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July was terrific for music, especially R+B wise... The first 4 songs here I all rated 4 stars.

• Apache (Fat Boy Slim Remix) Apache is a song that has been sampled all over the place, like Missy Elliot's We Run This. I wanted to find a version that wasn't as ridiculous and racist as the Sugarhill Gang's version... this remix draws heavily from The Incredible Bongo Band's Version and is pretty slammin'- love that drumbreak.
• What Is Hip? (Tower of Power) Knew about this song, but the live version (heard it at the Milky Way at the JP Porch Band after party) kicks up the speed a notch and is great.
• Hard to Handle (Otis Redding) The big horns and big piano mean the original is better than the Black Crowes cover (which is pretty good too.)

I was contacted by local musician Chandler Travis, and asked if I could jump in for the Chatham 4th of July parade... here were 4 songs we did (plus Iko Iko, which I'm trying to bring back to my own Honk Band)

• Graciously (Chandler Travis Philharmonic) Starts a little slow, but I dig the simple bass riff, and then it builds beautifully, and the refrain "Gra-cious-ly" is really resonant.
• Bob What's-Is-Name (Chandler Travis Philharmonic) Another catchy song with subtle-y terrific lyrics.
• It's Time to Make a Change (Madison's Lively Stones) Gotta love this tuba. Ya gotta!
• Tootie Ma Is a Big Fine Thing (Preservation Hall Jazz Band & Tom Waits) Waits' gravel voice works pretty well here.

Some acoustically interesting bits--

• Little Numbers (BOY) Great indie piece. I'm a little distracted because phone numbers aren't "7 little numbers" any more.
• Superstarr Pt. Zero (k-os) The sample of Pal Joey Hot Music has one of the most complex beats I've heard in a hiphop piece.
• Wait (The Whisper Song) Remix (Busta Rhymes, Free, Lil Scrappy, Missy Elliot, Mr. Collipark & Ying Yang Twins) Probably the sexiest hiphop song ever; the gimmick of the whisper from the original is pretty effective. (I like the poured scotch sound at 0:12)
• Down the Road (C2C) Groovy blues/house remix.

Novelty Songs...

• Mission Statement ("Weird Al" Yankovic) Love the vacuous joy of business speak set against a decent cover of Crosby Stills & Nash and the white board video is enjoyable on its own terms.
• Yakety Yak (The Coasters) Don't talk back.
• My Girl's Pussy (Harry Roy & His Orchestra) Single entendre from the 1930s...

Misc

• We Can Work It Out (Stevie Wonder) Getting back to the R+B, a good cover.
• Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys (Johnny Paycheck) Of all the versions I had to pick, I think I grabbed this one because I love the name Johnny Paycheck. (Err but this is the Jennings/Nelson version)
• Don't Let Me Die (R. Kelly & JAY Z) Nice big sound to this hiphop, plus you don't hear too many songs where the MC lets himself sound scared.