Gripped Up

Remember when Death Grips' ExMilitary came out and your mind was totally melted by MC Ride spitting goddamned fire over Zach Hill's punk-influenced beats? I, perhaps like you, was totally hooked. But they only had one album. I needed a methadone to help alleviate the lack of Death Grips heroin. One of the things I found was Skywlkr & Black Noi$e's appropriately-titled ExExMilitary: an album using the acapellas and instrumentals that Death Grips had made available. While it was fun to hear the songs off of ExMilitary recontextualized, the beats that Skywlkr and Black Noi$e use just....don't really fit with MC Ride's barking, intense delivery. But for whatever reason, the last track on the album, "Gripped Up," works despite that. That beat kind of slithers behind the acapella, giving the track an almost Dr. Dre/G-funk feel. This track will probably find it's way onto my upcoming summer mixes (whereas actual Death Grips songs may turn lazy backyard pool parties into drunken broken bottle fights).

Playlist for 2-21-13

Another Thursday, another cozy little 45-minute show due to basketball pre-emption. As much as I enjoy these little bursts of radio show that allow me to hone myself down to a laser-focused instrument of musical weaponry, I'm ready to get back to the full two-hour show that allows us to spread out and get real freaky.

In other news: Emperor X and Eye Seas are both playing a house show this Saturday at 557 N. Olive St. in Orange. That's like, two blocks from my apartment. So, you know...conveniently-located after-party.

The playlist:

Things that Are Square 2-21-13


(*) = New release

(*) Matmos - You - The Marriage of True Minds

Caribou - Bees - The Milk of Human Kindness
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Twin of Myself - Eating Us
OOIOO - Ring Ring Lee - Feather Float
The Olivia Tremor Control - Hideaway - Black Foliage: Animation Music Volume One

Kevin Ayers - The Lady Rachel (Single Version) - Joy of a Toy
Eye Seas - Erryday - Fruit Fucking Salad
Emperor X - Sig Alert - Western Teleport
Xiu Xiu - Dr. Troll - Fag Patrol

Playlist for 2-14-13

Hey dudes,

So, in case you missed it, yesterday was Valentine's Day. So, in the spirit of the holiday, I did a "love" show. Though I tried to stay away from songs about romantic love and kept it to tunes about loving your friends or experiences. You know. Stuff that doesn't make people feel bad? Some romance snuck in there, but I think we'll get through it.

Things that Are Square 2-14-13


Akron/Family - Love and Space - Meek Warrior

Clem Snide - I Love the Unknown - Your Favorite Muse
Of Montreal - Friends of Mine - If He Is Protecting Our Nation, Then Who Will Protect Big Oil, Our Children? (For Scarlet in Long Beach, CA)
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - I Love Creedence - Etiquette
Destroyer - Poor in Love - Kaputt

Pavement - I Love Perth - Wowee Zowee: Sordid Sentinels Edition
Chain and the Gang - For Practical Purposes (I Love You) - Music's Not for Eveyrone
Das Racist - Girl - Relax (For Matt in Irvine, CA)
D-Day - Too Young to Date - Too Young to Date (For Caitlyn in Colorado Springs, CO)

Jens Lekman - Love Is Still a Mystery - The Opposite of Hallelujah
The Diskettes - The ABC's of Love - The Diskettes
Xiu Xiu - I Luv the Valleyl, OH! -Fabulous Muscles
Belle and Sebastian - I Don't Love Anyone - Tigermilk

Playlist for 2-7-13

Happy Friday, d00ds/d00dettes,

I hope that you have some fun plans this weekend. If not, might I suggest hitting up the grand opening of Valiant Brewing in Orange? I'll be biking over to try the place out with some homies. If you want a soundtrack for your bike ride over, download these songs and put 'em on your iphone. You think you won't feel awesome riding your bike while Fugazi plays? Because you will.

Things that Are Square 2-7-13


(*) = New release

The Lucksmiths - Danielle Steel - Spring a Leak

(*) Yo La Tengo - Is That Enough - Fade
Jonathan Richman - When She Kisses Me - Having a Party with Jonathan Richman
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - When You Were Mine - Young Shields (For Demetra in Portland, OR)
Arthur Baker - Breaker's Revenge (Extended Vocal Version) - Breaker's Revenge (For Estelle in Irvine, CA)

(*) Solange - Losing You - True
(*) How to Dress Well - & It Was U - Total Loss
Le Tigre - Eau d'Bedroom Dancing - Le Tigre
Xiu Xiu - Hello from Eau Claire - The Air Force

Slutever - I Can Dream the Rest Away - Pretend to Be Nice (For Alexi in San Diego, CA)
Jagwar Pirates - Death Valley 37 - Full Total Complete Bronzage
Fugazi - Cashout - The Argument

Playlist for 1-31-13

You guys,

We are under attack. By....university athletics. My show is getting pre-empted every week for the next month or so, shaving my radio show down to a 45 minute knife edge of musical excellency. You guys are gonna have to tune in right on time to get your maximum Things that Are Square value. Or you risk missing playlists like this:

Things that Are Square 1-31-13


(*) = New release

Mark Kozelek - Rock 'n' Roll Singer - What's Next to the Moon

French Quarter - The Cops - It's Not Just Kissing
Upside Drown - Go - Mood Music
Momus - The Lesson of Sodom (According to Lot) - Circus Maximus
Tom T. Hall - I Like Beer - The Definitive Collection

(*) Yo La Tengo - Is That Enough - Fade
Galaxie 500 - Don't Let Our Youth Go to Waste - Peel Sessions
My Bloody Valentine - When You Sleep - Loveless
(*) Widowspeak - Perennials - Almanac

Talaluh Gosh - The Girl with the Strawberry Hair - Backwash
The Vaselines - Teenage Superstars - The Way of the Vaselines