on Yahoo! Music Jukebox
From the album Ode To Ochrasy
Although Ode To Ochrasy is arguably not as stunning as the band’s 2004 effort Hurricane Bar, it’s still a fine pop record with some of the biggest hooks Mando Diao has penned to date.