Red Record Box

One different direction… Do you like it?

Alvin

Here’s some more Florence and the Machine just to keep the appearance of progress.

Alvin is Gregg by the way.

Gregg

This is so funny. I really like old Metallica. Not too old, maybe from “With Liberty…” through S&M Live. When they came out with the St. Anger album I was beside myself with Alvin Anger! Plus, you see, I’m old and I have no friends who share my love of Metallica so I had no one to share my outrage with. But that was a few years ago. I’ve zipped my St. Anger files and have just put them away.

When I ran into this video this morning, I knew I had to post it.

Alvin (or is it?)

Who is Alvin really? Why is he so lazy when it comes to posting? Maybe sometimes he doesn’t want to post about music only. He says he knows all kinds of stuff about music. Maybe he really doesn’t. Maybe he just owns a lot of music but can’t tell you the difference between post-punk and pre-industrial. What are the finer points of an atypical electronic Downtempo compared to a true Trip-Hop classic? Maybe he doesn’t have a clue. Or, maybe sometimes he would rather just post about Dr. Drew and Ass-holics Anonymous.

Or maybe he wants to share some serious news, like the black guy going around the country asking for change.

Maybe his name isn’t really even Alvin. Maybe it’s a more common name like Bob or Jeff. Stay tuned… All will soon be revealed. Maybe not all… Maybe not soon… Maybe.

Currently playing in iTunes: Don’t Be Afraid, You’re Already Dead by Akron/Family

Zenzile, once known as the “Kings of French Dub” have obviously taken a different direction on their newest release. I found them through a reference to “Tricky” and decided to sample their latest project because he appears as a guest vocalist on one of their tunes. If you’re really searching for Dub, you will find a little here but if you’re searching for something different and catchy you’ll be in the right place. Hard to describe but dark, deep, driving, downtempo comes to mind. I read 2 reviews that mention talking heads in comparison but I don’t see it. Also when it comes to the “Tricky Track” you’ll recognize the voice but sans the growl that usually sounds like an exhalation after a deep toke. Check it out. This is what I heard today.

 

 Reflection feat. Tricky [3:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 The War by Angels & Airwaves [5:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The other song is by Angels & Airwaves, kind of a post-punk, emo supergroup (Blink-182, Box Car Racer, Over My Dead Body, Offspring, 30 Seconds to Mars) that seems to almost have turned themselves into an arena-rock band. I like the song and I think I’m about to get a chance to see the group live so we’ll see if it’s just production or if they’re making a transformation into pure commercialism. But I like what I like…

Alvin

I’m sorry I’ve been posting only video lately, but you have to see this…

What does this mean? What’s a white chick doing on this train? Why does she think she can just get up and start shaking her stuff in front of all these people she doesn’t even know? What’s going on here? Why won’t that guy look anyone in the eye?

*******

Now jump 40 years forward to 1997 and see how Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan collaborates with producer Michael Brook on the fusion album “Star Rise.” This rare work is surprisingly available at amazon.com’s new mp3 service.

 

 Sweet Pain [6:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I’ve just been feeding you videos for the last 3 posts so you need to go out and purchase this specialty! - Star Rise

PS: I do realize that I’m presenting 2 differing styles of eastern music here. One obviously secular in the video and one traditionally devotional with the twist of western fusion in the Ali Khan download. I’m not a total idiot. (but if you can tell me more about the secular style, I’m interested)

Alvin