February 15, 2010
Just picked up The Bamboos’ 4 and The Souljazz Orchestra’s Rising Sun. Didn’t know the Bamboos set was comin’ out, and comes as a very welcomed surprise, and I’ve been waitin’ for the Rising Sun LP for the better part of a year now. Can’t wait to digest them this evening.
Paris DJs serves up a delightful mixtape titled Make the Mix by Digging from DJ Tommy TNT, guitarist extraordinaire for the likes of Menahan Street Band, The Budos Band, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Bronx River Parkway, and El Michels Affair.
Pass at your own peril on this set from Karl Hector & the Malcouns. Recorded live at ChoiceCuts in Dublin; May 2009.
Found Silhouette Brown’s sophomore effort appropriately titled Two while grabbin’ the links for this post. Didn’t know it was scheduled and there’s little doubt that the Broken Beat and Nu-Jazz vibes will be equally as nice as the debut album sounded.
Also found Shapes 10:01 from Tru Thoughts while doin’ this. Looks like it is filled with more exclusive tracks from their exceptional roster of artists. Pick it up in three parts: Pt.1, Pt.2, Pt.3
Johnny Cash’s American IV: Ain’t No Grave represents the Man in Black’s final recordings before his death in September 2003. This one is essential, as are all the other volumes in the series.
The Slackers return to Hellcat Records with The Great Rocksteady Swindle set to be released on 20.04. Boss vibes soon come.
If you missed Gilles Peterson presents Havana Cultura: New Cuba Sound, released last year, then do yourself and your ears a favor and grab it now. Magnifico!
As usual, the Stones Throw camp continues to drop gem after gem. Lovin’ these recent additions to the crates.
Soundway continues to put out amazing Nigerian-music compilations. Check the latest editions to their catalog; Nigeria Special Vol. 2: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds and Nigerian Blues 1970-76 and Nigeria Afrobeat Special: The New Explosive Sound in 1970s Nigeria.
Stopped by Wat Komniyaket, the temple and school next to my house, a few weeks ago to check out what all the activity was about. Turns out they were having a “Field Day” for five schools in the area. Brought back good memories of me doing the same thing when I was their age. However, one noticeable difference was the lack of shoes on all the kids. Classic Thai style.
Checked out Avatar recently. Definitely awesome in regards to the visuals…even when watching a bootleg copy on my laptop. Can’t imagine how killer it’d look on the big screen…or IMAX for that matter…or in 3D…or with psilocybin in the system! Overall, it was an entertaining film, story was a bit formulaic, visuals were stunning to say the least, running time was rather long, deserving of special effects awards, but certainly not deserving of any “Best Picture” awards. As for the complaints regarding the Papyrus-font subtitles, I couldn’t comment on it as my bootleg DVD contained Verdana typeface and the translation was in German! Still have no idea what the meaning of all of the Na’vi dialogue was. Oh well, I wasn’t overly glued to the storyline anyways.
Films that left a much more satisfying impression that I watched recently were The Men Who Stare at Goats and The Informant.
My co-worker told me she had a dream that she found me in my office on the brink of death with blood coming out of my mouth and in a pool around me. After telling me about the dream, she asked me what my age was, so I answered. I asked why she wanted to know and she told me that it was a lucky dream and she was going to play my age in the underground lottery in her village. Thoroughly confused in regards to the link between visions of my death and the luck of the lottery.
Took another trip out to the Similans, a group of nine islands about 60 km offshore from where I live. Never fails to amaze me when I go out there. Stunning!
Flippin’ through my Thai crates just got way fuckin’ easier thanks to ThaiTunes. Here’s what the crates looked like before and here’s what they look like after. Should’ve hunted that script down years ago. Som boom baep!
Holy shit was the NBA Slam Dunk Contest a huge letdown this year. Weak! Totally fuckin’ weak! I’m gonna refrain from getting’ on my soapbox for this one otherwise this’ll run on for far too long. Here’s to hopin’ next year’s event will be totally opposite of this year’s. On a better note, the Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown, showcasing the finalists who won throughout the states in local competitions, was awesome. Super sick jams from those cats and The Air Up There’s 360 reverse two-handed flush was beyond nasty. Plenty of other sick dunks in the mix too. Message straight to David Stern’s head: Check your league before hittin’ L.A. next year, revise the rules, and let these amateurs (read “professionals” when it comes to dunking) put on a show. You be the judge. Hella easy to see the Association blew it this year for the Slam Dunk Contest.
Cheers to Esperanza for the heads up on The Morning Benders “Excuses” video. Totally out of touch with the indie rock world and this was a nice refresher. Just picked up the full length, Big Echo, to see how the whole set sounds.
http://www.vimeo.com/8322868
Stussy will be releasing a three-part J Dilla documentary this month to honor the legendary producer who passed away four years ago this month. Check Part One below and be on the lookout for Part Two on 17.02 and Part Three on 24.02.
A small collection of pictures from last weekend. Took a ride up to Thap Tawan, Baan Nam Khem and Koh Kho Khao which are all about twenty minutes to the north of my house.
Another stunning Khao Lak sunset, fireworks on the beach, cabaret show, drinkin’ Leo brew in the yard, buffet of Thai/Chinese dishes, 10,000 Black Cat fireworks strung to a bamboo pole, Muay Thai fights on Channel 7, lucky drawing for “Ang Pow” envelopes for nineteen kids, hilarious dance shows by the kids before getting their envelope, shooting coconuts out of trees with a rifle, hiking up into the rubber trees in Natoey and a blanket of stars above with a strikingly clear view of Mars. That’s what Chinese New Year was like here in Phang Nga. Gong Xi Fa Cai! All the best to everyone in the Year of the Tiger.
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February 14, 2010
John Holt sets the mood with his classic 45 “Stick By Me” recorded for the Jackpot label, a subsidiary of Trojan, in 1971.
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February 1, 2010
This past January, Jamaican-music lovers lost two very important figures. Lynn Taitt (1934-2010), the Trinidad-born guitarist who was critical in the development of the Rocksteady sound of the late ’60s that would go on to form the basis of Reggae, and Vivian “Yabby You” Jackson (1946-2010), who laid down some of the most wicked Roots and Dub vibes ever recorded during the late ’70s and early ’80s. Both will be sorely missed, but their music will surely live on forever. Jah bless!
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January 24, 2010
The hi-fi was on fire last nite with Madlib’s latest joint. Got outta control when that remix of “Kill ‘Em” dropped. Can’t wait to see what’s to come in the next 11! volumes.
Madlib Medicine Show No.1: Before the Verdict; Stones Throw, 2010
http://www.vimeo.com/8861526
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December 31, 2009
Apparently, Santa Claus really does exist. It’s not me however, I just play one annually. Here’s the story of how my belief in Ol’ Saint Nick was reignited this past holiday season.
It was late-July when I got notice of the new fall line from Brixton. Stellar lids and threads as usual and I gravitated to the new version of the “Castor” fedora immediately. Eyed the natural-straw model (not shown on the site anymore, but can be seen here) for weeks and then decided I was gonna fork over the cash for one. Unfortunately, the shipping costs to Thailand were outrageous to say the least, so my plan was nixed.
In the weeks and months to follow, I thought of asking Santa Claus (who I had always thought was my parents) to give it to me for Christmas and have it included in the next package they would send my way. Never did though and kinda figured I could just live without it.
Well…on Christmas Eve, I was suiting up in my Santa Claus costume for the surprise arrival, via longtail boat mind you, to our gala dinner on the beach, and had to stop by the housekeeping office to get some safety pins. I opened the door and, lying atop the table, was a fuggin’ natural-straw Brixton Castor!
After simultaneous eyes buggin’ out, doin’ a triple take and my jaw droppin’ to the floor, I picked it up to see that the size was perfect. The manager told me the room that had checked out earlier that day had left it behind and it was all mine if I wanted it. She didn’t even have to finish the sentence before I was rockin’ it and makin’ my way out the door. Amazing how life works sometimes.
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December 13, 2009
Tru Thoughts camp announced some releases scheduled for 2010. The Skeletons’, a side-project of Nostalgia 77 brainchild Ben Lamdin, debut album Smile and Quantic presenta Flowering Inferno’s sophomore effort titled Borojó el Original. Counting the days…
The U.S. Dollar Bill x Freemasonry. Bet you don’t know the connection. Check Eye of the Phoenix: Secrets of the Dollar Bill for an intriguing investigation.
Bonobo’s first-single, “The Keeper“, off his forthcoming, currently-untitled album has been out for a short while, but perhaps you overlooked it. Pick it up here and view the video below. No doubts that the full-length will be just as stellar as his previous output.
Upgraded to Firefox 3.5.5. Some nice features in the new release, however they could have warned me that “Clear all private data without asking” was checked as a default. Upon closing, my quick access to searches and sites I’ve been using for months and months are all gone. Ugh.
No Brasil.org did the monumental task of compiling all of the albums from Richard Dimery’s “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die” book. Not all of them are choice in my book (e.g. Scissor Sisters is included, but The Abyssinians Satta Massagana is not), but there’s way more than enough essentials laced throughout to keep you occupied for a helluva long time.
It had been a few years since I watched The Spook Who Sat by the Door, but I revisited it a few weeks ago. The story of the first black CIA operative who later drops out to train the inner city men of Chicago, then spreads the knowledge to other major cities in the US, and then launches an all-out assault against the fucking system. Brilliant cinema. I downloaded my copy, but apparently you can just stream it over at Google video.
Oliver Nelson is providing the soundtrack to my writing and compiling with his stellar The Blues and the Abstract Truth. Mellow vibes.
Oliver Nelson – The Blues and The Abstract Truth; Impulse, 1961
Flippin’ through Banksy’s “Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall” the other night. Awesome stuff.
New Thai slang I learned this week. “Nong chai rong hai” which literally translates into “My little brother needs to cry”, but actually means you’re goin’ to take a piss.
Congrats to the Yellow Jackets on being ACC Champs. Sucks about the loss to the Dawgs this year, but we’re BCS bound to Miami and, well, they’re off to Shreveport. Sting ‘em at the Orange Bowl!
A repost from a few years ago just for the hell of it. Hilarious album covers.
Dillon x Paten Locke. Studies in Hunger. Food for thought. Food for the soul. Food for the body. Food for your ears and mind. Dine on the Mega Mix before you get the main course.
Until recently, I never knew that Hepcat’s “Marcus Garvey” was originally written and performed by Bongoman Byfield and appeared on the flipside of The Skatalites “Guns of Navarone” 45 released by Island in 1965. Interesting find, to me at least. Check both versions.
The Skatalites are playing in Pattaya and the Wailers are playing on Koh Phangan this coming week. Top-class vibes in the Land of Smiles. Pissed that I won’t be attending either one, but life goes on.
Just my luck. Decided I’d try to get the time away from work to make the trip up to Koh Phangan for the Wailers x Job2Do show. Called my friend up to get the location details and whatnot. Turns out it’s canceled. Damn! Would’ve been sweet.
Looks like rainy season has finally finished up for this year. On the agenda, spending more time viewing the horizon below.
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December 12, 2009
Tough to remember it actually is the holiday season as my surroundings here in Thailand offer no reminders whatsoever. Just like in years past, I’ll do my best to create a sense of the feeling with some holiday tunes and a mandatory viewing of A Christmas Story.
Merry Christmas to all and especially to the folks back home in the ATL. Below is some nostalgia for you. It’s The Pink Pig at Rich’s! If you’re not from the ATL, or if you are and have been living under a rock, then you can read and listen to Kathy Lohr’s “Atlanta’s Pink Pig Brightens Spirits, 55 Years On” story, from All Things Considered, which documents the relationship between a giant pink-pig skytrain and Christmas in Atlanta. Good memories for sure.
Enjoy these holiday vibes that I’ll be spinnin’ this time of year. Two classic albums that have been present on the hi-fi since childhood, another record that perfectly regrooves the traditional Christmas songbook, and a final platter (…with ridiculously-boss cover art) filled with stone-cold Funk & Soul rarities in the Yuletide tradition.
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December 4, 2009
This is the time of year when hoops fever is supposed to be in full effect. NBA on TNT doubleheaders every Thursday, featured games on Wednesdays and Fridays on ESPN, and Sunday doubleheaders on ABC. Not to mention the glory days at 1041 when NBATV was hooked up and supplied 24-hours of content. Now, the action on the hardwood only makes it to my eyes via some Web highlights every now and then. Not enough to make me feel involved. So it goes.
Well, check the two videos below which reminded me how much I miss The Association. Best facials from throughout November and, while D-Wade’s is supremely nasty, my favorite was A.I. 2.0’s monstrous jam. My goodness. Replay, then replay, then replay…
By the way, I’m lovin’ the Sixers decision to go back to the 80s logo. That red, Adidas track jacket is looking hella sweet! So does the Court Series version.
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November 24, 2009
Found this Tokay gecko when I went into my bathroom the other evening. The smaller House geckos are around (and inside) my house every day, but these larger, more colorful ones only come by every now and then. Amazing creatures and, after reading up on them today, vicious biters too!
Still hoping to see the 25-cm (10-inch) Tokay gecko, that I saw a few months ago, again. It crossed my path while I was taking a shower and ate one of the House geckos! After freaking out, staring at it, and then trying to quickly get my camera; it had disappeared into the night and it was too late. Incredibly vivid colors on that one!
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November 23, 2009
November 4, 2009
October 25, 2009
Halloween, that holiday that sadly got left behind when I moved to Thailand, is right around the corner. I’ll be doin’ a whole lot of nuthin’ to celebrate the day, but I did put this wax on last nite to get in the mood just a little bit.
It’s the “Halloween” episode from Bob Dylan’s “Theme Time Radio Hour”, perhaps one of the finest, most original radio programs that I’ve ever heard. Second, of course, to “Jazz Classics” hosted by H. Johnson.
If you’ve never given it a listen, then you’ve been missing out for the past couple of years. Use this episode as your introduction or browse the archives for another theme more suitable to to your liking. They’re all gems.
Bob Dylan’s “Theme Time Radio Hour” presents “Halloween”; Oct.25, 2006
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October 21, 2009
On the shores of Laem Sai, Ao Kung, Phuket, looking towards Koh Bpah Yu, Koh Hae, Koh Ngam and Phang Nga. Beautiful area with quiet surroundings……except when jet airliners come flying directly over the village on a frequent and daily basis.
http://www.thegoldbrick.net/video/aokungplane.flv
(Video dimensions not correct? Right-click to adjust.)
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October 10, 2009
October 8, 2009
Check the video for “Lionel” off New Jack Hustle’s Sound Check LP. Shawn Jackson and Ohmega Watts drop the rhymes that coincide with the records that Newman is flippin’ through at 360 Vinyl in Portland, Oregon. Killer!
http://www.vimeo.com/4835202
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