The Animal Show » Santigold

You Know I'm No Good

Edward — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:32:57 +0000

Set 'em loose on me. I know you wanna.

It’s true — I’ve sunk to a new low. A whole week without fresh new jams comin’ atcha from Showtown. How have you survived? More importantly, why have you survived? Was life worth living without the Show? No, of course not. But I appreciate you muddling.

I wish I had some sort of great excuse for my ignoring you, but I don’t. Except this one: I’m a full-time student, and this job doesn’t pay. At all. Not one shiny penny comes to me. I do it out of the goodness of my own heart. I know, I know — save the thanks for later. Leave the idolizing remarks in the comments section. Now’s not the time. What it is time for, however, are some fresh Spring tunes, guaranteed to make your booty shake and the house quake. Live, from Brunswick Maine, It’s Animal Show time.

The first song I’m going to share with you is the single off Show favorites (and commentors) Super Mash Bros.’ new album, tentatively titled All About the Scrillions, which will be rattling your fillings in early June. The song’s called “Kisses & Thugs,” and it’s making me hungry for more.

Next, I’m going to drop a duo of ground-stomping goodies which I’ve been saving forever: a sweet remix of Santigold’s brilliant “Unstoppable,” featuring Li’l Wayne and Drake. Nuff said. And then there’s a Daft Punk vs. Beastie Boys mash, “Intergalactic Human,” courtesy of DJ Earworm. Nothing new, but a gem nonetheless. So, sorry for the slow April, but we’re still here and we still know how to get down.

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(Download) this music.

Kisses & Thugs – Super Mash Bros. (megaupload)

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(Download) this music.

Unstoppable (Remix feat. Lil Wayne & Drake) – Santigold (megaupload)

Author insert a music with WS Audio Player
(Download) this music.

Intergalactic Human (Daft Punk vs. Beastie Boys) – DJ Earworm (megaupload)

If you haven’t already, buy Santigold’s album before she changes her name again.

Santogold Gets Shoved, Repeatedly

Edward — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:17:23 +0000

Me too, Santi. Me too.

I like Santogold. Can you tell? She’s taking off like no 30-something pop star before. I mean, can you believe she didn’t release an album until that “advanced” age of 31? Crazy, right? Anyway, everyone all over the musical world of the internet is nuts about her, and I have to agree with them.

You’ve probably heard “Brooklyn (Go Hard)” by now; if not, catch it below. It’s Santi’s collab with Jay-Z from his upcoming album, The Blueprint 3. (Rumors are that “Swagga Like Us” will be re-released there, too, which is totally wack. Although that song is awesome.) It samples “Shove It,” and is classic Jay-Z. It’s below, along with a sweet remix of “Shove It” featuring my homestate’s own Three-Six Mafia. Good thing it’s impossible to get tired of hearing Santogold say “Brooklyn, we go hard,” because otherwise these two would probably do you in.

Brooklyn (Go Hard) [Feat. Santogold] – Jay-Z

Shuv It (3-6 Remix) – Santogold

Don’t be surprised when I keep posting about Santogold.

N.A.S.A Blasts Off

Edward — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:43:51 +0000

OR SOME OTHER SPACE-RELATED PUN

Oh, to be young and at space camp! But look out, child, because your mind is about to get totally melted by musical spirits, which look and act a lot like those weird God-ghosts at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

You may remember way back in my Kanyeezy for Diversity post that I posted a track from N.A.S.A.’s upcoming album, The Spirit of Apollo, and then I went completely nuts about the artists featured on that track (re-posted below). I told you that the album was going to hold you prisoner and put you in a weird human-zoo where other hip-hop artists would come and pay exorbitant prices to throw cheerios into your cage or, if you’re sufficiently tame, come into your confine and pet you. And I mean that in the coolest way possible, because this zoo is going to rock. Like, chocolate waterfalls and perpetual rainbows and maybe a bush made of pretzels or something, I don’t know, I haven’t really completely planned it. In case you didn’t believe me, here are a couple new songs off the album, which should get you sufficiently riled up.

Whachadoin’ (feat. Spank Rock, M.I.A., Nick Zinner and Santogold) – N.A.S.A.

Remember how happy I was about Santi, Lykke Li + Kanye? This is a close 2nd for glee-some threesomes. M.I.A. + Santi is always good, and then Spank Rock icing is my favorite kind. Nick Zinner is the lead guitarist of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, whom I’ve never listened to, so if you have some tracks I should check out, plz point me to them. (PS sorry for the DJ drops in this — it’s the price you have to pay for sweet leaks…)

Money (feat. David Byrne, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge & Z-Trip) – N.A.S.A.

Criminy! David Byrne and Chuck D on the same track? This is amazing. I love Talking Heads, and feel like they’re a band who should be mashed up more frequently. 163 blogpoints to each person who can hook me up with a good Talking Heads mash. 13823 Blogpoints for each Talking Heads/Public Enemy mash-up I receive.

Gifted (feat. Kanye West, Lykke Li & Santogold) – N.A.S.A.

Still amazing.

Spirit of Apollo hits stores Feb 17th. Prepare yourself.

N.A.S.A.’s Myspace.

Whachadoin’ via Nashville Nights

Januaremix

Edward — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:56:00 +0000

The in-picture text says it all.

After an unbelievable bout of creativity in both the title of this post and the picture accompanying it, I’m a little embarrassed to say I’m not going to be giving you anything truly brand-new today. Instead, I’ll give you a couple remixes which are well worth attention, but which have been scattered all over the internets. Conveniently, both made my best of 2008 lists!

Get ‘em:

Lights Out (Tepr Emo Remix) – Santogold (via mossip)

I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You (Twelves Kickmix feat. Li’l Wayne) – Black Kids

This twelves kickmix is awesome. It gave an-already funky song a synth injection, so that it now is bouncing off the walls with non-stop awesomeness.

Kanyeezy for Diversity, and Me for Controversy

Edward — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 23:15:48 +0000

So damn hood.

Every now and then, I like to pretend that I’m a different kind of hipster than I am. I unbutton one additional button on my shirt, and then I listen to Kanye. And then I sing along the only way I know how — by mumbling most of the words until he gets to the end of a line, at which point I yell, to even out my earlier quietness. Because you read this blog, you are obviously exactly like me in every way, so you know what I’m about. Anyway, Kanye is a different man these days than he used to be. No longer flitting between being so bad it’s awesome (and I’m not embarrassed to say that’s my favorite Kanye track.) and so awesome he’s unavoidable, 808s and Heartbreaks fell in between. Don’t get me wrong, there were some good moments, but as a whole, it didn’t have the arrogance I expect and need from Kanye.

I’ve scoured the internet to find songs that shows the Kanye I love, the Kanye of “American Boy,” the Louis-Viutton Don we all wish we were. I found these two tracks, which both show why Kanyeezy is the man. Neither are his, but both are awesome. N JOI!

Pro Nails – Kid Sister (feat. Kanye West)

Kanye’s verse owns this song. I don’t know or care who Kid Sister is, but me likey Kanye. EDIT: based on the advice of a faithful reader, I am currently reevaluating my stance on Kid Sister. Her verse in this song is growing on me, and I’m examining her other traxxx. I’ll keep you posted.

Gifted – N.A.S.A. (feat. Kanye West, Santogold & Lykke Li)

This is the sort of collab I lie in bed dreaming of. Santi, Yeezy, and Lykke?? AAAAH! N.A.S.A.’s album is going to own my life. Look for it.

Santogold^Folk = Lilly Wood and the Prick

Edward — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:19:48 +0000

This is the band, which has a funny name.

Dear readers, the Animal Show is proud to present a totally folked up cover of Santogold’s L.E.S. Artistes. I’m so ahead of my time, I totally found you a band that HASN’T EVEN BEEN SIGNED YET! THEY HAVEN’T EVEN RELEASED THEIR FIRST ALBUM YET! A SEARCH ON HYPE MACHINE ONLY RETURNS 3 RESULTS! AND 2 OF THOSE ARE IN FRENCH!! THIS IS A FRENCH BAND!!!!!!

I don’t speak French, dear readers. But I vaulted the language barrier to bring you this jam. Because I love indie folk. And I love Santogold. I’m pretty excited by what I’m hearing here, but this cover isn’t all they’re good for. The other song on their myspace, “Down the Drain,” is pretty sweet. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find it in mp3 format anywhere for you. You’ll just have to listen there.

Catch the super-hot cover after the break, and I’ll be sure to keep you posted about this band because they’re pretty damn Animal Show, if you know what I mean.

Lilly White and the Prick – L.E.S. Artistes (Santogold Cover)

Via fairtilizer

PS: Did you guys know that L.E.S. = Lower East Side? Because I totally didn’t until just recently, and then I felt dumb.

My Top 10 Albums of 2008

Edward — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:02:59 +0000

Only 8 days left to wear these!

I know, I know, dear readers. You’ve been so very patient these past 24 hours waiting for this, and I appreciate it. Well, now you can stop sending me hate emails, and feast your eyes and ears on this cornucopia of musical goodness. Just in time for Christmas Eve.

Did you know making year-end lists is hard? I really hadn’t counted on there being so much writing involved in blogging. I thought it was all about writing funny things over people’s faces in MS Paint. Dagg, yo. Anyway, I wrote many many words, and I hope you read at least one out of every 5. That’s really what I’m going for.

Catch the list after the break.

10) MGMT – Oracular Spectacular: Technically a 2007 release, I’m including this because the physical release was 2008. And because I don’t care to split hairs. I liked this album a lot, but not as much as some people (deep, right?). Mainly, I was turned off by the album art. What the hell, guys? Do you think you’re cooler than me? I can paint my face, too. Anyway, there are some sweet tracks on here, which have inspired some even sweeter remixes. Check em both out.

MGMT – Electric Feel

9) Esau Mwamwaya – The Very Best Mixtape: I do a lot of reading the internets for music. Presumably, you do too, unless you’re my dad, in which case, Hi, Father. Anyway, in September, the entirety of the information superhighway was blowing up with news of this dude, Esau Mwamwaya (pronounce his name just by reading it so fast that noone can tell the difference). He was totally bringing afro-pop into the world-wide-web generation, man. He sang Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa! Totes out-Africa’d Vampy Weekend! And then he released this super-sweet mixtape for free, and I was all like, dang, bro, this is sum hawt shitt. You’ll prolly be like that, too.

Esau Mwamwaya – Funa Funa

8 ) Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours: The word “Colours” snagged me, although this album has the dubious distinction of being the only one on this list I purchased at Pitchfork’s recommendation. To be fair, I bought it because I was going to Pitchforkfest (which I cannot recommend highly enough), and they were one of the bands on the lineup I hadn’t heard of. I was not disappointed. My major criticism of Pitchfork is their love for music more cacophonic than melodic. Cut Copy is none of that. If anything, they err on the side of Eurotrash pop beats, which is fine by me. All in all, this is an album which delivers the jams without compromising intelligence.

Cut Copy – Feel the Love

7) She & Him – Volume One: Zooey Deschanel is a mystery to me. Mainly because I have no idea how to pronounce her name. I’ve been told it’s supposed to be like Zoe, but I will continue to call her “Zoo-ee” until she personally corrects me. I find that exoticism makes her all the more attractive. She has one of those instantly recognizable voices, and the songs on Volume One could have been written forty years ago. And I mean that in the best way possible. She’s a cutey patootie. I’m waiting for Volume Two.

She & Him – This is Not a Test

6) Okkervil River – The Stand Ins: I had a poster of the cover art from The Stage Names up on my wall last year, and I told my roommate at the time that I thought it would be hard to find creepier album art. Then Okkervil River stepped it up, to make something even more disturbing. Then put them together. Yummy. This was completely a sequel to The Stage Names, which was, at one point, going to be a double album. Stage Names was probably my favorite album of 2007, so I was understandably very excited about Stand Ins, and it really didn’t disappoint. It didn’t have as many amazing individual songs as Stage Names, but it flows perfectly and makes me all the more excited about the prospect of new Okkervil material. Of course, now if they don’t release another album in 12 months I’ll probably be disappointed.

Okkervil River – Bruce Wayne Campbell on the Roof of the Chelsea Hotel, 1979

5) E-603 – Something for Everyone: If Girl Talk and Diplo had a lovechild, I would be very confused. But I’d be a lot more interested if, instead of Girl Talk, E-603 and Diplo had a lovechild. Because I think E-603 is legitimately better than Girl Talk. And not just because he looks like this or dresses like this, or writes things like this. Having seen both perform this year, I can say that E-603 puts on a better show. Period. Whereas Girl Talk plays through his hits, prolonging some samples and occasionally venturing into new material for a few seconds, E-603’s show is completely different every time. I kept looking for my favorite samples from the album, and being impressed and surprised when the ones I heard were even better. His debut album is all the mash-up I need. And it’s available for free on his website. Download it now.

E-603 – Crystal Friend

4) Santogold – S/T: If I said this was due to my embarrassing affection for Gossip Girl, I wouldn’t be giving Santi enough credit. But I can’t say it didn’t help. If you’ve never heard the blood-curdling “Ah-ah-ah-ahhh”s of “Creator,” you’re missing out. I’m not afraid to say I like Santogold more than M.I.A., and her collaborations have been sick. Though I have too much of a conscience to post her album (you should buy it. Now.), she did release a mixtape with Diplo, one of my favorite DJs of the year, which is nasty (and an honorable mention on this list). Catch it.

Santogold – Creator

3) TV on the Radio – Dear Science: 2006’s Return to Cookie Mountain has been one of my favorite albums of the past couple years. It showed TV on the Radio’s stepping in stride, perfecting their formula for hard-hitting electro-rock. I would have been all right with a straight sequel to that (a la The Stand Ins), but Tunde and the boys rocked my world with a deep and troubled album that still rocks. I feel it’s hard to write about it in a way that gives it enough credit. Just listen.

TV on the Radio – Halfway Home

2) Fleet Foxes – Sun Giant EP/ S/T LP: Pitchfork packaged this as their number one, the LP I bought came with the EP in it, and both were released in ’08. I’ll follow Subpop’s lead and do the same. Enough has probably been written about Fleet Foxes, but I’ll say this: the album continued to surprise me. It stood the test of time, of overplay, of overblogging, and still came out a surprisingly strong effort. I’m a big fan of indie-folk, and this seems to be the perfection of it. The most amazing thing about Fleet Foxes to me is how note-for-note they could replicate their harmonies live. Listening to them, you’d assume that overdub after overdub had gone into the recording, but those chords in White Winter Hymnal really just are a few guys singing together. Beautiful.

Fleet Foxes – Drops in the River (From the Sun Giant EP)

1) Vampire Weekend – S/T: It’s a little disappointing to me how quickly the tide of public approval can turn against an artist. Overexposure really is deadly (and I suppose I’m not doing much to remedy that..), and Vampire Weekend suffered more than any other band in 2008. They deserved all of the hype, though. They brought simple youthful joy to music for upper-middle-class hipster kids. They exposed the too-cool-for-school to pure, unadulterated fun. And that’s no easy task – I saw them in concert in July, and, during “A-Punk,” they attempted to get audience participation in the form of a few well-placed “ohs.” Ezra Koenig, before teaching us, looked out at the audience (which had been standing still for the entirety of the 4 songs leading up to the moment) and asked, “do you guys do this? Are you into this?” Not really, but Vampire Weekend helped them try.

Vampire Weekend – M79