Past Participle

It has been a while. Our bad. Although speakeasy kind of made up for it. Pssh. Excuses, excuses.

At any rate, if you don't know DJ Format, you better get on that train. He's a whole mess of freshness, having produced two albums and a Fabric Live compilation. A frequent collaborator with Abdominal and D-Sisive, he just put out a new single, a mix-blend, if you will, of a bunch of James Brown tracks.

The moral of this story is that funk is back, in a big way. Or maybe it isn't. Then again, was it ever gone in the first place?


DJ Format - Stealin' James, Pt. 1
DJ Format - 3 Feet Deep (feat. Abdominal & D-Sisive)
DJ Format - The Place (feat. Chali 2Na & Akil)

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Energy Drinks, Academia and Perversion

It's 5am. I'm alone in the library save for the companionship of some obscure movies and books, many empty cans of energy drinks and an unwritten paper that makes my brain feel like ouchies. Oh! There's also this A Clockwork Orange soundtrack my friend gave me (to keep me on the sane side). Well anyway, all work and no play makes a speakeasy delusional--so delusional that he went and spent the last half hour mashing ghetto tech with various songs on this wonderful soundtrack. Why? I really don't know. I'm soo sorry, world. So yeah...that's my confession, I took a perfectly good song and brought more perversion than Pee Wee Herman's Playhouse. I'll save you the time of finding out if its any good: its horrible. I put about as much effort into it as I have this paper tonight--and yet in my cracked out state, I can't help but laugh at this monstrosity. So here you go...another silly mashup:

William Tell (Throws Up All) Over(Her)ture - Gioachino Rossini vs. GhettoTech (zSHARE)

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Catching up.

It's been a while...sorry. Hope everyone had a good winter. I've been busy failing out of school, bullshitting: watching pretentious movies, smoking endless cigarettes, and getting addicted to lost and the wire. Yes, that's right, I like lost. Yes, it is a good show. No, YOU'RE a loser. Anyway, here's some shit I've been working on over the cold months:

Sympathy for the Devil (spkEz Bmore Glitch Edit)
Goin' Down (spkEz remix)
Kick out the Sweet Child (Guns and Roses vs. Dave Nada)
Rock Steady (Steady Rockin' spkEz edit)
Bongos on the Ground (Rye Rye vs. Zongamin)
Cranque Dat (MSTRKRFT vs. Soulja Boy vs. Frederico Franchi)
Hood Nigga (spkEz rough remix)

And a mixtape I just put together...Winter '08

--Glad that's off my chest.

Love, speakeasy.

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I Miss the 90's

My childhood memories are inextricably mixed a (perhaps fantasized) image of the "golden age" present nowadays in the lyrics of wizened old MC's. I remember a 90's New York (more specifically, Prospect Heights and Flatbush, Brooklyn, where I grew up) as a blur of BBQ's, West Indian Day Parades, and red cherry ice's that cut your lips. Call me nostalgic, perhaps even romantic, but at some point I became obsessed with this period of New York City's history. The transition phase--a no-man's land between the wreckage of the eighties and the inflated, hipster-filled realm of the 21st century--a time when you could still buy loosies or use tokens. When red painted train cars still ran, at the height of graffiti, this was the glory age of Hip Hop...

My junior year of high-school I beat my friend in a game of c-lo for a Mecca t-shirt (remember them?) and a DJ Skribble mixtape. Suffice to say that the mixtape didn't leave my cd player for a month or two. It seemed at the time that I had finally found the sound I had always been searching for (again, forgive my romanticism). Anyway, the mixtape, which dug deep into the a quickly dying music tradition of the 90's, became my new drug--and I spent the next two years exploring that incredible moment in hip hop history...

When I got to college, that music began disappearing from my life. New people turned me on to new music and I moved on. Fast forward two years and I'm sitting in my bedroom listening to yet another fast-paced electronica remix or something...UGH. Don't get me wrong, I love the stuff, but goddamn...sometimes I gotta bring it back. I started searching through my computer and what do I find? NaS's Illmatic...ahhhhh. Anyway, since then I've been on a serious east coast 90's kick, and I thought I'd share some of it with you. I threw this sampler together for anyone interested.

I Heart 90's NYC
Track Listing:
Powaful Impak!-Black Moon
Woo Hah-Busta Rhymes
Oh My God-A Tribe Called Quest
The Rep Grows Bigga-Gang Starr
Bucktown-Smif N Wessun
Everyday Struggle-The Notorious B.I.G.
Memory Lane (Sittin' in the Park)-NaS
Drink Away the Pain-Mobb Deep
Supa Star-Group Home
Rainy Dayz-Raekwon the Chef
D'Evils-Jay-Z
Street Struck-Big L
4th Chamber-GZA
Come Clean-Jeru the Damaja
Outta Here- KRS ONE
Return of the Crooklyn Dodger-Various Artists

Or you can download a zip of the singles

Enjoy,

(speakeasy)

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Party Foul

I had the wonderful privilege of spinning at a gigantic and epic party last night here at Oberlin College. Joining me were two phenomenal DJs, Harry Bornstein and Mike McGill, and the amazing duo FX Unicorn. Everything was going just as planned, the music was hot and the kids on the dance floor were eating it up. Then, about 6 or 7 songs into my set, this guy spills my beer all over my computer. It seemed fine at first, but within 30 seconds my monitor died. Needless to say it is pretty much impossible for me to mix anything when I can't see shit on my screen. The whole party was screaming for more and I couldn't give it to them. Luckily FX Unicorn jumped into action and got people moving again. To top it off, McGill played a 3 1/2 hour set without missing a beat, and I think everybody just about shit themselves from dancing so hard. Despite the major party foul, it was a sick party.

Now that my computer is all dried out and functioning normally again, I decided to take some time and record the set that I would have played last night.

Listen up:

Woodland Party

1. Max Power - Intro
2. Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want To (Erol Alkan Remix)
3. Melomanics - Get You (Mr Miyagi Remix)
4. Goose - Black Gloves (The Bloody Beetroots Remix)
5. Muscles - One Inch Badge Pin (Ghetto Ruckus Remix)
6. Yelle - A Cause des Garcons (Riot In Belgium Remix)
7. Scenario Rock - Skitzo Dancer (Justice Remix)
8. Death From Above 1979 - Sexy Results (MSTRKRFT Edition)
9. The Kinks - Sunny Afternoon (MInitel Rose Remix)
10. Justice - Phantom
11. Le Castlevania - Trouble In Daylight (LA Riots Remix)
12. Might Dub Katz - Magic Carpet Ride '07 (Shinichi Osawa Remix)
13. Goose - Bring It On (MSTRKRFT JFK Remix)
14. Justice - Waters Of Nazareth (Erol Alkan's Durrr Durrr Durrrrrr Re-edit)
15. Chromeo - Tenderoni (MSTRKRFT Remix)
16. Riot In Belgium - La Musique (Revlover Edit)
17. Para One - Dudun Dun (MSTRKRFT Remix)
18. Shinichi Osawa - Star Guitar (ft. Au Revoir Simone)

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Super Inaugural Celebration Extravaganza

So we've got another sweet party for all you kids out there. This Friday, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings will be gracing SLC with their amazing funk/jazz/nu-soul ridiculousness. If you for some reason have been living under a rock or on Staten Island, the Dap-Kings have worked with Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse, The Budos Band, and Antibalas, and they're probably the single best R&B act since Otis Redding. That one starts at 8:30 under a big fucking white tent (and they play the Apollo on Saturday night), but be sure to stick around for the afterparty: 11:30 in the Blue Room. I, and quite possibly your boy Speakeasy will be spinning for some classy people. That means you.

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Tell Me

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Electrotastic

Here's a little something I put together from some of my favorite electro tracks these days. Listen up:

930 Mix

1. Max Power – Intro
2. Talking Heads – Psycho Killer (Lexicon Avenue Remix)
3. Pet Shop Boys – Sodom
4. Soulwax – E Talking (Rex The Dog Mix)
5. Tomcraft – Overdose (Lady Radio Version)
6. Alloy Mental – Alloy Mental (Boys Noize Remix)
7. Goose – Black Gloves (The Bloody Beetroots Remix)
8. Hostage – Gluttony (Felix Cartal Remix)
9. The Living Things – Bom Bom Bom (Boys Noize Remix)
10. Superbass – I’m With You (Richard Dinsdale Remix)
11. Paul Johnson – Hot (Surkin Remix)
12. Justice – Stress (ZUER Edit)
13. Pryda – Rage
14. Eric Prydz vs. Pink Floyd – Proper Education (Dub)
15. Para One – Dudun-dun (Boys Noize Remix)
16. Trentemøller – Beta Boy
17. Nine Inch Nails – Capital G (Switch Remix)
18. The Chemical Brothers – Do It Again (Daft Mix)
19. Sneaky Sound System – I Love It (Riot In Belgium Forest Rave Mix)

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Rocking Without Vowels

The subject of today's musical exploration is, I'm afraid, kind of predictable--yes, its about remixes. Today we shall focus on our friends from the north, MSTRKRFT. The duo, Jesse F. Keeler (former member of the band Death From Above 1979) and Al-P (producer of Death From Above's "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine" and former member of the electroish group, Girlsareshort), hail from the wonderful world of Ontario, Canada. For anyone who hasn't heard them, I guess it's apt to mention that I discovered MSTRKFT on a gay-centric blog some time ago, under a picture of Paris Hilton--in other words, they pretty much epitomize the whole happy gay sound. Lots of fun, in deed. Strangely enough though, these synth-and-keyboard-thumping-party-makers sound almost nothing like DFA 1979. So then, where did that gritty-guitar, wailing-ballad sound go? Where do these crazy Canadians vent their urge to rock the fuck out....? Well remixes, of course. Since the release of their first single in early 2006, MSTRKFT has produced a slew of rocky sounding remixes, selecting songs from an eclectic range of genres. Anyway, to make a long blog shorter, these remixes bring forth the best of rock and electro, creating a head-bangin, dance-inducing combination, that is sure to get a party bumpin'. If not, they certainly make for some fun listening (Or, at least, I sure enjoy them.)


MSTRKRFT - Got Love To Kill (Juliette & The Licks Remix)
Bloc Party - Two More Years (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Death From Above 1979 - Little Girl (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Death From Above 1979 - Sexy Results (MSTRKRFT Edition)
The Gossip - Listen Up! (MSTRKRFT Relick)
Wolfmother - Woman (MSTRKRFT Remix)

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Nothing Special

Ok, I must admit, even I was suckered into the whole Spank Rock thing. I, whom for years tried to claim some form of status through hip hop snobbery, fell for the tricks and flashy ways of these dirty pseudo-Bmore beats. Perhaps it was their attempts to incorporate an electroish sound, perhaps, I just wanted to dance; who knows? Suffice to say that, at the very least, I have been quite excited about seeing the fabled Spank Rock perform for quite some time now. So granted, the Apple store in mid-town Manhattan is no real club, and for sure, free shows don't always prompt the best performances, but GOD DAMN, that was a real flaky show. I'll try to leave aside the uncontrollable factors--the hipster scummery, the faulty equipment, the tight quarters--but criticism is needed. I mean, I hate to say it, but the performance sucked.

First off, XXXChange, what's the deal man? I mean, as a DJ, and not even a very good one at that, I was kind of upset with some of the sloppy mixing and predictable choice of music. Stopping for 20 seconds because you fuck up, or dropping out the volume for a moment or two by accident, is no fun. I mean, of all places, it wasn't as if this was a high pressure show--there are no excuses for those kind of mistakes. Oh, and playing catchy Bmore stuff, that everyone's heard a million times, does not make up for a sloppy performance.

Next, Mr. Naeem Juwan, let me make this real clear---being a class A hipster, talking about vagina's and penises, and shaking your ass, does not make you a good MC. Do yourself a favor, go back, and watch all those late 70's, early 80's hip hop movies where all the hipsters steal their style from, and watch how a real MC rocks a show. I'll give you some hints, first: when you spit, do the whole verse, don't just start in the middle, or stop for that matter, and definitely don't just let Amanda Blank say your lines. Oh, try rapping over instrumentals rather than vocal edits, it kind of gives you the illusion of talent. Lastly, throwing water in a store full of computers, iPhone and iPods probably isn't the best idea.

I'm sorry if I sound like a complete hater right now, but I am REAL disappointed, and I've heard no real criticism of this group. So, Spank Rock, please get your act together.

Sincerely,

(speakeasy)

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Baby Got Bass: Volume 2.0

If you're not coming, you're lame. But seriously, walk, run, drive, fly, or do whatever you have to to be at Sarah Lawrence College tonight. If you're coming from New York, take the White Plains Metro-North to Bronxville, and then ask around for the school shuttle. Starts at 11.

We've got Max Neely-Cohen (you may know him as the Kleptonian), Manatee, DJ Pravo, our boy SpeakEasy and myself destroying everything until 2 AM. Don't miss it.


Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance
Soulwax - NY Lipps

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