High Speed Cakes…

It’s the unexpected that keeps things fresh. This past week two things I wouldn’t have thought would transpire did exactly that: Happen. First, I became rather loaded, or struggled to remain coherent after enjoying Chicago and Local H, and left my rather costly phone in a cab. But about 48 hours later, it was found; then after many days, successfully retrieved — major financial fiasco averted.

My musical catalog consists of many artists who put out only one, or if I was lucky, two unstoppable, timeless records. Perhaps blame these short lifespans on major labels — realistically the factors and variables are endless for why acts only craft a record. Previously highly coveted quartet the Cupcakes were ones who crumbled due to their major label Dreamworks and released a record; then disappeared into Chicago rock oblivion. Until a few days ago. I went about 12 years enjoying, playing louder than most, what I thought was their one and only record. A long player consisting of crunch, spaced out techno rhythms, and enough power pop to appease me for about 1/3 of my life. And now, I can bask in more of this exemplary formula with 15 new tracks care of their true debut and five b-sides.

Most likely one of the top finds of 2012:

Cupcakes untitled debut record & five b-sides

Finding inspiration….

It’s all over: shuffle, mood music, daily feeds, etc. Why can’t I stay routine with probably the most consistent thing in my day-to-day: music. Like music, sharing and attempting to discuss this medium is therapeutic; like sweating it out or downing more whiskey than one should. It took a read, more like a small tip-toe down memory lane, through the mind of James VanOsdol — he’s the man hopefully responsible one day for this — to help me to understand that this writing thing is something I dig. This time, it’s initially a conversation with myself. A way to put my thoughts out, better my ability to communicate, and most importantly, maybe, just maybe, turn someone onto something that’s brought me inspiration.

Chicago’s music scene was the catalyst and true inspiration for me to become the music fan I am today. Some of that’s owed to James mentioned above, and the other responsible ones are the Smoking Popes.

Andre 3000′s All Together Now…

All anyone asks with a cover song is you take the original formula and do everything you can to reinvent it. Andre 3000, the quirky dapper half of Outkast, decided to attack The Beatle’s “All Together Now“, which graced your folks’ speakers back in ’69 courtesy of the Yellow Submarine soundtrack. The original is as hot as a Beatles track can sound; Andre’s cover simply funkdafies it, as only a man of his talent can. This might settle the argument of who is the stronger Outkast….

Andre 3000 :: All Together Now (Beatles cover)

Because videos can still be worth your time…

Even if they’re dated — in a few months ago way. Or maybe from years past. From Modular People, the label behind MiS favorites like Cut Copy and The Presets, come one video that turned me onto what could be one of the better songs of 2011, and the other, simply eye candy. Maybe the beat will hit you, too.

Bag Raiders, an electro/funk duo outta Sydney, has been lighting up my dance floor –kitchen — as of late. The formula that I struggle to resist: lazer-like synths; funky drum patterns; sweeping, airy vocals; and a vibe that alludes rays of light, or at least an ability to make you move. Your choice….

And this alludes….

We Speak No Americano…

And an excellent weekend comes to a finale with a don’t stop till you get enough Italian house banger. In a word: fun

More goodness here

Let’s Karaoke to Pattycake…

No, I wasn’t presented with the opportunity to give a Matt Mahaffey meets Prince impression. If I was, it would be in an alternate, dream-like, fantasy world. Another realm, to be more specific. I watched someone this week absolutely kill it for six plus minutes while attacking the mic rhymin’ to Digital Underground’s Humpty Dance. This amateur was so good I wished for six minutes I was him, and he was me sitting in total amazement. This got me to thinking what tracks, if available, I could get up and anxiously impersonate. Pattycake, sElf’s ’00 ode to schoolyard rhymes and games with an explosion of carefree lyricism and beats, would be my go-to. And not because I’ll slay it, a la Humpty. My reasoning? It’s hard not to smile and take yourself back when Michael Jackson was black.

sElf :: Pattycake

Dance Friday with the cut out kid!

When the Cut Out Kid shakes it, he will break your legs and snap off your head. Watch how he does it….

I Asked and Quickly Received…

There is a scene, a classic one, from The Wire where only one word is uttered many times over. The word is fuck. Bunk Moreland and Jimmy McNulty, two detectives hot on the trail of a female homicide, are having an epiphany. After many tiresome hours, the two gumshoes realize the solution to the problem. This morning, while taking in those eight hours away from music happenings, I saw Hawksley Workman is briefly stepping into the states. And I was just complaining about how the man doesn’t visit. Without hesitation, I scrolled down to see who the lucky winners will be. My current locale? No, of course not. But, he is rolling through Schubas, my second-favorite Chicago venue.

On this Sunday in October, I have a prior engagement. Within a second, all I could think of was fuck. Nothing more. Instead of uttering the obscenity because I figured it all out, this was more in frustration, to put it lightly. Although, every problem has a solution. Either in Chicago, or one of the other venues below, I will be there. Don’t disappoint me, HW…

20-Oct-09 Cafe Du Nord Cafe Du Nord San Francisco, CA

21-Oct-09 Hotel Cafe Hotel Cafe Los Angeles, CA

25-Oct-09 Schubas Tavern Schubas Tavern Chicago, IL

28-Oct-09 City Winery City Winery New York, NY

29-Oct-09 Tin Angel Tin Angel Philadelphia, PA

A number very representative of what drew me to Hawksley in the first place…

Hawksley Workman :: When You Gonna Flower

Let’s Collaborate!

No, I don’t have the talent to contribute anything, musically speaking. But 20 odd souls put up their specialty to be texturized in your own mix. Here, you have 20 small YouTube clips, with each one possessing a different artist laying down his/her own track/instrument. Since you’re behind the boards today, begin a clip, mix it with another and another, to create something. The site hosts a great range of options: Banjo, synth, piano, organ, guitar, Nintendo DS, and to complete your trunk, full of amps, an OMNICHORD, amongst other tools to create.

What did I just read? It’s all explained when you click below…

You can create!

It’s Hard to Escape It…

The 90′s sound that is. I open up Facebook to be greeted to these lyrics on my wall…

The morning image from the satellites is all blue and green.
And we’ve all got wounds to clean,
here’s a rag, here’s some gasoline.
It’s all green to me.

From none other than the heavy and droning noise of Champaign, IL’s spacesters Hum. A like-minded music friend posted them; not the always geeky Hum scientists. Upon reading those, I fired up Downward is Heavnward – maybe one of the better albums to come out of this lost and never forgotten period.

Hum :: Green to Me

And this morning, we all were graced with the offiical reunion tour for Sunny Day Real Estate. If they can bring half of this churning guitar play, I’ll be pleasently satisfied. Their debut, Diary needs to be queued up quickly! Denver gets them 9/21 at the Ogden and Chicago greets them at Metro on 9/24. ’09 continues to bring nostalgia at its finest.