Inspired by one of those fancy websites that actually posts relevant content everyday, I thought I’d take a quick moment to profile some potentially excellent music related products that are coming out this summer. In all honesty- I will probably just be listening to Will Smith’s Summertime on repeat for the next few months but let’s humor the music industry for a moment shall we?
July 6th:
Big Boi: Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty [Def Jam]- Big Boi has a guest verse on the pre-summer jam Janelle Monae’s Tightrope and with that it was made clear that the Outkast member who doesn’t dress like he’s a space caddy from the future is as awesome as ever. I skipped everything involved with that movie they made so this is the first I’ve heard out of the pitbull enthusiast since Kryptonite. The whole album is streaming on his mysapce page HERE. Is it sacrilegious to point out that the name for this highly anticipated release is completely silly? Like, F5NL Destination silly. Download a nothing but Big Boi Mixtape (with a slightly better title) Mixtape for Dummies HERE.
July 13th:
M.I.A.: / \ / \ / \ Y / \ [N.E.E.T./Interscope]: Does she still have it? We’ll see….
Panda Bear: “Tomboy” 7” [Paw Tracks]: This will make a ridiculous amount of money.
Paul Wall: Heart of a Champion [SwishaHouse]: Yes! Finally, I’ve been dying to know how Paul has been doing with his paper stacks, his grill making and his extreme gastric bypass weight loss. No joke.
July 20th:
Bill Callahan: Letters to Emma Bowlcut [Drag City]: I have no idea what to expect from this book, but my fascination with Bill Callahan has me liking it before cracking the cover (which has a three legged dog on it.) Kudos to Drag City for putting out oddball products now and then and not just records.
The Coathangers: ”143 (Dan Deacon remix)” b/w “Artritis Sux (Judi Chicago Remix)” [Suicide Squeeze] I like the Caothangers. I like Dan Deacon. This has my interest peaked.
August 3rd:
Arcade Fire: The Suburbs [Merge]: This will make a billion dollars.
Bun B: Trill O.G. [Rap-A-Lot]: This will make a trillion dollars.
August 17th:
Chromeo: Business Casual [Atlantic]: New awesome synthesizer, vocoder and drum machine music from the guys from the Bushmill’s billboards. Catch them in Austin at Stubb’s August 24th.
August 24th:
!!!: Strange Weather, Isn’t It? [Warp]: Oh yeah, I remember this band. I really liked them. Glad to hear they are still at it.
Brian Wilson: Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin [Walt Disney]: Wait, really? I love the Beach Boys probably a little more than the next guy but this doesn’t excite me at all. I had the pleasure of seeing Brain Wilson in 2004 right before SMiLE got a proper release and he seemed pretty fried. Instead of letting this guy “Reimagine” Gershwin songs- make Okkervil River be his backing band and put out a new record of never released Beach Boys tracks.
The Sword: Warp Riders [Kemado]: Warning: this will be played in all of the East Austin bars nonstop.
August 31st:
Miles Davis: Bitches Brew: 40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition [Rounder]: The best part about this anniversary celebration is that there will be a special Dogfish Head commemorative beer that will feature three threads of imperial stout and one thread honey beer with gesho root. I can’t imagine a more innovative and creative beer to go with a more innovative and creative album. According to Dogfish founder Sam Calagione: Bitches Brew is “the ultimate partner for chili or spicy curry chicken” and best enjoyed “sipped cool, not cold, from a snifter or red wine glass while listening to the Bitches Brew album.” Can’t wait. Read more HERE.
There are a ton more sprinkled each week all summer long but these are just the ones that perk my ears up. Happy summertime.
(photo credit of Olivia Benson’s mom from Life Magazine)