Dieselboy

So yesterday I bought an mp3. That's right, after almost 10 years of just grabbing as many of those as I wanted, whenever I wanted, I actually purchased one. Ridiculous? Let me explain.


About a month ago, I heard a song in a mix posted by IndiElectronica. He made the mix and posted it in the Electronica forums. This is the song:


I fell in love with this tune immediately. I found that link on youtube and was content for awhile...watching it over and over and sending it to friends. Yesterday though, I wanted to make a mix-cd and decided this song had to be on it. I looked everywhere...torrents, rapidshare, etc...you all know the drill. Nothing!

I then decided I'd just convert the youtube video to mp3 and throw that on. I spent about three hours looking for something that could do that. Finally it all worked out...youtube converted to .flv... .flv converted to mp3.
Lets go ahead and check this out...wow it sounds like sh*t. The mp3 is bad quality, and it didn't even use the HQ version from youtube.


*sigh*


What else can I do, but the unthinkable? On amazon they are selling this mp3 for two bucks...ok FINE.


*clicks purchase*


Amazing...this isn't the same version of the song I wanted. Does it have the exact same name? Sure does...but it isn't. I even listened to amazon's 30-second sample. It sounded like the same intro, but how can you really tell if they're identical remixes with only 30 seconds? What a waste.

Well luckily it didn't even cost me anything. They had some special deal that I didn't even know about, where I guess the first download is free or something? /shrug

So yeah...the first time I actually needed to buy an mp3 with no other options...and it failed me. I can appreciate what companies are trying to do by selling them, and I've seen what a cool mp3 collection can look like, with what Noise has posted in the Preferred Format thread. Even knowing all that though, I can't see this ever happening again, with not being able to find a song anywhere else. I'll most likely stick with buying CDs, in the near future anyway.

Unfortunately, I still don't have the song I wanted.

Dieselboy

Ive mentioned Radio 1's Essential Mix before in this journal, and right about now I really am feeling the need to bring it up once again. The artist behind this weeks show was IDM/Folk-tronica artist Four Tet, and it was simply awesome. Going from beautiful to weird and back again...and touching all the points in between. Once the music started, there was rarely a single intelligible vocal to be heard, but it never managed to be boring in spite of that. Maybe something you have to be in the mood to listen to...but if you are in that mood, then there's probably no better way to spend two hours.

Here's a link to the show if anyone wants to listen. It has a complete tracklisting, and also a 3 minute interview with the man himself.




The timing for his mixing the show is no coincidence either. Something else that must be mentioned here is that Four Tet has a new album being released tomorrow.

There Is Love In You (Release Jan 26th, 2010)

Dieselboy

So today I've somehow managed to go on sort of a Disney binge. It started when I was looking through some music on my hard-drive, and came across this out of nowhere:



I honestly don't remember downloading this, but decided, "what the hell" and put it on. Pretty kiddy soundy, most of it, but there's a few tracks that had me nodding me head and enjoying myself never the less, such as:





Anyway, it really took me back to when I was a kid, and I've been looking around for the original sound tracks today. There's really just so many great Disney songs from my childhoud...it really makes my head spin when I think about it. Thing is too, I still have them all completely memorized, which makes me wonder how many times I actually watched these. Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladin, and Lion King...those four I'm very sure I saw all over 50 times growing up, or very close to it. Then there's Dumbo, Bambi, Peter Pan, Alice In Wonderland, Jungle Book...the list just goes on and on. I sorta lost track after Tarzan, but I've seen Emperor's New Groove many times, and I actually own Lilo and Stitch on dvd.
All very entertaining stories. I had a little crush on most of the main female characters growing up. Jasmin was so exotic, Belle was the ultimate girl next door, and Ariel...that tail...mmm (don't even get me started on Nala). But really, the best part about every single movie was the music. I could really link 50 vids here, or try to make a list, but I'll try to pick my 3 favs...





Yeah narrowing down to three was completely painful, but I think I can safely say the Lion King choice is the all time best. I probably would have picked three diffrent ones yesterday or tomorrow. Think I'm gonna watch Beauty and the Beast tonight.

Edit: I had to add one more song to the list already.

Dieselboy

Ok, spontaneous rant post time.

I've talked many times about how I listen to Nihal's radio show alot. Well this week he mentioned this CD called Nu Asian Soundz, which he pretty much described as summing up everything his show was about. I had to look it up, and yes, the tracklisting was amazing...I needed it.
After about an hour of looking around for somewhere to buy a physical copy, I had nothing. I know I said never again to mp3 buying, but I'm left with no choice. I found the mp3's at a reasonable price on amazon, but oh look...the main label for the comp has the album in .WAV. I can get that and have a high quality copy, which is what I'm really after. Only 12 bucks? That's not bad...

*click the .WAV button*

*click add to cart*

Wtf...the price just changed to $23?!

$12 for the album and....$11 for ".WAV Processing"?!?

.Wav processing...I am speechless...I am without speech. I went back to amazon and got it for 9 (in mp3 ).



Anyway, since I'm here making a post about it, I may as well mention the comp...





It's a mix of mostly hot dubstep artists from India and area's surrounding. All very cool stuff, and definitely worth buying in my eyes. This is probably my favorite tune on here atm, and I feel like it represents the comp well enough. It's all exceptional.

Dieselboy

Sorta working on a review for RJD2's Colossus, which should be my next post. For now though, just a few songs and sounds that have been ruling my musical world lately.

Anyone who follows this journal and my posts might notice that I link a modest amount of desi (music from India and surrounding area's). This fascination has been growing though over this past week, as I've been finding more shows that feature this style and feed the addiction. I don't know what it is about the music from this region, but something just strikes a major chord in me...I can't get enough of it now.

I talked about DJ Kayper in a previous entry, and I recently discovered she has a weekly 3 hour show on BBC's Asian radio station, which covers a wide range of desi and has introduced me to quite a few new artists lately. Everything from hip-hop like this one:

Bohemia, Young Soorma, & Tha Chintu - This is Desi Hip-Hop

Finally, here's a song that isn't desi, but I want to give special mention here as well. I've never been a huge fan of RnB or Soul, but this song by Teddy Pendergrass has a grip on me lately. The passionate way he glides through the verses here is just amazing. It's one of those songs where I'm not sure if it makes me feel happy or sad. I heard this randomly on a show, and had never heard of Mr. Pendergrass before, but looking for more of his work is now on my to-do list. Anyway, here's the song I'm refering to:

Dieselboy

(Released Jan 19th, 2010)

So this is RJD2's fourth proper album. Before its hit shelves even, the hype surrounding The Colossus was immense. The comparisons to his legendary debut Deadringer were inescapable for anyone reading up on this album pre-release, and even had my own hopes quite high. After getting over the initial excitement and listening to it many times in the previous weeks though, I think I can safely say that it doesn't quite reach that level. That doesn't however, stop it from being great on its own merits.

A brilliant clash of two styles, this album is about half sample-heavy instrumentals with quite a few more-traditional sounding tunes, with guest singers, mixed in between. Toss in a sick rap tune (A Son's Cycle) and a simple nod that Deadringer fans will recognize right away (Salud 2), and the whole thing feels incredibly epic. Even colossal you might say. 0_0

Overall, The Colossus is a very upbeat sounding record. You'll see a perfect example of this with the incredible instrumental opener, which is just choke-full of sampling, Let There Be Horns.



As stated before, there is also plenty of guest singers featured on songs throughout. Some reviews I read weren't pleased with the inclusion of these, but I couldn't disagree more, and think they really add something major to this album. The Glow is incredibly bright and sunny sounding (duh) with some very happy vocals...it sounds like it could very easily be the theme song for a show like Scrubs with its lighthearted sound. Perhaps my favorite song in this category though is The Shining Path (feat. Phonte Coleman). What sounds like a vibraphone plays along beautifuly with some acoustic guitar and drums, accompanied by Coleman's amazing uplifting vocal style.



Finally, I have to give a link to the song called A Son's Cycle, with its three-man weave of The Catalyst, Illogic & NP. Sounding quietly happy with its instruments, but aggressive at the same time with its vocal delivery, this is my personal top track on here. Nothing else on The Colossus fits into this style, and it is placed perfectly in the near middle of the album. Lyrics like, "I know you be sleepin if you don't feel me...You gotta be sleepin if you don't feel me" are perhaps RJD2's message to everyone who hasn't heard his work or this album yet.


Brilliant album as a whole. Definitely worth checking out if any of the songs above sounded interesting. Don't sleep.



Tracklist:

1. Let There Be Horns
2. Games You Can Win (Feat. Kenna)
3. Giant Squid
4. Salud 2
5. The Glow
6. A Spaceship For Now
7. The Shining Path (Feat. Phonte Coleman)
8. Crumbs Off The Table (Feat. Aaron Livingston)
9. A Son's Cycle (Feat. The Catalyst, Illogic & NP)
10. Tin Flower
11. Small Plans
12. Gypsy Caravan
13. The Stranger
14. Walk With Me

Dieselboy

Happy Rick Astley's birthday to everyone! I'm sure everyone is already aware that Mr. Astley is 44 today. His catalog is so packed with amazing hits that it's hard to pick just one with which to honor his greatness. In the end I randomly decided on this one though.





Bonus song:

I've been learning lately that Bollywood has some f*ckin fantastic music. I heard this song on a show a few days ago, and just loved everything about it. The intro shocked me and was unexpected and the chorus is perfect for singing along with (if only I could ). The video itself makes it even more awesome though. Watching this just makes me wish I could move to India. A place where huge group dances in the middle of the street are an everyday thing, and even goofy Eric Estrada look-alikes get gorgeous chicks.

Engine

I can't believe I forgot his birthday. Also, I can't watch that video without thinking about this one..

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Like an arrow,
I was only passing through.

Dieselboy

^Haha, that's not too bad. But yeah, I can't believe I was the only one who remembered his b-day.




Anyway, small entry today, but it includes a MASSIVE song. I was thinking of putting two songs, but I feel this one deserves its very own update, with no other distractions. From a Russian producer named Receptor, his new tune is called Princess, and is one of the coolest DnB songs I've heard recently. With its mellow intro and unusual instruments, it sounds sometimes trancy, and at other times progressive..? Progressive DnB, really? Don't let that fool you though, as this tune gets plenty hard as well. Easily a 10/10 overall.

If you're into DnB or even electronica in general, then you really should at least give this a listen. Definitely be keeping an eye out for Receptor in the future too. I'm will be.

VEGANGELICA

Well, Dieselboy, this was quite a shock. I have heard Mr. Astley but never seen him in action. I didn't picture him as a slender, pale, red-haired dude. His deep, melodious voice combined with my stereotypes made me expect someone completely different. Is "rickroll" his little side to side woggly dance move?

Alas, the Bollywood Bonus Song didn't play when I tried! Have you seen full Bollywood movies, too? They amuse me greatly for the reasons you describe: people breaking into song during massive street dances in flashy, traditional costumes.

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