it being mother's day

Friday Funk

Running a little late today, I know. I'm heading out of town tomorrow, and the day before is always hectic. But that doesn't mean that I should deprive you of your funk.

Last fall, there was a party. A massive party. An epic party! Though I was not the host, I was in charge of the music. This led to a 4 cd set of which I am quite proud. Starting today, the next four fridays will bring to you, oh funky ones, one disc of this mix.

Here is Disc One. Keep in mind this is Disc One, so there aren't really any big guns (except maybe "Hot Thing"). You can't be dropping bombs on disc one. As my middle school economics teacher once said in an exercise about budgeting money, "You don't want to blow your whole wad in one place." (The overt sexual connotation of this statement was apparently lost on her.)

So disc one's purpose is to warm shit up. My only real regret here is the oh-so-obvious Grandmaster Flash segued into the Tom Tom Club. It's a total cliche move and I wish I hadn't done it. Other than that, I stand by this mix.

I'll post the tracklist with next week's edition. Because surprises are cool.

Happy weekend!

This song finds its way into my head much more frequently than you'd think. S'all good - it's a catchy ditty.

Uploaded by Celtiemama

On a totally unrelated note, check out Santogold.

Friday Funk

Here's a classic. For some reason, the clip doesn't have the intro, so allow me to start it off:

"Pass the Peas! Pass the Peas! Pass the Peas a-like we used to say!
Pass the Peas! Pass the Peas! Pass the Peas a-like we used to say!
Pass the Peas! Pass the Peas! Pass the Peas a-like we used to say!"

The Jb's - pass the peas
Uploaded by mickeynold

And speaking of funk, check out this tight James Brown show from 1974 in Zaire over at ICKMUSIC! And poke around while you're over there - always good stuff!

Lastly, I'll say that both the new Roots and Jamie Lidell records are hot - go pick 'em up.

This post came about in response to two recent events. First, on my last trip to Pittsburgh, I found a used copy of The Complete In a Silent Way Sessions. Secondly, Steve Pond's talk on jazz at IASPM has me dusting off some records that I don't listen to often enough.

I love jazz. However, it's rare that I buy jazz records these days. This is for no good reason other than I'm constantly overwhelmed by the amount of music that I don't have. Maybe once the rock star thing pans out, I can just splurge and buy everything that I want.

While I enjoy a variety of jazz genres, I'm most attracted to the genres and figures that get experimental, deviating from standard forms and unafraid to play around with sound/noise. Off the top of my head, things like Coltrane's "Ascension" and "Om," Eric Dolphy and Ornette Coleman's so-called 'free' jazz, etc.

And of course, Miles' fusion period.

I like a lot of Miles Davis records throughout his career. He covered a hell of a lot of territory, and always seemed to be at the forefront of pushing the genre into new directions. Still, it's the fusion material that really pulls me in. Maybe that's cliche, I don't know. If it is, I don't care.

Along these lines, what I have for you today is a show from 10/17/70 titled Fillmore Densetsu.

1. Directions
2. Honky Tonk
3. unnamed
4. Sanctuary
5. Yesternow
6. Bitches Brew
7. Inamorata / The Theme

Enjoy Fillmore Densetsu.

Report: IASPM 2008

This weekend was the annual meeting of The International Association for the Study of Popular Music (US Chapter). That's a mouthful, I know. Last year was my first experience with the IASPM conference, and I was glad to be able to return.

This year's conference was conveniently held in Iowa City. Although part of the charm of conferences is going to different places, (and exploring their bars, restaurants and record stores), there's something to be said for not having to spring for a plane ticket, hotels, etc.

This year's conference was as enjoyable as last year's, and equally as draining (although that's partially due to a few other events going on simultaneously as well). I presented a paper that's I've been working on intermittently for the last year on the recent validation/legitimation of Yoko Ono's reputation in popular culture. The presentation went well, and I met someone who's actually writing a dissertation chapter on Yoko, so we bonded over that.

Here are some highlights from this year's music geekfest:

-As part of the conference, Friday night included a performance by Jon Langford and
of Mekons fame. I wasn't familiar with them, but it was a great acoustic set and some of the best in-between song banter I've heard in a while.

I didn't make it to the conference until midday on Saturday. The first panel I saw included a very interesting paper by Luis-Manuel Garcia on the vocoder and intimacy in electronic music. Part of Garcia's paper was picking apart Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek." I was going to post the YouTube clip to share, but you're better of just hearing it rather than attaching a visual. I don't know where I first heard this song, but I loved it, then promptly forgot about it completely.

The other panel I saw on saturday was perhaps my favorite. Liz Lindau gave a great presentation on Sonic Youth, John Cage and art rock, while Josh David Jackson gave another great paper on Bowie's tactical artistic and critical resurgence in the mid 1990s with 1. Outside.

I spent the entire day at the conference on Sunday. First, Steve Pond gave a plenary on the difficulties of jazz historiography.

Then it was time for my panel. Christopher Smit gave perhaps the most creatively written presentation of the weekend on the exile of Britney Spears, drawing a metaphor between our consumption and rejection of Spears to consumption, digestion and defecation. It was humorous, well thought out, and complexly framed. My colleague Dan Faltasek then gave his take on American Idol.

Then I did some hopping around. Luckily I caught Nick Rubin's presentation on college radio and the music industry. Interestingly, I felt his critique of college radio was similar to my take on public radio, and thus made me rethink the state of college radio today.

I closed out the conference chairing a panel on the relationship of music, tv and representing place. Andrew Vincent spoke on the relationship between commercial advertisers and indie music, drawing on his experience in writing a song for an Old Navy xmas commercial a few years ago:



Trevor Harvey then shared some of his ethnographic research about iCompositions.com.

All in all, it was a great conference. I liken it to a music festival. First, there are always cool things going on simultaneously and you have to miss out on some of them. Secondly, it's a great time with interesting people, but by the end, you're totally wiped out and just want to pass out for a few days.

Sadly, I didn't get to pass out for a few days. More like 3.5 hours last night. Oy vey.

Friday Funk: A new release Tuesday preview

This week, I'd like to remind you of two discs dropping on Tuesday.

First up (and mentioned previously here) is Jamie Lidell's Jim. I've abstained from listening to advance copies, but I'm told it's hot. Also, my pal Paul and I will be heading to the windy city to see Mr. Lidell in June - should be great!

Here's another one from the new disc, "Another Day":




And also on Tuesday, The Roots release their eighth studio album, Rising Down. As mentioned elsewhere on this blog, The Roots may be on their way to becoming my favorite hip hop act of all time, supplanting Public Enemy. And that's not just because they hail from my homestate of PA (albeit, the other side of the state).

I've missed so many opportunities to see The Roots live, it's ridiculous. And this summer is no exception. They're playing at Carnegie Mellon University, which I missed for being in Iowa. When I'm actually in Pittsburgh in a few weeks, they'll be playing Chicago with Erykah Badu. I look forward to living in a major city next year for many reasons, access to concerts among them.

Anyhow, from Rising Down, here's "Get Busy," featuring the one and only DJ Jazzy Jeff: