The Fire House

K.M.D.

2006-06-21T03:24:00.000-04:00

MF Doom circa 1991 = pre-mask!! He's the one who raps first with the nose ring, and wears glasses riding the bike. Sounds like a mix of MF Doom's current vocals with Q Tip's. Ill jazzy shit.

Lady Trane

2006-06-12T23:35:00.000-04:00

Alice Coltrane - Shiva-Loka

Alice Coltrane - Something About John Coltrane

Alice Coltrane - Om Supreme

Alice Coltrane - Isis and Osiris

Playing harp, piano and wurlitzer organ, Alice Coltrane incorporates much of the same free jazz elements of her husband's work, and fuses it with a strong Eastern spiritual component. "Shiva-Loka", "Something About John Coltrane", and "Isis and Osiris" all come from her landmark album, Journey in Satchidananda with Pharoah Sanders, Vishnu Wood, Cecil McBee, Rashied Ali and Charlie Haden. "Something About..." is the choice track here with a tight bassline and melodic, restrained piano from Ms. Coltrane. This is unique jazz. "Om Supreme" is from her last studio album, and is 9 minute track that will you cleanse your mind. These tracks are long so be prepared. Z fuel highly recommended.

Funky Shite

2006-06-10T15:37:00.000-04:00

Stay Tuned!

2006-06-08T22:34:00.000-04:00

I've been busy with work and shit but this weekend I'll finally put up some more good. I know you've been hanging on to the edge of your seat, waiting...

The Humble Magnificent

2006-06-01T19:19:00.000-04:00

Edan is an alternative Jewish rapper/DJ out of Boston. I saw him peform at my school (Tufts University) on 4/20 and it was arguably the best and most entertaining show I've seen all year. He combined live mixing, acapella rhyming, reverb/delay effect pedals, acoustic guitar and kazoo, not to mention fantastic chemistry with his MC mate Dagha, to create an outstanding performance. He is currently touring on the success on his acclaimed 2005 effort Beauty and the Beat with another one of my favorite musicians, Prefuse 73, so definitley check out that show when it comes by your town. I'm posting some rarer cuts from his first LP, Primative Plus, which is slightly more lo-fi, but still includes the funky beats and samples, smooth flow, and clever lyrics with more than a hint of humor.

Edan - Emcees Smoke Crack

Edan - Mic Manipulator

Edan - Run That Shit (ridiculous lyrics)

Darondo

2006-05-30T22:29:00.000-04:00

Darondo - Let My People Go

Pure soul. Too tired to elaborate.

Get it.

GM Grimm

2006-05-26T03:23:00.000-04:00

MF Grimm - Together

MF Grimm - Words

Born and raised in Manhattan, MF Grimm's name has been buzzing around the NYC hiphop circuit since the early 90s. Then known The Grimm Reaper, he was one half of "The Gravediggaz" (not to be confused with Wu-Tang's spin-off group with the same name). Grimm and his DJ, Roc Raida (of the X-ecutioners), reeked havoc in the music industry. Spitting fire alongside Kool G Rap and KMD, Grimm was a seasoned battle MC, placing at the World Supremacy Battle of 1993. That year, he released his first 12” single So Whatcha Want N----? and performed at the Jack The Rapper convention on Execution Night, sharing the stage with Lady of Rage, Tupac, and Dogg Pound, in Atlanta with Roc Raida as his DJ and Fat Man Scoop as his hypeman. He was approached by several major labels and about to embark on his superstar journey when he was shot several times in an attempt at his life the following year. The wounds blinded, deafened and paralyzed him from the neck down. Miraculously, Grimm recovered from most of his injury but remains confined to a wheelchair. During his hospitalization, he wrote the underground classic Scars and Memories. He went on to release several 12" singles on Bobitto's Fondle 'Em label and also collaborated with MF Doom on an EP released by Brick Records.

In the late 90s, he founded his label/international distribution company, Day By Day Entertainment. Grimm put time and money into releasing independent artists. One of the projects he largely played a role in was MF Doom’s Operation Doomsday which is still recognized as one of the best underground hiphop albums of all time. Around the same time, he put together his Godzilla-inspired MC collective, Monsta Island Czars (M.I.C.).

The year 2000 marked the release of Grimm’s own long-awaited debut album The Downfall of Ibliys: A Ghetto Opera. Grimm completed this album in 24 hours. He has since completed his sophomore album Digital Tears: E-mail from Purgatory under his M.I.C. moniker Jet Jaguar. He also released Special Herbs and Spices Volume 1, a full-length album of Grimm rhymes over Doom beats. With over a decade under his belt, MF is now also known as GM (Grand Master) Grimm.

Grimm is currently juggling his business skills and his creativity: expanding Day By Day Entertainment to while working on his upcoming album American Hunger. (from daybyday.com)

Get Firefox

2006-05-26T03:06:00.000-04:00

I just realized some of these posts look fucked up when you use internet explorer. Get firefox if you don't already have it.

Progressive Ambience in the Early Morning

2006-05-26T03:01:00.000-04:00

Both Brian Eno and David Byrne are prolific geniuses in their own right but in 1981 they decided to collaborate as a super-duo on the album entitled My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. It's a unique blending of electronics, world percussion/instrumentation, and vocal samples, with just a touch of Remain In Light thrown in. The type of sampling that is abundant throughout the record had not been seen in genres outside of hip-hop, making it very progressive and influencial for when it was cut. While I still prefer both of their solo material to this collaboration, it was just recently re-issued this year proving it's lasting appeal. It serves as a good soundtrack for chilling out, reading or procrastinating so give it a listen.

Brian Eno & David Byrne - Regiment

Brian Eno & David Byrne- Very, Very Hungry

Brian Eno & David Byrne- The Carrier

People Are Crazy

2006-05-25T01:31:00.000-04:00

It's Summertime!

2006-05-24T20:26:00.000-04:00

The sun is out, school is out and everything is chill. soooooo I thought I'd get together some soulful covers of "Summertime". Sarah Vaughan original, popularized by Sublime. here they are.

Johnny Hammond - Summertime. funky funky extended version.
Nina Simone - Summertime. dark, moody, raw.
Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix - Summertime. live. not my favorite. see for yourself
Bobby Womack & The Roots - Summertime. Interesting cut. didn't even realize it was a cover until about 1:20. well done
John Coltrane - Summertime. Trane doin his thing.
Atomic Cafe Soundtrack - Summertime. very niceee. maybe its just the organ, but this ish is funky fresh. Wish I knew who the original artist was.. check the full soundtrack out at soundsational.
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Summertime. classic cover, very hypnotic at points with creeping strings and horns of a lazy afternoon.

Summertime Compilation

enjoi

Dabrye

2006-05-24T18:37:00.000-04:00

Dabrye - Two/Three (2006)

Advance promo of the album due out June 13th. Just relaying the good shit goin down at smoking section. This shit is tight.

pw: ill

MMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

2006-05-23T23:40:00.000-04:00

Magnum - Fully Loaded

This is too good not to share. One of the rarest funk LP's around, it usually goes for about $500 - that is, if you're lucky enough to find a copy. And it might just be worth it; every track is money. Just listen to the lyrics on "Natural Juices". CLASSIC.

credit bacoso at orgy in rhythm for this one.

Homelife

2006-05-23T23:05:00.000-04:00

Homelife - Flying Wonders

Homelife - Firefly

Homelife is an enigma of a band, if it can even be called a band. I won't attempt to explain it any better than Ninjatune did here. Regardless, these tracks are great.

The Meters - Live

2006-05-23T16:24:00.000-04:00

The Meters - Live at the Showboat Lounge, New Orleans (1975?)

First full album post. hittin you with some raw, unadulterated funky Meters funk.

enjoy

Abstractions Of The Industrial North

2006-05-23T13:32:00.000-04:00

Basil Kirchin - Paranoia

Basil Kirchin - Neutral Background

Basil Kirchin - Four Against Seven

from moviegrooves.com:

"Abstractions of the Industrial North is not really like any other library music you might have heard before in that it doesn't evoke images of any particlar type of movie scene (car chase, love scene, dance scene etc) as most other libary music does (and was designed to do!). Instead it is wonderfully sad and unforgettable music, with the signature Kirchin hypnotic grooves stirring it all up every now and again."

Made in 1966, this collection is way ahead of its time, with its influences still heard today in electronic and trip-hop artists like Jaga Jazzist, Manitoba, etc. There is no clear genre here, but a blend of jazz, pop, bossa nova and downtempo before there was downtempo. Kirchin handpicked the artists for this project, which include Jimmy Page, Tubby Hayes, Big Jim Sullivan and Clem Cattini. Check out the ill trumpet on "Four Against Seven".

thanks to soundsational where the original album is posted.

Spirit Agent

2006-05-23T02:28:00.001-04:00

Spirit Agent - Exit Intro

Spirit Agent – Ultraviolet Light

Spirit Agent - Womanism

Spirit Agent was a short-lived hip hop group during the late 90s. Their first and only album was titled "Depth Perception", consisting of rappers and producers Plex and Stres. They created some sick, almost spoken-word/electronica hip-hop while remaining inexcusably unknown. Womanism is a choice track, but the other two are definite highlights. Past just their exterior sound and flow, which is ridiculous in itself, a closer listen shows some very intelligent and thought-provoking lyricism.

here's a review from urbansmarts.com

Mary Jane

2006-05-23T01:27:00.000-04:00

Mike Curb et al. - Theme From Mary Jane

Sorry, I just have to put this one out here. This has to be one of the funniest songs I've heard in awhile, if not due only to the apparent earnestness of it. This chick is truly singing her heart out about Mary Jane, and it's just ridiculous. Check it out.

thanks to ScoreBaby, where the original soundtrack is posted.

These Are Tryin' Times

2006-05-22T21:08:00.000-04:00

Roberta Flack - Tryin' Times

Roberta Flack - Compared To What?

"First Take", Roberta's debut album, is full of soul. The quartet - John Pizarelli on guitar, Ron Carter on bass, Ray Lucas on drums and Flack on Piano - take a back seat to Roberta's vocals, subtly augmenting them. Flack herself takes a very subdued approach in her singing, taking her time on delivery and almost speaking the lyrics at points, making them that much more appreciable. These songs are timeless, but seem especially relevant again today given the world's situation. These are tryin' times.

Booooooooooooooob SCOTCH!!!

2006-05-22T16:29:00.001-04:00

Bob Log III - Boob Scotch

Bob Log III - Log Bomb

Bob Log III. An interesting character to say the least. Always performing with a flight helmet on, he sings through a microphone in the helmet. According to Fatpossum.com (his label), Bob lost his left hand in a boating accident when he was a child, and it was replaced with a monkey paw. It might be gimmicky, but his music isn't. About drinking "scotch mixed with a tit", "Boob Scotch" is theme music for a drunken night of bar hopping. "Log Bomb" is a similiar, pounding track without the amusing lyrics. His other music is in the same vein - jerking, lurching blues rock - though some of it may be classified as death blues (if you're into that sort of thing), and is reminiscent of japanese experiment bands. Some of his other his other hits include "Clap Your Tits", "Big Ass Hard On" and "I Want Your Shit On My Leg".

Helsinki is Burning

2006-05-22T15:16:00.000-04:00

Five Corners Quintet - Three Corners

Five Corners Quintet - The Devil Kicks

from "Chasin' The Jazz Gone By" (2005)

The Five Corners Quintet is a Helsinki-based postmodern jazz outfit influenced by early sixties straight ahead and latin jazz. With an all-star lineup of Finnish jazzmen, including heavyweight tenor saxman Eero Koivistoinen, FCQ can burn. "Three Corners" is a solid, driving hard bop with Pyysalo's catchy vibes leading the way. "The Devil Kicks" is dancier, with horns, vibes and piano all taking a cut over upbeat percussion. If this doesn't get you moving, you might be dead. Both tracks are from their 2005 debut album, "Chasin' the Jazz Gone By".

Can I Kick It?

2006-05-19T17:23:00.000-04:00

If I have any motivation at all, there will soon be music here.

In the meantime, I linked some hot sites.