THE TOFU HUT

the secret history of Betty Davis

2007-08-14T00:05:00.000-04:00

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tuwa's-day

If ever there were a good reason for this site to lurch back from the dead for the gazillionth time, it would be the revitalization of my ongoing relationship with the admirable Tuwa and his Shanty. Tuwa drops by the Hut today to grace us with some knowledge and hot traxx from funk goddess Betty Davis. Show him some love in the comments section and who knows? Maybe we could even see more of him in the future.

Betty Davis -- If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up

Betty Davis -- Shoo-B-Doop and Cop Him

Miles Davis divorced Betty because she was too wild. She's known for that and less for her music, which is a shame, and even less for her cooking, which is another. Between living in New York and living in Pittsburgh she used to have this restaurant in New Orleans, a hole-in-the-wall, dive-looking place that paid okay but cooked even better. It specialized in soul food: hush puppies, collard greens, fried chicken so greasy you couldn't lift the napkins off the table without help, you know the scene. That was where she worked after her first couple of records: they were some real hot stuff, sassy and in your face, hot like I said, hot like you'd expect today from Macy Gray or somebody but funky too like P-Funk and Sly Stone. Those were good albums but didn't get much attention, and Betty, she just figured hell with it and set up her restaurant. She did what she wanted to do and then she wanted to do something else. If you haven't heard 'em, well, I'll tell you something more about her cooking and that'll tell you about the music.

This restaurant started to get a reputation for itself, till one day this music critic from New York came in after one of the concerts--Irma Thomas and Allen Touissaint and Eddie Bo, that crew. Betty'd gone down and performed a couple of songs with them even though she didn't fit in too well, and then she came back to take the meatloaf and cornbread out of the oven even though I could have managed it just as well like on any other day. She seemed peevish about something, on edge, so I just ducked my head and tended to my tables. And the place was starting to fill up when this dandified critic walked in, cutting early from the concert, and ordered a reuben. Betty told me later he'd been standing there near the front row with his notebook out, and I guess that's what got under her skin. He didn't help things coming in later asking for a reuben.

"A reuben," she said.
"Yes, I think I'd like a reuben."
"You came into a soul food restaurant and ordered a reuben."
"Do you know how to make a reuben?"
By now Betty had her head back and one hand on her hip. "Do I know how to make a reuben? Hmph. Oh, you'll have your reuben." Then to me: "Jimmy, go get some some Swiss cheese and some rye bread." And back to the critic: "you want something to eat until then?"

So I went off to the grocery down the street and came back, and Betty buttered a plate and sliced the bread and took some corned beef she'd intended for a hot hash and she put it on one slice on some Swiss cheese, and put some Thousand Island on the other. And she put the two sides together and brought it out to the critic like that and set it across the table from him and he just looked at it.

"Not yet," she said. She was wearing this short tight skirt and a form-fitting blouse--she liked to advertise herself a bit, you know--and she had an afro in those days with some hoop earrings, and she sat at the counter catty-cornered from the critic and his sandwich, her elbows back on the counter with her legs crossed, one foot bobbing absently like she was still listening to Eddie Bo play an encore. She had her chin back a bit, her dander up, you know, and she turned her head slowly, giving that critic and his sandwich a look like you wouldn't believe. And the butter began to sizzle and the cheese began to melt and that poor fella had to loosen his tie. And shortly she took a spatula off the hanger and got up and flipped that sandwich, and when it was over she took the sandwich off one plate and put it on another and pushed it over to him and said, very sweetly, "careful, honey, this sandwich is still hot."

And he just said "yes'm" and mopped his brow with a handkerchief. When the sandwich was gone he had another glass of tea in a hurry, and left a good tip.

I guess he went off and wrote his article, but whatever it said, Betty didn't go back into the studio. Like I said, she did what she wanted and then she did something else. The food's long gone but at least we have the music still.

[Betty Davis @ amazon.com, or @ emusic.com]
[They Say I'm Different @ amazon, @ emusic.com]
[A non-fiction Betty Davis bio]

2007-06-06T10:37:00.000-04:00

PLAY LOUD UKULELE

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glisten: son of tofu hut

Son of Tofu Hut is a collaboration with The King Open School of Cambridge, Massachusetts. King Open is a mix of races, ethnicities, social class and nationalities; a melting pot of opinions and perspectives. I've been sending discs of music to King Open to have them played to a class of seventh and eighth graders; the kids give them a listen once or twice and then write a brief critique of what they've heard. I'll be compiling their responses to present you with music, links (when available) and lightly edited (spelling and obvious typing errors are corrected, grammar and slang is not) teenagers' responses.

Jake Shimabukuro - 'Heartbeat / Dragon

John sez: In addition to being a grand virtuoso, Jake Shimabukuro is one of the nicest and most completely genuine people I've ever met. I've seen him play live three times now and he's absolutely floored me every time.

I was first exposed to Jake when I did a capsule review for his album, Dragon. I was struck by how much I wanted to listen to the man on the uke play solo and ditch the modern jazz production that mucked up his fascinating intricate fingering. You can imagine how overjoyed I was to discover that his readily available on the internet live shows generally consisted of Jake with an amplified uke and nothing but.

Gently Weeps, which Heartbeat/Dragon hails from, is an entirely acoustic album and, while it makes for an interesting listen, it simply can't compare to the exhilarating experience of seeing Jake live. If he ever comes to your town, don't miss him.

Student 1: Boring. The begining is too long and sounds like old fashioned chinese music. I dont like it. It is boring and... god, it is boring. Very asian-ish and very boring.

Student 2: The song sounds like some one is very sad. It makes me want to cry because it gets me into a really deep thinking point. I am happy this song has no singing in it because singers would mess up my train of thought. If i were really sad or was bored, I might actually listen to this song. I really like it. Wow, I can't believe this song is played on a ukulele, oh my god!!!!! But I still like this song.

Student 3: This sounds like a traditional Asian song. I would listen to it to relax. This guy is really talented. I like the sound of the heartbeat in the beginning.

VISIT

MYSPACE

LISTEN 2 A JAKE FULL-LENGTH LIVE SHOW

BUY 'Gently Weeps' direct from Jake

Student 4: The instrument in this song is lovely but it has too much of the same beat at the start. It's like a song that you would listen to if you wanted to cry because it sounds so sad.

Student 5: This sound like a person is going to a open mic stage to perform and that person is just bobbin' his head back and forth.

Student 6: At first it sounds like a heartbeat and then it sounds like an Asian beat, but then it gets more clear and has different kinds of beats to it. I think the beginning is just too long. Can't it just get to the singing part, like oh my god its wasting my time. Anyways it sounds kind of calming in one way then fun and move-y in another way. I like the different beats it has to it, like it's pulling one way then another. It seems like a song you would meditate to.

WATCH JAKE PLAY DRAGON LIVE

WATCH

WATCH MORE

Student 7: This song is very relaxing. I feel like I am in a life-sized zen garden. It sounds happy and remindes me of "A Princess Bride" (that movie is also great). It sounds as if fairies and elves are playing the harp (I know, that was cheesey, but it's true). The beginning of the song really does sound like a heartbeat. The ukulele is beautiful! I didn't know it could sound so relaxing!

Student 8: This song is very calming, something that you would listen to when you need to relax. I think that the maker of this song is trying to get you to come out of your shell and express yourself. It reminds me of rippling water.

Student 9: The beginning sounds like someone walking down a hall where they're not supposed to be at, maybe in a Chinese Garden. It's very repetitive and calming, but it's slow going. It needs some words. After awhile, it's getting boring and kind of giving me a headache. There are very few notes and then it goes into chords. I think this would be a nice song to go to bed to.

LISTEN 2 THE NPR INTERVIEW

LISTEN 2 MY INTERVIEW WITH JAKE

Student 10: VERY BORING. I NEED WORDS A.S.A.P. IT MAKES ME THINK OF WHY PEOPLE KILL THEMSELVES.

Student 11: I like the heartbeats in the beginning. The ukulele is nice and peaceful. It reminds me of some kind of Asian mixed with Western music. I like it, because it's not too happy and not too depressing. The music reminds me of music from this game on the web I played. It sounds like the kind of music used for foreign, graceful dances.

Student 12: I really like this song. At first it kind of sounds Asian, but then towards the middle it just sounds like cool acoustic "noodling", as some people call it. It makes me want to dance. It also makes me want to sing along, despite the fact that there are no words. It kind of reminds me of raindrops. At first it's light, but then towards the middle of the song/storm it gets heavy and frantic, but even with the frantic-ness, the song still sounds smooth. I wish I could play guitar like that. Kind of makes me think of that guy, I forget his name, but he was a gypsy and he only had two fingers but he was an amazing guitar player. It kind of sounds like that man mixed with Hawaii.

READ

READ MORE

JAKE PLAYS KAMAKA UKULELES

If you'd like to leave any questions or comments for me or for any of the students who are helping contribute to the Tofu Hut, feel free to do so in the comments section, but PLEASE keep the criticism constructive.

2007-06-05T00:32:00.000-04:00

lol cat is hueg

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clicky

LOLCats are so May. LOL80's, that's the wave of the future.

Want to read all the Jack Chick tracts but worried about the awkward conversation you may have to endure to get them from the lady in the subway?
The Internet, as always, has the answer.

Street Fighter II: Turbo Buggy Nostalgia Edition
I particularly like the Vega/Blanka infinite pit of doom.

Related: the (bonus) stages of death in video games

Thanks to the always enjoyable Snarkey Malarkey for turning me on to the flamboyant world of Chris Crocker.
This dude is straight killin' it; kid is the internet age's Tennessee Williams.

The hidden link between Randy Savage and Justin Timberlake

English Russia: a fascinating peek into another world.

What's new in indie audioblogs: iweenie, standard lipsum, Berkeley Place, All Things Go, Bootlog, Blanathema, Sound As Language and The Alternakids

78 RPM Youtube Jukebox with over 400 songs!
I only wish it were more easily searchable.

Gorgeous carniceria decorative art and mindboggling work from Moira Hahn

Probe Is Turning-on the People! is one of the best audioblogs I've found in ages; understated, elegant and with a real sense of style. Go check it out!

Giger's Alien in a Tux
Obsessive and nuts and I like it.

The CardStacker

So i am going to put my super old TV out on the curb. i think. maybe. now.
I love wacky narcissistic self-journaling, especially when Photoshop gets involved.

www.creedthoughts.gov.www\creedthoughts
I really hope they maintain this.

"The entire food industry depends on the fact that evolution doesn't happen..."
Glad we could clear this up.

Killer robots? Check. Lightsabers? Check. Hasselhoff?
Check.
The Starcrash fanfic site has been shut down; didn't ANYBODY mirror?
C'mon internets! Don't disappoint me!

clicky is back as a weekly function of the Hut and I welcome any and all readers to contribute links for audioblogs of note, general weirdness or neato stuff.
You can send links in to the email listed over at the top of the page with the subject heading "CLICKY" and I'll give 'em a once over. Promise.

2007-06-04T09:15:00.000-04:00

The Gold Standard

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glisten: walkie talkie

Time for my weekly round-up of Joe's Pub interviews; those of you somewhat in the dark as to what this is all about are welcome to get all the details in the first of these posts here.

Mudville mixes soul, blues, electronic, jazz and rock, among other genres, to create a sound that defies explanation but tickles the eardrums.

On the internet providing a porthole to the inner workings of musicians' process:
Marilyn - "There's always room for a shoegaze mentality, to be the 'mysterious artist'; we know people like that and that's part of their creative persona. It can be done well."

Ben - "I think people really like the personal connection and they want to tear that wall down. No one wants stand-offish, larger than life rock stars anymore."

Listen to Mudville's Eternity

Watch Mudville perform live in NYC

Visit Mudville's website

Buy 'Iris Nova' direct from Mudville

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Jenny Owen Youngs is a folk rock singer songwriter out of New Jersey. Her debut album, Batten the Hatches, was released earlier this year.

On distributing full-length tracks online for free:
"I come from an indie-label background and I feel like hoarding music and making people pay for every single thing they get is kind of more of a major label mentality. It's more important to me to gain visibility and anything that can help work toward a critical mass of people who know who you are and what you sound like is worth doing even if it's financially unprofitable."

Listen to Jenny Owen Youngs' Fuck Was I

Watch Jenny Owen Youngs live

Visit Jenny Owen Youngs website

Buy 'Batten the Hatches' direct from Jenny

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Roberto Rodriguez is an instrumental innovator who synthesizes his Cuban roots with traditional Jewish music and avant-garde jazz.

On his mix of traditional Cuban and Jewish musical influences:
"I think it is a natural connection. I came to the United States and I lived in Miami with the Jewish community, so I was able to vacillate between the two cultures. In Caribbean, as well as South American sounds, we look back to Spain and there's a connection with Judaism there. I realized later on in my life that there is a line there that crosses all the borders..."

Listen to Quinteto Roberto Rodriguez's Wolfie's Corner

Visit Roberto Rodriguez's website

Buy 'Baila! Gitano Baila!' from Amazon

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M. Nahadr is an internationally acclaimed performance artist based out of New York. Her shows combine singing, movement, multimedia and theatrical overtones.

On the impact of her albinism in her work:
"My condition is the condition of humankind: we all have differences. To realize that difference is to celebrate it and to know our union. Since my difference is so starkly presented, I revel in it."

Listen to M's Anymore

Watch M perform an excerpt from her rock opera 'Madwoman'

Visit M's website.

Buy 'Madwoman' from Amazon

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2007-05-31T10:46:00.000-04:00

Shhhhh...

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glisten: son of tofu hut

Son of Tofu Hut is a collaboration with The King Open School of Cambridge, Massachusetts. King Open is a mix of races, ethnicities, social class and nationalities; a melting pot of opinions and perspectives. I've been sending discs of music to King Open to have them played to a class of seventh and eighth graders; the kids give them a listen once or twice and then write a brief critique of what they've heard. I'll be compiling their responses to present you with music, links (when available) and lightly edited (spelling and obvious typing errors are corrected, grammar and slang is not) teenagers' responses.

Afroman - Hush

John sez: Afroman's debut LP is generally somewhere between slept on and reviled, but it's something that I find myself coming back to every now and again. This oddly engaging and sweetly endearing take on the traditional spiritual is leavened with stoner humor, chicken squawks, Afroman's lengthy reminiscinces on his childhood visits to Mobile and a persistent elastic bassline.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the students pretty much all loved this one; who woulda thunk it? Certainly Afroman can only take so much of the credit; there's no denying that 'Hush' has withstood the test of time. Here's a few bonus tracks (that the kid's didn't get to hear) to give you a clearer ear with this song: a much more straight ahead mid-40's rendition by gospel legends Golden Gate Quartet and a funkier, dirtier cut by Hugh Masekela.
It's a helluva trifecta!

The Golden Gate Quartet - Hush

Hugh Masekela - Hush

Student 1: This song sounds like those songs you would hear when watching a LA gang movie and something good just happened and you would get out your movie seat and if you knew this song you would sing it. This song is like a dedication to the community. You would start having to help the community even if you didn't want to and then you ended up liking doing work alot. This man sounds like he was in a church choir. If I was growing up in a bad place, this song would really cheer me up.

Student 2: This song sounds like gospel music. They are singing about jesus. It has an R&B type of beat, like jazz but after u hear it for a while you can catch the beat. I like this song but in one part, the singer adds too much feeling.

Student 3: I like it because it's old school and I think it's really fresh. I need this song on my ipod for sure. I like the meaning of the song, how it's kind of new with a hip hop beat and then it sounds really old school. This song is good. I just really like how the song starts with the guys saying who they are.

VISIT

LISTEN 2 MORE

AMAZONG Afroman's 'The Good Times'

Student 4: This is something I can relate to a lot because I listen to a lot of songs like this at home. They are very calming and they make you want to get up and get your freak on. It's very cool. Just the name afroman is cool.

Student 5: I can't figure out what kind of music this is. It sounds like early hip hop and acapella and Gospel. I like this song because it makes me feel like I am at some kind of concert in New Orleans. I like the humming at the end as well. It also sounds kind of like a slavery song. I wonder when this song was written. i would be very interested to know where this band is from.

Student 6: It is very nice music. They want people to be quiet because somebody is calling their name and it is jesus. It has many melodies to it and the fact that it is about jesus connects to what they are saying. My teacher Lynn was just dancing to it and I think that she has the warmth to this music. This is just like gospel rap. Gospel rap is cool. I give this an A plus!!!!

MYSPACE

WATCH

Listen to this drivetime morning radio interview and this "marijuana radio exclusive".

Student 7: It sounds like something that would go on a gospel radio station. It has a slowish beat. It's like a mix of jazz and gospel. It has a R&B kind of beat. I'm not that fond of it, because I don't really like this kind of music. I don't like gospel. It's always about Jesus, God/The Lord, but I guess that's kind of obvious since it's called gospel music... but it sounds too slow for me.

Student 8: This song has a lot of different beats to it. The words are a little confusing because it talks about one thing then goes to something different. The song sounds like hip hop but it also sounds like it is a rap song. It kind of changes between the two.

Student 9: I like this. It has a good simple beat and a religious hip pop song. It also sounds like the other song: Because I Got High. This song moves me. It shows that religious songs could be fun too. It tells a good message and I think he's telling the bad people to hush so he can hear Jesus calling him.

TALKIN' GARBAGE

Student 10: Think of someone who knows you, yet you cannot see that person of guess who it is. Perhaps it is Jesus? Or are you you going crazy? But there is no one there and yet there is still someone calling you. That's what this song is about. As I listen to this right now, it reminds me about when someone dies or you miss someone and can't see them anymore you can see their reflection pop out of nowhere. Or.... you can hear them calling you. I remember feeling like this and my mother did too when my grandmother died. I can't explain why but this song reminds me of that feeling. This song is a yearning about someone dear and you can hear them.

If you'd like to leave any questions or comments for me or for any of the students who are helping contribute to the Tofu Hut, feel free to do so in the comments section, but PLEASE keep the criticism constructive.

2007-05-30T10:01:00.000-04:00

From photographer Denis Darzacq's beautiful collection of falling bodies

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clicky

The sad effects of real world Tetris in Grand National's 'Drink To Moving On'
Catchy song, better video.

Jumpstyle dance falls into that difficult to pin down area between clogging and breakdancing.
All I know is that everyone's doing it and that this video is terrifyingly awesome.
Now if only the music wasn't so soulless and uninteresting...

"Like something out of science fiction, the fruiting body of the cordycepts fungus erupts from the ant's head. It can take three weeks to grow and when finished the deadly spores will burst from its tip. Then, any ant in the vicinity will be in serious risk of death."
Next time you're feeling sorry for yourself, just thank god that there aren't any killer zombie mushrooms that prey on the human race.
Well, except for mucormycosis. And for the love of god, don't GIS that.

ZeFrank interview on the nature of creativity
He's a rare talent and a good example of the simultaneous empowering and compartmentalizing effects of the web; it's crazy that there are folks in entertainment who don't know ZeFrank but can list all the songs Sanjaya did.

Tiny, gothic Japanese girl throws mighty chokeslams, to the LUM theme, no less!
We need an American version, pronto.

AH HAS A NETI
Honestly, it's one of the most major change-of-life purchases I've ever made. I'm strongly recommending my fellow allergy/sinus infection/nasal issue sufferers give this sucker a try.
Just don't don't pour booze up there; that's just dumb.

Tangentially related: extreme enema tales in the Guardian.
NOT for the faint of heart.

Some music: electronic from Nevenen, multiculti funkpunk from CONGOPUNQ, scattered covered smothered tunage from The Waffle House Music Machine, Yung Joc's awesome banger 'Coffee Shop' and Jonathan Coulton's 'Code Monkey'.

Doctor fish cure your psoriasis by eating your skin.
I'm betting this'll be a feature at a New York spa before the end of '08.

Online gametime with Onslaught.
Got six hours to kill?

2007-05-29T00:54:00.000-04:00

image courtesy laura aura and the shoy shoy boy

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glisten: walkie talkie

Time for my weekly round-up of Joe's Pub interviews; those of you somewhat in the dark as to what this is all about are welcome to get all the details in the first of these posts here.

German born Ute Lemper is one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful cabaret artists in New York

On her place in the New York cabaret scene:
"I never even thought of myself as a cabaret singer until I was called one in the New York scene, after I finished my Broadway run. I was a singer, a songwriter; I did concerts and recitals but it never fell into the genre of cabaret until it was cast that way. Then, I was like 'Oh that's weird; I'm a cabaret singer. What does that mean?' I find myself not really belonging to that scene."

Listen to Ute's 'Tango Ballad'

Watch Ute sing Weill's 'Je ne t'aime pas'

Visit Ute's website.

Buy Ute Lemper's Blood and Feathers: Live from the Cafe Carlyle from Amazon

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Selan is a Queens-born new wave soul singer songwriter who actively dabbles in producing. His upcoming debut EP, The Selan Sessions, is due out this year.

On soul music:
"Soul music is something very genuine, it's _from_ your soul. It shouldn't have any other specific connotation. The beauty is that it can spread out into different genres. Soul music and R&B has been really stagnant and predictable and boring, but I see a lot of artists experimenting with soulful feeling in rock, hip hop, punk, electro and I think I incorporate a lot of that in what I'm doing."

Listen to Selan with DJ Spinna in 'Back 2 U'

Watch Selan in the studio.

Visit Selan's myspace

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Howard Fishman is a guitarist, singer, composer and bandleader who works in a variety of styles and influences into his music, from Romanian traditionals to New Orleans big band to Hoagy Carmichael.

On Werner Herzog:
"You can't put his work into a genre. Take a film like Wild Blue Yonder. It's part documentary, part science fiction, part nature film, part oratorio... I'm that way too. I think about the feeling that I want to express and whatever tools I need. I'll use different idioms, but those are like colors that a painter would use. Whatever's at my disposal that I need, that's what I'll use."

Listen to Fishman performing 'When I Grow Too Old To Dream', 'Best Is Yet To Come' and 'Moonlight'

Visit Howard's website

Buy Howard's new album, 'The Basement Tapes' directly from him

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Sarah Shannon is perhaps best known as the lead singer of the 90's indie rock band, Velocity Girl. She's just released her second solo album, 'City Morning Song'.

On performing on the Sub Pop label during the early nineties:
"We were sort of the others. We were pretty peppy compared to the rest of the roster at the time. We differed a lot from the Seattle grunge movement, so we were a little bit on the fringes there."

Listen to Sarah's 'Near and Far'

Watch Sarah with Velocity Girl in the video for 'Audrey's Eyes'

Visit Sarah's website

Buy Sarah's 'City Morning Song' from Amazon

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2007-05-16T14:00:00.000-04:00

You can't spell "meme" without me

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clicky

Vintage 70's Nostalgia Iron-On Transfers
You could certainly make make your own, but it's hella difficult to get that Foxy Lady calligraphy just right.

Funky 16 Corners, the long-running soul audioblog, just wrapped a successful pledge drive and is committed to another year on the air. Stop by and sample the fruits.. and drop a tardy dollar or two in the handbag while yer at it.

"I read boing boing too" dept:
What 2.5 million bottles looks like
The plastic bag one especially messes with my head.

David Banner's That Crook'd Sipp

Pentangle
Audio that's as eclectric as it wants to be.

MY GRAMMA MADE THIS BEAT
The Jason Foxx track is nice enough too, but Gramma SNAPS.
See also.

Cortex from MeFi writes:

"I helmed the creation of a compilation album of music by MeFites last year, and released it around the beginning of December. It's good stuff, and the money from sales is going to charity; we've sold about 300 copies and cleared costs and then some, but have the balance of a 1K-unit run languishing. Think any of your readers might be interested in purchasing a copy if they got a chance to listen to some of it?

The album is pretty all-over-the-board -- the tracks have a decent mix of genres, but it's hard to condense it with a small selection. There's a lot of background on the MeFiComp site -- liners/lyrics/contact info and so on.

There's a collection of 30-second or so samples linked here and, special for your tofu-folk, here's a handful of full-length cuts from the disc."

Peggy Lee, Brian Eno and Th' Boredoms
Loving th' scrolling .gifs, Jon.

Onion Interview with Devin the Dude
I've already trumpeted my appreciation of Mr. Copeland in Newsweek, of all places, so I won't go on again about how awesome dude is.
But he's awesome. You should be getting Waiting to Inhale immejitly.
Catching him this Friday at the Knitting Factory; the last show I saw of his was one of my all-time faves and I am, of course, mucho excited! Get tix while you can!

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10, 11 12!

The Full Revelations of a Professional Rat-catcher by Ike Matthews

Woody Allen interviews Billy Graham
"May I ask what your favorite commandment is?"
Woody's guess about his marital status turned out to be pretty much on the mark!

Angry Duck Tofu Racing
Honestly, I had no idea.

clicky is back as a weekly function of the Hut and I welcome any and all readers to contribute links for audioblogs of note, general weirdness or neato stuff.
You can send links in to the email listed over at the top of the page with the subject heading "CLICKY" and I'll give 'em a once over. Promise.

2007-05-15T10:25:00.000-04:00

how high's the blood, mama?

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glisten: son of tofu hut

Son of Tofu Hut is a collaboration with The King Open School of Cambridge, Massachusetts. King Open is a mix of races, ethnicities, social class and nationalities; a melting pot of opinions and perspectives. I've been sending discs of music to King Open to have them played to a class of seventh and eighth graders; the kids give them a listen once or twice and then write a brief critique of what they've heard. I'll be compiling their responses to present you with music, links (when available) and lightly edited (spelling and obvious typing errors are corrected, grammar and slang is not) teenagers' responses.

3 Inches of Blood - 'Destroy The Orcs'

John sez: I actually meant to send the kids the version of this song on Advance and Vanquish, not from 3 Inches earlier album Battlecry Under a Winter Sun; the Advance rendition is much cleaner and sharper. I'm posting the copy here, mostly for consistency's sake.

3 Inches brand of D&D metal is Wonderful, silly fun; who couldn't get behind an orc killing rampage? Kitsch value aside, their songs are catchy and ramshackle fast. It's good stuff for running or lifting.

They're also a hella good time live; I enjoyed myself tremendously leaping and banging around to this song at the Knitting Factory last year. I'm definitely looking forward to catching them when they (presumably) make the rounds to support their upcoming album, Fire Up the Blades. Track titles like 'The Goatriders Horde', 'The Great Hall of Feasting' and 'Rejoice in the Fires of Man's Demise" suggest no great deviation from their sword and sorcery dork metal beginnings, which is all good by me.

VISIT

LISTEN 2 MORE BY 3 INCHES OF BLOOD: 'Deadly Sinners'

AMAZON 'Advance and Vanquish'

Student 1: The title of this song sounds like a song used in a video game. Once I heard the song, I loved it. I like rock and heavy metal, usually. I like this, because it's really energetic and beyond upbeat. I like some morbid things, mostly books. Very good. I also like the name of the band: Three Inches of Blood. I like most morbid things. Some morbid things are somewhat intriguing, because sometimes I find it easy to relate to. Like if you or a friend have experienced something morbid, like death or a terrible disease, you can understand what it feels like. I don't know if that was at least an okay explanation. I really enjoy this song. I would definitely put this on my iPod.

Student 2: ZZZZZZZZZZZ. This is so so so BORING it makes me want to fall to sleep on a pillow or take a nap and I hate taking naps so that's how boring it is. There are some things I like about it but its kind of weird. I like the screaming part and stuff like the "wwhhoooooaaaaa". Umm yeah, it sounds like a song some punk or rocker type chick/dude would listen too. Just not ME.

Student 3: THE ORCS ARE AFTER ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!! They are destroying their instruments. Get them a dictionary and teach them proper etiquette. I still dont know what they are saying.

PLAY ALONG

LISTEN 2 AN INTERVIEW WITH THE BAND

MYSPACE

Student 4: YAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ROCK OUT MAN!!!!!!!!!! YA!!!!!!! I wouldn't put this on my i-pods, but it's a cool power metal song. It has an awesome beat and I find the screaming quite amusing. I hear the band's name is "Three Inches of Blood". SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET! hee hee...

Student 5: Once our teacher read the lyrics to the group, I really liked them! That was so cool... Blood....

Student 6: The title sounds interesting, like a title from a movie or video game. I like this. It's heavy metal kind of cool, very energetic. The voice sounds like a cartoon character singing/yelling into the microphone. This is a cool band! I can't really understand the lyrics, but I don't mind.

READ MORE

WATCH 3 INCHES LIVE

Student 7: It is crazy. They have a name that could get them gunned down. They sound Asian. What are they saying?

Student 8: I'm not a really big rock fan, but I recommend this song to rockers. I think it will make you wanna scream and if you have a lot of hair you can shake it really hard and smash your things on the floor. It's a song to let out anger or a song to go kill someone.

Student 9: Starts out with the usual screaming dark guy. Of course, I can hear the constant pounding of the drums and loud melody of the guitar. The guy is trying to scare me but unfortunately all attempts fail. When I listen to the lyrics (which I can barely hear) "slay the whatever", the band reminds me of some depressed Lord of the Rings fans.

If you'd like to leave any questions or comments for me or for any of the students who are helping contribute to the Tofu Hut, feel free to do so in the comments section, but PLEASE keep the criticism constructive.

2007-05-13T12:52:00.000-04:00

terrorizing the interviewer

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glisten: walkie talkie

Time for my weekly round-up of Joe's Pub interviews; those of you somewhat in the dark as to what this is all about are welcome to get all the details in the first of these posts here.

Hey, all you digital artists and photoshop wizards: I'd love to have a stock
image that I can use every week to go with this walkie talkie section. if anyone can think up an appropriate idea, realize it and mail it to me at the address located to your immediate right, I'd be happy to feature it here. Lemme know!

Sinead O'Connor is a Grammy winning singer songwriter and one of Ireland's best known recording artists. Sinead's eighth full-length album, the double-disc Theology, is scheduled to be released in America on June 22nd.

Responding as to why she stepped away from music in 2003:
"I felt unable to carry any longer the burden of being the Sinead O'Connor person who everybody seemed to be enjoying kicking around the place. I had dealt with years of being abused, basically, whenever I went to work. (Lately), I've noticed a vast improvement in terms of how people treat me; I think aging helps in terms of having respect. Around this album, I've probably done maybe twenty, twenty-five interviews. Out of those, I've felt uncomfortable or humiliated by about five of them and the rest have been very respectful and uplifting."

Listen to Sinead's 'Jeremiah (Something Beautiful)' from her new album.

Watch Sinead's live performance of 'Jeremiah (Something Beautiful)'.

Visit Sinead's website.

Buy 'Theology' from Amazon.

===================================

Country Joe McDonald is the co-founder of the pioneering psychedelic rock group Country Joe and the Fish. With over 30 albums and hundreds of original songs under his belt, he remains an active recording artist.

On his listening habits:
"It'll be a very rare day when I listen to any sixties music, I'll tell you that. I like rap music a lot: De La Soul and Mixalot, Digital Underground, NWA. Rap music has become the musical scapegoat for the 21st century. Rap music is held to blame for every social ill and crime that we have in America today. Everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Laura Bush has jumped on that fuckin' bandwagon."

Listen to Country Joe's "The Fish Cheer".

Watch Joe perform live, from 2006.

Visit Country Joe's website.

Buy music, guitars, "notions" and ephemera from Joe's 'Country Store'.

===================================

Jen Chapin performs a hybrid of folk and jazz music that is at once gentle and powerful.

On her father, Harry Chapin:
"My dad wouldn't have had a career today, I don't think. He was signed to an eleven album deal with Elektra and I don't think they have eleven record deals anymore. His passion was in live performances and that's where he was truly alive. In the studio, well that's where we differ. I love the tedium of it, the details, the overdubs. My dad didn't have patience for all that stuff; he was too interested in engaging with people as opposed to with machines or with sound."

Listen to Chapin's 'Time'.

Watch the video for Jen Chapin's 'Let It Show'.

Visit Jen Chapin's website.

Buy Chapin's 'Ready' from Amazon.

===================================

Morley is a singer/songwriter who leaps genre boundaries of jazz, folk, pop and global music.

On one of her favorite moments performing:
"There were fifteen or twenty children singingwith me and when I taught them the song,they were singing from their whole being. One thirteen year old girl with us said 'May I sing it? May I stand next to you and sing it?' I said sure and she sang it right to my face, before we even went on the stage, this little prayer that I wrote: 'Keep your gaze steady my love; yours are the eyes that have seen god' and she starts weeping while she's singing..."

Listen to Morley's 'Raison d'etre c'est L'amour', featuring Lokua Kanza.

Watch Morley live, performing 'My Bed Is By The Sea'.

Visit Morley's website

Buy Morley's 'Days Like These' from CD Baby.

===================================

2007-05-09T21:26:00.000-04:00

"a celebratory mountain of notes"

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glisten: son of tofu hut

Son of Tofu Hut is a collaboration with The King Open School of Cambridge, Massachusetts. King Open is a mix of races, ethnicities, social class and nationalities; a melting pot of opinions and perspectives. I've been sending discs of music to King Open to have them played to a class of seventh and eighth graders; the kids give them a listen once or twice and then write a brief critique of what they've heard. I'll be compiling their responses to present you with music, links (when available) and lightly edited (spelling and obvious typing errors are corrected, grammar and slang is not) teenagers' responses.

Clifford Brown and Max Roach - 'Daahoud'

John sez: Man, you just forget when you listen to Cliff Brown how goldurned YOUNG this cat was. To believe that he was not twenty-four when he composed and performed 'Daahoud' is a straight-up mind boggler. The mastery of the horn and the impact that kid left behind after no more than four years playing is stunning; it's a terrible tragedy that we didn't get to hear him at forty, at sixty, at seventy...

'Daahoud' is a total standard now and, along with 'Joy Spring', one of Clifford's best known composition. The apple-tart quality of Brown's bright, slightly fuzzy intonation on his feather-soft and labyrinth-complex trumpet solos slays me every time. It's insanely deep and emotive as hell and purely joyful.

ANYONE reading this who has not yet had opportunity to fully ingest the wonder of the 'Clifford Brown and Max Roach' album really MUST go get it now; as much as any album has left a permanent footprint on my taste and love for music, that one has.

VISIT A CLIFF FAN PAGE
READ ABOUT CLIFF (1)
READ ABOUT CLIFF (2)
WATCH CLIFF LIVE
EXPLORE CLIFFORD'S DISCOGRAPHY
REMEMBERING CLIFF
READ MORE ABOUT IT (I liked this book, BTW)
LEARN 2 PLAY LIKE CLIFF (1)
LEARN 2 PLAY LIKE CLIFF (2)
GIVE BACK IN CLIFF'S NAME

Student 1: This song reminds me of the blues. I like the drum solo. I would like to learn how to drum real good. Do you know how to drum? Do you? If you do, then teach me.

Student 2: Oooooh! Very swingy! I like this a lot. The percussion is just perfect and the trumpet is great! I feel like I'm at a chic bar eating shrimp cocktail and sipping a martini from a fancy glass. I can almost see the waiters rushing by to serve Donald Trump and his wife their $10,000 food. I would definitely put this on on my iPod.

Student 3: This sounds like the blues and I have to tell you I dont like the blues when they are slow. I don't like this because I think this song will put me to sleep. When I listen to music, I want to dance to it and when I do I'm happy with that. WHEN MY TEACHER SNAPS HER FINGERS it is like my grandparents dancing to this. This is good for my mom and higher but not for me. Sorry!

READ ABOUT MAX
WATCH MAX WORK OUT
LISTEN to Cliff and Roach rip up 'Cherokee'

Student 4: At the begining of this, it sounds like you are at a very fancy rich party. I don't like jazzy music, because it's too slow. I'm all bout the fast music!! This song has no singer in it. It's the kind where you just hear a bunch of music and just meditate.

Student 5: Sounds like the kind of music I would hear at a jazz festival. I don't like jazz. It's too.... uneven? No. That's not the word I'm looking for. Hmm.... something like uneven, but not. I can't think of the right word. It's not coming to my head. This kind of song might also be heard at some kind of restaurant that has colorful lights and nice tables where you can eat or just have a drink and the people there are all dressed up in formal, fancy clothes.

Student 6: What a funny name for a jazz song. Why would the creators of this song name this piece with that name? I must say that I am a big fan of jazz, whether it is modern, smooth or back to the greats like Ray Charles. I feel jazz has that calming feeling and expresses emotion other than with words. Sometimes I think that jazz can be more POWERFUL than speech. [ Depends on the quality of the song though.] Amazing too that Jazz artists can play music without recording it down. Now for what I envision in the song. Hmmmmm.... I just see those college cafes that always have the young artists playing all the instruments like the saxophone, piano, you know....

AMAZON Clifford Brown and Max Roach
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AWESOME CLIFF AND MAX ALBUM
LISTEN 2 MORE CLIFF AND MAX

Student 7: This song has no lyrics to it. It is a jazz. There is drums, trumpet and I think there is a piano. It feels like this is a good song to dance to and just have fun with it. I think this song has so much feeling that i can listen to it all day.

Student 8: I like the jazzy tune. I also like the saxophone, the piano and the drum solo. I think this is like something you would find in an underground jazz club in downtown Boston or New York. I really like this type of music.

Student 9: Jazzy time .......................oh well. I'm not that much of a fan. This song would be great to go with a troublesome scene in a bazaar movie. Oops... I mean bizarre.

If you'd like to leave any questions or comments for me or for any of the students who are helping contribute to the Tofu Hut, feel free to do so in the comments section, but PLEASE keep the criticism constructive and to a minimum; we're all just starting to write together and it's gonna take us a little while to get comfortable.

2007-05-08T10:00:00.000-04:00

rollin' on 20s

=================================================================
the return of the deadly clicky

Glenn Danzig leads a guided tour through his library
"This is great... there are lots of great werewolf stories in here. All documented. All true."

Wonderful ILX compendium thread of dogs in costume
A nice bookend for the infamous "Imagine: your dog, cat or other pet in full military regalia."
Honestly, pancake astronaut is never going to stop cracking me up.

sampleur sample offers brief snippets of contemporary rap or electronic songs and equally brief snippets of the songs that are being sampled to make up the new ones. Think of it as a before and after collection where you can hunt down the origins of hooks that you've enjoyed for years. Best part is that there are over eighteen hundred of these to choose from. That combined with the sites excellent googlability makes sampleur sample a real boon to anyone looking for tricky progenitor track info. I hope they go on forever.

This Blog Gets the Gas Face has rock and punk bootlegs from Jesus and Mary Chain, Nirvana/Melvins doing Flipper covers, Mozz, Bad Brains, Velocity Girl and the such.

Lost-in-Tyme is a multiple-user blog with a monster collection of overlooked wonders and out-of-print classics. There's so very much activity on Lost-in-Tyme that they've spread the blog out in four different URLs: one that covers psych-pop, acid-rock, folk music and garage rock, one for krautrock, prog, classic rock and blues, one for alt-rock, punk and new wave and one for funk and soul, jazz and world. Lost's multiple blogs engage in two methods that I've long been ambivalent about: YSI/RapidShare/MegaUpload type file-sharing rather than hosting one's own files on a dedicated server and zipped full-album downloads. My distaste for the file-sharing utilities is unlikely to bridle anytime soon, but at least the albums that Lost's members are sharing are obscure and difficult enough to find to somewhat justify their full-length posts. I'm gonna stay on the fence on the legitimacy about full-length album sharing; as long as the disc is completely unavailable and out-of-print (as most, if not all, of Lost's albums are), I have a hard time seeing who's being hurt by bringing the material back into the parley.
The best thing Lost has to offer is great hivemind taste; the worst is the paucity of commentary for the albums. Text is often cribbed completely from AMG or wiki and when it is not, it's difficult to tell. If these guys ever step up their writing game, they're gonna be a daily must-visit and a force to be reckoned with.

Speaking of forces to reckon with, Weirdomusic has undergone a recent facelift that has it looking ten years younger and ten times more navigable. Scope their downloads section for links to any number of excellent sites trafficking in what they call "sharity" and what I call "mucho eclectric tunage".

Google Video has Brass Eye!
Five years old and still vastly more risky than anything else on television before or since. If you've never seen Channel 4's cracker-dry, acidly funny, mock-Dateline show before, you're in for a treat.

The magical wonder of K. Chin
More information here and here; outside of an ILX thread I started some time ago, I can't find any appreciation sites on the web. Anybody wanna point one out to me? I'd love to get some hi-res K.Chin desktop images.

One last note: I'm planning on bringing 'clicky' back as a weekly function of the Hut, so I welcome any and all readers to contribute links for audioblogs of note or general weirdness. You can mail links in to the email listed at the top of the page with the subject heading "CLICKY" and I'll give 'em a once over. Promise.

2007-05-07T21:00:00.000-04:00

the main line

=================================================================
glisten: son of tofu hut

Son of Tofu Hut is a collaboration with The King Open School of Cambridge, Massachusetts. King Open is a mix of races, ethnicities, social class and nationalities; a melting pot of opinions and perspectives. I've been sending discs of music to King Open to have them played to a class of seventh and eighth graders; the kids give them a listen once or twice and then write a brief critique of what they've heard. I'll be compiling their responses to present you with music, links (when available) and lightly edited (spelling and obvious typing errors are corrected, grammar and slang is not) teenagers' responses.

I commented in last Son of Tofu Hut that I would address some of the differences in the style of writing I brought to these entries. My nature is to take my time, anguish and pore over my entries on th' Hut. I'll continue doing that kind of work when I'm seeking auxilliary material to provide you with more background, but my commentary for the Son of Tofu Hut tracks is my attempt to level the playing field somewhat: my responses are formed over one or two listens to the track in question. It's the same constraints I'm forcing my collaborators to follow; so it only seems fair.

The Gospel Harmonettes of Demopolis, Alabama - Jesus Is On the Main Line

John sez: I wrote a lengthy post about the Harmonettes over two years ago (my god, that long?!?) which covers my astonishment at their vocal power and sadness that they appear to have split for good. It's one of my favorite things I've done with the space; I received more uniformly positive praise for the Harmonettes music than for any other songs I've posted before or since. It does my jaded ol' heart some good to see that the next generation of listeners (well, with one notable exception... "what flys eat", indeed!) seem equally flabbergasted by the sheer emotional epiphany that makes up the Harmonettes repertoire.

This song is one of the bands dozen professionally recorded tracks that I did NOT put up in that original post, which is not to say that it is not soul-scraping, achingly awesome. The ending, where the female soloist (I believe that's Annie Wilks) moves into the crowd and away from the microphone, culminates in one of the most joyful sounds I've ever heard.

Basically, every time I listen to this album I'm dumbfounded and I have to remind myself why I'm listening to anything else. It's something short of sinful NOT to share something this beautiful. As the album itself remains unavailable two years after my last stab at bringing this stuff a greater audience, I've come to the decision that it's time to throw this precious bread out onto the water.

Full album is here.

Read the first Gospel Harmonettes Hut post.
It's still the only link I can find with info about the band.

Student 1: OH MY GOD!!!! I LOVE THIS!!!! This sounds a lot like Sweet Honey in the Rock! So many young childhood memories are coming back! My moms used to play this kind of music to get me to sleep when i was sick. I remember them putting me to bed, tucking me in, and turning on my little tape player. This song makes me feel like i am sitting around a warm campfire, and singing with my loving family. When i heard this song, i almost started clapping along.

Student 2: It sounds too gospel for me. I think this would only be popular on a gospel radio channel or church. It's not really my kind of song, because It's too slow... Kind of.

Student 3: this is a very cool song and it sounds like the Temptations. Do u know who they are? They were once the bestest group ever but one of them got greedy with the money and tried to make himself the star leader when it was really a group thing. He got too drunk to sing anymore and cracked his voice and couldn't sing anything then he killed himself. The ones that lived got through their differences and got the group together again. That's the Temptations.

Student 4: In the beginning of the song and at the end it sounds like a church choir that has no instruments and uses no technology, just all singing voices. Yes I do like it. I like different types of church music.

Student 5: I'm not very religious, but I love gospel because it really sounds like it comes from deep inside. I love acapella music because I love the fact that it isn't necessary to have instruments in a song to make it sound whole. I really love harmonies too. The voice is such a powerful instrument itself and some people don't realise that, but acapella really brings that out. Acapella + gospel = perfection!!!!!!!!!!!

Student 6: oooooooooooohh!!!!! i like this song!!! this song is a religious one, but i still think that you can get stupid to something like this!! i like how this song also holds a message about jesus too. i also like how the songs beat and backround music is layered so that it sounds so good!! man, i just cant get over how good this song sounds. being a believer of jesus and a christian god may have something to do with my view of this song, but even if i weren't a christian i know that i would still be feelin' this song!! and thats for real!!!!

Student 7: Trash. Turn it off, it is blowing my ears off. It sounds so dumb. How long ago was this made? This stuff is what flys eat. Erase this from memory. Who could sing this? TRASH TRASH...............TRASH.

Student 8: Instantly, I'm transported to those Southern gospel churches. A fine example of how to show your devotion through music. I like how after a while people from the benches shout out to help emphasize the music. Now I don't know how southern churches look like so I'll describe a northern church. Wooden benches, a large organ and stained glass on windows.....

Student 9: This is a christian song? It sounds like a song you would hear right when you walk into a church. They start singing out loud to get the choir going. I would listen to this song without no worries.

Student 10: The beginning sounds kinda like something i wouldnt listen 2. this song doesnt have music itz just vocals & clapping. it soundz very religious 2 me. the people that sing this song must love god witta passion. this isnt something i would listen 2 cuz i dont listen 2 religious muzik (onli at church on sundai). the end is kinda hot tho like when they get more into it.

If you'd like to leave any questions or comments for me or for any of the students who are helping contribute to the Tofu Hut, feel free to do so in the comments section, but PLEASE keep the criticism constructive and to a minimum; we're all just starting to write together and it's gonna take us a little while to get comfortable.

2007-05-06T16:36:00.000-04:00

"it would just be a waste of time"

=================================================================
glisten: walkie talkie

Time for my weekly round-up of Joe's Pub podcasty-type interviews; those of you somewhat in the dark as to what this is all about are welcome to get all the details in the first of these posts here. It was a good Friday and I had a nice chat with all the folks involved.

David Brown of Brazzaville

Listen to Brazzaville's 'Madalena'

Visit the Brazzaville website.

Watch Brazzaville's video for 'Star Called Sun'

===================================

Jason Swinscoe of The Cinematic Orchestra

Visit The Cinematic Orchestra's website.

Listen to The Cinematic Orchestra's 'To Build a Home'

Watch The Cinematic Orchestra's fascinating video for 'Man With a Movie Camera'

===================================

Eric Donnelly of The Alternate Routes

Listen to The Alternate Route's 'Ordinary'

Watch The Alternate Routes perform live

Visit The Alternate Routes website

===================================

Kevin Michael

Listen to Kevin Michael's 'We All Want the Same Thing'

Watch Kevin Michael perform live

Visit Kevin Michael's MySpace

===================================

Alyssa Graham

Visit Alyssa Graham's MySpace page.

===================================

Luke Temple

Listen to Luke Temple's 'People Do'

Visit Luke Temple's MySpace

Watch Luke Temple's 'Private Shipwreck

2007-04-30T00:11:00.000-04:00

I gotta start stocking up on my new favorite food

=================================================================
glisten: walkie talkie

Time for my weekly round-up of Pub interviews; those of you somewhat in the dark as to what this is all about are welcome to get all the details in the first of these posts here.

I wasn't able to connect with too many people this week, but there is a little surprise at the bottom for those of you curious (and masochistic) enough to go fishing for it.

So without further ado:

Colin Channer

Colin is a bestselling author from Jamaica who has published several books on Caribbean life. He occasionally reads his own work as a theatrical performance and is currently performing a piece drawn from the experiences of his own family life called "How To Beat a Child the Right and Proper Way".

Visit Colin's official homepage.
-
Read another interview with Colin.

===================================

Danny Rivera

Danny Rivera is a legendary singer who has been performing for almost forty years. He's especially revered in the Puerto Rican community.

Watch Danny perform Michael Bolton's "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" in Spanish and make it sound quite nice.

Big Pun fans may be more familiar than they think with Danny's song 'En Un Rincon Del Alma'; it's the basis for 'It's So Hard'.

Read a brief bio.

===================================

Sean Hayes

Sean Hayes is a singer/songwriter with a folk sensibility. His new album 'Flowering Spade' is due out in a few months.

Listen to a full length track from Sean Hayes called 'Calling All Cars'.

Visit Sean's official home page.

===================================

Eleni Mandell

Eleni Mandell is an L.A.-based singer songwriter who's long been a critical favorite. She's in town to promote her new album, 'Miracle of Five'.

Visit Eleni's official site, but mind th' flash.

Listen to a full length track from Eleni's new album called 'The Make Out King'.

===================================

Me?

Yes, me. I got a lovely phone call from a fellow who is a Music Management Student at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts who's writing his dissertation on audioblogs and he wanted to follow up on the points that were brought up a few years ago in the Morning News round table interview. Mostly it's me running off at the mouth without much to say, but I figure turnabout is fair play, so here it is if you want it. I do ramble on like a fool and if I were you, I'd stick to blisspop... so don't say you haven't been warned.