Electric Wire Hustle

Above, you will see my new pictorial masterpiece that I believe perfectly describes
this band I just heard.

Right about now, you're probably wondering, "Ashley, what kind of drugs are you on?" And the answer would be that I just finished reading my Psychology homework and I am high on life. As you may have guessed, Psyc 001 didn't really do the trick for me but Electric Wire Hustle sure did. The reason it took me approximately 10 hours to complete 30 pages of reading, simply comes down to the fact that I was distracted by their myspace.

When I listen to Electric Wire Hustle, I hear an amazing Motown vibe coming from this group of three charming men. People use the term-neo soul quite often but EWH really has something authentically old school about their sound.

So, now you're probably wondering what these pictures have to do with EWH.
Well, I will tell you.

The Roots: EWH has the same hip-hop soul vibe of Philly-favorite, The Roots. Also, an admirable quality that both groups share is that....(drum roll please) they both play their own music- crazy isn't it!

Marvin Gaye: As I said before, there is something authentically old school about this group that I can't really put a finger on. Once you have a listen, though, I'm sure you'll feel it- very reminiscent of Marvin Gaye. Listen to "They Don't Want"- featuring a little Mayfield influence as well (on myspace)!

Kiwi: And finally the big mystery of my pictorial tapestry-- the Kiwi. Despite their soulful, Motown-esque sound, EWH is from none other than New Zealand! Crazy, right?! I mean, I can't name any musicians from New Zealand (although I admit that this is because of my ignorance of New Zealand's culture and not because of the quality of their music). But when you listen to these guys, I'm sure that you, like I, would never guess that they were Kiwi's (and rather ripe looking if I may say so myself).

So here's an actual picture of Electric Wire Hustle

And here's their video for, "Perception." Check out their myspace for more!

Cody ChesnuTT

Oh My God! Cody ChesnuTT is on an Axe commercial?!

I've been listening to Cody ChesnuTT since The Roots featured him on their single, "The Seed 2.0," (2002). After falling in love with that song, I purchased ChesnuTT's debut album (and only album), "The Headphone Masterpiece." This album is very interesting in the way it was recorded. As the title suggests, it was a very low-budget recording. Not only because ChesnuTT didn't really have the funds, but more because that's just his style. Influenced by the rudimentary set up of old school recordings, ChesnuTT recorded his two-disc album, using a four-track.

Anyway, this isn't a review of Headphone Masterpiece, but I suggest checking it out if you're interested in a neo-soul throwback (Marvin Gaye-esque).

But check out his song, "Look Good in Leather" on this Axe commercial- seven years after the album was released! Gotta love it.

Rising Up

Long overdue I know. But, I've seen The Roots twice in like 3 weeks so I was kind of in the mood. That and I was in the Illadelph all weekend. In case you haven't gathered by now, I love The Roots. I also love Chrisette Michelle. So nothing excites me more than this music video!

Rising Up

In Honor of the Fourth

So, I stole this video/song from one of my fellow interns (jodanchalz AKA Jodan {pronounced yo dan}) and I kind of feel bad about it but sharing is caring. Check out Sufjan Steven's version of the Star Spangled Banner.



If you like Sufjan Stevens, you should check out one of his albums. My favorite of his is "Illinois."

As a side note, I saw The Roots on the Parkway in Philly yesterday for the Fourth of July and they played Chicago's "Saturday in the Park." For those of you who don't get the irony, the first line is "Saturday/In the park/ I think it was the Fourth of July." For those of you who did get the irony...sorry.

The Seed 2.0- The Roots

I LOOVE this song. I've just recently found out that quite a few people outside of the Philadelphia area have not heard about The Roots. It's kind of ridiculous when they've been in the game since '87, before I was even born. They've won a handful of Grammys and toured the World yet so called hip-hop aficionado's in California have never heard of them. This upsets me to no end but this is one of my favorite songs by them. Certainly it's not their best. Black Thought is such a gifted emcee (who I had the pleasure of interviewing...I will post that up here later). But, the seed 2.0 is probably one of their most catchy songs (if not, then maybe, "You Got Me"). Catchy as it is, the song is quite dirty. I likey. haha but I am posting the lyrics, as well so you can see what I mean.

This song features Cody ChesnuTT. Many people don't know who he is, but thats forgivable. ChesnuTT is somewhat well known (for those who are into music) for recording is LP, The Headphone Masterpiece, in his bedroom, using a 4 track cassette recorder. An interesting feat- yes. But personally, I am not too fond of ChesnuTT beyond this song. I have The Headphone Masterpiece but it's really not that good. Not because of the recording technique but the CD was just a poorly written piece of garbage.

But this is about The Roots, I encourage you to follow the links and read more about them- and if you get the chance, you have to go see them live. Honestly, they were at Penn this past year and they did an amazing medley---seriously one of the greater moments in my musical life.

(Black Thought)
Knocked up nine months ago
And what she's fittin' to have she don't know
She wants neo soul cause hip hop is old
She don't want no rock'n roll
She want platinum, ice and gold
She want a whole lot of somethin' to fold
If you're an obstacle she'll just drop you cold
Cause one monkey don't stop the show
Little Mary's bad
In these streets she done ran
E'ry since when the heat began
I told the girl look here
Calm down I'm gonna hold your hand
To enable you to keep the plan
Because you'se quick to learn
And we can make money to burn
If you allow me the lay this game
I don't ask for much but enough to room to spread my wings
And a world fittin to know my name, just listen to me

(Cody ChesnuTT)
I don't ask for much these days
And I don't bitch and whine if I don't get my way
I only wanna fertilize another behind my lover's back
I sit and watch it grow roots standin where I'm at
Fertilize another behind my lover's back
And I'm keepin my secrets mine
I push my seed in her bush for life
It's gonna work because I'm pushin it right
If Mary dropped my baby girl tonight
I would name her rock n roll

(Black Thought)
Cadillac need space to roam
Where we headed for? She don't know
We in the city where the pros shake, rattle, and roll
And I'm a God dang rollin stone
I don't beg, I can hold my own
I don't break, I can hold the chrome
And it's weighin a ton, and I'm a son of a gun
My code name is The Only One
And Black Thought is bad
The mean streets he done ran
E'r since when the game began
I never played the fool
Matter fact, I've been keepin it cool
Since money been changin hands
And I'm left to shine
The legacy I leave behind
Be the seed that'll keep the flame
I don't ask for much but enough room to spread these wings
And the world finna know my name

(Cody ChesnuTT)
I don't beg from no rich man
And I don't scream and kick when his shit don't fall in my hands, man
Cuz I know how to steal
Fertilize another against my lover's will
I lick the opposition cuz she don't take no pill
Oooh oooh oooh no dear
You'll be keepin my legend alive
I push my seed in her bush for life
It's gonna work because I'm pushin it right
If Mary dropped my baby girl tonight
I would name her rock n roll

Oooh break it down, break it down...down for me...

I push my seed somewhere deep in her chest
I push it naked cuz I've taken my test
Deliver it, Mary, it don't matter the sex
I'm gon name it rock n roll

I push my seed in her bush for life
It's gonna work because I'm pushin it right
If Mary dropped my baby girl tonight
I would name her rock n roll

I would name her rock n roll, I would name her rock n roll, I would name it
rock n roll

Lyrically, it's one of their least thoughtful songs, but I guess that's why it was such a commercial success. God Bless America.