09
Jul
2002
· With Eminem's heavy nick of the Malcolm McLaren scratch-and-street classic "Buffalo Gals" on his smash "Without Me" pumping the hot air of summer, my old-school heart is yearning for those crazy house-friendly hip-hop days of the 1980s.
And just as I felt the lunar pull toward a search-and-savor session with my turntable, a new compilation CD from Soul Jazz Records has dropped from the giant disco ball in the sky. Entitled That's My Beat, this 12-track collection is a 12-ton monster of funk, selected and delivered by an old-school legend himself, Kurtis Mantronix of Sleeping Bag Records fame. Now simply known as Mantronix, his feel for the time period is stunning, with classics such as Yellow Magic Orchestra's percolating "Computer Games," Yello's "Bostich," the Funky 4 Plus 1's "That's the Joint," and Jimmy Spicer's "Super Rhymes." Other seminal tracks include Art of Noise's "Beatbox" and Machine's "There but for the Grace of God." Highly recommended.
· This Tuesday brings the soundtrack to the latest Austin Powers film, Goldmember. The Maverick Records set features a Dr. Dre remix of the Rolling Stones' "Miss You" and covers of King Floyd's soul classic "Groove Me" by Angie Stone and the Electric Light Orchestra's "Evil Woman" by Diana King & Soul Hooligan.
· Also due this Tuesday is the highly anticipated return of The Flaming Lips with their latest, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, on the Warner Bros. imprint. Super-fans can hunt down the Japanese version of the CD, featuring the title track sung in Japanese. An import-only CD single of "Do You Realize" is available now, with other bonus tracks.
· The Grateful Dead has just released a four-CD collection of material recorded in England in the early 1970s. Entitled Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: Europe '72, the set documents material from seven shows over four venues and features covers of Bo Diddley's "Hey Bo Diddley" and Huey Smith's "Rockin' Pneumonia & The Boogie Woogie Flu."
· Two new books have my poolside-reading interest this summer. The Telegraph Company imprint has just released Mouthing Off: A Book of Rock & Roll Quotes compiled by John Luerssen. Divided into sections such as "Anyone Can Write a Song," "Teenage Kicks," "On the Road," and "9.11.2001," the 170-page collection is full of wonderfully daft and brutally honest observations from the full spectrum of indie and popular stardom. Also perfect for the bathroom or the nightstand is a sly peek into Pepperland with Inside The Yellow Submarine: The Making of The Beatles' Animated Classic by Dr. Robert Hieronimus. The Krause Publications release has been a three-decade labor of love for the author, weighing in at 432 pages of rare photos, interviews, and collectible memorabilia.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno hosts Lyle Lovett tonight, Truth Hurts on Thursday, Kylie Minogue on Friday, and Bruce Hornsby on Monday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien features Andrew W.K. on Thursday overnight, Counting Crows on Friday overnight, and The Vines on Tuesday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly sits down with Drowning Pool on Thursday overnight and the Dave Mathews Band on Friday overnight; and Bravo Channel's fantastic Musicians series welcomes Cassandra Wilson on Monday evening.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, July 16:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
David Arkenstone - Sketches from an American Journey (Paras) all new from this master new-age composer, recorded with the Utah Symphony of Salt Lake City
David Baerwald - Here Comes the New Folk Underground (Lost Highway) new from the singer-songwriter best known for "Welcome to the Boomtown" in 1986
Mary Ann Farley - My Life of Crime (Powder Burn) impressive and engaging follow-up to 1997's critically acclaimed Daddy's Little Girl album, featuring a clever cover of The Beatles' "Run for Your Life"
Nik Freitas - Here's Laughing at You (Future Farmers) music debut from the Thrasher magazine photographer
The Halo Frequencies - Get Real (Tooth & Nail)
Calvin Johnson - What Was Me (K Records) posthumous solo album culled from his vast solo acoustic and a capella archives
Paul Krassner - Irony Lives (Artemis) new musings from the investigative satirist, comedian, and general muckraker on the subjects of the Taliban, Enron, Alanis Morissette, Dan Rather, and racial profiling
Lettuce - Outta Here (Velour) jazz funk featuring guests John Scofield and Fred Wesley
Mad at Gravity - Resonance (Artist Direct) opening for Creed in August
Marah - Float Away with the Friday Night Gods (Artemis) featuring guest Bruce Springsteen
The Mayflies USA - Walking in a Straight Line (Yep Rock) mesmerizing jangle pop from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, full of sizzling hooks reminiscent of a homegrown Urge Overkill
Me Without You - original motion picture soundtrack (Epic Legacy) with music from The Clash, The Stranglers, Depeche Mode, Scritti Politti, Tim Buckley, and more
Jerzee Monet - Love & War (Dreamworks) with guests DMX, Eve, and Ja Rule, this new vocalist was discovered in the kitchen while cooking for the Ruff Ryders tour in 1999
Robert Plant - Dreamland (Universal) in his first solo album since 1993, the Led Zeppelin vocalist interprets Bob Dylan's "One More Cup of Coffee" and the classic "Hey Joe"
Riddlin' Kids - Hurry Up & Wait (Aware/Columbia) currently on the Warped Tour
Rocket from the Crypt - Hot Charity and Cut & Play (Swami) CD compiling both their rare vinyl-only EPs from 1995 and 1996
Simon & Garfunkel - Live from New York City 1967 (Columbia Legacy) 19 tracks recorded at the Philharmonic Hall in the Lincoln Center
The Starting Line - Say It Like You Mean It (Drive-Thru) Pennsylvania-based quartet
Tender Trap - "Face of '73\" (K Records) seven-inch single from Amelia Fletcher of Tallulah Gosh and Heavenly
Vex Head - Start with a Strong & Persistent Desire (Virgin)
The Vines - Highly Evolved (Capitol)
Cassandra Wilson - Sings Standards (Verve) with selections including "I've Grown Accustomed to His Face," "Body & Soul," and "Polka Dots & Moonbeams"
Yesterday's Kids - Yesterday's Kids (Panic Button)
· This Tuesday brings the soundtrack to the latest Austin Powers film, Goldmember. The Maverick Records set features a Dr. Dre remix of the Rolling Stones' "Miss You" and covers of King Floyd's soul classic "Groove Me" by Angie Stone and the Electric Light Orchestra's "Evil Woman" by Diana King & Soul Hooligan.
· Also due this Tuesday is the highly anticipated return of The Flaming Lips with their latest, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, on the Warner Bros. imprint. Super-fans can hunt down the Japanese version of the CD, featuring the title track sung in Japanese. An import-only CD single of "Do You Realize" is available now, with other bonus tracks.
· The Grateful Dead has just released a four-CD collection of material recorded in England in the early 1970s. Entitled Steppin' Out with the Grateful Dead: Europe '72, the set documents material from seven shows over four venues and features covers of Bo Diddley's "Hey Bo Diddley" and Huey Smith's "Rockin' Pneumonia & The Boogie Woogie Flu."
· Two new books have my poolside-reading interest this summer. The Telegraph Company imprint has just released Mouthing Off: A Book of Rock & Roll Quotes compiled by John Luerssen. Divided into sections such as "Anyone Can Write a Song," "Teenage Kicks," "On the Road," and "9.11.2001," the 170-page collection is full of wonderfully daft and brutally honest observations from the full spectrum of indie and popular stardom. Also perfect for the bathroom or the nightstand is a sly peek into Pepperland with Inside The Yellow Submarine: The Making of The Beatles' Animated Classic by Dr. Robert Hieronimus. The Krause Publications release has been a three-decade labor of love for the author, weighing in at 432 pages of rare photos, interviews, and collectible memorabilia.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno hosts Lyle Lovett tonight, Truth Hurts on Thursday, Kylie Minogue on Friday, and Bruce Hornsby on Monday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien features Andrew W.K. on Thursday overnight, Counting Crows on Friday overnight, and The Vines on Tuesday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly sits down with Drowning Pool on Thursday overnight and the Dave Mathews Band on Friday overnight; and Bravo Channel's fantastic Musicians series welcomes Cassandra Wilson on Monday evening.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, July 16:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
David Arkenstone - Sketches from an American Journey (Paras) all new from this master new-age composer, recorded with the Utah Symphony of Salt Lake City
David Baerwald - Here Comes the New Folk Underground (Lost Highway) new from the singer-songwriter best known for "Welcome to the Boomtown" in 1986
Mary Ann Farley - My Life of Crime (Powder Burn) impressive and engaging follow-up to 1997's critically acclaimed Daddy's Little Girl album, featuring a clever cover of The Beatles' "Run for Your Life"
Nik Freitas - Here's Laughing at You (Future Farmers) music debut from the Thrasher magazine photographer
The Halo Frequencies - Get Real (Tooth & Nail)
Calvin Johnson - What Was Me (K Records) posthumous solo album culled from his vast solo acoustic and a capella archives
Paul Krassner - Irony Lives (Artemis) new musings from the investigative satirist, comedian, and general muckraker on the subjects of the Taliban, Enron, Alanis Morissette, Dan Rather, and racial profiling
Lettuce - Outta Here (Velour) jazz funk featuring guests John Scofield and Fred Wesley
Mad at Gravity - Resonance (Artist Direct) opening for Creed in August
Marah - Float Away with the Friday Night Gods (Artemis) featuring guest Bruce Springsteen
The Mayflies USA - Walking in a Straight Line (Yep Rock) mesmerizing jangle pop from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, full of sizzling hooks reminiscent of a homegrown Urge Overkill
Me Without You - original motion picture soundtrack (Epic Legacy) with music from The Clash, The Stranglers, Depeche Mode, Scritti Politti, Tim Buckley, and more
Jerzee Monet - Love & War (Dreamworks) with guests DMX, Eve, and Ja Rule, this new vocalist was discovered in the kitchen while cooking for the Ruff Ryders tour in 1999
Robert Plant - Dreamland (Universal) in his first solo album since 1993, the Led Zeppelin vocalist interprets Bob Dylan's "One More Cup of Coffee" and the classic "Hey Joe"
Riddlin' Kids - Hurry Up & Wait (Aware/Columbia) currently on the Warped Tour
Rocket from the Crypt - Hot Charity and Cut & Play (Swami) CD compiling both their rare vinyl-only EPs from 1995 and 1996
Simon & Garfunkel - Live from New York City 1967 (Columbia Legacy) 19 tracks recorded at the Philharmonic Hall in the Lincoln Center
The Starting Line - Say It Like You Mean It (Drive-Thru) Pennsylvania-based quartet
Tender Trap - "Face of '73\" (K Records) seven-inch single from Amelia Fletcher of Tallulah Gosh and Heavenly
Vex Head - Start with a Strong & Persistent Desire (Virgin)
The Vines - Highly Evolved (Capitol)
Cassandra Wilson - Sings Standards (Verve) with selections including "I've Grown Accustomed to His Face," "Body & Soul," and "Polka Dots & Moonbeams"
Yesterday's Kids - Yesterday's Kids (Panic Button)
