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defining freethinking James Poole recommendations

Spiritualized blowing up Radio City

Radio City Music Hall. A balmy Friday night. The promise of something special. Sprititualized delivered. It’s been a good week for concerts. The Black Keys knocked the crap out of Central Park Summerstage on Tuesday. Last night, however, belonged to Spiritualized. To put into context, Radio City Music Hall is big. In every way, it’s […]

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DJ Prestige recommendations

Donald Byrd Word!

My introduction to Jazz was through Hip Hop. When I searched for the samples that bands like the Pharcyde, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and DJ Krush among others used, it would come back to one man: Donald Byrd. Donaldson Toussaint L’Ouverture Byrd II (what a name!) is an artist I encourage everyone […]

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freethinking nyc James Poole recommendations

A two man Led Zeppelin

The Black Keys. Holy crap, they’re good. I’ve written about them on here before. They were the band behind one of the loudest concerts I have ever been to. Their brain-mushing volume was part of the beauty of the concert. I had a totally different Black Keys experience last night – in the idyllic surroundings […]

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DJ Prestige recommendations

Still Keepin’ It Funky Now, 40 Years Later

James and I have said it before, and I will say it again. We like to keep things Funky here at the freethinking movement. I’ve always been about the Funk and about the drum break, whether it be Thin Lizzy, The Jackson 5, or a band like the Dave Pike Set. You see, that’s how […]

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James Poole recommendations

Smog

The right music, at the right time, used in the right way, in the right film can be something special. Tarantino has practically made a career out of it. This isn’t just about choosing some good songs, it’s about the music being intrinsic to the viewing experience. Take, for example, the use of the piano […]

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DJ Prestige recommendations

All The Way Live from the 2-1-5

My love of early Hip Hop came from radio stations like WBLS in NYC (when I could get reception in my South Jersey bedroom) and Power 99 in Philadelphia, both playing mid and late 80’s 12″ from their respective regions. From Philly I heard Three Times Dope and Cool C, from New York I heard […]

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DJ Prestige recommendations

Sometimes A Cover is Good, Then the Remix is Even Better

I remember hearing Nina Simone on a friend’s stereo back in the early 90’s. This particular stereo had graphic equalizing settings that made her version of “Black Is the Color” sound so eerie that I knew I was on to something with her music. Since that time as a record digger I’ve bought everything I […]

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DJ Prestige recommendations

Root Down

I saw Jimmy Smith in 1995 at the San Francisco Jazz festival. I was on the Left Coast for vacation when I saw the festival, coincidentally right around the time I started to buy Jazz records heavy. I had to go see him, as a few years earlier an industry BBQ had me come home […]

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DJ Prestige recommendations

Around My Way

While listening to 100% Homegrown on BBC1 Xtra, I stumbled upon this artist. I was blown away. In the past I’ve listened to UK Hip Hop: Rodney P, Black Twangers, Scratch Perverts, and the like. This track/ video is just brilliant. Everyone has the characters from around their way: be it the paper man, the […]

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defining freethinking freethinking nyc James Poole recommendations

A theme tune for freethinking?

So that’ll be volume 6 done, then. We’ve had nights which, without necessarily planning it out in advance, have had very different vibes. At times heavier on house, at other times with a reggae undercurrent – part of the beauty of the freethinking movement is the notion of being able to blur genres, and to […]

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defining freethinking freethinking nyc James Poole recommendations

I love a good cover

I love a good cover. People tend to have strong views on covers. I used to fall into the camp of the ‘a cover has to add something’ people. Now I don’t. A good cover can be just that: an artist playing someone else’s song, but doing a good job of it. Fine, this can […]

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defining freethinking DJ Prestige recommendations

Return of the Super Ape

I am a Reggae music fan. I just got back from Jamaica, so I am on more of a Reggae kick than usual (not that that is a bad thing). I’ve been collecting Reggae records for as long as I can remember. One of my DJ buddies/ roommates used to have a huge crate of […]