Beastie Boys videography

Adam Yauch • August 5, 1964 – May 4, 2012

Last Friday the world lost a great person. Most of the world, myself included knew him as MCA of the Beastie Boys. As an entertainer, he was an innovator as part of the Beastie Boys, and through his Nathanial Hörnblowér directing numerous music videos and assorted video and film releases. He went beyond an entertainer as an activist, working for the Tibetan independence movement, and organising the Tibetan Freedom Concert. And from what I understand, an all-around great person. He will be missed, but not forgotten.

This is a collection of what I believe should be all the official singles (denoted by a *), and many of the other music videos made. Included is a YouTube link (click the song title), and an alternate link or two when available (as sometimes videos are blocked in some countries). Included as well is the director(s) of each video.

Mike D, Ad-Rock, MCA

Title

Source

Year

Director(s)

Alternate link(s)

Holy Snappers | Polly Wog Stew | 1982 | Nathanial Hörnblowér | Dailymotion

*She’s on It | Krush Groove Soundtrack | 1985 | ?? | VEVO, Dailymotion

*Hold It Now, Hit It | Licensed to Ill | 1986 | ?? | VEVO, Dailymotion

*(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!) | Licensed to Ill | 1986 | Ric Menello, Adam Dubin | VEVO

*No Sleep till Brooklyn | Licensed to Ill | 1987 | Adam Dubin, Ric Menello | VEVO, Google Video

*Hey Ladies | Paul’s Boutique | 1989 | Adam Bernstein | VEVO

Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun | Paul’s Boutique | 1989 | Nathanial Hörnblowér | VEVO, Dailymotion

*Shake Your Rump | Paul’s Boutique | 1989 | Nathanial Hörnblowér | VEVO, Dailymotion

Shadrach | Paul’s Boutique | 1989 | Nathanial Hörnblowér

Netty’s Girl | “Pass the Mic” single | 1992 | Tamra Davis | Dailymotion

*Pass the Mic | Check Your Head | 1992 | Nathanial Hörnblowér | VEVO, Dailymotion

*So What’cha Want | Check Your Head | 1992 | Nathanial Hörnblowér | VEVO, Dailymotion

*Jimmy James | Check Your Head | 1992 | Nathanial Hörnblowér, Lisa Ann Cabasa | Dailymotion

Time for Livin’ | Check Your Head | 1992 | Spike Jonze

Something’s Got to Give | Check Your Head | 1992 Spike Jones, Nathanial Hörnblowér | VEVO, Dailymotion

Gratitude | Check Your Head | 1993 | David Perez | VEVO, Dailymotion

*Sabotage | Ill Communication | 1994 | Spike Jonze | VEVO, Dailymotion

*Sure Shot | Ill Communication | 1994 | Spike Jonze, Nathanial Hörnblowér | VEVO, Dailymotion

*Root Down | Ill Communication | 1995 | Evan Bernard | VEVO, Dailymotion

*Intergalactic | Hello Nasty | 1998 | Nathanial Hörnblowér | VEVO, Dailymotion

*Body Movin’ (Fatboy Slim remix) | “Body Movin’” Single | 1998 | Nathanial Hörnblowér | VEVO, Dailymotion

*Three MC’s and One DJ | Hello Nasty | 1999 | Nathanial Hörnblowér | VEVO, Dailymotion

*Alive | Beastie Boys Anthology: The Sounds of Science | 1999 | Nathanial Hörnblowér | VEVO, Dailymotion

*Ch-Check It Out | To the 5 Boroughs | 2004 | Nathanial Hörnblowér | YouTube

*Triple Trouble | To the 5 Boroughs | 2004 | Nathanial Hörnblowér

Right Right Now Now | To the 5 Boroughs | 2004 | Nathanial Hörnblowér

An Open Letter to NYC | To the 5 Boroughs | 2005 | ??

Brass Monkey (live) Awesome; I Fuckin’ Shot That! | 2005 | Nathaniel Hörnblowér

Suca De Tangerina | The Mix-Up | 2007 | Spike Jones, Nathanial Hörnblowér VEVO, Dailymotion

The Rat Cage | The Mix-Up | 2007 | Spike Jonze | VEVO, Dailymotion

*Off the Grid | The Mix-Up | 2007 | Spike Jones, Nathanial Hörnblowér | VEVO, Dailymotion

*Make Some Noise | Hot Sauce Committee Part Two | 2011 | Nathanial Hörnblowér | VEVO, full length film – Fight For Your Right (Revisited)

*Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win (featuring Santigold) | Hot Sauce Committee Part Two | 2011 | Spike Jonze | VEVO, episodic version

Music Video of the Day, another 100! (And all from the start!)

Yet another 100 Music Video of the Day videos! The first year, and the next 100. In a few months, year two will be complete!

I have added all the videos prior as well (click at the end of this post), mostly for my benefit, as it makes searching easier. I have accidentally had a couple of duplicates, but fixed them shortly thereafter.

Click the video number to get the original tweet of the video in question. I noticed Snapcase, #353, is now private, that is because since I featured it, VEVO has uploaded numerous Snapcase videos. I definitely have not checked them all, however it is interesting to see their fate. Hopefully if gone, they will have been uploaded by someone else, the record label, or VEVO.

Also, I started a Blogger blog to feature every video individually (starting at #575), the aptly titled Music Video of the Day or the full name to avoid confusion (and to plug my Twitter/blog): Music Video of the Day (via @tmmblog – toomuchmusic.wordpress.com)

#MVOD is now up to #617 as of this posting. To view 566 to 617, of course visit my Twitter, @tmmblog, and for quicker access, just click on ‘favorites.’

On with the list!

#565 Jenn Grant – How I Met You
#564 Grimes – Oblivion
#563 Adele – Chasing Pavements
#562 The Jam – Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
#561 Sheryl Crow – Steve McQueen
#560 Joan Osborne – Right Hand Man
#559 Alanis Morissette – Hand In My Pocket
#558 Leona Lewis – Better In Time
#557 Robin Thicke – Magic
#556 Dido – Hunter
#555 St. Vincent – Cheerleader
#554 Pink Floyd – High Hopes
#553 PJ Harvey – Good Fortune
#552 Faith No More – A Small Victory
#551 Goldfrapp – Yellow Halo
#550 Taylor Swift ft. The Civil Wars – Safe & Sound
#549 The Balconies – Kill Count
#548 The Cure – Just Like Heaven
#547 A Tribe Called Quest – Can I Kick it?
#546 De La Soul – Eye Know
#545 Enya – Only Time
#544 The Police – Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
#543 No Doubt – Bathwater
#542 Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All
#541 Art of Noise – Close (To The Edit)
#540 Gwen Stefani – What You Waiting For? (Director’s Cut)
#539 Our Lady Peace – Superman’s Dead
#538 Sarah McLachlan – Into the Fire
#537 Kathleen Edwards – In State
#536 Kathleen Edwards – Six O’Clock News
#535 Foo Fighters – These Days
#534 Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Date With The Night
#533 House Of Pain – Shamrocks And Shenanigans
#532 The Presidents of the United States of America – Peaches
#531 Ignite – Bleeding
#530 Imogen Heap – Headlock
#529 Garbage – Breaking Up The Girl
#528 Tina Dico – On The Run
#527 Katy B – Louder
#526 OK Go – Here It Goes Again
#525 Alice In Chains – Man In The Box
#524 Regina Spektor – Samson
#523 Melanie C – Goin’ Down
#522 Descendents – I’m the One
#521 Emeli Sandé – Next To Me
#520 Spice Girls – Say You’ll Be There
#519 K-OS (ft. Saukrates) – I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman
#518 Lilly Wood and The Prick – This is a Love Song
#517 Sloan – Unkind
#516 Royal Wood – Do You Recall
#515 The Black Keys – Lonely Boy
#514 Nine Inch Nails – The Perfect Drug
#513 Social Distortion – I Was Wrong
#512 Red Hot Chili Peppers – Can’t Stop
#511 Marina and the Diamonds – Oh No!
#510 Gravediggaz – Diary of a Madman
#509 Sarah Brightman – Captain Nemo
#508 Rise Against – Make It Stop (September’s Children)
#507 Chiddy Bang – Ray Charles
#506 Le Tigre – TKO
#505 Bad Religion – Infected
#504 Crash Test Dummies – Keep a Lid on Things
#503 Eric B. & Rakim – Follow The Leader
#502 LL Cool J – I’m Bad
#501 Iron Maiden – Hallowed Be Thy Name
#500 Mastodon – Blood and Thunder
#499 The Offspring – All I Want
#498 Lupe Fiasco – The Show Goes On
#497 Dire Straits – Tunnel of Love
#496 Geggy Tah – Whoever You Are
#495 Ariane Moffatt – Montréal
#494 Catatonia – Road Rage
#493 Bing Crosby & David Bowie – The Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth
#492 Kathleen Edwards – Change The Sheets
#491 The Be Good Tanyas – It’s Not Happening
#490 Melanie Doane – Happy Homemaker
#489 The Go-Go’s – We Got The Beat
#488 U2 – Get on Your Boots
#487 Rancid – Crane Fist
#486 Jully Black – DJ Play My Song
#485 Caracol – Certitudes
#484 Rihanna – Cheers (Drink To That)
#483 The Cardigans – For What It’s Worth
#482 Red Hot Chili Peppers – By The Way
#481 Beck – Where It’s At
#480 Kenna – Freetime
#479 Noisettes – Scratch Your Name
#478 Lauryn Hill – Doo Wop (That Thing)
#477 RUN-DMC – Rock Box
#476 The Ramones – Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La)
#475 The Donnas – Skintight
#474 The Smiths – Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before
#473 Charlotte Cornfield – All of the Pretty Mistakes
#472 Sarah Slean – Sweet Ones
#471 t.A.T.u. – All About Us
#470 Raised Fist – Breaking Me Up
#469 Rancid – Red Hot Moon
#468 Sheryl Crow – Leaving Las Vegas
#467 The Cranberries – When You’re Gone
#466 Norah Jones – Don’t Know Why

Click to view all the rest from the beginning (unless you are reading from the direct link to this post!)

In the charts, 10 years ago

I have been thinking of this kind of post for a while now, so, why not now?

Starting with the main charts, topping the Billboard 200, that being the top albums, sales-wise of course. Jay-Z takes it with The Blueprint. Only having been on the charts for 3 weeks. Not being a Jay-Z fan, I will proceed with number 2, Alicia Keys‘ debut, Songs in A Minor. Even though only one song is in A Minor!

A few spots down, System of a Down‘s Toxicity is at the 15 spot. It is in its fourth week on the chart at this point, and peaked at number 1! Whoa, Afroman is charting at the 26 spot with The Good Times (although that is a greatest hits compilation)!

Coldplay is on at #154 with their debut. Not bad after 42 weeks on the chart, yet it only peaked at #51. They went on two win two Grammy’s with Parachutes, Best Alternative Music Album, and Best Alternative Music Performance.

In the Hits of the World Category, here in Canada, Serial Joe have the top single with “Completely“. Diana Krall‘s The Look of Love is the number one album. Dido‘s No Angel tops in the UK.

Because sales are definitely not the barometer for good music, topping Canadian campus radio (aka college radio) airplay for the chart dated October 9, 2001, was Bjork‘s Vespertine. Top Canadian release was The Dears‘ Orchestral Pop Noir Romantique EP.

Meanwhile, dated October 29, 2001, in CMJ (Google Books is missing some issues from May 2000 to October 2001), Death Cab for Cutie‘s The Photo Album held the #1 spot.

Some music videos from 10 years after the break (unless you came to this post directly!)

Pop Montreal 2011 review + pictures!

Pop Montreal 2011 began two weeks ago tonight, so it is about time I am finally writing my review!

Part of the reason I am so slow in writing my review is that it was very hectic, being out to shows late every night, and working a day job, so I took some time to recover if you will. Okay, and there was procrastination in there too.

Rebekah Higgs at Pop Montreal 2011

This year marked the tenth anniversary of Pop Montreal, what started as a few friends putting on some shows. And it really culminated with the free Arcade Fire show where the free festival shows are held annually (recent years saw Stevie Wonder, Ben Harper, and just this past summer, The B-52s. Somewhere between 80 000 and 100 000 showed up for the Arcade Fire show. Of course many had to watch from surrounding screens, myself included, although I watched Kid Koala from the side of the giant stage. I did not pay too much attention to Karkwa, as I really do not know them, and only watched about 20 minutes of Arcade Fire on the screens, as I took off to see Rebekah Higgs, along with openers Dinah Thorpe and Mussaver at Cagibi.

Presently I am listening to Grass Widow‘s latest album, Past Time. Grass Widow being a great example of a pleasant discovery. I did not know them before the night before the show. They were the final opening band for The Raincoats. And the highlight of that show for me. The Raincoats were good, but I am not too into them, and not to be age-ist, but they are showing their age a bit. I of course do like a lot of aging musicians!

Ben Caplan at Pop Montreal 2011

My festival really started off with Charlotte Cornfield, a local indie/folk singer who I knew by name, but had never seen her perform. She played at the Ukranian Federation, a sit-down venue, kind of as it sounds, a theatre, but not a really old one with nice architecture, but instead kind of a dull church feel/meets hall space. Not bad for a mellow show though, although, seeing tUnE-yArDs there was not the best. Charlotte put on a nice set, she was happy to play there, as she said she saw Arcade Fire there a few years earlier at Pop Montreal! Next was Lindi Ortega, a bit more country/bluegrass, although a bit more of a commercial feel (oh, and not at all bad looking!) Not bad though!

After Charlotte and Lindi, I ended up at an industrial loft space, that someone actually lives in! Ah, Pop Montreal! Good spot for the particular show! In this case it seems like it was Charlotte Cornfield who organised it with a few of her favourite bands, including Ben Caplan, and Donlands and Mortimer.

Dinah Thorpe at Pop Montreal 2011

The aforementioned Rebekah Higgs show was very nice, save for the curfew, which had Rebekah only doing a few songs lasting 20 minutes at the most! Dinah Thorpe from Toronto who played prior was very good, and another nice Pop find. As per her MySpace, she is “acoustic / alternative / electro.” Indeed a nice mix, and one song, from her latest album, 12, called “Song for Dolly.” Of course for Dolly Parton. Her album is called 12, as she created a song every month for 12 months, a 12 song cycle as she puts it. Montreal’s own Mussaver opened the show, think Joanna Newsom, however with an accordion!

What I liked about this year’s Pop was how there was no huge acts (aside from Arcade Fire, they have proved themselves musically, but they are more big in the underground circles), for example, last year Macy Gray played Pop Montreal. Although, that was a co-presentation with the big concert promoters here. Many small acts I knew, and many I did not. I saw many I knew, and many I did not, yet I still missed some I knew, and some I did not. For example, I missed Emma-Lee, who I knew somewhat, but had never seen her perform, and I missed Dominique Young Unique, who I read about checking out artists playing Pop. Think Lil Mama meets Nicki Minaj for a not so accurate comparison!

Kid Sister at Pop Montreal 2011!

Friday night I saw Kid Sister, it was a club set, so way too short, and she played at least a couple mixtape tracks, which were good, but I did not know too well. After a few songs she disappeared, leaving her DJ to entertain the crowd. She returned with the very crowd pleasing “Right Hand Hi!” I was happy to catch that one live. The club it was at was apparently voted #1 in Montreal in several categories by readers of the free weekly entertainment publication the Mirror. I also vote it well in not starting on time! Kid Sister started well over an hour late (as Pop publishes the set times for benefit of those Pop hopping from show to show). Before she went on I was able to catch about 20 minutes of Ohbijou, and missed Azealia Banks in the process.

Allie Hughes played O Patro Vys Saturday night as the last openers for the all-girl Weezer cover band Sheezer! She is presently working on her debut album. And I say it is one to look forward to, as she has a nice vocal range, hitting some high operatic like notes!

Before seeing Allie Hughes, and catching most of By Divine Right, I saw Laura Marling. I am not a huge fan, but she definitely impressed! Her voice definitely had the audience getting their socks blown off (as opener Alessi’s Ark put it!), despite her mellow folk!

The closing party was nice, with Think About Life playing their last show ever, a very energetic party-like show!

Merrill Garbus, tUnE-yArDs symposium at Pop Montreal 2011

The tUnE-yArDs set was of course nice, especially after having seen Merrill Garbus doing a symposium that afternoon, talking about her influences, that include being obsessed with singing styles from around the world (Korean Pansori for one), and applying them to her music. And looking to the future how she would like to evolve away from the looping pedal.

Pop Montreal 2011 teaser/CD haul

This is just a warm up post. As the title suggests, a teaser of what I have yet to write, and of the CD’s I picked up during Pop Montreal 2011. I had been posting plenty of updates on my Twitter during the festival, and took some notes, so, a full review will come shortly! (Mostly unrelated, but of note, this WordPress.com blog post: Prepare for National Novel Writing Month with the Post a Day Challenge. I am all about quality over quantity, however, with NaNoWriMo, it is all about writing writing writing, and editing later, as the writer is bound to have some quality within, or good stuff that can be edited later, versus sitting around thinking and generating very little content while (over?)thinking. Anyway…)

Pop Montreal 2011 CDs

All the discs I picked up (from top left clockwise), Lindi Ortega – Little Red Boots, Rebekah Higgs – Odd Fellowship, Ohbijou – Beacons, Dinah Thorpe – 12, Grass Widow – Past Time)

All the shows/artists I saw (bold denotes Canadian artists):

Charlotte Cornfield
Lindi Ortega
Donlands and Mortimer (most)
Ben Caplan
Charlotte Cornfield
Kid Koala
Karkwa (mostly indirectly)
Arcade Fire (about the first 30 minutes, indirectly on screens)
Mussaver (most)
Dinah Thorpe
Rebekah Higgs
Pat Jordache (most)
Tune-Yards
Ohbijou (first 30 minutes)
Kid Sister
Alessi’s Ark
Laura Marling
By Divine Right (last 15 minutes)
Allie Hughes
Sheezer
Hannis Brown
Mensch
Grass Widow
The Raincoats
Think About Life

So, in the coming days, once I finish writing it, my Pop Montreal 2011 post will be a review and thoughts…

Pop Montreal 2011 preview (September 21 – 25)

I am not too great at previews, Sean over at Said the Gramophone is, but I will try.

Slowly but surely as I heard more and more bands announced, this years Pop Montreal has quite a diverse lineup with plenty of well known, and lesser known acts. Apologies on the formatting, as I do not have enough text, and I wanted to get the pics in!

After reading this blog post, head on over to Pop Montreal for official times and information regarding the concerts. And for Montrealers, the latest Montreal Mirror has a handy pull out day by day schedule of music listings. Or view it online. And on the official Pop Montreal users can build their own personalised schedule.

(Bold in the next two signifies Canadian acts.)

A few of the shows I am personally really looking forward to include tUnE-yArDs, Rebekah Higgs, Ohbijou (new album, Metal Meets hits stores September 27, I might get to buy it before the official release!), Kid Sister, Laura Marling, and Q-Bert. I am also very much looking forward to local Montrealer Charlotte Cornfield (who has two sets on opening Wednesday, one opening for Philémon Chante, and later that evening as part of the Let Your Hair Down Showcase!), Kid Koala (opening for the giant free Arcade Fire show), the giant free Arcade Fire show(!), Krista Muir, Samiam (who I just saw were playing a few minutes ago!), Real McKenzies (Awesome Scottish influenced Celtic punk!), and The Planet Smashers. Oh, and in the course of writing this blog post I see in the official Pop Montreal program Maylee Todd is playing Saturday night set as L’Esco (basically a small semi-basement bar/venue). No word online, so I will not hold my breath! She rules by the way! And I got to know her from Pop Montreal last year! I also see that the Sarah Blackwood (from psychobilly act The Creepshow) set for the Stomp Records BBQ is at 4PM, before local rockabilly act The Hellbound Hepcats! And although I really do not know his solo work, Liam Finn is playing the fest too.

Also a few acts I know little to nothing about, and in many cases am just going by their pictures (press photos are indeed important!), that I would like to see include Lindi Ortega, Cherry Chapstick (another Montreal act!), Megan Bonnell, Marques Toliver, Vilify (Montreal again!), Natale (from Paris, booming pop vocals and insect-like acrobatic dancing apparently!), UN (514 represent!), D-sisive, Molly Sweeney (Montreal!), Dinah Thorpe, Emma-Lee, Caroline Keating (Montreal), Old n’ Weird, Shaydakiss (Montreal) and Azelia Banks (both opening for Kid Sister), Frankie Rose, Dominique Young Unique, Anna Rose, Yuck, Gianna Lauren, Alessi’s Ark (London, according to Pop, folk songs that make you want to cycle down an English country road!), Allie Hughes, Sheezer, and The Raincoats.

There is no way I will be able to catch them all, but I will try and catch a fair bit, all of what I really want to see, and hopefully some of the ones I would like to see barring any personal scheduling conflicts, and definitely catch some artists that are new to me.

tUnE-yArDs

So knowing what I know, a few I would recommend include tUnE-yArDs. I have only heard some of her stuff, and I saw her performing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, but she, Merrill Garbus et. al., definitely have an innovative sound.

Laura Marling

Laura Marling and her blend of UK folk should prove to be awesome, her third record, A Creature I Don’t Know, came out on Monday. Hopefully I can pick it up at the show!

DJ Qbert

Q-Bert is a legendary DJ, thus making him big in hip hop, since hip hop, that is to say rapping, emerged from the DJ, the disc jockey. His turntablism skills are crazy good! I see quite a fair amount of shows, but I do not get to see proper DJ/scratching shows often at all.

A few locals I can highly recommend include Charlotte Cornfield (folk/rock), Krista Muir (multi-talented, ukelele playing and then some!), Kid Koala (speaking of turntablism!), and the ever impressive some 15 plus years on, The Planet Smashers (ska extraordinaire!).

I have not heard them yet, but hope to check out Montreal’s own electro dur UN. Just by Pop Montreals description: “Toronto’s weirdo pop princess”, Allie Hughes sounds like a great bet! Frankie Rose of Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls, and the Vivian Girls fame, enough said!

Another artists I just listened to, Dominique Young Unique, is a young female MC from Florida. Upon hearing and watching “Show My Ass“, I was reminded of Rye Rye, although no doubt they differ quite a bit, Rye Rye coming from the Baltimore scene and being a M.I.A. protégée.

Cannot say as I know them, but given their history, having formed in the U.K. in 1977, I might just have to check out The Raincoats.

Of course Pop Montreal is far from just music, it is Film Pop, Art Pop, and more! Last year Feist’s film Look at What the Light Did Now had a screening, and this year PJ Harvey’s Let England Shake will have a screening. Also there is Bloodied But Unbowed: The Birth of Vancouver Punk Rock 1977-82.

And among the symposiums, there is Voices on Voices, which, to steal Pop Montreal’s description, is “a workshop/discussion on writing and arrangement with Merrill Garbus, aka tUnE-YaRds.” Very nice. And The Raincoats – Adventures, which as you may have guessed, is about The Raincoats!

Allie Hughes

Charlotte Cornfield

Dominique Young Unique

Bookmark this page, and come back, as I will continue adding links to the artists’ official websites while I check them out.

Who or what are you looking forward to at Pop Montreal? Do not be shy, comment, and plug your blog (if you have one), it may just end up on my blogroll! It might also influence me to go see a certain show! Les commentaires en français sont également les bienvenus. Heck, since this is the digital age, any language will do, even binary or hex code (okay, perhaps a tad too geeky).

Mobb Deep – Hell on Earth (LP of the Week)

I am a big fan of hip hop. I may be selective in what I like and listen to, but really any music fan has their likes and dislikes. A buddy at work said I should write more about hip hop. So here it is, and much more to come!

Perhaps one reason why I do not write more is since I am not an expert in the subject, but I do know what is good (and with time comes experience). And Mobb Deep’s third record, Hell on Earth, is good!

Released in 1996, and featuring Nas, Big Noyd, and two Wu-Tang Clan members, Johnny Blaze aka Method Man and Lex Diamonds aka Raekwon. Nas was guesting after his second record, It Was Written was released earlier in 1996. Wu-Tang’s second record (Wu-Tang Forever) was just over half a year away, while Method Man had his debut Tical out (1994), and Raekwon’s debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… had been out for a little over a year.

I first got into Mobb Deep thanks to an old skate (as in skateboard) video, someone skated to “Extortion”, which features Method Man.

Q Magazine called this one of the 50 heaviest albums of all time. From the opener, “Animal Instinct” it is apparent. The aforementioned “Extortion” is a great piece of East Coast/Hardcore/Gangsta hip hop, featuring Method Man at his best. All the way to the end, over 60 minutes worth, the album flows very well. “Hell on Earth (Front Lines)” is a slower piano laced track, but still definitely one to nod with to the beat.

The beats are solid. As is the rapping of Havoc and Prodigy. The record features a few samples, but they are seamless, making them next to impossible to notice. “Still Shinin’” samples Willie Hutch’s “Hospital Prelude of Love Theme”, one of the only easily noticeable samples.

After listening to the samples, most of which I did not know, and all I did not know by name, at least not being able to hear it upon hearing the song title, it is apparent, like many hip hop records how well the samples play. The strings in “Extortion” from “Can You Remember” by Jackson 5 completely changes the context, yet adds so much to the Mobb Deep track. And some, such as “Fool Yourself” by Little Feat in “G.O.D. Pt. III” deserves the Beatles treatment to listen carefully and analyse the entire tracks.

Obligatory listening:

(Of course the entire record, if not, a few essential tracks)

“Animal Instinct”
“Can You Remember” by Jackson 5 followed by
“Extortion”
The piano on “Get Dealt With”
“Hell on Earth (Front Lines)”
“Give It Up Fast” featuring Nas and Big Noyd

Tinie Tempah, Pass Out, track review

It took me a few listens for me to properly like this. However now that I do, I do!

Basically a hip hop track, with some grime in there for good measure. From the rhymes to the changes and genres within, it makes for a great track.

Labrinth provides the vocals for the chorus/hook, and his style suits the track perfectly. The only thing I don’t like is the lyrics that at times are a bit Kanye like, with an ego. I will put that aside, and think of it as more having goals (even though no doubt bragging and some ego), and working hard to get to where one wants to be, like Dizzee Rascal’s “Dreams”, but still, quite different.

After two choruses, it switches from hip hop to ska/reggae riffs, only to go back to the hip hop and Tinie’s rapping. An indication of what’s to come.

He is pissed, he “never got to fly on a Concord”, and he is “crazy with the kicks” call him Jean Claude.

After the third chorus through the bridge, is a very nice bass line, which leads to all out drum and bass! The LP version (versus the single) has a slightly longer bridge.

For the music geeks:

Songwriters: Timothy Mckenzie (Labrinth), Patrick Okogwu (Tinie Tempah), Marc Williams.
Official lyrics
Key: A-flat Major
BPM: 91 & 176 (drum and bass part)

Single/music video:

Also worth checking out is the Chiddy Bang take on “Pass Out” from their Air Swell mixtape. Also very good, with some original lyrics intact, and many of their own too. Listen at Grooveshark.

New Music and upcoming music

Been a while since I have posted a new music post, it is about time! On with the list.

Rebekah Higgs – Odd Fellowship – August 16 (Canadian!)

Red Hot Chili Peppers – I’m With You August 26

Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter IV August 29

The Kooks – Junk of the Heart September 12

Laura Marling – A Creature I Don’t Know September 12

Primus – Green Naugahyde September 12

Anthrax – Worship Music September 13

St. Vincent – Strange Mercy September 13

The Pack A.D. – Unpersons September 20 (Canadian!)

Tori Amos – Night of Hunters September 20

Blink-182 – Neighrborhoods September 27

Ohbijou – Metal Meets September 27 (Canadian!)

Evanescence – Evanescence October 11

Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto October 24

Miranda Lambert – Four the Record November 1

Release date to be determined:

Michelle Branch – West Coast Time September?

Dido – yet to be titled

Queens of the Stone Age – yet to be titled

Esthero – yet to be titled

The Colbert Report this week!

I am a big Colbert fan. And when he has music guests on, it is always good (not to say the normal guests are not, but since this is a music blog!).

When Rush were on three summers ago (their first time on network , that was sweet, with Colbert starting the next show (waking up from his sleep on his desk, nightcap and all) as Rush were finishing “Tom Sawyer”, or the great Gorillaz interview that had the real Stephen Colbert interviewing them since Murdoc et. al were sending Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett to be intereviewed, so the Colbert Report Stephen stormed off!

The purpose of this post is that it looks like it is an all music Colbert Report this week!

Tonight, Monday June 20, Bon Iver

Tuesday June 21, Florence and the Machine

Wednesday June 22, Talib Kweli

Thursday June 23, The Black Belles.

To make my summer concert series extra authentic, I replaced all the bathrooms in my studio with 100-degree porta-potties.—
Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) June 21, 2011

I Tweeted about Florence and the Machine:

Whoa, Florence and the Machine on The Colbert Report tomorrow! Very nice! #FlorenceandtheMachine #ColbertReport—
Andrew Davidson (@tmmblog) June 21, 2011

And then I saw Talib Kweli (awesome MC). And The Black Belles, although I did not know them, seem to be composed of Shelby Lynne, and three other gals that I do not know, that should be a recipe for awesomeness! Just check this out:

Bon Iver tonight, who I do not know too well, but he seems alright from what I have heard, including his collabo with Kanye West.

In other news, I have a new LP of the week coming soon, a great rock record!