youTH

Uncertainty is the biggest cause for anxiety in my life, and right now, I am engrossed in it. I always imagined that the end of my academic career (at least for now) was going to take similar form to my last day of 4th Grade--Our Mom takes my brother and I out for burgers and shakes with out friends at Round-The-Corner. We ride our bikes and explore the creek, collect bugs, jump off the diving boards, and stay out late playing kick-the-can. The freedom of youth. Uncertain Bliss.

Yet, 12 years later I am about to be granted infinite freedom, and the contrast couldn't be more stark. Through talking with friends and family, I have begun to realize that ones Working career is a journey--filled with an eclectic group of networks, experiences, and skills learned. Your journey (along with some luck) is supposed to help you find your true calling.

However, I find it impossible to view my first job as a mere stepping stone. The structure-based world we know as school will suddenly disappear. The 18 years up until this point has created a dependency of structure and certainty--and I am being forced into the ocean without my water-wings.

All this stress--coupled with applications, cover letters, interviews, school work, and the incessant meetings pertaining to Associated Student--has really inhibited my blogging game. My music downloads are stagnant, I have no sense of current events, and have been completely encompassed in this mess--seeming to compound the looming future.

Yet, here I am--writing, listening, watching--and I realize my friends and family are the most certain part of my future. A tangible piece of me that will remain constant. "There is no certainty, only opportunity"

Here is a dope visual for a sweet new Radical Face Song called Doorways. Maybe times were a little simpler then, but the future was inevitable. (PS This video was made for $150. All the kids are his family, and he paid them in Pizza!)

Download the Track HERE

New Toys

Well since Jimmy has made double posting on hiplectic socially acceptable, I'm game.

Many of you have had the opportunity to meet the man that is Jay. He has been getting pretty serious in the biking game over the past 3 years, and recently began racing. This summer he rode 4 Century (100 mile) races, competed in a few time trials, and even got his very own cycling book published (buy your copy here).

When I got back from Boston, the first thing I noticed in our garage was my dad's new toy. Considering the very first post involved bikes, I thought it would be appropriate to drop a shot of my pops new time trial bike.

PS here is a new JAM by a cat named Joshua Bennet. "Bennet is not your typical rapper. He’s read his poetry at the White House, published a book called Jesus Riding Shotgun, and is planning to pursue a PhD from Princeton. His music doesn’t come across as preachy and it doesn’t demand a revolution, but after one listen it’s clear that Joshua is not cut from the same cloth as most in his genre. Sometimes, just being different is all it takes."

Fuck the Movies

So danielle left this afternoon, and since none of my friends are still around denver, I figured I'd take my 14 year old step-brother out to go see Piranha 3d. We got to the theater, and I realized it was rated R--no big deal I thought--I told him to go wander off while I bought the tickets so they didn't question his age. Well, being the generation of ADD children, by the time I got into the front of the line, Ben pops up right next to me, and the guy immdieitly begins waving his fingers croaking "i can only let him in with mom and dad." I had a sudden urge to cause a scene and describe how we had met in the chaos of what was Hurricane Katrina. After he watched his last living relative drown, he was carried 3 miles in crocodile infested waters by a minature horse named Sally and eventually landed on my doorstep. 3 months later I had legally adopted him and we had become fast friends. Today (nearly) marks the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and to celebrate we made a pack to face our fear of water and it's creatures by seeing Piranha 3d. Instead we just left, and got some candy--and now I find myself blogging on a Saturday night at 9:30.

But this isn't as depressing as it sounds, since my contributions to Hiplectic the past few weeks have been worse than Pruetts "mini-ramp", I have a bunch of new music that I think you will enjoy:

First, is Cee-Lo Gree (one of the dudes from Gnarls Barkley) singing on this ironically titled jam Fuck You. Will turn your frown upside down--no matter what the occasion. With enough soul and a fast enough beat to definitely make Wasted Wednesdays 6631 Style's playlist (sweet event description by the way guys)

Next, we have a coordinated project from Dj/Produce Sammy Bannanas and the party starter Maggie Horn. Collabing to create "Re-Imagined Covers," the duo makes a quick classic Yeasayer's O.N.E. and Gyptians dance-fest banger "Hold Yuh." With the track O.N.E. (Yeasayer x Gyptian cover) coming in at only 2.5 minutes long is the the only short coming of this jam.

No one man should have this much POWER.

Kanye released his new "video" of power last night--actually, according to his twitter, "It's not a video...it's a moving painting." At only a 1:44 long, I really did not know what to expect, and I am still digesting it. First time viewing instructions: 1080P, full screen, and "An Idiot's Guide to 15th Century Art".

Shits definitely against the norm, but Kanye is trying to break new ground and create something that lasts longer than a 3 month rotation on MTV's trl. I am not sure this is it, but it's a step in the right direction. #progress

Recovery

So for as much entertainment, agony, pain, headaches, and giggles Young Abels caused--it was clear that he had gotten derailed from his path and was going through some tough times. Nonetheless, I checked out his blog (lastofthediehards.blogspot.com) and saw a solid update and what seems like a big step to getting back to the kid we new freshmen year. Keep it up my man if your out there reading in HIPLECTICland.

Pasadena Recovery Center
"More Dead Than Alive"

I am hysterically stoked about my stay at the 'celebrity rehab' center located a mere 40 minutes from my boys and girl. Ripping on the b-list failures next door is hilarious. I simply kick it all day with awesomely chill people from all kinds of backgrounds and am learning a whole lot about my past addictions. When I arrived I only admitted to Anger Management (the only other guy is Vin Diesel's homie) but now, fuck, I'm an "addict" - narcotics anyone?

I am also stoked to share all the horrific/entertaining stories AA members provide, there is only 3 required 1 hour sessions - and no, I have NOT quit smoking cigarettes,which will be a concern maybe three to twenty years down the road...

My counselor is an absolute genius who just puts me in my place with her hand and has provided a Buddhist AA program and damn I just wish I tried acupuncture earlier in my life cause it is my new addiction. Her son's experience, which whom she
identified only at the end of her brutal story, has not only allowed her to resonate with my injury/experience, but to pinpoint precisely where I am coming from. An extreme sports athlete, he crashed in a bike accident and lost all nerve control in his right arm, used meth/alcohol to get over it, but after treatment, is pursuing both a counseling and psychology Masters as well as continuing to snowboard, wake board, etc. Inspirational.

I'll be here for the next approx 26 days (this week flew by) which will suck when I have to leave this resort. Cannot wait to see my boys so hit me up if you're free to visit so I can put y'all on the guest list! While there is always forgiveness, contempt is forever - guess I totally won this war.

PS: DO NOT GO TO JAIL HOLY SHIT IT SUCKS SO FUCKING BAD

The BIG apple

DUNCAN:

Nothing is more exciting then getting to leave work early on a Friday. Well, actually getting to leave work early on a Friday to cruise to the BIG APPLE
with all the homies is actually wayyyyyy sicker.

Matt and I both got off work at 1pm, and we met up--along with my roommate taylor who is a real sick kid--at this little sandwich spot near my work. After dropping $10 on a delicious sammy (matty made sure to fill his clear water cup up with coke--claiming that it should be against the law to charge more than $10 for a sandwich), we walked a few blocks to South Station where we were scheduled to meet up with our other roommate kirk, and embark on our journey to NYC.

We had debated for some time about which line to take, but we eventually decided on Megabus, and it was a pretty solid decision. Our bus was a double decker, had internet/power chargers, and we grabbed 4 seats in a row. Nommed some guys,

threw the headphones on, and mellowed ouutttttt.

We hit some traffic on the way down there, so our bus was late. We were supposed to get in around 6:30, but we didn't start rolling through Harlem until around 9. Once we finally got to our bus stop in the lower east side, we were greeted by what seemed like a storm that would end the world. The sky was soooo fucking black, and the wind was absolutely insanse. I guess there were actual tornado warnings--can you imagine how that would've ended?? But we ended up meeting with Diana, Clayton's girlfriend , who hooked us up with some keys and a pretty radical map of how to get to Brooklyn--where we were staying.

MATT:

After the start of "the day after tomorrow" or _________ (insert name of any bad disaster movie) experience right as we got in, we got on the subway and took it to Brooklyn. We got off the subway and looked like straight alcoholics running around asking any one and everyone where they sell liquor. I felt like an oxyhead in IV, o wait nevermind. That shit was no where to be found, we walked for about 15 minutes, eventually finding some super sweet liquor store. Picked up a liter of Mount Gay and some coke (the drink. jimmy and derek clam down). This was the first time that we had to utilize the iPhone 4 to stumble upon on mansion for the weekend. Duncans phone got more play this weekend than todds one and only pair of shoes.

The house we were staying at was super sick, brwonstone in the middle of downtown brooklyn $$$$$$$. so we got ready at the opposite of landon speed, pounded a few cocktails with the house sitters (super funy british dude and his lady) and hit the town at about 11:15. After a 5 minute subway ride into the city we arrived at Taylor's friends, a three bedroom DOPE apartment in the middle of the lower east side. The chicks house who we were at, Chelsea, had some guy friends over so our crew of 12 was assembled. Let me take a little time to tell you one thing i learned this weekend, saying the word FAGGOT is not socially acceptable. gays are everywhere and i kept getting awkward looks, woops. bunch of homos though for caring. Triple rainbow lovers!!

DUNCAN:

Well we started ripping some more shots, and about the time when all our shirts were getting pitted the fuck out (mind you it never got below 95 all weekend and this chicks apartment had no AC), we mobbed out and hit up this shitty dive bar. Had some drinks, and continued our bar hopping. Our crew slowly got smaller and smaller until it was just the A-Squad (@ARI.vela). Matt, this dude Addison, and I started talking to this bouncer at this club where there was a pretty fat line, and at first he was like "gimmer $60." matt basically told him FUCK YOU, and then "How are you not gonna let 3 great looking guys in." I'm not sure why, but this really resonated with him and he lifted the rope and we were in. The club was kinda wack, everyone else paid to get in, and by the time the rest of the crew was there we were over it.

We cruised next door to this pretty sick bar, but Kreutzer couldn't get in cuz he was wearing shorts (bJAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA). Finally he got in, and Matt and Kreutzer got into heated debate over who could ride the mechanical bull (yeah, they had a fucking mechanical bull) longer.

As you can see from the video, they both looked pretty ridiculous , and both managed to injure themselves. At around 4, we cruised to this shitty diner where Kreutzer almost got in a fight with this dude who was clowning on his shirt, ate some Matzoball soup, eggs, and panckakes, and eventually made it homeeee at around 5:30.

Night 1: GREAT SUCCESS.

MATT:

Day 2 started at around 3 pm when we woke up HUNG OVER wanting to do nothing more then spend the day in the air conditioned dark room we were in/dying in a deep dark cave. But knowing that wasn't an option seeing this was our only day in the city we rallied through it and found some ghetto little diner to eat bfast at. We all had 3 basic thoughts on our mind in the afternoon; 1. get to canal street and find some bootleg as stuff 2. Find some air conditioning 3. Find a sanitary bathroom (yadididaaaa). We left for the city and got off at canal street, instantly i saw at least 40 dudes who looked exactly like Hodji selling anything from fake ids, hand bags, and fake watches. i was on a mission to get a gucci watch, which was unsuccessful (they wanted 150$). Water was more popular than anything that day, it was 98 degrees (no relation to nick lachey) We all came away with some fresh gear, duncs got some fake ray bans that are super sick, i got a watch for 10$, and some random other shit. Then we had to get the fuck out of there...it was too hot and too many peeps trying to sell dreams like sandy.

We headed toward taylors apt and on our way we stopped at a little hole in the wall chinese massage place. I was like hoooorayyyyy happy endings, we had a man spa day. we each got 20 minute massages for 15$. best investment ever. then we cruised back to taylors buddies house and watch the coolest high movie ever, called Baraka. Think national geo meets planet earth mixed with shrooms. We were then all well rested and just starting to get over our hangover. One night in the big apple so we had to rally. After we bought 5 hour energys from a gun store...yeah wtf my thoughts exactly. We went into little italy and had a bomb dinner, and went home to begin the festivities.

DK: The second night began with some drinks, and then this genius plan to hit this posh club in the Meat packing district (yes, its a real place) that Cudi is often seen at called Avenu. We mobbed over there with Kreutzer's lady her sister, and the rest of the crew. The girls got right in, and we chatted with the bouncer for a sec, and realized to get in, we would all need to drop about $150 to get a bottle--so we BOUNCED. As we were leaving, it started pouring, and somehow I was the only one that got wet. shitty.

We started heading back to the lower east side, and stopped at this hipster/dance party club that was pretty radical. We drank a few Bud Heavy's, and cruised down to the basement where they were bumping some oldies. Danced a ton, and everyone was so gross and sweaty--super radical. As 4 AM was approaching, Matt and I started heading towards the subway, grabbed some blue gatorades, and went down to the train station.

It was no joke over 100 degrees down there, and we waited, and waited, and waited. Both our shirts were soaked with sweat, and after about 30 minutes down there, we saw these two huge rats about the size of a small cat. Matt tried to kill them with his gatorade bottle, but was unsuccessful. Finally our train came, and we watched these four black kids punk the shit out of this little guy by pushing him out of the train as the doors were closing. Poor kid was probably gonna be stuck waiting for the next train for at least another 45 minutes.

Summary: New York is sick as fuck, and moral of the story, if anyone gets a job offer or ever has the opportunity to live there, DO IT.

stealing all the mangoes from the farm Just for fun...just for fun

Alright, quick bio from this ridiculously talented musician from the man himself: "I was originally shipped over from Zimbabwe so I could eventually grow to become a doctor/lawyer and wire money back home via Western Union, that didn’t go so well… I blame/thank MJ. I’m currently more in love with my guitar than I have ever been. I make guitar music. I am not ashamed to say l love pop music. That’s what its all about for me. Good music fueled by the world around me."

I found this song on a blog sometime last week, and have been meaning to post it since I first heard it. However, over the course of the week, the song has continuously grown on me. An overwhelming sense of optimism and friendship comes over me every time I put it on. With some African inspired vocals and a truck load of talent, this song pretty much encompasses & in some ways epitomizes my general feelings of hiplectic

So download it, listen to it, remix it, and keep it on repeat.

Ps. Look out for a NYC blog that MattMitro5 and I have been working on...its a banger

Pps. Here is a Mbira (East/South African equivalent of accoustic) version of Tinashe killing it

UPDATE

(here is the Mbria version for download)

Fuck a Slurpee, I want some taste of some winter

Courtesy of Newschoolers.com

A sweet little edit by some skiers and snowboarders riding out of Montana. Brrrrr, its cold in the #ICEBOX @MattMitro (aka i finally got a twitter @DuncsK)

T-Drama

On the East Coast, Public transportation is a way of life--for rich and poor alike. Every morning I walk down my block, hop on the Green Line. I'm the second stop, so I always grab a seat which are a sought after piece of property as the Train gets closer and closer to Downtown. Usually I just read (thank god for the pruett-kenney bookclub), jam out to the latest tunes posted on hiplectic, and keep to myself.

Nonetheless, with such an eclectic crowd (bankers rocking $3,00 italian shoes to a crack-head holding onto a Chiuahah like he just stole it) on the T every morning and afternoon, something interesting was bound to happe--and it did this morning. I was jamming out to Dj Skeet Skeet's Remix of "Mike Posner's Cooler Than Me" (I have actually been digging some of the heavier techno beats, and this is a really dope song that would be a good addition to any pre-party mix--Oceanside or in the South of Spain), and I heard some yelling. I instinctively paused my new iPhone 4 (NBD) and looked up from my book.

(this is the best I could find)

Unfortunately, my seat was facing away from the action, but I kept turing around to keep up with what was going on: So this Black women was screaming at this man about how he had lewdly grinded up on her, and was grinding up on other women on the T. The alleged suspect was middle-aged heavy-set man who was wearing a pink ratty t-shirt, euro-tight shorts, and easily coud've been on his way to work at Tolstoy's Used Cars (gold chains & chest hair included). Dude definitely had an eastern-euro feel/accent to him, but I would have never pegged him as a creep. (FYI--when I say eastern-euro I'm talking like Ukranian or Russian. Hungarians have way better style--DUH!)

The dude defended himself much more quietly than the women (who was obviously trying to draw attention to the situation) claiming the train was very crowded and he had bumped into her. The dialect continued to escalate for about 5 minutes, until we got to an underground stop. The women hopped off, and an instant before the train would have normally left to the next stop, the doors closed shut and the train driver said that the train needed service.

I thought that this was too weird to be a coincidence, but everyone else on the train seemed to have forgotten about the situation all together...that is until 6 of Boston's finest were storming down the stairs to the T.

The doors opened, and the poor guy who was just trying to get his grind on, was facing the other direction and got dragged the fuck out. People started cheering (I think because at this point everyone was late for work) and we were off.

I can only imagine what might happen if Toddy rode public-transpo to his internship everyday!

heat & cudders

It's fucking hot in Boston, and no I'm not talking about the block as a result of a little mis-hap of a graduation card from Uncle Jorge. This past monday, downtown Boston reached a high of 99. And to do it one better, my room has no AC and only a little ass portable fan. Let me tell you, it is not fun to wake up with wet sheets when you didn't even pee the bed. Nor is it radical to actually have to do laundry once a week. Or shower twice a day. Worst of all is walking too and from public transportation everyday in a button down and khaki or wool pants.

However, not everyone at 20 South Street is melting from the heat. In fact, Mitro's room as been named "the ice-box" after he convinced his grandfather to help him get an AC. Within 24 hours of his request, one of 'Granp's' homies had taken him to Costco, and the Icebox was beginning its cooldown.

(A little Shepard Fairey a block away from the office)

The weather forecasters are predicting the East Coast heat wave is supposed to continue at least another week, and is a causing some concern about whether there will be blackouts and power outages in hospitals because of all the other iceboxes around town

Anyway, music has been making it a little more bearable, particularly on the commute to my 9-5. Here is a fresh little track called "All Summer" by none other than the hiplectic hero Cudders. It's a jam commissioned by Converse (oddly enough) and also features one of the dudes from Vampire Weekend and a chick from Best Coast. Great melody, kinda poppy-indie.

Stay cool kids, and eat a snow cone like my FRIEEENNDDD pruett.

happy fourth

Just got back from a fun, relaxing weekend on the cape. My dad was in town, so Mitro and I cruised up with him to visit my Granpa at his sea side house on the cape.

Our weekend was definitely a nice escape from the 9-5 grind that rules our monday thru friday, but was by no means a crazy party. Here are some highlights: We went crab hunting (were unsuccessful),
(Matt needs to take a lesson or two from trey on how to 'properly' catch crabs)

walked around the island with some beers (mitro freaked out when a cop rolled by and was convinced he was going to get an MIP 4 days before his birthday), swam home from the tip of the island back to our dock (I ended up 'dino' walking most the way because i still don't know how to swim), made some bomb guacamole (and watched the US lose over about 7 beers), took the boat out and saw the house where my pops lived, saw toy story 3 (roxy-who??), and just got back to hot and humid boston.

(Mitro getting all the dets from EDC last night)

The last two pictures are our house. Its really fucking big, and really fucking old, but its rad. we have two porches, one outside of my room which you can see in the bottom picture, and one on the main floor. We drink out there every day after work--I mean fuck, you can't argue with 18 rolling rocks for $12 right?

And I leave you with 2 tunes

1. The first is a fucking awesome tune by She & Him called Why Do You let Me Stay here. It is a quinteseential up beat summer tune, and is radical. It will put a smile on your face and have you thinking about some little cutie that your crushing on.

2. The other tune is a song that I kinda found radnomly stumbling around the internet. It's a classical jam that was used in a movie called Good Bye Lenin. It is almost like it is telling you a story and every time i listen to it i get the chills. Why I am really posting it is because I think someone (landy or boy) should play around and take it and mix with it or make a beat or someeethingggggg. Its called Summer of 78 by Yann Tiersen.

Jimm's D-90 X Boy's Lightshow?

After seeing a picture of Jimmy's new behemoth of a camera, I started to think about how much crazy shit and awesome memories its gonna capture.

Came upon this pretty cool little video of some stop-action footage of a graffititi artist going to town and making some cool shit with his laser pointer. I want to see a remake with Boy and Yimms??

The Munchies

Saw this little video over on Joe Lewis's blog, and couldn't help repost it here.
Race, if you ever become a famous athlete and continue smoking, promise all of us you won't break into Krispy Kreme or you'll end up with some bad press like Mr. Tate.

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Dear Summer...

"Dear Summer, I know you done missed me. For we been together like Nike airs and crisp tees"--Jay

Summer. I fucking love summer. The whole concept of summer has become almost nostalgic as what do during the 3 glorious months of June, July and August, has continuously evolved as I've gotten older. Let me reminisce: Bedtimes getting pushed back to 10. Playing kick the can in the Culdasec. Summer Camp and sneaking my first kiss. Kayak trips with my dad and brother. Early mornings on the ranch. Getting drunk for the first time. Talking girls with Max for days.

As I've gotten older, Summer by no means has gotten worse. I've been fortunate enough to be in a situation to travel all over Europe, kick it around Denver with all my high-school boys, and take summer 'school' out here in Santa Barbara. But its different. I guess I just miss when the biggest worry in my life was how I was going to get grape soda stains off the side of my mouth. Maybe life was just simpler. Nonetheless, I am sure once I am in the real world I'll look back at these recent summers with the same fondness and nostalgia that I look back at my childhood summer today.


Enough with my fear of growing old. Music has always helped create parameters and shape my intangible vision of sumer. I put together a mix called "a hiplectic summer" with a pretty eclectic taste of music. Below are the sounds summer, from when your alarm clock goes off and you've thrown all your covers off the bed becauce your AC isn't working, to 4AM latenight drinking one last beer with the homies. enjoy. DOWNLOAD HERE.


(Click to make it BIGGER)

Bloggin 101

Alright, so we've added some new boys to the blog, and I just want to give you a little help before you make your first post and end up looking like an IDIOT.

1. Don't post random videos that are only moderately entertaining or funny. content should be NOT be mediocre. also, put some words with the video--maybe an analysis or your thoughts on it.
2. Don't rush a post. blogger automatically saves what ever your writing like every 5 minutes, so there is nothing wrong with writing some words and coming back to it at a later time.
3. Keep it fresh, and original.
4. Don't be a leach, and try and post at least 1 ever two weeks or so.

PS.

Souza, i must say, a lot of our followers judge a blogger by his first post. so as a courtesy to you, i've saved your post as a draft so you can do a little more with it.

buck nekked.

well, this video is pretty rediculous.

Gimme the NPV of 99 cents from June, 2006

Yeah, June 2006. The beginning of the greatest summer of my entire life. This was really the first summer I got really involved in music. To be honest it all started because I realized the potential of stealing CDs. Nah, I was never the kid that was busting through the door of Tower Record with a dozen CDs in my backpack, but I began learning (and mastering) the art of pirating/bootlegging/downloading music.

Now I was no rookie to downloading individual songs. In fact, believe it or not, I was on Napster. Yest, the real Napster. I remember downloading Chumbwamba off there before the founders were arrested. Next, it was BearShare, then eventually Limewire. But I only downloaded a few songs a month (and the occasional porno). I actually found out about this Blog called Gorillarms and basically the guy would upload a full album to rapidshare every day. I became a religious follower, and as I was getting every classic Rap album along with all the latest mix-tape, my computer was filling up.

My rap music game hit its peak in June of 06, and lasted until May of 07, right when I was graduating. i was downloading 3 or 4 mixtapes a week, and despite all the annoying ass dj drops and bombs I would sift through all the songs, and find the gems. i remember on numerous occasions when Max and I would cruise to chiptole and literally talk about the hiphop game for a few hours, no problem. i breathed it, i loved it.

I started making my own mixes that were kind of a "best of" from that month. I would burn a copy for all the boys, and this shit always blaring in someones whip.

So here's a throwback--my mixtape from "June 24th 2006." shit goes hard. brings me back. below is a tracklist.

Ninety-Nine Centerrr

Alright, lets put this bluntly: my blog game this Spring sucked worse than Viski's game in 7th grade. (He tried to guilt Hannah Kliner into dating him by telling her that he wasn't going to cut his hair until they were together--maybe this is slightly fabricated.) Maybe it was the stress of the election, maybe it was the stress of trying to find an internship, but at the end of the day my blog game has been week, and I am not going to clutch onto any excuse.

(Hopefully my blog game can catch back up to Viski's girl game)

Thus, I have decided that AT LEAST every 2 weeks I will post a song. Here's the catch, if 1) don't post anything on the blog for two weeks I owe everyone 0.99 or 2) if you don't like the song I'll give you 99 cents (yes, I am completely swagger jacking my boy Jimms, but he stole my towel, so lets call it even).

For my inaugural Ninety-Nine Centerrr, here is So This is Goodbye by William Fitzsimmons. This guy, William Fitzsimmons had one of the most bizarre upbringings I have ever heard of. Off his website: "William Fitzsimmons is one of the oddest people you will ever meet. Born the youngest child of two blind parents, William was raised in the outskirts of the steel city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Due to the family’s inability to communicate through normal visual means, William’s childhood home was filled with a myriad of sounds to replace what eyes could not see. The house was suffused with pianos, guitars, trombones, talking birds, classical records, family sing-a-longs, bedtime stories, and the bellowing of a pipe organ, which his father built into the house with his own hands.”

I actually first head Fitzsimmons on his acoustic cover of Kanye's Heartless (which he absolutely destroys), and was drawn to his folk/indie sound. This guy pours passion into his music, and has an innate ability to intertwine a variety of complex sounds to create a synthesis of bliss.

Although I have never been a huge fan of techno, I actually enjoy some vocal trance (from what Mitro and landy have taught me.) On the track, So This is Goodbye, German Producer Pink Ganter coordinates Fitzsimmons somewhat emo vocals perfectly with an haunting trance track--let's just call it Electremo??. Now this song may not be bumping at any pre-party anytime soon, but a song hasn't struck me this hard since I first heard M83 and decided to start this blog (check out the very first post here).

So do it, download it, and if you don't like it, I got ninety nine cents coming your way.

Charles Hamilton, do you mind if I call you Chuck?

Charles Hamilton has had quite the year. First, he was killing the mixtape scene along with the freshmen from last year. Before you know it, he got hit in the face by some lady and the drama started. About 4 months ago Charles was dropped from his lable, and has since been dropping mixtapes 7 times a day. It really is rediculous how much material this guy puts out, without ever coming close to a full-blown album. I heard he's gonna drop his Sonic inspired EP as a double disc out with Dre's Detox.

Anyhow, heres a new tune (which I'm not sure I even like) but definitely shouts out to UCSB--Charles Hamilton Gauchos