Friday, December 6, 2013

"Complete Motown Singles" on Spotify

Stop the presses.  If you are into soul music, check out "The Complete Motown Singles" on Spotify.  It's like 60 CD's worth of amazing remaster mono singles on Motown, sounds amazing, a bunch of rad obscure shit as well as classic hits.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

WFMU MEGA POST












What's up bros.  I went to the WFMU Record Fair in NYC a few weeks ago (click above to see the madness).  I just got a new job so I felt it was appropriate to give myself a re-ward and go bonkers.  I just went Friday night for like 2-3 hours.  Some people make a whole weekend out of it.

I'm having such a hard time with Blogger right now but I just don't care... I know this is going to look all fucked up.

All these marketing schemes worked on me:




















Here are some of the gems I picked up:


Wednesday, November 27, 2013

In current rotation:

Long time since my last update.  Here's some stuff I've been checking out:

Bibio - checked out a bunch of his older recordings.  They're all really cool...folky guitars and singing with weird looping elements and electronics.  Pretty much what you'd expect from Bibio, which is awesomeness. Check out "Vignetting the Compost"

Jack Rose - such an amazing guitar player.  Can listen to his stuff all day long, it's always inspired and never gets old.  Check out "Black Dirt Sessions"

Boduf Songs - got a few of his EPs.  Dark, sparse, mopey British doom folk, amazing, as always.  Check out "There Is Something Hanging Above"

The Liars - "Drum's Not Dead" is such an killer album from start to finish.  Love this band more and more all the time.

Papercuts - more mellow, chilled out indy rock a la late '60s San Francisco on "Fading Parade"

Jonwayne - anybody else check out this guy??  It looks like he should be in a dark basement in the midwest somewhere drinking Diet Coke and playing D&D, but he's a sick beat-maker and rapper. He's on Stones Throw right now.

Daniel Johnston - learned a lot about this guy watching a documentary about his life called "The Devil and Daniel Johnston."  He's an amazing songwriter, not an amazingly skilled musician, but a true artist.

The Velvet Underground - because of Lou

Kwaidan - drones, soundscapes, 20 mintue-long songs, pretentious song titles...everything good post-rock should be!




Sunday, November 24, 2013

Blasting "Machine Gun" right now in the living room, sounds so good, you guys_____-------

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Elliott Smith

Haven't worked my through this whole thing yet, but if you're a fan worth spending some time with. He died 10 years ago this year, I think the anniversary of his stabbing himself in the chest was recent. One of my all-time favorites, for sure.

http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/9246-elliott-smith/

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Mountains - Choral




Picked up this 2xLP on Sunday for $10. 

Thursday, October 24, 2013

what I've been listening to

Hacker Farm
Ben Vida
Dawn of Midi
Body/Head
Smackos
Steve Hauschildt
M.Geddes Gengras
State River Widening
Oneohtrix Point Never
Darkside

Saturday, October 19, 2013

I love Edan...

... and The Poets of Rhythm.

 and this...

 

 FEEL IT! dc

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Red, White and Scoob EP

NEW SCOOBIE BROTHERS 



I've been hard at work in the studio with the Scoobie Bros and we have finally wrapped up the new Scoobie Brothers EP.  Check it out.

Red, White and Scoob EP

1:  Tape Sketch 2013
2:  Had a Dream
3:  Cymbaline
4:  Matilda Scoobie
5:  LNA Scoob

Download it at www.thescoobiebrothers.com

I made a video for those guys for the whole 5 song EP, enjoy.

dc

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Two Great Mixes





















Here are two great mixes by Prefuse 73… one is from last year, collab mix with Zola Jesus (?).  New one is with his boy Teebs a la my last post.

Both are dope and you can download them off the Soundcloud link for your own personal library.





Picture above has nothing to do with anything.

Enjoy.

dc

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Sons of the Morning

The full, highly anticipated new CD from Sons of the Morning (collab between Prefuse 73 and Teebs) is streaming on this blog.

http://potholesinmyblog.com/stream-sons-of-the-mornings-prefuse-73-teebs-debut-ep-in-its-entirety/

It's good, I like it.

Enjoy, my friends.

dc

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

New Oneohtrix Point Never

Listened to this a few times, unfortunately missed his record release party in Brooklyn Heights last week. Big fan of Daniel Lopatin and this is one of the rare albums that I plan to buy if it's not Spotify after the release on 10/1.

http://www.npr.org/2013/09/22/224170294/first-listen-oneohtrix-point-never-r-plus-seven?sc=tw&cc=share

Sunday, September 22, 2013

JEl

Haven't posted in awhile...sorry y'all.  Been mad busy.
THis is one of my favorite EPs of the month, on heavy rotation lately.
If you like dope beats, you'll like this.


Thursday, September 19, 2013

Elvis Costello vs. The Roots





















So far so good… Enjoyable, somewhat anonymous songs that I would feel good about putting on when my in-laws are over.  Actually fits the cover perfectly.

I foresee listening to this several times and then never revisiting again, which is not a diss… there is a definite use for "disposable" music like that (see also last Radiohead album, etc.)

It's on Spotify (natch), because this is EXACTLY the kind of thing that Spotify is perfect for.

Enjoy my friends.  

dc

p.s. this is on Blue Note??!

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Volcano Choir "Repave"

As the resident lame-o/square, I figured it was up to me to listen to this. Well, I'm a sucker for the grandiose (I have a playlist on iTunes named that, featuring such stalwarts as MBV, Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, et al) and this record is good and grandiose.

Aside from the vocal effects, it sounds as if it was produced in England circa 1972, took a year and half to make, and cost $1 million ('72 bucks). As if they experimented plugging the amps into different outlets to see if the "correct tone" could be located. The musicianship--and I make no apologies for using that term--is amazing. I've never seen Vernon live, but I did catch an Austin City Limits he was on, you could tell the backing band was just killer. Not sure if these are the same guys, but this is good playing.

The lyrics are silly. I find this appropriate for this type of music. You can't hope to say anything so grandiose, so don't fucking try (one reason most of Mogwai's tunes work). Harkening back to my Kanye rant, this is another reason he sucks.

Anyways... hope everyone had a great summer and is going to rock the fall.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Never Stop Diggin



How has no one noticed that the "Grease" song has a sick ass drum break in it (@2 minute mark)???

I have dibs on it for the new Scoobie Brothers EP that is going to drop shortly.

WWALT Brotherhood... somebody tip me off to some new shit please!

dc

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Eric Copeland's "joke in the hole"

a current favorite_____-----------


Tuesday, August 6, 2013

DONATO DOZZY PLAYS BEE MASK

Feeling this.  Will actually buy it, perhaps?  When it comes out in September...



There are some other Donato Dozzy joints on Spotify, kind of dancey but good.

dc

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Scoobie Brothers Promo



Shout out to Richard Barclay.

dc

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Next Up


Talkin' 'bout the drums.....Sheeeeeeeit.

Talkin' 'bout the ghetto....

These kind of $0.50 scores make the collecting game fun.  Sheeeeeit!!

OK, this is more like what am I transfering today....



Some smoothed out corn on the cizzob type shit.

Don't get that twisted.

Real talk.

Sunday, July 21, 2013





The track on this one is A2 - Space Invadors (sic) - which is a 4+ minute drum solo with some synth effects.


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

NEW SCOOBIE BROS VIDEO OH SNAP!!!

"WONTON SCOOB"... feel it. dc

Monday, July 8, 2013

Couple Good Ones...

Tony Allen "Black Voices"



I guess I was aware of this Tony Allen album (drummer for Fela)… I've seen that cover… but never checked it out.  It's awesome, throw it on if you have an afrobeat itch you need scratched.


Bass Drum of Death



If you like retro garage a la Ty Segall, Bass Drum of Death is pretty awesome.  I'm feeling "GB City" better than their other one.

Later dudes.

dc



Friday, June 28, 2013

BNLX "LP"

So... kind of slow summer thus far at work. Ergo I'm going to single-handedly attempt to inject some life into this blog.

BNLX is a "band" the mostly, I think, is comprised of Ed Ackerson. He's a long-time Minneapolis engineer/producer/musician. His band Polara put out a couple of records (maybe more?), one of which is an absolute stunner (if you like the noise pop deal): "Polara."

This new band is him and his wife. I think this record is pretty great. It makes no pretense to breaking new ground. It's just nice a noisy and sugar sweet.

www.bnlx2day.com

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Kanye West -- Yeezus

A little background...

I have never heard (knowingly) a Kanye West song prior to listening to this record. I chose to listen to this one because I was so annoyed by the following sentence in the Pitchfork review: "These are the immeasurably lofty stakes Kanye deals in on Yeezus, his sixth solo album." That sentence followed a rhapsodic paragraph about the "I Am God" song on the record.

Okay, yes, I know, pitchfork, say no more. But there are NO immeasurably lofty stakes in ANY piece of pop music whether or not you like the artist. There are none in Bob Dylan, none in Nina Simone, none in The Clash... I could go on, but let's be real, immeasurably lofty stakes are not for the music/fashion/theater/film etc. worlds.

This is, of course, not to say that music can't be important, maybe even very important to individuals, but immeasurable stakes? Nah.

But I was intrigued, so I went on Google Play and gave it a listen. I listened to the whole thing (yeah me!). I'm trying to parse my reaction. Is this the inevitable old guy distaste for the new? The inexorable gap between me and "the kids"? Whatever it is: this record is awful. I can't imagine listening to it at home in the dark with headphones, I can't imagine listening to it while I clean my bathrooms, I can't imagine listening to it in the car, I can't imagine listening to it in a bar. I will not, can not, listen to it again.

The lyrics... oh man... these are the lyrics of Edward Snowden. The drop out who thinks he's smarter than everyone else. These are lyrics that portend to say a lot but really say very very little. (As an aside: he must have a very very small vocabulary, I can't imagine having an intelligent conversation with him). I like my musicians smart and dumb, so long as their honest about either. He's honest about neither. Rap music, for me, needs really really interesting words (hence my dismal feelings to Tyler the Creator). These aren't good words. They aren't interesting. They are pedantically "controversial."

The music... meh. Okay, he's processed what's going on over the last 5-10 years admirably. Good for you dude. It's boring and grating (a terrible combination). I found the production hard on the ears as well. Over-compressed (par for the course, I know), but really fatiguing. No depth.

I'm open to hearing rebuttals. I'm no hip-hop scholar, so maybe I'm missing some intricacy--but that would cause another argument from me.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Collateral Damage: Numero Group on the vinyl bubble

http://thewire.co.uk/in-writing/essays/collateral-damage_numero-group-on-the-vinyl-bubble

The things this essay points out are why I almost exclusively buy records for $0.50 or $1.  Really the only new vinyl I buy is reggae and the labels that put out those records, for the most part, don't play the "manufactured rarity" game.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

What I've been listening to

yo dudes, been a while. here's some things I've been listening to.

Read "Everybody Loves our Town: an Oral History of Grunge," and it had me listening to all the bands at that time and it took me back. (I asked a younger colleague how old he was in 1991 when I was hanging out with my friends in the 7/11 parking lot trying to score beer and talking about the lyrics in "smells like teen spirit" and he said "4". fuck.) I also checked out some bands that I didn't know that well like Tad and the Melvins, and I've been listening to those bands quite a bit since. Dinosaur Jr. wasn't a Seattle band but been listening to a lot of that lately too. (I once talked to J. Mascis in line at Bayback waiting to cash a check, I wonder if that dude still lives in his mom's basement in Amherst.)

Saw a really killer performance by Peter Evans recently, he's a youngish trumpet player with a nice career going. He did a solo improv thing for about 10 minutes, which showcased his incredible circular breathing skills and did some innovate things getting close to the mic with a lot of reverb on it, washing the room in a humming sound that was hard to believe was from a trumpet. He left the stage after that and two percussionists and a piano player performed the rest of the piece he composed. That had at times a film noir sound, other times a far out Cecil Taylor/Charles Ives vibe, and a also moments of super-minimalist John Cage feel. Evans has some albums up on Spotify, included one called "Zebulon" of his jazz trio playing that much-missed/now closed Williamsburg venue.

other shit: Zomes, "improvisations"(did DC hit this?), really meditative ambient; Alabama Shakes, soul vibe, driving music; James Ferraro, "Far Side Virtual", far out post-modern, electro weirdness (some of his stuff is awful but this works, kind of a social critique, but not hard to listen to); Evan Caminiti, one half of the doom-ambient duo Barn Owl, his solo stuff is deep; Chico Hamilton, spotify is deep on Chico, really liking the compilation album from the mid/late fifties, very regular rotation for months; Indians, "somewhere else", chilled out indie, if you like Cavemen (which I know DC hit), you should feel this.

HotHOTSummer---------________------------           getting into dub again, tis the season-----______




Wednesday, May 29, 2013

The New National Record

I loved High Violet. I don't immediately love this one, but I think I need to give it more listens. The one thing that jumps out are the odd time signatures. These are not neo-prog songs, they're still very "National"-esque dirges (generally simple, but with really great drumming). I'm really curious as to their writing process and how it leads to such time signatures.

P.S.: anyone checking out Google All Access? Doesn't have iPhone offline listening (or listening to stuff other than what you've uploaded). But it will be 7.99/month if you sign up now. I haven't checked artist compensation--I assume it's shit like all the others.

P.P.S.: Been in Mpls a little over 6 months now. Musical Reactions:

1) Lots 'o hip hop in this town now.
2) Crazy amount of good musicians (when you go into a restaurant on a Tuesday and they have a country trio that is not only talented craft-wise but also playing great original songs, you know there's a surfeit of music.
3) Willie's Guitars is still a drool catalyst store that I have no right stepping foot in.


Friday, May 24, 2013

Pete Drake

This is my current jam…



I like those creepy back up singers.

dc

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

What am I listening to?  It might come as no surprise I'm listening to reggae.

What are you listening to?

And Mr. Doing Last Week's Tricks, I have King Curtis Live at the Fillmore but other than one or two tracks it doesn't move me!!

Edit!!  Two things...first:



And two:

I had no idea this was Al Cisneros from Sleep/Shrinebuilder when I got it.  That kinda blew my mind.  Nice ambient dubby stuff.

Monday, May 20, 2013

DC Knowledge Drop (tm)

Sorry I haven't been posting.  Here's most note worthy music stuff off the top of my head:


-I got this King Curtis record for $1.00 and I've listened to it 100,000 times, it's fucking awesome.  This is why vinyl is so great... this may be on Spotify, I don't know, but I never would have found it on Spotify, I had to find the scratched up copy in the $1.00 bins at my record spot with the edges held together with Scotch tape... and that also adds to the vibe.  

-The Rhodes player for the Doors died.  Sad, that actually got me choked up.  Nothing but love for the Doors.

-My #1 fave label of all time Numero Group is releasing 2 exciting new LPs shortly... the new Express Rising joint (!!!) and a compilation of the best/early tracks of ambient/new age mastermind Iasos, done correct with the Numero treatment??!!!  The fuck outta here. 

These are all available's on Spotify:

-New (latest) Jeff Parker solo album with Chris Lopes and Chad Taylor (of Chicago Underground).  Of course it's awesome

-Ted Sirona's Rebel Souls?  Check the Soundcloud tracks on this page.  Any of you Chicago guys know anything about this?  He's really good, he's a drummer from Chicago and it is funky instrumental jazz/latin/funk/dub.

-Caveman?  Did Rootless already post about them?  Caveman is dope, indie vibe kind of The Cure-d out, real mellow.

-New Brokeback was totally awesome.

-Savages?  Meh, Pitchfork jammed this down my throat, but it's not all that.  I like the lead single off the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs joint, though.

-Lastly, Terry Reed is awesome.  Most you Gabino/Zink/Clark Starr types must know him already.  He was somehow associated with the Yard Birds, and he was almost the lead singer for Led Zeppelin.  Anywho, I scored a Terry Reed LP and Eno Ambient #1 and #2 on vinyl at a garage sale this weekend for $1 a piece.  DC!!!

Later bros.  #WWALT2013


dc


Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Silver Wilkinson

It's officially released today.  Listening right now.  Only 4 tracks into it, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's the best Bibio record yet. 

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Brokeback

I've been a huge fan of Brokeback for a long time now.  Heard about them through their Thrill Jockey/Tortoise affiliations. 

I love their record "Looks At The Bird," and their latest, "Brokeback And The Black Rock"  is no disappointment.  They shun the heavy editing and electronic/glitch sounds on this record, and rely on a stripped-down instrumentation led by fuzzy, twangy guitars.  It's comparable to a sound like Friends Of Dean Martinez or Calexico (minus the vocals).  Dreamy, dusty, desert dirges. 


http://www.thrilljockey.com/thrill/Brokeback/Brokeback-and-the-Black-Rock#.UYAV3IIeU7A

BOC

Nobody's posted about the fact there's definitely a new Boards Of Canada record coming out in June? 
Check out this ad that showed on...the Cartoon Network(?)

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Thursday, April 18, 2013

BIBIO

 Another track from the upcoming Bibio album...
Very excited for when it's released in mid-May.
Both singles he's released so far have been killer.


Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Survival Knife

This is two of the guys from Unwound in a new, tighter band.  I heard the first single this morning just as the sun was coming out from behind some clouds, and brother I felt like I was new in the world.

Chris CLARK has EP Available for Free Download

And this is the page:
http://throttleclark.com/iradelphic-sessions/

I haven't heard this yet, but on some level I've really enjoyed everything he's put out.  In particular, I recall that Herzog off of 2006's "Body Riddle" had a particularly mystic/religious effect on me.
Here's his discogs page.
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Chris+Clark

If'n you like this, you might also really enjoy the last Bibio record, "Mind Bokeh".

Saturday, April 13, 2013

New Kurt Vile is really really good



Took a minute to warm up to it, then I listened to it 4 times in a row yesterday.

dc

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Zell Black



 Here's another stone jam... I had never heard this break before.

 dc

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Pretty

\

 This is the jam.

 dc

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Turntable reccos?

Just discovered this place in my new town:
http://hymiesrecords.com/

So... Time to buy a turntable. I'm no audiophile, but I'll want something okay. Anyone got tips? 

Monday, March 11, 2013

SXSW radio page

http://sxsw.com/fm

Kind of digging this. It's basically a radio station of SXSW bands. I like that I can't skip ahead, skip back, etc. Forces one to not indulge in low-attention-span listening.

Monday, March 4, 2013

DC Mega Post...

... the blog post also known as "all this shit is on Spotify (tm)."

DJ Day



DJ Day (or just "Day" if you are searching on Spotify) is dope.  The Turntablelab quote said: "taking what Dj Shadow did with Endtroducing and throwing it into a mixing bowl with Sungoddess era Ramsey Lewis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and YNQ era Madlib."  Uh... yes, please?  Almost played this one out already, so good.  There is a limited edition vinyl version but so far I've been able to stay away from it.  Actually, I still have that Turntablelab gift cert I got at Christmas...

Witch



Now Again, the Stones Throw subsidiary run by Egon Alapatt, put out this ridiculous record by a band Witch called "We Intend To Cause Havoc!"  Man, so good.  It's a band from Zambia from 1972-77 that is trying to sound exactly like the Rolling Stones (and succeeding, too)  It's a 4 CD set (!) so there is all kinds of goodness, although I guess what would be CD#1 is a solid gold jam for the whole family.  This is my 4-year old's #1 jam of the moment:



Dirty Beaches



The only thing I knew about Dirty Beaches was that garage rock joint that Bill Zink posted a few years ago (that was awesome).  They (he?) has a new one called "Water Park O.S.T." that is super ambient.  It's guitar, harmonia, mellotron, ambient sounds, all for a documentary about a water slide park in a mall in Minnesota, I think?  Whatever, this CD is dooooope for the mellow ambient tip.

Troubleman



Marvin Gaye's soundtrack for blaxploitation movie "Troubleman" has been a favorite for me since college, not kitschy funk, but an actual deep record I enjoy (plus the breakbeat classic "T Plays It Cool").  I'd say this is up there with "Superfly" for blaxploitation flick soundtracks that break through to "Art".  Anywho, Spotify has the 40th anniversary edition with a whole second CD of outtakes and alternate takes and shit!  This was a major score for me.  Here's "T Plays It Cool":



Oh man, I got so much love to give.

Later dudes.

dc




Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Iroko Records



I've championed a few labels on here in the past, most notably Jahtari, but now I have a new label to proselytize about - Iroko Records from France.  They are pressing some very high quality reggae reissues.  The tunes are deep deep roots.  Very nice.


Sunday, February 24, 2013

The Haxan Cloak

Has anyone else heard this guy??? Pretty incredible.

Here's an interview on Pitchfork (i know, i know) that has some audio to listen to as well...

http://pitchfork.com/features/rising/9070-the-haxan-cloak/

Soundgarden at Wiltern

No opening act. 28 songs in about 2 hours 30 minutes. The first thing to say is that the Badmotorfinger and Superunknown songs are badass live. Jesus Christ Pose, New Damage, Rusty Cage and Like Suicide are rockin songs. Hearing the chest pounding drums on Like Suicide was freedom rock man! Matt Cameron's drumming is insane, and he sings all of the backups. The Kim Thayil buzzsaw guitar is still in full effect. Cornell plays guitar on most of the songs, so with the twin attack riffage you get your guitar fill for sure! The bass playing is fine, but when Ben Shepherd hits the fuzz pedal the bottom falls out a little, and I'm never impressed with wrecking amps and smashing guitars. The set was from the last 4 albums only. I would have liked to hear some older tunes, they played Louder Than Love tracks the following night. The new songs were mostly good, but Live to Rise was flat and should have been left out. Cornell can still belt 'em out, but he has lost a little, "off the fastball". You gotta give the guy props for even attempting some of the ridiculous high notes of Outshined. I can't even imagine a whole tour of trying to hit all those high notes. Overall it was a great show and worth the price of admission.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Batman Vs. Sun Ra


I got that Batman record with Sun Ra and The Blues Project playing on it for $1.00 at an Estate Sale.

dc

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

What does this song remind me of?



This whole album is pretty solid, by the way.  Prince Rupert's Drops, "Run Slow".

dc

Sunday, February 10, 2013

waiting for sugarman

Anyone seen "Waiting for Sugarman?" I had heard a lot about it, and saw the 60 Minutes segment, but I saw the movie last night and it was incredible, great story. Been listening to his album "coming from reality" since seeing the movie, amazing that this record came out and no one heard it in the US.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL5TffdOQ7g

Friday, February 8, 2013

R.I.P. Sugarfoot

Sugarfoot from The Ohio Players died last week.  Sad news.

Definitely a funky dude...


Worth noting that The Ohio Players "Honey" (this very copy with "Raynette Freitas" written on the chick's arm) was one of the first 5 records I ever owned.


R.I.P.

dc

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Boduf Songs

Boduf Songs has a new LP out, "Burnt Up On Re-entry"


Mat Sweet, the guy behind Boduf, also made the video below.  Enjoy.






Friday, February 1, 2013

I've got so much love to give today



This song is totally awesome.  I don't know anything about it.

dc

Lucifer in Dub


I’m a big fan of Peaking Lights.  I think "936" may have gotten best of honors for 2011 from me?  Last years’ “Lucifer” was a really good one as well.

They made a dub album of Lucifer, called “Lucifer in Dub” (natch).  Aaron Coyes, the main music maker of the duo, takes tracks from the album (which are pretty dubbed out to begin with) and gives them the full King Tubby treatment.  Dope.

It’s on Spotify, or you can buy it or steal it.

Good day, gentlemen.

dc