Just Like Music

I know, I left ya'll on a great note ('cause it wasn't a bad one necessarily, Cof Cof and the Nazz, who could go wrong?) but I'm here now. And I have a great post for you...
Well, not really.
Honishly, I haven't had enough music from one artist to profile, nor did I have a video. It's been more hectic with actual stuff other than music in my life, and in the meantime, I haven't really had time to investigate one artists like King Khan or Hollyweerd or the BLK JKS or Gorrilaz.
But since this blog is based on a musical journey- sounds magical, don't it!?-
I do have a lil story though...
My parents coulda swore the Gorrilaz were on some Marilyn Manson, 'THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLEEEE!', drinking blood and killing people tip, based off of that video, 'Clint Eastwood.'

Allo, again!
Summer's not here yet! So I can still add onto the playlist can I not?
Recently I was contacted via Last fm. by a lil group called Cof Cof, reminiscent of CSS with their own lil flare- especially since, you know, they're from a whole nother country, with a whole nother mother language-, I got addicted to this lil diddy called, 'Carribean Boy.'

Cof Cof - caribbean boy

The summer concert bang has begun, and venues of all types are allowing music festivals of all kinds rock in their areas. I, hopefully, will be attending Rock the Bells, trying to avoid being spotted dancing to Spank Rock and the gang, but in the meantime, there's always something local.
My friend invited me to join her at our local Ice Cream store, as they've opened their cafe half to bands on the weekends. Every weeknight is open mic, but tonight, they were showcasing our local band, Hyphen.
The atmosphere of this Ice Cream Cafe/Venue, is similar to that of a Starbucks. There were couches, sofas, tables, and a lotta fake plants. A flat screen TV, some nice lil lamps, some candles even, and curtains and whatnot to privatize certain tables. It felt like someone's living room. I was pleasantly surprised that something so expensive and down to earth looking thing existed in my town.
I was proud!
But it got me thinking as to what other bands I would like to see there. Unplugged style, up close and personal.
Bands Like,
N.E.R.D.

The Roots
(Yeah, for some reason, Universal has disabled embedding for all of the roots videos, and I don't have the patience to look for a way around their stoopid azz rules. So you'll just have to imagine.)
I don't think I need explain why.

Stereolab

Ooh, and Bright Eyes!

And others who are not full bands, like
 
Santogold

and Danny!

It hurts me to my core to see such a talent, such a spirit, such a MAN be brought down in holy matramony! While his album opened last week to the biggest album release of 2008 (it's only June people!), only behind Mariah Carey; one can't help but notice the OBVIOUS difference between Man Down,...I mean....Here I Stand and his previous classics 8701, and Confessions! While driving up to Baltimore, up to my University, (whom shall remain nameless, until I get a degree...) I popped in the "jams" to prepare my review. This was it. This was supposed to be the album of all albums that would prove to all of Ushers fans that his marriage, his baby mama, his "momager" drama, and his "gunning fo' tha ass" comrades could not stop Usher from delievering one of the hottest albums of the year.

I couldn't get through it.

Filled with sappy, and almost unbareable tracks that spoke about the joys and redundancy of marriage, the album sucked! There were no, "Groupies" (Superstar), there was no "I'm Sprung" (You got it Bad, Caught Up!) only corny-ass, lets put the kid to bed and do it quietly kind of songs! Which is fine! Had we all not expected the "Do it, To Me" kind of experience. I...I don't know how else to jeer it.

The whole time I just kept thinking "Immm boooorreed!"

and while there where some maturing lyrics from the proclaimed "Prince of R&B", there were other ways to portray a maturing side of self without being so shockingly different and just so, so corny!

Christina Agulara did it!

so did Mariah!

In conclusion, Man Down...I mean....Here I Stand was Usher's chance to "Twork it out" and um, he didn't. While I can respect the growth of an artist, if its done in such a way where your fans can barely even recongnize your music, then...so what's tha fuss! Right?!? Whadda ya think??

Thanks to Daily Motion and E! Televison for pointing out this wonderful clip, that just about sums up the album for you guys.

I just heard this song and was totes blown away. I'm a sucker for deep melodies, songs I can barely sing because they're not in my key. An example would be, Come Around by the Foreign Exchange, featuring Darien Brockington,

Come Around, ft. Darien Brockington

BEFORE YOU SAY IT!
Why am I posting so many videos?
'Cause I don't know what songs to post.
And, videos have moving pictures in 'em. And that's always cool.

I've been thrilled by Mickey Factz's Another Star featuring Pete Hadar (which I think is a lil' unnecessary, but welcome nonetheless.) simply because I discovered that song not too long ago, (thanks DJ Pase Rock!) and loved it. I was thinking, how in the hell will Mickey rap over this, thank God he was up for the challenge...

Another Star ft. Peter Hadar

Wow, I'm thrilled! My internet is finally up and running, and I've got a chance to catch up on all the music downloads that've been flying left and right for the last few weeks.
For one, Mickey Factz keeps dropping new ish! And by new ish, I mean mixtapes, from Heaven's Fallout to Back to the Future...and he 'got Marty McFly kicks on!'

Back to the Future

Although I like the lower pitch better, this song has a weird amount of dissonance -harmony -if that's possible!- that makes the song stick in the most uncomfortable spaces in your ear. This was kind of crucial, setting the tone to the Virgin Suicides (a movie that made me go, 'Huh.' when I first watched it at maybe thirteen or something...), but when listened to on your own devices, it makes every activity seem mischievous and dark.
Just listen, you'll see what I mean.