FISTFULAYEN

Between work, family, vacation, and Zoe heading off to college I haven’t had much time to post here lately. Tons of music to write about, though, so I’ll just spit a bunch out quickly and let you do the research. Sorry I don’t have time for more words, but the music is more important anyway, no?

What’s with some of the best albums of the year being illegal? Dig, in chronological order:

Ratatat vs. Notorious B.I.G. – Party and Bullshit
from Ratatat Remixes Vol. 2
I tell ya, if I were Jimmy Iovine I’d be figuring out how to get these dudes to be the Neptunes for the Guitar Hero generation. GET ON IT before I get enough loot to do it myself.

Rhymefest and Mark Ronson vs. Michael Jackson – Can’t Make It
Rhymefest and Mark Ronson vs. Michael Jackson – Mike The Mentor
Rhymefest and Mark Ronson vs. Michael Jackson – No Sunshine
get Rhymefest and Mark Ronson – Man In The Mirror
This record, available FOR FREE from his Web site, blows away his debut release IMHO. Rhymefest is a skilled MC and the concept is well-executed, serious in its lack of seriousness. Note that Michael’s cover of “Ain’t No Sunshine” was ENCOURAGED by copyright law once upon a time but Rhymefest/Ronson’s reinterpretation is illegal. Think on that one for a bit after listening to the Lessig episode of Sound Opinions.

Girl Talk – No Pause
get Girl Talk – Feed The Animals and pay what you want
I paid $10 for Girl Talk’s latest without hearing a note. I loved Night Ripper so much I didn’t need to know much more than there was a new set from Mr. Greg Gillis. It didn’t disappoint. This thing literally powered my rental car on a 4am drive back to the airport recently and Zoe knows every cut inside and out. But what’s amazing is that they are UP FRONT about the album featuring 300 uncleared samples. Illegal Art is basically saying, “We’re claiming Fair Use, come and get us.” No one wants to take ‘em up on it because if you lose, well, it changes the industry forever and if you win you just shut down an album that’s going to sell, what, fifteen thousand copies?

Diplo/Santogold – Dutty Six Pack
Diplo/Santogold – Find A Way
get Diplo/Santogold – Top Ranking from Turntablelab
Well-reviewed on Pitchfork, it really is that good. Not only does it contain great use of Black Flag and Dead Boys samples, there’s a decent Bad Brains cover at the end. Not sure how this came about or what Santogold/Downtown Records’ participation is, but it’s damn good.

Switching gears to albums with zero samples…

Melvins – Billy Fish
buy on Amazon
In case you missed it, Melvins merged with Big Business in the rock merger of the decade, forming a superforce of melodic heaviness. To the cool kids who think Melvins are yesterday’s news: LISTEN AGAIN, PUNKS. If a brand new band had put out this album people would be falling all over themselves writing about this amazing new band that’s a cross between Sabbath and Kiss but since Kurt Cobain liked Melvins fifteen years ago no one even bothers to listen when a new record comes out. Listen up cuz I’m tired of saying this: Melvins are through their “noise” phase and making their best records in a long time. Get this one as well as A Senile Animal (which is actually slightly better) and join me at The Troubadour on August 30th to celebrate my 36th birthday in rock.

Torche – Grenades
buy MP3s on Amazon
Sludge supergroup Torche are back, doing what they do, with what’s probably their best record yet. I missed them opening for Boris at The Echo a week back — too much to bear thinking about.

And in the “friends doin’ big things” department…

Zack and Jon finally released their killer One Day As A Lion project…
Brody and Tony finally released a full-length Spinnerette song into the wild…
And Martel, Mr. Dope America, and Z-Man are signed to Island/Def Jam and BLOWING THE FUCK UP as One Block Radius. Zoe *just* called me to tell me they are #6 on KISS-FM’s “top 9 at 9″.
CONGRATS TO YOU ALL.

Music is the best,
ian