A flask I drink of sober tea

I love Massive Attack, always have. Their songs are the ones you want to listen to on a long drive home, late at night, feeling contemplative. "Group Four" is no exception; it is a perfect example.

The song starts out slow, chill, relaxing. And when you least expect it, Massive Attack tears it up. You must listen to the song in its entirety to fully appreciate it. It takes you on an 8-minute ride of highs, lows, male and female vocals, poetic lyrics, percussion and melody.

And for all you stoners out there, go roll yourself a fat one before you embark on this journey. Trust me, you'll thank me later.

Since I have a hard time deciphering the lyrics, I have linked them here for you.

My favorite part, however, is the very last, when Liz Fraser sings:
"Daydreaming admiring being
Quietly, open the world
I hear the time of the starry sky
Turning over at midnight
Seen through me little glazed lane
A world in myself
Daydreaming admiring being
Quietly, open the world
I hear the time of the starry sky
Turning over at midnight"



Massive Attack - Group Four (Download)

Be the friend I never knew

I discovered Herbert a few years back while shopping at a Forever 21, and I instantly became a fan. The song I heard that day was "Something Isn't Right" and I made a mental note of the lyrics, came home, googled the words and found out who was the artist.

Anyhow, a couple of months ago, I did a general search for more Herbert songs and came across this one. And I must say, I can't get enough. The beat, hypnotic. The voice, soothing. The words, intense. It seems this song can be interpreted a number of different ways. Overall, I think she's talking about a breakup, but there are so many other elements to the song that I think a listener can make what he or she wants of the song. Regardless of whatever the exact meaning is, the song is beautiful. And I can't help but feel something when I listen to it.

I shared this song with my friend David Sabat who happens to be an amazing Chicago house artist. And he felt the same appreciation for the song. He even included it in his latest mix, available for download here.

So I hope you'll give this jam a listen, and groove to it as we have been. Please let me know what you think.


Herbert - Leave Me Now (Download)

A lil' Snoop never heart nobody...

I just heard this song a moment ago on one of my favorite internet radio stations, 1.FM, and I had to share it. But then I heard Snoop, and now I'm wondering, do they play this song on the radio? Am I just that far behind on pop music?

Anyhow, give it a listen. It's fun.


Eva feat. Snoop Dogg - Popular (Download)

I'm a soldier!

I really don't have much to say about this song. I like it, and I want you to like it too.

But listen to what she's saying. Really listen to it. You'll know what I'm feeling...


Romain Curtis feat. Awa - I'm A Soldier (Download)

Blast from Pearl Jam's past

Pearl Jam is definitely not a band you will see on this blog often, if ever again. But this is a song that I just had to share. No matter what kind of music you listen to, I feel this is a song anybody can jam to and appreciate.

It's drum heavy and extremely mellow, well, until the guitar kicks in and Eddie Vedder starts wailing. I have no idea what Vedder is even howling, but it puts me in a trance every time I listen. My favorite line, probably because it's the only line I can understand: "Jesus greets me, looks just like me..."

It really sounds nothing like their typical music, although I haven't actually listened to Pearl Jam since their last quality album, Vitalogy, which came out in 1994. But like I said, this song is one of a kind and deserves a listen. Let me know if you disagree.


Pearl Jam - W.M.A. (Download)

Intro to the joint

I suppose I can start out by introducing myself. My name is Jasmina. I'm 26 years old, born and raised in the greatest city, Chicago. I'm half Serbian, half Mexican...my folks are straight off the boat, which made for an interesting childhood experience. Anyhow, this blog is not intended to be about me. It's about music. The music I love, and the music I hope you too will appreciate.

I have been obsessed with music since I can remember. As a child, I rocked out to Smoky Robinson and The Beatles while my mom did her Saturday chores and I helped. Well I didn't really help, I just danced and kept her entertained.

Fast forward to junior high. I got into my grunge phase, wore flannel shirts and dark nail polish. My favorite bands were Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Nine Inch Nails. Kurt Cobain died when I was in the fifth grade, and I'll never forget that day. I was so young but so affected by this rock icon who I knew so little about at the time. This profound moment inspired me to learn more about the artists who made up the soundtrack of my everyday life.

I don't think it was until about the eighth grade, when I was about 13 years old, that I began regularly listening to dance music. Of course, I tuned into B96 as a child, as we all did...it was the cool thing to do. However, I didn't care much until my early teen years. It was "Music Sounds Better With You" by Stardust that did it for me. I heard that song, immediately went to the mall, and bought the single. I replayed that song over and over and over again until my parents got sick of it and ordered me to knock it off. But I'm so happy I discovered that song at an early age. It made me appreciate house music, and today, I'm a full-fledged house junkie.

Moving forward, I began listening to anything and everything that had a decent beat or inspiring lyrics. The genre never mattered to me; I'll give anything a try.

So here's how the blog is going to work:

I have a ridiculously large music library, and it continues to grow every single day. Since I first learned how to work a CD burner, I have been making compilation CDs for my friends. And they love them. I absolutely love introducing people to new music and getting their feedback. That way, I have a better idea of what to refer to them next time. So this blog is going to function as my compilation CDs have in the past. I am going to post songs, tell you why they're awesome, and you leave me feedback if you'd like. This is a music journal for me, and for you it's a place to learn about artists and songs that you may have never heard before. These days, I don't listen to the radio or watch any mainstream music programs. I get my music from other blogs, internet radio stations and referrals from friends. That being said, I'm going to try to introduce NEW music to you, not replay the song you've been hearing on the radio nonstop for the past two weeks.

As for the music genres you will find on here, I'm not going to lie, I still am a total house junkie. So you will probably find mostly house and electro on here. However, I also plan on sharing some of my more mellow tunes, which range anywhere from jazz to alternative rock to indie to deep house to hip-hop. You'll find it all here. I'll try to do my best labeling each post, so you have some idea what you're about to hear.

One more thing, one of the main reasons I am starting this blog is because I plan on learning how to DJ in the near future. The more aquainted I become with music, artists and producers, the better prepared I will be when the time comes to actually start spinning those records. I have made some industry friends who are already so willing to help me, and I hope to make more. There is one thing I have learned during this whole blog start-up process, and it's that (at least in this industry) people are so willing to network and help each other out. We all have an infatuation with music, so why not share? So if there's anything I can do to help you out, please let me know.

And since this is my first time doing anything like this, please send me all comments, feedback, suggestions, etc. My first official post is on it's way, so be on the lookout!