Lindstrom - Another Station

Lindstrom, "Another Station" (YSI link)

Lindstrom, "Another Station (Todd Terje remix)" (YSI link)

What better way to follow up yesterday's classic disco tunes with one of the men most responsible for reimagining disco today. Lindstrom is the Norwegian producer that has been getting crazy love from all over the dance music spectrum with his cosmic disco sound. While he's probably better know for his musical partnership with Prins-Thomas, I figured that I take a look at one of his solo releases.

"Another Station" is one of his earlier releases, dropping in 2005 (dude has only been around for a few years) on the Feedelity label.

-Every now and then, there's just a non-musical event that just grabs my attention. In Philly tonight, the Writing on the Walls exhibit opens at the Fleischer/Ollman Gallery in Center City (1616 Walnut St. 2nd Floor). The exhibit is dedicated to photos taken of various scribblings and graffiti that have appeared in the last three decades around Philly. Bus and subway stops, walls, wherever. It's magnificent, exactly what Pound for Pound loves. The FiftyOne:FiftyOne bols have all the info, I can't recommend more highly stopping through and picking up a copy of the book. Afterparty at Bar Noir.

-Later, another Philly legend Josh Wink spins at Fluid for his regular last Wednesday of the month monthly. It's a sign of just how amazing Philly is that a rave legend like Wink keeps coming back home to do the damn thing.

-Dimitry and Adam Adam hold down Wednesday as always in NYC. Special guest DJ Jess at High Voltage, baking and headbands optional.



-Montreal, head out to the new soul monthly called Testify at Academy with DJs Huggs, Cheeba and Kobal and Professor Groove. They're celebrating James Brown's music tonight, a great way to kick off things off.

Sister Sledge

Sister Sledge, "He Was The Greatest Dancer" (YSI link)

Sister Sledge, "We Are Family" (YSI link)

I mentioned starting a disco post last week, which I abandon because of a sad mood. Well, fuck being sad. Long live disco! I was going to delve into the underground shit that I normally highlight, but I feel like that tends to fall into that hipster thing of always having to find the obscure stuff. There's no shame in the classic disco songs and so this post is dedicated to one of the legendary groups, Sister Sledge, that dropped legendary disco tracks. It's all dedicated to all the rock snobs who insult disco to this day. Fuck y'all, go to sleep and/or keep ruining music journalism with your boring articles and conservatism.

The first and most important detail you need to know about Sister Sledge is that they were from North motherfucking Philadelphia. End of story, you know that they are gonna be the shit. Beyond that, they were 4 sisters - Kim, Debbie, Joni and Kathy- who formed a band in 1972 and have gone on to a long, successful career. It's hard to discuss the group without acknowledging their producers during the late 197os, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of CHIC (foreshadowing). It was under these guys that the group delivered their biggest hits and my favorites, two of which are above.

"He's The Greatest Dancer" is a fun one, mainly because I am not the greatest dancer but the idea of dancing to this song appeals to me. I first heard it on the soundtrack to the underrated Whit Stillman movie, The Last Days of Disco. It's a slow burner, no really crazy section or anything, just beautiful vocals, that disco orchestral sound (love the violin notes throughout) and an irresistable beat. Okay, the next one you had to have heard at some point in your life; I mean, the Pittsburgh Pirates made a whole season out of it! Yeah, so bar mitzvahs and wedding DJs have left you a little gunshy to say you like it. Get over yourself. This is as uplifting as music gets, listen to the feminist lyrics, those great handclaps, tell me that you aren't singing it and moving to this one in your chair.

Grab the We Are Family LP now, as it's one of the rare classic full length albums from the period. They're all at 256 too, so DJs grab these and work them into your sets. It's time to lose the snobby view towards disco, this is just great, joyous music.

-Joakim spins at APT tonight, rare chance to hear the French producer do a crazy set of disco, electro and whatnot.

-Flosstradamus at Check Yo Ponytail! Get to Safari Sam's (5214 Sunset Blvd.) Franki Chan says it's the place to be. Anything he says, I believe. LA, if you keep this up, I may have to move West on some Horatio Alger shit.



-DJ Steven Bloodbath at Bar Noir tonight

Peaches -Boys Wanna Be Her remixes

Peaches, "Boys Wanna Be Her (Flaming Lips Eat Peaches)" (YSI link)

Peaches, "Boys Wanna Be Her (Tommie Sunshine's Brooklyn Fire Retouch)" (YSI link)

Peaches, "Boys Wanna Be Her (Weird Science remix)" (YSI link)

It's been way too long since I mentioned or did a post on my girl Peaches. I mean, what's wrong with me? There are lots of things wrong with me, but here's one I can correct. This is the latest single to drop from the Impeach My Bush album, her 2006 album on XL. "Boys Wanna Be Her" was one of my favs from the album, possibly the one that best summed up the newer, rockier sound that she had on display, especially live.

The remixes are good, especially love the Weird Science one. You remember them from their killer Bloc Party "Helicopter" remix. This one has a similar sound, chopped up vocals, electro-y banger, more please. This would fit perfectly amongst the Ed Banger stuff in your set, or on that on-the-go Pound for Pound mix you've been making. Tommie Sunshine hasn't gotten any mentions at this blog, which I'll remedy soon. His remix is ready for the club, a nice, extended version that has a huge, kicking drum, monster riff, vocals pretty much intact, which is a good thing. No clue what the name means, but what the hell, Brooklyn stand up! Where Williamsburg at? Where Fort Greene at? Where Bushwick? Where Bed-Stuy? Check the buildup and release in the last minute or so, awesome.

-It looks like John McCain's poll numbers continue to suffer. Now is the time to really do some damage on the Straight Talker, Cliff Schecter and others have put together The Real McCain to help achieve that goal. Check it out to find out what lies he's telling this week!

-Laura Secor has a really interesting piece in Sunday's New York Times Magazine about Iran and its political scene. The story paints an interesting counterpoint to administration propaganada, showing a rebuked Ahmedinajad, an economically depressed country and a nuanced, complicated politcal landscape (Via Matt Yglesias) Also, check out this story in the Observer on the real state of Iran's nuclear program (hint: it's far from the threat the neo-cons tell us. Shocking, I know.) (Via Talking Points Memo)

-Sorry for anyone who has emailed me in the past week or two. I've been writing some bigger stories and suffering from a case of good writer's block (a condition that prevents you from writing well) and have fallen behind on email. I promise to get back to everyone by the end of the week, but feel free to holler again to get my attention. Thanks, I love you all.

Say No To Drugs

Clipse, "Got Caught Dealin' Part II" (YSI link)

Montana of Get Rich Clique, "I Got Pills" (YSI link)

I had been planning a series of posts dedicated to drugs, but I decided against it as the idea started to seem tacky and I'm trying to be sober(ish) now and I feel lots of the music we post up have drugs at its core, no need to be all lame and obvious. But, this is the heads up on a week of acid house and electroclash and all sorts of good stuff that should evoke memories of drug binges and fucked up sounds and the rise and fall.

This Clipse jawn, "Been Caught Dealin' Part II" was never officially released, although it's been a white label of sorts for a few years. This is pre-Lord Willin', a great signpost for where the duo would go. Its subject is not as dark as you'd expect from the title, but there's still a world of money, guilt and reality that is the hallmark of their music. It's also one of the earliest Neptunes beats, which should remind everyone of that bouncy sound that they perfected in their early years. You can grab a copy of the 12" at Turntable Lab, get it fast as I imagine there aren't many more copies lying around.

Love, love love this Get Rich Clique joint. Actually, it's a solo one featuring GRC member Montana and is an ode to pills. It's immediately interesting because of its reference to pills, a decidedly un-hip hop drug reference. Definitely leads one to think of the club/dance scene more, and the snap sound always has me referencing electro, Miami bass, early Chicago house. I love it, especially the one line about dry mouths, where Montana spits the lines through a clenched jaw. More please

I'm gonna break out Stankonia and Miss E...So Addictive for some real drug rap, ravers unite!

-Just a reminder for the LA people that Sunday is your Le Disko night at Safari Sam's (5214 Sunset Blvd) with Daniel, Paparazzi and Mr White. Tonight has a special guest Acid Girls spinning, limited capacity so don't be fashionably late



-Brooklyn, kiss and don't tell tonight with my bol DJ Tiny Pants at Capone's Bar (N11th and Roebling) with the Love Brigade clothing mavens



-I dreamt the other night about my little girl Jezebel. Nothing much happened although she did scratch my face (I did touch her puff, so it was deserved. You can take the cat out of Philly, but you can't take Philly out of the cat). I woke up and cried when I realized that she was laying between my legs or snuggling next to me. I read this story about the guy going back into his burning his house to save his cat and it made me happy. Malakiah Ayres is a hero.

-Finally, you're going to notice some changes in the look of this site shortly. Nothing drastic yet, but in the next few months I hope to make this a pretty place, if y'know what I mean. Thanks to the emailer who criticized the black background, helped me break out of my conservative thinking on the visuals. We have lots of end of the year lists coming up, including a guest post by the next Joan Didion, a.k.a. the Fort Greene Assassin. Don't be scurred of the change, change is good, trust me, I have learned this the hard way.

Lil Boosie and Crime Mob

Lil Boosie feat. Yung Joc, "Zoom" (YSI link)

Crime Mob, "Rock Yo Hips" (YSI link)

Okay, we're going to go cold turkey on the indie stuff now. I mean, I love my indie girls more than life itself, but it's time to get back to the meat and potatoes. I don't even know what that phrase means, but it works. Southern rap today, lots of old shit and remixes next week, cheah!

Lil Boosie is one of those young cats from Down South that has been around for much longer than his age would lead one to expect. If I was doing a good job on the hip hop front, his name would be familiar already. Oh well, here's the first major single I've heard, "Zoom" with Yung Joc. Joc drops a ultra sinister, molasses paced 16 bars, but it's Boosie's show and he does a good job. Love the refrain, has a nice anthemic quality like Joc's hits. Good start, I'll be dropping more of him as I get it.

The Crime Mob jawn has been out for months, but I figured that I'd get it to you without any DJ on it. "Rock Yo Hips" is good, although no where near the best stuff on the mixtape that dropped.

-Philadelphyinz at the Khyber with the Broadzilla. Two of my favorite DJ crews in the city, these two are going to dominate 2007. Get on board now, Khyber (2nd and Chestnut) tonight.

no john madden


-Lawrence, Kansas, where you at? You should be at the Jackpot Music Hall (943 Mass. St.) for Get Crunk! with special guest DJ Candlewax, one half of Tactic.



-It's events like these that make me wanna be in LA. Blow Up LA is back, at a secret location. Info is on the flier below, let me just add that this line-up is bananas.



-High Voltage takes over OMFG at the Beauty Bar tonight. East Village watch out.


-Last, but not least, DJ Godfather is doing a 4 AM 1 hour ghettotech set with DJ Cue at The Masters of the Universe party at Bert's Warehouse (2739 Russell). That's on top of sets by Kevin fucking Saunderson, Ed Rush & Optical and Detroit Grand Pubahs! Detroit, rave on!

Justice - Phantom

Justice, "Phantom (Part 1)" (YSI link)

-Oooh wee, two of my favorites are combining their powers to create a better party for us. The Finger On The Pulse bols are joined by David of Slap You In Public for an indie dance night that is the only thing you need to be doing in NYC tonight.



-SF has the best event on the Left Coast. It's a fucking doozy actually, as Lights Down Low has special guests Guns 'n' Bombs from LA and Julian S. Process from Philly for a night of electro and sleazy music. It goes down at the 222 Club (222 Hyde at Turk), we'll definiely keep an eye on this one.



-Philly, Philly, hit up The Straight Dope at the Khyber with the Seclusiasis Boys and special guest DJ Deluxxx, a.k.a. Dirty South Joe. Crunk, bass, grime, the good stuff in life.



-Hands and Knees, Fishtown, John Redden and Ian St. Laurent, you know the deal, best weekly in the 215

-LA, you thought there wasn't any art (oh wait, that's what my East Coast snobby ass thought). I.D.E.A. presents Private Life featuring new art work and music and a bar at 819 N. La Cienga Blvd, should be a fun, cultured night.



-Le Castle Vania, a.k.a. DJ DJ Dylan, is in Tijuana, Mexico at Bar Tentaculo. I can only imagine the debauchery, hope he makes it back across the border.

Disco D Tribute on East Village Radio 6 PM Tonight

Qucik update: There is a Disco D tribute on East Village Radio right now, as Nick Catchdubs and DJ Ayres pay their respects to Dave Shayman on their weekly radio show, The Let Out With the Fader Crew. Tune here to listen, as it should be an excellent two hours and a good way to remember the man.

Thanks to Nick and Ayres for this, it's much appreciated and a beautiful gesture.

Fujiya and Miyagi - Transparent Things

Fujiya & Miyagi, "In One Ear and Out The Other" (YSI link)

Fujiya & Miyagi, "Reeboks In Heaven" (YSI link)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, another late 2006 release for your ears. Another great one too, proving that the blogs can hype great, new music as well. Fujiya & Miyagi is not, despite the name, a Japanese band; they're actually a trio from

-Philly takes over LA! Julian S. Process visits BFF at the Beauty Bar (1638 N. Cahuenga Blvd). Damn, the West Coast ain't even safe no more.



-Broadzilla destroys Philadelphia again. Upstairs at Sal's



-The Even Further people do it big again this week. They're clearly taking their cues from Pound for Pound. Project Matt last Thursday, tonight the Finger On The Pulse boys. The Twin Tower Edition will be the NYC jumpoff tonight, do not miss it.




-My bol DJ Tiny Pants, who I haven't heard from in a minute, comes back to take over Royal Oak. Williamsburg, stand up and hang with the seal.



-Club NME at Hiro, hosted by Dimitry. Live sets by The Glass and Pagoda, DJ set by Johann from Le Tigre (!).



-

Peter Bjorn and John - Writer's Block

Peter Bjorn and John, "Objects of My Affection" (YSL link)

Peter Bjorn and John, "Paris 2004" (YSI link)

Sorry for the delay in getting the tunes and wordage up, I've been working on a ton of articles this week and I've only got like a 2000 words in me per day. In fact, I may have had some sort of writer breakdown late last night, which basically entails a good cry, a warm bath and a google search for Scarlett Johansson. Crisis averted. Once the weekend hits, we'll be back into more consistent and quality posts, thanks for understanding.

I figured that we'd continue to look at some of the best new music from the end of 2006 (if you can believe it, I'm still gonna drop some end of the year lists, including one from a special guest from one of my favorite people in the world!). Peter Bjorn and John aren't new to Pound for Pound readers, as I was mentioning them months ago upon the "Young Folks" single dropping and the subsequent remixes. I had a feeling that this was going to be one of those one magical moments kinda things, but I'm happy to say that I was wrong.

Writer's Block is a very good album, another great release exploring the boundaries between pop and electronica. What amazed me most was the fact that there are at least four amazing songs on here, songs that have to be considered in the best songs of the year. In fact, "Objects Of My Affection" might rank as high for me as "Young Folks," which is a huge statement coming from me. I just love the entire sound, it's so beautiful that it almost brings me to tears.Lead singer Peter Moren's vocals are what takes it to the next level, this beautiful, falsetto-like voice that conveys the confusion, sadness and joy that the lyrics discuss. You know what, "Paris 2004" is nearly as good, a wonderful romantic song about love, unabashed joy at being in love.

I recommend this one, pre-order a copy now of the domestic release and hear one of the best 2006. Check out their tour dates, as they are making their first US stops in support of this one in LA or NYC. If you happen to have an extra ticket to the Mercury Lounge or Bowery show, holler.

-High Voltage tonight with Andrew motherfuckin' W.K.! For real! Get to Sutra for one of the best new parties in NYC.



-Welcome to Awesometown! Blow Up LA brings in Franki Chan, Chris Holmes and DJ Chips for some midweek madness.



-Dave P. is the special guest spinning at the Khyber tonight for the weekly Driz Horse

-I'm curious to hear from the person who left two comments in the Disco D posts, as I'd love to know who insulted me and apologized later. Occasionally, I put up drafts to get a look at the photos/fliers and there are mistakes. I apologize for mistakes, I'm not the best editor, but if you feel the need to insult me, don't.

Bob Dylan - Modern Times

Bob Dylan, "Someday Baby" (YSI link)

Bob Dylan, "Nettie Moore" (YSI link)

Finally. I've been threatening to take a look at Bob Dylan's recent album, Modern Times, for months now. I'm not sure why I've put it off. Probably a mixture of a fear of overdosing people on Mr. Dylan, a desire to get up some of the rare, older stuff as opposed to something that everyone is talking about and can get and a inability to put my thoughts down on this. That final issue hasn't gone away, but it's time to do the damn thing.

I do want to discuss the actual music contained on this LP first. It's a really great snapshot of Dylan right now, the leader of a great touring band who has become the blues man that he started out as. It sounds remarkably similar to the live shows I've seen, with the added benefit of Dylan's voice upfront in the mix. Oh, what a voice it is! Long time readers know that I love Dylan's voice as much as anything and it sounds so great here to me. It's ragged and off-key at times, more nasally than his younger voice, but that only adds to the magic. It's so real and unadorned, the perfect instrument for these words about love, love lost, pain, death, tragedy. Listen to it during the refrain on "Someday Baby," as it struggles to reach a note just a bit too high, or the raspiness during "Nettie Moore" and tell me that this isn't gorgeous in its imperfection.

"Nettie Moore" is one of Dylan's greatest songs, definitely from this recent period, probably ever. It's a magnificent expression of love and despair, a ballad for the ages. As he sings with that weathered voice, "I'm the oldest son of a crazy man/I'm in a cowboy band/Got a pile of sins to pay for and I ain't got time to hide/I'd walk through a blazing fire, baby, if I knew you was on the other side despair." Magnificent. "Someday Baby" is just damn catchy, with the added bonus of that ol' Bob acid tone (not in a short supply at all throughout the album). "I try to be friendly, I try to be kind/Now I'm gonna drive you from your home, just like I was driven from mine/Someday baby you ain't gonna worry po' me any more." Mang, this whole album gets better and better with every listen, like all great Dylan albums. The two above were my initial favs, now I'm loving the first two tracks - "Thunder On The Mountain" and "Spirit On The Water."

I'm sure everyone has heard the raves about this recent one, as it has been on most Top 10 lists for 2006. I can't add much to that, as it is one of the better albums I heard last year, another brilliant addition to the Dylan oeuvre. It's hard to really look at this one album without considering it as a part of the trilogy of albums he has released in the last decade. Many are comparing it to his greatest periods in the 1960s. I just had to say that this is just too much, as these are great albums but nowhere the levels that Dylan sustained for the first decade of his career. Y'all know that I hate the nostalgia, but I also don't want to front. This is a great album, which you need to buy immediately. It is another amazing work in his illustrious career,

In Memory of Disco D

Disco D, Live at Nouveau Casino Paris France 11.22.2003 (YSI link)

I'm having a hard time sleeping tonight, as it's been a long, sad day. I really didn't want to end on a sad note with Disco D, as I want to make sure that we remember him for all that he gave us.

I first came to his music years ago, with the release of his A Night At The Booty Bar, a ghettotech mix that Tommy Boy released. He was one of the public faces of the genre, a charismatic young guy with an atypical background (UMichigan Business School, under 21, etc). But, don't get it twisted, the dude made it because he was as talented as they come, a student of the music, a talented DJ and an excellent producer.

He eventually moved away from the ghettotech label, producing for some of the biggest names in hip-hop and r&b. If you want to hear how good his ear and sound was, give a listen to the original productions above. He dropped an excellent mixtape in 2005, which is a paen to booty music and bass, covering both its classics and its newest sounds emanating from Brazil and its favelas. He's continued to grind, DJing in NYC and around the world, producing great tracks, discovering new talent in Brazil and even founding a rolling paper company called .

It's hard listening to the music and his interaction with the crowd without feeling even sadder, thinking of all that we lost and could've expected in the future. This live DJ set above from November 2003, straight out of a small club in Paris called Nouveau Casino, France, is one of the best I've ever heard. I put up in the pantheon, right up there with live Diplo. It's a lesson in booty music, covering the essential sounds of Miami bass, ghettotech, ghetto funk, the masters like Two Live Crew, DJ Funk, all with a mind to killing the dancefloor. It's the best tribute I have to Disco D, a man who left us far too soon.

RIP Dave Shayman (Disco D)

This post has been one of the hardest ones I've ever written. I learned early this afternoon that Dave Shayman, known as Disco D, took his life yesterday. For those that don't know, Shayman was one of the best known and talented ghettotech producers and DJs in the early part of this decade. He had since moved to NYC and become a respected hip-hop/r&b producer, while still remaining true to his roots and searching for the new sounds around the world. He was an inspiration for this blog, a person I respected greatly from afar.

It's hard to explain why this has hit me so hard, as this blog isn't intended to be a personal one. It's safe to say that I feel a tremendous kinship with Shayman, as it's been known that he suffered from bipolar disorder for years now. It breaks my heart to see another young person, someone my age, go so young, with so much ahead of him. It reminds me of the struggle that mental illness is, how it threatens you at every moment. It reminds me of all the people who suffer and hurt because they have to live with sufferers. It reminds me of what a tragedy it is that we talk so little about depression and mental illness, particularly as men. It reminds me of how little we have done as society to get people help, to provide a safety net for the weakest.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends in this time of sadness. Visit Disco D's myspace page and leave a comment, show those who loved him how much he touched the lives of others, even strangers.

RIP Dave, I hope that you are in a better place today, one where you aren't suffering anymore, where you aren't feeling the pain.

Kol Maleh Rachamim - Prayer For the Soul of the Departed

Malajube - Trompe-L'oeil

Malajube, "Montreal -40C" (YSI link)

Malajube, "Le Crabe" (YSI link)

I wanted to highlight a blogger hype band that deserves the attention, after the embarrassment of Cold War Kids. Malajube come out of the hotbed of indie music known as Montreal, following fellow Canadians like Arcade Fire, Godspeed You Black Emperor and Broken Social Scene. But this ain't no "hey, they sound just like us but they pronounce some words funny" Canadian shit. Nah, this is on some real Quebecois shit, sung entirely in the language of the province. Y'all know that I love anything French, so you probably need to square root my review here.

Trompe-L'oeil is a very good album. Despite not breaking any new ground, it stands out because the band writes great melodies and songs, stuff that both sticks out in your head like great pop music should and tweaks the conventions like good indie music should. The catchy songs are oftentimes subverted with a screaming vocal or sped-up rhythm, sounds drift in and out of the mix creating a dream-like sensation. "

-Today is Blog For Choice Day. Not much for me to add to this, other than to express my support for those defending the right for a woman to choose, especially those on the front lines. Jessica at Feministing has compiled a list of relevant posts that mark the occasion, great reminders of why this fight is so important. Also, make sure to read this exchange between the brilliant Katha Pollitt and the overmatched Will Saletan, as Pollitt does an amazing job of calling Saletan and much of the anti-choice movement out on its puritan desire to shame those who choose abortion.

-Our President declared yesterday National Sanctity For Human Life Day. Plutonium Page has a great post at Daily Kos detailing the respect for human life that this administration has shown in its 6 years.

-Center City Restaurant Week is happening again. Go here to find out who is participating and how to make reservations. This is one of the great events in the city, a chance to sample the amazing restaurants the city has to offer and confirm for yourself that Philly is the most underrated culinary towns in the world.

-Finally, my bol Le Castle Vania heads to LA to wreck shit tonight with Daniel of Le Disko at Cinespace (6356 Hollywood Blvd.)

Cold War Kids - Robbers & Cowards

Cold War Kids, "We Used To Vacation" (YSI link)

Cold War Kids, "Hang Me Up To Dry" (YSI link)

I mentioned blog hype yesterday, so I figured finally put up some songs from one of those bands who've been getting love from the indie bloggers lately. Cold War Kids are a Long Beach based band who've made a name for themselves on the strength of great live shows and a few EPs. Their first full length, Robbers and Cowards, dropped on the Downtown label late last year. I have a hard time understanding how anyone could be excited about this music. In some ways they're right, as this is the perfect soundtrack for the Bush/right wing years this country is suffering through. It's not just the religious imagery and pleas to G-d, it's the lack of inspiration, the lack of experimentation, this is music that wants to sound like everything else.

It's pretty standard rock music, guitar heavy, lead vocalist Nathan Willett dominates, simple lyrics that want to be much more. It reminds me a lot of the Killers, but without the brilliant songs. They take a little from the Man Man percussion/kitchen sink aesthetic, but it tends to get buried behind the vocals. Ugh, I can't say much more on this, it's just not worth the time or words. I could try to discuss the influences real (The Strokes) and imagined (Dylan, Waits) but it would lend to much respect to this. This is the sound of surburbia, a fake, uncreative world that has nothing to offer me or this blog. Buy it here if you must, you've been warned.

I am curious to know how this band and similar ones like Tapes 'n' Tapes have drawn so much attention and love. Is this the best we can do in the mp3 blogosphere? Are we really this conservative? Are we really just searching for music that kinda reminds of stuff we've heard before? Is this the best that indie rock can do?

-Send a letter to President Bush demanding that he make the genocide in the Sudan a priority in his State of the Union speech, which he delivers Tuesday. I did it, it takes 2 minutes, no excuses.

-John McCain is still a liar. He's also looking for scapegoats for the disastrous war he championed and still supports.

-Speaking of that disastrous war, make sure to read this great essay by Glenn Greenwald on the "intellectual" architects of this travesty, Fred Kagan and William Kristol. It's stunning to look at the people who brought us into this and see them for the pathetic losers who never could fight or be tough in real life. So they've constructed an entire political philosophy that makes them feel tough, that allows them to call out any country that upsets them, that lets them be the real men they secretly know they're not. They're cowards and this blood is on their hands.

-To make you feel better about your own life as this work weeks starts, take a look at this disturbing video of a loopy Paula Abdul on some Fox local news broadcast:

Ghostface Killah - Milk Em

Ghostface Killah feat. Trife, "Milk Em (Benny Cassette version)" (YSI link)

Ghostface Killah feat. Trife, "Milk Em (Exile version)" (YSI link)

Ghostface Killah feat. Trife, "Milk Em (Ricci Rucker version)" (YSI link)

"Tony's my sunshine, my only sunshine/He makes me happy when skies are grey/You'll never know how much I love, please don't take my Tony away."

I never tune out Ghostface Killah completely, but I did turn away after Fish Scale dropped and every blog deemed it the greatest thing since plastic surgery. It was good, but I didn't even consider it one of Tony Starks' best. It was stupid, as dude is one of the most interesting figures in music, consistently putting out music that you need to hear. I promise to never be such a pussy, blogger hater again.

This single makes it crystal clear why Ghost is so important and impossible to ignore. "Milk Em" is a collaboration with electronic producers Sound In Color, giving the entire project a different sound.

-Go! with Bitch Ass Darius tonight in Kansas City. A Night of Ghettotech. Tactic and Murderbot. What else could you possibly want to do tonight?



-1 Year Anniversary of Super Friends! My bols Nick Catchdubs and Vin Sol! Milk in SF! One of the best fliers I've seen!



-Hang The DJs' 2007 Strawberries and Champagne Party. No clue what that means, but I do know Daniel from Le Disko, Adam 12 from She Wants Revenge, June D from White Dove and they're spinning. @ the Echo (1822 Sunset Blvd.) Another gorgeous flier.



-Project Matt, as always, holds down Home Sweet Home (131 Chrystie St.) in Chinatown (sorry, flier keeps fucking up the post)

DJ Funk -Booty Clap EP

DJ Funk, "Booty Clap" (YSI link)

DJ Funk, "Put Yo Back N 2 It" (YSI link)

DJ Funk, "Sex Drive" (YSI link)

DJ Funk, "Work That MF" (YSI link)

Mang, this is all that I've been listening to lately, all the ghettotech and ghetto house stuff that has come out of Detroit and Chicago respectively. Not sure what brought it back to #1 status right now, but to be honest, it's never that far from top status. There's just something about that pounding, heavy sound with the filthy lyrics, oftentimes from a clipped, robotic voice. How can you not like this stuff? Do you not smile in life? I worry about you if you do not download these tracks and play them for hours straight, I really do.

DJ Funk is a legend. It's as simple as that, the man most responsible for developing the Chicago ghetto house sound in the 1990s.

-I dream of living abroad. It's events like this, Switch's new monthly at Fabric that only make it more necessary. Radioclit, Sinden and Switch in Room 1! Holy fuck!

-New LA monthy. Calling All DJs at Avalon (1735 N. Vine St.) with guests Justin from !!!, Adam-12 from She Wants Revenge, my bol Daniel from Le Disko.



-DJ Sujinho brings some baile funk to Richmond, VA at the Cobra Kai guy's monthly Mint

-Carl Craig at Studio B in Greenpoint for Demon Days



-Shelly and June D of White Dove at Club Purple tonight in the East Village



-Low Budget with Grandmaster Flash at Lotus in NYC

-As always, Hands and Knees at the M Lounge in Fishtown, Philadelphia, USA.

Science Faction - Grime

Regal Players, "Rude Boy (remix)" (YSI link)

Ribz, Nappa, Flirta D & Shizzle, "Pull Up Dat" (YSI link)

Jammer, "Murcle Man" (YSI link)

I had actually written a sunny, upbeat post about some glorious underground disco, but it's snowing and I read the news and I haven't received a message back from someone and yadda yadda yadda here's a post on a nice grime compilation. It's sad that there are only a few compilations that have made it into wide distribution in the states for this music, as it's some of the freshest, most interesting music of the past decade easily.

I recently came across this new compilation from Science Faction, a label dedicated to covering the underground genres that have popped up recently or have just got attention from the blogs and DJs, like dubstep and Baltimore club. This grime compilation seems too little too late, as there's a sense that this movement has begun to splinter. In essence, this is the sort of thing that everyone outside of the UK was clamoring for a few years back. But, I don't want to take away from a great CD with that kind of bitching. Let's be thankful that we got anything at all, let along something that compiles the big names and some up and comers that I hadn't heard from before. It's all mixed by DJ Cheeky, meaning that this isn't much help for the DJs out there. What you do get is a decent overview of the scene at this time, particularly the more rhythmic music of the scene.

The first half of the CD is the strongest, bringing the harder beats and the harder lyrics. It's got a more varied, dance-y sound than the Dizzee Rascal, early grime sound of the pirates. While I prefer the older, dystopic, brutal shit, this is nothing to sneeze at. I feel like Wiley looms over this compilation, and not just because he has a song or two on here. Rather, he has always seemed the most open to other sounds and opening grime up from its lo-fi beginnings and that permeates throughout. While I wish 2004 could have lasted forever, I'm excited to hear where this scene goes. I'm gonna try to do a better job staying on top of this, please get in touch if you can point me in the right directions. Go here to buy this one, look for it at most major CD stores as it's got good distribution.

-Philly, you need to be here, as Broadzilla drop their first 2007 party. They will change your life. "A Total Destruction Dance Party For You and Yours."



-NYC, check out Even Further with my bol Project Matt. Happy ending (302 Broome)




-And/or head to the West Village for Cheeky Bastard with special guest DJ Juan MacLean. Hiro Ballroom (



-LA, here's you new best friend, the BFF weekly party. Dirty Dave and Blake from Moving Units spin. Beauty Bar (1638 N. Cahuenga Blvd.)

Tactic - Money Shot Volumes 1 & 2

Tactic, Money Shot Volume 1 (YSI link)

Tactic, Money Shot Volume 2

Tracklists for both volumes are in the comments.

I've been mentioning that I want this site to be an outlet for friends of the blog and all the good people out there grindin', makin' new tracks, djin' and makin' us dance. Here's a great start to this new direction, as this Money Shot mix was sent to me by two hard working kids in the Midwest and it kills. Repeat, this mix fucking kills. Tactic are Ben Fuller and Brent Lippincott a.k.a. djcandlewax and they hold down Kansas City with various parties and opening spots for Diplo, Flosstradamus and my bol White Girl Lust.

The two volumes of Money Shot are just what I needed right, that great blend of hip hop club bangers and street stuff combined with the best of the indie dance stuff. Yummy. I'm not going to choose a favorite, as they're both essential and reasonable sized files, so grab them both. Do not sleep, people, for real, as you're going to be talking about these guys in the near future and you'll be able to say, Please, I knew about Tactic way back, that shit's so 2007" and girls will jock you for your music hipness. What I like best is their willingness to follow the good music, whether that takes them to Paris or Atlanta or East London. It's the same ethos that dominates here, which is why I am so happy to consider them a friend of Pound for Pound.

It's not all just bedroom mixing, however. The Tactic bols hold down a monthly called Shake and Pop at The Hangout in Kansas City, along with a few other nights that you can see on their myspace page schedule. I have to highlight their new ghettotech night, Go!, which will destroy Lawrence, Kansas this Saturday. They've got special guest Bitch Ass Darius there, making The Jackpot the place to be. If you live within 8 states of this, be there.



These guys are starting to make a lot of noise, glad that we can help spread the word here.