After two or so years collecting dust, after it took a year to complete, and another several months to master, Listen to Learn is finally available for free download. It is probably about 50 tracks and hundreds of samples mixed together from vinyl, by yours truly. It is filled with songs and exclusives remixes featuring Del, Lifesavas, Aceyalone, Erykah Badu, Common, Mos Def, Moka Only, Pharcyde, The Roots, KRS One, Atmosphere, Lupe Fiasco, Dead Prez and so many more. I hope you all enjoy it. I have another mix on the way, again all vinyl, but this time it will be dance music. Featuring the usual suspects like Justice, Hot Chip, Junior Boys, Brazilian Girls, Shout Out Out Out Out, Gui Boratto and Booka Shade. It's gonna be fun, you can dance or exercise to it, or both.
First things first, Of Mexican Descent member Xololanxinxo has released a new album online. He claims that he will be posting new albums for free download bi-annually. This is exciting, as Xolo albums are harder to come across than most of us might prefer. Follow this link to download it. Next, Myka Nyne, of Freestyle Fellowship and Haiku D'e Tat fame his released the LP "1969" to celebrate his 40th birthday. I highly recommend this album, all beats by factor, with guest raps from Busdriver, Awol One and Aceyalone. Listen to some of it here. The other half of Of Mexican Descent, 2mex, has finally released his full length collaboration with Ikey Owens of the Mars Volta, known as Look Daggers. I haven't listened to it yet, but here is a remix of the song "That Look" which features Ryland Steen of Reel Big Fish and Jessica Dobson who plays guitar with Beck. Download it here.
Also, anyone in London should come check out Revival Dear at London Music Club on Saturday, January 31, 2008. It's only 6 dollars. Come on now.
Back to school. A whole new semester of trying to push myself to go to classes, smoke less pot and go to fewer concerts.
Call me crazy but balancing work and school with concerts and pot doesn't seem entirely unreasonable. More or less the name of the game is figuring out what exactly I should be doing with myself NEXT year. This year is just a means to an end.
2009 concert time begins this evening with the outrageous money grab known as Dirty Disko at UP! on Carling starring Toronto's own Mstrkrft. Not that I'm not pumped for it, I feel like it is completely ridiculous to charge 40 dollars for a dj set. Unless of course the set is brought to us by Jesus, or someone of comparable turntable wizardy. (Of course, I'm just assuming Jesus would be able to throw down).
Justice wasn't even 40 bucks, and hating I am not, Justice was not worth however much it was. But this is the direction that rich electro hipsters are willing to go, and who am I if not one to conform.
For the record, a DJ set should resemble something like the magnificent show put on by Ill Insanity and Roc Raida at the Knitting Factory (R.I.P.) in NYC this summer. Which, might I add...was free.
On an unrelated tip, the mega talented, wicked wonderful Neko Case and her always intriguing record label ANTI Records have vowed to donate 5 dollars for each blog to post her new single, "People Got A Lotta Nerve" to The Best Friends Animal Society. Which is one of Americas' foremost animal rescue organizations.
So, download it, it's free, it's awesome, and it's for a great cause. Also, if you're on facebook or iLike (or both), make sure you Ilike Neko Case because for each of those, one dollar will be donated to this great cause on your behalf.
Neko Case's new album Middle Cyclone will be out March 3rd. Mark your calenders.
