April 23rd, 2023
Summary: I love Norteño, Ranchera, Banda, Corridos… ¡Viva México!
About Artist: Eslabón Armando is a group from Patterson California. They’ve released five projects since their debut in 2020 and have already won several awards for their “Regional Mexican Music”. Peso Pluma is from Jalisco and has entered the spotlight in 2022 with collaborations with Becky G, Natanael Cano, and others.
About Song: This song has become a huge hit after going viral on Tik Tok.
Favorite Part: I love everything about this song. The horns, the guitar, the corrido lyrics
Other:
Peso Pluma Wikipedia
Eslabón Armado Wikipedia
Ella Baila Sola Lyrics
March 16th, 2023
Summary: I miss you always Dad. This one is for Jim Epstein, my loving dad.
About Artist: Buddy Fo was born in Honolulu in 1932 and was percussionist and vocalist for many years.
About Song: This sone is the title track from Buddy’s 1976 LP “When It’s Time to Go”. I first heard this song in 2021 just before my dad Jim Epstein fell ill. I listened a lot of Buddy Fo throughout 2021 and 2022 when I visited Oahu for the first time as an adult.
Favorite Part: I love the composition. The melancholy Hawaiian marimbas, the surf guitar, and the mournful vocals. I especially like the staccato guitar on beat 2, and the offbeat of 3 and . I love at 0:15 when that guitar pulls a little curveball.
Other: Buddy Fo
April 25th, 2021
Summary: Ryan Beatty is Everything!
About Artist: Back in 2018 a student asked me if I’d heard of Ryan Beatty and told me they thought I would like them. It was true. His 2018 album Boy in Jeans was an album I fell deeply in love with. Ryan Beatty is an extremely talented vocalist and musician. His albums are cohesive and beautifully stitched together.
About Song: This track is just one of my favorites from his debut album Boy in Jeans. The album tells the story of his experiences of being gay in high school. I have so many favorite songs from this album, you really have to listen to the album all the way through to understand his genius. Ryan’s more recent sophomore album Dreaming of David is even more of a masterpiece and something I will surely post about soon.
Favorite Part: You have to listen to the full album!
Other: Ryan Beatty Wikipedia
March 21st, 2021
Summary: Watch me dance around them puddles.
About Artist: Daniela Andrade is a Honduran Canadian who has gained a following online by posting her covers of popular songs on Soundcloud and YouTube.
About Song: This song is a track off of Daniela’s 2020 EP “Nothing Much Has Changed, I Don’t Feel The Same”
Favorite Part: This song had me at the drop (0:23)
Other: Daniela Andrade Wikipedia
March 16th, 2021
Summary: Haunting, so haunting.
About Artist: Jensen McRae is a young folk singer songwriter from a biracial black and jewish background. Her career is still young with her first single having dropped in 2019. Her songs all have deep personal messages.
About Song: I like Jensen’s other work but this song is just so haunting. After I first hear it, her voice followed me in my head for days. This genre normally isn’t really my thing but wow, this song is something specials.
Favorite Part: I love how the verses flow into the chorus (1:00). Obviously her voice is a major part of what makes this song work.
Other Links: Jensen McRae
March 3rd, 2021
DOWNLOAD MP3 RemiWolf-DiscoMan.mp3
Summary: Just a fun song with a groove.
About Artist: I don’t know really know anything about Remi Wolf but I heard of her when the Free Nationals did a remix of her song Photo ID
About Song: This song is off of her second EP “I’m Allergic To Dogs” which came out in June 2020.
Favorite Part: I just really love the groove
Other:
Remi Wolf
May 21st, 2020
Download
Summary: The CD runs 77 minutes in 50 tracks featuring over 60 artists. I hope you find your new favorite song. I know we can all use a little more music in our lives rights now.
About: I wanted to create a mixtape that had a little something for everybody. The tracks are edited to be short but offer a glimpses into pop hits and odd audial obscurities and alike. A project of the quarantine.
Other: Enjoy some easy listening or get out Shazam and find your new favorite song!
December 27th, 2016
DOWNLOAD MP3 SamCooke-ChainGang.mp3
THIS SONG HAS BEEN REMOVED DUE TO A COMPLAINT BY THE RIAA.
Summary: Not hip hop, but a great song.
About Artist: Sam Cooke is one of the kings of soul. Though he was murdered in 1964 at age 33, he had over thirty top 40 songs in the last seven years of his life. Sam Cooke’s music gave way to the likes of Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, and James Brown.
About Song: I listened to this song growing up but was reminded of it recently when a clipe of it appeared in Donald Glover’s (aka Childish Gambino) “Atlanta” TV show (which is one of my favorites).
Favorite Part: I love Sam Cooke’s vocals (which is why he was such a sensation in his own time). I love music of this era and was a huge motown fan growing up. I’ve also been thinkin a lot about mass incarceration since watching “The 13th” on Netflix.
Other:
Sam Cooke Wikipedia
December 19th, 2016
DOWNLOAD MP3 SeuJorge-ZiggyStardust.mp3
THIS SONG HAS BEEN REMOVED DUE TO A COMPLAINT BY THE RIAA.
Summary: Not hip hop, but a wonderful cultural mashup.
About Artist: Seu Jorge has been a popular brazilian singer/songwriter for over a decade. Seu Jorge also happened to be featured in a Talib Kweli song “Favela Love”.
About Song: This song is a remake of David Bowie’s classic ZIggy Stardust.
Favorite Part: Seu Jorge recently came to perform in Tucson. Seu Jorge had written over a dozen David Bowie covers which were featured in the movie The Life Aquatic. The tour was in honor of David Bowie’s passing, along with the passing of Seu Jorge’s own father. The crowd in attendance was mostly part of the Life Aquatic’s cult following. Even so, I loved the show. It was just Seu Jorge doing his thing on the stage and it was beautiful.
Other:
Seu Jorge Wikiepedia
