Stones Throw’s newest artist, Mayer Hawthorne, just released his first single “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out.” It’s fresh, in an old-school kinda way…
Plus, for you vinyl fiends, the heart-shaped print is just what you need when swooning over a breakup.
MP3:
Mayer Hawthorne & the County – “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out”

[This weekly feature is a snapshot of what the Stranger Dance staff can't get out of our collective head each week. On any given week, we might be digging a new local act, an old jazz chestnut, the newest Japanese electro-folk or whatever else we've got on the turntable/iPod that week.]

Scooter: The Jackson Sisters – [...]

What’s my favorite pick this week? Probably Caw! Caw!’s “Escape the Red Giant” due to the fact that it’s the first album that I’ve tried to buy at Amoeba Records that was not even in their computer database. I don’t really like punk, and this isn’t all out punk (it’s got sort of a what-if-Radiohead-were-a-punk-band [...]

Anyone notice anything different? Hmmm… Yeah. New name AGAIN. I think this it though, I like the ring of Panther Picks. Don’t you?
This week I’ve got some real good stuff for you. I understand not everyone is as obsessed with Madlib as I am, but he just released a remix of Madvilliany which, of course, [...]

Stones Throw, you thought I forgot didn’t you? Late June my ass. Oh well. The tracks we have been waiting for are finally here:
In late 2005, Ghostface Killah and MF DOOM were both recording over tracks from J Dilla’s instrumental opus, Donuts, which saw release the following February. Some of these were released on Ghostface’s [...]

Like I’ve said time and again, Stones Throw Records just refuses to put out anything remotely bad. Check out this live performance of Ethiopian jazz legend Mulatu Astatke and DJ Shadow’s former backing band, The Heliocentrics, live in London earlier this year:

Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics – Yèkèrmo Sèw [Live 4/17/08]

If you haven’t heard it, [...]

Gorilla vs. Bear, one of our favorite music blogs, informed us of an upcoming Stones Throw release that has us salivating in expectation:
In late 2005 Ghostface Killah and MF DOOM were both recording over tracks from J Dilla’s instrumental opus, Donuts, which saw release the following February. Some of these were released on Ghostface’s Fishscale [...]

This is probably old news to many of you, but apparently the official soundtrack of NBA 2K8 is a collection courtesy of Stones Throw founder Peanut Butter Wolf. Personally, I think all basketball video games suck, but with tunes like this to play along to I just might have to change my mind.
Released in October [...]

Obscure samples, numerous pseudonyms, and a vinyl collection that supposedly weighs a few tons — I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of listening to Madlib. Check out his December 2007 BBC takeover performance. It’ll turn your workday frown upside down… yes, I just typed that.
Downloads:
Madlib – Slim’s Return
Quasimoto – Microphone Mathematics
Peanut Butter Wolf [...]