The HighLife

Happy Friday y'all!!  I've been semi-slacking on my jumpoff's this week, but what do we do when we're behind? Catch up and then some.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

No sides today.  I figure i've missed 2 days, so you're getting at least 3 days worth of jumpoff love today. This mix starts with a song i've been trying to remember to share for too long, so with what i believe is his jumpoff debut, Jason Mraz sets the table.  Followed by Colin Munroe.  You may not remember, but I put up another song of his last year.  This year, mark my words, you'll remember him.  The rest of the mix features two artists that released albums this month, Ryan Leslie, and Lily Allen.  Then we have Danish and Australian electro party purveyors, Private, and The Avalanches to close out the set.  So here's to celebrating good music, and more importantly good times!

Stay cool.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

Greetings from the other side of the long weekend, or the beginning of the short week, whichever you like better.  I spent the weekend working on mastering the art of getting down, and i figure i should tranfer that into the sound today.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
I always seem to be behind on music videos; entire albums, individual songs, not so much, but music videos, very different story.  If you regularly read this little piece of the interweb, you're well aware of my love for these guys.  So i was pleasantly surprised to find this today.  The Roots - Get Busy



B-Side
Another recommendation from a co-worker.  This was sent with the disclaimer that it would be "my new guilty pleasure (and yours)".  So what else do you need to know about these guys? They're from Denmark, and they have some sweet dance moves (i've tried 'em). This is... Private - Secret Lover


If you like that, check out their other song "We've got some breaking up to do".  And that's going to do it today.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

Happy Friday!!!!! Freakin' weekend time.  I'll be quick.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
I used to listen to these guys right when i was just starting college.  This sound makes me feel like i should be preparing myself for natty light tonight.  Unfortunately, they didn't really make much of an impact after their Neptunes produced debut album, Get down or Lay down, but at least they dropped it on us.  So from that, we have... Philly's Most Wanted - Please don't mind/Cross the border


B-Side
I was finally able to make it to the Milky Way yesterday.  It had been a while, so they were some surprises.  Like, they've changed the door handle to be a bowling pin! Fitting really.  Among the things that weren't a surprise, dancing hard, Thiago, a great time all around, randomness, and this next song (well, it kinda was a surprise).  Big ups Kevin Driscoll.  Donaeo/ Wale - African Warrior/ Warrior (Freestyle)


Yup, that's it today.  The long weekend is upon us, so whatever excuse you find to get down, Lincoln's b-day, President's day, whatever, is completely acceptable.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

Unless if you live under a rock, or are behind the times, you understand the Carolina blue background today. Regardless, sitting at the bus stop today waiting on my bus i was hit with some inspiration.  You'll notice that all the tracks today have one thing in common.  Getting down. It's almost the weekend, so you might as well.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

Get Down
I don't know about you, but this weekend will be strictly about getting down.  Part of the get down will be including the largest disco ball i've ever seen.  If you get a chance to go to Santos Party House in NYC on Sunday, you'll know exactly what i mean.  These tracks are individually selected to make you shake your groove thang.  If you have a spare disco ball sitting around somewhere, i'd recommend breaking it out now.

Track List

That's going to do it today.  Hope you're getting down sufficiently now.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

Ello, ello! Apologies for my negligence yesterday.  A lot going on.  But it's all to the good.  Back today with some more tunes for your listening pleasure. There's a common theme with both these tracks that i didn't realize until after i'd already decided what songs to drop today.  See if you can guess what it is.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
This song is kinda older.  Well, relative to these artist's tenure.  The track was featured on both Kanye and Paul Wall's albums.  There is also a chopped and screwed version on Paul Wall's album that's sort of featured at the end of this video, but that a topic for another day.  I saw the video for the first time last night, and aside from the fact that i didn't even know there was a video, i didn't know T.I. had a verse in it.  His addition is just an added benefit to an already good song.  Pay attention to his lyrics, especially his last line.  Very poignant.  So as they say down in Houston, what it do... Kanye West, Paul Wall, T.I., Tony Williams - Drive Slow



B-Side
A few days ago i put up a post honoring Bob Marley on his birthday, and I listened to a lot of random Marley tracks in the process of coming up with the post.  This next song is part of the result of all the research.  There's something about discovering new songs (new to me at least) that never gets old.  Maybe because it's new; who knows.  Anyhoo, i don't have much else to say, just "hit me from the top, you crazy mother-funky".  You'll know in a sec.  Bob Marley - Caution



And that will do it, hope you're rocking steady.  Now to go watch the entire state of North Carolina explode.  On the hardwood that is. What i'm about to say is sacrilege to some ears. I like both sides, i have friends on both sides (family, not so much), and i have personal experiences on both sides. So i will not pick a side, not even if it was the nat'l championship. It's the same with Yankees-Red Sox.  You don't have to understand, just believe that i'm not crazy, and take it however you wish.  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

Ok, i am sooooo over winter! Just absolutely done with it.  The only thing left to do is just keep listening to music to stay sane.  And so to aid that effort we've got some futuristic ish on the plate today.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
I've been hearing a lot about this artist over the last few months.  Honestly, i haven't jumped all over it like some of my counterparts out there.  But as is with most good music, it will find a way to reach your ears whether you like it or not.  So i'm watching Real World with my roommate, and he pauses the show to play a song for me that he's been blasting all week.  Kid Cudi - Cleveland is the reason



B-Side
Staying in the theme of newly recommended listening.  This is Canadian duo was recommended by one of my co-workers, Gary (seriously, i work w/ the coolest people on earth).  I don't want to take the credit for this, so i'll give you his description of the group. "sort of like Spankrock x LCD Soundsystem or if you're retro-minded: Roxanne Shontay x ESG". This track is really bouncy, and i love the video.  Thunderheist - Jerk it



And that'll be it for today.  Just remember, the groundhog saw his shadow.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

Sort of like the end of year dispatch.  Here's a playlist of music selections that were featured in January's Jumpoff posts.  Enjoy!

Happy hump day! I don't really have a theme around today's selections, just some sounds that are really easy on the ears.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
You know how certain things/sounds/smells remind you of particular randomness, whatever that may be.  Well, the album that these songs are from, Modern Times, reminds me of when i'd just moved to Boston.  That album, JT's FutureSexLoveSounds, and The Roots Game Theory, were on a loop the whole drive up to MA, and then for a while after that.  There's no need to wax nostalgic or sentimental about this artist, he's been around long enough that it's possible. I'll just leave you with his words, "you can be in my dream, if i can be in yours. I said that".  Bob Dylan - Spirit on the water/ Ain't talkin'



B-Side
I feel like i've talked about this artist on here before, so i won't go into too much detail.  British dude, pianist, outstanding performer, with a great sense of humor, which he feeds into his songwriting.  In a day and age when i find myself caring less and less for most artist's lyrical content, he has a way of making me care.  He's had about 4 albums, 1 live one, and a bunch of collaborations with artists that are really cool. Seriously, look it up.  These tracks are from his most recent album, 2005's Catching Tales. I'll let the songs speak for themselves.  Jamie Cullum - Back to the Ground/ My yard


That will do it today. Stay cool.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi

Hello from the tundra!  Hope your day isn't buried underneath a snow pile somewhere.  If so, hopefully this helps dig you out.  Welcome to The Jumpoff!

A-Side
This is an artist to pay attention to in 09.  She burst onto the scene last year with the song, Chasing Pavements.  I heard that song when it came out, and just knew 'that voice is going places'.  Anyway, i was helping to celebrate my friend's b-day this weekend, she had her album playing in the car and i was reminded of why i thought that.  She reminds me of a younger Alice Russell, absolutely soulful.  But maybe a little less self-assured.  Regardless, if she keeps going the way she is, you'll be hearing a lot more from her in the future.  Here's two tracks from her debut album, 19.  Adele - Best for Last/ Right as Rain


B-Side
Now to a group that sort of defies classification.  Post-rock, experimental pop, loungy, indie-electronic-loungy-pop, it all fits.  Formed in London in 1990, they've been independently handling business since.  I can't really describe them any more, you just have to listen to them to form your own opinion.  My guess is that they'll probably rub you the right way.  Stereolab - Flourescences/ Excursions into Oh-Ah/ Cybele's Reverie/ Percolator



Seriously, who names a song "excursions into oh-ah"?  Oh well, that's it for today.  Keep on keepin' on.  Until next time, be easy.
Afolabi