Four Million Points of Light

I was inspired to create a new dj mix today. It's the beginning of Spring here in Austin, Texas. Life is great and the songs featured on the mix are some of my personal favorites. These are songs that have stood the test of time, songs that I never grown tired of listening to. I did this mix in the spirit of all that is positive in life and I hope that whoever listens to it will feel some of that energy and pass it on.

Summer Daze - Nick Holder

It's a little insane how much I've gotten into house music the last 8 years. I usually spin about 50% house when I dj these days. Of all the songs in my collection, this one stands out as one of my top 5 easily. It really lifts the spirit.




Here's the original (is this smooth jazz?) to put the song in its proper context.



BONUS!:

the almight dollar

I don't know why I just wrote that. anyway, here are some more goodies.

St. Vincent

It's SXSW time here in Austin. I didn't even think about trying to get a badge, even though I probably could use my connections to get one if I was smarter about it. My friend Aaron spotted St. Vincent at his aunt's BBQ spot (Iron Works in Austin) at the line for the restroom. Neither of us had heard her music but we both thought she was cute. Since I live in Austin, am not really in the music business (despite the fact that I DJ) and have been going to SXSWs for god knows how many years, 10?... I decided to stay in tonight b/c the sun, the bike, the booze and other things during the day wiped me out. Again, I've been to plenty of these SXSW and without a badge or connections, it just isn't as cool, so I stayed in, chillaxed and decided looked her up, not really knowing what to expect.

Wow, all I have to say is that I am extremely impressed by her talent, a very genuine talent it is. Can't wait to see her live!

Gilles Peterson taught me...

He is the don. Two gems I learned about via Worldwide.

Tracy Morgan on Fallon.

Tracy is nuts!

More Trailer Park Boys

Okay, so in my last post, I let you in on one of my guilty pleasures, TPB. Here are some more moments with the back story of Reveen and Patrick Swayze. Bubbles is the illest.

I appreciate SOME sophmoric humor

I accidentally found out about Canada's "Trailer Park Boys" a few years back and maybe Canadian's can do stupid meathead humor in a way that isn't annoying (to me). Here's some of the best Jay Roc moments.

Starsign Favorite: Ralome by Plaid

There are some songs that just stick to you and become part of your soul. This is one of those for me.

Taking of Pelham 123

There is no way in hell the remake with Denzel and Travolta is going to be better than the original. Also, since Reservoir Dogs stole the whole color name from the original, I wonder if they will still use the code names or if newer viewers unfamiliar with the original will think that they took this from Reservoir Dogs.





You decide.

50 albums that changed my life

1. The Beatles: The Beatles (aka The White Album)
2. De La Soul is Dead: De La Soul
3. Peoples Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm: A Tribe Called Quest
4. Doolittle: The Pixies
5. UFOrb: The Orb
6. Step in The Arena: Gangstarr
7. 99%: Meat Beat Manifesto
8. Screamadelica: Primal Scream
9. Stone Roses: Stone Roses
10. World Clique: Deee-Lite
11. Strangeways Here We Come: The Smiths
12. The Queen is Dead: The Smiths
13. The Chess Box: Chuck Berry
14. Velvet Underground: Velvet Underground
15. Music For The Masses: Depeche Mode
16. Music for Airports vol. 1: Brian Eno
17. What's Going On: Marvin Gaye
18. Sticky Fingers: Rolling Stones
19. Paul's Boutique: Beastie Boys
20. The Basement Tapes: Bob Dylan and The Band
21. Electric Ladyland: Jimi Hendrix
23. Head on The Door: The Cure
24. Organized Konfusion: Organized Konfusion
25. Breaking Atoms: Main Source
26. Enter the 36 Chambers: Wu Tang Clan
27. Bizarre Ride to The Pharcyde: The Pharcyde
28. Blowout Comb: Digable Planets
29. Souvlaki: Slowdive
30. Pygmallion: Slowdive
31: The Verve EP: Verve
32. Victorialand: Cocteau Twins
33. Hard Day's Night: The Beatles
34. Wild Honey: The Beach Boys
35. Ready To Die: Notorious BIG
36. 3 Feet High and Rising: De La Soul
37. Music For Airports vol 4: Brian Eno
38. Meat is Murder: The Smiths
39. Sandinista: The Clash
40. Exile on Main Street: Rolling Stones
41. Midnight Mauraders: A Tribe Called Quest
42. Low End Theory: A Tribe Called Quest
43. Daily Operation: Gangstarr
44. Hard To Earn: Gangstarr
45. Future Days: Can
46. Tago Mago: Can
47. Abbey Road: The Beatles
48. Scott 4: Scott Walker
49. Re: Cafe Tacuba
50. Done By The Forces of Nature: Jungle Brothers
51. Derilects of Dialect: 3rd Bass

Birth of the Cool

I grew up in Houston. I lived very near downtown and as a young teen, I would drive all over the "cultured" center of Houston looking for inspiration in music, art, film, etc... I discovered many things at a young age because I was so close to this whole alternative and eye-opening atmosphere. Houston gets such a bad rap but if you live inside the loop, it has a lot to offer.

I remember going to the art museums and being blown away by the art. I used to get so inspired to create myself. Years later, I am now a graphic designer where I am paid to be creative. It's a dream job, one that I've always wanted and worked hard to get. I don't go to museums as often as I used to when I was younger, but last night I went to the Blanton here in Austin which is a new art museum on the UT campus.

I djed a party there in Oct 2008 and thought it was cool. I love 20th century art, but modernism is probably my favorite of all the movements. I love the minimalism, the sleekness, the streamlining of form and shape and the lack of frills and ornamentation. It really speaks to me in a very deep sense. At the same time, I still find a part of me that is moved by abstract expressionism.

Being in the presence of this exhibit brought back that deep-seeded element in my soul that loves art and design. I mean I love it with capital letters. I feel an unexplainable peace, love, passion and energy when I am in the presence of such mastery of color, form and design.

It made me feel like a 16 year old again. I can only imagine that this is what religious people feel like when they are moved by the holy spirit. The peculiar thing is that some people will see the same piece of art and not be inspired or moved by it. It just does not register on that level and while you can explain why you are inspired or drawn to it, you either get it or you don't. Art is so incredibly difficult to define, and delving further into the subject, quantifying something as good art over mediocre art is even more puzzling.

To me it's very simple. It moves me or it doesn't. Klee, Wunderlich, Rauschenberg, Twombly, Basquiat, Benjamin all reinvigorate the sense of amusement and passion I have for life and I see and feel the beauty of the world more profoundly when I experience it. It's so overwhelming at times that I can't contain myself and am reduced to just being lucky that I am able to have access to such art. To me art is the best thing in the world next to love.

I cannot begin to explain how excited I get when I see a great piece of art or architecture. It's a natural high, I feel like God lives in that art the same way he or she or it lives in nature and I don't even believe in a creator or divine being. I just feel blessed that such things are in this world and that geniuses have bestowed their gifts of art to better our culture and enrich our souls.

Ritchie Barrett

I love this track, first heard it from The Beatles Anthology.

sweet thing

100% amazing, I can only aspire to write songs one-tenth as good as this.

rave on

what a beautiful piece of music, absolutely perfect.

take 5