Song of the Week (M83 - Teen Angst)

What’s that feeling? It’s that Teen Angst, y’all! Yes, I’m aware that M83 has been getting a lot of play on the SOTW circuit, but in case you didn’t notice, M83 is totally rad.

Don’t act like you don’t get teen angst, because you do. We all get a little teen angst every now and then. Hell, I’m getting some teen angst just writing about it. I feel like there are 2 types of angst: teen and real talk. Real talk angst encompasses work, family, stock portfolios, diplomatic snafus, health, gang violence and the like (#realtalkangst).

Teen angst is much more interpersonal. It’s like when you walk into a party and someone makes fun of your shoes (#teenangst). Or, when your cat, Sam, bites you, even though you’re just trying to feed / pet him (#teenangst). I’ll tell you who doesn’t get teen angst: Sam the cat. I’ve never met a more angst-free creature on the planet. I think it’s because he has memorized the lyrics to “Teen Angst” by M83.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZnJciiFIYI

I realized last night, that this is my fave M83 song. It seems to come on my playlist at the right times. It's upbeat enough to get some PT at a party, yet it's indie enough to garner street cred. The lyrics are minimalist, like most M83, but also awesome.

Birthday shout out to Hurricane Gordo, and early birthday shout out to Big Dad. Who knew that two of my close friends would turn 69 in the same weekend!? And finally, wedding weekend shout out to Ponisher. One thing is for sure, the cure to teen angst is birthday partyness! And marriage! Oh wait…teen/marital angst setting in…

I wish everyone a teen angst-free weekend.

Hope you Dig,
JZ

Song of the Week (College ft. Electric Youth - A Real Hero)

You know what totally sucks? Flo Rida...

My sister, Zard, told me that recent SOTWs have been pritty weird. Well, I have good news/bad news: this is likely to continue.

This week brings us a hit from the minimalist synthy College (ft. Electric Youth). "A Real Hero" is the current front-runner for Summer-anthem. Past winners have included: Flaming Lips, M83 and Turquoise Jeep. This song was featured prominently (played like a music video) in the Indie film: Drive. I think this might be my favorite movie of all time. I don't just throw that around lightly. That movie straight up dominates, and this song is a critical aspect of said domination. Best listened to on Friday on your way home from work with the windows down and at a spring/summer party.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DSVDcw6iW8

Now, I'd like to discuss a very important matter: the spring/summer party playlist. Most people, including this DJ, think they have the code cracked on party playlists. It's kind of like when you ask people if they are good drivers. Most people will tell you they are good or excellent, but this can't be true. This is a zero-sum game and not everyone can be a good or excellent driver. In fact, some people are terrible drivers. Likewise, not everyone can be a good or excellent party DJ. Now, the most interesting part is that when alcohol is introduced, these delusions grow, and I would argue this growth is exponential vs. linear. Around 3am, I've seen (been) some (one) of the greatest DJs of all time...in the ears of said DJs.

I was recently told by a friend the elements of a good party playlist:
1) upbeat party music
2) throwbacks / 80s / 90s
3) old school rap

It's so simple, yet so effective. An objective analysis of playlists past, I abided by these tenets, yet I also threw in what I would call spice: Metallica, Health, Ween. What? That's good music! I realize the fallacy inherent in my arrangements: I play music I think a few people might appreciate (and everyone should!) rather than what the masses actually WANT to hear. It took me ~17 years to figure this out.
#forgiveme

The problems with the spring/summer party playlist are manifold:
1) EVERYONE is a critic (tolerance decreases when alcohol is introduced)
2) Just one misstep and you're toast (I've yet to live down my Metallica - "One" selection from 2010)
3) Haters - some people are just not going to be happy with whatever is played
4) Interlopers - if you aren't careful, your Ipod will be replaced with Silly Mix 2000-late when you go to the bathroom

As you can see, the pitfalls are plentiful. Why open yourself up to attack like this? Well, because you could be responsible for an impromptu dance party. You could introduce a summer anthem that will get airplay all summer. In other words, you could "prove to be a real human being...and a real hero." Isn't that the goal?

Hope you Dig,
JZ

Song of the Week (LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem)

Does anyone still watch Jersey Shore? I'm ashamed to admit that I do. That media cycle of newness > familiar comfort > reaching for content > jumping the shark has played out the tragic archetype that is television. Few programs get it right and stay in the newness / familiar comfort zone. The Wire is a clear example of this.

Those kids, who are now adults acting like kids (feel familiar?) have transformed in a few regards. For one, they are insanely famous now. The media juggernaut of MTV/Viacom has ensured this. For two, they are incredibly jaded. Think what it might be like to be the center of attention everywhere you go. You get free stuff at every turn. Everyone wants to DFMO (dancefloor makeout) with you. People who wouldn't normally give you the time of day, are in awe of you. After a few years of this, you're going to get jaded.

For three, these are not interesting people, no matter how much MTV's editing (many times out of chronological order) tries to convince us otherwise. The novelty of watching Italian caricatures do stupid sh!t has worn off.

The critical question here is: why am I just now figuring this out? Why?

Well, I found the music equivalent of Jersey Shore...it's called LMFAO. This stands for "really awful music, seriously it sounds like beavers who are having nightmares." For real though, you've seen "Beavers" right? Sweet doc.

Question: Who the eff is this Lauren Bennett chick, and which party rocker did she have to DFMO with to get in this video? Was it Sky Blu? Or was it Redfoo? I didn't just make those names up. They were chosen, prospectively by the party rockers themselves!

Everyday I'm strugglin' to find out why people listen to this garbage. My guess is that Messrs. Sky Blu and Redfoo made a deal with the devil. Their deal was that they would experience completely unwarranted success for 3 years, in exchange for their souls. I mean it looks like they raided my sister's closet circa 1991 for dance clothes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ6zr6kCPj8

Please watch this video. It is one of the most awesomely terrible videos of all time. It's like Thriller, but the worst thing ever. I'm sorry, it's nothing like Thriller.

Breading update: Sam the Cat...you just got BREADED




Sammy, let me be the first to say: FACE!
In case there was any question, Sam hails from Siam, so we decided to give him his traditional sun cap. Needless to say he was really embarrassed. Now who's laughing Sam...now who's laughing indeed...HAHAHAHAHA...hahahahah...HA HA HA HA!







PS...no cats were harmed in this breading.

Hope you Dig,
JZ

Song of the Week (Sleigh Bells - Comeback Kid)

Oh man...nu Sleigh Bells just dropped, and it is so RAD! One thing I love about this band is that they have pop sensibilities combined with an intentional disregard / distaste for pop. English: they write stuff that sounds good but they don't give an eff about mass appeal, choreography, etc.! I realize I'm setting myself up for disappointment here, but for now Sleigh Bells is in the perfect zone of indie-cuspiness to maintain ultimate street cred. Think: Arcade Fire circa 2007.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXP4Rhu5pJo

After watching the video for the "Comeback Kid" I noticed a few things:
1) Alexis Krauss is still super-hawt
2) Jumping on beds with guns seems like a really good idea (not sure why I'm just now drawing this conclusion)
3) Alexis has some sick new dance moves, which I plan to incorporate into my "rock moves" collection alongside the "brickbreaker" and the ever-versatile "raven"

Sleigh Bells are either an enigma or a very clever marketing gimmick. Their songs feel like the soundtrack to an evil pep rally. It's what you would listen to before competing in Battle Royale, or on your way home from work on Friday. Honestly, 16-year-old John is freaking out right now, because metal is being combined with electronica and hawt girls aka Rick Santorum's nightmare.

Quick update on cultural happenings: Unless you've been captured by robots, you've probably heard of "cat breading".
http://www.breadedcats.com/

Some of you have asked: "Hey JZ, has Sam the Cat been breaded yet?" This is how it went down: When I told my Dad what I wanted to do, he just stared at me confused and said: "Sammy wouldn't like that." I told him: "that's for Sammy to decide." We agreed that if I can catch him, I can bread him. Alas, Sam must have been eavesdropping on our breading convo, because he would have none of it. He evaded me all across the house, ending up under my parent's bed in battle-cat pose. I conceded defeat, but I haven't forgotten. After all this cat breading craze has died down...when he least suspects it...I'm gonna be all like: PAKOWWW! Bread in yo FACE, SAMMY! Then he will have to sit there, embarrassed as I snap his photo for all of the other cats and people to mock...Wahahahaha!

Birthday/Farewell shoutout to young T-Smith. Good to know we will have another master out in L.A. You'll be missed.

Hope you Dig,
JZ

Song of the Week (DJ Shadow ft. Little Dragon - Scale It Back)

Welp...it's been a few minutes since the last SOTW...all apologies. Needless to say, a lot of great music has happened in that time.

This week brings us something a little more avant garde. Dap/props to Chet for sending this along a few weeks back. I hope Dap makes a comeback.

DJ Shadow is a colossus in the world of post-hip hop and sampled music. He's best known for creating the masterpiece, Endtroducing consisting entirely of sampled music and sounds circa 1996. The real beauty of this skill is that his music sounds completely original. Compare this to Girl Talk, by most accounts a successful sampler. But his mashups are created to remind you of songs you already know and love. He wants you to recognize a Van Halen guitar lick or a Tupac rhyme and reminisce. PS my roommate Patrick was mashing-up back in High School. It was called: Pumpkin Party.

DJ Shadow, on the other hand, seeks to grab strange, esoteric beats, licks, piano parts, vocals, etc. and create truly original music that bends genres.

I'm not sure how he built this track, but it's all I can think about for the last few weeks. Little Dragon band/vocalist, obviously has a lot to do with that. You'll hear more about this incredible new fave Indie band known as Little Dragon (great name) in coming weeks. No fancy wobble bass, no overproduction...just clean drums, acoustic piano and vocals...well maybe some production.

The video is pretty crazy as well...and by pretty crazy, I mean RILL crazy (watch the whole thing).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj2l-emoW2g

Thus concludes the music portion of SOTW, and thus begins my diatribe on something I heard last week. I asked this guy how he was doing, and he said: "You know, I'm ballin' on a budget." I love this phrase. He wasn't the first to say it, but he is the first to say it to me, in which I laughed. It's not quite the $30k millionaire. It says, hey! I ball! But I'm practical about it.

Who can't relate to ballin' on a budget? I'm not sure many of my friends are truly ballin' yet (including this author), but thus begs the question: how does one truly ball...off a budget? Is truly ballin' just the absence of a budget? In that case I know tons of people who are ballin'...not to be confused with BOCMF (Ballin' Outta Control Muthr F#kr).

Hope you Dig,
JZ

Song of the Week (Seal - Prayer for the Dying)

Greetings fam. Many of you already know that I don't read People magazine. It is also understood that I don't often surf on TMZ or any related celebrity gossip channels. But you would have to be living under a rock to avoid the Seal / Heidi break-up.

When asked about his recent split, Seal had this to say: "No I'm never gonna survive unless Heidi stop actin' crazy..."

I'm not really sure why this happened, so I'll venture a few hypotheses:
1) Seal got too big for the couple. It's the reason Brian Jonestown Massacre broke-up (they're back together). It's the reason Herman Cain is no longer running for President (he's too big for the U.S.). Heidi, simply, can no longer "hang" with Seal.
2) Seal discovered that he has superpowers. Don't dismiss this. This is my explanation for a lot of things. Magnets? How do they work? Superpowers. That's how, you silly goose. This is the reason Newt Gingrich broke it off with his past few wives. One of his super powers is the ability to leave his wife in the hospital! SNAP! Too soon?
3) This is part of some genius marketing campaign to gen up sales of Seal's newest album: Soul 2. I find this hypothesis the least likely of the 3.

When "Kiss from a Rose" came out, I was found myself asking: is this the greatest made-for-a-movie song of all time? I was thoroughly convinced that Seal was all like: "Me fancy Batman. Me must write a totally mental song for his movie." Seal is British and this is how he talks.

I have since come to find out that this wasn't the case, thus jeopardizing my Seal narrative. No matter. I should have known that Seal was bigger than Batman Forever, which plays like one long music video. The only win in that movie was Mr. Freeze, played by Arnold. Remember Offspring's terrible song: "Smash It Up"? A perfect juxtaposition to Seal's "Kiss from a Rose". When I think back on some of the stuff I listened to circa 1995, I feel pretty good about most of it: Nirvana, Soundgarden, Metallica, Rage, Seal. Offspring...not so much.

Seal is the guy that you secretly like, but you're embarrassed to admit it. When "Prayer for the Dying" comes on are you like: "Man...this isn't deep at all. It totally doesn't sound like birds taking flight or the earth shifting."? Probs not. Probs not, indeed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btl5PYdpcNs

Heidi, give Seal another chance. But seriously, if that doesn't work out, holler at meh.

PS...whatever happened to the suit with no shirt underneath?
#dictatorstyle

Hope you Dig,
JZ

Song of the Week (Mr. Mister - Broken Wings)

Bass: Bom bom budom. Bom bom budom bom.
Vocals: Take...these broken wiiiiiinnngs!
Keys: Wah Wah Wah Woah

I was watching MacGruber the other night and I realized something: this movie is pretty legit. Seriously, I LOL'd at least 5x throughout the film. There is this scene where MacGruber gets shot (spoiler alert) and Kristen Wiig's character is extracting the bullet with pliers. Then they du it. "Broken Wings" starts playing and hilarity ensues. I quickly youtubed "Broken Wings", because I'm not wikipedia, and I learned that the illustrious "Mr. Mister" laid it down. This made me laugh even harder.

Mr. Mister also makes me think of Happy Gilmore (re: The Meesta Meesta lady).

Mr. Mister had a few minor hits, but "Broken Wings" was pretty much it. Don't look up the rest of their catalogue, cuz it sux (case and point: Hunters of the Night featuring an Iguana). This song was basically a rip-off of Maneater. Shame on you Mr. Mister! There, it worked! However, no one can take away the awesomeness of "Broken Wings". If I ever go to a Mr. Mister show, they better play "Broken Wings" exclusively.

Birthday shoutouts to Zard, Tom-bone, Springbreak Smith, Hoge, Monica, Katie, etc. Prouda y'all. A lot of my friends' parents were probably lighting some candles, drinking some wine OR Tab and listening to something like Broken Wings circa 29 years and 9 months ago. Yeah they were!
Note: I'm aware that Broken Wings came out circa 1986

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWyeVfuolT4
Style points: awesome haircut, raybans and trench coat with rolled up sleeves

Hope you Dig,
JZ