MY TOP 10: Left Eye Videos — OUTRODUCTION

1971-2002

Outroduction

So, today’s the day.  Eye Legacy is out and my tribute countdown is complete.  I did a MY TOP 10: TLC Videos once on my MySpace Page, which is  a little silly because they only really have about 1o videos.  This was a little different because it was about Left Eye.

I hope the CD does well, but there’s some stiff competition from the likes of Bruce Springsteen and others.  As a fan I was happy to celebrate Lisa’s memory in the form of this MY TOP 10.  I’ve ordered my copy of Eye Legacy online, so I should be getting it in the mail in the next few days.

It’s about more than the CD and the music to me as a TLC and Left Eye fan.  It is really just nice to have another artifact to remember and celebrate her life and memory.  It does make it extra special that it is a CD, though, because a solo career seemed be her next aspiration after conquering the world as part of the world’s biggest girl group.

I hope you enjoyed the videos.  For those close to my age, I hope it was a nice trip down memory lane.  And, for those not my age or not familiar with TLC’s work , I hope you were exposed to something you hadn’t seen before and that you ended up liking it.  Everything cycles, so I’m still waiting for that TLC-like funkiness to come back to music.  I’m ready to get my groove back.

Not much more to say except for Left Eye Forever!

Sincerely,

freddie beat
popolio editor

 

MY TOP 10: Left Eye Videos — INTRODUCTION

1971-2002

Introduction

Since TLC is my favorite group of all-time and the late, great  Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes’ new CD, Eye Legacy, is coming out this month I wanted to do a MY TOP 10 Countdown in commemoration and celebration of that.  This is in addition to the popolio podcast interview I already got to do with her brother, Ron Lopes, regarding this project.  Check it here.

My initial thought was that everyone knows the TLC videos, so let me do the TOP 10 Videos where other artists featured her.  The issue with that is that there are enough songs out there where she collaborated with other artists, but there are not enough videos.  This, for me, is first and foremost, a video countdown.  Though, J. Dub definitely made it his own and made it an audio countdown.  His numerical images made me jealous.  Very creative and visually alluring and appealing.  See what I mean by checking out his countdown here.

So, this is what I’m going to do, I’m going to make it 2 countdowns in 1.  I’ll alternate between the top TLC videos featuring Left Eye and the top videos by other artists featuring Left Eye.  So, it’s like 2 MY TOP 5s, but rolled into one MY TOP 10 Countdown.

You’ll know most if not all the work.  The fun may come in the order, though, I may be obvious, because most of us will agree on the great TLC/Left Eye videos.  The greatest fun will just be strolling down memory lane and reminiscing in anticipation of the new Left Eye album.  The conclusion of this countdown will coincide with the release of Eye Legacy on January 27, 2009.  This one goes out to Left Eye and my fellow TLC/Left Eye fans. 

Enjoy!

Enthusiastically,

freddie beat
popolio editor

 

MY TOP 10: Hot Tracks from 2008 — 1. Jazzanova “Let Me Show Ya”

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Jazzanova “Let Me Show Ya”Let me tell you something:  Of All the Things by Jazzanova brings together soul, Brazilian, and dance in one delicious stew.  All my favorite players are involved: Dwele, Thief, Phonte, Joe Dukie, and the vocalist of my top hot track for 2008, Paul Randolph.  Because of these flavors well-blended, this is also my top CD of 2008.

 

Enjoy “Let Me Show Ya” by Jazzanova featuringPaul Randolph

As a BONUS, here’s the official video.

 

MY TOP 10: Hot Tracks from 2008 — 2. The Foreign Exchange “House of Cards”

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The Foreign Exchange “House of Cards”

2008 was definitely the year of Phonte Coleman.  From his work with Little Brother, the latest Jazzanova CD, and now the second project with Nicolay under the moniker of The Foreign Exchange.  The first single, “Daykeeper” featuring Muhsinah, tickled my ear enough to want to purchase the whole CD.

However, it was just the first song and you know how you hope that the CD is more than just that one good song.  That’s one reason why “House of Cards” also featuring Muhsinah became a favorite mine.  It could be that I’m a Muhsinah fan as well (ya think!).

Get more on The Foreign Exchange via their website and buy the cd/download at Amazon.

 

MY TOP 10: Hot Tracks from 2008 — 3. Jazzanova “What Do You Want”

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Jazzanova “What Do You Want”, the German DJ sextet with usually brings electronic soul, jazz, and hip-hop music and remixes, went with a deep touch of 70′s  Philly soul on this latest project, Of All the Things, WITHOUT it sounding dated!  A feat well done, I say.  Of course, there’s good hip-hop and Brazilian influence on this project as well and most important, probably their best songwriting to date.

Jazzanova

Adding with the above accolades are the vocals of Joe Dukie (also known as lead vocalist for the New Zealand outfit, Fat Freddy’s Drop)  and a line in the chorus that’s so true for me right now:

The world is changing / getting smaller everyday.

Easy to get someplace / but hard to get away.

From more Jazzanova, go to their My Space Page and buy/download the project from Amazon MP3 Downloads.

 

MY TOP 10: Hot Tracks from 2008 — 4. Joe Chester “The Bodies Start To Move”

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Joe Chester “The Bodies Start To Move”

I enjoyed quite a bit a new music this year that was reminiscent of the 80′s.  Joe Chester was introduced to me by a fellow Irishman (whose blog, Daddy or Chips? has some killer house mixes you should check out, btw) and I purchased the download on eMusic.  I was singing the hook of this song for weeks.

 

A sidenote on the song (that has nothing to do with the song) that’ll honestly make more sense after you hear the track (!): as a kid, I was quite imaginative and sometimes at night, when staring at at album covers as I did a lot, the images would appear to be moving (at least out the corner of my eye).  Okay, enough of my personal freakshow.

 

MY TOP 10: Hot Tracks from 2008 — 5. The Aluminum Group “The World Doesn’t Spin On Us”

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The Aluminum Group “The World Doesn’t Spin On Us”

This group has been one of my favorites for the past ten years because of their sophisticated production and lyrical bittersweet romanticism. In fact, look for the posting with my podcast interview with them today at Mandrake FM.

The latest CD, Little Happyness, by John and Frank Navin (better known as The Aluminum Group) brings a new favorite track to my attention, even if the cover art may trip you out a bit. In true Aluminum Group fashion, the truth about how the world won’t always conform to our personal ideals is bedded in a delicious pop music confection like sweet and sour.

For more on the Aluminum Group, go to their MySpace Page and enjoy purchasing the CD at iTunes or eMusic.

 

MY TOP 10: Hot Tracks from 2008 — 6. Friendly Fires “Lovesick”

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Friendly Fires “Lovesick”

This UK trio was a recent find for me, however this track, “Lovesick” from their self-titled CD, has been on constantly play since I heard it and bought on eMusic (in fact, it made their top 88 discs of the year). 

They’re been compared to the Killers, however it’s just a fun, 80′s flavored, dance/rock track for me and I like it that way.  What the lead singer lacks in vocal power, the band’s production makes up in the grooves.  So if you enjoy this track, there’s plenty more on the CD.

Find more about Friendly Fires at their MySpace Page and purchase the music at iTunes and eMusic.

 

MY TOP 10: Hot Tracks from 2008 — 7. Nate Smith “I’m Rushing Over”

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Nate Smith “I’m Rushing Over”

A jazz drummer from Norfolk,
Virginia, Nate Smith has worked with several high-profile musicians including Michael Jackson and jazz legends, Betty Carter and Cyrus Chestnut.  His latest song cycle EP, released through his production company, WaterBaby Music Inc., is called Workday: WaterBaby Music Vol 1.0 and its features the vocal talents of John Gordon and Yazharah a.k.a. Purple St. James. 

The hook is this track, “I’m Rushing Over” is sticky and sweet like a honey bun and the production makes the song sound like something the late Luther Vandross would’ve proudly penned.

For more Nate Smith music, visit his MySpace Page and buy/download the EP at iTunes and eMusic.

 

MY TOP 10: Hot Tracks from 2008 — 8. Mid*One “Wrong Tree”

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Mid*One “Wrong Tree”

Stuart Mahoney a.k.a. Mid*One is best known in the spoken-word/hip-hop scenes of San Jose, California, as the co-developer of Lyrical Discipline, the longest running freestyle hip-hop show in the South Bay.  On this EP, Heaven Send a Synthesizer, Mid*One crafts buttery beats and ambidextrously handles rap and singing. 

With “Wrong Tree,” Mid*One brings honesty and humor to unrequited love in a production style that will especially groove with fans of Dwele.  This 6-song EP is well worth the money!

For more, Mid*One music, go to his MySpace Page and buy/download his project at CD Baby.