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Sunday, December 25, 2005

"He got a cannon that's bad..."

Posted by El Keter ben Tzadik

Brand Nubian emcee Sadat X, the self-proclaimed "quiet bald head," lived up to his other self-proclaimed title of "bad motherfucker" this week when he waved a loaded pistol in the faces of a group of Harlem teens while searching for a mysterious "guy with braids."

The 1990s rap star allegedly said, "I'm going to kill everybody" while waving a loaded .40-caliber black Baretta at the youths, police told the New York Post Saturday.

Police were called the to the scene Thursday where the teens pointed out their assailant, who was standing across the street still allegedly brandishing the large weapon, the newspaper said.

Sadat X, whose real name is Derek Murphy, 37, attempted to flee but was tackled and arrested. He was arraigned Friday on charges of criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest.

This could be an indication that "The Gods Must Be Crazy," or it could just be another incident where "Punk Jump Up To Get Beat Down." Either way, you'd expect a guy with so much "Experience & Education" to "Slow Down" when he's holding heat in such a public place.

Posted at 07:18 AM
Filed under — Music Notes

Just pretend that I uploaded these MP3's to a spot beneath your tree

Posted by El Keter ben Tzadik

I haven't been dropping posts in "Keep It On The Download," the MP3 section of our blog, very often. But since it's the "season of giving" I thought I'd lace you with a couple of tracks from some albums I've been bumping the last couple of weeks to make up for lost time.

~~Beck "Clap Hands"~~

~~Exile "Dirty Robots"~~

~~Bigg Jus "Energy Harvester ( Swallow The Sun )"~~

~~Talib Kweli feat. Mos Def "Supreme Supreme"~~

So enjoy the generosity. But don't forget to check out the full-length albums these tracks are taken from, as they're all pretty damn solid in their own right. And look for me to be just as inconsistant with my posting of MP3's in the new year.

Posted at 04:38 AM
Filed under — Music Notes

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Danger Mouse and M.F. Doom's "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" video is "numbah one in the hood gee!"

Posted by El Keter ben Tzadik

The Danger Doom project from producer Danger Mouse and emcee M.F. Doom was a pretty big deal this year. The result of their collaboration, a full-length LP titled 'The Mouse And The Mask,' was one of the best records of the year. And one of the best songs on that album was Doom's take on the theme-song to the Adult Swim animated series 'Aqua Teen Hunger Force,' a song titiled ( what else? ) "Aqua Teen Hunger Force."

An animated video for the song, featuring a rhyming mouse wearing Doom's trademark metal mask and stylized versions of all your favorite 'Aqua Teen Hunger Force' characters ( including refferences to 'The Transformers' and Frank Miller's 'Sin City' ) has been released to acompany the track. You can peep it by clicking the picture at the top of this post, or this link to the Epitaph Records media player which has the clip in Flash, MPEG and PSP formats. Or you can go check out the Danger Doom website where they have it in Quicktime.

Posted at 06:04 PM
Filed under — Music Notes

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Incluso Jehovah no podía ahorrar la nueva canción del Príncipe!

Posted by El Keter ben Tzadik

I don't know what the hell Prince is thinking most of the time. Whether it be his fashion choices, the fact that he records tons of material only to squirrel it away in "the vault," or even his recent conversion to Jehovah's Witness-ism, his methods and intentions are almost always more than a little perplexing. The most befuddling thing about the man however is how someone who was once so dope could be so content with being so mediocre now.

Prince was once an androgynous, multi-instrument playing, synth-funk genius who could be a ribald sleaze-monger, a slick social commentator, a charming story-teller, a steamy lover-man and a fiery prophet all on one album. He was an innovator, and one of the biggest superstars in pop music. That was the Prince I grew up listening to. The Prince whose albums, 45's, limited edition 12'' singles and other miscellany was collected right under the family stereo.

Today's Prince however is a flavorless, middle of the road, milquetoast caricature of only the blandest, least dangerous, least groundbreaking, and least interesting elements of his former self. And it's never been more clear that that's the case than it is when listening to his new single "Te Amo Corazon." There's just no reason that an actual Prince song should sound like a "smooth-jazz" cover of a Prince song. But that's exactly what "Te Amo Corazon" sounds like.

Sure, there are signs of Prince's former composing skills on "Te Amo Corazon." The intro and string arrangements are reminiscent of his classic work, and the possibility of beauty is there in the melodies. But the execution by his musicians is just so lifeless, so bland, so "bandy." If it were 1986 and this song were crafted by Prince with his synthesizer, his drum machine, his guitar, his bass and access to The Revolution and a killer horn section for extra spice if needed, it might work. That's just not the way it comes off though. And that's not even taking into account the poor lyricism, that comes off particularly passionless ( the only hint of heat or soul is in the introductory verse's Biblical references, which is territory covered to better effect by Bilal and Tiombe Lockhart on their bootleg jam "Strange" earlier this year ) for what is supposed to be a love song. I won't even talk about the whole Spanish theme because we all know the "Latin Explosion" is long over... but for chrissakes, if you're gonna do a smoothed out latin-jazz flavored ballad at least make it as good as Wham!'s "Careless Whisper" was back in the day!

I don't think Prince has managed to do that with "Te Amo Corazon." But hey, I'll let you decide for yourself by giving it a listen right now in streaming audio format.

Prince "Te Amo Corazon"

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This "new" Prince will release his new album '31:21' on his new label Motown/Universal some time in 2006. "Te Amo Corazon," the first single from that album is available in stores and at on-line retailers this week. A video directed by actress Salma Hayek recently debuted on VH1.

Posted at 05:54 PM
Filed under — Music Notes

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Ed proves to be more of a Fighter than a Lover after all

Posted by El Keter ben Tzadik

Former host of the groundbreaking MTV series 'Yo! MTV Raps' and current Power 105.1 radio personality Ed Lover is wanted by the law for allegedly punching a woman dead in the face during an altercation at a trendy New York night-spot earlier this week.

A source told the newspaper the victim, Letitia Belford, "didn't even see it coming."

Lover's girlfriend and Belford were separated by bouncers at the club, The Post said. But Lover, 42, allegedly jumped a railing and whipped past security, slugging the woman who went flying across the room on impact, the source said.

"It's like he jumped in to finish what she (his girlfriend) started," the source said.

Sources did not however indicate whether Lover did or did not perform his patented "Ed Lover Dance" to the strains of DJ Mark The 45 King's "900 Number" over the fallen form of his defeated foe in celebration of his magnanimous victory.

Posted at 11:13 PM
Filed under — Music Notes

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

"She's a witch! Burn her!"

Posted by El Keter ben Tzadik

I didn't particularly care for the last White Stripes album. That would not have been the case if 'Get Behind Me Satan' had songs as dope as Queens Of The Stone Age's "Burn The Witch" on it. Am I saying that I think "Burn The Witch" sounds like the White Stripes when they're actually good? Yes, yes I am. And I'm also saying that the video clip for "Burn The Witch" owns your face!

But that has nothing to do with Jack and Meg White.

It does have something to do with The Arcade Fire, The Mars Volta and the Yeah Yeah Yeah's though. Ya see, the video clip for "Burn The Witch" fits right in with creepy and somewhat disturbing videos like "Neighborhood #3 ( Power Out )" from The Arcade Fire, "The Widow" from the Mars Volta and "Y Control" from the Yeah Yeah Yeah's. It's got freaky animation, weird black magic, bad kids, evil townsfolk, cloaks, skeletons, cannibalism and gore! What more could you ask for?!?!

Wait... what?

You could ask for beards? Long flowing beards? Well, it's got one of those too tough guy! And yes, that bearded fellow is ZZ Top member Billy Gibbons, who also happens to be rocking out on the song along-side the Queens!

Peep it all, right here and right now, in your choice of streaming video formats.

Queens Of The Stone Age "Burn The Witch"

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Posted at 03:22 AM
Filed under — Music Notes

Monday, December 12, 2005

Radiohead scores some Dick

Posted by El Keter ben Tzadik

While driving back to Springfield from an art opening in Amhert Saturday night Emeyesi, Miss Behavin' and I happened to catch a Radiohead tune playing on a local radio station. Hearing Thom Yorke and company caused Emeyesi to beg the question "how about another album guys?" I explained that it was my understanding that the band was in fact working on a new album and that they were sort-of documenting the creation of that album on their very own blog. I thought I posted about it here on our blog, even chiding Emeyesi for not paying attention, but it appears that I never did any such thing.

But I digress.

Just a little over 24 hours after Emeyesi wondered what those Radiohead guys were up to an article purporting that Radiohead may in fact be responsible for scoring the upcoming film adaptation of Philip K. Dick's 'A Scanner Darkly' from director Richard Linklater has popped up over at CHUD.com as if an answer from God hisself!

The movie is doing very well in test screenings, but the #1 complaint audiences have is with the score. So I can only tell you this anonymously, but the producers have approached RADIOHEAD about doing a new score for the film and it looks like everything is going to go through. So in addition to an awesome animated Phillip K. Dick film, we will have a brand new Radiohead score to look forward to. as far as I know, this is the first time Radiohead has ever done a score for the film. While this is still a "rumor" at this time, I would give it a 99% positive chance at happening at this point. Right now the papers just need to get inked.

The film, done in an animated style similar to Linklater's 'Waking Life' stars Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson and Winona Ryder. It's been under development for a few years now, and although it's apparently finished, there is still no release-date set. So, I guess it's perfectly feasible that Radiohead could be brought in to score before it's eventual release.

Regardless, the band does indeed appear to be hard at work on new material, whether any of it may end up in a movie or no, and you can check out their blog to read some cryptic refferences to what they're up to.

Posted at 01:40 AM
Filed under — Music Notes

Goldfrapp's new video is for all the sexy "bitches!"

Posted by El Keter ben Tzadik

Because all the bitches, even the "dogs" ( if you will ), wish they looked as good as the beautiful and talented Alison Goldfrapp!

The clip is for the track "Number 1," the new single from Goldfrapp's recent/forthcoming ( depending on what part of the world you're from ) album 'Supernature,' and it's dead sexy! The song itself is a cute, but sinisterly sultry slice of electro pop, and I fuckin' love it. The video is both surreal and sexy with bizarro imagery, a weird message about beauty and a whole lot of cheesecake. Yeah, the song is dope, but the video's got sexy rumps as far as the eye can see, and that's even doper!

Check it out now in your choice of streaming formats!

Goldfrapp "Number 1"

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"Number 1" is availble now as an enhanced EP featuring a couple of other tracks, a few remixes and the video on Mute Records. The full-length 'Supernature' is currently only available as an import, but a stateside release is expected in the new year, also via Mute.

Posted at 12:34 AM
Filed under — Music Notes

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Cop "the little whiteboy" this Tuesday

Posted by El Keter ben Tzadik

With Beck's remix LP 'Guerolito' set to drop this Tuesday, December 13th, more streaming audio previews of remixes from the project keep popping up. In fact, I've got four of 'em -- from the likes of Mario C, Octet, Islands and Homelife -- for you to check out right here.

Beck "Ghost Range" (remix by Homelife)

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Beck "Girl" (remix by Octet)

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Beck "Que Onda Guero" (remix by Islands)

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Beck "Terremoto Tempo" (remix by Mario C)

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What you really need to know though is that I've heard El-P's contribution to 'Guerolito,' a track called "Scarecrow," and it is so dope! That track alone makes the disc a must-have, and that's not even taking into account the other fresh tracks the various remixers turned in.

So look out for 'Guerolito,' in stores this Tuesday on Interscope Records.

Posted at 05:18 PM
Filed under — Music Notes

Friday, December 09, 2005

Despite delays Skateboard P still wants you to have "it"

Posted by El Keter ben Tzadik

The release date for 'In My Mind' the long-awaited debut solo LP from Neptunes producer/crooner Pharrell Williams has been pushed back yet again, this time to January 24th 2006!

In the meantime you can give a listen to the new, very N.E.R.D.-ish, "remix" of the Gwen Stefani featuring "Can I Have It Like That" from former Blink-182 drummer and reality TV star Travis Barker.

Pharrell Williams featuring Gwen Stefani "Can I Have It Like That ( Travis Barker Remix )"

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Barker's remix is decent, but totally redundant as it's basically the same track, just played by a band. Personally I had hoped the debacle surrounding the dueling "drum-machine" and "band" versions of the first N.E.R.D. project would have put an end to such needless instrumental replication, but no dice.

Regardless, I'm sure 'In My Mind' will supply us with a virtual cornucopia of synth and drum-machine fueled hits when it finally arrives at a store near you on January 24th 2006. Unless of course it gets pushed back again.

Posted at 03:37 PM
Filed under — Music Notes

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Disobey this sign with Probe DMS and Matthew Moffre

Posted by El Keter ben Tzadik

While you should be spending your precious time downloading our new podcast, I just couldn't resist hitting you off with links to a couple of dope online mixes from two of the New York area's notable journeyman DJ's. The mix of styles should be the perfect cure for my east coast people's snow-bred cabin fever, with one favoring warm and relaxing lounge type shit and the other being packed with dancefloor heaters.

First up, Probe DMS of DMS Country Recordings (and member of both hip-hop crew CVEES and broken beat outfit Spy Music) offers up "Smokinbrokenelevations," a solid hour (plus a couple of seconds) of red-hot broken beat, nu jazz and afro beat tunes. There's no track-list available, but I recognized a handful of the songs, and if you're into broken beat you probably will too.

Listen out for a fresh broken beat take on a certain recent Star Trak signee about a quarter of the way in. When I heard it I was floored.

After that you should check out out Beats and Words guy Matthew Moffre's "super layed back" "Loungin'" ( which you can also listen to as a streaming MP3 if that suits your desires ), a 76 minute mix of dubby trip-hop grooves, reggae vibes, hip-hop beats, lounge inspired jazziness, electronic knob twiddling, foreign flavor and other smoothed out miscellany. Again, no track-list to be had, but there's a couple of instantly recognizable voices (not the least of which being my robot-voice homie) and musical styles to be heard in the mix.

So take off your coat, say no to shoveling the walk, turn on your speakers and get your modem fired up... cuz we're having a downloading dance-party!

Posted at 12:47 PM
Filed under — Music Notes

Friday, December 02, 2005

Just because he's on Anticon that doesn't mean Why? is rapping about bearded racoons ( despite the pose )

Posted by El Keter ben Tzadik

Former rappin'-man Yoni Wolf, also known as Why? ( which has apparently become the moniker for the band he currently fronts ), is a cool guy. He's Jewish. He has a really nice beard. And though he seems to have given up the rappin' ( and the "beatmakin'" ) in favor of some emo-nerd indie-pop balderdash it's okay. It's okay because he writes odd, often pretty songs, and he has a really boss voice. Besides, he still records for the Anticon label, which was always accused of making emo-nerd balderdash anyway. And truth be told, deep down, I'm an emo-nerd myself... and I absolutely love the word bladerdash.

I also love his first "solo" LP 'Oaklandazulasylum.' It was the perfect mix of grungy beats, weird rapping, bizarre lyrics and off-key but very pretty singing. It stayed in my headphones for months and months. I haven't been feeling as warm & gooey over his new album 'Elephant Eyelash' though. The beats are pretty much gone in favor of a more band oriented approach. The rapping went the way of the beats too. It also doesn't seem as kitschy or outright weird. But it's still really pretty. And if my reaction to the new video for the song "Rubber Traits" is any indication, I think I might have been fronting on it just a little bit up until now.

Directed by Ravi Zupa the clip combines flashy colors, bugged out vizuals, zany animation, live action footage and I think some still photography and stop-motion stuff. It reminds me a lot of those breakthrough hip-hop videos of the early '90s that introduced understated special effects and wacky visuals, and it gives the music a more personal, decidedly more animated ( sorry ) personality. "Rubber Traits" comes alive in the video, and the song seems all the fresher for it. Plus it's got a bearded guy wearing headphones imitating a racoon. And you can't go wrong with imagery like that.

Why? "Rubber Traits"

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Posted at 11:29 PM
Filed under — Music Notes

Watch us whore ourselves to Astralwerks ( now with video )!

Posted by El Keter ben Tzadik

We like electronia. The Astralwerks label puts out electronica. Therefore we like the Astralwerks label.

You like watching videos. The Astralwerks label makes videos. Therefore you will watch these videos.

First up, from my new favorite band in the whole world Hot Chip we've got a video clip for the tune "Playboy" from their 'Coming On Strong' LP. Newly signed to Astralwerks via DFA, these dudes look about as ill in the video as they sound on their record. And that's a good thing. Pumping out a unique brand of soulfully ironic electronica-tinged emo-hop, these dudes are basically the exact sort of band I wish I was in.

Hot Chip "Playboy"

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Next we've got a new video from Icelandic electro-pop producers extraordinaire Royksopp for the track "What Else Is There" from their recent LP 'The Understanding.' The video's got an eerie floating albino in it and the chick singing on the song sounds vaguely like Bjork. I think you'll like it. And even if you don't you can always debate the proper pronounciation of "Bjork" to while away the time while you watch it.

Royksopp "What Else Is There"

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After that we've got a video for "Give Me Every Little Thing" the newest single off of DFA robo-funk act The Juan Maclean's 'Less Than Human' album. Cereffusion wasn't as vocal in his apprectaion for The Juan Maclean as he was for LCD Soundystem, but he's from New Hampshire, so what does he know? Me and Emeyesi love this shit. You might love it too.

The Juan Maclean "Give Me Every Little Thing"

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Following that up is a a new video for "The Boxer" by another longtime Urban Alternatives favorite and Emeyesi dandy, UK "big beat" titans The Chemical Brothers off of their 'Push The Button' LP. "The Boxer" is a funky good-time of a track and the video offers appropriately playful accompaniment. Plus the dude in the office scene has a boss beard and a snazzy sweater-vest.

The Chemical Brothers "The Boxer"

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And finally we offer you a video for "Smiling Off," a track off of Black Dice's 'Broken Ear Record' album. Yet another DFA affiliate, this album was more off the wall than any of their previous efforts. All crazy 808 kicks, weird sawtooth synths, droning noises and bugged out, almost structureless songs. This shit sounds like the band I'm actually in, if we actually knew what we were doing. The video looks exactly like the song sounds.

Black Dice "Smiling Off"

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And on that note, this old tired whore of a blog post can officially close it's legs, put on it's g-string and wipe away the stains of shame. We hope you enjoyed yourself.

Posted at 08:30 PM
Filed under — Music Notes

Thursday, December 01, 2005

The P(Love) Is Still Free

Posted by El Keter ben Tzadik

Cereffusion's favorite ( well, favorite after Definitive Jux and DFA at least ) record label Bully Records recently dropped their first official full length release, an LP from DJ and producer P-Love called 'All Up In Your Mind.' Featuring the likes of Matt Kelly, Bonobo, Simon from Quantic Soul Orchestra and a vocal appearance by Amon Tobin, 'All Up In Your Mind' is a mostly instrumental affair -- blending soft electronics, '80s punk, delicate melodies and crunchy beats -- that should doubtlessly satisfy anyone who happens to be a fan of the label's consistent 7'' vinyl output.

If you haven't heard any of P-Love's work ( and if you haven't that means you don't pay attention, since I posted a link to an MP3 of his track "Blue & Brown" back in August ) now's your chance to get in on the ground floor. French DJ and producer U-Point has posted a spectacular nine minute and thrity-five second 'All Up In Your Mind' megamix which you can download ( right click and "save as" of course ) and hazily lounge around to at your own leisurely pace. But don't be surprised if you start bawlin' like a little baby when that romantically lugubrious electric piano melody from "Blue & Brown" slides into the mix.

When the mix is finished, wipe your tears away and go buy a copy of 'All Up In Your Mind,' which is available at select music retailers right now.

Posted at 12:48 PM
Filed under — Music Notes

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If you'd like to send music, movies, books, periodicals—or anything else—to Imageyenation for review or feature consideration, please inquire about our shipping address via e-mail at keter (at) imageyenation (dot) com. All submissions of MP3s, media links, news, gossip, press releases and other pertinent information should be addressed to the same e-mail. Please note that while we're always glad to receive music and other goodies we can't guarantee that all submissions will be featured on the site.

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