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)

More Dilla, Please

One can never have enough Dilla. And who doesn't love jazz and Donuts? What if we could combine all three into one, gooey, sticky mess? It would sound exactly like this. That's right, Dilla's Donuts, covered in its entirety, but a funked up jazz band. You're welcome.

With Storm Siegel on skins, Dave Mainella on piano and Evan Crane on bass, the trio called Stray Phrases performed an instrumental set of the album on Sunday, October 17, 2010. Unfortunately, it's all crammed into one mp3, but once you have a listen, maybe you'll decide that's for the best. Some things are just meant to be listened to a certain way.

mp3: Donuts Live (Stray Phrases from Live Donuts)

And then Stones Throw just keeps giving and giving and giving...

From Madlib's latest Medicine Show (#11 Low Budget High Fi Music), a formerly unreleased track from Jaylib, the collab between Dilla and Madlib, originally slated for their second album, which, sadly and criminally, never came to fruition.

mp3: Louder (Blast Your Radio Theme) (Jaylib from Madlib Medicine Show #11 Low Budget High Fi Music)

Beat Meet: The Embarassment of Riches Edition

Since the holidays screwed up my blog week last week, ye olde inbox received a horn o' plenty's worth of stellar beats. And because i'm such a helluva guy, i'm going to share them with you.

Ah, Project: Mooncircle, how i love thee and thy dopish ways. Continuing with their kick ass Finest Ego series, this time up, the label features some of today's hottest Russian beatmakers doing their thing. Now, i know what you're thinking about Russian DJs, but, c'mon, man, that's racist. Allow me to confirm the fact that P:M yet again knocks this one out of the park, particularly on tracks by Pavel Dovgal and Shawalski. Here's what i'm trippin' on, though--how come all these foreign compilations only use English language samples? i'm just asking. Regardless, here's a little mini-mix to prove my point about just how good this bad boy is.

mp3: Finest Ego Russian Beatmakers Compiliation Mini-Mix

i can't tell you much about the Cutler beyond what you can read on their website yourself, other than that their latest, The Best Things in Life Aren't Things, is a stone cold groove, baby. Jazzy/funky instruments, cymbal-ic percussion and Charlie Brown sounding vocal samples? Yes, please.

mp3: PAYR (The Cutler from The Best Things in Life Aren't Things)

mp3: Sync Estate (The Cutler from The Best Things in Life Aren't Things)

You didn't think i was going to allow LET to falter in its goal of maintaining its place as THE leading source for heavily and probably illegally sampled children's movie beats, did you? Hells no, i'm not. So let's check out Pogo's latest update to his already classic take on Alice in Wonderland.

mp3: Alice (Extended) (Pogo from Deeper Down the Rabbit Hole)

mp3: Oyster Dreamland (Pogo from Deeper Down the Rabbit Hole)

i'm normally not a huge remix fan, but when one of my fave up and coming beatmakers is behind the board, what can i do? Here's oOoOO's take on Marina & the Diamond's "Obsessions." i've got to be honest, i'm not at all familiar with the original, but i sure as hell am digging the remix.

mp3: Obsessions (oOoOO Remix) (Marina & the Diamonds from Soundcloud)

If the cats at the WEDIDIT Collective give a song props, i'm going to have to give it a listen. So far, they have yet to let me down. And they maintain that streak with this Juj-recommended track by Ackryte. i'm assuming the instrumental is NOT about Ackryte's problems with the Alabama Police Department, but what the hell do i know?

mp3: Ackryte_x_AL_PD_-_Untitled (Ackryte from Soundcloud)

Is there anything better than "re-released" Dilla? Maybe "re-released" Dilla remixed by Madlib? OK, i'll buy that.

mp3: The $ (Madlib Remix) (J Dilla from Hella International)

The Greatest Loosely Themed Quickie Africa Mixtape You Ever Will Hear

My second youngest brother has just returned from a year abroad in Africa. While i've only had sporadic email updates, sounds like it's been a miserable trip for the poor bastard. Since this Ps' are out of town, it looks like the Eldest Terrible here is going to take the sibs out for a welcome home dinner, so i clearly don't have time for anything too detailed for you lot today.

In celebration of Younger Terrible making it back alive (though a good pirate kidnapping story would have been interesting), here's the Greatest Loosely Africa Themed Quickie Mix You Ever Will Hear.

mp3: From Africa to Málaga (jj from nº 2)

mp3: African Alphabet Song (Kermit the Frog and Ladysmith Black Mambazo from Songs From the Street: 35 Years of Music)

mp3: Africa (Toto from Toto IV)

mp3: African Voodoo Queen (Drama) (Madlib from Medicine Show # 3: Beat Konducta In Africa)

mp3: Storms in Africa (Enya from Watermark)

mp3: Africa (Sun-Ra and His Myth Science Arkestra from Angels And Demons At Play / The Nubians Of Plutonia)

mp3: Thank You For Talkin' to Me Africa (Sly and the Family Stone from There's a Riot Goin' On)

mp3: Africa (The Meters from Rejuvenation)

Odds and Ends FREE-FOR-ALL!!!

i've got a couple of things that need writing, including a few Old Skool Reviews i'm looking forward to, but i also realized ye olde inbox is getting a tad full these days and figured now was as good a time as any to do some spring cleaning and bring the music to the masses. As for explanatory notes regarding said tardiness, sue me. Too many pretty people walking around in lesser states of dress than they had on a scant weeks ago. What's a Terrible to do?

In no particular order of anything...

NEW RELEASES

Have you heard the new Eryka Badu joint yet? Good Lord and Butter, that's some groovey listening for your earholes right there. i know i mentioned it a while back when she started dropping singles for New Ameryka Part II, but i had no idea it was going to be this good. Let me be the first to call it, "Turn Me Away (Get Munny)" is going to be the summer block party BBQ after hours jam, ladies and gents. Twinkle, twinkle, baby, this one is a star.

mp3: Turn Me Away (Get Munny) (Eryka Badu from New Amerykah, Part Two (Return of the Ankh))

Yes, i lurvs me some Flying Lotus, and, of course, i'm a sucka for Dilla, but i have to say, i'm pretty sure my favorite DJ/producer these days is Alex B. Once i heard his amazing Brainfeeder podcast, i was pretty much hooked for life. i just picked up his brand new Moments earlier today, and the tracks i've heard so far are too nice. Money, even. i want to be able to do what this man does with digital manipulation. The electronic kind, you dirty bastards, not the other kind.

Ed's note: i'm already quite proficient at that other kind thank you very much.

mp3: You and I Both Know (Alex B from Moments)

SPEAKING OF BEAT PRODUCERS...

If you follow the beat scene, you've probably already heard there's another J Dilla piece in the works. Coming out May 10, The Donut Shop will contain "the official J Dilla serato with 6 Dilla tracks b/w Serato Control Tone, 2 slipmats & badass package." As i took my first private DJ session this past weekend, i now actually know what all those things mean. To whet your 'tites, Stones Throw has thrown this stoned out classic.

mp3: Safety Dance (J Dilla from The Donut Shop)

Since 15 minutes elapsed since his last one, Madlib came out with the latest in his ongoing Beat Konducta series, this time focusing on Africa. Surprising absolutely no one, it's three nice.

mp3: The Frontline (Liberation) (Madlib from Beat Konducta in Africa)

mp3: African Voodoo Queen (Drama) (Madlib from Beat Konducta in Africa)

Did you just blink? Yep, in that time, Madlib finished another one. Look for the long-awaited OJ Simpson to hit shelves May 18.

mp3: Cali Hills (Guilty Simpson + Madlib from OJ Simpson)

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THOSE FREE MUSIC FRIDAYS?

Didn't i just get through saying i've been ogling scantily clad females lately? Listen, people. Or read, at least. You're right, though, i do have a bit of a backlog of tracks to work through the pipes, as it were.

Every time i think i've found the band name of the year, a new one comes along and starts the debate anew. This time up, it's Trampled by Turtles. Seriously, it's beauty in its simplicity, yet evocative of Buddhist koan universality in its descriptiveness. The fact that they play "punk-bluegrass" only makes it that much sweeter. If the Devil actually did go down to Georgia while he was doing Tony Montana-sized mountains of coke, he might sound a little like this. Find out the rest for yourselves when the new LP drops on April 13.

mp3: Wait So Long (Trampled by Turtles from Palomino)

As next in line to run the Fambly business, i get and dig nepotism. At the same time, i also understand the hassles of trying to get out from underneath the shadow of one's progenitor in such situations. If you're in a similar place, take that and multiple it by 1000 and you probably would feel a little like Paul Simon's kid, Harper. (Un)fortunately, Harper sounds quite a bit like Pop, so if that's the sound for you, try this one on for size.

mp3: Wishes and Stars (Harper Simon from Harper Simon)

Ever wondered what it would sound like if Shooter Jennings partnered with Stephen King to make borderline industrial electro prog rock? Me neither, but now that the idea is in your head, here's a bit of that. And it ain't too shabby, truth be told. Somebody had to carry the NIN torch forward, right? This here is a "concept" album, children, wherein Stevie is the voice of a radio DJ playing his last gig before the government takes over the airwaves, all while Shooter is rawking out like he's taking it personally. Or something like that.

mp3: Don't Feed the Animals (Shooter Jennings & Hierophant from Black Ribbons)

In a bid for "Most Fucked Up Album Cover of the Year," the group Drink Up Buttercup are here with Born and Thrown on a Hook. Is that a woman holding a gun and a smoke in a blood spattered car? Hell, now you kind of feel like you HAVE to listen to their first single, right? It's a bit of Beatles-inspired brit pop, so it's got that going for it, too.

mp3: Young Ladies (Drink Up Buttercup from Born and Thrown on a Hook)

And finally, beloved label Arts & Crafts graced us with the latest from LET fave The Most Serene Republic. Keep an ear out for a sample of Jon Brion from Eternal Sunshine For The Spotless Mind, if you're into that kind of thing. Interestingly enough, their PR folks tell me the track is called "Photocall," while the download clearly is labelled "Longevity Please." As i'm in PR myself and realize those fools hardly ever know what they're talking about, let's go with the latter.

mp3: Longevity Please (The Most Serene Republic from their Website)

HEARD ANY GOOD RANDOMLY SUBMITTED MUSIC LATELY?

As luck would have it, i have.

By this point in our lives, i think we can all agree that some of the best things in all the world, really, come out of Chicago. Personally, i have my own theories involving Michigan waters, a sub-Arctic necessity for cuddling and the proximity to Canadians, but whether you buy into that or not, i'm confident saying you'll dig the Windy City's latest offering, one Mr. Danny Chaimson and his band, the Eleventh Hour. The boys manage to sound like an amalgam of Dr. John, Billy Joel and the Stax house band. They didn't say so to me directly or anything, but it sounds to me like they're on a mission from God.

mp3: Sittin' By the Bayou (Danny Chaimson and the Eleventh Hour from Young Blood, Old Soul)

mp3: Bobblehead Girl (Danny Chaimson and the Eleventh Hour from Young Blood, Old Soul)

DUDE, WTF WITH ALL THE SHOUTING?

Chill, sucka. i'm done now. Kill a guy for being a bit hard of hearing, for Chrissakes.

For the Record (Label): More Love for Stones Throw

Well, those devilish masterminds at Stones Throw are at it again, digging through the dustiest of crates to bring us all the latest and greatest in hip hop wizardry.

Resident mastermind Madlib is all over the place these days, jumping from style to style like some kind of blunted superhero. He just dropped the first of his twelve Medicine Show CDs. Entitled Before the Verdict, this first one has Quasimoto's other side releasing a full 17-track hip-hop album with original tracks and "the OJ Simpson remixes" featuring Guilty Simpson. We've been told to consider it a prelude to Madlib & Guilty's collab OJ Simpson. Just to show what he's putting down, the fine ST folks have graced us with this collab between 'Lib and Simpson that can't be found on either the Medicine Show or upcoming OJ Simpson CDs. You might recognize that intro from Madvilliany. Sounds like Madlib is in his usual rarified air, and Simpson sounds loose and juiced. This joint looks to be pretty damn good. Oh, and he's releasing In Search of Stoney Jackson, his collab with Strong Arm Steady, this month, too. Damn, does the man ever rest?

mp3: Before the Verdict (Madlib & Guilty Simpson from the Stones Throw Website)

mp3: The Paper (Madlib & Guilty Simpson from Madlib Medicine Show No. 1: Before the Verdict)

mp3: Best of Times (Stoney Jackson ft. Phonte from In Search of Stoney Jackson)

Changing directions nearly entirely, the label also just released The Minimal Wave Tapes, Vol. 1, a look back at the "genre of underground DIY electronic music from North America and Europe in the late 1970s and 80s." Not sure if that's your thing or not? Hell, they've got you covered there, too, with this tasty sample.

mp3: Flying Turns (Crash Course in Science from The Minimal Wave Tapes, Vol. 1)

And last but certainly not least, those busy bastards bring us Black Man's Cry: The Inspiration of Fela Kuti. The boxed set includes "covers and music inspired by the Godfather of Afro-Beat. This Fela Estate-approved anthology includes rare and previously unreleased music from Nigeria, Ghana, Colombia, Trinidad and more." Now, if you don't know your Fela, you are missing out. The man had a thing for zombies, too, so you know we dig him.

mp3: Woman Pin Down (Dan Satch and His Atomic 8 Dance Band from Black Man's Cry: The Inspiration of Fela Kuti)

Seriously, when do those cats sleep? Well, as long as they keep pumping it out, we'll keep listening and salivating for more.

Singles Club: Gazzillion Ear

i don't know what it is, but i have been downright addicted to some space age sounding shit lately. i've been listening to a bunch of DJs to an almost unnatural degree, assuming such a thing is possible. Of particular interest of late have been Flying Lotus, The Gaslamp Killer, Madlib and the incomparable J Dilla. As luck would have it, a couple of those cats are on the latest DOOM joint, the Gazzillion Ear EP.

Unfortunately, it hasn't actually dropped yet and i still need to get my hands on the full thing, but thanks to the wonderful Interwebs, i've been able to track down a couple of the tracks, for free, no less. And what kind of mp3 blogger would i be if i didn't share the spoils with you lazy bastards? Seriously, you can start giving back at any time now. If anyone wants to start giving me free Pro Tools lessons, i'm more than willing to call us even.

Back to the remixes, though. Of course, there's the original, complete with beats provided by the late, great J. Dilla. Originally, there was only that and the Thom Yorke's spooky version that's been floating around for months. Now, though, for the price of your email address, you can get a version that isn't even on the EP, by none other than Madlib himself with an intro by Kayne West.

There are a couple more versions on the actual EP, plus a bonus beat, but, as previously mentioned, i'm afraid i can't tell you anything about those. i have little doubt, however, that they are quite villainous, and what more do we need than that?

mp3: Gazzillion Ear (DOOM original with beat by J. Dilla from Born Like This)

mp3: Gazzillion Ear (Thom Yorke Remix) (DOOM from Gazzillion Ear Remixes EP)

mp3: Gazzillion Ear (MADVILLAINZ remix ft. Kanye West as KHAN) (DOOM from the Interwebs)