The HighLife

He was a simple man...



Klaus Nomi - Lightning Strikes

New album from MF Doom - Born Like This, peep it here and then go make it yours.

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

February has been a good month musically.  Random, but still good.  We had the Grammy's at the beginning of the month, with Adele and Chrisette Michelle taking home awards.  Bob Marley's birthday.  Mos Def's delayed album. Our introductions to the very danceable Private, and the uber-soulful Jesse Dee.  Lily Allen and Ryan Leslie releasing new albums. And an onslaught of fat beats in general.  That said, here's a set of pretty much all of February's Jumpoff selections, save one or two here and there.  Enjoy!

Hello people! Hope your day has been going swell.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
I stumbled on this song recently, and it brings back a lot of memories.  I remember, my friend Zach and I used to listen to this before every soccer game our senior year of high school.  We were actually pretty good that year, so i hear this with a fond ear.  It all seems like ages ago now, but it really wasn't that long ago.  Oh well, here's some nostalgia for you.  New Radicals - You get what you give


B-Side
George put up a post a few weeks ago about Eminem.  The leaked track, Crack a Bottle, which thoroughly disappointed me in its lack of anything good past the intro.  For redemption sake, I have since held off any judgment and been waiting to see what Em does next.  Fortunately for me, i came across this song in the interim to tide me over until the new album comes out.  Eminem ft Jay-Z - Renegade


Aaaand i'm spent.  That'll do it today.  Keep on keeping on.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

Happy monday people! So the grammy's were last night, and apart from the fact that i didn't really care to watch, i am glad that some artists won that deserved to win (See previous Jumpoff artists, Adele, Chrisette Michelle).  Even John Mayer picked up two more grammys, chyeah!  I wasn't thrilled with some of the other winners; like, i don't think a certain Mr. Carter (the smaller one) deserves to win anything better than a game of bingo at a retirement home, but i digress.  To commemorate the occasion, today's selections are quite grammy-tinged.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
Probably my favorite performance of all the ones i saw.  It's even better with the knowledge that the Reverend stepped in on pretty much a day's notice due to Rihanna's cancellation (there is a God up there, and He loves soul!). Anyway, there is no need for preambles, Mr. Timberlake does that well enough.  But this song features, a soul legend, mr. dreamy, one of the best r&b groups of all time (in my opinion), an aussie country crooner that doesn't get enough credit for his soulfulness, and a really tight band.  Rev. Al Green, Justin Timberlake, Boyz II Men, Keith Urban - Let's stay together

B-Side
Marching bands are totally sweet!  Outkast did it a couple years ago, and i haven't seen it incorporated into popular music too much since then.  But leave it to avant-garde musicians Radiohead to make it happen.  With the USC Marching Band backing, this is... Radiohead - 15 Step



Yup, that's the award show in summary. J/k, there are a bunch of other really cool performances.  Sugarland with Adele, i can't believe i'm saying this, Jonas Brothers with Stevie Wonder, and Coldplay w/ Jay-Z (the song is a lot deeper when you actually listen to Jay-Z's lyrics) to name a few.  Anyway, it's all over now.  Time to wait and see what 2009 will have to offer.  Stay cool.  Until next time, be easy.

Afolabi

Hello, hello, hello! I'm slowly pulling myself back into the world today.  I was at the Red Bull Soundclash featuring The Roots vs Antibalas last night, and it was out of this world.  It was like no concert i, or i'm sure anyone else there, had ever seen before.  But needless to say, a lot of energy was exerted and i'm paying for it now. It's also affecting the music in my ears today.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
So i seriously don't have the energy or willingness to put any deep effort into this, other than to tell you that it's good.  These guys are a pop rock band from Brazil.  This song was playing on WERS yesterday and i really liked the vibe, very easy and not trying too hard.  Kinda like me today.  I recommend just letting the music wash over you like waves, but not the variety that would make surfers happy.  Speaking of surfers, the camera they used for the video for this song sort of gives it an old surfing movie vibe.  Los Hermanos - La Morena




B-Side
I saw this artist in concert on a boat cruise last summer.  It was raining that night, so everyone was packed inside the main cabin listen to these guys get down.  And did they!  The video for this particular song, shot at the Somerville Theater right here in Boston, doesn't do justice to how powerful it is live when you're standing right next to the band, and there's rabid fans dancing, jumping and singing every word to the song.  Anyway, he's constantly on road so i'd suggest looking into when he's coming to your town.  Ryan Montbleau Band - Stretch



And that'll do it today.  Rock out this weekend, cos someone has to!  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

Greetings from the future people! We are in the future now right?  I know i am.  Oh well. here's a fresh dosing of music for you on this lovely Wednesday.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
The first time i heard this artist i was a freshman in college.  He hadn't officially released his first album yet, but many of his songs and live performances were being proliferated all over the internet if you knew where to look.  I won't go into all the exact details of when i first heard his music, but needless to say, i had no business paying attention to music in that moment, but yet.  Anyway, to due this exposure, i developed a real appreciation for his live performances.  Sometime in 2003, maybe 04, he released a 2-disc live album, Any Given Thursday, that featured many songs from his first album with arrangements that you'd never get on a studio album.  This next song is one of my favorites.  It waxes nostalgic about simpler times, specifically a year that's kinda important to me.  The best part of the performance is about a third of the way through, i won't say more lest i give it away.  But you should be pleasantly surprised by the randomness.  John Mayer - 83 (Live)



B-Side
Yes, yes, yes!!!!!!! I posted this song a while back, when the album had just come out.  But there wasn't an official video out at the time.  Well it's the future, and videos of your favorite songs will just appear before you when you least expect it.  This song deals with the whole interconnectedness of men and women, and how though we may clash, we really do need each other to get through at the end of the day.  On that note, I would love to proclaim my love for Amanda Diva to the world.  I said it the last time, and i'll say it again.  You simply just can't teach that kind of soul.  Now watch the video.  Q-Tip feat Amanda Diva - ManWomanBoogie



That's all i've got today. Hope the future treats you well! Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

Hump day people! I've got some oldies but goodies today.  Hope you like.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
I can't really remember when i came across this next group.  There was a period when i was on a mission to hunt down as many random ska bands as i could find, and these guys are one of the bands that stuck out to me as note-worthy.  They've covered a lot of other bands, but then on the flip side they've been covered a bunch too.  Look them up, you might find a song you know that you didn't realize they did.  I like this particular one though because it gives off the vibe of going somewhere far far away (not where shrek lives), but just away.  Maybe it's the introduction that gives it away, i don't know.  The Specials - International Jet Set

B-Side

I was introduced to the music of this group by a good friend of mine, Jeremy, a couple of years ago.  I'd never really listened to them before that, and to be honest, i really still don't listen to them much.  Partly because they haven't released a new album for a while.  Anyhow, this song is from their 2001 album, Souljacker.  The Eels - That's not really funny

And that will do it for today.  Hope your hump day treats you well.  Until next time, be easy.

Afolabi