Well, its been a long, long time. I’d tell you to head over to my personal blog to find out about why I’ve been gone for so long, but I haven’t had time to write over there either. But I had to share this with you, immediately. Tricky has a new single. I got le tingles when I read about it, its sweet, awesome, with cherries, or bananas if you prefer. Tastes good.

September 9th Available in the U.S. Head over to knowlewestboy.com to stream, the album, see a pretty picture of Tricky and get more information. Or stay here to listen to the new single, I don’t care.

Tricky // Knowle West Boy

Tricky - Council Estate (Drums of Death Remix)

So this year’s Twilight Concert Series is shaping up to be absolutely buck wild.  The Knux and the Roots played tonight, and all I have to say is that you need to see the Roots now.  Like, right now. Check out this picture on the right.  See that sousaphone?  That’s not a gimmick.  That’s genuine low end.  The show was incredibly entertaining, mad mic skills, a classic hip hop medley (featuring “Just a Friend”, “Nothin’ But a ‘G’ Thang”, “This is Why I’m Hot,” and a lot more), and an incredible jam on Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War” that flowed into Hendrix’s “Machine Gun” into a roaring drum solo by ?uestlove, after which everybody left the stage, then came back for another verse of “Masters.”  The encore jam was likewise amazing, Captain Kirk Douglas laying down some vicious guitar, Owen Biddle putting down some rumbling bass, Black Thought spouting at the speed of sound.  Incredible.  I had to write this while I’m still riding it.  Seriously people.

p.s. New Orleans rappers The Knux were good, too.  But The Roots blew me away.

I’m posting this for the sole purpose of making sure my roomate Dave is never more than an internet connection away from hearing this song. He’s been known to get cranky when he can’t. It’s from Blind Melon’s second record, released just months before frontman Shannon Hoon’s fatal cocaine overdose.

I never felt that Blind Melon got a fair shake because they will forever be known only as the band that sings that “No Rain” song. Dave thinks about it like “No Rain” is a song from the radio. The stuff on Soup is actually Blind Melon. It’s the same way I think of “Creep.” It’s a song that’s generally associated with Radiohead, but real Radiohead is stuff like “The National Anthem.” Unfortunately for Blind Melon, their iron lung didn’t get a chance to sustain them long enough to make a greater impression.  So I’m going to try to do my part to share something else.  Also their cover of the Schoolhouse Rock classic “Three is A Magic Number” and, because I mentioned it, “The National Anthem.”

 Blind Melon - Vernie [3:16m]: Play in Popup | Download
 Blind Melon - Three is a Magic Number [3:14m]: Play in Popup | Download
 Radiohead - The National Anthem (Live) [4:58m]: Play in Popup | Download

This is what is spinning my shorts right now.

 Outside - The Secret Life of Sofia [4:17m]: Play in Popup | Download (148)
 Sleep - The Notwist [3:46m]: Play in Popup | Download
 Language City - Wolf Parade [5:04m]: Play in Popup | Download
 Give Up on Ghosts - Computer vs. Banjo [3:55m]: Play in Popup | Download (133)
 Bad Blood - Supergrass [3:03m]: Play in Popup | Download (147)

Riding home from seeing Ned Cannon on Saturday Night, we all tuned in to KRCL, which still has volunteer DJs on the weekend.  I think we lucked out with the guest DJ that night, he played us some psychedelic stuff. Specifically “In the Land of the Few” by Love Sculpture, “Ticket to Ride” by Vanilla Fudge, and “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” by Moving Sidewalks (the latter two being Beatles covers).  I want to share all three with you because they are choice, but the only one I could get my hands on was the Love Sculpture song.  And I’m okay with that.  For a band with relatively no celebration surrounding it, this song sounds way ahead of its time.  At least it did driving back from Provo on Saturday night.  Wikipedia doesn’t even think this song is notable enough to merit an article, but I think it’s excellent.  There are a few moments, such as the opening, which sound like it was definitely recorded in 1970, but most of the song feels no more than fifteen years old.  Like it could’ve been part of a psychedelic revival.  I feel really good sharing this with you, because I don’t expect you to have found it on your own.  No real reason to.  But now it’s here and you can share it with all your friends!!

 Love Sculpture - In the Land of the Few [3:58m]: Play in Popup | Download

You know, I’ve heard this on Left of Center like FIVE times in the past week, which is a lot because they play a wider variety of indie rock. Some fellow bloggers have shows on there, like Gorilla vs. Bear, An Aquarium Drunkard, My Old Kentucky Blog, Product Shop NYC, It’s a Trap, and Brooklyn Vegan. Not only is it really cool to listen to these shows, but it makes me want one too.

So when I found out who it was last night, I was all like, “OOhhhhhhh….THAT guy!” Because as much as I try, there are lots of bands out there that people talk about out and ooh and aah and I either have little faith they are any good (often times I’m right) or I just never get round to hearing them. Anyways, this song always came on when it was perfect to drive. Dusk, on the interstate, when I’m moodily thinking of something like moving to France or taking 6 months homeless in the West Indies.

Bon Iver | MySpazz | Buy For Emma, Forever Ago

 Bon Iver - SKinny Love [3:59m]: Play in Popup | Download (174)