Here it is, my rundown of my favorite records of 2009. Expect a few more posts in this breakdown category after the new year begins (Fave Songs + Fave Records Dug Up). Playlist will come in the new year as well. This one should be archived for some time, so enjoy the [...]

I had the distinct pleasure of guest hosting one of the iconic shows in radio, Morning Becomes Eclectic. Especially nice since I’m taking a hiatus away from KCRW during January and most of February. Includes some 2010 releases still upcoming including Vampire Weekend, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Laura Veirs and Numero’s Born Again Funk collection. [...]

King Crimson – I Talk To The Wind (Studio Run Through)
King Crimson – Epitaph (Backing Track)
This holiday season, musical nerd that I am, I was able to splurge and pick up the 5 CD anniversary edition of a classic LP, King Crimson’s debut from 1969, In The Court of the Crimson King. [...]

Real Estate – Black Lake
Since hearing this band on KXLU the other day while driving on an uncharacteristically low traffic day in Los Angeles, I’ve been addicted to their lo-fi indie pop rhythms. Real Estate hails from New Jersey, and reminds me of a cross between the Velvet Underground and American Analog Set, [...]

Been so focused on grading and the holiday season, forgot to mention this is one of my last show’s for a couple of months as I take a little break from KCRW. I’ll likely put together some mixes for this blog, but this show and next week’s two shows (I’m guest hosting for Morning Becomes [...]

Black Pearl – Cold Sweat
Black Pearl – Uptown
Black Pearl – People Get Ready
Might revise this tomorrow, but wanted to get something up tonight before my radio show at KCRW. Best I can gather, Black Pearl was a Los Angeles based group, who put out a couple of records in the rock’n’soul vein (the other being [...]

As you might have guessed from the lack of posting here, I’ve been slammed with grading from my work at CSU-Long Beach…Now that finals are over and it’s just daily grading, should get back into a regular groove with the posting.  This was a pretty solid show from this past week, with a bevy of [...]

Quadron – Herfa Hvor Vi Står
Here’s another slept on release from earlier in the year, one that’s one a bunch of KCRW DJs “Best of 2009″ lists, from this Denmark duo, featuring the Hannibal 1/2 of Owasu & Hannibal. Some interesting influences throughout this mostly future funk release from Sly Stone to the Shangri-Las but [...]

I’ll be spinning some tunes on Thursday December 17th at Bar 107, likely one big long set starting off around 11:30ish. 60s/70s funk, soul, psych, and more. Swing by and check it all out!

Barry Goldberg – Sittin’ In Circles
Barry Goldberg – Strung and Young
Barry Goldberg – Another Day
Back in my early college days I hosted a blues show called Crossroads on Album 88 in Atlanta. In learning about and searching for music I started to gain a big appreciation for the revivalist sound of the 60s out of [...]

Things started off quite fine with the alternate mix of “Memory of a Free Festival” from David Bowie, but throughout the course of the show, I was beset with invisible gremlins wreaking havoc on my usually tight technical show. Nonetheless you do get some very nice music from Manu Chao, Inara George, Edan, King [...]

Doesn’t happen too often, but here’s another giveaway (our second), a pair of tickets to see Ice Cube at the Grove in Anaheim this Sunday. Very short turnaround on this, so don’t waste your time. E-mail me at michael[at]meltingpotblog.com by Saturday, December 12th at 5pm (left coast time) to be entered. I’ll draw the winner [...]

The Black Hollies – Number Ten Girl
New Jersey’s Black Hollies were just in Los Angeles last week. With their third record, Softly Towards The Light, their recorded work is perhaps beginning to outpace their live sound. A blessed cross between the Zombies and the Bonniwell Music Machine…

Sold three of the six records for a grand total of $150+ (minus Ebay fees), more than enough to keep Melting Pot in the black for another year (if only our state/federal budget could be balanced so easily…).
Thanks to the three winners of the records and to any and all of you who spread the [...]

Philip Cohran – Unity
Philip Cohran – On The Beach
Philip Cohran – The Minstrel
Now that this record has found a new home, in Japan no less, I figured I’d I throw it a going away party, in the form of a dig deep post. Phil Cohran is a Chicago area musician who performed in a number [...]