My First Earthquake, "Outta the Band"

I randomly stumbled across MFE several months ago, and they've got some real doozies, including this one here.  Enjoy!

Common, "Be"

Beautiful track off of the album of the same name.  To see the video, go here.  Enjoy.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre, "Straight Up and Down"

From Take It from the Man, here's a song I hadn't heard till last week (though it's been out 15 years). Thanks to the comment section on Ta-Nehisi Coates' blog... a gold mine, as usual.  Sounds to be very much a descendant of the Velvet Underground. Enjoy!

Kelli Rae Powell, "Some Bridges Are Good to Burn"

Tomorrow night at 10:30, Kelli Rae Powell will be playing in our neighborhood at Jalopy!  Evidently this song was a response to an increasingly pesky stalker/fan of hers.  It's a good one.  Enjoy.

Hotel Lights, "Firecracker People"

From the album of the same name by the band loosely based in Brooklyn... though a vital component brings the ruckus from Richmond.  Happy Birth Weekend, Al!

The Kills, "Pale Blue Eyes" (Velvet Underground Cover)

From the Levi's Pioneer Sessions... enjoy.

We Have Band, "Divisive"

We Have Band have serious videobility.  I love the traveling yellow shoe...

Bob Dylan, "Love Sick"

70.

Radiohead, "Lucky"

Originally recorded for The Help Album to support war-ravaged Bosnia and Herzegovina, "Lucky" later appeared on OK Computer.

Billie Holiday, "Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me"

And far into the night he crooned that tune.
The stars went out and so did the moon.
The singer stopped playing and went to bed
While the Weary Blues echoed through his head.
He slept like a rock or a man that's dead.
        - from "The Weary Blues," by Langston Hughes

On the 44th Anniversary of Langston Hughes' passing, here's the Duke Ellington classic that was played at his funeral.

Phish, "Farmhouse"

The first track off the 2000 album of the same name... I would put this in the limited number of Phish songs I could listen to multiple times.  Let's just say I'm not a big "jam band" fan.  But this one's good, in my opinion.  Enjoy.

Deltron 3030, "Positive Contact"

From their eponymous debut album, released 11 years ago, here's Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Dan the Automator and DJ Kid Koala...  Step into the future, ladies and gentlemen.

Lauryn Hill, "Everything Is Everything"

An L-Boogie classic... from Miseducation.  Enjoy.

Guster, "Do You Love Me"

A friend of mine introduced me to Guster in college, and I summarily put them on heavy rotation... to the point of growing weary of them.  Until now!  I just came across this video yesterday, and I fear I'll wear out my Guster Love again.  Enjoy!

Taj Mahal, "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond"

Originally released on his 1969 album Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home, here's one from Taj Mahal, who turns 69 today.

Elliott Smith, "Say Yes"

"I could be another fool/or an exception to the rule"... from Either/Or.

Mable John, "It's Catching"

Maybe best known for her single "Your Good Thing Is About To End," Mable John released "It's Catching" on the B-Side of that record.  Originally signed by Motown, she left when the label cut back its blues output.  John went on to become a Raelette (backing Ray Charles) for several years before going solo again, beginning with these two songs.  Enjoy!

Raphael Saadiq, "Radio"

Raphael Saadiq, who first leapt to most of our attention as the frontman for Tony! Toni! Toné!, turns 45 today.  This is from his latest album, Stone Rollin'. Enjoy!

Stevie Wonder, "Sir Duke"

Stevie turns 61 today.  Enjoy!

The White Buffalo, "Love Song #1"

I'd never heard of this guy until Maura and I saw him follow Amy Correia last Saturday night.  As usual, Amy was phenomenal.  The surprise--for us--was the White Buffalo (aka Jake Smith).  I'm not really sure how to describe his brand of music, other than a heavy mixture of alt/folk, with some bluesiness thrown in.  Maura and I both agreed we would see him the next time he came through town (he's currently from California).  As it happens, he's playing tonight at Union Hall in Brooklyn!  Hopefully you get the chance to see him.  This one was written shortly after he met his wife.  Enjoy!

Florence and the Machine, "Girl with One Eye" (Live on Letterman)

A knockout punch from the debut album of Florence Welch and Co.  Enjoy.

Black Star, "Definition" (Explicit Lyrics)

Happy Birthday, Wade.  Thanks for introducing me to Talib :)

Bob Dylan, "Tangled Up In Blue"

From Blood on the Tracks.

KanYe West, "Hey Mama" (Live at the 2008 Grammy Awards)

Happy Mother's Day.

OK Go and Bonerama, "A Million Ways" (Live on Letterman)

A few years ago, OK Go and Bonerama--a New Orleans Funk Brass Band--teamed up on an EP to benefit Al "Carnival Time" Johnson and other New Orleans musicians displaced by Katrina.  From You're Not Alone, here's "A Million Ways," written by OK Go and performed live on the Letterman show.  Buy the 5-song album--which includes a cover of Bob Dylan's "I Shall be Released" with Al Johnson on vocals--on iTunes or Amazon.  Enjoy!

The Meters, "Funkify Your Life"

How can you not love this one from the Meters (another N.O. institution)?  Get on down.

Irma Thomas, "Time Is on My Side"

Great version of a classic song by a New Orleans legend.  Irma's take heavily influenced the Stones, which released it a year later.  Enjoy.

The Roots, "Walk Alone"

From their latest album, How I Got Over.

James Brown, "I Feel Good"

Today would be the Godfather's 78th.  Here's a televised performance from what must have been the early '60s.  The audio isn't great, but just look at him.  He glides.  Also, MJ might have modeled his dancing on JB, but I've modeled my clapping on the woman in the headband over his right shoulder.  Enjoy.

Link Wray, "Rumble"

Link Wray would be 82 today.  From 1958... an electric guitar classic.  You might recognize it from the documentary It Might Get Loud, in which Jimmy Page puts this record on and proceeds to play along with his air guitar.  Enjoy.

Allen Toussaint, "St. James Infirmary"

A different take on the same number... made all the more haunting without the words.  Love the tempo (and the clapping)... enjoy.