my president is black, my lambo's blue.

Young Jeezy - "My President"


Nas - "Black President"


P.S. Do you think Pac cares that Nas sampled him when it's a matter of civil rights? I feel he'll be watching from the sky tomorrow and loving it all. Holler if you see me at the inauguration!

they call you sentimental.

In my previous post I mentioned that I've been listening to a lot of The Glands. As with many of this fall's discoveries, they came to me in a 14-disk package sent by a west coast enigma. Introducing me to The Glands was a good choice because they have sucked me in. I have trouble explaining why I love them so much, I think because I feel an emotional connection to the songs. They hit me in a reminiscent way as though I've been hearing them for years and am revisiting the story. Lyrics which may seem simple have an eloquence and elegance in execution. Musically, they benefit from many unique influences and are a bit Guided By Voices or Pavement-esque. I have heard them described as "high-quality '90s college radio fare" and I can't say that I disagree.

My question is why this band never achieved greater recognition or even a cult following. Reading articles about them from the late 90's and early 2000's, it seems like the journalists put The Glands as being poised for success. Their self-titled sophomore album (2000) was hailed as "...an indie-rock masterpiece" (9 of 10 rating) by Spin Magazine. Today that is juxtaposed with the same record being on a list of "the best indie albums no one's ever heard." No one really knows if they broke up, and there is a cloud of mystery surrounding their period of silence. There is also a third album in limbo due to a rumored squabble with the Capricorn label. Ultimately, I want to disseminate information on The Glands because I believe in them at a high level. With the right marketing, or a few years later, this band could have blown up. I sincerely hope that they have more to bring to the table.

The following are snippets of my most highly recommended songs:

• Fortress by The Glands
• Welcome To New Jersey by The Glands
• Skin by The Glands
• When I Laugh by The Glands

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and everything is going to the beat.

This cold and dreary winter I have had trouble locating my normal and healthy amount of musical inspiration. It's been more difficult to find a song that can both calm me down and hype me up. Instead I have been huddled under the covers with 23 (2007) by Blonde Redhead, The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place (2003) by Explosions in the Sky, and various lyrical lo-fi tracks by The Glands. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, I need something with more pep. I need something that suits blustery, yet helps me forget my blues.

Passion Pit are quickly filling the void with their addictive melodies and electronic charm. They mix layers of mellow with hyper synth and falsetto vocals. "Sleepyhead" is my favorite so far- it's in a commercial, but who cares. It's been stuck in my head for three days straight. "Live to Tell the Tale" is also highly recommended, with its tender vocals and dreamy synths.

she's so lackadaisical, should have been a west coast bride.

& my love for Pavement.

Yesterday I practiced with my friend's band and we covered "Cut Your Hair" (1994) by Pavement. It got me thinking about how they are still and indie rock cult classic nearly a decade after they disbanded. Beyond that, they are one of my favorite bands ever.

Why?
1. The impeccable, if often nonsensical, lyrics (i.e. "Lip balm on watery clay/ Relationships hey, hey hey.")
2. Stephen Malkmus's voice. With its unique timbre, imperfect pitch, and natural emotiveness, Malkmus carries the words without it ever seeming like he's trying too hard.
3. Talented Musicians. They have the ability to accentuate the tone and intent of each song. This includes a full range of guitar sounds and the always appropriate and complimentary percussion.
4. Their laid-back west coast cool.
5. The fact that they stayed on an indie label through their whole career.

Usually I am highly against the idea of any of my favorite bands getting back together because I think it ruins things. I am probably one of the only people who doesn't want to see a Smiths reunion. But I predict that Pavement will eventually reunite in some capacity and be just as cool as they always were. [And if you like prog rock feel free to check out Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks].

Links:
"Cut Your Hair"-

"Summer Babe" Live-

the revolution will not be televised...

There was a change in me from the moment I stepped into Jonathan England's Intro to African American studies class nearly four years ago. I realized that African American studies was one of my life's passions, following on the heels of my hip-hop addiction and continuing interest in black culture. And yet the cynic in me did not think I would live to see a black president. Last night was, and will continue to be, one of the proudest moments of my life. It is a day that will live in my heart forever. It is a story I will tell my children and grandchildren as I teach them equality, progress, acceptance, and unity. All is not fixed by this great gesture, but with Barack Obama as the President of the United States there is an overwhelming feeling of hope.

As I walked into the jam-packed Bohemian Caverns on election night, there was a sense of positive but nervous energy. I got on the moon bounce, drank some Ciroc, and celebrated every time a state went blue. Then at about 11 PM, CNN projected Obama to be the winner. Everyone went wild, screaming and shrieking, and hugging. I was crying for civil rights, for human rights, for the hope that I didn't allow myself to have until the very moment it all happened. The streets were insanity, and it was a great great moment to be in our nation's capital.

Obama's acceptance speech was a powerful statement of what has and will be achieved. He spoke American spirit, and promise, an entity that pushes us forward and allows us to set aside our differences to become one. Causing sobs to escape my lungs he referenced Martin Luther King Jr. in saying:

And it is that [American] promise that forty five years ago today, brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand together on a Mall in Washington, before Lincoln's Memorial, and hear a young preacher from Georgia speak of his dream. The men and women who gathered there could've heard many things. They could've heard words of anger and discord. They could've been told to succumb to the fear and frustration of so many dreams deferred. But what the people heard instead – people of every creed and color, from every walk of life – is that in America, our destiny is inextricably linked. That together, our dreams can be one. "We cannot walk alone," the preacher cried. "And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back."

So bump some old school jams and pour out a little liquor for those who passed before they could witness this. We are living a revolution. "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

hangin' on to you.

For various reasons, I have recently rediscovered my love of Fleetwood Mac. They aren't what I would normally listen to, but they were a staple at home growing up. I have always had a fascination with Stevie Nicks in particular and so I've decided to detail a couple of my favorite Fleetwood songs. I didn't pick the most popular or well known songs, but I picked those that are most aestetically pleasing to me at this time. Each of these songs have particular meaning in my life right now and happen to be written/performed by Nicks.

"I Don't Want to Know," Rumours (1977)
This song was written shortly after the dissolution of Nicks' relationship with fellow band member Lindsey Buckingham. It is easy to understand her perspective that even though things get crazy after a breakup, there is no real ill will between the parties. Future songs by both Nicks and Buckingham show a bit more animosity, but I love this song because it remains upbeat despite the adversity. Hand claps, jangly guitars, and tight harmonies define the tone. The catchy chorus brings it all together, saying, "I don't want to know the reasons why/ Love keeps right on walking down the line./ I dont want to stand between you and love,/ Honey, I just want you to feel fine."

"Gypsy," Mirage (1982)
With plucky guitars and a minimal but immaculate arrangement, the focus is kept on Nicks' haunting voice and lyrics. Gypsy has a very melancholic vibe to it, touching on loss, being alone, but also starting over. The repeating themes shown with the lyrics "And it all comes down to you,/ Well you know that it does,/ Well, lightning strikes...maybe once...maybe twice..." are clearly lamenting something, but leaving room for renewal. Nicks initially wanted to use this song for her solo debut, but it took on new meaning when her friend Robin Anderson died of Leukemia, and she kept it for Fleetwood Mac. The outro is an incredibly complex Lindsey Buckingham solo, which will probably hinder me in my quest to record a cover of this song.

Recommended Tracks From Stevie's First Solo Record- Bella Donna (1981):
"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around"
"Think About it"
"After the Glitter Fades"

sweet girl.

My first weekend back in College Park, and hopefully working in the city for good, I knew I had to find something to do to counteract all of my prior downtime at home and the horrific job search. After two mediocre house parties and an advanced screening of Choke, there was the pièce de résistance: The Flying Eyes, Ringo Deathstarr, and 2 1/2 Teeth at WMUC radio station.

Now I have been curious about Ringo Deathstarr for a while and this is another a reason why being affiliated with WMUC really pays off. I got to see this band that intrigues me all for a $3-5 suggested donation. All I really knew about them going in was that I thoroughly enjoy listening to their EP. They had played DC the night before, but I hadn't been able to make it so I was really happy they put on another show. With near perfect timing, we arrived shortly after they took the stage.



In the small studio that is the liveroom, there was little separation between band and audience. The stylishly clad group banged, clanged, and sang away, the room reverberating with feedback, rhythm, and echo. Everyone was sweating, dancing, gazing, and even moshing. I came out with some new battlescars as well. The set was flawless and the band seemed taken with the crowd's involvement. They even hung around afterwards just chilling and speaking with the kids, all without an ounce of arrogance. I was so envious at how effortlessly they seemed to pull it all off.

Finally, what I found is that all of the Jesus & Mary Chain comparisons don't do either of the groups justice. Yes, I would consider Ringo Deathstarr to be shoegaze, but not in a purely traditional sense. They have taken a modern spin on the genre, and have made it their own. While they could sound like a mixture of Psychocandy and Loveless, that's so cliche and Ringo Deathstarr have their own sound and presence.