Timeless funk love, moved to close your eyes - "Ex-Factor" Lauryn Hill

"Ex-Factor" Lauryn Hill

When listening to a Lauryn Hill track 13 years after its release, absolutely nothing is lost or dated. I rediscovered the amazingness of "The Miseducation..." in 2010, and "Ex-Factor" has quickly jumped to a five-star rating on my iPod, the designation only given to my absolute favorite songs. This song is polished and beautiful, funky and dynamic, emotional and telling. This is an effing song! Now I'm not much of a lyrics snob, but this song tells a story everyone can follow - two people in a toxic relationship, can't seem to break away from one another, the push and pull of knowing someone is bad for you but loving them anyway. "I know what we got to do, you let go, and I'll let go too." Did I mention the electric guitar solo at 4:30? This song makes my brain explode; it must be celebrated.

How you'll move: Eyes-closed swaying.

When to play it: Lounging in bed on a grey Sunday evening; drinking red wine by candlelight on a Friday night; when you're trying to break up with someone you've been "on and off" with for too long (crying and dramatic hand gestures will help).

Side note: Give "Everything is Everything" and "Doo Wop (That Thing)" a re-listen as well. And remember The Fugees? WTF! Now this is the JAM!

SPECIAL EDITION - return of the blog and new Fleet Foxes album

Featured song: "The Plains/Bitter Dancer" Fleet Foxes

Holy magical faraway land journey, music masterpiece! Fleet Foxes new album, "Helplessness Blues," dropped today, and while it's not as horse-trotting upbeat as their debut, it is some fantastic shimmering, Lord of the Rings, magic forest shit! These songs are well-crafted imagination babies of harmony. Their sound is even more other-worldly ambiguous-time period, cross-culture than before. These songs put most current pop music to shame - this is melody, this is talent, this is instrumentation, this is hard work, this is heartfelt, this is cohesive, this is a brain explosion. This is the point of "Music Blog: Name TBD."

Go buy the album.

When to play it: When you have a substantial period of quiet time to listen in great headphones without interruption.

How you'll move: You'll lie like a peaceful corpse for most of it.

Side note: Wikipedia says, "The incredible care Pecknold [the lead singer] put into the album was painstaking, creating turmoil in his personal relationships. In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, Pecknold admitted that his girlfriend of five years found the stress this album placed on their relationship too much, and ended things. Upon hearing the completed album, she realized that Pecknold's efforts were worth it and they are working it out." This album even turns a woman scorned! Incredible!

Notable mentions:
--Check out the insane brass seizure about 7 minutes in to "The Shrine / An Argument" (also give a listen to what sounds like a musical saw)
--"Blue Spotted Tail" brought a genuine tear to my eye
--"Bedouin Dress" is a Harry Potter celebratory wedding dance