Bananas.

I’m writing these words in the middle of a meeting at 2:55 in the afternoon, because writing, like other intimate pursuits, often occurs at random times. As I type each word, I come to care about how it will be read — about you, there, reading it, even if I’m pretending to listen to what’s going on around me. Caring is scaring. It makes me want to stop right now, or spend years composing something flawlessly literate. But, like all good and worthy things, you’ve just got to let go and jump in headfirst. Below is the music for the day.

This is bananas, isn’t it? It’s completely bananas, chiquita bananas, heavy bananas with dark-colored stems. Truth is, I’m just using this as an excuse to say bananas over and over again, but that’s because Kid Cudi is absolutely bananas.

P.S. Bananas.

A. Kevin Rudolf Ft. Kid Cudi – Welcome To The World (Alt: YSI)

Watch out for me when they drop this. You might see bashful shuffles, furious jumps and alcoholic stomp-outs. Or, you might catch a bottle to the face. Either way, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

B. The Prodigy – Invaders Must Die (DAN OH remix) (Alt: YSI)

Ask Joseph from Nashville Nights what I look like on the d-floor. Betcha he’ll say a liquored-up hurricane; a 10-foot-tall elephant stomping tree-trunk heavy;  a 1982 Mazda RX-7 Hatchback, waving glass-bottle windows and reving engine-loud when the DJ drops True Pseudo. Betcha that’s what he’ll say. Betcha he’ll be right there with me.

C. True Pseudo – Freaking Me Out (ULTRNX Remix) (Alt: YSI)

Look. I’m already in love with it. Souljah Boy and Sandstorm? Come on. You’re already in love with it too. Souljah Boy and Vengaboys? I mean, come on. Tag Team and R. Kelly snippets? Now you’re just getting GirlTalk crazy.

D. Super Mash Bros. – D.G.A.F.L.Y.F (Alt: YSI)

try before you download here.

Oranges.

So, I’m sitting at work, right, and it’s 2:00 and I’m noticing that I’m starting to get hungry because I eat every two-three hours. I start thinking about food, and I hear my co-worker say “Mandarin Oranges!” Not weird or anything, but then, I see her hand poke out and then the rest of her, and out of the blue she gave me a package of mandarin oranges and a spoon. That’s not weird, but it was awesome.

Below are the songs for the day.

Basic nonsensical phrases set over galloping beats and mingling brilliance.

Translation: Fun.

A. Asher Roth – Lark On My Go Cart (Alt: YSI)

Sudden blares and blips have never sounded so good.

B. Chris Cornell Ft. Timbaland – Part of Me (LA Riots Remix) (Alt: YSI)

Something oh-so-smooth and breath-easy that evokes the biggest smile you’ve seen this year. Rap songs don’t often get much better than this.

C. Jadakiss – Kiss My Ass (Alt: YSI)

I hit play and this thing just whipped through my speakers, rippled my flags, rended my umbrellas completely useless, seized me by the buttons on my shirt and hurled me across the city. And oh man. What a flight it was.

D. Jay North vs Lykke Li – Little Bit (Alt: YSI)

try before you download here.

Hotness.

So, after a week of no e-mail and a lost phone (which I use to check e-mail), I literally opened my inbox today with a broom. This lead to many e-mails getting swept up into snowy piles, but I promise that if you sent me a release or a request for a listen, I’ll make sure to follow up within the next few days. Now, what you’ll find below are the first five that caught my ears. Hope you enjoy!

The Nite Cells must have gotten out their electro-brooms too, because they’ve swept wavey-blue synths, a ridiculous yellowy bassline and fire-engine red vocals (see 3:00) into one hell of an electro-color pile.

A. True Psuedo – Eletone (Nite Cells Let Go Remix) (Alt: YSI)

“I’m so fly, ya, I know that’s so clique, but man, she and me been cutting like a DJ.” This song and the bassline stapled to it make me exicted to find new trees to climb, and I’m not talking about the wooded kind.

B. Day 26 Ft. Yung Joc & Diddy – Imma Put It On Her (Alt: YSI)

“My dog, he’s a dj, playing for the kids trying to make some milk bones.”

After that, I’m done.

C. Oh Snap!! – Everyone’s A DJ (Alt: YSI)

Hot enough to cook bacon on your speakers. Props to LJ for the heads up.

D. Kid Cudi – Freestyle (Alt: YSI)

try before you download here.

Tomorrow.

New post up tomorrow when I get a chance to get through a week’s worth of e-mail and “work” off a hangover. At my desk. Literally. Also, what’s up with Hype Machine? Is it broken?

“Tri-ing” To Be a Triathlete.

As a general rule here at YM&E, I don’t say much about myself, but if you don’t already know, I love the gym.  I say this because a few weeks ago, I accidentally stumbled upon sign-ups for an indoor triathlon, and after some serious thought, I wrote my name down.     I know, right? Anyway, kickoff is tomorrow, and I’m already getting so excited, I might break my office in half. This has nothing to do with music, but I thought I’d share.

Tonight, if you’re in Nashville, you shouldn’t be anywhere else but with our friends The Annuals at the Exit-In. They’re headlining with What Laura Says and Jessica Lea Mayfield (awesome), which is exciting enough, but honestly, I’m more excited about their brand of earthy, progressive indie-rock packed with enough dun-dun-dun gusto to make me consider knocking my ceiling out so that I could see the stars and feel, for the first time, like I’m home again. (You’ll see what I mean when you listen below.)

The show starts at 9:00, and because Sneak Attack Media loves you, you can win tickets here or box-office it for $10.00. Hope to see you there!

Also, I’m headed to down to Florida for a week, so today’s post will be the last until next Monday. See ya’ll in ten days (if I survive the triathlon)!

A. Glasses Malone – I Love Dollars (Alt: YSI)
B. Ben Mono – Jesus Was A B-Boy (Moulinex Remix) (Alt: YSI)
C. Mylo – Drop the Pressure 2009 (Electro Bass Mix) (Alt: YSI)
D. The Annuals – Brother (Alt: YSI)
E. Designer Drugs – Back Up In This (Le Castle Vania, Computer Club and Rrrump remix) (Alt: YSI)

try before you download here.

Lemonade.

“She said “if you’re not busy / come over for some lemonade later” / I’m a minute-maid man / made minutes in the paper.”

Money-back-guaranteed to catch the eye of a pretty little thing on a bicycle.

A. The Cool Kids – 2k Pennies (Alt: YSI)

I can’t help but imagine finger-picking, hot breathing, dry throats, sloppy-booming, unlocked doors, people in animal costumes and being confused in that rush-of-strange-sounds kind of way. It’s a wonderful, beautiful, mystical confusion though, like messing with a Ouija-board and getting exactly what you asked for. Scary-as-hell, too.

B. Tune-Yards – Little Tiger (Alt: YSI)

Cam’ron steps to the plate. Flicks his cigarillo, as if it were the last step before rolling up his sleeves in a Harlem brawl. Then a shake of his solo cup, a quick 1-2 and bam. Cookies and Apple Juice, ya’ll. DAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.

C. Cam’ron – Cookies & Apple Juice (Alt: YSI)

Just as the top song is intended to bring that pretty little thing in, this is intended to help you let her go. Stay up, Gorilla Zoe. Your silver-linning is just around the corner.

D. Gorilla Zoe – Echo (Alt: YSI)

try before you download here.

Ready.

Hope you brought your dancing shoes.
Songs are fixed now. Thanks!

A. Eminem – Crack A Bottle (DiscoTech Remix) (Alt: YSI)
B. T-Pain ft. Chris Brown – Freeze (Nukes Club Remix) (Alt: YSI)
C. Headman – On And On (Riot In Belgium Remix) (Alt: YSI)
D. Lil Mama Ft. Chris Brown & T-Pain – Shawty Get Loose (Tyrell Smith Remix) (Alt: YSI)

try before you download here.

Glimmers.

Busy, busy day, so I’m playing 30-words-or-less. Hope you enjoy.

What do I say about this? Like a pitterpatting of glimmers, jumbles and gleams, but with quite literally every song you liked when you were seven.

A. Garfunkel and Oats – Worst Song Medley (Alt: YSI)

This song has its shorts around its ankles, an oversized lakers jersey and a mike, trying to c-walk through your front door.

B. Soulja Boy – This Is What You Become (Alt: YSI)

Like trying to dance, slide, jump, scream, spasm and bellyflop all at once, with lyrics.

C. LAZRtag – Detonate (DMNDAYS RMX) (Alt: YSI)

Hello, female Sufjan Stevens. It’s nice to finally meet you.

D. The Welcome Wagon – Up On A Mountain (Alt: YSI)

try before you download here.

You’re Invited.

Not much to say today, except that I secretly hope you like the post.

Dear Sir/Madam,

You are formally invited to a money management seminar with three-time Grammy-award winner, Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.

Clifford was a high-profile American rap artist before he met finanical mogul Dave Ramsey in a Starbucks last May. Now, the once-king-of-the-south is traveling around in a “My Total Money Makeover” Prius, sharing his dollars and sense (ha) with America.

A. T.I. – Get That Money (Alt:YSI)

“You hit me once / i hit you back / you gave a kick / i gave a slap
you smashed a plate / over my head / then i set fire to our bed.”

What is it with girls, guitars and domestic disputes?

B. Florence & The Machine – Kiss With A Fist (Alt:YSI)

You know that red, flush-faced, huff and puff release you get when you spend five minutes drumming furiously in the air with your hands? That’s exactly what this song is. Two minutes and eleven seconds of red, flush-faced, huff and puff release, and I like it.

C. Sky Larkin – Fossil I (Alt:YSI)

When you hear the chorus, you’ll no doubt think of a certain song, and I’d like to think this openendedness with words is a pretty good example of how music, as a medium, can be something pretty special.

D. Sean Kingston – Mista DJ (Alt:YSI)

try before you download here.

Swaggered Mysteries.

try before you download here 

“Who be the King of the Sound? / Uh huh / Busta Bus back to just put a lock on the town / Uh huh / Lot of my b****es be comin from miles around / See they be comin’ (Uh!) cause they know how the Busta get down.”

No one on the corner has swagger like this.

A. Busta Rhymes – Touch It (Megasoid Remix) (Alt: YSI)

I’ll try to keep it short, but just believe me that I get overwhelmed when I listen to this song. The music is arranged in such a way that it’s exciting to figure out what’s going on - Gibson creating little mysteries with every turn, making it exhilarating to listen, and listen, and listen.

B. Laura Gibson – Spirited (Alt: YSI)

I’m finally ready to do it. I’m ready to post about Megasoid’s remix of Hell Yeah. I say this because just in regular listening, the song is already up over 15 plays. Admittedly, this might be too much, but when you hear it, 6 plays in, and it starts teaching your legs how to C-walk, you’ll understand.

C. Dead Prez – Hell Yeah (Megasoid Bali Beat Remix) (Alt: YSI)

I can’t decide if this is a song or an audial hallucination - can’t make out if it’s a maybe or a strange yes. Really, I can’t figure out what it is, but it doesn’t matter. I’m already along for the ride. (Look at the picture above while you listen.)

(You make me believe in magic.)

D. Laura Barrett – Bluebird (Alt: YSI)