Ronny Jordan

i like what he offers to jazz music.
now, I am not a jazz connoisseur by any means, but I do dabble in it from time to time.
Mr. Jordan here is one of my modern favourites.

He plays a more smooth jazz sound.

If you hear the guitars on his classic 'The Antidote', you would know what I'm talking about. Hell, if you enjoy the jazz rap fusion of groups like A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Common and Digable Planets, I'm sure you'll enjoy Ronny Jordan as well.

After hours tracks: 'So What', 'Cool', 'After Hours', 'Rio', 'Mackin' and '(The Theme from) Underworld'.

Self Scientific

are...Chace Infinite and DJ Khalil

what i love about self scientific is that they're classic.
dj and emcee
from Gangstarr, Hi-Tek & Talib, Eric B & Rakim, and DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.

the beats are nice and the rhymes are good.
I can't really say anymore.

give angelesrecords a shot, to me it ain't no stonesthrow but hey invest in it now and it can be.

songs: live n breath, run the depth, king kong, 2 step

boss hog barbarians

j zone & celph titled.

i like the production here by both guys. j zone (del, biz, devin the dude) celph (redman, 45 king, fabolous)
this album features shared production by the two.

this album should be out today.
peep the technique.
pick it up and get the free instrumental cd too.

does production = good cd?

find out.
hey i'm not gonna tell you about their sound. could be fourtet or it could be kris kross. Let me know.

The Procussions

From Colorado to L.A., I'm digging this group.
I love the philosphy that this group has.

Percussion is the heart of hip hop.

True to the 't'.

It's easy to compare them to the roots. Heck they're probably the only other hip hop act that makes use of real instruments.
Think back to 1999 or maybe 2000 roots, and that's what their sound is like.
Give Mr. J, Stro and Resonant a try.

the storm, miss january, wegotta: tracks you gotta peep.

feist

leslie feist.

she's the next big thing.

well i'd like for her to be.

her voice is so calm and pleasing.
her guitar work is great.
of course her lyrics are gold.

a member of broken social scene, and the lead singer for a few other groups, Ms. Feist, honed her craft in Paris and when she made it big, she came back to Canada, after hanging with Peaches for a bit.

If you've never heard her voice live, it is something to behold.

My girlfriend and I, enjoyed her free show during Canada Day last year, at the CIBC stage at Harbourfront.

There are no tricks to her singing, (okay there was this cool voice manipulation she did during the show), and she just like Jenny Lewis, does not need to belt out 20 octaves to be successful, as her ability to tell and weave a story using her distinct voice is what does it.

To top it off, she seems like a really cool person and gives that off during her stage shows, and damnit, she looks super cool holding that Gibson guitar.

Let it die with these songs: Mushaboom, Inside and Out, Gatekeeper, and Secret Heart.

jenny lewis

i've been a big fan of ms. lewis for a while now.

her vocals in The Postal Service, to Rilo Kiley, and her new album Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins are something to hear.

There are those who can belt out 8 octaves American Idol style and there are those singers who can flat out sing.
Jenny falls into the latter grouping.

Very etheral, its hard to dislike Jenny music.

SO get up, get some cool friends who like good music and let them create a mix tape for you, it will probably feature songs like: "Science vs Romance" (Rilo Kiley), Plane Crash in C (Rilo Kiley), Handle with Care, and You are What You Love.

For those of you who love quirky facts, here's a young Ms. Lewis before her status as an Indie darling.

Jenny in 1989's The Wizard!

[not the watson twins]
She'll always conjour up memories of "He touched my breast!"
ah good times that movie.

sloan

the next great Canadian rock band. new Nirvana. the most famous band you've never heard of.

they are Sloan.
Guitarists Patrick Pentland and Jay Ferguson, bassist Chris Murphy and drummer Andrew Scott.
Hailing from the East Coast of Canada, these sultans of rock are a force live.

I saw them last year? or was it the year before that, at Toronto Island, co-headlining with sam roberts amidst other great Canadian talent.

Easily the best rip roaring rock show ever.
Each member of the band can sing, and are quite adept at using instruments besides their labelled specialty.

I really can't say anything else about God's gift to rock and roll, so begin to enjoy my favourite Nova Scotians via these great hits: Money City Maniacs, The Good in Everyone, The Other Man, Everything You've Done Wrong,and If It Feels Good Do It.

hi-ya-tus.

been away for too long.
4 months actually.
mini spotlights on my favourite artists.

enjoy.

elvis costello

Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus.
also known to the world as Elvis Costello.

i remember him as a punk from those 1970s box set collections that Time Life produces.
i oddly also remember him from the 1980s as a man who had a great singing voice.
i didn't really put two and two together until I was older and actually able to appreciate music more.
I cannot really give justice to any review of this man.
His music can touch anyone. Great unique voice from a great song writer.

yes, despite his racist comments. (drawn during a drunken rage. do some research and you'll find articles and a press conference referencing it) but if you also do your research you'd fine Elvis Costello to be a big contributor to 'rock against racism' both before the incident and afterwards.

you may consider him to a rip off of buddy holly but look past that and enjoy an artist who has been rocking since the late 70s.

Stiff tracks:
'radio, radio', 'everyday i write the book', 'pump it up', 'don't let me be misunderstood', 'mighty like a rose'.

the strokes (retro review 2000)

Casablancas, Fraiture, Valensi, Moretti and Hammond Jr.

I first heard of them early in 2000 when folks were quietly saying something big was going to happen in the NY music scene.
I was able to download a copy of The Modern Age (EP 2001) and was quite impressed.
I hadn't heard anything like them, but i did like their sound as it reminded me of a raw garage type sound like the old CBCG band, Television.
Upon hearing their debut album, Is This It? (via download of course) I was quite eager to purchase it, but then learned that the song 'New York City Cops' had been removed due to sensitivity that surrounded September 11.
["New York City Cops, they ain't too smart" being the big line]
I just couldn't purchase an album that was missing a song that I favoured.
Years later the album is still missing that track, but it can be found in the accompanying DVD. Not really how I'd enjoy listening to it. I prefer music to be played on my stereo as opposed to my television.

Do I still like The Strokes?
Yes. It's hard not to. I didn't really enjoy their follow up album Room on Fire (2003), but I am liking this new album First Impressions of Earth, It's growing on me, but I will always remember that first great album Is This It; as it is really fucking difficult to top one like that. (see The Stone Roses)

sounds unlike television: new york city cops, 12:51, reptilia, juicebox, last night, soma

gorillaz (retro review 2000)

the gorillaz
the animated, fictional band.
i love animation. and i love concepts.
comprised of 2D, Murdoc, Noodle and Russel they dip into many different styles of music - hip hop,punk, kinda metal and rock.
Their website was amazing. All in flash, you could tour Kong Studios and browse each band members room with lots of bonuses and hidden treats for those who wanted to look and learn.
Originally called Gorilla and later changed to Gorillaz, Damon Albarn of Blur and Jamie Hewlett creator of Tank Girl, are responsible for this mess of great music.
Other 'real' members of the band could include but are not limited to, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Miho Hatori (former Chibo Mato), Rosie Wilson, Dan the Automator etc.

songs tank girl would love: rock the house, feel good inc, 19-2000, punk, clint eastwood.

the hives (retro review 2000)

a garage rock sound.
i think i really love the garage rock sound. It's what lead me to the white stripes. (actually hearing that they were opening for my favourite band of the moment (2001) The Strokes, was what lead me to hearing (ahem downloading) them.
'Howlin' Pelle Almqvist, Nicholaus 'Arson' Almqvist, Nikael 'Vigilante' Carlstoem, Dr. Matt Destruction, and Chris Dangerous are Your New Favourite Band.
I liked how they were a uniformed band. There haven't been many of them since KISS.
I heard Veni Vidi Vicious in 2000, working part time at Sunrise Records.
"hate to say i told you so' was my favourite track at the time or was it "Die, All Right!"
Heck, I just loved this band.
They have this Clockwork Orange look to them that just matches their sound.
Did I tell you how I'm a big fan of the little things?
Little touches like matching costumes and the fact that when performing live they actually are able to reproduce their CD sound.

Songs that came, saw and conquered: "A Get Together to Tear It Apart", "Find Another Girl", "Walk Idiot Walk", and "Die, All Right!"

neptunes (retro review 2000)

ah, the neptunes.
Record producers, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo.

I first heard of these guys on a Norega's 'Super Thug' and then heard their beats featured in The Backstreet Boys - The Call (remix)
Excited at the possibility of them actually being close to releasing their own album, I was telling folks whom I'd assume would be excited about good music (the cafeteria crowd during my high school radio broadcasts and my friend RJ) they all shit on them at the time. Funny now, since RJ would suck Chad's balls dry now. (he has all the N.E.R.D. albums and has gone to their concert)
Of note, I don't own a one of their albums.
Casualty of the insane prices for CDs during that time. ( I would love to own N.E.R.D. - In Search Of..., as it is truly a great piece of work, 'Clones' and 'Fly or Die' well those are pieces of shit.)

songs that go 'doom doom' [that neptunes sound]: rock star, run to the sun, bobby james, ludacris - southern hospitality, kelis -caught out there, no doubt - hella good.

the exploding hearts

*ed. note: Yes, I know I said I would do a retro review re: 2000, but in doing my reviews, I decided to write about this great band first. So, hopefully you can learn about a great group to add to musical tastes.*

Pretenders? I think not.
Imagine a band that captured everything great about the late 70s punk sound.
Call and response, three chords, a Britpop sound that would have been comfortable in the NYC scene that was reemerging with the critical and marketing powers behind The Strokes.
I had first heard this album via a mass download back in 2002 in what I believe to be 128 kbs. (I've long since upgraded to 320)
Their album is hands down a kick ass record that takes you on a spin in roughly 30 minutes.
I can't recommend this album enough.

Sad to note though that the dream band you had imagined is no more. On July 20, 2003, hardly a year after this fantastic release, frontman Adam Cox, drummer Jeremy Gage and bassist Matt Fitzgerald were killed in a car accident coming back from a show in San Francisco.

They were barely in their early teens, capable of creating such great music.

They didn't even get to bathe in their success, much like Holly, The Bopper, and Valens or any other rock superstar that passed before they could truly ignite like a supernova.

They would have been huge. Really. Give them a listen and I'm sure you'd be hard pressed to find a band better than them.

Songs of note: 'Throwaway Style', 'Modern Kicks', 'I'm a Pretender'.

next up. i believe that's me.

a retro review.

taking it back to 2000.

retro reviews of groups that I said would be big, but just never got around to purchasing their albums.

I was on the school radio station CFMG (C for the Canadian broadcasting ie. CFNY, CHFI etc; fmg for Father Michael Goetz) and wanted to be the one who's show featured the newest music and of course more hip hop.

I had many different radio partners, one with jay milkfart, we were 'the outsiders', one with RJ we didn't officially have a name (but we did a cool Stan Bush - The Touch remix, also featuring a Musiq Soulchild beatbox by The Rick, a few shows with my current girlfriend (but not back then, I was still a lovestruck don juan) Mary Anne, the stations manager.

Thinking back as to why I needed to be so bloody knowledgable about music, was probably because I thought Mary Anne knew so much about indie music, so I overcompensated for my lack of knowledge and dipped into many different genres, eventually figuring out what music I liked and totally shit on. (oh industrial music, you were shit on)

I got into the Pixies because her favourite song was 'Here Comes Your Man', from the Pixies, I found Shonen Knife, and the Talking Heads, Television, Stone Roses and Led Zeppelin.

learning about the music goth's were into, renewing my passion of classic rock (thank's Rock On Peter for letting me listen to your mixtapes) and getting praise for introducing more hip hop before hip hop was cool and all kids were Eminem, 50 or John Cena. (remeber when Ja Rule was cool? It was brief but think hard. 'Holla Holla' or 'It's Murda')

I love knowing what other people are listening to. I mean it was great to know that there was another hip hop head out there in Jay. (his CFMG mixtape included such great classics from Common - I Used To Love H.E.R., The Pharcyde - Passing Me By, Deelite - Groove is in the Heart, and Pete Rock - T.R.O.Y.) and today he's all about Nicolay, Prince Paul, and of course The Handsome Boy Modelling School. My homie Rick was is into stuff like Coldplay, Blackalicious, Jason Mraz, N.E.R.D. (which I'll get into later) and the Mayer, John Mayer. (I remember shitting all over this pick. What a gay pick. But man, after giving the Mayer a chance, I see him for the truly great guitar player he is.) My other homie Chua, introduced me to J-Pop and to the likes of Bonnie Pink (It's Gonna Rain from the Kenshin Soundtrack) and other artists who's songs I still enjoy from the mixtape he had given me a long time ago.

Colin Generao, product of progressive rock, new wave, rap, friends, Solid Gold tapes from the gas station and all those late night Time Life music collection ads, was becoming a musical database.

I hear so much yet share so little.
Maybe its that indie in me that doesn't want too many people on the bandwagon.
Maybe I'm just selfish like Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.

I don't claim to be the end all be all of music as I am constantly discovering great music.
World music has just bliped on my radar (Thanks MUS 501 music class), funk, break beats, as well as many indie rock artists who continue to either repllicate or innovate or just suck balls.

I'm always open to hearing more music as you will usually find me with my earphones on, listening to either something cool and new(Free Design, Blondie, Harlem Shakes or Lou Reed), , or just plain embarrassing. (Ashley Simpson - Boyfriend, FeFe Dobson - Everything, or Kelly Clarkson - Miss Independent; but nonetheless fun.)

So, yeah, retro review 2000.
Hives, Strokes, Gorillaz, Neptunes.

MF Doom

None is as feared, none has as many foes as...DOOM.
If you are a fan of hip hop. A fan of music. You will be a fan of Doom.

Daniel Dumile Zev Love X king Geedorah, Viktor Vaughn, MF Doom

Call him what you will. Enjoy him under any of his monikers. He is the man.

Usually covered up by his modified Gladiator mask, hooded much like Marvel's Doctor Doom, MF Doom is a recluse, gypsy like. An ill character who is going to be around for a long time. Kinda like a SUPER VILLAIN.

He's survived the death of his brother in the revolutionary group KMD (Kausin Much Damage), and just like KRS One who went on minus DJ Scott La Rock (Shot in 87), Dumile preserved on and reemerged around 98-99.

I being a big comic book fan was immediately taken to his album covers. As I too am a big Doctor Doom fan. Any fan of Doom is a friend of mine.

I've never seen the man rap live, but from all the bootleg concerts that I have of him, all I can say is: amazing. (not so much like spider man, but more so like the mets)

It doesn't matter who he collaborates with, it always turns out to be a classic. From KMD to MF Grimm, or Madlib to Dangermouse, you can't deny the hip hop greatness there.

He's like BDP (Boogie Down Productions) all in one. Yep, that powerful.
Power cosmic powerful.

I wanted to wait to feature MF Doom here (before the year was done) but I just can't be selfish and keep this harbinger of great hip hop to myself.

Pick up one of his albums or you can wait and get the as yet unreleased album Special Herbs V0-9 Boxed Set. You'll be more than glad you did.

Greatest bumps: 'Special Herbs Vol 0-9', I Hear Voices, Mic Sounds Nice, What A Nigga Know, Deep Fried Frenz.

Ultramagnetic MC's

The Ultra Maaagnetic EEMMMMMMMMMM CEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEs.

They began in a hip hop golden year. 1986.
I heard them in 1988. The first year I was introduced to hip hop.
My cousin new to Canada had bought a few mixtapes (to try and fit in with the cool crowds, he was young back then) and I found myself enjoying this new sound.

It would be years before I would actually own one of their albums. (thanks milkfart!) Let me tell you it is still as awesome to listen to it today as it was back in grade 2.

The Ultramagnetics were composed of Kool Keith, Ced Dee, T.R. Love, and DJ Moe Love.

They introduced complex and out of the box rhymes (Keith), innovative production (Ced Dee) [see BDP's Criminal Minded as he helped out with that, and read the Ultramagnetic MCs Critical Breakdown liner notes).

The group is no longer together, but some of their members Kool Keith in particular are still active and doing quite well (Dr. Octagon anyone?). It's a pipe dream but if The Ultramagnetics could get back together again...maybe feature Common and an intro by KRS One...well damn. One can only dream.

Party peoples, in the place to be...some of my fav tracks of the ultramagnetic emmmm Ceeeeees: Give The Drummer Some, MC's Ultra, Ego Trippin, A Chorus Line Pt. 2

The Kleptones

The Kleptones, aka Eric Kleptone is a DJ from the UK who has produced several internet-only bastard pop albums.

A Night at the Hip-Hopera was his break-through and most highly acclaimed album which fused Queen's rock music with rap vocals & many soundbites from movies (such as Ferris Bueller's Day Off) and other sources.

I don't know about you but I love these mash ups. Dangermouse got the exposure but the Kleptones did it proper.

Each one of these tracks is awesome. The best cd you can't purchase.
He is currently working on a new EP which he hints may become a full-length album, entitled You Can Run at the Speed of Light.

a night at the hip hopera samples!
taken from: waxy.org

02 - See.mp3
- Queen, "One Vision"
- KRS-One, "Hip Hop v. Rap" (lyrics)
- Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, "The Message" (lyrics)
- Kelis, "Milkshake" (closing sample)

03 - Live.mp3
- Queen, "Keep Yourself Alive"
- Afrikaa Bambaataa & Family, "Got to Get Up/Just Get Up and Dance" (thanks, Eric!)

04 - Bite.mp3
- Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust"
- Justin Timberlake, "Like I Love You" (intro)
- Ol' Dirty Bastard w/Kelis, "Got Your Money" (lyrics)

12 - Sniff.mp3
- Queen w/David Bowie, "Under Pressure"
- Belinda Carlisle, "Heaven Is A Place on Earth"
- Vanilla Ice, "Ice Ice Baby"
- Prince Paul w/De La Soul, "More Than U Know" (lyrics)

15 - Break.mp3
- Queen, "I Want to Break Free"
- Aaliyah w/Timbaland, "Try Again" (intro sample)
- Beastie Boys, "Shake Your Rump"
- Beastie Boys, "Body Movin'"
- Beastie Boys, "Alive"

19 - Expose.mp3
- Queen, "Flash"
- Brandy, "The Boy Is Mine" (intro)
- Beats International, "Dub Be Good To Me" (SOS Band/Deborah Cox cover)

If you dug The Kleptones you may also like their other net only albums, Yoshimi Battles the Hip Hop Robots or From Detroit to J.A.

the postal service

Indietronic bands unite.
The Postal Sevice features singer Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and producer Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel. Several songs on their first LP, Give Up, feature guest vocals from Jenny Lewis, the lead singer of Rilo Kiley and vocals from Jen Wood, an indie rock solo artist.

Now where did I first hear of this group? I believe it was when I was searching for more music by Death Cab for Cutie. Someone on a message board mentioned this 'side project' and after a download, I was hooked.

Why the Postal Service?
Their name comes from the manner in which their songs were written, due to the fact that the two of them lived too far away to be able to work together in person. Tamborello would create beats and mail them to singer and lyricist Gibbard, who would then edit them and put his melodies over the tracks and mail them back. Any lyrics weren't written until the track had been completed.

In 2004, the United States Postal Service sent the band a cease and desist letter citing their trademark on the phrase "postal service". After negotiations, the USPS relented, allowing the band use of the trademark in exchange for promotional efforts on behalf of the USPS and a performance at their annual National Executive Conference.
The USPS website sells the band's CDs. How fucking cool is that?

songs that deliver the goods: 'such great heights', the district sleeps alone tonight', and 'nothing better'.

stars

a Canadian indie rock band. maybe you've heard of them?

I've been quite lazy and haven't really got a chance to post about them (and so many other bands)

I had the chance to purchase their album, but Mary Anne wanted it more and thus she bought it. we have this rule where we can't both purchase the same album. (now if we were to break up...well we'd have to purchase those albums again now wouldn't we?) Hence me not owning stars but owning the postal service (who need an entry here too).

back to stars...

The band includes singer-guitarist Amy Millan, vocalist Torquil Campbell and keyboardist Chris Seligmanbassist Evan Cranley and drummer Pat McGee.

For those trying to keep up with the 'bandcest', (my girlfriend's term for all this band affliction going on) Millan and Cranley are also members of the indie band Broken Social Scene.

I truly am unsure of when I had first heard of this band...oh yes I remember. It was in a Vice Magazine, they got a pretty crap rating for their 2001 album, something about it being to mushy or something.

Anyhow, I decided to give it a try just like I did with Fefe Dobson, whom Vice was very high on [or was it just writer Fritz?] and although she has become very poppy, I still enjoy her music; but anyways, the sense of polyphonics that you'll hear from Millan and Campbells' dueling voices is something to hear.

Please give them a try and go out to support their shows, any group from the Art & Crafts label truly deserves your support as they put on a kick ass show.

Songs you'll set yourself on fire to: 'one more night', 'ageless beauty', 'what i'm trying to say' and 'what the snowman learned about love'.

jonathan rice

An amazing singer-songwriter. (well, okay, he has the potential to be one)
I know you all want a comparison...so how about we compare him to 'The Mayer'.
Except, he has a better voice and his lyrics are possibly stronger, but alas I am quite confident that he can't play the guitar like 'The Mayer'. (that mofo can jam chord for chord with fucking Buddy Guy!)
I remember compatriot rick and i talking that if john mayer (who is awesome with the guitar, talented with writing and has a good voice) could merge with jason mraz (who has an awesome voice, writes poorly and plays okay guitar) the would would have a great super artist.
Jonathan Rice sure does come close to realization of such an amalgamation.
I'm quite sure he'd love a comparison to Van Morrison, Bob Dylan or even Wilco, but that will only come in time.

Expect good things from this guy.

Anyhow, stand out tracks on his album, 'Trouble is Real' are: 'Lady in Memphis', 'City on Fire' and 'The Acrobat'.

the robocop kraus

The Robocop Kraus

Alright, this band isn't new (they've had 3 previous albums), but they're good.
Sure you could compare them to Franz Ferdinand, but the differences can be told very quickly.
1. They are actual from Germany.
2. they've been rocking since the 90s.
3a. lyrically they provide some thought.
3b. they are the robocop kraus

maybe they're an 80s throwback kind of band, or maybe they just make fun (could use more catchy hook) music.

Synth pop/rock or punk-disco-pop-rock whatever they do, is good.
Give these real Germans a listen.

disco pop punk rock for your ears: 'Danny is Passing', 'A Man is Not a Bird', 'You Don't Need a Doctor'.

the magnetic fields

The Magnetic Fields

Lead by Stepin Merritt, this band is great.
Great.
Great.
Great.
I love how they're able to produce great concept albums such as:
69 Love Songs (full of, yeah you guessed it, love songs)
i (all song titles begin with the letter i)

The writing is chalk full of sexuality (yes, even homosexuality) and its fun to listen to. (You know how you like to dance to Franz Ferdinand's 'Michael'? Well, you can't dance that hard, but you can listen and go "Shit damn that is a good song'.)
I wish I had discovered this group earlier, as I would have loved to of purchased their albums when they had been first released, as opposed to wasting my money on 'The Nutty Professor 2' soundtrack or whatever other horseshit cd I've purchased over the years.

Songs to download: 'I Don't Believe In the Sun', '100, 000 Fireflies', 'I Don't Really Love You Anymore', 'A Chicken With its Head Cut Off'

the sam roberts band

Rue St Laurent. The mecca of Montreal rock and roll.

What can I say?

Oh I know.

WHY HASN'T SAM ROBERTS BLOWN UP BELOW THE 49th PARALLEL???

a classic true rock sound, the look, and pretty freakin good songs?

The response: "I don't know".

Now, I've seen Sam Roberts live act twice in my lifetime. Once during the famous 'SARSstock' that featured The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, and Justin Timberlake among others, and also on Toronto Island co-headlining with Sloan.

Both times fucking rocked.

At the first concert Sam Roberts (Sam and his band) tore the grass off that airport strip/park as they were the fifth band up and their little 3 song set was on fire.
Sam wanted to play more, but was called off by the stage crew.
He apologized and left to quite the ovation from the Toronto crowd.

Mary Anne really really wanted to see Sloan perform. She had missed out on an earlier concert due to illness and wasn't going to miss out on this one. I of course agreed to go with her because Sam Roberts was on the card as well as a lot of cool new Canadian bands.

Let me tell you, Sam Roberts set was amazing. We were probably 8-10 rows away from a new rock diety.

Pick up his album 'We Were Born In A Flame', if you already haven't as it is great. (motherfucking awesome is more like it)

*I hear that Sam and the boys are working on a new album. New label etc. I hope that they blow up this time as you're not gonna hear anything like them from all those whiny bands that MTV keeps catering to.*

nellie mckay

Respectable. Really.

19 years old residing in Harlem. (yes, Harlem)
You may draw comparisons to Norah Jones, Billy Holiday, Eminem and Frank Zappa when hearing her clear voice.
This girl will eventually bring to us a masterpiece from her witty, creative and extremely talented mind.
I have no real clue what to tell you about her music.
You'll either hate it or adore it. I personally fall into the latter category.
Seriously, this girl can be one of those mainstream artists that you'll see on the cover of all the magazines, but instead she does her own thing and writes music that radio chooses not to hang out with.
Her album is almost Beatlesque in its sound (White Album, Yellow Submarine, vinyl kind of sound) and her live sound is probably a cross of Blondie and the Ramones doing a cool stage show together, very New York.
Will Ms. McKay have an unplugged or live album coming?
Here's hoping.

*She has a new album coming out that I'd love to get an advanced copy of, featuring with duets with Cyndi Lauper! (Beecharmer) and k.d. Lang!!!*

Songs that you'll love: 'David', 'I Want to Get Married', 'Waiter'.

marc bolan & t-rex

20th Century Boy

A progressive star in the world of rock and roll that became the man who put the 'glam' in 'glam rock'.

Born Mark Feld in Hackney, London on July 30, 1947, this man would become known to the world as Marc Bolan.

It's amazing who the famous meet along their way to the top. Marc was no exception, befriending a then unknown Cat Stevens and sharing gigs at folk and blues clubs.

Yardbirds producer, Simon Napier-Bell discovered Marc and asked him to front a band called 'John's Children', he only did so for four months before going off on his own.

1967 comes along and Marc Bolan meets Steve Took a drummer who shared Bolan's interest in magic and mystic. Both were fans of J.R. Tolkien and drew inspiration from his works.

John Peel had a popular show called "Top Gear" on BBC's Radio One, and the spots on here were very much coveted. Marc and Steve's group, known as Tyrannosaurus Rex, became one of the quieter groups of the underground music scene and were offered a few apperances on Peel's show.

1970 rolls around and Bolan has become dissatisfied with the 'underground scene'. Steve Took departs the group and Mickey Finn takes his place. Marc Bolan took this opportunity to change his musical direction.

David Bowie was a big influence of Marc here and Marc on him as the two renewed their friendship and musical styles.
Gone was the acoustic approach; enter the electrical era.

Marc shortened the name of the band to T-Rex, and horrified his progressive rock fans. John Peel declined to play their records as Marc remained unmoved wanting to play and produce more "good funky energy rock music".

1971 to 1973, T-rextacy was running wild, a fan worship period unseen since The Beatles.
Number one records...Get It On (Bang a Gong), Jeepster, Telegram Same, Children of the Revolution etc. just could not be stopped.

it took them a year to do what the beatles did in 4.

As the teen demand declined, Marc moved on and began to move on to his first true love, producing.

Sadly Marc Bolan's highly promising career never took off as in 1977 he died in a car crash.

I discovered T-Rex quite by accident. There was this 'scanslation' of a manga (Japanese comic) called 20th Century Boys by http://www.mangascreener.com (I say was, because it was recently licenced by Viz Comics) and in it they focused every now and then on the music that inspired the main character, Kenji, this music was from the band T-Rex, who wrote the song 20th Century Boy.

If you haven't heard the song, you may recall it from the old Mitsubishi commercials in the early 80s or from the great Placebo cover that they performed with David Bowie during the 1999 Brits.

A great band that people need to give more credit to and the band that brough the 'boogie' back into rock and roll.

Songs of note: 20th Century Boy, Children of the Revolution, Bang a Gong (Get It On)

teleport.

I moved from chewingchewinggum

to here.

this is officially a music page dedicated to artists old and new whose music I appreciate and would like to share.

I am nnot trying to be pitchfork or amazon, i'm just me an avid music listener and lover of downloading.