The HighLife

Wednesday hump day.  If you're the optmistic type, the week is almost over.  Here's some more soul cuts for your soul. Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
There were a lot of groups from the 60s that had names like "The (object/subject/noun here; e.g. Locations, Okayshions, Marvelettes, Oneders, j/k)".  This is one of them.  Signed to Motown in 1962, they spent most of the 60s scoring mild hits and playing mostly as supporting acts to other Motown names.  Yet, they still have a really good sound that caught on in England, especially with the Northern Soul movement.  These next songs are very much in that vein.  The Velvelettes - Stop beating around the bush, Something's happening


B-Side
A good friend of mine i hadn't spoken to in a while called me the other day.  As our conversations are wont to do, we ended up talking about music.  And i have to give it to him he caught me unawares, mainly because he's been listening to Al Green's new album, Lay it Down, a lot lately.  Yeah, Al Green has a new album. Well relatively, he released it in May 2008.  Regardless, i had no idea there was even an album to speak of.  So i went and checked it out.  It's good! It's what you want and expect from the Reverend.  Straight up soul.  Horns, organs, that falsetto.  What more can i say... Al Green - All i need, I'm wild about you


That's it today.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

My previous post featured Kutiman's YouTube video mashups. Since then I have checked out some of his music and it's damn good. It's got some afrobeat influence and reminds me a bit of Matiyahu - not surprising since he is Israeli. Enjoy his full self-titled album!

"Israeli musician Kutiman has taken hundreds of YouTube samples - often non-musical ones - and turned them into an album that’s awesome on so many levels that it leaves you stunned. First of all, the music is good; really good, especially if you’re a fan of Ninja Tune’s catalog. Secondly, it’s amazing to see all those unrelated YouTube bits and pieces fit together so perfectly. Kutiman, whose self-titled debut received high praise from sites such as Pitchfork Magazine, proves that any sound can be music if you know what to do with it." - Mashable.com

About


1. The Mother of All Funk Chords


2. This is What it Became


3. I'm New


4. Babylon Band


5. Someday


6. Wait for Me


7. Just A Lady

George's blog inspired me to share with you one of my favorite artists, beautiful Amber Rubarth.  She's from Nevada, but I had the opportunity to go check her out at this coffee shop/antique store in Old Orcutt (like one of those tiny little old, ghost towns) about 20 minutes away from my hometown.  That was in 2004...and I've watched her growth, both professionally as an artist and personally in the meaning and messages of her lyrics. Make sure to also check out "Amazing".

Anyway, love love love!

Wassup people!  Hope i find you well.  As i mentioned yesterday, it's all about soul this week.  So without further ado.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
I heard this song a few days ago while watching UNC play Duke again.  I didn't know who sang it, come to think of it i really couldn't hear the words either, i just knew that my head was bouncing.  But thank goodness for friends, and friends that know their ish at that.  Sam (a.k.a DJ Bogart of Flavorheard) informed me that this song was used as the sample for Big Daddy Kane's "Ain't no half steppin".  Which i would also recommend you listening to.  But today it's about... The Emotions - Blind Alley


B-Side
Here we have a soul group from Detroit's little known Soulhawk Records.  I only came across this song because i was looking for some Mayer Hawthorne (more on him later). But regardless, it's an awesome song in its own right.  The lyrics are pretty poignant in that i'm sure everyone has felt that emotion at some point in their life.  But the mellow soulful harmonizing all through the song is really what carries this into the eschelon of soul music.  The New Holidays - Maybe so Maybe no



And that's it today.  Keep on keeping on.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

The Colbert Report had musical guest Lisa Hannigan with her band on the show today. I have to say that she has probably won me over with the one song she performed. Not only is she stunning but the energy of talent and passion that these guys create is pretty amazing. I highly recommend you check out her live if she ever comes around your neck of the woods and in the meantime, enjoy this video of "I don't know".

Everything about this video is beautful...



Visit Lisa Hannigan's Website here.

Hello there friends.  It's kind of a dreary Monday right now, but hopefully the sun will break through soon.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
So, i recently received the news that one of the finer human beings i've known in Boston is no longer with us.  I'm still in disbelief at the whole situation, especially being that i just saw him last Friday at his usual spot manning/owning the door situation at my favorite place to go in this entire city.  Literally the gatekeeper to countless moments of joy and happiness, as well as some of the best times i've had in my life.  One of the lasting memories i'll have of Jimmy, aside from constantly reminding me to get to the door by 11, is from just last Friday.  I'd already been waiting like 30 mins in line, which means that everyone in line is taking it out on the guy at the door.  Some people would wear this treatment on their sleeve, but not Jimmy.  He had a huge smile on his face, gave me a hug, and then jovially threw me into the fray, literally. That for me encapsulates the type of person he was.  It's been that people knock on your door but you can take a break from all that now; now it's your turn Jimmy.  Bob Dylan - Knockin' on heaven's door



B-Side
The opening lyrics to this next song are: "Hey you! I need you here by my side.  Don't try to fight it!"  In my minds eye, whoever is on the other side of the door from Jimmy is saying this to him.  I'm sure there are a lot of people saying this to themselves too right now, but he's needed elsewhere.  I'd planned on dedicating this entire week to soul music, and in light of recent events it's even more fitting.  The Montclairs - Hey you! Don't fight it!



That's going to do it for today.  Please contribute to help Jimmy's family here.  It will be much appreciated.  Jimmy you will be missed!  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

Too much soul!!!

It's March people, and spring is approaching.  In case you didn't already know Daylight Savings is this weekend, so spring your clocks forward on Sunday.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
Lily Allen's first album, as far as i'm concerned, is one of the best albums front to back of the current decade.  So many good songs!  And so it was pleasure to accidentally stumble on one of the songs sampled for the album.  The original song is by a New Orleans blues/jazz singer and pianist, Professor Longhair, and with Mardi Gras just behind us it seemed fitting.  Professor Longhair/ Lily Allen - Big Chief Pt.1/ Knock em out

B-Side
For the sake of balance i can't leave Lily to be the only voice heard today.  Especially considering the subject matter of the last song.  This next song, is brand new from a Minneapolis based artist and his live band.  But don't be fooled, it's very much hiphop.  He recently dropped a DJ Benzi & Don Cannon produced mixtape, A Matter of Time, from which this song is taken.  The mixtape is really good as far as beat, but awesome in terms of content.  I'll share the whole thing soon.  And since we started the day speaking of samples, this track samples the classic ELO song and adds some extra electricity to it.  Mike Posner & The Brain Trust - Evil Woman


That's it today boys and girls.  Stay cool.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

Back again.  Hope your day is going smoothly, and organically gliding toward the weekend.  Today we're all about originality. Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
MTV has been pumping this guy alot lately.  Which typically pretty much guarantees that i won't care.  But he happened to be in the bean on Sunday, and a friend had an extra ticket.  So i figure, why not?  Overall, there's some songs he played that i still don't really care for, but in general he won me over.  I appreciated his authenticity and honesty.  And, how many Somalians do you know? Talk less of how many Somalians you know that are 'famous' (whatever that means).  More power to him.  I was also informed that his latest album, Troubadour, where this song is from, is his second.  And apparently the first album is a little different than his current fare.  So i've got some research to do, but that's a good thing for him.  Regardless, this is one of my favorites of his so far.  K'Naan - Fire in Freetown


B-Side
Elvis Costello has a show on Sundance called Spectacle.  It's a simple concept, get to know cool people who are into music, not necessarily recording artists either.  The first three episodes were with Elton John, Lou Reed, and Bill Clinton.  They play some music, talk about music, and then play some more music.  Simple.  The latest episode i saw featured some younger songwriters, She & Him, Jenny Lewis, and Jakob Dylan.  Nothing necessarily out of the ordinary, but one of them stuck out to me.  Possibly because her demeanor, background, and personal sense of style really resonated with me.  Who knows.  Anyway, this next song isn't the one she sang on the show, but from the looks of the video it's the encore closer of a recent show she did.  It also happened to be on the same day as mi madre's bday, which makes it even cooler.  Jenny Lewis - Fernando



And that's it today.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi