EMEK has returned to do the artwork for Erykah Badu’s return, Part 2 of the trilogy that she has promised. This new album is called New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh (MotownUniversal) and true to her nature, she has been hard at work on this album weeks before its deadline. She has been hyping up the fact that the new album would be released on 3/3/3, perhaps a slightly vinyl-centric way to say March 30, 2010 (because 2+0+1+0 = 3) or she’s revealing a bit of mathematics.
A few songs have already been heard through television appearances and gentle leaks of a song or two. As for the production and presentation of the album, we know Madlib is definitely involved. A track listing has been revealed, but little else. Gentle trickles again. I do know that Badu herself, through her Twitter account, did something most would have thought was once impossible: she wanted to release a song with a Paul McCartney sample and asked her close friends and associates to hook her up with the right people to speak to. One thing lead to another, and in about nine hours (perhaps the power of this 3+3+3 thing), the sample was approved. While I have not heard the Badu song in question, the sample that she seeked was Wings‘ “Arrow Through Me” from the 1979 album Back To The Egg. No word if it is an actual sample or an interpolation, but as soon as I know, I’ll let you know. While Beatles samples are (for now) off-limits, McCartney has always been open to experimentation in his own music for the last 45 years. In recent years he has opened his solo catalog to advertisers, so perhaps he’s opening the door for artists to legally sample his work. Emphasis is on “legally” since his songs have been “cleverly” borrowed a number of times over the years.
Back to the album cover. Part 1 of this trilogy has EMEK drawing Badu in the darkness. In Part 2 shown above, there’s a bit of light in the sky. Will Part 3 reveal Badu within a bright background, perhaps a bit of sun/sunshine metaphors involved? Only time, and Badu, will tell.
Madlib’s Medicine Show continues with the third installment in 2010, with what he calls Beat Konducta in Africa. Two vinyl pressings have been made: a 3LP version and a 2LP version. The 2LP version features all 37 tracks that are on the CD, while the 3LP version features bonus tracks on the extra piece of wax.
The 3LP version will have a silk-screened cover designed by Hit+Run, in five different color variations. The standard 2LP edition will have a printed cover, but the cover is meant to replicate not only ring wear of an old album, but moldy ring wear.
(Significance of moldy album covers, especially pertaining to records from Africa, can be found here.)
To pre-order your copy, head to the Stones Throw store. The album is scheduled for release on March 23rd.
Mosaic is Soul Cycle’s third album, an album that shows a nice mixture of jazz, soul, and a nice hint of pop. The music on here is very accessible, so it could make the rounds of smooth jazz radio or be played at any spring winery tours. However, what makes them interesting is when they show their love and appreciation for musicianship by dipping into a bit of jazz fusion.
April 6th is the day for the release of I Learned The Hard Way by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, which comes out in time before summer vacation, paving the way for a big tour and some festival shows.
The album is being made available in a number of ways: LP,CD, MP3, and FLAC lossless. Those who order the vinyl and CD will get a bonus 45 featuring a track recorded during the I Learned The Hard Way sessions, and its instrumental counterpart. Vinyl purchases will get a coupon to download the album for free as MP3’s. Digital fans will get the song on the A-side of the bonus 45 as a bonus track, minus surface noise.
You can make your pre-orders by heading to Daptone.
In a recent Tweet, DâM-FunK stated that he is hoping to musically go into space. I suggested that as Sun Ra once said, there is no limit when “Space Is The Place”. He may not have made reservations to explore the universe just yet, but he’s going to take his fans “anywhere but here” when he goes on a brief tour this month in support of his Toeachizown album. These shows will lead him to this year’s SXSW, you can check out the tour itinerary by hopping over to Stones Throw Records, where you’ll also be able to purchase tickets for some dates.
King Megatrip continues his A Year In The Soul Society series with the March installment, lots of quality tracks to listen to. Here are some of the songs on this month’s mix:
Ohmega Watts-Triple Double
Marva Whitney-Daddy Don’t Know About Sugar Bear
The Metros-Since I Found My Baby
Don Covay-Yo Yo (Pt. One)
Mike Snow-Animial (Mark Ronson Remix)
Mr. Chop-Shut Em Down
Young MC-Know How (Gutter Remix)
For the full track listing, and the link to download, click here. If you missed the first two installments in this series, click there.
Fifteen years after they found each other and started a band, Ozomatli continue recording, touring, and doing sonic damage around the world. The band will be releasing a brand new album on Mercer Street Records called Fire Away, scheduled for release on April 20th. The album will be available for pre-order via iTunes on March 23rd.
The group are currently on tour, head on over to Ozomatli.com for details. There are no scheduled concert plans for 4/20, but if there are, I’ll keep you posted.
Promoting your new song, video, and album through the means of a butt cheek, you do what you gotta do, right? This is what’s involved in this video trailer for Soulful!’s forthcoming album, Wake Up (Inner Loop Records).
Mayer Hawthorne better watch out, James Brown may come back from the dead and tell him not to take away his “hardest working man in show business” status. The reason? Stones Throw Records recently announced that Hawthorne and his band, The County, are going to go on tour twice this year:
a U.S. tour that begins next week Tuesday at the Pipeline on my home turf in Honolulu, leading him to this year’s SXSW and Coachella. Passion Pit will join them on the U.S. tour in late March.
after a two week break, they head over to Amsterdam to start their European tour.
Hawthorne and & The County will also premiere a brand new 7″ 45rpm single while they’re at SXSW, a split 7″ at that called Pants Plays Mayer where they cover each other’s songs, Mudhoney/Sonic Youth style. The record will be made available outside of SXSW but you’ll get first crack at this record crack there.
There’s more. Hawthorne & The County also have a 12″ release ready to go called I Need You, no word on what it will consist of just yet.
This leads us through the first half of the year. What Hawthorne has planned in the second half is anyone’s guess, but if you are a fan of him and his work, you are being treated to what seems like a never ending feast. Dig in where you can.
The Menahan Street Band backed up some kids who call themselves 3 Titans and recorded a few tracks. “College” is the A-side to a brand new single on Dunham/Daptone, while “The Life of a Scholar” was turned into a video. If you like the song, you an buy the 45 or MP3’s directly from Daptone.
