Saturday, May 30, 2009

listen=dj signify


Recently came upon another gem on WFLM. What makes WFLM one of my favorite blogs is that it posts a lot of stuff that none of the other blogs i read would ever post, like metal, low fi, underground, and classic records. Really random, generally dark, generally great.

DJ Signify released the Signify N' Breaks mixtape in 1996--the same year that a lot (i guess) was going on with instrumental hip-hop: DJ Shadow released Endtroducing..., and, well, that's all that I know. One thing about breakbeat/instrumental hip-hop that I've found is that most well-educated music aficionados still know very little about the genre other than that Endtroducing... was a seminal album in the genre and that its reissue got a 10 on pitchfork. For those who haven't heard the album, I highly recommend it. The album can be listened to in so many ways and yield such different reactions. It's perfect for driving and chilling to. I love trying to picture DJ Shadow at the turntables, crafting the samples from his immense record collection, weaving such different sounds together to craft cohesive grooves.

So, back to DJ Signify: You should have this album, at the very least, to be a companion to your copy of Endtroducing.... Educate yourself about this excellent genre. Listen and enjoy.

try DJ Signify's Signify N' Breaks via WFLM

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

In a big country.

I decided to make today count. I woke up, jogged, listened to a few albums, and applied for an office job at the cancer center at the UW hospital. Having made (albeit arguably minor) progress in my job hunt, I decided to go to Best Buy to use a $10 gift certificate that expires this friday.

My bus ride was pretty awesome, as bus rides tend to be--the driver was this old, washed up rocker who was wearing a cap and gloves without fingers, awesome. A pregnant teenager sat next to me. She and her friends spent the trip harassing these 30something men that were trying to talk about politics. It was interesting to listen to, anyhow.

When we got to the mall, I departed to find Best Buy. I had decided not to look anything up--bus routes, store locations--but just look for things I wanted to find. It took a while, but I found the Best Buy. I was elated when I finally came upon it, reaffirming why I didn't look it up beforehand. As I entered my conquest, I quickly came upon the Best Buy Megastore Vinyl Collection. It was pretty weird to look through the stacks for a few reasons-

-The shelves are clearly not built to house records. They were physically awkward to peruse.

-There were a large amount of 'why is this on vinyl' recent releases (see: katy perry). Clearly major labels trying to cash in on The Vinyl Revival.

-Most concerningly, some of it was, relatively, pretty cheap. There was a lot of cd-priced vinyl-- records that state street stores have to sell for 15 and 16 dollars being sold for 12 and 13 dollars. The price difference isn't huge, but sort of alarming in the 'looming death of real record stores' sort of way. Now that I know I can buy 180 gram radiohead reissues for 8 dollars less at Best Buy, will I ever consider buying them for more at B-Side?

After going through their small, but still substantial collection of records, I went through the cd aisles. I ended up choosing Menomena's Friend or Foe because I'm seeing them this weekend and, as of now, only know a few songs. 11.99-10 = 2 bucks. Not Too Shabby. I celebrated with Qdoba.

After Qdoba I travelled to Half Price Books. I love looking through their huge amount of 1-3 dollar used cds and albums. If you enjoy record shopping and haven't been there, I highly recommend it. Highly. After more than an hour (these times have all been confirmed by receipts by the way) of looking around at a fraction of their inventory, I purchased Big Country's eponymous album (LP, $4) and De La Soul's 3 Feet High And Rising (CD, $2). For those that don't know (i'm pretty sure everyone who will ever read this knows), 'In a Big Country' is and will forever by my favorite 80s song. I have never heard anything else by them so I am eager to get familiar with this record. Bag in tow, I headed for the road.

Without getting into too much detail, because nothing really happened, I had a really great time walking from the bookstore to my apartment. The walk was long (8mi+) and I don't think I'll repeat it any time soon, but I saw so many interesting things. Madison is an incredible, huge city. I walked past construction of new things, young people, old people, ancient trees and buildings. I took a bus because I didn't recognize its number to see where it went. It took me by the MATC campus near the airport--I got off there and walked through some neighborhoods back to East Wash. I found a tunnel that went under the street. I took it and crossed back above it to return to my path. I walked on a narrow pedestrian bridge. I talked to various people on all points of the creep spectrum. At many points I thought I must be lost, even though I knew I was walking along Washington, because the scenery looked so unfamiliar. I thought about all sort of things and sang all sorts of songs. It really was a wonderful time. I love walking.

When I arrived home, I put the needle down on Big Country and collapsed into bed. We all live in a big country. I encourage you to explore yours.

Monday, May 25, 2009

punk music

I've always enjoyed listening to different genres of music. I feel that, while seemingly distant, many genres influence and play off each other. I don't listen to everything, but I have ventured into a lot of exciting uncharted territory. Here are two of my favorite punk albums.

Buzzcocks, from England, were an extremely influential late seventies new wave punk band. New Wave was essentially a departure from punk's rough and dirty sound to cleaner, more melodic, and danceable songs. Buzzcocks were not really an album-centric group, and their 'best of', Singles Going Steady, is the album they're best known for. It is incredible. Pop sensibility at its best, while maintaining the '77 punk energy.



Descendents started in '78 in Manhattan Beach, California. Their lyrical content sets them apart from most other punk bands--many of their songs are about girls, rejection, and parents. Their songs are sarcastic and bitter. This is why I love Milo Goes To College (1982). The songs are fast and short, and while they aren't as melodic as Buzzcocks, they are more melodic than most of the first-wave punk bands. I just found out that Spin listed it the number one hardcore album of all time, awesome. Another point of interest is that this album has 4 songs with the word 'age' in their title.

listen=speaky

I was helping my friend Dan pack up and move out of the dorms a few weeks ago. He was playing these mashups by some bro who calls himself 'Speaky'. Apparently Speaky was the one who released an album last spring that was 'accidentally re-tagged' as Girl Talk's then-upcoming Feed the Animals.

Speaky's mashups are instantly recognizable as being different from Girl Talk's. The overall production doesn't sound as good and seems less, I don't know, Girl Talky. I don't know a ton about mashups and couldn't list more than a few mashup djs (the first obvious two being gregg & the hood internet), but it seems like Speaky uses a lot of the same effects that Girl Talk uses, except more often, sometimes to a fault (too much squeaky voice). There is a huge overlap in the samples in Feed the Animals and Mashcore Volume 2, the album that was being passed off being the new Girl Talk. This is pretty weird. Coincidence? Mashcore 2 was released about a half a year earlier. Hm.

Overall, I'd recommend checking out Speaky at the very least. His albums are all free on his website, I'd start with Volume 2.5 and then go for Volume 2. Poor (even poorer?) man's Girl Talk? Maybe. But there are definitely some cool moments (plus more daft punk samples).

Download Speaky's music for free here.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

weird songs

I was thinking about weird songs and how many of them I had on my computer. I made a mix of some of the best and worst ones...I mostly included songs that didn't seem to be trying to be weird, although some of them are so far from 'normal' or even 'acceptable', I had to use them. Disclaimer: Some of this is really, really bad. That's the point.

'WEIRD SONGS'
104 MB, 76 minutes


1. YMCK - カモン!スウィングオールスターズ

I downloaded this from WFLM. chiptune+jazz influences+J-Pop vocals=really, really weird
2. The Apples In Stereo - King of Carrot Flowers, Pt. 3
I really like Apples, but this is really weird.
3. The Beach Boys - Unreleased Backgrounds
From a 'Pet Sounds' reissue...why?
4. The Blood Brothers - Under Pressure
A peppy cover of the Bowie/Queen classic.
5. Sonic Youth - Piece Enfantine (Nicolas Slonimsky)
One of the tracks on this mix that I genuinely enjoy. From their series of performances of 20th century avant-garde compositions.
6. Black Kids (Feat. Lil Wayne) - Not Gonna Teach Him (The Twelves Kickmix)
Featuring a cut-and-pasted Lil Wayne verse.
7. Calvin Johnson - Sorry Entertainer
A cover of the Daniel Johnston classic. This guy's voice is even more hard to listen to than Daniel's! Yikes.
8. Descendents - Weinerschnitzel
What?
9. T.I. - Whatever You Like (Dubstep Remix)
I have a lot of weird dubstep remixes, I decided this was the weirdest.
10. DeviJive & The Uptown 5 - Krakyani
An intro to a Fond du Lac local band's cd.
11. New Kids on the Glock - D.A.N.C.E.
Towards the end of the track, it gets better.
12. Chewy Chocolate Cookies - It Was Only A Kiss
I really like most of CCC's remixes, but this track sounds like electro Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
13. Dan Deacon - My Name is Robert
Pretty Durn Weird.
14. Fall Out Boy / Kanye - Scene/Arms
I have no idea where this came from. Sort of glad I don't have more than a minute and a half of this.
15. Das Racist - Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell
There is a Wallpaper mix of this that I like, but this original is really, really bad.
16. Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks (Tom ato Remix)
For anyone who hasn't heard this yet, enjoy.
17. Flo Rida v. Stardust - Music Sounds Better Heaps Low (Whack-a-Tone Blend)
Pretty redonkulous.
18. I Set My Friends on Fire - Crank Dat Cavalry Boy
If this track doesn't scream (really) 'NOVELTY', I'd like to see what does.
19. The Advantage - Zelda (Fortress)
The guitar player of Hella is in this band. All they do is covers of NES songs.
20. Necro - The Most Sadistic
Probably my favorite rap song ever.
21. Popchor Berlin - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
Probably my favorite German a cappella cover of Daft Punk ever.
22. Soulja Boy Tell'em - Turn My Swag On (Instrumental)
Step One: Set this song as your morning alarm. Step Two: Karaoke. Step Three: Get Said Swag On.
23. Superclowns - Poopy
I namedrop 'DJ Skillz' as often as I can. That's from this track.
24. Khoomei - Fedor Tau
Thank you, Smithsonian Museum, for giving me a sampler of weird throat noises from across the world.
25. Richard Cheese - Buddy Holly
Get Your Swank On.
26. Radiohead - Nude (Hipster Runoff Remix)
From HRo's glory days.
27. John Cage and the - 7_03
ha.
28. Toadally Krossed Out! - Toads Theme
Awesome.
29. Ween - Where'd the Cheese Go?
Rejected Pizza Hut Jingle (really)