Song of the Week (Fat Boys - Stick 'em)

Oh man...I saw one of the...nay...THE weirdest show (in a cool way) of my life on Tuesday. It was the Tobacco show. For the unindoctrinated Tobacco is one half of the psychedelic electro act: Black Moth Super Rainbow...I know I know...pretty far out, even for me. Please just humor me on this, cuz BMSR, although totally rad, isn't the beneficiary of this week's SOTW.

The point is that, among the 70s dino-porn, ninja golf course slaughters, and E.T. "stuff" going on in the background of the BMSR show, there was a diamond in the rough: Fat Boys. Fat Boys were just a little before my time, but I remember them from zany movies on USA and MTV...back when MTV stood for something and pushed the envelope with videos like "Stick 'em" instead of 16 and Pregnant. Who the F tweets about that all day (yes I joined Twitter...please feel free to punch me in the face). Full disclosure: I still watch the Real World...what?

This Fat Boys video is so unbelievably sick...I was hypnotized when I saw it at the show on Tuesday. I love how they embraced their whole lifestyle and made it rad. I envision a new like-minded supergroup called: 16 and Pregz. They can get up there and rap about ultrasounds and their deadbeat boyfriends and their moms being all like: "I told you not to mess with all that mess".

"Back then I wasn't hot
Gettin' burned on the regz
Now I'm fly on MTV
Cuz I'm 16 and Pregz"

Some may think that rap is morally reprehensible...my bad.

Peep this video by Fat Boys and prepare to have your mind blown (du it Kook Rock-Ski):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHoCR7u5NzY

Tobacco video (the one I saw at the show on Tuesday):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjy83vXse7Y

Hope you Dig,
JZ

Song of the Week (Big Freedia - Y'all Get Back Now)

I dropped the ball again...I know. You would be surprised just how hard Jenga is.

All I have to say is: OMG!

My buddy PT sent this to me last week and I nearly lost it. I mean the song is deafening, unless you are participating in a boot camp or a double dutch contest. A pioneer in the "Sissy Bounce" subgenre of "Bounce", big Freedia also operates an interior design side business. I'm pretty sure Kany West also runs one of these businesses called: "Drapes by D-bags".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-cT6SwFIHA

However, the genius of this video is many fold. If you don't even open the video link, not to worry, here is a play-by-play from the Director's perspective:
1) Ok Big Freedia, I'm gonna need you to grab several outfits from the archives of "In Living Color"
2) You got em? Ok great...now start yelling non-sense and shaking your ass in a circular motion...also cue clouds moving in fast motion
3) Cue similar ass shaking from what appears to be an underage girl (definitely an underage girl)
4) Cue mass ass shaking from children...seriously children...I don't want anyone over the age of 17 out there shaking it (note: these are the views of the director...not those of JZ)
5) Now...someone get me that laser that makes people giant
6) Big Freedia, start pointing at people and dancing on buildings...yes...more of that
7) Someone get me some white people...stat. Ok white people, act as if you are seeing a giant ghey black man shaking his ass on some buildings...great job
8) Big Freedia...now it's time for your extended ass shaking solo in white pants...start yelling different stuff...but don't stop yelling...ever
9) White people...no don't run...you find yourself coming under the spell of the Sissy Bounce beats with the smooth yellings of messr Big Freedia...now start dancing like white people...i.e. like you are learning how to use our arms and legs for the first time
10) Cue black kids dancing...yes...way better than white people...be sure to do all the ass moves we talked about (again: director's views)
11) Extended "boom" solo
12) Someone get me a fat white guy to dance like people at the Slip Inn
13) Ok...now all of you are in outer space
14) Ok...now all of you are dancing on buildings like Godzilla
15) Great job everyone...now who wants SKITTLES!?

Please watch the video...I need people to talk with about this. It's just so strange. Y'all get back now.

Hope you Dig,
JZ

Song of the Week (Mogwai - Rano Pano)

This week's SOTW is Mogwai's Rano Pano. For those of you who don't know, Mogwai is one of my all-time fave bands. Their most recent album: "Hardcore will Never Die, but You Will" is a testament to the band's "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" staying power. These days, so many artists attempt to transcend genres or show-off their "eclectic" side. Not Mogwai. Similar to my experience at Eatzies, Mogwai delivers the same top-notch grilled chicken sandwich every time. Except, in this case the grilled chicken sandwich is sonic radness.

"Rano Pano" is without a doubt my favorite song on the new album. You'll see why. Masters of the buildup, Mogwai (or Mog-wizzle) start off with some distorted guitars, add in some driving bass and then comes the synthesizers. Did I hear a theremin in there too? OH MAN!

I was at first disappointed with the video. It appears to be too drunk guys (near my age) playing grab-ass. What's the message here Mogwai? (I thought). Then I realize what's going on: these guys are building a portal to another dimension to bring back super hot girls wearing Star Wars gear. Bravo Mogwai! I love the embracing of nerdiness and the shear disregard for all things cool/hip. It's so refreshing when juxtaposed with a Kanye West video. I haven't said this in a while, but F Kanye.

As we "grow older with concerts" it's important for us to understand that we are all becoming less cool by the day (wah wah). With each show I attend, I recognize an additional reason I'm now considered uncool (by the cool):

1) Where's my unkempt facial hair?
2) Why am I wearing sleeves?
3) Why don't I have more "accessories"?
4) Who just punched me in the face?
5) Seriously, was that you?

Personally, I'm OK with this. I think everyone "freezes" a style at some point in their life that suits them. My Dad's freeze date was circa 1984 and involves Ranger T-shirts and short shorts. My Mom's freeze date was closer to 1989 and involves, occasionally, be-dazzled sweatshirts. My cat Sam hasn't frozen yet. He's still getting cooler...but man is he an @sshole! Just the other day I saw him wearing an animal T-shirt (it was a cat, by the way...) and wearing obnoxiously large headphones listening to something I'll probably discover next year (he wouldn't let me listen). I think I froze last week. Some day...in the future...when "cool kids" are wearing pants made out of fiber optic cable and lasers...I'll still be wearing my slip-ons and corduroys. Suck it FUTURE!

I'll see you at the Mogwai concert on 5/15/2011 at the Granada.

Shout out to Neil Ferrari. OH MAN are we gonna miss you...oh man!

Hope you Dig,
JZ

Song of the Week (CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen to Death from Above vs. Death from Above 1979)

Hey there Gheyng...I know I've been neglecting my duties. In all honesty, I've just been playing a LOT of Jenga lately. Just when you think you're gettin' somewhere, that tower comes toppling down...so frustrating...

This week's double-header is partly thematic and 100% rad. A few months ago my roommate told me about this band: Death from Above 1979. I only listened to one song, and it was aight, but didn't really catch my fancy. Enter CSS: in preparation for what will undoubtedly be one of the best indie shows of 2011, I started listening to some CSS. These (mostly) Brazilian emo chicks have some very catchy, danceable tracks What is it about Brazilian emo chicks that is so awesome? I asked myself. I then answered: pretty much everything.

The track: "Let's Make Love and Listen (to) Death from Above" stands on its own:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7agPOt1XZz8

It's got a great bass line, infectious hooks and various additional awesomeness. Upon several listens, I had to learn more about what is clearly an influential band: Death from Above 1979.

Luckily, I had already ripped DFA's LP from a few months ago, entitled: "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine". Could there be a better album name / band name combo? I put the disc on shuffle and a song called: "Little Girl" came on. The volume turned up, the windows came down, speed on 75 increased, and radness ensued.

I later learned that DFA 1979 is a DUO! 2 dudes put out that wall of sound! DFA 1979 is the kind of band that makes me feel like I wasted 5 years playing bass with the wrong tone. It's metal, but accessible.

Here's the only decent music vid from DFA: "Romantic Rights"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wnl9PpnTXI

Now the real question: How would one make love to Death from Above?
Answer: TBD

Hope you Dig,
JZ

Song of the Week (DJ Khaled - All I do is Win vs. Beck - Loser)

Well...it's official: Charlie Sheen is a total badass...just ask him. Much of the last 4 meals I've had were with work people. And much of the conversation revolved around the abominable Charlie Sheen interview. If you haven't seen it, you're probably in Libya and don't have internet access...thanks Muammar...GAW!

I would like to apologize to Charlie Sheen, because I joined in the fun. Charlie, I'm sorry I quoted the "I've got Tiger's blood and Adonis DNA" quip to laughter at your expense. Who's to say you don't? Judgers. That's who. Those judgers probably sign their checks on the back instead of the front...I'm just sayin'.

And another thing: F Chuck Lorre! That's right. Who gives him the right to put Charlie in the corner? He probably tried the drug known as Charlie Sheen and couldn't handle it. He's lucky his face didn't melt.

Charlie Sheen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGXzlRoNtHU

Chuck Lorre
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgSPaXgAdzE

In case you didn't catch the song of the week, it's "Loser" by Beck. This song is clearly dedicated to Messr. Lorre, cuz he could never roll like Charlie Sheen. Charlie Sheen is the Chuck Norris of winning, and Chuck Lorre is the Chuck Lorre of losing. I never thought that something like that would be possible, but it is.

Personally, I feel like I just won by contributing to the Charlie Sheen meme, and you just won by reading this.

PS: DJ Khaled's "All I do is Win" isn't really good...yet so very topical.

Hope you Dig,
JZ

Song of the Week (Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone)

I caught part of a documentary on Bill Withers the other day entitled "Still Bill". There was nothing particularly awesome about the documentary, except that Bill Withers is just a total badass.

Popstars and crooners of today could stand to learn a great deal from Messr Withers. I would hazard to guess that Bill never had a personal stylist. He probably never wore makeup. He also didn't have an over-choreographed stage show that focused more on dance moves than on the music. I'm looking in your direction Chris Brown?

Did anyone else catch Chris Brown's atrocity-laden performance on SNL last week (as an aside, I've been sick, so I've had a lot of TV time lately...what else was I gonna do?) I had to listen to an hour of the Withers just to wash the bad taste out of my ears. If I had a choice between going tandem sky-diving with Robert Mugabe and attending a Chris Brown concert, I would ask Mugabe if he wants to be the big spoon or the little spoon. Chris Brown...Ess a Dee.

So I would like to juxtapose the SOTW: "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone" with Chris Brown's "Yeah 3x". Sweet name btw.

Withers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIdIqbv7SPo
Brown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HuGSqQN-uE

FYI...Bill Withers' drummer is clearly ballin' outta control.

Bday shout out to Benjamin Bunny and T. Smith.

Hope you dig,
JZ

Song of the Week (Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill)

OK, so I wanted to spend the SOTW time espousing my new found fascination with Sleigh Bells. We'll get to that, but first I must address what is on everyone's minds right now: Snow Ballz

Not since Disney's "Snow Dogs" have I been this disgruntled about all things icy cold. I mean am I the only one who gives a sh!t anymore!? Sorry, that didn't exactly make sense there, but such is life. Some of you No-Goods have been living in the lap of luxury this week with your PRECIOUS Snow Days! Oh I've noticed your Facebook posts: of your dogs acting like people, of your new babies seeing snow for the first time, of your nonsensical ramblings about buying a car at Mel Hambelton Ford, of your "what's everyone doing right now?", of your "I've been at the Loon since 11am." I'm glad you've been at the Loon all day. That's awesome. You wanna know a secret: Microsoft Excel doesn't take Snow Days.

OK...I'm done with my pity-party diatribe.

Sleigh Bells has been in heavy rotation all weak, not because of the winter-holiday inspired name, but because I just listened to em for the first time last week. I know...where the F have I been? I would describe Sleigh Bells as Crystal Castles playing at a High School Pep Rally. Less Nintendo, more big beats. It's insanely listenable, and it just makes you wanna roundhouse kick a snowman in the face.

Please just watch this and enjoy this cold-blooded hottness with a bleached denim jacket
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP_ChuxYg8o

FYI...I have that Metal Shop hoody on order...so Ess It.

These guys are coming on a FRIDAY! To GRANADA! I think on April 22nd, so secure your tix, and start practicing Karate.

Hope you Dig,
JZ

PS...I hope everyone enjoyed their Snow Dayz...4 realz