Tuesday, September 06, 2005
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spiffy
"Work in Progress" or no, Moongirl is loverly.
The world needs more giant catfish made of stars. Very Psychonaut-y (yes, I did beat it when everything was said and done).
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I know this is old, but if the phrase "hyena people of Nigeria doesn't ring a bell, you should peep.
GANGSTA GANGSTA
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Heard the one about the recently discovered acetates of a super rare 40 minute 1945 Dizzy and Bird concert emceed by Symphony Sid?
The instant I see this, I'm buying it.
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Mmmmmmm... literature.
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Something about these diverse and deceptively simple stuffed animals speaks to me in a way that these wise-ass, tongue-in-cheek 'ugly' dolls simply can't.
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SELL THE RANCH.
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Pickin' Boogers hips us to some "stupid silly nuttymagillacutty shit".
spiffy
"Work in Progress" or no, Moongirl is loverly.
The world needs more giant catfish made of stars. Very Psychonaut-y (yes, I did beat it when everything was said and done).
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I know this is old, but if the phrase "hyena people of Nigeria doesn't ring a bell, you should peep.
GANGSTA GANGSTA
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Heard the one about the recently discovered acetates of a super rare 40 minute 1945 Dizzy and Bird concert emceed by Symphony Sid?
The instant I see this, I'm buying it.
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Mmmmmmm... literature.
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Something about these diverse and deceptively simple stuffed animals speaks to me in a way that these wise-ass, tongue-in-cheek 'ugly' dolls simply can't.
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SELL THE RANCH.
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Pickin' Boogers hips us to some "stupid silly nuttymagillacutty shit".
Saturday, September 03, 2005
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glisten: Louis Jordan
Louis Jordan - "How I Love My Teacher"
Jordan's precocious and swingin' ode to apple polishing one ups Van Halen in every way.
"Can you take what I can shake"? Hot shit!
One of the goals of The Tofu Hut has always been to draw ears to important or exciting sounds that have been unjustly overlooked by the majority, whether obscured by complexity, scarcity or the veil of time. Few artists fit the bill of the latter more than Louis Jordan. Once known as one of the most famous, popular and influential musicians in the United States; Jordan's name now evokes blank looks from the vast majority of pop music listeners. The tragedy is that Jordan's exciting mix of novelty, jazz and rnb themes played a pivotal role in the creation of what we understand to BE modern pop (and, I think, modern rnb and hip hop). He has certainly been acknowledged for his contributions by musical cognoscenti; what I bemoan is the lack of dap he gets from the vox populi.
In the 1940's, Louis Jordan was a musical giant. Between the years of 1943 and 1950, a Jordan track was number one on the R+B charts for over twenty-one months. More than a dozen of his singles crossed over to the pop charts. Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Bill Haley and B.B. King have all acknowledged Jordan as a progenitor. If you haven't heard his music yet, now's the time; if you're already a fan, hopefully you'll find something new in this big ol' chicken-fried mess of Louis goodness.
Louis Jordan - "The Green Grass Grows All Around"
A rollicking round-robin novelty take on 'There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea', 'Green Grass' is bar-none one of the happiest, most enjoyable songs I can think of.
If you can listen to this without smiling, I'd check for a pulse.
The recordings I've included in this post are culled from a number of Jordan albums I've picked up over the years, some out of print and some not. Most of Jordan's considerable back catalogue IS still commercially available, but as with many other greats (James Brown, John Coltrane, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Johnny Cash) the neophyte listener is probably best served with a greatest hits disc. Your gateway drug in that case is available to buy at Amazon: the NPR 'Basic Jazz Library'-certified Best of Louis Jordan.
For less than ten bucks, it might be the best musical bargain you'll ever find.
Louis Jordan - "What's the Use of Getting Sober (When You Gonna Get Drunk Again?)"
A crunk anthem for the roaring forties, everything about 'What's the Use' satisfies; from the mammy/pappy call and response of the first verse, to the swill-around-the clock second verse, to the weaving, wobbling chorus.
Explore this extensive Jordan fanpage.
Sadly, this is pretty much the only exclusive Jordan site I could find.
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Read this brief Jordan bio from the Ken Burns 'Jazz' page.
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"This was a really funny song about a fox trying to get the chickens and fool the farmer into thinking everything was alright."
Technically, kid, the idea is that it's a big bad black man in the coop; but it's reassuring that Louis' stuff ages well enough to sidestep racist tropes and just be FUN, even (and especially) to an uninformed listener.
Louis Jordan - "Azure Te (Paris Blues)"
This light-hearted blues wears its heart on its shoulder. 'Azure-Te' highlights Jordan's phenomenal sax playing and shows a glimpse of the genius in a romantic mode.
Read Atlantic Record founder and fellow Rock+Roll Hall of Famer Ahmet Ertegun's Rolling Stone "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" profile of Jordan.
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Explore these amazing (and desktop-worthy) photos of Louis Jordan and his band from William P. Gottlieb's Golden Age Jazz Photos Archive.
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Want to hear more?
Listen (in realaudio) to five more Jordan tracks, including the classic 'Caldonia' and the now-standard, Jordan penned "Let the Good Times Roll".
Also, scroll down and listen to Louis Jordan's 'Ration Blues' (in WMA format), courtesy the excellent archives of Jan's 78 RPM Record Warehouse.
And, finally, don't miss the three month R+B chart topper of 1949, 'Saturday Night Fish Fry', courtesy of the always laudable Vocal Group Harmony Web Site.
Friday, September 02, 2005
Contrary to some reports on the web, Allen Toussaint is alive, well and in New York.
I'm happy to report that I was able to briefly meet him and shake his hand last night; he is, given the horrific circumstances, in good spirits.
I'm happy to report that I was able to briefly meet him and shake his hand last night; he is, given the horrific circumstances, in good spirits.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Welcome back. Let's try this again, shall we? Once more with feeling?
Posts from here on are more likely to be shorter and more frequent, as per the constant suggestion of such from my personal peanut gallery. Let me know.
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glisten: Himuro
Himuro - One Day of the Beetle
Himuro - "Button of Reset"
Listen to two more tracks from Mild Fantasy Violence, courtesy Zod Records.
MFV is surprisingly difficult to come by; Zod doesn't sell it and I didn't have much luck finding anyone else who did. Any leads?
Read the tinymixtape review of Mild Fantasy Violence.
I agree with most of Dave's take on the album, but think he's giving Himuro's ingenuity and mixing skills short shrift. While nostalgia is, no doubt, one of the factors that make Himuro's musical adventures so engaging, it's his deft appropriation of Aphex-y wet clicks and shrugs, the strangely organic-rendered-from-circuitry Daft ambience and the mad pop-lockin' Bambaata beats that kept me coming back for more.
Read this brief interview and overview of Himuro's work.
Visit Himuro's immensely satisfying personal site.
Don't miss his 'sound diary'; it's chock-full of fun, noodly exploration to listen to.
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spiffy
Cypress Hill frontman B-Real has joined in audioblogging in a big way; you can find well over a hundred full-length, free tracks from B over at his official website.
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It's called travellin' music; bustin'-ya-ass-style.
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My favorite media whore starts up a new blog: Kimdog's Fat Celebrity News.
But don't get it twisted...
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WFMU's astonishing Beware of the Blog should already be a daily click for you; if you're new to the site, here's a few choice tidbits to get you started.
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Virtual reality has come a long way, baby.
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Rhymefest- "Brand New" VS. Lamar RAPS!
Little known fact: Lamar was Kanye's first taste of stardom.
K got grill skillz!
I'm yanking on Kanye, but I hate to love him. "Golddigger" is addictive.
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An honest-to-god Tofu Hut.
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RAAAAARRRRAGGGHG can he tell her he RAAAAARRRRGHSSS her?
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Man, I TOTALLY should've gotten into Street Wars; I need more stress in my life.
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Jumpin' Kitties!
Meet my new desktop.
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Hosanna and wonder to the triumphant return of I, Asshole!
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Ninjam is people creating songs as a sort of exercise in internet exquisite corpse-ry. Not always great art but good for a giggle.
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Hanzis Matter presents the flipside of Engrish.
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Posts from here on are more likely to be shorter and more frequent, as per the constant suggestion of such from my personal peanut gallery. Let me know.
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glisten: Himuro
Himuro - One Day of the Beetle
Himuro - "Button of Reset"
Listen to two more tracks from Mild Fantasy Violence, courtesy Zod Records.
MFV is surprisingly difficult to come by; Zod doesn't sell it and I didn't have much luck finding anyone else who did. Any leads?
Read the tinymixtape review of Mild Fantasy Violence.
I agree with most of Dave's take on the album, but think he's giving Himuro's ingenuity and mixing skills short shrift. While nostalgia is, no doubt, one of the factors that make Himuro's musical adventures so engaging, it's his deft appropriation of Aphex-y wet clicks and shrugs, the strangely organic-rendered-from-circuitry Daft ambience and the mad pop-lockin' Bambaata beats that kept me coming back for more.
Read this brief interview and overview of Himuro's work.
Visit Himuro's immensely satisfying personal site.
Don't miss his 'sound diary'; it's chock-full of fun, noodly exploration to listen to.
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spiffy
Cypress Hill frontman B-Real has joined in audioblogging in a big way; you can find well over a hundred full-length, free tracks from B over at his official website.
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It's called travellin' music; bustin'-ya-ass-style.
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My favorite media whore starts up a new blog: Kimdog's Fat Celebrity News.
But don't get it twisted...
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WFMU's astonishing Beware of the Blog should already be a daily click for you; if you're new to the site, here's a few choice tidbits to get you started.
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Virtual reality has come a long way, baby.
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Rhymefest- "Brand New" VS. Lamar RAPS!
Little known fact: Lamar was Kanye's first taste of stardom.
K got grill skillz!
I'm yanking on Kanye, but I hate to love him. "Golddigger" is addictive.
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An honest-to-god Tofu Hut.
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RAAAAARRRRAGGGHG can he tell her he RAAAAARRRRGHSSS her?
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Man, I TOTALLY should've gotten into Street Wars; I need more stress in my life.
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Jumpin' Kitties!
Meet my new desktop.
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Hosanna and wonder to the triumphant return of I, Asshole!
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Ninjam is people creating songs as a sort of exercise in internet exquisite corpse-ry. Not always great art but good for a giggle.
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Hanzis Matter presents the flipside of Engrish.
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Monday, August 01, 2005
Doggone if June didn't grow up to be a handsome woman.
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glisten: June Carter and Merle Haggard
June Carter - "The Heel"
Back in '61, when 'The Heel' was first released, June and Johnny had yet to meet and country audiences could still handle wild, rollicking, Wurlitzer-driven novelty tracks like this one. 'Heel' briefly flirts with the idea of becoming a murder ballad, but June Carter is too soft hearted and introspective to do in her cheatin' man, bawling that "in my heart's arithmatic / I find it takes two heels to click".
Two years later, Johnny Cash and June Carter had embarked into the ring of fire and one of music's most productive, famous and intense relationships. Johnny would get the lion's share of the fame and recognition; June would be the rock. No knock to the man in black intended, but June's due for a critical reexamination; her over-sixty year career produced more than a few great songs. Here's hoping her newly released collection does the trick; in the meantime, snap up this Tarantino-esque gem, then click some of these links to get more.
Buy "Keep on the Sunny Side", June's exemplary soon-to-be-released two disc greatest hits set, from Amazon.
It's great stuff and a long overdue honor for this country queen.
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Download a number of other classic tracks by June from her official website.
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Read more about June from the House of Cash website and on this fansite.
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Learn about The Carters, the first family of bluegrass.
Coping with a rotten heel.
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Merle Haggard - "Roly Poly"
Some songs never fail to get a grin out of me; this is definitely one of them. Originally written and performed by Bob Wills and his band, The Texas Playboys, 'Roly Poly' is not entirely dissimilar to Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely"; the proud parent seems simply floored by the vitality of his youngster and Daddy's enthusiasm is catchy.
Hard to believe, but this cut is thirty-five years old, hailing from a time when the Okie from Muskogee had still yet to receive a pardon for his past transgressions. For a man as grizzled as Merle to sound so honeycomb sweet... well, that's talent. This is likely to be the nicest song you listen to over and over for the next three days, so go ahead and pull up a chair and get comfy.
You'd have to be half-nuts to buy Merle's out-of-print "A Tribute To The Best Damn Fiddle Player In The World: Or, My Salute To Bob Wills" from Amazon; prices start at sixty nine bucks for the CD and go up from there. I imagine a decent used record store is your best bet, but those of you with a turntable (just got a new one myself!) can buy a copy of the LP from EBay for only four bucks.
Don't let the price gouging fool you into dismissing this; it's an absolutely essential album, packed with some knockout country swing.
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Read the Merle Haggard Onion interview or this one, from Dallas Music Guide.
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Visit Merle's official site.
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Learn more about Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.
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Read the AMG Haggard profile.
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Save the Rolypoly
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Hey there Mister Big Shot Audioblogger, Where Have YOU Been?
On the grind.
Working hard at the new gig.
Eating well.
Seeing something like eighteen shows since last we spoke; everything from Lady SOV to Uncle Earl, Charanga Cakewalk to Cocorosie, Jim White to Goapele, Balkan Beat Box to Lesley Gore.
Listening to dozens of discs.
Maybe a dozen films too: In the Realms of the Unreal, Grizzly Man, The Singing Detective, the exceptionally shitty War of the Worlds.
Got started on the giddily fun Psychonauts.
Saw some Shakespeare.
Lotsa girl time.
Wrote a yet to be posted piece for Salon on R. Kelly and six album reviews for Jazz Times magazine, including one on Ry Cooder's highly overrated Chavez Ravine.
Getting soused for the first time in a long time with a cantankerous, brilliant sumbitch.
Meeting with the fine folk of ILM.
Feeling my head spin and swell when I saw that, even without updating for two weeks, Th' Hut turned out our half-millionth customer some time ago.
Cleaning out an inbox with two hundred and fifty relevant messages.
Emotionally and mentally prepping myself for the big old 3-0, which will happen TOMORROW (birthday wishes are welcome).
But mostly recharging and a little bit of this.
Today is Liz Phair and a pile of work and a busy life after the late night. Today is the first post of the rest of my life. Today is me saying: Hi.
Hope I didn't keep you waiting.
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whole lotta spiffy
Just afore I signed off for a bit, I compiled a pile of spiffy. This is the most of it; quite a lot of it is old (which is to say it's made the rounds) but I like to think there's still a few gems in this dark loam. Happy spelunking!
Vintage Wedding Photographs
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Professional animator/designer/sculptor Peter König's site offers an impressive portfolio of creepy crawlies.
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Le Building is an eccentric, fun and inspired mini-movie.
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This collection of '70's NYC club photos has already made its way all over the web; but I remain amazed at the dionysian revelry of the City's glory days. Ah, for a pre-AIDS party scene with a Moroder soundscape thumping in the background... them were golden times, I imagine.
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I know I'm a geek for caring, but how come the internet hasn't beeen buzzing about this Final Fantasy VII CGI movie? This was the last FF that really OWNED me; Cloud, Aeris, Cid and Barrett are like old friends... any hope of a US release on this?
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More GemSweater fun.
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Props to Danyel; her new novel Bliss is done dropped. Those of you who'd like to play fictional fly-on-the-wall with musical high-rollers should cop this Harlequinized inside scoop.
And speaking of naked cartwheels...
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One of the great things about the internet is that if you ever wondered what, say, a multi-piece papier-mache diorama of a unicorn orgy would look like, someone has already gone to the trouble for you.
Worst pun of the year award: "I chose unicorns for a reason--to make a point."
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I'll be wobbling through these in a bit, but I figured I'd share with those of you Francophiles and polylinguists who could get a jump on my fumbling: dig on this mostly-new-to-me French collection of audioblogs.
And while you're at it, when was the last time you looked in on the Grandaddy and the main inspiration for my own obsessive audioblog archiving : good ol' EC Brown has updated his page with new art and new sites from across the web.
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Daft Punk's 'Technologic' performed by robot dogs.
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Belated condolences to London Lee over at Number One Songs in Heaven who recently lost his father. Lee posted a touching remembrance on the page; stop by and pay your respects.
(Link temporarily down; love to London regardless.)
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Now THIS is disturbing.
Also available in mini.
If you really MUST know what's going on here, click this; for myself, I prefer to pretend that it's a Jim Woodring dream made flesh.
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The Online Stax Museum
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24 hours of music with Mark Harp.
He's not kidding; that's a full nonstop day of his music up there. Worth a listen, if not twenty four hours worth.
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I rather like the new Fischerspooner and Röyksopp singles; go ahead and give 'em a try.
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PORTAL, New Jersey.
The video on the website is down, but Milk and Cookies is johnny-on-the-spot.
This stuff makes 'LIGHTNING BOLT' seem socially acceptable.
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My favorite wikipedia articles are the ones that doggedly embrace the quixotic; what could be more of a fool's errand (and more fun) than The Archive of Fictional Things.
But what's this? So few fictional cows? Get cracking, you ersatz bovin-ologists! Show some gumption!
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"Oh my Goodness! Becky, look at her bible!"
Um, if Southpaw is supposed to be THAT evangelical, how did he come to be so intimately familar with "Baby Got Back"?
That "yawn-arm-around-the-shoulder" maneuver=you're going to hell.
"And if you're catholic? There's even more."
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mp3act is a bit too technical for this poor lam3r to figure out; anybody want to tell me if it's worth my learning a few new tricks?
And while you're at it, anybody want to recommend a good remote listening program for iTunes so I don't have to bring a portable drive with me wherever I go?
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Lord knows that taking potshots at Miss Martha Originals African-American Collectibles is all too easy, but OH that ad copy; even Anne Geddes would find this pap nauseating.
If the meandering non-sequiturs, the mind-wobbling cutsey-isms or the simply bizarre captions don't do it for you, the occasional egregious double entendre should.
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And now:
Finding Nemo On Ice.
"But how are you going to explain what these fish are doing on ice? Isn't that going to kill them? What if the actors accidentally fall down? Fish don't fall down!"
"I wouldn’t be surprised to find out it was “Finding Nemo on Ice” that inspired Thornton Wilder to remark, “The theater is supremely fitted to say: Behold! These things are.” These things being giant mutant fish with legs"
"the placement of the fishe's eyes on the breastplates of the costumes coming in for particularly adult criticism from the folks wandering about during intermission."
"The fun-filled family adventure features a kaleidoscope of scenic elements, visuals, costumes and musical numbers ranging from a classical jellyfish ballet to monkfish getting jiggy."
"Nemo found...on ice!"(both of the above via snarkymalarkey, who is pretty consistently good for a laugh)
And speaking of watersports, who wouldn't love an R. Kelly Golden Showerhead?
Beats a trucker bomb hot tub, no doubt.
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Bobby Yang: Rock Violinist.
His much circulated Star Spangled Banner video really won me over; wouldn't mind seeing this guy if he ever finds his way up to New York.
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He's certainly America's Biggest SOMETHING.
This has GOT to be a joke of some sort, right? A play on Brent's Freelove Freeway, certainly? Please?
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Audioblog networkers/online music sharers/all-around nice folks Dirty on Purpose have been amassing good press and building up a devoted audience as of late; if you haven't had a chance to see 'em live and you've a taste for melodic shoegazer pop with a bit of distortion to rough the edges, check em out.
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Man, I love The Perry Bible Fellowship, even if there are a few strips I don't quite get.
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My big city Hut folk should keep a constant eye on Flavorpill; it's long been an excellent source for info as to where the show's at this weekend. If ya didn't know, it's indispensible.
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Nippop: no music, but an excellent primer to the world of Japanese pop, indie, punk and rock.
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Lordy sweet jesus; talk about a time-waster: TV Ark offers what looks to be HUNDREDS of old-school television clips, ranging from kids shows to Doctor Who to PBS promos. The emphasis is on British channels, but there's a lovely selection of US TV to page through as well; ah, memories.
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Wacky!
Bald guy gets gully, yo.
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FORKSCLOVETOFU SEZ: Anthony Miccio is a poprocka and th' Hut's expert on all things big, radio-friendly and glistening that might otherwise escape our more rockist readers earholes.
Anthony dispenses wisdom and choice bon mots at Anthony is Right.
Smashmouth - "Your Man"
A touring musician wrestles with the devotion of a lover back home that he doesn't deserve, possibly because he's a member of Smashmouth. Frustration, confusion, anger, gratitude - all supported by a dramatic build-up of power chords, dance beats, keyb bleeps and Christmas bells. For such an emotionally varied tale, the track is oddly compact, like they thought they might be able to make a hit out of this subject matter. They may well have: "Walkin' On The Sun" was able to critique crackheads and the commodification of sixties culture, while "All Star" contains a verse that dances across the thermometer, successfully celebrating and warning of both extreme heat and cold. As it wasn't a single, "Your Man" is not among the twenty (twenty!) tracks included on their upcoming greatest hits album, but I certainly can't think of twenty superior songs in their discography.
Buy the album, Smashmouth, which features "Your Man (not to mention, "I'm A Believer!")
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According to the band's website, the band has recorded a new album with the producer of the Killers that 'features an aggressive sound that harkens back to their multi-platinum debut, 'Fush Yu Mang.' The return of ska-pop??? The end of family movie soundtracks??? Only time will tell.
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What DO people who listen to Smashmouth listen to?
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2MORROW
Tongue twisting South African mbaqanga from Abafana Baseqhudeni. Believe me, with a name like Smuckers, it's GOT to be good and WHOO BOY this stuff is GOOD.
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Thursday, July 14, 2005
Sunday, July 10, 2005
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glisten: skimming the surface noise
The Violinaires - "Another Soldier Gone"
This beautiful gospel-style eulogy for a fighting man hearkens back to the early fifties; the conflict in question is the Korean War. This track has been reissued a few times in LP format (though, I believe, never in digital media), but the original 45 RPM release is practically impossible to find; I know of a copy in good condition that recently sold for three grand.
Why all the hubbub? This track represents one of the earliest and cleanest recorded examples of the doo-wop/RnB sound, making it a historical disc in more ways than one.
Scarcity and subject matter aside, the tune itself is undeniably moving; I'd be hard pressed to think of a more beautiful requiem.
Listen here to another, later (1954) recording of "Another Soldier Gone" by a reshuffled Violinaires, renamed "The ? Marks" for trademarking purposes.
It's still a pretty song, but I like the earlier one better.
Courtesy the Vocal Group Harmony Web Site, an excellent place to explore for much more classic vocal music from the thirties, forties and fifties.
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The Detroit-based Violinaires are still an active singing group; explore their official website.
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Learn more about the Korean War.
The Original Jubalaires - "When It's All Over But the Shouting"
The Original Jubalaires have a considerable pedigree, with members hailing from a number of important vocal and gospel groups, including the Du-Droppers and the Golden Gate Quartet. More's the pity that time has not treated their memory with much respect; their sound, unshakable harmony carves right through the surface pop and crackle on this recording to deliver a powerful and rousing anthem. "All Over But the Shouting" is an artifact of the second World War; this 1944 side would've coincided pretty closely with D-Day.
Listen to five more tracks by the Jubilaires; again, courtesy the Vocal Group Harmony site.
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spiffy
PIZZAZZ PIZZAZZ C'MON WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT TO YA
(autoload video w/sound, entirely worksafe but a bit distressing)
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I'm a longtime fan of cartoonist Nina Paley and am much-gratified to discover that she's been doing a lot of work with online animation; don't miss the remarkable work-in-progress that is Sita's Adventures in the Ramadan, with music by Annette Hanshaw!
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We run these streets.
"Other popular hacks include the 'infinite don't walk' and the 'halfway across for granny.'"
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The main reason I keep an audioblog graveyard over to the right is because a lot of these sites stop and start periodically. Let's welcome a few old kids back on the block: Trrill is off the opera kick and back to eclectic audio; the only Welsh audioblog I know, Pop Peth, joins us again; Mr. Bassie's Jamaican music site has been resuscitated; everyone's favorite futuristic beatbox/ eepher/ hummer/ noisemaker Dokaka returns with dozens of downloadable cuts; DJ ZoZo is the latest incarnation of the now defunct Swung By Seraphim and good ol' Tuwa is very much back on the scene in a big way.
Incidentally, did anybody else notice that The Onion is audiobloggin' now, too? Boo to it being all realaudio though; some of us like to listen to our music on the go.
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If ya didn't know:
"The name of the blog is a piss take on my online nick, "forksclovetofu", by way of a reference to Matt Groening's 'Life In Hell'. There's a strip where his be-fezzed gay couple Akbar and Jeff open a stripmall called "The Tofu Hut". Honestly, I didn't give much thought about the name when I started the blog and it wasn't originally a music site. Knowing then what I do now, I've occasionally mused that I might've been better off calling the thing "John the Revelator" which would make it easier for people to associate the site with me. Ah well. Missed opportunities.
For the record: no, I'm not a vegetarian but I _DO_ love to eat tofu in all its many forms."
... all of which is meant as explanation as to why I would be excited about The Akbar Font.
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bonus glisten: miccio's pop rocks
Anthony Miccio is a poprocka and th' Hut's expert on all things big, radio-friendly and glistening that might otherwise escape our more rockist readers earholes.
Anthony dispenses wisdom and choice bon mots at Anthony is Right.
The Ying Yang Twins with Adam Levine (of Maroon 5) - Live Again
ANTHONY SEZ: The best song I've heard released this year is probably "Live Again," the Ying Yang Twins' collaboration with Maroon 5's Adam Levine on their new album USA. Helps if you enjoy Adam Levine's nasal-Stevie voice, but this track's unpredictability and effectiveness should impress anyhow. There's no preachiness, no moralizing, not even a buck-passing "What Would You Do?"/"Where Is The Love?" open-ending, just a sympathetic portrayal of the life of someone who normally doesn't get more than a dollar in her drawers. The closest thing to an opinion presented is "from me to you, I love you." While source of the sentiments may surprise some people, the Twins have long had a gift for clear language and storytelling (phrases like "[you] just want to pull up your pants," are startlingly simple and effective). None of the energy and danceability associated with the duo is missing, leaving us with a track that upends countless presumptions about the treatment of this subject matter while being immediately accessible and affecting.
THE TOFU HUT SEZ: As a non-Maroon 5 fan, I was stunned that Levine was on this track but, to his credit, his David Gray voice actually adds something to the song. Count me in as a surprised fan on this cut; 'Live Again' recalls Stankonia era Outkast to my ears.
Buy "United States of Atlanta", the new and highly lauded album from the Ying Yang Twins, from Amazon.
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Visit the Twins official site.
They're giving away gasoline? That's pretty populist, but whufuck?
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Read this interview with D-Roc and Kaine.
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