More Beck

Bibio: Ambivalence Avenue

Released through Warp Records, combining folk and electronic, found sounds and other beats, this album moves. Some may find it abrasive, others may find it brilliant like I do. If you like Prefuse 73, Boards of Canada or other artists under that umbrella you will enjoy this record. It just has such a diverse sound, covering so many musical departments.

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Bibio: Ambivalence Avenue

Stanley Brothers: Earliest Recordings

This is a collection of, yes, the earliest recordings of the amazing mountain music made by the Stanley Brothers. Since this was recorded when they were, they are taken from original 78 recordings so there is some hiss. However, due to its age and the honest sound the Stanley Brothers make, it only adds to the whole sound.

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Stanley Brothers: Earliest Recordings

Grant Green: Alive!

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Grant Green: Alive!

Beck

David Byrne: Live EP

This is taken from his latest run on the road, performing songs from his latest album collaborated with Brian Eno. I recently saw him perform at Celebrate Brooklyn in Prospect Park. It was nice to know Mr. Byrne still has it after all these years.

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David Byrne: Tour EP

Paul Simon: Graceland

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Paul Simon: Graceland

It Might Get Loud

Shaolin Soul Vol. 1

A little wonderful bird, who has the DC area on lock down, informed me of this amazing album consisting of the originals used to make the beats we all love found on Wu-Tang records. It is like a game listening to these tracks and finding which parts were sampled. The best part is the tracks are amazing just the way they are. There are three other volumes of these records so if this fits your fancy, there is more to enjoy.

Ann Peebles - Troubles, Heartaches & Sadness

O. V. Wright - Let's Straighten It Out

The Charmels - I'll Never Grow Old

David Porter - The Masquerade Is Over

Willie Mitchell - Groovin'

Al Green - "You Ought to Be with Me"

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - "You're All I Need To Get By"

The Emotions - If You Think It (You May As Well Do It)

Bob James - "Nautilus"

Al Green - Gotta Find A New World

Donny Hathaway - Little Ghetto Boy (Live)

Syl Johnson - Could I Be Falling In Love

Wendy Rene - After Laughter (Comes Tears)

Lyn Collins - "Ain't No Sunshine"

The Dramatics - "In The Rain"

Gladys Knight & the Pips - The Way We Were

O.V. Wright - "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child"

Booker T. & the M.G.'s with Judy Clay - Children Don't Get Weary

Barry White - Mellow Mood (Part 1)

I'm on a Mission, that niggaz say is Impossible

But when I swing my swords they all choppable

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Shaolin Soul Vol. 1

The Doctor Will See You Now

I went to see a doctor today. He was a specialist. He was a proctologist. I have to admit it was pretty uncomfortable. Thankfully, the guy is amazing. I have known him for years and since it was so long since I had seen him it actually felt he was genuinely happy to see me. He grew up in Brooklyn and quickly escaped the city for the trees of Connecticut years ago and has the perfect balance of intensity and kindness. I tried to stay positive during the examination and tried to keep my mind in a place where I wouldn't think too much about what he was doing. I tried to think about how many of these holes he has seen over the years. I thought about if he has ever found a way to look at his own hole. I wondered what topped his list of the absolute grossest situation he has ever witnessed. I have to admit all these thoughts were not working. No matter where I went I could not escape the reality that this man was going at me a like some high end, freaky S&M prostitute. Luckily it didn't cost hundreds of dollars and take place in some hotel room near the airport and all I had to pay was the $20 co-pay. It did offer me another reason I do not understand why someone would pay for sex.

Larry and Conan

A Face Workout - That Really Works!

via Everything is Terrible

Consider Not Having a Child

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Why The F**k Do You Have a Kid?

Jean Michel Basquiat

via Gothamist 

Weekend in Brooklyn

Reading the Words of a Crazy Old Fuck

I am shocked and saddened with what happened in Washington DC at the Holocaust Museum. For this to happen frightens me that there are people out there who feel so angry about something that is so irrational and idiotic. After reading about the situation on the NYT website I thought I would research the James Von Brunn. As many know, he had a website that had numerous rants about how he felt towards the Jewish and African-Americans population. The site has been taken down but I found a place that copied a rant the old, piece of shit wrote. Here is what he said:

Remember, the Federal Reserve Act (1913) gave JEWS control of America’s MONEY. Followed by control of America’s main sources of information .

Early on, during the war-torn 20th Century, the only broadcast networks : ABC, CBS, and NBC — were JEW owned. Today, JEWS control ALL important sources of information (The major networks, Newspapers, Magazines, Book-publishing, Tin-Pan Alley, Music & Recording Industry, Hollywood, Encyclopedia Britannica, Public schools and Universities, the Catholic Church, etc.).

Bit by bit Liberalism ascended. Bit by bit the Constitution was re-interpreted. Bit by bit government institutions and Congressmen fell into JEW hands — then U.S. diplomacy, businesses, resources and manpower came under JEW control.

Whitemen sat on their collective asses and did NOTHING - NOTHING BUT TALK. Never before in World history has a Nation so completely been conquered with absolutely NO physical resistance.

Whites LOVE their Enemies.

Today, on the World stage, Whitemen are LAUGHED AT, their women bred by stronger men.

And America ?

America is a Third-World racial garbage-dump — stupid, ignorant, dead-broke, and terminal.

Prepare to die, Whitey.

jvb-88

First off, I find it wild that he is 88-years-old. You think that by the time you are of that age you would finally realize that your opinions and beliefs are simply wrong. For this old fuck to be so hateful towards certain people or groups is fascinating to me because being on this earth for 88 years I feel it is impossible to not come across examples that these groups of people he hates so much actually have beautiful, heart-felt, honest and trusting people. I feel that it is impossible to live that long inside your own head and not see the beauty people posses. Second, I get a kick on how his rant of what the Jewish community 'control' the Catholic Church made the list. Really? Now, you old piece of shit, I am starting to think you are not a just a fucking racist but actually a bat-shit-crazy fucking racist. 

Mr. Van Brunn I hope you have a slow and painful death. Your actions make me sick. You have no right to take another man's life. And for you to complain so passionately about living in the United States why did you not leave? Why did you take up space in this country breeding hatred? It is a shame these types of events have been happening recently. We have so many other problems to deal with. We, as a country, should not have to deal with people who have such a horrible, naive, ignorant and flat out incorrect belief system. There are so many evil people out there but at the same time there are so many beautiful people that spread happiness and love whenever they possibly can and I thank those people that do spread love because we need that so badly right now.  

Blockhead: Music By Cavelight

A friend at work turned me onto this album and I thought I should pass it on to others that may not be familiar with it. The production on this album is beautiful, filled with melodic beats and rhythms that just move so well. If you are a fan of DJ Shadow or other instrumental albums that focus on the groove I believe you will enjoy it. To test the waters here is a clip for my favorite track on the album "Sunday Séance". It is one of the more mellow tracks where the others have a more "hip hop" groove to them.

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Blockhead: Music By Cavelight

Pig and Dog Napping

Wolf Parade: I'll Believe in Anything

This is from the CMJ Sub Pop Showcase in 2005. I went with no idea who Wolf Parade was and I was blown away from their performance.

Birdman on Carroll

There is a man who, often when the weather is nice on the weekends, comes to the corner of Carroll and Washington in Brooklyn. What he brings with him is interesting to me. He arrives with three or four bird cages. He connects the various cages high on top of street and electrical poles. I can only imagine he is giving his birds the opportunity to get get some fresh and catch some rays. The nice part is that there is a nice chorus of exotics birds signing and chirping all day out on the corner of my street. I find it unique and beautiful and I like the thought that these birds make the man very happy which in turn makes me happy. 

Do You Enjoy Mos Def?

You should check this out if you do.

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Enjoy This

Sigur Ros via La Blogotheque

I keep watching this. It's beautiful and strange and I love when those two are friends.

Jorge Ben: Africa Brasil

This is my new favorite. I have no idea what the lyrics are but I do not care whatsoever. The music grooves and its sexy as hell. The album just kicks down the door with the first track Ponta De Lanca Africano. From there its just a wonderful collection of songs for you to just get down to. Blast this through your speakers and you will immediately smile. I have always been a huge fan of funk and soul and this record has that scattered through out. There are songs that are fast and upbeat and then there are those ones that simply groove, hard. I would not be surprised if Quentin Tarantino or Wes Anderson end up using his music because it has that amazing soundtrack sound all over it. Maybe I should make an the world's best indie film - ever - and put Jorge Ben on the soundtrack and beat them and everyone to it.

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Jorge Ben: Africa Brasil

Bonnie "Prince" Billy: Ask Forgiveness

I stumbled over this little gem I never knew existed so I thought I would pass it along on to you people. This, essentially, is an EP of various covers by Will Oldham AKA Bonnie "Prince" Billy. Now, I know everyone makes albums similar to this but what caught my ear was the song choice Oldham choose to cover. Besides one track written by him, Oldham chose to cover a Danzig song, an R. Kelly song, a Merle Haggard song and some others you will enjoy. The best part about it is they sound nothing like the originals, they just sound like beautiful melodic folk songs. See what you think because I think your ears will give this one a thumbs up.

Bonnie "Prince" Billy: Ask Forgiveness

"I Came Here to Hear the Music" (Mickey Newbury)

"I've Seen It All" (Björk & Thom Yorke)

"Am I Demon" (Danzig)

"My Life" (Phil Ochs)

"I'm Loving the Street" (Will Oldham)

"The Way I Am" (Mekons/Merle Haggard/Sonny Throckmorton)

"Cycles" (Frank Sinatra, written by Gayle Caldwell)

"The World's Greatest (song)" (R. Kelly)

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Bonnie "Prince" Billy: Ask Forgiveness

Haircut

It feels so good but those first few days after a haircut I feel like a complete weirdo like you are walking around with another person's head. I love when you cut off all of you hair and people ask if you got a haircut. I usually just say no and that I have just been wearing a wig for the past five months, going to toy stores, cutting off doll hair and sewing it to my wig to make it look like it was growing. Yeah, that is what I did. I had shaggy hair, now I have short hair. Things change and right now it was my hair. I get my haircut from an old Italian man named Giuseppe. He is probably in his 70's and has a strong Italian accent. He takes breaks, this time he took two, to cough up something in his lungs. I don't mind, I enjoy him. He makes broken English jokes about how much hair I have or how hard it is to cut through it. I laugh, genuinely, every time. I am afraid of salons and I enjoy that when I come in and its slow he is sitting there reading the paper and smoking a cigarette. He is the only barber there and he lives upstairs. He reminds me of the old Brooklyn way of life.

In fourth grade I found a woman's wig in my home. For some reason I wanted to wear it to school. I have no idea why I did but the desire overcame me. I went to my mother and told her I wanted to wear this curly woman's hair wig to school and she simply allowed it. I walked to the school bus with my too big backpack, there was a good chance I had my cassette walkman with me and my newly acquired wig. Tim and Andrew and those two sisters, whose names escape me, probably looked at me like I was nuts. I probably enjoyed the thought that they felt that way.

Pavement: 1999 Netherlands

The quality of the recording is perfect. The best part is that since it was recorded in 1999, the pavement sound as a band, had matured drastically by this point. This certainly ain't your S&E style performance! There are some beautiful tracks, some rocking tracks and a whole bunch of fun. If you enjoy Pavement you will enjoy this recording.

Pavement: November 16, 1999 Netherlands

 -intro-

 Shady Lane

 Spit On A Stranger

 Billie

 Rattled By The Rush

 Major Leagues

 Stereo

 Cream Of Gold

Ann Don't Cry

 In The Mouth A Desert

 Gold Soundz

 You Are A Light

 The Hexx

 Give It A Day

 Folk Jam

 Stop Breathin

 -break-

Range Life

Date With IKEA

Whip It

 Debris Slide

Fight This Generation

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Pavement: November 16, 1999 Netherlands

What The Hell?!

Planes are disappearing, another major automaker has laid down in its financial grave and there seems to be a news story every other day about someone getting shot. What the hell is happening, world?! Bad things come in threes is what I heard on the playground. I believed it because I am superstitious to an extent but it seems we have gone well beyond the number three. Sure, the news loves it when things go bad. Heart warming examples of people overcoming struggle and coming out a winner just does not sell as well as someone getting physically hurt or even killed. We need those positive stories right now more than ever and I hope they start coming soon. I feel like the news machine smiles just a little bit when terrible things happen. I have the same feeling when it comes to Rev. Al Sharpton. When, unfortunately, a black person is killed by a white person, I can't help but think he jumps up and clicks his fat ankles as he is putting on his $3,001 suit before some press conference where he screams about racism. I think I am just a bit tired about hearing about how bad things are right. I know the time are bad but sometimes its gets frustrating reading the news and almost all of it is bad news about traumatic actions and even worse news about shitty celebrities and singing competitions and who got liposuction and why do we fucking care about a mom who birthed eight children and because of that her marriage is supposedly complete shit?

So to counteract all the bad news I have added some totally cute baby animals.

Ryan Adams

Here are a couple of shows, primarily just Ryan all by himself, for you to enjoy. The first one is from Nashville and show is solo Ryan except for when the very talented Gillian Welch joins him on stage for a few songs. I have a feeling some of you may like this show. The second one was recorded in Berlin on November 6th, 2002. On the last track there is a woman singing with him but I do not know who it is. Maybe your ears do.

Ryan Adams: October 28, 1999 Exit/In Nashville, TN

Born Yesterday

Funny How I'm Losing You

Memories Of You

Oh My Sweet Valentine

To Be The One

Hey There, Mrs. Lovely

In My Time Of Need

Onslow County

Folklore

Revelator*

Dancing With The Women At The Bar*

Helpless*

Return Of The Grievous Angel*

16 Days*

Nighttime Gals

Statuettes With Wounds

Avenues

* with Gillian Welch 

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October 28, 1999 Exit/In Nashville, TN

Ryan Adams: November 6, 2002 Passionskirche Berlin, Germany 

Oh My Sweet Carolina 

Tomorrow 

Sweet Lil Gal (23rd/1st) 

To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High) 

The Fools We Are As Men 

SYLVIA PLATH 

Damn, Sam (I Love A Woman That Rains) 

Bartering Lines 

(Ryan tells two stories) 

My Winding Wheel 

In My Time Of Need 

Dear Chicago 

You Will Always Be The Same

Brown Sugar (Rolling Stones) 

(Ryan chats) 

Jim 

When The Stars Go Blue

Come Pick Me Up

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November 6, 2002 Passionskirche Berlin, Germany