Drunk In Love

I have been grooving to this song for a few days now and felt it should hold the honor of being the first Beyonce song on my blog. Drunk In Love is a sexy, groovy, banger and usually those three words aren't put in the same sentence when it comes to a song. This time though those words are the best words that describe this song.

Off of her latest self titled album, Drunk In Love is all about Beyonce's physical relationship with Jay-Z and their first night together. Jays verse spells that out quite clearly and cleverly. My favorite part of the song comes at the 5:15 mark when the song changes and becomes truly sexy, when everything slowly falls away until it's just Beyonce and a synth patch.

This is the best song I have heard off her latest release but honestly I haven't given anything else on her album a chance to grow on me. I've always come back to DIL because it's that good to me. Take a listen and tell me what you think. Enjoy.

Barrel Of a Gun

This song came up on my playlist and I remembered how much I loved it and the album it was on. The song is Barrel Of a Gun and the album is the 1997 Depeche Mode offering entitled Ultra. Those who are fans of this group, band, what have you knows that lead singer David Gahan once upon a time had a serious addiction to heroin. So when I listen to the lyrics of this song, and others on Ultra I get the sense that his addiction is being played out for all to hear.

The title alone, Barrel Of a Gun screams of not having a choice, of having no control regarding ones actions, of being forced which for some is what addiction is all about. Sonically this is an amazing piece of work and one I recommend played over the big boy speakers. The bass rumbles in this song like an small but felt earthquake and it never stops. The guitars whine and wail as David floats along to the chorus and then the drums pound through. There is so much to discern in this song that i almost hear something new with every listen. Producer Tim Simenon must have relished working on this track.

Take a listen to Barrel Of a Gun, try not to get sucked into the trippy video and just listen to the music, and let me know what you think. Enjoy.

I See Fire

The second I heard the voice of Ed Sheeran sing the opening of this tragically poignant and beautiful song I knew I was going to blog it. It had to be shared even though if you go to see The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug then you will hear it like I did. It plays over the closing credits and it's the perfect song for the close. See it and you'll see why.

The song begins with Ed's intro with a lilting Irish tinge to it. Then when the guitar kicks in and you get a hint of the melody the song begins to unfold for you. The lyrics are all about the quest for the Dwarves of Erebor to reclaim their homeland if they can best the dragon Smaug that inhabits their mountain. The song was written specifically for the movie and it's pitch perfect.

Ed Sheeran isn't widely known here in the states, but something tells me that is about to change. Take a listen and let me know if you agree with me. Enjoy!

General Zod Suite

A fan of the man of Steel score put this together and I really enjoyed it and decided to post it, because I can be a geek at times. Maybe you'll enjoy it too.

Opening Montage

This piece is so short, but in the grand scheme of things musically it is absolutely flawless and moving. It's an amazing piece of music that was married to a so-so movie. The name of the movie, Things We Lost In the Fire and the score was crafted by Gustavo Santaolella and Johan Soderqvist. In my opinion the music vastly out shined the movie because Gustavo and Johan created magic.

Like I said, it's really short BUT there is the rest of the score that is as equally amazing as this piece entitled Opening Montage. The music is mournful and hopeful all at the same time and that's an amazing accomplishment. When the strings come in this piece has the ability to move your soul.

Take a listen, listen a few times and drink it in and let me know if your soul has been moved or at the very least, if it's been touched. Enjoy!

Surin (Mixed)

Whenever I need to add a little speed to my pace, to put a little pep in my step, I dial up this piece of music by Quiver. The song is a groovy, melodic tune entitled Surin (Mixed). I enjoy the remixed version personally because to me the remix version just took the best parts of the original and emphasized them. Where the original is also almost ten minutes long, the remix is a little over seven.

Both versions are groove heavy but I feel the remix is a little brighter, the highs are higher and the lows aren't as muddy as they are in the original. I do however recommend using your big boy speakers to check this track out. This tune never fails to make me nod my head or tap my foot no matter how I'm feeling which is what makes it one of my favorites.

Surin (Mixed) is off Quiver's 2008 double CD Dirty Nails & Vapour Trails. A collection of mid and up tempo dark and light grooves and their remixes, Dirty Nails has something for everyone despite your mood or particular taste in music. If you like this track then let me recommend Two Notes 'n' a Beat, it's freaky...lol. Enjoy.

Hurt You

Coming full circle is Toni Braxton's new single entitled Hurt You. On the song with her is the incredibly talented Babyface, the man who gave Tony her start on the Boomerang soundtrack with the big hit Love Shoulda Brought You Home. I have no idea what the name of the album this song is on, all I know is that I'm having a hard time not putting it on repeat.

The vocal layering in this song is amazing and complex. It acts like another instrument that plays along with the bass. The song starts off with a lone piano and those two iconic voices until the rousing chorus comes in. The percussion and the layering make this song sweet and the lyrics are poignant. Just when I thought this song couldn't get any better, in typical Babyface fashion the bridge takes this song to another level.

If the rest of Toni's album sounds as good as this song then she's about to make one hell of a comeback. And I for one cannot wait for her return. Enjoy!

Hear My Train a Comin'

Today, on what would have been his 71st birthday, it's time to praise the man again and wish him a Happy Birthday. And with that comes one mean fucking song as he wails on his ax rocking out on the blues. Jimi Hendrix has always said that rock and roll came easy to him but the blues challenged him so he set out to write that which challenged him. Hear My Train a Comin' was the classic he wrote and it's nasty.

Off the 1973 album Sound Track Recordings from the Film Jimi Hendrix, this song is a searing no holds barred blues jam that the masters would have nodded their heads in approval to. It starts off with that sick riff and is slowly and subtlety joined in by the bass before the drums kick it into a rocking groove. Then Jimi's iconic voice comes fighting his guitar for attention and it all just....works.

I can't get enough of this song and on his birthday there is no better song of his to post. His catalog is massive and there are so many other songs of his that flat out rock, but Train is Jimi at a whole other level. I wish I could have seen him perform this live. Thank you Jimi for all you've given us and Happy Birthday maestro. May you continue to rest in peace.

Amnesia

When I first heard this song I liked it immediately, even though it sounds like every other Justin Timberlake song. Same key, same tempo, same everything. Oddly though, this song stands out amongst most of his usual fare. It comes off his 20/20 Experience 2/2, which is a whole new collection of songs from his first 20/20 album.

I think the reason this song stands out is due to the string intro and the fact that his voice is so prominent over the instrumentation. Then at the 5:16 mark the song completely changes and becomes a slow jam. another trick (gimmick?) Justin utilizes often. He'll give you two songs in one and will take the average pop song that's about 4 or 5 minutes long and stretch it to 7 or 8 minutes. I don't mind it really, I'll always take more for my money than less.

The second set of songs from 20/20 are just as good as the first set. If you like this cut then take a listen to TKO, and You Got It On. They're fun songs and TKO is a 7+ minute song, just to give you a heads up. If you liked Justin's first 20/20 songs then you will enjoy the second set, and if you didn't then the second set won't move you to join his fan club. Enjoy!

Welcome Home

The first thing you notice about this song is that it sounds like something you've already heard. Maybe from a movie or something, or a commercial selling some really obscure, hometown beer perhaps? Then you realize it's a foot stomping sing along song that sounds like so many other foot stomping sing along tunes, and maybe that's why I like it. The song is Welcome Home from Radical Face and it's grabbed me by my ear and won't let me go. It's off their 2007 release entitled Ghost.

This song is almost like two songs, the back end of the song is more musical and melancholy than the front end. I can't make out all the lyrics either so I suggest you don't try. Just listen to the melody, clap your hands, stomp your feet and get caught up in it. Ben Cooper's voice fits so perfectly and the vocal layering is perfect, not to mention the guitar playing.

Now normally I would say something like, "If you like this song then be sure to check out...," but sadly this is the best song on Ghost. After awhile a whole album of Ben's voice will grow annoying. That being said, check out The Mute off Radical Face's 2013 release  Radical Face: The Branches, that is if you like Welcome Home. Enjoy.

Bad Guy

Here is the song that demonstrates the the pure evil, twisted, and artistic genius of Eminem. The name of this song is Bad Guy off of this years release, The Marshall Mathers LP 2. It is the sequel to his smash hit song Stan that he preformed on stage at the Grammy's with Sir Elton John. That song was about Eminem's biggest fan named Stan that killed himself because Eminem didn't acknowledge his existence. In one part of Stan, Stan tries to get Eminem's autograph for his younger brother who shuns them, it's the younger brother in Bad Guy that's come to take revenge for his older brother.

The lyrics are amazing, the music is fitting, dark and moody. But the goose bump moment for me is when the track completely changes and it becomes a different song. The second part of Bad Guy is Em's conscience, letting him know that he's going to be weighing on his mind until Em realizes it's time to hang it all up and walk away. That until then he's going to remind him of his hypocrisy, his disdain for gays, his abuse of women, and his fear of losing his voice.

This song is pure genius to me. Read the lyrics, follow along, and see if you agree with me. And if you like this song then you should check out Rap God and Stronger Than I Was, they are as equally amazing. Enjoy!

Green Garden

I absolutely love this song, it's infectious and fun. The song is entitled Green Garden and it's off the debut album by Laura Mvula. Her voice and sound hearkens back to the days when singers just "got it". The production on not just Green Gardens but on the rest of her album, Sing To The Moon is stellar and it highlights her voice over everything. There are times, like on Like The Morning Dew where she sounds eerily reminiscent to Nina Simone. On Can't Live With the World, she sounds like something fresh out of the sixties. She can't be categorized really because her album touches on all musical styles.

I love the minimal production on Green Garden. The hand claps, the backing vocals, and the xylophone are perfect to bring the song in. Then the song evolves, more backing vocals come in with the drums and the slight bassline. And when Laura starts singing I'll go/Wherever you go/Wherever you take/Me I'll go I smile because it's the perfect balance sonically to her vocals and the backing vocals.

This a happy song and I can't stop listening to it. It's a groovy, sun shiny track and hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I do.

The Final Minutes

This piece is entitled The Final Minutes and I stumbled upon it completely by accident. I heard a snippet of it, grabbed my iphone, activated my Shazam app and found it. I now cannot stop listening to it. The group responsible for this is Network Music Ensemble and it's off their 2012 album. They have other delicious pieces of music, this one though in my opinion is by far the tastiest.

All instrumental, it's all drama and the beat behind the "orchestration" definitely adds a different dimension to it. I know music like this isn't everyone's cup of tea but I think it's worthy of a listen. It may shock you, you may shock yourself and actually like it. Maybe not as much as I do, but hey, you never know. Enjoy!

And The World Was Gone

I came upon this song by accident. I wasn't looking for it, it just happened to be in my facebook feed, suggested by a band that I like. They liked this song so I gave it a listen and it's absolutely beautiful. The name of the song is And The World Was Gone by the Snow Ghosts. It's off their debut release A Small Murmuration.

The song has a creep factor (as well as the attached video), but I think that's what gives the song it's bite. Produced by Ross Tones and lead vocals supplied by Hannah Cartwright, World is such a lovely song to listen to. The bass rumbles through the bottom end of this song in almost a primal way. I recommend the big boy speakers for this tune.

The video is disturbing but amazing in it's own right and I felt this song needed to be shared. I am now a fan of Snow Ghosts, and if you like the sound of this song then you will love their album. It's dark and moody just like this song, every song is gripping and haunting. I hope you enjoy their work like I do, I'm almost sure you will :)

The Memory Remains

This is a true headbanger, pure and simple. From one of my all time favorite bands comes The Memory Remains. Off of Metallica's 1997 offering Re-Load, The Memory Remains is my favorite song off of that incredible album. Re-Load came at a time when the group was at their creative zenith, Re-Load being the follow-up to their 1996 release Load. The band recorded so many songs that they had enough quality material for two full length LP's. Some questioned the bands approach and wondered why they didn't release a double record instead. The band met that question with a raised eyebrow and raised middle finger.

The Memory Remains features Marianne Faithful, a British singer, songwriter and actress who has had her share of hard times with drugs in her career. A career that has spanned five decades. It's her performance of the melody that gives this song a sort of creepy feel to it, but it also adds one hell of a musical dimension. Seeing footage of Metallica performing this song in concert, they let the crowd sing that melody back to them and they always seem to stand in amazement at the moment.

I have been a fan of this band for years and I will always be. They craft some great songs like The Memory Remains, and their guitar riffs are second to none. That's probably why lead singer James Hetfield has the words "riff life" tattooed on the proximal phalanges of his fingers. Keep giving them the middle finger fella's and keep rocking!

I Know You Care

I ran into this song today and I was so moved that I had to share it. It's a beautiful song and the money spent on purchasing it is for a good cause. The song is I Know You Care by artist Ellie Goulding.

The melancholy melody and the poignant lyrics that are accompanied by the images of suffering children may bring tears to your eyes, they brought them to mine. That's the point though, to bring home the suffering of the ones that are supposed to be protected, cherished, loved.

This is off of her album entitled Halcyon Days which was released on August 27th of this year. This song is the first single and I thought it's worth sharing and definitely worth purchasing. I bought it, will you? Enjoy.

Love's In Need Of Love Today

I was sitting around mulling over the recent tragic events of the day and for some reason, this song came to me. Not the original but Najee's delicious version of the Stevie Wonder classic Love's In Need of Love Today off of Najee's 1995 tribute album Najee Plays Songs in the Key of Life. Stevie's song is an amazing thing to behold, and I honestly think Najee and his soprano saxophone does the song justice. Especially when the strings come in at towards the end, sublime.

There were so many shootings and deaths today that I literally thought the world is in need of some love today. So I thought to blog Najee's sweet sax playing one of the greatest songs by one of the greatest artists of all time and introduce it to you. You may have never heard this version of Stevie's song, you may have never even heard of Najee for that matter, and if that is the case then I am happy to make the introduction :)

Back in 1995 I gave this album to my parents for Christmas, they are BIG Stevie Wonder fans, and they had so much fun playing (blasting) it throughout the house that entire day. I can still see the smiles on their faces as they danced and sang and hummed along with Najee. It's a memory that is so vivid it's like it all happened yesterday, and it came to me today as I watched the news. Love truly is in need of love today. Enjoy!

Crowd

The name of this commercial is Crowd. Close your eyes and pay no mind to the commercial. Listen instead to the music and let it's awesomeness wash over you, enjoy!

Dear Mama

Comprised of the samples of Sadie by The Spinners and All My Wildest Dreams by Joe Sample, Tupac Amaru Shakur crafted one of the greatest hip hop songs ever created. Dear Mama was the platinum single off of his 1995 album Me Against the World. The first time I heard it I couldn't believe my ears and it confirmed for me the truth about Tupac, he was uncannily empathetic. This was a rapper that didn't run and hide from his emotions like so many others have done and still do.

Tupac was killed 17 years ago today and when he passed it felt like someone I knew, someone who was a close friend of mine was taken from me. It wasn't until I heard his song My Block though did the tears over his death finally fall. I cried for the same reasons fans of Marley and Lennon cried, because the man who made such impassioned songs like Dear Mama and My Block was gone forever. That eventually there will be no more new music by him and that silence would become deafening. Thankfully he left those and a massive collection of songs behind for us to enjoy and for that I am eternally grateful to him.

May you continue to rest in peace Tupac, and thank you for everything.

It's Time

This is a really fun song and though it has been played to death, I liked it enough to include it on my blog. Also, if you've never heard this song then it's my chance to make an introduction. The name of the group is Imagine Dragons and the name of the song is It's Time off of their 2012 release Night Visions.

The magic of this song is obviously supplied by the ukulele which keeps the melody and gives this song a unique sound. I think the song kind of falters during the chorus when there is no ukulele, but thankfully they bring it right back. I also like lead singer Dan Reynolds voice even if I don't quite get the lyrics of the song, but that's not all that important.

This is a fun song and with most fun songs the lyrics really aren't important. At least not in my opinion, what do you say? Enjoy!

Got To Be Real

This was my roller skating jam back in the day, back when roller skating rinks were safe and EVERYWHERE! There were three rinks within a square mile of my house growing up, but enough about that. Got To Be Real by Cheryl Lynn was THE party starter and it definitely did it's job. It's an uptempo jam that is on fire from the first note to the last.

The lyrics are scarce and easy to remember, and that's because this song was meant for cook outs, barbecues, and disco's and that's it. Released back in 1978 off of her self titled album, this song went as high as number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and to number one on the R&B charts. It's got an undeniable groove, that bass line is some serious piece of work, and Cheryl's voice soars over the track with amazing energy.

This is one of my feel good songs, meaning when I need a pick-me-up I cue this puppy up and let it rip as loud as I can. Got To Be Real never lets me down, it always brings a smile to my face. A lot of that may have to do with me remembering all the fun I had on my roller skates. Enjoy!

any time, any place

This album marked the beginning of the end. This was the album that destroyed the myth and defaced the facade. The album where everyone finally realized there was something else to Janet Jackson we never fully understood. It started with the album cover of her 1993 release Janet. I'm sure jaws dropped everywhere when the album hit the shelves, her standing there, naked with arms raised, and someone else's hands covering her breasts, a true OMG moment. It was Janet shedding the image of little miss innocent, putting Penny from Good Times away forever, and the song Any Time, Any Place definitely helped to say goodbye to that image of her.

Any Time, Any Place is a seductive, sultry, and playful song written and produced by Janet, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis. With lyrics like In the thunder and rain / You stare into my eyes / I can feel your hand / Moving up my thighs and a chorus comprised of I don't wanna stop just because / People walking by are watching us / I don't give a damn what they think / I want you now, Janet was definitely making a statement that things would never be the same again.

This is my favorite song off the Janet album, and I can listen to it all day, just not the entire album. When Janet made the change to grow up, that album seemed like it was all about sex and nothing else. That was too bad because she ceased being nuanced. Yes, while growing up does definitely include sex, there's a lot more involved in being a grown up, and I think her projects starting with Janet missed that boat. Enjoy!

Media Luna

The group Deep Forest has done some incredibly profound and ambitious music over the years. I became aware of them when their most famous song Sweet Lullaby was used to sell Sony TV's. Once I heard that song I was hooked because it was unlike anything I had heard before, and when I come across music like that, I become transfixed on the creators of that music. I then bought everything Deep Forest released. Some of it was good, some of it was decent, and some of it was absolutely amazing. Media Luna falls into the latter category.

Off of their 1997 album Comparsa which was recorded using the indigenous people and instruments of the rain forest in South America, Media Luna always stirs something deep with me. It's like it grabs a firm hold of my soul and shakes it from its slumber. The music is amazing and the vocals are simply stirring.

Deep Forest are comprised of Eric Mouquet and Michel Sanchez who hail from France, they have sold millions of records worldwide and have contributed to countless charities. As I stated, these two men have done some very ambitious work over the years, but nothing they have done has ever moved me like Media Luna. Enjoy!

Lay Down

This is one of the sweetest songs I have heard and this song stayed is SUPER heavy rotation when I first heard it. The group responsible was Floetry and the name of this babymaker is entitled Lay Down. Off of their 2005 album entitled Flo'Ology, Lay Down garnered some serious underground love. Flo'Ology didn't sell very well here in the states, but people know THIS song, and cite it as one of their favorites of the groups.

It's a simple song with a really cool message. Where two people decide to stay in bed and chill together and talk, laugh, play around, and make love. It's arranged nicely and the strings in the background during the chorus' are a great touch, it gives this song an even warmer feel. 

Sadly this was Floetry's last album. The two young ladies, Marsha Ambrosius (The songstress) and Natalie Stewart (The floacist) had a falling out when Marsha wanted to do a solo project and the two have never worked together again. Luckily though before they split, they left us this beautiful thing in their wake. Enjoy!

ifiwouldaknew (girlnextdoor remix)

From the day Musiq Soulchild hit the music scene, he's consistently shown to be the epitome of the phrase "recording artist". The original version of this song appeared on his first album Aijuswanaseing. That album not only displayed a collection of well written, well crafted, and well preformed songs (not to mention a weird way of spelling), but it also showed that he was someone that could stick around for a bit. His second album, Juslisen which dropped in 2002 proved it.

ifiwouldaknew, the last cut off of Juslisen was the perfect way for that album to close. An uptempo banger, using the classic DeBarge groove from their hit Stay With Me, ifiwouldaknew definitely urges you to the dance floor, whether one can dance or not. What I love most about this song though, it's a reunion song. Another well written joint from Musiq.

Play this song as loud as you can, get lost in the groove, and it will make you want to get up and shake what ya mama gave you. I kid you not. Enjoy!

Rain

Wally Badarou's album Echoes was the very first album I bought that was electronic/instrumental based and I loved it. It was propelled chiefly by it's top ten hit Chief Inspector (which rocks), but one of my favorite tracks off Echoes was the last track, entitled Rain. It's the perfect last song for almost any album because of it's melancholy feel. It feels like saying goodbye to an old friend, which in turns makes you want to listen to the album all over again. Pure genius.

There's not much to this song, a simple piano, some rain effects, a synth patch here and there is all there is really. What makes this song one of my favorites is the melody. It's just a truly beautiful song and I can put this on repeat and never tire of it. It brings me back to a time in my life when music was just becoming my best friend. When music was that undiscovered country, and I was nothing but a tourist trying to get the lay of the land.

Echoes is an amazing first album by an amazing talent, and if you can find a copy then I highly suggest purchasing it. It will not disappoint in any way, and if somehow it does, you always have Rain to look forward too. Enjoy!

Take Care of Home

The first time I heard Dave Hollister sing was at a Patti LaBelle concert. He was a discovery of hers and she brought him on stage to sing a duet with her and I was impressed. I then began following his career and when he dropped Chicago 85 the Movie back in 2000, a classic soul, R&B album chock full of superior material, anyone who was aware of Dave knew an album like that was just a matter of time.

There isn't a bad song on Chicago 85, and there are more than a few stand out hits, but my favorite is Take Care of Home. Hitting you with an infectious groove, this mid tempo ballad is basically an instructional manual to the men on how to treat their woman. With a chorus like Maybe if you take care of home / You don't have to worry about your girl and lyrics like Hold her hand when you walk through the mall cause you know she likes it / Do all the little things you used to do If you were clueless before you heard this song, there is no excuse for anyone could make for not making things right with their lady afterwards.

Weird album title notwithstanding, Chicago 85 is a classic album that propelled Dave Hollister into rarefied air. And if you like this song I highly recommend One Woman Man by him, it's another soulful and skillful testament to Dave's songwriting and singing abilities. Enjoy!

Alexa De Paris

This is a song that I played until the grooves wore out of the record. It was the B-side of Prince's rocker Mountains off his Parade album which was the soundtrack to his Under The Cherry Moon movie. The song is amazing as far as I'm concerned, and unless you were me and you bought the Mountains 12" single, you never heard Alexa De Paris.

It's an instrumental beauty that grooves in ways you wouldn't expect. It's gentle and melodic and yet still has a certain undeniable groove to it. I played this song more than I did Mountains, and I love that song. Alexa though, just grabbed me by the neck and to this day has yet to let me go. With the band playing along with Claire Fischer's string arrangements, this song is unlike anything I have ever heard before or since.

The wailing guitar is all Prince and it's the perfect way for this luscious, groovy beast of a song to come to an end. Enjoy!

Bad

How does one follow up a masterpiece? What were the expectations of the next painting of da Vinci's after his Mona Lisa? There was a reason J. D. Salinger became a recluse after Catcher In The Rye, and why Prince went in a complete opposite direction sonically after Purple Rain. Following up a masterpiece is one of the most formidable tasks any artist has to deal with. The expectations can be overwhelming and some artists run and hide from the spotlight, some try to destroy what they've created, and some embrace the expectations and aim even higher. That's what Michael Jackson did with Bad.

Releasing a 16+ minute mini movie introducing the first single off of his follow up to his all time best selling album Thriller was a huge move. It showed though that Michael wasn't shying away from Thriller's success and that made me an even bigger fan of his. He went from John Landis' Thriller mini movie to Martin Scorsese's Bad, and he stayed with Quincy Jones instead of heading off for another producer, looking for a different sound. He went bigger, he wanted better and for the hardcore fan, they were rewarded.

Bad was a groovy jam, the bass line was gripping, and the horn section was on fire. His lyrics seemed like they could have been left over from Beat It because the song was pure attitude. While the album Bad wasn't the commercial success that Thriller was, Michael gave that project everything he had, and this video is evidence of that. It still gives me chills to this day. Today would have been his 55th birthday and despite his troubles off the stage and away from music, he was and will forever be an icon.

To the Baddest motherfucker on the planet, Happy Birthday Michael!

Bitter

I was a fan of Me'Shell NdegeOcello's after hearing her first album, Plantation Lullabies. After her second release, Peace Beyond Passion failed to grab me like her first, I stayed loyal and I am really glad I did. The magnificent genius of her third release entitled Bitter, in my humble opinion placed her in the pantheon of artists. Since being released in 1999, Bitter has always stayed in heavy rotation with me, and it always will. Especially the title track of that album, Bitter.

This song starts off with Me'Shell strumming an acoustic guitar and then joins in, her sultry vocals riding along that beautiful melody. Lyrically the song is heartbreaking, musically it's addictive. So mournful, so full of yearning, and the cello breaks me all the time.

Today is her birthday and I want to wish this amazing artist a very happy birthday. I also want to thank her for sharing this amazing body of work entitled Bitter with the world. No matter what you do or where you go artistically Me'Shell, I will forever be a fan. Happy Birthday!

Evaporation

I was watching a movie the other day, one I am a big fan of and this song came on. I had forgotten all about it. The second it hit my ears again though, it was like running into an old friend, and this old friend reminded me that it was the reason I bought the soundtrack to the movie in the first place. The name of the movie is Manhunter, directed by Michael Mann and the song is Evaporation by the group Shriekback.

The vocals are so washed out they are really hard to make out. Yes, there are vocals in this song and it's those vocals that add that melody which rounds out the track. I love the bottom heavy ethereal groove this song contains, it will thump in your big boy speakers. The lyrics can be found online if you're curious about them, but I think not knowing them makes the song better. They come across as just another instrument.

The song was ahead of it's time in many regards. It paved the way for electronic music and it bridged the gap between electronic music and pop. It's a haunting song and it haunted me right up to the second where I finally bought the soundtrack. It's a favorite tune of mine and I won't lose touch with this old friend again.

Erotic City

This song is a nasty banger in every conceivable way, and it's one of my all time favorite songs by Prince. The cut is Erotic City, a sexual concoction that was cooked up by his purple badness back when he was really feeling himself creatively and sexually. A song inspired by Parliament Funkadelic, Erotic City was the B side of the single Let's Go Crazy back in 1984, and it quickly overshadowed Crazy.

The groove is completely infectious, the bass line and melody play around with each other as the drums drive the tempo. Then Prince comes in with his verse, but it's not the verse that's eye and ear opening, it's that juicy chorus of If we cannot make babies / Maybe we can make some time / Fuck so pretty you and me / Erotic city come alive / We can fuck until the dawn / Making love til cherries gone / Erotic city can't you see / Fuck so pretty you and me. He set the world on fire with that. Just when people thought he had the world in the palm of his hand with Purple Rain the movie and soundtrack, they then realized there was no stopping him once they heard this track.

Everybody has their favorite Prince song, and I do mean EVERYBODY. My all time favorite is Adore from his Sign O' The Times album, but for pure funk and shock value, it's damn hard not to count Erotic City as a favorite as well. 

4 Moms

Just a cool, breezy jam by A Tribe Called Quest entitled 4 Moms off their 1998 album The Love Movement. It's got a definite Isley Brothers feel to it and I just felt like sharing this on an easy Sunday morning, enjoy!

Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now

This is a really cool song from a really cool artist. Hailing from England, she came before Adele and Amy. She laid the ground work for those ladies and her name is Joss Stone. I love this song by her and think it's just so flipping groovy, it's crazy. The song is Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now and the groove is courtesy of Gladys Knight and The Pips' Midnight Train to Georgia. Written by Joss, her team, Common, and produced by Raphael Saddiq from Tony! Toni! Toné! fame, this song was off her third studio album entitled Introducing Joss Stone.

It was released back in 2007 and while Tell Me didn't chart very high, after you heard it, it was hard to forget it. The drums are what make this song pop. The groovy bass line and organ also fit in perfectly with Joss' soulful and sultry voice. When she sings It feels so safe when you hold me / It's already like you know me and when Common raps his line I find calm in you / I see my mom in you, those make this song a classic in my opinion.

Check it out and see if you agree with me, and definitely enjoy the video. It's a great video to a great song. Enjoy!

Vide Cor Meum

First off, this is not an aria. I know it sounds like one and feels like one, but it isn't one. It is instead, a piece created for the movie Hannibal which starred Sir Anthony Hopkins. Produced and created by Patrick Cassidy and Han Zimmer, this lovely piece is entitled Vide Core Meum (See My Heart). The piece is based on the third chapter in the sonnet "A ciascun alma presa" and it's stirring in its beauty.

I marvel at the fact this was done just for a movie. What Patrick and Hans did creatively goes above and beyond the soundtrack parameters in my opinion. It was Vide Cor Meum in particular that pushed me to by the score to the film and I can listen to it and never tire of it. Listen and read along with the libretto and maybe you'll feel the same.

Claire de Lune

This is one of my all time favorite classical music pieces. It has been used in many a movie and TV show and it's beauty is hard to ignore. The song is Claire de Lune and it's composer is Claude Debussy. It is the third movement of his Suite bergamasque and the first two movements and the fourth movement are beautiful in their own right, but it's Claire de Lune that stands out so vividly from the others.

Today is Claude Debussy's birthday and as a tribute I thought I would place his most famous (and one of my most favorite) piece in my blog. Claire de Lune means moonlight in French, so tonight I will gaze upon the full moon as this plays in honor of the man. I have some great and lasting memories associated to this song, for that I thank you Mr. Debussy, and Happy Birthday!

Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic

The title of this seriously funky groovy song aside, this song was ahead of it's time. It was one of those "outer space" grooves by the maestro Isaac Hayes and it took the world by storm. It showed everyone that he was indeed a musical force to be reckoned with, and the more you listen to this almost ten minute track you see why. This track came off his game changing 1969 album Hot Buttered Soul and Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic has been one of the most heavily sampled songs by hip hop producers all over the world.

The lyrics are almost of no consequence, but when Isaac sings I can't sleep at night/But that's alright/The MD tells me/My hearts on strike, you can't help but laugh. Don't even try to figure out the title or the chorus of the song and what it all means, I think that secret went to the grave with the Black Moses. What he mainly wanted to leave behind was that incendiary groove. The drums are ferocious and the piano does its best to keep up.

Happy Belated Birthday Mr. Hayes. I tried to get this blogged yesterday, 8/20 for your birthday, but you know how life can be. I want to thank you for your contributions that helped make life just a little better, a little more tolerable. For that, we will be eternally grateful. May you continue to rest in peace.  

Human Legacy

The second I heard this track, actually it was a segment of the track since I hadn't heard the entire thing at the time, I knew I was sharing it. You ever hear a song and one part catches you and you call in love with it? Human Legacy by Ivan Torrent did that for me but instead of one part, it was many. Sadly I don't have what album this amazing song is off of, nor do I have any other information except that this song is a single, though after this song plays in the video there are a number of other selections you can take a listen to. Hopefully there will be an album soon.

What catches me is the structure, the vocals, and the arrangement of the song. There are moments this song comes across mournful and other times heroically epic. Ivan even takes a page out of the Two Steps From Hell playbook towards the end of his song. If you know the song All Is Hell That Ends Well then you have a pretty good idea what I'm talking about.

If you like this track then I suggest taking a listen to Ivan's Power of Will. It's damn good, almost as good as Human Legacy, but not quite. Put this on your big boy speakers and give it a good listen. You never know, you just may find something about it that makes you love it as much as I do. Enjoy.

Could It Be I'm Falling In Love

I grew up with this song, literally. It was one of my parents favorite songs and it was routinely played every single weekend, almost without fail. The song is by The Spinners and the song is the classic Could It Be I'm Falling In Love. Whenever I heard this song I knew it was chores time. We cleaned the house to this song until the grooves were worn out on the vinyl. I used to hate this song and I never appreciated it until I got older and realized how beautiful it is.

Recorded in 1972 and off their album Spinners, the groups first release after leaving Motown Records, Could It Be reached as high as number one on Billboards top Soul chart and number four on the Billboards Pop charts. The song starts off with that sweet melody and it's joined by that one element that I have always loved about the songs of that day, strings. Then Bobby Smith hits you with that smooth voice over that mellow groove, singing smart lyrics about meeting the love of his life. Timeless.

This song, this blast from my past had to be added to my blog, it was only right. It's a great song and it always puts a smile on my face...now. Enjoy!

Dust to Dust

I'm not a big fan of their sound, I am however a big fan of this song. The Civil Wars have unleashed this song upon my soul and I cannot stop listening to it. I can't seem to pull away no matter how much I try. Dust to Dust is off their latest release entitled The Civil Wars, and it's an amazing song.  

I get wrapped up in this song and I don't know why. It might be the subtle production, or it could be the perfect harmonious blending of Joy Williams and John Paul White's voices that do it. I think the biggest reason I love this song so much is because of its chorus and sentiment. Afgter Joy sings the most poignant verses I have heard in a very long time, where she sees this other person playing the part of pretending to be happy, together they sing Let me in the wall/You built around/We can light a match/And burn them down/Let me hold your hand/And dance round and round the flame/In front of us/Dust to dust...

I don't think I'll ever be a huge fan of this group, but for this moment, right here, right now, I am a huge fan of their song, and I will always be. Give it a listen, a hard listen and maybe you'll be too. Enjoy!

Star People 97

I have been a rather large George Michael fan stretching back to his days in Wham! When I heard the song A Different Corner, I was hooked. It was a well written song, a little heavy on the schmaltz, but it fit that period of my life so perfectly that it almost became a theme song. I had no idea this white guy from England was also so funky though.

Later in his career he started to display his funky side and he emphasized the fun in funky. George Michael gets laughed off by a lot of people for this reason or that, but the man is an artist, pure and simple. He's written some amazing songs and one that still puts a smile on my face is Star People 97. It's a funky rip on celebrity and a funky romp musically. Off of his amazing 1996 release Older, Star People 97 caught me somewhat off guard. It's five minutes and thirty eight seconds of pure funky fun, and at the 3:40 mark he hits you with the classic Gap Band bass line from their hit Burn Rubber. Talk about classic.

I will always be a George Michael fan, mainly because he never failed to entertain me. He's an iconic entertainer, and when it comes right down to it, that's really all I care about.

Brazilian Love Affair

An icon of music recently passed away, and when I say "of music" it's because there wasn't anything George Duke couldn't do musically. He was adept in jazz, funk, pop, rock, alternative rock, and so many other genres that listing them here would take all day. That term "musical genius" has been passed around and given to those who don't deserve it. George Duke deserved that moniker in every way, shape, and form.

One of my favorite tunes by this genius is the harmoniously funky Brazilian Love Affair. Released in 1979 after traveling to Brazil to record it, it's one of his most amazing albums, and it displayed his versatility and craftsmanship in such amazing ways. I can listen to this cut and never grow tired of it. I love the funky bass line as it plays along with the rhythm guitar and rumbles along under the smooth vocals. Then comes the change up and it takes this song to another plane, lovely.

George Duke left us on August 5th, 2013 and he is going to be truely missed. Not just by the music community but by those that have come to be ardent lovers of his music. On behalf of music lovers everywhere I'd like to say thank you Mr. Duke for providing us with creativity so beautiful and inspiring. May you rest forevermore in eternal peace.

Castellorization - On An Island

As a Roger Waters fan I had programmed myself to look upon anything David Gilmour did with suspicion and derision. I laughed at his song writing skills and I was pissed at the fact that he continued to tour under the Pink Floyd banner, knowing all the while that the groups biggest hits were written by Roger Waters. As a fan of Pink though, I would slyly take a listen to what David's Floyd was doing, mainly because I missed that signature Floyd sound. To say I was often less than impressed would be an understatement.

Then I heard David Gilmour: Live In Gdansk and it blew me away, especially this song. On An Island so vividly displays the one thing David could always do and that's play that damn guitar of his. The lyrics are elementary, pedestrian even. They're nice but they aren't going to win any songwriting awards. No, the magic of this song is the second guitar solo.

The second guitar solo is a thing of absolute magic. David wails away on his ax as the strings playing underneath him add a layer to that solo that renders me speechless, and gives me chills. It's lightening captured in a bottle and I for one am thankful they recorded that moment because it was...perfection. I'm still not much of a David Gilmour fan, but thanks to On An Island I'm a bigger fan than I was, and that's saying something. Enjoy!

Just My Imagination

I have been suspect in my blogging of the classics lately, the Mowtown classics that is. Tonight I heard this song and the hooks sand in me deep. This song along with many of the other classics that made Mowtown Hitsville USA were often played throughout my house when I was a youngster. It's The Temptations and their smash Just My Imagination. A truly smoove classic indeed.

Off of their 1971 album Sky's The Limit, Imagination was the groups third song to reach number one on the charts, and there it stayed for two weeks straight. Considered their signature song, what grabs me is Eddie Kendricks' falsetto. That voice and the harmonies underneath are enough to give me chills every time I hear this song.

When the single came out, the group was on it's way to breaking up. Eddie Kendricks was on the verge of starting a solo career as he wasn't happy with the direction and leadership of the group by de facto leader Otis Williams. While things became discord within the group and Sky's The Limit was the last time Eddie ever sang with The Temptations, the facts remain that at one point in time, no one did it better than these five men. Enjoy!

Caught Out There

This was a powerhouse of a song, it was also lightening captured in a bottle. The right time, place, producer, song, and artist all merged together to create Caught Out There by Kelis. If there was ever a competition for woman's anthems, this song easily places in the top three all time. Produced by Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams aka The Neptunes, Kelis' sound was quirky, funky, and edgy.

Complete with blonde curls edged in pink, Kelis had the perfect attitude for this song. Her delivery was pitch perfect, and when she screams I hate you so much right now she was speaking not just for her, but for women everywhere that feel that way about their man every now and then. Released in 1999 Kaleidescope introduced not just her but The Neptunes to the world.

Caught Out There didn't do much climbing on the charts here, but in the Netherlands and the UK the song went top three and top four respectively. While it didn't top the charts here at home, it became that unforgettable anthem for women everywhere, and at one point there was no place you could go without hearing a female voice screaming I hate you so much right now. Enjoy.

Cissy Strut

I felt it was time to introduce to my blog one the second most heavily sampled bands in all of hip hop. While the first may be argued it's Parliament Funkadelic or James Brown and his band, no real hip hop head can deny that The Meters also helped lay the groundwork and built the foundation of hip hop. They were also pivotal in shaping other artists sounds and supplying them with a super tight rhythm section. Based out of New Orleans, The Meters played with the likes of Lee Dorsey, and Dr. John.

One of their biggest hits was the song Cissy Strut, which is one of my all time favorite tunes, period. It's just so funky and it's a lot of fun as well. The Meters claim to fame, at least one of theirs anyway is the double snare drum hit which is all over this song. The guitar licks along with the precision of the drums and that lazy bass line make this song great. When they throw in the organ though, that's when Cissy Strut really begins to strut.

The Meters, comprised of the Neville brothers, yes THOSE Nevilles were such a creatively talented group of musicians that the world may never know another group like then again. The group Galactic has somewhat picked up the mantle and for that, they get my utmost respect, but there will never be another group like The Meters. And if you like this song, look up their other classics, Look-ka Py Py and Here Comes the Meter Man. The beat on Meter Man is just SICK! Enjoy!

The Last of Us

It seems the world of video game soundtracks has become an ultra competitive field. From where I sit, I can see Steve Jablonsky or Hans Zimmer do the soundtrack to a video game, their sound and talents lends itself to that medium in almost uncanny ways. The one name I never expected to see associated with a video game score though was acclaimed guitarist and composer Gustavo Santaolalla.

Gustavo is an amazing composer who has been involved with the scores to movies like Motorcycle Diaries, Babel, Brokeback Mountain, 21 Grams, and his haunting and mesmerizing work on Things We lost In the Fire always gives me chills.. His music is both emotional and beautiful, full of yearning and promise, so when I saw that he was the man behind the music to the apocalyptic video game The Last of Us, I had to hear it.

This piece is the main theme of the game and in usual Santaolalla style, it is absolutely breathtaking. So much so that I felt the need to share it with those of you who may never come across this amazing offering. It's best to hear this on your big boy speakers as well, so you can get the full darkness of the music towards the end. This piece hasn't made me a bigger fan of his, it's just made me more appreciative of his talents. Well done Gustavo, well done.

Army Of Me (Masseymix)

BIG BOY SPEAKERS ONLY!!! I repeat, this is only for your BIG BOY SPEAKERS ONLY!!! Why, you ask? Because without your big boy speakers, you won't get the full impact of the drums or the menacing  rumble of this vicious bass line. And you know me, I want you to get the full effect of everything musical, plus this song deserves that much respect.

The song is entitled Army Of Me and it's by Bjork, the remix is by Masseymix and it's so damn awesome. I will include both the original version and the remix here. Just so you can hear and gauge the differences for yourself. I have always been a huge Bjork fan and while her original cuts don't really need remixing (like the original Army Of Me), whenever her music has been remixed, I have eargasms.

Turn these UP and let them work over you and enjoy being alive!!!

ORIGINAL VERSION!



MASSEYMIX REMIX!

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor

BACH!

Nuff said!

Wanna Fight

Wanna Fight is a powerful piece of music to a very integral moment in the movie Only God Forgives. It's by film composer Cliff Martinez and with every score, I am becoming a bigger and bigger fan of his. He's been film composing since 1989 and his scores vary so drastically in style and tone from one to the next that for me, when I looked back on his body of work I was shocked that he did certain movies.

Only God Forgives is heavy on synthesizers and Wanna Fight is the crown jewel in the score. When it started playing in the movie, it didn't just make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, it made me sit up. It sounds like something out of Tron by Daft Punk at first, but then the cathedral pipe organ chimes in. I wasn't expecting that at all and every time I hear it, I still love it.

The song mellows out somewhat after that, but it remains just as dark and foreboding. Then when the organ returns, it ramps up the intensity and the ONLY way to hear this song is, you guessed it, on your big boys speakers. I love Wanna Fight, and I think a smart boxer would use it as his music to walk to the ring to, he'd have his opponent beat before the first punch is thrown. Enjoy!

Snitch

I fell in love with Antonio Pinto's work before I even knew it. He did the score to a Nicholas Cage film that not many people saw entitled Lord of War. I thought it was gripping though I wasn't quite sure why. Then I saw the documentary on one of the greatest racing drivers to ever walk the earth, Ayrton Senna. Pinto did the haunting score for Senna and it was there that I noticed him. I've been a fan ever since.

Imagine my surprise to find out Antonio did the score to Snitch, the Dwayne Johnson vehicle based on a true story. While Antonio's music doesn't really fit the movie and it's dramatics, it's still beautiful music. Antonio uses strings and cellos in a way I have never heard before. This song, the main theme to the movie is so mournful, so yearning, and so beautiful that it gives me chills almost every time I hear it.

I went back to see Lord of War and to hear Antonio's work for that film and I was blown away and the menacing beauty of the score. He is an incredible talent and that was I listened to his score for the box office failure The Host, it was amazing. I look forward to anything by Antonio Pinto and after you hear this, maybe you'll feel the same. Enjoy.

On The 9th Day

I was looking for a completely different song to post, I happened upon this one instead and chose to share it. Why? Well someone very close to me had a birthday very recently and I thought she might find this song somewhat sexy. I think it's alluring, it's On The 9th Day by Ludique and it's percussion hot.

It's got a quirky pattern but it's easy to follow and once you get in it and wrap up in it, you won't be able but to sway those hips. It's an all instrumental track, which is how I like my lounge/trance music to be. Lyrics just mess it all up, don't you think? I like the break in the middle of the song where it's just the kick drum and the guitar. Images come to mind (and no I am not sharing those).

I hope this is enjoyed by all who read this, but I especially hope the birthday girl gets a kick out of this. Put this on your big boy speakers and move those hips for me and try to ignore the odd video :) Enjoy.