Blogger keeps disappearing my posts.  So, we’re trying something new.  On the positive side, my posts will hopefully stop disappearing.  On the negative side, I can’t figure out how to stream individual tracks.  So, for the time being, you’ll just have to download the entire mix at the link above.  If anyone wants to help me make this website work better, please let me know!

That said, November was a pretty good month.  Thanksgiving is always a winner.  And we elected some a new president who isn’t retarded.  Bout time.

Albums I liked this month:

• Q-Tip - The Renaissance: Probably my favorite album of the year.  
• Jay Reatard – Matador Singles 08: Dude is prolific.  I just wish his live versions of songs sounded more like his recorded output.  
• The Sea and Cake – Car Alarm: It’s like listening to a cup of hot chocolate.  If you like Wilco, do yourself a favor and start listening to the Sea and Cake.  
• Madlib - Beat Konducta Vol. 6: Dil Withers Suite: The second volume of Madlib’s ode to Dilla. 
• Black Milk – Tronic: The best producer on the mic (at least until Oh No drops a follow up to The Disrupt)

As always, let me know if I missed anything this month:

1) Jay Reatard – See/Saw
“She creeps me out / she crept me in again” Hmm. Sounds like he’s talking about the type of girl who’s hot on some days, and frightening on others. Victoria Beckham comes to mind…

2) The Sea and Cake – Car Alarm
They’re rocking out on this. Yet Sam Prekop’s voice makes the song as comforting as a down quilt on a cold winter morning.

3) Jay Reatard – Painted Shut
Why he never busts out the acoustic guitar at shows, I’ll never know.

4) Iron & Wine – Arms of a Thief
Would have been a stand-out track on The Shepherd’s Dog.

5) The Sea and Cake – Weekend
Those drums and keyboards are damn near techno. Yet Sam Prekop’s voice makes the song as comforting as living in a uterus.

6) Deerhunter – Nothing Ever Happened
I don’t get the critical acclaim for Deerhunter. And I generally don’t care for songs that clock in at nearly 6 minutes. But the extended LCD Soundsystem-sounding ending to this song is nails.

7) DJ Rob 3 – Township Funk
I don’t even know what to call this, but it’s incredible.

8) Esau Mwamwaya – Funa Funa
I don’t know what the lyrics mean, but it sounds like the sound of triumph to me.

9) Curumin – Esperança
I need to go to Brazil. F*ck being cold.

10) Esau Mwamwaya – Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
A Malawi-an cover of Vampire Weekend. Just what the world was demanding.

11) Q-Tip – Shaka
“Raise your glasses for the lost ones in your life”

12) Von Pea – Hell Yea
If the shelved Von Pea demos are this good, I can’t wait to hear a legit solo album.

13) Black Milk (ft. Fat Ray) – Hell Yeah
Black Milk dominates other producers’ drums. Black Milk does not dominate creative song titles, however.

14) Ruste Juxx (ft. Lil Vic) – Get Up
Speaking of unoriginal song titles. Whatever, it’s a fun song.

15) Black Milk – Try
The beat is sick enough for me to look past the line: “On top of a meal, hundred dollar bills”?

16) Q-Tip – Renaissance Rap
Q-Tip is Jason Bourne? WTF?

17) Felix Lebarty – Girls For Sale
Listen to Felix. Stay away from whores.

18) Mos Def – Ms. Fat Booty (Jay Dee Blend)
Some genius decided to put the Ms. Fat Booty vocals over the U-love donut. Works for me.

19) Madlib – The Sky (Beyond Sight)
Smooth shit.

20) Q-Tip – Gettin’ Up
This song will forever = November 2008 for me. Constant repeat.

21) Illa J – Timeless
Illa J should stick to singin’. This reminds me of the first time I heard those early Dewle demos.

22) The Donays – Devil In His Heart
It’s been a while since we’ve had some classic soul up here.

23) Madlib – Another Bag of Bomb (No Seeds)
“This bomb is so hot.”

24) Willie Isz – In the Red
An unlikely combo (Khujo Goodie and Jneiro Jarel), but if you like ATLiens-era ‘Kast…

October…good month for live shows (Antibalas, Barack Obama, M.O.P., Crystal Antlers Jay Reatard), not a particularly fantastic month for new albums hitting my iPod. There were a couple of goodies though:

• Karl Hector & the Malcouns – Sahara Swing: Yeah, none of the songs from this album made the monthly mix, but it’s still a great album. Sounds like the soundtrack for a blaxploitation flick set in Africa. Fans of the Budos Band will enjoy.
• Jake One – White Van Music: Just an extremely solid album. Not many standout tracks, but just good beats, and a fun, diverse collection of quality MCs.
• Elucid – Police & Thieves: A fantastic, free mixtape from Lessondary’s fiercest spitter. The only reason none of the songs made the monthly mix was because he was rhyming over tracks (77 Klash, Gnarls Barkley) that have already made monthly mixes.
• TV On the Radio – Dear Science: Even my least favorite TVOTR album is better than pretty much everything else out there.
• The Deadly Snakes – Porcella: This one came out in 2005, but it’s new to me. But pretty much all members of the Kukamongas are worth checking out.
• 410 Pharaohs – 410 Funk: My favorite album of the month. Labtekwon gets busy over some B’more club music.

As always, let me know if there’s anything I missed.
1) The Deadly Snakes – High Prices Going Down
“I read the news and I heard it said, there’s 200 already dead”

2) Hopewell – Realms of Gold

3) TV on the Radio – DLZ
One of the few Dear Science songs where Tunde sounds awesomely pissed.

4) Spec Boogie – The Heartbeat (the Knife)

5) TV on the Radio – Crying
Like most of the album, even though this one sounds kinda light and poppy, the lyrics speak otherwise: “Time to take the wheel and the road / from the masters / take this car, drive it straight into the wall / build it back up from the floor.”

6) Orgasmic & Teki Latex – Sixpack Anthem (la tête dans les étoiles)
French hip-hop isn’t normally my thing, but who cares what they’re saying when they’ve got a beat like this one.

7) 410 Pharaohs – Hammer Dance
Sure, the Chapelle skits are now something like 4 years old, the Lil’ Jon drops on this song take it over the top. WHAT! YEAAAHH!

8) John Legend (ft. Andre 3000) – Greenlight (Diplo Dade County 1988 Mix)
Diplo turns a borderline corny song into borderline incredible.

9) 410 Pharaohs – Biterz
Booman chopped the hell out of Mos Def’s “Brown Sugar” for this one, while Labtekwon crafted one of the my favorite hooks of the year. “They want to bite this style, but they all get drowned, straight up in the Nile, crocodile!”

10) The Cool Kids – Delivery Man
If I ever started making beats, there’s a good chance there’d be an organ in nearly every song.

11) Kardinal Offishall (ft. the Clipse) – Set It Off
If I started making beats, I’d probably go overboard on air horns, too. Oh, and I’d be trying to get Malice and Pusha T to rhyme over my shit. However, I’d never let anyone give a generic name like “Set It Off” to one of my songs.

12) T.I. – I’m Illy
T.I. should only rap when angry.

13) Young Jeezy – Don’t You Know
If you took the 7 good songs off The Recession, and add them to the 6 good songs off Paper Trail, you’d have a pretty good album.

14) Jake One (ft. Bishop Lamont & Busta Rhymes) – Kissin’ the Curb
Let’s hope Bishop Lamont actually releases an album sometime soon, and doesn’t end up another Aftermath casualty.

15) Madlib (ft. Guilty Simpson) – Blow the Horns On ‘Em
“Blaze that kush, get high with your sister / when the pots consumed, cop a room / get her drunk, make love to her jaw / Guilty Simpson, n***a, your new brother-in-law”

16) DJ Babu (ft. M.O.P.) – Dearly Departed
M.O.P. stuck with the classics when I saw them. I can’t complain, because I had a blast. But they should think about adding this one to their live show.

17) Wale (ft. Young Chris, Freeway and Beanie Sigel) – Cyphr
Philly Freezer sounds great when he can bounce off other, less-excitable rappers. In fact, tag team raps need to make a big-time comeback. Enough of hip-hop “groups” trading off verses. Trade off bars, dammit. Word to Run-DMC.

18) Billy Danze – Savages
M.O.P. are back on it.

19) H.I.S.D. – Never Die
Are they the next Little Brother? They’ve gotten the ?uestlove endorsement, and they’re kind of boring, so it seems they’re halfway there. I’ll hold off on jumping on the bandwagon until they can prove they consistenly put together songs as great as this one (note: M.O.P. sample scratched in between verses…).

20) 6 Two – Weed an Snortin’
I never thought I’d hear someone turn the Beta Band’s “Squares” into an anthem about weed and coke. But I’m glad someone thought to do it. 6 Two is another Aftermath artist who has recorded with Dre, but basically hasn’t released shit. He should serve as a cautionary tale for Bishop Lamont.

21) Johnson & Jonson – Hold on John
Shhh. Don’t tell anyone about this song…I don’t think the Beatles like to be sampled.

Let’s hope Blogger doesn’t delete this one on me, like they did the August 08 Mix.

A ton of good stuff this month. Let’s get right to it:

• Demon’s Claws – Satan’s Little Pet Pig: This one actually came out in 07, but it’s new to me. I think I read about these guys in a King Khan interview somewhere. They sound like a Texas version of the Black Lips…that happens to be from Montreal.
• Spiritualized – Songs in A&E: This album is kind of like the opposite of the one above. Lush, orchestral, beautiful. This was the one band at Pitchfork Music Festival that I hadn’t heard before, but really struck me as great.
• The Walkmen – You & Me: Another album that’s prettier than most of the stuff I normally listen to. If you liked the White Rabbits stuff I posted in July, you’ll love this album. Coincidentally, both opened for Spoon back in April before I’d heard of either of them. I’d love to see that show again now that I’m familiar.
• Madlib – Beat Konducta Vol. 5: Dil Cosby Suite: Madlib’s instrumental tribute to J Dilla. This is how you do a beat tape, kids. Keep the beats short and sweet. Keep it moving, and sprinkle in some random interludes between the songs to keep things interesting.
• V/A – Nigeria Disco Funk Special: Sound of the Underground Lagos Dancefloor 1974-1979: One where the title tells it all. How could an album with that title not be completely f*ck*ng awesome?
• Ced Hughes – What Up Tho?!: The latest mixtape from the pride of Currituck County. You might remember Ced from the January 08 Mix. I don’t even know if I want him to release a real album as long as he keeps pumping out mixtapes that are this great.
• The Mighty Hannibal – Hannibalism!: Another one I checked out on the advice of King Khan. Check out King Khan hanging out with Mighty Hannibal here.

As always, let me know if there’s something you think I missed:

1) Demon’s Claws – Wrong Side of Town
Here’s where Demon’s Claws really sound like the Black Lips. But better.

2) Spiritualized – You Lie You Cheat
Sounds like some classic mid-90′s alternative British band that I missed out on because I only listened to Tribe Called Quest back then. Is this what bands like Pulp and Blur sound like?

3) That Ghost – I Crossed Out the Options
Sounds like the Strokes, if the Strokes were still interesting. The first 16 seconds, where the drums sound like you’ve got your record player at the wrong speed, are pretty awesome. Not bad for an 18-year old kid.

4) The Walkmen – Postcards from Tiny Islands
As much as I like that fun, sloppy, garage rock sh*t, sometimes it’s nice to listen to a band that can write songs, play instruments, and that’s fronted by a singer who can actually sing.

5) Demon’s Claws – Hunting on the 49
Here’s where Demon’s Claws really sounds like a Texas version of the Black Lips. But maybe it’s really about Idaho?

6) Madlib – Sacrifice (Beat-A-Holic Thoughts)
Hopefully some MCs will start rapping over these beats, just like they did with Dilla’s Donuts.

7) ??? – Breakthrough
A cover of the rock song “Breakthrough” by Atomic Rooster off of DJ O-Dub’s Deep Covers 2: Mas Profundo. According to the liner notes, his is by some unnamed Nigerian band. Perhaps I’ll be able to ask O-Dub who the band is when he DJ’s my wedding (fingers crossed that this actually happens).

8) Dr. Adolf Ahanotu – Ijere
If John McCain gets his health care plan passed, Dr. Adolf Ahanotu might be the only doctor I’ll be able to afford to go see. In all seriousness, what kind of asshole proposes a plan that will, based on conservative estimates, cause 20 million people to lose their health insurance?

9) Bongos Ikwue & The Groovies – You’ve Got To Help Yourself
A song title that describes McCain’s health care plan! Sometimes the jokes write themselves…
By the way, the horns on this one kill. That echo effect makes the horn section sound awesome! Props to whoever produced this one.

10) Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
If Animal Collective didn’t make inaccessible, pretentious b*llsh*t, this is what they’d sound like.

11) Ced Hughes – W.O.W. Shampoo
Not sure what the song title means. Whip’em Out Wednesday? Whatever. Ced rips it over Oh No’s “Exp Out the Ox.”

12) 8thw1 (ft. Che Grand & Von Pea) – Flawed
8thw1 sounds a bit too much like Eminem to me, but the beat is sick, and Che and Von Pea kill it, per usual.

13) Busta Rhymes – Stay Packing Them Things
I guess I’m a sucker for beats with organs. Particularly ones that sound like “the organs from Fat Albert.” This is the Busta I know and love. Sounds like it could be a lost track off of The Coming.

14) The Beatards – Big Bad Beat
If the Beastie Boys were any good any more, they’d be making songs that sound like this. Yo, Captain, is that a slide whistle?

15) Jay-Z – Jockin’ Jay-Z
How is the guy who made this beat also responsible for one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard?

16) John Brown – Sarah Palin (I Wanna Lay Pipe)
Best song of the month. I’ve had the chorus to this one in my head for weeks. Who ever would have thought that the idiot who spent his time on The White Rapper Show walking around aimlessly and occasionally saying “hallelujah holla back.” And while most of the song is joking around, he comes with some heat on the last verse: “you think you part of God’s plan? tell them kids in the coff-ans.”

17) Madlib – Anthenagin’ (?)
To those who don’t think hip-hop can be beautiful.

18) The Mighty Hannibal – The Truth Shall Make You Free
I send this one out to all the Hydrant Sippin readers out there chasing the dragon.

19) Ruby Johnson – I’ll Run Your Hurt Away
Written by Isaac Hayes (RIP). Thanks to O-Dub for continuing to school the masses.

20) Cool Calm Pete – Gitty Up Baby!
Dopest Asian American rapper alive. What up, Rick!

21) The Mighty Hannibal – We’re Gonna Make It
Potential first dance material? Probably a bit mellodramatic, but if you’re getting married (*cough* D-Watt, *cough cough*), you’ve gotta put this one on your short list.

22) The Walkmen – In the New Year
I will be pressing play on this song at 12:01 am, January 1, 2009. Then I will make out.

23) Spiritualized – Sweet Talk
Imagine sitting in a park under a shady tree towards the end of a beautiful summer day. Can you imagine a better soundtrack to the setting sun than this song? So yeah, that’s how I came to love me some Spiritualized.

24) Oxford Collapse – Bikini As Hole
One thing I hate about buying stuff off iTunes: no liner notes. Is it me, or does that sound like a John Darnielle guest spot around the 3:00 mark?

25) Demon’s Claws – Cecile Lemay
Who stole Cecile Lemay’s head?

• Oxford Collapse – Bits: Bits is a little more subtle than their last album, Remember the Night Parties, but still quite enjoyable. It’s an album that grows on you with repeated listens, and makes for good road trip music, which is nice since Arizona takes forever to drive across.
• Vordal Mega – Megagraphitti: More than any other rapper I can think of, Vordul makes blues music. It’s just modern, urban blues music that chronicles the decay and despair of the ghetto rather than songs about some old shit that went down in some backwoods Mississippi town. Incidentally, Megagraphitti makes for terrible road trip music, but it’s still an excellent album.

With no Euro 2008 and fewer late nights at work, I had plenty of time to listen to all the fantastic music that’s out there this month. Obviously, I enjoyed Pitchfork. I’ve also enjoyed a wonderfully relaxing 4th of July up at a lake in New Jersey, a weekend camping in the mountains, and I’m heading out tomorrow for the beach. Life is good…as were these albums:

• White Rabbits – Fort Nightly: Man, if I new these guys were this good, I would have shown up on time to see them open for Spoon. My loss. The first six or so songs on this album are as good as anything I’ve heard this year.
• White Denim – Workout Holiday: Most of these songs were on the 11 Songs (Exposion) CD I picked up back in April. But consider this a reminder if you haven’t bothered to check these guys out yet.
• V/A – Daptone 7 Inch Singles Collection Vol. 2: Daptone drops a ton of vinyl. Thankfully, they eventually release it digitally for us computer nerds.
• Jay Reatard – Singles 06-07: Speaking of dropping a bunch of quality vinyl.
• Nomo – Ghost Rock: Now that I’ve accepted Nomo’s departure from traditional afrobeat, I’ve come to appreciate the new ground they’re treading. Throw this one on at your next cookout.
• V/A – African Scream Contest: Raw & Psychedelic Afro Sounds From Benin & Togo 70s: Sometimes, the title really does say it all.
• Crystal Antlers – EP: Debut EP from a new band that sounds destined for greatness. They’re already a good way there with a percussionist named Sexual Chocolate.
• King Khan & the Shrines – The Supreme Genius of King Khan & the Shrines: The newest Vice Records signing gets the best-of treatment. Good for me, as I didn’t realize how much stuff they had released pre-What Is?!.
• Killer Mike – I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II: Best hip-hop album of the year? Might be.
• Donwill & suhBURB – Suburban Sprawl: Best free hip-hop album of the year? Might be…go download that shit.

As always, let me know if there was something good that I missed.

1) White Rabbits – Navy Wives
This is a debut album? Incredible. They sound like they’ve been around for decades.

2) Bon Iver – For Emma
Remember when I was clowning eMusic’s Pitchfork Music Festival sampler? While I didn’t agree with all their choices, they nailed this one.

3) King Khan & the Shrines – Shivers Down My Spine
The clear highlight of Pitchfork was the Jay Reatard and King Khan afterparty on Saturday night. One of the highlights of that performance was this song.

4) Lee Fields – Could Have Been
One of the all-time great songs about heartbreak. Don’t be surprised if it gets a little dusty and your allergies kick up while listening.

5) Milton Wright – Get No Loving Tonight
The background music sounds like pimp shit, but the lyrics are completely un-pimp. It’s like an enigma wrapped in an onion. Props to Captain’s Crate for this one.

6) What Laura Says – July 23
This is some pretty, late night summer music. Throw this one on while drinking some wine on your front porch. I have no idea where I came across this one, but I’m happy I did.

7) White Rabbits – The Plot
I think the first verse is told from the perspective of my dog: “He gets up late / He gets upset /And I watch the whole thing happen from the foot of the bed / Well, I could stay in bed all day / Is that such an awful thing for me to say?”

8) White Denim – Let’s Talk About It
Ever wanted to see a mortician bring his Hearse to the car wash (and possibly find love in the parking lot)?

9) Crystal Antlers – A Thousand Eyes
Loud, epic and awesome.

10) Jay Reatard – Hammer, I Miss You
Hammer, I miss you. Seriously, where did you go?

11) King Khan & the Shrines – Take a Trip
Another highlight from the live show. His intro call-and-response part goes on for quite some time, and retells some truly disgusting stuff that happened when he went to see his baby last night.

12) Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou – Gbeti Madjro
This song puts the “scream” in African Scream Contest. I wonder if James Brown even knew how far his influence traveled.

13) Esau Mwamwaya- Kamphopo
Now if there’s one song on this mix that screams summer, it’s this one. I guess it’s a reinterpretation of Architecture in Helsinki’s “Heart It Races” if that means anything to you (it didn’t to me). Props to Mad Decent.

14) Ananda Shankar – Streets of Calcutta
Man, they were funkin’ it up in India back in the day. This song makes me want to watch an Indian midget get his groove on (I know but some things never get old). Thanks to Soul Sides.

15) Action 13 – More Bread to the People
Elect Obama and get more bread to the people. Another sure shot courtesy of the good Captain.

16) Wale – Cause I’m African
From one of Nigeria’s best psych-funk band to their best exported rapper.

17) Mickey Factz (ft. Fresh Daily) – Keep Moving
Mickey might be somewhat overrated (if internet hype means anything), but almost anyone would sound good rhyming over Mr. Scruff’s “Get a Move On.” I probably hadn’t heard that song for 8 years until Mr. Factz reminded me of it’s awesomeness.

18) Donwill & suhBERB (ft. Von Pea) – Fly Me
I can’t believe they just gave this away for free (have I mentioned that you should download this album)! Someone deserves to get paid off this.

19) Vast Aire (ft. Vordul Mega) – Mecca and the Ox
Pete Rock did his best El-P impression on this, serving as a sad reminder that it’s been over 7 years since The Cold Vein dropped. I know it’s tough to follow-up a classic, but damn guys, get your shit together.

20) Killer Mike – Grandma’s House
The Tony Robbins of rap. If you don’t feel like going to work in the morning, pop this one on and get motivated.

21) Killer Mike – Can You Hear Me
This song walks the fine line between cheesy and awesome. And Killer also throws some shots at Nancy Reagan, which is always fun: “How could you ask us to say no to that / knowin’ we po’, knowin’ we black / knowin’ your husband was sponsorin’ that / Now Iran-Contra’s huntin’ you back.”

The 2008 Pitchfork Music Festival is less than a week away. Fantastic music in a fantastic city. And it’s ridiculously cheap. You can’t ask for much more than that.

But there is more than that! Pitchfork and eMusic have teamed up again this year to give away free music: 25 free songs from bands appearing at this year’s festival. Unfortunately, the tracklist is lacking, in my opinion. So allow me to present my own (much better) Pitchfork 2008 Mix:

1) Public Enemy – Night of the Living Baseheads
“Here it is, bam! And you say goddamn…” Friday night kicks off with PE performing It Takes a Nation of Millions… in its entirety. So we start with a great song…which has an even greater video.

2) Public Enemy – Rebel Without a Pause
I’d have preferred Fear of a Black Planet since I think the production on that album has held up better, but somewhere in the deepest recesses of my brain are all the lyrics to It Takes a Nation of Millions that I learned when I was 11 years old.

3) Titus Andronicus – Titus Andronicus
These guys can get a little too Conner Oberst-overly-wordy-and-dramatic for me at times, but they’re pretty good in small doses. Unlike Mr. Bright Eyes, these guys at least rock out like they have man-parts.

4) Jay Reatard – My Family
I’ll probably miss Titus Andronicus, since I’ll definitely want to catch Mr. Reatard do his thing. Most of his stuff doesn’t sound this Devo-ish, but I dig this song a lot.

5) Jay Reatard – In the Dark
This sounds more like the amped-up Jay Reatard that I have (very recently) come to enjoy quite a bit.

6) Caribou – Melody Day
Some nice, pretty summer day shit that I will probably half-catch as I sit down and enjoy some Goose Island Summertime.

7) Dizzee Rascal – Pussyole (Oldskool)
How many self-described liberal, not-at-all-misogynistic kids will be chanting “pussyole” at the top of their lungs on Saturday?

8) Dizzee Rascal – Da Feelin’
Hopefully he’ll play this dope little summer jam, too.

9) Vampire Weekend – Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
I don’t like their preppy Martha’s Vineyard d-bag image, but dammit if they don’t make some nice little summertime grilling music. Vampire Weekend will likely be enjoyed while munching on some of Wishbone’s delicious hoppin’ john.

10) No Age – Neck Escaper
My knowledge of No Age begins and ends with this song. I might check these guys out and become a fan.

11) Animal Collective – Did You See the Words
Despite the massive critical acclaim these guys receive, I’ve never been able to get into them…save for this song. They’re just too a-rhythmical for me. I’ll probably break out early for the Jay Reatard and King Khan after party at Bottom Lounge.

12) The Dirty Projectors – F*cked For Life
Sunday kicks off with another band that I know basically nothing about, but will probably check out.

13) King Khan & the Shrines – (How Can I Keep You) Outta Harms Way
Sunday offers my only real dilemma of the weekend: King Khan or Les Savy Fav.

14) King Khan & the Shrines – No Regrets
I saw King Khan a couple of weeks ago, and it was the best show I’ve seen since last July’s Oxford Collapse/Professor Murder show.

15) Les Savy Fav – Patty Lee
And I just saw Les Savy Fav on Saturday, but it was kind of a weird venue where it was tough to see what was going on (despite Tim Harrington’s jerry-rigged head-cam).

16) Les Savy Fav – What Would Wolves Do?
This video is fantastic.

17) M. Ward – Chinese Translation
This is some nice singer-songwriter stuff…as far as singer-songwriter stuff goes. But sorry, M., I’ll be busy getting a good spot for Rae and Ghost.

18) Raekwon (ft. Ghostface Killah) – Criminology
“I told you a long time ago NOT to f*ck with me!” They need to do a Don’t Look Back concert for Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.

19) Ghostface Killah (ft. Raekwon) – Apollo Kids
This show will likely be just like ziti.

20) Cut Copy – Future (Chromeo Remix)
I don’t know about these guys, but if they’re down with Chromeo, I might have to check them out for a second.

21) Spoon – My Mathematical Mind
Their show earlier this spring at Carolina Theatre didn’t get me all that excited, but I think their sound will translate better to the outdoor festival setting.

22) Spoon – The Underdog
Here’s to hoping they bust out a horn section for the show.

I’ll admit it. I mailed it in this month. Between work and watching every game of Euro 2008, there was little time left for music in June. I promise you, July’s mix will be fantastic. Plus, there will be a little bonus mix showing up in the next week or so.

That said, there were still a number of good albums in June:

• Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter III: He’s the best, maine. He deeeeed it. Weezy finally puts together an official album that matches the potential he’s shown on his mixtapes. I still can’t get over the fact that such a weird little guy is such a major pop star, but I’m not complaining.
• The Plastic Constellations – We Appreciate You: Don’t you hate it when you newly discover a band you like, only to find out that this is their last album (see also, The Narrator)?
• The M’s – Real Close Ones: These guys are criminally underrated. This one lacks some of the raucousness of Future Women, but is still a great soundtrack for late summer nights drinking on your porch.
• S.L. Jones – C.O.L.O.R.S.: Surprisingly solid debut from Killer Mike’s laid back weed carrier.
• The Selmanaires – The Air Salesman: For such a horrible city, Atlanta’s got some decent bands.
• Spec Boogie – Dollar Sign Language: Latest mixtape from the Loosie representative. He’s not a mind-blowing MC, but he’s solid and has an impeccable ear for beats. If he could just get some from Erykah Badu, he’d be getting Jay Electronica-type hype.

As always, let me know if there was something good that I missed.

1) Wu-Tang Clan – Watch Your Mouth
When there’s an album coming out that I know I’ll want to hear, I try to hold off from listening to the early leaked tracks. Sometimes, it means I miss a gem when the early single doesn’t end up making the album. This shit is classic Wu, even if De La used the beat before RZA.

2) Lil’ Wayne – A Milli
Song of the summer. Although this fan video dominates the official video.

3) S.L. Jones – American Gangster
It’s a shame there are too many anonymous weed carriers on this. The beat is pretty insane…much more adventurous than anything you’d expect to hear on the typical Southern rap album. I’d of much rather heard Killer Mike on this rather than the pretty atrocious “Super Head.”

4) Lil’ Wayne (ft. Fabolus & Juelz Santana) – Nothin’ On Me
Fabo for the win. “I pop up like Xzibit, but given I’m at your crib it’s / not to put no fucking fish tanks up in your Civic /f*ck gettin’ your ride pimped, you’ll get hog-tied, whipped / have you curled up in the trunk like fried shrimp.”

5) Jhi Ali – So Blowed
The young Alabama native made a pretty good summer song here, rapping about getting bombed over some breezy acoustic guitar. Sounds like being 17.

6) Lil’ Wayne – Let the Beat Build
If I can ever be bothered to re-sequence Tha Carter III on my iPod, this one will definitely be the closer. This is Wayne’s much-deserved, triumphant victory lap.

7) Atmosphere – Not Another Day
Slug’s emo-raps get tiresome over a whole album, but can sound great for a song or two.

8) Spec Boogie – New York I Love You
I like how Spec Boogie’s confident enough to be an accent to the track, rather than trying to dominate it. And the way his intensity builds up to the end is pretty awesome.

9) The Plastic Constellations – So Many Friends
Like Tapes ‘N Tapes, these guys hail from Minnesota. Like Tapes ‘N Tapes, they aren’t afraid to use horns to good effect. Like Tapes ‘N Tapes, they can make some anthemic shout-a-long’s. Like Tapes ‘N Tapes, this is rock music that’s right in my wheelhouse.

10) Brendan Canning – Churches Under the Stairs
The second record in the “Broken Social Scene Presents” series. This one fails to match Kevin Drew’s Spirit If from last year. It starts out easily on par, but seems to peter out over the second half, unfortunately.

11) The M’s – Pigs Fly
I feel like this is the type of pretty song that My Morning Jacket should be making, rather than the turd sandwich that is Evil Urges. If you’ve got a singer with a good voice, let him sing, dammit.

12) The Selmanaires – New Plan
Speaking of MMJ, this one kind of reminds me of “Cobra” but with David Byrne replacing Jim James on vocals.

13) Brendan Canning – Love Is New
If I were still single, this would definitely go on my “ohmygodIgotagirltocomebacktomyplace” playlist.

14) The Plastic Constellations – Floated Down and Flew Around
I hate when this song comes on during my walk to work in the morning. It’s pretty much impossible not to sing along to those “whoo’s” in the last minute, which kind of makes me look like a maniac as I’m walking down a quiet street in a suit and tie.

15) Wolf Parade – Fine Young Cannibals
I was disappointed in the At Mount Zoomer. In a lot of the songs, Spencer Krug’s retro 80′s synths are way too prominent and the guitars seem lost in the mix. But this song here shares a lot of the funky sultriness of the aforementioned “Love Is New” which is a winning look.

16) The M’s – How Could You
This song sounds like last call at a fantastically awesome and shitty bar.

17) James Pants – We’re Through
I don’t know how much I actually like this bit of retro electro weirdness, but dammit if it wasn’t stuck in my head most of June.

18) Bonde Das Gulosas – Tira O Seu Da Reta
Since this is in Portuguese, I’ve got no idea what they’re saying. But I like to think of it as a tribute to Marcos Senna. Congrats.

The June 2008 Mix is going to be a couple of days late. I’ve been at work. All month. Seriously. Hopefully, they’ll let me out soon.

* Are there any other bands’ shows that feature hipsters moshing? I think those two bands pretty much cover it.