Pop Open Group D REVEALS

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Plus what I think of them.

TRACK ONE: Sticky ft Lady Stush - "Dollar Sign" - the most well-known of the tracks, falling over itself with life and drive, one of my favourite singles of this decade actually, also it's been uploaded at least twice in the history of Poptimists so a slightly risky choice!

TRACK TWO: Gregory Isaacs - "Loving Pauper" - earnest in a good way, the message is "I may not have money but I'm a great shag (and a good man)": Isaacs sounds (as ever) amazingly tender and sells this completely. Would have been my second pick.

TRACK THREE: Elephant Man - "Making Money" - definitely sticks to the theme and Elephant Man's gruff authority is unmistakable: not the most exciting of riddims though and I'm not sure it goes anywhere interesting - he's making money, so what? By no means a bad track but my least favourite I think.

TRACK FOUR: Aimee Allen - "Stripper Friends" - makes an impact through NOT BEING REGGAE. I like what's going on with the backing here - fierce, brittle, overdriven, but still hooky, and there's a hustling energy to it which fits the mood (& the group theme). I just think it gets a bit repetitive, so would have put it a close third of the ones I didn't know.

TRACK FIVE: Lutan Fyah - "Equal Share" - Lutan Fyan has that pained throat-twisting MCing style that a lot of conscious ragga chaps seem to use, and which I always enjoy - also this is the tune that clung to my brain most, so its mournful call-to-arms would get my first pick.

But my opinions are of little consequence next to yours - go and vote here (that link has the link to the download and streamed tracks too). 23 votes so far and it's VERY close - all five could make it through. (At the same point last week, it was obvious Candi had won and the Normal were doomed - no such certainties here!). You have until 12 noon on Monday (UK time).

Next week's group looks likely to be DEATH. Though if one of the five-people groups fills up I'll go with that instead (Love and Injustice are on four apiece).

Comments

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

I'm very happy that Stush is apparently doing well, despite a considerable handicap. Would have been my number one, except of course I've heard it (thanks to YOU, Mr Ewing!)

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Was it in fact on the famous birthday CD?

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

it was on a poptimism podcast last august, but i don't recall who sent it in (problys Tom)

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

I'm sure this is where I know it from, as I said on the other thread. But now I'm gonna have to check innit.

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Confirmation (http://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?boardid=41&threadid=15221)

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

it's ALL about Stush! So sad I couldn't vote for it.

The other which stood out for me was Ele - contra Tom I think the riddim is fantastic, a propulsive and riotous thing, and Ele's as great as ever over the top. Less serious than the other two reggae ones, less strained than Aimee Allen.

Was between Allen and Fyah for my last place - Isaacs didn't make a huge impact beyond "I like the sound of this in the background" - went with Fyah, Allen ended up grating just slightly.

[mooxyjoo.livejournal.com]

young people are always going on about 'background music'!

[strange-powers.livejournal.com]

I thought track two might have been Gregory, but I've not heard that song before and it got to me. I can't for the life of me hear what's so great about track one, though - but I shall persevere!

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

is the Aimee Allen thing new/recent? there is another Aimee Allen who appears to be a jazz singer.

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

I searched around for awhile wondering the same thing (or, more specifically, who the hell she was).

As far as I can tell, it was recorded for a debut album to come out in 2002, but she was signed to Elektra, which was imploding at the time, so the album never came out although one or two tracks saw on soundtracks, etc.. Last year she recorded another album in a duo project and then ran into problems because her partner in the project was in band with a contract and their label didn't want the album released. She seems to have spent most if not all of the time around these albums drinking v.heavily. (The things people will write about in their myspace blogs! :)

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

None of this sounds familiar, but there's something about the song which rings a bell - I hadn't heard it before, I haven't heard the name Aimee Allen before...maybe I read the lyric quoted somewhere.

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

The second album, in a new development, appears to be available for download here: http://www.digstation.com/AlbumDetails.aspx?albumID=ALB000001411

and you can stream 'Crazy' from http://www.scottandaimee.com. In a hilarious coincidence, said song has a reggae interlude.

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

erm ok i have been v.v.busy and pre-occupied till now so am TOTALLY behind

i. i need to be reacquainted with (= pointed at) the rules
ii. does anyone still have zips of the earlier entries (i assume i'm too late to vote)?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

i. Rules = you vote for yr favourite two in each group but can't vote for any you already know. (Since this is your group, that automatically includes yours). Follow link to poll. Repeat each week. The top three in each group go through to Round 2.

ii. Zipfiles are on sendspace, which doesn't take down its files AFAIK - I can't check this because it's blocked at work, but try the link here: http://community.livejournal.com/poptimists/387730.html

You've only missed one week - Sex - and yes you're too late to vote in that.

[mippy.livejournal.com]

My internet is fucked right now, so I can#t listen to anything :(

I'm thinking my track wasn't v.death themed. Bugger.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

You can change it if you want! I just wanted to get as many tracks in as I could before starting.

Judging by comments people seem to be voting on quality not theme.

[celentari.livejournal.com]

Ok, I finally have actual time this afternoon and will send something for the Injustice group.
1. Where do I send it?
2. Does it have to be new, if so, how new?
3. How many tracks needed?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

1. leagueofpop@gmail.com
2. nope - the only thing to bear in mind is that people can't vote for tracks they already know
3. just the one!

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

I recognised Stush but I forgot who it was so I didn't say I knew it. But I didn't think voting for it would be OK.

I really think I have to change my religion one as it was one (1) cop-out.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Assuming AA was yr first place, which of the reggae ones was least worst for you then?

[umlauts.livejournal.com]

Track two, I think. I didn't like any of them at all, of course.

[martinskidmore.livejournal.com]

Damn, I'd not even had a chance to listen to these yet (I have DLed), but obviously I know one of them as I submitted it.

My earbones are intact!

[skyecaptain.livejournal.com]

I was wondering why I could stop thinking of "Revolution" (http://youtube.com/watch?v=F-WqwnF0iMk) while I was listening to track four!!! (My second place. Hadn't heard the Lady Stush thing before and it obliterated all contenders.) Pretty sure piratemoggy tipped me off to that one. Talking about that slightly indier Hannah Montana show on the N network.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Haha, I just went back to look at who was actually IN this group and no wonder I like all the songs! This group is stacked!

[martinskidmore.livejournal.com]

My shortlist in some sort of order of preference, omitting my number one (since that's what I submitted)(and some will spot a clue as to which was mine!), and obviously omitting anything I thought everyone would know (e.g. a couple of great Pet Shop Boys singles, ODB's Got Your Money, Paid In Full, Patches, etc.):

Stanley Winston - No More Ghettos In America
Jerry Lee Lewis - Money (That's What I Want)(live)
Louis Prima - Pennies From Heaven
Jesse James - Ain't Much Of A Home
Louis Jordan - If You're So Smart, How Come You Ain't Rich?
Shut Up and Dance - £20 To Get In
Patti Smith - Free Money
Louis Armstrong - (Get Some) Cash For Your Trash
Rosco Gordon - Throwing My Money Away
Clovers - Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash
Bobby Bland - You'd Be A Millionaire
Jimmy Cliff - Money Won't Save You
Killer Mike - Fuck You Pay Me
Wreckless Eric - Take The Cash (K.A.S.H.)
Billy Ward & the Dominoes - Rags To Riches
Culture - She Want Money
Gang Starr - All 4 Tha Ca$h
Big Black - Bad Penny
Yammy Bolo - Ransom of a Man's Life
John Chibadura - 5000 Dollars
Ian Hunter - Miss Silver Dime
Vern Gosdin - Nickels and Dimes and Love
Jacob Miller - Broke Pocket Christmas
Killdozer - Take the Money and Run

[koganbot]

I can't remember what I voted for though I already knew the Stush so it wasn't her. Probably voted for the Allen and her name is very familiar, though I can't think what else I've heard of hers - and I probably also voted for the Isaacs as I love reggae guys who sound like Curtis Mayfield even though there seem to have been about 50 of them in the sixties and seventies.

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

WHERE IS PeNK FLoiD BAND