She’s dressed in yellow. She says hello.

If you mentally recited, “Come sit next to me, you fine fellow” after you read today’s subject header, then THIS POST IS FOR YOU.

Okay (why do I do this to myself?). I want to talk tonight about Bust A Move and Young MC. Yes, seriously. You know you need a show-stopper to play at your New Year’s Eve party tonight.

This song came up on my iPod shuffle mix recently and I impressed my cohorts with my fresh rapping skills (just call me Left Eye), and the fact that I knew ALL the lyrics (including the moaning part after we “Break it down for me fellas”). This is due to the fact that I owned the cassette single.

I thought that you might enjoy it too, some of you (the rest of you have already left to click off somewhere more erudite).

You know you want to download it, bob your chin forward and back, make some embarrasing rapper hand gestures while you try to recall all the lyrics.

“Bust A Move” – Young MC

Here is a bonus trivia question, and I will find something cool to send to the first person who can leave me a comment answering it: What is Young MC’s real name, as revealed in the groundbreaking work, Principal’s Office? Hint: he tells it to that girl he is passing notes to in class.

Oh, man. I might regret this post in the morning. Happy New Year. And no, I haven’t been drinking yet.

Ray LaMontagne non-album tracks

Ray LaMontagne was one of my favorite artists discovered in 2004. I assume many of you have heard of him, being of the excellent-musical-taste variety that you obviously are, but if you haven’t – his debut album Trouble is superb from the first track (Trouble) to the last (the gorgeously sad All The Wild Horses).

Trouble is a standout debut album from one of the most promising new voices in music lately. The album was produced by Ethan Johns, who has also worked with Ryan Adams, Leona Naess, Brendan Benson, Kings of Leon and The Jayhawks. Johns also plays drum, bass, and piano on the release. It is a folk-soul masterpiece.

Even more exceptional than the album, however, is seeing him perform live. I saw him at The Fillmore in San Francisco on April 6, 2005 and was completely, jaw-droppingly blown away. This skinny guy comes walking out on stage, looking as uncomfortable as all get out. Big beard. Quiet voice. Hiding behind his guitar. I almost thought he was going to bolt.

But then he opens his mouth and begins to play.

He has this vulnerable, raspy, velvety, pure voice. He absolutely pours his soul into his music, which is always the most inspiring things you can see in a live show. He feels each word and resonates with each chord.

Here are two non-album tracks that I remember vividly from the show I was at. Both of the recordings are on the quiet side (but not unlistenable by any means), so you may have to turn up the old headphones to maximum. I guarantee it is worth it.

Still Can’t Feel The Gin
I love the lyric, “The jukebox was jumpin’ all over those rhythm and blues. She lets down her hair, just as I’m kickin’ off my shoes.” The way he sang this song, you felt the longing.

Can I Stay?
He ended with this song. The venue went still, as if we were all transfixed in the moment, like you could almost feel the song hanging there above our heads. The spotlight shone on him, with the dust motes swirling in the heavy air. Absolutely beautiful song. I almost felt like I couldn’t breathe.

[update: these links are dead but you can find these songs and many more here]

Another reason why I love aurgasm

Aurgasm recently posted some slinky new tunes from Shrift, which contains 1/2 (vocalist Nina Miranda) of the Brighton-based duo Smoke City (1997′s Underwater Love). The new album Lost in a Moment will be released on February 7, 2006. Here is a sample track, laid back and slightly tropical sounding with Miranda’s gorgeous vocals floating above the calypso drum beat. Chill.

“As Far As I Can See” – Shrift (right click, save target as)

This ground my gears

Does anyone else get weary of mainstream popular culture journalists writing about “trends for the new year”?

Does it really matter what will be “cool”? How about what will be good?
The newspaper article in question which stuck in my craw this morning was a generic Associated Press byline, and contained the following gems of wisdom:

• Got the latest “Death Cab for Cutie” tune on your iPod phone? That’s so 2005.
  With the new year about to begin, it’s time to upgrade your electronics, reprogram your TiVo, juice up your music collection, restyle your wardrobe and mark your calendar with all the most-anticipated movies.

(Oh, okay)

• MUSIC: “The parched desert that was 2005 makes for an interesting 2006,” says Craig Marks, editor in chief of Blender magazine.

(2005 was a parched desert?)

• Expect to hear more from R&B songbird Christina Milian and 16-year-old singer-songwriter Teddy Geiger, whom Marks describes as “a Teen People John Mayer.”

(Dear God, just what we need! As if Kevin Federline’s musical release in 2005 wasn’t bad enough.)

Maybe I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed (with a crick in my shoulder, in fact), but the whole concept of changing your listening habits because some AP article says it will be hip in 2006 just grinds my gears. Is it necessary to even write an article like that? Maybe it was just supposed to be funny or somehow enlightening to the masses, but I can’t prefer this fluff over any sort of substance.

Listen to what you like.

**END GROUCH MESSAGE**

Make me a mix tape, and make it good

Tiny Mix Tapes has an Automatic Mixtape Generator where you can submit a theme/event/topic and their “robots” will generate a mix for you. Oh my gosh, so much fun I can’t even begin to explain (remember, we already established that I am geek in this general arena).

SAMPLES
“Songs to listen to after your girlfriend blows you off on valentine’s day for a monster truck rally with your cousin.”
Includes:
Bright Eyes – “Lover I Don’t Have to Love” (Lifted…)
Ben Folds – “Get Your Hands Off My Woman” (Super D [Bootleg] -EP)
The Undertones – “My Perfect Cousin” (Hypnotised)

“Songs I can bump in my car that will make everyone turn their heads and say, ‘Man, that guy is a douche.’”
Includes:
Dan Hill – “Sometimes When We Touch” (Longer Fuse)
Gerardo – “Rico Suave” (Mo’ Ritmo)
Clay Aiken – “Touch” (Measure of a Man)
Natasha Bedingfield – “These Words (I Love You I Love You)” (Unwritten)

Check it out at http://www.tinymixtapes.com/amg/ and make sure to peruse the archive in red along the right side of the page. Archived mixes include topics like, “Two of my best friends are moving to England and need to know what British music is cool so they don’t get laughed at,” and “Songs for when you accidently super glued your ring finger into a half full bottle of scotch during your bachelor party and have to postpone the wedding for a day.” Splendid.

To: Elliott, From: Portland

Musicians from the great city of Portland, Oregon (where I have never been, despite being a California native – shameful!) are teaming up to release an album of Elliott Smith covers. From the Sweet Adeline fansite:

“To: Elliott From: Portland, a tribute to the late Elliott Smith, will be released February 7, 2006 on Portland-based independent label Expunged Records . . . The compilation features notable Portland bands The Decemberists (“Clementine”), Helio Sequence (“Satellite”), The Thermals (“Ballad of Big Nothing”), Swords (“I Didn’t Understand”), Dolorean (“The Biggest Lie”), and Sean Croghan (“Hard Times”). “Hard Times”, the song chosen by Croghan, a close friend and former roommate of Smith’s, is previously unreleased.”

For you, one very pretty track from the album; the Clementine cover. Now I am not yet all fawny over the Decemberists like it seems the rest of the blogosphere is, but I have to admit that this track is quite good. There is a wonderfully warm “crackle and pop” sound, and some melancholy harmonica throughout, which *always* gets me (you want to get me, write me a song with harmonica and/or strings. Easy.).

“Clementine” – The Decemberists

Lots of good stuff coming out February 7th!

Monday Music Roundup (is it Monday already? )

Good gluttonous morning. I think I have eaten about a thousand Christmas cookies and other equally sweet items in the last 24 hours – ugh! Christmas was splendid overall, filled with family and friends and thoughtful gifts (new Dr. Martens!) and, my favorite: lame, loud board games with lots of yelling about rules. As good as it gets. I hope yours was equally nice.

Here are five songs for your listening pleasure. Please let me know what you think, I am very excited about several of these tunes lately.

When U Find Someone
Ken Stringfellow
Wait a sec, am I listening to The Beach Boys? The gorgeous layered vocal harmonies on the chorus of this song from ex-Posies frontman Ken Stringfellow have the timbre of the Wilsons all over it, a successful homage. This is a sunny, shimmering piece – you’ve got to smile when the chorus breaks. Check out Stringfellow’s 2004 album Soft Commands.

Over My Head (Cable Car)
The Fray
A local band straight outta Denver, The Fray has been getting a lot of airplay over at KFOG in San Francisco (say it with me again, “KFOG is possibly the best radio station in the world”). This is an understated song from 2005′s How To Save a Life which has been really growing on me. Piano crashes into a driving drum beat, while the vocals by Isaac Slade draw obvious comparison to Coldplay, but are distinct. Rolling Stone cites this as “elegantly wasted twentysomething angst.”

Your Love
The Butchies
North Carolina’s The Butchies completely reinvent the glitzy, cheesy, synth-laced ‘80s power ballad “Your Love” (originally by British band The Outfield), turning it in to something sultry and lolling. Singer/guitarist Kaia Wilson breathes the sad lyrics of longing over a simple, slowdancing beat. The final cut on 2004′s Make Yr Life.

Elizabeth, You Were Born To Play That Part
Ryan Adams
This song absolutely rips me in two. I listened to this for this first time last night in the dark. Starting with the opening two words – Adams them lays out with what I perceive as stunning beauty, and I can’t explain why. Something about the fragility of the way he floats the words, “For you…” and the drop in the melody.

The local newspaper today reviewed 29 and said this song is about a romantic interest, but Adams has said in concert that it is about a friend who experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth, and that’s the interpretation that resonates and gouges. One of the many lushly gorgeous tracks from Adams’ new album 29.

Break The Night with Colour
Richard Ashcroft
Ashcroft (former lead singer of The Verve, for those of you playing along at home) has a new album called Keys To The World, coming out stateside on February 7, and this is the first single. Ashcroft was recently called “the best singer in the world” by Chris Martin during his high-profile appearance with Coldplay at Live 8, and this track shows off his distinctive and heartfelt sound. It will be interesting to see what 2006 holds for Ashcroft, with some tour dates coming, both solo and opening for Coldplay. BONUS: You can listen to some new interviews with Ashcroft on his website.

“Wakin’ up the reindeer, makin’ little kids cheer”

For my *final* seasonal post, a little ’60s punk rock cover:

“Don’t Believe in Christmas”
Pearl Jam
(right click, save target as)

This was one of the two songs on the Pearl Jam 2002 Christmas Single vinyl (ask me sometime to show you all of them; I’ve got the whole set and look for any excuse to bust ‘em out).

It is a cover of a song by The Sonics, a ’60s-era Tacoma, Washington punk band. This is a live version from the second night of Pearl Jam’s epic 2002 club shows at The Showbox in Seattle.

So jump around by the stockings and make a little mistletoe romance with this good-time tune.

Merry Christmas, guys. May we all remember how blessed we are.

A Christmas present for Ryan Adams fans

From the XM Radio Website:
“As far as we’re concerned, Ryan Adams is our Sonic Santa of 2005 with three new albums this year alone. Grab a grande eggnog and join us as we examine all three of Ryan’s 2005 releases (Cold Roses, Jacksonville City Nights, and 29) as well as his ever-expanding back catalog plus his now legendary Loft Session in this three-hour holiday extravaganza.”

Airs Christmas Day (12/25) at 6pm, Monday (12/26) at 7pm, and Tuesday (12/27) at 12am, all times Eastern.

Listen online: http://theloft.xmradio.com

Like the Musee d’Orsay come to life

Visually, this video clip is amazingly beautiful. It reminds me of some impressionistic painting come to life on the wonderful streets of my home ‘hood San Francisco. You can discount the fact that it is a Sony ad if that makes it easier to appreciate the art, but watch how incredible this is. It makes me happy. Featuring the lovely musical stylings of José González, with his cover of The Knife’s “Heartbeats.”

Watch the video (other options for viewing it are here)

Heartbeats (The Knife) – José González

[Thanks to Jerry for finding the link]