Hipster Olympics... Classic

Source: DJ Inka One's MySpace Page

DJ Inka One is a friend of mine, and a DJ on the LA Hip Hop scene (and costar of an amazing YouTube vid that was featured nationally on ABC TV). I actually sold him his first pair of turntables, which subsequently were sold to me by Brian Zarin, director of The Calm at the Edge of the Sea, a film I'm currently working on. I wonder who was next in line for those old turntables?

Anyway, back to the subject at hand, Inka posted this on his MySpace earlier, and it is simply classic. Prepare for some funny time:

2080 - Yeasayer

July 2007 Edition - Track 6

Album: All Hour Cymbals
Label: We Are Free
Release Date: October 22, 2007
Referral: Said the Gramophone
http://www.myspace.com/yeasayer

"Its a new year I'm glad to be here" are the opening lyrics to the chorus of 2080. If that year is 2080 i will be glad to be there as well. Yeasayer classifies their music as "visual/gospel/showtunes" with infuences including Fleetwood Mac, Peter Gabriel, and Tears for Fears.

I can see how its visual...from the opening of the song i get a dream sequence of me 98 years of age..in fact, its my final dream sequence : ( longing for my late wife with only my everlasting turtle at my bedside i try to carry on when my great grandson comes in to show me an old toy of mine he found in the basement. He then places the red View-Master to my eyes... i see dozens of the most memorable moments in a sequence compiled by divine intervention. As tears stroll down the goggles of the now archaic animation device i hear the gospel of all my grandchildren 4:42 into the song...i remove the toy to see the most the quintessential lasting image of everyone that has ever meant anything in my life on a boat yeasaying that if i don't get my ass over their i will lose all my carflying privileges.

We Are Free is a sister label of Monitor Records. The brand new label has kindly made available a few downloads off Yeasayer's forthcoming album here.

(View-Master sold separately)

Listen and form your own dream sequence

Hummer - Foals

July 2007 Edition – Track 11
Album: Kitsune Maison 4
Label: Kitsune Music
Release Date: June 11, 2007
Referral: Amoeba music
www.myspace.com/foals

So I’m a sucker for intros – and Foals have me hooked with their jerky guitar plucking in the July track “Hummer”. Another Brighton-based band– the five Oxford University dropouts have made a name for themselves rocking out house parties in the UK. Difficult to fit into any particular genre– seeing as Yannis (guitar, vocals) says that their influences include afrobeat, techno, Nelly Furtado, insects, Maths, drugs and Andy Roddick (yep him with the killer serve)– its no wonder that their live shows get all the indie kids jumping around. And if the videos on their myspace page are anything to go by I would be a fool not to beg, borrow and steal to get tickets to the sold out Bloc Party gigs they will be playing at this December. No full album yet– but expect it later this year.

Meanwhile you can purchase this track on a great compilation put out by the french electronic label, Kitsune Music. The compilation features previously unreleased tunes and remixes as well as previous FoundTrack artists Whitey (November '06), Feist (June '06) , and Darkel (October '06). Purchase on amazon.

Lego - The Maccabees

July 2007 Edition - Track 13
Album: Colour it In (sample/purchase)
Label: Fiction, Polydor
Release date: May 22, 2007
Referral: Laura Webb - Music Supervisor for The Hills
www.myspace.com/themaccabees

This Brighton-based, but essentially born and raised in London band, released their debut full-length album Color it In earlier this year and are being compared to the likes of Bloc Party (who they toured with in the US) and the Futureheads. They may be riding the current wave of “off-kilter British art-rock” (as NME puts it) but there is something extremely endearing about their songs which are nostalgic and romantic in nature.

“Lego” which is featured on the July Foundtrack, reminds me of the days where I would eat just about anything, including my brother’s lego bricks (and his Transformers and Thundercats figures), and “Latchmere” could represent a rite of passage for any Brit that was forced to take swimming lessons in a skanky leisure centre (in case you wanted to know if I wrote this song it would be called “Copthall”). The thing about The Maccabees is they manage to keep creative control in all aspects of their releases and their solid friendship means that they’re just boys who wanna have fun – check out their signature home-made style in the video for Precious Time:

Today in Nerd News- The Joker and Batman to 'Pre-Match' in 2008!

Referral: Oh No They Didn't
http://thedarkknight.warnerbros.com/

So today someone at Warner Brothers either released or leaked the first publicity still of the Joker and Batman from the new prequel/sequel The Dark Knight which comes out next summer:

It'll be pretty festive to see if 2008's Heath Ledger and Christian Bale will be able to match up to the pure insanity of 1989's Jack Nicholson vs Michael Keaton. For those of you who can't wait the 10 months for the movie to come out, here is one of the first encounters of these masked madmen- a surf battle between the O.G. 60s Batman's Adam West and Cesar Romero as the Joker from 1967- 40 years ago! LOL:

To further satiate your fix, make sure to go to the theater and checkout Bale in Rescue Dawn- It is Werner Herzog's (director of the haunting documentary Grizzly Man) most recent feature and is both a true story and raw depiction of a crashed Navy pilot's fight for survival during the Vietnam War.

Happy Birthday - Stevie Wonder

July 2007 Edition - Track 21
Album: Hotter Than July (Sample/Purchase)
Label: UMG Recordings
Release Date: 9/29/80
Referral: Amoeba music store
www.steviewonder.net

As much as I'd like to think Stevie was writing this song in anticipation of my entry into the world 1 year later, it actually served as part of a much more important and real cause. As a single off his first platinum album "Hotter than July", the track was used as a vehicle for Wonder's campaign to make Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday a national holiday. Luckily, it looks like it worked out quite well.

Here is a little montage complete with Spanish subtitles:

Rollerdisco - Black Moth Super Rainbow

July 2007 Edition - Track 4

Album: Dandelion Gum (Sample/Purchase)
Label:Graveface
Release Date: 5/22/07
Referral: Jeff Weiss - http://passionweiss.blogspot.com/
www.myspace.com/blackmothsuperrainbow

"Black Moth Super Rainbow (BMSR) is like AIR with balls" <--- A Nashvillain's (someone from Nashville) take on the psychedelic collective from Pennsylvania. I don't know if I'd question Air's manhood but with band members names such as Power Pill Fist and Tobacco, i don't think i'm ready to question BMSR's either. I'd recommend a deep listen to the album while looking at your old lava lamp. This fall, they will be supporting the Flaming Lips, who Q magazine said are one of the "50 bands to see before you die" so i suggest you check them out when they come to town. Tobacco of BMSR is getting ready to release F*cked up Friends, a DVD of retro-visuals ranging from fitness videos, Dusty Rhodes wrestling clips, and turbo pornographix of female reaction shots provided by beta carnage.

In the following video you'll find Richard Simmons exercises and a public service announcement from Bart Simpson.

Theme Song - Flight of the Conchords

July 2007 Edition - Track 9
Album: The Distant Future EP (sample/purchase)
Label: Sub Pop
Release date: August 7, 2007
Referral: Heather Browne - http://fuelfriends.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/conchords
http://www.hbo.com/conchords

Flight of the Conchords were "formerly New Zealand's fourth most popular folk-parody duo (a feat only matched by Borat's title of "Kazakhstan's sixth most famous man"). Since then, the duo of Jemaine and Brett have moved on to great success as stars of HBO's hit mock-reality show Flight of the Conchords.

Each week, we the perplexed audience, get to tune in and watch the guys get into various misadventures as they try and make it as an indie band on the mean streets of NY. During a typical night's 30 minute episode, the duo breaks out into appropriately random and hysterical song-and-dance numbers spanning genres from 80s electro-rap to french-pop.

On the July compilation we featured their Theme song. Here now for your viewing pleasure is a live performance of their hit "Business Time":

Pace is the Trick - Interpol

July 2007 Edition - Track 16
Album: Our Love to Admire (sample/purchase)
Label: Capitol
Release date: July 10, 2007
Referral: www.thabombshelter.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/interpol

With their third album and their major label debut from capitol, Interpol's Our Love to Admire has put them in a league of their own and i don't mean the madonna baseball movie. However, their upcoming tour schedule will eclipse that of baseball's unclaimed 2007 World Series champion so I'm sure they'll be coming soon to a venue near you. Check their myspace page to see their schedule.

Wouldn't recommend listening to Our Love... after Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry Be Happy" but would recommend wearing a FUBU jacket when listening to Our Love... cuz it grows on you. Pace is fittingly the trick with these NY rockers as they always find a way to to start soft and build up with great layered chord progressions and then they eliminate elements little by little so your back to the core and slow pace of the beginning of the song when finally bringing it all together for an epic ending. I think a lot of their songs could be placed in some of the greatest moments in motion picture history. For Example:

Listen to "Pace is the Trick" (below) and immediately Play this video (above) with or without out sound allowing Interpol to provide the FoundTrack to this epic scene "Over the Top: Stallone vs. Bull Hurley vs. Interpol"

Burn My Shadow - Unkle

July 2007 Edition – Track 15
Album: War Stories (sample/purchase)
Label: Surrender All
Release date: 7/24/07
Referral: www.culturebully.com
www.myspace.com/unkle

James Lavelle's (Unkle) splintered media persona has made his project pretty undefinable. The previous work has been categorized as trip-hop, fusing dance, hip-hop and electronic music ; however, Unkle's third effort, War Stories, seems like a more of a rock project, recorded at the dessert sessions studio Rancho de la luna in Joshua Tree with production assistance from Chris Goss. Like Unkle's ancestors, War Stories features a rich lineup of new and old guests; Queen of the Stone Age's Josh Homme, Autolux, Massive Attack's 3D, The Duke Spirit, and Clayhill's Gavin Clark. The FoundTrack has featured the Unkle single, "Burn My Shadow" including the dark vocals of the Cult's Ian Astbury and Twiggy Ramirez (NIN,Marilyn Manson)on bass.

"The video is an edited version of a dark five-minute short film featuring a man who wakes to find himself embedded with what might be a time-bomb. It was masterfully directed by Miguel Sapochnik (IMDB: initially an "art department runner" on Trainspotting) and features actor Goran Visjnic (from the television show "ER") in the starring role. According to recent press, the video was banned by some TV and video channels; watch the video to see why." -internetdj.com

Here are links to two of Unkle's legendary videos:
Eye for an Eye - award winner at the Edinburgh International Film Festival
Rabbit in Your Headlights - Won the MVPA's Best International Video of the Year Award in 1999. In 2006, Stylus Magazine ranked it number one on their list of the Top 100 Music Videos of All Time (Wikipedia)

Mystic - OFS Unlimited

July 2007 Edition – Track 1
Album: Eccentric Soul: The Prix Label (sample/purchase)
Label: Numero Group
Release Date: 6/5/07
Referral: Other Music
www.myspace.com/thenumerogroup



The following letter was written by us and is fictionally conceived in order to shed light on the chosen Track. If you enjoy creative writing of this variety, check out Said the Gramophone blog.


Dear Wally,

Great seeing you last week although i wish it were under different circumstances. I'll never forget those days we came back from playing ball the summer of '73 to your living room and your dad, after having just come back from his long shift would play the most incredible music. I loved the passion with which he spoke about our local music community in Columbus. After one 45 with Mr. Hawkins, i wouldn't even remember motown and chicago soul. I wish you were able to inherit his collection. I know that was a vital bond you two shared.

Thanks to you, I was helping my youngest son move into college a few days following the services and during our road trip, while passing through Wink,TX Charles had offered to play me one of his CD's. My expectations were about as low as the makeshift hoops we played on in those same days of summer in the 70's. Next thing i know, I'm listening to OFS umlimited's mystic...you know the one with the incredible 12 second drum solo. I couldn't believe my ears. He told me about this label,the numero group, comprised of three record obsessives who re-issue those rare gems from our time on their classic compilations ranging from central american drumming to Canadian chanteuses and even one dedicated to the Prix imprint, which was the cd we were listening to in the car. What a strange twist of fate! We heard Eddie Ray, Marion Black,and even Mitch Mitchell. According to little Chuck, they also have another one for the rival imprint across town, Capsoul. Your father had been such a impressionable figure in my childhood with my lack thereof, enlightening me to many of the lessons I've handed down to Charles. Now its time to let both of them go. Just when i was trying to cope with these losses, i came home and re-read the letter you gave me from him last week. I don't know how Charles and i can ever repay your family for the kind gift. Thank You

Sincerely,
Chuck Williams

Karameller - Dubben

July 2007 Edition – Track 2
Album: Kollektoren Dub 12" (sample/purchase)
Label: Gamm Enterprises
Release Date: 2006
Referral: Cathy Tamkin Rozansky - Former KCRW DJ for "Pop Secret"
www.myspace.com/rainhadodub

Dubbed the new age brazilian dub studio kings from Bavaria, the Dubben duo tends to mash up classic brazilian tracks with great latin-infused broken beats. Gamm is an underground record label from Sweden which releases various 12" singles. According to Turntable Lab LA,"Gamm is the most trusted name in tasteful dancefloor re-do's." After listening to Karameller, i would have to agree. Finding info. on this band is about as difficult as it was finding the vinyl.

The People - Common

July 2007 Edition – Track 3
Album:Finding Forever (sample/purchase)
Label:Geffen
Release Date: 7/31/07
Referral: Dan Wilcox - KCRW DJ for "Digging for Fire"
www.myspace.com/common

Once again Common proves that he's anything but. "The People" is the new single from his 7th LP, Finding Forever. Kanye West, who layed down production for the track, has predicted that Finding Forever will be coming soon to a Grammy envelope reading "Best Rap Album". The track also features the soulful vocals of R&B singer Dwele. As evidenced in the song, Common has predicted that Kanye is the next Premo (DJ Premier). In the song the socially aware rapper discusses his mission to uplift those around him.

In the video for "The People", Common goes back to the streets he was raised in Chicago and gives a few chest pounds, 5 hugs, 6 handshakes, one high five, and 2 fist kisses resulting in dramatic points to the working class people he sees on the streets. Despite achieving a great deal of success and fame, Common refuses to let it get to his head. He is one of a new breed of rappers who focus on a positive and more spiritual lyrical message instead of nasty behavior :o

Bloodstream - Stateless

July 2007 Edition - Track 6
Album: Stateless (sample/purchase)
Label: !K7
Release Date: 6/12/07
Referral:Raul Campos - KCRW DJ for Nocturna
www.myspace.com/statelessonline

Happy New Year to the 5-piece from Leeds. After Stateless finished recording their self-titled debut album, their producer Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian) passed a few of the tracks to his friend/super producer DJ Shadow. After the band found out that Shadow loves their music, they did exactly what i did when i found out that Stacy Reese thought I was cute in high school. They threw a huge party in a castle. DJ Shadow immediately enlisted lead singer Chris James to co-write and sing a couple of Shadow's tracks on his new album, The Outsider."As close to perfection as i've heard in a long time" says Shadow.

To find out more info. on the band, check out their EPK (electronic press kit) along with other news and info. on their website. http://www.statelessonline.co.uk/

The Underdog - Spoon

July 2007 Edition - Track 10
Album: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Sample/Purchase)
Label: Merge
Release Date: 7/10/07
Referral: Andrea Canter - KCRW DJ of The Lab
www.myspace.com/spoon

This song strikes a personal chord with me because i'm a sucker for the underdog in films, sports, cartoons and now in everyday life. I remember on a friday evening in June i was leaving work and i needed to print some copies of the FoundTrack July cover art. Our office color printer wasn't working so after getting a quote from kinko's over the phone i then went down the street to the local mom and pop print shop that my dad's mortgage company used to use for their home appraisals before they bought their own color copier. The mom and pop shop didn't look like they've done a great job adapting to the times, with AOL dial up and old computers from the early 90's. More importantly, their pricing wasn't going to beat kinko's. I tried to negotiate and told the married couple that if they can't beat Kinko's then i'm forced to go to them. They knew they wouldn't make any money to compete with kinko's pricing so they surrendered to the lost customer. I was then on my way to the kinko's and several miles past the local shop when i started thinking about how I'm an entrepreneur myself and self-employed. I have big competitors and it's frustrating to hear that people would rather purchase from one of these huge corporations instead of supporting their local businesses. Then i heard Spoon's "The Underdog" and it had clinched my u-turn to drive all the way back to the same mom and pop shop to support them although i could have saved some money, i'd rather help these guys while they're struggling to keep their business alive. The song couldn't have came at a more appropriate time. Now when i look at the July cover and i see that fat kid on the left I know that the underdog's bark has been heard.

Spoon is an incredible band. Their new album is one of my favorites of the year and also one of the most awkward titles to say aloud. If you get a chance, blockbuster (officially became a verb after they worked the in-store exchanges) Stranger than Fiction. Speaking of underdog, the film didn't receive enough cred in the awards last year. It features original music from Britt Daniel of Spoon and superb music supervision from Brian Reitzell. In fact their are several Spoon songs in the film and a soundtrack that i will support at my next Amoeba visit.

Check out the Stranger than Fiction trailer here. Music from the trailer includes
Spoon -"The Way We Get By"
Electric Light Orchestra - "Dont Bring Me Down"
The Pretenders - "Stop Your Sobbing"
(www.soundtrack.net)

How to Make a FoundTrack Cover - July 2007

Step 1: Take 1 part baby pictures to make the girls go "awwww":




























Step 2: Add 1 part Turntable photo from high school (those hands are Tatanka's by the way- He's the guy who does the voice-overs for our intros):








Step 3: Find a nice background to get that "street-cred":














Step 4: Garnish with a few fly-accessoriez:



















(You can buy the awesome Mister T shirt above here-> Girls Version / Guys Version )


Step 5: Put it all in a cocktail shaker and serve over ice:

Listen - Talib Kweli

July 2007 Edition - Track 5
Album:Eardrum
Label:Warner Bros.
Release Date: 8/21/07
Referral: Jason Kramer - KCRW DJ for The Lab
http://www.myspace.com/talibkweli

After finally gaining some commercial acclaim Talib Kweli wants to make sure that he's heard on Eardrum. Kweli says of the motif for his new record,"The image of the ear and the drum are powerful enough by themselves, but when you put them together, it's an instrument in your body that helps you hear". In an interview with Hot 97's Peter Rosenberg anticipating his new release, Kweli was asked who is the most illest fan of his work, Kweli remarked "Who is that dude from Saved By the Bell, you know the principal". Talib, you're definitely an outspoken orator, ain't no thang if you admit that you know who Mr. Belding is, i used to be a big fan as well. It's alright cuz i'm saved by the Kwel.

Check out the "Listen" video and
Buy the Saved by the Bell seasons 3,4 here (dismiss Ms. Bliss and the college years at all costs)