The Top 5 Nods to DeBarge's "I Like It"

El Debarge, lead singer and falsetto king of the former 80's soul group DeBarge will be performing at Verizon later this week. Due to this fact, and because their song "I Like It" is not only my jam, I wanted to make a list honoring the most interpolated song in hip-hop history. Originally intended for another site, it didn't prove to be as link-bait worthy as one might expect. But come on, just think of how many people have appropriated the lines "I like it, I like it, I really really like it/I'm for it, adore it, so come let me enjoy it" and "I like the way you comb your hair/and those stylish clothes you wear/it's just the little things you do/that show how much you really care". Without further ado, here are the best five instances I could remember.


5. Harlem World - "I Like It"
"I like it, I like it/I really really like it/You want it and you know it/But you play hard to get boy"




4. Big Daddy Kane - "On The Bugged Tip"
"You like the stylish clothes we wear/And you like our flat-top style of hair/It’s just those bugged out things we do/That make the girles wanna stare"




3. Nelly - "My Place"
"I like it, I like it, I really, really like it/I want it, adore it, so come let me enjoy it"




2. Boyz II Men - "Relax Your Mind"
"I like it, I like it, I really really like it/I'm for it, adore it Boyz II Men you got me open"




1. Wreckx-N-Effect – "Rump Shaker"
"I like the way you comb your hair/I like the stylish clothes you wear/It's just the little things you do/that makes me wanna get with you"



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Fistful of Mercy // Father's Son

I've really been enjoying having Coco back in my life. The so-called stigma of basic cable allows a man with Obrien's level of success to maintain his brand of self-depreciating humor in a seemingly believable manner. And thus far his musical guests have been outstanding as well. From Jack White and Coco trading solos on Eddie Cochran's "Twenty Flight Rock" to the reunited Soundgarden to future 35 Conferette performer Reggie Watts, Conan's new show has continued to give me a reason to stay up late every work night.

Opening week of the show supergroup Fistful of Mercy (Dhani Harrison, Ben Harper, Joseph Arthur) was made temporarily even more super with the edition of Tom Morello who joined the band for a performance of "Father's Son". And while we're still think Harrison's quip about the band reminding him of his father's time in the Traveling Wilbury's is a huge giggle, the above video is still worth a watch. Heck I'd even go as far as to say it hits much closer to the mark than Harrison's other band Thenewno2.

MP3: Fistful of Mercy - Father's Son

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White Fence // Lillian (Won't You Play Drums)

I'm a little torn on the whole lo-fi explosion as of late. In theory I find it very agreeable, aspects like sounding shitty on purpose. There's just something very punk rock about the whole thing, a real DIY feel, albeit one that's slightly forced.

And in many cases the music is good as well. Bands like Spectrals, Harlem, Bare Wires, Happy Birthday are influenced by cool 1960's garage rockers whose sound was genuinely shaped by the antiquated equipment they were forced to record on. So it's no big stretch to see why bands today are also trying to get the same antiqued timbres from their dad's vinyl collections.

It just seems weird for a band to want to so tie its legacy to a particular place and time, restricting to a small window of years around the time it was recorded. (See also: autotune, chillwave).

So while I've yet to figure out whether I should like it or not, or if I think think the passing lo-fi fad is one worth investing too much energy/emotion into, I can't help going back to singles like White Fence's new one and making the world all the more confusing of a place. BTW, their new record will be out January 10, 2011.

MP3: White Fence - Lillian (Won't You Play Drums)

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David Allan Coe And The Perfect Hip-Hop Song

I've been listening to one of David Allan Coe's many greatest hits albums all damn day. I mean it, I've must have spun that sucker a good eight times or so.

I'm completely serious.

In particular the song "Long Haired Redneck" which got a particular focus. A baker's dozen repeats to be accurate. Because let's face it, on a day where Pitchfork gives Kanye's new album a "perfect" 10 rating I just felt the need to bask in some real OG-style stuff to help me get the taste of Kanye's overrated fantasy out of my mouth. I mean if we're being perfectly frank, the DAC should be considered one of hip-hop's earliest bad boys.

I'm not being facetious either. Just replace the term 'gangster rap' with 'outlaw country' and the rest just falls into replace.

Consider the bulk of Coe's catalog and the similarities are endless. For instance, he almost always uses his full name and refers to himself in the third person in practically every one of his songs. Furthermore, he likes to namecheck other 'outlaws' in his songs he wishes to associate himself with. See: Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson who appear frequently in his lyrics.

Other recurring lyrical themes include doing time in prison, committing murder, smoking weed and getting drunk, being considered an 'outlaw', constantly bringing up the fact that DJ's won't play his songs on the radio, using bad grammar, growing up poor, and numerous other topics familiar to the hip-hop community.

And in one magical number just about every single one of those appears. See: "Long Haired Redneck" aka, the most gangsta song ever recorded.

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Girls // Broken Dreams Club EP

What you need to know about the band Girls:

1)They aren't girls
2)They aren't girls
3)Oh and yeah they aren't really girls

But they do rely highly on inspiration from the opposite sex as the San Francisco duo Christopher Owens and JR White release their new Broken Dreams Club EP.

Their first track, "Thee Oh So Protective One," has an old fashion 50's school dance sound, complete with lyrics so fitting as to what an insecure teenage girl during those years would be doing. The song has a noticeable horn section making their presence known throughout the piece.

The rest of the album does break away from a prom impression to more modern beats, like with "Heartbreaker," which has a conventional feel but doesn't stray far from its dated sound.

Broken Dreams Club EP is a mishmash of styles, having an overall mellow feel, with hints of country, and surfer rock all of which never settle on a unifying sound. You can consider this six-track EP full of love song realism and much like the meaning behind the lyrics this EP is unsettling and crooning for more substance.

MP3: Girls - Heartbreaker

-Laura Sliva

Yet Another Friday Mixed Bag

Yet another one of those posts where we throw a bunch of MP3's at you which have been wasting away on the ole desktop.

Moshi Moshi recently put out the latest EP--the imaginatively dubbed Extended Play--by UK band Spectrals. We like to think of Louis Jones' project as Brittain's answer to Ty Segall. Highly reccommended for lo-fi doo-wop fans. Hopefully he'll decide to venture stateside sooner rather than later, and when he does Parade of Flesh will make sure he opts to swing through town when he does. At least that's what we're hoping...

We don't like to think that we're the type that easily falls for gimmicks, which is precisely what makes us so uncertain about Turbo Fruits. On the surface they make perfectly acceptable garage-pop with an incredibly polished-yet-unrefined quality, but we still can't help feeling disappointed that we could be listening to Be Your Own Pet instead. Are we shallow enough to fall for the old angsty teen rocker chick frontwoman gag? Perhaps.

No we're still not over pop culture-obsessed, cerebral hip-hop trio Das Racist yet, though we realize we totally should be by now. Despite them having basically one skill set that they repeat track after track, we're complete suckers for the overly clever. Also we like to remain optimistic in thinking that they won't burn out before releasing their first real debut LP.

Lastly the new Power Animal jam we were hipped to by Weekly Tape Deck, who we can't help but think are way cooler than us. And well, they totally are. But hey, if it weren't for them we may have never heard this backwards Willie Nelson-sampling bit of genius that we strangely can't stop playing. I debated whether or not reversing the song to figure out which Willie Nelson song the sample came from would in fact ruin the whole thing for me. Long story short, I eventually caved, but I won't spoil it for you in case you are more the 'ignorance is bliss' type.

MP3: Spectrals -Chip A Tooth (Spoil A Smile)
MP3: Turbo Fruits - Where The Stars Don't Shine
MP3: Das Racist - I'm Up On That
MP3: Power Animal - Better Water

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Last Night: The County Lines @ Andy's Bar In Denton

It was just another average Wednesday night in sleepy little Denton. I was going to grab a few drinks with The Black Racket at Andy's Bar after practice was over, and upon entering the bar, I noticed a couple of familiar faces on stage. Damn! The County Lines were playing!

Now this is a band that hails from a little town called Grapevine, and are one of the most enjoyable raw bands that are out in this fair part of the world right now. Combined with elements of punk, country and rock-a-billy, and the guttural vocals of the lead singer Brad D., you get a set of fast-paced, whiskey drinkin' anthems and a lot of bad jokes. Their music is comparable to that of The Drive-by Truckers type melodies, but with an edge of the puck style of NOFX.

You get good music, humor and your money's worth with The County Lines. They're good people. So, check them out when they come through your town.

-Cory P. Coleman [c]

Giveaway: Free Tickets To See The Black Angels This Weekend At The Kessler

Well SubEx-ers, as a wise-ass once said, "Nothing lasts forever. Even cold November rain." So take this opportunity to get the hell outta the house this fine weekend and finally go see that show you've been whining about seeing for too damn long now. Since pretty much all tickets to the new, anticipated (mostly by me!) seventh movie release in the Harry Potter series are sold out, our Muggle friends over at The Kessler Theater have graciously given us two free tickets to see The Black Angels and Black Mountain this Saturday, November 20th as a comfort to all who didn't get their tickets early!

Simply shoot us an email with the keywords "Hallows or Horcruxes", and the tickets can be yours! Good luck, my sweets!

The Kessler Theater is located at:
1230 W. Davis Street; Dallas, TX

-Cory P. Coleman [c]

Make Out // I Don't Want Anybody That Wants Me

It is not necessarily always the hyper derivative nature that makes mainstream pop music terrible. More often than not it is the likes of no-talents like Ke-dollarsign-Sha repackaging hackneyed garbage and attempting to pass it off as more than it is which ruin otherwise reasonable pop music.

Not the case with former Junior Senior member Jesper Mortensen and his new glam rock group Make Out. Their new jam "I Don't Want Anybody That Wants Me" doesn't pretend to be anything more than it is--which is a lowest common denominator dance number--and that totally works in its favor.

I guess that idea was summed up pretty well by Mortensen himself when he said,"I want to make people go, 'Are they retarded or mad genius?'"

MP3: Make Out - I Don't Want Anybody That Wants Me

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Giveaway: Kurt Vile Prize Pack

In this week's Upcoming Picks section for My Dallas Music I admit to not only digging Kurt Vile's blend of scuzzy lo-fi with more traditional forms of roots rock, but to basically being a huge fan of local bookers Parade of Flesh and an admitted habitué of John Iskander-booked shows. And for good reason; over the past 6 months the Parade of Flesh website has evolved into pretty much the first place I go to find out who's playing in town, and more often that not ends up having the shows I get personally most excited to attend.

So I am plenty excited to pass along a Kurt Vile poster and a pair of tickets to this Friday's show, which not only features Mr. Vile, but his aptly-dubbed Violators backing band, to one lucky SubEx reader. Email us with 'Kurt Vile Yeah He's Alright' as the subject for a chance to win.

I'd also be remiss not to mention that if you don't already follow PoF on Twitter than you might want to rectify that situation ASAP, as John is usually pretty good about tweeting regular show updates, links to free mp3's from upcoming PoF artists, and ticket giveaways of his own.

MP3: Kurt Vile - He's Alright

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Preview: Blond Redhead Nov. 30 at Granada Theater

It was 2007 since the New York trio Blonde Redhead released studio album, 23. After several years, they finally put out their eighth album Penny Sparkle in mid-September. And on November 30 they will be coming to town and performing at The Granada with opening band Olof Arnalds.

With their latest album, Penny Sparkle, as the majority of their setlist the show seems like a recommended must see. Penny Sparkle has a more main stream sound in comparison to past albums like 2004's Misery Is a Butterfly. The album still has the same atmospheric airy voice of front woman Kazu Makino, but is now backed up with a rhythmic softer beats. The ten track record is cohesive throughout, with every song contributing to the overall feel of melodic dream pop.

This band has evolved from its indie rock past, into a sophistication of sounds. And with each album the band progresses refining their music while creating polished tracks.

MP3: Blonde Redhead - Here Sometimes

-Laura Sliva

About Last Night: Dr Dog at South Side Music Hall

Against all odds, there were clear skies over Dallas last night as Dr. Dog came back through the Metroplex. Moving up the ranks from their last performance at The Loft upstairs, Dr. Dog took to the newly renamed Palladium Ballroom, the South Side Music Hall. I had never been to a show in the SSMH and was blown away at how big it was. It felt like I was walking forever before even finally reaching the Hall. Upon entering, first things first… Whiskey! After paying my $12 for a double whiskey and soda I turn to admire the giant room sprawling out before me, and it is a very beautiful hall. My anticipation of the music-to-come grew as the minutes passed and people were in good spirits all around. Then the lights went out, and the crowd cheered. It was time to start the show.

Opening the show was a group that was new to my brain system, but New York’s Here We Go Magic caught my eyes and ears, not just by their T-shirt with an owl on it or the fact that they have “magic” in their name (huge Potter fan here!), but the music made sense of it all. They have a sense of The Arcade Fire, but happy and not dirgey. Very ambient, ethereal and positive melodies matched with tight drum and bass, wild keys, 4-5 part harmonies and an amazing spectacle of lights made me feel like this was a band of heavens finest angels sent down to show us the noise that was made to create the universe.

After a well deserved breath of fresh air, round two! Fight! Dr. Dog came out in a blaze of sound and lights that made me squint like I just looked directly into the sun. I can now see why some of the members wear sunglasses throughout the show. The boys had not changed their set up much since seeing them back in April as most of the new record was performed, mixed with the finest of classics during an encore performance, but their dynamics were the tightest I have ever seen in a band before. The crowd was filled with energy so high the room tingled like a giant 9 volt battery the sky just put on it’s tongue. Dr. Dog put on the second best show that I’ve seen this year, other than The Flaming Lips at NX35 back in March. You must see this band live. The feelings you get from the record are amplified by a hundred. And I will say that SSMH is also my new favorite larger venue to see a show at. The sound, the lights, the aura… It made for a perfect Thursday night in Downtown Dallas.

Question of the Day:
“How does Dr. Dog perform surgeries when all he has are paws?” - A. L. Cox


-Cory P. Coleman [c]

SubEx Presents: Flashbulb Fires, Young and Brave, Savage and the Big Beat, This Friday

So here's what we'll be up to tomorrow (Friday)... Come check out Denver band Flashbulb Fires with a couple of our local faves. If you've never been out to the Green Elephant (5627 Dyer St) it's a cozy little spot that boasts a great sound system and some of the cheapest drinks around.

MP3: Flashbulb Fires - Sleep Money Dawn
MP3: Young and Brave - This Floor
MP3: Savage and the Big Beat - A Love Most Horrid

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Album Review: Ronnie Fauss - Mulligan

Y’all probably remember the album review we did back in the summertime of the very talented and local artist Ronnie Fauss and his EP New Songs For The Old Frontier. You might also remember that we mentioned another EP to be released later in the Fall. Well, Fauss is a man of his word.

Ronnie Fauss’ latest EP release, Mulligan, colors well outside the lines of his last release, but in a good way… cuz it’s fun to do bad things! Tracks like “To Ease My Mind” have a very upbeat melody, paired with well-versed lyrics that is reminiscent of the great Drive-By Truckers raw country sound. The song “Wish” has a feel like tracks from his last EP. A simple folk melody with that signature mandolin sound that I’ve come to associate with Fauss, and again, very intelligent lyrics about the insecurities and jealousy in people that make them feel that the grass is always greener on the other side, when really, the epitome of green is at your feet the whole time. It’s a very familiar subject of humanity and a good, easy listen. But then Fauss brings you right back to the dance floor with the song “It’s A Long Long Way”. This honky-tonk song is filled with that deep, twangy, treblely Telecaster lead guitar and saloon style piano solos that we’ve come to associate with that classic Dance Hall country sound. It’s light and fun and is definitely a two-stepper.

Well, Ronnie Fauss, you’ve done it again! Mulligan is a great success in showing Fauss’ diversity as an artist, and I commend him. The way he does things with these little EP releases throughout the year is a great idea. It keeps everything fresh, and there’s never too much music on the records that might become trite by the time you reach the last song. You just wanna hit play again!

MP3: Ronnie Fauss - It's a Long Long Way

-Cory P. Coleman [c]

Shilpa Ray Sings Her Balls Off

It matters far less to me that a publicist swears that Lou Reed really digs this cool new underground band. As if that alone is reason enough for anyone to like a band. Not that it is ever really a good idea for a person to base their musical opinions and tastes on what somebody else thinks--I mean it, you shouldn't even really give a damn about what I think either--but if one did, say from time to time, take interest in the tastes of another, the man who created the concept for Susan Boyle's latest video probably wouldn't (or at least shouldn't) be the first place to look for inspiration.

Especially in the case of someone like Shilpa Ray. I know we've posted her stuff before, but A) she has an incredibly interesting voice, B) we just found out her upcoming album drops January 18, C) she'll be performing at The Loft in April, D) we just completely fawn over anyone who subscribes to the old adage 'what one lacks in talent should be made up for in gusto'. Which isn't to say she isn't talented, in fact, her voice is interesting as hell--even eclipsing the much of the music behind it--and she has the bravado to match.

Listen to her stuff here and decide for yourself what you think. Personally, we don't really give a fuck what you think. Just sayin'.

MP3: Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers - Venus Shaver
MP3: Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers - Heaven in Stereo

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Giveaway: Tickets To See Dr. Dog This Thursday

Well SubExers... With another lovely weekend gone, another Cowboys embarrassment, the daylight ending a little earlier and another monotonous Monday back at the office, we can only hope that there is something this week to lift our little spirits back up.

Good thing our friends over at the lovely South Side Music Hall have so graciously given us a pair of free tickets to see the great Dr. Dog this Thursday, Nov. 11th over there at the ol' Palladium complex. Just shoot us an email at subservientexperiment@gmail.com with the key words "SO LONG WADE!", and you could be the lucky winner to see Dr. Dog live!

It promises to be the right prescription for any weekday ailment that this cool North Texas Fall air can bring. Good luck and good listening, my sweets!

-Cory P. Coleman [c]

Ducktails // Hamilton Road

I wonder if Matthew Mondanile spent as much time as a kid helping Scrooge McDuck hunt for the 7 hidden treasures in NES's DuckTales video game in order to help him become the 'world's richest duck'. I also wonder if, like me, he ended up beating that sumbitch, or if, unlike me, he was able to accomplish the nearly impossible feat without the aid of the Game Genie?

But I digress.

The one-man psychedelic pop project is set to release his third official full-length LP, Ducktails III: Arcade Dynamics, this January via Woodist.

MP3: Ducktails - Hamilton Road

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Between Two Cities @ Play/Pause/Reply in Grapevine

Adam Neese, a fellow artist, musician as well as a contributing photographer to SubEx for the live recording sit-in at Rodney Parkers house, is having his own photography show opening at Play/Pause/Replay in Grapevine starting tomorrow, November 5th from 7-10 p.m.. All photos are originals by Adam Neese, and the show will run starting tomorrow up through the end of this year. Don't hesitate to head out to this gallery opening. It's a great venue that is featuring some great photography work by a great local artist.

Play/Pause/Replay
420 South Barton Street
Grapevine, TX 76051

Hours:
M-Tues. 10a-6p
W-Th. 10a-midnight
F 10a-9p
Sat-Sun by appointment

More details can be found at:
http://playpausereplay.com/pause.html

or for more on Adam Neese, visit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stilladam

–Cory P. Coleman [c]

Video: Broken Bells - The Ghost Inside

Don't get me wrong, I am really not a huge fan of Broken Bells, but I've been loving this video for their song "The Ghost Inside" which mashes up footage from Hall and Oates "Private Eyes" and "I Can't Go For That Videos," in which the duo are strangely wearing the exact same outfits, with the same technology that allowed Conan Obrien to frequently interview Bill Clinton/George Bush/Arnold Schwarzenegger to genius results. It's worth a couple of views even if just for that 'how did they do that?' factor.

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Smith Westerns // Weekend

Chicago's Smith Westerns will release its sophomore LP, Dye It Blonde, on Fat Possum on Jan. 18. The first single from the record is "Weekend" which you can hear below. Here's to hoping that GvB will decide to present a show of theirs here in town again after their European tour wraps up this winter... Just sayin' (wink).



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Giveaway: Joan of Arc 7" and Concert Tickets

Chicago veterans Joan of Arc are currently on a week long US tour in support of their upcoming Meaningful Work 7" that will see them play The Loft this Friday.

Meaningful Work features the band playing as a "power trio" (Tim Kinsella, Bobby Burg, and Theo Katsaounis) and hints at topics of money, environmental devastation, and economic collapse in a style that we've been told is just a taste of what's to come for the band.

And thanks to our friends at Polyvinyl records one lucky SubEx reader will not only have the privilege of catching the show for free, but will also receive a copy of the 7" for free. Interested? Just email us with the phrase "The one thing I know is that Joan of Arc is not Noah's wife" in the subject line.

Good luck.

MP3: Joan of Arc - Meaningful Work

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