Koopa's Hideaway

The Z Man

2010-02-26T10:41:00.003-05:00

Warren Zevon is one of those artists that is equally loved for his music as well as his embodiment of the destructive, excessive rock and roll life. He's sooooo 70's rock, in a great way, not a lame Eagles-way. "Werewolves of London" is one of my all time favorites. In fact, Elle and I did the Werewolves of London thing for Halloween one year and it was excellent! "Lawyers, Guns and Money" is another great, great song. The part of the song near the end where he lets loose with a loud "HA!" and breaks into a short solo is a great, cathartic moment. But, today we are focusing on one of his lesser-known tunes, "Carmelia". I first heard this song via Magnolia Electric Co doing a live cover of it back when I was downloading loads of live MECO a couple years ago. I loved it, as well as their cover of "Werewolves" from the Hard to Love a Man EP. Carmelita is song about an addict, with narrative, writerly elements and one of my favorite opening lines "I hear mariachi static on my radio/and the tubes they glow in the dark/and I'm there with her in Ensenada/and I'm here in Echo Park". My favorite version is the demo version that was added to the re-issue of his self-titled sophomore album. Zevon wouldn't gain widespread popularity until his third album "Excitable Boy" which contained both "Werewolves of London" and "Lawyers, Guns and Money".

Warren Zevon - Carmelita (1974 demo version) [mp3 link]

Becklips Live

2010-02-09T13:15:00.004-05:00

Another quick post today since I'm not in a writing mood. I said I would post up Beck's 2002 Austin City Limits set with the Flaming Lips, so here ya go. It's a bit on the snoozy side, but Sea Change is a snoozy album so its only fitting. This tour came through Indy and I was able to go with my friends Buster & Tesla. Great times.

Beck w/ the Flaming Lips - Austin City Limits set (zip file)

Freeez Video of the Day

2010-02-09T10:46:00.001-05:00

Before we move on to non-Freeez-related posts, I'm obligated to post this song as proof that as bad (in a bad way) Freeez was in the I.O.U. video below, they were once good (in a very good way). This song is a jam, no two ways about it. Do the Southern Freeez!

Freeez - Southern Freeez (mp3)

Video of the Day

2010-01-29T11:32:00.002-05:00

Folks, 80's music videos just don't get a lot more awesome than this:

Day of the Utensil

2010-01-26T12:03:00.000-05:00

Last week, Spoon's album "Transference" made its official debut and it continues their streak of Wilco-esque consistency. In lieu of boring you with breaking down why I like it or what it sounds like or whatever else, today is a tribute to the three tools that help us slurp, stab, dice, and eat. (Sporks have yet to break into my music collection, so you'll have to wait a little longer or look somewhere else for a spork-related song.)

First up, is King Tubby's "Knife & Fork Dubwise" from Tubby's album Dangerous Dub. It's a dub song. It reeks of dub. It's dub you can smell as soon as you walk in the club. Don't knock this dub til you try it.

King Tubby - Knife & Fork Dubwise

Next is Charlie Patton's "Spoonful" from The Music Never Stopped: Roots Of The Grateful Dead. It's old-as-your-great-gramps acoustic delta blues from a guy Bob Dylan dedicated a song to ("High Water, for Charley Patton"). Born in 1891, he influenced both John Lee Hooker and Howling Wolf. He's the oldest of the old timey.

Charlie Patton - Spoonful

Next is Plate Fork Knife Spoon's "Theme from Spacewalk" which is all slow keys & drums. It's what Whoopi Goldberg's Star Trek character, Guinan, might cue up on the juke box in the Ten-Forward lounge while dispensing sage advise to a conflicted Jean Luc Picard.

Plate Fork Knife Spoon - Theme From Spacewalk

Finally...new Spoon. Just check it out.

Spoon - Who Makes Your Money

Quick Hits

2010-01-25T10:16:00.001-05:00

So, I'm reading The Onion AV Club's "Gateway to Geekery" article on Northern Soul and one of the songs they featured is this gem from girl group The Flirtations out of South Carolina. The vocals have a definite Michael Jackson-like quality to them, which I guess is sorta interesting since the lead singer here is a female. But, the song is 2 minutes and 30 seconds of soul-pop wonderfulness.

Live Mutations!

2010-01-20T10:50:00.002-05:00

from hammerandbeyond.blogspot.com

Today Koopa’s Hideaway celebrates the release of Beck’s “Mutations” album. Happy 11yr, 2month, 17 day anniversary, Beck!!! No one has put out an album since then that is any better than Mutations. Nobody! Sure, there have been other great albums released in the decade since, but nothing that goes above and beyond this one. And for being released near the height of the music industry’s selling power, the 600,000 units that have been sold makes Mutations relatively under-appreciated. Trufax: 8Ball & MJG’s album “Lost” sold more than 2,000,000 units….

Let’s tick off what makes a great album:

1. No stinkers: Check. This album plays well from start to finish and even has a relic of its time: a hidden track at the end (Diamond Bollocks).

2. Great songwriting: Check. So many great lines and suggestive images. These are songs that can be covered in a variety of ways and dressed up in different musical outfits.

3. Fresh musical style: Check. The Brazilian tropicalia style Beck & Nigel Godrich mixed into some of these songs felt new and different. Add in the spacy Moog keyboard effects throughout and you’ve got yourself a distinctive musical palette.

4. Hasn’t been successfully copied: Check. Can you think of a subsequent album that sounds remotely like “Mutations”?

5. References to underground musical influences: Check. It stands to reason that the name “Mutations” is both a comment on the differences from “Odelay” and a reference to Brazilian tropicalia legends Os Mutantes. Beck would later do a version their song “O Menina”.

I spent the better part of yesterday on Becktabs.com’s online forum downloading live material from this album. I had live versions of most of the album from a couple KCRW radio sessions I had downloaded somewhere, but there were a couple holes. I found out from whiskyclone.net that one of my all-time favorite Beck songs, Static, has only been played live 4 times. But, I’m very happy with the finished product and I know you will be too. I give you, “Live Mutations”:

Download: Sendspace link to the zip file

Tracklist:

Cold Brains, from KCRW 11.23.1998

Nobody’s Fault But My Own, from KCRW 11.23.1998

Lazy Flies, 2.14.2003

Canceled Check, 1.10.1999

We Live Again, from KCRW 11.03.2000

Tropicalia, from KCRW 11.23.1998

Dead Melodies, from KCRW 11.23.1998

Bottle of Blues, from KCRW 11.23.1998

O Maria, from KCRW 11.23.1998

Sing it Again, from KCRW 11.23.1998

Static, 10.29.2000

Diamond Bollocks (hidden track), 4.19.1999

Bonus, from the 1998 KCRW appearance, an amazing version of "Debra":

Chess Expressions

2010-01-19T10:31:00.003-05:00

Herein follow minutes concerning the Earth House Chess Club meeting on 01/14/10.

(Or "Why I never win; the nature of the beast.")

On this day we begin the 11th meeting of the Earth House Chess Club.

Total members = 2
Including: Bradley Jones, Ian Doe

Total members in attendance = 1

Including: Bradley Jones

Turn out for chess club was scant this week. Brad Jones was the only member in attendance, not by happenstance, but in accordance with his work schedule. Thus, no proper games were won, lost, or drawn. However, two homeless men (non-members), here named Billy Joel and Charlie 5 (homeless men who enter Earth House more than once are assigned a "Charlie" title, and a number designating their order of appearance, unless endowed with a special trait; "Billy Joel" had the ability to play scales on the house piano for multiple hours without signs of fatigue, for example) were present and available for conversation and fellowship.

As Billy Joel warmed-up and the aether of the church sanctuary filled with dashing glissandos, Brad mentioned to Charlie 5 an interest he had developed in Rube Goldburg-esque suicide machines.

Quoted conversation:

"Have you been thinking of them for a long time?" Charlie 5 said.

"Not really, just for the last few minutes." Brad replied.

"Is it the piano?"

"Yes."

"Want me to ask him to stop playing?"

"No, a suicide machine would be easier."

"Need help building it?"

"Sure, I was actually hoping you might set it into motion for me?"

"What were you thinking of?"

End Quoted Segment.

Brad removed an ink pen from a dented canister on the front counter and sketched a rough diagram for Charlie 5. The plan called for a dog dish filled with wet food, two foot-long lengths of string, 14 dominoes, several cats-eye marbles, a series of pulleys and levers, and finally a child-sized crossbow loaded with a razor tipped, poison dipped arrow positioned to launch from one side of the sanctuary and accurately pierce Brad's heart at the other. Brad pointed with his toe to a spot on the floor stained by espresso coffee (a story in itself) and announced that this was the place where he would be conveniently seated on a stool to make certain the arrows purpose.

Charlie 5 agreed to the plan and they set to it's realization. Just as they finished, the two were interrupted by Billy Joel harshly striking a sour note at the piano and coming to a full stop. Both looked up questioningly.

Quoted conversation:

"God damn fuck fuck fuck!" Billy Joel said.

"What happened?" asked Charlie 5

"Sour note. Everything on this piano works perfectly except this one fucking note and it drives me crazy. How am I supposed to even play this piece of shit?"

"Maybe you shouldn't.." Brad said.

"I've got to, fucking song goes though my head all day and I need to play it fucking perfectly; it's like one of those infected splinters in your finger and you can't think of anything but getting the fucker out. It's making me sick."

"You know the key is bad, but still complain. What do you expect?"

"You obviously have no idea what it's like to be an artist, dude."

"Is it like being an idiot who expects a repeated action to arrive at an impossible, however so desired, consequence?"

End Quoted Segment.

At this Billy Joel turned back the the piano to begin again. Brad sighed and made his way to the carefully positioned stool in defeat. Sitting so as to make his chest an open a target as possible, he pointed to his heart, then motioned for Charlie 5 to set the machine into motion.

The sequence of steps was flawless. Brad felt a rush of anxiety and hope, despite his resolve, as the order of opperations approached the crossbow's trigger. The deadly missle's tip glinted for a split-second as it took flight. It whistled across the room. Brad closed his eyes. The arrow glided just past his neck, he felt the fletchings brush against him, before burying itself in the wall some feet behind.

He opened his eyes. Charlie 5 shrugged at him scratched his head. Billy Joel contiued his playing, the sour note rapidly approaching.

Quoted conversation:

"Load it up again Charlie 5, maybe it will work this time." Brad said.

End Quoted Segment.

Net Surrealism Art Blog: Buy Original Oil Paintings by Jeremiah Palecek

2010-01-18T22:55:00.002-05:00

Net Surrealism Art Blog: Buy Original Oil Paintings by Jeremiah Palecek

Do the Bloggy Blog!

2010-01-18T19:38:00.002-05:00

All right, stop whatcha doin 'cause I'm about to ruin the image and the style that ya used to [from this blog]. I look funny but yo I'm makin money see, so world I hope you're ready for me [and my new co-bloggers]. Now gather round, we're the new fools in town and our sound's laid down by the underground. We drink up all the Hennessey ya got on ya shelf, so just let me introduce myself [and my co-bloggers].

First up, his name is Bradley, pronounced very radly. Yo ladies, oh how he'd like the hump thee. And all the other bloggers in the top ten, please allow him to bump thee.

Next up is Mr. Rowland, pronounced like rock n rollin'. He likes to rhyme, he likes his beats funky, he's spunky, he likes his oatmeal lumpy. He's sick wt dis, straight gangsta mack but sometimes he gets ridiculous, he'll up all your crackers and your licorice.

It's a new era here at Koopa's Hideaway. New header & layout (thanks "Elle"!!!) and new bloggers. Same awesomeness you've grown accustomed to. It's KH3.0.

Facebook | rowland1964 Notes

2010-01-18T19:10:00.000-05:00

Facebook rowland1964 Notes: "ingredients:
3 lemons
can of chicken stock or broth
fresh tyme
1 onion
4 cloves of garlic
box linguini
1/2 stick butter
olive oil
1 pac chicken breasts

dice one small onion
strip leaves off tyme about 1/3 cup
mince garlic
zest lemons
juice lemons
cube chicken

start boiling the waterfor the pasta. cook chicken in skillet with a little olive oil salt & pepper and set aside
in a seperate skillet start to sautae onions in the butter and a little oil so it doesn't start to smoke, when they are translucent add garlic sautae for anothe minute
add lemon juice (about 1/3 to 1/2 cup), chicken broth(the same amount as lemon juice) lemon zest, almost all the time and let reduce.
at the same time you start the onions start the linguini
once the linguini is done and the sauce has reduced put the pasta into the skillet with the sauce and toss, also add the little remaining tyme
then feed people
if its good, YES!
IF IT SUX, YOU MADE IT WRONG YOU MORON!
this is good, it is what my son and wife ask me to make almost weekly, my daughter only eats cheese and chicken nuggets."

What Have I Been Up To?

2010-01-15T11:24:00.006-05:00

Before I get too deep into blogging again, I need to account for the 3+ years I've been absent from this blog. I owe it to my lovingly concerned readers, who I'm sure called their area hospitals looking for new patients named "King Koopa" and drove down country roads searching the ditches for my twisted frame. I'm alive, I'm well, and if you're reading this I assume you're about the same. So, what have I been up to?
1) I got married to "Elle"!
2) I travelled the world by bumper boat.
3) I got two orange kitty cats, Otis & Newton.
4) I voted in an election for the first time.
5) I invested heavily in beanie babies. Oops.
6) I contracted Hoof & Mouth disease.
7) I turned 30. Boo.
8) I bought a sweet ride!
9) I got laid off. Boooo.
10) I lost weight! Back in my 36-30s, natch.
11) Ron Artest's R&B label "Tru Warrior" issued my solo debut as compensation for punching me.
11a) I went platinum in Morocco!
12) I started wearing curduroy pants again.
13) I started a small business based on inspection/maintenance for stormwater treatment units.
14) I set up a wireless network in my house to connect my laptop, external hard drives, and stereo.

And, that brings us up to the present. I just set up the wireless network yesterday and it is a wonder to behold. I have wireless access to all 22,083 music files on my iTunes and can play them on my wireless speakers with a single click. Longtime dream come true. Next up, I'm DJ-ing for my old buddy Jason Rowland's gallery show at the Murphy Building here in Indy on February 5th. Here's a link to his stuff on Etsy. But, more on that later!

Enough exposition, right?...lets get to the music! This track is fresh as Binaca, with equal parts Brazillian Girls, New Young Pony Club & LCD Soundsystem. And, I've not played it for anybody but "Elle", Otis & Newton. I hope your dance moves are as good as Newton's!

The Phenomenal Handclap Band - 15 to 20 (feat. Lady Tigra)

Update:

That Old Heat

2010-01-14T17:02:00.000-05:00

So, the past six months I've really been getting back into hip hop, primarily mid-to-late 90's NY stuff. These two tracks are ones I've discovered that absolutely slay. Both tracks are DJ Premier beats, and you can. not. front. on Primo. The Group Home "Supa Star" track was sampled for DJ Cam's "Gangsta Shit (live)". The Showbiz & AG track is one of those tracks that anyone with an appreciation for hip hop will fall in love with.

Showbiz & AG - Next Level (DJ Premier remix)

Group Home - Supa Star

Me -> Saddle, Again

2010-01-14T13:55:00.003-05:00

Well, would you look at that! This ol' blog is still here just as I left it...son of a gun. Lord knows I've said and thought some not-so-friendly things about blogs in the past, but I take it all back. Blogs are awesome! Time for me to get back on this saddle and get frustrated all over again with others lack of interest! Woo hoo!

The Jamming Iroquois

2006-11-11T12:31:00.000-05:00

Jay Kay, don't even try to act like you were rockin this hat before me. I invented the mirrorball-spike-headdress back when you were standing in line for A-Ha tickets. Ask anybody, you style-bitin sonofa...

You owe me one, Buster. This took entirely too long.

Deeper Underground (live)
Sunny (live)
Hollywood Swingin (live) Highly recommended
Cosmic Girl (live)
Bad Girl (live) Recommended for bad girls only
Scam (live)
Music of the Mind (live)
Getting Down (live)
When You Gonna Learn (live)
God Made Me Funky
Mr. Moon (live)
Who The Funk Do You Think You Are (live)
Return of the Space Cowboy (live) Soberly Recommended
Stillness in Time (live)

Election Day Blues

2006-11-07T20:18:00.000-05:00

Somebody stole my t-shirt idea

Sergio Mendes - Fool On the Hill

I thought I might vote today, but I didn't. If I had to vote for something, I'd vote for this song being totally cool. It's got that swinging, breezy vibe to it. And, it's a cover of a Beatles tune. I love Beatles covers.

Tighten Up

2006-11-02T19:04:00.000-05:00

"See? Now, I could make it even tighter if I wanted, if I wanted to cave in your chest. It's one of the many ways to silently kill your enemy that I learned from my neighbor who was in 'Nam."

Jamiroquai - Tighten Up (Live)

My buddy Jasper, aka Doc McGradencrock, aka B-Rad, hooked up the live Jamiroquai track on a mix he made me this week. It lives up to the awesomeness of the original, by Archie and the Drells. I'm surprised I'd never heard it, but I haven't gone out of my way to collect all Jamiroquai's live covers. The sound quality is very good.

Peace out.

Pin the Tail on the Jackass

2006-10-16T18:21:00.000-04:00

Which one of these two is the jackass?

Van Morrison - It's All Over Now, Baby Blue [mp3]

Beck - Jack-ass (Lowrider Remix) [mp3]

Beck - Jack-ass [mp3]

Back to Beck and his samples...this one is my favorite. Van Morrison & Them's version of Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" was playing at my buddy Seth's place one day, and my antenna perked up, making mental connections, and searching the databanks for the link. Didn't need a dish or cable, my ol' antenna processed the signal just fine and with very little fuzz, thank you very much. The echo-y keyboards and guitars, it's the backbone of Beck's "Jack-ass" from Odelay. Both songs are among my favorites. The Lowrider remix sounds more than a little dated. Sounds like the Stereo MC's or something. It's sorta rare though, I guess...if that means anything anymore in the age of limewire...

Cooderific

2006-10-14T12:44:00.000-04:00

Ry Cooder - Tear Drops Will Fall

Guess Who's Back?

2006-10-09T23:22:00.000-04:00

King Koopa is back in the game.

Mick Jagger w/ Ry Cooder - Memo To Turner [mp3]

Say, did anybody else notice Beck sampled Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon" for his new single "Cellphone's Dead"? Here's a high school band playing "Chameleon", from DJ Shadow's compilation "Schoolhouse Funk".

Curtain Call

2006-04-17T12:28:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone, check out my unit!

And so, another era of the internet has come to a close, albeit with a whimper and nary a condolatory sniffle. King Koopa is hanging up his blogging shoes. That’s right world, you don’t have King Koopa to kick around the blogosphere anymore. From this point on, I will no longer be a “blogger”, except in the past tense. I never had any pride in being a blogger anyway; in fact, I was always somewhat ashamed to include myself among a group of people who feel compelled to share with the world any and all sorts of information that nobody else cares about but themselves. I tried to make my posts interesting, but I realize that Koopa’s Hideaway was always a pretty insular place that primarily served to keep my mind active during down times at my job. I’d be fooling myself if I thought Koopa’s Hideaway was anything more than a glorified diary with a soundtrack. The only Hideawayheads were friends of mine who were as bored as I was and felt obliged to click over to my blog from time to time. My Site Tracker told me I averaged about 20-30 visitors a day, but most of them were probably looking for transgender midget porn or something.

Unfortunately, the powers that be at my office have decided that I need to concern myself with only work matters during work hours. “They” don’t have any guidance for what I should do instead of using the internet (in fact, twiddling my thumbs was proposed by one of the higher-ups), but “they” told me that my use of the internet during work hours must come to a close. I’m a chronically under-stimulated person and I don’t look forward to what lies ahead during my time of boredom around here. The temptation to double click on my Internet Explorer icon and visit Koopa’s Hideaway again will be ever-present and excruciating, like a recovering crack addict living next to Bobby and Whitney.

My co-workers should expect to be interrupted much more frequently with conversations about off-season football moves, the weather, and other nonsense that people talk about when they don’t have anything to talk about. I’ll still be able to check my Yahoo email and surf around a little bit during lunch and after work, but the whole point of this blog was to kill time during work. I’m not going to blog from home, because I’ve got better things to do with my free time. I leave you with one of my favorite Bob Dylan songs, and one of the best “goodbye” songs ever written. Each party is sorta sad to see the other one leave, but both parties realize that things have come to an end. The only thing left is the inevitable journey to the next thing down the road. By saying goodbye, we’re already halfway there.

Bob Dylan – Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right (Demo) [from the soundtrack to “No Direction Home]

It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
It don't matter, anyhow
An' it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
If you don't know by now
When your rooster crows at the break of dawn
Look out your window and I'll be gone
You're the reason I'm trav'lin' on
Don't think twice, it's all right

It ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
That light I never knowed
An' it ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
I'm on the dark side of the road
Still I wish there was somethin' you would do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talkin' anyway
So don't think twice, it's all right

It ain't no use in callin' out my name, gal
Like you never did before
It ain't no use in callin' out my name, gal
I can't hear you any more
I'm a-thinkin' and a-wond'rin' all the way down the road
I once loved a woman, a child I'm told
I give her my heart but she wanted my soul
But don't think twice, it's all right

I'm walkin' down that long, lonesome road, babe
Where I'm bound, I can't tell
But goodbye's too good a word, gal
So I'll just say fare thee well
I ain't sayin' you treated me unkind
You could have done better but I don't mind
You just kinda wasted my precious time
But don't think twice, it's all right

Stay classy, planet earth. And, thanks for stopping by.

Encore: Kaada - Thank You For Giving Me Your Valuable Time. This track is my favorite way to end a mix cds. You'll enjoy it for that reason, as well. Kaada is a Scandinavian (Norwegian?) sample artist who sometimes sings over his songs, as he does on this one. This song sounds like a Motown song done by a benevolent alien who studied earth by listening to AM radio transmissions. The perfecto closer.

Koopa out.

Don't Move A Muscle

2006-03-31T09:59:00.000-05:00

Don't make a move, punk. I could smoke you without coughing.

So, I leave for Hawaii next Wednesday. I can’t wait. This pasty Midwestern boy is ready to kick it on “island time” for a week. Yesterday, I talked to one of my buddies from LA who is going and he’s hooking up a resort hotel in Waikiki for like $60/night. We’ll be splitting our time between there and our friend’s place who lives in some village on Oahu and teaches biology or something. Pays to have friends who have friends in the service industry. You bet yer booty it does.

Here’s another mix I’ve made for the trip. This one is sort of a hangover-friendly morning mix. Island-stylee. I’m calling this one “Don’t Move a Muscle”, it’s one of the most chill mixes I’ve made in awhile. Nothing to get too excited about here, just lay around for a minute and get your wits about you. We’ll go from there…

Curtis Mayfield – Blue Monday People
Lou Rawls – Willow Weep For Me
Feist – Gatekeeper (XFM Version w/ Broken Social Scene)
Shuggie Otis – Island Letter
Charlie Byrd – It’s Impossible
Beck – Ramshackle
Nick Drake – Pink Moon
Herbie Mann – What’s Going On
BB King – Chains and Things
Curtis Mayfield – We People Who Are Darker Than Blue
George Benson – Nature Boy
Shuggie Otis – Aht Uh Mi Hed
Ernest Ranglin – Surfin
Ry Cooder – Poor Man’s Shangri-La
Daniel Lanois – Desert Rose
JJ Cale – Magnolia
Shuggie Otis – Freedom Flight

Happy Relatively-Close-Birthday To Me!

2006-03-22T16:40:00.000-05:00

The traditional Birthday Tenderloin

So, I’m laying around last night with Elle and I bring up the subject of my birthday present, which isn’t exactly around the corner, but it’s coming up soon enough. She had mentioned the night before on the phone that she had been looking on the internet for my birthday stuff. I got her to begrudgingly give me a clue, which was “It has to do with the Civil War”. I’ve been to Gettysburg and I’ve read some stuff about history, so I was pretty excited already. Here was my thought progression: Uhh...slaves?...sex slave?...the Underground Railroad?...a Grand Funk Railroad record?...wait, no the war was technically over states rights, right?...and we live in a state capital...the state to the right of us on the map is Ohio...but, nothing really happens in Ohio...Lincoln?...I've been to the home he was born in...and irreverantly participated in an adoption rights protest in front of his monument while I was in a soccer tournament in DC as a kid...Hey, there's a park in Chicago called Lincoln Park...we stayed near there for the Feist show!...but I really hope it doesn't have anything to do with Linkin Park...although they do sound pretty good w/ Jay-Z...music music music...I think there's also a park called Grant Park in Chicago...and, didn't I recently confuse where we stayed as Grant Park instead of Lincoln Park?...only to have Elle correct me and tell me that Lollapalooza was at Grant Park?...Hey, wasn't Grant a Yankee general?...gotcha!: It’s Lollapalooza in GRANT Park, Chicago (Aug 4-6). That was it, and I knew it, and I told her that I knew what it was. Incredulous and doubtful of my Sherlockian qualities, she said there was “no way”. I asked if she wanted me to guess and, still irrationally skeptical of my powers of deduction, she said “yeah, sure”. I then proceeded to simultaneously blow her mind and ruin my the surprise of my birthday present in one fell swoop. But, considering that hotels must be booked and whatnot, I think it’s best to know now. If you haven’t seen the lineup for this year’s Lollapalooza, you’re in for a surprise because I dare say that it is the best lineup I’ve ever seen for a festival. Bar none. And, fewer hippies than any other festival ever…I hope.

Question: Could I be more excited? Answer: No.
Question: Is my girlfriend, like, super awesome? Answer: Yes.

Here’s a sampling of the bands that will rock my own personal Kasbah from Friday till Sunday, with nary a drum circle to break my mood. Want to join us? Belly up to the bar, partner.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kanye West, Manu Chao (mp3: Clandestino), Wilco (mp3: Student Loan Stereo, from one of the "Can't Stand It" cd singles), Death Cab For Cutie, The Raconteurs (see 2/24 post), The Flaming Lips (see 2/24 post), Ween, The Shins, Common, Matisyahu (his interview with The Onion), Ryan Adams (mp3: I See Monsters, live from XM Studios, Spring '05), Thievery Corporation, Broken Social Scene (mp3: Almost Crimes, the original , unreleased version), The New Pornographers, Iron & Wine, Eels, Panic! At the Disco, The Disco Biscuits , Andrew Bird, Gnarls Barkley (see 2/24 post), Stars (mp3: This Charming Man, a Smiths cover), Blackalicious, Lyrics Born, Calexico, Feist, Aqualung, The Go! Team (mp3: Huddle Formation, RJD2 remix)…on and on goes the list…

Happy McDrinky Day

2006-03-17T11:58:00.000-05:00

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Hideawayheads! Let’s cut the crap about what the true meaning of the holiday is. It’s a day for drinkin’. I can’t help the fact that a black and tan really does sound super delicious right now. Tonight, I’m gonna catch a buzz, enjoy the merriment of my fellow man in the over-crowded ambience of a faux-Irish drinking establishment and leave it at that. I don’t need to hear bagpipes; in fact, I’d prefer not to. In fact, since the street-level intent of this holiday is excessive drinking, I wanna hear party songs, not The Chieftans. And, wouldn’t ya know it, I’ve compiled a new party mix this week. I did it in preparation for my upcoming trip to Hawaii for a friend’s wedding, but a party is a party. Drink up the goodness and be safe.

1. Belle & Sebastian-I'm a Cuckoo (Avalanches Remix)
2. The Go! Team-Ladyflash
3. Kid Koala-Third World Lover
4. The Rolling Stones-Miss You (Dr. Dre Remix)
5. Diplo-Gold Digger (Remix)
6. Curumin-Guerriero
7. Jorge Ben-Taj Mahal
8. Brazilian Girls-Pussy
9. DJ Shadow Mix-I Can't Go For That
10. DJ Ayres-Get It Twisted
11. DJ Danger Mouse-Tom's Diner (Remix)
12. The Beastles-Pass the Word
13. The Beastles-Tripper Trouble
14. Beck-Girl (8 Bit Remix)
15. Mylo-Drop the Pressure
16. White Stripes vs Biggie-Hypnotize the Army
17. The Game feat. 50 Cent-Love It or Hate It
18. Gnarls Barkley-Crazy
19. J Live & Thes One - Give It Up

Rhymefest – From the Point of View of a Naptown Loc

2006-03-07T17:38:00.000-05:00

Lose the gloves, dawg

Rhymefest - Brand New

Rhymefest - These Days

Kanye West (w/ Common & Mase) - Jesus Walks (Remix)

Last Thursday I went to the Vogue Theater and saw Rhymefest open up for Common. It was a really great show, which is rare for live hip-hop. It must be really hard to do the sound for hip hop shows because the mix always sounds muddy. Maybe it’s the people doing the rapping because both Common and Rhymefest brought it and for the most part it sounded pretty clear…and pretty awesome. I’d never seen Common before, and he was every bit as great as I hoped he’d be. One of the things that I loved about Rhymefest is how much the marketing surrounding him and his upcoming album, “Blue Collar”, reflects his reality. He’s being marketed as an everyday dude, a workin’ man. I asked my buddy Paloz to share some of his stories about seeing Rhymefest around Indy’s hip hop scene over the past couple years.:

[Koopa],

Yo man. Cool idea. Yeah, I got a couple stories...I'll try to keep them brief.

The first one is about when I used to watch Rhymefest get his ass handed to him at the old Melody Inn battles. He'd come in there with what looked like regular old hand-me-down lookin' clothes and just get demolished! Then I watched him SLOWLY get better and better... along with his style too! [Rhymefest would go on to out-freestyle some dude named Eminem at 1997 Scribble Jam]

The other is right after he started getting big. He was sitting on the hood of a car right outside the now gone Patio and was chillin' out waiting for his show to start. He looked kinda down and to himself... no one was talking to him. I was drunk! I decided now was the time to go and berate him for giving me his manager's phone number when I asked him for his personal number earlier in the year. I got in his face about how I wanted HIS number not his F'in' manager's! I told him that I'd have my girlfriend fix us a chron meal and that I just wanted to kick it with him for real... have some beers and be real; be my guest for real! I told him I didn't want his F'in' manager's number... all the while I'm stumblin' drunk. He sat there and took all the abuse without saying a word...looking me right in the face. When I was done he simply said, "Man... go get me a pen." He wrote his real number down and I never called him to hang out.
Now it's too late.

Rhymefest's album should be droppin this May. Here's his Myspace page with some more streams. Here are some cool interviews with the guy here, here, a Newsweek write-up, and a Rolling Stone write-up. Did I mention he wrote Kanye's Grammy-winning "Jesus Walks", yet got his verses left off the album version, as well as the remix? And, he's still tight with 'Ye, which is either very shrewd or very forgiving. Rhymefest is the genuine article and is an example of what you can do if you work hard at something.

Oh, and, don't believe the Kanye-Common-related hype, Rhymefest is Naptown, not Chi-town. Alright, so the marketing isn't ENTIRELY accurate.

I'm a Pirate For Your Love

2006-02-24T13:26:00.000-05:00

ARRRRRR Mp3's are the freshest!! (This could be my favorite context-free "found" google pic of all time. Thank you, Al Gore, for inventing the internet and allowing me to experience the elation of discovering this. Feel free to submit any contenders that you think top this pic.)

Gnarls Barkley - Crazy

Guns N' Roses - There Was A Time

Flaming Lips - Free Radicals

Prince - Black Sweat

The Raconteurs - Steady As She Goes

All of these tracks have been bouncing around the upper echelons of the mp3-blog echochamber for awhile now. Three of these five albums should be super duper. The other two will only be "duper", sans super.

Gnarls Barkley=Cee-Lo w/ Dangerdoom. "Crazy" is gonna blow up this summer. The single should officially drop in April or something. This track is some hot shiz.

Guns N Roses=Awesome. Axl sounds like he never put down his Nerf-topped microphone and went into therapy. No Slash this time around, but his guitarist Buckethead is up to the challenge as he shows in the last half of this track. The opening to this song is sketchy, but it warms up by the end to the point you'll be air-guitaring and crying and smiling and smashing something. All at once. It's good.

Flaming Lips=My most anticipated release of the spring. I hope they release a special edition so I can actually justify buying the real album. I've already got the advance copy. It's been worth the wait since "Yoshimi". "Free Radicals" sounds like Prince channeling Beck.

Prince=Genius, returning. If only Michael Jackson could've returned to greatness like Prince...

Raconteurs=Genius, declining. Jack White is still one-of-a-kind, but it's getting harder with every release to be kind to him. It's still a good track by pop radio standards, but...we've all come to expect better, "Blue Orchid" notwithstanding.

Hey, Have You Heard About Islamophobia?! It's like Homophobia, Only Better!

2006-02-22T17:05:00.000-05:00

Yep, there's a riot going on.

Randy Newman - Sail Away

Curtis Mayfield - We the People Who Are Darker Than Blue (sampled for Gift of Gab's "Ride of Your Life")

James & Bobby Purify - I'm Your Puppet

Feist (w/ Broken Social Scene) - Gatekeeper (XFM Version)

Have you heard?

If you want your government to manage your sea ports, and not some company from Dubai, you’re an Islamophobe. Get used to hearing this slanderous word used against anybody who opposes something that involves Arabs or Muslims.

By the way, I think Randy Newman's "Sail Away" is one of the finest examples of patriotic songwriting, one of the great American songs. Newman is our most under-appreciated national treasure. With "Sail Away" and "Louisiana", Newman could've stopped writing songs right there and still been legendary.

King Koopa Is Your Great American Hero

2006-02-21T17:32:00.000-05:00

Joey Scarbury - Great American Hero (Believe It or Not) (from 7" vinyl)

Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

At its core, the United States of America is a country built on liberal ideals. An artist in the US can put a crucifix in a bottle of piss, photograph it, title it “Piss Christ” and win a federally funded art competition. For a sequel, that same artist can submerge a statue of the Madonna and Child, similarly, in piss, cleverly title it “Madonna and Child II”, and have it’s merits celebrated by curators at the National Gallery of Art. Wow. Check out the links, it’s brilliant and inspired art, am I right? Well, at least we can agree that it’s art, regardless of how great it probably isn’t. (I’m sorry, but if this is your idea of great art, you’re trying too hard. There are fewer things less “edgy” than being consciously “edgy”.) It might not be great art, but that’s not the point, it does have a right to exist. Likewise, many American and European liberals are hostile towards religion, with their contempt simmering just below the surface, and they have every right to act that way and express it any way they wish. And, Christians have every right to react, protest, and voice our opinion about their anti-religious works of art. In turn, liberals have every right to call Christians close-minded, reactionary, and conservative. It’s a fun game that everyone can enjoy. As far as I know, nobody killed the artist whose career high point was submerging religious icons in “a luminous amber liquid that diffuses light and softens details”. It’s not worth it to physically harm someone over crappy art. If it was, Rusted Root and anyone else associated with producing the song “Send Me On My Way” would be rotting in their graves right now (same with anyone associated with the “Grease” soundtrack). Christians and music lovers may not have been happy about these works of art, but nothing was burned and nobody was killed (although I might come close if I ever hear a “Send Me On My Way”/“Summertime” medley.)

For some reason, this Muslim cartoon thing has really ruffled my feathers. I can’t stand the fact that my government isn’t actively and explicitly defending the Dane’s freedom of speech and the freedom to criticize religion. Why isn’t America’s cultural elite standing up for the Danish cartoons? Are we too consumed by Cheneygate? During the Piss Christ controversy, hundreds of artists held a public rally in support of the work and for the right to create and display it. Why isn’t the New York Times willing to print the very cartoons that have been at the center of this debate? The real issue isn’t even the cartoons themselves, it’s about Europeans promoting negative stereotypes about Muslims and criticizing them, as this article by a Muslim in Slate points out. Another truly brilliant article by Christopher Hitchens addresses this entire issue better than I ever could, and this article comparing Piss Christ controversy and the Danish cartoon controversy is much better than anything I could’ve written. America, get ready to start hearing the term “Islamophobia”, it’s the next way to shame people into respecting the violent and extreme actions of fundamentalist Muslims.

Don't sleep.

Bonus!: Excerpt from DJ Shadow's "Diminishing Returns" Mix - [Islamofascism,] I Can't Go For That (feat. Japanese vocals, high school marching bands, and John Peel)

PJ Pooterhoots - [Islamofascism,] I Can't Go For That

Hall & Oates - [Islamofascism,] I Can't Go For That

King Koopa's Valentine's Day Gift Guide

2006-02-14T13:41:00.000-05:00

Hem - Valentine's Day (Springsteen cover, from Hem's "I'm Talking With My Mouth")

If you've got a Valentine this year, shower her with gifts. These romantic canine-themed heart-shaped vases should do the trick. If it doesn't, you're with the wrong girl. If she's too good for hand-painted dog vases, you don't need her. Ain't that right?

Yeah, so, I saw this great show...

2006-02-10T14:59:00.000-05:00

Feist - The Water (live on KEXP 3/13/05) - unreleased

Feist - Honey (Tears) (live @ SXSW 3/17/05) - unreleased

It was Feist. It was almost sublime. She sold-out the Park West, in Chicago on 1/27/06, which is now one of my all-time favorite venues. I anticipate that these two tracks will be included on her next studio album, which I understand she is going to start recording really soon. I definitely remember "Honey" from the show, it's pretty mesmerizing, and if my memory serves me correctly, something it rarely does, she opened the show with this song. She looped her vocals to form her "backup singers", which was something I'd never seen or heard of anybody doing live in concert. "Honey" is just Feist, her looped vocals, and her guitar. I saw Joseph Arthur do something similar, but he was looping things he did with his acoustic guitar. "The Water" is a melancholic ballad-y tune. Yeah, I know, Happy Friday! But, there's something about her voice that is just entrancing. This song has acoustic guitar and piano, in addition to Feist's electric guitar. Maybe the best part of the show was enjoying Feist as a performer. She's kind of like a cuter, pixier version of Chrissie Hynde, from The Pretenders. It's obvious how much time Feist has spent touring during the past couple years. She kept the entire Chicago audience spellbound. It had some of the most quiet moments I've experienced at a big show like that. It takes an electric performer to keep a Chicago crowd of that size to remain silent and attentive during slower, quieter tunes. I think my girlfriend has a crush on her.

Psst, wanna know about my most recent "Typical Koopa" moment?: "Elle" and I were 45 minutes outside of town when she asked if I had the tickets. I did not. They were sitting in plain sight on my living room endtable, where I had put them so I would not forget them. Forgetfulness has to be one of my most regular humbling experiences. I can be such a pillowhead sometimes.

Hey, got any tips to help me to keep from forgetting important things like that? Leave them in the comments section. On my trip to Fiji, NZ, & AUS, one of my travelling buddies gave me "H.A.M.S.?" as in, "[Do I] Have All My Shit?", because I was driving him crazy with my absent mindedness. I need a new strategy, H.A.M.S. isn't cutting it.

Dear Muslimthai.com,

2006-02-07T15:21:00.000-05:00

Above: Mr. Boy, offering a traditional Thai 'wai' to apologize during a press conference in Bangkok on Tuesday, Feb 7, 2006. He was responding to Muslims in Thailand who had complained about one of his songs that includes a verse from the Quran, claiming it insults the Islamic holy book.

Dear Muslimthai.com,

I can’t tell you how close I came to omitting the offending song in question, “Maya” from my seminal contemporary Thai rap cd, “Bangkok Boy”. The chick I was dating at the time really liked it and she used her devilish charms to convince me to include it on the album. She had a rocking body and she used it to affect the tracklist of "Bangkok Boy". If only I could go back and scald her with boiling liquids and tell her no, I’m not going to include “Maya” on the record. Maybe all of this could have been averted. You never know. I just wasn't thinking with the right "noodle". I never really liked that song anyway. Listening to it now, I hate it, too. Geez, what was I thinking letting her influence me like that? I’d incinerate my album, too if I was you. In fact, I'll help you. Just give me a 'when' and 'where' and I'll bring my own shovel. Shoot, I must have been smoking some seriously potent Thai-stick to have let that song get through onto the album. (I know smoking weed probably goes against Muslim law too but, hey, I’m just being honest here.) "Earth to Joey Boy!", you can’t lift raps from the Quran! I should’ve known better, plain and simple. All praises to Allah and Muslimthai.com for setting me back on the right path. The non-recorded-Quran-quoting path.

By the way, stay tuned for my new album, I’m going back into studio next week to start self-producing some new tracks. I’m feeling some anti-semitism coming on! Watch out world, here comes the new Joey Boy. Inflammatory anti-semitic style! Bam!

Sincerely,
Joey Boy

Dear Joey Boy,

2006-02-07T14:39:00.000-05:00

The following is a letter from Muslimthai.com to Thai rapper, Joey Boy.

Dear Joey Boy,

I was listening to your totally awesome cd, “Bangkok Boy”, last week. Wow. I know you released it back in 1998, but it still sounds totally fresh and vital to me today. Ever since the Danish cartoon stuff started causing so much drama around here, it’s been nice to be able to pop “Bangkok Boy” in the stereo and just kinda let go for a second. I love your rapid-fire Thai raps about noodles and those Bangkok girls that you can’t seem to get enough of. It wasn’t until recently that I actually concentrated on the lyrics in your songs, and I must say that I was surprised. I don’t know if other people still listen to your music, but I sure do. “Bangkok Boy” was criminally underappreciated when it was originally released and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure as many people have heard about this album as possible, for reasons that will soon be crystal clear. I wrote this letter just to tell you what “Bangkok Boy” means to me. With the exception of one song, I found the album as a whole to be an enlightening and entertaining listen. It makes me want to get up and burn something! Wahoo! You’re a pimped-out, street-wise prophet, Joey Boy, don’t let anybody tell you different. However, there was one song, “Maya”, that has caused me to wish this entire work of art had never been contemplated, recorded, or mass-produced. In fact, I wish you were dead, Joey Boy. You remember that verse from “Maya” that contains lyrics taken from the Quran? Highly un-Quranical, Joey Boy. You can't do that. There’s a group of us that agrees that no one should be able to listen to this music anymore. You should’ve known better. Why would you ruin one of the greatest Thai rap albums of all time like “Bangkok Boy” by including such an offensive song like “Maya”? You could’ve recorded a song about destroying the American infidels or the bloodthirsty Zionists, you know. That would've been a real hoot. I could’ve given an album like that as a gift during Ramadan. Instead, the entire staff of Muslimthai.com has demanded that this album be recalled and destroyed. It’s offensive to us and probably many others. Offensive things belong in the Sony BMG Music Entertainment incinerator, not in my home and/or car stereo. I pray that you understand.

Yours truly,
Muslimthai.com

Mylo, Oh My!

2006-02-07T13:45:00.000-05:00

Mylo and the Rocketman

Mylo - Drop the Pressure

Mylo - In My Arms

Damnitall, I love days like this! I go to the record store at lunch on new release day pretty often and when the employees of the store are already singing along to the new stuff that came out that morning, I know I’m gonna walk out happy. I didn’t even buy the new release to which they were singing along (Belle & Sebastian’s “The Life Pursuit”). Didn’t have to. There was such an embarrassment of riches released today, I could hardly go wrong. You have your doubts, you say? As you’ll soon hear, I’m right. My friends, please join me in welcoming Mylo, just your favorite new DJ saviour! And now, for the return of the long-forgotten Hackneyed-Comparison-of-the-Day: Mylo’s album “Destroy Rock & Roll” sounds like Daft Punk, The Avalanches, and Royksopp got together to DJ a party. The Hideaway was in need of a new party album; thanks a heap for finally releasing your album stateside, Mylo.

Don't sleep. For goodness sake.

Pictograph Day

2006-02-03T13:08:00.000-05:00

Belle and Sebastian - We Are the Sleepyheads (from the forthcoming "The Life Pursuit")

The "Dude, Bonus!": Belle and Sebastian - I'm a Cuckoo (The Avalanches remix)

This album comes out next Tuesday, February 7. Should I buy the new Aceyalone & RJD2 or the new Belle and Sebastian? Let your voice be heard. Vote.

2/6 Update: Man, there are a couple other albums coming out February 7 that I want to buy. Add Mylo's "Destroy Rock n Roll" and Hem's "No Word From Tom" to the list which already includes Belle & Sebastian's "The Life Pursuit" and Aceyalone & RJD2's "Magnificent City". Could be an expensive Tuesday. Maybe I'll give Hem to my mom for her birthday and kill two birds w/ one stone. Is that sketchy? Dodgy? Half-ass-y? Fine, your guilt-trip has worn me down, I won't buy it for either of us. Happy? Geez...

In Case You Missed It: Bush's Chimera Agenda

2006-02-01T13:41:00.000-05:00

This vision from one of President Bush's recent nightmares caused him to insert an extra line into his 2006 State of the Union address

President Bush gave his annual State of the Union address last night. I thought I had outsmarted Bushie when I started watching Terence Malick’s “Badlands” at 7 PM, thinking it would last just about until the end of the President’s speech. Turns out that GW is smarter than I gave him credit, he started at 9 PM, outflanking my flanking move. Nicely played, Mr. President. As I’m without cable, I had the choice of either watching Lester Summerall, UPN or watching the President’s Hype Hour. So, I watched. Then, “Elle” came over after her night class and we watched it together. It was mostly inconsequential, but there was one line that President Bush snuck into the usual political patter that piqued both of our interests. See if you can find it in this paragraph from the speech:

A hopeful society has institutions of science and medicine that do not cut ethical corners, and that recognize the matchless value of every life. Tonight I ask you to pass legislation to prohibit the most egregious abuses of medical research: human cloning in all its forms, creating or implanting embryos for experiments, creating human-animal hybrids, and buying, selling, or patenting human embryos. Human life is a gift from our Creator -- and that gift should never be discarded, devalued or put up for sale. (Applause.)

Creating human-animal hybrids?!!! He snuck it right in there! Did an editor from Marvel Comics give him comments on this? That’s awesome. Really awesome. I'm proud of the President taking such a heroic stand on this potential global menace. I can’t wait until we have the national discussion on the ethics of creating an unstoppable army of mutant Pigmen (Seinfeld reference). I’ve never heard of this being a serious area of concern until this speech. I searched the Whitehouse.gov website, and this was the first mention of such a thing. Is Bush trying to beat everybody to the political punch? ("Ya heard it here first!") More fear-mongering? ("Pigmen are gonna take your jobs and steal your daughters!") Or, is there already research going on in this field that we just don’t know about yet? As recently as 2003, there have been reports from China of a half-man/half-ape. Maybe the Chinese are allowing human-animal hybrid research. We just don’t know, dude.

Personally, I look forward to the day when Half Man-Half Sharks can walk down the street hand in hand with Half Man-Half Alligators, without being persecuted for their interspecies-homosexual tendencies. Until then, enjoy Kool Keith at his zaniest as he predicts our human-animal hybrid future with his track, "Halfsharkalligatorhalfman" from the cult hip hop album, Dr. Octagonecologyst. It's pretty great. Then Deltron 3030 stole his vibe, f'n Del.

Dr. Octagon - Halfsharkalligatorhalfman

That's So Shaaban!

2006-01-31T17:23:00.000-05:00

Bob Dylan - It Ain't Me Babe, [It's My Dead Twin Brother] (from "Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue")

Bob Dylan - [Shaaban], Tell Me That It Isn't True (from "Nashville Skyline")

Bob Dylan - [Shaaban], You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (from "Blood on the Tracks")

Today, I break my normal pattern of farcical, musical nonsense to bring you the strange tale of Shaaban Hafiz Ahmad Ali Shaaban, also known as Joe Brown, a truckdriver from Greenfield, Indiana. In the summer of 2005, he was indicted for crimes of espionage and conspiring on behalf of the Iraqi government. The information below was copied from a variety of news sources, including The Indy Star, WTHR Channel 13, and The Peru Tribune. This guy is either brilliant or completely retarded. Decide for yourself which you think he is. Either way, I'll miss seeing him on the local news, watching newscasters report these details with a straight face. Keep it surreal, Shaaban Shaaban.

6/9/05: Man accused of selling secrets to Iraq says he's U.S. agent - A Greenfield truck driver accused of trying to sell American secrets to Saddam Hussein's government in Iraq said in federal court that he was a U.S. secret agent. The man, who identified himself as Shaaban Shaaban Hafed, said in court Wednesday that he met at a military recruiting station in Indianapolis with someone he thought was an Army officer. Shaaban said he hoped to pass along information he thought would save the lives of U.S. troops in Iraq but was instead seen as trying to trade secrets…Investigators say Shaaban is a seasoned intelligence officer trained by the Soviet KGB and has at least 13 aliases. The indictment alleges he traveled to Baghdad in 2002 and offered to sell officials the names of U.S. intelligence operatives in Iraq for millions of dollars… If convicted, he could face deportation or decades in prison. Shaaban has claimed the U.S. government has him mixed up with his now-dead twin brother, whom he claims worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. Shaaban gave more than three hours of rambling testimony that touched on what he claimed was a phone call with Yasser Arafat while Shaaban worked at the Palestinian embassy in Moscow. He told how he and his twin brother were born to Palestinian parents in Jordan in 1952. He said his parents, displaced from their homes and impoverished when Israel was created, gave him up to a rich Lebanese woman. Shaaban pointed to two passports - one from Lebanon he maintains is his and another from Jordan he says belonged to his brother - as evidence that his brother existed. He said his brother died in Chechnya while working as an intelligence agent. Federal prosecutors say there is no twin brother and that Shaaban has maintained two identities, using multiple passports. Brooks demanded names of people who could testify to seeing the twin brothers together. Shaaban said his wife and his brother's wife could as could people from a barbershop and a Middle Eastern restaurant in Chicago near where the brothers once lived together. ''How many do you want?'' he said. Still, Shaaban said he and his brother were not seen in public often because of the stigma of their parents' decision to separate them. Shaaban said his indictment has put American secret agents ''including me'' at risk.

7/26/05: U.S. Attorney Susan Brooks and a team of investigators are preparing for a trial in federal court like no other in Indianapolis, according to legal observers. "The entire US is a battlefield in the war on terror. This is the front line. There is no place in America that is not a target," says Bill Bradford, an expert in national security law and an assistant professor at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis… Court records indicate his defense could rely in part on testimony from foreign nationals in Jordan and Russia.

1/12/06: Opening arguments begin for accused Iraqi spy - A Palestinian man accused of conspiring to sell U.S. intelligence secrets to Saddam Hussein's government told jurors Tuesday he was secretly working for the U.S. government and may be confused with his dead identical twin. "I have served this country with all my heart," Shaaban Hafiz Ahmad Ali Shaaban said during animated opening statements delivered through interpreters in U.S. District Court. "... I refuse to say I am one person with my brother. I refuse to answer for him on his behalf, and the evidence will show that." Prosecutors said they would prove that Shaaban, 53, maintained multiple identities, intimidated a witness and tried to broker a $5 million deal with the Iraqi intelligence service to sell the names of 60 U.S. agents who were working in Iraq or who were to enter the country before the 2002 invasion…Prosecutors say negotiations broke down before the U.S. coalition-led invasion toppled Hussein's regimen. The former Iraqi agent, who will not be named in court and will testify wearing a disguise, has since been captured and has received "financial assistance" from the U.S. government, Jackson said. [Shaaban] said he is one of 24 children - including five sets of twins - born to a Lebanese mother and an Azerbaijani father. Shaaban said he was sold as a child and did not know of his twin until the two were reunited years later in Moscow. The twins moved to the United States and both worked as truck drivers, he said. He said his twin died in Chechnya…A later charge of witness tampering was added after prosecutors said he threatened another brother who lives in California and had agreed to testify against him.

1/17/06: Inside federal court, Shaaban Hafiz Ahmad Ali Shaaban confronted his former wife, asking Svetlana Shaban, a witness for the prosecution, if the government paid for her testimony against him. She said, "no."…Shaaban called her a liar then complained he didn't have money to buy his own witnesses. "It is an unfair trial." Gathering up an arm load of notes, he continued. "I don't want this justice. This is not justice. "It is showtime. I agree to removal." US marshals removed Shaaban in shackles.

1/18/06: When confronted with photograph and fingerprint evidence, Shaaban Shaaban first denied that he was also a U.S. citizen under the name of Joe Brown, claiming Brown was really his cousin who looked a lot like him. Later in the interrogation, Shaaban admitted changing his name, with permission of the CIA, because he once worked for the KGB, saying, "I'm always fearing for my life." What about accusations that he is a terrorist? Asked point blank, should the United State fear you, Shaaban replied, "No, no, no, I have nothing against America. I would not bite the hand that helps me."

1/19/06: Shaaban Shaaban insists he's no criminal, claiming he's a victim of miscommunication, misinformation and mistaken identity. "It's a very big mistake, but it is a bad mistake," said Shaaban. Shaaban says the accusations are ridiculous. "We are a superpower. We are a superpower. It is shameful to say that an Indiana truck driver has secrets to sell Saddam Hussein. Where I bought it, a flea market in Washington DC[?]," asked Shaaban. Shaaban says he attempted to infiltrate Hussein's regime and save American lives. "I am part of this work. I am proud for that I have evidence that I did this for the USA. I hate Saddam, I hate Saddam," Shaaban went on. In Shaaban's Greenfield home, FBI agents found computer files praising Hussein, even an unsigned contract proposing Shaaban provide, at a price, human shields to protect Iraq from invading forces. "You can put on your computer what you want. We are in a free country. We have free speech, we have first amendment. I can print, I love Saddam Hussein. I can print, I hate Saddam Hussein or I love George Bush or I hate George Bush," he argued. U.S. district court Judge John Tinder is giving Shaaban great leeway. He also suggested that instead of doing interviews, Shaaban spend more time preparing his defense. "I flipped on the TV last night and was surprised to see you giving an interview," Tinder said, referring to comments Shaaban gave to WISH (Channel 8) on Wednesday. He said Shaaban's frequent claims of having too little time to review evidence and prepare for his trial each day were beginning to "ring hollow." "I would suggest you focus on this rather than any media campaign," he said. However, Shaaban ignored Tinder's advice, granting interviews Thursday at the federal courthouse to WTHR (Channel 13) and WXIN (Channel 59).

1/20/06: Shaaban grills self on witness stand - Shaaban, continuing to act as his own attorney, asked himself questions, which he responded to in Arabic. However, after an hour of struggling to overcome frequent objections from the lead prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharon M. Jackson, he turned the questioning over to his standy-by lawyers, William H. Dazey Jr. and Michael J. Donahoe.

1/22/06: Shaaban Hafiz Ahmad Ali Shaaban said on the witness stand in U.S. District Court Friday that he first met his twin at the Kuwaiti Embassy in Moscow in 1979. He said he was working at the Palestinian Embassy and had gone to the Kuwaiti Embassy to pick up a letter…According to Thursday's court testimony, the government and Shaaban's boss arranged for Shaaban to travel to Disney World in Orlando, Fla., with his wife and son in October 2004. While they were away, FBI agents searched Shaaban's home in Greenfield, about 20 miles east of Indianapolis, where they took photographs, photocopied documents and copied his computer hard drive. A federal magistrate authorized an undisclosed search under the Patriot Act. Charles Mong, president of CLM Freight Lines, said Thursday that the FBI asked him to tell Shaaban the Florida vacation was a gift from him.

1/24/06: Shaaban shows video in spy trial - No CIA witnesses were called to testify, although the 53-year-old Palestinian asserts that his meetings with Iraqi intelligence officials were part of a covert operation directed by "Jim in the CIA." To show he was "not anti-American," Shaaban battled prosecutors to play a videotape of a neighborhood Fourth of July celebration in Greenfield, where he had lived until his arrest…Shaaban Hafiz Ahmad Ali Shaaban wanted to show jurors he's an average joe and not the Joe Brown prosecutors say met with former high-ranking officials of Iraq's now-disbanded intelligence service, the Mukhabarat. U.S. District Judge John D. Tinder allowed the airing of the tape over prosecution objections. The video depicts a neighborhood celebration in 2004 during which Shaaban comes out of his rental home onto the lawn while an American flag near the front door of the home flaps in the wind. "This is our flag," Shaaban said, in response to a question from one of his standby attorneys. During questioning, Shaaban, whom the evidence shows also goes by Shaaban S. Hafed and Joe Brown, refused to answer to "Mr. Shaaban." So Jackson began referring to Shaaban as "Mr. Defendant." In turn, Shaaban called her "the government lawyer."

1/25/06: Jurors in a federal conspiracy trial this afternoon convicted an Indiana truck driver accused of offering to sell U.S. secrets to the former Iraqi government on six of seven counts against him. No evidence was presented during his trial, however, that he had access to such information. In tape recordings played in his trial, Shaaban told an FBI undercover agent he never had a list of agents but that he had hoped to receive the information from a Russian contact. Shaaban Shaaban was found guilty, yet defiant and unrepentant. "I am innocent. I will be innocent and one day they will find I am innocent."…Shaaban insists he loves America and is a victim of racial profiling. "Two thousand years ago another Palestinian was crucified and he was innocent." Shaaban, who represented himself in court, will try to talk the judge out of giving him a lengthy prison sentence. US District Attorney Susan Brooks was pleased with the conviction of man she says threatened national security. "Yes, I do believe the country is safer now that the jury has spoken." Shaaban, who also goes by Shaaban S. Hafed and Joe Brown, could face up to 55 years in prison.

1/26/06: The jury's verdicts rejected Shaaban's unsupported claims that federal prosecutors had him confused with a deceased twin and that the CIA had sent him to Iraq as part of a "psychological war" preceding the U.S. invasion. Attorney Michael J. Donahoe: "It was hard to sit and watch him make errors in strategy," he said. "He really didn't know what he was doing... For a lay person, though, he did a pretty good job...I'm disappointed in the verdict," he said. "I don't think he represents a threat to our national security."

Koopa’s Moral of the Story: Sometimes fools can be the most dangerous of all. Sometimes they are just foolish.

The 2 Fresh Mix: Crossed Colours

2006-01-25T16:23:00.000-05:00

Can you dig it?

I'm still putting the finishing touches on a "next level" mix, but in the meantime I've been compiling a mix of early 90's hip hop tracks. This era of hip hop is the my favorite for several reasons, listed in order of importance:

1) Rap groups didn't have to clear ( = pay for) the samples they used. What was bad for James Brown, George Clinton, Curtis Mayfield, and Rick James was good for the rest of us. The best funk makes the best breaks. These days you gotta travel half way across the world to find samples that you won't get sued for using without compensation. F'n lawyers, man.
2) Gangsta Rap hadn't taken over yet; popular rap hadn't devolved to appeal to the lowest common denominator. The gangsta's weren't the first generation of black musicians to experience deplorable living environments while growing up, but they were among the first to glorify the violence and other negative aspects, without anything to balance it out.
3) Super-Producers weren't running hip hop. (See Reason #1 for why Super Producers run hip hop these days.) The focus was still on the rhymes, the rhythm, and the beat. The rapper's voice was more of an instrument than it is in today's hip hop. The remixes were the producer's territory, and that's where your dance tracks came from.

Here's the mix:

1. Lord Finesse (feat. Percee P & AG) - Yes, You May
2. Nas - It Ain't Hard To Tell (remix)
3. Biz Markie - I Hear Music
4. Original Flavor (feat. Jay Z) - Can I Get Open?
5. Constant Deviants - Catch a Speed Knot
6. Justin Warfield - Season of the Vic
7. Ahmad, Ras Kass, Saafir - Come Widdit
8. Lords of the Underground - Chief Rocka
9. Diamond D - I Went For Mine
10. Positive K - Nightshift
11. Jaz (feat. Jay Z) - It's Just That Simple
12. Dr. Dre - Express Yourself
13. Jeru the Damaja - Mental Stamina
14. Top Priority (feat. Percee P) - Let the Homicides Begin
15. Supreme Nyborn - Breathless
16. Jungle Bros (feat. Tribe Called Quest) - Promo No. 2
17. Main Source - Fakin' the Funk
18. Pete Rock & CL Smooth - T.R.O.Y. (Vibes Remix)

Grab Bag Monday: Here's the Next Album I'm Buying

2006-01-23T13:06:00.000-05:00

In case you were curious, I'm really looking forward to these 2 dudes' album.

Aceyalone (w/ RJD2) - Fire

I'm liking the vibe of this song. It's not trying to bang you over the head with it's party sound, it just sounds good. Yet, it's definitely party-mix-worthy. Great production, no trickery, no gimmickry, just a dope bass line holding things down. It's two dudes at the top of their games. Aceyalone & RJD2's album "Magnificent City" comes out on February 7. Expect to see me at Luna at noon. Expect my head to be bobblin' by 12:01.

The Soul Man

2006-01-20T13:30:00.000-05:00

If you can't feel Wilson Pickett, you've got no soul at all

Wilson Pickett - Hey Jude

Wilson Pickett - I'm in Love

UPDATE: Wilson Pickett - Man and a Half

We lost yet another great one this week. Man, two great singers in two weeks. Damn. On these two songs, Wilson brings it. "I'm in Love" is one of my favorite love songs, it ended up on a mix I made recently. "Hey Jude" is a burner, it starts kinda slow and then he explodes around the three minute mark. It's one of the best Beatles covers I've heard. It gives me goosebumps sometimes. UPDATE: I forgot about "Man and a Half". Lemme tell ya'll one thing: This song rocks so freakin hard you better be wearin sock-suspenders. Otherwise, it'll knock 'em right off. If you are a man and you're ever feeling down or whatever, just play this song. If you got ladies on your case or bustin your balls, just play this song for 'em and remind 'em you're the cock of the walk. This song is made for struttin and cock-walkin. I'm a man and a half, damn it. Recognize.

Wilson Pickett always sounded like he had something he had to tell you, no matter what he was singing about. He wasn't gonna scream unless he had to, but he was definitely going to get your attention. Lucky for us, he never felt like we were paying attention.

Once Again, Nice Guys Finish Last

2006-01-17T14:50:00.000-05:00

Indianapolis Colts: Thanks for ruining the entire month of January for me, fellas. Bang up job.

Ben Lee - Float On

It's things like this that threaten to turn me into a sorry sadsack, an invective-spouting sore loser. Games like the Colts vs. the Steelers. Games where players who used to seem untouchable become all-too-mortal for about 3 hours.

Dr. K's Diagnosis: The Colts lack an emotional leader. They are a team of nice, respectable, level-headed football players. They need a guy who will get in people's faces and inspire them or scare them. The problem isn't Peyton, necessarily. The problem is that he's getting paid "leader" money, but he doesn't have the personality for it. Too many times when something goes wrong for the Colts, Peyton just hangs his head and gets that "Peyton-Face" that I hate. It's like he's baffled by what's going on, like he can't wrap his head around the problem or what to do to fix it. He mopes and I hate it. He's so caught up in his job as the technician that he ignores (or is unable to fulfill) his role as an emotional leader. Dan Marino wasn't either, if memory serves me correctly. The Colts need to focus their offseason on aquiring a tough-as-nails free agent linebacker, like Ray Lewis, who can provide an emotional boost when Peyton is too busy talking on the phone or looking at pictures of the defense. Even if it takes trading a draft pick or something, they need an emotional leader NOW. Between now and then, let Edgerrin go and draft a running back.

Until my Colts get to the Super Bowl, I'm gonna try to keep floating on. Enjoy this cover of Modest Mouse modern-day classic, "Float On", by Claire Dane's ex-boyfriend, Ben Lee.

New Installment: Birthday Present Ideas

2006-01-10T14:36:00.000-05:00

Finally, an easy way to cook hot dogs: The "Deion Sanders' Hot Dog Express"

Hi, my name is Deion Sanders, professional football player and flamboyant media personality. I’d like you to think long and hard about a question I have for you. Don’t just go with the first thing you think of, think deeply and analyze your soul’s true desires: “What is the ideal way to cook and eat a hot dog?” Or, to put it another way, “How do I imagine I’ll cook and eat a hot dog when I get to heaven?”

If you answered, “Piping hot, straight off those metal rollers from the gas station down the street.”, you answered correctly. I had a conversation with God before I came out here and He told me that’s the way He likes His, too. Now, don't you wish there was a way to save yourself the time of driving to the gas station or convenience store to get your mouthwatering hot dog? Sure you do! There's got to be a better way! I’m an American, too, and I know that when I want a juicy hot dog, I don’t want to wait any longer than I absolutely have to. Believe it or not, there is a way to out-convenience a convenience store. You think I’m trying to sell you a doggone microwave, don’t you! Nope, and I’m not trying to sell you those individually wrapped Ball Park Singles, either. Those things are disgusting. No, I’m offering you a new and revolutionary way to serve gas station-quality hot dogs right there in your home, an entirely exciting, stand-alone machine that cooks hot dogs (and other tubular sausages, like knockwurst) with the flip of a button and the rotation of metal cylinders, the “Deion Sanders’ Hot Dog Express”, from Emson USA. Sure, you can cook hot dogs with virtually any available heat-source/microwave-emitter, I mean, you purchase them pre-cooked so all you gotta do is reheat them! They're so packed with hi-tech artificial preservatives that you could eat them right out of the refrigerator if you wanted...which would be disgusting, of course. But, what if I told you that you could have a separate, dishwasher-safe machine solely dedicated to warming and rotating your beloved dogs, a greaseless, space-age machine that has gas station owners shaking in their boots? They don’t like that I’m offering you the “Deion Sanders’ Hot Dog Express”, they like being the only guys in town with a hot dog cooker & rotator. I’ve even had a few people, including trusted friends and business associates, try and convince me not to bring this amazing offer to you. But, I didn’t give myself the names, “Prime Time” and "Neon Deion" for nothing: put it in neon lights, the "Deion Sanders' Hot Dog Express" is a prime-time deal! Seriously, all you need to do is plug this simple hot dog cooking & rotating machine into any standard electrical outlet and you can be eating 8-12 hot dogs within minutes! I call mine “Neon Dogs” and I serve them with mustard and ketchup. Your nights and evenings of grilling, boiling, flame-cooking, or microwaving hot dogs are over. For only one payment of $49.95, you can serve gas station-quality hot dogs out of the comfort of your own home, no more rushing to the nearest gas station only to find out that someone had just purchased the last delectable dog. You could even start a roadside business and sell hot dogs to passing motorists, if you had a long enough extension cord! This machine could pay for itself! Are you ready for this century’s biggest revolution in home hot dog cooking & rotating technology? Take the power out of the hands of the gas stations and call right now. The “Deion Sanders’ Hot Dog Express” is waiting.

The first 3 orders get a free slushee machine. Why spend hours and hours shaving your own ice when you can have a machine do it for you?

Legal Notice from The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council: "Hot dogs" are pre-cooked, but should be thoroughly reheated until steaming hot. Be sure to separate "hot dogs" from other uncooked meats and poultry.

On a totally different note, here's today's song, a party staple with a sick synth sample from the Tom Tom Club song, "Genius of Love":
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious 5 - It's Nasty

The Dynamic, The Soulful, Mr. Lou Rawls

2006-01-06T13:11:00.000-05:00

We lost another great one today.

Lou Rawls - Scotch and Soda

Lou Rawls - Willow Weep For Me

Lou Rawls passed away today from lung cancer, he was in his early 70's (it seems his exact age is subject to debate). He was one of my favorite vocalists, I often described him to friends who hadn't heard of him as "The Black Sinatra". I meant this in with the utmost respect, because he was every bit the singer and entertainer that Frank Sinatra ever was. He could convincingly express a variety of moods and themes in the songs he chose. Rawls spent much of his career working with producer David Axelrod, whose material has been extensively sampled by Dr. Dre and DJ Shadow. Everything they did together just sounds timeless. 'Scotch and Soda' is one of my favorite Rawls tunes, it's a loungy masterpiece about how "high" Mr. Rawls gets around a particular ladyfriend of his. 'Willow Weep For Me' is another masterpiece of piano-bar/lounge music. He displays his vocal chops on this tune, and there's some killer piano work, too. It's cool jazz at it's most sublime.

Rest in peace, Lou.

May This Be Love

2006-01-03T18:04:00.000-05:00

Curtis Mayfield - Stone Junkie (live at "Newport in New York '72")

Curtis Mayfield - Pusherman (live at "Newport in New York '72")

Koopa’s Hideaway is finally attracting some heat, thanks to Soul-Sides.com, my favorite mp3 blog. Dude added me to his blog roll (hmmm, maybe it’s time I did one of those). Now I gotta earn my keep, prove I belong, and I owe it to the funky souls who frequent Soul Sides to post something I KNOW they’ll be interested in. How about a live 2 song set from Curtis Mayfield from the available-on-vinyl-only-“Newport in New York ‘72” album? Mayfield only released one live album, Curtis Live (recorded January '71), and these recordings were not included (An earlier version of Stone Junkie was on there, but Pusherman wasn't included at all.) The movie Superfly was released after the Newport in New York concert, and I’m fairly certain this recording of Pusherman is one of the first times he played it live. When he introduces "Pusherman", he has to describe the film and that he wants to "see how you feel about [the song]". I ask the same. If you like it, let me know. The band he's playing with sounds really, really tight and it's a great recording. Enjoy.

So What's the Time?

2006-01-03T09:08:00.000-05:00

It's about 10 past disco. It’s time to meet some Puerto Rican girls that's just dying to meet you.

The Rolling Stones - Miss You (extended disco mix)

I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but overhear...Did I hear you say you like the Rolling Stones? Crazy! And, you like to dance, too, huh? What a mind-blowing coincidence! This proves a theory I've been developing for several years now: It's a small world after all. I can't tell you how nice it is to meet people with common interests. Today is our day, friend! May I introduce you to the song o' the day and the first of this glorious new year: An 8 minute 38 second mix of The Rolling Stones' foray into disco, "Miss You". You loved it when it was just 3 minutes 35 seconds long; fall in love all over again with 241% more of everything you loved the first time around. 241% more funky bass lines, 241% more "Hooo Hooo!"s, 241% more Travolta finger pointing and white-folk disco dancing.

(Let me know if you have any problems downloading this track or any others on the site.)

When I Was 26, It Was a Very Good Year

2005-12-28T11:04:00.000-05:00

This guy with the tambourine is how excited I get when I compile 'Best Of' lists

King Koopa’s Best of 2005 List:

Best First Date: November 10 at BW3, with the figuratively bowlegged "Elle". Keep your, “yeah, because it was Koopa’s ONLY first date for the year” comments to yourself, thank you very much. As I kicked her ass in NTN Trivia and told her all the reasons she shouldn’t get involved with a shady character like me, this is the song that would’ve been playing if we were characters in a movie: Acid House King’s “Tonight is Forever”.

Best previously-unreleased Bob Dylan song from the year’s best soundtrack: Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues (alternate take #5), from the soundtrack to Dylan’s Scorsese-directed documentary “No Direction Home”. Sorry, “Visions of Johanna (Take #8)”, maybe next year. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if I was forced to choose one musician’s catalog to listen to for the rest of my life it would be Dylan. Dylan’s my favorite American and the embodiment of what made this country great.

Best remix featuring beats derived from a GameBoy: Beck’s “Girl” (8-Bit Remix). People say Beck’s lost his sense of humor, but by releasing a four song Gameboy-beat remix album before the official album release, I’d say he’s at least retained a sense of playfulness. I guess Scientology still allows playfulness. Stay tuned to Koopa’s Hideaway for any change on Scientology’s rules regarding playfulness.

Best cover song by someone with English as their second language: PJ Pooterhoots, covering Hall & Oates, “I Can’t Go For That”. (PJ Pooterhoots also won this year's award for Best Solo Artist Name.) This song has always been a floor-filler, never more so than with Ms. Pooterhoots’ version. It’s irresistible. If you can hate on this track then you are hopeless and I feel sorry for your miserable soul. The singer sounds vaguely Asian, but I can’t really place the accent. She sounds pretty sexy though, in that Yoko Ono pre-Beatles-breakup sort of way.

Best song that I can’t understand a single word of: Dungen’s “Festival”. Technically, I purchased this Swedish import in mid-2004, but it wasn’t released in the US until this year. It just means I’m cooler than you, that’s all, and I shouldn't be penalized for my excessive coolness. Dude, you know I was into Swedish prog-rock like WAAAAY before you were. This album kicks Swedishmeatballass.

Best song about outer space: Edan feat. Mr. Lif, “Making Planets”. A swirling, psychedelic trip from the year’s most original hip hop album. This song makes me think of taking a midnight cruise on a summer night with a full-moon, nodding my head like a demented bobblehead, with cheesy grin plastered across my face.

Best album to tide me over until the next Flaming Lips album: The Earlies' "These Were". Sorry, Brian Wilson, SMILE just didn't do it for me as much as "These Were". Again, technically, I purchased this album in 2004, but it didn't get released in the US until 2005. Don't hate me because you wish you had my refined musical palette. Instead, enjoy this slice of Tex-Brit psychedelia: "Morning Wonder", by The Earlies.

Best song from the year’s best album: The album is My Morning Jacket's "Z" and the song is “Off the Record”. Yeah, I’ve got this song on 7” vinyl. That’s right. I know, it’s pretty awesome, huh. I’m like a cumulonimbus cloud of coolness and I’m raining all over you. Hope you brought an umbrella because the forecast is calling for continued coolness with a potential for extreme awesomeness.

Best record label to put out a totally crappy hip hop record: Quannum. And, the album is APSCI’s “Thanks For Asking”. I’m a Quannum ball-swinger, but this thing just didn’t cut it. It’s the first chink in Quannum’s armor. Don’t make me start swingin from Stones Throw’s balls, guys. Seriously. This album's sooo crappy, I won't subject you to any mp3s.

Best remix of a song featured in a Will Smith movie: Amerie, “One Thing” (Siik remix). Pure hotness. On so many levels. The remix isn’t as jittery as the original, it makes Amerie’s vocals the focus of the mix. Ah shibbies!

Best show I saw all year: Wilco in Kalamazoo. Jeff Tweedy just keeps getting better. He’s proved himself to be one of the best songwriters of his generation. This show rocked me six ways from Sunday. “Handshake Drugs” from Wilco’s new ‘Kicking Television’ live double album was one of my favorite songs from that show. The best part of the weekend was when I forgot to bring my ID and I wasn't able to drink at Bell's brewery. Tragicomical. In a typical Koopa-type way.

Best reminder that Michael Jackson used to be more than just a plastic-faced pederast: Team 9’s three way mashup of MJ’s “Scream”, Beck’s “E-Pro”, and AC/DC’s “TNT”. Me thinks he didn't write this song in that "dreaming tree" of his from the embarassing TV documentary he did.

Best new love song that sounds like a really, really old love song: The Band of Bees, “I Love You”. Break out the satin sheets and uncork a perfectly aged bottle of love tonight, hideawayheads. Pop this song in the boombox and get ready for romance, the likes of which you've never dreamed.

Best solo album by a member of Sea and Cake: Sam Prekop's "Who's Your New Professor". I'd say this is definitely one of the 5 best albums of the year. And, since this is my blog I'm going to go ahead and say that. While I'm saying things about Sam Prekop, I'd also like to say that the lead-off track, "Something" is my favorite song. There. I said it.

Best radio hit that never got played on the radio: Josh Rouse, “It’s the Nighttime”. This album got completely slept on. I really enjoyed it. You should too. Rouse may be a poor man’s Jeff Tweedy, but he’s well on his way to Tweedy-level consistency.

Best vacation of the year: My missions trip to Hungary. That ended up being my only vacation of the year, but it was worth every Forint. Here’s some totally sweet 70’s Hungarian garage rock: Skorpio Group, “The King With Shred Legs”. Don’t let the song title fool you, it’s all in Hungarian. And in case you had any intentions of learning Hungarian, be aware that the world’s top linguists still can’t decide what other languages Hungarian is related to. It's not Latin or Slavic-based. Their best guess is that it’s a descendant of some of the Scandinavian languages. Hungarian uses accents, weird letters and everything. Good luck.

Thanks to all the people who have checked out the site since I started this thing up last February. If it weren’t for all eight of my ravenous, insatiable fans, I wouldn’t be doing this. Thanks for stopping by and stay classy, Hideawayheads. King Koopa loves ya.

Frontin on Debra's Sister

2005-12-28T09:56:00.000-05:00

DJ Reset - Frontin on Debra

I'm not going to win any DJ cred with this post, since this was technically last year's hot joint, but I've got a lot of time on my hands at work these days and I can't leave my Hideawayheads without this song for yet another year. Some music critic called this track the 'Song of the Year'...last year. Better late than never. It's a mashup/remix/blend of Beck's "Debra" & Pharrell Williams' "Frontin". To describe this track as "silky" would be coarse. Yeah, it's that smooth. I'd call it "dope", but it's much more intoxicating than the stickiest of the icky. Alright, fine, I'll call it "ill" and leave it at that.

Trading Spaces

2005-12-27T11:44:00.000-05:00

Indie Folk:

Kings of Convenience - Misread - Canadian folkies. These guys are part of a recent wave of good music coming out of the frigid hinterland known as Canada (along with Broken Social Scene, Feist). Ignore the fact that they're Canadian and that they don't exactly fit the theory described below. Canadians privately wish they were American anyway.
Iron & Wine - Woman King - This dude is probably the best of the indie folksters out there. This song is from his latest solo EP.
The Shins - New Slang (live) - The Shins could be the most popular of the indie-folksters. They're catchier than most. This live version is a little quiet, so just turn your speakers up all the way and it'll sound about right.

Electroclash:

Midwest Product - When Doves Cry - Great song. Electro-stylee.
Mahjongg - Hot Lava - A thumper of a tune. Great beat
Tiger Tunes - Kirsten is a F'machine - F'n hilarious. This may be my favorite "electroclash" song.

Here’s a link to a fascinating article that makes a parallel between the record-low interests rates of the past 4-5 years and the decrease in the number of rock bands that use live drums. The author makes the case that the abandonment the suburbs and gentrification of urban areas has led to the rise of live-drum-less indie-folk and electroclash (which, honestly, sounds a lot like ol’ electronica with live vocals to me). I think it’s a really interesting theory, and it tweaks the part of me that needs to understand how and why things happen the way they do, the part of me that’s interested in the cause that produces a certain effect. I've been surmising for years that the suburbs are about 10 years away from being the new ghettos. We'll see. My high school economics class (taught by the brilliant, long-division master and singular personality, Mr. Dan Groff) really started me down this “cause and effect” path. From studying the stock market and economic theory, I learned that if you can sort through all the different variables, you can find a cause for everything that happens. Of course, that way of thinking usually works best when analyzing why something happened in the past, as opposed to predicting what will happen in the future. That’s why nobody has developed an accurate model for predicting what will happen with the stock market. There are too many ever-changing variables to develop an equation for prediction. So, the author of this article can’t tell you what’s going to happen to music in the future, but he has a pretty pessimistic view of the future of this country, so I would guess he’s not predicting another rise of boy bands in the near future. Probably socially-conscious music of some sort, eh? Who knows! That’s why this country needs music geeks like myself and this guy, because who else is going to argue about how the political/cultural landscape is going to affect music of the future? Somebody out there has to think about these things. But, that’s neither here nor there…read the article and appreciate the analytical genius behind the theory.

I hope everybody had a Merry Christmas and that you got to spend some quality time with the ones you love. My holiday weekend was spent staying up late with friends from out of town and waking up early to the exhortations of my nieces and nephews. I need a vacation from my vacation. I also encountered a mix cd project from one of the American Mastodon’s friends that has really inspired me to take my mix-making to the next level. The AM got it all started with this mix. I highly recommend it, and he might still send you one if you ask nicely enough. Then again, I could probably burn you a copy too. I’ve already got some good ideas that I’m starting on. Stay tuned.

Winter: Welcome To The Darkness

2005-12-21T12:17:00.000-05:00

Curtis Mayfield - Right on for the Darkness

Willie Wright - Right on for the Darkness

Josh Rouse - Come Back (Light Therapy)

The above picture is Justin Hawkins of the English joke-rock band, The Darkness. The Darkness rock out in ways that make you bust out…laughing. The problem is that the laughing often drowns out the rocking. Personally, if I’m going to rock out, I take my rock with a pinch less irony. But, regardless, this post is not really about The Darkness with a big D, but about “darkness” with a little d. I just thought this was a really funny picture. People just don’t rock pilgrim hats, leather pants, and those keyboard/guitar things anymore.

Today is the first official day of winter, which means it’s the winter solstice, which means it’s the shortest, darkest day of the year, which means insomniacs will have no excuse for not being able to go to bed at a decent hour. (Interestingly, the winter solstice is also the biggest holiday for Wicca, a goddess/witchy type religion. That's cool and all, but there's something fishy about a belief system that isn't even as old as my parents, as this article in Slate points out.) The sun goes down super early and if the Hideaway gets switched to the Central Time Zone, as is being discussed, next year it’ll go down even earlier. That would be super. All so we can be on the same time as Chicago. Big whoop. For me, it will remove some of the confusion of going to a concert in Chicago, but that’s about it. I’m not a big fan of winter and all the dark evenings. Between the cold and the darkness, it kills my drive to go out and do things outside of the house in the evenings. I pretty much hibernate through winter. Christmas, President’s Day, and the thoughts of up-coming spring, those are the only highlights. New Year’s just means a monster hangover, that’s about it, oh, and the likelihood that I’ll fail miserably in my attempt at any resolution. Except my resolution to not do heroin. I feel confident that I’ll be able to keep that one for another year. Wait, does that resolution imply that I used to do heroin? I’ll leave that juicy implication open-ended, just for the sake of King Koopa’s blogular mythmaking… on to today’s songs:

I’ve got Curtis Mayfield’s original “Right on for the Darkness” and a shorter yet almost-superior version by a guy named Willie Wright whom I’ve never heard of outside of this song. It’s a socially conscious funky soul workout about doing whatever it is you do and letting other people hate on you if they wanna. “Playin’ on the clothes you wear/Laughing down at me/But I swear I just don’t care”Awesome percussion in both versions, more blaxploitation soundtrack-style orchestration in Mayfield’s. The last song is Josh Rouse’s “Come Back (Light Therapy)”, which uses the metaphor of craving the sun during a dark, dreary winter to needing your lover. It’s a great song from Rouse’s 70’s-style singer-songwriter album, 1972. Me likey.

Knocked Out Loaded

2005-12-20T11:34:00.000-05:00

Bobby Rush - Bowlegged Woman/Knock Kneed Man

So, where’s King Koopa been all these weeks since my rowboating-with-robots post? Busy at work? Nope. Uninspired? Hardly. So, what then? Well, I’ve been making mix cds like a madman, but no longer for my hard-time-having buddy from before. Nope, these mixes have been for someone else all-together. Someone whose musical passions mirror mine, someone who loves a good mix cd as much as myself. Someone who possesses a yin to match my yang, a zig to connect to the end of my zag…figurative bowleggedness to accommodate my figurative knocked-knees.

Have a Merry Christmas, Hideawayheads. If you missed my Christmas party this past weekend, then you might as well have missed Christmas. You definitely missed getting a taste of some African moonshine, straight from a bathtub in Ghana. Talk about getting a fire in your belly! Whoo! Special thanks to D Friendly, my party's honored guest and moonshine-supplier, and to Buster Larkins for making it happen and getting his mom to babysit. Props, homeslizzles.

Rowboats for Robots

2005-11-21T12:27:00.000-05:00

This post has nothing to do with rowboats, but everything to do with robots. That phrase just made me smile and when I searched Yahoo with that phrase in quotes, I found that it exists nowhere else on the internet. Now it does. You’re welcome, world. Don’t say I never contributed anything during my time here. "Rowboats for Robots" would make a great album title, but I’d make you pay me a million nickels if you ever used it. Intellectual property, baby. The economy of the future.

“But, why robots today?”, you ask. Because Buster Larkins alerted me to the fact that Beck has a new video out now for “Hell Yes”. It’s really awesome. It’s got really awesome robots. Four robots, in fact. It’s got four robots that nobody has ever seen before. Here’s what Beck’s website had to say about them: They're called QRIOs, so-called "dream robots" developed by Sony Japan as high-tech playthings for children. The QRIO can carry on conversations, adapt to a multitude of environments and - most importantly - mimic human movements, including complex dance routines. Currently, there are only four working QRIOs in the world. And all of them appear in the "Hell Yes" video.

My interest was sufficiently piqued. Then I watched the video. And, I had the same experience as a lot of people, apparently, according to the director: "Most of the people who have seen the video come away thinking that there's no way the QRIOs are real. They think they're like people in robot suits or something."

So, here’s the link to the “Hell Yes” video. And, below are two of my favorite robot songs. There are loads of great songs about robots. These two just get preferential treatment for being the two weirdest songs about robots that I’ve ever heard. Feel free to submit a favorite or a Top 5 or something. These could be the weirdest songs you'll find on this blog for awhile, so, if that's your bag, don't miss out on these two.

Andrew Thompson – We’re in Business (If you weren’t afraid of robots before, maybe you will be now. ‘You might think that they’re you’re friends/They’ll only kill you in the end/Never trust robots’)

TV on the Radio – Robots (These are the drrrrrty robots. Not as scary as Andrew Thompson’s robot, more horny. Robots getting freaky...nearly everywhere.)

I Like 'Em Feisty

2005-11-16T13:57:00.000-05:00

There's just something about those Feisty types

Feist - Inside and Out

Feist - Mushaboom

Feist - Secret Heart

It’s autumn time and there’s electricity in the air around The Hideaway these days. Things are happening. And, it’s all because of this Canadian indie-popster chick I’ve discovered named Lesie Feist. She’s positively rocking King Koopa’s world. Outta nowhere, BAM! Sometimes you’ll just be going out for a walk and you’ll stumble upon a rare, beautiful gem. Sometimes that gem is actually a Canadian indie-popster named Lesie Feist.

Apparently, Miss Feist recorded this album in France, with a bunch of musically-inclined Frenchies. It’s definitely got a different feel to it, I’d probably compare it to the Nouvelle Vague album that came out this summer. Feist’s version of the disco classic, “Inside and Out” is stunning. Her voice is just REALLY doing it for me. Mmm mmm mmm! Best thing I’ve heard in awhile. “Mushaboom” is eclectic English-speaking French chanteuse pop at it’s most delectable. Handclaps, horns, tambourines, pianos, acoustic guitar…it’s awesome. “Secret Heart” is a cover of the Ron Sexsmith tune and the song’s melody has been bouncing around my dome since I first heard it. It’s catchy as hell.

Blackalicious = Scrumdiddliumptious

2005-11-09T12:39:00.000-05:00

The following could possibly be an excerpt from a dream of mine. I rarely remember my dreams, but it's conceivable that it might go something like this:

Gift of Gab: "Koopa, you know what?, you the man!"
Me: "Nah man, whatever. How could I possibly be the man when everybody knows YOU the man! Please. Don't play like that. Would the man be known to wear tapered leg jeans to work on casual friday because they were the only clean, non-ripped pair he had? No, of course not. The man is someone who would record a rap song where he goes through the alphabet making rhymes with each letter and speeding up the tempo till he's blastin' like an AK-47 by the time he reaches Z."
Gift of Gab: "Well...yeah, you're right Koopa, that track was pretty dope, and, you do look kinda goofy in those jeans. I suppose I am the man. But, you still the coolest, aiight? Tapered leg jeans and all!"
Me: "Hey, thanks bro. I'm won't argue with the man on that one. I'm gonna take my cool ass to TJ Max and pick up some new jeans, but I'll catch you later."

Blackalicious - World of Vibrations

Blackalicious - Supreme People

Blackalicious - Automatique

Recently, a good friend needled me with the accusation that I “swing from Quannum’s balls” during a music debate we were having. (Blackalicious is on the Quannum label, along with DJ Shadow, Lyrics Born & Lateef the Truth Speaker, Lifesavas, Poets of Rhythm, and some others) That's true to a certain extent, but it's only because I've got a genuine connection with the music. Quannum's dope, they put out great music that's usually right up my alley. Then, about a week later, my friend starts bugging me to burn him a copy of the new Blackalicious album, The Craft. Of course I’ll burn it for him, ya know, but it’s like ‘Yo, who’s swingin’ from whose balls now, bro?’ Gotcha…We were having a debate about local bands around Indy and how I think Indy’s music scene is lame and getting lamer. The debate started because The Patio is closing. audible sniffle [little tear trickles down King Koopa’s cheek.] Somehow the debate changed from how The Patio’s closing would cut down on small-to-medium national touring bands coming to Indy, to the quality of the local music scene around here. See, small-to-medium national touring bands are my bread and butter. I’ve never been too impressed with the bands around Indy. Indy has a lot of punkish-type bands and some hip hop groups that are still in their diaper stage. “Punk” is a nice way of saying the band is still working on their musical chops and their songwriting skills, at least in the opinion of this observer. You can’t write 2 minute punk songs for your entire musical career. There’s a reason punk bands always end up “selling out” and changing their sound. They’re maturing as musicians. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great punk songs out there, but punk is also a very simplified style of music that doesn’t require as much depth or complexity as other music styles might. I’m just telling ya how I see it here. The point is that I don’t see the quality of Indy’s local music as being even remotely comparable to the groups that used to come to The Patio, like all the guys from Quannum, for instance. It all boils down to personal preference and what I’m listening to from week to week, month to month, but the idea of going to see more local bands to make up for the loss of The Patio just isn’t cheering me up. I’m hoping that the Music Mill and Radio Radio pick up the slack and bring in those Patio-type bands, but we’ll just have to see what happens.

Back on the farm…today, I’ve got a bunch of cuts for you from The Craft, the new one from Gift of Gab and Chief Xcel. Gift of Gab is one of my favorite rappers, he and Mos Def hold the top spot in my mind depending on the weather that day. I’ve seen him in concert several times, the first time was when he opened up for Ben Harper. Then it was part of a winter festival in Chicago with Karl Denson, Saul Williams, and Nikka Costa (one of the “coolest” shows I’ve seen). Next it was when the entire Quannum label went on tour (best hip hop show I’ve seen). Last time was when he came around with Lateef to The Patio last year. Dude looked kinda ill that night, he had to sit down for parts of the show. I credit Blackalicious’ mindblowing epic “Alphabet Aerobics” with starting my on-again, off-again love affair with hip hop. My college roommate James Yeo got me into their “A to G” EP driving around in his little space pod of a car, going back and forth to the furniture store we "worked" at. I’d never heard anything like it. Anyway, this album is really very solid, probably better than Gab’s solo album from a couple years ago, but it’s not quite as epic or impressive as Blazing Arrow, their last album together. Xcel’s beats and production are sick as hell and underrated, as usual. My favorite track is “Supreme People”, it gets me jukin and jivin anywhere I hear it…shower, car, office chair, wherever…it’s a party starter, people mover, ass shaker. If you download by "World of Vibrations" and "Supreme People" you'll have the album opening dyanmic duo rap medley. I highly recomend. "Automatique" is a sexy, slow-burner of a track. Hotness all around.

Dude, It's Friday. Cover For Me.

2005-10-28T09:07:00.000-05:00

I drove into a burning ring of fire. I went down down down and the flame went higher. IT BURNS! BURNS! BURNS!, THE RING OF FI-YAH!!! WHOOO!!!

Tom Jones - Ring of Fire

Ray Charles - Ring of Fire

This Kid Named Miles - Ring of Fire

It’s “Cover For Me” Friday and today I dust off my “Covers” series that used to be oh-so-popular on Koopa’s Hideaway. I would’ve brought this series back sooner, but I was worried about damaging my blogular integrity by conceding to popular demand and revisiting this series. I felt kinda like how the Hanson brothers must feel when they get pressured to sing “MmmBop!” at every show. I had to wait until my audience at large had forgotten about my seminal, groundbreaking covers series, and THEN bring it back blow your mind all over again.

Tom Jones’ reworking of the Johnny Cash classic, “Ring of Fire”, is a 60’s go-go/mod version that would earn a hearty “Yeah, baby” from Austin Powers. I’m willing to bet every time Tom played this song in concert that he got showered with even more women’s panties than usual. Truth be told, it’s a kickass version and you’ll wonder why you ever thought Tom Jones was lame. Next, I’ve got Ray Charles doing a sexy, soul-filled rendition. It’s a rollicking romp and the bass line just bumps along as Mr. Charles bares his soul and reminds you that he’s been through that doggone burnin ring of fire and came out the other side with the scars to prove it. Then, to close out my Ring of Fire trifecta, I’ve got an old school reggae and r&b version (think Jackie Mittoo) by This Kid Named Miles, leader of the Breakestra collective. This song came on a new-ish 7” vinyl single with “Funky Reggae” on the b side, by a mysterious fellow who goes by the moniker Bumps Jackson (I'm pretty sure this is actually alias-happy hip hop producer Madlib, since his name is really Otis Jackson). And, there’s your obscure vinyl reference for the week. Have a great weekend hideawayheads, I’m going back to the country to enjoy a weekend of bonfires, parties, and country cruises.

So You Wanna Be a Mixologist

2005-10-24T11:28:00.000-05:00

You think this looks easy, huh? Well...it's not. OK? As you can see, I'm kinda busy right now or else I'd explain it to you. Just...take my word for it, alright...You think it's just throwing a bunch of stuff together and "mixing it up", don't you? I can tell. Well, if that's all there was to it, I'd be out of a job now wouldn't I? Maybe when you grow to appreciate it, I'll try and tell you what it is I do and all the processes I have go through. Until then, quit bothering me and let me get back to work...geez.

So, I’m still making mix cds for my hard-time-having buddy. I made this one on Saturday afternoon/late-night. It’s almost exclusively from my vinyl collection, except for three of the nineteen tracks. I started with the idea of “country-politan” music, but with a sometimes-funky, sometimes-melancholy twist. Then, I broke one of the cardinal rules of mix-making by including two songs by the same artist back-to-back. Nobody’s going to give me any awards for a super obscure mix, but that crap only matters to record collecting geeks like me. Since this mix isn’t for me or another record collecting geek, who cares? Most people probably don’t think about stuff like this when listening to a cd, but I’ve read (and seen) “High Fidelity”, and I know that there are lots of rules. Check out my rule-breakin, straight off the wax mix below. I'll add links to various songs as time allows.

1.Kris Kristofferson – Sunday Morning Comin Down (down & out country, the best kind...)
2.Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra – Some Velvet Morning
3.BB King – Chains and Things
4.My Morning Jacket – How Could I Know? (b-side of ‘Off the Record’, literally)
5.Paul Simon – Slip Sliding Away
6.Dr. John – Walk On Guilded Splinters
7.The Band of Bees – Punchbag
8.James Taylor – Mud Slide Slim
9.Curtis Mayfield – Stone Junkie (live from ’72 Newport Jazzfest)
10.Curtis Mayfield – Pusherman (live from ’72 Newport Jazzfest)
11.Bobby Womack – Harry Hippie
12.Bobby Womack – Nobody Wants You When You’re Down and Out
13.Johnny Cash – Wanted Man (live from San Quentin prison)
14.Bob Dylan w/ The Band – When I Paint My Masterpiece (live)
15.Neil Diamond w/ The Band – Dry Your Eyes (live from “The Last Waltz”)
16.The Band – Ophelia
17.Elvis Presley – Tryin To Get To You (from “The Sun Sessions”)
18.Elvis Presley – Blue Moon (from “The Sun Sessions”)
19.Bob Dylan – Meet Me in the Morning

Ps – On Sunday night I went to see My Morning Jacket here in town at the Vogue Theater. It was Fenomenal. I spelled "phenomenal" with an ‘F’ because it was so F’n great; great F’n show on the same F’n level as their great F’n album, “Z”. You may have heard me gush about it a couple weeks ago. Best album I’ve heard all year, best concert performance I’ve heard all year. Don't sleep, hideawayheads.

Tears of a Clown

2005-10-20T17:36:00.000-05:00

My search for clown pictures made me wonder: Is there anybody out there who actually likes clowns? I hate clowns. I'm not sure why it took me 26 years to realize that, but I hate clowns. Then again, I have read Stephen King's "IT", so that probably doesn't help.

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Tears of a Clown

I'm in the midst of compiling a couple mix cds for a good friend of mine who is going through a hard time, so that's where this song is coming from. He asked for some melancholic, thoughtful, meditative type songs. Some of my all-time favorite songs fit that bill, but it's not the type of mix cd that I usually make. So, it's been kinda fun to go back through my collection and pick out some of these songs.

Tears of a Clown is particularly special because the upbeat, pulsing music perfectly balances the "sadder than sad" theme of the lyrics. It was originally written by Stevie Wonder as an instrumental. Only later did Smokey Robinson add the lyrics and record it with the Miracles. Two of the all time greats contributing to the same song, no wonder it's so perfect. In fact, this song is about as close to perfect as you can get. (Flexing his lyrical muscles, Smokey even references an Italian opera.) Enjoy this piece of musical brilliance:

Now if there's a smile on my face
It's only there trying to fool the public
But when it comes down to fooling you
Now honey that's quite a different subject
But don't let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression
'Cause really I'm sad, oh I'm sadder than sad
Well I'm hurt and I want you so bad
Like a clown I appear to be glad, ooh yeah

Chorus
Well they're some sad things known to man
But ain't too much sadder than
The tears of a clown when there's no one around
The tears of a clown when there's no one around

Now if I appear to be carefree
It's only to camouflage my sadness
And honey to shield my pride I try
To cover this hurt with a show of gladness
But don't let my show convince you
That I've been happy since you
Decided to go, oh I need you so
Look I'm hurt and I want you to know
For others I put on a show

[chorus]

Just like Pagliacci did
I try to keep my surface hid
Smiling in the crowd I try
But in a lonely room I cry
The tears of a clown
When there's noone around

Now if there's a smile on my face
Don't let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression
Don't let this smile I wear
Make you think that I don't care
Cos really I'm sad

Go Colts!

2005-10-18T09:12:00.000-05:00

Is there a cooler team symbol than the Colts horseshoe?

Gram Parsons - Wild Horses

My Colts are still the only unbeaten team in the NFL. Call me crazy but, I'm predicting a Cowboys vs. Colts Super Bowl. Wild Horses couldn't drag me away from that game, hence the song of the day. Edgerrin James was running around like a wild horse last night, too. (140 yards and 3 TD's?!) The Rolling Stones and The Sundays would go on to cover this song but Gram's version remains the superior one. But then, Gram's versions were usually superior to everyone else's.

Rock For the Non-Mulleted, Non-Indie

2005-10-17T11:32:00.000-05:00

Rock is like a box of chocolates

Blackrock - Yeah Yeah

Who says you can’t dance on a Monday morning? Certainly wasn’t me and it certainly wasn’t this morning. I got into the office this morning and decided that the perfect compliment to two crappy cups of overpriced 0.25$ office coffee was a little Blackrock. That’s right, hideawayheads, rock wasn’t always just for the mulleted and the indie among us. I’m talking about ghetto rock, black rock, funk rock, soul rock, or whatever label you wanna give it. (And, no, I’m not talking about Fishbone, Funkadelic, Living Color, Thin Lizzy, or that mohawked fellow from INXS’ Rockstar.) Mos Def ambitiously attempted it on his last album, but people were hatin on him and that album didn’t get the attention it deserved. People weren’t ready for that album. Andre 3000 came with some radio-friendly rock and people slurped it up with ladles and spoons. There used to be a time when rock of all colors and styles was blanketing the airwaves. But, you probably think that you already know all this, don’t you? You’re probably wrong. See, I'm telling you stuff that you "know" but you don't "know". My not-so-profound-or-groundbreaking theory on knowledge is that the only way to really know something is to experience it. Then, you REALLY know it, ya know. I don’t know. But, what I do know is that my knowledge theory goes counter-intuitive to our internet age. (Let me know if you know what I mean, or, if you already knew all that, you can let me know that, too.)

Blackrock is a pretty ungoogleable, little-known funk/psych/r&b group from the late 60’s and early 70’s. I downloaded the mp3 from Fluxblog, who picked it up off the out-of-print bootleg comp, “Chains + Black Exhaust”. And, no, it’s not one of those anonymous, boring James Brown or Meters soundalikes, thank goodness. “Yeah yeah” is a freakin jam. Funky piano, bangin drums, soulful guitar. Great guitar riffs. And, as an educational tool, they let you know at the beginning of the song exactly what you’re about to hear. Black rock. Dig it.

Funky Friday - Muppetstylee

2005-10-14T12:21:00.000-05:00

Funkadelic = The Muppet Band on Acid?

Funkadelic - I Wanna Know If It's Good To You

Funkadelic - Can You Get To That?

It's almost the weekend and I'm in a Friday-type mood today. If you know me well, you know that I've got the funk pumpin through my veins. White blood cells, red blood cells, a couple T cells, some plasma, and funk. After years of contemplative study in the temple of funk, reading the old scrolls and listening to the old records, I've come to realize that the lyrics in a funk song can be about anything. They can be happy, angry, funny, melancholly, political, sad, or simply nonsense. But, through it all, it keeps a funky beat that you're meant to dance to. So, funk music could be said to be a model for how to get through life. No matter what's goin on, you just gotta keep dancing along. As the theory goes, if we can all get together, pretty soon the whole place will be groovin. As the cracked-out George Clinton (my favorite Clinton) said, "Free your mind and your ass will follow." I think it works vice versa, too. Which brings me to today's posts...it really doesn't get much funkier than Funkadelic. Both these songs contain some of my favorite hip hop samples and I'm sure you'll recognize some of the beats from other songs. These two tracks capture the Funkadelic collective on a moonless night, at the crossroads of funk and psychedelia, right after their midnight meeting with the devil. If I had to describe what Funkadelic used to be like, it'd be something like, "Think of The Muppet Band, except instead of being puppets, they are a bunch of black dudes, operating on copious amounts of psychedelic drugs."

New Feature: Grab Bag Wednesdays!

2005-10-12T09:46:00.000-05:00

I'd say this fellow is pretty mad, in the mental sense, for bees.

The Band of Bees vs Madlib - Chicken Payback (Madlib Remix)

I think I need to start posting more randomly, not just mixes and great new albums. I need to get back to posting great songs, or rare songs in this case, just for the heck of it. And, I think you deserve it, hideawayheads. You've earned this Madlib remix of this great Bees song. (As you may recall, I posted the original version of this song in my blogular tribute to the animal kingdom several months back. Nobody downloaded it then. Now you want it. But, you can't have it. Such is life.)

Here's a link to a site that contains a link to the "Chicken Payback" video.

It's Pronounced, "Soof Yawn"

2005-10-10T17:03:00.000-05:00

Oh yeah, dude's a Christian too. He went to my alma mater Calvin College's rival, Hope College in Holland, Michigan. Surprisingly, I don't think he's Dutch.

Sufjan Stevens - Decatur, Or, Round Of Applause For Your Stepmother!

Sufjan Stevens - Chicago

Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day

I've been sitting on this post for awhile, but now seems as good a time as any since I'm discussing the Album of the Year already...

By winning my annual contest of the year's best lyrical couplet crafted to rhyme with “Decatur”, (Steven A. Douglas was a great debater/But Abraham Lincoln was the great emancipator) Sufjan Stevens cemented a high-ranking place in my Album of the Year list. Maybe I love his album "Illinois" because I’m usually a sucker for things that are clever for cleverness sake. (“Decatur...” is essentially a lyrical test to find things to rhyme with Decatur.) Maybe I love it because I’ve been reading about Abraham Lincoln lately. Maybe I love it because he has super long song titles like, "A Short Reprise For Mary Todd, Who Went Insane, But For Very Good Reasons". I don’t know. Whatever the case, Sufjan Stevens has crafted another state album (after “Michigan”) and this one knocked me outta my socks. A musically and lyrically diverse album, it’s also a well-executed and well-conceived concept album. See, it’s an album of songs all about Illinois, hence the Steven A. Douglas and Lincoln references. Exceedingly clever. And tender. It’s an album of tender songs by a tender man. In the vein of Bob Dylan’s “Only a Pawn In Their Game”, Stevens included a song about John Wayne Gacy, the psychopathic clown. I dare say it’s about as tender a song about a psychopathic clown as can be written. Usually, I don’t go for albums with overly emotional/tender themes (see: anything Conor Oberst has done), but this album broke right through that and blew my mind. There’s so much depth to each song, and it’s such a beautifully arranged album. I think it’s something that Brian Wilson would be proud of musically, and lyrically it’s much more grounded and real than anything Wilson ever wrote. It’s ultimately a studio album and would require a decent-sized orchestra to do the songs proper justice in a concert format. That would be a fine concert, though. Fine, indeed…Check out his interview in The Onion.

Album of the Year (and, no, it's not the long-lost Sisqo studio album you've heard so much about. Wrong-wra-wrong-wrong-wrong.)

2005-10-05T17:45:00.000-05:00

My Morning Jacket - Off the Record

My Morning Jacket - Lay Low

The following is a series of events and proclamations that are sure to change your life from this moment forth:

1) Yesterday, My Morning Jacket’s newest album, ‘Z’, came out and I purchased it, eagerly. 2) In a kickass attempt at rewarding their fans they included a free 7” record to go along with the cd. The record-collecting geek in me ("is there any other part?", you might sarcastically wonder...I say, "Screw you" for even potentially wondering that.) loves them already. 3) After thoroughly enjoying their previous record, "It Still Moves" I was really looking forward to this album. 4) At the time this post went to press, I have listened to the entire disc about 5 times in a 24 hour period, I have no reservation in declaring that ‘Z’ is the Album of the Year. (I'm issuing a pre-emptive "move over" order to The Darkness' upcoming album, "One Way Ticket To Hell...And Back!") 5) Seriously. 'Z' is really flippin' great. 6) I’m not trying to pull anything over on anybody, this album is really that good. 7) Alright, you wanna know who the competition is? It’s better than Beck’s “Guero”, Sam Prekop’s “Who’s Your New Professor”, Lyrics Born’s “Same Sh!t Different Day”, Sufjan Stevens’ “Illinois”, both Iron & Wine’s EPs, Josh Rouse’s “Nashville”, and it’s beating out Edan’s “Beauty and the Beat” by an eyelash. 7) I’ll be going with my older brother (Duke Koopa) to see them at The Vogue theatre on October 23 and I can hardly keep from dropping a hot, steamy load in my shorts at the thought of how great this show is going to be. 8) The show at The Vogue will cost you a scant $15.

Download the tracks and get ready to have your cornhole rocked six ways to Sunday. Then, leave a comment and go to the show at The Vogue with me and my bro on Sunday, the 23rd. (If you didn't get around to downloading "Wordless Chorus", the opening track on the album, the link is still active in my "Last Good Day of the Year" post.)

Enjoy the rest of your day, hideawayheads.

Update 10/12: In case you need affirmation of this album's greatest beyond The American Mastodon and myself, this week's The Onion gave the album a rave review: "It's both rare and marvelous to hear a good band make its first really great album...The record is undeniably the work of My Morning Jacket—all grandeur and pounding heart—but Z's take-a-shot spirit is bound up in the nutty, insanely catchy "Off The Record," which stacks up a stolen surf riff, a reggae rhythm, lurching vocals, and an extended, spacey coda. At first it sounds too wild and beastly to be any good, but the hook is as infectious as freedom, and around the third time through the song, doubts dissolve. If it takes some time to adjust to, it's only because it's hard to recognize a classic right away."

Sure Fire Traffic Grabber: New Fugees, "Take It Easy"!

2005-09-28T11:05:00.000-05:00

Lauryn's still on my Hotty Top 5

I've been somewhat eagerly awaiting this reunion for awhile. Hip hop reunions have a dubious history. But, The Fugees used to be great, so you never know. Everybody loves Lauryn Hill and she's always been the best part of the Fugees, but Wyclef has done some pretty goofy wacktracks since Fugees broke up. Pras, he just dropped off the face of the earth seemed like. So, without any further ado, download this brand spankin new track and tell me what you think of the new Fugees. I'm gonna hold off on my opinion until I get some posting action on here. (Traffic around the site has been down lately so this is my attempt to get people buzzing around here again.)

The Fugees - Take It Easy

The Last Good Day of the Year

2005-09-19T17:25:00.000-05:00

So, I'm finally getting back into the swing of things, sorry it's been so long since the last post. Music just hasn't been on my mind like it usually is. But, I'm back with another mix cd that I compiled for fall and just stuff that sounds good right now for whatever reason. I just spent the weekend in a wedding (my 8th wedding tux rental, in case you're keeping track at home) up in my old stomping grounds of Grand Rapids, Michigan and it was an absolute dream of a weekend, ideal really. The leaves are just barely starting to fall from the trees and the weather was perfect. I drove around my old college town, past my old houses, old hangouts, old memories. I met the hottest, hardest partying cop/bridesmaid I've ever seen, a blond chick with a rockin body and, presumably, handcuffs on her person at all times. I danced like a man possessed. I flirted with bridesmaids. I partied with old friends I hadn't spent time with or seen in years. I had the best weekend I've had in awhile.

But, I digress. This latest mix I made, it originally started out as a psychedelic folk rock mix, but I realized I didn't have as much of that stuff as I thought I did. So, I filled in the holes with some songs from different countries. Peruvian Beattlesque pop, Nigerian funk folk, Brazilian soul rock, French chanteuse rock pop, Burmese psych surf rock...it's all there, baby! I think it all works together really well as a mix, too, sort of a globetrotting, aural taste-testing. It's just some joyful, melodic tunes that exist for their own sake, not to change anything or make you think or make you dance or make you sad, just good music. That's just about exactly what I need right about now, something simple and good...And, since I haven't been posting up new tunes in awhile, and because I'm in a good mood, I'll post up a bunch of the songs from this mix. Enjoy the hot eats/cool treats, hideawayheads.

Harry Nilsson - Gotta Get Up
The Band of Bees - These Are the Ghosts
Jon Brion - I Believe She's Lying
The Coral - Shadows Fall
Antonio Carlos E Jocafi - Kabaluere - (Brazilian tune that was jacked by Chali 2 Na & NuMark)
The Kinks - Victoria
Beta Band - Dry the Rain
Cousteau - The Last Good Day of the Year - (I think this was on a car commercial awhile back)
My Morning Jacket - Wordless Chorus - (Beautiful tune from MMJ's forthcoming album 'Z')
Loretta Lynn w/ Jack White - Portland Oregon
Bongos Ikwue - Woman Made The Devil - (70's Nigerian tune about women & the devil)
Lashio Thien Aung - You Got What You Got - (Burmese psychedelic pop from the 60's)
Jon Brion - Walking Thru Walls - (the background vocals crack me up everytime)
Sea and Cake - The Argument - (pre-solo Sam Prekop)
Francoiz Breut - La Fin Du Monde - (a French chick making good use of handclaps)
Paul McCartney - Monkberry Moon Delight
Velvet Underground - Who Loves the Sun?
We All Together - Children
The Hassles - 4 O'Clock in the Morning
Weldon Irving - Morning Sunrise
Love - Everybody's Gotta Live

The Flood

2005-09-02T14:20:00.000-05:00

First off, I apologize for the last post. I posted it as soon as I heard about the levees breaking in New Orleans, not fully realizing what that was about to cause. It seems flippant to me now. But, I deal with tragedy like anybody else, I gotta find a way to vent my feelings. I feel the need to write something about this and express my feelings through someone elses songs (skip straight to the bottom of the post for the songs that are helping me get through this.)

Like everybody, I've been totally waylaid by the flooding in New Orleans and the fact that this tragedy has gotten worse by the day. At least during 9/11 things got relatively better after the initial event. The after-effects of this natural disaster have taken me by surprise. Unfortunately, it's also appeared to have caught the government that is supposed to take care of tragedies like this by surprise, as well. That is a fact that I have a hard time getting my head around. It's unforgivable. I think that this is horrible, on-going event is going to be a tipping point in coming to grips with the big questions connected to it. Why are poor people the hardest hit by tragedies like this? Why are most of the poor people in New Orleans black? Why haven't I heard anybody attacking the poor leadership being shown by Louisiana's female governor? Why are the reports of violence in the city creating impressions that the city is a war zone or a dangerous jungle instead of a human disaster area? Is it because some of the people arrested for the violence are black? Why is violence in the city slowing down the aid that is supposed to be coming there? Why are police and the public so worried about looting when people are dying from lack of food and water? (Because the police have been so worried about looters, there are more people that are dying from lack of food and water. Who cares about material stuff and stealing at a time like this?) Why have white looters been depicted in some media outlets as looting "food and supplies" while black people are shown hauling off vaccum cleaners and tv's?

Some people are becoming very angry about this situation. I can understand that, but I simply don’t share the feeling. Being angry is a way to cope with what has happened and it’s never done much for me. I think right now people are entitled to feel however they wish and do what they have to in order to get by. Blaming people is a way to feel more secure and provide an outlet for frustrations and unanswered questions. But, blaming our leaders who should be protecting us doesn’t make me feel any better about all this. I wish it did because I’ve got a lot of questions weighing heavily on my mind right now. As a man of faith, I feel the only effective thing I can do right now is pray. I need to ask God to help the neglected people left stranded in New Orleans. I will give of my time and money, too, but right now I need to pray. But, why did God allow this to happen in the first place? How can his plan for this world use anything so horrible for any kind of good? Don't listen to anybody who tells you that they have an answer to why God allows this to happen. Of all the Godliest men I’ve ever talked to or heard speak, they’ve all acknowledged that we simply cannot know the God's reason for allowing suffering and trials like this. Of all the big questions connected to this tragedy, this is the biggest: “Why?” To still believe in a God who will allow devastation like this is the definition of faith. In the Bible, Job was tortured through the end of his days because God allowed Satan to test his faith. Job was hugely successful and prosperous until God allowed Job’s family to be wiped out and for his crops to be destroyed. Then he developed painful sores over all of his body. But, through all of it, Job maintained his faith. When he refused to give in the Satan's testing, it became all that he had. It wasn’t until Job died that he found out the reason for it all. And, Job is the quintessential example of the power of faith in the Bible. No one could’ve told Job the reason for it all while he was still on earth and don’t let anybody tell you they know why God allows bad things like this to happen.

Spiritualized - Lord, Can You Hear Me? - this one brings tears to my eyes. Nothing as powerful as a song like this coming from a guy who once named an album, "Taking drugs to make music to take drugs to"...

Curtis Mayfield - Here But I'm Gone - the tendency for me to slip into escapism during a time like this is powerful. Reality is too real sometimes, ya know? Curtis recorded this entire album on his back in the studio, paralyzed. It's from his last album, New World Order. He would die a few years later.

Risin' Night and Day

2005-08-30T09:08:00.000-05:00

Bob Dylan - High Water - from Love & Theft

High water risin' - risin' night and day
All the gold and silver are being stolen away
Big Joe Turner lookin' East and West
From the dark room of his mind
He made it to Kansas City
Twelfth Street and Vine
Nothing standing there
High water everywhere

High water risin', the shacks are slidin' down
Folks lose their possessions - folks are leaving town
Bertha Mason shook it - broke it
Then she hung it on a wall
Says, "You're dancin' with whom they tell you to
Or you don't dance at all."
It's tough out there
High water everywhere

I got a cravin' love for blazing speed
Got a hopped up Mustang Ford
Jump into the wagon, love, throw your panties overboard
I can write you poems, make a strong man lose his mind
I'm no pig without a wig
I hope you treat me kind
Things are breakin' up out there
High water everywhere

High water risin', six inches 'bove my head
Coffins droppin' in the street
Like balloons made out of lead
Water pourin' into Vicksburg, don't know what I'm going to do
"Don't reach out for me," she said
"Can't you see I'm drownin' too?"
It's rough out there
High water everywhere

Well, George Lewis told the Englishman, the Italian and the Jew
"You can't open your mind, boys
To every conceivable point of view."
They got Charles Darwin trapped out there on Highway Five
Judge says to the High Sheriff,
"I want him dead or alive
Either one, I don't care."
High Water everywhere

The Cuckoo is a pretty bird, she warbles as she flies
I'm preachin' the Word of God
I'm puttin' out your eyes
I asked Fat Nancy for something to eat, she said, "Take it off the shelf -
As great as you are a man,
You'll never be greater than yourself."
I told her I didn't really care
High water everywhere

I'm getting' up in the morning - I believe I'll dust my broom
Keeping away from the women
I'm givin' 'em lots of room
Thunder rolling over Clarksdale, everything is looking blue
I just can't be happy, love
Unless you're happy too
It's bad out there
High water everywhere

It's Party Friday!!

2005-08-26T09:22:00.000-05:00

Breakestra feat. Chali 2na, Soup (from J5) & Double K (from P.U.T.S) - Family Rap (Beats and Breaks mix)

Party people in the house, say "HOOOO!", say "HO! HO!" That's right, it's Party Friday up in the Hideaway. And, I got a brand new 12" I'm about to drop on ya. The Breakestra is a funk band out of LA that plays like a DJ. On their previous disc, "Live Mix Tape Part 2" they played funky break after funky break, exactly like a DJ cutting up a record. Perfect band to play behind a couple rappers, right? Right. On the Breakestra's first studio album of original material, they brought in some of LA's finest to bust out a couple verses. Chali 2na and Soup from Jurassic 5 showed up, as well as Double K from People Under the Stairs, WHAT!!. Chali and K are two of my favorite voices in hip hop, they both have very distinctive flows. Chali 2na should have a solo album coming out soon, so keep your eyes peeled for that...and don't hate (especially you, Buster). Breakestra's new album should be dropping very soon, but until then enjoy this track from the 12" single. Listen to me now, thank me later...

GE: We Bring Good Things to Beats

2005-08-18T08:34:00.000-05:00

generally speaking, I like elektriks

General Elektriks - Tu M'intrigue

General Elektriks - Frost On Your Sunglasses - Added 8/24!!! Cop this!!! It doesn't get much fresher

My boy "D Friendly" reminded me this morning that Quannum has a new artist debuting next Tuesday, August 23rd. I've been sitting on this mp3 for awhile since downloading it from Music For Robots, and now seems as good a time as ever to post it up for you guys. Quannum's previous release, their other new artist APSCI, really disappointed me so I'm really hoping this General Elektriks disc is a return to Quannum form (Blackalicious is next and they're going psychadelic, ya dig?) All I know is that General Elektriks is basically one French dude and a lot of vintage synths and beat machines. A lot of really cool organ put to some sick beats with great production. Sounds cool enough, right? As far as vocals are concerned, Mr. Elektriks generally gets by on this song by just whispering French nothings into the mic. (Have you ever noticed that the French, especially the women, can get away with whispering into a mic and turn it into a song? A good French chanteuse is just a sexy whisperer; but, I digress.) When Quannum picks him up, you know it's gonna be quality and something different (except in the case of APSCI). If you go to Quannum's website, you can stream a couple other songs from the album (Check out the supercool 'Frost On Your Sunglasses'. Lateef's on the other track on the site, 'Facing the Void'.). I've really liked everything I've heard so far (3 tracks) so I'm pretty sure the album that drops next Tuesday is gonna be dope. Don't sleep on GE! It's got all the earmarks of being my album of the season this fall...

Whoa, Mack Daddy!

2005-08-12T13:49:00.000-05:00

"Mr. Womack...uh, I don't know how to tell you this...but...Elton John called. He says he wants his glasses back."

Bobby Womack - Fire and Rain - My favorite of all his covers. The brotha gets over on this one...

Bobby Womack - Sweet Caroline - Arguably the finest performance of this song I've heard. That is, best I've heard since I performed it with the American Mastodon and a friend at Dennison University's weekly karaoke night at the student union.

Bobby Womack - The Preacher/More Than I Can Stand - Imagine a black baptist preacher telling a hilarious story to his congregation about walking in on his wife cheating on him. Then, add some funky music behind him and you've got a close approximation of this song.

In my opinion, if you have a discussion about the greatest soul singers of all time and Bobby Womack’s name is not mentioned, you’ve committed a criminal offense. Whether writing songs (including the Rolling Stones 1st U.K. #1 “It’s All Over Now)”or playing guitar (on Sly & the Family Stone’s “There’s a Riot Goin On”), he’s been a part of many of pop music’s greatest albums. Check him out at ubl.com to get the full biography, but the guy had the full swing going from a pastor’s son singing gospel tunes, to becoming a rich and famous soul musician, to bottoming out from drug abuse, to desiring to record a country album (with the hilariously stunning title “Step Aside, Charley Pride, Give Another Nigger a Try”), to becoming a washed up soul singer with some famous friends, and most recently recording a gospel album. The man has done it all. However, I will always remember him for two things, 1) His “inventively reimagined pop covers” and 2) His “lengthy spoken philosophical monologues”. Like few performers, Bobby Womack gives you a glimpse of his soul with every performance. Full of humor, melancholy, and passion, he laid it all out on vinyl for the rest of the world to experience with him.

Always Pimpin, Never Slippin (That's How It Is)

2005-08-10T11:55:00.000-05:00

King Koopa's most recent after party...

There are a few things in life that every man needs to have. A Mach 3 razor. A record player. A recipe you know how to cook. A bottle of fine liquor. A great afterparty mix cd. I’d love to help out the rest of the dudes out there with all these essentials, but there’s only so much I can do. I’m only one man. But, my compassion for my fellow man requires that I try and at least help out with the last one on the list, the afterparty mix. We all know what the after-party is all about. Da ladies. Songs must be carefully chosen. They need to be of the utmost smoovness, yet danceable. Slow jams, knowwhatimean? Dr. Dre can produce a bangin beat that’ll keep their heads ringin till next friday, but when you’re looking for smoovness you gotta look elsewhere. (And, at this point of the night nobody cares how obscure a track is, you're looking for universal smoovality, not obscurity.) But, there’s the risk of going over the top with the smoovness and coming off looking corny. That’s where personalization comes into play. I could never pull off rockin a Ralph Tresvant or SWV track. Some guys could; I couldn’t (I'm toe-ing the line with the Teddy Pendegrass song I included.) So, without any further rambling, here’s my afterparty mix:

1. Outkast - Spottieottiedopaliscious
2. Sleepy Brown - Still Smokin (Sleepy's Theme)
3. Notorious B.I.G. - Big Poppa
4. Big Pun feat. Fat Joe - Still Not a Player
5. Outkast - Player's Ball
6. Amerie - One Thing (Siik Remix)
7. Big Boi feat. Sleepy Brown - Bowtie
8. Karl Denson - Groove On
9. Notorious B.I.G. - Juicy
10. Kanye West - Slow Jamz
11. Lynden David Hall - Sleeping With Victor
12. Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Take You There (9th Wonder Remix)
13. Jack Herrera - Jack Herrera for President
14. Outkast - Aquemini
15. Teddy Pendegrass - Choose Me
16. Lauren Hill/Bob Marley - Turn Your Lights Down Low

Hey Everybody, It's Summertime!!!

2005-08-03T12:11:00.000-05:00

it's summertime, and it rolls

So, I’m talking on the phone the other day to my dear friend the American Mastodon. In the tradition of glass-half-emptyists the world over, my pessimistic compadre was lamenting the month of August as the beginning of the end of summer. Perpetual optimist that I am, this kinda caught me off guard, but in a way he’s right. What it made me realize more than anything is that I’m running out of time to post up my top 5 songs of summer! (Soul-Sides.com has been doing this theme all summer with various guest bloggers, and I’ve been loving it.) But, before we get to the list, what are the defining qualities that can put a song on my list? 1) Singalongability/Rapalongability. This is of utmost importance. I need to be able to belt it out while pimpin it bigwillystyle in my convertible out on a country cruise in the middle of nowhere. 2) An overall upbeat, blissful, escapist mood. Summer songs are supposed to put you in a good mood, not bum you out with that downer we call “reality”. 3) A great melody. Yeah, I know, this is a subset of the singalongability, but it deserves it’s own slot. A great melody speaks for itself and will sometimes make me forget the lyrics of the song. 4) Somewhat danceable, if only a little bit, enough to get a produce a booty-shake or two.

But, without further ado, here is the somewhat definitive list (in no particular order), King Koopa’s Top 5 Songs of Summer

1 - Marlena Shaw - California Soul - [It's] 'the sound you hear, that lingers in yer ear'

2 - Mack B Dog - Hot Breath - The dopest, silkiest 1:35 of rapping you'll ever want to hear. RIP, Mack B Dog. 'Rhymes so milky they'll be labeled as dairy'...

3 - Lyrics Born - I Changed My Mind - My dawg LB lays it down exquisitely with the kraut funksters, Poets of Rhythm as his backing band

4- Chi Lites - Stoned Out of My Mind - Put this one in your pipe and smoke it.

5 - Wyclef Jean - Stayin Alive - with a sample like 'Stayin Alive' it's hard to go too wrong. 'Clef brings it on this one from his debut solo album, then quickly begins his rapid decline into cheesiness.

Honorable Mention: Big Pun feat. Fat Joe - Still Not a Player - The guiltiest of the guilty pleasures on this list. This one is just a undeniable smile-producer. Undeniable.

Don't Push Her, She's Close To The Edge

2005-08-01T17:45:00.000-05:00

It's like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder how her dentures keep from falling out.

Georgina Dobson - The Message

Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five - The Message

Time to revisit my 'cover song' series that I started doing a few months ago. You know that old school rap song "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five? (You know the one, it's the track that Puffy and Mase jacked for Mo Money, Mo Problems.) Have you ever wondered what that song would sound like if a British grandma named Georgina Dobson was rocking the mic? Sure, the imperative refrain, "Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge" sounds a lot more crotchety and cranky when delivered by an octogenarian, but it's still effective. It maintains the tension of the original version. Georgina Dobson genuinely doesn't want to get pushed; she knows she'll break her other good hip. And, she's got a world-weary, been-there-done-that aspect to her voice that lends the song a new dimension. However, Georgina's portrait of the ghetto isn't quite as vivid as the original, in fact, she switches the setting to a London ghetto. The escalator at the "underground"? Uh, it was a subway last time I rode it. Fumbling with her keys at her "flat"? What? Next time leave your hoity toity British apartment slang across the pond, Grandma. But, my favorite part of the song has to be after the chorus when she wonders under her breath, but still on the mic, "maybe it'd be better if I stood up". Georgina: You stand for something even when you're sitting down, as this song demonstrates. You're standin up for prospective mic-rockin grandmas all around the world. Sit that old ass down, you've done enough already. (Besides, I doubt your replacement, orthopedic hip can withstand all that extraneous motion.)

VHS or Beta @ MMS

2005-07-27T14:47:00.000-05:00

"HELL YEAH!!!!", says the man in the red shirt in the front row

VHS or Beta - No Cabaret

This fella above is a good buddy of mine and he just so happens to be a big fan of VHS or Beta. In fact, I credit him with turning me on to one of the coolest new bands I've heard in awhile. (Think: Duran Duran mixed with The Cure mixed with Daft Punk.) Dude was my roommate for awhile and he goes by the nom de plum "Paloz" (a variation on his real last name, sort like King "Koopa".) Well, this picture was taken of him last Saturday night at The Patio when we saw VHS or Beta as part of the Midwest Music Summit. It was an awesome show that had me shakin my moneymaker and producing beads of sweat on my forehead the size of ping pong balls. There was some guy there who was taking pictures at each stop of their tour and posting the pictures on his site LastNightsParty. The photographer just happened to catch Paloz as he was exhorting the band with a couple "Hell yeah!!!"s or "Yeah bass!!!" or the relatively rare "Get nasty!!!". It was a really fun night of dancing around and screaming like kids hopped up on No Doz. If you go see VHS or Beta, an activity I highly recommend, make sure to dress appropriately (no sweaters or snowsuits) and wear proper shoes because you WILL 'get nasty'. I know I did.

Enjoy a little danceable goodness and Paloz's purportedly favorite VHS or Beta song, "No Cabaret". (Would you ever guess that the lead singer is a mulleted Asian from Louisville, KY? Didn't think so...)

Birthdays, Burritos, and Porch Music

2005-07-21T12:27:00.000-05:00

the instigator

Yesterday was my buddy Casey’s birthday. The highlight of the night came at the end: Having the cops called on Casey over a disputed burrito with beans(that Casey's sister ordered specifically with "no beans"). The burrito in question was paid for, then after taking a few bites and the beans were discovered, the staff was alerted to the problem. At first Casey decided that he would take one for the team and eat the beany burrito. Then, realizing he had an opportunity for a free burrito since it was faulty to begin with, he requested a refund under the "customer is always right" statute. After the refund was requested and refused, colorful words were exchanged, which resulted in the disputed but already-purchased burrito being inexplicably thrown in a nearby trash can by the proprietors of the burrito establishment. This action produced the predictable reaction of more colorful words being bandied about by both parties. Within short order, it escalated to a threat of police involvement; a threat which Casey greeted with incredulity and then encouragement. Cops showed up and escorted him outside, but it all ended peacefully. It just goes to show you that sometimes birthdays and burritos don’t go together as well as you might think.

Anyway, I made a “porch music” mix for the dude's birthday. Check it.

1 - Paul Simon - Have a Good Time - Great 70's pop tune. Good riddance, Garfunkel
2 - Mose Allison – Seventh Son - Breezy, swinging jazz tune. Laid back, subtle vocals. Classic song.
3- Nick Drake – One of These Things First
4 - Bob Dylan – Tangled Up in Blue (bootleg version)
5 - Tony Rice & Friends – Scarborough Fair
6 - Iron & Wine – Woman King
7 - Sam Prekop – C+F
8 - Lemon Jelly – Soft
9 - Sam Cooke – A Change is Gonna Come
10 - Ray Charles – You Don’t Know Me
11 - Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto – Corcovado - The same pairing that produced "Girl From Ipanema", this song is just stunningly beautiful. Very early bossa nova.
12 - Nouvelle Vague – Love Will Tear Us Apart - A bossa nova version of the Joy Division classic. I've got a whole album of bossa nova versions of early 80's punk/new wave songs.
13 - Sam Prekop – Density
14 - Charlie Byrd – It’s Impossible
15 - Donovan – Colours
Van Morrison – Starting a New Life
16 - Tony Rice & Friends – Jerusalem Ridge - Tony Rice is one of the best guitar pickers in the world. He says it took him years to figure out how to play this song on his guitar and that it's the most physically demanding song that he plays. If you find better bluegrass than this, buy it.
17 - Gram Parsons – Do Right Woman
18 - Daniel Lanois – JJ Leaves LA - ADDED BY REQUEST 8/12! Super-producer Daniel Lanois brings his slide guitar stylings to the Hideaway. Delectable.

Once Again, Back is the Incredible

2005-07-18T11:57:00.000-05:00

2 Mex is 2 dope 4 life.

2 MEX - Once Again

Songodsuns - Minors Into Fire

Hey, I’m supposed to be running an audioblog, huh? Well, fret not, hideawayheads, I haven’t forgot ya. It’s just that the jobby-job has been beatin me down. I won’t bore you with details, but I’ve been rode hard and put away wet. Lucky for you, I’ve found the next underground rap star in the mean time. That’s right, I’ve found the next #1 stunna. See, I realize that if I’ve got a definitive knack or a niche in this crazy musical world in which I orbit, it’s in finding the next dope rapper who sounds just different enough to make it. If the rap game was like the stock market, I’d be a googlionaire by now. It started back in college with two unknown rap collectives who had released EPs that year: a little group named “Jurassic 5” and a duo named “Blackalicious”. The last nugget I unearthed from the rap garden was ‘EDAN’. Now it’s time to reinvest, to start from scratch and find that next underground chart-climber. Mission Accomplished: I’ve found my diamond in the rough and he goes by the name “2 Mex”. His vocal style reminds me of Lyrics Born, and the production on these two tracks is definitely bangin, thanks to producer Squeak E Clean. Borrowing a page from Madlib’s playbook, he also has several aliases, one of which is “Songodsuns”. Gimme a hollar if you’re feelin this, blogosphere.

'The Bees Knees' or 'Attack of the Imported Bees'

2005-07-12T12:25:00.000-05:00

A young hipster in training for his first beard of real bees. 'Good form; keep that chin up!'

A Band of Bees - These Are The Ghosts

A Band of Bees - Wash In The Rain

A Band of Bees - Horsemen

A Band of Bees - This Is The Land

In case you needed further proof of the fact that I’m about 24 times hipper than the average hip-cat, here’s some tracks to download from The Bees (or A Band of Bees, if you’re like me and you're not into the whole brevity thing). I had my grubby paws on this album about a year ago when it was released only in the UK. Finally, they got around to releasing this album in the US a few weeks ago. However, it really steams my veggies that they added 2 new bonus tracks on the American version. Quite the cruel joke on all The Bees completists out there, of which there must certainly be several. But, that’s what record companies are for, right?

I posted the song, "Chicken Payback" from this album awhile ago during my blogular tribute to the animal kingdom. Not surprisingly, it was universally ignored. If you want that song, you'll just have to buy the album and wish forever that you'd listened to me the first time around.

A Guilty Pleasure

2005-07-06T14:18:00.000-05:00

Schnikies, I'm speechless

Amerie - One Thing (Siik Remix)

Yeah, so, I heard the best song of the summer the other day. It's a remix and I haven't even heard the original, but I just have that feelin in the bottom of my stomach that this is my guilty pleasure of the summer. It's kinda R&B, which is not normally my cup of tea (at least, not new R&B). See, I'm pretty far removed from Top 40 or radio, so it's totally possible that this song has already blown up and I'm arriving late to the party. But, I've played this song about 10 or 15 times since downloading it and I haven't gotten tired of hearing it yet. Subtle subliminal summer sublimity.

Keep holding on for a story or two from my trip. (I know, I've lost interest already, too)

Americans = Fat

2005-06-23T13:12:00.000-05:00

I'm just stating fact here, c'mon

Good Rockin' Charles - Goin Home

Chico Chism - 480 Pounds

During my last few days of being over in Europe, I began to dread coming home. There's a lot of reasons why I wasn't looking forward to coming home, but one of the more light-hearted ones was going home to be among my fat fellow Americans. Before any of my huskier readers becomes offended, please realize that I'm just stating fact: we are a culture of overweight people.

This was my third trip to Europe and when I get back, without fail, I get asked about how many hotties I met/hooked up with. Without going against my stance on kissing and telling, I will say that the the ratio of hotties to notties is clearly in favor of the Europeans. So many hotties that I was getting whiplash on an hourly basis from all the double-takes. I'm no statistician, but my mathematical brain pointed me to one simple conclusion: The number of fatties in a given country is inversely proportional to the number of hotties. For those people who are confused by the terms "inversely" and "proportional", I'll put it in lay terms: The more skinny people in a given population, the more hotties you're gonna meet. Sounds obvious enough, right? Well, the difference is striking. Not profound, but striking. In fact, it struck me as yet another reason why I love to travel. The easiest way to spot Americans abroad: look for a group of portly people. With fanny packs. And baseball caps.

But, I digress. One song that kept bouncing around in my head during my last few days over there, while I was ogling all the beautiful women around me, was Good Rockin' Charles "Goin Home". Ol Good Rockin' Charles makes no bones about the fact that he likes women with some meat on their bones. And, to that end, he makes it clear that he's going home to get him some. Good Rockin' Charles has only one eponymously named album listed on Amazon.com and this song isn't on it. So, I'd like to think this song is pretty rare. It's from a vinyl compilation album I have called "American Blues '79". It's one of the first records I ever bought and I got it mainly for the cover. It turned out to be a fantastic find. Interestingly, Good Rockin' isn't the only musician on the album to extol the virtues of fatness. A few songs earlier on the same side of the record, Chico Chism tells all about his "biggy fatty mama" who tips the scales at 480 lbs while still managing to rock him all night long. I'll leave it up to the blogosphere to discuss the stereotype of black guys and overweight women. I think these songs, and Mr. Chism in particular, speak for themselves.

--keep holding and maybe tomorrow I'll tell you all about the "typical koopa" moment that occurred early on in my trip. It requires all my mental faculties to tell it in complete detail. You'll be glad I waited...

Cynics Need Not Apply

2005-06-22T11:35:00.000-05:00

van the man

Van Morrison - Starting a New Life

Why Van Morrison’s “Starting a New Life” (from the album Tupelo Honey) hasn’t been on a million and a half movie soundtracks, I’ll never know. You know the storyline: The protagonist/anti-hero beats his head against a figurative wall for the first half of the movie, continually denies the calling of his soul; eventually has his moment of clarity; achieves redemption; now enlightened, he walks into a beautiful sunset while this song plays and the credits start to roll and, we are left to assume, begins to live a life markedly different from the one he’d previously been living. We all know the story and it’s easy to be cynical whenever we hear a story that follows the same arc. So, excuse me if I spare you mine because I’m a little wary about telling it only to have a bunch of cynical citizens of the blogosphere throwing rocks at my glass house (the torrent of mixed metaphors have returned! Yes!). I’m a sort of optimistic realist and I realize I’m already setting myself up for failure, but I haven’t done enough of that lately (the setting-up, I mean), so I figure I’m due…

But, lucky for you, what I do feel like telling you all about are my moments of folly, ineptitude, humiliation, embarrassment, and easily my worst ever day in a foreign country. Those stories are more interesting anyway. Stay tuned for a knee-slapper of a story that some who are in-the-know enough would describe as a “typical koopa” moment (which it most definitely is) and others less familiar with those moments have described as a minor miracle (which I won’t rule out). It’s all about perspective.

So, if you can imagine this whole trip of mine as a movie and this is the song playing while the credits roll, please wait patiently while I do the behind-the-scenes featurette on the scenes of interest. My brain feels pretty mushy from jetlag after spending 24hrs yesterday in a bunch of planes, trains, and automobiles trying to get home…so it could be a day or two…

Dude, bonus!!: Because I love Van Morrison (If you don’t have Van Morrison’s “Astral Weeks” album, shame on thee) and it might be awhile before I post more from him, here is another song that would have played in a montage during the movie of my last two weeks…mmm mmm mmm!

Van Morrison - Astral Weeks

Simply sublime, no?

Guess Who's Back in the Mutha Funkin House

2005-06-22T08:39:00.000-05:00

I'm laggin, but give me a minute and I'll be back to postin'.

Does it feel good to be home? No, not exactly, but I'm still glad to be home. I've got a couple soon-to-be-legendary "typical koopa" stories to relate involving lost passports and international incidents with uninsured Hungarian automobiles, but you'll have to be patient. All in good time, my friends...

Diamonds in the Back, Sunroof Top/Diggin the Scene with a Gangsta Lean

2005-06-07T14:29:00.000-05:00

Sopron, Hungary

William DeVaughn - Be Thankful For What You've Got

Tomorrow morning I leave for Hungary to volunteer at the European Leadership Forum, which I’ve talked about on here several times before. More than anything, I know that these two weeks are going to be another life-changing travel experience. Every big trip I’ve taken has been. They’ve been life-changing in that they’ve adjusted and reordered my priorities and broadened my perspective on life in general. This one is going to be different in that it’s for a greater good: the Lord’s work. It’s not just for my own personal enjoyment this time. I’m going to be working my tail off the week of the conference and the days leading up to it. My hope is that it puts in check some of the self-centered, selfish attitudes that have seeped into my daily life and routine. But, right now, I’m simply thankful for this opportunity to go over there and be a servant for something else besides my own desires. As Bob Dylan said, “You gotta serve somebody” and lately it’s been myself and anybody I thought would reciprocate and therefore benefit me somehow. I’ve learned since my last trip that never worrying about anything else but serving yourself is a never-ending cycle that simply breeds more earthly desires to be fulfilled. Ultimately, this cycle leads to destruction. This conference is all about trying to help out Christian leaders (scientists, bioethicists, professors, writers, pastors, counselors, etc) in Europe who will turn around after this conference and impact the spiritual lives of Europeans in a way that I never could. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be around such people and learn something from them. I’m thankful that I’m financially even able to attend. I’m thankful for a boss that respects me enough to grant me 2 weeks vacation during a busy summer. I’m thankful for an extended family that enjoys being around one another and looks forward to spending two weeks working and traveling together. Last, and most definitely least, I’m thankful to William DeVaughn for writing one of the finest soul songs ever recorded in, “Be Thankful For What You’ve Got” (Massive Attack recorded a version of this song on their debut album “Blue Lines” but it sounds cheap and cheesy next to the original). See ya when I get back in late June, hideawayheads.

Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta

2005-06-02T09:38:00.000-05:00

did I mention one of the Geto Boys is a midget? Well, he is. I dare say he's the best rapping midget ever, I don't care what Kid Rock says.

Geto Boys - Damn, It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta

Video: Geto Boys vs. Star Wars - Mind Playin Tricks On Me

Isaac Hayes - Hung Up On My Baby (Tough Guys theme) - sampled for Mind Playin Tricks On Me

How do you know if you’re ghetto? Answer: When you start a rap group and misspell the word “ghetto” in your name. Well, that, and having a couches on your porch. That’s right, the Geto Boys are in the neighborhood! Head for the suburbs whiteys! The Geto Boys are behind two of my favorite rap songs, one of which appears in the opening sequence of everyone’s favorite work movie, “Office Space”. “Damn it Feels Good to Be a Gangsta” simply bleeds laidback, Cali beats, perfect for summer days and driving around causing trouble. Geto Boys made their name in the early nineties when the amount of swear words in a rap song was just as important as the beats. There’s just something undeniably enjoyable about excessive swearing just for the f*ck of it. Not to say that today’s rap songs have fewer swear words, but the old stuff just sounds gratuitous, in a totally awesome way. My favorite Geto Boys song has to be “Mind Playin Tricks on Me”. I love it’s narrative structure, the Isaac Hayes beat, and the sickness of it all. It’s a twisted song, but twisted in a way that everybody can sorta identify with. Damn homey, my mind’s playin tricks on me. Unfortunately, I don’t have this song on mp3 yet, I just have a link to a video using Star Wars figures as the actors. It’s awesome. What I do have though, is the Isaac Hayes (Chef!) original that the song is based around. Not surprisingly, that’s awesome too. The riff from this song just gets stuck in your head (Buster, this one has mix potential). Oooh, the sickness…“Now I got the world swingin from my nuts/damn, it feels good to be a gangsta”…

Mix-Making by King Koopa: An Indulgent Exercise of Relative Insignificance

2005-05-27T12:14:00.000-05:00

Mix together only under direct supervision by qualified personnel.

Ever wondered how I compile a mix cd? Well, sit back and take a lesson, you’re about to get a peak at the over-thought, time-wasting method behind my cd-mixing madness. The next mix on my mixing horizon is going to be with Hideaway regular Buster Larkins as we put one together to be played during set-breaks at Gold Room’s July 4th weekend reunion extravaganza. Oh, ‘Who’s Gold Room?’, you ask? Well, they’re a group of four dudes from my hometown that came together back in high school and managed to craft themselves into a respectable jamfunk band. Three of them have since exported themselves down to Nashville, but not before doing a legendary gig at my family’s farm and playing in my barn for about 150 underage kids out in the lawn (I was 18 at the time, about to head to college, parents were out of town all week). It’s not my intent to retell that story today, but I’ll say this about it: that party is still talked about in awed, hushed tones and is often referred to as “the town’s best damn party ever thrown by an 18-yr old”. Alright, so nobody else but me says that, but I think you get the idea. Great party band. Rumor has it that Gold Room’s bassist, Greg Gsell, has been getting music lessons from one of Victor Wooten’s brothers. If you don’t know Victor or his brothers, shame on you, but Victor’s the best bassist I’ve ever seen or heard and his brothers are just as talented. On to the mix. Step 1: When I’m doing a mix cd for some party or for a friend or something, I usually try and start with a single song that captures the vibe that I’m going for. Step 2: Build your mix around your "core" songs. It would be all too easy to crank out a mix of straight dance party songs, I’ve made my fair share of those mixes. This one is a bit different, it’s gotta accentuate, yet not over-hype the band’s vibe. It’s gotta be lively and entertaining, but I can’t come in here with DeeLite, Grandmaster Flash, and a bunch of crazy dance remixes and expect to continue the same vibe created by the band. Disclaimer: It’s an outside, campout-style party in a country field in the middle of nowhere. I want people to be movin and groovin between sets, but I don’t want a “sonic shift” between the band and the stuff on the mix. So, with all that over-analysis out of the way, here are some of the songs I’m starting this mix with:

Bobby Womack - Communication - my step 1, really sums up the vibe I'm going for...

The Jackson 5 - Hum Along and Dance - A classic old school dj cut, undeniable. You've probably heard samples from this song without realizing it.

Rufus Thomas - Sophisticated Sissy - featured in DJ Shadow/Cut Chemist's "Brainfreeze"

Maze - Time Is On My Side - Franky Beverly. Do better vocalists exist? No.

The Incredible Bongo Band - Bongo Rock '73 - What I imagine as the soundtrack to coked-out California in the 70's

and now, for a couple covers...

Nostalgia 77 - Seven Nation Army - A nasty, funky, virtually unknown cover version of this modern classic. I'm hearing Sharon Jones on the vocals but I could be wrong.

Senor Coconut - Smoke on the Water - A lively, bongo & xylophone-heavy version about the burning of a Swiss rock club. The vocalist sounds like "Fes" from That 70's Show to me.

"Songs of Yesteryear That You Couldn't Get Away With Recording Today. Part 2"

2005-05-25T18:04:00.000-05:00

The lovely Miss Wright, still putting up with all those Mr. Wrongs.

Betty Wright - Girls Can't Do What the Guys Do

Betty Wright has been around for a long time, kinda funky, kinda soul, all awesome. She was a great singer and had a couple controversial tunes in her heyday. “Tonight is the Night (You Make Me A Woman)”, besides being the kickass sample behind Candyman’s classic makeout tune “Knockin’ Boots”, is Betty’s story about losing her virginity. I highly recommend picking up Betty Wright “Live” if you come across it, she’s in top form.

Today’s song of yesteryear that would never be recorded today is “Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do” in which Betty instructs her female listeners that in order to be a lady, you can’t be trollin’ the streets for hot tail like guys can do. It doesn't matter if your guy has been knockin boots with all your girlfriends, that's what guys do. Guys are guys and they’re gonna go out and find their outside woman, their backdoor beauty, but ladies, there’s really not much you can do about it. If you try and get revenge by gettin it on with the handyman down the block, you’re gonna find yourself in the gutter. And, you'll lose your self-respect. Girls simply can’t match a guy’s independence. Moral of the story: Boys will be boys and will probably cheat on you. Women: Deal with it.

“Songs of Yesteryear That You Couldn’t Get Away With Recording Today”

2005-05-23T16:39:00.000-05:00

why doesn't anybody name their kid "Garland" anymore?

Garland Green - Don't Think I'm a Violent Guy

The theme for today’s post, admittedly, is kind of a weird one. What if I told you that I was in possession of a song that's sympathetic to domestic violence where the pro(/an-?)tagonist begins the song threatening to “tear up this place” unless his girl opens up the door. He’s just got done beating her up and now he’s outside trying to get back in. He knows she’s angry at him because he “lightly smacked [her] pretty little face”, but he didn’t mean to do it and, besides, she pushed him to it. He spends the rest of the song justifying why he smacked up his girl, saying he’s sorry and imploring his girl/the listener to not think of him as a violent guy. At the climax of the song, he tells his girl through the door that “a little smack like, it couldn’t make a baby cry. So, LET ME IN”. Won over by his empty apologies, his minimizing of her pain, and his general incorrigibility, she lets him back in.

What the hell?

My dad used to tell me that he could beat up on mom if he'd wanted to, it just meant he couldn't sleep at home. Hopefully that comes off as humorous as it was intended.

Not even Dave Chappelle, R. Kelly, or Dave Chappelle-acting-like-R.Kelly (ala “Piss on You…the Remix”) could record a song like this anymore. Spousal abuse and domestic violence aren’t crimes that inspire much sympathy these days. Where there is no sympathy, surely there is no humor. Chris Rock will at least touch the subject, admitting that he wouldn’t hit a woman, but he’d shake the sh!t outta one. Uh, let’s not dwell too long on that one. (As this post shows, it's REALLY hard to create humor out of beatin on your wife.) Sorry Garland, when you’re a woman-beater, you’re a violent guy, and everybody is thinking it.

Pass the Jelly

2005-05-18T13:04:00.000-05:00

a taste of jelly

Lemon Jelly - Soft (1st post on the Hideaway, feat. Peter Cetera, sort of)

Lemon Jelly - The Staunton Lick

Lemon Jelly - Ramblin Man (feat. Charlton Heston, sort of)

Lemon Jelly - Homage to Patagonia

Yesterday, the Hideaway experienced it’s first “outside” link from the mp3 blogging community, which means citizens of the global village have been perusing the Hideaway for the past day or so, or at least more than the usual 5 who check this site (I think I need to work on my blog-roll). Welcome, I hope ya like it! What’s even cooler is that it appears that Dodge, the blogger in question, hangs his hat in the same city as myself (I don’t live in the Hideaway year-round). I’ve decided to revive my inaugural post on Koopa’s Hideaway and maybe even pimp it out with some additional songs.

“Soft” was roundly ignored when it first came up, but the Hideaway was pretty empty back then. Every person that I’ve played this for falls in love with it, without fail. Don't be the first person to make the other list. “The Staunton Lick” is just a blissful builder of a tune, great for summer days and feeling the wind in your hair. “Rambin Man” was the theme-song of my round-the-world trip a few years ago. If you’re a ramblin man like myself, this’ll make it onto any trip mix you make from this point forward. “Homage to Patagonia” is a song that ends of on a lot of my mixes because it fits so many different moods. I could play this song at a dinner party, beach party, or cocktail party and it’ll be catchin ears everywhere I go. Beautiful piano loop and bongo samples.

I think Lemon Jelly sorta sum up the vibe and attitude of this site. Think RJD2 or The Avalanches except with more cheeky & fun-loving British humor tossed in for good measure. Lemon Jelly are just two guys with really deep record collections and a love of music. When I started producing beats with a friend of mine awhile back, I wanted our stuff to sound like Lemon Jelly could’ve produced it. One of the guys, Nick Franglin, produced William Shatner’s stellar solo album that came out this year. And, a Lemon Jelly song off their newest album (which isn’t quite as memorable as their earlier stuff) is featured in the trailers for Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Pass the Jelly, please!

Keep Ya Head Up, Midwest!

2005-05-16T16:24:00.000-05:00

the middies

Atmosphere - Say Shhh

Welcome back D! My boy D Friendly is back up in continental mix, so to speak. Dude’s been over in Ghana or somewhere doing who knows what. But, he’s back for a visit to middle America to hang out, watch some MTV, and eat fast food.

I’ve been trying to find a reason to post this Atmosphere song for awhile, now I’m glad I waited. It celebrates everything that’s good about the Midwest, and it’s damn fresh. "[The Midwest] is dope if only simply for not what we have, but what we don't". Ya gotta download to find what what those things are.

shhhh

M.I.A. - The Miss Singh in Action Band

2005-05-12T13:19:00.000-05:00

Sorry, this totally has nothing to do with the "M.I.A." that I'm posting today. Looks like an ad for a German nitrous party, no?

M.I.A. - Bucky Done Gone

M.I.A. - Amazon

Like every other mp3 blog out there, I've posted some M.I.A. in the past. I caught the wave in February (sorry, couldn't help myself), and I've been keeping an eye on her ever since. Then, this morning, a friend told me she was going to M.I.A.'s Chicago show next Thursday. Besides having that buzz of freshness about her, M.I.A.'s got some crazy tight beats. Check it. For some reason, the horns on "Bucky Done Gone" remind me of the theme song from "Rocky". You can playerhate if ya wanna, but you gotta admit, she's pretty good. And, she's pretty smokin' hot.

Life's a Beach, Enjoy It While You Can

2005-05-10T16:41:00.000-05:00

Just the 2 of them

Jorge Ben - Comanche

Cool Benny - Wobble Cha

I haven't posted in awhile and the deafening calls for my return have become too much to ignore. It's time for some new songs up here. My public is demanding and I gotta give 'em what they want: Free songs to download.

I've been busy using all my music/thinking time at work compiling a mix cd for my buddy's trip to Miami and the Keys with his girlfriend. Entirely too much time actually. But, dude gave me a free ticket to a VHS or Beta concert, so I'm obliged to bring my A-game. Plus, I've been talking this thing up to him like it's gonna be the best travelling-with-girlfriend-mix ever. I dare say I've succeeded in my task. I did color front and back covers and everything. But, I enjoy it. Here's the track listing:

1 - Rough House Survivors - Take a Trip updated 5-11-05
2 - The Avalanches - Since I Left You updated 5-11-05
3 - Jamiroquai - Feel So Good
4 - J Live - Give It Up
5 - Jackie Mittoo & the Soul Bros. - James Bond Theme updated 5-11-05
6 - Toots & the Maytals - Funky Kingston updated 5-11-05
7 - Lifesavas - L.I.F.E.
8 - Cool Benny - Wobble Cha
9 - Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Back on da Block updated 5-11-05
10 - Stevie Wonder - I Love Every Little Thing About You
11 - Visible Man (David Byrne) - Fuzzy Freaky
12 - Jorge Ben - Comanche
13 - Ralfi Pagan - Make It With You
14 - Bob Marley - Mellow Mood
15 - RJD2 - To All of You
16 - Mos Def - The Panties
17 - Philadelphia Experiment - Just the Two Of Us (instr.)

As usual, the Bens of the mix steal the show. Jorge Ben is pretty much the preeminent Brazillian musician and he finds his rhythm on this one. If you wanna get a taste of Brazillian music, he's the first place to start. "Comanche" is off the this compilation called "Black Rio" that I picked up a couple years ago. Cool Benny I know absolutely nothing about except that he turned up on a Ubiquity Records sampler called California Soul. Get set to Wobble Cha! Pretty soon you'll be lookin like a wobble cha champ!

What a Wonderful World

2005-05-05T13:34:00.000-05:00

What a Wonderful World

Stevie Wonder - Love's in Need Of Love Today - more true today than ever...

Stevie Wonder - I Love You So - to be played at my wedding someday.

There’s something about people with disabilities. Either because of the effect of their infirmity or because of their heightened abilities in other areas, those with disabilities often produce profound and interesting works of art. Wanna know the best description for how something looks like?, ask a deaf man. Wanna know how something sounds?, ask a blind guy. One of my favorite blind guys, Stevie Wonder, has made a career of turning the feelings and sounds of his mind into beautiful and often profound music. I want to focus today’s post on Stevie’s love songs. No, I’m not in love at the moment, but I got into a really interesting discussion over on The American Mastodon on love and what it means for humanity. More specifically, I theorized that since love is a uniquely human experience and is not present in the animal world from which we descended that it provides evidence of supernatural influence on humanity. I would argue that love is what truly separates us from animals and I would propose that Jesus Christ’s influence and effect on humanity is the perfect example of what love truly is. I didn’t come close to proof or a complete argument but, check it out, it became a pretty thought-provoking exchange. Maybe I’m a romantic, but I believe in love and I think my theory has some legs. At least my romanticism puts me in the same company with my dawg, Stevie. Being in the company of Stevie is cool w/ me any day.

Survival of the Fittest

2005-05-03T14:05:00.000-05:00

what could I possibly add to this to make it funnier?

VHS or Beta - Night on Fire

VHS or Beta - You Got Me

He gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse. He said, “Burn me a copy of the new Lyrics Born remix album and make me a summer beach mix for my upcoming vacation to Florida and I’ll go you a free ticket to see VHS or Beta tonight.” I said, “That’s the best deal I’ve heard all week. Count me in.” “He” is my old roommate Palozzy Osbourne and it’s a win-win for everybody. If only everything in life dovetailed together so conveniently for both parties. I’m big on the barter system, too.

Want a personalized mix by King Koopa? Just tell me what kind of theme/feel you want for it and give me a free ticket to a concert and we got a deal. Mix-making is a favorite hobby of mine.

VHS or Beta is a deliriously fun mix of Duran Duran guitars & vocals with Daft Punk dance beats. They hail from Louisville, KY so they come around here pretty often. This is my first time seeing them though. Ain’t nuttin but a party! Better dust off my dancin shoes.

Some Loosely Connected Ruminations On Europeans

2005-05-02T17:10:00.000-05:00

Though you don't know me well/With every little thing only time will tell/If you believe the things I do/Then we'll see it through/Life can be short or long/Love can be right or wrong/And if I chose the one I'd like to help me through/I'd like to make it with you

Ralfi Pagan - Make It With You

Greetings and salutations, hideawayheads, I hope all 5 of you had relaxing weekends. In the area of relaxation, my weekend showed marked improvement over the one preceding it. I had an orientation meeting for the trip to Hungary that I mentioned a while ago. Much to my chagrin, but a surprise to everyone there who knew me, I was an hour early for the Saturday morning meeting. The break from my normal unpunctuality was due to another undesirable trait of mine: failure to print off important emails. I knew the meeting was early on Saturday morning, I just thought my uncle (who scheduled it) was more of an early bird. We covered a lot of different topics and schedule-related items but, interestingly, we spent an inordinate amount of time covering the fact that Europeans hold increasingly anti-American attitudes. We were instructed against engaging in political discussions with anybody while we were participating in the conference, since we are going over there to serve as Christians, not as Americans. During my travels I’ve had my fair share of enjoyable, political arguments with people from around the world, so I made a mental note to try and obey this. I'm not usually one to withold my opinion when it is asked of me, especially when I hold strong views on the subject. I genuinely enjoy an informed political discussion and understanding the point of view of people from another culture. It presses all kinds of intellectual curiosity buttons inside me. But, this has come up on previous trips and I respect that it might be distracting to the purpose of our trip. I wasn’t the only one who had questions about this request. Since I lean towards defending President Bush on many issues, including the always popular regime change in Iraq, it’s probably going to be tougher for me than it would be for some of my more left-leaning compadres, several of whom frequent this site. “What does this have to do with me downloading an awesome song today?”, you might ask. Well, I came across something funny today from last week’s Onion. Here it is.

Pardon my coarse jocularity in the face of something I sincerely believe is important, but please understand that it’s not my intention to go to Hungary on a Christian missionary trip just to get myself into the missionary position with some nubile Hungarian beauty. To all the fine young women of Europe: Yes, I would like to “make it” with you, but we can’t talk politics and we gotta get married first. But, let's not worry about that, just check out this incredibly seductive Latino-soul cover of the softly rocking Bread tune "Make It With You" while I find some wine glasses. Because, even if you don’t like my nationality or my politics or my religion, I can’t think of a reason why we shouldn’t enjoy a glass of wine together, no?

This Funk Is One in a Million

2005-04-29T15:30:00.000-05:00

--

Pete Rock & CL Smooth - One In a Million

Sometimes when I'm feeling blue, it helps to remind myself that I'm one in a million. Before you think I got a big head (Disclosure: Actually, my melon is pretty f'n big), you guys are one in a million, too. Much love. Have a great weekend.

Hello, Again

2005-04-28T11:32:00.000-05:00

hey, what's up tom?

Lyrics Born - Hello (remix) - production by Jumbo from Lifesavas

Lyrics Born - I Changed My Mind (remix) - production by Stereo MC's (hey, remember them?!)

Goodness gracious hideawayheads, I’m getting old. If my birthday wasn’t sufficient enough to hammer that fact home, my subsequent illness confirmed it. I’ve got a weak constitution that’s all there is to it, and I’m coming to grips with that fact. I’m gonna get sick every time I neglect my body and overextend myself. I drunkenly put a beat-down my immune system like it slept w/ my girlfriend or something. Then my friends got in the act and got in a "shot" or two. But, as happens all too often, my immune system got the last laugh by deserting me in my hour of need.

Last Saturday night was my birthday and I went out with my friends and got twisted like a twizzler. Yes sir, I’m sure I was a sight to behold that night. All you gotta know is that I didn’t drag my ass outta bed until about 4 pm Sunday. That should tell you all you need to know. My joints ached, my lungs were filled to the brim with blackness, and I decided to back out of going to see Yonder Mountain String Band (sorry Seth). Did I mention that I lost my cell phone? (Yeah, so give me a call if you still want me to have your number, mine is still the same.) But, I digress. I’m back. A couple dozen bowls of chicken soup and a gallon of orange juice later, I've mended my relationship with my immune system. We're back on speaking terms at least. And to my hideawayheads, I think Neil Diamond put it best, “Hello my friends, hello. Just called to say hello.” I didn't mean to leave you for so long. And, to give you a flavor of my boogie-down, fun-filled Saturday night, here’s the brandspankingnew lead-off track from the new Lyrics Born remix album. This song would’ve been the soundtrack to my Saturday night. Ain’t nuthin but a party. And, “I Changed My Mind” as remixed by the Stereo MC’s is one of my alltime favorite hip hop tunes given the remix treatment. German funksters The Poets of Rhythm are LB’s backing band on the original version, and it’s a dopeass remix. Actually, it’s the hotness. Quannum Crew representin! I’m highly recommending this album, but beware, it’s not all party tracks and that’s why I like it. The downbeat stuff gives a more complete picture of the artist, something I’m always in favor of. That’s part of the reason why I love Quannum, all their artists aren’t afraid to make an album that’s varied and complex. LB’s got a sense of humor without being jokey and he gets serious without being pretentious. Get hip wit it.

ps - Anybody hear the new Saturn commercial w/ Gift of Gab on it? It’s “The Writz” (it samples “Putting on the Ritz”), which I posted up here a few weeks ago. Watch out, it's a Quannum takeover! (Don't be a hater, these dudes gotta pay bills too. )

Cash Monet

2005-04-25T13:22:00.000-05:00

I'm cash monet, baby

Paul McCartney - Vanilla Sky

As primary brain functions return tomorrow, I'll mention something about the crunkadocious birthday weekend I had. My body is still pissed at me.

Happy Birthday to Me (Tomorrow)!

2005-04-22T09:06:00.000-05:00

Why are all my birthdays like this?

The George Garabedian Players - Hooray for Hollywood/Spanish Flea

If you had a birthday party and someone asked you what song you wanted playing while you blew out your candles, what would you say? I know what song I would have playing, it’s “Hooray for Hollywood”. “Happy Birthday” is played out man, it’s worn, it’s tired. It’d be even awesomer if a live band played “Hooray for Hollywood”. And, ideally, the brass section would be comprised entirely of middle-school second-chair trumpet players. It’d be more fun that way. Think Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, but just not as good; yet somehow better.

Dolly's Llama's Have White Stripes

2005-04-21T17:19:00.000-05:00

still foxy after all these years (and with enhanced hooters)

Dolly Parton - Jolene

The White Stripes - Jolene

The White Stripes - Jolene (live) - from the Blackpool dvd

This song “Jolene” by Dolly Parton is another cover that’s near and dear to my heart as much because of the way I encountered it as the song itself. Let’s go back, way back, back into time, back to the fall of 2001. The previous six months had been a heady period for King Koopa: I graduated from college; I backpacked around Europe for a month; I came back and dated my high school crush and after the dream became a not-as-perfect-as-I-thought reality I dumped my high school crush; I became gainfully employed at the same company I still work for; I bought a convertible; I experienced 9/11; and, I saw the White Stripes at a tiny second-floor club in Bloomington on a hot Indian summer night. But, before I can tell you about seeing the White Stripes, let’s go back about another 2 weeks when I went and visited the american mastodon at his college. I'd just arrived and we were sitting around, talking about music and what we’d been listening to lately, and he pulls out this Dolly Parton record and was like, “Dude, you gotta hear this song.” Music prick that I am, I was skeptical at best. After some knob turning and button pushing on the second-hand stereo, this stunningly beautiful acoustic guitar lick and drum beat comes lilting out of the hi-fi. It was “Jolene” and it was a great song, and I was really curious how he’d found it. Did he wade through piles of bargain bin Dolly records full of Conway Twitty duets and Glen Campbell covers to find this? I think he said his brother turned him on to it. Now let’s fast forward 2 weeks, back to the White Stripes show. The American Mastodon organized a trip to see them and we met the anonymous “Laura A” down in Bloomington. (I give credit where it’s due: The AM declared the White Stripes the next Nirvana; I said no way, they’re good, but it takes a whole scene to create another Nirvana. -- Enter The Strokes and the garage band scene -- He was obviously a lot more right than I was.) By now, you’re probably wondering what’s the point of all this backstory and these boring details? Well, to the astonishment of the AM and myself, The White Stripes played “Jolene” that night in front of a sweaty, raucous crowd that had packed in and probably broken fire codes to see them. It was a surreal scene to say the least. How could they be playing this song? The AM was more excited than I’ve ever witnessed him, I thought he was gonna start speaking in tongues. What are the odds that the White Stripes are gonna cover a Dolly Parton song that I’d heard for the first time ever just a few weeks before? My mind was sufficiently blown. Then, I started wondering whether the AM knew all along that the White Stripes regularly covered this song in concert. How devious?! His brother had turned him on to both "Jolene" and The White Stripes, it couldn't be a coincidence. I asked him about it and he professed to having no idea. American Mastodon, I give you one more chance to own up and wipe the slate clean: Did you know that the White Stripes had played this song in concert before? Don't let this little fib hang over you like a black cloud for the rest of your days.

Until the truth comes out and the AM is set free, enjoy three very different versions of this song, 1) The pastoral, catfight-ish original, 2) The studio b-side version by the White Stripes, and 3) The live version from their somewhat newly released dvd which I haven’t seen yet, but I’m sure is kickass. The live version is so raw (but sound quality-wise it's great) it takes me back to that night. Goose-bump-inducing raw talent, raw emotion, the whole shootin match…It was really neat.

A Plan Comes Together

2005-04-20T16:20:00.000-05:00

Now that I have my green tambourine, all I need to start my one-man-band is a mouth harp and a washboard. Giddy-up!

Mrs. Miller - Green Tambourine

The Lemon Pipers - Green Tambourine

Anybody down for a double dose of Mrs. Miller? No?, well, who asked you anyway? I love it when things tie together in a nice, neat bundle. Ya know, when things come full circle and you’re like, “Whoa”. With today being the unofficial holiday that it is, I was tempted to post up a song for the space cowboys out there. But, why go with the obvious? With Mrs. Miller’s operatic cover of the groovy “Green Tambourine”, I cover all my bases and hit ya with something you ain’t neva heard befo. And, if I’m not mistaken, Buster Larkins’ college roommate’s father was in the band The Lemon Pipers, who wrote and performed the original. And, being in a psychedelic band in the 60’s, I’m quite sure the dude was intimately familiar with all things green. Like whoa. Man, I love it when plan comes together.

These Boots

2005-04-20T09:55:00.000-05:00

Undeniable, unfadeable and unbelievable

Mrs. Miller - These Boots Were Made For Walkin

Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Were Made For Walkin

I continue my covers series today with one of my favorites. To say Mrs. Miller made this song her own would be an understatement. But, this cover is among my favorites not because of musical merit or a unique artistic interpretation; it’s a cover that’s guaranteed to bring a wide, toothy smile to ol’ King Koopa’s mug, that's why. The Bible says to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, and it’s Mrs. Miller’s complete obedience to that axiom that makes this song so dad-gum enjoyable. (Speaking of “dad”, I bogarted this Mrs. Miller album from my dad until a couple years ago when he went through my records and stole it back.) Oblivious to the concept of irony, Mrs. Miller belts out this tune with a sincerity that erases all doubt that her boots are indeed made for walking. Think Mrs. Miller would stick around while Mr. Miller was playin around behind her back? Fat chance.

Here’s part of the bio from her unofficial website:

The eventual question was always- "Is Mrs. Miller in on the joke?" After all, this was a joke wasn’t it? The answer was illusive, intangible in an Andy Kaufman sort of way. Elva later revealed, "I don’t sing off-key and I don’t sing off-rhythm. They got me to do so by waiting until I was tired and then making the record. Or they would cut the record before I could become familiar with the songs. At first I didn’t understand what was going on. But later I did, and I resented it." Capitol told her that it was an "experiment" and Elva played innocent. Eventually she began to truly embrace the "so bad, its good" gag. A remarkable aspect of Mrs. Miller’s music, was her famous "ice-whistling" technique. She would hold a piece of ice in her mouth for 20 minutes before performing, in order to achieve a "good tight pucker" for her legendary whistle solos.

But the appeal of Mrs. Miller goes beyond a mere novelty act. Although she was aware of the joke, she was also still the genuine article. It was her honesty and sincerity that attracted her most devote fans, many which admit that they were drawn to Mrs. Miller because they found someone that they could relate to. Skip Heller author of the biographical article "Plan 9 from Claremont" explains, "As does the work of Plan 9 director Ed Wood Jr., Mrs. Miller gives us something in which there is so much human charm that we are disarmed by it. We laugh at first, because the ineptitude is so striking- but the enthusiasm, heart, and above all, frailty, touches the heart. Ed Wood and Elva Miller make us happy, and in ways that neither could ever have foreseen."

Have you ever heard a musician compared to Ed Wood? Neither have I, check out the song.

Give Back My TV (And, While You're At It, The Key To My Heart.)

2005-04-19T12:57:00.000-05:00

Give back the key to my heart and I'll give ya a beer

Sir Doug & the Texas Tornadoes - Give Back the Key to My Heart

Uncle Tupelo - Give Back the Key to My Heart

Today I start my "covers" series, where 1) I post up a cover that I love, or 2) Post up an original I love that was covered by a band that I love, or 3) Post both versions.

You are in luck because today I am able to do #3. The song in question is "Give Back the Key to My Heart", by Sir Doug and the Texas Tornadoes. The first time I heard it, I was in high school, back on the family farm, washing dishes with my dad and playing Uncle Tupelo's album, "Anodyne". My older brother had gotten me into Wilco and I picked up on Tupelo's scent after hearing them on the No Alternative compilation. When this song came on, my dad's ears perked up and he was delighted to hear a cover version of this song that he'd heard so many years ago when we lived in Texas. He tried to tell me about how cool Doug Sahm was, but I didn't have respect for my elders back then and I just figured Doug Sahm was just some guy who wrote some song that "my" band was making into something great. How could an old sounding original version be better than what Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar can do? (I was a kid, cmon, I still liked the Eagles and Steve Miller, for goodness sakes!) Sahm pops up on the U.T. version to sing the last verse, his voice a little scragglier than 20 years earlier.

Well, I recently found the album for $0.99 and was excited to find out that, yes, the original is better than the Uncle Tupelo version. It's in the same vein as Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, etc. Feel free to cast a vote for your version in the comments section.

In Da Garden a' Edan

2005-04-14T12:24:00.000-05:00

Edan – Making Planets (featuring Mr. Lif)

Edan - I See Colours

Edan - Funky Voltron

Edan - Fumbling Over Words That Rhyme

Edan - Beauty

Edan - Torture Chamber (featuring Percee P) - just added 4/20/05

I’m having a hard time describing the new Edan album that I just picked up so I’ll let Nathan Rabin at The Onion A.V. Club (Hideaway Secret: this is my never-fail spot to get reviews. Anything The Onion, and specifically Nathan Rabin, hypes, I buy. He’s got a great perspective, and he’s not a hater.)

Just as America and the Soviet Union divided Europe into the Warsaw Pact and NATO following World War II, hip-hop's forward-looking retro enthusiasts have been divvying up the genre's past among themselves. Feel-good nostalgists Jurassic 5 and Ugly Duckling both rep the old school, Madlib and 9th Wonder resurrected the Native Tongues vibe, and a skinny white rapper, producer, and DJ named Edan pledges allegiance to the golden age when lightning-fast flows were all the rage, and the dopest MCs boasted personalities as big and flashy as their gold chains. Edan could easily have spent the rest of his career mastering his little rap niche, but like a true child of Afrika Bambaataa, he's made a cosmic artistic leap and fused together decades, styles, genres, and races with his remarkable sophomore effort, Beauty And The Beat.

The album cover says it all. A riot of paisley and homemade graphic design, it depicts the faces of some of Edan's heroes (Ice Cube, KRS-One, LL Cool J and the like) crudely outfitted with groovy hairstyles straight out of the age of Aquarius. Yes, with Beauty And The Beat, Edan has tuned in, turned on, and dropped out. On tracks like "I See Colours," "Fumbling Over Words That Rhyme," and "Beauty," Edan combines the elaborate, super-scientific rhyme style of the late '80s with psychedelic rock production and vivid surrealistic imagery. In the process, he's created the grooviest fusion to hit hip-hop since Danger Mouse introduced Jay-Z to the Beatles and Bubba Sparxxx combined bluegrass with Timbaland's future funk on Deliverance.

The album is short but concise and solid throughout. I recommend. My favorite track is “Making Planets” w/ Mr. Lif. If I had a white 72 cadillac to go for a cruise on a lunar highway, this is the song that would be playing on the stereo. "I See Colours" is tripped-out brilliance. The other day, I called Gab's album psychadelic hip hop, but it' s nothing compared to this one. And, it's fresh fresh fresh!

Edan was just included in The Onion’s “The New What’s Next Music Issue”. Dig it.