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!!!)

Another Terrible Album Review: Kosmos by Micah Smith and mirF

Look at that, i was able to maintain a theme two days in a row. Will wonders never cease? Am i not taking the appropriately high dosage these days? How many licks DOES it take to get to the center of Lil' Kim? How long would you need to sterilize your tongue after the fact? So many questions, so little time. What the hell was i talking about again? Oh yes, another terrible album review...

We get so many submissions at LET, i'm embarrassed to say it's almost impossible for us to listen to each and every one. That is not to say we don't give it ye olde college try, but there are only so many hours in a day. As i've opined in the past, it's often the pitch letter that separates what goes onto the iPod and what lingers in the inbox. While i obviously prefer personal notes, every now and then, an artist/PR flak/whoever puts together a compelling enough mass email that i'll bite. When the announcement for Micah Smith and mirF's Kosmos came through, claiming to combine "the musical stylings of sampled soul, jazz, and chinese hip-hop beats steeped in the words of Walt Whitman," well, i was hooked. Hells yes, i dig chinese hip-hop beats; i grew up on bad kung-fu and anime. And who doesn't like Walt Whitman? Only dumb asses, and i've got no time for their lot anyway.

When i heard the opening, sped-up strings and diva vocals on Kosmos opener "Touch," i prepared myself for the worst, though. Sure, it may be an academic argument to some, but i like my instrumental hip-hop beat heavy, not necessarily dance floor ready. i'm about the headphone nodding, which is not automatically the same thing as what gets your booty bopping, as it were. Fortunately, i was quickly rewarded for my patience, as the drums soon slowed the affair down, and the chopped vocal sample showed a whole new side to the track. "Bliss (Together)" nails the Nujabes vibe so perfectly, it damn well should be on Tribute to Jun. The closing vocal sample, a dialogue between a man and a woman, wherein the man suggests a celebration, and the woman prefers they stay home, together, and listen to records, pretty much sums up the entire vibe of the album. "Eagle Claw" ups the Asian considerably, incorporating old school chop sockey strings and woodwinds. Made me want to get my Bruce Leroy on (this one, not this one), but that might have just been me. "All Goes Onward and Outward" is a spoken word piece played over Atari beats; i'm not saying it's better to listen to stoned, but i'm not NOT saying that, either. "Rain Fall" adds a bit of bedroom vibe to the affair. (Ed. note: What is it about precipitation that automatically makes composers think about getting it on?) "Exits" is a perfect outro, which is good, because it would have been an odd name choice for any other track, don't you think?

Best of all, this one, too, is a freebie, so shake your tail feathers and pick it up yourself. Whether you need a soundtrack for to align your chi with your gravity bong or are looking to seduce that cute kunoichi that keeps throwing stars at your head during practice, this album is right for you.

mp3: Bliss (Together) (mirF from Kosmos)

mp3: Eagle Claw (Micah Smith from Kosmos)