Hip-hop violinist is...

...my favorite musical descriptor of the year. That's me and Miri Ben-Ari, the Israeli violin sensation who just put out this album which includes a veritable who's who of today's top rappers. And they all say something about the violin in every song. It's sort of genius.

Another amazing development in hip-hop this year that we document below: our favorite Dade County rapper, Trick Daddy, samples the Talking Heads.

Also: we're LOVING "Mathematics" from Nashville power-pop sensation Jetpack (which features Searcy native Sean Williams on vocals; White County, ho!). Jetpack plays Whitewater this coming Friday, Dec. 2 with Grand Serenade and Johnny Mac and the Reds.

Part 1

1. The Mountain Goats- The Plague (theme)
2. Miri Ben-Ari feat. E-40 and Lil Flip- Sick With Da Flip
3. Trick Daddy feat. Ludacris and Cee-Lo- Sugar (Gimme Some)
4. The Talking Heads- Sugar (On My Tongue)
5. A.C. Newman- Most of Us Prizefighters
6. Jetpack- Mathematics
7. Johnny Mac- Hey... Hey...
8. Pinback- B

RIP Link Wray (2)

Rumble on.

The Exploding Hearts have long been a Plague favorite. Contemporary garage-rock at its pinnacle. Tragically, three-fourths of the band died in a bus accident in 2003, so the album below is all you'll ever hear of the Exploding Hearts. Holler at your local record shop and get a copy if you don't already have one.



Part 2

1. The Exploding Hearts- Rumors in Town
2. The Reigning Sound- She's Bored with You
3. Big Silver- Pictures of You
4. Ike and Tina Turner and the Ikettes- Contact High
5. Little Jimmy Dickens- May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
6. Link Wray- Caroline

Three (6)

Thanks to the new Fader, I know that Willie Hutch deserves A LOT of the credit for my favorite song of the year.

Here ya go:

Three.

1. Lil Flip- This Is the Way We Ball
2. Willie Hutch- Tell Me Why Our Love Has Turned Cold
3. Betty Wright- Secretary
4. Fabulous Souls- Take Me
5. Barry White- Me and Mrs. Jones
6. Arthur Alexander- Soldier of Love
7. Booker T. and the MGs- Sunny
8. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings- Switchblade
9. Johnny Dowd- Sleep in the Grass

4

Not much.

Here.

1. Chris Denny-?
2. Andrew Bird- MX Missles
3. The Avalanches- Tonight May Have to Last Me All My Life
4. Robert Wyatt- Born Again Cretin

Catchin' Up (11.16.05)

Chris Denny at White Water (photo courtesy of the very talented Laura Grenard)

Technical difficulties, other projects, and Thanksgiving conspired to delay the delivery of that aural crack you know as "The Plague."

Here's the show from Nov. 16.

Check it.

1. Chris Denny- Time
2. Wilco- Misunderstood (live)
3. My Morning Jacket- The Way That He Sings
4. Neil Young- Revolution Blues
5. Alexander "Skip" Spence- Margaret/Tiger Rag
6. The Delta Rhythm Boys- What Would It Take

The Holy Ghost (or Number 2)

Dear Santa: I need more 9 cd box sets.

Just realized these will play out of order. I'm sure few of you share my compulsion over such things, so I'm gonna let it slide.

Number 2

1. X-Ray Spex- Obsessed with You
2. Artic Monkeys- (I Bet You) Look Good on the Dancefloor
3. Frank Black- (I Want to Live on an) Abstract Plain
4. The Libertines- Can't Stand Me Now
5. Big Silver- Berryhill Park
6. The Mountain Goats- Your Belgian Things
7. Kingsbury Manx- ?
8. Rogue Wave- Bird on a Wire
9. Dengue Fever- Ethaniopium
10. Mulatu Astetke- ?
11. Albert Ayler- Our Prayer

Time to whistle at it (part 3)

Juelz Santana is clearly the most patriotic man in these United States.

Tre.

1. Stars- Ageless Beauty (The Most Serene Republic remix)
2. The Fiery Furnaces- Spaniolated
3. Lady Sovereign- Hoodie (Basement Jaxx remix)
4. Juelz Santana- There It Go (The Whistle Song)
5. Epiphany- Clarification
6. Franz Ferdinand- The Fallen (Justice edit)
7. Kings of New England- Space Is the New Seattle

Don't Sleep on Conduit

This Saturday, occassional venue Pizza D hosts Conduit Entertainment, arguably the A-state's tightest rap collective. Within the crew is Suga City (Arkansas Bo and Goines), DK, and Ephiphany (pictured above). All the dudes bring it something good, but Big Piph is on some other-level-shit. Check him out for yourself, here.

The Autumnal Soul Spectacular

It's dark at 5, the leaves are changing and falling, and it's 80 degrees. What's all that mean? Well, clearly that it's time for the Autumnal Soul Spectacular, a seasonal offering.

Soul is one of our passions at Plague HQ. We hope it shows.

(For the geeks: only the Ebony Rhythmn Band and Sharon Jones covers correspond with the songs we feature. The other two just look cool.)

Download part 1 here.

1. The Mountain Goats- The Plague (theme)
2. Messengers Incorporated- Soulful Proclamation
3. Ebony Rhythm Band- Drugs Ain't Cool
4. Sir Mack Rice- Muhammad Ali
5. Wanda Robinson- A Possibility Back Home
6. Jean Knight- Do Me
7. Bohannon- Save Our Souls

Part 2

Get it.

1. The Staple Singers- Long Walk to DC
2. The O'Jays- There's Someone (Waiting Back Home)
3. Jean, Shirley & the Relations- People Make the World a Better Place
4. The Impressions- (Man, Oh Man) I Want to Go Back
5. William Bell- I Forgot to Be Your Lover
6. The Invincibles- Heart Full of Love
7. Irma Thomas- Wish Someone Would Care
8. Roebuck "Pop" Staples- Black Boy
9. Yumyums- Gonna Be a Big Thing

Part 3

Here.

1. The Bar-Kays- Sang and Dance
2. The Sylvers- Stay Away From Me
3. The Fascinations- Girls Are Out to Get You
4. The T.S.U. Tornadoes- Play the Music Tornadoes
5. Nostalgia 77- Seven Nations Army
6. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings- Your Thing is a Drag
7. Quincy Jones and Bill Cosby- Hickey-Burr
8. The Mad Lads- No Strings Attached

Part 4

Check it.

1. Shuggie Otis- Inspiration Information
2. Sly and the Family Stone- Trip to Your Heart
3. Ohio Players- Fopp
4. Booker T. & the MG's- Soul Limbo
5. Howard Tate- My Soul's Got a Hole in It
6. Charlie Rich- Big Time Operator
7. Al Green- Feels Like Summer
8. Bessie Banks- Go Now
9. Clarence Carter- I'd Rather Go Blind
10. Sam Cooke- A Change Is Gonna Come

Tonight

Gimme Some More

After listening to the Broken Flowers soundtrack, we're crate diggin' for dude. Haven't seen the film yet, but apparently "Yegelle Tezeta" is the theme. Check the segue from DJ Shadowfied Yo Gotti to Mr. Mulatu.

Also, check the new (leaked) Outkast track from the Idlewild soundtrack. Sounds like some that ol' ATLiens, Dungeon-Family crack.

Next week: THE FALL SOUL SPECTACULAR!!! Or maybe we'll call it THE AUTUMNAL SOUL SPECTACULAR!!!

11.2.05 a

1. DJ Shadow- Funky Skunk (excerpt)
2. Mulatu Astetke- Yegelle Tezeta
3. Lightnin' Rod- Sport (from Songs from Gay Dog---Cougars, hoooo!)
4. Lee Hazelwood- These Boots Are Made for Walkin'
5. St. Thomas- The Railroad
6. The New Pornographers- The Bones of an Idol

2

11.2.05 b

1. Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians- Alright Yeah
2. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks- Fractions and Feelings
3. The Modern Lovers- Astral Plane
4. The Velvet Underground- Venus in Furs
5. The Stooges- I Wanna Be Your Dog
6. Death From Above 1979- Little Girl
7. The Stooges- Shake Appeal

3

11.2.05 c

1. Ho-Hum- The Axe (buy this album now!)
2. Talking Heads- Pyscho Killer
3. The Homosexuals- Astral Glamour
4. The Hold Steady- Cattle and the Creeping Things
5. (Smog)- Hit the Ground Running
6. Outkast- Rats and Roaches (NEW old-school Outkast)
7. Annie- Me Plus One (The Rapture Hush Hush Remix)
8. MIA- Pull Up the People (ASIH remix)
9. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & Tortoise- That's Pep
10. Bukka White- Pine Bluff, Arkansas
11. The Uniques- All These Things
12. South San Gabriel- Saint Augustine

You had no idea...

...who you were dealing with.

Anticipate the clothing line.