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The music inside (my pants)
2008-01-11 18:44:00
House Music Friday goes a bit darker and techy-er today, so how about that?So here we have a record by an act called Killerloop. Fairly generic sounding name... but it's actually a team up of a couple of well-known dudes, namely Layo of Layo & Bushwacka and Mr. C of, get ready for it... The Shamen! Haven't heard that name in a minute, have ya? This record is on Mr. C's End Recordings label, home of some top quality Tech House. It's long, it's dark, it's a bit tribal... kinda like Manute Bol (major bonus points for anyone who gets that joke)...Killerloop - Music Inside (ysi)This one's out of print, but I was able to find the vinyl available here should you be inclined to pursue it. Hmm, that sounded a bit hoity-toity, didn't it? Oh well, whatevs... have a great weekend!(Oh, and go Giants! Beat dem 'Boys!)
More About: Pants , The Music

Hot Chick + Nerd, always a good match!
2008-01-10 19:15:00
Today, the first team-up of now well-known Electronic music Superfriends...Singer Roisin Murphy and mad scientist Matthew Herbert have teamed up many times over the years, with the partnership culminating in Roisin's most excellent Ruby Blue album (get a taste of that here). But here is what must be their first work together, Matthew's remix (under his Doctor Rockit moniker) of Roisin's band Moloko's first single. This one falls under the "Completely unrecognizable but for little vocal snippets from the original" school of remixes, and I'm okay with that. While the original "Fun For Me" was an uptempo electro-funk bomb, this is a head-nodding downtempo version...Moloko - Fun For Me (Doctor Rockit Remix) (ysi)... which is better than putting out a remix of a single that only gives you the same song with 8 slightly different house beats... I hate that!And here's the video for the single, just so's you can see what I'm talking about...Roisin looked hot with that dark hair,...
More About: Nerd , Chick , Match , Good , Hot Chick

Swedish chicks dig jazz
2008-01-09 18:27:00
And for your first Jazz track of 2008, I present an artist with a very typical story... an American-born, Muslim-converted ex-pat who lived and recorded in Sweden and Norway... dime a dozen, really...Although he was born Eddie Gregory, sax/flute man Sahib Shihab got down with Allah and made his name way more confusing. Then he was all like "screw these racist white people in America" and moved to Scandinavia. Or at least that's what he'd like you to believe. We all know how hot the Scandinavian women are, so don't front with the whole "oppressed brother" story, dude. You wanted some of that Swedish Bikini Team action... and trust me, no one is gonna judge you for that! "Ya, we dig the Jazz!" But, um, yeah... dude was a very accomplished player before the move, recording with Monk and Coltrane and some of the other heavy hitters, and recorded a number of highly-saught-after sessions in Europe. Companionship is a 2-album beast of a record, and it kicks off with this huge numbe...
More About: Chicks

Something in the water?
2008-01-08 18:46:00
So, I'm starting to wonder... if I move to England, will I suddenly become better at making music?I mean, I'm already bald and pasty white, so maybe it's the locale that's the key. Maybe there's something in the water, and I'm not talking about used syringes... because here's pasty British dude #274, aka Justin Crawford, aka Only Child, and yep, he's damn good at music. One of the top-billed artists on Mark Rae's now-defunct Grand Central Records, dude rocks quality tunes of many varieties. Here we get some chilled Broken Beat styles from the album Solitaire...Only Child - I Love You So (ysi)This disc also comes as a double-pack with an extra CD of remixes, which I'd highly recommend if you're into spending some major ducats. And you're all filthy rich, I know it.On an unrelated note, I'm kinda sad to see the Golden Globe awards cancelled because of the writers' strike, because nothing is more entertaining than seeing your favorite celebrities completely shitface...
More About: Water

Back in da day?
2008-01-07 18:49:00
So now the new guys with the old sound are now old guys with a new sound? Huh?I've got plenty of love for L.A. hip-hoppers Jurassic 5... I've met a couple of 'em, good guys, and definitely appreciate their throwback sound. But I'll spare you the usual rant about how it was so much better back in da day, because it just exposes me as the surly old curmudgeon I am, plus I'm sure you're bored of it by now. That said, even J5 was better back in da day. I think losing DJ Cut Chemist hurt them (how could it not?), and their last album got pretty much creamed by the critics and some fans who thought they "sold out" and tried to "go mainstream" (two terms I can't stand, but hey, you do a record with Dave freakin' Matthews, you're kinda askin' for it :P ). So here's an track from their first album, and whatever you think of the newer stuff, it's pretty easy to see the appeal of their sound...Jurassic 5 - W.O.E. Is Me (World Of Entertainment) (ysi)Music that says "kickin'...
More About: Back

Housekeeping
2008-01-04 18:50:00
Since I know you've all been counting along and marking the walls of your cells accordingly, I shouldn't have to tell you that this is post #250 at Tonegents. Huzzah! Now, I was going to whip you up a nice, tasty house mix to mark the milestone (it is also House Music Friday, after all), but one of my decks is knackered and last night I realized I have completely forgotten how to use Ableton Live, so... stay tuned for that... just gotta RTFM, knawhutimean? So anyhoo...You'll just have to settle for a tune from the ugliest man in House Music, DJ Sneak. Trust me, if you've ever seen a picture of the guy (I'll spare you), you'll realize that I'm not even being mean when I say that... it's just a fact. Dude's grill is just unfortunate, yo! But lucky for him House Music ain't a beauty contest. Here's probably his best known track, and I'll tell you a little secret... (whispers) it's not really her sink he's fixing, wink wink...DJ Sneak ft. Bear Who? - Fix My Sink (...
More About: Housekeeping

The Shadow knows...
2008-01-03 18:42:00
Okay, since we've flipped to a new calendar year, it's time for a new beginning here, as related to one of my many anal Virgo rules for the blog, which was to not post on the same artist twice unless one of them was in a DJ mix. I hate when blogs keep posting on the same artist over and over. You know what I'm talking about... those blogs where every time any member of, say, Animal Collective farts into a tape recorder, they feel the need to make sure you know about it. I like to mix it up, yo! But since I let the iTunes pick the songs for this blog on shuffle, I figured it's only fair to give everyone a chance for some shine in '08... so without further ado, the first repeat appearance on Tonegents goes to...... DJ Shadow ! Now, it's not like Endtroducing needs any more love than it has already gotten over the years... this record has been loudly and properly proclaimed as one of the most groundbreaking, essential albums of the last decade. It's in the Guiness Book of W...

I'm baaaa-aaack!
2008-01-02 18:42:00
Did ya miss me? I know you did. It's okay to admit it. I won't tell anyone, promise. So, maybe you're expecting some kind of Best of 2007 list or something, but quite frankly, what's the point? Sure, every blogger does it, but if you read enough of those lists, I'm quite sure that you'll eventually find that every single album released in 2007 is on someone's list somewhere, right down to the new Ted Nugent... so if you put any weight into what you're reading... well, you see what I'm getting at. Pointless. Besides, you might have noticed that I'm not overly concerned with how new something is when posting... so, that said, let's start off 2008 with something new...Well, pretty new, anyway. Chicago, Detroit, Redruth is the (I think) latest from the ridiculously prolific Luke Vibert, aka Wagon Christ, aka Plug, aka Kerrier District aka Ace of Clubs aka, aka, aka... yeah, dude pretty much wakes up in the morning and poops good music. As you would guess, with so man...

The Obligatory Christmas Music Post
2007-12-21 19:23:00
Ho Ho Ho, suckas! It is time for me to follow the unwritten blogger's code and throw some holiday music your way. But don't get me wrong, I love Christmas ... I love getting presents, and I love giving presents even more, so accept these as my presents to you and you and especially you...First off, since it is House Music Friday, after all, here's a cut from the pretty darn cool Om Records holiday compilation released a couple years back. Although it was recorded under the Members Only name, you might know this artist better as Kaskade or Late Night Alumni. You got a little "Nutcracker" in there, a little "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", and some nice deep house beats. Sure, like most all Christmas music, it's a novelty tune, but hey, you don't hear much Christmas House, do ya?Members Only - Christmas Eve (ysi)------------------------------------ ----------------------Next, a band I'll bet you never thought you'd see around here...Yes, it's one-hit wonders Harvey Danger! ...
More About: Christmas Music , Post

Love is da shit
2007-12-20 18:46:00
Does it seem like there is a lot of music from the Bay Area featured on this blog? Well, that's probably because there is...... and this time, we're venturing across the Bay Bridge to Oaktown and the debut album from Michael Franti and Spearhead. They used to just be Spearhead, but methinks someone might be on a little ego trip lately because that's how they're billed now. How exactly do you propose that sort of name change to your band without coming off like a total douche, huh? Just askin'. But possible douche-ness aside, Spearhead has been churning out some of the best Hip-Hop/Funk tunes around for over a decade now, and it all started with this record. Not sure if todays' song was ever released as a single, but it's actually my favorite on Home, even above the tunes that got the radio/MTV play... dude is a great lyricist, both political and poignant...Spearhead - Love Is Da Shit (ysi)And Spearhead will always get bonus points from me, as many bands have over the ...

The kid's got game
2007-12-06 19:06:00
Today's artist is way too accomplished for his age...Will Holland, aka Quantic is one of those guys that just makes you sick. He's only about 25 years old, yet has about 8 albums under his belt including the ones with his live band, the Quantic Soul Orchestra. Way to make the rest of us all feel like underachievers, jerk. But you can't player hate for long, because the music is damn good. Today's track is the title joint from his debut album, recorded I believe before he was even of legal drinking age (in the states, anyway.) Kind of like if one of those teeny-bopper pop stars actually had some musical talent... Quantic - The 5th Exotic (ysi)Ya just wanna punch him in the face, don't ya? :P
More About: Game

Japambience
2007-12-05 19:58:00
Today, proof that the iTunes on shuffle can be very (perhaps maddenlingly, if you're expecting any certain kind of music to pop up on this blog on any given day) eclectic...Yup, we're going from vintage electric blues to guitar and synth ambience, courtesy of one of the three discs of the most excellent Kyoto Jazz Massive 10th anniversary collection. The RE: KJM disc features reworks of KJM tunes, and this one comes from a group called Aurora. Not the cheesy Euro-dance Aurora who recorded that Duran Duran cover, thankfully, but a Japanese combo consisting of this guy and this guy. And, um... well I don't have too much more to add, so just close your eyes, lean back and enjoy...Aurora - Nacel Do Sol (ysi)That's purdy...

This is Tonegent's new blog post. He thinks it sucks ass.
2007-12-04 19:14:00
Some funky, electric, psychedelic blues, anyone?So this album must have the oddest title ever, huh? It's true, blues legend Howlin' Wolf was not too fond of this record at all, even referring to it as the "Dog Shit Album" in interviews. Come on, man, don't hold back... tell us how you really feel! I guess the record label made him do it, and since he was a 60-year-old codger at the time, he wasn't really feelin' the whole plugged-in vibe. I can hear it now... "This electic geetar is too loud! My sciatica's actin' up! It's drafty in here, goddamn it!" Must have been a great time. But you know what, despite all that, it's really pretty awesome. Hot guitar licks, some funky-ass drumming and that powerful voice... the best word I can use to describe it is "raw as fuck"... yes I know that's three words, don't mess with me...Howlin' Wolf - Evil (ysi)This sucker is looooooong out of print and has never been reissued on CD either, so once again I have one word... "Goo...
More About: Post , Blog , Sucks , Gent

A return to Habana
2007-12-03 19:15:00
You know what sucks? Only having a one-day weekend. Yep, had to work all day Saturday. But I'll try not to let the pent-up bitterness get the best of me...Ruben Gonzalez was the, I'm gonna say, 352-year-old piano player in the Buena Vista Social Club, and the second member of that group to pop up in the ol' iTunes shuffle. (Go ahead and click here for my extremely informative post on Compay Segundo.) And considering he was actually the guy who greeted Christopher Columbus when he discovered Cuba (see, you learn somethin' around here every now and then :P ), it's pretty amazing that he could still play piano so well. Anyhoo, like just about all of the B.V.S.C. members, he recorded some solo stuff after the original album came out, and it's just fantastic music...Ruben Gonzalez - Tumbao (ysi)And here's one of my favorite clips from the film, featuring the man himself...Heck, I just hope I'm not wearing a diaper when I'm that old. Cheers, Senor Gonzalez!
More About: Return

Which Norwegians? Oh, those Norwegians...
2007-11-30 19:09:00
House Music Friday brings you another favorite from the legendary Club Septo (don't bother Googling it :P )...I don't imagine that too many folks have heard of Those Norwegians, an act that released the fine Kaminzky Park record on Paper Recordings, but it might ring a bell for a few of you if I mention one of the members of this project was Rune Lindbaek, a guy who's done quite well for himself in the Disco House/Disco re-edit scene that all the kids are wild about these days. But since it was on Paper, you know it's gonna be some good stuff, and this track in particular was on heavy rotation back in the house party days. Seriously jazzy deepness with a guest appearance by a robot that seems to have some kind of number fixation...Those Norwegians - 39-38-39 (ysi)But seriously though, 39 what? And then there's only 38? But then later there's 39 again? Other than my amount of surviving brain cells, I'm not really sure what that robot is referring to... oh well, have a ...

Pasty British dude #126
2007-11-29 19:56:00
Music so good you could eat it today, if you could actually eat music... which you can't...Flight 602 is the latest album from Mr. Andy Turner, aka Aim. He's been turning out really good music for years, and this is no exception. Yummy, warm downtempo treats. Kinda like s'mores, but you can't eat 'em. Well, I guess you could try to eat a CD or record if you wanted to, but I doubt it would taste too good, no matter how much Tapatio you put on it. Mmm... Tapatio... but I digress. That's what I do when I don't have a whole lot of information about an artist. If I didn't digress sometimes, probably 70% of these posts would read something like, "now here's another faceless but most assuredly pasty British dude that makes good music"... and that would probably get kinda boring after awhile, no? Anyhoo, enjoy the sounds of Aim...Aim - Walking Home Through The Park (ysi)Dude used to use a lot of rappers on his tracks, but this new album doesn't have so much of that... so...
More About: Pasty

Ape-prototypes?
2007-11-28 19:23:00
So, the shuffle landed on something I haven't listened to in quite some time today...Considering that its members included Dan the Automator and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien (and Kid Koala) and that Damon Albarn sang a song on the album, it seems that Deltron 3030 was The Gorillaz before The Gorillaz, knowhutimean? The album is just as genius, that's for sure... but then again, look at who's involved (and there are a lot more than I mentioned). Yet this record certainly never achieved anywhere near the crossover success... I guess it was the cartoon thing that pushed the idea to the next level... cartoons are funny and I like the bright colors...Deltron 3030 - Love Story (ysi)So supposedly, there will be another Deltron album coming out next year... let's hope that happens!
More About: Proto

Mann-teca!
2007-11-27 18:53:00
Now, yesterday I mentioned that Galactic's song had a piece of "Manteca" in it... so I figured I'd help you out, if you weren't familiar with that particular tune, because I am here to help, people! Remember when Paris Hilton was in jail and made all these pronouncements that she was going to dedicate herself to helping people when she got out, only to recant on them when she realized that helping people actually required, like, you know... doing stuff? Well, I'm no Paris Hilton! I've never recorded a sex tape... in nightvision, anyway... and I'm going to follow through! But I'm with Paris on one thing... I'm not going to Rwanda, either...Anyhoo, Manteca is a jazz standard by Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo that has been recorded oh, about a billion times, one of my all time favorites. This version, by flautist Herbie Mann , I was just introduced to by the awesome Jose Rizo on KKJZ's "Jazz on the Latin Side" show. (Do yourself a favor and check that out on the stream so...

NOLA, the next generation
2007-11-26 20:00:00
Okay, I'm hoping you've slept off all that turkey and booze (Americans) or other food and booze (Europeans) or just plain booze (Drunks), because it's time to start another week of blog-tastic love (huh?)...If you're going to start a funk band, it's a very good idea to be from New Orleans, just ask Galactic. They are from New Orleans, and their funk band is quite successful, proving my theory to be 100% rock-solid. Now, these days they're messing about with the Hip-Hop a bit, and are sometimes grouped into the "jam band" category, one that makes my skin crawl with thoughts of dirty, spinning hippies. I'm not sure the "jam band" thing really applies, but if you have white guys in your band and embrace the funk it seems almost unavoidable... sigh... anyhoo, this record is from a decade ago, before all that, when their sound was pure, unadulterated NOLA funk, naturally the period of theirs that I prefer...Galactic - Funky Bird (ysi)Notice how they even threw a bit of "Mante...
More About: Generation , The Next Generation

The Funk Phenomena
2007-11-23 16:38:00
House Music Friday is here to shake you out of that Tryptophan-induced stupor...Yeah, yeah, I know... Armand Van Helden = Cheesy as fuck. I know... but he has had his moments. This is probably his best, right here. This track was huge in L.A....Armand Van Helden - The Funk Phenomena (ysi) Yep, even a dog has his day... wait, I think I fucked that saying up... never mind. Just pump it loud and have a great weekend!

Remix that fool!
2007-11-21 19:14:00
The "King of Latin R'n'B" (it says so on his website!) meets remixing royalty today...Remi nted, the new remix compilation by Fort Knox Five is just chock full of the funky breaks goodness. Which is a good goodness to be chock full of, in my opinion. To wit, here they take a classic from the great singer Joe Bataan, repping Spanish Harlem again here in the blog, and funkify his shit up real nice like...Joe Bataan - The Fool (Fort Knox Five Remix ) (ysi)I'll be taking tomorrow off to stuff my face, hope you do the same!

Which Lonnie Smith do you speak of?
2007-11-20 18:56:00
Today, some great '70s Jazz/Funk and a fabulous album cover...... but before we get to the track, allow me to clear some things up. This Lonnie Smith ... or Dr. Lonnie Smith to you, whitey... is not Lonnie Liston Smith, okay? Yeah, they both have the same name, both played keyboard, both put out their most famous work at the exact same time and in pretty much the same style. But that's really all they have in common. I don't know where the confusion comes from... sheesh! Also, this Lonnie Smith is not the fine slap-hitting/base-stealing outfielder of the '80s..."I can't even play piano!"... besides, baseball Lonnie Smith was also a famed cokehead, and we all know that all the best Jazz players prefer the smack. Okay, so now that we have that out of the way, the song! Now, the first 1:30 of this song has some vocals that you might describe as, how can I say this nicely... Chocolate Porn City, perhaps? But after that, it settles in to a great uptempo workout with really ni...
More About: Speak

You can call me Tonymoonbiscuit
2007-11-19 18:37:00
An overlooked Neo-Soul gem today...Ambersunshower is a singer from Brooklyn, and yes, that's her real first name. But despite that, her (one and only) album is not at all dirty hippie music. Actually, it's a hugely slept on record that pre-dates but should be mentioned in the same breath as the first Erykah Badu and Jill Scott records as one of the best of it's genre. Girl's got kind of a weird voice, but it really grows on you. Check out this jam, produced by P.M. Dawn...Ambersunshower - The Running Song (ysi)This is one of my favorite albums to turn people on to, because everyone I have turned onto it has become just as addicted to it as I have. Maybe you will, too? Let me know...
More About: Call

Did someone say Fi-yah?!?!
2007-11-16 19:11:00
House Music Friday is heatin' it up...There's not a whole lot of info out there on Powder Productions, except for what you would expect. It's a pasty Brit named Phil. Really? Never woulda guessed... but Phil put out two nice Deep House albums on Glasgow Underground, and this is probably my favorite track of his, a peak-time banger for sure...Powder Productions - Hot Stuff (ysi)This CD is out of print but available for 30 freakin' cents at Amazon. You need to go jump on that... And hey, check it out, I'm on the YouTubes! I'm the one who says "That's a sweet ass"...Look out world, a star is born! Okay, maybe not... have a great weekend!
More About: Some

If only he'd worn a belt
2007-11-15 19:12:00
Listen now, to this tale of woe...Monsieur Ludovic Llorca is a French producer who so far has one very good album under his belt. Assuming he wears a belt. Which he should... otherwise his pants might fall down and everyone would see his junk and point and laugh. And then all of his music would be sad because his self image was crushed by the mockery. Poor guy. He really didn't deserve that, ya know? Yeah, sure, he stole that baguette from that homeless old lady and kicked her in the head that one time, but to be honest she kind of deserved it. Well, anyway, the pre-public humiliation Llorca album is a fine mix of house, jazz and latin styles... you know, the usual. Good stuff... here's an uptempo number on a Bossa Nova vibe...Llorca - Indigo Blues (with Nicole Graham) (ysi)... happier times indeed for poor Ludovic...
More About: Belt

The Broken Beat Diva
2007-11-14 19:16:00
Why don't we just go ahead and take our lively music week up yet another notch...You may have heard the name Wunmi before... maybe. She's done vocals on tracks for people like Masters at Work and Bugz In The Attic. But now the Lagos-to-London singer has her own album of her own, Africans Living Abroad, and with a producer list that reads like a who's who of the Broken Beat scene, it's off the hook. Just listen to this madness...Wunmi - Left 2 Right (ysi)Damn, them's some crazy-ass beats. And vocals. And everything else! You go, wacky African girl with the freaky hair and the nutty clothes and stuff... you go!
More About: Diva , Broken Beat

I ain't funkin' around, and neither is he
2007-11-13 19:24:00
Continuing to keep it lively this week!Trumpeter Longineu Parsons is an artist who was raised from a state of obscurity to a state of new and improved semi-obscurity by Ubiquity Records' fine re-issue label Luv 'n' Haight. But hey, I'm sure he'll take it. This record is a career retrospective for someone you didn't even know had a career, so it's that much cooler when the person is actually quite good and can finally get some props. Jazz, Funk and African influences combine into what we like to call "good shit" around here. This tune here is a bit of a ramshackle affair, what with all the percussion bangin' & clatterin', but it will certainly make you get up and shake it...Longineu Parsons - Funkin' Around (ysi)It seems that his son (grandson maybe even?) plays drums for the crappy alt-rock band Yellowcard, but we'll try not to hold that against him.... friggin' kids these days... :P

Fighting off the darkness!
2007-11-12 19:30:00
I don't know about y'all, but this switch to Standard Time is messin' with my brain. It's like pitch black at 5 PM these days... which makes it feel like 10, which makes me want to go to bed way too early. Or maybe I'm just an old man... anyhoo, I think we need to fight off the lethargy with a week full of uptempo tunes, and there's no more uptempo way to start than with some Drum 'n' Bass...I can't be arsed to look back through my old posts, so if I've mentioned this before, oh well... but I was so into Drum 'n' Bass when it all started, but then kind of let it slip by the wayside when I got all into House. Haven't really been following it too closely for a few years, but turns out there's still some really good stuff being made, and a lot of the best new D'n'B comes out on Hospital Records, a label that's been around for quite a while now and is obviously still going strong. Perhaps their biggest act, Mr. Tony Colman, aka London Elektricity is a man who you go...
More About: Fighting , The Darkness , Darkness

House music and dead bunnies
2007-11-09 18:25:00
Another House Music Friday = another stone-cold classic...Mr. Guy Nado, aka DJ Rasoul is a legend of the San Francisco house scene, right up there with Miguel Migs, Mark Farina and that lot. He's never quite achieved the "mainstream" success those guys have for some reason, but ask anyone who came up in the scene in the last 10 years, and they'll set you straight... Rasoul is the man! As proof of that, I offer you what may be his biggest track, one that has killed many a dancefloor here in Cali and well, well beyond. This one is out of print and really hard to track down... it's the kind of record people don't ever sell back... the kind of record that if it gets scratched, you will see a grown man cry like a little girl who skinned her knee while simultaneously losing her favorite doll and watching a bunny get run through a woodchipper...DJ Rasoul - True Science (ysi)... see what I'm sayin'? Oh, and speaking of bunnies... I never knew they were so suicidal...Have a grea...
More About: Dead , House Music

The Pink Pirate
2007-11-08 18:38:00
Yet another candidate for the "Why aren't they huge?" file today...Me and Esthero go way back. Well, I've never actually talked to or met her or anything (although she is friends with some people I know), but I did see her very first L.A. show many years ago when her amazing debut record had just come out, but no one had really heard of her yet. She was great, but totally shy on stage, not talking much between songs, giving the meek little thank you's to the audience - it was cute... fast-forward to a few months later, the record had blown up and she played Coachella and suddenly she was sex on wheels, owning the stage, working the crowd... the change in her confidence level was amazing. I was quite convinced that she was going to be a huge star. Then, record company troubles and who knows what else happens and it's 7 years until she gets another record out. A really nice record, but didn't do much business. Talk about momentum lost. Now she's left a second major record...
More About: Pink , Pirate , Irate