Soundtrack | 8.8.13 | LUV

I'm a hopeless romantic whose known for saying phrases such as "I love love."  If you know me, you know my life has been filled with bachelorette parties, weddings, receptions, and other lovey-dovey festivities practically every weekend.  As of late though, I've been perplexed with the concept of love, especially in NY.   With sites like OkCupid and Match, apps like Tinder, and the many other electronic modes of match-making, the sea of bachelors and bachelorettes is limitless   Everyone is looking for the next best and unwilling to settle down.  I've often felt like my expectations of having a charming, chivalrous, and laid back, funny man who solely has eyes for me are a bit unrealistic.  Yet, I refuse to believe this.  

This brings me to my post for this week.  This week, I've serendipitous-ly come across a number of things that have reinstated my love of, well, LOVE.  

1. Ruth Brown - I Don't Know

(Everything in life needs a soundtrack and there's nothing more amazing than an old school soul filled, honest track to remind you of LOVE pre-internet days.  I encourage you to hit play over and over again)

Should I let myself go / in his direction / Is his love strong enough / For my heart's protection 

I don't know....

... 

But I hope and pray / That he comes my way, oh, oh 

2.  The now infamous "NY Missed Connection" note.  It's comforting to know that a man can be completely vulnerable to write down his poetic thoughts and share them with the world.

3.  40 days of Dating.  I think the whole concept is really interesting.  It forces people - acquaintances/friends in this case, to explore the possibility of relationship through a set period of time. The two subjects are accountable, honest, and most importantly vulnerable and open to the bat-shit idea.

4.  More music to soothe that sad soul of your's

 

<Lily Vanilli>

5. Congrats to all my friends who have gotten engaged, tied the knot, or brought a baby into this world. I hope that love is on your side for eternity.

6.  To those that are single, or have single friends, please put me in touch with them.  I'm looking to host a singles only event in NY in the near future and am looking for more participants - especially single men.  Seriously... pass those names along :)

xoxo

Soundtrack | 7.27.13 | Lianne La Havas - Lost & Found

I spend a lot of time looking for new artists to listen to that I can add to my Spotify playlist and with the over-saturation of mediocre talent on Youtube, it's refreshing to come across the soulful and airy voice that Lianne La Havas possesses. Thank you Pigeon and Planes for the intro. 

Check out this real, relatable song:

What do you think? Are you a fan of her voice? Her music? The entire package?

Soundtrack | 7.2.13 | Refined by The Stuyvesants (Released 6.10.13)

What do you get when you put creativity, time, and a soulful album with just the right amount of story-telling? You get a Refined piece of work by The Stuyvesants. The entire album is perfectly thought out letting your mind imagine life in the 70's through unique albums covers and fitting song names.

Some notable favorites:

3. Dilemma
4. Portyln - Love the entire package
6. Sunshine - Uplifting on a rainy day; can't wait to listen to it on a sunny summer day in BK.
9. Future Groove - especially at the 2:15 mark.
13. She Still Got It - Obviously.
15. Pleasure & Pain
16. Velvet Room - Favorite album cover
18. En Las Rocas
22. Good Times - Favorite song on album because it reminds me of my favorite Apollo Brown beat


Take a listen or two. What are your favorites and why? And make sure you check out their other albums - "Yearning For Your Love", sampled from The Gap Band, is another favorite off of The Finer Things Vol 2.

Soundtrack | 7.1.13 | Robin Thicke ft. Kendrick Lamar - Give it 2 U (produced by Dr. Luke)

If you haven't had the chance to check out Robin Thicke's new album "Blurred Lines", you're missing out on some sexy, upbeat songs. Check out his new song below called Give it 2 U followed by his SEXY BET performance of Blurred Lines last night with Pharrell.

Soundtrack | 6.28.13 | Pretty Lights | A Color Map of the Sun

Pretty Lights - Full Album Preview - A Color Map of the Sun

There is a comment by,
19:33: @DominoEffect: wow...tears
20:10: @godisfrisky: You're a genius
22:30: @jordanstone12 If you saw this at Cochella or Bonnaroo it changed your life

These are a couple of comments that I related to when hearing this song for the first time, this morning. By the time I've written this post, I've heard the entire album about 3.5 times. Basically, it doesn't take much to fall into admiration with this album.

Derek Wilson Smith kills it at the 9:06 mark. I know I've read that this song literally makes a listener "want to cry" I can't help but relate. The melody in the song is beautiful and elicits this powerful emotion of yearning something - weather it be a forgiveness, a man, a new career, a new beginning, this song leaves you wanting more of a good thing. It's by far one of my favorite songs out in 2013. And the best part, this is one of the many songs on this album! Giant Step, thank you for introducing!!

It's crazy that two of my closest friends in NY are leaving this weekend. !9:05 - 23:07 is dedicated to them. We will always have Chelsea Manor, 40/40 club and all the shady side streets we experienced tonight.

xoxo A&N

Soundtrack | 6.26.13 | Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson - Mo' Meta Blues

Nerdy - Check
Stylish - Check
Charming - Check
Lover of SoulTrain - Check

The list of positive traits that Ahmir "Questlove" Khalib Thompson (he passed me at an event in NY where he DJed so naturally I'm on a government name basis with the man) posses is endless. The man is an entrepreneur, a professor, a musical genius and historian, and now an author of the much anticipated book Mo' Meta Blues.

I have yet to get my hands on the book, I refuse to buy this on iTunes but as soon as I'm done reading "Daring Greatly" for my book club you better believe I won't be taking my hands off of it.

For those unfamiliar to the referenced title of the book, think Spike Lee's 1990 film titled Mo' Better Blues. The song performed in the movie is actually written and composed by Branford Marsalis, of the same title - one of my favorite jazz songs.

Below is clip from Ahmir "Questlove's" interview with The Daily Show.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook

Soundtrack | 6.25.13 | Forbidden Fruit - J. Cole ft. Kendrick Lamar [Born Sinner]

I can't help but be biased with this album. I've been listening to J.Cole since my {Jerk Store} friends started buzzing about his second mix-tape The Warm Album. The entire album from start to finish kept me intrigued - pausing and rewinding and replaying a song over and over again until I could get some of the words right or pick up on some new melodious twist.

The same sensation came over me when I heard Forbidden Fruit for the first time. From the minute the beat dropped, I was captivated. The Biblical references of Adam & Eve, to the sample of Electric Relaxation, to his confidence in being the next greatest lyricist and producer re-ignited my love for this man-kid.

How many record do a nigga gotta sell/
Just to get the cover of the double X L/
Or fader, fuck ya magazine hater/
When I say that I'm the greatest I ain't talking about later/
I'mma drop the album the same day as Kanye/
....
And I don't mean no disrespect, I praise legends/
But this what next the boy sick, can't disinfect/

If you haven't heard this album, I highly recommend purchasing it IMMEDIATELY. It's an instant classic and a great sophomore album.

Soundtrack | 05.01.13 | Your Q.U.E.E.N. is back.

After a long hiatus from posting, your Q.U.E.E.N. is back.  And if you're unfamiliar with me or Janelle Monae, I can't think of a better way to introduce you to both of us.  

What I particularly like about this QUEEN is she's able to just let her freak flag fly (c) @BlueIvyRimmey yet continues to remain classy in her staple ALL black + white apparel.  

I also love seeing her link up with the other QUEEN of soul Ms. Erykah Badu aka Badoula Oblongata. I recently discovered Worldwide Underground and have been playing a few songs NON-STOP.  Stay tuned to see what they are....

Lesson of the day: Do you boo-boo.

Is it peculiar that she twerk in the mirror | And am i weird to dance alone late at night | And is it true we're all the same | And I just tell them no we ain't and just get dooown...