SOUNDS: On today's playlist: A go go study

"Rising Up," by The Roots (click song title to listen)

"Body Snatchers," by Rare Essence

"Keep it Gangsta," by Backyard Band

"Let the Beat Roll," by Junkyard Band



We love The Roots' searing political lyrics on "Rising Down" because it's substantive and taps into a lot of feelings that come up among our friends when we discuss the election, war and life in general. On a completely different level, we're feeling their current single, "Rising Up," for its obvious D.C. go go references. For those of you who don't know, go go is a regional sound that's pretty much exclusive to the D.C./Maryland/Virginia area. It overlaps with Miami bass in that they both share a drop-it-like-it's-hot kind of sensibility. Musically, go go is quite different from the Miami sound, though, because the drum patterns are much grittier and raw in a D.I.Y. sense (think kitchen pots and pans). So we had to include a few old favorite go go tracks for a little study.