Keeping My Edge

I was there. I've never been wrong. I used to work in the record store. I had everything before anyone. But I'm losing my edge.

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Starcrawler - “I Love LA”

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New Playlist: January 2019 SICKO MODE

Apple Music

Spotify

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Little Simz - “Offence”

“I’m Jay-Z on a bad day, Shakespeare on my worst days”

There’s something about this song--with its fuzzy bassline, flute flourishes (I love rap flute), and cartoon running samples--that hooked me immediately. Now I can’t get this song out of my head (it’s so short, I usually listen to it 2-3 times). 

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Killing time on a rainy Tuesday by listening to “Comeback Kid” by Sharon Van Etten. Her new album is out this Friday, and based on the three songs released so far, it sounds this album will be on pretty steady rotation for the next few months. 

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In the rush to end 2018, I somehow overlooked this video, and now I can’t stop thinking about it. 

LCD Soundsystem - “oh baby”

Directed by Rian Johnson. 

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From the “instantly added to my running playlist” file, here’s “On My Magic” by LA-based pop-art band NVDES (ignore the creepy video thumbnail). 

NVDES is the project of the cantaloupe-obsessed Josh Ocean, who splices recordings of live jam sessions with beats and vocals, seeking to find “raw, authentic” musical moments. “On My Magic” comes from his new project Vibe City Utah, for which he collaborated with avant-garde photographer Parker Day (which explains the crazy videos).  

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Today’s quick music pick is Jaime Cullum’s version of “Shape of You” (Ed Sheeran Cover), taken from last month’s Song Society Playlist. 

Last month, Jamie Cullum--one of my favorite artists whose songs make frequent appearances on my dinner party playlists--announced the Song Society project, in which he would learn and record another artist’s song in less than one hour, each day for 12 days. The ‘finished’ product, released as a playlist on Christmas Day, resulted in new takes on classic indie songs (”Brick”) as well as a few surprising covers (”I Took a Pill in Ibiza” or “Nice For What”). I particularly liked his version of “Shape of You,” especially as I’m not a big fan of the original. 

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Everything is Recorded - “Carry Me” feat. Obongjayar & Yazz Ahmed

In what I considered a down year for music, this is probably my favorite song from my favorite album.* When making an album, it probably helps to collaborate with musicians like Sampha, Syd, Kamasi Washington, and Peter Gabriel (?). 

Coming soon: my top 25 songs of the year. You already know #1, see if you can guess the next 24. 

*Okay, so it is the b-side to one of the singles from the album, it’s not actually on the album--I don’t care. Don’t @ me. 

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Nine Inch Nails -- “Head Like a Hole”

I remember when I first heard this song in middle school and thought it was so heavy. I played it for my (much younger) brother-in-law a few months ago, and he said it sounds the natural evolution of 80s synth. I NEVER MADE THAT CONNECTION. 

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Hot 8 Brass Band -- Love Will Tear Us Apart (cover)

I meant to post this a few months ago, but, you know, life. 

Anyway, when something comes across my radar from multiple sources whose taste in music I trust, you know I have to check it out. This is one of those cases. It’s like its a completely different song than the Joy Division version--so much life, energy, and even joy for a breakup song. 

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Sharon Van Etten: New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down (LCD Soundsystem cover)

Amazing LCD Soundsystem cover by Sharon Van Etten, backed by London’s Heritage Orchestra. I’m not sure what I like better, the rising and increasingly intense vocals, or the last two minutes, when the power of the orchestra really shines through. Double chills for an amazing cover of one of my favorite songs. 

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My Top 25 Songs of 2017 | link in bio | @cshannon | #19streets #newmusic #bestof2017

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Cooking a steak in a cast iron pan on the grill is like tripling down on manhood.

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Top Songs of 2014 (or songs that caught my ear this year). Order is approximate (grouped by 5s but altered for flow). Missing from Spotify: Alexander Spit feat. Njomza - "From Me To You"

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Cherry Glazerr - "White's Not My Color This Evening"

Great fuzzy punk from a young L.A. band. 

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Pell featuring LV Baby - "The Never"

This is some seriously chill rap, not quite trip hop. It's just a head-boppin' type of song. And then there's that beat: where did he sample it from? It's so familiar I'm digging through the Paul's Boutique samples because I feel like this beat is in my ether. 

"I won't quit cuz the journey's forever, but if you can't sheaf follow me to the Never."

UPDATE (like 5 minutes later): Aaaaaahhhhh! It's from the Digable Planets track "Pacifics" (sampled from Lonnie Smith). This is essentially the first track on Digable Planet's amazing 1993 album Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space), which was a key part of the soundtrack of my high school years. Axe Butta how I zone. Man Cleopatra Jones.