Meta jazz made by a collection of New York City heads: everyone from digital hardcore kids to Actual Jazz Musicians. This is confusing music, in a good way. Almost reminds me of those post-Paganicons Saccharine Trust records I’ve never fully been able to get my head around–again, in a good way.
On the 10 year anniversary of Finally Rich, Chicago vet El Hitta drops this “I Don’t Like” flip, where he references Family Guy, The Mask and Casper the Friendly Ghost. Speaking of Sosa, I slept on his late-2021 record, but “On What” is triumphant Chi-style digital pop that does in three minutes what some in the “internet music space” have been grasping at for their entire careers.
Mr. “Backpack” is back with a song that does not sample a TV show theme. This is full-on hectic Milwaukee bounce from a guy who seems to always be getting on the jumbotron at the Bucks game.
Lana Del Rey “Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd”
Most anticipated record of 2023? Gotta say, might be for me. For whatever the hell that’s worth.
Q-Tex “Celebration (Vocal Mix Feat. Shanna)”
There are a million ways to listen to obscure music on the internet. One of them is through these weird Instagram accounts that play snippets of old dance tunes. My favorite one is called belters4u and that’s where I found this breakbeat hardcore track from 1993. Pure piano diva magic.
Babytron “Prince Of The Mitten”
I’m no longer a 24-year-old whose identity is defined by discovering new music on the internet. And yet… I continue to be interested in new music. What the fuck is up with that? John’s Music Blog is just one dumbass stumbling through culture, catching some shit here and there. This is one of my favorite rap moments of 2022. (Also: Babytron and ShittyBoyz were the entertainment at a Detroit Pistons halftime show? Monumental footage.)
MIX OF THE WEEK: Creative Distortion “Terry Hall Tribute 20 Dec 2022”
Ska was the first music I really loved and The Specials were the first band I really loved. I remember being 11, listening to 2-Tone compilations, trying to envision what it would’ve been like to live in England as The Specials were climbing the charts. I was also going in and out of a mental institution at the time, so take that shit with a grain of salt. I’ve shared this Japanese club set before, but it’s worth sharing again. Forget ska. The Specials were one of the greatest live rock and roll bands, period. Terry Hall played the perfect punk straight man counter to all the other rude boy insanity happening on stage. The mix linked above is a nice summary, from The Specials to Fun Boy Three. RIP.