The Gaslamp Killer

Gaslamp Killer is coming through Portland tonight at Holocene, so I'm posting his first outing tilted Gaslamp Killers from '07. It reminds me of early Shadow, very dark and mostly downtempo but much more psychedelic. His psychedelic hip-hop (I guess you can call it) is chalked full of great beats and samples, this album is a continuous 70+ minute mix that has many good moments. Here are some of them. Check him out live if possible, I've heard he puts it down.

The Beat

Taking it back to the 80's with this big U.K. hit by the Beat. The Beat are known as the English Beat in North America for numerous reasons, they released their debut album I Just Can't Stop It in '80 after forming in '78. The Beat blend ska, reggae, soul, and pop together to find their sound- this track "Mirror In The Bathroom" is no exception. This track just screams 80's, which is probably why I like it so much. I can just imagine all the assholes jamming into the can to get blown out while listening to this song, I guess it was the decade of decadence. Check it out, it will grow on you.
http://www.mediafire.com/?jookzmiz2mz

The Nightcrawlers

Some good garage from '67 by the Nightcrawlers off The Little Black Egg. Here's the title track and "You're Running Wild." Have a listen.

The Superlatives

Some obscure Motor City soul by the Superlatives titled "I Don’t Know How (To Say I Love You) Don’t Walk Away" from '69. Even though this track possesses one of the strongest feel good vibes ever pressed on a 45, the Superlatives didn't last long in terms of commercial success. But this gem just wouldn't die. I've noticed it has been popping up all over the internet, so I figured I'd give the track its due love. A deep baseline with some great doo-wop vocals gives this track an addictive quality, check it out.
http://www.mediafire.com/?ynngngyjgym

Acid King

Stoner sludge from San Fran's Acid King. Busse Woods was released in '99, one of their three studio albums. Acid King is led by hardcore front woman Lori S., she named this album after a park teenagers used to party at outside of Chicago where she grew up. Sounds familiar. Here's probably their best track "Electric Machine" off the album.

Dyke and the (Trail) Blazers

Rip City Nights...Big game tonight versus those old-ass Celtics in Boston. A good test on the road with a returning Garnett means Aldridge will have to bring the hammer. In preparation I'm posting the nasty soul and funk of Dyke and the Blazers whose name sounds like they come straight out of Portland, but they're from Buffalo of all places. Their track "We Got More Soul" should be the Blazers theme song. "Funky Broadway" recorded in '66 was covered in '67 by Wilson Pickett becoming one of his biggest hits. I'm also throwing in "Shotgun Slim." Just like the Trail Blazers, these funk pioneers bring the fire. Go BBBBlazers!

Willie Hutch/UGK

I've had a couple of requests to post some Willie Hutch, so I'm switching it up and posting one of my favorite samples along with the original. Willie Hutch's score for The Mack from '73 undoubtedly remains one of the best blaxploitation soundtracks along with classics such as Curtis Mayfield's Superfly. "I Choose You" is a soul burner off the soundtrack which UGK sampled for "International Players Anthem" featuring Outkast on their album Underground Kingz in 2007. I've been playing this track nonstop since, I also suggest checking out The Mack if you haven't yet.

Compulsive Gamblers

Memphis greasy garage-punk veterans the Compulsive Gamblers debuted in '95 with their first full release album on Sympathy For the Record Industry titled Gambling Days Are Over. This group contained Greg Cartwright and Jack Yarber who went on to form the Oblivians. For all of you The Wire junkies out there, check out this cover of Tom Waits "Way Down In The Hole" off the album. It contains a killer organ along with the Gamblers' gritty style. I'm also including a couple more tracks off the album, "Dead Waltz" and "Devil In My Back Pocket." The Compulsive Gamblers would eventually re-unite after the collapse of the Oblivians is '97 to release a couple more albums, Bluff City in '99 and Crystal Gazing Luck Amazing in 2000 on the same label.

The Ventures

One of the best instrumental albums around, the '64 space-surf classic by the Ventures called The Ventures In Space. Hard to pick my favorites, so here's five grooves you'll surely like. Just also learned these natives of Tacoma, Washington are the biggest selling instrumental band of all time with over 100 million records sold. This is no surprise considering their major influences on rock n' roll over the years. Here's the order: "Penetration," "Out of Limits," "He Never Came Back," "Solar Race," and the "Fourth Dimension." Thanks to the Wyld Chyld for introducing this album to me, it's now my favorite Ventures release. Enjoy.

Om

Metal Monday brings a rad live album by Om titled Live Conference from last year. The album captures how good it is to see this band live, I've included the 21+ minute track "Flight of the Eagle." The album is a full live performance of their album Conference of the Birds and the sound quality is fantastic for a live metal album.
http://www.mediafire.com/?gyuttzxixw0

God Less America

Here's the best of the rest from the God Less America compilation that I posted a couple weeks back. Highlights include Troy Hess' "Please Don't Go Topless Mother," sang by a son who doesn't approve of his mother's occupation. "Enchanted Forest" by Mohawk and the Rednecks is a track about a cowboy's acid trip. Arkey Blue's "Too Many Pills" is self-explanatory, and last but certainly not least is "Down and Out" by Chuck Wells. This is some of the best country music I've ever came by, thanks to Crypt records for making this great comp.
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=396c2748091a7bc00c814df2efeadc50faa4b267f0faa7963e95965a012a9df4

Instant Funk

Disco Funk straight out of Jersey. Instant Funk's "I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)." Easy furls, you're meltin' the ice.
http://www.mediafire.com/?n4catmnnrm3

Lightnin' Hopkins

The king of Texas blues, Lightnin' Hopkins recorded over 50 albums over a career that spanned nearly forty years. Lightnin' had an uncanny ability to improvise on stage and sang with a grittiness unlike any of his peers. He also had a huge distrust with the recording industry, he would demand money upfront before ever recording a note. This led to many licensing problems resulting in many of his same tracks winding up on different collections under many different titles. The 1960 acoustic track "Bring Me My Shotgun" is one of my favorite blues songs of all time, Lightnin' describes shooting his woman because of her infidelities. A hardcore song to say the least, Lightnin's slowed down country blues style also resonates within his electric blues guitar track "A Man Like Me is Hard to Find." A true blues master of both acoustic and electric guitar, check him out.
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=396c2748091a7bc00c814df2efeadc5014f8bfffffe35b8fb1a129e59ee9f9ea

Dust

Posting something today that I've been listening to incessantly, Dust's '71 self- titled debut album. This album is badass, these fuckers are dynamite. If this isn't enough description, the band's drummer Marc Bell later helped form a punk band a couple of you may have heard of and changed his name to Marky Ramone. I have to say that Marc Bell was a better drummer than Marky Ramone- if you don't believe me, check out "Chasin' Ladies" and "Love Me Hard" below. "Chasin' Ladies" is the definite standout here, with the lyrics All I ask of you / Is to let me go free chasin' ladies followed by a filthy guitar that fuckin' rips. Stay tuned for Dust's second album Hard Attack coming soon.

The Undertones

Haven't posted any punk yet, so here's some old U.K. punk following in the footsteps of such legendary bands as the Clash and the Buzzcocks. The Undertones '79 self-titled debut album is about as close to a perfect pop punk album you're going to find, the album is full of teenage angst and 2-3 minute songs with absolutely no pretension. The Northern Ireland (Derry) band disbanded in 1983 after only their fourth album. Sharkey Feargal's whiny ass voice works well over the band's young brash sound, especially in "Teenage Kicks."

James Carr

One of the best soul tracks ever recorded- James Carr's "The Dark End of the Street" from '67.

Soul Runners/Bad Lieutenant

Just watched this film recently, liked it so much I had to add it to my post. Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is one whacked-out masterpiece that has received the furl seal of approval. Nicolas Cage fully redeems himself by playing the role of a compulsive gambling crackhead lieutenant within the New Orleans police force. Everything from clever dialogue to gratuitous drug use are staples in this film, along with stylish shots of New Orleans landscape and Eva Mendes as a prostitute or "pross." This was a major departure for the famous German director (He did Grizzly Man and Fitzcarraldo) which is why I was so intrigued. Don't want to give to much away, just watch it. Also check out this nice groove by the Soul Runners titled "Grits n' Cornbread."

Tenor Saw

My first dancehall entry is dedicated to one of the curators of the digital riddim, Tenor Saw. After the Casio hit Jamaica in '85, Tenor Saw was at the forefront of converting old classic dancehall riddims into catchy digital synth tracks. This combined with his smooth delivery transformed the dancehall sound into the modern era. Here's his biggest hit "Ring the Alarm," his debut single in '85. The Album Fever followed shortly after the same year, "Pumpkin Belly" is also a classic. I'm also giving "Golden Hen," probably my favorite Saw track.

Kip Tyler

Switching it up with some classic rock n' roll, here's Kip Tyler's "She's My Witch" from '58. This steamin' hot slab of rockabilly contains some of my favorite sax and rock n' roll screams of all time. Don't be a square, check it out.

Cabaret Voltaire

Finishing up synth week with an album by Cabaret Voltaire, a post-punk experimental band out of Sheffield, England. This album Red Mecca produced no singles but reached #1 on the UK charts in 1981. This was the band's fourth album, their next album 2x45 went on to be a major influence in the development of industrial music. The band was named after the nightclub in Switzerland which was the center of the Dada art movement in the early 20th century. Here are three feelers off the album, my favorite "Split Second Feeling," the instrumental "Landslide," and "Sly Doubt."

Suicide

Captain obvious suggested I post some foundation synth to round out the theme ending tomorrow. Suicide's 1977 self titled debut album is credited for influencing everyone and their dog, see if it does the same for you. Here is the first two tracks off the album "Ghost Rider" and "Rocket U.S.A." If you already know, it's a nice trip down memory lane.

Glass Candy/Chromatics

Figured I should post some local Portland shit, so for all of you outside Portland that haven't heard these two bands here's a couple tracks from both the Chromatics and Glass Candy. These two sister bands are both on the label Italians Do It Better, the album above is a great comp titled After Dark which is a great introduction to all the bands on the label. The aptly titled After Dark is usually when I play these smooth synthy dance tracks, I apologize to all of you who had to listen to the Chromatics' "Running Up That Hill" over and over again- I couldn't get enough of it last year. This track will seep into your brain for months. Next is "Hands in the Dark" by the Chromatics which is a cover of Dark Day. The two Glass Candy tracks are "Miss Broadway" and "Digital Versicolor."
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=396c2748091a7bc00c814df2efeadc50ff39554c116393589308cbc0e1e08351