Revaz: When Alex proposed doing a Sunrise podcast, I immediately agreed. That’s how a thematic compilation begins. An idea is conjured that connects songs together with a sentiment, sound, or commonality. Recently, I was traveling by bus from the city of Buenos Aires to the wine country of Mendoza. It’s a comfortable [...]
Almost a year went by without an instrument in the booth for me. I found this tragic since I listen to countless men and women share stories about how music was introduced into their lives. For some people, the songs they listened to as children played as much a role in the shaping [...]
Filthy, Mangy Jazz is how Le Chat Lunatique describes themselves on their blog. They played SXSW for the first time earlier this year and they are the local jazz flavor in Albuquerque, NM. A friend of a friend sent me some info about their latest show – a set played in a independent [...]
I’m not sure if it’s Arizona’s latest xenophobic seizure, the EZLN posters I’ve seen from Fresno, Ca to Cuernavaca, Mexico, or the sign above that inspired this podcast. It’s not a political podcast, but it’s fiery with a tinge of violence and hope. New Zealand’s Ladyhawke, with her pulsating grooves and catchy chorus, may not [...]
Sister Nancy, a.k.a. Muma Nancy, was first introduced to me by my roots rockin’ reggae brotha Theets. I’ve never owned this track in its digital form until this week. I was sitting in Fresno, listening to the Mos Dub mix Mario sent a few days earlier, when a craving for sultry dancehall beats with those [...]
Revaz told me to settle down, so I finally mixed in some Miike Snow and Aloe Blacc. I’m obsessing over electro-dance-pop from 2008 and no one can stop me!
Someday, I’d love to look as dapper as this gentlemen. Above, Martin Lopez – a local Fresno celebrity – rises to sing a song he wrote about his time as a Bracero.
Randy Newman’s “I Love LA” reminds me of “blond bombshells”, neon swimsuits and aerosol cans filled with hairspray. It’s not the Los Angeles I identify with, in the 80′s or now. But every time I hear Tommy James & The Shondells singing “Crystal Blue Persuasion”, I drift to a Los Angeles filled with laughing abuelitas, [...]
Panama! Latin, Calypso and Funk on the Isthmus 1965-75 is a collection of Panamanian songs from the 60′s and 70′s which, to my knowledge, were released in Panama but have hardly seen commercial success. There are three “Panama!” volumes and I recently downloaded V.1 & V.2. I recently heard a few tracks from a jukebox [...]
I remember sitting in my cousin Javi’s room, ransacking his Art Laboe and Eastside Story cassettes, finding his Funk CDs and listening to this track over and over and over again. I was eight. I’d never seen the video to this song until finding it last night. Pop and lock, foo…and have a nice day.
Look, guys! I’m posting something other than “3652 Days!”
I had never heard of Black Van before listening to their single “Yearning” on KCRW. But once I heard this cut, I began sliding my hand through the air like if I was polishing my nails on an imaginary buffer. Black Van is comprised of Kris Menace [...]
The sun is rising above the buildings on St. Johns Pl. The wind has stopped its howling but the murmur outside is now of clanking heels and speeding vehicles. I always expect there to be less liveliness so early, but the world out there is bustling at the crack of dawn. Why don’t I awake [...]
I’d advise you to either turn your headphones down or get ready to make your eardrums bleed. This comes from Jay Reatard’s 2006 release “Blood Visions.” Oh, it’s such a shame you’re not going to be contributing guitar riffs like this to Punklandia anymore. Bang bang bang away to this, friends. It’s going to be [...]
I don’t share the same taste of mansion as James Murphy but I enjoy the way he approaches the creative process. Also, his iMac setup gives me a… should be revered.
I never knew what sounds like a defective fax machine would be so entrancing and likable. But that’s what Charlotte Gainsbourg’s second track “IRM” off of her album of the same name reminds me of. I can also hear what is undoubtedly fluorescent lights emitting feedback…or someone’s vibrator going off. Who knows!? Charlotte knows her [...]
Occasionally a televised soccer game will display a graphic specifying the mileage of a midfielder. They run a lot. Sometimes the graphic will state 6 miles, sometimes 10. I was fortunate enough to see Zack De La Rocha of Rage Against The Machine perform about 10 times, and I’d guess he bobbed, thrashed, pogoed, quick-stepped, [...]
Dangerous Mouse (Gnarls Barkley) & James Mercer (The Shins) combined forces and created Broken Bells. Their self-titled album releases March 2010, but I’ve been bumping a few tracks for about a week. It’s already a 2010 favorite and will surely make lists at the end of this year. “Vaporize” is the second track on their [...]
I can’t drive without dancing. It’s probably worse than texting while driving, equivalent to applying makeup in your car and likely to disturb you if you cruise up alongside my car. I just can’t help it.
I’m headed to Marfa, TX with El Paso, TX being my final destination today. Flicks are surely [...]
The duo comprised of Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss make up “Sleigh Bells.” Apparently they were a hit at CMJ. I only know them because Revaz knows my taste better than I know my taste and sent this to me a few days ago. We’ve had three no-shows at the recording booth today, [...]
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