The Letter M Takeover- Mayer Hawthorne & The County and Menahan Street Band.

H still runs this shit.

You don't have to buy an H fitted. You don't have to eat crawfish. You don't have to cop the freshest forces on the planet. But you must listen to Mayer Hawthorne and the County and Menahan Street Band.

The A side of the heart shaped 45 shown above might be the best record of 2008. I'm not one to anoint an artist or piece of music so quick, but this shit is that dope. This joint oozes throwback soul. You would never believe that one person was responsible for every element of the music including vocals, instruments and composition. And I'm sure you wouldn't think he was a 29 year old white dude from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Seriously, what's going on here. Obama's in the office and we got blonde hair and blue eyes bringing Motown back. Change fam, change. I'm lying about the eyes and hair- could be brown.

Signed to Peanut Butter Wolf's Stones Throw Records, Mayer Hawthorne & The County has only released 2 tracks. 2 very different tracks. While Just Ain't Gonna Work Out exudes a raw, drum heavy, kick your girl to the curb vibe, When I Said Goodbye has Mayer shabop shabopping in a suit with his hair slicked back crooning to babydoll that he fucked up. Make up your mind Mayer. Beyond the content of each track, the voice sounds completely different.

I've been sitting on these joints for a couple of weeks and wanted to share this with the world immediately but I had such a hard time articulating the dopeness. How do you say this is banging without saying this is banging. I'm trying. But it is banging. The fact that Just Ain't Gonna Work Out is only 2 and a half minutes is such a fucking tease that you're compelled to keep pressing rewind. That might be better since you get 5 minutes rather than say 3 minutes 50 seconds off one play. It ends so abruptly and catches you completely off guard- as if the hamburglar ran past you and swiped your black label burger from your hands before you had a chance to take a bite. I'm rambling but this is what good music can do to you. On a plus side, if you're having problems with wifey, put this shit on her ipod and bounce. Hate her friends? She hates yours? Caught her on myspace giving the peace sign and kissing the camera? Sorry baby, it just ain't gonna work out. And tell me Ghostface won't use that intro on his next album. Ghost and Mayer is a collabo waiting to happen. Put on the blue light!!!

Mayer Hawthorne and the County- Just Ain't Gonna Work Out


Mayer Hawthorne and the County- When I Said Goodbye




It's not fair that Menahan Street Band has to follow Mayer. They are equally as talented and just as capable of making that get out of your seat and groove shit. I've mentioned them before while fawning over Sharon Jones. To refresh your memory, MSB is responsible for Jay-Z's Roc Boys sample. And they're record kills Jigga's. Their full lenth CD "Make The Road By Walking" dropped in mid-October and has stayed playing on the H-Pod. Their horns are crazy. Think Young Holt Unlimited. If that doesn't force your hand to cop I don't know what will. Below are 2 of my favorites off their LP. I prefer to provide a sample so you can go out and support. For more info on Menahan click HERE. They will be performing at Southpaw in BK on December 20th for 14 beans. This is the type of shit that gets me to visit the planet of Brooklyn.

Menahan Street Band- Tired of Fighting


Menahan Street Band- The Contender