"don't think about being less than yourself"

Today I'm featuring two British birds who, coincidentally, both have album titles that are in numeric succession.

Estelle - Free

You'll know Estelle from her 2008 hit "American Boy." But what many Americans don't know is that gem came off her second album. "Free" is my fave track from her first album, 18th Day. I love the clapping and overall exuberance of the chorus. Makes me feel like jumping rope on the sidewalk.

Adele - Right as Rain

I kind of missed the boat on Adele last year. I heard the single "Chasing Pavements" and blew it off as not-that-interesting. But after seeing her perform at the Grammy Awards I changed my mind. I suppose that makes me an old dude, that I rely on the Grammy Awards to sell me on an artists. Anyhoooooo... how fucking cute is this song? A total 60s redux a la Wino, fresh for Spring. She's got a tremendous voice and I'm loving the whole album 19.

BUY IT! Estelle - 18th Day

BUY IT! Adele - 19

"something's coming over me"

Winter's over, children. Break out the Claritin and get ready for Spring!

Donna Summer - Spring Affair

Silvetti - Spring Rain

This Saturday, Double Headed Disco is giving you LaDONNA! All eras. Bring it in a plantation effect. Or post-disco new-wave realness. Take orders in diner waitress drags. And always, always huge, huge hair.

DOUBLE HEADED DISCO

SPRING AFFAIR

Saturday March 28

Nowhere Bar

322 East 14th Street

New York City

10pm

no cover

with your 

Double Headed DJs 

Jeff Jackson and Disco Connie

"I can't seem to cope"

Today Diana Ross is 65 years old.

"spring is here... I fear"

I am currently obsessed with Julie London, in particular her debut album "Julie Is Her Name." I listened to it all winter long, and it continues to suit my mood this Spring. I'll try to explain it.

Her voice is plush, yet somehow crisp. The arrangements are precise and minimal. And the song selection is mostly of the 'love done me wrong' variety. I also love that she is presented as this gorgeous vixen, even though there's something really obtuse about her face. That must have been a very daring cover in 1955.

Julie London - Spring Is Here

Julie London - I'm Glad There Is You

"I think you think too much"

I don't have much to say today. Just wanted to put up a couple mid-tempo-ish tracks that I've been enjoying recently.

Book of Love - I Touch Roses

This one is pretty well known among the aged. I didn't really know or enjoy Book of Love that much in the 80s, but now I do.

Les Rita Mitsouko - Tongue Dance (12" Remix Version by Mark 'S'Express' Moore and William Orbit)

Bizarre 12" by the Ritas that I found recently. Super trendy remix for the time. Enjoy the vinyl rip.

"she's got that stuff in her eyes"

Yesterday really felt springy in new york. I'm ready. BRING IT ON.

Ambitious Lovers - Let's Be Adult

A nifty number from Arto Lindsay's 80's outfit. Very bouncy. I also love the song by Groove Armada and Mutya Buena that samples this. Check it.

Rip Rig & Panic - Bob Hope Takes A Risk

Recognize the voice? It's Neneh Cherry! Her first foray into music was this post-punk band who made a few albums in the early 80s. Below is their guest appearance on the Young Ones. Keep your eyes peeled for Jennifer Saunders.

"it's burning love, burning love"

Glossy - Burning Love
This is a Hamburg outfit who remix unknown classics, in this case an Italian disco song by D.D. Sound. I almost hate to say it, but I believe they have improved upon the original, something that is very hard to do in a remix. They hung onto those nutty Daft Punkish vocoders, of course.

Under My Dub
This is not an improvement on the original, but it is so far away from the original that it feels like a new version unto itself, as opposed to a remix. I don't know who did it. And I'm not mentioning the name of the artist intentionally. I don't want my legs broke.

"boys never know"

Video: Franz Ferdinand - No You Girls

The best song on the new FF album gets a single release and video full of hot girls in abstract hats. Love the swagger.

BUY IT! Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

"to have everything and throw it all away"

This is an old dollar bin gem. A French chanteuse who gives you full-on 1982 woman in drag effect. Ronny had a very brief career, from what I can find online. Three singles total. She's basically a darker version of Amanda Lear.

Ronny - To Have and Have Not

Typical early 80s euro-gloom. Very synth heavy. Obviously influenced by Gary Numan.

Ronny - If You Want Me To Stay

An odd choice for a cover. I don't really see the connection between Sly and the Family Stone and the new wave, but hey, influences come from everywhere I suppose.

"get your leather on"

The new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album is out, kinda. It got leaked - like everything does. But a little earlier than the band expected. So the digital version is available already, but the physical version won't be out till the 31st (for those of us old enough to care about physical product anymore).

It's a mix of electro rock and ballads. The single "Zero" is on the electro side of things, and I must admit, I love it more with each listen. Enjoy Karen O's posing in the video above. I think she look puss.

BUY IT! Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

"take advantage of this crisis"

Alexander McQueen. Paris, Fashion Week. Fall Ready to Wear 2009.

Here are two contemporary tracks ready made for catwalks.

Hercules and Love Affair - I'm Telling You
The b-side of You Belong, it's revisionist house with a great edit on the vocals.

Glass Candy - Beatific
A real stomper from the neu disco masters.

"cities buildings falling down - ideal homes falling down"

Here are two legendary early 80s tracks that I didn't know until relatively recent.

Japan - Life in Tokyo

If I could go back in time, I would buy all the Japan records in high school instead of all those Duran Duran records. Well, I probably would buy all the Duran Duran ones too. Who am I kidding.

Simple Minds - I Travel
The transformation of Simple Minds from an electronic post-punk band to the big-room schmaltzy late 80s hit makers is truly baffling. Not that I don't love the late 80s stuff too.

"I wouldn't have a problem with elephants and giraffes and crocodiles and tigers and lions..."

Michael Jackson WTF? He comes out of "retirement" to do a zillion shows in London. I can't believe he'll have the physical endurance to perform even one show in it's entirety. Plus, isn't he supposed to be working on the Thriller Broadway musical? On top of this, a whole crapload of tacky objects from Neverland are up for auction. Seems like the moves of a desperate man. I think he's just grabbing for publicity in an effort to boost sales of his catalogue, thereby putting some much needed cash in his bank account.

Regardless, I have been meaning to post some MJ inspired tracks for a while now. These are from the bootleg album Man in the Mirror by Mark Ronson and Rhymefest. All the songs are based on Michael Jackson and Jackson 5 samples. (I'm posting 4 tracks because they're very short. Play them in order for maximum joy.)

Rhymefest - Flip It (skit)

Rhymefest featuring Talib Kweli - Say Goodbye

Rhymefest - Mike The Mentor

Rhymefest - No Sunshine

More about Rhymefest.

"I give the greatest head"

I am discovering some previously-unknown-to-me Marvin. These are two deep cuts from his last years. In fact, these are from his second-to-last album, In Our Lifetime?, the end of his career at Motown.

Marvin Gaye - Far Cry

His beautiful voice is floating in echo and surrounded by hi-hat. A meditative disco moment - a real late night jam.

Marvin Gaye - Ego Tripping Out (Odyssey Studios Mix)

Apparently Motown remixed all the In Our Lifetime? tracks before its release. This mix is an original studio recording -- the way Marvin wanted it. I think it's pretty clear he was going in directions that his record label was unprepared to deal with. Too bad we lost him.

"things are going to look different"

The news is so dour. I need things to start looking different. I need some optimism.

Hilary - Kinetic (Long Version)

I never heard Hilary in the 80's. I guess she wasn't that well known. I think she only had 4 songs, but at least two of them were amazing. This one and "Drop Your Pants." Enjoy the vinyl rip!

Siouxsie and the Banshees - The Killing Jar (Lepidopteristic Mix)

Another vinyl rip, this time from the goddess Siouxsie. This came out when I was in college, and was the follow up to the classic "Peek-A-Boo."