Auld Lang Syne

We'll drink a cup of kindness yet 
for auld lang syne

2013 Wishlist

A list of things I hope happen in 2013: 

• Kanye West releases a chill-wave concept album about his child
• Lana Del Rey and Christopher Owens become romantically linked
• Lana Del Rey threatens to leave Christoper Owens if he doesn't re-unite Girls
• Girls get back together
• EMA drops a new record
• Dr. Dre releases Detox
• I figure out why Swedes are so good at pop music 
• People realize that the hologram thing has gone too far, discontinue using holograms indefinitely
• Das Racist say "hahahhahahajk" and re-unite
• Exitmusic actualize full potential, release the amazing LP that they are capable of
• Kings of Leon release their best album to date, which will be considered the first "classic" rock record in years. This will consequently make all of the haters eat crow and allow me to mention that I love this band without verbally sparring with people who only know them from "Sex on Fire". 
• Jay-z and Beyonce do an album together
• A$AP Rocky's debut lives up to my incredibly high expectations
• Russian billionaires give millions of dollars to artists on Secretly Canadian and Captured Tracks with the instructions "Do You". 
• Wu Lyf release album after disclosing the "break-up" was a hoax
• I meet Lena Dunham and we discuss the music on Girls
• I attend Pitchfork Music Festival 
• Yuck release a new record
• M83 puts out a new record
• Kev Brown finally gets the respect he deserves
• American Idol, The Voice, and X-Factor go off of the air 
• 2013 is even better than 2012

Kanye and Kim Kardashian Expecting Child

Having seen the success of Blue Ivy Carter, Kanye and Kim Kardashian decided to get a child of their own, according to E! News.
I can't wait for the future success of Ms. Donda Spaceship West.
I also can't wait for Kanye to explain to his child why mommy is "famous from a home movie".

Sky Ferreira "Everything is Embarrassing" Video

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas.

War is over, if you want it.

A$AP Rocky "LONG LIVE A$AP"

Hands down the best track ever released on doomsday.

A$AP Rocky's "Long Live A$AP"

Chief Keef - Finally Rich

The undeniable dopeness of " I Don't Like" made me give Chief Keef's major label debut Finally Rich a listen, and I was pleasantly surprised  to find that that it isn't whack. It's actually kinda hot.

"But, Drunkunc" I'm sure you are no one is asking, "how can you possibly co-sign an album that says "bitch" roughly 600 times and is as pro-violence as it is misoygnisitic?!".
Because, concerned person me, the songs on this record get new uses out of old material, and that impresses me. Also, it completely serves the purpose it sets out to do while marking a big step forward in a burgeoning career. Therefore, I tolerate the bullshit that comes along with it.

Is this approach to music morally reprehensible? Almost certainly. But is this an effective way to approach music? Maybe.

K, now that that is cleared up.

This record is an exciting, forward-leaning LP disguised as a lowest-common-denominator freshman release by a one-hit wonder.  Finally Rich is like buying a '96 Camry only to find that it has NOS under the hood.

The slightly-off-rhythm spitting and oddly infectious hooks coupled with top-tier production make Finally Rich more than worth a listen. But don't just take it on faith:

New Cloud Nothings Album in the Works

Per MTV Hive, Cloud Nothings are dropping a new album in the fall of next year. They clearly were inspired after seeing they topped my Best Releases of 2012 list.

Let the Countdown Begin

If the Mayans  idiotic interpretations are true, today is the last day on earth.

I wish there was a song by Bad Boy artists in the 90's to lead us through this dark time...

Luckily, my good friend Shad Pinkston reminded me that such a song exists.

Best Releases of 2012

Below is a list of my favorite releases of 2012 (and late 2011). What a great year for music.

1. Cloud Nothings-Attack on Memory
2. How to Dress Well- Total Loss
3. Kendrick Lamar-good kid, m.A.A.d City
4. Grimes-Visions
5. Charli XCX-Heartbreaks and Earthquakes
6. Wild Nothing-Nocturne   
7. Daughn Gibson-All Hell
8. Frankie Rose- Interstellar
9. Alt-J- An Awesome Wave
10. Japandroids-Celebration Rock
11. Baby Grand-A Portrait of the Arrogant Alocholic as a Young Man
12. Merchandise- Children of Desire
13. A i r s p o r t s- A i r s p o r t s 
14. Divine Fits- A Thing Called Divine Fits
15. Lana Del Rey-Born To Die
16. Purity Ring-Shrines
17. TNGHT- TNGHT
18. Moon Face with Sinaii- Heartbreaking Bravery
19.  G.O.O.D. Music-Cruel Summer
20. Evian Christ-Kings and Them
21. Diiv-Oshin
22. Clams Casino-Instrumental Mixtape 2
23. Death Grips- The Money Store
24. Porcelain Raft- Strange Weekend
25. Perfume Genius-Put Your back N 2 It

Not all of the above releases can be accessed via Spotify, but here is what I could muster up:

A$AP Rocky "1train" ft. Fucking Every Relevant Rapper

OHHHH SHIIIT. The posse cut of 2012.

Jessie Ware "Sweet Talk" Video

A charming video for a lovely song

Stagnant Pools "Consistency"

Maintain 
consistency

New Stories of 2012

Check the top five news stories according to MusicBoxPete

G.O.O.D. Music on Hot 97

Yuck.

Santigold "Girls"

Santigold drops an absolute hardbody track for the HBO Series (and Drunken Uncle favorite) Girls. The track is called "Girls".

Divine Fits - A Thing Called Divine Fits

In preparation for  my Best of 2012 list, I have been re-visiting albums I enjoyed throughout the year to jog my memory. The Divine Fits record A Thing Called Divine Fits is even better than I remembered it being. "Shivers" is a bona fide gem of a cover, and "For Your Heart" is quite possibly the song to put in a time capsule so future generations can understand the state of indie rock in 2012.

a i r s p o r t s - a i r s p o r t s

a i r s p o r t s more than make up for their obnoxiously-difficult-to-type name with this superb self-titled LP. I gave it a listen after hearing "don't need u" and immediately ran it back after the final pulsating seconds of the record concluded.  A big Beer in the Hand™ to this group for making this record, which catapulted up the ranks of my 2012 favorites after only a few spins.

Check the bandcamp to hear  the record for yourself.

Cold Pumas - Persistent Malaise

This morning I gave a listen to the post-punk/kraut-rocky sounds of Cold Pumas' LP Persistent Malaise. I had no knowledge of, or expectations for, the group/record going in to the listen and I came out the other side a fan. With sounds akin to The Men and Joy Division, Cold Pumas wear their influences on their sleeve but never seem played-out--no easy feat. This is great music for gray, cold days such as today.

Check the video for "Sherry Island" below, and their tumblr here.

The Grammy Award Nominess

The Grammy nominees were released on Friday and I am just now taking a look at them. I will be giving a break down of the categories/ an in-depth rant about this pettifoggery in the near future. For now,  I am just going to soak them in. Soak 'em in deep.

Record of the Year

Lonely Boy
The Black Keys

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)
Kelly Clarkson

We Are Young
Fun. Featuring Janelle Monáe

Somebody That I Used To Know
Gotye Featuring Kimbra

Thinkin Bout You
Frank Ocean

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
Taylor Swift

---

Album of the Year

El Camino
The Black Keys

Some Nights
Fun.

Babel
Mumford & Sons

Channel Orange
Frank Ocean

Blunderbuss
Jack White

---

Song of the Year

The A Team
Ed Sheeran

Adorn
Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)

Call Me Maybe
Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)
JÖrgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly
Clarkson)

We Are Young
Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Fun.
Featuring Janelle Monáe)

---

Best New Artist

Alabama Shakes
Fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean

Best Dance Recording

Levels
Avicii

Let's Go
Calvin Harris Featuring Ne-Yo

Bangarang
Skrillex Featuring Sirah

Don't You Worry Child
Swedish House Mafia Featuring John Martin

I Can't Live Without You
Al Walser

---

Best Dance/Electronica Album

Wonderland
Steve Aoki

Don't Think
The Chemical Brothers

> Album Title Goes Here <
Deadmau5

Fire & Ice
Kaskade

Bangarang
Skrillex

---

Best Rock Performance

Hold On
Alabama Shakes

Lonely Boy
The Black Keys

Charlie Brown
Coldplay

I Will Wait
Mumford & Sons

We Take Care Of Our Own
Bruce Springsteen

---

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance

I'm Alive
Anthrax

Love Bites (So Do I)
Halestorm

Blood Brothers
Iron Maiden

Ghost Walking
Lamb Of God

No Reflection
Marilyn Manson

Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)
Megadeth

---

Best Rock Song

Freedom At 21
Jack White, songwriter (Jack White)

I Will Wait
Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Winston Marshall & Marcus Mumford, songwriters (Mumford &
Sons)

Lonely Boy
Dan Auerbach, Brian Burton & Patrick Carney, songwriters (The Black Keys)

Madness
Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse)

We Take Care Of Our Own
Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen)

---

Best Rock Album

El Camino
The Black Keys

Mylo Xyloto
Coldplay

The 2nd Law
Muse

Wrecking Ball
Bruce Springsteen

Blunderbuss
Jack White

---

Best Alternative Music Album

The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
Fiona Apple

Biophilia
Björk

Making Mirrors
Gotye

Hurry Up, We're Dreaming.
M83

Bad As Me
Tom Waits

---

Best R&B Performance

Thank You
Estelle

Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.)
Robert Glasper Experiment Featuring Ledisi

I Want You
Luke James

Adorn
Miguel

Climax
Usher

---

Best R&B Song

Adorn
Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)

Beautiful Surprise
Tamia Hill, Claude Kelly & Salaam Remi, songwriters (Tamia)

Heart Attack
Benjamin Levin, Rico Love & Tremaine Neverson, songwriters (Trey Songz)

Pray For Me
Antonio Dixon, Kenny Edmonds, Anthony Hamilton & Patrick “jQue” Smith,
songwriters (Anthony Hamilton)

Refill
Darhyl "DJ" Camper, Elle Varner & Andrew "Pop" Wansel, songwriters (Elle Varner)
Track from: Perfectly Imperfect

---

Best R&B Album

Black Radio
Robert Glasper Experiment

Back To Love
Anthony Hamilton

Write Me Back
R. Kelly

Beautiful Surprise
Tamia

Open Invitation
Tyrese

---

Best Rap Performance

HYFR (Hell Ya F***ing Right)
Drake Featuring Lil' Wayne

N****s In Paris
Jay-Z & Kanye West

Daughters
Nas

Mercy
Kanye West Featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz

I Do
Young Jeezy Featuring Jay-Z & André 3000

---

Best Rap Song

Daughters
Nasir Jones & Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Patrick Adams, Gary DeCarlo, Dale
Frashuer & Paul Leka, songwriters) (Nas)

Lotus Flower Bomb
Olubowale Akintimehin, S. Joseph Dew, Jerrin Howard, Walker Johnson & Miguel
Jontel Pimentel, songwriters (Wale Featuring Miguel)

Mercy
Sean Anderson, Tauheed Epps, Stephan Taft, James Thomas, Terrence Thornton &
Kanye West, songwriters (Denzie Beagle, Winston Riley & Reggie Williams, songwriters) (Kanye West Featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz)

The Motto
Dwayne Carter, Aubrey Graham & Tyler Williams, songwriters (Drake Featuring Lil'
Wayne)

N****s In Paris
Shawn Carter, Mike Dean, Chauncey Hollis & Kanye West, songwriters (W.A.
Donaldson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Kanye West)

Young, Wild & Free
Calvin Broadus, Chris Brody Brown, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Peter Hernandez and Cameron Thomaz, songwriters (T. Bluechel, M. Borrow, T. Griffin, K. Jackson, N. Lee & M. Newman, songwriters) (Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa Featuring Bruno Mars)

---

Best Rap Album

Take Care
Drake

Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1
Lupe Fiasco

Life Is Good
Nas

Undun
The Roots

God Forgives, I Don't
Rick Ross

Based On A T.R.U. Story
2 Chainz

---

Best Country Album

Uncaged
Zac Brown Band

Hunter Hayes
Hunter Hayes

Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran
Jamey Johnson

Four The Record
Miranda Lambert

The Time Jumpers
The Time Jumpers

Pillowfight "Get Your Shit Together"

Get your shit together
at your pity party

Rick Ross "100 Coffins"

Appearing on the Django Unchained soundtrack, this Rick Ross banger was produced by none other than Jamie Foxx, who apparently felt like he was underachieving merely singing and acting and being handsome.

A$AP Rocky's (Alleged) Track List

After reviewing the menu--and hours of painstaking deliberation-- I'll have one of everything twice, please. This album looks pretty tasty.

One concern though--the "Pretty Flacko" remix has Gucci (excellent choice), Waka (fantastic decision), and... Pharrell?!? I had such a music boner after the first two, now it's like I'm reliving my high school prom the way that I have a halfy and depression due to shattered dreams. 

What, you couldn't get Pusha T on that track, Rock? He was just too busy?! The god damn album has been pushed back 8 months--Pusha couldn't just jump in for one verse in that time period? Just one "Yuachhk"? 

I think we all remember the CRS "Us Placers" incident a few years back. Do we really wanna give Pharrell another go? For his own well being, do we want to see him be the worst rapper on a track again? It's setting him up for failure--we gotta pull some Little Miss Sunshine shit right. now. 

Honest question--is there like an AARP discount I don't know about that A$AP gets for including his old ass on this album? Because that would be understandable. Otherwise...no.

What's your angle, Pharrell? Do you plan to just falsetto your way through this shit? Is this part of your plan to just phase yourself out completely from my good graces? What gives? I hope you surprise me, sir. I hope you got that Dylan Hot Fire. Please, Pharrell, give me some of that hot fire.

LONGLIVEA$AP Track List:

01 Long Live A$AP
02 Goldie
03 PMW (All I Really Need) [ft. Schoolboy Q]
04 LVL
05 Hell [ft. Santigold]
06 Pain [ft. OverDoz]
07 F**kin' Problems [ft. Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar]
08 Wild for the Night
09 1 Train [ft. Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson & Big K.R.I.T.]
10 Fashion Killa
11 Phoenix
12 Suddenly
13 Pretty Flacco (remix) [ft. Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka Flame & Pharrell]
14 Ghetto Symphony [ft. Gunplay & A$AP Ferg]
15 Ticket
16 Like I’m Apart [ft. Florence Welch]
17 Purple Swag (remix)

(Via Pitchfork)

Membrain "Airic"

Claire has a new project, y'all.
What's that?
Oh, sorry--let me re-phrase for you music prol's.
Grimes has release a new project with a Montreal street-performer by the name of Tim Lafontaine.
The project is called Membrain.  Check the track below.

Lost Animal "Say No to Thugs"

Per Rose Quartz:

The keyboard / loner electronic project of Jarrod Quarrell, Lost Animal resonates with a deeply unsettled and somewhat homespun sensibility. "Say No To Thugs" draws on thin, programmed beats and synthesiser smears, and there's an ineffable restraint here that the Australian post-punk tradition has always just nailed. Ex Tropical was originally released on Sensory in Australia and is out on Hardly Art on Jan 29, 2013.

Dave Krukowski Breaks Down Digital Earnings

Posted over at Pitchfork, Dave Krukowski of Galaxie 500 breaks down just how little that his art makes via avenues such as Pandora and Spotify.

Bottom line--to support the artist, you need to buy the album, go to the concert and buy the t-shirt. Plain as that.

Check out this eye-opening (and terrifying) article.

a i r s p o r t s "don't need u" video

I've been kind of lonely 
looking for somebody to talk to 

Jay-z Speaks With Old Lady on Train, Remains Classiest Man Alive

And you're going by subway?
Yes.
I'm proud of you.

November Playlist

A collection of songs I liked in November.



*If you are having trouble listening, click the "Watch on Youtube" button on the bottom right of the screen

DMX Growls a Stirring Rendition of Rudolph

Nothing says Christamas (COME AWHN) like DMX. (WHAT?!?!)

R.I.P. Dave Brubeck

Jazz legend Dave Brubeck died today. Let's take five and reflect.

Ducktails "Letter of Intent"

Dope new Ducktails track from their upcoming January release on Domino.

Das Racist Break Up

First Girls, then Wu Lyf, now you can add Das Racist to the mix. Fuckin' A.

Happy Birthday, Jay-z

A very happy birthday to Jay-z, the most important artist in my life.