Monday, November 20, 2006
We've Moved
Some people are having problems with the formatting of the last post (or just can't read).
WE'VE MOVED! WE ARE NOW AT www.allthingsgo.wordpress.com. You can also reach us at www.all-things-go.com. Please change your links and join us at the new site.
Friday, November 17, 2006
It's Not Goodbye, It's ATG 2.0!
This is not the end of All Things Go. Adrian and I have had serious talks of ending ATG due to many issues (lack of excitement, weakening readership, copyright issues) but in the end, we decided that what we really needed was a totally fabulous makeover!
All Things Go is moved! We've finally solved our webhosting issues (god bless Dreamhost), moving to a more professional hosting company as well as a new blogging service (hello wordpress). For this reason, we are moving links too!
We are working on having this URL (www.all-things-go.blogspot.com) redirect over to the new URL, but for now we ask that you update all your links, as we are moving to a new URL
THE NEW URL IS www.allthingsgo.wordpress.com! If this is inconvenient to remember, we have purchased a few extra domains so you can also reach us at www.allthingsgoblog.com or www.all-things-go.com (which used to redirect to this version of ATG). I know that this will lose us some readership as many lazy readers will be unwilling to update their links or make the transition, but we hope that if you care, you stay with us in this transition.
AGAIN: WE ARE MOVED! We can now be reached at any of the following URLS:
www.allthingsgo.wordpress.com or
www.all-things-go.com
Please update your links and feeds to the new site, and we hope to see you over there! (By the way, we are still working on updating all of the old .mp3s onto our new FTP so you can still download music from our archives. Bear with us.)
And some music to help you move:
Tom Vek - I Ain't Saying My Goodbyes
-Zack
Monday, November 13, 2006
All Things Go Hip-Hop Mixtape
Note: The Borat contest is still going on, and it's ridiculously easy. Just leave your favorite Washington Wizard or Redskin in the comment along with your name and email. Please don't make me beg.
It's been a while since I've posted a mixtape, but I've been working on perfecting the All Things Go Hip-Hop Mixtape for about a month-and-a-half. This mixtape blends more mainstream acts (Outkast, Jay-Z, Ludacris, T.I.) with lesser known artists (The Coup, Dizzee Rascal), and while it may feature more well known artists, it's still a refreshing mixtape full of tracks you might not have heard before. I do love hip-hop even though I write for a pretentious indie music blog. So here is the All Things Go Hip-Hop Mixtape.
You can download the .zip file below or download each song separately.
All Things Go Hip-Hop Mixtape (.zip) [follow link]
1. Outkast ft. Sleepy Brown - Morris Brown
This song, off of the Idlewild soundtrack, may be all over the radio, but that doesn't mean I can't love it. I have a soft spot for songs that feature marching bands, especially ridiculous drumline-style marching bands like the one featured here. "Morris Brown" also allows one of my favorites, Sleepy Brown, to demonstrate his soothingly smooth verbal skills.
2. Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up, Look Sharp
Grime at it's finest, Dizzee Rascal is pretty much the king of the up-and-coming British rap scene. Not only do I love badass people with British accents, but I also love fairly simple rap beats that don't get old. The simple drum pattern in this song has very little variation, but somehow doesn't come off as monotonous.
3. The High & Mighty ft. Mos Def & Skillz - B-Boy Document
This song is for all the lovers of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 who remember all the songs on the soundtrack (probably because they played the game WAY too much). This song goes in many different directions, with a layered beat and numerous different rappers contributing a verse each. If you recognize the chorus, it's because Will Smith copied it for Willenium. Now that I'm writing this, I feel very stupid for not putting any Will Smith on this mixtape.
4. Clipse - Ma, I Don't Love Her
I know what critics will say; that Clipse is not only mainstream, but also lacking in substance and original style. The twosome from Virginia Beach (what?) are obviously smart because anyone that hires Pharell and the Neptunes to produce their work is guarunteed to be sucessful. If you listen to the lyrics, you're probably jealous that Clipse can have sex with other girls and be smooth enough to keep his main-squeeze from leaving him. The beat is so fun and infectious, it's hard not to feel good.
5. Aesop Rock ft. Del Tha Funky Homosapien - Preservation
I thought I'd fit two of my favorite hip-hop artists here in one song. Aesop is a great producer and lyricist in the vein of Atmosphere. Del, formerly from hip-hop supergroup Hieroglyphics, is most famous for his work with Gorillaz but here he truly demonstrates his lyrical talents. The piano loop in this song is so simple yet works nicely as a backdrop for these two talented musicians to showcase their first-class ability.
6. Jurassic 5 - Jurassic Finish First
Let me start by saying that I love literally everything Jurassic 5 has ever done (up until that collabo with Dave Mathews on their newest album, Feedback). "Jurassic Finish First" was hard to choose because J5 is one of those groups that releases albums I can listen to from start to finish and love everything in between. I chose this song because it's a good introduction to J5: ridiculous Cut Chemist beats; back-and-forth vocals from Chali 2na, Soup, and Marc 7; and a fun-loving, positive nature.
7. The Coup ft. Black Thought and Talib Kweli - My Favorite Mutiny
This song sounds like a call for revolution (or mutiny?), what with the epic, slowly building beat. Black Thought (vocalist for The Roots) lays down the best verse here, but Talib and The Coup are no slouches, each contributing fast-paced, politically-charged verses. Any rapper that says "I'm off the chain like Kunta Kinte with a Mack10" is alright by me.
8. Talib Kweli - Listen
More Talib, this time from his newest release, Ear Drum, which will be the first album released on Talib's own label, Blacksmith Music. Just like the song says, Talib "spits rounds like a 9mm". This beat is fast-paced and bouncy, and features Talib's signature socially relevant lyrics.
9. Kanye West ft. Consequence & Cam'ron - Gone
Kanye, the king of sampling, borrows Otis Reddings soulful voice here on "Gone", with positive results. Cam'ron's verse may be horrible ("you ever heard of the dealer, well here's the deal ma we goin' to the dealer"), but this track was my favorite on Late Registration because of an infectious beat and bouncy vibe.
10. Murphy Lee - Wat Da Hook Gon Be
I love Murphy Lee.
11. Blackstar - Definition
Blackstar (AKA Talib Kweli & Mos Def) was one of the most formidable hip-hop duo's in history, and this song is the highlight of their incredible album. My brother introduced me to this song 3 years ago, and I've been listening to it religiously ever since.
12. The Roots - Don't Feel Right
The Roots put on probably the best live show I've ever been to a few years ago on New Year's Day in DC. This song, off of their latest effort, Game Theory, is a good introduction to a group with a unique feel and staying power.
13. Dangerdoom ft. Cee-Lo - Benzie Box
DJ Danger Mouse and MF Doom are Dangerdoom, and Cee-Lo jumps in on this track to provide his typical smooth vocals. MF Doom has a very one-dimensional style, but it works well here as well as throughout the whole album, The Mouse and the Mask.
14. Blackalicious - Deception
Every time Blackalicious releases an album, hip-hop critics expect it to catapult them into the upper echelon of artists, and every time they seem to dissapoint, through no fault of their own. They may be over-hyped, but with songs like "Deception", it's easy to see why some people get excited about these guys.
15. Ludacris ft. Sleepy Brown - Blueberry Yum Yum
I know I'll be criticized for this pick, as many people write off Ludacris as mainstream, uncomplicated garbage but I have a soft spot for Luda. He loves his weed, women, and most of all, he loves life. I love him because he can make fun of himself and because he doesn't pretend to be something he's not (*cough* Lloyd Banks/G-Unit/Jeezy/Houston rap scene *cough*).
16. Lupe Fiasco ft. Jill Scott - Daydreamin'
Lupe is taking over with his debut album, Food & Liquor. While "Kick Push" is the first single and his verse in Kanye's "Touch the Sky" was his big break, this song is his most polished and finest work.
17. Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)
What can I say about Wu-Tang that hasn't already been said? Just listen.
18. Lil' Wayne - Shooter
I can't resist putting Weezy on this mix. "Shooter" is quite possibly the sexiest hip-hop song in the past few years. From the sensual bassline to the chopped up vocals, this song has quickly risen to the top of my most played songs on itunes. This is also the song of choice for power hours, and for (obviously) taking some shots.
19. Jay-Z ft. Chrissette Michelle - Lost Ones
I already mentioned how much I love pianos, and this song coincidentally prominently features them as the melody that holds this whole track together. Jay-Z is much more relaxed and reflective on this track off of his newest release, Kingdom Come. This may be another mainstream rapper on the mixtape, but I figured I'd give you guys a taste of the new album (since "Show Me What You Got" sucks so much).
20. T.I. - What You Know
I love this song for so many reasons, but mainly because of the blaring, badass synth line and epic beat. T.I. may be a little too serious sometimes for my tastes, but this song is just too monumental to leave off and perfectly ends the mixtape.
So there's the All Things Go Hip-Hop Mixtape. Let me know what you think of the choices in the comments (songs I forgot/bad choices/etc...). Thanks for checking it out, and enjoy some quality hip-hop.
-Zack
It's been a while since I've posted a mixtape, but I've been working on perfecting the All Things Go Hip-Hop Mixtape for about a month-and-a-half. This mixtape blends more mainstream acts (Outkast, Jay-Z, Ludacris, T.I.) with lesser known artists (The Coup, Dizzee Rascal), and while it may feature more well known artists, it's still a refreshing mixtape full of tracks you might not have heard before. I do love hip-hop even though I write for a pretentious indie music blog. So here is the All Things Go Hip-Hop Mixtape.
You can download the .zip file below or download each song separately.
All Things Go Hip-Hop Mixtape (.zip) [follow link]
1. Outkast ft. Sleepy Brown - Morris Brown
This song, off of the Idlewild soundtrack, may be all over the radio, but that doesn't mean I can't love it. I have a soft spot for songs that feature marching bands, especially ridiculous drumline-style marching bands like the one featured here. "Morris Brown" also allows one of my favorites, Sleepy Brown, to demonstrate his soothingly smooth verbal skills.
2. Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up, Look Sharp
Grime at it's finest, Dizzee Rascal is pretty much the king of the up-and-coming British rap scene. Not only do I love badass people with British accents, but I also love fairly simple rap beats that don't get old. The simple drum pattern in this song has very little variation, but somehow doesn't come off as monotonous.
3. The High & Mighty ft. Mos Def & Skillz - B-Boy Document
This song is for all the lovers of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 who remember all the songs on the soundtrack (probably because they played the game WAY too much). This song goes in many different directions, with a layered beat and numerous different rappers contributing a verse each. If you recognize the chorus, it's because Will Smith copied it for Willenium. Now that I'm writing this, I feel very stupid for not putting any Will Smith on this mixtape.
4. Clipse - Ma, I Don't Love Her
I know what critics will say; that Clipse is not only mainstream, but also lacking in substance and original style. The twosome from Virginia Beach (what?) are obviously smart because anyone that hires Pharell and the Neptunes to produce their work is guarunteed to be sucessful. If you listen to the lyrics, you're probably jealous that Clipse can have sex with other girls and be smooth enough to keep his main-squeeze from leaving him. The beat is so fun and infectious, it's hard not to feel good.
5. Aesop Rock ft. Del Tha Funky Homosapien - Preservation
I thought I'd fit two of my favorite hip-hop artists here in one song. Aesop is a great producer and lyricist in the vein of Atmosphere. Del, formerly from hip-hop supergroup Hieroglyphics, is most famous for his work with Gorillaz but here he truly demonstrates his lyrical talents. The piano loop in this song is so simple yet works nicely as a backdrop for these two talented musicians to showcase their first-class ability.
6. Jurassic 5 - Jurassic Finish First
Let me start by saying that I love literally everything Jurassic 5 has ever done (up until that collabo with Dave Mathews on their newest album, Feedback). "Jurassic Finish First" was hard to choose because J5 is one of those groups that releases albums I can listen to from start to finish and love everything in between. I chose this song because it's a good introduction to J5: ridiculous Cut Chemist beats; back-and-forth vocals from Chali 2na, Soup, and Marc 7; and a fun-loving, positive nature.
7. The Coup ft. Black Thought and Talib Kweli - My Favorite Mutiny
This song sounds like a call for revolution (or mutiny?), what with the epic, slowly building beat. Black Thought (vocalist for The Roots) lays down the best verse here, but Talib and The Coup are no slouches, each contributing fast-paced, politically-charged verses. Any rapper that says "I'm off the chain like Kunta Kinte with a Mack10" is alright by me.
8. Talib Kweli - Listen
More Talib, this time from his newest release, Ear Drum, which will be the first album released on Talib's own label, Blacksmith Music. Just like the song says, Talib "spits rounds like a 9mm". This beat is fast-paced and bouncy, and features Talib's signature socially relevant lyrics.
9. Kanye West ft. Consequence & Cam'ron - Gone
Kanye, the king of sampling, borrows Otis Reddings soulful voice here on "Gone", with positive results. Cam'ron's verse may be horrible ("you ever heard of the dealer, well here's the deal ma we goin' to the dealer"), but this track was my favorite on Late Registration because of an infectious beat and bouncy vibe.
10. Murphy Lee - Wat Da Hook Gon Be
I love Murphy Lee.
11. Blackstar - Definition
Blackstar (AKA Talib Kweli & Mos Def) was one of the most formidable hip-hop duo's in history, and this song is the highlight of their incredible album. My brother introduced me to this song 3 years ago, and I've been listening to it religiously ever since.
12. The Roots - Don't Feel Right
The Roots put on probably the best live show I've ever been to a few years ago on New Year's Day in DC. This song, off of their latest effort, Game Theory, is a good introduction to a group with a unique feel and staying power.
13. Dangerdoom ft. Cee-Lo - Benzie Box
DJ Danger Mouse and MF Doom are Dangerdoom, and Cee-Lo jumps in on this track to provide his typical smooth vocals. MF Doom has a very one-dimensional style, but it works well here as well as throughout the whole album, The Mouse and the Mask.
14. Blackalicious - Deception
Every time Blackalicious releases an album, hip-hop critics expect it to catapult them into the upper echelon of artists, and every time they seem to dissapoint, through no fault of their own. They may be over-hyped, but with songs like "Deception", it's easy to see why some people get excited about these guys.
15. Ludacris ft. Sleepy Brown - Blueberry Yum Yum
I know I'll be criticized for this pick, as many people write off Ludacris as mainstream, uncomplicated garbage but I have a soft spot for Luda. He loves his weed, women, and most of all, he loves life. I love him because he can make fun of himself and because he doesn't pretend to be something he's not (*cough* Lloyd Banks/G-Unit/Jeezy/Houston rap scene *cough*).
16. Lupe Fiasco ft. Jill Scott - Daydreamin'
Lupe is taking over with his debut album, Food & Liquor. While "Kick Push" is the first single and his verse in Kanye's "Touch the Sky" was his big break, this song is his most polished and finest work.
17. Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)
What can I say about Wu-Tang that hasn't already been said? Just listen.
18. Lil' Wayne - Shooter
I can't resist putting Weezy on this mix. "Shooter" is quite possibly the sexiest hip-hop song in the past few years. From the sensual bassline to the chopped up vocals, this song has quickly risen to the top of my most played songs on itunes. This is also the song of choice for power hours, and for (obviously) taking some shots.
19. Jay-Z ft. Chrissette Michelle - Lost Ones
I already mentioned how much I love pianos, and this song coincidentally prominently features them as the melody that holds this whole track together. Jay-Z is much more relaxed and reflective on this track off of his newest release, Kingdom Come. This may be another mainstream rapper on the mixtape, but I figured I'd give you guys a taste of the new album (since "Show Me What You Got" sucks so much).
20. T.I. - What You Know
I love this song for so many reasons, but mainly because of the blaring, badass synth line and epic beat. T.I. may be a little too serious sometimes for my tastes, but this song is just too monumental to leave off and perfectly ends the mixtape.
So there's the All Things Go Hip-Hop Mixtape. Let me know what you think of the choices in the comments (songs I forgot/bad choices/etc...). Thanks for checking it out, and enjoy some quality hip-hop.
-Zack
Some New Music
It snowed in Madison yesterday. Awh yeah.
Contest Update: some people (namely Claire "I can't take a challenge" Cafritz) have commented that the Borat contest is difficult, and that, teaming with the fact that we've gotten 3 submissions in 4 days, has led me to amend the contest. If you still want to come up with a movie plot, that is greatly encouraged, but as of now, all you have to do is leave a comment with your favorite Washington Redskin and/or Washington Wizard and your name and email address and ill pick 3 of them as winners. Maybe this will help me get over the fact that my 'Skins were emasculated by Philly 27-3 today. For those of you that already came up with a plot, you're awesome and I'll find a special prize for you guys.
Now some music!
Jim Noir - Key of C
This song is just so damn infectiously catchy and simple. Perfect for walking the dog in the middle of a sunny day, "Key of C" is just too soft and adorable to be taken very seriously. But some music can be uncomplicated and unserious while still sounding quality and thoughtful. This song is just that.
Damien Jurado - Denton, TX
Damien Jurado has become my perfect study-partner this semester. His whole new album, And Now that I'm in Your Shadow, is a masterpiece, blending upbeat acoustic tracks with more mellow, thoughtful, ethereal ones. "Denton, TX" is definitely the album's highlight, and I definitely recommend this song to lovers of Iron & Wine, Sufjan. Also make sure you check out Damien's older work, including the song "Ohio", featured on Derek's M3 Volume 5
Andrew Bird - Tables and Chairs (Black Session 3/21/05)
The original version of this song was featured on the All Things Go Sleep Mixtape and is, in my opinion, Andrew's best work to date. This Black Session version brings a whole new perspective on the song, featuring more varied vocals and rhythm. I've been listening to this one for a while, but I realized I hadn't posted it yet, so enjoy.
Hellogoodbye - I Saw it on Your Keyboard
Call me whatever you want, but I absolutely love Hellogoodbye. "Call and Return" popped my Hellogoodbye cherry, and I have been in love with their borderline ridiculous cute cuddlyness. This song borrows the melody of "Ode to Joy" in hilariously poppy fashion and, although it is completely unlike most other ATG music, I had to put it up.
Page France - Chariot and Antarctica (Daytrotter Sessions)
These more rough versions of two quality Page France tracks (much like Andrew Bird with "Tables and Chairs" above) take an already great song and approach it quite differently. I like these songs because I find it interesting when a band tweaks a song a little bit without fully remixing it, and I like comparing the new to the original. Definitely let this new version of "Chariot" put you to sleep tonight.
Anyways, more updates on the way. Enjoy this tracks until then. And remember, the Borat contest is still going on (see top of post) so make sure you read the contest and comment either in that post or this post.
-Zack
Monday, November 06, 2006
Borat Contest + Updates Galore
Hey everyone. I know, it's been over a week since we made a post (with the exception of Adrian's Brand New post today). I'd like to blame it all on the fact that Ezarchive is fairly incompetent but I must shoulder most of the blame. Basically I've been unmotivated and exhausted this past week, and that, teamed with the fact that everything here has been crazy this weekend (see: beer pong with my dad at 10am before the football game) has led to the lack of posts. I promise a more motivated Zack in the coming weeks.
We have to switch away from Ezarchive now since they have totally ruined everything for us. This means we have to re-host all of the files previously linked to on All Things Go, which is a long and tedious process, so bear with us. We have made the switch, temporarily, over to FileDen, though their 10GB bandwidth limit is incredibly small and probably will force us to move again, maybe to DreamHost or maybe to some real webhosting (www.AllThingsGo.com anyone?), but for now, its FileDen. If anyone has any suggestions or a super-server sitting around shout us a holler so we can get this thing going.
Also, we've been working on some new webdesigns, but since our budget is small (we're broke college kids after all), we haven't been able to come up with anything exciting. Our most professional new look (with a test post) can be seen over here. If anyone thinks they can make an awesome design for our site, please please please contact me at allthingsgoblog@gmail.com or at SmootIsMyIdol on AIM and I can discuss with you what we're looking for. Who knows, maybe a big surprise prize will go to the best design, if we get enough submissions!
Anyways, the real reason for this post is to introduce the first of many All Things Go contests! I went to see the Borat movie last night, and I must say, it's the single most offensive and racist movie I've ever seen (besides most all Spike Lee joints), which in no way means I did not enjoy it. In fact, I was worried the other people in the theater were getting annoyed at how often I burst into laughter. I, along with pretty much all of America, have been a huge fan of Sacha Baron Cohen for years, and was slightly skeptical of a full-length movie about a character in a skit (see: all SNL-themed movies), but I was very pleasantly surprised. Highlights of the movie include the "Running of the Jew", Linnel the prostitute, and Borat referring to presidential candidate Alan Keyes as a "real genuine chocolate face".
Our awesome friend Rosemary over at Cornerstone Promotion has hooked us up with some free stuff, and it's contest time bitches! In honor of the fact that Borat was originally a skit in Da Ali G show, the contest is as follows: In 2-4 sentences (please no more than that), pick a character from any TV show or skit from a TV show and give me a plot summary of a movie based on that character. For example, I believe that Wilson from Home Improvement should have his own movie where he has his own talk show along the lines of Oprah, Dr. Phil, etc... and at the end of the movie you end up seeing his face. Ok, that wasn't funny, but you guys get the picture.
The Grand Prize Winner (AKA the person who makes me laugh the most) will receive a copy of the Borat soundtrack, Borat: Stereophonic Musical Listenings That Have Been Origin In Moving Film, along with a promotional Borat poster. I have a copy of the soundtrack, and this prize is well worth it. Also, if we get enough submissions, two runner-ups will receive the poster and a Borat sticker (also super-cool!)
Just leave your summary in the comments along with your email address. I'll announce the winners sometime this week, assuming you people actually leave submissions unlike every other time I ask you to comment and you don't (it kills me inside). This should a fun contest, be creative and please actually participate!
For those of you unfamiliar with Borat's style, check out this clip of Sacha (aka Borat) on The Daily Show last week:
By the way, I had my horns surgically removed too. I look forward to readng the submissions. Welcome back readers, All Things Go is active again.
-Zack
More Tracks From Brand New's The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me
UPDATE: The links to the music in this post had to be removed at both the author and the RIAA's request. We sincerely apologize and did not mean any harm, we only wanted to get people even more excited about an album we can't wait for. If you wish to hear the tracks, buy the album when it is released. We know we will. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Sorry for the downtime everybody. But as a gift to you, here's a bunch of new tracks from Brand New's The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me. I am so psyched for this new album - there's nothing bad I can say about any of these tracks. After listening to them, I can say that Brand New has moved even further from their Your Favorite Weapon past. Although they may fall into the greater realm of rock music, these songs are epic to say the least. I'm not going to delve into the specifics of the songs, other than I love how Jesse Lacey's is stretching his vocal boundaries for this album - although I find nothing wrong with his voice on Deja Entendu, I'm glad that the frontman ventures into different singing styles, including some falsetto here and there. Alright, enough talking - behold the musical goliath that is Brand New!
Update: The links had to be removed, sorry :(
-Adrian
P.S. Again, if there is a problem with the posting of these tracks, let us know and we will gladly take them down
Sorry for the downtime everybody. But as a gift to you, here's a bunch of new tracks from Brand New's The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me. I am so psyched for this new album - there's nothing bad I can say about any of these tracks. After listening to them, I can say that Brand New has moved even further from their Your Favorite Weapon past. Although they may fall into the greater realm of rock music, these songs are epic to say the least. I'm not going to delve into the specifics of the songs, other than I love how Jesse Lacey's is stretching his vocal boundaries for this album - although I find nothing wrong with his voice on Deja Entendu, I'm glad that the frontman ventures into different singing styles, including some falsetto here and there. Alright, enough talking - behold the musical goliath that is Brand New!
Update: The links had to be removed, sorry :(
-Adrian
P.S. Again, if there is a problem with the posting of these tracks, let us know and we will gladly take them down
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