Work Tunes: gil scott-heron

Showing posts with label gil scott-heron. Show all posts

Friday, February 8, 2013

Pink Moon Summerteeth Hideaway (February 11th - 15th)

Hello and welcome to Work Tunes.

It's a hot one this weekend in Perth. I'm enjoying the relatively mild 37 today before we hit 42 tomorrow apparently. I haven't cranked the airconditioner yet, but it is imminent. Right after I finish writing all this down.

This week I have a couple of selections inspired by some recent vinyl purchases - from Joni Mitchell and Television (Yes! they finally reissued Marquee Moon on vinyl and one of my long time white whales is GOT). There's the final disc of the Gil Scott-Heron compilation, as well as a Wilco favourite. A recent documentary viewing has inspired Wish You Were Here and I've slotted in Belly - Star for a hit of nostalgia. And speaking of nostalgia, there's Bat Out Of Hell II - don't you judge me! Finally, two bonafide classic albums from the greatest and probably the second or third greatest rapper ever - B.I.G. and Eminem.

Check it out:

Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Begins (Disc 3)
The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die
The Weepies - Hideaway
Television - Marquee Moon
Meatloaf - Bat Out of Hell II
Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark
Wilco - Summerteeth
Belly - Star
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP

Top Five Artists Last Week

Gil Scott-Heron
Jurassic 5
Jesse Malin
José James
Veronica Falls

Song of the Week : Local Natives - Black Balloons

I don't know much about this band other than people have been raving about the album. So I decided to check it out and it is pretty good.

The song I picked, Black Balloons is a bit much of a Bon Iver derivative, but Local Natives have infused that distinctive sound with a bit more rock by adding a bit of grunt on the drums. But the layered vocal harmonies and especially the main riff sound like a Bon Iver royalty cheque. Not everything on the album sounds that way though and it's a good listen if you haven't already. See what you think.

Toodles

There you have it. Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy your weekend people. Wherever you are, I hope the fun, the tunes and the laughs are free flowing.

Hasala malakim.

Friday, February 1, 2013

Waiting for Hummingbird Power (February 4th - 8th)

Hello and welcome to Work Tunes.

I trust you had an unforgettable long weekend just gone if you're an Australian, or just an amazing regular length one if you're not. Last week at work was again flat stick. I don't think I paid my playlist selections the attention they deserved. I'll try to make up for that this week, even though I'm sure to be even busier again.

What I've got to listen to is disc 2 of Gil Scott-Heron and Freedom, Rhythm and Sound. I have a Dylan masterpiece and a Pearl Jam also-ran, because it's been ages since I heard either. There's new stuff from Jose James and Veronica Falls, as well as old favourites Jenny & Johnny. I've got the Local Natives album everyone's been raving about and up to bat for Hip Hop this week is a Jurassic 5 album and the hotly anticipated (by me) 2013 Golden Era Mixtape.

Check it out:

Top Five Artists Last Week

Tori Amos
Gil Scott-Heron
Q-Tip
Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs
California X

Song of the Week : Jesse Malin - Brooklyn

This SOTW is hard to choose because I’ve been so overwhelmed with work I have barely heard what I’ve been listening to. What I’ll do is select one of my favourite tracks from an album that just happened to be on my playlist this week; one I know I haven’t used before.

Jesse Malin is a Ryan Adams produced act and you probably know that. I actually discovered Malin and Ryan about the same time through that Uncut compilation that introduced me to Come Pick me Up. This song was also on there – Brooklyn. It’s about the inner city living of a struggling artist and the tol the city took on his relationship, to the point where she moved from their Manhattan place to the relatively calmer burg of Brookyln.

The bridge on this song is one of the best things about it. It’s such a stand in line for 20-something artistic/professional ennui

“I sometimes lie awake until sunrise / Wondering have we become what we despise”

Au Revoir

I'm between outings at the moment, with a spot of shopping this morning and a jaunt to the West Coast Eagles Fan Day on the cards now. My brainwashing program for my daughters is almost complete mwoohahahaha!

Have fun and stay safe people. Be excellent to each other, always.

Hasala malakim.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Revolutionary Spanish Destruction Rocks

Hello and welcome to Work Tunes.

Happy Straya Day. If you're out and about celebrating, by all means be thankful you had the good fortune to be born into a beautiful natural landscape with a whole heap of privileges you can take for granted, but don't be a dick about it hey? Don't forget that the actual date represents an invasion of one nation over another and the subsequent oppression of the traditional owners. Owners who didn't even have a right to be counted in a census until as late as 1967. Maybe have a sensible discussion about moving it to the date on which we acknowledged the humanity of the people who lived and loved this land for over 40,000 years - the 27th of May; when we became one Australia and not when we were invaded by Britain.

And so to the music. First up, I guess I know what it says about my state of mind at the minute, I have some hardcore stick-it-to-the-man music from Gil Scott Heron and a revolutionary jazz compilation. Both of those are multiple disc sets, so they'll be back next week. To fill the 'old favourites' spots, I have Ray LaMontagne, Tori Amos and Jesse Malin. Representing Hip Hop you'll find Q-Tip and Pharoahe Monch. Another compilation from Uncut, this time all new music, plus She's Spanish, I'm American thanks to last week's SOTW leaves only a new release from California X.

Check it out:

Top Five Artists Last Week

Hilltop Hoods
Bruce Hornsby
The Autumn Defense
Datarock
JEFF the Brotherhood

Song of the Week : The Jam - Pretty Green

I am going with a The Jam song today. I had Sound Affects on this week's list and at the same time watched a two part BBC thing on Growing Up Poor. This song Pretty Green seems like it was made for a documentary like that - with talk about money and power and music and the whole English accent thing.

I've never closely followed the catalogue of The Jam, beyond the odd track on a compilation, plus That's Entertainment has always been a favourite. But the Mojo book I was reading recently really talked up this album, so I thought it was worth a shot. It was.

Catch Ya Later, Mate

Have a great day wherever you are, but especially here in Australia. Just don't use it as an excuse to wave a flag at people who don't look like you, or believe in the same God as you. Use it as a day to be 'Australian' which is multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and hopefully forward thinking. We used to be the 'clever country', remember?

Hoo roo. Hasala malakim.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Playlist : December 5th - 9th, 2011

Hello and welcome to Work Tunes.

Just a really super quick one this week because I've been away all weekend down South. I chose these albums hurriedly before I left.

Disc two of Springsteen's Tracks was an easy choice. After a Velvets kick last month I felt like some New York Dolls. The new Hilltop Hoods song made me get all mooshy for Skip Hop, so there's some Cross Bred Mongrels (featuring now DJ for the Hoods, Dj Debris) and Terra Firma. Honeyhoney I discovered last week, so I'm giving them a go along with Summer Camp who I also recently found. New Black Keys, old Joanna Newsom, The Low Anthem and the always excellent Gil-Scott Heron and we're done.

Check it out:

Top Five Artists Last Week

The Rolling Stones
Pixies
Bob Dylan
Bruce Springsteen
James Brown

Song of the Week : Hilltop Hoods - I Love It (featuring Sia)

In all likelihood, if I could get hold of a copy, this week's SOTW would be off The Roots' forthcoming album Undun. I've been streaming it once a day all week from NPR. But, no leaks and no release yet means I have to go with something else. This something else is pretty damn great too. And speaking of no release, the Hilltop Hoods album that I Love It is from doesn't drop until February. Right around the time that I'm off to see my very first Hilltop show and also to see Radams with two of you lovely people. Jamie if it isn't too soon post-baby, grab a ticket for the show ($40.80) at Capitol on Feb 3 and I'll meet you there. I wasn't going to go, feeling as I am too old for a packed crowd full of homeboys, but damn it I love these guys.

And that's why I chose this song in lieu of The Roots. Hilltop are without a doubt the pinnacle of Oz rap. These guys dragged the mainstream in without losing their original fanbase and everything they've done since The Calling has been untouchable. Record sales, first oz hip hop #1, highest placing rap song ever on JJJ, Arias galore. This song doesn't seem to have fallen off the pace either. That fantastic Sia hook and the usual larrikin lines from the lads has already made the song the #1 iTunes release last week. I don't listen to broadcast radio any more, but I'm guessing JJJ is killing this already. So I apologise if you've heard it on air a million times. I can only hear it when I play it - which is a lot!

Gotta Go

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you're weekend was a good one. I need to go sleep mine off.

Hasala malakim.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Playlist : March 14th - 18th, 2011

Hello and welcome to another pared down version of Work Tunes.

This week there's a couple of new artists for me in Blind Pilot and Jack Johnson. Yes, I have honestly heard no Jack Johnson (well apart from that song he did where Ben Stiller was in the film clip). I'm also looking forward to the remix version of Gil Scott-Heron's 2010 release I'm New Here - done by Jamie XX and called We're New Here.

This is what it all looks like.

Top 5 Artists Last Week

Dolorean
Snoop Doggy Dog
Tori Amos
Sonic Youth
Mellow Drum Addict

Song of the Week : Dolorean - Country Clutter

I know a couple weeks back in a daze of being newly smitten with Dolorean I picked one of their songs. It was a good song, but probably not a good representation of them. The other day, my copy of their latest album The Unfazed arrived. This track, Country Clutter is more true to why I really like them. It’s interesting how it shuffles along in a bit of a death march as well as building at points like it’s about to kick the distortion pedal on. Lyrically, it’s honest and angry and a little bit bitter, which I always like. Enjoy!

Postscript

Most of this post was cobbled together prior to today. I saved this draft before hearing about the earthquake in Japan. I debated whether to just post it without acknowledging that tragedy, but I just couldn't do it.

The footage I've seen tonight is impossible to ignore. The thick slow sludge of the ocean around Sendai swallowing the farm lands and the vast tracts of sheds; sweeping houses and vehicles and fences along, like some cheesy black blob from a 1950s sci-fi film. I'm not one for prayer, but I do hope with every ounce of my own being that no more lives are lost. The last I heard, more than 200 bodies had washed up on the beach. It's terrifying and horrid and all too big to fathom. 200 lives or 200,000+ as on Boxing Day, 2002, it makes no difference; one is too many.

起死回生 kishi kaisei : Wake from death and return to life.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Playlist : Top 10 Albums of 2010

Hello and welcome to Work Tunes.

This week, I have chosen my Top 10 of 2010. This list is not necessarily of the 10 best albums released all year, it's just my personal favourites released all year. I also have to stress, this is not in any kind of preferential order. If I had to pick the best album of 2010 from a personal point of view, I'd say Wake Up! is it.

On top of the list, I've made a mixtape of one track from each of the albums. You'll find a link at the bottom of the post.

This year for me has been a good year for discovering new artists, thanks largely to NPR and KCRW and their excellent album preview features. A few of these new artists made it to the list. And here it is:

The Weepies - Be My Thrill : Two years on from the album that got them some well deserved mainstream attention, Hideaway, The Weepies released something a little less weepy and a lot more cheery. While Be My Thrill contains a few sad, sweet tunes, the title track and the catchy I Was Made for Sunny Days are a large slice of sunshine. ****

John Legend & the Roots - Wake Up! : When I heard Compared To What from this set for the first time, my jaw dropped. I was stunned that so much old-fashioned funk and soul was coming off a track from an album released in 2010. The other tracks on Wake Up! are in the same mold. This is probably my album of the year. *****

Ben Folds & Nick Hornby - Lonely Avenue : I must admit I've never read a Nick Hornby novel, but I have seen the excellent film adaptions of High Fidelity and About A Boy. It's obvious that Hornby writes good everyday type people well. Combined with Ben Folds' uniquely suburban heart and pop sensibilities, this colaborative effort makes for good listening. ****

Best Coast - Crazy For You : Released in July, which is Winter in the Southern Hemisphere where I am, this album sounds exactly like Summer. You can almost smell the coconut oil and the sea breeze mixed with the smoke from the late night bonfire at the beach party where romances are born and hearts are broken. This is joyfully rowdy pop music for the Sun. ****

Ray LaMontagne and The Pariah Dogs - God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise : The fourth album from raspy-voiced country/folk songwriter Ray LaMontagne was the very first one I heard. The bluesy, sweet melody of New York City's Killing me had me instantly sold on LaMontagne's style; and the rest of old-time roots record does not disappoint. ****

Aloe Blacc - Good Things : It was I Need a Dollar that made me want this album. Like Compared To What on the John Legend and the Rootrs LP, Dollar stunned me with true 60s/70s soul and the groove behind it that really makes it bounce. 2010 saw soul music fans like me given a little taste of what was still possible with the genre. ****

Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues : Another artist who has been around for some time whom I only discovered this year. Harlem River Blues is a collection of tunes that lend a little from everywhere; including rockabilly, bluegrass, folk, alt-country, blues and rock. It's a well-rounded album with the standout title track, One More Night in Brooklyn and the heartbroken Rogers Park. *****

The National - High Violet : For me at least, and for a good number of music publications, 2010 was The National's year. The massive success of 2008's Boxer and a busy touring schedule meant High Violet was much anticipated. Things got even more hyped with the release of a new The National track on the $1m raising charity compilation Dark Was the Night. Something of a hit single relatively speaking, Bloodbuzz Ohio ensured High Violet got to #3 on the US charts where Boxer had peaked at #68. *****

Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here : Released early February of this year, I'm New Here ended a 13 year absence of new material from the man some would call a proto-rapper. This is an album about redemption, about finding a way through a new and not always welcoming world. After a long life of drug problems, incarceration and hard living, Heron seems to be contemplating what lies ahead and how it all ends. Here is music from the very soul of a man with a lot of soul. *****

She & Him - Volume Two : The very digable Zooey Deschanaul and indie songwriter M.Ward released a collection of simple pop that sounded like the 50s run through a Doris Day film filter in 2009. That was Volume One and this is Volume Two, which is more of the same. Deschanaul wrote the lyrics and her voice is well suited to the pop from another age. There were stronger tracks on Volume One, but this is by no means inferior. ****

So those are my very favourite albums from this year. Please, feel free to comment this post and tell me where you think I got it right and where you disagree totally. I'd love suggestions for better albums to listen to that I haven't caught yet.

In the meantime, here is the mixtape I promised you, made up of a track each from my Top 10. You can get hold of it here. Tracklist is as follows:

Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here

John Legend & the Roots - Compared To What

Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar

The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio

Ben Folds & Nick Hornby - Claire's Ninth

Best Coast - Bratty B

The Weepies - Be My Thrill

Justin Townes Earle - One More Night In Brooklyn

She & Him - Thieves

Ray LaMontagne and The Pariah Dogs - New York City's Killing Me

That's it for this week. I'm officially on holidays from Christmas Eve, so no Work Tunes for the next fortnight. You may find a review or two over at Make Films Not Movies.

Take care and have an outstanding break, you crazy cats. Peace man, right on.