Culture Greyhound

A bonus pic after the jump (NSFW).

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Today I continue my ten-part series showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of last year.

80. Nickel Eye – Brandy of the Damned

Seems like all last year, the Strokes were running around doing all kinds of different things unrelated to their core band.  Julian and Albert pursued solo projects, while Fabrizio started Little Joy.  The only one that sat around and counted money was Nick Valensi.  Bassist Nikolai Fraiture started the Nickel Eye project, churning out a debut album in January of 2009.  While I was mostly underwhelmed with the majority of the disc, “Brandy of the Damned” is the ultra-repetitive, ultra-catchy standout.

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I grew up shaking my booty to “Celebration,” but thanks to my boys in Girls We Never Slept With, a resurgence of this 70’s funk powerhouse has made its way back into my life.

Kool and the Gang have sold over 70 million records worldwide, but that should come as no surprise after hearing pop-funk jams like “Hollywood Swinging” and “Ladies Night.”  But their breakthrough hit is one that was somewhat forgotten until 1995.  That was the year that Quentin Tarantino put the song in question, “Jungle Boogie,” in his seminal flick Pulp Fiction.  Listen to that song, and then listen to their biggest hit, the aforementioned “Celebration.”  We can clearly hear Kool and the Gang’s transformation from the early 70’s straight-funk sound to a more disco-based sound, the latter of which the group is best known for.

However, whether you like your Kool and the Gang raw and dirty, or if you prefer their polished later work, one thing is clear and consistent throughout – they bring the funk.

A sampling of funky fresh joints after the jump, y’all.

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I think so.

I’m too lazy to post anything significant today, but I contributed to a post over at Mucho Mucho Bueno Bueno regarding SXSW.  For those of you not in the know, my name is Ben.  Enjoy!

Today I continue my ongoing feature showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of the past decade, posting ten songs at a time.

280. Say Anything – Wow! I Can Get Sexual Too

At this point I feel I need to make a quick reminder (especially to my music snob friends) that a lot of the songs in this list are not really songs I listen to on a regular basis.  Most of them are here for nostalgic purposes and to give a perspective of my preference and its evolution over the past ten years.  Having stated that, I love all these songs; they all hold a special place in my….uh, music heart.  And, as they say, much like most countdowns, as the numbers get smaller, the hits get bigger.  So hang in there, hipsters!

That being said, this song is really dumb.  The lyrics are stupid, in a Bloodhound Gang kind of way (look for them later in the list, kids!), and this band really does nothing for me.  But when this song came out, I rocked this bitch like it was “Stairway to Heaven.”  And just try not to smile once while listening.  The guy’s voice is humorously absurd, much like the story he’s telling.

My Internet is really spotty today, so nothing elaborate for your Monday.  Instead, I invite you to check out some pretty spectacular blogs done by people I know (all of which can be found to the right, along with many others).

Adult Acid – music-related blog by my good friend Burgers, specializing in the weird/post-rock stuff that sometimes isn’t accessible, but always cutting-edge.

The Numerators – highly entertaining as of late, since these boys are currently on tour promoting their new EP

Mucho Mucho Bueno Bueno – my good buddy Alan and his lady friend Kelly are contributors to this fairly high-traffic site (as well as Kelly’s sister, I’m told), which is a pretty cool read in terms of fashion, photography, music, and pretty much whatever else these peeps feel like sharing.

So Let the Horror Flow – my buddy Daniel Markham’s horror blog.  Be afraid, be very afraid.

Rad Works – Rachel Daily’s creative mind laid out for all to see.  Always an interesting read.

Media Mirage – my partner in crime Laura’s blog – she’s a journalism nut, and I’m always educated when I make the trip to her corner of the Web.

This is just a sample – check the links to the right for more awesome blogs by awesome people.  And if you want your blog listed, let me know in the comments.  Just be sure and return the favor, cool kids.

It’s Sunday, I’m lazy, and I have nothing pertinent to write about. So let’s celebrate the best decade ever.

For your viewing pleasure…

Two more after the jump.

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Watch John Belushi – With A Little Help From My Friend in Comedy |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
Classic.

Take ten minutes out of your life and listen to the best EP you’ll hear all spring – The Numerators‘ sprawling, six-track ride that is Human Blanket.  It’s available for free on the Lubbock trio’s blog, and you West-Coasters should pick up the cassette version when they come to your town this month.  The EP is a great introductory course to the band’s wild, colorful, frenetic live presence.  Before you know it, it’s over, and you’re not sure what exactly happened, but you know it was definitely fun.  The boys are like Half Japanese on ginseng…..and other substances.

The Numerators – That’s So Raiden

The Numerators – Rip It

Today I begin a new feature at Culture Greyhound.  Once every three months I will be listing the best of what I heard in albums/songs/remixes for the quarter.  I do this to personally keep up with all the awesome music I hear, as it ultimately helps me at the end of the year when I do my overall listing for the previous twelve months.  I also do it to introduce you cool cats to tunes you may have missed independently.

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