Post Tagged with: "soul"

I heard from a couple different people that if I was going to be in Honolulu I should definitely check out Hungry Ear Records, which is located in Kailua.  It is a relatively small shop, but very well organized with high quality, good condition records.  This calls for a little bit of a higher price but nothing drastic.  I started going through their jazz section and found quite a few really good pieces for about $5-$10 each.  Then, I found a small mini crate of funk and soul 45’s below the main bins.  I combed through a couple of them and they all looked interesting, and then I realize that the whole crate was good. I ended up buying practically the entire crate which was about fifty 45’s.  Did I mention they were all a dollar each?  I’ll post some of my finds later…
The owner, Ward, and his wife were mad cool.   We started talking about jazz records. They were okay with me taking pictures of the place, and told him I would do a little write up about my digging excursion there.  It’s really cool to meet record store owners who love music, and are quickly open to geek out on music with you.  I felt very welcome there!

My man, DJ MZA, asked me to come play some jazz records on his radio show last month, and he mentioned that he was having a band called The Monophonics come through the following week.  I was not in the know, but I did some research and now I’m officially a fan!  Good timing, too, since their new album, In Your Brain, is scheduled for release in May, courtesy of Ubiquity Records (pre-order here).  A super fresh heavy soul, psych, and funk sound from this bay area outfit.

In doing my research, I was able to get a hold of this older 45, thanks to Colemine Records in Ohio (big up to Terry Cole for putting out some amazing music!).

Then I realized they performed in LONG BEACH (what?!) this past December at Harvelle’s.  Yet another example of me sleeping on some quality stuff in my own city.  Check their cover of “Love & Happiness.”

And here’s a quick look at one of their tracks from the new record.

Go support this record!  Afrobeat goodness from the genius of Adrian Quesada.  “High Noon” was released on the 3rd of April, so don’t wait any longer to get it.  You can’t front on ANYTHING that ESL puts out.  From Thievery Corporation to Chris Joss to the Ancient Astronauts.  They can’t do wrong.  This is The Funk Ark‘s second record, and they definitely do not disappoint.  Very strong release from this DC band.

Buy “High Noon” direct from the label, Eighteenth Street Lounge.

It’s as simple as searching for someone’s record online, that I stumble on a label that’s pushing some amazing vinyl.  Case in point: Electric Cowbell Records out of New York.  I went on their site looking for this Superhuman Happiness 7″, and came out with a handful of other 45’s.  Can’t complain.  I damn near fell out of my chair when I heard this Sway Machinery track.  Had to get it.

I was searching for some Alabama Shakes vinyl, and it looks like Third Man, Jack White’s own record label, released a live 7″ of a couple of tracks from this southern soul-rock band.

Then I happened upon this really cool iPhone case, made out of die-cut 45’s from Third Man Records!  Just when you thought people ran out of creative ideas for records (besides actually playing them, of course).

Now, if you haven’t had a chance to witness the Alabama Shakes, check out their live session on KCRW back in January.  Big up to my man, Nate Martel, for putting me on to this fresh group.

Esperanza has shown so much versatility, AND she’s pushing a positive message?!  Dig that.  How can Bieber fans hate?

Esperanza Spaulding’s “Radio Music Society” is scheduled for release on March 20th.

I really dig this band.  Great compositions and super cool lyrics.  I ran into Noah Arroyo, the bassist for The Truffles, at Beat Swapmeet this past Sunday, and he gave me a copy.  It’s been in my car since.  Can’t stop playing it.  New school psych soul sounds, combined with quirky vocals, from the Inland Empire.  I love it.  Dig the guitar work by Carlos Arevalo.

Support the band directly through Bandcamp, or ask your local record stores to pick this up!

This one caught me off guard, and I’m lovin it!  Shogun Orchestra is based out of New Zealand, and their debut album will be released on German based Jakarta Records on March 31st.  Afro-Jazz goodness.  I wasn’t sure what was going on with the intro baseline.  Sounded like a Ray Charles remix at first, but then the horns came in…Nuff said.

Super Sleeper! I can’t believe this came out A YEAR AGO. I hate myself for missing that. Been a fan of Nikko since her Love Seen album came out in 2010. Gorgeous vocals over quite simple, but very intoxicating, production.

“Picture” can be found on Nikko’s “Love Letters From: Yellow” album.

I feel truly blessed to be alive while music like this is being created.  Not only is Quantic one of the most consistent producers, and musicians, in the world, but teaming up with Alice Russell makes for an unstoppable force. Their new album, Look Around The Corner, is available stateside in April on Tru Thoughts.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/39095114″ iframe=”true” /]

Peep the mini-documentary about this project, put together by Mochilla.