Monthly Archive

Put some funk back in your season cheer with Snoop and his friends. 100b wishes you a wonderful Christmas with this mellow number off the Christmas On Death Row CD.

   Snoop Dogg ft. Dat Nigga Daz, Nate Dogg, Tray Deee & Bad Azz - Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto

All I want for Christmas is christmas sexy bitch play boy fuck.

Seriously, people, this is real. 100b had the pleasure of getting not one but two search hits from - I pray - the same person clacking in this search criteria. So, someone was holiday horny and we had the pleasure of giving them a wee spark of hope for porny pre-Christmas cheer. Being the curious skank I am, of course, I had to see if I could find some christmas sexy bitch playboy fuck for mydamnself. Because I’m not a total pervert, I did this under the guise of seeing how this sordid trail lead to 100b.

I couldn’t find it. Exactly. Some. Not much. I mean, um, yes, I found some Christmassy porn. But not the trail to 100b the gets entangled with it.

(You shouldn’t try this at home unless you’ve obtained the age of legal majority in your locale.)

Well, the Christmas countdown has begun. And to kick it off the fun … I got a cold. What’s wrong with this? I learn of the existence of Christmas porn lurkers (sad) and get a cold (bummer). At least there are a few days to shake it off before the true fun fun fun begins and I get to give the mountain of presents I’ve gotten for people.

To begin spicing up for the holidays, here’s some joy for our Secret Surfer brought to the world care of The Brian Setzer Orchestra:

   The Brian Setzer Orchestra - The Dirty Boogie

Filthy Little Angels’ elves have been hard at work to bring you this year’s albums filled with Christmas songs by various unsigned bands. Go on over to their site and unwrap the 60 tracks they have up for free. Thank you Filthy Little Santa!

For a taste of the Filth check out ShiSho’s sweet cover of Sufjan Stevens’ C-h-r-i-s-t-m-a-s gem. I have a weak spot for ShiSho so I’m biased, but I think I might like their version better than the original. The second song is The Housewives’ cute, but pervy rendition of an old Christmas favorite of mine.

   ShiSho - Get Behind Me Santa
   The Housewives - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Montreal’s Plajia (pronounced, according to their email, plah-gee-ah) released their debut album, Beautiful Explosion, in October of this year. To be honest, I don’t know all that much about them - neither their website nor the email they sent to us gives much of a biography. They’ve been around since 2001 and are “influenced by the British-pop compositions of the 60’s and 70’s icon groups, often with a psychedelic and progressive twist”. I’m not quite sure what their sound is, as the songs I’ve heard are rather genre-hoppy, but that’s not a bad thing - they would fit nicely alongside both The Arcade Fire and The Bicycles. Their first single, “Beautiful Explosion” is a 60s pop-fest, while “Dummy” has some nice Classic Rock flair and “This House” is soft and lovely.

Plajia is definitely worth your time - they’re growing on me by the minute. Give them a listen at PlajiaSpace and be sure to try my favorite so far, “Beating The Charms”. Beautiful Explosion is available in exchange for moneys all over the place - check here to find the place most convenient for you.

   Plajia - Beautiful Explosion

You can download “Baltimore” from Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks’ upcoming album Real Emotional Trash for free from Domino records.

When I was around ten I would run home right after school to catch my favorite zany high school sit-com, Saved By The Bell. Now, I’m talking about the original series, not the lame new class/college crap that came after it. Zack, Kelly, Slater, Jessie, Lisa and everybody’s Top Two, token nineties nerd Screech, would get into crazy adventures, which all took place either on school property or at their local diner, The Max.

The best episodes, which goes for any show, are always the ones that amuse and educate. My favorite edutainment episode is called “Jessie’s Song”. It’s the one where Jessie gets hooked on caffeine pills, because she has to cram for an exam and star in an aerobics-inspired music video with her two girlfriends, while singing their own catchy pop song. Understandably, the pressure is too much and after a good 25 minutes she finally cracks in Zack’s arms singing “I’m so excited” over and over again, but ends with a tearful “I’m so scared”. It was and still is one of the most heartbreaking moments in TV history. It taught my generation to just say no to caffeine and that spandex looks good on everybody.

To my utter disappointment I can’t find Jessie, Kelly and Lisa’s song anywhere, which is a pity because it is a stunning piece of Poptasticity. I did come across the video, so here is “Go For It!” by Jessie And The Hot Sundaes. I think it really is sung by the actors and I’m sure it would have launched their Pop careers if it weren’t for that poor, brainy, crackhead Jessie. It looks like a high school version of “Let’s Get Physical” and shows a dim spark of Elizabeth Berkley’s later role as scantily clad, gyrating showgirl in Showgirls:

I never understood why Wham!’s “Last Christmas” is so popular, because I thought that had to be the most depressing Christmas song. Then the other day I came across a serious contender for the title. In your right hand corner we present John Denver’s “Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas)”!! They always say the suicide rate goes up during the Holidays and I have a feeling this song had something to do with it. It’s about an eight-year-old who pleads to his dad to not repeat his Seasonal Souse Fest, because he doesn’t want to see his momma cry. Most depressing line: ‘You came home at a quarter past eleven, fell down underneath our Christmas tree’. Ho-ho-ho, Merry Christmas!

   John Denver - Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas)

For those who don’t know, the Christmas Number 1 single is a really big deal in the UK. I have no idea why but the single at Number 1 on Christmas Day is a extra special spot to hold and it’s (as far as I know) unique to the UK. Looking at this list, I see that most of the songs that have had this special honor have absolutely nothing to do with Christmas.

Traditionally, the Christmas Number 1 is something a little sappy, or maybe some novelty song aimed at children … alright, let’s just be honest. They’re usually pretty crappy songs. Check out the 1996-1998: The Spice Girls held that all-important spot for three years in a row and they were perfectly capable of a decent bubblegum hit but those are all of their worst songs. There’s some pretty weird songs in there as well. I just don’t know how else to say it - these are just do not go well with the warm and fuzzies that Christmas is supposed to bring.

1975 & 1991 Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody

“Mama, just killed a man. Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger, now he’s dead.” Ah, yes - the traditional murder ballad. Granted, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is pure genius and a classic - and loved enough to be the Christmas Number 1 twice (thanks to Wayne’s World). But it’s still an odd song to be humming over your eggnog.

1979 Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall

I guess anytime is a good time to Stick It To The Man. Still, it seems a little less powerful if you think about it as the soundtrack to crazed shoppers snapping up bargains in a frenzied mall.

1981 The Human League - Don’t You Want Me

I’ll just admit I don’t quite know what’s going on in this song/video. The song is, apparently, based on the movie A Star Is Born, which I’ve never seen. The, erm, ‘concept’ of the video is the making of a murder mystery movie. Interesting. Based solely on the lyrics, it seems there was some chick and some guy - he made her into a success somehow, then she dumped him. Now nobody wants anyone. Or something. (I’ll also admit that I didn’t try extra hard to follow the lyrics.) In any case, the wikipedia says that Human League lead singer Philip Oakey described “Don’t You Want Me” as “a nasty song about sexual power politics”. And everyone knows there’s nothing more Christmassy than sexual power politics.

After those oddities, here’s something actually Christmassy.

1984 Band Aid - Do They Know It’s Christmas?

And then again …

1989 Band Aid II - Do They Know It’s Christmas?
(Kind of crappy quality video, it’s the best I could find.)

Oh wait, there’s one more …

2004 Band Aid 20 - Do They Know It’s Christmas?

All sarcasm aside, this is the only Christmas Number 1 I really approve of - the 1984 original anyway. It’s actually a seasonal song, so that helps. It’s definitely a little lame, but the whole Band Aid thing kind of gives you a feeling of goodwill in the world, when you think about that kind of thing happening for the first time. We’re so cynical now, but Band Aid was a good thing, and mostly done by people who made the effort because they knew someone had to. I’m not so sure that’s true of the later versions but even mentioning that misses the point of the song. Yes, I get a little choked up and I don’t care if that makes me a sucker.

So what will this year’s Number 1 be? Any guesses?

I’m feeling especially Christmassy today - everything is all frosty and sunny, it’s warm and cosy inside, and the world seems like a pretty good place. I’m waiting anxiously by the door for my internet gifts to get here so I can wrap them up all purdy and put them under the tree. All in all, I’m getting pretty excited about the big day. Here’s two versions of one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs - the first by the glorious Ronettes, from 1963’s A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector and the second from last year’s indie Christmas compilation It’s Not Like Christmas (which deserves and will get a 100bells post of its own soon).

I hope you all feel Christmassy today, too!

   The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride
   The Late Greats - Sleigh Ride

I totally spaced out and walked around thinking it was Tuesday ALL day yesterday. That happens a lot lately, I wonder if I should worry. So I’m late and very sorry, but let’s finally have a look at some of the headlines that kept the world’s tongues a-waggin’ the last few days:

- Tuesday morning, Ike Turner passed away at the age of 76. The soul legend is known for his troubled past, but will be remembered for his musical legacy.

- Eddie Vedder teams up with John Legend to work on the soundtrack of the Howard Zinn documentary The People Speak.

- The Cure donated an autographed guitar with a special message to be auctioned off, to help fund the West Memphis Three’s cause. The auction started Monday and ends on the 24th. For more information check out the comment under aDawgg’s West Memphis Three Awareness Day post. What a wonderful gesture, I hope it’ll make a great bundle of money. God bless us, everyone.

- The White Stripes might never tour again? Oh good Lord, say it ain’t so!!!

- I never really understood why you would want Britney’s old chewed up gum or Mariah’s half eaten sandwich or Elvis’ sweat in a jar, but one happy fan got off the phone with Gorringes Auction House the lucky winner of a lock of John Lennon’s hair which set him/her back a measly 48 thousand dollars.

- Sons And Daughters are coming back with a tour and a new single next year. Huzzah!

- Art Brut merges with Blackbox Recorder to become The Black Arts and release a Christmas single called “Christmas Number One”, while Sir Cliff tells the world that he won’t be making anymore Christmas songs. So great news all around!

- Time for some stuff I don’t give a crap about: Pete Wentz is all bitter and whiney like a wee girl over the ‘Grammy snub’. Britney is considering a role as the Virgin Mary in some movie. Hm, Britney Spears pretending to be a virgin? What a stretch.

- YAY for all things gratis! Okkervil River give us a free download album filled with cover songs. You can get it over on Pitchfork, because the massive downloading frenzy crashed their web server.

- Some new releases set for 2008: Big Boi is planning on releasing a solo album. The Kooks plan a Spring release for their new album Konks. Foals announce their album and track titles. Morrissey reveals he is to release a new single as well as a new fifteen track greatest hits album in February next year.

- And the weirdest news this week, if not ever: Sufjan Stevens might pose for French Playboy. Only time will tell whether this is a joke or not, but keep your eyes peeled for Le Playboy of coming February. Though seeing as how he’s a man and all, wouldn’t he be in Playgirl? … Or will this story take an even juicier turn with a gender-bending revelation coming from the ’supposed’ man? I should probably stop, this is how vicious rumors start. All I know is, I hope we do get us some X-rated pictures, because whenever I see that picture of him in the dad-shirt and the suspenders, my mind inevitably turns Dirrty. Sufjan? More like Sufyum-my! On that lame and disturbing note, we end our bi-monthly News-ish Roundup with a song from the Indie Adonis himself.

   Sufjan Stevens - A Good Man Is Hard To Find

Update following Drowned In Sound’s update: This just in, Sufjan will sadly not expose himself in French Playboy. Or any Playboy. It was all a big fat tease. And the sound of a million indie girl hearts breaking can be heard all around the world. I’m sad.

Argh! Carnage! Was WordPress upgraded? It doesn’t matter. The net effect was that, somehow, my ‘Use the visual rich editor when writing’ setting was checked when normally it isn’t. Of course, I only double-checked this after screwing up a few of my older posts - deleting one in utter frustration. So, you all can just pretend my Muse post still exists. All of which is a perfect segue-way into today’s Classics post. Some late-Golden Age Brand Nubian to play while ass-whipping Internet gremlins.

I didn’t go for the standard selection, something from One For All, instead opting for a track off their 1993 second album - In God We Trust - which pushed its way to #12 in the album charts and #4 in the R&B/Hip Hop Chart (making it Brand Nubians biggest chart success even if it wasn’t as acclaimed as their debut).

“Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down” helped In God We Trust and Brand Nubian achieve wider notoriety for its openly homophobic lyrics. Yes, hip-hop has flaws. Please, let’s not start a debate about this. Irrespective of its homophobia, this post-Grand Puba Brand Nubian track, produced by Diamond D, still flows.

   Brand Nubian - Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down

You will notice the sound quality on this track, or, rather, the lack of it. I have no clue why that is. I purchased it from an online music store (a real one, though it remains unnamed) as a replacement for my long-gone Golden Age tape collection. The quality was this disappointing. Just pump up the volume and pretend you’re listening to a well-loved old tape.

I’m a bit of a sucker for b-sides. Sometimes there’s a reason songs were left to be b-sides, but sometimes they’re a great opportunity to hear a band you love do something they might never do otherwise. Maybe a nifty cover, occasionally a bit of a different style, perhaps a remix that’s actually worth bothering with (I may love b-sides, but I’m not often a fan of remixes). In any case, it’s always nice to hear more of a band you love, and the idea that there’s songs out there that I don’t have makes me crazy. So I download them with total abandon. I stick them in this b-sides folder I have, until there’s enough to make a CD or playlist - and I almost never listen to them until then.

This morning I meant to listen to Cold War Kids’ Robbers and Cowards but accidentally stuck their “We Used To Vacation” single in my cd player instead. Which reminded me of all these potentially great songs just waiting around for me. So here’s a few I dug up.

I may as well start with Cold War Kids’ version of John Lennon’s classic, “Well Well Well” - one of the b-sides from their “Hang Me Up To Dry” single. We heard them play this live in Amsterdam earlier this year - as with every cover these guys do, this one is fantastic, gut-wrenching, and funky.

   Cold War Kids - Well Well Well

The Raconteurs haven’t, as far as I know, blessed us with that many extras yet. But here’s a lo-fi acoustic version of “Steady, As She Goes” (b-side of, unsurprisingly, the “Steady, As She Goes” single). It shows off the beautiful oddness of Jack White’s voice, which I love, and it’s got a bit of a sweetness to it that the original doesn’t.

   The Raconteurs - Steady, As She Goes (Acoustic)

And finally, this Arcade Fire track was released with “Keep The Car Running” - it’s pretty much what we expect from them, but you can’t have too much of a good thing, right?

   Arcade Fire - Broken Window

Okay, as usual, I mangled New Band Day. I committed myself to letting you know about LP, the Holy Fuck album released at the end of October. However, having made the commitment to them based on notes from a respected indie record label and shop, which lead me to believe this was their debut album, I discovered this is actually their sophomore release. Their self-titled debut was unleashed in 2005. Damn it, I’m still sticking with them.

SIDEBAR - In the event you’re not in the know, yes, Holy Fuck is the name of the band, not some ruse to attract visitors to 100b.

Technically, Holy Fuck are jammed into the electronica/krautrock genre. I’m not a real electronica fan, so I was dubious when I popped the CD into the player. When I think of electronica I think of music I can’t get any traction with (see Porn Sword Tobacco). However, I think calling Holy Fuck electronica could lose them a lot of fans turned off simply by the thought of bleeps, blurps, and dings. Sure, their sound is driven by electronic devices of various types. The result, though, is like an indie rock layer cake topped with electronic icing - the cakey bits are delicious by themselves but the icing is so yummy. Depending on what level you focus on you can hear two different bands, which, I have to say, makes for an enjoyable listening session.

Try them for yourself and see what you think. “Royal Gregory” is one of the more dance-like and bass-heavy of the tracks. Others, such as “Super Inuit”, “Lovely Allen”, and “The Pulse” are much less so. A wonderfully varied experience.

   Holy Fuck - Royal Gregory

For more, head to the Holy Fuck MySpace zone. For tour dates and more, check out their official site.

Not too long ago the Macarena came up in a recent post and the subject of dance fads brought along the Soulja Boy Dance craze that’s been sweeping the world lately. I didn’t know it was as popular as it is until I saw a ten minute segment on a BBC show about it the other day, which involved a man, who probably is a bit more mature than Soulja Boy’s target audience, doing the dance in a Flashdance type outfit. It was special. Anyway, it got me thinking about all the Hip Hop hits that came out lately that had some sort of dance especially designed for it.

Fear of looking like MC Hammer, or worse, a teeny bopper and consequently losing their hood membership card, made the head-nod and the C-Walk the only approved moves among serious rap artists of the early and mid-nineties. Hip Hop purists, who look back fondly at that time when ‘Hip Hop had something to say’, are less than amused with the new wave of fun, flighty rap songs who encourage all the zany dancing. Especially, Hip Hop from the South of the US has been accused of “killing” the industry with the introduction of Crunk and Snap. Their songs are said to be low in quality and lyrical content, but why can’t there be a serious, deep side as well as a simple, booty shaking side to Hip Hop and everything in between? Such a versatile medium surely can contain the full spectrum of entertainment? I like that many recent artists just want to see their audience dance to their music. It’s part of a grand tradition of songs that set off dance crazes. The Twist, the Jerk, the Mashed Potato were all great songs with great dances and I’m glad that our generation will have some dances to look back on as well to mark the time other than that darn Macarena.

I’m gonna try to list most of the biggest songs that sparked dance crazes from the last three years. Most of these dances are mixed and matched, and combined with the dancer’s own personal styles. Now, I’m sure I’ll miss a lot of the dances around but I’m no dance expert so don’t take it personally if I don’t mention your favorite song or dance. Alright, here they are with either a link to the video or an mp3:

   Huey - Pop, Lock & Drop It (video)

I suspect that Pop, Lock & Drop It from the summer of 2006 like “Laffy Taffy” and “Salt Shaker”, is just another way to have girls shake their stuff, but cleverly disguised as a fun dance move. The dance is not that complicated, but it is hard on the thighs.

   DJ Webstar & Young B - Chicken Noodle Soup

The Chicken Noodle Soup dance, originally from Harlem, inspired this song and it became last year’s summer hit. It sounds a bit like a cross between The Buckwheat Boyz’ “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” and anything by Fatman Scoop, but both the song and the frantic dance are soso catchy.

   Terror Squad ft. Fat Joe & Remy Ma - Lean Back (video)

Released in the summer of 2004 “Lean Back” fast became HUGE, and one of the few moves here that everybody can do, all you gotta do is lean back and rock away with some attitude.

   Jason Foxx & The Hood Presidents - Aunt Jackie

A hit from earlier this year and my absolute FAVORITE song and dance in this list. It has an old skool flow, it’s funky and contagious and it makes me yearn for those days when I was little and we used to have block parties just for us kids in the summer in my neighborhood. Growing up sucks.

   Dem Franchize Boys - Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It

This group from Atlanta popularized The Snap Dance. I’m not sure this song counts as a dance fad song, since the Snap Dance came first, but it fast became so popular when the song first came out in 2005 that the move is now also known as the Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It.

   Lil’ Mama - G-Slide (Tour Bus) (video)

I loved the strong beats of Lil’ Mama’s poppy, high school themed hit “Lipgloss” from this summer, which also had a dance of the same name, but “G-Slide” actually calls on the people to do the dance. A beat is set to the children’s nursery rhyme “The Wheels On The Bus” and in a cute, fashion Lil’ Mama tells us how to do The G-Slide.

   Crime Mob ft. Little Scrappy - Rock Yo Hips (video)

This song has the familiar booty glorifying lyrics, but it has a really cute dance for the ladies and those brave men in touch with their feminine side.

   Unk - Walk It Out

Yet another Atlanta native who came out with a catchy song and dance at the end of the summer of 2006. The basics of the Walk It Out steps are fairly simple, but once people add their personal touches it can become a pretty spectacular dance.

   Cupid - Cupid Shuffle (video)

The Cupid Shuffle came out at the start of this year and actually looks a lot like the Electric Slide when danced with a bunch of people. It’s pretty easy to follow, just let your feet do what the lyrics tell you and you’re there.

   Down aka Kilo - Lean Like A Cholo (video)

Leaning like a cholo looks an awful lot like leaning back and doing the rockaway, except with your elbows out. But far be it for me to criticize a cholo, so lookin’ good and keep on leaning!

   Young Dro - Shoulder Lean (video)

Yet another way to look cool while leaning and swaying.

   3rd FLO aka Heizman Boiz - Do The Heizman (video)

The Heizman uses an American football move and is named after John Heisman, a famous American college football player and coach who also lends his name to a trophy that looks like a little bronze guy doing that move. This dance should be used when the person you’re hitting on has a bad case of halitosis if you go by the lyrics. I couldn’t find out a whole lot more about 3rd Flo, but I did learn that they’ve been signed to J Million Records and are working on their debut album.

   Luch Millions - Bunny Hop

I’m almost scared to talk about Da Bunny Hop, not to be confused with the wedding dance from the fifties by the way. People seem to be very territorial when it comes to the origin of dances. Anyway, I hope I got this right, this dance originated in New Orleans, but other cities including Atlanta have put their own twist on the move as well. Luch Millions’ “Bunny Hop” is the more popular song, but it should be noted that Da Entourage from Louisiana also recorded a song with the same name. Luch Millions’ version uses the Oompa Loompa melody, which sounds weird but it works as a dance song. Though this is a big local hit the man hasn’t been signed yet, but I’m sure that’s only a matter of time.

   Soulja Boy - Crank Dat

And finally the song that started me thinking about this post. Since its release in April this year, it’s been taking over the globe and it has the potential to become as cemented in popular culture as the term Bling, to the point where your great-aunt Esther knows how to ’superman that ho’. Yuch. That’s not gonna be a pretty image, but in the meantime enjoy it. And all you party poopers out there stop your moaning and get dancing. Hip Hop isn’t dead, it’s too busy having fun to care about dying.

The Raveonettes’ third full-length album, Lust Lust Lust, came out last week and DAMN, it’s good. I love how the Raveonettes just go about their business and quietly get better and better. Their sweetly smutty 50s surfer motorcycle gang fuzz gets more sophisticated and more endearing with each release. There’s no doubt that they’re one of the best indie bands around and we love them dearly. Get the new album at emusic (as well as the first single, “Dead Sounds”) or at your local malt shop.

   The Raveonettes - Sad Transmission

The days are shorter, the air is crisp and cool, reindeer and mangers are popping up like mushrooms, and the magical smell of spray-on snow is in the air. Oh yes, the Holidays are upon us, which means it’s time for 100bells! The place where we post our favorite songs that celebrate the birth of Santa. So dust off the old Christmas records, gather around the fire and let’s have ourselves a good old fashion sing-a-long. To get us started here’s Twisted Sister with their version of an old Yuletide classic. It starts out sweet, but soon everyone’s favorite hair band is reminded that they don’t play things nice and easy, they play things nice and TWISTED. Ho-Ho-Ho, let’s go!

   Twisted Sister - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas