Jason Toney

Cold!

Cold!, originally uploaded by misterjt.

Good enough excuse as any to test out the new flickr/vox posting feature.

My Mantra Song

and the running undercurrent of just about everything I write on Vox.

It's Your World, Pts. 1 & 2

Common

Now, I love both parts 1 & 2 but at 3:51 of this song, the kids come in talking about what they are going to Be and Lonnie "Pops" Lynn, Common's father, gets on and goes off. I think about and quote this all the time.

Just be, people. Just be.

*note: My Mantra Song  is not the same as my Theme Song or my Favorite Song. Those are for another time.

Best Music of '06: Two Ends of the Spectrum

My Best of '06 answer in two parts. This is the first in a series of extended entries about those parts.

Veneer

José González

Veneer is an exercise in simplicity, with a somber and contemplative tone deepened by an affinity for bossa nova and flamenco. At 27, Gonzalez has aligned himself with folk artists who operate under the belief that quiet truly is the new loud.

 - A Quiet 'Veneer' from Jose Gonzalez, NPR, 01.23.06

Danity Kane

Danity Kane

The CD will stand in a high place in music history because of its pure musical perfection. The harmonies all fall into place to create a beautiful sound that intrigues not only the ear, but the mind. By mastering these essentials of music, Danity Kane sets itself apart from other groups.

- Danity Kane, Teen Ink, 11.06

QotD: Top 5 in '06 - Music

What are your top 5 CDs/albums of 2006? 
Submitted by eliz. s.

When have I ever been able to limit a music list to 5? I'll break these down album by album later but for now:

1. J Dilla aka Jay Dee - Donuts
2. Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
3. Jose Gonzalez - Veneer
4. Justin Timberlake - Futuresex/Lovesounds
5. Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat

or...

1. Madlib - The Beat Konducta Vol 1 & 2: Movie Scenes
2. Murs & 9th Wonder - Murray's Revenge
3. Robin Thicke - The Evolution of Robin Thicke
4. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control
5. Danity Kane - Danity Kane

I'll probably do a 12 after 12 list at the end of the year that takes more critical consideration of music but these ten albums are, by far, my most listened to full productions released in 2006 according to last.fm and the numbers in iTunes and Urge. I broke them down into 2 lists of 5 as, in general, I find most of these albums as complimentary to each other (Veneer and Danity Kane standing pretty solidly as loners on the two ends of the spectrum - one is the high end of folk mastery; the other is pure pop confection without pretense) but we'll get into that later.

For now, there you have it.

Vox Hunt: Fortunate

Show us a fortune from a fortune cookie.
Submitted by AdamB.

Fortune

QotD: Warning: Handle With Care

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?
Submitted by chris.

Been beat up and battered round
Been sent up, and I've been shot down
Youre the best thing that I've ever found
Handle me with care

Reputations changeable
Situations tolerable
Baby, you're adorable
Handle me with care

I'm so tired of being lonely
I still have some love to give
Won't you show me that you really care

Everybody's got somebody to lean on
Put your body next to mine and dream on

I've been fobbed off, and I've been fooled
I've been robbed and ridiculed
In day care centers and night schools
Handle me with care

Been stuck in airports, terrorized
Sent to meetings, hypnotized
Overexposed, commercialized
Handle me with care
- The Traveling Wilburys (as sung by Jenny Lewis).

Handle With Care

Jenny Lewis With The Watson Twins

Speakeasy: Any Given Sunday

In a very religious nation, blacks are the most religious of all. Nationally, 83 percent describe themselves as Christian. Accordingly, 67 percent believe in an afterlife in either heaven or hell. Surveys show that only 3 percent of blacks report having no religion but instead are the Americans most likely to participate in religious activities like prayer, Bible reading and worship attendance. They are most likely to strongly agree that the Bible is totally accurate and to strongly disagree that Jesus sinned while on earth.

Their church services are even 70 percent longer than whites', and blacks are among the most generous givers to religious organizations; while nationally three out of every four dollars donated go to religious institutions, the figure is nine out of 10 for African-Americans. The black tradition of tithing (a biblical requirement to give a set percentage -- usually 10 -- to the church) is strong enough to have propelled affluent, majority black Prince George's County in Maryland into the top five counties in the nation for charitable donations.

Without a doubt then, blacks are America's most religious group. On any given Sunday, blacks all over America fill church pews to have their hearts and minds filled with ... what? If you guessed turning the other cheek and offering paeans to tolerance, you'd be in for a shock.

- Souls on Ice, Debra J. Dickerson, Salon.com, 11.27.06

Just go head and read the whole thing.

Wow. Ms. Dickerson pulls no punches on this one.

Mood Music: Season's Change

Season's Change

King Britt Presents Sylk 130

Sweaters and Fuzzy socks. Coats and Jackets. Gray skies. Chicken Soup. Methinks Winter has finally set up shop in Southern California.

This week's forecast. (Yes, I know. It's much colder where you are. But here, last week at this time, it was about 85 degrees. Let us have our winter.)

This is How Wii Do It

Flickr group: wii motion

Wii - it's not just a gaming system. It's a movement.

Revolution!!

Song For Sunday: Third Rock

Third Rock

Pure Essence

The Pure Essence was a previously unknown Cincinnati, Ohio ensemble until collectors Dante Carfagna and DJ Shadow turned up two copies of the band’s supremely rare 45 ''Wake Up'' on the microscopic Mantra label. ''Wake Up'' unfolds over six minutes into an epic jam of plaintive guitar licks and urgent soul vocals. On ''Third Rock'', the lead singer’s vocal stylings suggest a Sly Stone influence, until the huge chorus, when it becomes evident that Pure Essence definitely have their own bag.

- Clone Records Item Description