You’re Always Up To No Good

Phantom Planet “Big Brat” – As recommended/requested by Sam in the comments box of this very entry, here is the brand new single from Phantom Planet. It’s really, really good! I hadn’t thought much of them before, but this song just kicks a lot of ass, and I’m impressed that they are making this a single. It always think it’s cool when popular bands do something which has even a passing resemblence to The Fall, and I definitely detect some Mark E Smith influence on the singing on the verses of this song. Nice drums, too – apparently the production was done by Dave Fridmann, so I guess that shouldn’t be a big surprise.

Four Used To Be The Funky Four Corners

Arthur Conley “Funky Street” – Arthur Conley, a 1960s soul singer and protege of Otis Redding, died Monday at his home in the town of Ruurlo, in the eastern Netherlands. He was 57….Conley was born in Atlanta and started his recording career in 1959 as leader of the group Arthur and the Corvets. He was best known for his 1967 hit, Sweet Soul Music, which he co-wrote with Redding based on a number by Sam Cooke, Yeah, Man. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard pop chart. R.I.P., Arthur. (See also: Joe’s take on Conley and “Sweet Soul Music” in particular.)