Top 5 of 2011

Fresh out the box.
Stop!
Look, and watch.
Ready yet?
Get set.
It's moooore music!
 
(High fives if you know what that is.  Double dream hands if you don't...)
 
These little ditties are a good time for all.   Nujabes is one artist who made music that is pretty well universally appreciated.  With a plethora of instruments this boy was no synth-only composer,  he did well to sample many'a'flavors over some of the dopiest beats.  Piano, woodwinds, strings, exotic fruits, and the like, he makes about anything flow in these rich, smooth, and supple compositions.
 
And if you're not sure how 'supple' can describe music, you are not alone.  And if you wonder how beats can be dopey, you are not alone.  But if you don't like Nujabes on some level, there is something seriously amiss in your person. 

Spiritual State came out this year and will be his last LP.  (Unless his record label wants to release a lame remix album to make a buck, which is likely.)

Dude was undeniably talented and will surely maintain his underground fanbase long after his death.  There are certainly undertones of nostalgia in these trademark upbeat major-keyed tunes.  (Maybe I'm reading into them though the lens of my experience with Nujabes music...)  This album as a whole is good front to back, I've included just a few my fav's.
 
Enjoy.
 
Please. 
 
And thank you.





And (a couple weeks late) I have the best (in fact, not opinion) albums of 2011 in this particular order:

#5. Spiritual State by Nujabes

#4. Bless the Self by Geotic

#3. King of Limbs by Radiohead

#2. Drive by Tycho

#1. Tamer Animals by Other Lives


These may not have won any of MTV's "Idiot Music for Pop Society" awards, but they're the type of albums you can put on repeat, listen to them for hours on end, and still want to listen more the next day.  At least that's my experience with them.  They are probably in Bethany's list of "most overplayed" of 2011, which may hold some weight, but not really. 
 
Get these, people.  Get them all.  Play them back to back to back, over and over and over.  You don't have to be a rocket surgeon to appreciate them, but it may help.
 

muliebrous post

Hey.


How are ya.


Glad to see you.


I'm surprised you still come around these parts.


It being all barren and such.


Monthly posts.


If that.


Usually pretty stupid.


Sometimes worse.






Well, now that I've got your hopes down, have anothern!  THIS is probably the most incredible mix floating around the interwebs up to this date in history. It includes all kinds of music ...from about two genres. If you don't like the first track, wait for the second, you may change your mind. If you hate the second track, give the third one a try. If the third one bores you to an unarousable coma, you just wait for the bass to drop in the fourth track. If you still have issues with appreciation, BOOM. There's a fifth. Should your face implode with hatred for that one, bliggity-BLAOW! Sixth. By this time, if your fancy is anything but tickled, I'm sorry for your loss.

*Note: Uniquiest Mix Yet*

Know why?

It contains only female vocalists! Aha, I am no musical sexist! I am an equal opportunist for all composers; no matter the gender handicap!

1. Redford Piano Remix

Peaceful, delightful, trancendent, you choose the adjective. 

2. Florence + the machine - Take Care

Yes, I know Ms. Machine is mainstream, but you know what?  This is a good song.  And for that ...I don't know how to feel.

3. Little Dragon - Twice

NOT mainstream, these people make observably obumbrated obscurities.  Take a listen.

4. Bonobo (feat. Speech Debelle) - Sun Will Rise

This gal is british, mate   ... I mean, chap.

5. Seven Saturdays - True Romance (Teen Daze Remix)

Beats, people.

6. Lana Del Rey - Blue Jeans (Count Ninjula remix)

There is anywhere from four to four hundred billion dubstep remixes for everysong produced.  (Yes, even the Happy Birthday song.)  And I have taken the burdensome task of sorting through the mess of them to present to you the very best dubstep versions of a given song.  You're welcome.  Really you are.  And if you don't have some kind of positive response to this tune ..... I sigh in disappointment.  I don't know who's failed who... or whom ...or what ...or something... or another...

Otiose Viscocity

OK people,  here's some songs you probably won't listen to, but maybe, just maybe, this ONCE, I'm ok with that.

I like them in ascending order-


AudioDax - Smile

This song is a couple guys' attempt at catching the ear of highschoolers everywhere.  Best of luck to them, hope their 15min is everything they hoped it'd be.  This one has the highest cheese content of anything you will ever hear on this blog, that is my official promise to you.  Originally, I thought this song was worth a listen so I downloaded it.  On the second listen, it'd lost its luster, by the third listen I was basically over it, and now I'm pretty sure I dislike it altogether.  The problem is that before I came to this conclusion I've already made this mix and uploaded it.  Do you know how tedious that is?  Not that tedious.  But I'm a busy man, I can't go around all day reversing everything stupid I do.  That's no way to make progress. 

Anyway, this song is undeniably chipper and catchy, and sure to have you doing the Carlton. 

(Honestly, this image fits so well, I had to leave it! Admit it, you laughed.)

Jhameel - Waves

Without a doubt, this song is absolutely, undeniably: meh.


Hilltop Hoods - I Love It (featuring Sia)

This is a good time for all.  Sia has much higher quality solo stuff (and Zero7 stuff) but I haven't heard her do any hip to the hop such as this.  I haven't much listened to these  Hoods atop hills until I saw they choose high quality features.  Conclusion: I'll take it.

Gobble Gobble - Lawn Knives (Teen Daze Remix)

Now we're getting to the good stuff that will never make it on the radio.  I'm less inclined to listen to these guys as I am to anything that Teen Daze remixes.  He's got a way of morphing a modern tune to sound like it should have been released in the late 80s (aka the most depressing era of human history).  This song delights me on multiple levels.  Including ground level.

Example - Midnight Run (Flux Pavilion Remix)

Here we come to my favorite of this mix.  This is another poppy song I was at first ashamed to like, but am now willing to admit to the massive audience that is my blog readers (which is basically just my mom, hi mom) that I have listened to it some 100 times and still like it.  (Bethany can attest.)  If you need a kickin track to drop on new years eve, this may be your song.  I know I'm going to put it in my new years party mix to spin ...at a reasonable volume ...around 9:30 ...while I'm changing the diapers of my 9 month old kids ...after they're done eating their mashed peas and carrots.  

2 things...

1.

 

and 2.

Dreamz by BEWILDERBEAST

Happy Giving of Thanks

Psalm 90:1-12

 

"...men are led by reflections upon the brevity of time to give their earnest attention to eternal things; they become humble as they look into the grave which is so soon to be their bed, their passions cool in the presence of mortality, and they yield themselves up to the dictates of unerring wisdom; but this is only the case when the Lord himself is the teacher; he alone can teach to real and lasting profit. Thus Moses prayed that the dispensations of justice might be sanctified in mercy. "The law is our school master to bring us to Christ", when the Lord himself speaks by the law. It is most meet that the heart which will so soon cease to beat should while it moves be regulated by wisdom's hand. A short life should be wisely spent. We have not enough time at our disposal to justify us in misspending a single quarter of an hour. Neither are we sure of enough life to justify us in procrastinating for a moment. If we were wise in heart we should see this..."

This post is not about music.

Oh wait, actually it is.

Here have we some chipper diddies to cheer you the heck up. I dare you to try to listen to these five little tunes without bobbing a head or tapping a toe. Try it. Do it. Do it.

You can’t. Its like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach. Scientifically impossible. So actually, don't try to resist it, you may hurt yourself.

1. Brasstronaut- Slowknots:
This one takes a minute to build, but it gets gooder and gooder as it flows along. Wait for it ... waaaaaait for it...

2. Metronomy- the Look:
Poppy? Maybe. Cheesy? Probably. Dope organ solo at the end? Definitely.

3. Little Dragon- Ritual Union:
Apparently this song is a remake of some other song with a like title, but not nearly the bassline for sure.

4/5. Discovery- Swing Tree/Osaka Loop Line:
Also known as "Disco? Very." these guys have been around for a couple years and I am just now discovering them. No pun intended, but the pun is noted, however, and will be up for review as to the actual intention of consideration for which I have no idea where this sentence is going. Furthermore, these guys will satisfy your deepest of synth-pop needs, and if you're sub-equipped, swingtree has ahhh-some bass.

6. Zed's Dead- Coffee Break (remix):
This is just fun. You don't have to admit you like it, but you do.

Bonus Tid Bit! - Did you know... Fun Fact: the down pointing arrow on the right side of the player is actually a down load button so you can take this music with you on your MP3 playing device!!!!! Impress your friends!!!!! Collect all 5!!!!!!!! Eat your vegetables!!!!!!!!

supergroovy by otiöse morosity

*Otiose Morosity is not responsible for injuries sustained while trying to resist the toe-tapability of this track.*

Something Beautiful:

It's been a while since I posted some classy classical music, so tuck in that shirt, cross thy legs, and sit back, cause this is the good stuff. And so what if its from like the 70s or 80s. One cannot judge classical music by the era of composition.

I got an iTunes gift card for my birthday and "Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone" was one of the consequences thereof. Ennio Morricone is a modern composer that primarily does soundtracks, and, judging by the emotional depth of his music, I can see why he's revered for it. This is a most excellent album, and I recommend it to anyone looking for some lonely strings. This has been the soundtrack to my world for several weeks now. It gets better with every listen, and acts as a catalyst for whatever emotion you're feeling. (But most obviously intended for the more ...forlorn.)

The ultimate issue:

"I shall come forth as gold." Observe the tense here . Job did not imagine that he was pure gold already. "I shall come forth as gold," he declared. He knew full well that there was yet much dross in him. He did not boast that he was already perfect. Far from it. In the final chapter of his book, we find him saying, "I abhor myself" (Job 42:6). And well he might; and well may we. As we discover that in our flesh there dwells "no good thing," as we examine ourselves and our ways in the light of God's Word and behold our innumerable failures, as we think of our countless sins, both of commission and omission - good reason have we for abhorring ourselves. Ah, christian reader, there is much dross about us. But it will not be ever thus.

"I shall come forth as gold." Job did not say, "When he hath tried me I may come forth as gold," or "I hope to come forth as gold," but with full confidence and positive assurance he declared, "I shall come forth as gold." But how did he know this? How can we be sure of the happy issue? Because the divine purpose cannot fail. He that has begun a good work in us "will finish it" (Phi 1:6) and "The LORD will perfect that which concerns me" (Psa 138:8). Then be of good cheer tried and troubled one! The process may be unpleasant and painful, but the issue is charming and sure.

"I shall come forth as gold." This was said by the one who knew affliction and sorrow as few among the sons of men have known them. Yet despite his fiery trials, he was optimistic. Let, then, this triumphant language be ours. "I shall come forth as gold" is not the language of carnal boasting, but the confidence of one whose mind was stayed upon God. There will be no credit to our account - the glory will all belong to the divine Refiner (Jam 1:12).