Dubbed an Atlanta supergroup by locals, The Constellations officially formed when vocalist Elijah Jones teamed up with Grammy-winning producer Ben H. Allen (Animal Collective, Gnarls Barkley) to create Southern Gothic. Jones and Allen tossed ideas around for two years before finally recording. Now the band and its ever-changing line-up of Atlanta musicians is playing sold out shows in Atlanta’s most popular venues, from the Earl, Star Bar, Lenny’s, the Drunken Unicorn, and even Athens’ the 40 Watt. Southern Gothic, The Constellations’ debut comes out in 2010 on Virgin Records.
The Black Lips / Starting Over
When I first played with these guys a long time ago at the old cotton club in Atlanta, I thought they were a hot mess. I saw them a few months later and it was one of the best shows I had ever seen. This song makes me think of hard living, and the redemption you search for along the way. Something I am familiar with.
The Walkmen / In The New Year
There is something very inspirational, and at the same time very sad, about this song. The organ reminds me of A Whiter Shade Of Pale, and his vocals are like a punk rock Bob Dylan. I see images of confetti and used cigarettes swimming in a forgotten martini glass.
Goodie Mob / Cell Therapy
This was the first song I heard off Soul Food, Goodie Mob’s first record. It changed my whole world and the way I listened to hip-hop. It had the social context of Public Enemy, but the soul and blues of Howlin’ Wolf. Cee-lo’s verse cut through me like a knife, and I was hooked. I waited like a fiend at the record store for everything else he ever released.
Amy Winehouse / Back to Black
I guess you could call this a guilty pleasure if it wasn’t so undeniably good. The production is flawless without being glossed over, like so many pop records. Her songs touch on some of my favorite subjects: drugs, hurt, loss, and love. The breakdown does just that, breaks my heart.
Tom Waits / Crossroads
The Black Rider was a play written by William Burroughs that Tom wrote songs and music for. It doesn’t get any fuckin’ cooler than that. One of my favorite writers and one of my favorite songwriters working together, if there really is a difference. Storytelling at its best, and it all ends with a howl at the moon. Anything I’ve ever done, or ever will do, can never compare. Thank God.
K-os / Valhalla
K-os is by far one of the best artists to come out in the last couple of years, especially in a time when so many hip-hop artists seem to be content with rehashing old ideas, and using the same safe production and writing styles. As an artist, I believe you should take everything you love and throw it in the pot. K-os is pushing hip-hop, and music as a whole, into a new direction.
Mayer Hawthorne / Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’
This song makes me want to grab my girl and a bottle of Tullemore Dew and dance all night long. That to me is the definition of a good pop song. Easy, breezy, and a hook that sinks its teeth in your heart. Soul and R&B artists across the world, break out the Motown vinyl and learn something.
Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse [feat. Julian Casablancas] / Little Girl
What a great song. Danger is an absolute mad man. He has a way of taking simple ideas and making them sound like a symphony, and taking something that could get cluttered and messy and breaking it down to the blood. People don’t understand how hard it is to find that balance in the studio. It also doesn’t hurt to work with some of the best musicians in the business.
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