Still Fresh- "Regulate"

A couple days ago Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie made the erroneous claim on Stereogum that "Regulate" by Warren G and Nate Dogg had not aged well. "Regulate" is now, and forever shall be, one of the greatest songs ever. As a commenter politely explained:

Sir, I must say that you are way out of line, claiming this song has aged poorly. As I get older, and experience more of what life has to offer, more and more do I realize how Warren and Nate's "Regulate" speaks to the realities of modern life. And bitches. Like Shakespeare, Marcel Proust, and the people who write Grey's Anatomy, Nate and Warren understand some deep truths about the human condition -- and present these truths with considerable aplomb!

A deft split narrative, two protagonists relate a typical evening in the LBC from two unique perspectives. Warren searches for the simple pleasures of a dice game whilst Nate longs for tender companionship. But as Warren's quest becomes a desperate struggle of life and death, Nate discovers that friendship -- or brotherhood -- must take priority over pursuits of the flesh. That is to say, blood is thicker than Krystal... or, if you prefer: Bros before Hoes. BUT, after the climatic scene in which Nate dispatches Warren's assailants, the two "switch their mind back into freak mode"... and discover you truly CAN have your bitch and freak her too.

Of course, I neglect to mention the rich philosophical content of song: "Where rhythm is life and life is rhythm" and "rhythm is the bass and bass is the treble". Using the transitive property of logic, we see that life is both bass AND treble. This is Nate/Warren's unique twist on the ancient Chinese concept of Yin and Yang as well as their read on the Aristotelian notion of the eudaimonistic life...

There's too much to address here in the comments... but I think I've shown that "Regulate" is a timeless classic, certain to be cherished and enjoyed for centuries to come.

For your viewing pleasure: http://youtube.com/watch?v=zhWGDGHupYA

I Get That Feeling When She Drives On By

There's a lot of really great albums coming out right now, but my ears are all tuned into 1980. Marshall Crenshaw's debut Marshall Crenshaw hearkens back to the bouncy sunshine pop-rock of the 50's and 60's. Crenshaw's music isn't anything new, but still manages to sound fresh, even after much of the conventions of his pop stylings have gone stale. Crenshaw reminds me of a happier, American version of Elvis Costello, or an updated Buddy Holly. Crenshaw's light pop is the perfect antidote to the heavy August air.

Marshall Crenshaw- There She Goes Again
Marshall Crenshaw- Cynical Girl

**

Fresh Links:

-Aquarium Drunkard posts some amazing Flying Burrito Brothers and offers a post on T. Rex, who I have been digging lately

-Benn Loxo Du Taccu is truly amazing, here he offers up yet another gem from Africa

-Discobelle has a remix of the worst song of the summer, which actually makes it sound decent, and another great remix

-Funky 16 Corners continues to floor me, this time with Stones covers

-Happy Birthday Soul Sides

-Weiss posts on Wild Style, which I had never heard of until now, I have been watching the documentary NY 77: The Coolest Year In Hell all week, and it talks about the birth of hip hop and guys like Grandmaster Caz and Grandmaster Flash as well as the grafitti culture, so Weiss's post was a gift and an eye-opener

-The excellent Car Stereo (Wars) are about to release an album and were featured on both Stereogum and Gorilla vs Bear

-And finally, Stylus has the top 10 alt-country records not by Uncle Tupelo... uh, where's the Whiskeytown?

Turn Your Watch Back About 100,000 Years

The B-52's quirky art-funk never fails to get me grooving. The Athens band's revivals of old 50's dance crazes merged with the art-punk of bands like Talking Heads helped create the New Wave era of the late 70s and early 80s. Bright colors, nonsensical lyrics, and bouncy bass lines defined the band, even before their "Love Shack" pop heydey.

The B-52's- Mesopotamia (remix from Time Capsule)

***

Also On The Interwebs:

-Captain's Crate gets funky

-Floodwatch Music with an excellent post on new jazz records

-Weiss reviews a Chromeo show

-Soul Sides posts on one of my favorite records of the year