The Ghost, plus Art of the Mix

So... new Ghostface with a titty-delicious album cover. It must be good, right? Maybe. I avoided putting my commentary out right when I first heard the album, as to not jump the gun on hasty opinions, but more than a week or so later, I'm still not sure how I feel. It bears definite similarities to fishscale, but while fishscale branched out with the far out sounds on tracks like Just Blaze's "The Champ", Pete Rock's "Dogs of War", and DOOM's "Underwater", The Big Doe Rehab is relatively narrow in the scope of its sound and lacking in big gun producers.

The production is heavily dipped in a classic R&B sound. Two appearances from the Rhythm Roots All-Stars take things in the direction of latin funk and afrobeat, but both appearances are saved for skits, not songs. I'm not entirely sure what to think of Ghost's flow on the album either. Previously, he's used a slow calm voice for smoother R&B tracks. Here we see him spitting in the hype shouted style he normally reserves for more bombastic cuts. It provides an interesting dynamic between the vocals and the beat, but it also leaves the listener wondering how much time and thought went into the album as a whole. Final verdict, Ghostface on a bad day is still Ghostface. This is an album I'll definitely keep in rotation, but it's not destined to become one of the Wu Tang classics.

One of the tracks that stands out for me is "Shakey Dog Starring Lolita" feat. Raekwon. The track is a sequel of sorts to "Shakey Dog" off of Fishscale and is one of the few times on the album where it seems like Ghost's flow was well matched to the track. He goes a bit off the deep end towards the end of the track, though.

"Shakey Dog Starring Lolita" feat. the Chef by Ghostface Killah

In Other News,

I've recently gotten into the website Art of the Mix. Users post up the tracklists of their own mixes (mp3, CD, minidisc, or mix tape) and share feedback with each other. There are a TON of wack mixes on here, but I've also come across some interesting stuff, like A Danceable Solution to Teenage Revolution and Babylon's Burning Vol. 1. My first contribution to the site went up today (you can see it here) and I decided I'd share it here with you folks. The zip file contains all the tracks from side A and side B, albeit out of order. Here's the tracklisting for those of you too lazy to click over to AOTM.

Download, Cigarbox Guitars Volume 3, Riot Riot Fight
(megaupload)

Side A

1. "Start the Riot" by Atari Teenage Riot
2. "I Feel Like Dying" by Lil' Wayne
3. "Silver Rocket" by Sonic Youth
4. "Indecision Time" by Hüsker Dü
5. "Atmosphere" by Joy Division
6. "What's the Latest?" by Riff-Raff
7. "Lighters" by Plow United
8. "Never as Tired as When I'm Waking Up" by LCD Soundsystem
9. "Lightworks" by J Dilla Jay Dee
10. "Ain't the Devil Happy" by Jeru tha Damaja
11. "Dead Flowers" by the Rolling Stones
12. "Remainder" by Rites of Spring
13. "Purgatory" by Indecision
14. "Natural's Not In It" (from the Peel Sessions) by Gang of Four

Side B

1. "Bonjour Jeune Fille" by The Blow
2. "A Dream" (Blockhead Remix) by Donny Hathaway
3. "Patience" by Rites of Spring
4. "Me and You" by Egg Hunt
5. "USA" by Reagan Youth
6. "Work, Part II" feat. Big L by Gang Starr
7. "Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards" by Billy Bragg
8. "House of Cards" by Radiohead
9. "Pass This On" by the Knife
10. "Be Good" by Tokyo Police Club
11. "Las Cruces Jail" by Two Gallants
12. "Banned in D.C." by Bad Brains
13. "Donuts (outro)" by J Dilla Jay Dee
14. "Workonit" by J Dilla Jay Dee
15. "Minor Threat" by Minor Threat

I know it might not seem like it, but Atari Teenage Riot into Lil' Wayne sounds SO GOOD.

Mixtape Murder: The Re-Up

Back in the summer, I posted about DJ Eleven's mixtape Summer Madness, which I loved. Recently I came across a sequel of sorts called Winter Sadness, and I have to say I like it even better. Aside from a disapointing remix of Gza's Cold World with D'Angelo, every track is great. Here's your playlist:

1.“Stormy Weather” by Etta James
2.“In The Cold, Cold Night” by the White Stripes
3.“Til It Happens To You” by Corrine Bailey Rae
4.“Dream” by Alice Smith
5.“The Rain” by K-Os
6.“And This Is Love” by Gladys Knight
7.“Rain” by Bruce Ruffin
8.“Ain’t No Sunshine” by Ken Boothe
9.“Bela Lugosi Is Dead” by Bauhaus
10.“Can’t Stand The Rain” by Ann Peebles
11.“King Of Sorrow” by Sade
12.“The Root” by D'Angelo
13."Quiet Storm” by Smokey Robinson
14.“Down And Out In New York City” by James Brown
15.“Cold World” remix by the GZA/Genius with D'Angelo
16.“Stop The Rain” by the Average White Band
17.“Date With The Rain” by Eddie Kendricks
18.''13th Floor / Growing Old” by Outkast
19.“Ice” by Spirit
20.“All That I Got Is You” by Ghostface feat. Mary J. Blige
21.“Ain’t No Love” by Bobby "Blue" Bland
22."Winter In America" by Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson
23.“California Dreamin’” by Lee Moses
24.“I Forgot To Be Your Lover” by William Bell
25.“We’ve Come Too Far To End It Now” by Smokey Robinson
26."Winter Sadness" by Kool & The Gang
27.“Refuge (When It’s Cold Outside)” by John Legend

Download the mp3s in zip form from DJ Eleven himself here.


Also,

I've also found myself listening a lot lately to a CD I burned over the summer. I gave the original to the Douchipster for a long car ride, but I recently burned myself a slightly revised version, so here it is, for your listening pleasure:

Cigarbox Guitars
Volume 2: The Dutchmaster Collection

1. "Distopian Dream Girl" by Built to Spill
They push out such a tangled guitar sound here. I love it. The opening chords push my head into a bop everytime the CD starts.



2. "Heavy Metal" by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
The new CYHSY stuff that I've heard is starting to grow on me, but I can't even put it close to the spastic fuzz rock of their debut, especially this song. Plus the harmonica reminds me of the "Lucky Louie" theme, the best theme song on TV. The wife is on some new sitcom now that "Lucky Louie" has been cancelled. She seems just as crazy and sexy, but I'm not having it.



3. "I'm a Loner Dottie, a Rebel" by the Get Up Kids
There's a school of thought that if the Get Up Kids recorded one great song, that this is it. I happen to think they recorded a ton of great songs, but I have to say that this tune is particularly rocking. Plus, they reference Pee-Wee's Big Adventure in the title.



4. "The Seed" by Cody ChesnuTT
I mentioned a short while ago how I think "The Seed 2.0" with the roots is far superior to this version. I still hold to it, but that doesn't mean I don't have a special appreciation of this song. I mean, it's lo-fi, so it has to be better on some level right? Isn't that why I started listening to the Mountain Goats? Wait no, that's cuz they're awesome.



5. "The Great Communicator" by Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
I always enjoy me some Ted, but his high-energy tunes are really where it's at. Everytime I hear this song it makes me want to catch him in concert again.



6. "If She Wants Me" by Belle and Sebastian
Here we let up from the rock rock rockin for a moment to waft along in the breeze.



7. "Cocktails" by Rancid
I may have a ton of animosity towards Tim Armstrong and Lars Fredericksen (like for recording two self titled albums), but I'll be damned if this song isn't a helluva lot of fun. The whole album it's off of, Life Won't Wait, is pretty cool. There's a ton of guest musicians, Buju Banton, Eric Stefani, Vic Ruggiero, Roger Miret, and the guys from the Specials. There's even a C-Squat reference. It's nice to hear Rancid make an authentic New York reference (parts of the album were recorded up here, as well as in Jamaica and New Orleans) after their other mad arbitrary references (hangin out on 52nd and broadway?). Plus, there's more harmonica that reminds me of "Lucky Louie".



8. "Damaged Goods" by Gang of Four
I was at an open bar a month or so ago and this song came on. I don't think I stopped dancing until morning.



9. "Chesterfield King" by Jawbreaker
This is one of the only songs I can think of where the sad kid gets the girl and it doesn't end up being overly cheesy. Plus it makes you want to smoke cigarettes. This one is for the kids.



10. "Jailbird Bars" by Cleveland Bound Death Sentence
This song is like the sonic equivalent of getting kicked in the balls and liking it. This song is like the girl who you pulled her hair cuz you liked her, then she gave you a purple nerple and you fell in love. This song is like the one girl you used to see at punk shows who wasn't just there with her boyfriend.



11. "Summertime" by Crimpshrine
One of two tracks on this mix that Aaron Cometbus rocks the skins for. Usually in punk rock, the drums are so homogenous, but he really has a distinct sound, which can be hard in any genre. I don't think Green Day would've had the sound they did in the early days if it wasn't for this track.



12. "Blank Generation" by Richard Hell & the Voidoids
I had a chance a week or so ago to meet Richard Hell, but it cost 8 bucks. I had just spent my last few dollars on pommes frites, plus a bunch of beer had just been purchased and was in hand. So it wasn't really in the cards. Too bad though.



13. "Moonlight Mile" by the Rolling Stones
I don't really like the Stones at all, especially Mick fucking Jagger. I can't deny Keith Richards guitar playing though and every now and again, I like the way Jagger's voice falls over it. I don't know if I'd like this song so much if it wasn't in a great Sopranos episode though.



14. "The Boy With the Thorn in his Side" by the Smiths
Maybe my favorite Smiths song to sing loudly when I'm driving. Also, I tend to whistle this when I'm walking.



15. "Window Display" by Enon
Hands down my favorite enon song. I was so bummed when I caught them live and they didn't play it.

16. "Almost Crimes" by Broken Social Scene
C'mon, just try to NOT dance.



17. "Modern Love" by David Bowie
Once again, I have to dare you to try not dancing. My answer changes all the time, but I think lately, if someone asked me, this is my favorite Bowie incarnation.



18. "Huddle Formation" by the Go! Team
Download this mix and you can hear this song OUTSIDE of the context of a car commercial.


19. "The Sons of Cain" by Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
Oh Ted, so nice, you made the CD twice. This is the one song I added to the original version. This song just came across my radar, and I fucking love it.

DOWNLOAD THE CD

dear summer,

I got off work early today, flew down the Bronx River Parkway without having to worry about the traffic I usually encounter, got home, sat down, and listened to this mixtape.

Looking on paper, it seems like DJ Eleven went overboard picking "summer-y" songs, especially since the word summer pops up like 100 times, but listen to it and it's like the dude just took July and bottled it. It's so good, check it out.

DJ Eleven

I'm on my New York Shit

So it seems that that Busta Rhymes' "New York Shit" has got New York Rappers clamoring to rep their city, lest they be accused of just not keeping it real. One of the results of the trend is the DJ Green Lantern and DJ Kay Slay collabo mixtape, On My New York Shit. There's a huge roster of talent here, with the movement headed by Busta Rhymes, with back up firepower coming from Papoose, Nas, Hi-Tek, Jim Jones, Remy Ma, Lloyd Banks, Timbaland, Styles P., Fat Joe, Wyclef Jean, Snyplife, Swizz Beats, Tru Life, Akon, Prinz and Grafh of Blackhand Ent., Red Café, J.R. Writer, Jae Millz, Cory Gunz, Hell Rell, Uncle Murda, Stack Bundles, Maino, Mike Beck, Tony Sunshine, Scram Jones, Joell Ortiz, Flawless, plus elder statesmen Ghostface, Raekwon, Kool G. Rap, Big Daddy Kane, and Lord Tariq. So first of all, there's a lot of NY talent that's noticeably absent. But you can't get everybody on one tape and there is a lot represented here. I was especially pysched to see that Dj Hi-Tek produced a track for Busta and Nas, and it turned out to be one of my favorites, along with Uncle Murda's "Murdera!" which has a ridiculous reggae beat and a great chorus. "Uptown" from Jae Millz, and Five Deadly Venoms from the old guard of Starks, Rae, and company also turned out to be solid tracks. It's a fun tape to listen to and it's nice to see such fervent New York pride, genuine as it may or may not be, but I do have some mixed feelings about certain parts. Two songs jack beats from the "Liquid Swords" album and on one hand you could look at that like, "Oh hey they're using beats from New York Classics, just like they opened the tape with the New York State of Mind beat." Jim Jones freestyles over Liquid Swords though and even though I do kind of enjoy it, is Jim Jones really cool enough to be spitting over that beat? I'm pretty sure the answers no. Either way, check it out. There's some cool sound effects, some enjoyable Frank Sinatra, and Busta's speeches are awesome.

You can see the tracklisting here,

and you can stream the whole mixtape at hiphopdx.com

In Related News, I heard Joe Budden's answer to the whole New York Shit craze yesterday.

Joe Budden - On My New Jerz Shit.

and, a little something from the man who would be King of New York if it weren't for a lot of ignorance in the world:

Talib Kweli and Jean Grae - New York Shit Freestyle