Notes from the Concrete Jungle: Get Your Groove On

First and foremost - an apology. I've been M.I.A. (missing in action, not the artist) these last few weeks. Turmoil and upheavel has hit the House of Texas. I know that isn't much of an excuse, or reason, but it's the truth. I won't go into many details, but please be satsified with it's been a rough two weeks. As way of an apology, I've two back to back posts. The first is a subject near and dear to my heart, Music. The second is a rumination over a hot button topic that fell into my lap like a lead balloon (and believe me, it hurt). But for now gang, pull out your headphones, sit back, relax, and get ready of two awesome music recommendations.
I've never been a huge fan of dance music (don't shoot me), but I happend to stumble on a song from an artist right here in the Concrete Jungle. His name is Adam Barta and he hails from the Boogie-Down Bronx. He orginally worked Off-Broadway while persuing his music career. In early 2005 he released a track called "Dirty Girls," and while it did okay, the song never really took off. Well, Mr. Barta is back - with a vengence.
"I Wanna Hold You" is a love/dance anthem, simple enough. The song musically reminds me of some of the dance music that came out of the late 90's. Def worth a spin or two and I'm willing to bet you'll see and hear more from Mr. Barta in the coming months. Internet sources say he's working on a full-length album, and if the songs are as good and catch as this one, I suggest you get prepared to be dancing to the songs all summer (or at least until Our Lady of the Pavement starts her assault on the Billboards).
For starters, this isn't the real video, but it allows me to offer the song a bit to you. Until "Our Lady of the Pavement's" new album drops on Apr. 28th, this is the CD in heavy rotation at the House of Texas, Oracular Spetacular by a group called MGMT (pronounced management). This is an awesome CD. Seriously. It's rare when I don't skip at least three to ten tracks per album, but there's not really one I skip. Playability of this album is high. The two lead singles, "Electric Feel" and "Time to Pretend" show much of the band's versatility. As a band, MGMT summons to mind heavy influences of Bowie, CCR, and The Kinks, while also sounding like LCD Soundsystem. Interested yet? You should be. "Electric Feel," one of the lead singles, sounds like something you'd hear around midnight in a seventies club, while "Pieces of What" calls to mind CCR and John Fogerty, but peppered heavily with bile. Stand out songs include: "Weekend Wars," "Electric Feel," "Time to Pretend," and "Kids". Do yourself a favor, pick up MGMT before they explode.
To bring this little musical interlude to a close, I thought I'd give you a weekly playlist (a new addition to the article). So without futher ado, here are ten tracks (old, new, obscure, a bit of everything) to get you through the week.
PLAYLIST: Week of 3/14 to 3/21
1. Electric Feel - MGMT
2. I Wanna Hold You - Adam Barta
3. Designs on You - Old 97's
4. I Need Your Love - The Rapture
5. Nine In The Afternoon - Panic at the Disco
6. High - The Cure
7. Going Gay - The Passionistas
8. Changes - David Bowie
9. Trim Your Sails - The Wonder Stuff
10. If You Find Yourself Caught in Love - Belle and Sebastian
Till next time - Texas