Photo: DJ Shadow by Zach Dilgard

I first discovered DJ Shadow on one of my downtempo Pandora stations. He is probably most famous for the track “Organ Donor.” I feel like most people know that track when they hear it, even if they don’t know DJ Shadow. Anyway, he has some really good mixes, and a pretty broad range of sound. The track that I’m sharing today is called “My Way.” It is from the “Outsider” album. Give it a spin.

Will Holland, a.k.a Quantic, is a man of man sounds. If you are a fan of music, then you will be a fan of something that he has done. I first started jamming to Quantic a few years ago, when “Pushin’ on” was released. I can’t really describe the flavor of that album, but it is hot. I strongly suggest that you check it out, if you don’t own it. Needless to say, I was pretty stoked, a few months ago, when I discovered that he had some new work coming out. His 2010 release is called “Quantic Presenta: Flowering Inferno, Dog With A Rope.” Keep in mind, this dude is British. Make sure that you have 6 minutes and 17 seconds to spare. Vocals don’t start until 3:14. Ok, now hear the track.. “Cumbia Sobre El Mar”

Photo: I don’t know who to credit, but I love it.

Bonus: Kelvis, I tagged this post with “Burritos” just for you.

Until I did a little bit of research for this article, I never really knew if the Dead Milkmen were really a spoof or not. I thought about it last night when one of my line servers asked me the question: “If you could see any band or artist alive or dead, in the prime of their career, who would it be?” I had to think about it a little bit. I was thinking that I felt like I had seen most of the shows that I really wanted to see. I had even been on 18 hour road trips where we drove, saw that show, and drove back in order to make it fit around my work schedule. Anyway, after about 10 minutes, it hit me, The Dead Milkmen. Yep these guys are on the list of bands that I wished I could have seen, but most likely never will… The two songs that I have to name drop when talking about this band are “Punk Rock Girl,” and “Bitchin’ Camarro.” Most people have heard one or the other. I like them both just fine, but also love most of the other stuff these guys put out… there are a couple that I listen to more than others… If I was at a show, this is one that I would yell out before the encore in hopes of hearing it directly from the source. Enjoy.

City of Mud by Dead Milkmen

-pete

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Peter Breinholt is a guest contributor for La Musica Coolica, and Jake’s brother. All of Peter’s contributions can be found here | Peter’s personal blog can be found here.

Reagan and I were doing it up Bklyn-style, last night and a Converse promo featuring Kid Cudi et al. It is kind of fun when I can bring Reagan along to gigs like those, because we always spend some time just goofing off. There are just a few more items that I have to knock out, today– then I can start packing for vacation! Woo Hoo. We worked it out, so that we can go visit PJ together tonight, before we fly out. I’m pretty amped about that (a’course). I’m so ready to finally be able to take advantage of the beach weather. Something tells me that my running regimen is going to suffer a bit over the next few days. Hehe.

A few more shots from last night:

Reagan and Kid Cudi (above); Kid Cudi and fandom (below)

Below–>  Reagan maxin’ and relaxin’ before the music started.

Also, I didn’t realize until I saw the flier in this shot that MIA is playing with Die Antwoord at Guv’s Island. Whaaaaa??????????????? And it’s going down the weekend that we are fuera, of course. Speaking of Die Antwoord, I hear a rumor that Yo Landi Visser might be cast in the Hollywood version of “Girl with the Dragon Tatoo.”

One more thing..  Reagan authored a guest post, that ran today on one of her favorite blogs. Apparently, she was asked to articulate what it is like, having to leave after visits with PJ. I think that Reagan did a pretty swell job. So, if you get a chance and are interested, feel free to pop over.

I have  loved these guys since high school. I re-discovered them a few months ago when I was making a Pandora station. Tuesday is almost over (and it is either this cop-out or miss another week of LMC), so that is all I’m going to write about Deee-Lite. Also, I don’t know who to give credit for the photo. I knicked it from their myspace page. Surely you have heard “Groove is in the Heart.” Here it is again.

Two of my favorite rappers on this track. The whole Blackstar collab is pretty hot. Anyway, if you are a fan of Talib Kweli, or Mos Def, then for sure you love this track, also. “Best alliance in hip-hop”– I tend to agree. One of the best, anyway. This is another one of those songs that reminds me automatically of summer. This is the unedited version, so there is some swearin’. Keep that in mind before you press play. Check out “Definition.”

Ok, this one is a serious throwback. Going all the way to my days in Jr. high. They were before Silverchair and The Vines. At the time, Midnight Oil was like the coolest Australian band since Men at Work. They had a couple of songs that were kind of anthems of the era. Like, “Bed’s are Burning.” The song that I’m sharing tonight is actually off of the same album, “Diesel and Dust” (1987). The whole album was one of my staple jams, in like 7th grade. Anyway, grab your self a Vegemite sandwich and revisit “Dreamworld.”

I have to admit that the Black Keys‘ music is a little bit new to me. Every once in a while I would hear about them, or catch a little snippit of one of their songs. But I never really gave them a shot. About a month ago, they were playing a secret promo show for Kin Spot. We opted out. Now, I totally wish that I would have gone. Shortly after the weekend of the show (that we didn’t go to), I read a really favorable review of their recently released album, “Brothers.” So, I decided that I should check them out.

The beautiful thing about discovering a band after the fact, is that if the band has been productive at all, there will be a modest catalog of songs to discover. For me, working my way through their previous albums was like being able to open a new box on an advent calendar, each time I heard a new song. I really really like their sound. Here are some of the reasons:

1. The guitar riffs remind me a lot of the stuff that my friend Joel used to write, when we had a garage band together, back in the day. Very simple stuff, but super moody and dripping with style.

2. Even though they have a very distinct sound, all of their songs don’t sound derivative of each other. They have enough latitude in their vocal and instrumental writing, that there is some good variety, from album to album.

3. They are from Akron Ohio. You have to give props to a band from the midwest, that makes it this big.

I hope that I didn’t talk them up too much. Ok, check out “All Hands Against His Own,” from their 2004 release “Rubber Factory.”

[photo via]

(Photo: David Koppe)

For me the jury is still out, on whether I like Hot Chip. They kind of remind me of a modern version of XTC, or something. One thing standing in the way, is that their name reminds me of Hot Action Cop. I realize, that is my problem, not theirs, but still. Anyway They are Brits, they play keyboards. Some of them are mustachioed. Press play to hear “I Feel Better.”

Nothing new or novel here. I’m sure that everyone has heard this song at least 1000 times. But, hey– it is summer. “Doin Time” is such a classic mellow warm-weather song. I couldn’t think of anything more fitting for tonight. Press play.

[Phot0:  Not sure who to credit. But I like it]