Thunderbolts and Lightning, Very, Very Frightening

7/26/12 Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The Armpit Collection XLII: Medecinal

Originally announced in 2010: “Madlib is launching Madlib Medicine Show, a 12-part music series (12 CD's, 6 LP's) on his own imprint, Madlib Invazion. Odd numbers, beginning with #1 in Jan. 2010, will be original hip-hop, remix, beat tape and jazz productions; even numbers will be mixtapes of funk, soul, Brazilian, psych, jazz and other undefined forms of music from the Beat Konducta's 4-ton* stack of vinyl.

I originally came to this series through another Madlib release, Shade of Blue. I was really intrigued by the idea of a hip hop producer cutting up jazz recordings, and the album didn't disappoint. I started looking for other Madlib releases and found High Jazz, one of the installments in the Medicine Show. It was convenient that my search led me to this release, being Madlib's foray into jazz via his "Yesterday's Universe" band. Once I became aware of the series itself, I started snagging them up.

As I began to acquire the various Medicine Show releases and take them in, I was more and more blown away at how prolific of an artist Madlib is, and at how ideal and awesome of an undertaking a series like this is.

I listen to these a lot. I've had a lot of different reactions from various friends, visitors who've taken them in with me. It's not for everyone, but it's a deeply intriguing vantage point into the world of hip hop record creation, producing, and the world of music re-creation.

Joe's Apartment

...back when MTV was coooool, maaaannnn.

Heath Ledger's Inspiration For The Joker

source

Thirty Five

Press Release

(lame) First Listen

Bob Dylan - She Belongs to Me (Live 1966)

Blogvenience: Music

Healthy debate going on in the interwebs courtesy of:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2012/06/16/154863819/i-never-owned-any-music-to-begin-with

And then:

http://thetrichordist.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/letter-to-emily-white-at-npr-all-songs-considered/

Both are great reads (particularly David Lowery's piece).

Thoughts?

One of my take-away's was Emily's sad and ever-perpetuated indulgence of convenience. The technological changes that have swept mankind over the past 20-30 years (longer? always?) have largely been about convenience. And convenience is a sad way to make a decision. Is it too classic to say that just because something is easier, doesn't mean it's better? I'm deeply intrigued by the next generation's perspective. They are just coming into adulthood and power, and they are the first to have fully grown up with the internet. The idea that THEY are more willing to PAY for convenience over ... anything ... is disheartening to say the least. I always suspected that our parents' generation would be the ones to perpetuate convenience based on their fascination with our technology, as they faded away from society and relevance.

The Baby-Faced Assassin Is Dead.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/sports/johnny-tapia-champion-boxer-amid-chaos-dies-at-45.html

Behind the Shades?

I am guessing many of you have seen Mr. Dylan receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. My question: is he getting a bit chocked up as he receives the award? I can't tell if he is just incredibly uncomfortable or actually getting a bit emotional. 

Ripe for my iPhone

Apropos... given its syntax and definition.

This is in light of this, which is surprisingly difficult to Google. Guess Google's suggestion spell check has a streak of patriotism written into it.

We Don't Know Why

At the request of our esteemed host, I'm uploading some images that I've added text to. Some of them may not make any sense to you, so my apologies for any lack of relevance... but hey, our whole generation is one big inside joke of meaningless exchanges, isn't it... guys... isn't it?

How many can you remember?

Tell us what gets down into your jimmies and gives them a little rustle.

The great legend of my latter formative years.

“Dragan” Music Video

Lucas & the Lovelys

Live From New York, it's Mick Jagger

This is an EPIC episode of SNL, probably one of my favorites of all-time. 

Well, Your Sign Fucking Sucks

"Polling showed that feelings about the issue were divided in North Carolina as they are across much of the nation: along generational lines, with younger voters opposed to the amendment."

i pity this institution — as if the product of electoral democracy bore even a resemblance — but i also find an absolute anti-patience in being outnumbered in Good Idea by a showing-up-for-being-there group of old, tired people. if showing-up-and-being-there is all it takes to bear even a resemblance, well then . . . why is something that does well — like young people getting together to say that shit is bullshit come our time to say what is and ain't the shit — not be enough of what we need enough to be? why do we say no, ever? or yes?

we should instead, ignore it entirely and refuse the bait at the end of that quote. we've overstayed our welcome and these are not our feelings.

The Armpit Collection XLI: Interventionist God? Nah.

This offering may come off as quite tame for "Nick Cave," but I can assure you, it's ripe. The opening line of the first song...

Also, I love this idea in "Brompton Oratory," which basically tells the story of walking into a church and hearing a sermon. There's a wonderful drift that is present in almost all of the songs. A lightness to contrast the heaviness of the lyric.

Apparently there's a bunch of material left off the album that can be found as B-sides. Still need to check those out. Dig it.

Introducing NARDWUAR -- Music Journalist Extraordinaire

RIP Levon Helm

American Money

source

Top Five...

...Worst Footwear Choices as Dictated by Emily at some point Over the Past 5+ Years:

CINCO



Man, these were everywhere my freshman year in Alabama. I'd never seen them before that. I remember being mildly intrigued by them, but could never really understand if they'd actually stay on your feet. They gave off a "my bangs are almost in my eyes - the bottom of my cargo pants are torn a bit - this hooded sweatshirt is too tight to wear over my polo" vibe.

QUATRO



My parents became irrationally supportive of these... which resulted in a "washing the boat" and "I don't give a fuck what you think" explanation. I actually don't mind them as lawn care foot wear

TRES



Classic. Too many straps negates any sort of convenience you get in wearing sandals. Though, the idea of owning a pair of high quality handmade leather sandals is attractive.

DOS



Absolutely not. There's no aesthetic or functional reason to wear these.

UNO



There's too much to say about this phenomenon, which ironically stems out of the burgeoning philosophy that walking and running barefoot is actually better for you. (Who would have thought?) So what do people do? They design a shoe to address this theory!?!?

“We should live our lives as though Christ were coming this afternoon” - Jimmy Carter