San Fernando Valley Tourism

I'd like to thank "drjedly" for this great portrait of my hometown, the San Fernando Valley:

To be fair, though, Canoga Park isn't that bad:

Bass Thumpin Thursday's -- The Live Edition

Its summer.  And what is summer about?  Live music.

First up this week is the newest band the talented, yet underrated, Jack White has joined:  The Dead Weather.  I really do not know what “I Cut Like A Buffalo” means, but this track has a great groove.

Summer is the time for massive electronic music festivals, and this next song goes back to 2004.  Check out this clip of DJ Tiesto headlining with his classic “Lethal Industry,” infused with some good old fashioned live violin.  Electric, of course.

Live shows give artists a chance to shine—while album tracks may be perfectly produced masterpieces, musicians playing live can truly show off their spontaneity, skill, and soul.  Stevie Ray Vaughan truly knew how to do just that, showing off his ability to play a guitar in any way imaginable in "Third Stone from the Sun."  Even when he beats the hell out of his guitar it sounds amazing.

One very good reason to be jealous of professional musicians is how much fun their workplace is.  Imagine going to work every day to be trapped in a cubicle.  Surrounded by low, fake walls, facing your desk.  But, you get to listen to the music you want, on your desk lay two decks and a mixer, and beyond that desk there's a crowd of fans rocking out to flashing strobes.  Plus, if you're in The Bloody Beetroots, you get to wear a venom mask to work.  And drink hard A at work.  Here's the DJ's perspective of Warp.

 --tonotopik

Fucking Read Something Already

Check out some of these good reads in no particular order

LeBron's Mural Coming Down in Cleveland via Yahoo Sports

LeBron James: True to his generation via The L.A. Times

Michael Jordan weighs in on LeBron James and Kobe Bryant via Yahoo Sports

Several Dozen Bundles of Marijuana Recovered from Oil Tanker via The L.A. Times

Prince Is Right. The Internet Is Over. by Quentin Hardy via Forbes

American Dream Is Elusive for New Generation via The New York Times

Mel Gibson's Mainstream Hollywood Career is Over -- For Real, This Time via The L.A. Times

Mr Hudson Poised to Become ‘Bigger Than Kanye’ (With Some Help From Betty White) via Yahoo Music

Marvel: Norton Won't Return As Hulk For 'Avengers'; Norton's Rep Responds via Yahoo Movies

Interview with GLC GLC: Space Age Pimpin' by Tanya M. Fowlow via hiphopdx.com

Producer's Corner: Stoupe by William E. Ketchum III via hiphopdx.com

Interview with The Roots The Roots: Growing Pains by Kathy Iandoli via hiphopdx.com

Interview with Chuck D of Public Enemy Chuck D: How to Rap by Paul Edwards via hiphopdx.com

Repeal Of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Paves Way For Gay Sex Right On Battlefield, Opponents Fantasize via The Onion

Lady Gaga Gets Wet in NYC

Lady Gaga get's all wet in New York City performing for the crowd outside The Today Show on July 9th. As an added bonus, check out Gaga's performace of "Bad Romance" and "Speechless" at the American Music Awards in 2009.

Abraham Linkin - I Got It At Ross

The clothing retailer is trying to reach out to young people with this version of their new jingle performed by Abraham Linkin.

I Got It At Ross - watch more funny videos

Bass Thumpin' Thursdays

Fuck I love Summer. Girls in bikinis, popsicles, and all the kids are out of school spending their disposable income so we usually see a surge of artists who push out their music just in time for Summer. Not to be left out in the cold, I'd like to bring you a few Summer Jams that have been making the rounds on my hard drive. First up is everyone's favorite hottie, Katy Perry with her anthem "California Gurls". I post this not because the song is everywhere and not because there is an appearance by Snoop, but because the video is so freaking sweet. Literally. BTW Peep Snoop's suit. Only he, or The Bishop Don Juan, could get away with wearing a suit like that. My white ass would be knocked out on the spot if I rolled outside in his get-up.

Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg - California Gurls

Next up is a classic from 1992 you may have heard of. If not, you better check yourself. Ice Cube's "It Was a Good Day" was one of the many single's spawned from his most successful album, The Predator. Though The Predator was a brutal and harsh depiction of Los Angeles, released only months after the 1992 L.A. Riots, "It Was a Good Day" was a stand out single that quelled the heat in the Summer of 1993 and made us all think about that one day when everything went right.

Ice Cube - Today Was a Good Day

Now normally I don't like to promote French artists as those frog eaters tend to stink up the blog (jk), but Christophe Willem's video for Heartbox epitomizes the Summer video. You've got girls in bikinis dancing around, and non of the airbrushed nipples of American videos. You've got to love the French for not being shy about topless women (not that this video has any... I'm just sayin'). Check it out. It's on Christphe's album Caféine.

Christopher Willem - Heatbox

Finally, here's a classic that proves you don't have to be derogatory or misogynistic to make a good Summer anthem. Back in 1991, before the aforementioned riots, when Will Smith was known as The Fresh Prince, he used to rhyme alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff and break the masses off with something funky. Sampling Kool and the Gang's "Summer Madness", Jazzy Jeff created the Summer anthem of 1991. Although he can still slay a mike with family friendly lyrics, Will Smith's (aka The Fresh Prince's) "Summertime" remains one of the chillest treats in the heat.

Gorchitza - Final Cut

I have no idea who this chick is but this track is fucking hot. Apparently it's Ukrainian. Thoughts? Feedback? Information?

Gorchitza - Final Cut

Eminem & The Roots - Won't Back Down (Live On Jimmy Fallon)

Damn. Em killed it on stage with The Roots. Mr. Porter served back up vocals and The Alchemist added his pinch of flavor on the turntables. Eminem gave it 110% and looked completely out of breath at the end.

Makin' Music with John Mayer

John Mayer explains how to compose a song. Comedy.

Bass Thumpin Thursdays

Leading this Thursday's picks is a superbly well-produced track by Jupiter entitled "Vox Populi."  This track's influences span decades, borrowing from funk, dance/disco, and trance, somehow arriving with a truly 80's feel.  Vox Populi is featured on the Kitsune Maison Compilation Vol. 9.  Check out the rest of the tracks on that CD here.

In 2007 Radiohead gave their record company the finger and released In Rainbows, sold online for whatever the consumer was willing to (or not) pay.  Despite what one imagines of music and the Internet, most fans paid nearly full price for the album and many bought the CD box set, shooting the album to Billboard's #1 spot.  Perhaps this song, "Reckoner," stands for the downfall of music's old business model.  And, perhaps Reckoner's cathartic tone reflects the bands freedom from the record company.  Or maybe it means nothing--who knows with Radiohead.

Now that you feel relaxed, yet slightly energized from that last track, this next one will hit you hard.  "Hymn 2.0" is the new release from Purple Haze a/k/a Sander van Doorn.  This fresh track has the most epic sound imaginable.  "Hymn 2.0" utilizes the superhero-movie chord progression (you'll recognize it instantly), strings, and a synth choir, giving it a "save the world" feeling.  This bootleg video is equally intense.

Speaking of Purple Haze, I leave you with this gem of modern history.  Jimi Hendrix's full-hearted, sincere rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" was initially accepted by society as a demonization of the American national anthem.  Hendrix's version epitomizes the freedoms of speech and art while also sparing the world of yet another miserable vocal rendition of the hardest song to sing.

Have a good 4th of July weekend!

--tonotopik