Editors' Picks: July 2008

James Jung, Assistant Editor

"(Fallin' Like) Dominoes," Donald Byrd
The Blue Note trumpeter and renowned jazz fusionist always kicks off my summers right; and "(Fallin' Like) Dominoes" has that perfect soulful swing.

"Move on Up," Curtis Mayfield
A high point of '70s soul in my book. And hell, if it's good enough for Kanye, it's good enough for me.


"Be Thankful for What You Got," William DeVaughn
Religious zealots usually don't do it for me, but this Jehovah's Witness one-hit wonder gets me vibing as soon as I hear his silky-smooth vocals grace this laid-back tune.


"What We Have (Zwicker Remix)," Jamie Lloyd
Zwicker gives Lloyd's warm vocals and neo-soul sensibility the deep house treatment, anchoring its ethereal pop with dubby, deep-sea bass grooves.


Kompakt Reissues Gas
Before covering T. Rex and producing some of this decade's most memorable techno, Kompakt mastermind Wolfgang Voigt explored his childhood memories of bucolic Germany with these four albums of rich sonic textures.

Stan Horaczek, Contributing Editor

"Pride (Times Are Changing)," Madball
Even if you don't like the songs recorded, seeing them play this live always makes me smile. Then some guy from Queens usually punches me in the face. It's worth it, though.

No Love Can Save Me, the Carrier
I saw them play in an alley (seriously), and they blew me away. They're a perfect fit on Deathwish, and deserve your ears and money.

Misanthropy Pure, Shai Hulud
I remember seeing them back in like 2000 at Club 797 in Albany, New York. They played "Set Your Body Ablaze," and so many kids piled on the stage that people were kicking the disco ball. They've been amazing forever.

The intro for the Aqua Teen movie on YouTube
It's one of the funniest things I've ever seen in the theater, and the song (performed by Mastodon) actually rules hard as hell. That pretzel shreds.

Seasons (a mountain bike movie)
Watching this movie makes me want to ride my bike off of a cliff. But then again, so do most things.

Jodran Burchette, Executive Editor

Good to Be Bad, Whitesnake
It took these old humps eight albums for anyone to pay attention the first time, so the 21 years that have since passed are all part of the business model. Remarkably earnest, this album could have been recorded in 1988. And it still wouldn't have gotten me laid.

Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere in Time, Iron Maiden
Whitesnake's resurgence makes fair game of anything in your middle school tape collection, highlighted by these three pillars of power rock. There will never be another Iron Maiden; and depending on who you ask, that is either comforting or catastrophic.

Mike Errico, Senior Editor

The Best Of, Radiohead
Frankly, almost any collection of Radiohead songs could fit under this title. But I'm cool with the ones they picked.

The Seldom Seen Kid, Elbow
A kinder, gentler Radiohead. But every bit as ambitious.

I Am Kloot
"There's blood on your legs ... I love you ..."

Charlie Rose by Samuel Beckett
Adding comments has been disabled for this video.



Julien McNab, Executive Editor

Poney Express - La Fugue
Parisian duo Anna Berthe and Robin Feix go for a ride in an old Volvo, yearning for open spaces and wherever the winds will take them. Thanks again Blogotheque.

School of Seven Bells, "Chain"
From Ghostly Swim's excellent/eclectic/free compilation, modular magnificence.
"Fair Weather Friends," Daedelus
The weather has gotten warm, we're all thinking the same thing ...


Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares on BBC America
When combined, the words "Scottish" and "chef" usually evoke images of chippie shops, deep fryers, and haggis, but Gordon Ramsay has the 12 Michelin stars to back up his continental cuisine credentials. Ramsay conducts restaurant interventions, cursing his way through foul dishes and foul management in the hope of turning their fortunes around. Highly entertaining stuff, even for non-foodies. One must wonder, though, why must he bare his chest in every episode?

Euro 2008
Only one thing is assured with this quadrennial event — it will be highly organized. Switzerland and Austria host European soccer's biggest event, as a whittled-down field of 16 teams seek out bragging rights as Europe's best national soccer team. Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands, Spain and Portugal are favorites. Should be wide open.

 

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