Ease into Summer

I put this mix together during those overcast weeks of late May/early June when we in the Bay Area felt like summer was draggin' her feet. As a result, it's pretty mellow as far as summer mixes go. Check out in particular the two John Maus tracks -- best stuff I've heard in a while. Though, if you were there at his show last weekend at the Brick and Mortar Music Hall in SF, you know his live act leaves much to be desired (it was like watching a 5 year old with ADHD sing karaoke).

Enjoy.

Ease into Summer Mix

Ten Bon Iver covers, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Album release and a bonus throwback Cee-Lo video

Bon Iver's new album is out in the wild now and I have heard good things.  I saw that the album artwork or promotional artwork was by a guy I am a huge fan of, Gregory Euclide. Excellent choice in art, Euclide had a few pieces in a group show at White Walls in San Francisco a couple years back and I was all sorts of drooly over them.  Since then he has continued to make excellent work and put on some super solid solo shows.

Stereogum has been kind enough to provide you all with Bon Iver's "Ten best" cover songs, available for free downnload right here.

The songs up for grabs include:

1. The Outfield- Your Love

2. Peter Gabriel- Come Talk To Me

3. John Prine/Chain of Sorrow- Bruised Orange

4. Feist- The Park

5. Vashti Bunyan- Train Song

6. Tom Petty- Crawling Back To You

7. Kathleen Edwards- Mercury

8. Okkervil- Blue Tulip

9. Red Hayes a& Jack Rhodes- A Satisfied Mind

10. Annie Lennox- Why

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.'s full album, "It's A Corporate World" just dropped the other day.  It includes all of the songs off of the Stereofat favorite, "The Horsepower EP" plus some other great tracks.  I think we should support them.  You can get their new album, "It's A Corporate World" on amazon right here.  A word about the album release from the boys themselves can be found here.


Maybe it was his judging gig on, "The Voice" or the fact that I tend to think of him fondly every now and then, but for some reason this Cee-lo video has been playing in  my head lately.  Do you guys remember when this first dropped?  He has always been so batshit crazy...and AWESOME!!!

Eye Candy

Nightsurf from Iker Elorrieta on Vimeo.
Some awesome footage of some night surfing. The stars are amazing. I wish we got to see the stars in the city.


El Mac - Sai Gon, Viet Nam "Kosoom by the Mekong" from Viet Nam The World Tour on Vimeo.
Another El Mac Vietnam world tour video. Seriously this dude's skill is incredible. That kind of control with a spray can!?!?

ME AT NINE, PERFORMING TO MADONNA IN SUMMER '91! from Robert Jeffrey on Vimeo.

This kid has moves. Definitely not holding back, that's a good age, he doesn't give a fuck. He will vogue the shit out of some Madonna and not with one hint of irony. It's a beautiful thing.

Spy - Beat Assailant (feat Ben l'Oncle Soul) - Official Video from discograph on Vimeo.

Ben L'oncle will be playing at Stern Grove this Sunday. He will be opening for Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, so it's kind of the greatest lineup for a free concert ever. Guaranteed awesome instrumentation and soulful grooves.

BEN L'ONCLE SOUL -SOULMAN- English Version (Official Music Video) from // Videodrome on Vimeo.

Just by checking out Ben's videos and the aesthetic he has chosen to employ shows me that we will get along. His album is awesome by the way. It has a Donny Hathaway, Lauren Hill, John Legend blend going with his own signature coolness that just ties it all together. He is signed to Motown France which I didn't really know existed. I think they do big things over in France though, in August of 2010 Ben had the highest selling album in France. Over here it was Eminem, when I went to check the charts, I was afraid it would be Katy Perry or something and I was prepared to say we have horrible taste compared to France. I mean we still do, but I understand how Eminem would be at the top of the charts. I doubt Ben's album would make it to the top of the charts here even though it's a really solid album. Needs more autotune!!

Ben l'Oncle Soul - "Little sister" from SoLab on Vimeo.

Look out for some of Ben's album to be sprinkled throughout the next Soul mix, and if at all possible get yo ass to Stern Grove and see him live for free.

Ipod Shuffle Mix 1

Mars-1 just had a show opening at Jonathan Levine Gallery in NYC, as usual it was pretty mindblowingly, awesome work.  Check it out here.

Just like a Mars-1 piece, Ipod shuffle mixes take seemingly random and chaotic elements of the universe and find geometric patterns that create a beautiful cohesive landscape of sound/visuals.  Or not, it's possible that I just put my Ipod on shuffle and let the machines do all of the work.  It's called chaotic curating, a term that I just made up right now.  It's all about letting the robots out of the cage and seeing what they come up with.  I have to say that they didn't do a horrible job.  It may not be a Mars-1 masterpiece but it's definitely a couple steps above a paint by numbers.

The mix is a nice blend of girl groups, soul, some old people music and a small sprinkling of Indie.  Download the Mix here. or hit the jump for samples and tracklist.

Eye Candy

Apache from oneedo on Vimeo.
This is a great video done by Ned Wenlock for the band Danger Beach and their song, "Apache."


"I Got My" by Magnetic North and Taiyo Na featuring Jin.  Super packed video full of Asian American performers, artists, and activists.


Three things I support come together in this video. The Bangerz formerly known as the Fingerbangerz...am I not supposed to bring that up? You think they want to leave that in the past like Marky Mark? Anyway they are an awesome DJ crew, they previously popped their heads onto this very blog here in this eye candy segment. So, Bangerz? Check, next up Mike Relm who is also a DJ in addition to being a director. I saw him do some combo visual music thing back in the day and have been a fan ever since. On top of these two things you have the fucking cherry on top the Jabawockeez. They will forever be my "America's Best Dance Crew" these dudes rule. With their powers combined!!!...they create an alright video, ha it's not the greatest thing ever but I'll support the effort.

Meg & Dia

Has anyone else been watching, "The Voice?" Did anyone else fall in love with Dia? She comes off as a great addition to the Yes Homo roster on the show. Her youtube channel for her band with her sister, Meg & Dia is a little more rocky than how she comes off on the show, but I forgive her. So many plus points for covering the R. Kelly classic, "Remix to Ignition." If it was the "Feelin On Yo Booty remix" she would be receiving my formal proposal for marriage, so she lucked out on this one. Also check her cover of the Postal Service song, "Such Great Heights." Try and remember when it wasn't actually used in a commercial for the U.S. Postal service and was just a great song. Below that is her competent cover of Adele's song, "Someone Like You." Oh man she cast a spell on me. *Swoon* Check out her youtube page here.






Red Hunting Jacket by Little Scream from Secretly Jag on Vimeo.
Trippy nice visuals by Little Scream with their video for "Red Hunting Jacket."

Hip Hop Mix 9

This has nothing to do with the mix, but Yumiko Kayukawa does some awesome Japanese pop art stuff.  Incredibly clean paint lines.  It almost looks digitally rendered...she rules.

I have had this thing done since before I left for LA, which was months ago. I kept messing with it, adding and subtracting, re-ordering, it's a real problem. So I have to just say enough is enough and get this thing posted. So here it is Hip Hop mix 9.

Action Bronson

Action Bronson is a beast.  He has flow, lyrics, dude is the complete package and this beat is filthy.  The horns!!  The horns!!


There is also a song he did with Statik Selectah which is equally awesome on the mix.  But you can start by sampling this one first.


Action Bronson- Consensual Rape (beat by Tommy Mas)


I didn't include any of Azure's music from his new mixtape on this mix but at least one of these songs would have made the cut if I had, had it in my hands before I compiled this. Azure' aka Justin Park was previously featured in this eye candy with his song, "As The Globe Spins." I have only heard two tracks from him but I appreciate the beat selection on both of the cuts that I have heard. His rhyme pattern seems a little forced/off kilter on some parts of, "Embedded Love" but overall he makes nice joints. You can grab his, "Illusions of Oasis" mixtape for free here.

More samples of songs that are actually on the mix, tracklist and download link, behind the Jump.

R.I.P. Andrew Gold and Leftovers

R.I.P. Andrew Gold.  Thank you for being a pal and a confidant.  I know everyone is probably going the route of quoting your catchiest most themesongiest song, but I truly mean it.  *Pours out prune juice*  I am sort of confused as to why this song is a part of my childhood. Was it normal for young boys to watch, "The Golden Girls?" "Murder She Wrote," "Matlock?" That sounds like a 78 year old's dvr and I was probably seven. However it happened this song wormed it's way into my youth, it carried me all the way through college...seriously have you ever just randomly put this song on when you are with a group of people? Well maybe you should, I also recommend "Moving Right Along" by Kermit and Fozzie. Andrew Gold was a genius.  That's how you write a theme song, take note you other Jingle crafters.

Just for fun here is, "Moving Right Along."



Damn I want to see this. I am not sure I can think of anyone I know who would say they don't like Tribe. I heard Tip had issues with this documentary. Unsure what the beef is about, but it looks interesting and I will be checking it our for sure. Nice job Remy, I'm glad you didn't just become an engineer.



I saw this video the other day and no it was not at a gay 90's dance party, for your information it was at a hawaiian bbq place, or was it both? "S'cuse me boys, I'm just here for the musubi, hey are Y'all playing a Genyouwine video? Scooch." *Sits on couch with spam nusubi* Anyway it struck me that I did not remember the setting of this video. Did anyone else remember that this video takes place in a Country Western Bar? I may have been too entranced by Ginuwine's bodyrolls/butterfly as a kid to notice.

The Black Keys - Howlin' For You - Directed By Chris Marrs Piliero from Chris Marrs Piliero on Vimeo.

I really liked the last Black Keys album, "Brothers." Here is a video for their song off of that album, "Howlin' For You." It's shot to look like a Robert Rodriguez Grindhouse style trailer. I would prefer just the song, no narration or dialogue, but it's well produced at least.

Free music from Rocky Rivera. I haven't given it a listen yet, but I grabbed it because, well it was free, what's the worst that could happen? If you would like, you can grab her free mixtape, "Pop Killer" right here.