tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54527334929257878562024-03-08T19:39:02.297-05:00CheztuneEntertainment, self-absorption and the songs that save my life.Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-91632358447507016112009-03-15T18:43:00.000-04:002009-03-15T18:43:52.432-04:00I'm Doing The Strand<object style="margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px; float: left;" width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/X4itxZkrnQo&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/X4itxZkrnQo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm sort of obsessed with the Scissor Sisters' new cover of Roxy Music's "Do The Strand." As <a href="http://www.fluxblog.org/2009/03/a-danceable-solution-to-teenage-revolution">Fluxbog accurately described</a>, it sounds "like a gay disco jingle for New York City’s most beloved used book store."<br /><br />My office building is across the street from <a href="http://www.strandbooks.com/">The Strand</a>, so it's become my morning theme song these past few weeks. By now, it's safe to say the Scissor Sisters can add a bit of glitter to anything.<br /><br /><object style="margin: 5px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QLBJPSFLnYQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QLBJPSFLnYQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>I loved <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta-Dah"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ta-Dah</span></a> and I'm curious about their upcoming release. At a couple secret NYC shows last year, the band tested material and, judging from the YouTube clips, the songs were all over the place.<br /><br />Although "Do The Strand" offers nothing stylistically new from their debut album, check out the early 80's pop rock sound of "The Other Girls." I would <span style="font-style: italic;">love</span> this direction for the new album.<br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-64261818030050438472009-02-28T11:54:00.003-05:002009-02-28T12:00:36.112-05:00I've Heard This One Before<img style="margin: 0pt 5px 5px 0pt; float: left; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/Morrissey_YOR.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Of course, as a stalwart Morrissey fan, I bought <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrissey%27s_Untitled_Ninth_Studio_Album"><span style="font-style: italic;">Years of Refusal</span></a> on its first week of release. Was I as excited about it as much as previous releases? No.<br /><br />The fact that "That's How People Grow Up" and "All You Need Is Me" were tacked on less than a year after I purchased them on the confusing <span style="font-style: italic;">Greatest Hits</span> makes no sense to me. Why oh why were they put on a new album?<br /><br />With every Morrissey album, despite what non-fans will say, there are new things to learn about The Man. Unfortunately, I don't think I've learned anything new about Morrissey on <span style="font-style: italic;">Years of Refusal</span>.<br /><br />That is not to say I don't enjoy the album. <span style="font-style: italic;">Years of Refusal</span> is a piece of fresh air compared to the intensely reflective, dark and meandering <span style="font-style: italic;">Ringleader of the Tormentors</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.noallegiances.com/2009/02/morrissey-years-of-refusal/"><img style="margin: 5px 10px 5px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 273px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/Morrissey_YOR_AFuentes_Package.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />It's musically upbeat with <a href="http://www.noallegiances.com/2009/02/morrissey-years-of-refusal/">"subtle Mexican sounds"</a> and I'm finding the melodies linger on in the way great pop music is supposed to. My favorite tracks are the rocking "Black Cloud" and the dramatic "One Day Goodbye will be Farewell."<br /><br />I wasn't a fan of lead single "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris," but I find myself humming it all week, so I suppose it does grab you when you least expect it.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Years of Refusal</span> does have a stinker. "You Were Good In Your Time" sounds musically like "Ambitious Outsiders" on <span style="font-style: italic;">Maladjusted</span>, and except for real strings, it sounds pretty dull and has the unfortunate title of being "the song I forget is on <span style="font-style: italic;">Years of Refusal</span>" until it comes on.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px; float: left; width: 250px; height: 172px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/Gene_promophoto.jpg" alt="" border="0" />The bizarre thing about <span style="font-style: italic;">Years of Refusal</span> is that its rockier moments remind me of the sensitive arena rock that the band Gene was criticized for.<br /><br />This might be the album Gene fans would love (and every Gene fan was a fan of Queen or The Smiths), but I'm not quite sure what that tells you about Morrissey.<br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-13487355461161566852009-02-22T16:38:00.002-05:002009-02-22T16:40:38.975-05:00The Beat That Echoes<object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hatF02RI5uo&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hatF02RI5uo&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Isn't it strange when you hear a song you're familiar with in a different context? This happened today as I was passing through the 34th St/Herald Square subway station.<br /><br /><object style="margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px; float: left;" width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SFVUWBQExyI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SFVUWBQExyI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>A group of dancers was putting on a show and I was convinced that I knew the song they were dancing to. At first I heard the beat and thought, "Oh, they're dancing to Madonna's "Music." What a strange choice for street dancing on a Sunday afternoon." <span style="font-size:78%;">(Note: it was impossible to find the "Music" video on YouTube since "Madonna Music" or "Madonna Music Video" provided endless results. This is the best I could do).</span><br /><br /><object style="margin: 5px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JZQ_vSDXXXI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JZQ_vSDXXXI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>But then I realized I was wrong when the funky high-pitched synths didn't kick in. "Oh! They must be dancing to Daft Punk's "Da Funk." That makes more sense."<br /><br />But then I realized "wait a second. It's The Rapture's "Killing"!"<br /><br />And finally I was right. I remember when <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echoes_%28The_Rapture_album%29"><span style="font-style: italic;">Echoes</span></a> had a major impact on my appreciation for both indie and pop music. For many people in 2003, The Rapture made it OK to dance.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I never made it to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieces_of_the_People_We_Love"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pieces of People We Love</span></a>, but maybe I will soon. I'm feeling slightly nostalgic for that dance punk period when Gang of Four was the newest oldest band everyone had just discovered.<br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-33700823622819078182009-02-07T17:18:00.000-05:002009-02-07T17:18:03.389-05:00Little Boots Live at Studio B<style type="text/css">.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }</style><div class="flickr-frame"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickgray/3259256147/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3466/3259256147_56ce53f8f4.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="flickr-caption">Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/nickgray/">nickgraywfu</a>.</span></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After watching last night's <a href="http://www.myspace.com/littlebootsmusic">Little Boots</a> performance at Studio B in Brooklyn, it's pretty clear that Victoria Hesketh has no qualms about being a dance pop superstar.<br /><br />At her first "real" NYC performance (I believe she played a CMJ showcase last year), she and her tight band were upbeat, cute and delivered one punchy dance track after another.<br /><br />My interest in Little Boots comes entirely off the basis of two tracks: <a href="http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/142094-on-repeat-little-boots-stuck-on-repeat-mp3-stream">"Stuck On Repeat"</a> and "Meddle." I don't even think I had heard the original version of "Meddle" until last night -- the <a href="http://this.bigstereo.net/2008/09/25/little-boots-desgner-drugs/">remix by Designer Drugs</a> is my signature version.<br /><br />A lot of people compare Victoria to Kylie Minogue. Last night, she wore a black dress with a draping hood, much like Kylie's white dress in the "Can't Get You Out of My Head" <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfr9bhSmfXc">video</a> (without the plunging body line).<br /><br />Little Boots doesn't have an album's work of tracks yet, so the set was short (about 6 or 7 songs, each around 3 minutes). I <span style="font-style: italic;">loved</span> "Mathematics," which you can hear on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/littlebootsmusic">her MySpace</a> page.<br /><br />She was very chatty with the audience, talking about her hometown Blackpool, describing one song as "an R&B ballad .. like Beyonce .. like 'Irreplaceable'" which sounded nothing like either, and getting the early morning crowd to move their feet.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Even though her set list was short, it was incredibly satisfying, which makes waiting for a full album release much easier. Take your time, girl.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Little Boots is doing everything right for fans: she regularlly updates <a href="http://www.littlebootsmusic.co.uk/blog/">her blog</a>, adds impromptu video performances on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/littlebootsvideos">YouTube</a>, creates interesting <a href="http://www.littlebootsmusic.co.uk/download.html">mixtapes</a> and sends newsletters from her mailing list that aren't annoying pieces of spam.<br /><br />I'm very much looking forward to a full album's worth of Little Boots tracks.<br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-47291897276774442752008-12-17T21:28:00.001-05:002008-12-17T21:29:23.219-05:00My Favorite Albums of 2008<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 5px 5px; float: right;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/CutCopy-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cut Copy</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">In Ghost Colours</span><br />I had been listening to tracks of this album since mid-2007, but boy was the album worth the wait. Glistening, shimmery keys and great pop hooks, <span style="font-style: italic;">In Ghost Colours</span> channeled 80's </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">synthpop </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">in all the right ways. If you were lucky enough to catch them live, you could tell the band were humbled by their own success.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 5px 5px; float: right;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/HerculesCover.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hercules & Love Affair</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Self-Titled</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It took me a few listens to warm up to this album, but it paid off. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yes, it does sort of trail off in the middle, but there is something heartfelt, unique and complicated about each track that commands repeat listens. "Blind" and "You Belong" are being anointed as dance classics and it's amazing how Antony doesn't always steal the show from the brilliant cast of characters.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 5px 5px; float: right;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/VampireWeekend.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vampire Weekend</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Self-Titled</span><br />I started listening to <span style="font-style: italic;">Graceland</span> a few weeks ago, and </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">didn't give a flying fuck about its influence on Vampire Weekend's debut. People said the same thing about first Strokes album and Television, but I didn't hear it. All I know is this album has the jangly college pop I yearn for. So fresh, clean and <span style="font-style: italic;">approachable</span> that even my Dad was curious about it on our drive from Lafayette to San Francisco. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 5px 5px; float: right;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/kanye_808s_cover.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kanye West</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">808s & Heartbreak</span><br />Yes, it's been out for less than a month, but it has also revived my interest in the "album" more so than any other recent release. The excessive auto-tune and lo-fi production does little to hide the aching in Kanye's songs. More importantly, you don't need to be on a downer to listen or appreciate this album's great music and Kanye's creative merits.<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 5px 5px; float: right;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/Santogold.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Santogold</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Self-Titled</span><br />"Shove It" was pretty much my theme song this year, as was "L.E.S. Artistes." Moving from San Francisco to New York, <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I can say I hope it will be worth what I give up" was pretty much the story of my life. The rest of the album has some hot tracks on it, but I prefer the mash-ups of "Anne" and "Lights Out" found on <span style="font-style: italic;">Top Ranking</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />A few more albums I liked:<br />Hot Chip, <span style="font-style: italic;">Made In The Dark </span>("Ready For The Floor," "Hold On")<br />Britney Spears, <span style="font-style: italic;">Circus </span>("Circus," "Mannequin", "Unusual You")<br />Kylie Minogue, <span style="font-style: italic;">X</span> ("In My Arms," "Like A Drug," "Heart Beat Rock")<br /><br /><img style="margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px; float: left;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/EccentricSoul.jpg" alt="" border="0" />My list feels pretty mainstream, but what can I say, Most of the "new" albums I bought this year were archives (i.e., I fell in love with Numero Group's <a href="http://www.numerogroup.com/">Eccentric Soul</a> series, old italo disco and newish italo disco from <a href="http://vivaitalians.blogspot.com/">Italians Do It Better</a>). But more importantly, I <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> liked the albums I listed above.<br /><br />I spent most of my this year listening to remixes and singles from artists that could bring me up up up: Designer Drugs, Little Boots, Kid Sister, Treasure Fingers, Danity Kane, Cyndi Lauper, Kleerup, Miami Horror and more. Who said the single was dead?<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 5px 5px; float: right;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/SashaFierce.jpg" alt="" border="0" />The biggest disappointment was the new Beyonce album. Out of the sixteen songs on my deluxe version, I would master the tracks in this order:<br /><br />1. Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)<br />2. Sweet Dreams<br />3. Halo<br />4. Ave Maria<br />5. Diva<br />6. Video Phone<br />7. Radio<br />8. Smash Into You<br />9. If I Were A Boy<br /><br />Done!<br /></span></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-69809602747969631532008-12-04T12:36:00.000-05:002008-12-04T12:36:22.051-05:0051st Annual Grammy Award Surprises<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=2225872&albumID=2262684&imageID=49636766"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 337px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/MIAbillboard.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As a music fan, I'm always interested in seeing what the old foggies at the Grammy Awards are including in their annual nominee list. This year, I find my jaw-dropping by some of <a href="http://content.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx">their selections</a>:<br /><br />1. M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" nominated for record of the year. This is the kind of thing that everyone believes should happen, but never actually does. I'm totally shocked. Also, the Jay-Z and T.I. collaboration "Swagga Like Us" (which samples "Paper Planes") is also nominated twice.<br /><br />2. Hot Chip's "Ready For The Floor" nominated best dance recording (along with Madonna, Rihanna, Daft Punk and ... Lady Gaga???). Sam Sparro is also in there, but I never warmed up to him.<br /><br />3. Robyn's self-titled album nominated for best electronic/dance album. If she wins this, what a triumph. Kylie Minogue's <span style="font-style: italic;">X</span> is in there too, but that album was definitely hit/miss for me.<br /><br />Grammy stalwarts like Beck, Radiohead and Coldplay are all nominated. And who is this Adele? I have never heard this "Chasing Pavements" song. In any case, it's not a perfect list but I'm rather impressed that Grammy voters are being slightly more progressive about their choices.<br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-62396520494237390102008-11-29T12:32:00.001-05:002008-11-29T12:35:27.337-05:00Welcome to Heartbreak<img style="margin: 0pt 5px 5px 0px; float: left; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/kanye_808s_cover.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's not quite <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pornography_%28album%29"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pornography</span></a>, but it's pretty bleak. What I like most about Kanye West's <span style="font-style: italic;">808s & Heartbreak</span> is how honest and musically consistent it is.<br /><br />I was expecting a softer sound, a more melancholy perspective on the tragic death of his mother. There is some of that in there, but it's also angry, with lots of self-reflection and frustrations over a lover or girlfriend. He's the boy done wrong.<br /><br />It gets musically lighthearted 3/4's into the album ("Paranoid," "RoboCop"), but the subject matter remains dark throughout and the majority of the album is under-produced and bare bones.<br /><br /><object style="margin: 5px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" width="285" height="235"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LJAJDbTUCZs&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LJAJDbTUCZs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="285" height="235"></embed></object>My favorite track by far is the last one, "Coldest Winter." Notice the rhythmically strange synth melody that doesn't quite sync up with the drums. It's these touches that give the album its shivering effect. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Speaking of The Cure, "Coldest Winter" could be a <span style="font-style: italic;">Japanese Whispers </span>b-side. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I love the album's art direction as well. Say what you will about his arrogance and attitude, Kanye's creativity certainly delivers the goods.<br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-39677281863382317232008-11-22T12:00:00.001-05:002008-11-22T12:00:22.487-05:00My Hearts Skippin'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.myspace.com/littlebootsmusic"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 5px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 300px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/littleboots.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I got the recession special two weeks ago when I joined my new gym in NYC. They not only honored my SF rate, but they gave me loads of benefits. Perfect!<br /><br />The past few months had me losing lots of weight, much to my horror. The skinny jeans Williamsburg hipster thing is not my aesthetic <span style="font-style: italic;">at all</span>. So I'm trying more weight training.<br /><br />I'm sharing a mix I've been listening to on my iPod using <a href="http://www.8tracks.com/">8tracks</a>, this new 8-song online mix maker. It's definitely in its prototype stages, as I found a whole handful of frustrations just by trying to make a simple mix. But the builders have been very proactive about addressing my issues.<br /><br />Here it is for your listening pleasure:<br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,28,0" width="230" height="50"><param name="movie" value="http://8tracks.com/mixes/7061/player"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://8tracks.com/mixes/7061/player" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" width="230" height="50"></embed></object><br /><br />1. Don't Be On With Her by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/miamihorror">Miami Horror</a><br />2. Meddle (<a href="http://www.myspace.com/designerdrugsclubmusic">Designer Drugs</a> 80s Coke Jam Remix) by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/littlebootsmusic">Little Boots</a><br />3. Hardcore Girls [featuring <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tharealryerye">Rye Rye</a>] (Don Rimini Nasty Boy Mix) by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Count_and_Sinden">The Count & Sinden</a><br />4. Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mVEGfH4s5g">Beyonce</a><br />5. Get Fresh by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/kidsister">Kid Sister</a><br />6. Shells by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/mia">M.I.A.</a><br />7. Two Of Hearts by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/anniemusic">Annie</a><br />8. Electric Feel (Remix) by <a href="http://antsinmytrance.squarespace.com/blog/2008/11/11/mgmt-ft-jim-jones-electric-feel-remix.html">MGMT (ft. Jim Jones)</a><br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-73566505645209755812008-11-17T16:42:00.000-05:002008-11-17T16:43:07.270-05:0012-Hour Art Buzz<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/salvadorali/3034576753/" title="The Marriage of Heaven and Hell by Salvador Ali, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/3034576753_2b159d656a.jpg" alt="The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I had a fun Saturday, which started at 3 p.m. with me and my friend Brian running around art galleries in Long Island City (<a href="http://www.deitch.com/index.php">Deitch Studios</a>, <a href="http://www.ps1.org/">P.S.1</a>, etc) and ended at at 3 a.m. Sunday with me stumbling home from the East Village.</span><br /><br /><object style="margin: 5px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" width="285" height="235"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bVKYneT6roQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bVKYneT6roQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="285" height="235"></embed></object><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was pretty surprised to hear new Britney Spears tracks at the bars we hit. High-res versions of "Kill The Lights" were playing everywhere. The album was leaked this weekend, which now explains it.<br /><br />Except for listening to some of the tracks on YouTube, I'm just going to wait and get the deluxe version of <span style="font-style: italic;">Circus</span>, as I'm anxious to hear what this girl can do next.<br /><br /><object style="margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px; float: left;" width="285" height="235"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hRJJ1PFOhio&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hRJJ1PFOhio&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="285" height="235"></embed></object>This <a href="http://www.myspace.com/miamihorror">Miami Horror</a> video for "Don't Be On With Her" has been posted on a handful of bogs lately and it gave me a good laugh. Thankfully, it's not all about the video -- the song is really fun as well. The high pitched overdubs mid-song are pretty weird (in a good way). Miami Horror (like best-album-of-2008-candidate <a href="http://www.myspace.com/cutcopy">Cut Copy</a>) are from Melbourne, Australia.<br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-68481456456911193212008-10-29T14:14:00.000-04:002008-10-29T14:14:27.074-04:00If Bangs Could Kill<embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:288312" width="423" height="318" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashVars="configParams=id%3D1518072%26vid%3D288312%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A288312%26startUri={startUri}" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed><br><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I like <a href="http://www.myspace.com/ciara">Ciara</a> a lot. I think she's cute and fun. In her new single, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/ciara/288312/go-girl.jhtml#id=1518072">"Go Girl"</a>, you can call her CiCi or "the Energizer Playboy bunny." T-Pain produces, so expect a lot of vocoder/auto-tune. It's not jaw-droppingly exciting, but I can see a lot of people having fun with it at the clubs.<br /><br />The video comes off like a pastiche of recent pop videos. It must be those pesky art directors. Ciara does a catwalk strut in a shadowy hallway a la <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5Oq9kqAW_Q">Lady Gaga</a>, and then freaks out in a elevator like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLayi-QLgOc">Britney on Madonna's current tour</a>.<br /><br />And then there's the wig. Those bangs, artfully cut just above the eyebrows! It's a little bit 20's flapper, a little bit Sunset Boulevard. Just in time for Halloween. My earliest recollection of this look was Britney's pink wig during her ill days.<br /><br />The look has certainly caught on!</span><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 1223px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/CrazyPopStarWig.jpg" alt="" border="0" />Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-68513781388087151572008-10-25T11:39:00.000-04:002008-10-25T11:39:37.733-04:00Roisin Murphy at Mansion NYC<style type="text/css">.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }</style><div class="flickr-frame"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15464805@N03/2971718042/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3285/2971718042_6b96a511f8.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="flickr-caption">Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/15464805@N03/">It's ok to sweat</a>.</span></div> <p class="flickr-yourcomment"> </p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I had a really incredible time watching Roisin Murphy make her U.S. debut in NYC last night. She played about 3/4's of Overpowered and a couple songs I wasn't familiar with (possibly from her earlier work). There were costume/coat changes after each song. Here are five points:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1. Her voice was perfect. She owned the stage. She was very happy to be there. The sound in the venue was great minus a few technical issues at the beginning.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2. She has fantastic chemistry with her band. She playfully assaulted AND seduced her musicians a couple of times throughout the set. She gave her backup singers a real pounding near the end of the show.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3. I liked the musical twists she added as she was transitioning or ending her songs. She amped up the dance elements "Dear Miami" and "Movie Star" while adding a rock guitar solo in "Primitive." She minimized the synth-heavy "You Know Me Better," which also sounded great.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4. She was rocking her signature bra-less white shirt a lot of the times. My favorite outfits were the brown, turkey-like hunchback number she wore during "Movie Star" and the plaid deer coat during (I think) "Let Me Know."</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />5. The venue was small, intimate and gorgeous. I think the crowd was a bit comatose at times, but that might be a NY thing. I was surrounded by a group of people that went bananas during ever song. But I could see a lot of people just staring in awe/confusion.<br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-34995943653146020772008-10-22T14:42:00.001-04:002008-10-22T14:43:53.303-04:00Soothing, Sober October<img style="margin: 0pt 5px 5px 0pt; float: left; width: 200px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/Tigermilk.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In these dire economic times bundled with a minor bout of homesickness, I'm finding myself veering away from the dance and pop music that has frequented my listening habits lately.<br /><br />The final quarter of this year sees releases by Britney Spears, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Kanye West, Eminem, Guns and Roses (!), and more -- basically a mainstream music lover's dream come true.<br /><br />But as the <span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/weekinreview/19lewin.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink">wrote this past Sunday</a>:<br /><blockquote>"Looking at Billboard No. 1 songs from 1955 to 2003 for a study to be published in the journal Psychology of Music, he found that in uncertain times, people tend to prefer songs that are longer, slower, with more meaningful themes."</blockquote><br /><img style="margin: 5px 0px 5px 5px; float: right; width: 200px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/FleetwoodMac.jpg" alt="" border="0" />At Virgin Records this past week, I purchased Fleetwood Mac's first (white) album. <span style="font-style: italic;">Rumours</span> is pretty much ingrained in my mind already, but I had this insatiable need to hear "Rhiannon" and "Say You Love Me." Oddly enough, this was the first time I realized how much Christine McVie sounds like Jon Anderson of Yes. Fun fact: I went to college with Lindsey Buckingham's niece, who was <span style="font-style: italic;">obsessed</span> with Justin Timberlake.<br /><br />I've also been listening to Belle and Sebastian's <span style="font-style: italic;">Tigermilk</span>, their first album and the only one of theirs I never owned. And then there's the new Antony and the Johnsons' EP, which has the stunning "Another World." I also like "Hope Mountain" and "Crackagen," but it was a bit overpriced for a five song EP.<br><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qp23w0v-GB8&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qp23w0v-GB8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br>I didn't see his show at the Apollo last week, but <a href="http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2008/10/antony_the_john_13.html">reviews were a bit disappointing</a>.<br /><br />My love for dance pop gets a shake up this Friday when I see <a href="https://robot.boxofficetickets.com/800-494-TIXS/WebObjects/BOTx2005.woa/wa/inspectSubprogram?id=276111&passKey=a2118ddd7b">Roisin Murphy debut in NYC</a>. I'm also hoping to catch Designer Drugs <a href="http://iheartcomix.com/blog/franki/designer-drugs-zombies-iheartcomix-cmj-bash">play a set on Saturday</a>.<br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-55750505341692075612008-09-17T18:13:00.004-04:002008-09-18T22:21:42.523-04:00Mariah Doesn't Do Drugs<object style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/486941519babcea7/48d17856561f4bb2/4869619f414b0915/da3cb25b" id="W486941519babcea748d17856561f4bb2" width="230" height="300"><param value="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/486941519babcea7/48d17856561f4bb2/4869619f414b0915/da3cb25b" name="movie"><param value="transparent" name="wmode"><param value="all" name="allowNetworking"><param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess"></object><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, it's too late to vote and the contest is over, but I think New York's <a href="http://www.myspace.com/designerdrugsclubmusic">Designer Drugs</a> were robbed of prizes for their "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" remix. The people in Mariah's crew ended up selecting a bunch of <a href="http://www.indabamusic.com/contests/show/mariah">R&B snoozers</a>. No wonder people are pessimistic about the music industry.<br /><br />Let's be honest, the original song isn't anything to celebrate. But Designer Drugs were able to give it a hyper electro-house spin that pushes Mariah to dance diva proportions.<br /><br />Designer Drugs' remix work is pretty incredible. Their remix of Hail Social's "Heaven" is one of my favorite tracks this year. Hear the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTwggS3sM0Y">original</a> and then see how creatively they reimagined it on their <a href="http://www.myspace.com/designerdrugsclubmusic">MySpace</a> (or <a href="http://www.turntablelab.com/vinyl/0/0/46317.html">buy it on purple vinyl</a> like I did).<br /><br /><b>UPDATE:</b><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/DESIGNERDRUGSCLUBMUSIC">Designer Drugs</a> have kindly allowed me to post the remix for download. Enjoy!<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.salvadorali.com/audio/player.swf" id="audioplayer1" width="290" height="24"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://www.salvadorali.com/audio/player.swf"><br /><param name="FlashVars" value="playerID=1&soundFile=http://www.salvadorali.com/audio/Mariah_Carey_I'll Be Lovin U_DESIGNER DRUGS REMIX extended.mp3"><br /><param name="quality" value="high"><br /><param name="menu" value="false"><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /></object><br /><b style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">MP3</b> -> <a href="http://www.salvadorali.com/audio/Mariah_Carey_I%27ll%20Be%20Lovin%20U_DESIGNER%20DRUGS%20REMIX%20extended.mp3">I'll Be Lovin U Long Time (Designer Drugs Remix) - Extended</a><br /><b style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">MP3</b> -> <a href="http://www.salvadorali.com/audio/Mariah_Carey_I%27ll%20Be%20Lovin%20U_DESIGNER%20DRUGS%20REMIX%20radio.mp3">I'll Be Lovin U Long Time (Designer Drugs Remix) - Radio Edit</a><br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-21395595670588474932008-09-10T14:17:00.000-04:002008-09-10T14:17:53.173-04:00Last Plane to Jamaica<img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 5px 0px; float: left; width: 450px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/Ghosts_On_Tape.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">San Francisco's <a href="http://www.myspace.com/ghostsontapesf">Ghosts on Tape</a> is an artist I admire. Using only "some janky ass ghetto equipment", Ryan Philip Merry is producing some of the most musical, enjoyable beats I've heard in a while.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Maybe it has to do with his open minded approach to influences (electro, turbo grime, speed garage and Miami bass to name a few). I'll settle with ghettotech as the genre that might sum it up.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">His just-released <a href="http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=77510730&blogID=424267220">free live mix</a> was performed using two samplers and features 25 minutes of tracks he's working on. Even if you have a modest interest in dance music and tropical, bass-heavy beats, I suggest you give it a listen. I suspect a full album release is in the works. </span><br /><br /><object style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" width="285" height="235"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Cqk6yMH-Ru4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Cqk6yMH-Ru4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="285" height="235"></embed></object><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In a recent <a href="http://circaroyale.blogspot.com/2007/12/putting-san-francisco-on-dancehall-map.html">interview</a>, Ghosts on Tape said even though he has a passion for dancehall, sadly "there's like no Jamaicans" in San Francisco. Just like there's no black folks in Alaska, according to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWuYk9_Ci_4&feature=related">Diddy</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />But G.O.T. is right about Jamaicans in S.F., although I can personally confirm SF kids love their <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Stripe">Red Stripe</a>.</span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-69082093066508418302008-08-21T20:59:00.009-04:002008-08-21T21:04:17.710-04:00Tripping on Neon<img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; width: 200px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/JukeBox.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here in New York, I've had to readjust from my West Coast methods of listening to music. My routine used to be: dance/hip-hop at the gym, folk/rock/pop on my work commute, and pretty much anything on my home stereo.<br /><br />In my new apartment, the wall separating my room from my Morrissey/Crass-loving roommate is dangerously thin, so I've yet to buy a stereo system. Listening to my iPod at home just feels weird and this city is too new and exciting for me to wear headphones all the time.<br /><br />So for now, I'm dealing with it until I get some soundproofing. To keep me entertained, I have been watching some hot videos. The New York Times keeps mentioning how surrealism is <span style="font-style: italic;">IN</span> right now. How about a little neon and psychedelia?<br /><br /><object style="margin: 0px 5px 10px 0px; float: left;" width="285" height="235"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lYvxcmc0WNk&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lYvxcmc0WNk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="285" height="235"></embed></object><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Love this song and video. I recently bought Hot Chip's <span style="font-style: italic;">DJ Kicks</span> and discovered Grovesnor's "Nitemoves." "Drive Your Car" is a real treat.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br /><br /><object style="margin: 0px 5px 10px 0px; float: left;" width="285" height="235"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LoY37T_nv5U&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LoY37T_nv5U&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="285" height="235"></embed></object>Yelle's "Ce Jeu" is extremely cute. Their shows are so high-energy. The lead singer can get any party started. And I still don't have their album!<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br /><br /><object style="margin: 0px 5px 10px 0px; float: left;" width="285" height="235"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E7HjBr_QMXI&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E7HjBr_QMXI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="285" height="235"></embed></object>I remember the first time I saw Tilly and The Wall, my friend Sailor whispered in my ear, "I think the tap dancer is <span style="font-style: italic;">crazy</span>." No kidding! I am loving this song. I disliked their <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd3G3i0QBq0&feature=related">super-neon</a> "Beat Control" single, so "Pot Kettle Black" is very exciting.<br /></span></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-66531342809132039292008-08-07T21:18:00.003-04:002008-08-07T21:20:55.438-04:00Run, Run, Hide, Hide<img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; float: left; width: 450px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/TroubleAndrew_Santogold.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">From <a href="http://www.morrissey-solo.com/article.pl?sid=05/09/05/1613253">Morrissey</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracy_Funds_Terrorism">M.I.A.</a> to dance mixes from Fabric and DJ Kicks, I’ve often found myself forgetting the entire mix and focusing on just one or two songs that quickly grab my attention.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Santogold’s collaboration with Diplo on <span style="font-style: italic;">Top Ranking</span> has a few of these moments, but the stand-out track for me has to be Trouble Andrew’s “Run - Hide.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When this came on after the laugh-inducing skit with Mark Ronson, I literally stopped everything I was doing and wondered what artist I was listening to. </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“Run - Hide” is a drowsy, lo-fi electro hit.<br /><br />It immediately reminded me of the more pop leanings of the hyped Berlin labels of the early 00’s, yet with a more fresh, hip-hop edge.</span><br /><br /><img style="margin: 5px 0px 10px 5px; float: right; width: 200px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/TroubleAnderw_Haircut.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It starts off with creepy organs, then Diplo’s beats kicks in and we get the smooth chorus and the crisp, vintage synths. Everything about it is outstanding.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After listening to Trouble Andrew’s less interesting songs on his <a href="http://www.myspace.com/troubleandrew">MySpace</a>, I truly believe Diplo must have worked wonders to produce this track. Complete kudos to him, but also to Trouble Andrew for his great vocal delivery and overall sex appeal.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This track is available as a <a href="http://www.myspace.com/troubleandrew">free download</a> on Trouble Andrew’s <a href="http://www.myspace.com/troubleandrew">MySpace</a>, so please go there and have a listen.</span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-81537547312031782382008-07-23T02:45:00.000-04:002008-07-23T02:48:46.574-04:00Hades, I'm Only Dancing<object style="margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; float: left;" width="285" height="235"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/p4x9XrMRjgQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/p4x9XrMRjgQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="285" height="235"></embed></object><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In some ways, the new Hercules & Love Affair single, "You Belong" reminds me of David Bowie's "John, I'm Only Dancing." The former has a house beat and contemporary synths with Nomi and Antony's yearning voices overlapping. The latter is a stomping glam classic that often gets overlooked, probably because it's usually tacked on the end of special edition releases of <span style="font-style: italic;">Ziggy Stardust</span>.<br /><br /><object style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" width="285" height="235"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ihKvWaVK-_I&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ihKvWaVK-_I&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="285" height="235"></embed></object>Lyrically, there is a tumultuous, sexually ambiguous relationship between the protagonist and whoever he/she is addressing. Both songs are a little flirty, slightly moody, and tease the listener to some degree.<br /><br />When I first heard "You Belong," I thought of it as the John character in Bowie's song, letting go of the person he was holding on to. I'm not sure what triggered this random thought, but I hope it's intriguing nonetheless.<br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-14317627784546559262008-07-19T14:07:00.000-04:002008-07-19T14:07:00.219-04:00Choose Your Own Adventure<style type="text/css">.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }</style><div class="flickr-frame"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/salvadorali/2680821712/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3039/2680821712_9c109bd3ec.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="flickr-caption" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Walking on Jim Lambie's color chart floor at MOMA.</span></div> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="flickr-yourcomment"> </p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">All apologies for the extended absence, as I've been relocating my entire life to a completely new coast. Despite my worldly travels, I've actually only lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, except for a four month stay in the U.K.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I went to New York City last year and everything about it felt right. And so here I am, having a new life adventure. I found a hot piece of real estate with cool roommates in Brooklyn and everything has been going well so far.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/fashion/30sanfrooklyn.html?_r=1&oref=slogin"><img style="margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px; float: left; width: 375px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/NYT_Brooklyn_PhotoEdit.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was surprised <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/fashion/30sanfrooklyn.html?_r=1&oref=slogin">by how comfortable</a> I felt leaving San Francisco. Perhaps it was the support of all my friends and family, who encouraged me that NYC was the right thing for me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">To be honest, it actually didn't hit me that I was leaving until I unplugged my stereo system and packed it up for storage. It was one of the last things I packed. So many years singing and dancing around in my bedroom, getting ready to go out and playing records I had just purchased at Amoeba and Streetlight.</span><br /><br /><img style="margin: 5px 0pt 5px 5px; float: right; width: 200px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/New_Order_Technique.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The last album I played on my stereo before packing up was New Order's <span style="font-style: italic;">Technique</span>. I had just come back from selling a bunch of DVD's at Amoeba, and used the exchange credit to buy four albums: Blondie's <span style="font-style: italic;">Eat To The Beat</span>, Hercules and Love Affair (<span style="font-style: italic;">self-titled</span>), Missy Elliott's <span style="font-style: italic;">Miss E... So Addictive</span>, and the New Order album.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Pretty much all four albums had songs I was very familiar with, and I purchased them as a kinda of comfort food before I left for my trip: albums that would keep me warm and feel familiar, while still being new.</span><br /><br /><object style="margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px; float: left;" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/v/Qp2oM2RmRk/aus=false/pv=2"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/v/Qp2oM2RmRk/aus=false/pv=2" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="300"></embed></object><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The album of this moment for me has been Ciara's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Evolution</span>. I can't believe people weren't into this when it came out late 2006. It's a solid, creative, interesting piece of dance, pop and R&B. Where was I when "Promise" came out? I have been listening to this album non-stop since I got it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ciara can be so beautifully vulnerable, awkward and self-conscious. She's also very passionate about the music she makes. I'm looking forward to her <a href="http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003802786">new three album</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Fantasy Ride</span> project. </span></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-58349317316876623662008-06-26T01:22:00.000-04:002008-06-26T01:24:45.009-04:00Get Away From The Bar<object style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" height="235" width="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GibLntdLiJA&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GibLntdLiJA&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="235" width="285"></embed></object><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm totally into the old school vibe and upbeat sound of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Dizzee</span> Rascal's "Dance <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wiv</span> Me." The video is really fun, and kid with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">stache</span> behind the bar (looking like he's up way too late past curfew!), is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Harris">Calvin Harris</a>, the producer of the track.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was not familiar with Calvin before seeing the video, but I found out that he's only 24 and responsible for two of my favorite tracks on Kylie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Minogue's</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">X</span> album ("In My Arms," "Heart Beat Rock"). Incredible!<br /><br />It's nice to see <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Dizzee</span> having a good time with this track. I saw him during his <span style="font-style: italic;">Showtime</span> tour and was charmed by his live presence. Plus, he makes really good albums, although <span style="font-style: italic;">Maths + English</span> didn't really do anything for me.<br /><br /><object style="margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px; float: left;" height="235" width="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/e0g77Iuhc7w&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/e0g77Iuhc7w&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="235" width="285"></embed></object>I'm hoping <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Dizzee's</span> upcoming album will have the dance theme he's been flirting with for some time (</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Basement <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Jaxx's</span> <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=5piDhdPmoNI">"Lucky Star,"</a> for instance)</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Snoop <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Dogg</span> makes a good predecessor.<br /><br />He's also featured on "Toe Jam" by Brighton Port Authority (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Fatboy</span> Slim/Norman Cook), which also features David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Byrne</span> (!). The video is pretty ridiculous. It's almost like a promo for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">CBS's</span> new <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Swingtown</span></span>.<br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-35157139514127054042008-06-13T01:24:00.000-04:002008-06-13T01:24:52.888-04:00Last Night The DJ Saved My Business<img style="margin: 0pt 20px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 440px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/CountrySide_Disco.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I am sure you're sick of all this disco nonsense, but one parting thought: <a href="http://sbinfocanada.about.com/b/2008/05/23/discos-back-but-is-it-a-good-small-business-idea.htm?nl=1">is disco a good business idea?</a> (via <a href="http://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?boardid=41&threadid=63062#unread">ILM</a>). Love how she name drops <a href="http://www.myspace.com/herculesandloveaffair">Hercules and Love Affair</a> and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/chromeo">Chromeo</a>. Which reminds me, I gotta pick up the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_and_Love_Affair_%28album%29">H&LA album</a>. From what I've heard of it, dance music suits Antony's voice very well.</span><br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-59164300115378828382008-06-08T23:40:00.000-04:002008-06-08T23:47:03.057-04:00Germans Do It Better<img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 200px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/EssentialItalo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">About a year ago, when Sally Shapiro was about all I listened to, <a href="http://cheztune.blogspot.com/2007/06/italo-disco-2007.html">I was looking</a> for a good italo disco compilation that inspired the music of <span style="font-style: italic;">Disco Romance</span>. Last week, I found <span style="font-style: italic;">Disco Italia: Essential Italo Disco Classics 1977-1985</span>.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I listened to a few tracks in the store, and liked a few, including a Kano song called "Now Baby Now." Kano is one of the most famous italo disco bands, and its music is hard to find, with no proper reissues in sight. They're most famous for being sampled by Tag Team on "Whoomp! (There It Is)."<br /><br /><object style="margin: 5px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" height="235" width="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/h1BLv6yBZcw&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/h1BLv6yBZcw&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="235" width="285"></embed></object>But to my disappointment, the collection overall is pretty boring. The songs are either extremely annoying ("Burning Love," "Tina Are You Ready") or try very hard to sound like American soul and funk ("Dreaming," "Love (Is Gonna Be On Your Side)." </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Red Dragon Band's "Let Me Be Your Radio (Part 1)", sounds oddly like The Rapture's "House of Jealous Lovers."</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />This comp has little to do with what I enjoy about italo disco - that is: spacey, synth heavy, dramatic dance pop. The liner notes are very informative. I just wish they would have included songs by more of the artists they praise: Capsicum, Vivien Vee, Change and Capricorn.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px; float: left; width: 200px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/DiscoDeutschland.jpg" alt="" border="0" />I can't differentiate what I'm hearing on this comp with what I hear on <span style="font-style: italic;">Disco Deutschland Disco: Disco, Funk & Philly Anthems From Germany 1975-1980</span>. It's a far more interesting listen, with fun gems like "You've Got The Power, Pt. 1" and "Fashion Pack (Studio 54)". Whatever genre you call it, <span style="font-style: italic;">Disco Deutschland</span> did it better. To be quite honest, it's all just European disco to me.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 10px 30px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 420px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/TrocaderoTransfer.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br />A few months back, <a href="http://www.discoworkout.com/?p=330">Disco Workout</a> posted an interview with San Francisco DJ <a href="http://www.bobbyviteritti.com/">Bobby Viteritti</a>, one of the most famous San Francisco DJ's of the late 70's and winner of 1979's Billboard DJ of The Year. There's an amazing piece of SF history: a free MP3 from a party at the <a href="http://www.remembertheparty.com/">Trocadero Transfer</a> in 1979. This is the real thing -- what people really danced to in 1970's San FranDisco. I was surprised by the fantastic sound quality. Needless to say, there's lots of Donna Summer and Diana Ross.<br /><br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-91509947520921148982008-05-20T01:01:00.000-04:002008-05-20T01:03:14.103-04:00So Long Robert Rauschenberg<img style="margin: 0pt 130px 2px 0pt; float: left; width: 290px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/Rauschenberg1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Persimmon</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, 1964 (<a href="http://www.artnet.com/magazine_pre2000/news/finch/finch9-25-97.asp">Source</a>). I saw this beautiful collage/painting at the SF <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MOMA</span> in 1999 with my friend Amanda. I never quite forgot it.</span><br /><img style="margin: 15pt 10px 2px 0pt; float: left; width: 420px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/Rauschenberg2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Estate</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, 1963 (<a href="http://www.sauer-thompson.com/junkforcode/archives/002013.html">Source</a>).</span><br /><img style="margin: 15pt 10px 2px 0pt; float: left; width: 420px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/Rauschenberg3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Persimmon Coronation (Runts)</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, 2007 (<a href="http://www.artnet.com/Galleries/Artists_detail.asp?gid=1112&aid=14005">Source</a>). The fruit revisited. His work in recent years took advantage of lots of white space.</span><br /><img style="margin: 15pt 10px 2px 0pt; float: left; width: 420px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/Rauschenberg5.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Winter Pool</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, 1959. One of the few mixed media sculptures I took a photo of at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">MOMA</span> in NYC April 2007.</span><br /><img style="margin: 15pt 10px 2px 0pt; float: left; width: 420px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/Rauschenberg4.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Speaking In Tongues</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, 1983. Not my favorite TH album cover design (despite the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaking_in_Tongues_%28album%29">award</a>), but certainly my favorite TH album!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/itp15Oejvic&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/itp15Oejvic&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One of my favorite artists passed away last week. Robert <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Rauschenberg</span> was an artist I was genuinely excited about anywhere his work was exhibited. To me, his work was always alive, vivid, imaginative and exciting.</span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-50263351794145129752008-05-11T13:54:00.000-04:002008-05-11T14:02:00.012-04:00London We Go Hard<object style="margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; float: left;" height="235" width="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k8zJK-OU3rY&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k8zJK-OU3rY&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="235" width="285"></embed></object><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Listening to "Shove It" on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/santogold">Santogold's</a> new album, I am taken back to 2005 when a lot of music fans had an investment in grime and British hip-hop, thinking it would breakthrough to American audiences in no time. I was definitely a believer, completely fascinated by everything I heard from Dizzee Rascal, Kano, Wiley, Lady Sovereign and all the young MC's on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_the_Road"><span style="font-style: italic;">Run The Road</span></a>.<br /><br />Santogold is from New York, but Switch, a remixer and producer of the track, is British although I don't think he has any ties to the grime scene (M.I.A. is not considered a grime artist). "Shove It" has an East London dub sound that makes you smell the doner kebabs and see the track suits and trainers. I know she's really singing about the pride of poor creatives in NYC, but it drives my imagination. The song overall reminds me of Riko and Target's "Chosen One" from <span style="font-style: italic;">Run The Road</span>.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 5px 5px; float: right; width: 300px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/Santogold_SpankRock.jpg" alt="" border="0" />Spank Rock makes an appearance on the track and for once, he keeps his rhymes relatively clean. He changes his flow on here as well, and I had to check the liner notes to make sure it was him.<br /><br />Listening to Madonna's <span style="font-style: italic;">Hard Candy</span> where she finally delivers on the promise of a completely disco, dance pop album that <span style="font-style: italic;">Confessions On a Dance Floor</span> was supposed to be, I wonder what the queen of pop could have done by filtering the East London sound.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 5px 5px 0px; float: left; width: 300px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/Madonna_Justin.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hard Candy</span> 's got the beep-beep's and whistles from Donna Summer's "Bad Girl", sweeping strings and lots of funky bass. I'm a fan of "Heartbeat," "Miles Away," and "Beat Goes On," especially when Kanye sings the pre-chorus after doing his rap. "Incredible" brings back her debut album singing voice.<br /><br />After over a week of listening, I realize <span style="font-style: italic;">Hard Candy</span> doesn't have the return listens of <span style="font-style: italic;">Confessions</span>, the album with "Get Together," one of my favorite Madonna songs of all time. I understand her motives for making the album, but I'm not satisfied.<br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-76748101965747412502008-04-23T01:20:00.000-04:002008-04-23T01:20:19.492-04:00San Francisco Is Listening to Cut Copy<object style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" height="235" width="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LcUZp7bcVIA&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LcUZp7bcVIA&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="235" width="285"></embed></object><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On my short (20 minute max) commute to work these past 2 weeks, I've been popping in Cut Copy's <span style="font-style: italic;">In Ghost Colours</span> album and I am in complete heaven. It's an amazing album to start the day. That IS the power of music -- just one more thing to be excited about in the morning.<br /><br />I've been listening to "Hearts on Fire" for what feels like a year now and "Lights and Music" has been saturated in my brain. The album mixes are longer and I'm falling in love with them again.<br /><br />The real surprise is the incredible "Strangers In The Wind." It's a beautiful marriage of Fleetwood Mac's melancholia with mid-80's synthpop balladry. It was telling that they put <span style="font-style: italic;">Tusk</span>-era Mac on their <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://cut-copy.blogspot.com/2008/01/so-cosmic.html">So Cosmic</a> mix -- I just never thought it would take shape on their actual album. So haunted, indeed.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 5px 5px; float: left; width: 225px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/CutCopy_SMD_Flyer.jpg" alt="" border="0" />I've been hearing <span style="font-style: italic;">In Ghost Colours</span> play at my local coffee shop. I've been hearing it through car windows (my apartment is on a deceptively loud street corner). And I've been seeing posters advertised everywhere for their show at Mezzanine this Saturday. This sold-out, dream team bill also features Simian Mobile Disco, and I will be fortunate enough to attend.<br /><br />Check out their label Modular Recording's <a href="http://modularpeople.com/us.htm">website</a>, which has a curious display of </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"gay vague" </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Web 2.0 design.<br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5452733492925787856.post-81101634469021461122008-04-14T10:30:00.000-04:002008-04-14T10:31:03.715-04:00Re-evaluate The Songs<img style="margin: 0pt 5px 5px 0pt; float: left; width: 200px;" src="http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z51/cheztune/Morrissey-Greatest-Hits.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Even though Morrissey's <span style="font-style: italic;">Greatest Hits</span> album is fan exploitation of Bjorkian proportions, there are a few things I've enjoyed about its release.<br /><br />The two new songs "That's How People Grow Up" and "All You Need is Me" are pretty good. The former is definitely a show stopper during his live sets. Something about the song sounds a bit forced, especially when you hear how natural "Everyday is Like Sunday" comes off. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Still it's nice to hear how big, sweeping and dramatic the studio version becomes. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />"All You Need is Me" sounds a lot like <span style="font-style: italic;">Bona Drag</span>'s "Disappointed," and there's a beautiful vocal melody bit around 2:34 when he sings "You don't like me, but you love me, either way you're wrong." It also sounds like he's double tracking his vocals on parts of this song. Is this the first time he's done that? I like it.<br /><br />The packaging is very nice. I like the the little icons created to represent each song, which are then patterned throughout. It's printed on heavy card stock and I think it's one of the best Morrissey album packages.<br /><br /><object style="margin: 5px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" height="235" width="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/p2hWIAKAGj0&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/p2hWIAKAGj0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="235" width="285"></embed></object>Still, there's no doubt this collection is a complete act of pop star narcissism. The cover photo and photo of his <a href="http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2008/02/morrissey_bares_his_arse.html">bare ass</a> on the album sleeve </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">are at least 15 years old -- never mind that the majority of the songs are from his last two albums.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />But you definitely get the feeling that he put this together, and that these are his personal greatest hits. These are the songs he's most proud of and that's probably what makes it interesting for any fan.<br /><br />There's also an insert that says "Coming Soon. A very special Morrissey release" that will be made to order and not available in stores. What could this possible be? I hope it's not <a href="http://www.morrissey-solo.com/article.pl?sid=08/04/12/2239235">these new t-shirts</a>.<br /></span>Salvador Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07114305997984355585noreply@blogger.com1