A Christmas Present to Myself

This is Papa’s new present- it’s a ~60 cm Guerciotti Italian frame with Columbus Genius steel tubing (of course) bought used at the swapmeet. Every single part was bought online (the majority on eBay) and built by yours truly except the wheels which were built by Trophy Bikes. All Dura-Ace. The bars, pedals and the brake are temporary because the new ones haven’t arrived in the mail yet.

I took it out for it’s maiden voyage on Christmas day, and so far, so good. She rides like a dream and fits well… the only problem is that it’s a bit larger than it’s predecessor, the old Giant, which fit like a comfy pair of pants.

Details and more pictures will come when it’s finished. Keep your pants on.

Cicada – New(ish) Release

I got this EP a few weeks back but only shared it with a limited radio audience. It’s a solid four cuts of the same thing remixed by both themselves and Moulinex (halfway down @ the stay spun) and Just a Band (JAB).  Since there are only 1000 views I figure the word is not yet out.  Encourage them to keep producing pop that is non-formulaic.  It is a rare thing.

http://www.cicadamusic.com/

Try This

The Macy’s/Wannamaker light show (above) and the eagle (below)

I swear I’m going to hurl if I hear one more damn Christmas “song” by Manheim Steamroller. Even that cheezy name gives me chills. They’re the only band who can take a beloved song and squeeze every last bit of soul, rhythm and melody out of it. They must’ve gotten together as a band, made a deal with the devil, and pledged to ruin everyone’s Christmas (or maybe just mine) year after year by taking each classic, layering it with tons of crappy synth, then completely cutting out the low end, leaving just a tinny scrap of a song left over. Then they noodle the hell out of it and extend it into a rock opus.
Fucking SHITE it ’tis.

For some REAL Christmas cheer check out this great article on classic and hard to find Christmas soul music (it includes downloadable tracks of each track mentioned).

Be sure to check out the last track by Clarence Carter; it’s the tune sampled by Run DMC from Christmas in Hollis. I had no idea’r.

sample:

MP3: Clarence Carter- Back Door Santa

I had no idea that Darlene Love, who sings the classic Phil Spector produced Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) played Danny Glover’s wife in Lethal Weapon!

I’ll leave you with a clip from Saturday’s SNL, which took the words right out of my mouth:
Click here for clip. I can’t embed it.

Philly Christmas Beer Festival

December 27 is an odd date for a beerfest, yet the more I think of it, it’s a great date. Kind of late notice since most people have their calendars full by now (as I do) but it’s a great lineup of limited-edition Christmas brews for a great price.

Extra Classic

These mixes got me through an 11 hour straight drive over Thanksgiving.

Put ‘em all on your Walkman- they’re guaranteed to burn off that holiday fat.

MP3: Classixx- Classixx 42:33 Mix

Fluokids posted this mix from the L.A. duo Classixx from L.A.
Fluokids is a French site, so here’s what they had to say about ‘me, according to my Apple Translation Widget:

“The winter, Thanksgiving, the table of the living room, all is well. One thus invites the family to eat turkey, and in fact the CLASSIXX sound the first has the gate. These two Californian is in our signal 10 of the duets of American producers/djs.”

Hmm.

It’s a funky mix of old and new disco, breakbeats and electro.
Hottest tracks: Roman Salzger (third track) and German artist Siriusmo (#13).
Head over to Fluokids for the tracklisting.

This next one from DJ Worthy outta San Fran is a killer: PalmsOutSound claims it’s full of “hyphy” bass. I don’t really know what hyphy sounds like, but likey nonetheless. It really kicks in at around the 28 minute mark.

MP3: DJ Worthy- Station Grape Mix

Hijack from the U.K. posts a new mix every month. November’s comes in at almost an hour and a half and it’s all hard but deep and techy house. Save this one for last.

Download it from zShare here.

Tracklisting at Electric Zoo.

Human League – Green Room

Hard Times / Love Action – Brazil 2005.  Too funny.