When I wasn’t sneezing all over myself, wanting to sandpaper my eye balls, or going to some good shows (Disappears, Quintron, Mayer Hawthorne), here’s what I was listening to in April:

• Action Bronson – Blue Chips: His best album yet. Everbody talks about about Action Bronson’s food references, but he gets credit from me for being the first rapper to shout out Owen Hargreaves and Ruud Van Nistlerooy.
• White Rabbits – Milk Famous: Pitchfork shit on them a bit for sounding too much like Spoon….like that’s a bad thing?

On to the mix:

1) POP ETC – Settling Scores
You used to know them as the Morning Benders. Their new band name might not be considered homophobic in England, but it still is a terrible band name. That said, people are also complaining that they now sound different. This one sounds like classic Morning Benders to me. That’s a good thing.

2) Action Bronson – Thug Love Story 2012
This song has it all: “pussy farts” “apple cider baths” and “Owen Hargreaves.”

3) Stalley (ft. Rick Ross & Meek Mill) – BCGMMG (Remix)
Stalley’s mixtape deserves an honorable mention…lots of Block Beattaz production, which is always a good idea. If only I found Stalley a little more interesting.

4) Starlito (ft. Killa Kyleon & Young Dolph) – L.E.A.N.
Cardo and Burn One = smooth pimp shit.

5) Zilla (ft. Laron) – Consistency
Don’t let the goofy cover art fool you. This is a very very good mixtape from a very good rapper.

6) Georgia Anne Muldrow – Best Love
Madlib’s beat makes up for some hippy-dippy bullshit lyrics.

7) E-40 (ft. Droop-E and Big Omeezy) – Bust Moves
Some serious g-funk shit.

8) Frank Ocean – Whip Appeal
For the most part, I still don’t get the Frank Ocean appeal. But I wouldn’t be mad at all if this song blew up.

9) Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – We Almost Lost Detroit
If you’re going to cover a classic, you better not fuck it up. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. did this one justice. My favorite song of the month.

10) Lee Fields & the Expressions – Walk On Thru That Door
More soul singers need to take a cue from Barry White and utilize those fuzzed-out guitars more often.

11) Mayer Hawthorne – Henny & Gingerale
Just put this one on repeat as you’re getting ready to go out tonight.

12) White Rabbits – The Day You Won the War

13) The Shins – Simple Song
Feel free to add the new Shins album to your “drinking wine on the porch” playlist.

14) Danny Brown – Baseline
The internets’ favorite rapper keeps up his winning streak.

15) Nas – The Don
Before every one of his albums drops, Nas releases a dope “street single” that inevitably is way better than anything else on the (sure-to-be-disappointing) album.

16) Meek Mill – I’m Rollin’ (Fresh Den a !@#$%)
Philly guy sounding like he’s in the Bay.

17) Azealia Banks – Fuck Up the Fun
Not to be confused with Iggy Azalea.

18) DJ Sega – Rack City Remix

19) Black, Rock & Ron – It’s Raw
Is “random rap” still a thing?

20) Action Bronson – Dreamer
Just a little amuse-bouche.

21) Ketamines – Midnight Dawn
Filling this month’s garage rock quota.

22) Yelawolf – Thank You (freestyle)
This is what his whole album should have sounded like.

So, I decided to do a March mix after all. Turns out I didn’t end up going to Nicaragua. Bought a house instead. Here’s what I was listening to as I signed papers and wrote checks:

• Mind Spiders – Meltdown: Do you like your garage rock a little bit creepy?
• Disappears – Pre-Language: Come to think of it, this shit’s kind of menacing, too. I need to lighten up.

Honorable mention goes to Gucci Mane.

On to the mix:

1) Radiohead – The Daily Mail
Did you know that Radiohead has a guitar player? After King of Limbs, I assumed they had just gotten rid of him. He makes a brief, but welcome re-appearance on this song.

2) Frankie Rose – Interstellar
Latest Pitchfork favorite, starts strongly (with this song), but then stagnates.

3) Action Bronson – Bird On A Wire (Feat. Riff Raff)
I FUCKING LOVE THIS SONG SO FUCKING MUCH

4) DaVinci, Dieselino, Squadda Bambino – Top Shelf
My latest top shelf obsession

5) Usher – Climax (Prod. by Diplo)
R&B singers who don’t beat the shit out of women deserve more attention/acclaim than those who do.

6) SWV – Rain (Kid Icarus Bmore Remix)
The Wire needed more club music. Fuck that “Down in the Hole” song.

7) ETC!ETC! – Temblando

8) Henning – Villains Day Off
Don’t know much about this guy, but he does a pretty good (Dam Funk-approved) Dam Funk impression.

9) Union – Preset Mars feat. Roc Marciano
Roc Marci even makes this smooth glittery shit sound grimy.

10) ANTWON – HELICOPTER (PROD. BY WALSH)

11) Killer Mike – Big Beast (Bun B, Trouble & T.I.)
I cannot wait to hear the rest of this album.

12) A.Dd+ – Sh*t Got Crazy
Crazy > Cray

13) Jr. Walker & The All Stars – Shoot Your Shot
Word to Divine Styler.

14) Masta Killa – D.T.D. (ft. Raekwon & Ghostface Killah)
I didn’t realize the Wu killed that Otis sample long before Kanye and Jay.

15) Jackie Chain – Ridin In Da Fo Do (Produced by Block Beataz)
I need to make a mix of the best ridin’ music.

16) G-Side – Land In The Sky
How many amazing G-Side songs didn’t make it onto iSLAND? My lord.

17) Gucci Mane – Okay With Me (Feat. 2 Chainz)
2 Chainz is quickly becoming a favorite: “shawty got them crab legs, I got that Old Bay with me”

18) Bonde do Role – Bicha Velha
Anyone else care to join me in Brazil for the 2014 World Cup?

19) Mind Spiders – Wait For Us
I think it’s about time for these guys to come through Raleigh for a show already.

20) Disappears – Replicate
Speaking of coming through Raleigh, will be catching these guys on the 21st.

21) The Men – Open Your Heart
The perfect soundtrack to crushing PBRs.

22) Fort Lean – Sunsick
These guys do a pretty good White Rabbits impression.

This was a pretty lame month music-wise. Isn’t that how February always goes though? It’s not like there won’t be 40-some albums that I really enjoy before the year’s over. But in February 2012, the only one I really liked was:

• Gangrene – Vodka & Ayahuasca:  If you liked the first one, you’ll like the follow-up.  And even if you didn’t like the first one, you’ve gotta appreciate the promo video.

On to the mix:

1) Rick Ross (ft. 2 Chainz & Wale) – F*ck Em
My new entry music for my next boxing match.

2) Big Cov (ft. KD) – Get Her Mind
I don’t know how February was where you’re from, but in NC, it was 70 and sunny pretty much all month. Gotta have some drivin’ around music.

3) T.I. (Feat. Pimp C & Too Short) – Pimp
Sounds exactly like you’d want a song featuring Pimp C and Too Short to sound like. If I could’ve just made the entire February Mix an 80-minute loop of Pimp C’s verse, I would have.

4) Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Spottie
If you know me, you know I love a great horn line. And “Spottieottiedopaliscious” has a horn line that gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it.

5) Blue Jays – What Do You Want?
It it it it it it it it it it it it it ain’t hard to tell why I picked this song. (sorry)

6) Freddie Gibbs – Thuggin

7) Raekwon (ft JD ERA) – Just a Toast
Honorable mention to Rae’s “Unexpected Victory” mixtape.

8) Gangrene – Odds Cracked
Scratching M.O.P. samples on a hook is always a good look.

9) ScHoolboy Q (Feat. A$AP Rocky) – Hands On The Wheel
I think the reason I don’t love ScHoolboy Q’s Habits & Contradictions is that the hooks aren’t great. See above. But the rest of this song is strong enough for me to still like it.

10) Open Mike Eagle – Nightmares
This song reminds of when rappers weren’t afraid to be original.

11) Starlito – Believe it or Not
Ever wanted to see a video where a rapper cleans his soap?

Also, Starlito > Frank Ocean

12) Nikkiya – Sailing
Special cat call goes out to the suckers at the doughnut shop. Thanks for serving it to me hot, dark, and no caffeine.

13) Etta James – I’d Rather Go Blind
We lost one of the all-time greatest voices back in January.

14) Lee Fields – Moonlight Mile
This one’s for my buddy Pablo.

15) Homeboy Sandman – Sweet Emotion (Orchard Beach)
2 Hungry Bros channeled their inner Edan on this beat.

16) iNDEED – Bl4cK T34rS
If you’re going to re-interpret a classic, it better be dope. This is dope.

17) Killer Mike – Brainwashed By London
So happy that Pitchfork dropped the audio from this.

18) Azari & III – Manic (Radio Edit)
1 part Prince, 1 part “White Pony”, stir vigorously.

19) Escort – Love In Indigo
I like how the piano/bassline gives it a bit of heft.

20) PRGz – Hello World (feat. Joi Tiffany)
Pistols in Paradise coming soon.

21) ScHoolboy Q – There He Go
New rule: if you sample a Menomena song, you’re getting put on the Monthly Mix.

22) Total Control – One More Tonight
You know there has to be at least one garage rock song on every Monthly Mix.

A programming note: there will not be a March Mix, as a) we’re already about a quarter way through the month, b) I’m spending another quarter of the month in Nicaragua, and c) I’m hoping to spend my headphone time brushing up on my Spanish. I’ll come back with a double-dose at the end of April.

Ahh, January 2012.  I’m sure we’ll always look back at January as the month we all started working for DONDA, and there was a Republican debate on our TV every night.  It was also 70 degrees all month, which would have been nice if I hadn’t spent the entire month terrified of what this weather means for July and August (#swampass).

Luckily, there’s always music to keep me somewhat sane. Here’s what I was listening to:

• Quelle Chris – Shotgun & Sleek Rifle:  Detroit’s MF Doom.
• Common – The Dreamer/The Believer:  When I saw the album title, I assumed it was going to be the next step along Common’s descent into further cheesiness.  I was wrong. He’s back.

On to the mix:

1) The Strange Boys – Me and You
Not enough bands out there can make the piano rock.

2) Terry Malts – Tumble Down
San Francisco’s garage rock scene continues to dominate the world.

3) G-Side – Trip
Huntsville’s hip-hop scene continues to dominate the world. G-Side can do absolutely no wrong right now.

4) iNDEED – SippN (ft. LE$)
The most inventive rap song I’ve heard in a while. Will 2012 be the year of DJ Burn One pt. 2?

5) Johny Draper – Street Dream
Don’t know anything about this dude, but cool little beat.

6) Benny Sings – One II (Bonus Track)
The Zach Galifianakis of dudes who sound like Chromeo.

7) Amy Winehouse – Between The Cheats
Goddammit, we should have been getting songs like this for the next 30 fucking years.

8) Howard Tate – Shoot ‘Em All Down
Another talent we recently lost. RIP.

9) Willie Colon – Calle Luna Calle Sol
You know I’ve been on my Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe these past few months. Still on it.

10) Orchestre Du Bawobab – Kelen Ati Len
If I had a time machine, I’d go back to early 70s West Africa, and just hang out at clubs (and pray that 70s West Africans wouldn’t harm a fat white guy from the future).

11) Lee Fields – You’re The Kind Of Girl
New Lee Fields is a good sign that 2012 won’t suck.

12) G-Mane – Anutha Run
Holy shit, I need a whole album of G-Mane on his Nate Dogg shit. Fucking love this!

13) Meyhem Lauren – Pardon, You’ve Been on My Mind (ft. Jay Steele & Action Bronson)
Cheap nostalgia play, but fuck it, it works.

14) Quelle Chris – Shotgun feat. Danny Brown & Roc Marciano
Featuring Danny Brown & Roc Marciano = featuring on one of Nordy’s monthly mixes.

15) Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire – Killah Tofu ft. Danny Brown
Your soundtrack to throwing chairs through plate glass windows.

16) Waka Flocka Flame – Bickin Back Bein Bool (Feat. Slim Dunkin & Wooh Da Kid)
Listen to this song once, and you’ll find yourself randomly walking down the street singing the hook for the rest of your life. RIP, Dunk.

17) Common – Ghetto Dreams (feat. Nas)
I’m glad Common finally realized he never should have strayed from No ID.

18) The Kid Daytona – LOW
I didn’t like the Interlude II as much as the first installment, but Daytona is still a rapper worth checking out for.

19) Fat Pimp – Work (Feat. Paul C)

20) The Wurxs – No Ordinary (ft. Peedi Crakk)
If they’re working with Black Thought, you know they can rap.

21) Douster – Pop That Bubble
Music is crazy. This is one of the few songs on my jogging playlist that not only makes me run faster, but it puts a smile on my face.

22) Heartbreak & JWLS – Pimping
Is Diplo really fucking with a dude from Charlotte?

Best Garage Rock Albums
Your soundtrack to getting shithoused, and/or driving way too fast.
1) Thee Oh Sees – Carrion Crawler / The Dream
2) Ty Segall – Goodbye Bread
3) Mikal Cronin – Mikal Cronin
4) Mark Sultan – $
5) Thee Oh Sees – Castlemania

Most Surprisingly Great Live Show
Bloodshot Bill with King Khan, November 16 at Local 506

Best Local Garage Rock Band
Last Year’s Men – So young, but so good

Best Hip-Hop Albums
Get blunted and drive slow.
1) KD – G Fluid
2) A$AP Rocky – LiveLoveA$AP
3) G-Side – iSLAND
4) Danny Brown & Black Milk – Black & Brown
5) Rittz – White Jesus

Best Hip-Hop Show
Jackie Chain, Freddie Gibbs, and Big K.R.I.T. at Cat’s Cradle

Most Predictably Terrible Hip-Hop Album
You knew it was over as soon as he signed to Eminem’s label
1) Yelawolf – Radioactive

Best Drinking Wine on the Porch With Your Lady Albums
You know you’re getting old when you find yourself liking more and more bands who can sing and play instruments and shit.
1) The War on Drugs – Slave Ambient
2) Yellowbirds – The Color
3) Cults – Cults
4) Charles Bradley – No Time for Dreaming
5) My Morning Jacket – Circuital
6) Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
7) Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for My Halo
8) Real Estate – Days
9) Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde

Most Disappointing Live Show
Smith Westerns – everyone but the lead singer looked bored as shit

Best Local Drinking Wine With Your Lady Band
The Love Language – the new songs they played at Hopscotch were INCREDIBLE, also I got to see them play live about seven times this year.

Other Crazy Shit I Loved
1) Quintron – Sucre Du Sauvage
2) Toro Y Moi – Freaking Out
3) Bosco Delrey – Everybody Wah
4) James Pants – James Pants

Most Disappointing Canceled Tour of 2011
Quintron & Miss Pussycat – I hope whatever personal issue caused him to cancel his tour wasn’t too terrible.

Most Disapoointing Shows I Had to Miss Because I Was Out of Town Or There Was Another Show I Went to That Night
Wavves / Best Coast
Girls
Sean Price
De La Soul

Acts I’ve Never Seen Before That I’d Most Like to See in 2012
Thee Oh Sees
Wavves
Girls
Sean Price

Best Music Festival of 2011
Hopscotch

Best Music Festival of 2012
Hopscotch (seriously, splurge for the VIP pass…it’s worth it)

Best Songs That Didn’t Make a Monthly Mix
Every month, there are all sorts of great songs that fail to make the monthly mixes. Here’s the best of the songs that almost made it.
1) Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – Morning Thought
2) The War on Drugs – Brothers
3) Real Estate – It’s Real
4) Antibalas – Se Chifló
5) Charles Bradley – How Long
6) Black Lips – Noc-A-Homa
7) T.I. (feat. Pharrell) - Here Ye, Hear Ye 
8) Trademark Da Skydiver & Young Roddy – Nothin Lesser
9) Sir Michael Rocks – Wassup
10) Lil’ Boosie – Ratched It (Bird Peterson Remix)
11) Toro Y Moi – Freaking Out
12) 151 Feva Gang – Kush Groove
13) Meek Mill (feat. Rick Ross) - Tupac Back
14) Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire – Lou Ferigno’s Mad
15) Fam-Lay – What’s My Name
16) E-40 – My Lil Grimey Nigga
17) Danny Brown – I Will
18) ESG – Dance
19) Future Islands – Tin Man
20) James Pants – Every Night
21) Thee Oh Sees – Corrupted Coffin
22) Mikal Cronin – Gone
23) Mind Spiders – Go!

Download the Entire Losers of 2011 Mix Here

Here’s what I was listening to when I got tired of listening to my family:

• G-Side – iSLAND:  The two albums they dropped in 2011 were better than most rappers’ entire careers.
• Thee Oh Sees – Carrion Crawler/The Dream:  The two albums they dropped in 2011 were better than most bands’ entire careers.
• Jet Life – Jet World Order: The moment that Trademark and Young Roddy became useful rappers.

Honorable mentions go to Kurt Vile’s So Outta Reach EP, and LE$’s Settle 4 LE$ Vol. 2.

On to the mix:

1) Thee Oh Sees – Contraption/Soul Desert
I’m used to hearing these guys churn out 2-minute blasts of weirdness and garage gems. Impressed that they have the ability to make 5-minute songs incredibly exciting, too.

2) Thee Oh Sees – Robber Barons
Also, they’re quickly becoming the one band I’d most like to see live.

3) Ty Segall – Lovely One
Acoustic demo(?) version of the Lemons track.

4) Kurt Vile – Laughing Stock
I like Kurt Vile when he sounds like he’s got a serious chip on his shoulder, like he does here.

5) David Kilgour & The Heavy Eights – Diamond Mine
The pleasant surprise from the Merge Spring sampler CD that (I think) showed up via my schwag bag from Hopscotch.

6) Carter Tanton – Gauze of Song
I had almost forgotten about Carter Tanton (and his great former band Tulsa) until I caught him opening for the War on Drugs back in October.

7) Amy Winehouse – Halftime
So sad that her life devolved into little more than a punchline these last few years. She was an incredible talent.

8) Joyce Williams – The First Thing I Do In The Morning
Word to Extra Prolific’s “Brown Sugar (Domino Remix)”

9) Homeboy Sandman – Same Number Same Hood
The latest Stones Throw signee is a good one.

10) G-Side – Impossible (Javelin Remix)
Whoa, I like this remix even more than I liked the (very good) original.

11) The Roots – Kool On (feat. Greg Porn & Truck North)
The latest one from the Roots has been getting critical acclaim, but am I the only one who thinks they’ve essentially just made the same album four times in a row (Game Theory, Rising Down, How I Got Over, and now undun)?

12) Little Ben & The Cheers – Never More
Has the RZA sampled the opening to this song, or does it just sound like something he should sample?

13) Willie Colon & Hector Lavoe – El Malo
After telling myself how much I love “La Murga” for the thousandth time, I finally got around to finding some more Willie Colon & Hector Lavoe music. I’m glad I did.

14) Jeff St. John – Eastern Dream
If you haven’t been checking out egotrip’s series of various producers’ favorite sample flips, you’ve been missing out.

15) G-Side – Cast Away Ft. Joi Tiffany
The first hip-hop song to shout out the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria?

16) Jet Life – 1st Place
Looks like I wasn’t the only one to notice Sir Michael Rocks’ excellent output of late, as he’s now the newest member of Curren$y’s Jet crew. “ain’t no ring on her finger like LeBron’s hand.”

17) LE$ – 3rd Coastin’ (ft. Killa Kyleon & Paul Wall)
I was going to say that this song makes you forget the cold weather. But it’s 65 out right now.

18) G-Side – Atmosphere Ft. PH
So many great songs to choose from off of iSLAND. I love the part where ST is rapping his ass off before the beat fully kicks in.

19) Expendable Youth – Heyo!
The first release from Mad Decent imprint Jeffree’s is a winner. 1 for 1 for the new guys.

Late again…a busy end of the month, mostly spent eating my face off. Was travelling for work this past weekend, and caught a Dam-Funk show, however. He exceeded all expectations. Another guy who exceeded expectations was Bloodshot Bill, aka King Khan’s new partner in crime as the Tandoori Knights.

Oh yeah…albums I liked:

• A$AP Rocky – LiveLoveA$AP
• Danny Brown & Black Milk – Black & Brown
• PUJOL – Nasty, Brutish & Short
• Fungi Girls – Some Easy Magic
• Real Estate – Days

Honorable mentions go to MED, Fat Joe, and Sir Michael Rocks.

On to the mix.

1) G-Side – Hot Sex and Cold Wine (feat. Johnny Spanish)
I’m thankful that the stuff that didn’t make G-Side’s album is better than everyone else’s shit.

2) A$AP Rocky – Trilla (Feat. ASAP Twelvy & ASAP Nast)
While I’m not convinced on A$AP Rocky as a rapper, I’m thankful for his ear for beats and ability to put an album together.

3) Danny Brown & Black Milk – Dada
I’m thankful for Danny Brown giving me phrases to sprinkle into my every-day conversations: “Tell my why your breath smells like a burning bag of bad cock.”

4) MED – Blaxican
I’m thankful for Madlib beats that can make the most average rapper sound amazing (but probably not nearly as thankful as MED is).

5) Danny Brown & Black Milk - Lol
“Put my dick on her nose, now she look like Pippen.” I’m thankful for Danny Brown’s endless quotables.

6) Cliff Nobles – Love Is All Right
I’m thankful that songs that I thought were already on my iPod sometimes get reposted by blogs I read.

7) De La Soul – Breakadawn (Fela Soul Remix)
I’m thankful that copyright laws aren’t always enforced to the letter of the law, giving us things like remixes of De La Soul over nothing but beats concocted from Fela samples, and these great t-shirts.

8) Mayer Hawthorne – Dreaming
While I was slightly disappointed in Mayer’s latest album, I’m thankful I can give it some more listens before passing final judgment.

9) Michael Kiwanuka – Worry Walks Beside Me
I’m thankful that Michael Kiwanuka continues to absolutely blow me away.  Discovering new music like this is what keeps me doing these things (almost) every month.

10) G-Side – Miss Me
Again, I’m thankful that G-Side or so talented that they can pump out such an amazing songs not even on iSLAND?

11) A$AP Rocky – Kissin’ Pink (Feat. ASAP Ferg)
I’m thankful for problems like struggling to determine whether to include this song or “Houston Old Head.”

12) Jackie Chain – Parked Outside (ft. Big K.R.I.T. & Bun B)
I’m thankful that this video exists.

14) Rick Ross – I Love My Bitches
I’m thankful that potentially dead rappers tapping Just Blaze for good beats.

15) Fat Joe – DopeMan ft Jadakiss, Dre
I’m thankful for once-wack rappers who are no longer wack.

16) No Face (ft. 2 Live Crew) – Fake Hair Wearin’ Bitch
I’m thankful that Luke beat Tipper.

17) Sir Michael Rocks – I’m Doggin’
Anyone else thankful that Sir Michael Rocks has been pumping out a shedload of super-breezy cool-guy rap songs this year (and the occiasional throwback knocker, like this one)? He seems to be flying under the radar.

18) Joeski Love – Pee Wee Dance
I’m not at all thankful for the severe drop-off in the quality of novelty dance songs over the years. Joeski Love > Soulja Boy.

19) Personal and the Pizzas – I Can Read
I’m almost as thankful for the interludes to the songs on Personal and the Pizzas albums, as I am for the actual music.

20) PUJOL – Scully
I’m thankful for the times when I go to a show (in this case, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists) and there’s an opener I’ve never heard of who really impresses me.

21) Fungi Girls – Doldrums
I’m thankful that I’m still not sick of the seemingly endless number of grage rock bands out there.

22) Real Estate – Younger Than Yesterday
And I’m also thankful for mellow stuff that sounds great when you’re hanging out drinking wine with your wife (though I’m much more thankful for wine and the woman who for some reason likes to hang out with me).

It’s been a long time. I shouldn’t have left you.

Sorry. Sometimes doing things gets in the way of not doing things. I won’t bore you with a recap of my life, but I will say that those of you who failed to make it to Raleigh for the Hopscotch Music Festival failed at September. So much fun.

So what albums hit me these past two months?

• Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
• The War on Drugs – Slave Ambient
• Mikal Cronin – Mikal Cronin
• Toro Y Moi – Freaking Out EP

Lots of albums that were pretty good, but not great. Honorable mentions to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Curren$y, Smoke DZA, Median, J-Live, and Jack Oblivian.

On to your double-strength mix:

1) Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire – Huzzah!
“What’s your gimmick? I said ‘goin in’”

2) Nickel Plated – Raped & Smothered (Ft. Action Bronson)
Bronsolini sounds good over some more ominous head-knock shit. Sounds like he’s toned down the GFK and found his own voice.

3) Roc Marciano – My Persona
Speaking of head-knock shit, here’s the reigning king.

4) El-P – Drones Over BKLYN
Everyone praises El for his production (deserved), but don’t forget dude can rap his ass off.

5) Wooden Shjips – Lazy Bones
Wooohhh…those guitars are unrelenting. This is the type of song that has you all the sudden doing 90 down the highway without realizing it.

6) Ty Segall & Mikal Cronin – Pop Song
And this is the type of song that has you crushing a six-pack in a 2-minute span without realizing it.

7) Gross Ghost – Devious
How many good bands can you fit into one city (Raleigh)?

8) Mikal Cronin – Apathy
If you like Ty Segall, you’ll like Mikal Cronin. If you don’t like Ty Segall (or Mikal Cronin) get off my blog (word to Milk D).

9) Male Bonding – Mysteries Complete
I really liked the first Male Bonding album better. This new one teeters on the edge of what I think Blink 182 probably sounded like.

10) Ty Segall – Bullet Proof Nothing
I love that these punk dudes have incredible singles that I knew nothing about.

11) Apache Dropout – Nothing In My Hand
A band who was at Hopscotch who I didn’t get to see, but who I wish I had gotten to see.

12) Michael Kiwanuka – I Need Your Company
My favorite discovery of the month(s). A new soul singer from England on that Charles Bradley/Lee Fields tip.

13) Antibalas – Rat Race
My theme music for the month(s). Shouts to those at Occupy Raleigh and the worldwide Occupy movement.

14) Blu – Ronald Morgan (ft. Edan)
Normally, Blu rapping over an old Madlib beat probably wouldn’t make it to a mix. But the reclusive Edan rapping over an old Madlib beat…that’s automatic! I remain forever waiting for Edan’s follow-up to Beauty and the Beat.

15) Danny Brown – DNA
I like this song, but, let’s be honest, I can’t really relate to it.  If I were honestly to remake this song about my family influences, it’d go “It’s in my DNA, cause my pops like to do crosswords the same way.”

16) Mouce – My Shoes
The year of DJ Burn One continues.

17) P Watts – Purple Thoughts ft. KD, Scotty & P. Dukes
The year of DJ Burn One continues.

18) Scotty – Husslin
The year of DJ Burn One continues.

19) Dam Funk – Foerever
Real talk, lots of the stuff Dam Funk has been dropping recently has sounded pretty half-baked. This song has restored my faith.

20) Terius Nash – Long Gone
The 2011 version of Here, My Dear.

21) Aaliyah – Rock the Boat (Dam-Funk Remix)
Dam should remix the entire catalog of every 90s R&B singer.

22) Toro Y Moi – I Can Get Love
Oh, hey…these guys were at Hopscotch and it was fun as shit (much more fun than at Pitchfork since their music is made for clubs at night rather than mid-afternoon in a scorching-hot city park).

23) Peedi Crack – Toyfriend
If Peedi made an entire album with Diplo and Booman and DJ Sega, I’d be a happy man.

24) Maluca and The Partysquad – Lola (Ging Danga)
MIA is dead, long live Maluca.

25) Main Attrakionz – U.G.K. f/ A$AP Rocky
I’m starting to come around to whatever label has been put on this sub-genre/scene.

26) Waka Flocka – Round Of Applause
Waka does his own Main Attrakionz impression here.

27) Buddy – Awesome Awesome
The newest Neptunes protege.

28) Roach Gigz – F A Chorus
Rappitty rappitty rap.

29) Boss Hogg Outlawz – Shut Yo Hood Down (Le$, Dre Day, Slim Thug)
Am I the only guy still checking for these guys? The only Houston guys I ever see getting blog-love are Z-Ro and Killa Kyleon.  I guess Slim Thug is no longer blog-cool, even though he keeps putting out good music.

30) Smoke DZA – Notorious Feat. Fiend, & Big Sant
I like Smoke DZA, but Fiend (as he’s been known to do) steals it.  I will have Fiend singing on the hook on every song on my debut album.

31) Big K.R.I.T. – Money On The Floor (feat. 2 Chainz, 8Ball & MJG)
I don’t know why Tity Boi changed his name to the much less exciting 2 Chainz.

32) Black Trump – Sippin (ft. Z-Ro & Ronnie Spencer)
Fuck it, I’ll drink some syrup with anyone who can get me some, as long as I get to provide the soundtrack.

33) S.L.A.S.H. – Hurry Up Wait
Hadn’t heard much from the Slow Motion crew since January. Oh yeah, their beats are still incredible.

34) G-Side – Gettin It (ft Stalley & Joi Tiffany)
Island drops 11/11.

35) The War on Drugs – It’s Your Destiny
For the most part, listening to music is something I do while doing other things (reading, working, chores, etc.). War on Drugs make me want to put on the headphones and do nothing but listen.

36) Wilco – I Might
I’ll forever have trouble separating my enjoyment-level for Wilco’s new album from how much I fucking hated seeing them at the godawful Raleigh Downtown Amphitheatre. That place is horrible.

37) Girls – Vomit
It’s fun watching a very good band become great.

38) Future Islands – Long Flight
These guys played a big part of making Hopscotch awesome. If you’ve never seen Sam Herring stalk the stage, you’ve lived an incomplete life.