Thursday, July 30, 2009

Monday, July 27, 2009

Call me a sad, sappy sucker but...

I'm FEELING this new Five for Fighting track. It's just where I'm at in my life.

Brother Ali has new album, tour that launches in Duluth #dlh #aefyi

BROTHER ALI ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM US, ON RHYMESAYERS ENTERTAINMENT

MINNEAPOLIS RAPPER EMBARKS ON NORTH AMERICAN TOUR IN SUPPORT OF ALBUM

Brother Ali's last album, the critically acclaimed The Undisputed Truth, was a landmark in hip-hop, an album that carried weight equally with critics and fans alike, an album of bold statements and bolder beats, politically and socially aware without being preachy. His new album, Us (out September 22nd on Rhymesayers Entertainment), is a progression that will make Brother Ali one of the most enduring figures in hip-hop; while still aware, Ali has turned his gaze inward, and started examining the human condition from the outside in. A profound personal glimpse into a vulnerability seldom seen or heard in music, Us touches on the strengths and flaws of the human condition, exploring drug abuse, divorce, homophobia and many more topics that most people are scared to touch in their own lives, much less on an album for the world to see.

As with previous endeavors, the beats here are courtesy of Ant, whose production work seems to be getting more soulful and lush by the minute. The guest appearances only accentuate Brother Ali's strengths, with Chuck D, Freeway, Joell Ortiz and Stokley Williams of Mint Condition making strong appearances.

In support of the new album, Ali is embarking on a North American tour of epic proportions, enlisting the help of labelmates and collaborators Evidence (of Dilated Peoples, recently signed to Rhymesayers), BK One and Toki Wright.

Fan presale -Monday, July 27
Https://tixx1.artistarena.com/brotherali

National on sale - Saturday, August 1

Tour dates below.

SEPT 22 DULUTH, MN PIZZA LUCE
SEPT 23 MANKATO, MN WHAT'S UP LOUNGE
SEPT 24 IOWA CITY, IA THE INDUSTRY
SEPT 25 SIOUX FALLS, SD NUTTY'S NORTH
SEPT 26 OMAHA, NE THE WAITING ROOM
SEPT 27 LAWRENCE, KS GRANADA
SEPT 29 DENVER, CO OGDEN THEATER
SEPT 30 BOULDER, CO FOX THEATRE
OCT 1 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO THE BLACK SHEEP
OCT 2 SALT LAKE CITY, UT IN THE VENUE
OCT 3 BOISE, ID THE VENUE
OCT 4 MISSOULA, MT THE BADLANDER
OCT 6 SPOKANE, WA THE BOULEVARD
OCT 7 SEATTLE, WA NEUMO'S
OCT 8 VICTORIA, BC ELEMENT
OCT 9 VANCOUVER, BC VENUE
OCT 10 BELLINGHAM, WA THE NIGHTLIGHT
OCT 11 PORTLAND, OR HAWTHORNE THEATER
OCT 12 EUGENE, OR WOW HALL
OCT 14 ARCATA, CA HUMBOLDT STATE UNIV
OCT 15 RENO, NV THE NEW OASIS
OCT 16 SANTA CRUZ, CA THE CATALYST
OCT 17 SAN FRANCISCO, CA SLIM'S
OCT 18 SANTA CLARA, CA AVALON NIGHTCLUB
OCT 20 LOS ANGELES, CA EL REY THEATRE
OCT 21 SAN DIEGO, CA CANE'S
OCT 22 TEMPE, AZ CLUB RED
OCT 23 TUCSON, AZ CLUB CONGRESS
OCT 24 ALBUQUERQUE, NM SUNSHINE THEATER
OCT 26 LUBBOCK, TX THE FOUNDATION
OCT 27 DALLAS, TX GRANADA THEATER
OCT 28 AUSTIN, TX EMO'S
OCT 29 HOUSTON, TX WAREHOUSE LIVE
NOV 1 ORLANDO, FL THE SOCIAL
NOV 4 CARRBORO, NC CAT'S CRADLE
NOV 5 BALTIMORE, MD THE OTTOBAR
NOV 6 PHILADELPHIA, PA 1st UNITARIAN CHURCH
NOV 7 NEW YORK, NY IRVING PLAZA
NOV 8 BOSTON, MA THE PARADISE
NOV 9 BURLINGTON, VT HIGHER GROUND
NOV 10 PORTLAND, ME THE ASYLUM
NOV 11 NORTHAMPTON, MA PEARL STREET
NOV 13 CLEVELAND, OH GROG SHOP
NOV 14 COLUMBUS, OH SKULLY'S MUSIC DINER
NOV 15 LOUISVILLE, KY UNCLE PLEASANT'S
NOV 17 ANN ARBOR, MI BLIND PIG
NOV 18 CHICAGO, IL METRO
NOV 19 MADISON, WI BARRYMORE THEATER
NOV 20 MINNEAPOLIS, MN FIRST AVENUE

~Information courtesy Biz 3

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

sys58 :: A LIGHT MISTING


Having successfully pissed on everything sacred with "God Bless Mom," I thought I'd take it down a notch with this endeavor. Ladies and gentlemen, I humbly present ... "A Light Misting."



1. Wilco - "Wilco (The Song)"
I love it: Having purchased Wilco (The Pre-Order) from Wilco (The Web Site), I, Wilco (The Fan) received in the mail Wilco (The Album) on vinyl, Wilco (The Tote), Wilco (The Shirt) -- complete with Wilco (The Iron-On Set) and, to top it all off, a download code for Wilco (The Album).

Am I forgetting anything? Oh yeah, Wilco (The Joke) hasn't been funny since I started using and abusing it....

2. Pete Yorn - "China Girl" [David Bowie cover]
Oh well, for here's a surprisingly enjoyable cover that probably shouldn't work as much as it does.

3. Scarecrow Boat - "The Pit" [Free MP3!]
This band from NBC's seriously underrated "Parks and Recreation" is probably fake, but this is seriously a funny song! Sounds like Creed when they're not singing about Jesus -- or Hinder when they're not giving their backward baseball cap-wearing fans (85 percent of whom are undoubtedly in a fraternity) advice on how to take advantage of [REDACTED BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIGHT FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS].

Anywho, from the potentially fake band's Web site: "What if Dave Matthews joined the Counting Crows? How much would you pay to see that supergroup? Fifty dollars? A hundred dollars? Two hundred dollars? Think about it."

"Think about it" is right.

4. Super Furry Animals - "Inaugural Trams"
Rants related to D-bags aside, SFA has never been one to let me down. This simple little is, well, charming.

5. Ill Lit - "Beating the Daylights Out of My Nightlife"
Like a more-approachable (after the show) Neutral Milk Hotel ... in fact, I kind of want to beat myself up for trading my Ill Lit disc last week.

6. Atmosphere - "Feel Good Hit of the Summer 2" [Free MP3!]
No matter: The karma gods (otherwise known as Sean Daley and Anthony Davis) were quick to pay it forward with "Leak at Will," another free EP that's better than 90 percent of anything you've ever laid down money for.

7. Jay-Z feat. the Roots - "Big Pimpin'" [Unplugged]
This, though, belongs to that 10 percent society of songs you absolutely cannot live without. The original was great -- got me back into rap -- but, backed by the Roots? Transcendental.

8. Aceyalone feat. Treasure Davis - "Can't Hold Back"
A random guest shot on Abstract Rude's "Rejuvenation" disc turned me on to this guy, and for that I am forever grateful. Kinda makes you wanna dance.

9. Black Gold - "Shine"
As someone who listens to KOOL 101.7 religiously (when I don't forget to listen to Starfire and Walt Dizzo, of course), I'd like to be the first to point out that this beauty successfully bridges the gap between the new stuff I listen to and, as far as I "know," what I would've listened to had I been born three decades earlier.

10. Dirty Projectors feat. David Byrne - "Knotty Pine"
Like a chance meeting between Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Best Friends Forever at a hotel bar in Honolulu, this is simply a refreshing song.

11. The Very Best feat. Ezra Koenig - "Warm Heart of Africa"
As is this, which actually kind of sounds like some of David Byrne's solo explorations.

12. Of Montreal - "Computer Blue" [Prince cover] [Free(ish) MP3!]
Yes!

13. Skibunny - "Miles iz Ded (Revisited)" [Afghan Whigs cover] [Free MP3!]
Starts off like a laughable Miami Sound Machine "scorcher," but, just before your finger hits the "f--- this s---" button, something snaps and ... it just works.

14. Muse - "Fury"
Yes, holy hell! (Read: With the right system, this out-of-the-way track -- according to some probably unreliable Internet source, this song was originally slated for the "Absolution" album, but was dropped in favor of "The Small Print" -- will pummel your senses.)

15. Phoenix - "1901"
Phoenix is proof that not all bands cool enough to get their songs on iPod commercials are disposable. This is shiny, glimmery, slightly futuristic pop at its finest.

16. Ambulette - "Seconds Until Midnight"
Excuse me, missus, did you escape from the "Romeo + Juliet" soundtrack? ... And where were you when we needed you/to replace that Des'ree track?

17. Roy Orbison - "The Comedians"
A big thanks to Tony Rubin for telling me all about this song, which the great Elvis Costello wrote for the late, great Roy Orbison. Pretty epic, no?

Yes, you're right, it is, and that's what makes the fact that Tony's group, AM rubin, covers this occasionally even cooler.

18. Peter Gabriel - "On the Air"
Another regretful action of the last month: Swapping out "Scratch" for ... well, at the second, I can't find anything terribly embarrassing, but I'm sure I'll find that one I chucked at the cat the other night.... (Kidding! Much love, PETA!)

19. The Thermals - "Now We Can See"
Sounds so much like Piebald it's not even funny -- just awesome.

20. Robert Pollard - "Dancing Girls and Dancing Men"
Guided by who? If there's anything to help you forget, it's this meaty, beaty, big and bouncy eargasm. (Ha, gross!)

21. The Beta Band - "To You Alone"
Like Muse's "Fury," this track's low end will seriously piss off that old crow that's already fed up with you for knocking over her little statue each time you try to deliver pizzas to her modestly upscale mansion in the Chicago suburbs. Oh, wait, I've somehow confused my going-nowhere joke with a minor running gag in "Home Alone"....

Thus concludes your fifty-eighth dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES, the awesome mix tape series that isn't afraid to chase skirts and smoke cigars on train tracks.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

ATTN FELLOW BOOK GEEKS: Win a copy of 'The Adderall Diaries'!

Saint Paul's Graywolf Press is giving away three dozen copies of its hot new book, "The Adderall Diaries: A Memoir of Moods, Masochism and Murder," by Stephen Elliott ("Happy Baby").

All you have to do is: Post an entry like this on your blog or Facebook page, explaining why you should get one of the ARCs (like, ahem, "With every major distraction kids have at their disposal these days, reading has taken a backseat -- and only authors as bold and necessary as Elliott will save this great artform and bring it back to the masses. And, from what I know about 'The Adderall Diaries,' it will be that book."*) and letting your fellow lit kids know how to enter. (By visiting this Web site.)

Good luck snagging one of the copies!

*Though, to be fair, it doesn't really seem like one for the kids....

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

sys57 :: THE SLUMDOG BARKS


I wanna party with Steve Levine.



1. Reggie and the Full Effect - "What the Hell is Contempt?"
Recommended if you like the Get Up Kids, putting your fist through things.

2. Black Eyed Peas - "I Gotta Feeling"
R.I.Y.L. good times, a practically Fergie-free B.E.P.

3. Frank Black - "Freedom Rock"
R.I.Y.L. the Pixies (near the end), telling people with musical recommendations where to shove it. Oh, wait....

4. Fatboy Slim - "Fatboy Slim is F------ in Heaven" [Mixed live by the Avalanches]
R.I.Y.L. Aussies and Britons having a good time.

5. Scissor Sisters - "I Can't Decide"
R.I.Y.L. happy-happy-joy-joy songs that are actually quite sinister.

6. Better Than Ezra - "Absolutely Still"
R.I.Y.L. the fact that bands that keep on keepin' on -- instead of breaking up and making big deals about OK-now-we-need-money reunions -- are far more consistent with their output.

7. Dusty Rhodes and the River Band - "Blind Lead the Blind"
R.I.Y.L. the Format, younger groups with a lot of potential that hopefully they'll realize before burning out.

8. Jason Lytle - "Ghost of My Old Dog"
R.I.Y.L. Grandaddy, dudes that you want to go up to and say, "Dude, you're a f------ genius."

9. Rob Crow - "Over Your Heart"
R.I.Y.L. Pinback, Heavy Vegetable, Thingy, Goblic Cock and the 12 million other bands Rob Crow is in.

10. VHS or Beta - "You Got Me" [Edit]
R.I.Y.L. cool kids (actual cool kids and not the amazing hip-hop duo) and/or interesting fellers from Louisville who stop in at your office for an impromptu hour-long conversation about the Twin Ports' open-mic opportunities and, you know, life.

11. Cage - "Look at What You Did"
R.I.Y.L. the best Def Jux has to offer.

12. Psalm One - "Beat the Drum"
R.I.Y.L. M.I.A. but kind of wish she had more of a Midwestern sensibility. (Come on, I know there's two or three of you out there who actually understand this jibber-jabber....)

13. Fol Chen - "The Beautiful Ones" [Prince cover] [Free(ish) MP3!]
R.I.Y.L. the Purple One, making love to sweet memories. ("Eww..." is right! Rivers is a sick, sick man.)

14. Superdrag - "N.A. Kicker"
R.I.Y.L. kicking f------ ass.

15. Jimmy Eat World - "Feeling Lucky"
R.I.Y.L. talking about f------ feelings.

16. Damone - "Tonight"
R.I.Y.L. reliving your teenage years ... as a chick. (Ha!)

17. Stellastarr* - "People"
R.I.Y.L. the Pixies (near the middle).

18. Spiritualized - "Cheapster"
R.I.Y.L. Bob Dylan, before he found God -- and after he plugged in.

19. Elvis Costello - "Just About Glad"
R.I.Y.L. living legends.

20. Calexico - "Frank's Tavern" [Chris Gaffney cover]
R.I.Y.L. Giant Sand, all the nameless, faceless bands you wish you could spend more time on the South Shore with.

21. All Smiles - "Our Final Roles as Birds"
R.I.Y.L. Grandaddy, the George Harrisons of your favorite groups.

22. The Black Crowes - "Cosmic Friend"
R.I.Y.L. pills 'n' thrills and bellyaches.

Thus concludes your fifty-seventh dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES, the awesome mix tape series formerly known as "Don't Tell a Soul."

Thursday, July 2, 2009

sys56 :: SWEETS AND JOY AND JOYNESS


All selling shoes and no obliterating zombies makes Matt a sad, sappy sucker.




1. The Pixies - "Trompe le Monde"
All Julia Roberts and no Natalie Portman makes Matt a deranged postal worker.

2. stellastarr* - "Move On"
All hem and no haw makes Matt an incorporated starf-----.

3. Green Day - "Poprocks & Coke"
All Jar Jar Binks and no comparatively dignified Wicket W. Warrick makes Matt grateful Wikipedia is around so he could make such an inane, dorked-out reference.

4. Jason Loewenstein - "Upstate"
All South Shore and no North Shore makes Matt a ... statist? Is that even a word?

5. Loudon Wainwright III - "Grey in L.A."
All cupcakes all the time and no walky-walky makes Matt more soap for the money.

6. Elvis Costello - "Kinder Murder"
All "The Shining" (ridiculous non-Stanley Kubrick version) and no "The Shining" (Stanley Kubrick version) makes Matt Stephen King.

7. Faux Jean - "War and Peace"
All Faux Jean and no Journey makes Matt a satisfiedbutnotcomplete rocker.

8. Tom Petty - "Depending on You"
All "The Stranger" and no "The Outsider" makes not Matt a literay slob. But the French-language version of "L'Etranger" probably does....

9. Teenage Fanclub - "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" [Creedence Clearwater Revival cover]
All CCR covers and no originals works every time 60 percent of the time.

10. Jason Steele - "Put a Banana in Your Ear" [MP3]
All interior design and no burgers makes Matt a question mark for daddy dearest. (Oh, man, I kill me!) (p.s. Best Friends Forever should cover this "Charlie the Unicorn" classic.)

11. Cibo Matto - "Sci-Fi Wasabi" [Radio Version]
All accent and no gruff makes Matt a disbeliever in Aussies or Brits trying to play Yanks.

12. Abstract Rude feat. Aceyalone - "Thynk Eye Can" [Haiku d'Etat Mix]
All scrapping and no handshakes makes Matt a toothless hick from the sticks.

13. Chin Chin - "Moments"
All archived CD reviews (like of Chin Chin's "The Flashing, The Fancing") and no new CD reviews makes Matt a burnt-out hack.

14. Manfred Mann's Earth Band - "For You" [Bruce Springsteen cover]
All incense and no dusting makes Matt an Xbox 360-less fool.

15. Brother Ali feat. Slug - "Blah Blah Blah"
All "Joke!" Joke! Joke!" and no getting real makes Matt happy, others sad. (My interview with Ali is right here.)

16. Superdrag - "Cuts and Scars"
All cuts and no scars makes Matt ... in need of a blood donor.

17. The Deathray Davies - "Is This On?"
All shiny, plastic discs and no digital files makes Matt a made man. (Ha!)

18. Pere Ubu - "Sleep Walk"
All Mountain Dew and no Diet Mountain Dew makes Matt a diabetic-in-training.

19. Anya Marina - "Move You (Slow & Steady Seduction Phase II)" [Daytrotter vers.] [MP3]
All Grand Forks and Bismarck means no dance parties, sadly.

20. Adam Judd - "Rocks on the River's Edge" [Demo]
All literary classics and no throwaway-lit makes a lot of sense in the long run.

21. Stereophonics - "Local Boy in the Photograph"
All "Guitar Hero" and no live music makes Matt a confusing choice for an A&E beat reporter.

22. fun. - "At Least I'm Not as Sad (As I Used to Be)" [MP3]
All bizarre dreams about relative strangers and no divine late-night-walk moments makes Matt an unfocused soul.

23. Adam Ant - "Place in the Country"
All wheat and no white makes Matt an unsatisfied sandwich muncher.

24. They Might Be Giants - "Cyclops Rock"
All Yooper-left-me blues and no Yooper-here-to-harass makes Matt a disheartened individual.

25. Mother Banjo feat. Art Vandalay - "Green Jacket"
All 56 and no [CANCELED DUE TO LACK OF INTEREST] makes Matt stubborn as all get-out. (In other news, read my interview with Ellen Stanley/Mother Banjo and my review of Art Vandalay's splendid disc here.)

Thus concludes your fifty-sixth dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES, the awesome mix tape series that could.