Thursday, May 12, 2005

This Pound for Pound Shit is Bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

I decided to try to come with the daily heat, as I know that you need a consistent dose of Pound for Pound. Seriously though, I am going to try to make at least one post a day from here on out, giving you some links, some tunes, some thoughts and some funnies. What more could you ask for? Don't answer that.

Gwen Stefani, Holla Back Girl (Diplo remix)


The subject should have given off visions of Gwen Stefani, one of pop music's leading ladies. Her new album dropped a few months ago, and this track has been killing it on dancefloors from here to Okinawa. I am sure you have already heard this one, but I had to up the remix done by Philly's own Diplo, a.k.a. Diplodocus, a.k.a. Wes Gully, a.k.a. one-half of Hollertronix. I just love that B-more club beat, as those drums works better for me than the thudding bass drum in the original. "Oooh, this my shit, this my shit. Oooh, this my shit, this my shit." Indeed.

-I have been on a crazy two week concert spree, having caught Dizzee Rascal, the Shins, Prefuse 73, Junior Boys and Caribou with my jawn MC and Gogol Bordellosolo. It's been hit or miss, even though all of this music has been getting airtime on Pound for Pound's iPod. The Shins show suffered because of the venue, as the Electric Factory really is the worst place to see a show. It's like seeing a band in an airplane hangar, surrounded by surburban teenagers and yuppies planning their move back there. I believe that this was the fourth circle in Dante's Inferno, but I could be wrong. Prefuse did not do it for me, as live hip-hop never does. There is something so pointless to me seeing a talented producer doing his impression of the Roots. MC loved it, and I was clearly in the minority, as the show was packed and no one left early. Junior Boys and Caribou suffered from a bad venue as well, as the Upstairs at the Troc is horrendous. The sound is horrible, the bouncers are obnoxious, and the room was made for 1/3 the people there. I hope that R5 Productions avoids this spot in the future, as I know that I will. Junior Boys deserved better, as their electronic pop soundscapes deserve a quiet, relaxed, hi-fi setting. Gogol Bordello absolutely wrecked shit, and will be the focus of a future post.

-Lots of great shows/events coming up, which should make this a great summer/fall. One show that I will not be attending is the all-too-regular digging up of the Rolling Stones, in their noble quest to make everyone forget they were once a great band. Well done, boys, mission accomplished.

-In Philadelphia, the remaining charges in the pay-to-pay trial were dropped, as the jury deadlocked. It's a disappointing ending, as I would have liked to have seen everyone convicted. But, there are rumblings that ethics reform will come up again in City Council. The shame of this disgraceful situation might actually bring about the changes that have been needed for years. More to come, as I want to keep the focus on this important trial with its own post.

-The Philadelphia Eagles gave their response to T.O.'s demands for a new contract. The answer is no, and I applaud them for holding the line on this ridiculous move by Owens and his agent. Rich Hoffmann has an idea to offset the potentially missing Terrell Owens. Trade for Buffalo Bills running back Travis Henry and ressurect the three-headed running monster. Oh, and Freddie Mitchell was released, and no one noticed. If a mediocre receiver is released, does it make a sound?

-Why mention the Eagles? Because the Philadelphia Phillies are awful, and this is shaping up to be a long summer.

-Whenever I am speaking about disappointments, I cannot help but consider my parents. (P.S. Mom and Dad, I am not a disappointment. I am going through a quarter-life crisis. Is this bullshit? I'll just say that Oprah doesn't believe it is. 'Nuf said.) This story helps explain why my parents not only didn't supervise in a store, but would oftentimes leave and go to another store without telling me. FYI, we prefer homely, not ugly. Just FYI.

-Finally, a great quote that was sent to me by reader SR: "I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing." - Agatha Christie

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