Beep Beep Boop Boop

It’s always hard to choose favorite albums. I want to rank albums by wholeness, by their ability to move seamlessly from track to track, by the order they were perfectly decided on. Mostly, the only way to come close to those things is to have almost every track just be so catchy I can’t help but play them all, separate or together.

Top 10 Albums of 2009

Zoot Woman: Things are What They Used to Be (self-released)





Miike Snow: Miike Snow (Downtown)





The Whitest Boy Alive: Rules (Bubbles)





Major Lazer: Guns Don’t Kill People, Lazers Do (Mad Decent/Downtown)





The Juan Maclean: The Future Will Come (DFA)





DJ Vadim: U Can’t Lurn Imaginashun (BBE)





Candy Claws: In the Dream of the Sea Life (Indiecater)





Deastro: Moondagger (Ghostly International)





Pugs Atomz: Roof Top (SoFlo)





Nosaj Thing: Drift (Alpha Pup)




Best Comeback

GusGus: 24/7 (Kompakt)




Best Show
Diplo @ the Gargoyle & basement afterparty & ride back to hotel

Went to the CMJ Music Marathon in NYC last week. Here are a few videos I took while there. A little shaky, but the sound isn’t bad.

Dum Dum Girls at Music Hall of Williamsburg:

Hercules and Love Affair at “The Fillmore” at Irving Plaza:

VEGA at the Studio at Webster Hall:

Also, the KDHX Membership Drive begins tomorrow, November 5 and lasts through Sunday, November 15. The Beep Beep Boop Boop edition will occur on Wednesday, November 11 from 10pm to midnight CST. Show your support by calling 314-664-3688 during this time or by visiting KDHX.org to keep community radio alive and well in Saint Louis.

beep!

KDHX’s membership drive is this week – show your support for community media in Saint Louis by visiting KDHX.org, or calling 314-664-3955. My show is 10pm to midnight tonight! Hit a girl up with some cash.

Also, old school hip hop and 80s night this Sunday, August 2 at the Royale. FREE – more details in flyer below.

Some new releases from Ubiquity have made their way to KDHX – and they shouldn’t disappoint anyone who has high standards set for Ubiquity. A label well-known for re-issuing funk and soul, to releasing fresh new sounds, here’s the latest:

PPP: Abundance (Ubiquity)

PPP (formerly known as Platinum Pied Pipers) started with their Detroit-based production work, and have grown into a mature – and varied outfit. Including vocals by Saint Louis’ own Coultrain, this album transcends from funky horns to synth-drenched neo-soul.

James Hardway: LA Instrumental (Ubiquity)

Funk with a little bit of world tinge to it – Hardway wants you to imagine L.A. in the 70s. Take a trip!

Betty Padgett: Betty Padgett (Luv N’ Haight)

Another nod to the 70s (but from the Florida coast), this is a reissue of Padgett’s 1975 release. She worked with Milton Wright to record the entire album in one night, at just 21 years old. A local Ft. Lauderdale station ran an ad for Pepsi to her song, “Sugar Daddy” – how come they couldn’t have used it for the new Pepsi Throwback ads?

Shawn Lee Presents: Soul in the Hole (Ubiquity)

More straightforward than his movie score-esque work as Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra, you’ll find plenty of vocals on this album, including some by Paul Butler (of the Bees and Devendra Banhart) the eclectic Darondo, and Nicole Willis.

Clutchy Hopkins Meets Lord Kenjamin: Music Is My Medicine (Ubiquity)

While both Ubiquity and Hopkins’ “representatives” continue to mask the identity of Clutchy Hopkins (and some even suggest it’s Cut Chemist of Ozomatli and Jurassic 5), I guess we’ll just have to continue enjoying his music in speculation. The music, even, has a mysterious groove to it.

Nomo: Invisible Cities (Ubiquity)

Recorded during sessions and tours for their last full-length album, Ghost Rock, Invisible Cities continues to build Nomo’s Afrobeat sound with solid horns and driving bass lines. Rigorous touring has put them through Saint Louis not too long ago; hopefully they’ll swing by again soon.

Junior Boys (Jeremy Greenspan and Matthew Didemus) came to KDHX’s studio on Saturday, April 25 to perform an exclusive 30-minute DJ set. They were in town to perform a live set later that night at SLU’s Billiken Club along with Max Tundra. Junior Boys are on tour in connection with the release of their latest studio album, Begone Dull Care.

The DJ set, along with an interview, will be aired this Wednesday at 10:20pm CST during Beep Beep Boop Boop. Tune in at 88.1 FM in Saint Louis, listen live online, or peep the entire show streaming later on.

While Junior Boys are probably best known for their own electronic pop (“Like a Child” and “In the Morning“),  it’s always interesting to hear what music an artist is digging – and during the DJ set at KDHX they did just that, playing only vinyl.

Their first time in Saint Louis, I pointed out that if the Arch is that big from Grand Avenue, think of how big it is closer up. Unfortunately, they would be closest to the Arch on Sunday morning at around 6am, sleeping in the tour bus on their way to a Daytrotter session in Rock Island, Illinois.

Check out Rob’s blog post interview with Max Tundra here.

I’ll be chatting with Lady Sovereign this Wednesday, April 22, 10:20pm CST on Beep Beep Boop Boop. From her Def Jam debut, Public Warning, to her latest release, Jigsaw, Lady Sov has proven herself outstanding – she was even the first British artist to reach #1 on MTV’s Total Request Live (TRL) with the video for her song, “Love Me or Hate Me.”

You may have heard “I Got You Dancing” or “So Human” (which heavily samples the Cure) recently at KDHX – we’re digging the new album and are excited she’s taking the time to talk with us! Tune in at 88.1 FM (Saint Louis area), live online, or if you miss it live – stream the show up to two weeks later.

beep!

Hit it! Here are my picks of what’s new in KDHX’s music library (and available other places, too!):

FabricLive.43: Switch & Sinden Present: Get Familiar Mixed by Sinden (Fabric)

This mix (and its longish title) stems from Switch and Sinden’s bi-monthly residency at Fabric Nighclub in London. KDHX got a 30-minute teaser mix that is fresh off the decks – and an eclectic, global dance party. Hey, what DJ wouldn’t want to play in a room with a “bodysonic” dance floor?

Odd Nosdam: T.I.M.E. Soundtrack (Anticon)

It’s easy to hear that this album was made as a soundtrack to an Element Skateboards film. Odd Nosdam scores each track on T.I.M.E. (This is My Element) for a different rider’s style. The laid-back hip hop pulse makes sense for skaters and casual listeners alike. Another stellar release of instrumentals from the Anticon label – and a great pick for music beds.

N.A.S.A. – The Spirit of Apollo (Spectrophonic/Anti-)

Think what you will (Pitchfork) about the 40+ guest appearances on The Spirit of Apollo, the boys from N.A.S.A. sure know how to pack ‘em in. Karen O, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and Fatlip share the mic on “Strange Enough,” while Tom Waits teams up with Kool Keith for “Spacious Thoughts.” For many of the artists featured on The Spirit of Apollo, this is not their first time collaborating – or even their 50th. If anything, N.A.S.A. (short for North America/South America)showcases a vibrant music community that is all about sharing ideas and remixes.

Various Artists: Nublu Dance (Nublu)

Nublu has grown organically, from live sessions in NYC to a sprouting label. And Nublu Dance seems the most diverse representation they’ve put out so far. While previous Nublu artist releases were easily confined as dance, or world music, Nublu Dance marries the two genres effortlessly while showcasing the label’s artists. Kudu’s “Let’s Finish (Sinden Remix)” is a disco/electro-house classic, while Love Trio’s “Lovers Rock (feat. U-Roy) (Deadbeat Knockout)” is a more laid-back, dubby nod to Tosca. For dance, reggae and other world programmers alike (and another good one for music beds).

Click here for the latest playlist from Beep Beep Boop Boop or to listen to a recent show.

beep!

I’ve mentioned La Blogotheque’s Take Away Shows before, and here’s a video project in the same vein: Not to Be Reproduced. Similar to the Take Away Shows, NTBR posts video of performances in an intimate setting. While focusing on the arts in general, NTRB is a place to watch a variety of videos, from Lykke Li’s revision of Rick Ross’ “Hustlin” to a video work featuring Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth and actress Chloe Sevigny. While it looks like they’re just beginning, I hope they stick to it.

beep!

Lykke Li @ NTBR Part 4 – “Hustlin’” from Drew Innis on Vimeo.

Phew! Last week was a busy one as I had my usual radio show and subbed for two others. My take on the Nomadic Reverie show on October 21, my own here, and sitting in for the Remedy October 25.

Check the Modular Podcast…pretty, colorful letters you just want to hug, and mixes by Cut Copy and many others. Also includes cool videos of the Presets and Ladyhawke.

Check the Gopher Remix of Ladyhawke’s “Paris is Burning” from her Paris is Burning EP here.

Radioclit and Esau Mwamawaya are giving away a mixtape on November 1. Peep their re-version of Vampire Weekend’s “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa:”

Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

beep!

Here’s the playlist and link to stream this past Wednesday night’s show on KDHX, which included fine artists such as Tussle, Terry Lynn, Jamie Lidell; and longtime favorites, Hefner and Nightmares on Wax.

I’ll also be DJing at the Royale this Sunday night from 9pm to midnight. Little less dance, little more soul, world, and downtempo. Although it’s my birthday party that night as well, so you never know…

And humbly, a final note: please consider pledging your support to electronic and hip hop music in Saint Louis by donating to KDHX Community Media during my radio show next Wednesday, October 8, from 10pm to midnight. You can donate by going to KDHX.org or calling 314-664-3688.

beep!