PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (12/31/14)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. This episode: "All the Way Live", featuring old-school hip hop and more. If you enjoy it, remember to also follow the show on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter!

Artist - Song - Album
Afrika Bambaataa Zulu Nation Cosmic Force - Zulu Nation Throwdown - Looking For The Perfect Beat 1980-1985
Afrika Bambaataa & The Jazzy 5 - Jazzy Sensation (Bronx Version) - Looking For The Perfect Beat 1980-1985
Family Four - Rap Attack - Harlem World: The Sound Of The Big Apple Rappin'
Spyder-D - Big Apple Rappin (National Rappin Anthem) - Harlem World: The Sound Of The Big Apple Rappin'
Chief Rocker Busy Bee - Busy Bee At Queens College, 1981 (Live) - Pioneers Of Hip-Hop, Vol. 1
Chief Rocker Busy Bee & The Zulu Nation - Busy Bee & The Zulu Nation At Bronx River Center, 1980 (Live) - Pioneers Of Hip-Hop, Vol. 1
The Moonlight Broadcasters - Tennessee Lazy - Radio Nights
"Love Bug" Starski - Starski Live At The Disco Fever (Live) - Kurtis Blow Presents The History Of Rap, Vol. 2
Spoonie Gee Meets The Sequence - Monster Jam - Kurtis Blow Presents The History Of Rap, Vol. 2
The Sequence - Simon Says - Sugar Hill Presents The Sequence
The Sequence - And You Know That - Sugar Hill Presents The Sequence
Funky 4 + 1 - That's The Joint - That's The Joint
Funky 4 + 1 - King Heroin - That's The Joint
Grand Master Flash & Furious Five - It's Nasty (Genius Of Love) - Message From Beat Street: The Best Of Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel & The Furious Five
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5 - Freedom - Message From Beat Street: The Best Of Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel & The Furious Five
Kurtis Blow - The Deuce - Deuce
Kurtis Blow - It's Gettin' Hot - Deuce
The Treacherous Three - Feel The Heartbeat - The Treacherous Three
The Treacherous Three - The Body Rock - The Treacherous Three
Run-D.M.C. - Rock Box - Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C. - It's Like That - Run-D.M.C.

PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (12/24/14)

Here's the playlist for this week's special holiday edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. This episode: "What's in the Bag, Old Man?" - A Very Mondo Xmas 2014! If you enjoy these seasonal sounds, remember to also find the show on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter!

Artist - Song - Album
Captain Sensible - One Christmas Catalogue - Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Xmas
Ramones - Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight) - Brain Drain
The Chamber Strings - Everyday Is Christmas (Live) - Live At WFMU On Stork's Show, April 19 1998
The Fireflies - Pretty Christmas - The Fireflies Tackle Your Christmas Tree
The Midwest Beat - That's What Christmas Means To Me - That's What Christmas Means To Me (Single)
Bugs And Rats - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas (Single)
Ramma Lamma - Gimme Gimme Gimme Gimme - Gimme Gimme Gimme Gimme (Single)
Vitamin Pets - Christmas Song - Christmas Song (Single)
The Memories - Have A Merry Christmas (And A Happy Hanukkah Too) - Gnartivity Scene
Dungeon Broads Feat. Jacob Berendes - O Christmas Tree - A Very Messy Holiday
Alligator Indian - Merry Xmas, Melissa Diaz - New Weird Xmas
Marlo Eggplant - Little Drummer Koala - Happy Holidays From Spleen Coffin
Dma-Sc - The First Blip Blop Noel - The 8bits Of Christmas
Rush Coil - Silent Night - 8-Bit Christmas
Plan 9 - Merry Christmas - A Midnight Christmas Mess
Ernest Hare - Santa Claus Hides In The Phonograph - Voices Of Christmas Past
Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas - Elvis' Christmas Album
Johnny Cash - The Gifts They Gave - Christmas With Johnny Cash
Ray Charles - Christmas Time - The Original Soul Christmas
James Brown - Santa Claus Is Definitely Here To Stay (Vocal) - The Singles, Vol. 7: 1970-1972
Jimmy Smith - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Christmas Cookin'
The Salsoul Orchestra - Merry Christmas All - Christmas Jollies
Kurtis Blow - Christmas Rappin' - Christmas Rappin' (Single)
Run-D.M.C. - Christmas In Hollis - Christmas In Hollis (Single)
Tha Dogg Pound - I Wish - Christmas On Death Row
Bob & Doug McKenzie - Twelve Days Of Christmas - Great White North
Amil Byleckie - Whats In The Bag (Old Man)? - Good Angels Guard Thee
Kid Stuff Records - Deck The Halls - Pac-Man Christmas Album
Heather Noel - Santa Came On A Nuclear Missile - The American Song-Poem Christmas: Daddy, Is Santa Really Six Foot Four?
Wooden Shjips - O Tannenbaum - Holiday Cassingle (Single)
Heidecker & Wood - Christmas Suite - Starting From Nowhere
Sparks - Thank God It's Not Christmas - Kimono My House
Nilsson - Remember (Christmas) - Son Of Schmilsson
Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard Brew
T. Rex - Christmas Bop (Original) - T. Rexmas!

CONCERT REVIEW: Wiz Khalifa, Meghan Trainor, Jacob Latimore & Eden xo (The Rave, Milwaukee)

Wiz Khalifa brings some much-needed energy to an overstuffed, KISS FM-sponsored show, while the venue futilely does their best to keep his fans from smoking weed.

Read my full review here.

PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (12/17/14)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. This episode: "Love is a Groove", featuring classic disco and more. If you enjoy it, be sure to also follow the show on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter!

Artist - Song - Album
Dan Hartman - Love Is A Natural - Instant Replay
Dan Hartman - Double-O-Love - Instant Replay
Instant Funk - Don't You Wanna Party - Instant Funk
Instant Funk - I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl) - Instant Funk
Loleatta Holloway - Love Sensation - Love Sensation
Loleatta Holloway - Short End Of The Stick - Love Sensation
Sister Sledge - Lost In Music - We Are Family
Sister Sledge - One More Time - We Are Family
Gladys Knight - It's A Better Than Good Time (Walter Gibbons Mix) - Bob Blank: The Blank Generation Blank Tapes NYC 1975-1985
Charanga 76 - Music Trance - Bob Blank: The Blank Generation Blank Tapes NYC 1975-1985
Byron MacGregor - Americans - Stand Up America
Grace Jones - I Need A Man - Portfolio
Grace Jones - That's The Trouble - Portfolio
Amanda Lear - Fashion Pack - Never Trust A Pretty Face
Amanda Lear - Intellectually - Never Trust A Pretty Face
ABBA - Voulez-Vous (Extended Remix, 1979 US Promo) - The Definitive Collection
ABBA - Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) - The Definitive Collection
Donna Summer - Our Love - Bad Girls
Donna Summer - Sunset People - Bad Girls
Player [1] - Space Invaders - Space Invaders (Single)
Player [1] - A Menacing Glow In The Sky - Space Invaders (Single)
Atmosfear - Dancing In Outer Space - Dancing In Outer Space (Single)
Atmosfear - Outer Space - Dancing In Outer Space (Single)
Loose Change - Straight From The Heart - Straight From The Heart (Single)
France Joli - Feel Like Dancing - Tonight
Loose Change - All Night Man - Straight From The Heart (Single)
Sylvester - You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) - Step II
Sylvester - Dance (Disco Heat) - Step II

PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (12/10/14)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. This episode: "Headed West", featuring country rock and Cosmic American Music. If you enjoy it, remember to also find the show on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter!

Artist - Song - Album
Buffalo Springfield - Pay The Price - Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield - Go And Say Goodbye - Buffalo Springfield
The Beau Brummels - Long Walking Down To Misery - Bradley's Barn
The Beau Brummels - Love Can Fall A Long Way Down - Bradley's Barn
Sandy Bull - No Deposit, No Return Blues - E Pluribus Unum
Brewer And Shipley - Rise Up (Easy Rider) - Weeds
Brewer And Shipley - All Along The Watchtower - Weeds
Bob Dylan Feat. Johnny Cash - Girl From The North Country - Nashville Skyline
Bob Dylan - Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You - Nashville Skyline
The Band - I Shall Be Released - Music From Big Pink
The Band - Caledonia Mission - Music From Big Pink
Dresden Danse - Big Tablet (Higher) - Acid
The Byrds - You Don't Miss Your Water - Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
The Byrds - Nothing Was Delivered - Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
The Flying Burrito Bros. - Hippie Boy - The Gilded Palace Of Sin
The Flying Burrito Bros. - Sin City - The Gilded Palace Of Sin
Gram Parsons - Return Of The Grievous Angel - Grievous Angel
Gram Parsons - $1000 Wedding - Grievous Angel
Emmylou Harris - Till I Gain Control Again - Elite Hotel
Emmylou Harris - Amarillo - Elite Hotel
Sir Robert Charles Griggs - Singing For The Lord - The Legend Of Sir Robert Charles Griggs
Sir Robert Charles Griggs - A Sideman Talks To God - The Legend Of Sir Robert Charles Griggs
Eggs Over Easy - Arkansas - Good 'N' Cheap
Eggs Over Easy - Henry Morgan - Good 'N' Cheap
Creedence Clearwater Revival - As Long As I Can See The Light - Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Ramble Tamble - Cosmo's Factory
Link Wray - Fire And Brimstone - Country Funk 1969-1975
Bob Darin - Light Blue - Country Funk 1969-1975
Neil Young - Tonight's The Night - Tonight's The Night
Neil Young - Speakin' Out - Tonight's The Night
Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen - Wine Do Yer Stuff - Lost In The Ozone
Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen - Seeds And Stems (Again) - Lost In The Ozone

CONCERT REVIEW: Catacombz, Dogs in Ecstasy & (ORB) (Riverwest Public House Cooperative, Milwaukee)

Saying goodbye after 10 long years, local psych rock staples Catacombz go out with a bang at the Riverwest Public House, sent off by some of their equally talented friends.

Read my full review here.

ALBUM REVIEW: Daycones - The Cruel Echo

Timescape Psalm, the 2013 debut album from Daycones, was a decidedly strong first effort in its own right, the release's heady concoction of stoned surf guitar lines, leaden vocals and loopy atmospherics offering up a relatively unique take on well-trod psychedelic ground, but, just as importantly, it also showed potential for the future, leaving its many offbeat ideas, as impressive as they were, a lot of room to grow. Of course, potential isn't always fulfilled, but Daycones' new The Cruel Echo easily improves on its predecessor, mostly by allowing those earlier flights of fancy to coalesce into something more solid.

Now, that's not to say that fans of the first album's disjointed spaciness will be let down, after all the Arizona-by-way-of-Wisconsin solo artist also known as Ryan Janke did manage to establish an agreeably warm, spacious aesthetic right out of the gate, and was smart enough not to throw out the baby with the bath water, but here all the ethereal meanderings are bolstered with a newfound rhythmic backbone. Increased structure may seem like the antithesis of Daycones' dreamy, freewheeling approach, yet standout tracks such as "Millenials" and the lovelorn "Cult" actually benefit greatly from being a bit more grounded.

However, while The Cruel Echo transitions towards a slightly more accessible, even conventional, psych rock sound, its sonic shifts are ultimately rather subtle, leaving Daycones, thankfully, still planted firmly in left field. The various quirks that made Janke's music so original and arresting in the first place remain intact, as evidenced by viscous, lysergic entries like "Memory Party" and "Illuminated", only now they have something substantial to play against, making their eccentricities even more enjoyable by contrast. In the end, the album is a worthy follow-up to Timescape Psalm, and an enticing look at what Daycones may evolve into next.

PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (12/03/14)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. This episode: "Empty Spaces", featuring classic post-punk and more. If you enjoy it, remember to also follow the show on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter!

Artist - Song - Album
Joy Division - Atrocity Exhibition - Closer
Joy Division - Colony - Closer
Public Image Ltd. - Memories - Second Edition
Public Image Ltd. - Careering - Second Edition
Magazine - Feed The Enemy - Secondhand Daylight
Magazine - I Wanted Your Heart - Secondhand Daylight
Gang Of Four - Anthrax - Entertainment!
Gang Of Four - Guns Before Butter - Entertainment!
Wire - Strange - Pink Flag
Wire - Pink Flag - Pink Flag
Ednita - Por Un Amor - Ednita
Tense Experts - I Found That Essence Rare - Tense Experts
Tense Experts - Cemetery Secrets - Tense Experts
1981 - Bad People - History In 3 Chords: Milwaukee Alternative Bands 1973-1982
The Police - Miss Veg-O-Matic - History In 3 Chords: Milwaukee Alternative Bands 1973-1982
Flipper - Love Canal (Live) - Blow'n Chunks
Flipper - Ha Ha Ha (Live) - Blow'n Chunks
Pere Ubu - Real World - The Modern Dance
Pere Ubu - Laughing - The Modern Dance
Mission Of Burma - Mica - Vs.
Mission Of Burma - Learn How - Vs.
Swell Maps - Full Moon In My Pocket - A Trip To Marineville
Swell Maps - BLAM!! - A Trip To Marineville
The Desperate Bicycles - Handlebars - Smokescreen (Single)
The Desperate Bicycles - Smokescreen - Smokescreen (Single)
Television Personalities - Posing At The Roundhouse - Yes Darling, But Is It Art?
Television Personalities - Smashing Time - Yes Darling, But Is It Art?
Marine Girls - Times We Used To Spend - Beach Party
Marine Girls - In Love - Beach Party
Shonen Knife - Parallel Woman - Burning Farm
Shonen Knife - Watchin' Girl - Burning Farm
Maximum Joy - Stretch - Grlz: Women Ahead Of Their Time
Slits - I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Grlz: Women Ahead Of Their Time
The B-52's - Dance This Mess Around - Nude On The Moon: The B-52's Anthology
The B-52's - 52 Girls - Nude On The Moon: The B-52's Anthology
Talking Heads - Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town - Talking Heads: 77
Talking Heads - Pulled Up - Talking Heads: 77
Devo - Come Back Jonee - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Devo - Too Much Paranoias - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!