Say It Loud

Big ups to the UK's Record Kicks for giving us Iowa City's Diplomats Of Solid Sound. The Diplomats have a similar formula to their labelmates—and Ear Hole favorites—the New Mastersounds, but maybe with a little more grit. Hard drums, J.B.'s horn lines and nimble rhythm guitars bedrock these smart funk compositions, many topped with the golden female throats (c'mon, Google hits!) of the Diplomettes. Say it loud: I'm Iowan and proud.

Diplomats of Solid Sound - B_a_b_y

Diplomats of Solid Sound - Plenty Nasty

Diplomats of Solid Sound - Soul Connection

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Rewind

Speaking of Ear Hole favorites, let's take a moment to rediscover Ubiquity's Rewind 5, shall we? Some cool remakes of classics by The Sylvers, Led Zeppelin and Burt Bacharach:

The Rebirth - Handle It

Nuspirit Helsinki - No Quarter

El Michels Affair - Walk On By

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Currently on Current

Do yourself a favor and bookmark the Daily Fix, The First Music Blog on TV. From breaking artists to live performances to on-the-pulse industry news, the show covers some really cool shit. Best of all, it does so in quick, 3- to 4-minute pods you can digest while your boss waddles toward the shitter. Definitely worth a daily check-in. I mean, it's like a blog that you don't even have to read. 

As long as you're over there, you may as well take in Current's intimate look at the Air Guitar Championship, featuring the indestructible Ricky Stinkfinger. 

"It's like being a mime, but not as stupid."