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 Underaged, Blow Uppy, Outer Spacey, Motorific, Somebody Else's, Sparkly Teethed Edition

It has been one bitch of a week work-wise, so let's make this one relatively short and sweet. Regardless of how busy i was, that didn't stop ye olde inbox from filling with some damn fine tunes this past week.

i suppose The Babies would be the indie "super group" of the day, seeing as how its members also happen to be Vivian Girls frontwoman Cassie Ramone, Woods bassist Kevin Morby and Justin Sullivan, drummer for Brooklyn band Bossy. If the first single, "Meet Me in the City," is any indication, expect a lot of lo-fi indie rock. With lines like "I'm too young to feel like I do," apparently the tolls of their profession are causing deeper thoughts to arise. For the purposes of our discussion, however, we really just care that they rawk, correct? They do.

mp3: Meet Me in the City (The Babies from Meet Me in the City b/w Somebody Else 7" )

Philly may or may not make the world's best cheese steaks (personally, i dig White House Subs in AC, but that's another post entirely), but they certainly know how to make chill tunes. Which is somewhat surprising to someone who used to live about 35 minutes outside of that fair burg, who has seen Flyers fans try to beat up fathers with kids in opposing jerseys, snow balls thrown at Santa Claus during sporting events and more shenanigans than i care to mention. Maybe that's why the Powder Kegs chose the name they did, to throw off the trouble makers while they prefect their jazz-tinged mellow rock. Single "La Mariposa" is ideal for back porch sessions sipping drinks of an alcoholic nature and watching fireflies do their thing. Just don't talk shit about the Flyers to them, i guess.

mp3: La Mariposa (The Powder Kegs from Empty Side EP)

If you're into early Funkadelic (for the old heads) or Sun Araw (for the noobs), Pocahaunted is the band for you. Combining freaked out guitars and tribal beats, if you need to soundtrack your next mushroom or peyote adventure, lead single "U.F.O." from Make It Real will certainly do you right. This is music to get naked to while you dance around a bonfire and paint yourself with mud. Remember, though, kids, friends don't let friends trip unsupervised. So do the right thing, offer to be the Dungeon Master for the evening whilst your chums trip balls and boobs, and then fuck with your charges unabashedly. It's the only way to fly, really.

mp3: U.F.O. (Pocahaunted from Make It Real)

Proving that bloggers clearly are the next wave of music distribution, Jus Like Music has hipped us to yet another dope single, "Deepest Cuba." Brassy horns and a latin beat will get your tail feathers shaking with this one. Taking inspiration from this latest strong release, LET will soon unleash its own series of inspirational hymns about masturbating potheads, all on kazoo, with ample wonkiness to keep your ass moving.

mp3: Deepest Cuba (Diesler from Tie Breakers)

Eschewing traditional time signatures, Sarah Winters has my favorite piano tune of the day with "Not Mine." Utilizing an almost paranoid DJ spasticity in her music, think Tori Amos seemingly without the mondo weirdness. Of course, i don't know Ms. Winters, so maybe she likes to hang out with rats in her videos, too.

mp3: Not Mine (Sarah Winters from Smallest Bones)

And to wrap things up, perennial LET favorite Alan Wilkis recently hit us up with his latest remix, this time for Phantogram's "Mouthful of Diamonds." As always, A Dub makes the song his own while leaving the heart and soul of the song fully intact. His added 80s synths and programmed drums are always welcome 'round these parts.

mp3: Mouthful of Diamonds (Alan Wilkis Remix) (Phantogram from AW's MySpace)

Now it's time for me to decide what to do with the fucking loved ones this weekend. And i'm gone.

Free Music Fri, er, Tuesday: The Covered, Heartsy, Jewelly, Remixed, Spacey, Acoustic-y, Beaty, REALLY Late Version

Holy Toledo, what a past few days. The Missus and i closed on our new house, which was a nightmare i'm not even going to bore you with right now. We won't have Interwebs (or cable, for that matter) 'til a week from tomorrow, hence the lack of posts recently. Of course, that doesn't mean i can't waste time at the office, now does it? Later this week, i have every intention of catching up on some band submissions (i have some great CDs still left to discuss, plus numerous offerings from Germany and up-and-coming female starlets to share), as well as the Greatest Mango Mix You Will Ever Hear, so you've got that going for you. In the interim, however, let's get past the yapping and onto the world of free mp3s for your listening pleasure.

First up, a Britney Spears cover by Or, The Whale. Why? Because Brit Brit covers amuse me, and that is enough.

mp3: Toxic (Britney Spears cover by Or, The Whale from Cokemachineglow's Fantasy Podcast)

Next up is a now late Valentine's tune from Paul and the Patients. According to Paul himself, it was inspired by a dream he had with every person he's ever loved in it. He's got it up at BandCamp.com as part of their Song of the Week Project (this marking the 18th week), but as of this writing Band Camp is down, so i can't say much more about it other than i'm sure Michelle Flaherty must be distraught. Oh, and i really dug the song artwork, so much so that it's today's post picture. The juxtaposition of a blindfolded, topless chick holding a heart and what appears to be a zipper scar in the middle of her chest? i dunno, i just dig it. i'm assuming it's not an ex-gf of his, but it's the thought that counts. Remember, kids, Uncle Terrible can and will be bribed with depravity, done artfully or otherwise.

mp3: Embrace (Paul and the Patients from the Song of the Week Project)

One Little Indian, home of Icelandic pixie Bjork, has the latest from Dan Sartain up for the price of your email addy, apparently the cost of doing such business these days. The fuzzy guitar line is instantly addictive, so let them know how to send you similarly themed junk mail and get your groove on.

mp3: Ruby Carol (Dan Sartain from Dan Sartain Lives) (available soon)

LET favorite Alan Wilkis has remixed Yeasayer's Ambling Alp. You may recall we gave AW's Babies Dream Big Top Ten CDs of the Year honors (#5, to be exact) a couple of years back. He continues on the good foot with this one.

mp3: Ambling Alp (Alan Wilkis Remix) (Yeasayer from Odd Blood [Remixed])

Not quite sure what to say about the next one by Malachai. It sounds like a bit of crate digging done right. The resulting sound is both timely and distant, but grabs you by the boo boo regardless. Domino imprint Double Six are to release the ‘Ugly Side of Love’ album this April 19th, but you can have a taste today. Initially released on Portishead’s Geoff Barrow’s Invada label (under the band’s old name Malakai) last year, the 13 track album will be preceded by the band’s debut radio single for Double Six ‘Snowflake’, which is set for release a week earlier on April 12th.

mp3: Fading World (Malachai from Ugly Side of Love)

Since you've grown accustomed to me overstuffing you, let's keep this train wreck a rollin'. To get your juices pumped for their upcoming tour with The Clientele this March, The Wooden Birds have put together a rather kick-ass, acoustic EP for free! It's pretty damn fantastic, if you're into that laid back, indie folk kinda sound. And right now, i am.

mp3: Believe in Love (The Wooden Birds from Motague St. EP)

And to close things out, plenty of DJ love from all over the place.

Master of the Mash-Up and Remix, DJ Z-Trip, just re-did the Dead Weather's "Treat Me Like Your Mother" with a little help from Slug of Atmosphere fame. Better than the original? You make the call. Hell, it's free, so why not?

In anticipation of his upcoming project on the Brainfeeder label, Daedalus has released his own trippy freebie, "Order of the Golden Dawn." Grab it ASAP, though, as they've only got the link up for a week.

Finally, the phat cats over at Low End Theory finally got around to posting this month's podcast, this time featuring D-Styles and Shlohmo. Shlohmo samples the hell out of "Half Baked" for his half, which is always a good thing.

mp3: Treat Me Like Your Mother (Z-Trip Remix ft. Slug from Z-Trip's website)

mp3: Order of the Golden Dawn (Daedalus from Righteous Fists of Harmony)

mp3: Episode 12 ft. D-Styles and Shlohmo (Low End Theory Podcast)

And i'm out.

Album Review: Pink and Purple by Alan Wilkis

It's officially summertime, so LET favorite Alan Wilkis must be at it again, making some of the most dance-friendly summer jams to come across my speakers in a while. For those of you who somehow forgot, I gave MUCH LOVE to Mr. Wilkis' debut, Babies Dream Big. His signature sound is once again in full effect, immediately bringing to mind early '80s synthesizer funk a la Prince, Rick James, Funkadelic and Stevie Wonder. Clearly, a good crowd with which to associate oneself.

Pink and Purple is a six track EP that clearly showcases Wilkis' sound, but brings in a number of heavy hitters to play back-up, too. He enlists Gunnar Olsen on drums (Earl Greyhound, Asobi Seksu), guitarists Grey McMurray (Bell, Matmos) and Ryan Ferreira (Bell), and Eric Biondo (Atibalas, Shakira, TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Tony Barba (Youngblood Brass Band) on horns. Impressive company, to say the least.

This is Saturday night roller skating music, so lace up those skates, free your mind and your ass most definitely will follow.

mp3: Dance With You

The Top Albums of 2008 According to Chris: #5 - Alan Wilkis

The best part about this whole music blogger gig for me is all the music I receive, a boatload of which is completely DIY.

Hell, some of the stuff has no label (other than what the artist is calling his own effort), but that, of course, doesn't necessarily mean it's not incredible stuff.

When it comes right down to it, some of the best stuff this year has been straight from the artist's efforts.

Which brings me to Alan Wilkis and his Babies Dream Big. I'm assuming at least some of the LET readership actually lived through the 80s and remembers that wonderfully cheesey, yet oh-so-funk-a-groove-a-licious synthesizer vibe that made everything sound slightly futuristic and instantly danceable.

Whether you do or don't remember, Alan Wilkis has created a perfect update to that sound. Part Prince, part Stevie Wonder, all tasty. Seriously, this CD was the most "fun" album of the year for me, hands down. Mr. Wilkis can play my birthday party each and every year so long as he continues to groove like this.



(WIlkis comes in at the 1:04 mark)

mp3: Burnin' (link expired)

mp3: It's Been Great (link expired)