Free Music Friday: The Drunk and Markered, Geographically West, Shel Silversteinish, Youth Amnesia, Trying Not to Get Lost Edition

Guy walks into a bar. Free Music Friday.

OK, that makes no sense, fair enough, but the fact remains: it's Free Music Friday, so shut your bitching hole.

Guess who got their grubby, little paws on a copy of the new PJ Harvey CD, Let England Shake? As someone who has been following Ms. Polly Jean for some years, with all her albums and a concert or two under my belt, i can unabashedly say i dig it. It's not the powerhouse freak PJ of her earlier days, but it still maintains the odd vibe that marks some of her best work. Call it heavy folk, perhaps? The opening eponymous track and "The Words That Maketh Murder" are the standouts here for me, with Harvey's slightly fuzzed vocals and guitars creating a subdued yet powerful sound. She's doing a handful of U.S. dates to promote the new one, but no 9:30 Club date as of this writing. Did i mention that the most packed show i've ever seen at the 9:30 was PJ? i believe i just did.

mp3: Written on the Forehead (PJ Harvey from Let England Shake)

It's no secret that i'm a beat freak, and i find myself in the midst of a Jaylib bender right now. How fortunate for me, and by extension, you, that Stones Throw just dropped a 14-track digital release of bonus beats from Madlib Medicine Show #11.

mp3: L.A. California (U.S.) (Madlib from Beat Konducta Around the World)

You know how broken up i am about the White Stripes calling it quits (yawn). Whoever shall pick up the banner for scuzz bucket blues? Oh, i dunno, maybe about a dozen better bands? One of my favorite garage punk blues bands these days (and for some time now) has been Left Lane Cruiser. The timing for their third LP, Junkyard Speed Ball, couldn't have been more fortuitous, i suppose. This time around, the duo of Freddy J. Evans IV (axe/vox) and Brenn "Sausage Paw" Beck (skins/vox) are joined by none other than Alive Naturalsound label mate Rev. James Leg of the Black Diamond Heavies on keys for five tracks. i, for one, cannot wait for the March 1 drop date.

mp3: Giving Tree (Left Land Cruiser from Junkyard Speed Ball)

Speaking of fuzzy duos, the Raveonettes are getting ready to drop another one, too. Raven in the Grave will hit shelves on April 5 in North America, April 4 everywhere else. Fate does go our local way this time, though, with a scheduled appearance at the Black Cat on 4-17. Which is nice.

mp3: Forget That You're Young (The Raveonettes from Raven in the Grave)

Lykke Li teaming up with Tyler the Creator? Say what now? OFWGKTA's top dog gives LL's "I Follow Rivers" the remix treatment, adding his trademark low end synths and overall dark vibe, as well as spitting some verses towards the end. On first listen, i didn't think i wanted his chocolate in her peanut butter, but i have to say, i'm really starting to dig the taste of this one.

mp3: I Follow You (Tyler the Creator Mix) (Lykke Li from the OFWGKTA Website)

Free Music Friday: The Spurty, Japanese Boat Loving, Acidy, Swedish, Circus Freaky Edition

First off, a HUGE tip 'o the hat to my foxy partner-in-crime, Megan Terrible, for doing all the heavy lifting this past week whilst i was away on business (and temporarily snowed out of DC, stuck in Salt Lake City). It was a LOOOONG week, but i'm back in the saddle now, as it were, so here we are.

The good news for you kids is that i've had a decent pile-up of tracks with which to share with you on this, the most holy of holies, some random Friday.

Otnorot Recordings has hipped us to the even hipper sounds of GuSHee. Comprised of Cheldon Paterson (production duties, knob twiddling, etc) and Vanese Smith (vox, button pushing, etc), you might recognize the sound, as we've highlighted Paterson's Pro~Ef more than once here. Think of this as Soul II Soul for the Tens.

mp3: When I Think of You...Sunshine (GuSHee from GuSHee, out March 8, 2011)

Speaking of the spoken of before, Junk Culture recently dropped another track from his latest, Summer Friends. Man behind the plan Deepak Mantena seems to be going the Baths route, utilizing a more pop-oriented sound and structure for his otherwise beat driven tunes.

mp3: Weird Teenage Vibes (Junk Culture from Summer Friends, out February 2011)

Since we seem to be on a groove, now would be a good time to mention that Emay has dropped a new EP for our listening pleasure. This kid's sound continues to evolve, and in good ways, too. Hip hop melded with more nuanced beat music. What's not to like?

mp3: Iron Pulse "Starboy" (Emay from Mind Altering Dynamics)

And now, for something completely similar. When i got an email promoting "hippie-hop," my first reaction was "i'll pass." Thankfully, the fact that the band was from Stockholm enticed me to give it a try anyway because i am addicted to Scandinavians for some unfathomable reason. What we've got is a pretty damn good combo sound that's equal parts Doors, Beck and Digable Planets.

mp3: Wonderland (Wonderland 1) (Sidewalk from the Wonderland Sessions)

mp3: Four Roses (Wonderland 2) (Sidewalk from the Wonderland Sessions)

On the opposite end of the email enticement spectrum, as soon as i saw that someone naming himself "Sleepyvillian" had sent something to me, i was immediately intrigued. i first thought it was going to be some Madvillian knock-off or the like, but the email note went on to tell me i had so, so much more on my hands. Sleepyvillian is one Portland, Oregon artist who spent the past few years traveling with Barnum & Bailey Circus as a musician. Fuck me with a lightsaber, i thought, that's audio gold right there, son. His is a sound reminiscent of an even ghostlier TV on the Radio.

mp3: Soft Shoe (Sleepyvillian from his Band Camp)

mp3: Swoon City (Sleepyvillian from his Band Camp)

And that, ladies and gents, is enough to send you on your merry way.

Free Music Friday...ON A THURSDAY!!! The Everything INCLUDING the Kitchen Sink Edition

Guess what, kids? i'm headed to NY tomorrow for a couple of Prince concerts, so this is probably it for me this week. If you happen to be at either the Meadowlands on Friday night or MSG on Saturday, i'll be the sexy motherfucker getting his groove on in the aisles.

i suppose today's post could have just as easily have been a "Beat Meet," "More Xmas Music" or even an "Otherwise Engaged" post, but you get all of 'em rolled up into one, big ball of aural goodness! You lucky, lucky, friggin' bastards.

If you're not going to be in NYC on Friday, but will be in DC, i highly recommend catching Liz Phair at the 9:30 Club or Gene Ween at the Black Cat on Friday night. i hate when there are a preponderance of excellent shows all happening at the same time, but what can you do? Me, i take drugs, but that's another story entirely.

Let's get into that tunage now, shall we?

Xmas tunes first...

White boy soul singer Mayer Hawthorne tackles the Charlie Brown classic with quite fine results.

mp3: Christmas Time is Here (Mayer Hawthorne from Mayery Christmas to All!)

The Pallers had this to say: "While working on our debut-album we decided to celebrate you all by recording this winter greeting.This is to say "We think about you, we will meet again, sometime after the snow is gone and the days are longer!" But for now we´d like to share with you this Christmas song, this warm caress with a promise, this Arctic Hymn." Sounds like a plan to me.

mp3: Artic Hymn (Pallers from Artic Hymn)

Yeah, yeah, sure, sure, but where's my Xmas beat, bitches? Keep your pants on, kid. We've got your back. Not sure if the second track is Xmas-specific, but it certainly is holiday oriented. And it has beat boxing, which makes everything, even anal probes, more enjoyable.

mp3: Xmas Rush (Dub) (Nathan Fake from XLR8R.com)

mp3: Dancing in the Snow (Ernest Gonzales from Been Meaning to Tell You)

And now, for something completely the same, if we're discussing your normal Free Music Friday.

Korallreven puts together a nice and smooth beat for Victoria Bergsman to get her jam on to with this lush number.

mp3: Honey Mine (ft Victoria Bergsman) (Korallreven from Honey Mine 7")

If you feel your beat music could use a little funk, Georgia Anne Muldrow is a name you need to commit to memory. To make you want to buy her latest, VWETO, she's been gracious enough to offer up this beast of a groove. Me likey oh so much.

mp3: fOnkRocker (Georgia Anne Muldrow from her VWETO)

As the LA Series comes to a close for the year, they've decided to break my heart. This new, stuttering jam from TokiMONSTA makes me hate myself even more for missing her open for Bonobo a while back. God damn, this is a booty shaker!

mp3: Park Walks (TokiMONSTA from LA Series 8)

MORE beat music? Hell, give 'em the knee shooters, i always say.

i'm only just getting into Mux Mool, but if Alex B sees fit to remix the guy, i'm hooked.

mp3: Hog Knuckles (Alex B Remix) (Mux Mool from Wax Rose Saturday EP)

KRS-ONE is going to get posted here every opportunity that comes my way. That being said, is it just me or is old boy's voice starting to hit a wall on this one? Don't get me wrong, he's still one of the best in the game, but i think someone might have suggested a lozenge and a cup of tea to Kris before he picked up the mic this time.

mp3: 5% (ft. KRS-ONE and Grand Puba) (DJ Premier from Get Used to Us)

And just because i'm telling you it's the right thing to do, we're going out with some Beans.

mp3: Deathsweater (Beans from End It All)

Free Music Friday: The Pre-Ninjatastic Edition

Sweet Me, i am worn out today, but between getting you jackals and your Free Music Fridays and getting ready to go see The Warrior's Way in a bit, i guess i best quit bitchin' and get to gettin,' as it were.

Fan of the Jack White? Sure, you dig his bold choices to purposefully dress like Edward Scissorhands and his admittedly excellent taste in women, but how do you feel about his work behind the soundboards? Well, here's a taste of his production work for Nashville rocker Pujol. "Too Safe" is the B-side from Pujol's Black Rabbit 7" on Third Man Records.

mp3: Too Safe (Pujol from Black Rabbit 7" )

i dunno know about you, but every now and then, i need a bit of the spastic to keep me sane. That and to wake me. It's really a kind of either/or situation, but you get the drift. Enter this latest from PS I Love You, "Starfield." Hit their site up tonight before midnight, give over the name of your unborn child and be entered to win one of three prize packs.

mp3: Starfield (PS I Love You from Starfield 7")

More often than that, however, i need loud, fuzzy sludge rock to make it happen. And that leads us to Yuck's "Rubber." Great song, but watch the video at your own risk. Sure, there's an incredibly cute chick that gets all sorts of nekkid, but there's also the squeezing and cleaning of a number of dog's anal glands. i've got to be honest with you, it could be a unicorn gang bang after that, but i stopped watching after the third butt purge. That being said, i love the song, and hope to one day never associate the two again. Maybe Mogwai can help me out with their remix.

mp3: Rubber (Yuck from Rubber)

mp3: Rubber (Mogwai Remix) (Yuck)

If i've told you kids once, i've told you a million times--at the end of the day, it's your music that's going to ultimately decide whether we post about you here at LET (or if i'm just really lazy and you're really lucky that day, but that's another story). That being said, it's your email pitch that often helps us to decide whether or not to listen to you in the first place (because we get a ton of submissions; and i'm a downright elitist and snob, but i don't speak for Megs). Today we have two cats who figured it out. First up, sure, Conner Youngblood appears to have sent out a bulk email, but A. he took the time to mention both Meg and me by name and B. he describes one of his tracks as "ambient and hypnotic with ELEMENTS OF DUBSTEP AND BANJO. You fucking win, kid. Most importantly, it's a hypnotizing track. Please to be enjoying. Second in order but by no means in our hearts, Music for Plants pretended to be from Estonia just because they knew. i certainly dig their style of tropical, instrumental music, but playing it like that deserves props, plain and simple. To you stalwart lads and lasses, i say bully! Bully, i say!!!

mp3: Monster (Conner Youngblood from his Soundcloud)

mp3: Enchanted Sister (Music for Your Plants from Music for Plants)

Now i must prepare for the ninjasity that surely awaits me this evening. You go now! You been here four hour!!!

Free Music Friday--The Monday After the Fact Edition

What with it most likely being a short week here at LET this week (gobble, gobble, kids), i decided that if i let last week's Free Music Friday slip by, it probably would be at least another week before i got one done. Since nobody wanted that to happen, here we are with The Monday After the Fact Edition.

Validating our continuing love of all things Swedish, jj dropped a couple of freebie tracks last week, now with sample-y goodness from the xx and Akon!

mp3: let them (jj from Sincerely Yours)

mp3: i'm the one/money on my mind (jj from Sincerely Yours)

With his ninth solo joint, The Apollo Kids, hitting shelves December 14, Ghostface Killah decides to show you what he's got on the first single, "Together Baby." With a soulful sample on the hook, GK continues to slaughter on this one.

mp3: Together Baby (Ghostface Killah from The Apollo Kids)

Continuing their tradition of unearthing seldom heard gems, Light in the Attic knocks another one out of the park with Jim Sullivan's U.F.O. Utilizing the legendary Wrecking Crew as his backing band, the artist is shrouded in mystery. For our purposes, though, the sumbitch could write a mean pysch-folk-rock tune, and that's really all we care about here.

mp3: Highways (Jim Sullivan from U.F.O. )

Katy Goodman must have decided two bands simply were not enough, with the Vivian Girls / All Saints Day member dropping a new one as La Sera. First single, "Never Come Around," shares the same dream-pop vision as her trio, but without the wall of fuzz. Quite frankly, a welcome change of pace to my ears.

mp3: Never Come Around (La Sera from Never Come Around/Behind Your Eyes 7")

And to send you on your merry way, the Golden Filter remix of the Morning Benders' "Excuses" (incidentally, my favorite track on their Big Echo). Now with more dance floor-y-ness!

mp3: Excuses (The Golden Filter Remix) (The Morning Benders from their website)

Free Music Friday: The Kiddie, Exclamatory, Groovalicious, Remixed Once, Remixed Twice, Three Times a Charm, Van, Incorrect, Foul Language Edition

Much like my meals when the Missus is not cooking, we've got a hodge podge of good stuff that might well be bad for you this Friday, but you ain't got no job, and you ain't got shit to do, so what's the worry? Do a bunch of drugs during your listening experience, and you're bound to sweat off some lbs. on your way back down anyway, right? Or run around the block. Shit, people, i'm hear to talk tunes, not weight loss programs. Have you seen my gut?

You know i take a perverse pride in making outlandish claims about how LET is the finest in _____ (fill-in-the-blank), such as "the number one source for Nigerian Speed Rap." Well, i'm working on adding another arrow to our quiver. From here on out, with this track from Gospel that samples the movie "Matilda" ("The Mrs. D, Mrs. I" song), i hereby proclaim LET as your number one source for "Beat Tunes That Make Liberal Use of Probably Highly Copyrighted Material Targeted Towards Children." Sure, it's a niche market, but some one's got to fill it.

mp3: Difficulty (Gospel from their SoundCloud)

i mentioned Pepper Rabbit a few Fridays ago, and now they're back with their latest single from Beauregard. This twee little rocker has ukes AND an accordion. If that's not enough for you, well, you gots to go out and buy your own.

mp3: Babette! (Pepper Rabbit from Beauregard)

i know, i know, it's Friday night, and you need some new soul music to get your groove on with your sweet thang. Well, before you go shelling out for the latest from Cee Lo Green, check out this whispery number by Levek. Awwwwwww Yeeeeeeeeeeeeah, as i believe the kids are saying these days.

mp3: Look on the Bright Side (Levek from Levek 7")

If it's a Nosaj Thing track, you know i'm going to post it. Make it a Glitch Mob remix, and, well, we're talking no brainer here.

mp3: Coat of Arms (Boreta Remix) (Nosaj Thing from Glitch Mob Website)

Speaking of remixes, longtime LET friend, the uber-talented Alan Wilkis, shot us a copy of his latest work tinkering with Film School's "Heartful of Pentagons." Personally, i'm digging the percussion on this one.

mp3: Heartful of Pentagons (Alan Wilkis Remix) (Film School from Alan's Website)

Hell, while we're on the remix tip, might as well share this added vocal mix of mirF's "Exits." You'll recall my gushing love for his work with Micah Smith on Kosmos recently. Or you won't, because you never listen to my feelings, and you're an asshole. Woah. Where did that come from? Yipes, already.

mp3: Exits (Vocal Bombs Mix) (mirf from his Band Camp)

i'll admit, i'm not too familiar with Fat Trel, but teaming up with Wale over a sample of Freelance Whale's "Hannah" is another pretty good way to catch my attention.

mp3: Freak a Melody (ft. Wale) (Fat Trel from No Secrets)

Another LET fave,"Get the" Shigeto "Outta Here," has dropped another single from his debut full-length, Full Circle. It's more of the same spacey goodness with added Asian flair for kung-fu creaminess! Or some shit like that. While we're on the topic, just so you know, this is NOT a Van Morrison cover, as awesome as that might have been. Guess we'll have to work on our alternate universe travel shuttle to hear that one.

mp3: Brown Eyed Girl (Shigeto from Full Circle)

Once again employing the production talents of Dan Auerbach, Jessica Lea Mayfield is getting ready to release her sophomore album, "Tell Me," in 2/11. To tide you over until then, here's the first single. As a complete aside, after giving it much consideration, i've decided JLM's new hair style is yummy. That is all.

mp3: Our Hearts are Wrong (Jessica Lea Mayfield from Tell Me)

And to send you on your merry way, a probably falsely advertised LET EXCLUSIVE of local talent Margot MacDonald's latest and greatest. The pretty girl with the pretty voice is going to be doing a NYC gig on 11/15 at the Bitter End. If you happen to find yourself in the Crappy Apple at that time, i highly suggest you attend. Mention you heard about the show at LET and receive one free sexual favor*! (*Those two statements aren't related, and by mentioning us, you'll probably be met with a blank stare. i'm just saying, if you go, i hope you get lucky, too. Just leave Margot out of it. At the very least, don't mention my name, for chrissakes.) Anyway, with vocals somewhere between Ani DiFranco and Sarah McLachlan, her way around a loop pedal more than covers the price of admission. Don't believe me? See for yourself. Here she is absolutely tearing up Massive Attack's "Teardrop." And because i said i'd keep this clean in case her parents' read this, i leave you with this thought for the weekend: fuckery is a good word, and buggery is not used in casual conversation nearly enough.

mp3: Colorblind (Margot MacDonald, a most likely falsely claimed LET EXCLUSIVE!!!)

Free Music Friday: The Getting Ready to Go Out to See the LET Concert Edition

i assume that you, like me, are busy getting ready for LET's first concert tonight, so let's keep this one short and sweet. Meg and i will see you there later tonight.

Thankfully with increased frequency, we've been getting some pretty stellar beats of late. Unfortunately, some of these come with little to no info on the artist him/herself, so i'm afraid i can't tell you much about B-Ju other than he tears the shit up on this thumper.

mp3: Habit in Your Redlight (B-Ju from Soundcloud)

If you're like me, and you know you wish you were, you dig 80s R&B chick groups. Clearly taking inspiration from the likes of Vanity 6 and the Mary Jane Girls, Margo puts her stamp on the sound with a couple of singles here for your listening pleasure. Produced by Jaakko and Nikko, updated with a 2010 electro vibe, here's her take on the Missing Persons classic. Plus, girlfriend looks damn fine with teased out hair in a skintight jumpsuit. Ah, the 80s...

mp3: Walking in L.A. (Margo from the Couch Sessions)

mp3: Cold as Ice (Margo from Animal House EP)

And now, a two-fer from one of the best in the beat game, the one and only Flying Lotus. Firstly, check out the wonderfully named My Dry Wet Mess remix of Flying Lotus' "PieFace." And if that's not enough, the flying flower also takes production duties on the latest leak from Blu. Oh yeah, that latter track also has some U-God in there, just for good measure.

mp3: PieFace (My Dry Wet Mess Remix) (Flying Lotus from XLR8R)

mp3: KeepItGoing (ft. U-God) (Blu leaked from still no release date No York)

Did you vote earlier this week? If you're from Cali, and you did NOT, i'm holding you personally responsible for Prop 19 failing. Ass hat. Anyway, to encourage you to get to the polls, Fort Knox Five dropped this Beatles remix. Hmm, maybe it's my fault for not sharing this earlier. Whatevs.

mp3: Revolution (DC's Finest Remint) (Fort Knox Five from their website)

Want a spacey track that goes from Halloween eerie to 80s synth crazy at the drop of a hat? Well, check out the latest from Keep Shelly in Athens then.

mp3: Running Out of You (Keep Shelly in Athens from In Love with Dusk EP)

And to send you on your merry way before you head out the door to our show, here's the latest leak from the Bomb Zombies concerning, well, hair, which, as a bald dude, perplexes me, but what can you do? i would have posted anything by Nocando or Nobody, so when the two teamed up, well, i think i got a stiffy. The cover art didn't hurt, either.

mp3: Bangs (Bomb Zombies from Sincerely Yours)

Another Free Music Friterday

My somewhat insincere apologies for another late one of these, friends. i had tickets to see Cinematic Titanic last night, and i just couldn't get this one done prior to that hilarious event. Then i got home, an epic battle with a pizza was waged, and things that were supposed to happen did not. What can you do? It's an imperfect world, i tell you what. Anyways...

i find Kid Cudi to be particularly hit-or-miss for my tastes, with his best stuff often being the odd single here and there. However, the latest leak from his upcoming Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager samples St. Vincent's "The Stranger," so that pretty much guaranteed inclusion here.

mp3: Maniac (Kid Cudi ft. Cage from Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager)

i'll be honest, aTelecine probably wouldn't have hit my radar (or anyone else's) if not for the inclusion of one Ms. Sasha Grey, but she's in the, what, avant-garde noise troupe?, so here we are talking about the band. i like to imagine that most music has its corresponding drug of choice to take while listening--cheap liquor for the blues, E for raves, weed for everything--you get the point. For this, i'm thinking acid/E candy flipping, but maybe that's just me. It's like what Shlohmo might make if he were touched repeatedly in bad places by his mom's boyfriend to my ears. Incidentally, i would like full and total props for demonstrating restraint and not using the phrase "Double Vaginal/Double Anal Penetration" once in this entire review. Oh wait. Damn it.

mp3: It's All Write (aTelecine from A Casette Tape Culture)

mp3: I Came I Sat I Departed (aTelecine from A Casette Tape Culture)

Can't say as i know much about Themselves, but if Baths saw fit to do a remix, i'm going to post it.

mp3: Deadcatclear II (Baths Remix) (Themselves from CrownsDown & Company)

Liz Janes, of Sufjan Stevens fame, is back with her first full-length in five years. For Say Goodbye, she's taking a stab at a soul sound. From the first single, it sounds like she's going to do a fine job. Pick it up 12/7/10.

mp3: I Don't Believe (Liz Janes from Say Goodbye)

Now i feel bad about that Shlohmo comment earlier. To rid ourselves of that image, here's his latest remix. Sorry, guy.

mp3: April Showers (Shlohmo Remix) (Jed and Lucia from Apostrophe/April Showers 10'')

And as we ride off into the sunset, this jangly, dare i say twee (dare, dare!), number by Pepper Rabbit. Me likey.

mp3: Older Brother (Pepper Rabbit from Beauregard)

Free Music Friday: The Covered, Labelled, Reworked, Goodbye, Swedish, Localized Version

Man alive, you bastards owe me. i so should be home resting right now, watching hockey, but NOOOOO, i drag my sorry carcass into the office to work and make sure that y'all get your Free Music Friday fix. Seriously, my canonization better be imminent, i swear to Black Dynamite.

This one has been sitting in the inbox for a few weeks, but i kept forgetting to post it. It's a shame because this duet with Josh Ritter and Dawn Landes covering the folk classic "500 Miles" is pretty damn money. It's bittersweet, touching and all those good things you expect from acoustic folk tunes. Oh well, you've got it now.

mp3: 500 Miles (Josh Ritter and Dawn Landes from Josh's Website)

Sometimes, following labels pays dividends. i joined One Little Indian's mailing list due to sate my Bjork infatuation, but it's since lead me to the dulcet, bluesy tones of Dan Sartain. The latest newsletter continues the trend with the two from the man himself, one from the archive and a little taster from the new record too. The first track is a dark and dangerous boogie woogie stomper, and the latter has a touch more of a pissed off Elvis Costello vibe. Dig 'em.

mp3: Walk Among the Cobras, Pt. 1 (Dan Sartain from Dan Sartain Vs. The Serpientes)

mp3: Atheist Funeral (Dan Sartain from Dan Sartain Lives!)

Jason Collett is getting ready to drop Pony Tricks, a reworked acoustic collection of 11 songs, including two never-before released tracks, on October 12. You know how much we love our Canadian brethren, so it was a no brainer we'd be posting the first single, a somber, slow burner. Check it out.

mp3: Bitter Beauty (Jason Collett from Pony Tricks)

What began as a one-off split-45 by songwriters Greg Cartwright and Coco Hames first got together for a one-off, split-45, but the two apparently dug one another enough to form their own band, The Parting Gifts. The duo will release their debut full-length album this fall on In The Red Records. Of particular interest to me, expect performances by Dan Auerbach, as well as Patrick Keeler, Jem Cohen, Poni Silver and Dave Amels.

mp3: Keep Walkin' (The Parting Gifts from The Strychnine Dandelion)

Maintaining our place as in bloggerdom as purveyors of world rock, here's a track by The Radio Dept., written for the recent Swedish elections. As if the title didn't give it away, the lyrics make it pretty clear that the boys in the band don't think too highly of the current government. As my knowledge of Sweden begins with their hockey team and ends with the Chef, i'll take their word on it.

mp3: The New Improved Hypocrisy (The Radio Dept. from The New Improved Hypocrisy)

And to send you on your merry way, a rocker from local DC-talent, Mara Levi. In addition to teaching music and participating in Girls Rock! DC, Levi found time to drop her third CD, We Listen to Fools. The album (no CDs to keep things green) "processes the end of a five-year relationship, takes on a music industry that values conformity over individuality, smacks down the injustice of a capitalist system that rewards selfishness, and (of course) chronicles the search for new love." Oh, and it rocks. For the local kiddies, check out the release party at Phase 1 on Capitol Hill on October 15. Mention that you read about the party at LET and be met with blank stares on non-comprehension.

mp3: Gotta Get Out (Mara Levi from We Listen to Fools)

Free Music Friday

To start, many happy returns of the day to The Missus. Doesn't have a damn thing to do with today's Free Music Friday, but, hey, it's half my blog, so i'm going write about what i'm going to write about. Plus, you dig the Missus, too, so you should wish her one, too.

Anyway, we received some nice tunes the past couple of weeks while i've been traveling all over the place, so you get to enjoy the fruits of those looms, as it were.

Surprising no one, Stones Throw continues to give out more freebies than whore with poor pimp management. i don't know about you, but i've always been a huge fan of voice boxes. Fuck that auto-tune shit, i'm talking about the original real deal. Whereas Roger Troutman popularized the sound (using his own variation on the instrument), the ST crate diggers have uncovered a treasure trove from Bruce Haack, the inventor of “Farad," one of the first truly musical vocoders, and first to be used on a pop album. Also from the gang, Aloe Blacc's Good Things finally hit the stands, and to celebrate, they dropped this ultra-groovy, soulful number to get your juices fellow in a most mellow manner.

mp3: Electric to Me Turn (Bruce Haak from Farad: The Electric Voice)

mp3: You Make Me Smile (Aloe Blacc from Good Things)

Daytrotter did a session with the folks in Admiral Radley, and it's a good one. Go check it out. We keep telling you how good Jason and his crew are, so maybe this will make true believers out of you.

mp3: I Heart California (Admiral Radley from Daytrotter Sessions, 9-22-10)

Sadly, i've been a little less impressed with each new Thermals offering, but i am kind of digging the new single from Personal Life. Call me crazy, but the lo-fi noise of their self-titled EP remains their high water mark for my money. Sure, they've grown musically and lyrically, no doubt, but where's the fun in that? i first saw the band open for Sleater-Kinney years ago, fell in love with Kathy Foster while she was bouncing around on stage tearing up the bass, and have been hooked on and off ever since. This one goes a decent ways towards making me need to call my sponsor again.

mp3: Never Listen to Me (The Thermals from Personal Life)

i know what you're thinking, a live DOOM album? There's been a lot of talk about if this is even a real live set, how old it actually is, blah, blah, blah. All you need to worry about is the fact that DOOM spits fire, this is loads better than Live From Planet X, and the first track is free. The Villain is back, y'all, so don't sleep on this one.

mp3: Beef Rap (DOOM from Expektoration)

Another new Alex B track just hit the interwebs, so you know i'm going to post it here. It's about smoking weed and it's more bottom heavy than your fat-assed prom date, so you know it's worth listening to.

mp3: Dro on the D-Lo (Alex B from 1320 Records Volume II)

And to close things out, the latest from 0OoOO's eponymous EP. Personally, i dig the track, but i'm not sure about this "witch core" nomenclature. Really? Sure, it's spooky and has ethereal, seemingly disembodied female vocals, but is that honestly the new sub-genre name we want? Eh, fuck it, it's glitch, and it's good, and that's enough.

mp3: Burnout Eyess (oOoOO from oOoOO)

Free Music Fri...turday: The Late, Abbreviated Version

Don't tell your parents, but i'm late.

Yesterday afternoon, i received two tracks that merited an instant Free Music Friday, even though i had already done the Tobacco/Junk Culture/Dreamend review. But i fell asleep early, so the instant part went out the window. Still, i don't want to be the last site of what's sure to be many posting these, so here we are.

You'll see both Meg and i together again at Those Darlins next week (9/15) at the Black Cat, and it appears that the girls found out and released a 7" in honor of the occasion. At least, that's the story i'm sticking to. Regardless, it's an intense track, showing a side of the ladies not apparent on their debut. More menacing and sexier, with a bit less twang and a lot more tits (that's the female equivalent of balls, right?). If this is the new direction of the band, i likey. i likey a lot. What's more, you can listen to both sides of the 7" here. B-side, "Funstix Party," has the same sinister edge, but, as the name clearly states, this is a party track, plain and simple. Better still, there's apparently a new full-length with a TBD release date of early next year. Which is nice.

mp3: Night Jogger (Those Darlins from Night Jogger 7")

LET respects facial hair. Which isn't even a tenth of the reason why we dig Megafaun, but it's still in the DNA of the relationship somewhere. So we probably would have posted this gem from their mini-ablum, Heretofore, even if it hadn't been a rollicking, good time, breezily singing about their home state. Fortunately for all of us, it is. The boys, too, have a full-length in the works, apparently heading into the studio this fall, which also is nice.



mp3: Carolina Days (Megafaun from Heretofore)

Late Night Free Music Friday: The After Hours, Beat the Meet Edition

It's been a looong fucking week at the office, but i ain't gots no time for none of that bullshit and various other grammatically incorrect vernacular vehemence! That being said, there was just too much good music this week not to share. As it happens, i probably could have made this a Beat Meet just as easily, but check your calendar, bitches.

I'm gonna get you high today, 'cause it's Friday; you ain't got no job... and you ain't got shit to do.

Old school gets a lift from the new generation, which is an excellent thing for beat music fans. Brad Laner has a new one out called Natural Selections. What caught my immediate attention, however, was the fact that Baths decided to remix the first single. The Master of the Tub adds his airy touch to an already otherworldly jam. For the helium minded, natch.

mp3: Crawl Back In (Baths Remix) (Brad Laner from Natural Selections Remix)

Ever since i saw them open for Lykke Li a couple of years back, i've been impressed by Wildbirds & Peacedrums. And every new track i hear shows growth and improvement from the last, highlighting their growth as musicians. On this new one, the percussion heavy band adds steel drums to create a breezy, slower jam that's a nice send off to the quickly fading summer.

mp3: The Drop (Wildbirds & Peacedrums from Rivers)

OK, i've dug 2010's foray into fuzz-reverb-heavy, Spector-esque chick bands as much as the next guy, but i think i'm about ready for this phase to wrap itself up. i'm well aware that Frankie Rose and the Outs comes from the highest of pedigrees within the genre, and this track isn't too shabby, but let's watch ourselves here, eh, kids? Too much of a good thing is just going to give you gas, children.

mp3: Little Brown Haired Girls (Frankie Rose and the Outs from Frankie Rose and the Outs)

i kept meaning to check out Prince Rama, but there are only so many hours in the day, right? Of course, much like with Mr. Laner above, it only took the right man to remix things to pique my interest. Enter Sun Araw and one hell of a tribal treatment to his highness' beat.

mp3: Storm Worship (Sun Araw Mix) (Prince Rama from Shadow Temple Remix)

And now a hearty thank you to the fine folks over at the Brainfeeder camp who just decided to overload us with audio riches this past week. Teebs' first single, "Arthur's Birds," for his Brainfeeder debut, Ardour, sounds like the music made by cyborg parakeets, so we've got that. The Gaslamp Killer is getting ready to drop a new one, too. To tease Death Gate, they've released a new track with Gonjasufi, which quite frankly, is the best Gonjasufi track i've ever heard; the two apparently like-minded artists just nail this Far East sounding jam. And what would Brainfeeder be without the magic of their maestro, Flying Lotus, behind it? That's conjecture for another day when we've got more weed than we do now, but you can groove along with him as he sits in with the Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble from this set, live in Los Angeles, July 23rd, 2010.

mp3: Arthur's Birds (Teebs from Adour)

mp3: When I'm in Awe (ft. Gonjasufi) (The Gaslamp Killer from Death Gate)

mp3: Drips/Take Notice (Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble ft. Flying Lotus from a live show in LA, 7-23-10)

With the weather hopefully just starting to cool off a bit, i think i'm going to have to make good on my promise to start "paying back" Levi for their incredible Pioneer Sessions with the purchase of some denim. This week, it's Nas' take on Slick Rick's classic, "Hey, Young World."

mp3: Hey, Young World (Nas from Levi's Pioneer Sessions)

Just when you think you've had enough and right after i bitched about having too much of a good thing, you don't think i'd send you off without this wafer thin offering from Low End Theory, did you? Here's Podcast 17, featuring Daddy Kev and Baths (sumbitch is everywhere lately, which is nice). Oh my.

mp3: Episode 17: Daddy Kev and Baths (Low End Theory Podcast)

Now off with you, and for my U.S. compatriots, enjoy the start of a long weekend.