Theophilus London - Dance Hall Days

Things have been pretty hectic here at TMD. Only in the best of ways. But when things get hectic, sometimes things slip through the cracks. Case in point: Theophilus London's mixtape dropped last week, and I'm just getting around to listening to it. Anyways, this cover of Wang Ghung's "Dance Hall Days" is absolutely awesome. Totally spot on and worth a listen. Theo's the man. Everything is dope.

Nas - Take It In Blood

I found my old CD book the other day going through my stuff at my house. It's sort of like a time capsule. This was before itunes and ipods. Just straight up scratched CD's, in a gigantically cumbersome case that weighs about 30 pounds. A model of inefficiency, really. But anyways, I slipped in Nas' It Was Written and it was the first time I have heard that album since college at least. I time traveled. And thought, it was time for a throwback on TMD. So check it out. It's just as good, if not better than it was 15 years ago.

Logic - Tic Tac Toe

Logic is coming to us from Maryland and he's bringing some heat. I like the slow drawl. I like the slow beat. It's simple. The bass drop comes in and makes me want to cruise in a '64 real slow.

Hoodie Allen - No Interruption

Hoodie. Kid knows how to flow. He's clearly intelligent and his pop culture references are always on point. Especially if you're a white kid from the upper middle class suburbs. So, yeah it works. He knows his target audience. I mean homeboy drops an Anders Holmvic reference. Now that's some tight you b_____.

Theophilus London - Love Is Real (Fred Falke)

BOOM! Thank you. It's a track like this that can completely ignite the manic that lays dormant in music department in the brain. It's a track like this that makes you realize that everything you've been listening to is shit. Theophilus is no stranger on TMD, and he continues to bring it. He has impeccable beats and melodies. And his flow shines bright on this one. Complete with Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the thigh references. I'll take it. Take it to eleven. Tell you you're not ready to go after the first 15 seconds of this track.

Beanie Sigel - Glock Nines (Ratatat Remix)

This is definitely a throwback. But it's a damn good song for your Friday. Rediscovered this while waxing over some beers last night and thought it was worthy of a post. Even if it's not new, it's damn good. And worth a listen to take you into the weekend. I'd like to run some groomers in Aspen listening to this.

Cities Aviv - Coastin

Last post of 2011. It's been an interesting one to say the least. Here's to having good times with good people. Props to Buckley on this one. Cities Aviv is coming to us straight out of Memphis. This is just straight up good hip hop. No two ways about it. We don't like much hip hop here, but when we do. We really like it. Seems like an appropriate way to close out 2011. Happy New Year.

Pretty Lights - It's Tricky

Say what you want about the man, but Derek Vincent Smith aka Pretty Lights knows how to carve up a track and serve it up fresh. He is in my mind, one of the more creative producers / remixers of the moment. He doesn't just take a track and add new drums and change the synths. He completely chops it up into bits and pieces and reassembles it into something almost completely unrecognizable. In this case, it's Run DMC's It's Tricky. The result is a slow and trippy rendition that is a totally new take on the song in and of itself. It's quite good.

Childish Gambino - Heartbeat

We are a little late on this one. You'll have to excuse me. I've been having a few technical difficulties over at headquarters. But excuses are for losers, so I won't make any more. Anyways, besides his lame, Wu Tang Clan-Name generator name, Childish Gambino is pretty talented. I find his voice to be a little whiny at times, but there is no denying that this track is dope. It's got a slight Daft Punk feel to it with the pulsing bass line and synth. I like it. A lot. It kind of just slaps you across the face, tells you to shut the fuck up and listen. So, you know, do that. If you already haven't. Childish Gambino - Heartbeat by Hypetrak

Hoodie Allen - James Franco

Hoodie has been around for a couple years now bouncing around the internet. He first caught our ear with his You Are Not A Robot take on Marina & The Diamonds. He's been on a pretty steady climb since. He's no stranger to TMD. But's it's been a while since he's been featured up here. He lost some luster for a bit, but he's back strong with this anthem named after non other than Mr. James Franco. His flow is back and he's got a solid beat to work with on this. I'm glad to see him bounce back after some of his recent work was either too experimental or just not as good as we've come to expect from the white boy from Penn. Good work Hoodie. Best line of the track : "If I were hipster I would have posted this on vimeo." So very true. He posted on youtube.

DJ Shadow - Warning Call

The first time I heard DJ Shadow was 10 years ago in college. And it was life changing. I had never heard anything like it. This was long before the days of mashups and Girltalk. DJ Shadow was a pioneer. An innovator. DJ Shadow is more than a DJ. He is a producer, an artist, a visionary. I used to listen to his albums while taking the Amtrak up and down the East Coast from New York City to Boston. I looked forward to these three hour odysseys because they were epic. DJ Shadow has that rare ability to take a person outside of their own element. He makes the world around you come alive. As I would stare out the window watching the coastline pass me by, it was as if I were in my own music video, or even film. His music urges you to take an introspective view on things, and puts you in a pensive trance. Your imagination runs wild and time flies. It's awesome.

It's been 5 years since we heard anything new from DJ Shadow. His new album The Less You Know the Better drops September. I can't wait to hear what he's been up to. 

 DJ Shadow "Warning Call" (featuring Tom Vek) by GrillMarketing

Bon Iver - Skinny Love (Das Kapital Rerub)

So, everyone has been all over Bon Iver as of late. And I have to be honest, I have been very resistant. Not because I'm a hater, or because I don't believe in hype. Not because I hate Kanye with a passion. I just wasn't hearing it. I tried, I really did. But this "rerub" gets me. And I get it. From the first guitar chords, I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. I knew I was in for something different. And this drum beat is legit. And just a slight touch of synth to put in your pipe. The whole thing is a looper. As in, I'm probably going to loop it until I put it into it's grave. And that's OK. There's a time and a place for songs like this. That time is now. And that place is right fuckin here.

Bon Iver - Skinny Love (Das Kapital Rerub)

Beastie Boys - Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win

Directed by none other than Spike Jonze. The best in the business.

Theophilus London - I Stand Alone & More

No this is not a misprint. Theo's back again. I had to post this too. His album is dropping July 19th and it is going to be bonkers. Homeboy's about to blowup, check that. He already has. He's got an awesome sound. I like it. I think if you put Wyclef and Kid Cudi in a blender and sprinkled in some awesome you'd name it Theophilus London. Check it out.


Theophilus London - "I Stand Alone" by TheophilusLondon

Theophilus London - Humdrum Town by Illeskimo

Theophilus London - Why Even Try (RAC Remix)

Theophilus London is a hell of a name. And Theo's comin to us via Brooklyn. Respect. He's got it. This is just a great tune here. Lot's going on. It's a fresh take on hip hop and I'm digging it. I'm hearing some Yacht Rock influence ever so faintly in the background, I just can't place it. No doubt about it. And of course R.A.C. is bringing once again. R.A.C. is just churning out the hits this year. It's really rather impressive. Give it a listen, it's really really good.

Theophilus London - Why Even Try (RAC Remix) by TheophilusLondon

The Knux - Run (Feat. Kid Cudi)

The Knux and the Kid. From the first strum of the guitar I knew exactly what was coming. Not in a bad way. In a "this is what the fuck I am talking about" kind of way. Coming to a summer party near you. Hooked.

The Knux - Run (feat. Kid Cudi) by Lost In The Sound

Kid Cudi - Falling Star (R3K Remix)

We've got a lot going on here. First and foremost, we lead off with the ever haunting vocals from Florence & The Machine's - Cosmic Love. Which on its own, is one of the best songs of the year. Add on top of that Mr. Rager's lyrics and you've got a nice little experience going on. Enjoy this one folks. It's good.

Kid Cudi - Falling Star (R3K Remix)

Soul Khan - Soul Like Khan

Best hip hop I've heard in a long time.

Childish Gambino - Let Me Dope You (Travis Wide Remix)

So Childish Gambino is a side project from Donald Glover. The dude from Community and the dude that used to write for 30 Rock. Apparently he got his name from a Wu Tang Clan name generator. We can talk about that later. The beat is sick. His rhymes are OK. I think they're a little forced, but at times they're funny. But the beat is the storyline here. Do not get it twisted.

Let Me Dope You (Travis Wide Remix) by Fresh On Campus

Post LCD Party Mix

This has been a tough week. LCD Soundsystem has gotten me down. I realized I haven't posted ANY music this week. I think it was me subconsciously observing a moment of silence. And now, I shall post some awesome music. So, a friend of a friend got their hands on the LCD Aftterparty Mix that was played at the you guessed it! party after the MSG show. Enjoy.

So here's the link: LCD Soundsystem Afterparty Mix

Tracklist:
1. The Boxer (DFA Version) - The Chemical Brothers
2. Paris is Burning (Cut Copy Remix) - Ladyhawke
3. Goblin City (Holy Ghost! Disco Dub) - Panthers
4.Lisztomania (Holy Ghost! Loves Paris Remixomania) - Phoenix
5. Velocity of Love (Hot Toddy Mix) - D-Pulse
6. Look at You (GRVRBBRS Remix) - Jacques Renault
7. Do You Believe? (Original Mix) - Poolside
8. Deceptacon (DFA Remix) - Le Tigre
9. Hot Lovers - George G
10. Exotika (12" Remix) - Chris & Cosey
11. Shake Your Coconuts (DFA Mix) - Junior Senior
12. Drunk Girls (Holy Ghost! Remix) - LCD Soundsystem
13. Paris (Aeroplane Remix) - Friendly Fires
14. Norman's Fire - Jacques Renault
15. There's a Drunk in My Bedroom and I Need a Hot Lady - Hans-Peter Lindstrom
16. We Can't Fly - Aeroplane
17. Yearning - Black Van
18. Pesto og Kolera - Hans-Peter Lindstrom


And yes, this will be the last LCD Post. I'm going to be all dramatic like James Murphy. I'm calling my shot. No more LCD posts. Time to move on. Go out on top.