3 tracks your ear and brain won't regret

Had to put the play creation on hold because of school. Until time and other resources open up I'm focusing on music that I enjoy, music creates the mood for the play as much as it's sparse dialog. Maybe you'll catch a groove you can ride from these tracks.


The Streets - Blinded by the Lights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A8T4lVu074

The Streets (AKA Mike Skinner) breathed new and innovative life into what for me, was largely a monotonous genre (Hip-Hop) with his first major album release in 2002. You hear his music and you can see what he's talking about in your own head. He makes his own beats, and is refreshingly humble about his prowess as an artist "That's why I've sold 3 million and you've never heard of me.". 3/4 of his albums are accessible for anyone who live or lived near an urban center where it isn't all sunshine and lollipops. This particular track comes from his second album
The song consists of storytelling that is common for The Streets but the video takes the initial concept of to a frighteningly real level. Rumor has it this video was banned from MTV, take that rumor or leave it. I like what the guy does.

The Donkeys - Boot on the Seat http://www.rhapsody.com/the-donkeys/living-on-the-other-side

One of far off San Diego's diamonds in the fluff. The Donkeys combine a mix of instruments, easy tempos and an ability to harmonize that anyone can admire to create their own blend of music that makes you want to slow down and relax. Neither jam bands nor surf rock, though it for me has some of the best elements of both. Their album Living on the Other Side has had some mainstream media play (including on Sons of Anarchy, which is how I discovered them) but it is still largely off of Viacom's radar. Boot on the Seat represents the whole album well; it's happy music to which a listener can apply him or herself as much as they like. It works well in the foreground or background. I saw them a month ago at one of Lawrence's many dive-bars (love this town) for 3 dollars. What I got for that pittance was a group of musicians who love and excel at what they do, 30 or so people in the crowd who all knew the words and a weight lifted from my shoulders which made it just a bit easier to get up the next morning. Even if all I got was that last one, it was well worth the money. Listen to this track and this record, I doubt you'll be sorry.

A track which can be used as a litmus test - Jimi Hendrix - Johnny B. Goode cover. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5BOf-8vHoY

I use "litmus test" because if I were unsure about whether I wanted to take the extra step and ask a girl out; her reaction to a track like this would be a good indicator. Tracks like this are my Magic 8-Ball. This track was performed by Jimi early in his career with The Experience. It's tempo is faster than the original and some of the lyrics are garbled, but he still provides your ears with a musical salvo you won't soon forget. He also plays a lengthy portion of the song with his teeth AND the keeps the tempo of the song largely the same, stellar stuff man. Jimi played this type of song before The Experience had found their own unique sound, they were still working out some of their musical kinks as a trio. (The opinion I just expressed was first suggested in A Room Full of Mirrors, Chistopher Cross's extensive and awesome biography of Jimi Hendrix's life). If the girl in question heard this track and said more than "it's good" or "I like it" I'd ask her what she was doing Friday night. In order for someone to have a conversation about this track they would have to have a knowledge of both the original by the legendary Chuck Berry, and Jimi Hendrix's music other than Foxy Lady, Fire, Purple Haze or Crosstown Traffic. These four tracks are all very good but they are frequently played and in my opinion over-played on the radio. They are interestingly some of the songs Jimi hated playing because he felt obligated to play them. Those tracks helped him first rise to stardom (Cross's biography told me this as well).

I hope you'll give some of this music a listen.