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.
Weekly Staff Playlist [Post-Election Hangover Edition]
[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.]
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Scooter: The Jackson Sisters - “I Believe in Miracles”
I’m still reeling from the election. Over the past several days, I’ve felt a sense of community and optimism that I have never experienced in my lifetime. In celebration of the dawning of a new era in American history, my pick for this week is the 1976 rare groove classic, “I Believe In Miracles” by The Jackson Sisters (no, not those Jackson sisters).
I first heard this on a mix that a DJ friend of mine put together and it’s been my anthem over the last couple of days. It’s got a great Issac Hayes style intro and an even better message: “I believe in miracles, don’t you!?”
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Uncle Corey: Pearl Jam - “Given to Fly”
I’m really barging headlong into Scooter’s territory with this week’s pick. He’s the resident Pearl Jam-o-phile, but, damn it, I’ve been listening to them longer… Which just means I’m old. Anyway, like all people my age who grew up in Seattle, I was a huge Pearl Jam fan after Ten and Vs. – in fact Vs. may be in my top 10 albums of all time – but I kind of fell off the wagon in the late ’90s. This means I never really paid much attention to Yield, which, as it turns out, is a fantastic album. “Given to Fly” might not be the best song on album, but it’s really Pearl Jam doing what they do best – soaring rock anthems.
Everything in this song is great: the imagery of the lyrics, the crescendoing chorus, Eddie Vedder’s vocals. This is a very easy song to love.
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Stranger Jay: Jason Isbell - “Dress Blues”
After six years as one third of the song-writing troika behind the brilliant Drive-By Truckers, Isbell broke out on his own last year with his remarkable solo debut Sirens of the Ditch. “Dress Blues” is a great example of Isbell’s sound - deep Southern roots (peddle steel, twang and all), but unmistakably rock. It also shows off his lyrical gifts - “Dress Blues” shows equal parts sadness and anger, and could easily become polemic, but Isbell goes the way of the great songwriters and leaves it up to the listener to decide.
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Vague Panther: Koushik - “Out My Window”
It would have been easy to forget about the release of Koushik’s “Out My Window.” Why? Oh yeah, it’s on THAT label. The one that quietly puts out one solid release after another without ever getting the recognition they deserve. Yes, I’m talking about Stones Throw AGAIN. But seriously, this album is incredible. It’s so fresh, so dreamy that it goes perfectly with your afternoon White Russian. Stones Throw, if you’re reading this, do you have any job openings? I’ll work for free.
Panther Picks (Episode 15) - New Music is Good Music
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 thing going on), but mark my words - these guys are good. Can’t wait for a full length LP.
And while the new Deerhoof and Jenny Lewis singles might seem like obvious picks to you, I encourage you to feel the anger that is Witch. Completely out of right field for the Vague Panther, all credit of discovery going to a friend who saw them play a secret show in the woods outside Santa Cruz. Creepy.
Finally, after Peanut Butter Wolf paid a visit to SF on this past Friday, I had to throw some Stones Throw love out with some interesting Koushik.
MP3:
Caw! Caw! - “Escape the Red Giant”Deerhoof - “Offend Maggie”
Jenny Lewis - “Acid Tongue”
Witch - “Disappear”
Koushik - “Bright and Shining”
Panther Picks (Episode 10) - Yup, Another Name Change
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, is only available for digital download at Stones Throw. To give you a little taste, I posted the original version of “Money Folder” along with its remix “Boulder Holder.” Along hip-hop lines, Kid Cudi’s new Mix Tape is interesting, if for no other reasons than the fact that it samples the likes of Band of Horses, Gnarls Barkley and many, many more. Enjoy “Cleveland is the Reason.”
Once again, I’ve also got to give Adrian over at ipickmynose credit for turning me on to something new – Two Sheds’ 2008 EP is money. And speaking of new music, you best pick up Dr. Dog’s Fate, an album that in the past two days has been playing non-stop on my iPod – Aquarium Drunkard also informs me that they are incredible live.
Another week, another reason to listen to music.
MP3s:
Madvillain - Money FolderMadvillain - Boulder Holder
Kid Cudi - Cleveland is the Reason
Two Sheds - To Be Alive
Dr. Dog - The Old Days
The Notwist - Boneless
Band of Horses - Wicked Gil
Jeff Tweedy - Pecan Pie [Live at SF's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival]
Dilla. Ghost. Doom. - Sniper Elite, Murder Goons FINALLY Released
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 Fishscale in 2006, while others, including a Dilla-Doom project, were postponed indefinitely after J Dilla’s passing. Two of these tracks, “Sniper Elite” and “Murder Goons,” are presented here for the first time. The two are taken from two sequential songs off Donuts, meant to mix together. We are presenting the two songs unmixed, plus the two mixed together as a bonus track.
Since this is only a two-track release, I won’t leak it (at least for now). Support Stones Throw and and go buy Sniper Elite and Murder Goons on their official site. And no, I can’t account for the change of name of the track “Sniperlite” to “Sniper Elite.”
Mulatu Astatke and The Heliocentrics Live in London
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, check out The Heliocentrics 2007 album, Out There. If you’re into Sun Ra Arkestra, or any trippy jazz, funk or psychedelia, you’ll eat it up with a spoon.
MP3:
The Heliocentrics - Distant Star [Strange Version f. MF DOOM and Percee P]Dilla. Ghost. Doom.
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 in 2006, while others, including a Dilla-Doom project, were postponed indefinitely after J Dilla’s passing. Two of these tracks, “Sniperlite” and “Murder Goons,” will be released digitally, exclusively through Stones Throw’s webstore, due to launch in late June.
I’m speechless. You can bet your ass that as soon as Stones Throw makes these downloads available we will let you know. When is “late” June anyways? Isn’t late now? Come on, Stones Throw, we can’t wait any longer.
Who Says Video Games Suck?
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 of 2007, 2K8: B-Ball Zombie War features impressive tracks from Madlib/Quasimoto, MF DOOM, Oh No, Percee P, Aloe Blacc, J Dilla and Stones Throw up-and-comers Guilty Simpson and James Pants. In other words, if you appreciate true hip-hop this is definitely an album you’ll want to pick up.
I’m still trying to figure out why the Stones Throw label doesn’t get more media coverage or radio play – I don’t think I’ve ever heard them put out a bad album. Then again, maybe a low profile is part of their formula.
MP3s:
Quasimoto - Hydrant Game (Jaylib Remix)Guilty Simpson - Make It Fast
Aloe Blacc - Find a Way
Oldie But Goodie - Madlib Takes Over BBC
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.
