OK. This is going to be one of those post that makes people either appreciate me or disregard me. I guess that’s why I call these Diatribes.
Here’s the thing. I’m not a fan of “sharing” music. Don’t get me wrong; I recommend or suggest music to people all the time. For several years, I’ve given several friends a “best of the year” list and just last weekend, I gave my friends Adam and April the new Real Estate “Days” album. I make a ton of mixed CDs, let a few friends share my iTunes playlist and even dabbled in Spotify last year.
But this is the rub: For me, it’s not about giving away free music, it’s about the laziness factor. If you’re too lazy to do some YouTub-ing, click some links, listen to a few seconds of a few songs and go to your local record shop (in Austin we’re PRIVILEGED to have Waterloo) then you’re not going to get my help. I’m done. You’re too lazy to be a real music fan, and I’m too …too, whatever you want to call it… to be the person to help you beyond what I’m about to do.
I’m the type of person who listens to a song or album over and over and over once I fall in love with it. I know a lot of you were busy at the end of 2011 so here’s a sample of everything I’ve done that repeat listening thing to – and what I’d recommend – from the second half of 2011 up to now (recorded music only). I tried hard not to include artists on the announced SXSW roster because I’ll do a separate list of recommendations for those at the end of the month if not sooner. I won’t create a Spotify playlist or anything like that, I’ll just tell you who to check out.
After going to nearly 2,000 musicians and bands…and getting it down to a 100 or so, it shouldn’t be too much for you to spend a few minutes listening to each over the next month before SXSW. Anyway, here’s my 2011-12 list so far.
Song – Artist – Album
- Carrot Man – Sepalcure - self
- Wavejumper – Drexciya – Journey of the Deep Sea Dweller
- DJ Jazzy Jeff feat. Baby Blak & Pauly Yamz – For Da Love of the Game - Grand Gallery Presents Jazz Thing
- Return to the Journey – Thundercat – The Golden Age of Apocalypse
- Riding with Death – Zomby – Dedication
- Hurts Like Heaven – Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
- OK Pal – M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (Disc 2)
- Blue Sky – Common – The Dreamer, The Believer
- I Do – Younge Jeezy feat. Jay-Z and Andre 3000 – TM103
- Cannons – Youth Lagoon – The Year of Hibernation
- How Can You Luv Me – Unknown Mortal Orchestra – self
- Amplifiers – Atlas Sound – Parallax
- Heatwave – SBTRKT – self
- Are You..Can You…Were You… Shabazz Palaces – Black Up
- All The Same – Real Estate - Days
- Light Black – Toro Y Moi – Underneath the Pine
- 330 – Stalley – Lincoln Way Nights
- One Time – The Roots feat. Phonte & Dice Raw – undun
- Leave My Body – Florence and the Machine – Ceremonials
- Headlines – Drake – Take Care
- LES – Childish Gambino – Camp
- Life is… - David Dallas – The Rose Tint Deluxe
- Equals – MuteMath – Odd Soul
- Is This Power – The Field – Looping State of Mind
- The Life of Kingz – Phonte feat. Evidence & Big K.R.I.T. – Charity Starts at Home
- They Don’t Want – Electric Wire Hustle – self (ok, I broke my rule, they’re coming to SXSW, but I couldn’t wait!)
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