The Greatest Getting Ready To Buy A House Mix You Will Ever Hear

(Ed. note: i actually wrote this entire thing yesterday afternoon, but thought i'd have time to post it last night since i hadn't finished the links. Guess i was wrong on that one. Oops.)

OK, kids, i'm going to put together a bid to purchase a house in a couple of hours, so that's obviously going to reflect in this here post o' mine. C'mon, you know how things work 'round these parts by now, don't you? If not, you may really want to rethink majoring in Terrible Chrisology. Sure, the lab work seemed light at first glance, but you knew the readings were going to be killer. Plus, who could have guessed that all that nude modeling was required? What's really disappointing, though, is that your parents honestly believed this was going to be the semester you finally graduated. And now you've let them down again. i hope you are satisfied. Ass hat.

Changing topics completely, anyone out there a Gabriel Garcia Marquez fan? Specifically, have you read The Trail of Your Blood in the Snow? i cut my cuticle nearly seven hours ago, and the damn thing is still bleeding. That can't be good, can it?

Now back to the Greatest Getting Ready To Buy A House Mix You Will Ever Hear...

The Missus probably will disagree, but one of the things i'm most looking forward to regarding buying a new house is the opportunity it will allow me to have a room dedicated entirely to ninjas. While i may or may not be kidding, was your immediate reaction that such a room was incredibly cool or patently lame? Factor your geekdom quotient accordingly. One million bonus points if you're female and went with the former.

mp3: House of Flying Daggers (Raekwon ft. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, Method Man from Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II)

Who doesn't want their home to be a metaphor for illicit sex? Nobody. Not even your grandfather. While that's probably not the actual metaphor that Zero 7 was shooting for on this track, i stand by my initial statement.

mp3: Home (Zero 7 from When It Falls)

Good advice is good advice.

mp3: A House is Not a Home (Field Music from Tones of Town)

This is going to be the third house we've tried to purchase (first one, the preggers wife of the selling couple went hormonal and decided she didn't want to sell after all; second one, guy didn't like our bid, which was his problem, as he was approximately $100K overpriced; and now this one). Of course, we've already sold the place we live in and have to move out in a few weeks, meaning it's either moving into the Ps' basement or out on the streets if this bid doesn't happen.

mp3: Homeless (Burial from Untrue)

As long as it doesn't go as bad as this, though, i'm sure we'll be fine.

Singles Club: The Swinging Singles Edition

i figured i was just going to put together some snow mix today, seeing as how the DC area got hit with around two feet worth of the powdery stuff over the weekend, but i suppose i'll reserve that for another day. When i turned on my computer this morning, i found a virtual cornucopia of free mp3 love just waiting for me to share with you. For both our protection and enjoyment, rest assured that i'm wearing a full latex bodysuit while i type this. Actually, i'm wearing nothing but hip waders right this moment, but we're clearly getting off topic here. Yipes.

If you already are on the Zero 7 email list, you'd know that the band is offering a kick-ass live session version of "Mr. McGee," the regular version of which can be found their latest, Yeah Ghost. You might think that the band is only capable of creating its sound in a studio environment, but that would simply make you wrong. Having seen these cats live a couple of times now, i can assure you that they put on a stellar show. i imagine you'll agree with me that this track goes a long way in furthering my point. In return for said sign, they'd be ever so thankful if you'd join that aforementioned email list.

mp3: Mr. McGee (Zero 7, live session)

Next up is the latest from Jason Collett from his upcoming Rat a Tat Tat CD. Due out March 9, 2010, Mr. C once again teams up with Carlin Nicholson and Michael O’Brien. If this track, Love is a Dirty Word, is any indication, we're in for another round of indie pop rock goodness. You know, for my money, those Arts & Crafts cats just can't seem to put out a bad album.

mp3: Love is a Dirty Word (Jason Collett from Rat a Tat Tat)

Still not sure whose mailing list sent me our next yum yum treat, but if you've always thought another collaboration between Danger Mouse and James Mercer would be tits, well, consider yourself amply breasted, kid. They did a fine job teaming up on "Insane Lullaby" on Dark Night of the Soul, and might just sound even better here. If nothing else, this latest track is a lot less spastic. Their new project is called Broken Bells, and ditto on that signing up for ye olde email list. Oh, and ditto on the March 9 release date, too, though an on-line version will be available tomorrow (Dec. 22).

mp3: The High Road (Broken Bells from Broken Bells)

And for a final piece of goodness, Kayne West has the latest from Mos Def up on his blog. Ski Beatz produced the track, but i have no idea what album this is from or what Kanye's role in the track might be. Oh well, it's kick ass regardless, so who's complaining? It's not like the guy hasn't provided the world with buckets of entertainment in the past.

mp3: 24 Hour Karate School (Mos Def from Kayne's website)

Regarding calling today's Single's Club the Swinging Singles edition, i really just wanted an excuse to post this.

Chrissy Snow as a boozing whore and J.J. Evans trying to avoid marriage. Now That's DYNOMITE!

CD Review: Yeah Ghost by Zero 7

As a music blogger, I am legally required to say I'm kind of surprised I haven't seen a whole lot more love of the Interwebial type out there for Zero 7's latest, Yeah Ghost. The more I think about it, the more I think they're just a tad criminally underrated. Look, folks, they brought the world Sia, and for that alone, they deserve our laurels and hardy handshakes. What's more, their debut, Simple Things, is unquestionably the greatest hangover CD of all times. Seriously, have you ever listened to that thing the morning after a bender? It's like audio aspirin for the spiritual stomach or some other less poorly imagined simile. And their subsequent CDs were top notch, too. Sure, it might take a listen or two to fully get into The Garden, but the trip will be well worth the effort. And yet these cats never seem to get the same kudos as those afforded to Air. It's a damn shame, I tells ya.

Yeah Ghost is a slight detour from the "usual" Zero 7 sound in that the tracks tend to be more upbeat and, well, peppier than most of their predecessors. Let's get this out of the way quickly--oh so sadly, Sia does not appear on this one. In my mind, you couldn't have Zero 7 without having Sia bang out a couple of powerhouse slow burners, but let's not forget that Zero 7 is a joint project comprised of Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker. Thus far, they've had quite a strong history of bringing impressive singers to the fore. Martina Topley-Bird, Jose Gonzales, (did I mention Sia?) the track record is there and maintains the pace on Yeah Ghost. Eska Mtungwazi takes the lead with five tracks, highlighted in my mind by "Mr. McGee," "Sleeper" and "Medicine Man." Martha Tilston and Rowdy Superstar also perform more than admirably, as does Binns himself on "Everything Up (Zizou)."

This one is a definite toe tapper. I defy you to put this one on and not feel like busting out an impromptu move. No, seriously, I'm defying you here. So don't bust that move at your own risk. That's all I'm going to say about that.

mp3: Everything Up (Zizou) (Zero 7 from Yeah Ghost)

(There are now far too many parentheses ending this post.)

It's Covered: I Go To Sleep

I'm afraid you're only getting a quickie today, kids. Before you can respond, "that's what she said," the truth of the matter is I'm plum tuckered out today. The old man back has returned in all it's wonky glory, so the trip to the doctor yesterday resulted in me now ingesting a variety of pills that are making it hard to keep my eyes open. Now, kids, I don't want any of you getting the wrong idea here. Your good, ol' Uncle Chris wants you all to know that he firmly endorses pharmaceuticals. Better living through chemistry, I always say. Don't let my currently overwhelming desire for a nap keep any of you from hours and hours of wonderful experimentation.

As such, it's only apropos that today's tune is "I Go To Sleep." Written by Ray Davies and originally recorded by Peggy Lee, it's since been covered by everyone from the Pretenders to Cher on her debut solo album. According the the Interwebs, who we all know would never lie to us, Davies wrote the song while waiting in the hospital for the imminent birth of his daughter. My first encounter with the track was with the ever lovable pixie, Sia, but I'm not sure that has anything to do with the price of potatoes, so do with it what you will.

For today's special, we're offering the following versions by Sia, Samantha Jones, The Kinks, Celine Mastrorelli, Works Progress Administration and Zero 7. Yes, Sia is singing in that version, too, but that's hardly a bad thing, now is it?

mp3: I Go To Sleep (Sia from Sounds Eclectic: The Cover Project)

mp3: I Go To Sleep (Samantha Jones from A Girl Named Sam)

mp3: I Go To Sleep (The Kinks, demo version, from Kinda Kinks)

mp3: I Go To Sleep (Celine Mastrorelli, unreleased demo)

mp3: I Go To Sleep (Works Progress Administration from WPA)

mp3: I Go To Sleep (Zero 7 from The Saturday Sessions)