Fenxy

I like Oscar Peterson.

I'm listening to People Under the Stairs, an underground hip hop group from the Cali. They make very good music, that is if you're into hip hop!

Well admittedly our tastes differ quite a bit Volkher and although I greatly appreciate my jazz and classical it only gets played on special occassions. Right now I am on a 90's R&B kick and Boyz II Men is on the dial. Probably playing sad songs because I have a client meeting in 5 minutes and they make me sad.

"Van Halen. I" (Warner Brothers 1978)

All Music Guide: "Van Halen's self-titled 1978 debut is undoubtedly one of the all-time best debuts by a hard rock/heavy metal band. All of the components for a classic are represented -- excellent songs and high-octane performances (the excitement of their live show was captured perfectly by producer Ted Templeman) are used to create an invigorating, original sound. Like other acclaimed debuts (Led Zeppelin, Are You Experienced?), Van Halen has a raw edge since it was recorded quickly, and every single song is a winner."

Prince 3121

@Scrivs: I just had the Boyz II Men "Legacy" (Universal Deluxe Edition) on this morning. So, our tastes might or might not differ quite a bit. ;)

Marvin Gaye: "What's Going On". (Universal/Motown Deluxe Edition).

THE masterpiece of soul music. Still stunningly good after 35 years, maybe even more so. Everyone should own a copy.

That's what I'm talking about Volkher! However, seeing how it's the afternoon now we kind of have to switch to the hip-hop vibe.

Yung Dro - Shoulder Lean (explicit lyrics)

Might as well link up my favorite Boyz II Men song since we are on that discussion.

Boyz II Men - End of the Road

Wonderful tune!
Love it.
Fantastic harmony singing!

PackFM - "Free-Esta"

VIP status, people showin me love,
shit's free, I ain't spendin 50 cent in da club
...
Somebody's havin a party
and I don't know who, but I'll ask somebody
and it's -- QN5 -- all up in this bitch
and if I ain't on the list,
I ain't fuckin with this

I want to link to a snippet of the song, but can't find any online since the album isn't officially out, yet. Damnit.

It's all about Lily Allen here at the moment. Got hold of the Digital Soundboy (Shy FX) remixes of 'Smile' the other day, they're fantastic.

If you've not heard of Lily Allen, you'll find plenty here. Check out her cover of 'Oh My God' by the Kaiser Chiefs while you're there. Beats the original hands down.

Dakota Moon: "Dakota Moon". (Elektra, 1998).

One of the best debut albums of any R&B band ever. Sadly enough, the next album sucked and they disintegrated after that (as far as I know).

@Paul: "The Promise You Made" is another classic in the Boys II Men vein. I'm sure you know it already ... if not, check it out! Many other top tracks on the album.

Been going through lots of the "Stax/Volt" singles today. Brilliant stuff, mostly. Shame that the boxes (10 CDs and more on each of the Vols. 1, 2 and 3 boxes) are so darn expensive in most places. Fabulous music.

I haven't listened to anything yet today, but yesterday while doing housework I had my iPod set to play all my Rimsky-Korsakov: Sheherazade, Tsar Saltan, Symphony No. 2 'Antar', Capriccio espagnol, etc. (mostly from this CD.

Bob Marley. "Catch a Fire" (Universal Deluxe Edition 1972/2001).

The original mix beats the hell out of the released album.
Wow (once again).!
A true classic in almost perfect remastering quality.!

Don't know if you've heard of Pink Martini, they're an outfit from Portland. Their music is laid back and brilliant for early mornings and late in the evening. Listening to some Jobim too.

Listening to Cheyenne Kimball's debut. AMG gave it a 4/5 and an "album pick" nod, so stop the hatin'. It's everything Hilary Duff's second album should have been.

Man, I'm such a loser.

Songs from Liz Phair and Rob Zombie. An odd combination...but it works for me. :)

Dr. John. "Mercenary" (Blue Note, 2006)

All Music Guide: "They virtually write a manual on how standards should be interpreted in the 21st century: with reverence for the creativity and sophistication of the originals, but bringing some of the blessed nightclub vulgarity back into the music, taking it out of the sky and the hallowed hall and putting into back into the barroom where the ears and asses of the people can take it in and shake it."

Judas Priest. "Killing Machine" (a.k.a. "Hell Bent for Leather", Columbia 1978).

AMG: "[M]usically, the band is as aggressive and brutally intense as ever. The two-guitar attack of Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing is characteristically blistering, and lead singer Rob Halford never sounded more inspired. For those with even a casual interest in metal, Hell Bent for Leather is essential listening."

Here's my shuffleness from this afternoon:

Badd - Ying Yang Twins & Bun B.
Hips Don't Lie (DJ Tavo Reggaeton Remix) - Shakira & Wyclef
One More Chance - Notorious B.I.G.
Torn - Latoya Williams (formerly of Destiny's Child) & Mike Jones
Bumpin' My Music - Ray Cash & Scarface

And I must also duly note my favorite reggae track right now, Open My Eyes by Soldiers of Jah Army.

Sigur Ros here - that late night staring at blogs music.

Variouus Artists. "The Disco Box" (Rhino, 1999)

Rhino: "More than half of the tracks featured on this set were Top 10 pop hits, and most continue to be dance club staples to this day. Packaged in a 6" x 10" box covered with a silver-metallic foil holograph, it also contains a 60-page booklet filled with essays, discographies, playlists and quotes from original disco DJs, rare photos, and more."

A guilty pleasure, although this box is far from complete and usually only contains single-edit versions rather than extended tracks. Still, lots of fun!

Seeed. "New Dubby Conqueros." (Warner, 2001)

[Answers.com]: "Seeed is a German reggae/dancehall band from Berlin. Founded in 1998 they have recently become quite famous in Germany and surrounding countries. They are the most popular German reggae act [...]. Seeed consists of eleven band members, including three singers, a horn section and a dj. They have worked with Cee-Lo Green, Anthony B as well as other Jamaican artists and producres. Seeed's lyrics are German, English and Patois."

Fantastic stuff, besides their new album, which in comparison is just bad. Check out "Music Monks", their 2nd regular release and together with "New Dubby Conqueros" you have some of the best reggae, dancehall and dub available in Europe today.

That should have been "Conquerors", twice. :(
We want an edit button ... now!

Johnny Cash : "American V - A Hundred Highways " (Mercury, 2006)

Suprisingly good, considering that the whole thing was put together posthumously.

I've been listening to the new (leaked) Scissor Sisters track (you can get it here). It's pretty good, typical glam pop Scissor Sisters, and it's practically begging for a Leo Sayer mashup. If the album's half as good as this, it's going to be great.

Yes. 90125 (Elektra / Wea 1983)

The remastered version is actually better for once, considerably so.

Loved that album when it came out but haven't really heard it for many, many, years. Took it out for the first time again today and am enjoying it. Still, I suspect it'll have to go on the backburner again soon. I just heard it too many times way back when.

The New Amsterdams: "Story Like A Scar" (Vagrant, 2006)

Since The Get Up Kids called it quits I have to get my fill some how! The New Amsterdams feature Matt Pryor, formerly of The Get Up Kids. The 3 albums released prior to this one are all pretty decent as well.

@brett: Nice site you've got there!

Now listening to:

The Sex Pistols. "Never Mind the Bollocks. Here's the Sex Pistols" (Virgin, 1977).

I decided to throw on the old LP ... still the best sound for this recording. I thought this might help me live through the blistering heat ... so far it's doing a good job.

Raw stuff.
Blistering.

Memories.

Breaking Benjamin - Phobia.

St. Lunatics.

The Police. "Message in a Box. The Complete Recordings". (A&M 1993, 4-CD boxed set).

It's Police day! Saw them live both when they weren't really famous yet (around '77 and then again in '78) and shortly before they disintegrated in a spray of blood (on the Synchronicity tour in '83). ;)

AMG: "Despite their legendary status, the Police only released five albums during their brief reign from 1978-1983. In addition, the trio had amassed a healthy amount of both studio and live B-sides, plus songs that only appeared on soundtracks. For the 1993 four-CD box set Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings, every single song the Police ever recorded is included. All the tracks were digitally remastered for the project, sounding superior to the original CD versions of the single albums. Also included is a 68-page booklet that includes an interesting (and often humorous) biography, a time line, and notes from all three bandmembers regarding the rarities that appear for the first time on compact disc here. But of course, the real charm of the box set is the music -- album tracks ("Hole in My Life," "It's Alright for You," "Driven to Tears"), hits ("Message in a Bottle," "Can't Stand Losing You," "Spirits in the Material World"), and rarities ("Fallout," a live version of "Next to You") are all timeless classics. While the set is highly recommended to newcomers just discovering the wonders of the Police, longtime fans should consider replacing their tinny-sounding single CDs with the definitive Message in a Box. After all, it contains a total of 24 tracks unavailable (for the most part) anywhere else."

Note: "Complete" is not really complete once again. At least 8 tracks are missing ... Missing tracks

@deus62 Thanks!

Also glad to see someone still rocks Van Halen 1 from time to time. It doesn't get much better than that album if you ask me.

Now listening to Pantera - "Cowboys from Hell" .... it has been a rough day at work lol. Im sure I will blast "Vulgar Display of Power" here shortly also. I miss Dimebag!

Yeah, Van Halen I was one of the all-time greatest debut albums.

Now listening to:

Deep Purple. "Made in Japan. 25th Anniversary Edition" (EMI, remastered 1998?).

AMG: "Recorded over three nights in August 1972, Deep Purple's Made in Japan was the record that brought the band to headliner status in the U.S. and elsewhere, and it remains a landmark in the history of heavy metal music. Since reorganizing with singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover in 1969, Deep Purple had recorded three important albums -- Deep Purple in Rock, Fireball, and Machine Head -- and used the material to build a fierce live show. Made in Japan, its selections drawn from those albums, documented that show, in which songs were drawn out to ten and even nearly 20 minutes with no less intensity, as guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and organist Jon Lord soloed extensively and Gillan sang in a screech that became the envy of all metal bands to follow. The signature song, of course, was "Smoke on the Water," with its memorable riff, which went on to become an American hit single. But those extended workouts, particularly the moody "Child in Time," with Gillan's haunting falsetto wail and Blackmore's amazingly fast playing, and "Space Truckin'," with Lord's organ effects, maintained the onslaught, making this a definitive treatment of the band's catalog and its most impressive album. By stretching out and going to extremes, Deep Purple pushed its music into the kind of deliberate excess that made heavy metal what it became, and their audience recognized the breakthrough, propelling the original double LP into the U.S. Top Ten and sales over a million copies."

My Dying Bride

I'm taking a walk down memory lane and I'm listening to Xscape's Traces of my Lipstick. For some reason Count Basie keeps going through my mind and I know, none of you know who he was....

Tyme.
That last statement hurt.
;)

I know you know who Count Basie is but I bet the others don't. Funny how he made such an impression on me as a child.

That's easy. He made such an impression on you because he was the hippest, swinginest and downright best band leader of his generation. Duke Ellington took care of the head, Basie of the gut and feet. The latter is more my terrain.

If you look at the Basie band roster through the times, he also had tons of superb talent. The list of renowned musicians is seemingly endless, a virtual who-is-who of the jazz scene from the late 20s to the end 70s.

Check out this website while ours is down for maintenance.

I've started lsitening to Math Rock again. So I'm listening to 65daysofstatic and Youthmove Soundtrack Strategies (possibly one of the contenders for most pretentiously long album title ever with "Hurrah! Another Year, Surely This One Will Be Better Than The Last; The Inexorable March Of Progress Will Lead Us All To Happiness").

Mariah Carey (Feat. Boyz II Men) - One Sweet Day.

Going through my large Danish pop and rock collection.
Fun.

P.S.: Don't ask ... ;)

Tigarah's self-titled EP. Sounds like MIA with a Japanse accent.

Tyme: I love Xscape. "Tonight" is one of my favorite songs. Rock on.

As for me, currently listening to India.Arie's cover of "Heart of the Matter" off of her latest CD. Talk about a cover exceeding the original. It's perfect.

Also chilling out to Marc Broussard's Carencro. Bonus points to anyone who owns this CD.

Eric Clapton. "Sessions for Robert J." (Reprise Records, 2004. 2-disc special edition CD/DVD).

Surprisingly good stuff, although Clapton is just trying too hard to be the authentic blues man. The DVD is a top-notch production, considering it's a bonus disc.

Does anybody here use Last.fm? Here's mine

Maybe its the geek in me but I like seeing what I listen to in a statistical format.

Incubus - Medium is what's playing on my iPod now but I don't really like this song, its just playing on random. In fact I'm going to to skip this track right now.

I've become a total Last.fm zealot too these days.

Have a peek!

What I listen to, could be anything really: from Judy Garland to Wagner (Richard), from Breton folk music to Röyksopp.

I just noticed that on #289 there's a band called M83 that I apparently listened to. If anyone knows if it's any good, tell me so I know if I should look for it.

Ever since I installed a decent stereo system in my work room, my terrabyte of digital files has been lying dormant on my PC. So, Last.fm is just used too little to reflect my listening habits (which are, if you have been following my posts here and elsewhere, more than eclectic).

Last song for the day (err, night): "Dead End Angels" by 'Bohren & der Club of Gore' from their album "Sunset Mission" (Wonder/Indigo, 2000).

Great CD with, in contrast to the obscure name, ambient music which explores the slowing down of music.

The members used to play metal-based hardcore.
They don't anymore.

Check out this review of another album from PopMatters which describes the sound pretty well.

Don't you just hate those derailed long links?