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Portishead Remixxxed

MP3: Ill Poetic Presents Mood Music Third-Joe Buddens Remixed with Portishead

Cincy rapper/producer Ill Poetic has taken Joe Buddens critically acclaimed mixtape Mood Music Three, and remixed with it Portishead. Its a pretty good idea because Buddens had a lot of things to say on MM. And Portishead always provides a lot textured emotion.

Of course the drawback is that Portishead it is literally mood music. Buddens is dope. But is anyone trying to fuck to some dood rapping about his hard feelings towards the Big Homie, Jay-z?

Then again on Budden’s 2003 hit, “Pump it Up” dood did prove himself as a regular Henry Miller over here, by saying, “Ma wanna fall in love like I’m cupid. Telling me she don’t give brain like I’m stupid .You can do anything if you put your mind to it.”

All jokes aside, Ill Poetic is a refined producer so this project works really well. If you saw Ill Poetic at the Dilla tribute at So What Wednesdays a couple months ago, then you definatly can tell dood has spent time in the lab. So Mood Music Third works. Be on the look out for Ill Poetic in general. He produced Illogic’s next album Diabolical Fun, due out on Weightless in the fall.

Link | Posted in MP3, Music, Wes Flexner | No Comments »
Tags: Ill Poetic, Joe Buddens, Portishead, weightless

Film review: Speed Racer

If there’s a problem with the Wachowskis’ kinda sorta live-action adaptation Speed Racer, it’s one of address—is this a movie for kids, or for grown-ups who grew up watching the early anime import in its late-sixties heyday (and/or its brief late nineties revival)?

It’s rated PG, and follows the basic structure of the cartoons perfectly (goofy melodrama and racing action for older kids, silly comedy relief involving Spritle and Chim Chim for younger kids).

But it’s also about two hours and fifteen minutes long, kind of heavy on the swearing and arty as all hell.

Will the same kids who enjoy a chimpanzee in osh koshes and think Emile Hirsch and Christina Ricci mashing their perfect lips together is gross appreciate scenes of wicked tycoons talking about manipulating the stockmarket while profiles of their faces float across the screen, or the 2001: A Space Odyssey-like moment where the hero goes so fast he, like, transcends visual information?

I don’t know. This is a film that’s easy to see audiences both loving and hating, depending on the individual sitting in the seats, and their own ages, experiences and preferences. Continued »

Link | Posted in Film, Music | 1 Comment »
Tags: christina ricci, speed racer, wachowskis

Monday in Columbus: Tony Scherr and Megan Palmer

Above: Megan Palmer and Tony Scherr perform together

Tony Scherr gets a lot of buzz in the singer-songwriter world, and it’s been growing loudly lately after high profile musicians like Feist and Norah Jones have worked with him.

On Monday, you’ll be able to catch him at the Rumba Cafe. Also on the bill is Brooklyn/Columbus musician Megan Palmer, whose latest album was released on our lil’ label.

Here’s a song from each music to get you prepared for the show.

MP3:: Shopgirl by Tony Scherr
MP3:: Desperate Housewives by Megan Palmer

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Tags: Megan Palmer, Tony Scherr

American Anthems.

I met the guys in The Milwaukees years ago through my pals in Woolworthy. I can’t remember if the bands shared a label, or if they had toured together, or what, but I’ve kept in touch with The Milwaukees — who are actually located in New Jersey — over the years. There last album was titled American Anthems Vol. 1 and it was a raucous dose of rock and/or roll Minneapolis stylee — yes, I’m just going totally location name-happy here — that got a couple spins on the tankPOD.*

Anyway, I wrote elsewhere about the band last year when they went on a “living room” tour. The band booked acoustic shows in fans’ houses and just hopped from city to city. It underscored one of the reasons I really dig the boys, aside from the hooks of course, since they go out of their way to get the word out and get in touch with folks kind enough to give their songs a chance.

Today they just told me they’re now offering all of American Anthems Vol. 1 as a free download from their website. (Wonder if Reznor gave them a pep talk or something?) So I’m pleased to pass this info on to you. If you enjoy pop rock stuff, or that Replacements / Soul Asylum vibe, I recommend you expend a little bandwidth to snag to album.

DOWNLOAD: The Milwaukees - American Anthems Vol.1

*Getting more than two plays on the tankPOD is pretty impressive when one considers the sheer volume of music I have to listen to daily just to keep up with things.

Link | Posted in MP3, Music, Tankboy | 1 Comment »
Tags: American Anthem Vol 1, Free Download, Milwaukees

Tom Waits Summer Tour Dates (including Columbus)

Tom Waits tour dates, including Columbus OH:

June 17- Phoenix, Orpheum
June 18 - Phoenix, Orpheum
June 20 - El Paso, Plaza Theatre
June 22 - Houston, Jones Hall
June 23 - Dallas, Palladium
June 25 - Tulsa, Brady Theatre
June 26 - Saint Louis, Fox Theatre
June 28 - Columbus, Ohio Theatre (Comfest weekend)
June 29 - Knoxville, Civic Theatre
July 1 - Jacksonville, Moran Theatre
July 2 - Mobile, Saenger Theatre
July 3 - Birmingham, Alabama Theatre
July 5 - Atlanta, Fox Theatre

This press conference video is pretty awesome:

Link | Posted in Columbus | 4 Comments »
Tags: Tom Waits

Bizzy Bone Gallery Hop Instore Saturday @ Magnolia Thunderpussy

Thuggish Ruggish Bizzy Bone will be doing an instore at my work, Magnolia Thunderpussy Records, Saturday May 3rd, during Gallery Hop from 6-8 pm. Continued »

Link | Posted in Columbus, Music, Video, Wes Flexner | 2 Comments »
Tags: bizzy bone, magnolia thunderpussy

Win Tickets for Neil Diamond in Columbus OH

Neil Diamond is a busy guy. He was just on American Idol, he’s got a new album out next week, a channel of his own on Sirius, and he’s about to embark on a huge tour.

In a lucky turn of events, we’ve got a pair of tickets to giveaway to the Columbus OH Neil Diamond show on August 25, at the Schottenstein Center. To enter to win, send a blank e-mail to wintix@donewaiting.com with the subject line “NEIL DIAMOND”. We’ll be choosing a winner on May 10.

Tickets for this show go onsale properly on Monday, but you can order tickets now using the pre-sale password helloagain. Click here to order tickets if you want to be on the safe side.

My favorite Neil Diamond memory: In grammar school our class had to sing “Coming to America” to impress some organization that would possibly give our school money. I can still remember the hand gestures. I don’t remember if we got the cash.

BUY: Home Before Dark on Amazon.com

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Tags: Neil Diamond

The Black Keys Cover Captain Beefheart

The internet moves fast. Yesterday, The Black Keys recorded a cover of Captain Beefheart’s song “I’m Glad” and posted it on their Myspace page for a free download. You can also download it here, too:

MP3: I’m Glad by The Black Keys

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Tags: Captain Beefheart, The Black Keys

Film review: Iron Man

As subjects for superhero summer movies go, Marvel Comic’s Iron Man seems made-to-order. He may lack the deep multimedia adaptation history of a Batman or Superman, and the sprawling cast of a Spider-Man or X-Men, but he’s essentially a giant toy that causes explosions.

So it’s easy to see what Hollywood sees in the character, but, somewhat surprisingly, it’s hard to resist the film that director Jon Favreau and his four-man screen-writing team have built around it. Iron Man stands atop the increasingly large heap of superhero movies; in fact, it may be the current king of that particular hill. Continued »

Link | Posted in Film | 6 Comments »
Tags: iron man, robert downey jr.

Bottom Brick - “The Groundbreaking”

MP3: Cadillac Rap feat. Blueprint

The stock of Columbus hip-hop collective Bottom Brick has been on the rise as of late. Since the release of The Framework EP in late 2006, they have stayed in the spotlight with energetic live shows, side project EPs, and individual members showcasing their talents (like producer Seance’s involvement in a recent production showcase at So What Wednesdays). This weekend sees the release of the group’s first full-length album, The Groundbreaking, a self-released effort.

The Groundbreaking is 16 tracks long, boasting plenty “old-fashioned” boom-bap rap. Which is not to say that the material sounds particularly dated, but just that Bottom Brick will satisfy most fans of classic ’90s hip-hop. The beats (mostly handled by the group’s Seance and Mattinee) are solid backdrops for the MCs, highlighted by the horn-laced banger “Cadillac Rap” and the chilled out vibes of the aptly-titled “Cool Out.” The group’s MCs (Adjust, H.I.M Illaflo, and Seance) do the beats justice most of the time, ably handling varied subject matter and moods. There are a few questionable moments on the mic (the hook on “As It Is” comes to mind), but most of the time, the lyrics and beats mesh well. The album also includes vocal appearances by Columbus all-stars Blueprint (on the aforementioned “Cadillac Rap”), Illogic (whose unhinged verse contributes well to the ethereal “Anthropology”) and Grmm Diabolic. For a group’s first full-length record, it is not surprising that the album’s pace bogs down a bit in the middle, mostly due to a string of songs about life’s struggles. “Cool Out” gets the proceedings back on track, however, and paves the way for a more upbeat ending including the good-natured drinkin’ and partyin’ anthem “More the Merrier,” the lone carryover here from The Framework.

Despite a few missteps, The Groundbreaking shows a group of hip-hop artists getting more familiar with each other and their roles. No matter the mood, there are tracks here that will complement it well.

Bottom Brick will celebrate its album release with a show (including a featured guest appearance by Blueprint) at the High Five on Saturday, May 3rd. Also on the bill is a tag team performance from Illogic & Ill Poetic, sets from Grmm Diabolic and Ol’ Scandalous, and party jams from DJs Detox, Lefto, and Product. It is rare that all of a hip-hop album’s vocal contributors are present for the release party, so the show should be a fine display of what the album is all about.

Link | Posted in Columbus, Music | 2 Comments »
Tags: blueprint, Bottom Brick

The Proper Nouns - “A Million Hurtful Things”

MP3: The Lesser Stars

Two years after releasing their first full-length album (Birds & Butterflies) on Columbus Discount, Columbus’ Proper Nouns have returned with A Million Hurtful Things, their first release on upstart local label All Hail Records. Though the boys at CDR recorded most of the album and the relationship between the label/studio and the band appears to be intact, the shift in headquarters seems to make sense stylistically. The Nouns’ precise pop doesn’t mesh very well with the rougher textures of bands like Necropolis and El Jesus De Magico (however unfair the pigeonholing may be), and as they are a bit unique in the Columbus “scene,” the association with a more varied label like All Hail (Paper Airplane, Electric Grandmother, etc.) likely ensures a less biased perception of their tunes.

After the two-year break, A Million Hurtful Things builds well on the foundation laid on their previous release. The band’s lineup has changed, with Justin Riley (Terribly Empty Pockets, Super Desserts, etc.) replacing the departed Dave Gibson on Wurlitzer, other keyboards, and background vocals. Though the keyboards have always been an integral part of the Nouns’ sound, Riley seems to be more assertive in his contributions, especially on the Animals-esque “Conditions Are Worse” and the jaunty “The Lesser Stars.” Lead singer/guitarist and primary songwriter Matt Ogborn has concocted another batch of roughly delicate pop songs. His wit and enunciation are as sharp as ever, lending humor to “Long-Time Correspondent” and the “sneering” “My First Death Ray.” The rhythm section of Travis Kokas (bass, background vocals) and Phil Francis (drums) continues to provide a steady backbone for the band, and Francis’ rumbling fills add excitement.

Though the sound presented here is very similar to that of their previous effort, the main difference (and in my opinion, improvement) is that the songs on A Million Hurtful Things are much more drawn out and relaxed, with a perceptible swagger that was often lacking in their previous material. These longer tunes seem to allow the band to get more comfortable with the task at hand, to pleasing effect. The addition of handclaps is nice too.

The Proper Nouns will celebrate the release of A Million Hurtful Things with a show at Cafe Bourbon Street on Friday, May 2. Joining in the festivities will be RTFO Bandwagon and Heavy Mole.

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Tags: all hail records, proper nouns

Black Postcards: A Rock & Roll Romance by Dean Wareham

MP3: Don’t Let Our Youth Go To Waste by Galaxie 500
MP3: Bobby Peru by Luna
MP3: Indian Summer by Dean and Britta

I just finished reading Dean Wareham’s memoir, Black Postcards. Highly recommended. Dean gives an honest look at his life, from childhood to Galaxie 500 and then onward to Luna. Dean certainly didn’t hold back on any punches. It paints a career that when it was high, it was okay, and when it was low, it could only go lower.

There’s drugs, there’s cheating, there’s sold out shows and shows that bomb. Throughout it all, Wareham doesn’t make being in a rock and roll band seem glamorous. With each minor success there ’s little time to enjoy it as it seems like everything is about to fall apart at any given moment.

I’ve posted an MP3 of each of Dean’s projects. If I were you, I’d gobble down every record he’s even looked at.

Link | Posted in Books, MP3 | No Comments »
Tags: Dean and Britta, Dean Warehame, Galaxie 500, Luna

Blueprint vs. Funkadelic EP: Download For Free

MP3: Blueprint vs. Funkadelic EP

Blueprint is giving away his new EP, Blueprint vs. Funkadelic, for free on this and a selected few sites. The cd is a limited run of 500. It can be purchased on Weightless.net and a couple stores around the country. I chopped it up with Print a couple nights ago as he prepared for his Wednesday release party at Cafe Bourbon Street in Columbus. We talked P-Funk, Aliens, the future of Weightless, and the Sean Bell Verdict.

I used to hate on the West Coast for using so much Funkadelic in the Early 90’s. Its kinda died down now. What made you gravitate towards devoting a whole project to it?

I felt it was kind of played as well, but what I think the difference is that a lot of what they sampled was actually Parliament, and not Funkadelic. Granted, they’re both groups that George Clinton started and lead, but the Funkadelic catalog wasn’t pillaged as much as the Parliament catalog because Parliament was more successful than Funkadelic.

Until recently I personally didn’t really know the difference because people always referred to them as P-Funk as if they were the same, but as I started to listen to Funkadelic’s catalog i realized it’s a lot different than Parliament’s catalog, and it also sounds different. Truthfully, I didn’t even put much thought into the creation of it. One day I was listening to an album of theirs and I heard all types of good breaks that hadn’t been used. That by itself changed my opinion about Funkadelic and made me really see how different the two groups were.

Whats the difference between Blueprint vs. Funkadelic and a Mash-up?

Well i think the standard “mash-up” is basically about taking vocals or lyrics that aren’t really new, and are fairly popular mixed with instrumentals that are already sort of popular and bringing the two worlds together. The stuff I’ve done with the Greenhouse vs Radiohead and now with the Blueprint vs Funkadelic project is more from a fan and producer’s perspective. I sit around listening to these records and I do them as a fan first. I just start making beats out of everything that i think is usable then i start putting rhymes to it. Sometimes the rhymes are songs that I’ve had lying around for a while, and other times they’re things i write to the beats. Sometimes there may be something that I start on a record like this and eventually flesh out and take a little bit further on another project I’m working on. It’s something that only takes me about a week or so to do because I try to really be in the moment with it, but sometimes the looseness of it is what really helps it comes together. I don’t want it to sound like i really thought it out. I want it to sound really fun and as lo-fi as possible. The only thing that prevented this project from coming out sooner was that I couldn’t find any audio interviews of the members of the bad talking for a while, but after I found that it really helped bring it together.

Who Flipped P-Funk The Best?

I’d say the D.O.C “Diggy Diggy Doc.

Your last solo album, 1988 sold like 15,000 copies. What did you decide to do a run of cd’s limited to 500 and give it away as a free download?

Truthfully it’s kind of an experiment. When I first started doing records i had this tendency to hold back for a special situation or time before I put things out, but I dont think that’s really necessary anymore because the model for getting music to people has changed so much.

Personally, I’m not into holding things back anymore. I love doing music too much. As an artist or label, you can determine the scope of a release much easier now than you could before and that’s kind of what I’m doing this for. It’s primarily for people who last heard me on 1988 and have been waiting on something new from me. Right now, I look at it as just one release of many that will start seeing the daylight. I want to see how people respond to this and hopefully people download it and share it with their friends if they like it. Continued »

Link | Posted in Columbus, Interviews, MP3, Wes Flexner | 2 Comments »
Tags: blueprint, Envelope, weightless

Earwig - “Used Kids” remix

Earwig’s still working it and HOLY CRAP is this remix of the fan favorite “Used Kids” nothing short of amazing. We love Earwig here at Donewaiting. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it a million more times (if I say it 100 times a day, it’ll only take me 27 or so years) Earwig’s got a hearty meat-and-potatoes midwest indie rock sound so to hear this techno/danceclub take on the song … damn, I NEVER would have seen that one coming. But here it is, the DJ Peter Carli (of XM radio) remix:

MP3: “Used Kids” (Radiation Room Remix)

To borrow a line from a song from my good friends The Damnwells, catch it while you can it’s the feel good hit of the summer.

Earwig’s next full band rock show (they’ve got an acoustic show in Reynoldsburg this week) is Friday, May 16 at the Rumba Cafe.

Here’s the MTV-ready video for the original version of “Used Kids” (thanks Lizard for basically writing your own article!).

PS: It should be noted that Ron House no longer works at Used Kids.

Link | Posted in Columbus, MP3 | 2 Comments »
Tags: earwig

Reactions to the Sean Bell Verdict.

I’ts funny how quickly 50 and Cam’ron were able to make songs and videos about each other but when 3 cops get off for shooting a man 50 times, no one in NYC even has 8 bars for a mixtape about the cops that belong either dead or in jail.

Hopefully they were all out in this protest:

Questlove from the Roots had this to say on Hip Hopdx:

My immediate response [to the verdict] was that, ‘I hope that muthafuckas are tearing the shit out New York City similar to Los Angeles [in 1992],’” said Quest.”And [when I said that] my friend laughed at me like, ‘C’mon now, you know better than that.’ I was like, ‘That’s the saddest shit I heard.

Journalist Kevin Powell blogged:

I am sick to my stomach and I really do not know what to say right this second. My cell and office phones have been blowing up all day, and people have been emailing me nonstop, to let me know that Detectives Michael Oliver, Gescard Isnora, and Marc Cooper, the three New York City police officers accused of shooting 50 times and murdering Sean Bell, were found not guilty on all acounts: Oliver, who fired 31 times and reloaded once, and Isnora, who fired 11 times, had been charged with manslaughter, felony assault and reckless endangerment. They faced up to 25 years in prison if convicted on all charges. Cooper, who fired four times, faced up to a year in jail if convicted of reckless endangerment. (continued

And here is Obama’s response on the Washington Post’s Website.

Link | Posted in Video, Wes Flexner | 1 Comment »