Not Meme-y Enough (Hiphopnerd)

Yes, that's my cat.
Anupa at Not Nerdy Enough called me out to respond to a meme...and I'm actually going to play along. I know, I'm shocked too. But don't think this is a motivational tactic that's going to work with any regularity...

Anyway, the task is to list 7 songs you're feeling right now. That doesn't really mesh with the way I listen to music. I don't listen to the radio & I'm not searching for new shit online, so I'm essentially clueless as to what the new & fresh singles, leaks, and trends are. Seriously, check my last.fm charts...it's entire albums with random tracks that were or are contestants for mix CD inclusion. So my 7 track list is simply a handful of songs from recent album purchases that stood out in a positive way and made me listen to them more than other tracks from that same album.

In no particular order:

Gnarls Barkley - Who's Gonna Save My Soul
Wasn't sure where they were going to go with the second Gnarls album, but I think I like it better than the first. This song is a pretty big reason...love the string loop coupled with Cee-Lo's plaintive vocals.

Blu & Exile - The World Is (Below The Heavens)
Wasn't easy picking out one track from this album...but this song just wouldn't be denied. It's catchy as all hell...infectiously positive and uplifting without being preachy. Absolutely beautiful.

Erykah Badu – The Healer
Musically & lyrically hypnotic, I can listen to this over and over and over. Love the sentiment- hip-hop at it's best really is a healing force. You're not going to lose points with a Dilla dedication either. Got to see Erykah in concert for the first time last month, and this was one of the tracks she started out with- very powerful performed live.

Nicolay & Kay - The Gunshot (ft Chip Fu)
I haven't found Nicolay's post-Foreign Exchange output anywhere nearly as impressive as that album. But the Nicolay & Kay collab is pretty solid, and this is definitely the standout track in my eyes. The beat demands head nodding, the layer of hums and chants works perfectly, and the hook's great too. And hell, it's fucking Chip Fu making his second random guest appearance of 2008. I was inspired enough to search out used copies of the two Fu-Schnickens albums...

Pete Rock - The Best Secret (ft Lords of the Underground)
Pete Rock's NY's Finest album has the other Chip Fu guest appearance. For this one though, I'll go with another early 90's throwback, LOTUG. They sound quite a bit different from their heyday, but the snide comments about current day rappers are actually kinda humorous. The real star is the delicious throwback beat.

The Roots – Singing Man (ft Porn, Truck North & Dice Raw)
I like Rising Down quite a bit, but a lot of it blends together. "Singing Man"definitely stands apart, though. Between the eerie loops and vibes, the chorus you just don't know what to do with, & the faded vocals and echos of the third verse, it's very sonically unsettling and challenging.

Kidz In The Hall - Drivin' Down The Block (Low End Theory) (ft Masta Ace)
My car was in the shop for the past three weeks due to mishaps getting the parts it needed. I finally got it back this past Friday, and my Amazon order containing this album arrived that same day. So this weekend I had some time to drive around and check out my batch of new music. When this track came on, it just commanded my attention. It reminds me of a Clipse song, and I really like the constant mention of "Low End Theory tape". Of course, the fact that I was actually drivin' down the block for the first time in weeks probably contributed something to it leaving a mark on me.

You know what though? I'm not done. I've got another 7 for you...I thought it'd be fun to share a bit more of my tastes that fall outside of hip-hop. So here are 7 not necessarily recent, not really hip-hop tracks that I listen to fairly often...

Astronautalis – A Love Song For Gary Numan
Astronautalis was actually a Brother Jacob recommendation- "if you don't have anything to do tonight, i strongly suggest you go to Bar Vertigo)...this cat astronautalis is gonna be there..i don't know if you heard of him but he's fucking SICK. he's come through to our night 3 times now (he was here last night), and he seriously blew everyone away each time." I did attend that show, and since then, I've dug Astro too. No clue what to classify him as, so I won't try...brother jacob's attempt: "rappish countryish indyrockish, but that description would turn anybody off (including myself)".... There's a string of about 5 songs on his second album that I listen to very frequently, and this track is probably my favorite from them thanks to the wishful lyrics and the clicks & clacks in the background...really enjoy the sped up beat towards the end too.

General Elektriks – Terms & Conditions Apply
Electro-goodness from a Quannum affiliate. Doubt I would have ever heard or purchased this album if it wasn't for that connection, but I'm definitely glad it's in my collection. The bizarre and funky sounds amidst the keyboards in this one just put a smile on my face.

Modest Mouse – Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset
Becky put this on a mix CD she made me, and I fell in love with it immediately. It's an astonishing song...the self-questioning lyrics...the constant musical progressions. Every time I play it I'm amazed with it.

Avalanches - Frontier Psychologist
Guessing most of you have heard this song plenty of times before...but perhaps you haven't listened to it lately. Frontier Psychologist is hilarious and brilliant, probably the most remarkable track on Since I Left You. Just give in and start mentally repeating "That boy needs therapy' everywhere you go for the next week.

Prefuse 73 - Storm Returns
I think I stumbled onto this song at some magazine's website that was offering free listens of it's bundled sampler CD compilation. I'd heard a little of Prefuse's stuff prior to this, and generally liked it...but Storm Returns was on a whole other level. I've since bought pretty much everything Mr. Herren's released as Prefuse 73, but this remains my favorite song of his.

Steinski - The Motorcade Sped On
I just got this last week thanks to the Onion AV Club's glowing review of the Steinski compilation. Obviously, I'd heard Steinski & some of his work in the past, but I didn't own any and I'd certainly never heard this one. It's an extremely interesting cut n paste telling a narrative of the Kennedy assassination, complete with news clips, gunshot sound effects, and scratching. It's infinitely more catchy & listenable than you'd expect.

Radiohead – Videotape
Slow, piano-backed Radiohead songs make me swoon...this is not an exception. I love Thom's voice, the 'red, blue, green' line, and whatever the hell that oscillating sound in the background is. This song is gorgeous.

Comments (5)

Anupa:

Hahaha. Maybe our posts should just consist of memes... requires no thought as to subject matter, can be short and sweet, etc.

Thanks for meme-ing though! We have the same listening habits... I pretty much just download albums and listen to them whole, as opposed to seeking out various songs. (Aside from when I watch SYTYCD, lol. But no really -- I only JUST found out what Fergie's "Clumsy" sounds like even though I've been hearing people talk about it, and seeing it referenced in text for the past how long. This applies to many songs. My friends think it's hilarious that I can be so late. I say that not listening to the radio helps me to enjoy songs that I might otherwise detest).

I have both Erykah's album and Rising Down, but can you believe I haven't listened to them yet? I will definitely make an effort to soon, however. Quite a few people have mentioned that the Roots album is pretty strong, which is good considering I wasn't that big a fan of The Tipping Point or Game Theory.

I love how everyone has that one song off In Rainbows that they love. That album is so cohesive to me... and I love it almost as much as I loved Thom Yorke's solo joint. I didn't add it in my list, because my album rotation moves fairly quickly, but my song is Reckoner. Those drums at the beginning... ahh!

PS - Your cat is very angry looking. I love it.

Posted by Anupa | June 26, 2008 5:06 AM

Posted on June 26, 2008 05:06

PS - That Modest Mouse song is dope and I heard KITH are douche bags (things like this are very important to me when it comes to liking music lol), but I'll give that song a try seeing as you compared it to Clipse.

Posted by Anupa | June 26, 2008 5:08 AM

Posted on June 26, 2008 05:08

Adrian