December Decadence

Because December is a decadent month. You sit around a table with the richest gourmet food you can cook, and stuff your face until you're stupefied with food, or you go shopping at stores with great discounts and come home with a full car. As long as you don't get food poisoning, or broke, there's nothing wrong with a little indulgence.
For me, my source of decadence (besides chocolate) is music. These six songs are only pieces of my indulgence for the month. Allow them to tickle your fancy.

Mack Wilds---The Sober Up

You remember this guy--he played Michael on The Wire and Dixon on 90210, as well as Ray-Gun in the George Lucas film, Red Tails. Now, Tristan Wilds is coming out as MACK Wilds, the singer slash rapper, with his first album, "New York: A Love Story."  This particular song, "The Sober Up," is part of the December Decadence list because of its smooth pads over a shuffling beat reminiscent of early 90's sampled beats. The lyrics are about a man drinking too much and calling someone he knows he shouldn't. "Wishing you would fly my way...."  

Flying Lotus---Do The Astral Plane

There's something about Flying Lotus...I love almost everything they do, and I could listen to them in any season at any time. This song is no exception, but it's a deliciously winter-night jam. Picture this pumping out of wide stereos in the nighttime! Imagine the holiday lights in the city twinkling with every downbeat Is it not the perfect combination?

Joey Bada$$---Two Lips (Produced by J Dilla)

(sigh) J Dilla and his beats. Already a gem for the ear. Now partner a J Dilla beat up with a verse by the lyrically blessed Joey Bada$$. The 18 year old has an introspective rhyme that flows easily over the jazzy chords and muffled percussion, creating a cool and calm atmosphere--as in, "relax in your armchair with a robe on in the candle light"atmosphere. Whoa, whoa, hey, hey, indeed.

Ingrid Michaelson---The Hat

This is actually the saddest happy song on this list. Ingrid Michaelson describes a love that she experienced, where she reminisces on the good times they spent, and in fact can't remember why she left him. Now the holidays roll around, and she knows he's out there with someone else, while she still thinks of him wistfully, summing up her feelings with the chorus, "I should tell you that you were my first love."

Gregory And The Hawk---Isabelle

Okay, this is the saddest sad song on this list. Or ever in life. This is in fact one of the popular singles from the one-woman act, Gregory and the Hawk. The exact premise of the song is always up for discussion, unless you can find a video where the writer specifically states the meaning, but however you interpret it, it's a slow lamenting tune, and perfect for the late evening. 

If by chance I don't post again til January, allow me to say: 2013, it's been real.

-CDM