THIS IS probably one of the greatest songs that’s ever come out of black American music,’ announces Ricky Ross over the piano intro to Deacon Blue’s live version of ‘The Dark End of the Street’ (1991). ‘I first heard it done by Gram Parsons, and then by a guy called Ry Cooder . . .

Originally sang by James Carr, a man recalled by Quinton Claunch as ‘a very reserved, religious-type person (16 Corners cover Carr better than I could) this archetypal ” cheatin’ ”  soul ballad has been done over under sideways down by all sorts of musicians and in so many styles (23 and counting?), it’s most recent reincarnation done by Cat Power (here) is again a testament to the connectivity of this black soul song written by 2 country white boys… Dan Penn and Chips Moman.

Throwback: James Carr – The Dark End Of The Street (download)

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Though no one would know, until now I suppose, I’m a Burrito Brothers fan, and although this version isn’t the strongest, I sometimes (not always) prefer it to the original. Not to mention, The Gilded Palace Of Sin from which it came is for lack of a better term, classic.

Throwback: Flying Burrito Brothers – The Dark End Of The Street (download)

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A pinch of  Joe Tex for good measure…

Throwback: Joe Tex – The Love You Save (May Be Your Own) (download)

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Tunawax is the 2009 intercontinental dryhump champions. But rather than hold it over your heads, we’re giving back…Finely picked dance tracks to go cotton to cotton with.

Parov Stelar just released a 2 part CD thing called CoCo.  This song isn’t from it… but this is his style. Jazz/Swing House from Austria. If this doesn’t make you move a little, you might be dead, or like Metal. Etage Noir… Check. Buy CoCo on Etage Noir Here or On Amazon.com here (part 1) (part 2).

Dryhump: Parov Stelar – Libella Swing (download)

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2 things in the world I love. (1) Hating on the current state of Hip Hop (2) Masta Ace’s flow. So right now I’m sort of doing the superbowl shuffle in my seat. For a minute I was like… this beat is tired. But then Ed O G comes in and starts blasting little holes… and then Masta Ace finishes this shit off Mortal Combat Style ripping the spine out and holding it up for all to see. Had my head nodding, and not because of the beat. Get it. The full A&E album coming October 6th.

Titties: A&E (Ed O G & Masta Ace) – Little Young (download)

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In the beginning… there was a record label called MoWax, and it was made by James Lavelle, and it was good. And there was no life, so he gave it Air, and its soul had no voice, so he gave it Andrea Parker, and it was too bright, and so he gave it DJ Shadow, and it was still too bright, so he gave it Blackalicious. MoWax was an easy pick up because it has style and integrity. Nigo is the force behind Bathing Ape. And probably because of that (dubious?) notoriety, he dropped an eclectic little thing called Ape Sounds. For the longest time it was an import only thing… as a bit of MoWax happened to be, so stateside it was/is sort of an obscurity. Not the strongest album really, but with the help of Scratch Perverts, UNKLE, Ben Lee, and Money Mark, it had it’s moments. Pick it up on Amazon for a few dollahs and get the Futura 2000 artwork fo FREE.

Sacklunch: Nigo – Free Diving (don lowed)

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Cubism is considered “surrealism”, but its not. I understand why it gets that label though, because to the eye that has a surface view of something as existing one way, the seeming nonsense of cubism is a departure from reality. I believe a bigger truth is that we eventually recognize everything exists as whole lot more than what the outward appearances are. We all recognize that unique vision that others express, ourselves included. A part of the art of living is sharing the way things look, and feel, and make sense to us so that others can see both who we are, and the way our world looks. A to B fuckers are selfish thinkers. What the hell is personal responsibility if someone can delude themselves into single vision, their own. In cubist artworks, objects are broken up, analyzed, and re-assembled in an abstracted form—instead of depicting objects from one viewpoint, the artist depicts the subject from a multitude of viewpoints to represent the subject in a greater context. Cubism is closer to representing our reality than a physical impression. What we decide things are, they will be; except when we see that they are different, and then nothing has changed besides our perception in what already was. If you want someone to know you, you cant just let them look at the outward picture and think they are going to understand the multiple dimensions of you. I think its important to let whats inside of you, out. But what did you expect?

A few classics today… to chart a new course.

Fingerbanger 1: Canned Heat – On The Road Again (don lowed)

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I am P.tone, I be another kind of man living blind on land and trying to make my way straight, but the styles I relate seem far from the gate of where I reside from the eyes of those living in the same place. Quite possibly my favorite De La song. Pos being quite possibly my favorite emcee. Because he always teaches the worth of knowing your own man, outshines the objects that lust and greed collect. Dave too.

Fingerbanger 2: De La Soul – I Am I Be (don lowed)

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Sometimes I hear remixes and I think… why the fuck do all these kids want to make beats for songs that are over 10 years old. But then I realize the state of hiphop is sickly right now, and we’re all just trying to gleam a little of the good times again. Not that many of the remixes are really all that great. I guess it makes kids feel bigtime to make a beat and get instant gratification of sticking a classic over the top… can you imagine Ant sitting in his bedroom saying, “fuck you atmosphere… I’m only making beats for vintage Rakim lyrics.”? Oh well. This remix is …so good. I don’t want to attract any wrath, but I dig this in an equal degree to the original. Although, the original beat hit a  lot harder.

Son triflin fuck, wildflower on the cycle an’
Pick up the brew thought I was Michael an’

Fingerbanger 3: Ghostface – Mighty Healthy (Omer Remix) (don lowed)

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One of those bands that will always be deep in my crate. Not bad for a bunch of girls. And if you don’t know… now you know.

Fingerbanger 4: ESG – UFO (don lowed)

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The song that simultaneously ruined and made Blondie. Oh but doesn’t it hurt so good.

Fingerbanger 5: Blondie – Heart Of Glass (don lowed)

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Over.End.Out.P.tone

This Soul President 45 was one of the first real pieces of burning mayhem rarity that I picked up and I got a taste of the junkie like syndrome of a vinyl addict. First hits are perfect highs even if they last one day, and therefore I’m unable to distinguish if these are good songs, because to me they are unpolished westcoast-hippie-psychrock-funk beauty. The throat chop gritty steel drum breaks and jangles of Got To Have It have always won over the Get It Right floor burner side for me, seriously though… Get a haircut. Big Mack. These should have been on Dryhump Champions Wednesday.

Throwback: Soul President – Got To Have It (download)

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Throwback: Soul President – Get It Right (download)

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Tunawax is the 2009 intercontinental dryhump champions. But rather than hold it over your heads, we’re giving back…Finely picked dance tracks to go cotton to cotton with.

My plea for the Fitness tracks I didn’t have a couple weeks ago fucking worked, and now we all reap the benefits. I’m rank and phile on this shit right now.  Absolutely rip a hole in the speaker putting a bullet between the eyes of every Panda that wouldn’t screw to save its species hope you’re happy with what you got now sort of swing a club like mad just to keep swinging shit here. But doesn’t that just hurt so good. Thanks to Daniel G for the hook.

Dryhump: The Fitness – Analog Synths (download)

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To try and explain what I felt when I discovered Nick Drake’s sounds, would be to take all the old love in my beating heart, all the hope, the joy, the sorrow, the youth, the ages, the wind on every exposed soft belly of every person that has given me consideration of being human, that is to say, all the honest emotions there are… and someone had put them into songs. It’s one of those moments where what gentle things we all are, become tangible, and the knowing that others share what we really are comes flooding into our ears and for a little while, calm falls over the universe as it is enveloped in a little slice of comfort; finally, something makes sense.

Tonic: Nick Drake – From the Morning (download)

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For me, I had to know more about this sound. So an investigation began into what little is known of the quiet reclusive musician, his struggles to find an audience, and his early departure. There are a few sources, a sort of quazi-documentary featuring his sister and such, and it’s never enough light to fill the void and make a picture. And then it might happen, that the realization does dawn, this isn’t about a man, or a martyr, or a physical event to be cherished, worshiped, or capitalized on.

Maybe just this once the music can speak for itself. Maybe it is enough, to just be what it is, and then let go of, for someone else to discover.

Tonic: Nick Drake – Man in a Shed (download)

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Its nearly impossible for me to pick a few favorites to share here. There aren’t any bad songs, just some that might speak to me or you more than another. Out of the three official albums he released, Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter, and Pink Moon, the first is typically the most accessible and loved, while the latter I think typically is the most raw and uncompromised according to what Nick had wanted to make with his first two albums. Also for consideration is Family Tree, and Time Of No Reply, which are collections of outtakes, early works, and unreleased songs.

Tonic: Nick Drake – Which Will (download)

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Now we rise
And we are everywhere

This is not dedicated to everyone that takes shit too seriously. Those that worry about their hair. Those that get offended at bad jokes. Those that need to constantly be opinionating just to feel important. This is not dedicated to those that frightened by things that will never happen. This is dedicated to those that know the fruit is always out on the limbs. Those that take chances, scrape their knees, loose their shit, and go back for more.

Fingerbanger 1: Body Language – Huffy Ten Speed (don lowed)

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Do you remember the back in the day Sesame Street, when they would take some sea shells and put them in some sand, and then do some stop motion animation, making all sorts of patterns with them? Yeah. Those were always some of my favorite interludes. I can’t say why this song makes me think of PBS as a kid. Well, yeah I can… this sound is entirely washed in hues of comfort and enjoyment. I’ve always dug bibio’s experimental take, but his new album Ambivalence Avenue isn’t as repetitive as previous albums, but still keeps his unique tone intact. Best yet.

Fingerbanger 2: Bibio – Lovers Carvings (don lowed)

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We did not talk for all summer. When summer was gone.

Fingerbanger 3: We Were Promised Jetpacks – Its Thunder And Its Lightning (don lowed)

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Decepticons were always cooler than autobots. Autobots were bright colors and did the right thing. Decepticons placed bets on their kids ball games, spanked all the soccer moms, and drank red stripe at parent teacher conferences. They were always much cooler. This deceptikon is no different.

Fingerbanger 4: Deceptikon – Bossanovastylea (don lowed)

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Did he just say church tank?

Fingerbanger 5: Mux Mool – MERLINFIST! (don lowed)

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Something had me thinkn’ about some dirty delta blues, or was it just muddy waters. So I pulled my blues out the bread line and cranked up the heat. Lowell Fulson was the first person to put Ray Charles on… he’s also responsible for one of my favorite songs of all time. Tramps are like gypsies, hobos and Woodie Guthrie… beauty in a material form. whereas a tramp stamp is merely a way to say common tattoo for a common slunt.

Throwback: Lowell Fulson – Tramp (download)

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Throwback: Howlin’ Wolf – Smokestack Lightnin’ (download)

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