How much unheard music is there out there? Rare, untapped gems, that are sitting on obscure releases – just waiting to be discovered. Hidden away on a dusty album, sitting at the back of a store filled with vinyl. Even sitting in your own record collection, on albums that you are yet to check out […]
It’s really easy to write bands off. Part of the mission statement for this site, and our freethinking nyc night, is to challenge preconceptions. Here’s one for you: The Police. I’ve played a few tracks by The Police at freethinking nyc. Each time, they have gone down well. Here’s where I need to make an […]
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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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 […]
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 […]
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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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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Stevie Wonder. Genius. That is all.
Yesterday, a mate of mine dismissed Stevie Wonder as being not that good. He’s a good mate. Still is, despite this act of heresy. The thing is, I understand people not liking Stevie. Or at least thinking that they don’t like him. I’ll be honest here – Stevie’s output in the 80s was largely devoid […]
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 […]
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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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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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 […]