The Prodigy - Warrior's Dance (South Central Remix)

Nothing vital today, just riding a wave of elation from last night's victory over the Orlando Magic. Congratulations to my favorite Los Angeles Lakers on Phil's 10th, the franchise's 15th, and Kobe's first championship without Shaq.

Here's a pretty killer remix to what was already a stand-out track from The Prodigy's Invaders Must Die. Enjoy!

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The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die

2009

Cooking Vinyl
Buy (Amazon.com)

7.5/10

Go ahead.

Call me out on glossing over your favorite trip-hop band. Label me a retard for defending the shrieks of Thomas Erak and Tim Ward. Hell, even threaten to sue me for a particularly controversial review. Just do me a favor: give the fucking Prodigy a chance.

I've been listening to their new album since it leaked, and I like it. I liked it a month ago, I liked it this morning, and I'll hopefully like it just as much tomorrow and in another thirty days. And for once, it seems like the critics might just be on my side.

Dabbling in house, breakbeat, and dance punk, Invaders Must Die is a lot of things. Serious is not one of them. I think that many people are quick to forget that this is the same band that, barely a decade ago, rode a song called "Smack My Bitch Up" to moderate crossover success. Vivaldi this isn't - enjoy it for the same reasons you enjoy those shitty vending machine beefsteaks. They're quick, they're easy, and if you're fucked up enough, they're actually a whole hell of a lot of fun.

"Invaders Must Die" starts with a churning bass that reminds me of Brand New's "Not The Sun". The build-up on "Thunder" is the best kind of bait-and-switch, never really exploding but paying off in the end. Closer "Stand Up" is the march that Sousa never wrote, and even after hearing it twenty some-odd times, "Warrior's Dance" still manages to come off charming and exotic. These are the reasons why I like Invaders Must Die, and they're probably the same reasons why a lot of people hate it.

But, come on. Just give it a shot. And know going into it you're not going to be dining on filet mignon.

For once, just eat the fucking beefsteak.

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Key Tracks:
Invaders Must Die
Thunder
Stand Up

I'm going going back back to Albany

Well, this is the end of my "Spring Break" in Florida - yeah, I don't know why my week vacation was in February, but whatever. I was able to enjoy my birthday in the warmth of the tropical sun, a killer new album by The Prodigy, and Clint Eastwood's marvelous Gran Torino.

On a more serious note, Chris has announced his resignation from the blog. His run was short but sweet, and I know that I appreciated his contributions greatly. Good luck, Godspeed, et cetera.

But life goes on, and as I make my return to the frozen north, I only have Biggie as my companion.

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Going Back To Cali - The Notorious B.I.G.

Songs of the week: 2/18/09

I've been out of town all weekend, and wasn't able to post a "Songs of the Week" yesterday...so, I'll post it today instead.

Nothing special, just a few songs that I kind of dig. Hope you kind of dig 'em too.

***songs of the week #21

1. Down To Your Soul - Right Away Great Captain (Overlooked output by Andy Hull)
2. Opium Pop Ballad - Keith Canisius (Bliss)
3. On My Trail - Winston Audio (Throwback to classic Alternative Rock)
4. Can I Kick It? - A Tribe Called Quest (I hope you know this already)
5. Take Me To The Hospital - The Prodigy (More new Prodigy sickness)

Songs of the week: 2/10/09

I'm starting to really, really hate the Digital Millenium Copyright Act. The latest victim? Last Tuesday's installment of "Songs of the Week".

Oh well, I'm dealing. Also, I make a brief return to La Florida in just a few more days. Fun.

***songs of the week #20

1. My Year In Lists - Los Campesinos! (Short and sweet)
2. Wax Simulacra - The Mars Volta (To commemorate their Grammy win)
3. The Last Signal... - ...Of Sinking Ships (Post-rock excitement!)
4. Thunder - The Prodigy (Hot off the press)
5. Photograph - Instra:mental (Drum n' Bass WHUTTT)