NIN and Jane's Addiciton (together again)

I've never seen either band perform live, though own all of JA's albums and all of NIN's up to The Perfect Drug era (Halos 1-11 or something, then I gave up.) The With Teeth album started to bring me back a few years ago and lately, in part due to Trent's well-focused angst against corporate music control, I've been meaning to seek out NIN's new material. This song, while not all that new now, was the one that got me seriously re-interested a few years back.

Now comes word that the original Jane's Addiction lineup will be touring with NIN, doing small clubs over the next year. I will go. Not because I want to relive the past, which is why I skipped the Pixies and Violent Femmes recent reunion tours (somewhat regrettably) - but because I think these are important artists who have, in some ways, reached the pinnacle of success, but now find themselves focused on the music and the passion. It sounds like its not about selling out the biggest venues they can and selling $35 t-shirts to adoring fans. (That could still happen, I'd imagine.) But it sounds like they might just want to create some new magic. Maybe that's all bullshit. Maybe just wishful thinking. I'll be there to find out.

Trent's words from NIN.com

Eric's (Jane's bass player) words from JanesAddiction.com

Hip-hop needs a new classic

Someone sent me this video tonight and I got hyped to post and talk about the album that dropped just this past Tuesday. Then I started listening to the other songs on the myspace page. Now I'll let someone else tell you how tight it is. Here's why.


Kanye West: Kanye is terrible. I remember first being introduced to Kanye (not in person) as an artist who would "bridge the gap" between the backpackers and the mainstream. How about an artist focused on selling as many records as possible by being grossly over-marketed regardless of quality of work. Call me a hater. Kanye, please go away.


M.I.A: See above but replace the word "Kanye" with "M.I.A." and "backpackers" with the phrase "impoverished 3rd world." That should do it.


There's just not enough time in the day to waste any of it on bleh. It might be "hot"... but it doesn't sound good. "Yo, that joint is hot!" Uhh, right, it is, but it also sounds like shit. "Kanye and M.I.A. are hot, son!" Agreed. And they both sound terrible when they open their mouths. But sound is secondary to sight (thus my eyes wide shut.)

And while those are the most mainstream, watered-down artists contributing to this record, I wasn't moved by appearances from Tom Waits, Chuck D, ODB (resurrected), or much else. I tend to think most people will feel this. It's fresh. It's cutting. It's genre-spanning, label-busting, cross-generational music for the masses. Agreed. But does it sound good?


Honestly, I wouldn't have taken the time to talk and post if I didn't think this was worth checking out. And I'm feeling this song, no doubt. But damn... was thinking we had something classic for a minute. Hip-hop needs a new classic.


You know what... jumped over to Amazon to check out more tracks. It's pretty tight. Fatlip and KRS-One on a track, Del and DJ Qbert on a nice track... I think I just needed to get that Kanye/MIA bashing off my chest.

I do feel better.

Don't Buy Daptone's Gear on eBay...

... that is if you see any of it show up there or any other loosely regulated trading post. Daptone's studio was robbed Monday night. Check out the early list of what's missing from co-founder Gabriel Roth below. (Info from Brooklyn Vegan by way of email from friend.)

FROM GABRIEL ROTH

Friends and associates,

As you may have heard through the grapevine by now, Daptone was broken into last night. Unfortunately, there was a lot of equipment (mics, pre-amps, monitors, turntables, guitars, amps, computers, etc.) stolen and damaged. It is going to take us a while to go through everything and take full stock of what was stolen, and we are not supposed to touch anything until the cops come back to collect fingerprints so we can only guess what's missing from some mic drawers and cabinets.
And, no, we did not have insurance. We had been shopping around with different companies earlier this month but had not signed a check, so nothing was insured. We are working on replacing the gate in front, installing an alarm system, and getting insurance, but it is President's day so it's not going as quickly as we would have liked.
Nydia's computer was stolen (which wasn't backed up) and the modems/ phone system was ripped out, so we'll be relatively out of commission for a few days.

I would like to ask for everyone's help first in keeping an eye out for all of our stuff showing up on ebay/craigslist/local music shops, and secondly (and more realistically) keeping an eye out for good deals on headphones, mics, pre-amps, etc. I could really use a heads up on any kind of studio package for sale or studio equipment to be possibly bought or borrowed as soon as possible. We have a session scheduled for Friday to lay down some music for (I know this sounds
surreal) Rod Stewart, and I'm going to have to get the studio running by then. I know I'm going to need to find headphones, cables, mics, and pre-amps by then. I'm not sure what else yet.

Upon first glance we are definitely missing:
Fender Super Guitar Amp in case
Fender Deluxe Guitar Amp
A whole bunch of headphones and wires
Nydia's HP laptop computer
One Desktop MacIntosh Computer
One Purple Audio API style lunchbox with four Purple Audio Biz mic pre-amps
2 Yamaha NS10 monitors
Vintage Harmony Rocket Guitar
One steel string acoustic guitar
Martin Tenor sax in a gig bag
Technics 1200 turntable
Ion USB turntable
Teac Receiver/stereo amp
Sony dual deck CD burner/player
All of our modem/phone system stuff was ripped out and taken.
A whole bunch of condensor and dynamic microphones (I still need to figure out exactly what's missing) The power supply for my Trident console was tossed and the board was moved (probably not gently) so the status of that is still questionable.
A baldwin organ was tossed and is probably broken.
Lacie External hard drive

Over the next few days, as we sort out the rubble, we are going to figure out what else we lost.

We are putting in a roll down front gate, alarm system, and finally getting our insurance happening this week. We are also going to hire a security guard to watch the house for tonight as the cops and alarm guy seemed pretty confident that they will be back with a truck now that they've seen what's in here.

Thanks for keeping eyes open for us. AND PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ALONG TO ANYONE YOU THINK MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP US.

Thankfully, we all still have our health, ambition, tape machines, and sense of humor in tact. You can slow us down, but you can't stop us. Sleep well knowing we here at Daptone will continue to...

Keep putting Soul up,

Gabriel Roth

P.S. On a lighter note, it seems like the burglars did drop a few items in order to lift Alex's old safe out of here, which was VERY heavy, VERY unwieldy, and also VERY EMPTY!

Give Thanks

I've been feeling Raashan Ahmad for about a year now, having been waaay late to the Crown City Rockers and Mission records that deserve all the underground love they've received over the years.

That said, it wasn't until I watched this new video that I was compelled to post something here. This man should be a star, with his name on par with the likes of Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Q-Tip, Common, Black Thought, etc. That's not to compare stylistically, because that's just too easy, too obvious and far too limiting. But my point is that most certainly recognize the names listed above and associate a certain level of respect and quality with their work. Many have never even heard the name Raashan Ahmad and yet his work is consistently impressive and inspiring. Things ain't like they used to be - otherwise this video would be in heavy rotation on MTV and I'd already be sick of hearing it on the radio (which would be a good thing.)

I give thanks for Raashan Ahmad... performing LIVE in Baltimore, MD at the 8x10, February 20. Don't sleep!

Update 2/17: Raashan Ahmand will NOT be performing live in Baltimore, Feb 20... but 3 other great bands will! So yeah, don't sleep... still.