I hope you get everything you want for Christmas, I'm going back to Yorkshire now.

Two mixtape for christmas

Wale's A mixtape about nothing is great new/fresh hip-hop many people's favourite mixtape of the year and Kanye's Skyhigh is really great remixes of some of his songs pre 808 by some of the hottest producers out like A-trak. Excuse the lack of description I think I am coming down with something and can't work up the mental strength to construct culturally contexted accurate adjectives...but it appears my alliteration abilities are at full force.

count 'em...four.

Kanye remix sampling The Knife's Heartbeats

One of my highlights from Wale

Channel Bee

Tim Love Joy and (the distinctly evil) Simon Fuller have an internet tv channel called Channel Bee. Tim does like a 20 minute show every day talking about the days issues, there are premiership and championship goals for some reason (must be really expensive to show these?) and there are lots of other little segment around the site, my favourite being 'We Want Answers' where they ask celebrities usually of an interesting nature like Rupert Grint, Ricky Gervais, Freddie Flintoff and Des Walker questions like, ghosts -  real or rubbish? It's pretty good plenty to watch.

Four posts in a row not about rap, well done me.

Photo of the Day

My other favourite secret website is fecal face's photo of the day, a new photo everyday, usually very good...kinda - young, real, americana i guess, i'm not much for description...due to my distinct lack of eduction. 

The Ones We Love

One of my favourite websites that I have kept secret is The Ones We Love. Over a hundred young photographers have been invited to take six pictures of the ones they love outdoors in a natural setting. It's great to see what everyone does with the same guide lines, take a look there is lots to see.

Merry Christmas

Sufjan Steven's has made another lovely christmas CD. For the uninitiated he makes a christmas EP for friends and family every year and in 2005 or 2006 he released a box set of versions 1-5, versions 6 and 7 haven't been release but version 8 has leaked online, you can download it here. It is very good.

Freshmans...

Asher Roth & Kid Cudi freestyle.

Charles Hamilton running his mouth with Asher Roth almost agreeing

So there is a bit of talk in America about these so called freshman rappers, the new generation as it were, As far as I understand it the main people in this group are Asher Roth, Charles Hamilton, Kid Cudi & Wale (pronounced Wah-lay). I will put links to their most popular mix tapes and expand my comments when I get a chance I just wanted to put up these to clips before I left work. At the moment I love Kid Cudi and Wale but the jury is still out on Charles and Asher, that's not to say I wont be a fans when I get chance to listen to more of their stuff.

Nokia Ad

The People in the shirts and ties are a bit annoying but if you are going to make an advert I suggest you do it a bit like this, especially the end shot. The directors Psyop are very talented indeed.

Ray Band Colourize

Ray Band are releasing these glasses that come with markers and stencils so you can customise yourself. I hope you can rub out and start again because I am the worst drawer of all time

via yeezy

They still haven't filled up many windows but man I love We Are Scientists' banter.

thanks Ruth.

If you didn't love him enough already...

From Time Magazines person of the year here. Bit gutted, I had an accumulator on Chris Hoy.

 "1980, when Obama was a freshman at Occidental College in Los Angeles, he was approached by an aspiring photographer named Lisa Jack, who asked him if he would be willing to pose for some black and white photographs that she could use in her portfolio"

The accompanying article about Obama is brilliant too make sure you read it.

Lily Allen

Ok I'm going to be up front about this...I have a soft spot for Lily Allen...I may or may not be looking forward to her album coming out...when ever that is (10th feb) and if you have a problem with that...

2008

If you fancy hearing some new songs you could do a lot worse than scan through Pitchfork's Top 100 tracks, most of them are embedded in the page so you can hear them right there and then, god bless technology. All the songs in the top 10 mean nothing to me but there is goodstuff(TM) else where in the list. I can't really be arsed with end of year lists this year I feel TV on the Radio and Bon Iver were leagues ahead of anything else and anybody that differs from this is agendaful (sic) and deceitful. I find it really hard to do end of year lists because I am so fickle and listen to something to death and move on, hence blog titles such as "greatest band of all time this week' At the moment I am completely obsessed with Kid Cudi, but Kanye, Bon Iver and TVOTR have suffered similar treatments this year. 

These are my last.fm end of year list, kind of a fair reflection. Those Bon Iver song are so high because I had an amazing daytrotter session of theirs as well as the album. I think props should be reserved for Kid Cudi for making it to number 11 in the top artist chart, I heard him for the first time a week ago and only have 7 songs by him. I don't know how The Street got listened to 145 times I only liked 2 songs on the record. Here's to 2009 - will Klaxons make a shit pop record like we expect or something electronic and beautiful like we dream? will Arctic Monkeys surprise us again with another great record? Will all my friends agree that Kid Cudi is the future of everything? Will someone appear from nowhere a la Bon Iver and put our faith back in humanity? Well it is the year for hoping.  

My song of the year, Lover's Day by TV on the Radio

Slightly Humbler Kanye

Xmash Up (come on that's good)

In my constant quest to help people have amazing christmas/new year house parties (ok I've just invented this quest but still) I bring you the Kickdrum & the League mix tape 'Things don't Change'. It is absolutely immense, it's better than just remixes, lots of the songs have been reworked and are absolute bangers. 

like this Kanye/Justice/MGMT track 

and this yeah yeah yeahs/Doxx track

and this Love Lockdown remix

Download the whole thing here more info whitefolksgetcrunk

Arcade Dreams

from an interview between Win Butler of Arcade Fire and AVclub.com in March 2007

"AVC: Is there part of you that thinks we might be past the point of no return?

WB: All the time. I've seen Barack Obama speak a couple of times, and I really like him. There's something going on behind his eyes, and I think he's really intelligent. But part of me just knows it's going to be Giuliani and Hillary Clinton, which really bums me out. But part of me wants to believe that it could be Barack Obama and John McCain, and there'd be an actual debate. The country needs a real debate so badly. A lot of times, politicians try to overwhelm the general public with how complex an issue is. In a way, I think that's why the anti-war movement in the States isn't as big as it should be. People are overwhelmed by the complexity of the situation, but I don't think a 16-year-old should have to know how to solve the problems in the Middle East to be like, "Fuck, we should not be in this war." But there's this idea that you have to know how to solve the world's problems in order to feel that something is morally wrong. I'm always back and forth between optimism and depression about the situation."

TRACKS 5

I have made a new Tracks compilation for anyone that might like to download it. For anyone that hasn't heard of 'Tracks', I make a compilation of songs that I think are fresh and try to put them together so they work as an album...oh like any compilation? well yes...but I try really hard. It's basically a reflection on what I have been listening to recently but with half an eye on what other people might find interesting. The artwork illustrates what it sounds like you don't need adjectives from me.

A few Notes.

The download is one handy zip file that contains all the tracks, I have also included the artwork files for anyone that might want to burn the disc and put it in an old case like the good old days. Please please please put it in the right order in your itunes or whatever you use - the order is very important - it's a journey! 

I hope you enjoy it and maybe even hear something new you haven't come across before. 

download

one song that didn't make the cut but was very close

Blood Bank & Beach Baby

If you don't have them already here are 2 new Bon Iver tracks or stream below

 

Charles Hamilton

Charles Hamilton is another rapper making waves over the ocean in America, he has a debut album you can download for free here (worst artwork ever?) he is making an album proper for interscope so will probably be big next year. The above video is his new single but I prefer this clever Windows sampling joint below from his myspace. I don't like him as much as KiD CuDi and he has a very similar arrogance to Kanye but he's still pretty damn good

Charles Hamilton - Windows Media Player by goodstuffoffthecuff

PS. i'm sorry if you don't like Rap, that's all i keep banging on about, but it's what's exciting me at the moment so I'm running with it.

Rap Producer

Just Blaze: www.mikechav.com chopping samples in Logic from Mike Chav on Vimeo.

When I get time I'm totally going to become the greatest rap producer you have ever heard. I'm going to learn 'Logic' from Just Blaze and you'll see. .

Colin Munoe

Colin Munroe - I Want Those Flashing Lights (Kanye West Remix) from FrontsidePromotions on Vimeo.

From what i can work out Colin Munroe is an artist/producer from Canada and peer to the likes of Kid Cudi and Kanye, this video is great (if a little old, sorry) and his new mixtape is brilliant, download it for free here, I don't know how to describe it...Mark Ronson but not shit? honestly try it, while I try and think of a better description

Djordje Ozbolt

Djordje Ozbolt seems like a good artist, specially the pig picture. He has an exhibition in NYC if anybody is going..

from kulture flash

KiD CUDi

I'm quite excited about KiD CUDi, at the moment my favourite type of music is rap with indie and electro backing tracks, like Cadence weapon and Kanye's new album. KiD CUDi seems to be very much in the same vein, a star for '09 if you need one. Interview, myspace or better than both of those free Mp3 on the great blog Pigeons and Planes 

EDIT: here are two tracks.

KiD CuDi - Day N Nite by goodstuffoffthecuff

KiD CUDi - Embrace The Martian (Feat. Crookers) by goodstuffoffthecuff

Western Spaghetti

One of our directors Pes came 2nd in the Times Magazine virals of the year with his film Western Spaghetti.

Another favourite from the list would have to be this

and this

Jaron Albertin

Mat Just showed me these two great videos by director Jaron Albertin for Emily Haines

Summer

If you are looking for something to do this week you could do a lot worse than going to see the film 'Summer' starring Robert Carlyle but more importantly Joey Tulej - one of Agi's numerous romances from days gone by. The website for the film tells you where it is showing and has the trailer.

Yeezy

If anybody has spoken to me in the last month or two you will know I'm completely obsessed with Kanye (you thought I was listening to you but I was actually thinking about Kanye) However I do realise he can be a complete prick here is an interview with fader as proof.

Jay Reatard - Matador Singles

This is a good album, download it?

...yes today's post are getting lazier and lazier.

Pale Young Gentlemen

I like Pale Young Gentlemen, here is a good description and a few taster tracks. 

Flak Photo

If you sign up to Flak Photo they will email you a new photo everyday...how nice

Blogger/Guardian Of The Spirit Waters

Looks like me huh?...it's not, it's a picture from 1878 called 'The Guardian of the Spirit Waters' by Odilon Redon, pretty cool, maybe I'm like God or something?

Thanks Laura Pop from sending it to me!

Sia On Letterman

Another great performance from Sia, she always puts on a great show

Buy Books Not Tat

Today I had to do my first bit of christmas shopping (secret santa at work) and I just wanted to say, instead of buying tokens gifts from the likes of urban outfitters and Boots - buy books. Probably preaching to the converted here but it's just a thought, everybody likes books and if you don't you should. Science has shown that people who read books find it easier to be good humans. My favourite book of all time is £3 in Fopp (and yes most of you should expect it as a stocking filler from me.)

Girl Talk album download

Whist at my brothers house yesterday he play me some Girl Talk, I've seen the name about for ages but never actually heard any properly, I thought it was the freshest stuff I have heard forever, every song is like 20 samples all put together amazingly, rap, dance, pop and everything in between, if you have a christmas party coming up you have to have this album. But my main reason for posting is the fact that he has released the album in a Radiohead pay what you want style here. I wish more people would do this, we don't want to pay 8 quid for rights protected apple taking over the world itunes mp3's, we dont want to spend 12 quid in hmv on a a disc we rip once then never touch again -  we want to pay about a fiver to easily download the mp3s to our computers, and we are happy that that £5 goes straight to the artist and label...then we have no need to steal anything. There are probably issues stopping everyone doing it but I don't know what they are...

One Day...

Here is a great remix/reworking of Friendly Fires' Paris featuring Au Revoir Simone, when the keyboards start at the beginning I find it hard to sit still.

Raoul Gatepin

Raoul Gatepin seems like a nice photographer.

Found on BOOOOM!