TonegentsTonegentsMp3's served up with a side order of funny Articles
Blog-achella 08: Next!
2008-02-18 21:21:00 Blog-achella starts the week all unimpressive-like...Les Savy FavWho they are: A band from Brooklyn that's apparently been around for quite a while, although I'm not particularly sure why.What they sound like: Shouty Indie Rock. Les Savy Fav - Pluto (ysi)What I think: Oh, and did I mention, from photos I've seen it appears that the fat bearded guy is the singer and apparently likes to do shows half naked? Bonus! An affront to both my ears and eyes! Not quite as shit-riffic as that Black Lips nonsense, but not far off... More About: Blog
The ORIGINAL Gangsta
2008-02-18 19:24:00 Another one of my all-time favorite artists to start the new week, but this one you might not expect...Now, don't get me wrong. I hate Country music. Watered-down rock with a slide guitar and an annoying accent? No thank you, sir. So why then, do I love Johnny Cash? Because he's the baddest mutha ever to put a song on wax, that's why! He shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die! Johnny Cash didn't need no beef, he just whacked fools because he was bored! One time, Johnny Cash was playing Ice Cube in basketball... know what happened? Johnny Cash fucked around and got a triple double, that's what! Back when I did this blog on Mysuck, I wrote a whole essay one day about how Johnny Cash was so much more gangsta than 50 Cent, and I stand by that! But I won't rehash the whole thing...But there's another reason to love Johnny Cash. He was one of the best storytellers ever through his lyrics. Listen to this song, and doubt for a second that Johnny hadn't lived every se... More About: Original , Gangsta
This guy is no secret
2008-02-15 18:42:00 Time for House Music Friday to get you prepared for the long weekend...... and again this week, the shuffle landed on one of the truly elite Deep House producers in the game, San Francisco's own Miguel Migs. I've featured one of his incredible remixes before (check here for that slab of goodness), and now it's time for an original. I gotta tell ya, I've always been amazed by how good this guys' records sound. Not only the music, but his production quality is just sick. Almost no one makes the keys sound so warm or the drums so punchy. I'd kill to know how he does it. Well, I assume that he has pieces of gear that cost more than my monthly rent, that's how... but I can't playa hate! Migs is also known for songs with the sweetest vocal melodies, but here's an instrumental, because that's how the shuffle rolls...Miguel Migs - Secret s (ysi)Now, although this Japanese 2-disc set costs a bit of coin, it's kinda worth it because you'd have to collect a whole shitload o...
Blog-achella 08: I'm not making a "shrimp on the barbie" joke, I promise
2008-02-14 23:07:00 You know what I see happening right now? I see a supergroup to be announced as a last minute addition... a supergroup featuring Jack-o, Yahoo Serious, Paul Hogan and Bindi Irwin on vocals...Midnight JuggernautsWho they are: Did you think you'd seen enough Australian bands yet? Well, too bad! Maybe this year's festival is sponsored by Foster's and I missed that somehow...What they sound like: More Indie Dance music...Midnight Juggernauts - Shadows (ysi)What I think: ... but these guys are my favorite of the lot, so far. Their tracks started hitting the blogs last summer, and I was pretty much immediately on board. Although some folks were disappointed with their album when it finally dropped, I like it well enough... and who are you gonna believe, me or them? More About: Joke , Blog , Shrimp , Barbie , Promise
The greatest band in the world
2008-02-14 19:06:00 I've been doing this blog for nearly a year now, and finally I'm posting a song from my favorite band of all time...I know that cover won't tell you who it is, but this 2-disc compilation does include a remix of the band that is simply better at music than everyone else and that band is... (drumroll)... Radiohead! OMGWTFLOL! A blogger whose favorite band is Radiohead?!!?!?! I've never heard of such a thing! This kind of paradigm-shifting craziness might just break the interwebs! I know, I know... but hey, there's a reason Radiohead is so popular... they make your favorite band sound like amateurs. The only thing that has held me back from posting a track up here is that seemingly every single thing they've done has been covered a million times over... but I think I've found one that hasn't been blogged yet, at least according to Hype Machine and Elbows searches I did. And that track is this remix of "Planet Telex", from The Bends, courtesy of the mighty Mr. J. Saul Ka... More About: Band , World , The World , Greatest
Blog-achella 08: Vote Obama!
2008-02-13 23:09:00 Lacking a particularly entertaining and relevant opening comment at this time, let me just say that I'm loving that Obama is starting to kick Hillary's butt at the polls...Does It Offend You, Yeah?Who they are: A British duo who easily adapt to blend into the natural background and escape from hungry predators, such as the hyena. Hyenas will fuck you up.What they sound like: On the song below they kind of sound like a more aggro version of Chromeo, what with the vocodered vocals and all, but on a couple of other tracks I heard, the vocals are more shouty and obnoxious...Does It Offend You, Yeah? - We Are Rockstars (ysi)What I think: There are a large number of acts of Friday that are prepared to give you a serious case of tinnitus with their grindy analog synthamathizers, and these guys are one of them. In other words, "meh".And speaking of Obama, there's this music video that Will.I.Am made that sort of makes a song out of one of his speeches. It's pretty cool, especial... More About: Blog , Vote
Blog-achella 08: Let's get wanky
2008-02-13 22:28:00 Next up, we have another band making a return appearance at the 'Chella, although for these guys it's been a couple years...Minus The BearWho they are: A Seattle band that eschews the flannel for a multi-pack of T-Shirts from the Ross clearance aisle.What they sound like: A couple of years ago when I reviewed them, I seemed to think that they were a moderately clever yet ultimately forgettable Indie Pop band. Since then, they seem to have added a keyboard player and gotten more experimental in sound, lovin' 'em some odd time signatures... basically a lot more wanky...Minus The Bear - Dr. L'ling (ysi)What I think: I guess I'd say... nice try, but you're not yet there, boys. A good measuring stick for a band is how well they can pull off disappearing up their own arse. You gotta be really, really good to make your most self-indulgent efforts worthwhile (like, say, Radiohead in the "Kid A/Amnesiac" period). If you're some guys who were just "meh" in the first place...... More About: Blog
Post #300 = This! Is! Sparta! Okay! Not! Really!
2008-02-13 19:18:00 Since I'm so gay for posting something special when I hit a milestone, and this is post #300 at Tonegents, here is a mini-mix I put together recently for another project... but now share with you. Not a beat in sight here, folks. So put on your headphones and tune out the annoying bastards you work with...Tonegent presents "Level 1: Ambient"(Continuous Mix - 24:46 - 43.75Mb @ 224kps VBR)1) Global Communication - 4 142) Klimek - Milk (Klimek Remix)3) Manual - Azure Vista4) Alice Coltrane - The Ankh of Amen-RaEnjoy! More About: Sparta , Post
Blog-achella 08: Return engagment
2008-02-12 23:09:00 Okay here's a first, an act that played last year, too. You can see what I said about them then, although it wasn't much. Musta been busy that day or something...Spank RockWho he is: You know, I'm still not 100% sure if Spank Rock was a guy or a group... I think now that he's a guy, that one up there... but anyhoo, whatever Spank Rock actually is, it's the flagship act of the Baltimore sound.What he sounds like: The 2 Live Crew of today, if you don't believe me, just check out the cover of his recent "Bangers & Cash" EP... yikes!Spank Rock - Bump (ysi)What I think: I think you should go see Spank Rock and shake your ass. So just do it, already! :P More About: Blog , Return
Your home for fine interior accessories
2008-02-12 19:15:00 More unknown producers turning out fabulous music today...So, Mitchell & Dewbury, huh? Sounds like a place to buy some fine linens or perhaps a classy end table. Where are you registered for your wedding? Mitchell & Dewbury. Lovely, I'll get you the Onieda Silver dinner set. Okay, not really. They're a couple of dudes with some pretty serious steez, if you read their bio. And this track, from an excellent 2-CD compilation, is a vocal Nu Jazz epic. Just super lush and warm and fuzzy...Mitchell & Dewbury - Spaces & Places (ysi)I'd say more, but I just happened to be made aware of the John Mayer/Borat pictures and quite frankly I'm a little disturbed... More About: Accessories , Home , Interior , Fine
Blog-achella 08: What's a Scroobius?
2008-02-11 23:17:00 Some extremely British music here...Dan Le Sac Vs. Scroobius PipWho they are: A couple of British dudes that look like they live in a van under an overpass and shouldn't be allowed near schoolyards... I'm just sayin'...What they sound like: A pleasant surprise! They sound very much like The Streets, but with better backing music, sort of lo-fi electronica. Be sure to check the hilarious yet mostly dead-on lyrics to this song...Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip - Thou Shalt Always Kill (ysi)What I think: If you saw them live, would you be able to understand a single word they said? Find out Friday at Coachella! More About: Blog
Blog-achella 08: This one could be mad decent
2008-02-11 21:59:00 Back to this Blog -achella business, where Natalie Cole will not be playing this year...DiploWho he is: Crazy record spinning, M.I.A.-boning DJ from Florida, Philly and pretty much everywhere else. Don't you think he looks like one of the fucked-up kids from a Larry Clark movie? Kinda scary.What he sounds like: From what I gather, he's likely to play anything in a set, but he's best known for Mash-Ups, Baile Funk and booty music in general... this track will give you a bit of an idea...Diplo - Diplo Rhythm (ysi)What I think: Never seen him, but I'd very much like to just to see how it goes... could be a Z-Trip like "every beat and the kitchen sink" set (which I love) or could be an hour straight of Baltimore booty bass crap. We'll find out!
Natalie Cole can bite me!
2008-02-11 19:09:00 Now, we all know the Grammys are a big joke, but I must report on one thing from last night that pissed me off, namely Natalie Cole saying that Amy Winehouse didn't deserve her Grammys because of her famous tabloid exploits. Actually, she deserved her Grammys for making a fantastic album, Natalie Cole - and it was even her own material! What, are you just bitter because the only hit you ever had was a gimmicky cover version of one of your dad's songs, which was basically just you doing karaoke? A singers' personal problems have nothing to do with the quality of their music. You yourself admitted to having a major heroin and crack problem in the past, and you're gonna hate on this chick? You gonna give your Grammys back? Didn't think so. Fuck off, Natalie Cole. Go get hit by a bus, you self-righteous hypocrite. Anyhoo, let's cool off the hate with a little love & happiness, shall we? Here, off a fantastic old Soul/Funk compilation on the always quality BBE Music is pi... More About: Bite
Blog-achella 08: Breaks biznezz
2008-02-08 21:03:00 Time for the last Blog -achella post of the week, and we're going to end up back in the Sahara Tent...Adam FreelandWho he is: One of the most respected Breaks DJ's out there, and has been for quite some time.What he sounds like: Well, I kind of gave that away up there, didn't I? Expect funky, techy Breaks up yer earholes. Here's a recent original...Adam Freeland - Silverlake Pills (ysi)What I think: If I had my choice of Breaks DJ's, Freeland wouldn't necessarily be on the top of the list (that would be Plump DJ's, btw) but if you want to end your Friday night dancing your face off, the likely Adam Freeland/Fatboy Slim back-to-back action is a pretty damn nice way to do it.Have a great weekend, everyone!
He's kinda tubby, and his beats are fat, too.
2008-02-08 18:59:00 House Music Friday brings you yet another A-list producer...First off, the thing I didn't know about Ian Pooley... he's German! Huh? Well, turns out Pooley's not his real name - it's Pinnekamp. Hmmm, I'm voting good move on the change. Pinnekamp doesn't exactly flow from the tongue, does it? (Also, I didn't realize that ol' Ian needs to lay off the ham sandwiches a bit... homeboy's a bit chunky.) Anyhoo, whatever his name is, he's put out three full albums of Brazilian-influenced house goodness and has at least a couple stone-cold classics to his name ("What's Your Number?", "Balmes" with Esthero), plus lots and lots of top-notch remixes. That said, this track is none of those things... but it is a nice instrumental Deep House number, very summery...Ian Pooley - Here We Go (New Version) (ysi)Pooley's got a new one due out in the next couple of months. You can bet I'll be checking that one out and you should, too. Why? Because I said so, that's why! Don't ... More About: Beats , Kinda , Tubby
Blog-achella 08: Cabeza de radio
2008-01-25 21:32:00 Because the word Radio head = hits on yer webs page...PorterWho they are: Ladies and Gentlemen, the Mexican Radiohead... What they sound like: I didn't make that up by the way, I read it somewhere on teh interwebs that these guys list Radiohead as their #1 influence. Them and Sigur Ros and bands like that. So how does the Mexican Radiohead sound? Almost exactly as dreadful as you'd expect.Porter - Espiral (ysi)What I think: Um, thank you for playing, guys, but you lose. No new dishwasher for you, but please accept this lovely parting gift, a year's supply of foundation make-up. Looks like you need it. I mean, I never realized that people could actually come in black & white. You should maybe have that looked at... More About: Blog
Ho-hum
2008-01-25 18:03:00 In the midst of all of this Blog-achella business, let us not forget that it's House Music Friday!Today's another one of those days where there's not a whole lot of info I can give ya. 2nd Shift are a couple of L.A. guys, this much I know. Seasons Recordings was a local label that put out some good quality stuff, bringin' the deepness... this one's picked from a mix, so there's a little bit of stuff goin' on at the beginning and end... deal with it! :P2nd Shift - Somethin' Else (ysi)And thus concludes (with the exception of the tune), the most boring post in the history of this blog.
Blog-achella 08: Man, this is going to take a while...
2008-01-25 00:46:00 And now, Coachella brings you another Indie Rock band that has benefited from a solid commercial song placement. What, this song was in a Zune ad? Okay, maybe it wasn't so solid...Rogue WaveWho they are: Oakland dude works at dot.com, dot.com eats shit, dude forms band, band does pretty well, dude is still broke but at least he gets pussy now...What they sound like: Melodic, layered Indie Pop with some Shoegaze-y guitar business. Wait, there's no joke in that sentence...Rogue Wave - Lake Michigan (ysi)What I think: Can't hate on these guys, 'cause I really dig this tune. I'll leave the hatin' to the pros... More About: Blog
Blog-achella 08: Have yer way with me
2008-01-24 22:00:00 And now, welcome back to Blog -achella, Tonegents' slightly retarded, antisocial roommate with a Pine-Sol huffing problem...ModeselektorWho they are: A couple of jolly German fellows.What they sound like: Kinda hard to pin down, as they don't really sound like anyone else. You could use words like Techno and Electro with a side of Dubstep and a dash of Hip-Hop if you liked... and for those of you crying that Radiohead won't be playing Coachella (and I'm not being snarky, I'm right there with ya), maybe Thom will show up and perform this song with 'em. Let's start a rumor! Modeselektor - The White Flash (ft. Thom Yorke) (ysi)What I think: Really lovin' these guys right now, for the exact opposite reason I gave the "meh" to whatstheirbandname yesterday. Originality gets you pretty far with me. Probably even to third base if I've had enough to drink. Hey, don't call me a slut! I'm just easy... there's a difference...
Ya don't say!
2008-01-24 17:55:00 Had a request for some more Dub-style goodness, and I aims to please... although this isn't quite traditional dub...Actually it's more of a jazzy dub/drum & bass combo deal thingy courtesy of France's Sayag Jazz Machine. I just got hipped to these guys and they have an interesting combo of beats, live horns, turntablism and such going on. I can't find out much more though, because all the info I can find on them is in French, which is all Greek to me. (Wow, that was a bad joke even by my standards.) The record's called No Me Digas, which means "Ya don't say!". I ran the song title through Babel Fish and got "Before it does not speak", which makes not much sense. I'm all about the translations this week...Sayag Jazz Machine - Avant Qu'elle Ne Parle (ysi)Nice stuff. These guys are also heavy into the video element. Check out this cool-ass "trailer" for their live show.Yep, I think I'd like to see that!
Blog-achella 08: Bang for your buck?
2008-01-23 23:31:00 You know what one of the fun parts of doing this is? Making sweeping snap judgments on bands based on quickly listening a randomly selected song or three for the first time... American Bang Who they are: Four high school friends from Nashville. I don't think they're still in high school though... a couple of 'em are a little too beardy. They didn't let us get away with that where I went to school! Also, they used to be called Bang Bang Bang, but had to change their name... I suspect !!! might have had something to do with that... What they sound like: Their bio says Southern-Fried Garage Rock... did you know that what truly constitutes "Southern-Fried" chicken is a highly debated topic in the South? Skin or no? Fried in oil or lard? Wars have been fought, brother has been turned against brother, and, um... a lot of people have suffered from high cholesterol... Anyhoo, here's the only song of theirs I could find for you, a T. Rex cover they made available on their Myspac... More About: Blog , Buck
(Insert bad "flavor" pun here)
2008-01-23 18:43:00 Yet another flavor of breaks this week... it's like a pu-pu platter, I tells ya...This flavor is best described as Ambient Breaks (second place, strangely enough... "tangy with a hint of saffron"), and is brought to you by one of my favorite producers, Mr. Tom Middleton. He's best known as one half of Global Communication, but of course records under a bazillion aliases, perhaps the strangest of which is "Tom Middleton". Anyhoo, here's a long, downright mesmerizing track from his recent digital-only EP, Excursions 1. Fans of Orbital or Irresistible Force definitely need to peep this one...Tom Middleton - Shinkansen (ysi)By the way, "Shinkansen" = Japanese for Bullet Train. Around here, you get some good music, and you get learned somethin'! More About: Flavor
Blog-achella 08: Yep, it's back.
2008-01-22 22:17:00 So here's the thing... I started out in this bloggin' game by doing act-by-act previews of Coachella for my friends because I am obsessed with Coachella and have only missed 1 of 8, and I like to know everything so I don't miss anything) It's become a tradition. But... I like the music selection I've been blogging and the little niche I'm delusional enough to think I've carved out for myself here in the blog-o-sphere. So, what do I do... keep on with the goodness or change the pace around here for a couple months? The answer...Fuck it, I'll do both! :PFrom now 'til the end of April, expect your usual Tonegents post of the best of all things funky, plus your Blog -achella post previewing the greatest concert festival in the world. I figure it's always good to discover even more great new music, and also it is really fun to write nasty sometimes. I love to talk a little shit, and I especially love getting flamed by illiterate Tokyo Police Club fans. Gives me a chuckle... More About: Back
Shake it 'til you need a hip replacement!
2008-01-22 18:54:00 Keepin' it funky today, with a record I recently stumbled upon and just love...Now, when I was out and about in the scene in SoCal in the late '90s, the funky breaks were big. I particularly remember the Fresh Produce parties... good times! But I'm not so sure about what's going on these days, because I'm an out-of-touch old fogey. Sure, you got your Plump DJ's and Stanton Warriors and stuff, but the sound seems quite different, cleaner and tech-ier. Now, I know nothing about the Dutch DJ Badboe that I didn't read off his Myspace page, but lemme tell ya, this kid is bringin' tha real breaks biznezz back. A total throwback record for me, raw and dirty and sample-riffic and funky as fuck...Badboe - Loose Your Funky Self (ysi)Yeah, if I ever got my geriatric ass out dancin', I would shake it 'til I needed a hip replacement to that one... hmm, I like that phrase... I should put it on a T-shirt or something...
Some JB's for MLK
2008-01-21 19:19:00 Ok, so I'll spare you the "I Have A Dream" samples on MLK day... ... but the shuffle did land on a song from the era, how apropos! Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s were, of course, James Brown's backing band during the funkiest years of his career, so I shouldn't need to say any more. Because if ya don't know anything about James Brown, you're obviously in a coma and have been for a very long time, so you're probably not reading this blog, what with you being all comatose and stuff. For everyone else out there, though, here's a cut from Vol. 1 (of 3) of the James Brown's Funky People series, put out on Jame's own People Records, which is where his backing players got to step off and do their own thing....Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s - Same Beat (Part 1) (ysi)Some of the most essential funk cuts ever on these comps. And now for some essential words...Peace.
This post has a twist
2008-01-18 18:43:00 House Music Friday is gettin' all vibey on yer ass...Yeah, man, it's like spiritual and shit... but what do you expect when the maker of the music apparently walks around with a bone in his nose. Hey, just check out Osunlade's photo on his website if ya don't believe me. Dude is down with his Yoruba heritage, so you better recognize, whitey. Anyhoo, Osunlade has been putting out that super-deep, spiritual, "Body & Soul" style house for years, and although his music isn't exactly peak-time, throw-your-hands-in-the-air stuff, it's certainly very powerful...Osunlade - A Cloudy Mist (ysi)Maybe more for the head than the feet, although I always liked to hear this kinda stuff as the sun rose outside on a Sunday morning.But check it out, dude was a bit of a "pop" producer before he went all native, and believe it or not, is the bro responsible for this...For real! And if that doesn't get you pumped for the weekend, I don't know what will... have a great one! More About: Post , Twist
Well, it certainly gives his alias layers...
2008-01-17 18:32:00 So, do you like your dub with a side of sexually confused?Okay, I'll explain. Lightning Head is an alias for Glyn Bush aka Bigga Bush of the awesome-but-now-defunct Rockers Hi-Fi. Now, upon meeting someone who goes by such a name and produces such music, one would assume that this person was quite possibly a large, dreaded black man. One would be mistaken. Actually, Mr. Bush is a large, white, skinny... cross-dresser. Well, I don't know if that's how he rolls 24/7, but he was on the night I met him. Make-up, mini-skirt, the works. Bit of a surprise, to say the least... not that there's anything wrong with that. But hey, doesn't matter when you make good tunes, and that's what Mr. Bush does... so throw on your favorite sundress and check out the heavy heavy dub stylee...Lightning Head - Stilla Move (ysi)Rude bwoy, er... girl... er... whatever... More About: Alias , Cert
Masters of the sound
2008-01-16 18:55:00 Yesterday I offered proof that real Jazz is alive and well... and today I have proof that real Funk is, too!I'm talkin' real, old-school, down and dirty, raw as fuck, stinky-ass, gutbucket funk that sounds like it came off some old 45 you found at a garage sale. They're calling it the Deep Funk scene, and I guess I'm okay with that label, it's relatively accurate... and it's headed up by bands like The Bamboos, The Heliocentrics, Orgone, and the UK's The New Masters ounds, just to name a few (and there are plenty more to name). And, um... well, I guess I already described the sound in the first sentence up there, so let's just get straight to the tune...The New Mastersounds - 102 Percent (ysi)Yes, yes and hell yes. That's so good, you get some YouTubes, too...All day, folks... all day... More About: Sound
Yet more Japanese Jazz?
More articles from this author:2008-01-15 18:45:00 You better believe it! They like the the Jazz in Japan, yesiree...... and they are making some of the best new Jazz out there, in my highly unqualified opinion. I mean, I tend to avoid new Jazz, because most of it is either the same old standards played not nearly as well as the masters did, or lame new shit that tries to throw in a hip-hop beat or some nonsense like that. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with that... but hey, it was called Acid Jazz, and it's been done and it's been over for quite some time now. But these guys here, the quartet Quasimode bring the real heat. Their sound is a pure throwback to the heyday of '70s Soul Jazz like on the Strata East and Black Jazz labels. Besides, if you're gonna name a song something like "Percussion Revolver", that song had better kick some ass...Quasimode - Percussion Revolver (ysi)... ass kicked. Good to know real Jazz is alive and well. Oh, and for more of hot Japanese action, be sure and peep here and here... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
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