Category Archives: Prince

Damaged Spoons

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Today has been a strange one. After waking up to a fever, I fell back asleep and had just ridiculous dreams. I couldn’t tell you exactly what they were about, but we all have the ones that make us feel uneasy for the day when you have them. So it’s almost fitting that I chose the songs and/or artists I chose today for the post. Thom Yorke – for almost obvious reasons – and Spoon‘s song “Nobody Gets Me”.

Well, Thom Yorke, for anyone that has been under a rock for the last 15 years, is Radiohead’s frontman. He’s a strangely unwilling iconic figure in music. He does what he likes, and that attitude helps create very refreshing sounds in a world of banal egomania in music. Mashups? Very rarely work. Remixes? A good percentage of them are crap. Original work? Always is.

So Yorke released the album The Eraser to some pretty big fanfare. It honestly probably helped create the mood of Radiohead‘s In Rainbows, also, as at points you can see how Yorke evolved from his solo project and its effect on the band. Simply take the electronic mood and replace with instruments. It was one that left Radiohead fans wondering what exactly was going on with Yorke, but there is an excellent interview with NPR’s Terry Gross on Fresh Air if you folks feel like taking a listen. Well, he has a new song out, and as much as I hate to say this, it is one featured on the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack. I feel very dirty even saying that. This song, however, is rather brilliant. And the next song, by Spoon, could be just as much about Thom Yorke as it makes me feel about myself at times. This is “Hearing Damage” by Yorke. Enjoy!

Download Thom Yorke – Hearing Damage

Next is a track by Spoon that sort of jumped out at me. Partially because of the song title – “Nobody Gets Me But You” – but also because it made me initially think of Moodymann‘s “U Can Dance If U Want 2”, but only because that track heavily sampled Prince‘s “All The Critics Love U In New York”. Well, this Spoon track seems to sample one of the drum loops from this same Prince track, and we’ll have you guys decide. I’ve also asked a DJ friend of mine that happens to be a massive Prince nut about this one, too. I have yet to hear back from him, but he might be in agreement with me on this one. It doesn’t take away from how good this track is, however, so kick back and enjoy.

Download Spoon – Nobody Gets Me But You

And go buy some shit. Stop being selfish!

And we have more Batman!

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So yesterday saw the release of a new Batman game. I have to admit, I’m nerdy enough that I had it pre-ordered, and played it for a good portion of the day yesterday. It’s been getting rave reviews, so if you’re a gamer? I’d suggest going to get it. The amount of stuff to do and find in the game borders on ridiculous. Finding all the Riddler’s statues, then having to solve riddles? Not to mention unlocking upgrades, etc.?

If you get it for the Playstation 3? Well, you have the opportunity to get a challenge map where you can even play as the Joker! I mean, who wouldn’t want to do that? It’s a great game, and you can easily lose yourself in it even if you’re just a casual gamer. Below is a trailer for it.

So anyhow, how does this relate to music? Well, that’s easy! Don’t any of you remember the original Batman movie? The one with Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson? No? Well, that just means you’re young. Well, way back when, Prince did the soundtrack to that first Batman film, and there are actually some decent cuts on that one. Here I’ve tossed up the first track that was released from that album, pretty simply titled “Batdance”, as well as the track “The Future”. Luke Solomon actually did a damn good bootleg of “The Future” a few years back, but I can’t seem to locate it at the moment. Enjoy these two cuts, though!

Download Prince – Batdance

Download Prince – The Future

I’ve even been nice enough to include the music video for “Batdance”. It shows you how far we’ve come with music videos.

And yes, go buy something. Do yourself a favor!

Electro Pop and Indie Rock

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I am a sucker for these kinds of bands. They just get me on both sides of what I dig. The indie rock sound with its DIY ethos, and the DJ friendly-ish electronic pop sensibility.

The thing is, my love for them is shallow and fleeting. As soon as the next indie-rock/electronic-pop band/song/release/remix comes out…I just move on to that. Leaving a veritable graveyard of bands in this genre, in my wake.

Passion Pit is a band like this for me. Soon to be thrown in the trash like a paper plate. It’s hard to say that now, because I am totally digging it.

The more I listen to it, the more it reminds me of everything I liked about Prince.

Is it possible that this particular band with this particular album could remain in my heart?

[Download Passion Pit – To Kingdom Come]

The lead singer and songwriter, Michael Angelakos, says he wants to be the next Randy Newman. Whenever I listen to the song “To Kingdom Come”, I think I hear the influences of Newman. Maybe.

The best part of this album? The remixes that people have done off its release! I share one below from Wallpaper:

[Download Passion Pit – Reeling (Wallpaper Remix)]

Passion Pit even gets in on the remixing, taking on Dan Black of the now defunct The Servant.

[Download Dan Black – Symphonies (Passion Pit Remix)]

You may not have heard of Dan Black or The Servant. Dan Black has an album coming out, so keep an eye out for that. The song Symphonies was once called HYPNTZ and was a funky cover of Biggie Smalls track. Sadly, Big’s estate red-lighted that, and Dan had to write new lyrics. I am sure you are never gonna hear the old version on the radio, even though it’s super hot. So…we do it for you.

THE BONUS TRACK!

[Download Dan Black – Symphonies (Passion Pit Remix)]