Music

R.I.P. GURU. Lyric of the Day – Look to the Sun by GURU; Form of Intellect

Posted on by Duncan Toms

MC GURU died yesterday, aged 43. Intelligent lyrics, an even, steady style, no shouting, he was one of my favourite rappers, if not my all time favourite. I was hoping for another Gang Starr album at some point but it wasn’t to be… unless Premier pulls something out. No doubt Solar has some hidden gems too. I remember seeing Gang Starr at Reading Festival in the early 90s – what a great rapper. Short guy! I didn’t dig all of his Jazzmatazz stuff but respected it all.

Here’s one I really liked, from Jazzmatazz Vol. 4:

Time to make a change
’cause nothing stays the same
With discipline we can win
and escape the pain
The spark will be within
then hearts will beat again
What we’ve been taught
must be forgot
it’s time to see again
Up from the bottom
we rise like the cream
They can’t fool us nowadays
we’re too wise for their schemes

One from Step in the Arena – Form of Intellect. Reminds me of our student house in Southsea. It was a big day when Steve got hold of the album we’d heard some of on Westwood’s Capital FM show by hooking up a crazy complex aerial to get the signal from London. Requesting Gang Starr in all the dance music clubs, hassling the DJs.

The guru, nursing you with a verse spilled
Don’t choke, and don’t turn blue in a frenzy
Premier’s severe, on the steel wheels he lends me
Spontaneous cuts, but not mainly just that
It’s the scratching format, exact with maddening accuracy
Craftily, on the side or in back of me
Nastily, as if his name was dick dastardly
Original so get it, yo the gang gets respect
The chain and the star is a symbol, of this form of intellect

See earlier post

Lyric Of The Day – Who’s Gonna Take The Weight? by Gang Starr

Posted on by Duncan Toms

In honour of MC Guru who is unwell, an absolute classic:

And just imagine if each one is teachin’ one
We’ll come together so that we become
A strong force, then we can stay on course
Find your direction through introspection
And for my people out there I got a question
Can we be the sole controllers of our fate?
Now who’s gonna take the weight?

Knowledge is power, and knowledge can be the difference between life
Or death…you should know the truth and the truth shall set you
Free.

Verse 1

I was raised like a muslim
Prayin’ to the east
Nature of my life relates rhymes I release
Like a cannon
’cause I been plannin’ to be rammin’ what I wrote
Straight on a plate down your throat
So digest as I suggest we take a good look
At who’s who while I’m readin’ from my good book
And let’s dig into every nook and every cranny
Set your mind free as I slam these thoughts
And just like a jammy goes pow [fx: gunshots]
You’re gonna see what I’m sayin’ now
You can’t be sleepin’
’cause things are gettin’ crazy
You better stop being lazy
There’s many people frontin’
And many brothers droppin’
All because of dumb things, let me tell you somethin’
I’ve been through so much that I’m such
A maniac, but I still act out of faith
That we can get the shit together so I break
On fools with no rhymes skills messin’ up the flow
And people with no sense who be movin’ much too slow
And so, you will know the meaning of the gang starr
Guru with the mic and premier raise the anchor
Swiftly, as we embark on a journey
I had to get an attorney
I needed someone to defend my position
Decisions I made, ’cause now it’s time to get paid
And ladies, these rhymes are like the keys to a dope car
Maybe a lexus or a jaguar
Still, all of that is just material
So won’t you dig the scenario
And just imagine if each one is teachin’ one
We’ll come together so that we become
A strong force, then we can stay on course
Find your direction through introspection
And for my people out there I got a question
Can we be the sole controllers of our fate?
Now who’s gonna take the weight?

Verse 2

The weight of the world is heavy on my mind
So as my feelings unwind I find
That some try to be down just ’cause it’s trendy
Others fall victim to envy
But I’ll take the road less travelled
So I can see all my hopes and my dreams unravel
Relievin’ your stress, expressin’ my interest
In the situation that you’re facin’
That’s why I’m down with the nation
Spirituality supports reality
We gotta fight with the right mentality
So we can gain what is rightfully ours
This is the meaning of the chain and the star
Land is power, so gimme forty acres
Let’s see how far I can take ya
Original invincible
That’s how I’m lookin’ at it
I use my rhymes like a glock automatic
Any means necessary, I’m goin’ all out
Before the rains bring the nuclear fallout
So let me ask you, is it too late?
Ayo, who’s gonna take the weight?

Lyric of the Day – A Sardine in a Hair Net, by Reeves & Mortimer

Posted on by Duncan Toms

Like a shrimp in a suitcase laying on a window ledge,
like a pair of tartan slippers and they’re underneath a hedge,
like a scout master at daybreak putting peanuts in his glove,
like a specially formed ice arch for climbing over doves,
like a sardine in a hair net and he’s staring at a priest.

These things you’ll find constantly irritate our minds.

Like a sugar unicycle that’s being ridden by a fork,
like a batten berg owned by Jesus that can miraculously talk,
like a lemon pip with sideboards fighting a bearded crab,
or Bono in a boob tube on the choir master’s lap,
like a elaborate heating system apparently in Kent.

These things you’ll find constantly irritate our minds.

Like a badger with an afro throwing sparklers at the Pope,
like a family of foxes and they’re glowering at some soap,
like a lump of Nazi nougat walking down an avenue,
like a Tudor vacuum cleaner saying “How do you do?”
like a kestrel having sex above a television set.

These things you’ll find constantly irritate our minds.

Lyric of the Day – Hyperborea by Biosphere

Posted on by Duncan Toms

This was a vision, fresh and clear as a mountain stream, the mind revealing itself to itself.
In my vision, I was on the veranda of a vast estate, a palazzo of some fantastic proportion.
There seemed to emanate from it a light from within, this gleaming, radiant marble.
I’d known this place. I had in fact been born and raised there.
This was my first return. A reunion with the deepest well-springs of my being.
Wandering about, I noticed happily that the house had been immaculately maintained.
There’d been added a number of additional rooms, but in a way that blended so seamlessly with the original construction, one would never detect any difference.
Returning to the house’s grand foyer, there came a knock at the door.
My son was standing there. He was happy and carefree, clearly living a life of deep harmony and joy.
We embraced, a warm and loving embrace, nothing withheld. We were, in this moment, one.
My vision ended and I awoke with a tremendous feeling of optimism and confidence in you and your future.
That was my vision of you.
I’m so glad to have had this opportunity to share it with you.
I wish you nothing but the very best in all things.

(from Twin Peaks, the scene where Major Briggs explains his dream to his son, Bobby)

Lyric of the day – Corrugated Tin Facade, by Buck 65

Posted on by Duncan Toms

Look at this mess, he thought he was cheatin’ God

She leaves in the autumn, his face like a beaten dog

Now he’s become everything that you hate

He’s just in time to be too late

Friends are like snowflakes, his lies are confessions

Behold the old man and his ruined possessions

He can’t play guitar, but he does try very hard

Pens from hotel rooms, old library cards,

photos and whatnots, blood in his boots,

sun in his eyes, an anchor instead of roots

Clocks on every wall, fish in the ocean

Solitude, faith, suspicion, commotion

The hole in his stomach tastes like words,

he dreams and imagines his face like hers

He knows he can’t live without his greatest fears

and nothing’s more beautiful than a woman’s tears.

News from Adam Yauch (MCA), Beastie, Hornblower about his cancer treatment

Posted on by Duncan Toms

aug 5 2009

hey all,

hope you are doing well.

so i’m about a week and a half out of surgery now and rapidly recovering from it. i haven’t taken any of the pain meds, which supposedly speeds along the healing process, or should i say, taking them slows it down. anyway, i spent 1 night at the hospital after the surgery. the hospital was too crazy to get any rest so i headed home to relax, have home cooked food and hang out with the family.

i’m pretty well detoxed from the anesthesia that they pumped me up with to keep me under for all that time. that took several days to get out of my system. my neck and jaw are still pretty stiff from the surgery, but it gets better everyday. had the stitches out this past monday… so things are moving along.

but no sooner am i on the mend from this first torture than are they lining up the next one. the next line of treatment will be radiation. that involves blasting you with some kind of beam for a few minutes a day, 5 days a week, for about 7 weeks. that will start in a few weeks…

saw the jay-z cover of no sleep, and the coldplay one of fight for your right from APW on youtube. good shit. and i heard karen o wore a “get well MCA” armband, and that q-tip gave a shout out too….. very kind of them.

just wanted to thank them and everyone else who sent positive thoughts my way. i do think that all of the well wishes have contributed to the fact that my treatment and recovery are going well.

much love back at all of you!

adam

Once upon a time in 1995

Posted on by Duncan Toms

Plaice, computer game, Loz, Piers, Smoky Bear’s Picnic, Jenty, pub, Brandons, smoking, theories, full yet hungry, Chris, bad moods, depression, white lines, mana, flying carpets, energy, sleep, work, quit smoking (both) immediately. A weekend of extreme highs and near extreme lows. Must even it out. Happy, but no illusions, bright, mind occupied, money, ambition, career, conversation, pizza delivery, Amanda, Russell, Ross, Matt, Helen, George, India Arms, beer, music, Craig and Craig, reconilliation, Ida, Steve, Laura, Jo, Richard, switched game off, Toy Story, cinema. I judge subjects on purity, leads to frustration. Accounts, OK, thoughts, headphones.

Favourite Albums of 2008

Posted on by Duncan Toms

This is my top five for 2008. All from the second half of the year. In order of release:

Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes.

Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes

Sigur Rós – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst

conor-oberst

The Streets – Everything Is Borrowed

streets-everything-is-borrowed

Q-Tip – The Renaissance

q-tip

John Lennon Animated Interview

Posted on by Duncan Toms

I love these kind of animations, juxtaposing image with word. I’ll make some of my own sometime, with photos. For now, here’s a great one, with wise words from Mr Lennon (who I haven’t really paid attention to for about ten years, but this really makes sense… except perhaps the peace idealism, but he’s on the right track)
 

Buck 65, Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea

Posted on by Duncan Toms

I feel for the support acts. No one is listening, their music and
lyrics competing against the din of conversation of a couple of hundred
people. Maybe this is normal these days. The first guy, Theory, is
obviously influenced by Buck 65 but has a harder (London?) edge. Then
two guys from Canada, Jon & Roy
who were pretty good. Some reggae grooves later, joined by a bass
player. Reminded me of Flight of the Conchords a bit. Without the
comedy.

The unexpected but intentional comedy came from Buck 65 himself.
Infinitely watchable, his act was full of funny marches, twitchy dance
moves, expressions, snippets of Fine Young Cannibals, glitter from
pocket. But he’s pretty straight up, rugged. It’s just him, his MacBook
Pro, turntable, used towards the end of each track for a short scratch,
and railroad baseball cap.

No straight trawl through the latest album, Situation,
he covered many older tracks, starting with Indestructible Sam, an
acapella Wicked and Weird, and my favourite, Roses and Blue Jays. Songs
interspersed with bits of singing, improvised raps, Run-DMC lyrics.
Crisp music and clear lyrics in a small venue of enthusiastic fans.
He’s a real poet, so many great lyrics, on point delivery, backed by a
hip-hop from when it was good.

As surprise announcement that a new album is ready, releasing this summer. Hell, Situation only dropped a few months ago

More Conchords

Posted on by Duncan Toms

I discovered by reading the excellent The Word magazine that

1) They are making a new series. I hope it has more of they and less of him who’s their manager.
2) Bret was in Lord of the Rings. His unnamed character is now known as Figwit, from Frodo Is Great, Who Is That?! He can be seen here :)
3) That’s it.