I must confess that I find it hard to mourn the death of Amy Winehouse. Don't think of me as a man possessed of a callous heart. Of course the death of a young, talented woman is a cause for sadness. But Ms Winehouse did not die in a tragic accident, as Otis Redding did, nor did a dread disease claim her, as it did Minnie Riperton. Amy Winehouse was a victim of her own excess; she lived a self-destructive lifestyle which first wounded her talent and then (as it appears) ended her life. My empathy is directed at her [...]
TeV95 - So Hard To Forget TeV95 - Hey Your Welcome Crime Loops 2 is the sequel to the smash instrumental project by Brooklyn based producer TeV95. Crime Loops 2 is a collage of beats, edits, and loops that exude a taste of urban culture with a hint of Brooklyn's art renaissance. Influenced by everything from Roberta Flack to Ruby Andrews and more. Crime Loops 2 continues to explore many different methods of sampling and editing, from the classic to the obscure. Many of today's [...]
Give the Drummer Some's Favorite Downloads from the MP3 Blogosphere "Chi! Chi! Chi!, le! le! le!" Yes, the whole crew here at the Audio Motherlode has been completely mesmerized by the miracle taking place with our fellow lamp-heads at the San José mine in Copiapo, Chile. (Watch Chilean TV coverage live.) As of this writing 14 of the 33 seemingly doomed men have been brought to the surface. While the subterranean excavation taking place here at Beware of the Blog is somewhat less treacherous, we nevertheless go about [...]
Last night I was talking with some friends and one of them brought up The Renaissance , the latest release from Q-Tip , and suggested that it was the best hip hop release of the year. If his name sounds familiar but not immediately recognizable, it might be because this is his first solo release in nine years. Or, it might be that you remember him as a member of A Tribe Called Quest , probably the most intellectual alternative to the posturing of gangta rap in the 90's. Either way, he's back after rumors of numerous [...]
It only took a dozen foaming reviews for me to finally check out Q-Tip's new joint beyond the first track I heard ("Gettin Up" was a little too Sunday School with Common and not enough weekend nasty). But thankfully Soul Sides offered "Won't Trade," where Q effortlessly slides between slabs of Ruby Andrews' Windy City soul classic. Well played sir. Q-Tip - Won't Trade (from The Renaissance ) [...]
Q-Tip: Won't Trade + Believe (feat. D'Angelo) From The Renaissance (Motown, 2008) Ruby Andrews: You Made a Believer Out Of Me From 7" (Zodiac, 1969). Also on Casanova . Large Professor: For My People From The LP (Geffen, unreleased, 1995) Having sat with Q-Tip's new album for a few...I have to say, this is phenomenal. I know I may be biased - like many rap fans who [...]
a few weeks ago gilles peterson started dropping some tunes from the q-tip album, The Renaissance, on his radio show (where you need to check out the latest show which is a vinyl only, hip-hop brownswood basement session). these tunes captured the imagination and you just knew that this was going to be such a great hip-hop album that harks back to the golden years while managing to effortlessly pull the sounds onwards and upwards in a way that only q-tip and a few others can do. i got the album [...]
Everything's Impossible Thinking Feelers Union Local 282 Bob Dinners and Larry Noodles Communion : 2001 [Buy It] Hallelujah Jeff Buckley Grace Sony : 1994 [Buy It] Girlfriend The Modern Lovers The Modern Lovers Berserkely : 1975 [Buy It] Try a Little Tenderness Otis Redding Stax : 1967 Available on: The Very Best of Otis Redding [...]
This month's WFMU DJ mp3 collection is Monica's stunning "Feelin' Bitchy" from 2005, featuring the awe-inspiring Feelin' Bitchy Monologue Medley , (mp3) produced by the one and only Steinski. (14 mp3s below) Here's how Monica tagged it for the '05 FMU marathon: A sassy stash of 60s and 70s soul sisters bust out the baddest and bitchiest man-eating monologues, raunchy raps and "tell it like it is" tracks. Dedicated to the fine art of homewreckin', heartbreakin', and all other manner of down [...]
Ruby Andrews: Whatever It Takes To Please You + You Made a Believer Out of Me From Black Ruby (Zodiac, 1972). Both also available on Just Loving You . Ruby Andrews' two albums on Zodiac in the late '60s are easily some of the best, strong-armed soul recorded by any woman in the era. Both are pricey showpieces though Black Ruby tends to sell even higher than Everybody Saw You (personally, I think both are fantastic albums though I might [...]
Any Major Dude With Half A Heart
The Word Is Bond
WFMU's Beware of the Blog
Mainstream Isnt So Bad...Is It
Butter Team
soul sides
CubikMusik...'In it for your musik.'
Souled On (Music, Art, Politics, and Life)
Moistworks
Disc Jockey Nappy XXX Danny Brown - The RefiXXX
Rhye – Open
The Killers Reveal Details Of Fourth Album
