The devil made work for an idol mind, happy holidays

25. Cymbals Eat Guitars – Why There Are Mountains

Alongside the Japandroids and Future of the Left records, this is one of the few straight up rock albums I’ve listened to a lot this year. Cymbals Eat Guitars aren’t capitalizing on any particular trends, this is just a great record that’s been noticed because it’s got great songs on it. Why There Are Mountains isn’t tied down to 2009, it sounds like it could have just as easily come from the 90’s as the 00’s, and this is to the albums credit. If Pavement were still making records, it might sound a bit like this.

MP3: Cymbals Eat Guitars – Some Trees

24. Felt – Felt 3 (A Tribute To Rosie Perez)

There have been better hip hop albums released this year, sure, but I’m not sure there are any that are this fun. Murs and Slug collaborate for the third time under the name Felt, with mutual friend Aesop Rock on production duties. This was a bold choice that paid off in a big way; while Aesop isn’t known for his production skills, with this record he’s announced himself as a genuine talent. Felt 3 contains some of the year’s best beats accompanied by classic storytelling and goofy battle raps from two now veterans of underground hip hop. I can’t help wishing Aesop rapped on this just a little though…

MP3: Felt – Protagonists

23. Owen – New Leaves

Aptly titled New Leaves, Owen’s latest album features Mike Kinsella’s best songwriting in years. While the record takes a more textured approach than we are used to from Owen, Mike’s lyrics are fantastic and struck a real chord with me. For the most part this is a record about getting into your thirties and Mike’s ambivalent attitudes towards settling down; with touching sentiments undercut by trademark Kinsella cynicism. There’s plenty of optimism to be found in New Leaves, but Mike does a great job of expressing his inner concerns; “She has saved me from the questions in my life that have plagued me, now I know who I am – a tongue biting one woman man”

MP3: Owen – Good Friends, Bad Habits

22. Oh No – Dr No’s Ethiopium

While Madlib might still be master of the beat tape, for me, his brother Oh No’s releases were the stronger of the pair this year. While I could have equally picked Oh No Vs. Now Again, it’s probably Dr No’s Ethiopium which I’ve listened to more. Oh No’s masterstroke here is not letting the ethiopian samples dominate the work, with boom bap beats making this sound like something purely hip hop. Flashes of traditional ethopian vocal or brass are used to light up the record, then on occasion given room to breath for a big impact, such as on highlight track The Pain.

MP3: Oh No – The Pain

21.Nosaj Thing – Drift

Los Angeles producer Nosaj Thing has been compared to Flying Lotus for his combination of glitchy electronics and hip hop beats. Both hailing from LA, I can see why the link has been made, but really its a convenient soundbite so journalists can say “oh boy, the LA glitch hop scene is really thriving”. Or some other bollocks. Basically, Drift rules on his own terms. It doesn’t sound like Flying Lotus, it sounds like Nosaj Thing, and it’s brillz.

MP3: Nosaj Thing – Light 1

20. Pains of Being Pure At Heart – s/t

Spent much of my summer listening to this; one of the most instant and fun records of the year. If it had been any longer it might have been repetitive, but clocking in at just over half an hour its 10 dreamy pop songs leave me gasping for more. Few records can simultaneously satisfy both my shoegaze and pop-punk needs, but this supplies both by the bucketload. Call it derivative, call it over-rated if you like, but it’s a belter of a record that is just as enjoyable now as it would be if it was released 20 years ago.

MP3: Pains of Being Pure At Heart – Young Adult Friction

19. DOOM – Born Like This

I have no doubts that this would be in the top 10 if this was DOOM’s debut. At it’s best it ranks amongst his best work; Gazillion Ear is easily one of the years best tracks, while the beat on That’s That features one of my all time favorite beats. Lyrically, too, DOOM is in good form, who when at the top of his game is pretty much unrivaled as an MC; on Ballskin he rhymes afro-trim with acronym, seriously. As a DOOM loyalist however, the record feels a little bit recycled of old beats and doesn’t sound quite ‘new’ enough. Still, Born Like This is proof that even a slightly lazy DOOM can make a record that blows the majority of MC’s out of the water.

MP3: DOOM -That’s That

18. Orphans of Cush – White Noize

This album should be doing for London what Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers) did for New York. Admittedly I’m not that up on UK hip hop, but nothing I’ve heard in the last few years comes anywhere near this. It’s bleak, honest and gritty depiction of the city is both striking and eloquently expressed; so much so that I’m surprised the liberal Guardian reading elite haven’t jumped all over this. Recycling a selection of classic hip hop beats from Rza to Pharoahe Monch, amazingly in many cases the supergroup mange to out-do the originals. White Noize is basically an hour and a quarter of pure fire.

Download: Orphans of Cush – Reflections (sendspace)

17. Dinky – Anemik

There’s normally a few Techno releases that I get addicted to each year and in 2009 it was Dinky’s Anemik. This is a gorgeous record, that sounds equally organic and abrasive. A variety of natural sounds are juxtaposed (yup, I said juxtaposed) with driving synths and mechanical beats. This is an album that I’ve listened to a lot really loudly through headphones, and I always get completely immersed within it.

MP3: Dinky – Romaniks

16. Future of the Left – Travels With Myself and Another

Quite simply, Future of the Left are my favorite rock band this is predictably a fantastic record. Like many of the British records in this list, Travels With Myself and Another couldn’t have come from anywhere else. By that, I’m not referring to its sound, but the lyrical quirks which make FotL great come from a long tradition of great british humor. The last thing I’m saying is that this is a comedy album, its a tight and unrelenting musical machine, but it just wouldn’t be Future of the Left without that quick witted spark. One particular highlight is Stand By Your Manatee, with Falco at his best detailing the shame of “Emma’s mum and dad use[ing] plastic forks”.

MP3: Future of the Left – Arming Eritrea

15. Wild Beasts- Two Dancers

Since hearing their debut I knew Wild Beasts had the potential to make great music but, for me, this wasn’t fully realised until Two Dancers. While Limbo Panto had its moments, the production, arrangements and drama have all been doubled on their latest record. What’s more, Two Dancers is a record that sounds quintessentially British, through its references and style, but more importantly its quirks and nuances. Wild Beasts have a talent that is rare and distinctive, and if you let them, they could be one of Britain’s great idiosyncratic pop artists like Bowie or Bush.

MP3: Wild Beasts – All The Kings Men

14. Micachu & The Shapes – Jewellery

I’m even surprised myself that a sketchy little bedroom pop record, a debut one at that, figures so highly in this list. But despite being a mish mash of ideas and sounds, Jewellery is a stunningly cohesive record. Normally an album so crammed full of peculiar sounds will be hit and miss, but Micachu & The Shapes just seem to get it right every time. There are all sorts of frame of reference here from grime, indie and noise, but Micachu’s vision is always to make great sounding pop music and nothing inteferes with that.

MP3: Micachu – Golden Phone

13. Health – Get Color

While I still have a lot of time for Health’s self-titled debut, on In Color the LA noise outfit make exactly the progression that they needed to. This is still loud and abrasive as you might expect, but there are also tracks that sound distinctly like actual songs. Most notably the lead single Die Slow has been one of the year’s surprise ‘anthems’; but not in an Don’t Look Back in Anger kind of way, more of a “this song makes me want dance my way into the centre of Liam Gallagher’s skull and jump up and down on his brain” kind of way. I’m not an aggressive person.

MP3: Health – Die Slow

12. P.O.S – Never Better

As well as having some of the most amazing artwork of the year, which you’ll have to buy from here to get the full effect of, P.O.S has written one of the year’s most passionate, articulate, and uplifting records of the year. Purexed stands out as one of my favorite tracks, with great poetic rhymes over genuinely beautiful instrumentation, while there are also full on hip hop bangers in the form of Goodbye and Savion Glover.

MP3: P.O.S. – Goodbye

11. Cold Cave – Love Comes Close

A record loved by some and (unfairly) accused of ripping off New Order and [insert other classic 80's band] by others. Tracing Cold Cave back to their beginnings, however, it becomes very apparent that their influences aren’t completely rooted in New Wave. Their earlier effort, Cremations, also released this year, highlights the bands penchant for noise and an all together harsher sound. Returning to Love Comes Close, this influence can be found lurking under the surface, giving the record its character behind the foreground synth melodies. Oh and those melodies…to DIE for.

MP3: Cold Cave – Life Magazine

10. Zola Jesus – The Spoils

If there is one artist on this list which makes me most excited for the future, then its probably Zola Jesus. After a string of EPs and singles her debut record, The Spoils, finally arrived and it didn’t disappoint. These are dense gothic tracks that take a bit of work, but with more and more listens they reveal their beauty. I’ve listened to this a lot and I’m still discovering new things in it with every listen, as the background noises become as familiar and vital as the voice which dominates. I’m blown away by this first album, and I’m expecting huge things in the future.

MP3: Zola Jesus – Clay Bodies

9. Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca

After admiring Dirty Projectors for a long time from a distance, with Bitte Orca they’ve finally made a record that I’m fully engaged with. I suspect it would have been the case with Rise Above, had it not been based around a Black Flag classic that I was already invested in. Bitte Orca, however, is a complex yet instant delight from start to finish. Just as J Mascis once reminded me that guitar solos can be cool, Projectors mastermind Dave Longstreth has convinced me there is something to be said for freeform guitar wanking. The soulful “R&B inspired” vocals have been critically lauded, amusingly by the same people that would normally run a mile at the thought of actual R&B. But, oh, wait, this is indie music? Must be cool then.

MP3: Dirty Projectors – Stillness is the Move

8. Atlas Sound – Logos

Okay, here’s where I admit I’m a bit of an embarrassingly nerdy Bradford Cox fanboy. Everything he’s been involved with over the last few years has amazed me, and I can’t put my finger makes it so special. Obviously the songs are at the heart of it; often such simple constructions but effective, and produced in a way that makes them stand out. For example, the first track from this record, The Light That Failed, based entirely around the repetition of one simple guitar line, yet delicately textured with ambience and backing vocals until you barely notice the guitars at all. I think this record is particularly great thematically, written by a scared and hysterical Cox on what he thought was his death bed,  But despite the potential to be a gloomy affair, also contains the year’s best summer jam, Walkabout.

MP3: Atlas Sound feat. Noah Lennox – Walkabout

7. Mos Def – The Ecstatic

Mos Def’s return to form this year was emphatic, and from the moment the record hits the needle it delivers hit after hit. A lot of credit has to go to the producers, with Madlib, Oh No and the late J Dilla lighting up the album, and more than likely putting the fire back into Mos Def’s belly. Because it’s not just the production that makes this album special, Mos Def himself is on near enough career best form as if no time had elapsed and this was the follow up to Black on Both Sides. I love the artwork on this one too.

MP3: Mos Def – Supermagic

6. Phoenix

In my opinion this is the year’s biggest and best pop album; one that has dominated my Ipod since it got on there and is still getting regular listens. In some ways its strange that this album has blown up so big for the band, because they’re doing largely the same thing they’ve been doing for years when they were practically ignored. Still, while Phoenix have catchy potential hit songs in abundance, few of them have the impact of lead singles Lisztomania and more significantly 1901. Deservedly doing very well in the end of year lists, and anyone moaning about them doing so well should probably lighten up a little.

MP3: Phoenix – Lasso

5. The Twilight Sad – Forget the Night Ahead

Whatever The Twilight Sad did I would probably have enjoyed, but Forget the Night Ahead is the perfect record to compliment their debut. It’s another passionate vocal performance from James Graham that steals the show, but the band have upped the shoegaze with notably dominant, loud guitars this time around. On the two occasions I’ve seen them live I’ve been reminded of just how much I love this band; their songs hit me right in the gut and make me want to sing (very badly) at the top of my voice. It’s a shame every time I try writing about them it sounds like I’m advertising McCoys crisps, with their ‘real’ and ‘honest’ songwriting, but they’re definitely a very genuine band and I love what they’re doing.

MP3: The Twilight Sad – I Became a Prostitute

4. xx – xx

To put it simply, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a debut album come out of nowhere and be this polished, restrained and perfect. Stripped down like a 2009 version of Young Marble Giants, the album has its mood nailed down from the outset and revels in its aching beauty. There is fantastic vocal interplay between the two boy/girl singers, simple yet profound lyricism, and glorious bass heavy melodies drenched in reverb for good measure. XL Recordings were so proud of this record they painted it on the front of their building, and it is that special, so love it, cherish it, then go and paint it on your house.

MP3: xx – Shelter

3. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Probably the most widely critically acclaimed album of the year, I think its about time Animal Collective got the recognition they deserve. Some people might say this is overhyped, because it does seem to be everywhere, but AC have been one of the most consistently exciting alternative bands of this decade, and in my opinion this recognition is long overdue. Unlike a lot of people, I don’t think this is the definitive Animal Collective record, to be honest I couldn’t really separate it from Feels, Strawberry Jam, or Sung Tongs. What is has done, however, is open the band up to a much wider fanbase. I don’t want to appear down on this record because I love it, I’m just hesitant to separate it from the rest of their back catalogue. I wake up to Brothersport every morning and there’s no better way to start the day. I heart AC.

MP3: Animal Collective – Brothersport

2. Raekwon – Only Built for Cuban Linx 2

I had no idea what to expect from Raekwon’s latest, a sequel to one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time, Only Built For Cuban Linx, but I definitely wasn’t expecting this. This is Raekwon and guests all on career best form, spitting rhymes that would be at home on any of the great Wu-afilliated releases. Ghostface Killah, who features prominently, lights up the record in ways only he can, and the chemistry between himself and the Chef is still strong as ever. Also surprising is the mish mash roster of producers which produce a surprisingly cohesive body of work. J Dilla’s library of beats continues to be raided to good effect, while Rza shows that he can always be relied upon by throwing up some of the records best beats. Strangely its only Dre’s beats, usually so reliable, which are decent but far too clean cut for this album. To quote a line from Coke Machine Glow’s review, “what Jay-Z is making no longer feels in any form like the breathing, mutable thing that is hip-hop. And Raekwon sounds drenched in its blood.”

MP3: Raekwon – 10 Bricks feat. Cappadonna, Ghostface Killah

1. Former Ghosts – Fleurs

Former Ghosts is an outlet for the songs of Freddy Ruppert of This Song is a Mess But So Am I, who is joined on Fleurs by Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart and Nika Roza (of Zola Jesus). It’s a painfully frank and heartbreaking account of the break up of one relationship, with a few songs about death and isolation to lighten the mood. In all seriousness, this is a dark and intense record in which Ruppert really puts himself out there, so much so that even listening to it can be emotionally draining. In saying that, by the standards of its members its by no means a ‘difficult’ listen, and in fact was intended to be the synth-pop side-project of Freddy and Jamie.

It’s synth-pop intentions come to the fore most clearly on lead single, Hold On, in which the screeching synth line is backed by electro beats that almost make this ready for the dance floor. Elsewhere, Mother is Former Ghosts at their emotional best; with lyrics about Ruppert desperately wanting to talk to and confide in his dead mother, over typically reverb drenched synth melodies. There are also the contributions of Nika Roza to consider, whose always stunning vocals are particularly special here. Initially meant to sing on just one track, her voice was so impressive that she was asked to sing over the rest; a now vital feature of the record. All of these factors come together to make a varied and cohesive record, and more importantly, one that leaks pure emotion and feeling out of its every pore.

MP3: Former Ghosts – The Bull And The Ram

Xmas is around the corner, hence our Xmas tree is up since few weeks back. But last week one of the lights doesn’t lit and hubby took it down to repair it. then before even we able to put up the light after repair, another set stop working again. So hubby took it down but it’s working!?!

SO it was so convenient they just left the light on leaving it beside the TV. The light was blinking and it’s quite nice to see.. that’s why Jude decided to lay his hand on it… 2 sec his hand on the light, I was alerted and went take it away and we both got shocked by electric for 2-3 sec!!!!

WAH SEI!! He cried of course.. mainly due to pain and shock! I was terrified too!!!!!

Good news is, now he stops when we say “NO!”

hhahhahah

Top 200 Singles of 2009

Here is a list of the top 200 songs from 2009…

1. Courtney John – Lucky Man
2. Estelle & Sean Paul – Come Over
3. Screw Driver & Inner Circle – Never Give Up
4. Daweh Congo – Straight Up Conscious
5. Sean Paul – So Fine
6. Michael Franti and Spearhead – Say Hey (I Love You)
7. Luciano & Easy Star All-Stars – With A Little Help From My Friends
8. Luciano, U-Roy, & Easy Star All-Stars - With A Little Dub From My Friends (Version 2)
9. Chali 2na, Damian Marley, and Stephen Marley – Guns Up
10. John Legend & Buju Banton – Can’t Be My Lover
11. Daweh Congo - Ghetto Skyline
12. Ziggy Marley & Willie Nelson – This Train
13. YT, Million Stylez, Mr. Williamz, Blackout Ja, Jah Knight, & Iverse - Champion Sound
14. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Fan It
15. The Decemberists – The Rake’s Song
16. Alborosie – No Cocaine
17. M. Ward – Stars of Leo
18. K’Naan & Chubb Rock – ABC’s
19. Norah Jones – It’s Gonna Be
20. Elephant Man – Dance and Sweep
21. The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You
22. Daweh Congo – One Day
23. K’Naan & Damian Marley - I Come Prepared
24. Michael Franti & Spearhead - Rude Boys Back In Town
25. Laden – Time To Shine
26. Queen Ifrica – Lioness On The Rise
27. Brother Ali – Fresh Air
28. Wilco – Wilco (The Song)
29. Michael Rose, Menny More, & Easy Star All-Stars – A Day In The Life
30. Kid Cudi – Day ‘N’ Nite (Nightmare)
31. Julian Marley – Boom Draw
32. Buju Banton & Third World – Sense Of Purpose
33. K’Naan – Take A Minute
34. The XX – VCR
35. Serani – Playing Games
36. Major Lazer, Jovi Rockwell, & Mr. Vegas – Can’t Stop Now
37. Tarrus Riley – Herbs Promotion
38. Michael Franti & Spearhead – Soundsystem
39. M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel - Never Had Nobody Like You
40. Ziggy Marley & Toots Hibbert - Take Me To Jamaica
41. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Sweet Jennie Lee
42. Daweh Congo – Steppin
43. Yim Yames – My Sweet Lord
44. The Avett Brothers – January Wedding
45. George Strait - El Rey
    
46. Bounty Killer – Corrupt
47. Mayer Hawthorne – Maybe So, Maybe No
48. Michael Franti & Spearhead – A Little Bit Of Riddim
49. Dave Matthews Band - Funny The Way It Is
50. Jay-Z & Mr. Hudson – Young Forever
51. Monsters of Folk – Say Please
52. Julian Marley & Damian Marley - Violence In The Streets
53. Tarrus Riley – Human Nature
54. Spoon – Writing in Reverse
55. Phoenix – Lisztomania
56. Andrew Bird – Oh No
57. M Ward – Rave On
58. Yim Yames – All Things Must Pass
59. Modest Mouse – Satellite Skin
60. Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros – Home
61. Slaid Cleaves – Cry
62. Phish - Backwards Down The Number Line
63. Graham Wilkinson, Hayes Carll, and Lloyd Maines – Ragamuffin
64. The Itals – Let Dem Talk
65. Sean Kingston – Fire Burning
66. Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
67. Black Ryno – Real Stingers
68. Romain Virgo – Alton’s Medley: Breaking Up / Ain’t That Loving You / My Willow Tree
69. Jah Cure – Sticky
70. Pearl Jam - The Fixer
71. Vybz Kartel - Life Sweet
72. Q-Tip – Even If It Is So
73. Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling
74. Capleton – Acres
75. Miley Cyrus – Party in the USA
76. Mariah Carey – Obsessed
77. Suga Roy, Conrad Crystal, Barrington Levy, & Beenie Man – She Call Mi Phone
78. Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
79. The Swell Season – Feeling The Pull
80. George Strait – Arkansas Dave
81. Chino – Never Change (From Mawning)
82. Sean Paul – Press It Up
83. Queen Ifrica - Coconut Shell
84. Lyle Lovett – Loretta
85. Beres Hammond - Can’t Say I Never Tried
86. Chali 2na - Comin’ Thru
87. Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
88. K’Naan – Wavin’ Flag
89. Beirut – The Shrew
90. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Right or Wrong
91. Metric – Sick Muse
92. Robert Earl Keen, Jr. – Flyin’ Shoes
93. Regina Spektor – Eet
94. Bon Iver – Blood Bank
95. Soja & Rebelution – Here I Am
96. Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band – Nikorette
97. John Fogerty & Bruce Springsteen – When Will I Be Loved
98. Julian Marley & Stephen Marley - Things Ain’t Cool
99. George Strait – Living For The Night
100. Frankie Paul & Easy Star All-Stars – Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
101. Graham Wilkinson & the Underground Township - Boys and Girls
102. Major Lazer – Cash Flow
103. Zee Avi – Bitter Heart
104. Etana & Alborosie - Blessings
105. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel - I’m Sittin’ on Top of the World
106. Jay Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State Of Mind
107. Danny Malone – Basement
108. Black Eyed Peas – Rock That Body
109. George Strait – Easy As You Go
110. Jay-Z – D.O.A. [Death Of Auto-Tune]
111. Suga Roy, Conrad Crystal, & Gyptian - Jah Jah See Dem
112. Danny Barnes – Pizza Box
113. Major Lazer – Bruk Out
114. Robert Earl Keen, Jr. – The Rose Hotel
115. Soja, Tamika, & Gentleman – I Tried
116. Casual Sax - Baby I’m Black (From The Waist Down)
117. Courtney John – I Want To Get Next To You
118. Major Lazer – Pon De Floor
119. Rhett Miller – I Need To Know Where I Stand
120. The Low Anthem - Charlie Darwin
121. Beres Hammond - See You Again
122. Micachu & the Shapes – Golden Phone
123. Queen Ifrica – Keep It To Yourself
124. Bob Dylan – Beyond Here Lies Nothin’
125. Son Volt - Dynamite
126. N.A.S.A., Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santogold, & Nick Zinner - Whachadoin?
127. Elephant Man – Nuh Linga
128. Levon Helm - Tennessee Jed
129. Eminem – Crack A Bottle
130. Ziggy Marley, Jack Johnson, & Paula Fuga - Cry, Cry, Cry
131. Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard – California Zephyr
132. Boycott Blues – Got Beef? (Food Coma)
133. Snoop Dogg – I Wanna Rock
134. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel - Won’t You Ride in My Little Red Wagon
135. N.A.S.A., Kool Keith, & Tom Waits – Spacious Thoughts
136. Max Romeo & Easy Star All-Stars – Fixing A Hole
137. The Lemonheads – Waiting Around To Die
138. Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band - Air Mattress
139. Neil Young – Johnny Magic
140. Ziggy Marley, Rita Marley, & Cedella Marley – I Love You Too
141. Queen Ifrica - Daddy
142. Cunninglynguists – Never Come Down
143. Mavado – So Blessed
144. Mos Def & Talib Kweli – History
145. B-Real & Damian Marley – Fire
146. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Corrine Corrina
147. Anthony B & Horace Andy – Enter The Kingdom of Zion
148. John Legend – Can’t Be My Lover (Curtis Lynch Remix)
149. Bruce Springsteen – Outlaw Pete
150. Sizzla – Black Man In The White House
151. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Bring It on Down to My House
152. Wasp - Unfair Officer
153. Sugar Minott & Easy Star All-Stars -When I’m Sixty-Four
154. Bitty McLean – Fall In Love (Rub A Dub Mix)
155. Taken By Trees – To Lose Someone
156. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Hesitation Blues
157. U-Roy, Bunny Rugs, & Easy Star All-Stars – Lovely Rita
158. Daweh Congo – Daybreak
159. Coconut Records – Any Fun
160. Serani – When It’s Cold Outside
161. Telekinesis – Coast Of Carolina
162. Mavado – On The Rock
163. Bill Callahan - Jim Cain
164. Kirsty Rock & Easy Star All-Stars – She’s Leaving Home
165. Noah and the Whale – Blue Skies
166. Daweh Congo – Joy Brings Pain
167. Fanfario – I’m A Pilot
168. Mavado – Money Changer
169. The Dry Spells – Black Is The Color
170. David Guetta & Akon – Sexy Bitch
171. Animal Collective - My Girls
172. Taken By Trees – My Boys
173. Tribal Seeds – The Garden
174. Norah Jones – Chasing Pirates
175. Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard - These Roads Don’t Move
176. Matisyahu – Struggla
177. Black Eyed Peas – Meet Me Halfway
178. Buju Banton – Rastafari
179. Juvenile – Gotta Get It
180. Groundation – Beating Heart
181. 10 Ft Ganja Plant - 10 Ft. Ganja Plant and Weed
182. Mishka – Stay By My Side
183. Raekwon & Lyfe Jennings - Catalina
184. Bebel Gilberto – Chica Chica Boom Chic
185. Pitbull – I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
186. Phoenix – 1901
187. Bramma – Da Body Deh
188. Kid Cudi - Make Her Say
189. Mayer Hawthorne – Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out
190. Flo Rida – Right Round
191. Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, & Ghostface Killah – House Of Flying Daggers
192. Matisyahu – Smash Lies
193. Timbaland & Justin Timberlake – Carry Out
194. Chezidek – Border Line
195. Bebel Gilberto – Sun Is Shining
196. Gregory Isaacs – Fools Fall In Love
197. Oba Simba – The Herb
198. Robert Glasper – Butterfly
199. B.B. Seaton – Life Goes On
200. Johnny Clarke with Soothsayers meet Red Earth Collective – Bad Boys
201. Sean Paul & Keri Hilson – Hold My Hand [I'll Be There]

DOWNLOAD: eLZhi – The Leftovers (Unmixedtape) | Usershare | Mediafire

Yes. A thousand times yes. Noted globe-trotter, freedom fighter, and local dude made good Gabriel Teodros is back at it again. Our guy G Teezy just blessed the world with a new ep – free, downloadable, and all for you. The name? GT’s Ethiopium: A Jitter Generation Mixtape. The concept? Oxnard, California hitmaker Oh No put together a beat tape exclusively sampling classic Ethiopian songs – Gabe raps over them.

It’s a pretty ridiculous result. Gabe’s been holding down the Mid-Atlantic seaboard for the last couple of months, following his kerfluffle with the British authorities at Heathrow, and the experience shows in this recording. It’s pretty direct to the heart, which is saying something for Gabe: dude does not do anything without heart.

It’s also a statement of sorts, with a sampling process that is so overtly using one culture’s traditions, there are bound to be more complex layers of meaning. GT himself writes:

It’s crazy as a musician, to know the struggles of other Ethiopian musicians, and how much harder it must be back home to create this music, that in 2009 people are sampling our classics left and right, and i know that very little, if any, of the money made off these samples ever actually gets back to these musicians, who can barely make a living off this music, and who back home couldn’t make a living off of it at all. Not to say i’m against sampling, most of the hip hop i love is still based on samples… but if someones gonna do it, i feel like there should at least be an Ethiopian perspective to go with these beats!”

And he does it big. Download this thing and turn it up.

Gabriel Teodros – GT’s Ethiopium: A Jitter Generation Mixtape

“Best Of Times” feat. Phonte • Download

So J Rocc of the Beat Junkies passed a couple of Madlib’s
endless beat cds to Strong Arm Steady a while ago. Their
new LP In Search Of Stoney Jackson is the result, an
album which benefits from a chemistry that might look
strange in print, but comes out great in its application.
The album is available online now on Stones Throw
and will be available physically on Jan. 26.

∆

“Best Of Times” feat. Phonte • Download

“New Love” feat. Planet Asia and Tri-State

So J Rocc of the Beat Junkies passed a couple of Madlib’s
endless beat cds to Strong Arm Steady a while ago. Their
new LP In Search Of Stoney Jackson is the result, an
album which benefits from a chemistry that might look
strange in print, but comes out great in its application.
The album is available online now on Stones Throw
and will be available physically on Jan. 26.

∆

Courtesy of Moovmnt

The Leftovers UnMixedtape is exactly what it sounds like: A compilation of one of the game’s most talented Emcee’s unreleased and featured works. Whether it’s a promo joint from a few months back (eLZhi and Black Milk – Deep), a feature from another artist’s project (Danny Brown – Contra feat. eLZhi), or just a rare gem from years past (eLZhi and DJ Dez – Living), these Leftovers would have passed for a fresh cooked meal if you didn’t know better. It’s raw, uncut, unmastered, fresh from the studio and ready for your ears. No DJs, just eLZhi and his comrades, your speakers and you. Without the Leftovers UnMixedtape, most of these songs would never have seen the light of day, so consider this a gift, and come get your grub on!

Stacy Epps, lookatdemlips!

Cot damn, I been neglecting my Sound Table series where I routinely feature some of the illest new songs, mixtapes, EPs, etc on the ‘net. My bad!

We’ve got a few choice bangers to get you through this blistering cold Friday (notably for my Tri-State readers).

Method Man & Raekwon collab’d for a track supposedly off their album with Ghostface Wu Massacre, dropping February of next year. I can’t possibly express what it means for hip-hop to start a new decade with a semi-Wu-Tang album. It could will be one for the ages.

The most exciting project on this edition of Sound Table is Detroit MC Elzhi’s The Leftovers UnMixed Tape, a collection of the Slum Village rep’s features, remixes and rarities. Bolstered by production from Black Milk, Jake One, & Oh No, this will hold hip-hop heads over until Elmatic or The Feed. Weren’t they both supposed to drop this year? Whatever happened to that? Sheeeeeit (c) Clay Davis.

On top of that, there’s a fine selection of leaked tracks below to choose from to load up the iPod, including a remix to African songstress Nneka’s song “Walking” with the 2nd best rapper alive Jay Electronica and a brand new jam from Sade(!!!). Get ’em while you can, party people.

Big thanks to Aaron M knobbz, Jeff Weiss, Legend, Nick & my external hard drive for the audio, Enjoy!

Sound Table

Download: Elzhi – The Leftovers UnMixed Tape

01. The Great (Prod. Oh No)
02. Deep (Prod. Black Milk)
03. Contra (Feat. Danny Brown) (Prod. Apollo Brown)
04. Like This (Prod. Black Milk)
05. Red, Black And Green (Prod. Black Milk)
06. Glow (Prod. Jake One)
07. Living (Prod. DJ Dez)
08. Dream (Prod. Jake One)
09. The Crowd (Prod. Leef)
10. Dedication (Feat. Fes Roc) (Prod. DJ Dez)
11. Colors Remix (Prod. DJ Spinna)
12. Flyest (Feat. Smitty) (Prod. Denmark Vessey)
13. 5 Man Hustle (Prod. Black Milk)
14. Clash Of The Titans (Feat. Vstyles, Royce da 5′9″, Rapper Big Pooh & Phat Kat) (Prod. MoSS)

Download:

Common – Start the Show (Extended Version)

Del The Funkee Homosapien & El Michels Affair – Bring Da Ruckus (Remix)

Drake ft. Colin Munroe – Runaway Girl

 Joell Ortiz & Novel ft. Cristyle – Stressful

Bonus Track: Joell Ortiz – Make It Without You

Lupe Fiasco ft. Trey Songz – Blackout

Nneka ft. Jay Electronica – Walking (J. Period Remix)

Raekwon & Method Man – Meth Vs. Chef Part II prod by Mathematics

Sade – Soldier of Love

Vinnie Paz ft. Clipse – Street Wars (Blend)

Wale – Say Something Freestyle

eLZhi The Leftovers Unmixedtape • Download | Bandcamp Page

“Like This” prod. by Black Milk

“Colors (Remix)” prod. by DJ Spinna

Download this and bump it immediately, if only for one reason:
eLZhi is an alien. He has chosen to harness his Martian powers
towards making mockeries of other rappers. So pay attention.
Emcees, don’t bite. Just study up.

∆

If I had any doubts about Mos Def’s The Ecstatic when it was released back in June, they were pretty much instantly shattered by the end of the first track. The record sees Mos Def on some of the best form of his career, revitalized by a fresh and exciting group of producers that bring out the best in a legend of NYC hip hop.

The albums first track, Supermagic, that had made such an impact on me earlier in they year, is just as exciting to me today. It’s great news, then, that Mos Def has decided to release it as a single accompanied by a (pretty basic) music video. I’ve been really into Oh No’s (brother of Madlib) production recently, and had fallen in love with this beat back in 2007 when it was released on his beat tape, Dr No’s Oxperiment. Coupled with Mos Def, the track is taken to the next level, and results in one of the year’s best tracks.

Watch the video. Download the track. Support The Ecstatic.

Download: Mos Def – Supermagic

Ny video fra Mos Defs nyeste album:

Beaten er laget av Madlib’s lillebror Oh No som har samplet Selda Bağcan, en tyrkisk sangerinne og gitarist som ble fengslet i 1980 og 1984 for sine politiske tekster.

Om du ikke snakker tyrkisk er det kun de første 40 sekundene av det neste klippet som er verdt å se, det er Selda Bağcan (til venstre) som får høre Mos Def sin versjon av sangen hennes.

Om du snakker tyrkisk: Jeg vil veldig gjerne vite hva de snakker om! Hun virker jo fornøyd med det hun hører, fru Bağcan.

Terribleness to infinity!!!

This is serious! And I don’t care what side of the Global Warming wall you’ve been leaning against — it’s time to get active!

Because it’s not just about melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels or increased incidents of tornadoes, hurricanes or forest fires anymore.

NO! It’s much, Much, MUCH worse!

Climate change is putting one of the most treasured treats known to man squarely in harm’s way!

That’s right — French wine is in DANGER!!!!!!!!

The terroir — the specific setting in which the grapes are grown and which gives a wine its unique flavour — is in jeopardy!

JEOPARDY!!!!!

“France has the biggest diversity of terroirs in the world and this unique cultural heritage is threatened today,” said Pascal Husting, the head of Greenpeace in France.

THREATENED!

We all know that climate change means our shit is getting hotter and, while hot summers can help enhance a vintage, experts say the higher temperatures have also ruined the character associated with some wine regions.

RUINED!!

Studies have confirmed that warmer weather has altered the wine-making calendar, with grapes ripening earlier than ever before.

ALTERED!!!

“France will always have wine.”

ALWA … oh …WHEW!

“But if the temperatures go up too much, one day there will no longer be any pinot noir in Burgundy,” Husting forecast.

No Pinot?!?
Quelle Horreur!

SOURCE

5 December 2009. Since it’s the first saturday of the month, hubby head off to work at 7am. We had a long night on Friday night as we celebrated Vincent (hubby’s nephew) birthday. It was a beautiful morning cause both my boys slept thru till 10am. I woke up refreshed and glad I was given ample time to catch on my “beauty sleep”, blessing no 1

Manfred woke up and he poop in the potty. Blessing no 2. Then I go on to shower Manfred and feeling positive about potty training (Manfred is on potty training course). After bathe, I was towel drying Manfred outside toilet and I realize I forgot to ask him pee in the toilet. So I told him we need to head back inside to pee. Manfred went to grab his toy motorbike and ran back to me. I carry him into the toilet. On my 2nd step into the toilet, I have no idea what happened, I slipped and fell right to the floor with the back on my head hit to the ground. It was so quick and I didn’t even have a sec or chance to grab on to anything.

Manfred cried.. I guess he was very scared.. I look at him, checked and I was sure he was alright, he was still in my arms. I felt extreme pain on the right side of the back of my head, my back, and the whole pelvic area. I was still concious. Blessing no3. I tried to wake up, took me quite a while with a 17kg toddler in my arms. Somehow I manage to find the strength to get up and go outside, then I realize there’s blood stain on the floor. I got panic, felt nausea, scared and scare…..

I called for my in law and my maid. My maid heard me and she came up. I walked into my room and lie down on the floor. Then I passed out. After don’t know how long, I gain back consciouses and I saw my FIL and my maid. I told my FIL what happened and he tried to stop the bleeding on my head.

Then my parent in law drove me to AMpang Hospital which is 5 min away from our house. Thank god Aunt came visit and I could leave both boys with Aunt and my maid. We were at AH for more than half and hour and I still need to Q with another 10 patient (who is on regular check up) Hubby arrived from office after phone call from us. My PIL and hubby was furious cause no one attend to me. So we drove off to Pantai Cheras again.

The wound was quite long and deep and required stitches. Doctor advise to do X-ray on pelvic area, and CT Scan on scalp area. I was quite scared of stitches, and I fear even more if there’s any post trauma. I was given 2 jabs, 1 on arms, 1 on buttock area. And before stitches another 2 jabs on scalp.. Horrible horrible feeling…..

Scans all came out okay. no major injury except I need some help getting up and down from bed. After almost 2 hours, I was given the green light to head home. Blessing no4 as I was already worried bout Manfred and Jude who is home.

This is the picture taken at emergency room. I dare not look at it till stitches was done.

I am grateful that nothing major except the wound on my head. I am grateful that Manfred was not hurt during the incidents. I am grateful that there’s someone there to give me the help I needed. I am grateful that there’s many friends and family who cares and called and asked and cared during the time. You guys are greatest.

From now on, I will take extra care and be extra cautious in whatever things I do, I will double swipe and double dried and double careful in taking every steps.. Post trauma syndrome…. And despite the mishap, trauma, bad memories, horrible wound and etc, I am still the person that cannot sit still at home….

Sunday I already off to MV seeing Xmas decorations… *faint* from my parent and parent in law.

Here’s me posing with my boys after i get my new hair accessories-The head band! LOL

If you are doing a webpage for soeone, this is the wrong way to do it

How a Web Design Goes Straight to Hell

[Via BoingBoing]

This incident is old but still pisses me off..

I am pretty much obsessed with the library.. I go about two-three times a weeks and dont usually leave with less that 5 books.. One particular day.. I was leaving the library with.. no lie.. about 20 books.. IN MY ARMS.. I am talking.. huffing and puffing, strained face, about to collapse, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO OPEN THE DAMN DOOR.. 20 books..

Most libraries have two doors.. do you know that I had to exit BOTH doors without assistance?!

Well the reason it pissed me off is because a young black man was in the corridor between both doors.. meaning he could have grabbed both.. at the very least he could have pushed the f’ing handicapped button.. but did he!? No his inconsiderate ass watched me kick at the damn door.. How I got to my car is a mystery.. How I got there without cussing his young ass out is also a mystery (I likely ASKED for his assistance)

What the hell?! It’s not about me being a woman OR me being another black person.. I am S T R U G G L I N G  with 20 books in my arms and look like Im about to collapse.. GETCHOASSUPANDHELPMENEGRO..

When did it become the norm to be inconsiderate, rude and not have manners?! Why don’t these children have hometraining!? Where are thier mothers!? I hope if I EVER have a man-child that I teach him how to treat people in general with respect.. how dare you look someone in their eye and not help them in need?!

Do you know how many doors I’ve held.. how many things I’ve picked up that someone dropped!? How many times I’ve told a girl in the club that money was hanging out of her pocket.. after she looked at me like I was tryna take her home!? Oh.. yes.. I have MANNERS.. I have self-respect and respect for people.. I don’t understand how people just don’t..

Maybe I was just blessed with a good family with down home Southern Hospitality and common sense?!

I am telling you.. I had to let that one out.. the next young “man” I see who is that disrespectful.. will be getting the biz from me.. ohhh chile.. I hope he doesn’t catch me on a bad day..

This was a vent.. but trust.. when I get over my anger.. or cuss someone out.. I’ll give a full post..

“You mean everybody already knows?”

I saw this picture and said to myself: WHAT THEE HAIL!?!?

Now.. here we have a beautiful family.. I cannot deny that.. but it’s not complete.. these girls clearly have a different father than Djimon.. and I was thinking.. how would you feel seeing a CHRISTMAS CARD (not just some run of the mill snapshot) with your children and another man.. hell he is holding one of Russell’s children’s hands..

I am using this picture as an illustration of my thought process.. not to harp on thier lives/domestic setup..

I just cannot see being the parent to a child and feeling 100% okay with having another woman picture with them for the holidays.. these are my kids.. step back buddy! It just gives the image that the original parent is not in the picture.. and maybe that they are okay with someone else raising thier children.. well thats what it looks like to me..

I just can’t see giving my stamp of approval like: “yes ma’am.. gon head and take picthurs wit ma kids like u raised em” .. NUUUUH! You better get your own damn kids to take Christmas Card pictures with..

What do you think!?

Once upon a time was how the story of this kid started.  Geez, this kid—he had it rough!  Do you know what I mean?  You don’t?  I guess I can’t blame you.  It didn’t make a lot of sense to me, either.

Anyway, this kid’s life was terrible.  He was teased, tormented, and tortured.  Did it happen in that order?  I can’t say.  Hey, I’m not this kid’s best friend or anything.  I’m just relating to you what I heard from somebody else.  I don’t think that somebody else was the kid’s best friend, either.

Maybe the kid didn’t have any close friends.  People like him rarely do.  I’m sure he detached himself from anyone who could care about him.  That was a mistake.  All the time we hear “Oh, it wasn’t him, it was society that did this to him.”  Maybe society did things to him, but how he reacted to them was his fault.

I was told that this kid had a lot of potential. Potential is just a polite word that grown-ups use in reference to pitiful children.   There’s some foundational myth that adversity makes you better or stronger or whatever.  That’s a nice thought, but it’s wrong.  Adversity just made this kid a brittle disaster.

This kid did manage to assassinate the lieutenant governor, though.  By doing that, he put himself on the map. He toted his dad’s .22 to a political rally, got in close to shake the lieutenant governor’s hand, and shot him in the stomach.  Isn’t that something?

Until then, I had no idea who our lieutenant governor was.  Turns out he was some middle-aged lawyer with acne scars and male-pattern baldness.  After he died, the local newspapers ran a bunch of stories about what a civic treasure he had been.

So this kid, who apparently had potential, murdered the lieutenant governor, who was a civic treasure.  This was the great tragedy of the last decade here in our state.  Before his execution, the kid said something in his defense.

“You know how it goes, and it goes like that,” he told a small crowd of witnesses and reporters.

It really did.

2tall, DJ Clockwork and Kper present a decades worth of quality hip hop in a megachuck of a downloadable mixtape, yeah, it’s still called a mixtape even though tape bit of the mix ain’t been used since last week.

What’s on it?

Dilla, Spacek, Mos-Def, Co-Flow, El-P, Flying Lotus, Matty G, Loefah, Samiyam, GLK, Ras G, Mike Slott, Danny Breaks, Nosaj Thing, Group Home, High & Mighty, Shawn J. Period,  J-Zone, Lootpack, Madlib, Pete Rock, Cannibal Ox, Rdj2, DJ Shadow, Boards of Canada, DJ Vadim, Busdriver, Pharoah Monch, Slum Village, Jaylib, De La Soul+MF Doom , Dabyre, Vast Aire, Roots Manuva, Prefuse 73, The Bug, Boom Bip, Oh No, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Modeselektor, Onra, Rustie, Jneiro Jarel plus about three giga more.

Download here

Thanks to Daily Swarm for the heads up.  How goes it Todd?