Safe As Milk

Oh damn.

This is easily one of my favorite records of the last 10 years. I can generally resist the pull of a “deluxe edition” of something I already own, but the goodies here might be too good to pass up.

CD Madvillainy “2” The Madlib Remix. 25 tracks. Read more below.

7-INCH “One Beer (Drunk Version)” Madlib’s original 2004 version, lost until recently on the floor of his Bomb Shelter studio. If you saw the studio you’d understand.

CASSETTE The Madvillainy Demo Tape. 12 tracks, 36 minutes. This is the first and only official release of the infamous Madvillain demo that “leaked into cyberspace,” while the album was still in progress, as DOOM alludes to in the lyrics of “Rhinestone Cowboy.”

T-SHIRT Nominated. Best Rolled L’s. Madvillain shirt.

COMIC BOOK Meanwhile… the continuation of the All Caps video, included with the CD.

THE BOX 12×13x3 inches. Wrapped in a silver like a mask.

I mean, a cassette? Dern. You can pre-order it here for $125. Kinda steep.

Have I mentioned what a fan of his I am? Dude can absolutely shred. Something about this kind of music doesn’t translate well for me when it’s done in the studio but I lurve watching these guys do it live.

It’s cool to hear these songs without all of the DangerMouse. I like the album just fine, but I prefer my Black Keys raw like this.

[via stereogum]

I had never heard of Antietam but I bought the album based on the allmusic review. I’ve had good luck with blind purchases in the past based on their good word. Opus Mixtum (amazon link) is a double cd and probably a bit more than a person should chew unless they’re way, way into this band. It took me several listens before I got it. And even now it fits better as a passive listen than it does as something I root around for to play. There is some terrific music in here, but there’s just so much in the package that it’s tough to get through the thing in one listen.

“King Me is one of a couple instrumental songs on the album. It’s got a nice groove that I think you will enjoy.

You don’t need me to tell you more about how I love this band.

I’ve covered it.

Often.

RFTC R.I.P. is a recording of their farewell concert from Halloween 2005. I wouldn’t say it’s the band in top form, since they hadn’t toured for a while before this show, but it’s clear from the recording that they were having a good time and that the crowd was deep into it as well.

“Boychucker” is a cornerstone of the RFTC catalog. Killer stop/starts build and release tension and culminate in Speedo’s Florida Declaration at about the 2:20 mark. It’s classic stuff.

This album, like most live albums, is really for the diehard fans of the band. If you don’t know anything about these guys you would be much better served to start somewhere in the rest of their catalog

I was pretty excited to get this one when it came out. I first heard the band via videos on Subterranean from their last album, “Love And Distance“.

I was disappointed when the new album, “Keep Your Eyes Ahead“, didn’t sound as good to me. I read up on what the story was and it turns out that “Love And Distance” was a departure from their sound and that the new one was a move back to why people liked them so much. I guess I just caught them at the wrong time.

Shed Your Love is a nice little (kinda) folky song. It’s the one I like best after a number of listens through the album.

And so you have an idea about what I like from these guys, here’s the video for “Everyone Knows Everyone”, from “Love And Distance”

The main theme from the 1992 movie ‘Juice‘, by Eric B. and Rakim. Goddamn I love this song.

The movie was cool, too, despite featuring Tupac. I never really dug that guy. Also of note, the score of the movie was done by Gary G Wiz, who you may know from his work with The Bomb Squad.

Been enjoying the hell out of Black Mountain’s latest album, “In the Future” (amazon.com link). Classic metal-esque riffage with plenty of sludge coming out of the amps and just enough organ to keep it from turning into a complete mess.

“Wucan” is just one of the highlights. I still can’t spit the hook in this one. Hope you enjoy it.

And there is more to check out at their MySpace.

Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? by She & Him is my new favorite song. (amazon.com link) I listened to it probably 100 times this weekend. Plus, I think Zooey is dreamy…

Ooh! And here are some live versions from a KCRW studio session.

From the mailing list:

The Raconteurs are happy to announce that in one week’s time their second album, entitled “Consolers Of The Lonely”, will be available EVERYWHERE Tuesday, March 25th.

“Album” meaning: full length vinyl, CD and digital formats; and “everywhere” meaning: local mom and pop Indie retailers, corporate superstores, supermarkets, iTunes, Amazon, the band’s own website and any other location that could get the record up and going this quickly (some places couldn’t move this fast, so they will join in as soon as they can).

It contains 14 new recordings and is being released globally on Third Man Records in conjunction with our marketing/distribution partners, XL Recordings and Warner Brothers Records.

The album was mastered and completed in the first week of March. It was then taken immediately to a vinyl pressing plant. Then to a CD pressing plant. Then preparations to sell it digitally began. March 25th became the soonest date to have it available in EVERY FORMAT AT ONCE. The band have done no interviews or advertisements for this record before this announcement.

The purpose: to get the album to the fans as soon as possible and as we promised. We wanted to get this record to fans, the press, radio, etc., all at the EXACT SAME TIME so that no one has an upper hand on anyone else regarding it’s availability, reception or perception.

With this release, The Raconteurs are forgoing the usual months of lead time for press and radio set up, as well as forgoing the all important “first week sales”. We wanted to explore the idea of releasing an album everywhere at once and THEN marketing and promoting it thereafter. The Raconteurs would rather this release not be defined by it’s first weeks sales, pre-release promotion, or by someone defining it FOR YOU before you get to hear it.

The best part of this is that they will likely tour behind it so I can have another chance to see them. I double-promise not to miss it this time, guys.