The HighLife

What it is people.  While were on the topic of haunting music that you can't get out of your head (thank you Corey!).  Here are a couple that will most definitely percolate around your cranium for a while.  Plus some images that will certainly do the same.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side

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Where is Lloyd?  This song is probably about two years old now, but for whatever reason each time i hear it again it always seems like the first time hearing it.  The remix is also just as persistent, but the original "oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh g-g-g-get it shawty" gets me everytime.  Get yours.  Lloyd - Get it Shawty



B-Side

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I dare you to listen to this and not get it stuck in your head.  Pick one, the verse, the chorus, the beat; it will stay with you.  Whatever your feelings may be about The Dutchess, just remember that the "the girl can't help it."  Fergie - Clumsy



That'll do it today.  Try to keep your mind positive, regardless of what finds its way into your head.  Stay cool. Until next time, be easy.

Oh hello!  Just a little update for ya's.  Remember this from earlier in the year, On Point: Double Wonderful.  Yup, good times! Well, you can get their record for free.  Really, who doesn't like free?  Feel free to let us know if you don't like free.  As for the rest of you, get your yacht rock fix, because where else are you going to find music this smooth.  It's only a few clicks away.

Download Me!



That's the Way

This New York based Venezuelan band released their first album in 1995; working on the strength of that album for two years until David Byrne (yeah, that David Byrne) discovered and signed them to his Luaka Bop label in 1997.  Since then, they have released four more albums.  The most recent being the Dimitri from Paris produced Super Pop Venezuela (2006).  Their sound glides effortlessly between disco, funk, acid jazz, salsa, and merengue.  Unlike many bands today, they don't seem to take themselves very seriously, which is awesome.  Read the scrolling captions in the video for Si Estuvieras Aqui and you'll understand.  But don't let the comedy fool you, they are a seriously talented band, that make seriously good music, that will seriously make you move.  This is Los Amigos Invisibles.

Si Estuvieras Aqui


Selecciones

Happy Friday people!  I've been in a great mood all day and it seemed like a good idea to share some of the goodness.  I put up a few On Point posts last week about Dimitri from Paris and Fantastic Plastic Machine, that if you peeped will be a perfect segue into this contents of this post.   There have been a few new releases in the past few months that have got me pretty excited about life.  Mos Def's The Ecstatic, Brother Ali's US, Gossip's Music for Men, the second half of Jay-Z's Blueprint 3, and Ghostface Killah's Ghostdini, Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City, to name a few.   So for those who haven't been on top of their music game lately, here's a refresher course in what you've been missing.  Plus a few other gems from Saint Etienne, Syreeta, The Disco Biscuits, Ugly Duckling, and Pharcyde.  It's music to handle bidness to.   Welcome to The Jumpoff!

Business Related Affairs


That's all today.  Rock it out this weekend, or at least try to be creative.  Until next time, be easy.
-Afolabi

During my brief period of highlife convalescence I had the opportunity to explore new territory musically.  Discover new sounds if you will.  Pretty much an exercise in stretching my sonic proclivities beyond their current shores.  A lot of the music I came across is actually by artists from other countries; including this particular artist.  Dj/Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, a.k.a. Fantastic Plastic Machine,  hails from Japan.  He played the bass, dj'ed, and recorded music in Japan through the 80's and early 90's.  Eventually releasing his first solo effort titled Fantastic Plastic Machine in 1997.  The sound is highly influenced by bossa nova, house, and 60s lounge music, making it almost seem theatrical at times.  He's released five more albums since his debut, and they're all solid.   Here's a little sample, but I highly recommend getting to know more of the Fantastic Plastic Machine.

If you follow us on the facebook or twitter you should probably have heard the original of this Major Lazer banger.  But i'll bet you haven't heard this fresh off the presses remix by Amphibious of Flavorheard.  Building off the ubiquitous percussion, Amphibious delivers a dancehall-afro-funk infused track that will surely make you wish it was Friday already.  Seriously, listen to this a few times and you might find yourself wanting to listen to it more than the original.  But i'm just sayin'.

Major Lazer - Pon de Floor (Amphibious Remix)

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen! It's been a bit.  I haven't really been on top of writing lately, as i'm sure some might have noticed.  I promise it's all been for good reason.  We're a year old now at The Highlife, and i thought i'd thank all of you out there livin' the highlife with a Jumpoff.  We're only just getting started people, and it seemed fitting to kick it old school to give you a glimpse of things to come on The Highlife.  Take for example, the image you're looking at right now.  Created by one of Boston's finest artists, Dan Szymanowski. You may not know him yet; that'll change.  But like i said, this is only just a preview. Welcome to The Jumpoff!



A-Side
This British house duo has been making me dance since high school, but i kinda eased off their sound once college hit.  Which would explain why i'd gone relatively unaware of their 2003 release, Kish Kash, for quite a while. Nevertheless, it made its way into my ears, and now it will make its way into yours. The juicy cuts at least. This is Basement Jaxx.



B-Side
Sometime last year i put up a post with the Entourage Season 5 closing credits soundtrack.  They're not killin' it so much this year; the show's still good though.  But the song from last week was absolutely solid. They dug deep to find an unreleased gem from the catalog of a music legend; I have nothing more to add... Marvin Gaye - Piece of Clay



And that'll do it for today.  I can't say when next i'll be posting, but it'll be sooner rather than later.  Live, love, be the highlife.  Stay cool.  Until next time, be easy.
-Afolabi

Flavorheard Radio Vol. 5 - Whiskey Barons Edition
Enjoy!

Deadmau5 got some mo' cheese - check his new unreleased track yo!