Last week as I was driving home from doing my radio show, I was blown away by “Remember (Walking in the Sand)” the first single by the Shangri-Las. Throughout much of my life I would have unequivocally said that the Ronettes “Be My Baby” was the quintessential girl group song, by the quintessential girl group. Getting back into the catalog of both groups, I started to question that, and it seemed like the perfect match-up for pound for pound. Really this could be a three way pound for pound, Which was the best girl group, the Ronettes or the Shangri-Las? Better yet, who is the original bad girl of rock’n’roll, Ronnie Spector or Mary Weiss ? (incidentally, both still perform and record) Or, who was the better producer, Phil Spector of Shadow Morton? (more…)

Desolation Wilderness – Slow Fade

I’m not totally sold on this Olympia based band’s over-use of echoey vocals, but I do absolutely love their late night dream pop sound, especially this track with it’s cascading drums and guitar lines.

Mos Def – Quiet Dog
Mos Def feat. Slick Rick – Auditorium

“Bright moments…bright moments always come back vivid.” – Mos Def – “Life in Marvelous Times”

I’m not entirely sure why it’s taken me so long to write this review. I’d planned on reviewing this record since the moment I heard it was going to be released. I was skeptical at first that it would even be released, given Mos’ recent recording history. But since it dropped in June, I’ve been pushing this review back and back and back all summer, for no good reason. Mos Def has been, for over 10 years now, one of the most fascinating and frustrating MCs in Hip-Hop. A supremely talented man, though perhaps more talented as an actor than a musician, which might be part of the reason that his recorded work has been erratic, at best, since the release of Black on Both Sides, his debut full-length in 1999. (more…)

Yachts – Love You, Love You

I don’t normally throw up older music in this category, but this is a song I’ve been searching for ever since hearing it on the mighty KALX on a trip back to the Bay Area (I was a DJ on KALX for about 4 years in the early part of this decade).  This is now my favorite pop-punk song of all-time, just a great great sound and the lyrics (and delivery) are pure perfection.

I wouldn’t climb any mountains for you,
Fjord every stream, that’s a daft thing to do,
Yes I’m cynical, cynical, cynical, cynical,
cynical, cynical, through and through

As a chorus, that’s bloody brilliant…

The Postmarks – Gone

You’d swear the Postmarks were from the UK and not Miami, Florida, but indeed they are from the sunshine state, though many times they’re a right bit too moody for sunshine. I’m not completely sold on the whole album, but I do think “Gone” is quite a production.

[Update: Congratulations to Ali Bhai! Winner of the 2 tickets to see Old School Jams Live at the Greek, the first giveaway on Melting Pot!!!] (more…)

Been away for a few weeks, sorting out our new digs and preparing for the brand new school year (I teach classes at CSU-Long Beach). I’m back this week with a bunch of posts and even a giveaway! Thought I start things off with some brief remarks on our weekly party, Gris-Gris, which you can catch every Sunday night at La Cita in Downtown Los Angeles.

Me and my co-resident partner in crime, Soul Marcosa (Mescalina / Masala Beat Club) have been slowly building through August and we’re hopeful that this month we’ll start to simmer. So far we’ve had Clifton aka Soft Touch (Funky Sole / Underground / Sonic),

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis – Honolulu Rock-A Roll-A

This record has been out for a while, but I only got a chance to hear it during our recent fundraiser at KCRW.  Siblings Kitty, Daisy & Lewis clearly favor 1950s vintage sounds, but have some interesting song choices, including a version of Canned Heat’s “Going Up The Country.” The song I’ve chosen is my favorite from the record, “Honolulu Rock-A Roll-A.”

As an added treat, here’s their recent session on Morning Becomes Eclectic at KCRW. Highly recommended viewing…