More Label Love for Stones Throw: The Covering My Lazy Ass Edition

You'll forgive me for not having much to post today, but i'm still basking in the glow of the terribly wonderful show Meg hosted this past Friday night at the Velvet Lounge. Thanks again to all the participating acts and folks who joined us for what was, by all measures, a delightful time had by all. If you weren't there, well, you're an ass. What more can i tell you?

As luck would have it, the fine folks over at Stones Throw must have heard about our shin dig and known we were going to be plain tuckered out on this fine Monday, so they were kind enough to drop a few tracks for us to share with you. Sure, it more likely was blind coincidence, but i don't make fun of you when you're whoring at your job, so just go with me here.

Sure, i've been going back and forth on Aloe Blacc, but with each new track he drops, i find myself digging that noise just a little bit more. If he's going to go and cover Muscle Shoals classics, well, naturally i'm going to go and post it.

mp3: The Dark End of the Street (Aloe Blacc from The Dark End of the Street)

Now-Again Records is getting ready to drop Dark Sunrise, an anthology of Zambian "Zamrock" godfather Rikki Ililonga and his groundbreaking band, Musi-O-Tunya. Stones Throw is offering an exclusive pre-sale of this anthology; it is out everywhere good music is sold on 11.23.10. Packaged as a 2-CD hardbound, full color book (with the bonus 7”-only tracks which are NOT available in the LP format) and a 3-LP box set that contains exact reproductions of Wings of Africa, Zambia and Sunshine Love. LP version contains the same liner notes as in the CD version, but in an over sized full color booklet.

mp3: Dark Sunrise (Musi-O-Tynya from Dark Sunrise)

And lastly, the previously announced collab between Oh No and The Alchemist looks like it's finally about to see the light of day this Nov. 22. Going by the name Gangrene, the duo have created their own, warped sound on Gutter Water. And here's a sample for your ear holes.

mp3: Chain Swinging (Gangrene from Gutter Water)

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.