Lyrics Born - I Like It, I Love It

Inspiration comes in many different forms. Fresh tunes is my particular favourite. Every day people give me the heads up on cool new tunes and it's especially satisfying when you get a bomb track like this one. I really don't know much of anything about Lyrics Born, but I'm definitely gonna scope them out some more. I've rocked this one the past couple weeks courtesy of a tip from Darcy and it's definitely on the regular rotation now. A wicked funk bass rip with some tight lyrics and it's time to get on down.

Lyrics Born - I Like It, I Love It



Like it? I love it!

Chromeo - Hot Mess

...and now on a lighter note... I was intending to go through the entire year without featuring artists more than once (bonus beats excepted), but the video for this just came out, and it just had to be posted. This is my favourite track off the new Chromeo album, and I've been rocking it for a couple weeks at the Phoenix now. The video is awesome too. Say no more.

Chromeo - Hot Mess



Brilliant.

Joe MacKenzie - Sgt. MacKenzie

Today is Remembrance Day. Unfortunately in recent times this has become somewhat of a contentious event. Why should we pay tribute to war? I am in no way a supporter of war, nor do I say any cause for most of our troops overseas. That said, the circumstances we live in are not the same as they were 70 years ago. The many thousands of people on each side who died in the two World Wars did not have the understanding of the world in the way we do. Most importantly, were I in the same position as those men, I would have done the same thing. We should remember not because they fought bravely, but because they were willing to give their own lives for the idea that we might one day all live free and in peace.

Joe MacKenzie - Sgt. MacKenzie



Close your eyes when listening, and remember.

Tenacious D - Dude, I Totally Miss You

All Hail The D. In case you're boring, Tenacious D rock out like nobody's business, all the time. Since you may not be aware of this, I suggest you watch the history of Tenacious D. Seriously. This one goes out to (in no particular order): The Franchise, The Count of Blackiestan, Evil C, BSD, BMD, Marcus Aurelius, DJ JHatt, The Fonz, Fats, Teabag, Dr. V, RG Esq., Mister Sheik, all my Ironmen bretheren, everyone I haven't forgotten, and of course The Shawn Taylor Hype Machine. Rock on bros.

Tenacious D - Dude, I Totally Miss You [Live]



DJ B-Ray World Tour? Needs to be done.

Thunderheist - Jerk It

More Canadian badness for ya, this time from Thunderheist. This recent stream of musical awesome from the land of beavers and maple syrup has not been planned, it's just been coincidental that lots of great music is coming from this fine country right now. Certainly more so than the stuff coming from the States right now. There probably isn't any particular reason for this, but them's the facts.

I heard this song a while back and really liked it, but kind of put it on the shelf until Julie recommended I give it some time on the ol' Phoenix playlist. Good call, I'd say. This video is actually an entry in the make-a-video contest, the official winner is here. I liked this one better.

Electro-rap? Ya, I can dig it.

OK Go - End Love

OK Go were originally introduced to me by Natalie as a result of their ingenious viral music video for their single "Here It Goes Again". They have since become more of a fad band given that almost all their videos are similarly elaborate one-take choreographed madness that you just can't help but watch to appreciate the madness. They do occasionally make some decent music though, and I kinda like this track. Oh, and they're playing at the Aitken Centre tonight with Metric. You should go if you feel like it.

OK Go - End Love



Ok.... go! I mean it.

Joel Plaskett - Work Out Fine

Joel Plaskett started rocking out as a lanky lead singer in Thrush Hermit, then left and continued as a lanky lead singer in the Joel Plaskett Emergency, and has finally transitioned into simply the lanky lead singer of... Joel Plaskett? He could probably afford to eat a few more double downs but he does make cool music. I've seen him live a couple times and both were great shows. Do try and catch one of his solo acoustic sets, well worth it. This is a track from his great 2003 release "Truthfully, Truthfully".

Joel Plaskett - Work Out Fine



Cause everything will work out just fine.

Art Of Fresh - Out This World

Hidden talent unearthed everywhere. Creds to Lee for this find. More quality Canadian hip-hop, this time from Art Of Fresh out of the T-dizzle. Lately the fresh new tracks seem to be falling from the sky. This one is a bit older, but these cats are new to me so it feels now. For a bonus I'm poppin' in the new single from their upcoming album. Check it.

Art Of Fresh - Out This World

BONUS BEATS!

Art Of Fresh - Alive



Bet you'll hear some of that tonight at the Phoenix.

Hawksley Workman - We Will Still Need A Song

Ryan Corrigan, or Hawksley Workman to you, was born to perform. At least that's the impression you get when you hear his music, or see his videos, or better yet see his live performances. I haven't seen him live yet, but I've seen video and it's on my list of things to do. Mr. Workman likes to do things on a grand, epic scale. He likes hyperbole. He likes grandeur. He probably loves gunpowder. He's a passionate fellow.

I admit that when I was first introduced to him via his first single "Striptease", I wasn't a fan. This song, however, reverberated ever so effortlessly, and I must have played it a hundred times when I found it. Despite the absence of the more epic introduction from the album version of this track, the PG version of this song that's in the video is still a great song. I like artists that play with emotion and have some guts. Mr. Workman has plenty of that.

Hawksley Workman - We Will Still Need A Song

BONUS BEATS!

Hawskley Workman - Not Your Parents' Music



As the late, great Bill Hicks said, play from your f'in heart!

Beast - Mr. Hurricane

Here's another example of a group that I hadn't really heard much about until they were supposed to come play at the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival. Thankfully I now know that Beast are from Montreal, a trip-hop group of sorts with an edge. Unfortunately they didn't quite make it out here to Fredericton, for whatever reason, but at least I now know who they are and can happily throw some of their tunes in my regular playlist. Check this out.

Beast - Mr. Hurricane



Bees-tacular.

The Black Keys - Tighten Up

Any time there is a dinosaur singing the lead vocals to a song, I sit down and listen. The Black Keys are not dinosaurs, but somehow through the miracle of modern science, or technology, or some strange hand puppet thing, they have managed to figure out how to get this dinosaur to sing their entire song, on camera! If this doesn't deserve some kind of recognition, at least in the form of a meager blog post, I don't know what does. I mean... jebus... I just saw a new video from two horrifically useless media-driven stereotype top 40 craptacular rubbish catch-phrase "artists" that was a week old and had over 2 million views already. That's more than two times as many as this one. Sometimes I think I get it, and then there are days like today.

Dinosaur.

Just Jack - Writer's Block

Sometimes things just come randomly. Today I found Just Jack. How come nobody told me about him before? Maybe some more people need to take up blogging. Or just posting stuff to their friendly neighborhood social networking site. Passenger pigeon anyone? Check this guy out, he's surprisingly subtle and catchy.

Just Jack - Writer's Block

BONUS BEATS!

Just Jack - Starz In Their Eyes [Trophy Twins Aftershow Remix]



Now back to the production front...

Sloan - Money City Maniacs

Mat Trevors has a blog up and going now. It's a good read, particularly if you're into fishing, or geology, or music, or politics, or minimalism, or drinking, or... well anything really. It's worth a visit. This post is a good read, about how Mat would fix New Brunswick. Next election, I'm voting Mat, whether he's running or not.

Anyway a few days ago Mat posted this lovely song by Halifax rockers Sloan, who were at one time the premier act in the east coat. They've slowed down a bit in recent years, but I guess that happens after nearly 20 years on the road. Their 10th studio album is due out in 2011, and with a little luck they'll be back in the limelight again. Here's their party anthem to help ring in November.

What an intro. The siren gets 'em every time.

Sheb Wooley - The Purple People Eater

Chances are you know the words to it. Well, maybe not. It's a little old. 1958 old. My mom wondered if I was going to play this on Halloween night. I'd like to think we've evolved somewhat, musically anyway, since the cereal jingle days. Either way, it's a funny little song and worth revisiting for a giggle.

Sheb Wooley - The Purple People Eater



I've changed my mind. I'll take a Sheb Wooley over Justin Bieber any day of the week.

Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me

Matt Blair posted this one a while back, and seeing as it's Halloween party night, I thought it would be appropriate. Kenny Gordy came up with the name Rockwell so that his father, Motown Records supremo Berry Gordy, wouldn't recognize him on his label release, and because he thought he "rocked well". Sadly he didn't have a whole lot of talent. He was, however, friends with a certain Michael Jackson, and convinced him to sing the hook in this one and only real hit. Sometimes it's all about who you know.

Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me



See ya tonight at the Phoenix!

N.A.S.A. - Strange Enough

N.A.S.A. stands for North America / South America, or in the space world, Never A Straight Answer... but I digress. This is a musical collaboration of producers Squeak E. Clean and DJ Zegon, who have put together an impressive list of talent to provide vocals for their tracks. This is a super cool video that reminds me of "Throw Me To The Rats" by the Tom Fun Orchestra. Check this out, and pick up a copy of their album "The Spirit Of Apollo".

Yup, that's the late ODB bringin' the heat from the other side...

Hot City - Another Girl

This is the first video from Hot City, a London-based DJ and producer. His tracks and sets are laden with really heavy bass, as you can tell from this track. You're probably not going to see this video on the television any time soon, but it's still fun to look at.

Hot City - Another Girl



Yup, that's hot.

The Ventures - Wipe Out

The Ventures were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2008, and for a very good reason. They have sold more albums than any other instrumental ensemble in history, more than 100 million of them! Among their many songs they also performed several covers, including this one, originally made famous by the Surfaris in 1963. This performance is just so good that I thought it could use a little more "airtime". I hope you agree.

The Ventures - Wipe Out [Live]



That's some serious skills right there.

Ben Westbeech - So Good Today

I'll admit it. I'd never actually listened to the original Ben Westbeech track before DJ Scout posted it yesterday. I'm a huge fan of the remix, which is an absolutely killer deep house hit, but I'm happy to report that the original is also very good, though there is a significantly different vibe to it. This has only furthered my appreciation of Osunlade's masterful reworking under the moniker Yoruba. Enjoy these two gems.

Ben Westbeech - So Good Today



BONUS BEATS!

Ben Westbeech - So Good Today [Osunlade's Yoruba Suite Remix]



Time to get back to the production desk I think.

Gregory Isaacs - Tune In

One of Jamaica's great reggae exports has passed away. Gregory Isaacs had a classic dub vocal style that was among the finest in the genre. He was also amazingly prolific, releasing more than 50 albums of original material from 1975 until 2008. No doubt his many years of heavy drug use took a toll on his body, and he eventually succumbed to lung cancer at the young age of 59.

Gregory Isaacs - Tune In



Maximum respect, Mr. Isaacs.