Loudersoft. http://loudersoft.com A Lost Tricycle in a Ten-Speed World. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:54:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 en http://feeds.feedburner.com/Loudersoft?format=skin R.I.P. Odetta, Voice of the American civil rights movement. http://loudersoft.com/4039/rip-odetta-voice-of-the-american-civil-rights-movemen/ http://loudersoft.com/4039/rip-odetta-voice-of-the-american-civil-rights-movemen/#comments Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:40:53 +0000 E.J. http://loudersoft.com/?p=4039 Heaven must be a beautiful place today. We here on Earth have lost the legendary folk and blues singer Odetta, a woman whose music made her a central figure of and one of the most cherished of voices for folk music and, more importantly, the civil rights movement in America of the 1950’s and [...]

Heaven must be a beautiful place today. We here on Earth have lost the legendary folk and blues singer Odetta, a woman whose music made her a central figure of and one of the most cherished of voices for folk music and, more importantly, the civil rights movement in America of the 1950’s and 1960’s.

More than merely the voice of a generation, her music was part of the wheels that spun which brought about change. She embodied the traditions of folk music even as she found success in the folk movement of the 1950’s & 1960’s, a woman who would make appearances on the coffee house circuit and, at the same time, could fill the house at Carnegie Hall. Her voice rang out the strains of slavery and oppression, performing “O’ Freedom” to the crowd at the famous March on Washington in 1963. In a career that spanned more than 50 years, she brought a passion to folk music which never wavered or faltered. I believe personally that when people first used the term “soul music”, they were referring to Odetta.

There is no way to explain her music to someone who has never heard her than simply, “it touches a part of your soul that you never knew was there, making you at once angry and unafraid, ready and wanting to stand up and take action”.

From time to time, I face losses like this from the perspective of more than simply a writer or a historian or a reviewer. In this instance, I take Odetta’s passing very personally; at twelve years of age, I was blessed to (thanks to an introduction from Joyce Cobb) meet and share a stage with Odetta at the Memphis Music Heritage Festival where we sang “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands” together. The time that we spent together before, during, and after that night has left a lasting impression on me and an impact that I can’t fully describe. It has meant more to me as I have grown older, for as a child I only knew that Odetta was a sweet and gentle lady who took an interest in who and what I was about. It subconsciously explains to me many of my own life experiences, my choices as a writer, as a performer and as a person. Her loss hasn’t fully tagged me yet. I am still processing, but I am very saddened.

I have neither the inclination nor the patience to regurgitate the minutiae of her career; I leave that to the capable hands of the International Herald Tribune. Instead, I leave you with some of her music and encourage you to find more.

There are few whose passion and determination are matched in the power of their voice. There are only a handful in all the world who understood and bore the traditions of folk music with such sincerity. There was only one Odetta, and partially because of her gift to the world, it seems that the world has finally turned.

Perhaps, and with good reason mind you, she felt it was time to go ahead and go; that perhaps, at last, her work here was done. But the hard work truly has begun; until we have freedom, justice and equality for all people living in this country, the struggles of which Odetta sang must continue on.

Odetta - Freedom Trilogy (Oh Freedom, Come & Go With Me, I’m On My Way) from the album At Town Hall

]]> http://loudersoft.com/4039/rip-odetta-voice-of-the-american-civil-rights-movemen/feed/ Blog Props: A-Trak is back but don’t call it a comeback. http://loudersoft.com/4032/a-trak-blog/ http://loudersoft.com/4032/a-trak-blog/#comments Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:47:48 +0000 E.J. http://loudersoft.com/?p=4032 It’s been a very busy and awe-inspiring year for A-Trak. Looking at the whole picture, he’s worn the hat of DJ, mixer, arranger, producer, record label magnate and you know…what can I say? The man has really stepped up his game to another level. Even with so much on his plate, he [...]

It’s been a very busy and awe-inspiring year for A-Trak. Looking at the whole picture, he’s worn the hat of DJ, mixer, arranger, producer, record label magnate and you know…what can I say? The man has really stepped up his game to another level. Even with so much on his plate, he appears to be taking it all in stride. If you read this blog with any frequency, you already know we tend to dote on A-Trak pretty heavily around here because, well….I mean, skillz. He’s got mad skillz. Respect.

So we had to let y’all know: his website is up and crackin’, he’s got the blog going, and he will likely hip you to content you’re not going to find anywhere else on the web. Suggest you take a trip over to http://djatrak.com and see what he’s putting out there for y’all. He’s also doing guest postings at The FADER blog from time to time, so be sure and keep an eye on the haps over there, too. Hey! He’s even giving away a fresh pair of Fool’s Gold limited-edition Nike Air Max’s too!

Now I gotta go figure out how I’m getting to Mississippi tomorrow. Y’all be good.

]]> http://loudersoft.com/4032/a-trak-blog/feed/ Beck to collaborate with Charlotte Gainsbourg on new album http://loudersoft.com/4025/beck-to-collaborate-with-charlotte-gainsbourg-on-new-album/ http://loudersoft.com/4025/beck-to-collaborate-with-charlotte-gainsbourg-on-new-album/#comments Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:58:20 +0000 E.J. http://loudersoft.com/?p=4025 One of my favorite albums of the last several years has been Charlotte Gainsbourg’s phenomenal collaboration with the French duo Air, 2006’s 5:55. News has come out that she will now collaborate with Beck on her new album, and recording has already begun. No release date has been set as yet. Now [...]

One of my favorite albums of the last several years has been Charlotte Gainsbourg’s phenomenal collaboration with the French duo Air, 2006’s 5:55. News has come out that she will now collaborate with Beck on her new album, and recording has already begun. No release date has been set as yet. Now that the excitment has been issued, we wait patiently.

Beck, the funky Scientologist, has revealed he will be collaborating with Charlotte Gainsbourg on her upcoming album. In a recent interview, Beck said he has been in and out of the studio with the French songstress, adding that he was in fact supposed to be on her 2006 album, 5:55 but failed to make it happen.

Beck Working On New Album By Charlotte Gainsbourg.

]]> http://loudersoft.com/4025/beck-to-collaborate-with-charlotte-gainsbourg-on-new-album/feed/ Speaking of Memphis music, Valencia Robinson reminds us all that Good Things are Real. http://loudersoft.com/4022/speaking-of-memphis-music-valencia-robinson-reminds-us-all-that-good-things-are-real/ http://loudersoft.com/4022/speaking-of-memphis-music-valencia-robinson-reminds-us-all-that-good-things-are-real/#comments Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:45:09 +0000 E.J. http://loudersoft.com/?p=4022 Winner of the 2008 Indie Memphis Music Video Showcase Jury Prize, this video is as beautiful and inspiring as the woman who is singing in it — the inimitable soulful strains of Miss Valencia Robinson. This song is deeply inspirational and it’s a very simple, down-to-earth tune. Definitely turn this up and watch [...] Winner of the 2008 Indie Memphis Music Video Showcase Jury Prize, this video is as beautiful and inspiring as the woman who is singing in it — the inimitable soulful strains of Miss Valencia Robinson. This song is deeply inspirational and it’s a very simple, down-to-earth tune. Definitely turn this up and watch in full screen mode.

]]> http://loudersoft.com/4022/speaking-of-memphis-music-valencia-robinson-reminds-us-all-that-good-things-are-real/feed/ I love it when Amy Lavere sings about “Pointless Drinking”.. http://loudersoft.com/4018/i-love-it-when-amy-lavere-sings-about-pointless-drinking/ http://loudersoft.com/4018/i-love-it-when-amy-lavere-sings-about-pointless-drinking/#comments Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:54:37 +0000 E.J. http://loudersoft.com/?p=4018 …and really just about anything at all. Amy Lavere is always a breath of fresh air and she wows everyone who gets to see and hear her. She’ll soon be appearing in a new show from producer/director Craig Brewer entitled 5 Dollar Cover along with a number of very talented Memphis musicians and [...] …and really just about anything at all. Amy Lavere is always a breath of fresh air and she wows everyone who gets to see and hear her. She’ll soon be appearing in a new show from producer/director Craig Brewer entitled 5 Dollar Cover along with a number of very talented Memphis musicians and performers.

Here’s her video for the song “Pointless Drinking”. If you were one of the lucky ones who got to see her across the pond recently, hang onto your soul because it’s obviously filled with good fortune.

]]> http://loudersoft.com/4018/i-love-it-when-amy-lavere-sings-about-pointless-drinking/feed/ ART WHIPLASH discusses the finer things in life: Party, Sex and Bullshit. http://loudersoft.com/4012/art-whiplash-party-sex-and-bullshit/ http://loudersoft.com/4012/art-whiplash-party-sex-and-bullshit/#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:00:45 +0000 E.J. http://loudersoft.com/?p=4012 Near as I can tell, ART WHIPLASH is the 8-bit meanderings of les jeune homme sexy Vincent Jardin. Vincent has created a one-man electro trash outfit in Paris & through his people, he has kindly made this track available to the readers of Loudersoft. The title speaks for itself: “Party, Sex and Bullshit”. [...]

Near as I can tell, ART WHIPLASH is the 8-bit meanderings of les jeune homme sexy Vincent Jardin. Vincent has created a one-man electro trash outfit in Paris & through his people, he has kindly made this track available to the readers of Loudersoft. The title speaks for itself: “Party, Sex and Bullshit”. If you’re not familiar with what that title means or what to do with it when you say it, this blog update probably won’t help you. However, if you do know, then this song is what you should play the next time you’re doing everything on that list.

Here is the original along with three remixes he has offered. We kinda dig this.

ART WHIPLASH - Party, Sex and Bullshit
ART WHIPLASH - Party, Sex and Bullshit (Youth Attack! Disco and Bullshit remix)
ART WHIPLASH - Party, Sex and Bullshit (THE TOXIC AVENGER Remix)
ART WHIPLASH - Party, Sex and Bullshit (KIWI Remix)

]]> http://loudersoft.com/4012/art-whiplash-party-sex-and-bullshit/feed/ The Roots performing “Lovely, Love My Family” on Yo Gabba Gabba http://loudersoft.com/4005/the-roots-lovely-love-my-family-yo-gabba-gabba/ http://loudersoft.com/4005/the-roots-lovely-love-my-family-yo-gabba-gabba/#comments Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:59:57 +0000 E.J. http://loudersoft.com/?p=4005 What could be more inviting than a warm, sweet, fuzzy and friendly Thanksgiving greeting from The Roots?!?!? No, you ain’t reading a typo, The Band that will soon be the house band on the Jimmy Fallon show, The Band who straight-up dropped ‘the N word’ 39 times in the song “75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction)” has made [...]

What could be more inviting than a warm, sweet, fuzzy and friendly Thanksgiving greeting from The Roots?!?!?

No, you ain’t reading a typo, The Band that will soon be the house band on the Jimmy Fallon show, The Band who straight-up dropped ‘the N word’ 39 times in the song “75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction)” has made a piece being shown on Noggin and Nick,Jr.! Yo Gabba Gabba is about as cool as it gets — fun for the whole family for certain, and hey — this awesome track is 100% clean too. Be sure and click “more” on the YouTube page hosting the video for a link to the MP3 if you want it. YEAAAAAAAAAAAH! (HT: ?uestlove)

]]> http://loudersoft.com/4005/the-roots-lovely-love-my-family-yo-gabba-gabba/feed/ New Charles Hamilton Hot Off The NASDANK http://loudersoft.com/3996/charles-hamilton-november-10-2008/ http://loudersoft.com/3996/charles-hamilton-november-10-2008/#comments Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:21:13 +0000 E.J. http://loudersoft.com/?p=3996 I got a tweet from my boy over at NASDANK about this track which, I guess, Charles Hamilton decided to just one-off to commemorate November 10, 2008. It’s pretty smoking, so I guess you oughta listen to it! NASDANK tells me that this comes straight from Mr. Hamilton himself, so if you’re one [...]

I got a tweet from my boy over at NASDANK about this track which, I guess, Charles Hamilton decided to just one-off to commemorate November 10, 2008. It’s pretty smoking, so I guess you oughta listen to it! NASDANK tells me that this comes straight from Mr. Hamilton himself, so if you’re one of those people combing the nets for “illegal MP3’s”, take it up with Charles. And Charles, if that’s you, I hope reposting this was okay?? Email me if it aint and I’ll get rid of it.

In the meantime, the Hamiltonization process continues…word.

Charles Hamilton - November 10, 2008

(HT: NASDANK)

]]> http://loudersoft.com/3996/charles-hamilton-november-10-2008/feed/ The Next Big Sound: Virtual A&R of the future or retread? http://loudersoft.com/3991/the-next-big-sound-thenextbigsound/ http://loudersoft.com/3991/the-next-big-sound-thenextbigsound/#comments Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:48:46 +0000 E.J. http://loudersoft.com/?p=3991 Oh great. I was afraid the world had run dry of “everyone’s an A&R person”-style websites (which might be why people have turned to music blogs for their fill of unsigned/unheard acts). Now comes The Next Big Sound, a website which turns anyone into a virtual A&R person. The initial interest and reviews [...] Oh great. I was afraid the world had run dry of “everyone’s an A&R person”-style websites (which might be why people have turned to music blogs for their fill of unsigned/unheard acts). Now comes The Next Big Sound, a website which turns anyone into a virtual A&R person. The initial interest and reviews of the site show it to be something quite special, but I’m a tad skeptical.

As demoed at the TECHcocktail event in Chicago last week, the concept is simple and ingenious: listen to free music from unsigned bands, and “sign” your favorites to your own virtual record label. When your signed artists become hits on the site, you score points.

Simple…ingenious…and very addictive.

I like the concept, but it’s really nothing that new in the universe. I remember when Garageband.Com tried something similar (though not the same) many years ago. I’m sure there are other websites who have used comparable methods by which to break new music, but if this catches on it could become a movement all its own.

What are your thoughts? I guess if you’re in the throes of your own “funemployment cycle”, you’ll have plenty of time to get involved with this new concept. I’ll give it a whirl and let you know more after testing it out.

(TheNextBigSound — HT:Mashable)

For more on my experiment with The Next Big Sound, read on after the jump.


Well, it took me a while, but I found some really good stuff on here. http://loudersoft.thenextbigsound.com. Especially like blahblahblah. Very original.

However, here are my criticisms of the site design:

a) You can’t fast forward through tracks. This is a critical design flaw that needs to be addressed in order to save me from sitting through an entirely crappy song to find ten good seconds.

b) There’s no feature by which to report people. Crap like this: http://warrenc.thenextbigsound.com/ can be posted with no way to report the offense (in case its been taken down, the “artist” uploaded an empty track entitled “Obama Is the Anti Christ (WarrenC meets VJ NicoHitler StudioMix)” — nice). So, it’s a pranksters playground as it sits.

c) There’s no way to mark acts I’ve already heard as “heard” so I have to listen to eighteen tracks by the same shitty band even though I’ve already decided I do not like them.

Fix this stuff, and you’re on to something guys. Don’t fix these things, and watch it tank.

]]> http://loudersoft.com/3991/the-next-big-sound-thenextbigsound/feed/ Database burns up my inbox: Banging disco re-edits for Monday http://loudersoft.com/3984/database-gotta-take-your-love/ http://loudersoft.com/3984/database-gotta-take-your-love/#comments Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:23:15 +0000 E.J. http://loudersoft.com/?p=3984 Well first of all, Qualé? Quite a weekend around here, what with the Convection Monthly at Dish turning into a celebration — Sean O’Daniels and Mr. White tore the house down. It was packed to the rafters for some sweet house music mixed with dirty, funky, nasty ass-shaking techno. So, when this [...]

Well first of all, Qualé? Quite a weekend around here, what with the Convection Monthly at Dish turning into a celebration — Sean O’Daniels and Mr. White tore the house down. It was packed to the rafters for some sweet house music mixed with dirty, funky, nasty ass-shaking techno. So, when this band, Database from São Paulo, Brazil hit my inbox with some crazy disco re-edits, I was feeling a couple of them right away. The first one is a re-edit of Game’s 1982 disco track, “Gotta Take Your Love” and the second is a scorching re-edit of Phyllis Hyman’s 1979 classic “This Feeling Must Be Love”.

From Lucio Morais:

Hello!! Whats up???

So we have some Brand New Re-edits, they should be the preview of UGLYEDIT VOL.2 (2009) and we should release after the album called NOISE FREQUENCY PROCESSOR (2009).

We probably r going to release the album @ May 2009 and we already have a first track preview in our space called LOOPS OF LOVE - http://www.myspace.com/databasetrax (And its not a re-edit, its a original track!)

Database - Gotta Take Your Love (Re-Edit)
Database - This Feeling Must Be Love (Re-Edit)

]]> http://loudersoft.com/3984/database-gotta-take-your-love/feed/ Ladytron’s Ghosts has been touched by the hand of Blestenation http://loudersoft.com/3979/ladytron-ghosts-blestenation-mix/ http://loudersoft.com/3979/ladytron-ghosts-blestenation-mix/#comments Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:57:26 +0000 E.J. http://loudersoft.com/?p=3979 Ladytron’s “Ghosts”, beautifully remixed by Blestenation, stayed atop the RCRD LBL charts for a while. The track remains popular for a reason: it’s great stuff. Ladytron always manages to up the ante with each new release, and this is doubtless my favorite of their remixes this year. The video is pretty keen as [...]

Ladytron’s “Ghosts”, beautifully remixed by Blestenation, stayed atop the RCRD LBL charts for a while. The track remains popular for a reason: it’s great stuff. Ladytron always manages to up the ante with each new release, and this is doubtless my favorite of their remixes this year. The video is pretty keen as well, so enjoy. Thanks to Kermit for the heads-up on this video, Kerm you the best. (Reblogged from RCRD LBL with kind permission)

Ladytron - Ghosts (Blestenation Mix)

]]> http://loudersoft.com/3979/ladytron-ghosts-blestenation-mix/feed/ Melissa Etheridge On Prop 8: You Can Forget My Taxes, California http://loudersoft.com/3975/melissa-etheridge-on-prop-8-you-can-forget-my-taxes-california/ http://loudersoft.com/3975/melissa-etheridge-on-prop-8-you-can-forget-my-taxes-california/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:04:19 +0000 E.J. http://loudersoft.com/?p=3975 Melissa Etheridge is joining what is sure to be an enormous tax revolt on the part of the gay community in California in protest to the passage of Proposition 8. The proposition, in case you really don’t know about it, places a ban on gay marriage in the state of California, seeking to define [...] Melissa Etheridge is joining what is sure to be an enormous tax revolt on the part of the gay community in California in protest to the passage of Proposition 8. The proposition, in case you really don’t know about it, places a ban on gay marriage in the state of California, seeking to define marriage as being between only a man and a woman.

Voters in California have no idea what kind of trouble they’re about to cause in the form of tax revolt, especially with Governor Schwarzenneger’s proposed state income tax hikes. This story will surely continue to develop.

Okay. So Prop 8 passed. Alright, I get it. 51% of you think that I am a second class citizen. Alright then. So my wife, uh I mean, roommate? Girlfriend? Special lady friend? You are gonna have to help me here because I am not sure what to call her now. Anyways, she and I are not allowed the same right under the state constitution as any other citizen. Okay, so I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen. I mean that would just be wrong, to make someone pay taxes and not give them the same rights, sounds sort of like that taxation without representation thing from the history books.

Okay, cool I don't mean to get too personal here but there is a lot I can do with the extra half a million dollars that I will be keeping instead of handing it over to the state of California.

Melissa Etheridge On Prop 8: You Can Forget My Taxes, California.

]]> http://loudersoft.com/3975/melissa-etheridge-on-prop-8-you-can-forget-my-taxes-california/feed/ Alaska in Winter return with notes from underground in Berlin. http://loudersoft.com/3971/alaska-in-winter-berlin/ http://loudersoft.com/3971/alaska-in-winter-berlin/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:05:01 +0000 E.J. http://loudersoft.com/?p=3971 Brandon Bethancourt, better known to the world as Alaska in Winter, has been cooking up some genius in secret recording studios and hovels of his new home, Berlin. The culmination of his efforts, a new full-length album entitled Holiday, will see release on November 18th. Here’s a taste of what is in store [...]

Brandon Bethancourt, better known to the world as Alaska in Winter, has been cooking up some genius in secret recording studios and hovels of his new home, Berlin. The culmination of his efforts, a new full-length album entitled Holiday, will see release on November 18th. Here’s a taste of what is in store for us all, a track appropriately titled “Berlin”.

Alaska in Winter - Berlin

You can purchase Alaska in Winter’s new album Holiday from Amazon by clicking here.

]]> http://loudersoft.com/3971/alaska-in-winter-berlin/feed/ Brazilian Girls’ single Good Time gets a touch of DIPLOmacy http://loudersoft.com/3966/brazilian-girls-single-good-time-gets-a-touch-of-diplomacy/ http://loudersoft.com/3966/brazilian-girls-single-good-time-gets-a-touch-of-diplomacy/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:03:44 +0000 E.J. http://loudersoft.com/?p=3966 OK. I don’t want to blather on about the election because I’ve done that. America, you make me proud to be a part of your country. WE DID IT TOGETHER. Now, let’s keep on doing it. Speaking of DIPLOmacy, everybody’s homeboy Diplo got himself a grip on the Brazilian Girls’ latest [...]

OK. I don’t want to blather on about the election because I’ve done that. America, you make me proud to be a part of your country. WE DID IT TOGETHER. Now, let’s keep on doing it.

Speaking of DIPLOmacy, everybody’s homeboy Diplo got himself a grip on the Brazilian Girls’ latest album New York City and put his special touch on some tracks. This one, “Good Time”, got that sweet regroove that only Diplo can deliver. Get ready to get dancing, aiight? We’ve got some damn good reasons for dancing now!!!

Brazilian Girls - Good Time (Diplo Remix)

Buy the new Brazilian Girls album, New York City from Amazon.Com by clicking here.