Blog is a Mix Tape

@elsewhere: California Love

nobody@vox.com(Jason) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:50:23 -0800

In a pretty dismal year for hip-hop, local hip-hop head Peanut Butter Wolf and his Stones Throw label put out some of their best work ever and the absolute top of my overall best list for the year are two of their releases. So I said to myself, "Self, you've got an LA record label making LA records. Make a list."

- Jason Toney's Top 10 Best LA Hip Hop CDs of 2006 by Me, LAist, 12.18.06

Please ignore the picture of my big ol' bucket head. It's far too ginormous.

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Best Music of '06: Duets

nobody@vox.com(Jason) — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 14:12:43 -0800

My Best of '06 answer in two parts. This is the fourth in a series of extended entries about those parts.

Murray's Revenge

Murs

9th Wonder was just all kinds of ridiculous this year while Murs made a case for being my favorite rapper (and not just my favorite rapper's favorite rapper) with this one line:

We all chase money cuz we scared to chase dreams.

- Dream Chaser, Murs, Murray's Revenge

St. Elsewhere

Gnarls Barkley

The Danger Mouse production here is stellar but, really, Gnarls Barkley is where Cee-Lo Green was finally able to really let his freak flag fly. We heard hints on his first solo disc but nothing like this:

Now I'm someone else
Now someone can be me too.
Behold the beautiful and bold everyday I
wake up to be new.

- Transformer, Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere

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Best Music of '06: Boys Love

nobody@vox.com(Jason) — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 10:53:24 -0800

My Best of '06 answer in two parts. This is the third in a series of extended entries about those parts.

The girls rocked it out but the boys were still singing love songs. They'll speak for themselves.

FutureSex / LoveSounds

Justin Timberlake

Those flashing lights come from everywhere
The way they hit her I just stop and stare
She's got me love stoned
Man I swear she's bad and she knows
I think that she knows

Those flashing lights seem to cause a glare
The way they hit her I just stop and stare
She's got me love stoned from everywhere
She's bad and she knows
I think that she knows
I think that she knows, think that she knows, oh, oh

The Evolution of Robin Thicke

Robin Thicke

If I practiced a different religion
If I spoke my words differently
If I changed my tune 2 your favorite song
Would u wrap your arms around me
If I dug down deep 2 the bottom
Would u love me unconditionally
If I sound like u and we laugh the same
Would u mind if I hang around
Would that make u love me more
Would that make u love me more

If I came 2 u from a different place
Would my message finally be heard
If its just me and u and theres no one else
Would u see how much were the same
Would u be my lover
If I'm a different color
Would u be my brother
Would that make u love me more?

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Best Music of '06: Girls Rock

nobody@vox.com(Jason) — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 09:42:15 -0800

My Best of '06 answer in two parts. This is the second in a series of extended entries about those parts.

Rabbit Fur Coat

Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins

"I didn't intend to write a bunch of songs about God," she says. "I was surprised when I had all of the songs completed and there were so many God references throughout. I guess that's what happens when you're about to turn 30... I think being broken-hearted is not the only thing you want to sing about."

- Jenny Lewis Questioning God on 'Rabbit Fur Coat', All Things Considered, 02.22.06

Standing in the Way of Control

Gossip

Gossip's third album was partly produced by Fugazi's Guy Picciotto at the studio (Seattle's Bear Creek) where Lionel Richie recorded "Dancing on the Ceiling," which is all you really need to know about the band's new direction. Brace Paine's dirty guitar lines grind in the Olympia, Washington, tradition, and the addition of drumming powerhouse Hannah Blilie means the trio's unvarnished blues punk now strides confidently onto the disco tiles. The change suits Beth Ditto's Poly Styrene-meets-Patti LaBelle belting just fine, especially when the martial grind of "Keeping You Alive" explodes into a floor-filling chorus.

- Review by Peter Relic, Rolling Stone, 02.06.06

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Best Music of '06: Two Ends of the Spectrum

nobody@vox.com(Jason) — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:22:46 -0800

My Best of '06 answer in two parts. This is the first in a series of extended entries about those parts.

Veneer

José González

Veneer is an exercise in simplicity, with a somber and contemplative tone deepened by an affinity for bossa nova and flamenco. At 27, Gonzalez has aligned himself with folk artists who operate under the belief that quiet truly is the new loud.

- A Quiet 'Veneer' from Jose Gonzalez, NPR, 01.23.06

Danity Kane

The CD will stand in a high place in music history because of its pure musical perfection. The harmonies all fall into place to create a beautiful sound that intrigues not only the ear, but the mind. By mastering these essentials of music, Danity Kane sets itself apart from other groups.

- Danity Kane, Teen Ink, 11.06

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QotD: Top 5 in '06 - Music

nobody@vox.com(Jason) — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 14:43:04 -0800

What are your top 5 CDs/albums of 2006?
Submitted by eliz. s.

When have I ever been able to limit a music list to 5? I'll break these down album by album later but for now:

J Dilla aka Jay Dee - Donuts
Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
Jose Gonzalez - Veneer
Justin Timberlake - Futuresex/Lovesounds
Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat

or...

Madlib - The Beat Konducta Vol 1 & 2: Movie Scenes
Murs & 9th Wonder - Murray's Revenge
Robin Thicke - The Evolution of Robin Thicke
The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control
Danity Kane - Danity Kane

I'll probably do a 12 after 12 list at the end of the year that takes more critical consideration of music but these ten albums are, by far, my most listened to full productions released in 2006 according to last.fm and the numbers in iTunes and Urge. I broke them down into 2 lists of 5 as, in general, I find most of these albums as complimentary to each other (Veneer and Danity Kane standing pretty solidly as loners on the two ends of the spectrum - one is the high end of folk mastery; the other is pure pop confection without pretense) but we'll get into that later.

For now, there you have it.

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