Jason Toney

May I Endtroduce to You

"I feel like I'm lovin' you in 1963" - Rachel Yamagata, 1963 [buy the album] No more mp3 bloggin' here at negroplease proper. Michelle, in her infinite wisdom, coolness, class and general badassness, designed and implemented an audioblog for me. It's called Time Wastin'. I'm giving up my defunct typepad site and putting the title to use. It's even got it's own cool sub-domain: audio.negroplease.com The last two entries from here are now over there and there will be a new post up there before the end of the week as we take a look at my favorite song from last summer and some of it's many covers and remixes in the last year. Now go over there and start wasting time. Thanks Michelle. Loves it.

Cool Songs on a Hot Ass Day

"Is there a secret place that you won't reveal?" - Nuspirit Helsinki, Honest (jazzanova remix) exclusive In case you don't know, and maybe I shouldn't be telling you because their bandwidth is gettin' murdered this month, but yewknee has a whole host of summer mixes up for your mp3 downloading pleasure. It has me thinking about what my own summer mix would be for this year. Right now it's 11 songs long and i'm not quite happy with it. It's not flowing quite like I want it to. That Nuspirit Helsinki song up there has to be on it as does Wonderful Place by N*E*R*D and Day Dreamin' by Aretha Franklin but the rest of it isn't quite speakin' to me except for Phoenix. Part new-wave, part disco, all a joy to listen to. They are a French band that backed AIR on a few tours but didn't come to my attention until Charlotte and Bob Harris spent a night running through the streets of Tokyo. They currently hold two spots on my summer mix, a little too close together. I was thinking about putting them at the beginning and end but I don't think that works. This is not your problem, though. Just mine. Anyway, let high pitched french boys sing you to your happy place. I recommend dancing to Too Young in your underwear. Especially because it's 100 million degrees in the San Fernando Valley today. Maybe we should just be dancing nekkid. Download Too Young [Buy the Lost in Translation Soundtrack]

For The Ride Home - Where I Belong

Some instrumental loveliness from Zero 7, Milton at Midnight exclusive It took nearly a month for Colour The Small One to arrive from Amazon. I received a German Import of the album but there seem to be several other releases, none of them being in the U.S. I also finally copped her 4 year old release, Healing is Difficult. The differences between the two albums are striking. Where Healing is Difficult is UK Soul with a dance sensibility, Colour the Small One is a slow burning mood record more in the vein with her work in Zero 7. It's interesting. Having listened to this album constantly in my car the past week, I'm more apt to believe that Somersault on Zero 7's When it Falls is more a Sia record than it is a Binns & Hardaker joint. Her ability to be both whimsical and afflicted in the same moment is so particular and striking and prevalent on this album that it must be about who she is and less about the Zero 7 formula. Anyway, if you catch me driving alone this week, more than likely you'll hear an off-key but passionate performance of Where I Belong. So don't treat me bad Just be glad I am strong And Where I belong And soon you will see We are blessed And Complete There's a place here for you with me Download Where I Belong [buy the album]

Mixed Bag

"Gotta love the one you love so that the whole world does swell" - Doris Svenson, Did You Give The World Some Love Today Baby? Armchair Activism, Pt. II MsLauren at Feministe is trying hard to convince me (or maybe convince herself) why she should be all about John Kerry come this fall. Check out the first of her 100 Days Stumping For Kerry. Also, I'm halfway through Arianna Huffington's Fanatics and Fools. As it moves towards her "Political-Campaign-in-a-box" conclusion, it's helping to re-invigorate my interest and resolve for this election. And, despite his exasperation with the sentiments of Armchair Activism, Pt. I, his well-reasoned response on his site (a.k.a. the right way to say "get the fuck over it") means Bejata.com doesn't get the gas face. Bloglines I'm all about the bloglines redesign. I also was really excited to see that this site had 34 subscribers until I saw that Anil's Daily Links had nearly 900 subscribers. Damn. That's juice. Mp3 Blogs I wanted to start one before it was all trendy. Too late. Anyway, welcome to all the new visitors from Tofu Hut. I'm light on the mp3s right now but expect a new feature - "For The Ride Home" - in which I give the song that I'm singing loudly and badly in my car this week because I love it so much. This week's victim is Sia and there will be some bonus tracks to go along with it. There's likely some P.E. coming down the pike too. Oh and a very specific welcome to thebeathunters out of France, whose mashups I've been enjoying of late (particularly Angie's Nights) and who brought some good perspective to that pesky political discussion. Movies I still haven't seen Spider-Man 2. I have no desire to see King Arthur. The overhyping of Anchorman has me less excited about that (as does the comedic train wreck that was the Jon Stewart/Will Farrell interview last night on the Daily Show). I, Robot continues to interest me but really I think I most want to go to these and this (that one found via So Says I). Someone should Rocky Horrify Showgirls. TV I was going to write a post for snarkfest on why you should be loving American Casino while shunning FOX's The Casino but was completely thrown off by the news that Tata died. Immediately I was concerned for Shad and Ninya and how they were coping, two people who I knew nothing about until this past Sunday when I got roped into the American Casino marathon. Such is the weirdness of reality tv. Also, some quick reviews: Reno 911! is still funny but not quite as funny as it was last season. Celebrity Poker Showdown and Crossing Jordan reruns on A&E are my favorite shows of the summer. And every week I'm pleasantly surprised on Thursday mornings that you all are enjoying our show in droves. Thanks. 'preciate it.

Armchair Activism

"Throw away yesterday, today is a brand new day." - Sia, The Church of What's Happening Now [buy the album] Disenchanted? Cynical? Pessimistic? When did this happen to me? I've always been the optimist. I could see the promise in our political process and the framing of this country. I love the ideas of political action and involvement. I think voting is important and think that if our voices could just be heard that our leadership would respond. So why can't I find the spark to be more involved in this, our "most important election" in recent times? Oh sure, I write to my senators when an important vote is coming to tell them how I would like them to vote. I get my MoveOn.org emails and participate when I see the relavence. I read Arianna Online and I get a little tinge of hope from Music For America and Involver 04 but...but what? I was thinking about all the energy surrounding Fahrenheit 9/11 and the impetus to get people out to see it and, I don't know. I felt like it was so lame, so cliche liberal. A girl remarked to her friend on the escalator after the screening, "Why do all these people need a movie to tell them that war is bad? And so what now that they all know that 'war is bad'...what are they going to do about it? When are people fuckin' going to do something?" I off-handedly mentioned in an email to some friends that I thought it was Armchair Activism. A bunch of people going to see a movie because that was going to show the powers that be that they were serious. Let's have a house party where we sit around and discuss the film and pat ourselves on the back on how we know the truth. Let's organize a nationwide bake sale to raise money for John Kerry's campaign. Yay, we're liberals. Rah rah fuckin' rah. See the cynicism? Where the fuck did that come from? But, it's interesting, the only time I get email from the democratic party is when they want money. They don't send me emails telling me about the issues that should be important to me locally and nationally. They don't send me emails about the programs and policies that they are working on that they need support for. They don't inform me of companies that support the Republican Party and why they do so or, even better, the companies that support the Democratic Party and/or progressive causes and why they are important. For that I need Utne Reader and Mother Jones Journal. Why should I care about John Kerry or the Democrats? I'm not a liberal, I'm a fuckin' progressive. I don't want to do politics, I want to do something. Something that matters. Truly, the last 4 years have made me want to be less involved in the political process, not more. S-Train talked about the "Don't Cares"...I'm not quite there but, damn, if I'm just disillusioned with the whole system. So rarely do I hear politicians talk about people anymore. I never hear politicians make real demands of the American people or say something of substance. I'm so fuckin' soundbited out that I want to scream. I'm desperate for some leadership. Clamoring for it, really. I want more Arianna's. Not just a policy wonk or a pundit or a talking head. I want some real down in the trenches work for the future. I want somebody to make me pay attention. To get me up out of this arm chair and act. Because, I'm sorry, I love all you bright eyed Move On folks and everything but damn, I'm really not trying to come to your houses with my little name tag and talk about the genius of Michael Moore. I want some better shit to do. I am trying to find some spark. I don't want to feel this way. In these difficult times, I want to have feelings of optimism and be called upon to do more and be more.

"We can do well in this country. We will have difficult times; we've had difficult times in the past; we will have difficult times in the future. It is not the end of violence; it is not the end of lawlessness; it is not the end of disorder. But the vast majority of white people and the vast majority of black people in this country want to live together, want to improve the quality of our life, and want justice for all human beings who abide in our land. Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world. Let us dedicate ourselves to that, and say a prayer for our country and for our people" - Senator Robert Kennedy

Freedom

"I'm Talkin' about Freedom, ya'll/Oh what a wonderful world this would be/If everyone could live free" - Syl Johnson, I'm Talkin' Bout Freedom 

Hmmm. It's coming. I'm not quite sure what I want to say on this Independence Day. There's a lot that's been weighing on my mind as we look toward November. I'm still mulling it over. Maybe I'll have thoughts tomorrow. For now, It's the 4th of July. Eat something grilled outside. We're cookin' with gas, ya'll.

Geezers Need Excitement

"I know it’s hard to take but her mind has been made up/There’s plenty more fish in the sea" - The Streets, Dry Your Eyes [buy the album] This is what I fear about getting older:

Like some who wrote in, I initially confused Timbaland with a well known pop singer called Justin Timberlake. Some listeners may know of the latter because he appeared with Janet Jackson during her infamous "wardrobe malfunction" at this past winter's Super Bowl broadcast. Ulaby's interview with Timbaland was about how he found inspiration in the Tolkien novels, The Lord of the Rings. It seemed an unusual combination, but Ulaby made Timbaland more comprehensible and his music more accessible. This was good cultural journalism: It introduced me to an artist I didn't know. It told me why he is important and why he is an artist. I may not run out to buy his CD, but at least I can make an informed choice. - NPR's Ombudsman (initially found via Anil)

Nevermind the confusion between Timbaland and Timberlake, which is just crazy, but then to not even make the connection that there's a relationship between Timbaland and JT? To be so out of touch with contemporary music that while listening to a music piece that uses several Justin Timberlake tracks that Timbaland produced and, I believe, even refers to Timbaland in context with Justin and still not correlate that not only are they not the same person but that Timbaland produced what was the signature track on Justin's solo album while also being one of the most creative and forward thinking producers in pop music today? Sigh. Please shoot me in 30 years if I'm on some old man bullshit like that. I have absolutely no plans for this weekend? Wanna hang out? I'm trying to go to the Apple Store in Santa Monica tomorrow so I can meet up with alphabet girl and see the guy she manages perform. Other than that...it's lookin' like DVDs and chores. What kind of shit is that? Also, I will buy you something off your wishlist if you can figure out what the hell's going on with my typekey and comment problems. The milk's gone bad. hit me up via email and if you're not crazy I'll give you access to my MT and you can work your magic. My mind just is not working looking at all that code today.

10 after 6

"When I'm feeling alone, you feel like home, you feel like home" - Zero 7, Somersault (Dangermouse Remix) Halfway There
The Top 10 Albums of the first half of 2004. In order. 10. AIR - Talkie Walkie AIR is best heard when you're by yourself, or at least want to be alone. Talkie Walkie feels solemn and pensive, looking inward. It's an empty park on a blustery gray day. Talkie Walkie also has tons of tracks that you'd want to end a mix CD with. I've listened to it less as the year has gone on but it dominated my winter. Download Universal Traveler (25 itunes spins) [Buy the album] 9. Toots & The Maytals - True Love I'm a pretty new listener to Reggae, Ska and it's roots. This compilation with one of the originators of the style performing with some of the best artists across all forms of America's popular music is a great introduction to Toots Hibbert's songs and his powerful, striking voice. Download Reggae Got Soul (featuring Ken Boothe and Marcia Griffiths) (11 itunes spins) [Buy the album] 8. Madvillain - Madvillainy Madlib always blows me away with his production. The gritty tracks he's built for MF Doom are perfect for Doom's many rhyme aliases and Madvillian stands strong from start to finish. Download Fancy Clown (featuring Viktor Vaughn) (8 itunes spins) [Buy the album] 7. Cee-Lo Green...is the Soul Machine Cee-Lo is baad, man. Hip hop so funky it makes your bootyhole pucker. "Whenever you need some soul, start him up." Indeed. Download My Kind of People (featuring Jazze Pha & Menta Malone) (24 itunes spins) [Buy the album] 6. Modest Mouse - Good News for People who love Bad News No, I'm not obsessed with Float On. It's a cool song that's been squeezed into a smashing pumpkins video and is a little too radio friendly for an act that is more more interesting than pop music is allowed to be but whose to say that that's a bad thing? If Float On gets folks to hear The Good Times Are Killing Me and Ocean Breathes Salty and the blaring of horns just for the sake of horns, well, then that's a good thing. "And that is that and this is this." Download Ocean Breathes Salty (13 itunes spins) [Buy the album] 5. DJ Nu-Mark - Hands On It's not just that I love his blending of intro tracks from several different albums and artists into a head nod dream (and don't think that I'm not totally biting that concept with all the intros and skits I've got...it's damn harder than it sounds) it's the middle of this album that I love. From Chali 2na's jump up and get down Chali 2na Comin' Thru to Viktor Vaughn's Saliva it's fun , upbeat, rarely heard tracks from some very adept rhyme slingers over really solid beatwork. Nu-Mark is always impressive when he's showing his turntablist skills live, I'm incredibly happy that he's as adept at picking tracks on his own compilation album. Download Melody (7 itunes spins) [Buy the album] 4. Ozomatli - Street Signs I've only had this album in my possession for a few days but it's speaking to me. It's probably the perfect album for a Los Angeles Summer. It sounds like LA. It's alive and vibrant. It makes me sing loudly in my car. It makes me want to get out of my car at stop lights and dance. Download Te Estoy Buscando (3 itunes spins) [Buy the album] 3. RJD2 - Since We Last Spoke It's just a special, special album. RJD2 takes the sensibilities of a hip hop producer and just takes them to a completely different world. Wonderful, romantic, multi-faceted music. Get Iced Lightning on (18 itunes spins) [Buy the album] 2. Rewind 3 The album with the most spins combined in my itunes library, Ubiquity's compilation of many of the artists on their label (and some that aren't) doing covers and remakes of some of their favorite songs is inspired and awe-inspiring. Antibalas, This Kid Named Miles, Nobody, Greyboy and the rest just do beautiful and unexpected things on what are already great tracks. I think everyone needs this is in their music library but that's just me being hyperbolic. Download Genevieve (33 itunes spins) [Buy the album] 1. Zero 7 - When It Falls Now, this is just for me. I reviewed the album earlier this year and then I sort of reviewed the show. It's the absolute embodiment of my first 6 months in 2004. Download Passing By (12 itunes spins) [Buy the album]