For the Junk Drawer

So, Its been awhile since we checked in with some good junk for your jones.

First off...you can't get this in stores (yet) but I just caught Midnight Masses. My boy Eric plays guitars and I admit I've been fronting on them for a minute. Imagine the beach boys doing goth rock with thrashing guitars at a funeral. Good stuff...even if it sounds creepy. They have no more NY shows this year...but check 'em out soon as you can.

Okay down to business what have wee been coating our eyes and ears with recently?

THE FEELIES - CRAZY RHYTHMS - I've been a big Feelies fan since that old 80s flick The Smithereens (you don't know it? loser.)Out of print for a minute, Bar None wisely re-releases this post-punk essential complete with downloadable extras (why not just put 'em on the CD?). "The Boy With The Perpetual Nervousness", "Fa Ce La", and "Original Love" have been long time faves. Eccentric Jersey nerd rawk from the golden age of post-psych, post-punk rock experimentation.

IGGY & THE STOOGES - RAW POWER - This was the first Stooges album I owned. And I came onto it real late in the game after Iggy had remixed it. I'm also a Bowie fan (not the biggest, I more respect dude than get all giddy over his music). There was of course the period in which Bowie and Iggy were collaborating and it made me really want to hunt down the original version of this album which Bowie mixed. I finally found it on a recent trip to Amoeba Records. And you know what? The Bowie mix sucks goat balls. He turned the Stooges rhythm section into a very polite affair with barely noticeable kick drums. So why am I talking about it? It makes me appreciate Iggy's mix that much more...but also goes to prove sometimes its great when an artist can get back in and tweak an already classic album.

DESIRE - SELF TITLED I'm a big fan of the Italians Do It Better label. Their brand of light disco rock somehow affects me a lot more than the last ten years of mediocre house music. Produced by Johnny Jewel of The Chromatics and Glass Candy (both on the same label). This is more moody music that makes you uncertain if you should dance or if you should curl up on a couch and cry about some bullshit. The thing I love about the singers on the label is that quite honestly most of them aren't great (well actually I think Ruth Radelet of The Chromatics is actually quite good), but there's an emotion and aesthetic that just works with Jewel's lazy moody production. Not a classic...but a great listen while we wait for The Chromatics' follow-up album.

AUGUSTUS PABLO PRESENTS ROCKERS INTERNATIONAL 2 - I haven't whipped this album out in a long minute. This was the first Pablo record I ever bought. And I'm on my second copy due to sneak-thievery. I hate it when music writers say "....is worth the price of admission alone". But Jah Levi's (Pablo protege Hugh Mundell's toasting alias) Selassie I Veranda is probably the only place that tired phrase really works. So sez me. Not sure its still in print on CD, but worth looking for if you like your roots reggae heavy complete with dub versions blessed by Augustus Pablo's haunting melodica.

MOVEES

Okay I'll keep it short...this post is already running long and I have a lot of loafing to do.

THE EVIL THAT MEN DO - Hen's Tooth in their wisdom released my favorite Charles Bronson movie. What's it about? I dunno. Bronson killing chumps. Seriously though nice little forgotten 80s political action thriller based on the political turmoil in Central and South America (a little discussed sub-genre of 80s films) complete with Bronson's signature "I can't act...I just kill people with perfected nonchalance" bit. You can't lose...if you're into that sorta thing.

MEET THE FEEBLES - I pawned my original copy of this because it didn't have chapter selections (I know...what can I say I'm a geek) and it drove me mad. Such is the way of grey market releases. This is one of Peter Jackson's earlier films. I found a used copy while flipping through stacks of crap. The guy next to me saw me grin when I pulled it out the bin and declared "NICE!! That movie is so vile" Yes it is. Imagine the Ego Trip editorial staff making a feature length episode of The Muppets (this is years before the Dave Chappelle Sesame Street parody and Greg The Bunny). More eye rot.

Okay das all....

P.S. sorry no images...Blogspot's been acting all crazy won't allow uploads. Had the ill Feebles screenshot too. Oh well.

Reunited and it Feels so Gewd

So..Lots of things going on as was mentioned last post. A little more detail is called for...

We mentioned Seraphim has a role in an upcoming indy film. The film, Lifted, just wrapped this week and 'Phim is thankful as the last scene he shot required him to don about 40 lbs. of military gear and stand around in the desert. Academy Award nominee, Lexi Alexander, directed the film. We're hoping for big things as the production team rushes to get a cut ready for Sundance. The dude's first ever film acting role and its with an Oscar nominated director. Kinda badass, no?

Its a principle role, so his ugly mug will adorn the screen for some of the film's most crucial moments (god bless good agents). There's musical involvement as well. We'll definitely get into more detail when a rough cut is done and PR for the film starts kicking up. The bad news...dude caught the Hollywood bug and is now a SAG card carrying nightmare. Letting two members of one of the NY underground's most relentless crews into the Hollywood machine was a mistake suckers. Big mistake. They're more poised than ever to execute the film projects they've had waiting in the wings.

What else? Well...after our re-structuring a few years ago, with Steeples moving behind the scenes to concentrate on film projects, 'Phim and Steeps stepped into a downtown L.A. studio just days ago and knocked out a track for an upcoming compilation. Its the first time the pair have recorded together in 3 years. What's even more exciting is Steeples plans to jump on another cut for Medicine Babies. The guys couldn't be happier....The funny thing is, if it weren't for the film none of it would have happened. So big ups to Lexi for inadvertently making that happen!

In related No Surrender news, Monica Sharp sent out an acapella of 'Carousel' a track for her and 'Phim's High Heals project which caused a little bit of a frenzy. One producer turned a remix around in 48 hrs. We think they're on to something.

Speaking of onto something...man of 1,000 bands, Mr. 'Phim's side project Office Party with Voodofe and Jim Kelly of New Kingdom is generating mega buzz...they've been asked by a subsidiary of a major label to get in the studio and whip up another track quick....we think they're being courted...hmmm.

Not taking a minute to breathe while in LA recently, 'Phim also met with a producer that wants him on at least two tracks for a mixtape slated to feature some of hip-hop's elite including Young Jezzy and Busta....damn and here he was about to quit the game and go run a Mister Softee truck in the islands.

2010 is gonna be a monster year for the crew! Thanks a mega-million for the years of support!!

Simple Simon
No Surrender Tech Services

What Summer?

So we know we promised more and frequent updates...what can I say? We're a pack of filthy liars. Its a sickness, we know. Our disappearing act was all for good purpose we assure you...It simply means we've been busting our arses.

Hope you all had a great summer! Ours here in NY was disgustingly short...and its already getting coldish, but we made the most of it. Since last we checked in, we've moved the chess pieces quite a few steps closer to closing the next record. But we got a gang of work done besides that.

A track with Voodofe, Nature Boy (New Kingdom) and 'Phim leaked..the verdict? The Bangers' DJ Jaclyn gave it the tastemaker nod of approval and 'it boy' visual artiste Mikal Hameed jumped all over it to claim his stake in directing the video...and the track isn't even mastered yet...we think that's a good sign.

Seraphim is also in the home stretch of his EP alongside Brooklyn based DJ Monica Sharp (aka the band of 1,000 names). Three songs are already en route to some hefty name DJ types for remixes. Two more songs and its in the can.

But we've also taken the team deeper into the waters of Hollywood (with a big shout to Costanza Francavilla for that). Steeples has two new movie roles in the bag...we can't really speak on 'em yet until (insert typical industry lingo excuse). Seraphim, however, is nearly done shooting his role in Academy Award nominee Lexi Alexander's next project entitled Lifted. So you'll definitely be seeing and hearing a lot more of the camp in upcoming months.

All that work...and we still found time to chill with our folks Radioclit, Esau Mwamwaya, and Ap Sci a lil sumfin this past summer.

Next up 'Phim, Crunc Tesla, Tes, DJ Empress (yes, that Empress) and the rest of the Vamp Killaz hit Scandinavia in October...

Stay lifted...and stay tuned

No Surrender
NYC

Pay no attention to the video above. There's something goodish on cable. Perez Hilton got knocked out by the Black Eyed Peas OMG!! The Beastie Boys are re-releasing albums you already have. You can youtube how to make a wooble bass like all the UK house and dubstep producers use!! Transformers comes out this week. President Obama killed a fly on national television LOL!! Strawberry Shortcake is good. The banks got their stimulus check...and it didn't bounce YES!! I like maple syrup. Did you hear about Brad? He got the new Iphone...I, know!!! My girlfriend doesn't like the way her hair looks so I gave her $100 to get it done the way she likes it! Kanye is so kewl. I'm going to go see a band that got big 'cuz of myspace...their record sucks but we'll be so cool if we show up!! I should get the limited edition Hitler Nike dunks right? Track suits are soooo 2006. Oh look that guy in the bar is going to take our picture and put it on his blog. Strike a pose....Whatever you do don't pay attention to the video above.

P.S.
My dog actually likes cats...soooo cool

Black Piece

Man...we've been on a grind, but I'm grinding to a halt tonight. For those that have followed us for a minute, you know we are extremely passionate about voicing our dissent shamelessly through our music. But we also recognize our limitations as musicians to simply communicate. Our action comes through creation, and through participation in movements we can get behind (which in the days of pop culture coalitions is tougher to do...an Anti-war protest quickly becomes a Super Value Meal of quasi-leftist idealism, saving the penguins, a virtual circus of conspiracy theory nut jobs, and liberals who will go off to their whine and cheese party when the parade...I mean protest is over).

Sometimes you put the 808 on the shelf, shut off the Digi 002 and speak directly... things can get lost at 130 bpm... If that makes us square...fuck it... just don't get snagged by the square's edge.

What am I ranting about? I came across something that really saddened me in a way that has me really reflecting on this new era of change we've collectively willed ourselves into believing exists. Now, I'm not saying to give up hope...but the statistics of self-destruction among young Black men in New York is wild. Slaughter. Dawn of the Dead. Taken in context with the homegrown violence directly related to racism and unemployment (hick Nazis...fathers killing their families because they're broke, families tossed on the strets) these stats are more troubling. When I walk through Harlem with our peoples still very much tied to the the streets, I can feel they are in an uneasy state which I've never seen. General consensus is that things are going to get worst (read: more violent). Our neighborhoods are hurting. And this isn't just a NY thing. Consider the implosion of Detroit and other centers of Black life in America.

In this era of hope, we still haven't tackled head-on the need to do something to address the needs of our underprivileged communities. Labor statistics indicate there is a grave disparity in unemployment between the races. Its simple...more opportunity...less violence. Education statistics show a nasty story too. Prison stats...hunger...you name it. In this fairy tale America of "no more racism" there still leaves much to be desired. It seems that the government, even with Obama at the helm can (or will) only do so much. That's not a direct shot on O. He's one man leading thousands of bureaucrats in a time of international crisis... but the swell of support for O from within his community was a plea for some answers...for some help. To ignore it is criminal.

After all, we're supposed to help home first, right? Even if you don't care about black on black violence, when we see the activity of violent home-grown terrorists Black and white on the rise...the need to heal the people seems evident. Instead we're trying to preserve our dominion over selling plastic trinkets to the world and the right to make and sell the bombs we don't want other countries making and selling...some bassackwards shit if ever there was some.

Obama put a hefty chunk of change in the wallets of prisons. It appears government is gearing up for a massive lock-down rather than a massive build up of opportunity. When nearly 17% of Black men are out of work...what are the alternatives? That's damn near one in five brothers you meet are out of a job, and on the edge (nearly double the unemployment rate for white men of the same demographic). With no economic relief in sight I smell fire.

I am simply hoping that we can stop focusing so much on trying to save the value of the American dollar and start trying to raise the value of American people. As the bail out tally for the rich fucks that made this mess rises...I know another statistic...guns and ammunition sales are skyrocketing (which means of course black market sales are also skyrocketing). You do the math. This country seems so desperately close to teetering towards Mad Max bedlam. Black on black violence has always been at a shamefully high rate. Violence times lack of opportunity is a recipe for disaster that speaks to our country's true priorities.

When the music dies down, the club turns on the lights and that asshole bouncer starts barking at you to leave...give some thought to after the dance. We still got a shit ton of work to do...or is our future, particularly as Black men to be the mass of disenfranchised (felons can't vote right) broke, violent, unorganized animals the media still loves to portray? I can't call it. I just make beats. But I'll be damned if I pretend I don't see what's up... And I'll be twice as damned if I didn't do the "un-cool" thing and open my mouth about it.

Big 'Phim
No Surrender

ready set...

Eye Drops

Maya Erdelyi is an amazing visual artist, animator, and experimental filmmaker to keep it clinical. Words really can't describe, and we're happy to be working with her (we have another collaboration in planning)....

For now, we hope you enjoy the piece she did for our song "Godda Get It" Produced by Radioclit