Work Work Work

It's going to be a pretty busy week over here, I'm busy finishing up work and I'm busy working on the all important end of the year lists. That means things are going to be pretty quiet over here as far as regular posting goes. So, just hang tight, reread some past posts, download a song or two. Soon you will be rewarded for your patience.

Download via Mediafire:

Elvis Costello - Welcome to the Working Week

Where Are The Protest Songs?

As we quickly approach the end of the year I find myself asking the same question I have asked myself the past few years. Where are the protest songs? I look at America and see Her engaged in two wars, broken economically, homeless, without adequate health-care for many of it's people, and I see Her college students rioting over their education costs. Social tension is extremely high in this country right now, and I keep asking myself, "Why aren't there any songs being written about this?"

I love indie rock, I feel the bands of the past decade have offered a lot of positive things to the long history of music in America, however I do feel there is a disconnect between the world many artist's portray and the world that we actually live in. I have heard many love songs in recent times, and songs about nature, but hardly any political topics are being discussed. Is this the artist's choice? Are they afraid to? Especially this past year I have found it hard to connect to many of the summery lo-fi pop bands that are coming out of the west coast and New York, mainly because their music does not speak to the world that I live in. It is not the happiest of times, why are we being bombarded with light-hearted music? Is it to act as an escape from reality? To make us feel like things are better than they really are?

In the 60's and 70's political music served as a strong voice for civil and social change. Protest songs were something that people really could rally behind. Even Hip-Hop and Rap in the late 80's and early 90's were extremely influential in their communities. Artists like NWA and Public Enemy served as a beacon that African Americans could relate to. Why haven't I, in recent times, heard a well-written politically fused song on the radio? And I don't mean those superficial repugnant Rock Against Bush punk albums. Saying "Fuck The President" over and over again doesn't help your cause. Honestly, other than Bright Eyes' "When The President Talks to God" I can not thing of one good protest song in the past ten years. Have you?

To further my point, I have posted "Outside of A Small Circle of Friends" by genius folk artist Phil Ochs. In the 60's Phil released Americana classic that serves as an attack on social apathy in America fueled by the stabbing of Kitty Genovese. This song is packed with imagery, and protest both straight forward and tongue-in-cheek. This is the kind of songwriting that our recent generation of artists need to incorporate and evolve to meet the needs of today.

Download via Mediafire:
Outside of A Small Circle of Friends

The Middle East - Blood

Download via Mediafire:

Blood

Another Look Ahead

Athens Georgia trio The Whigs have announced they are putting a new album out in 2010. This excites me a lot since their sophomore release Mission Control has been on repeat in my room lately. This loud raucous group has the southern soul of early Kings of Leon but with more of a Foo Fighters drive to them. Needless to say, if they put out another disc of this caliber, The Whigs could have a great 2010.

Download via Mediafire:

Right Hand On My Heart

Production City

Rain in LA.

It is pouring here in L.A. I haven't seen it rain this hard in a long time. Whenever it rains I find myself listening to music that either has something to do with rain, or evokes a mood that accompanies it. This song does both. From Sonic Youth's classic album Daydream Nation it's "Rain King."

Download via Mediafire:

Rain King

Here Come The Holidays

Christmas time is in full swing over here, decorations are hung, everyone's bundled up (yes even in Los Angeles) and of course the radio is riddled with sappy fucking Christmas music. Normally, I can't stand Christmas music, nor do I like it when a favorite band of mine puts out a Christmas Album (I'm looking at you Bob Dylan). Even I will start to post a holiday ditty or two in the coming weeks leading up to the big day. However, I would like to take this time now to post our very first comedy post! When I first started this blog I wanted to include comedy, however I've been shying away from it due to the plethora of music I have to offer. However, I feel this is a perfect time to start.

One of my favorite comedians, Patton Oswalt has a tremendous joke about his least favorite Christmas tune. It's an old bit of his, however someone recently took his joke and put animation to it, making it all the more enjoyable. I give you Patton Oswalt's Christmas Shoes

Fugazi

After listening to the newly released 40 minutes of Fugazi stage banter provided by Chunklet, which is surprisingly listenable and often hilarious, it has inspired me to sing the praises of this band as well. If you aren't familiar with Fugazi, get with the program. Fugazi were/are (they've been oh hiatus for awhile) one of the most important punk bands to come out of D.C. in the 90's. To say a Fugazi concert was brutal is an understatement. Their model of a concert is something that I feel every band should take after. They played anywhere, geography didn't matter to them. They only played all ages venues and would only charge their fans $8. How they turned a profit is a mystery to me, but they have had a successful career doing it. I would love to see these guys start up again, to say you've bled at a Fugazi show is a rite of passage, and is something that you will tell your kids, much like you're parents telling you how awesome Hendrix or Pink Floyd were.

Their third release I'm On The Kill Taker is my favorite Fugazi record to date, not only because of it's politically charged punk brilliance, but also because of the album art. The cover to this record somehow plays a part, it's image of the hazy Washington Monument in the distance perfectly captures the mood of the album and in some sense adds to the experience of this record as a whole.  

Download via Mediafire

Walken's Syndrome

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II

I like every genre of music, however I am extremely picky within each genre. Rap is no exception. One of the first rap groups I came to like was Wu Tang Clan. Their music was so raw, political and brutal. After a few albums, the collective of Wu started to release their own solo albums. One of these artists is Raekwon. He has released a few albums, which I am not very familiar with, and recently he guested on Blakroc. However none of those releases measure up to 2009's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II. This record could be considered a Wu Tang record since every member (even the late ODB) guest on it. This results in one of the most fully thought out, and immense hip-hop records I have ever heard. This rates right up there with GZA's Liquid Swords and the best Wu-Tang Clan records. If you are even just the casual rap fan I recommend checking this release out, it's that good.

Download via Mediafire:

Cold Outside (feat. Ghostface)