Cam (Onelife) - Realest Ever

Easily the best unsigned rapper around:

Keep Shelly in Athens "Time Exists Only To Betray Us"

The lead track on the solid debut LP, At Home

Frankie Rose - Herein Wild

I love Frankie Rose's style of pop music. Herein Wild is a lock for the "Best of  2014" list, which is high praise in a year replete with deserving candidates.

Miles Davis - On the Corner

That future-sound/ next-level shit that you didn't know Miles Davis did.

Roy and Diz "Sometimes I'm Happy"

A cut from a great collabo record:

Milo, Busdriver and Nocando "Manchester"

I envy that square cuz a filter is what i'd kill for 

Hot Sugar "Leverage" (ft. Kool A.D., Fat Tony, Lakutis, Nasty Nigel)

This is like when Picasso did paintings the "normal" way to prove that he could, thus making you appreciate his own style even more.

Lakutis "I'm Better Than Everybody" ft. Kool A.D.

I'm Nietzsche, ho

Parquet Courts - Tally All The Things That You Broke

Have we thought about electing the Parquet Courts? Seriously. While our government was fuckin' around and doing nothing, these "slackers" were working hard to make us happy.

The outcome of their hard work is a wildly successful EP. Tally All The Things That You Broke, strikes that perfect balance that eludes so many bands by being a perfect and obvious continuation of their style while also introducing new elements to keep it exciting.  The best example of this is the Beck-inspired, apartment-door-buzzer-sampling "Seeing Paths", about a day in the life of a weed (?) dealer.

Always whip-smart, always entertaining, always there when you call. I fuckin' love the Parquet Courts.

4 more years! 4 more years!

I'm Ripped Off Radio, and I approve this message.

Pusha T - My Name is My Name

In many ways, Pusha T's lastest release My Name is My Name is the polar opposite to the Drake release. Where Drake favors the intimate and the sad, Pusha favors the the malicious and the ferocious. MNIMN, however, is one of the few rap records this year that matches the emotional output of NWTS, albeit in different manifestations.

Pusha is endlessly entertaining not only because he is so technically sound and the epitome gangster rapper, but also because he is able to convey such emotional depth in his street tales. The backdrop of the drug game is used just as a foundation. To call MNIMN coke-rap is like calling Breaking Bad a show about science--it simply doesn't do justice to the epic scale and attention to detail.

Along with some of the best punch lines of his career,  MNIMN shows that Pusha can lay his signature style over a variety of beats. Rhythms like that of 40 Acres are rarely what come to mind when you think of the gritty MC, but he handles it wonderfully.

More than anything, I am impressed that he can still think of different punchlines about cocaine. How does one man not run out of coke punchlines? I wouldn't be surprised if he has a guy in his entourage who just throws out random topics so that Pusha can think of punchlines relating to them.

Pusha: Give me a topic
Entourage guy: The Nazis
Pusha: We got it from the heights/but we wanted it purer/ blonde haired blue eyes like the furher !!
Entrourage guy: Cool. Can we go to the club now?

Cuushe "Airy Me"

Drake - Nothing Was the Same

Drake's Take Care is a modern classic in some circles. I happen to traverse through those circles from time to time, and I have always been a champion of one Drizzy. This made me expect great things from his newest release, Nothing Was the Same.

While the highs are incredibly high on Nothing Was the Same, it is a victim to its creator's own complete self-confidence. This album is Drake turned, but never Turnt, up to 11. This means that, while you are guaranteed a few infectious hooks, dense on-the-nose rhyme structures and room-clearing punchlines, you are also left with what feels like hours of emo rap. As one of my friends put it, it seems like Drake has no reluctance in airing out grievances and/or dirty laundry. All one has to do is play a beat, and he will gladly shit on anything, pour out his emotions and expect you to listen. This can be grating, even if you are nodding  your head at the time.

There are five undeniably dope songs and the rest of the filler that,  while better than 90% of other rapper's filler, are just okay and prevent this record from being a classic. I still rate the record a strong B--maybe even a B+--but it isn't a record that will stay in rotation from front to back.

Also, I am worried that Drake will soon run out of relationships to complain about and move on to mere acquaintances. So watch out, Starbucks baristas! Take heed, girl who didn't return Drake's crayons in second grade! There may well be a diss track coming for you in the near future.


All jokes aside, I am a fan and I gotta tip my hat to man who at least TRIES to make a great record each time he puts one out. The production is certainly on point and Drake at his best is one of my favorite things to listen to. I wish it was a little better, but that doesn't mean it isn't damn good.

Where did you go....my blogger?!?!

I wanna know
where did you go?
My blogger?
I wanna know
where did you go ohohohaaahhohoh





Answer: I have no functioning computer at mi casa. Lo siento. It's hard out here for a pimp.

Lorde "Royals"

The interwebs are all atwitter (see what I did there) with praise for Lorde and her single "Royals". While I think it is ALRIGHT, I can't really explain why this is unanimously loved while LDR was fuckin' crucified.

Such is the power of being precocious, I suppose.

Gregory Porter "1960 What?"

Shout out to Shazam for letting me know the name of this toe-tapper when I was in that boutique wine store. Shout out to Gregory Porter for giving me a soundtrack for walking around and acting like I was gonna drop forty bucks on a bottle of wine.

Grooms "I Think We're Alone Now"

I have really been feelin Grooms' record Infinity Caller, in no small part to the shoe-gaze-on-adderall super track that is "I Think We're Alone Now".

Pusha T "King Push"

It's that Pusha T joint that Joaquin Phoenix produced that we have all been excited for:



Pusha T - King Push from Nathaniel Brown on Vimeo.

EMA -- Past Life Martyred Saints

I was a fan of the EMA record when it dropped a few years back, but I can't say I was in love with it. There were a few songs I liked..maybe even REALLY liked,  but it never truly resonated with me. And then last weekend I had my come-to-Jesus moment with Past Life Martyred Saints.

At the behest of a friend, I revisited the record, bringing with me a more seasoned ear, bloodshot eyes and beer-soaked breath. Sitting on my coach with my headphones on, blankly staring at a Michigan football game wind down, I was blown away by the craftsmanship of the record. I loved the artistic intent of the record, the harsh intensity, the sonic brashness, the not-quite-perfect vocals; it was truly gripping.

To call it pop music would be unfair to both PLMS and to pop music, but it is certainly constructed with that blueprint in mind, even if it is just to color outside the lines. This is most prominent in "Breakfast", where the  structure of the song is traditional pop, with a chanted repetition kicking off the song and remaining throughout, but the content is far too stark and melancholy to be heard on your local station. In "Breakfast" as well as "California",  the use of popular children's lyrics nudges you towards the realization that this is almost a nursery rhyme. Granted, it has taken a strange, weird turn, but at its heart it is a bubblegum pop song.

Call it post-pop, call it alternative, call it whatever gets you through the night, but the most important thing to do with this album is listen, and let it call out to you.

Chvrches -- "It's Not Right, But It's Okay"

Chvrches follow up the release of their debut with a cover of Whitney Houston's "It's Not Right, But It's Okay".

Zane Lowe is just happy to be done with Kanye.

Kanye Gives Classic Kanye Interview, Gets Mad about People Making Fun of it in Typical Kanye Fashion

Kanye was in rare form when interviewed by BBC Radio's elder-statesman Zane Lowe, flirting with the line between genius and complete lunatic. As always, this made him susceptible to criticism and, as always, he did not take kindly to the criticism. His chosen method of retaliation: Twitter.

Clams Casino "Crystals"

Pretty sure this is what Todd had running through his mind when he killed ol' girl in front of Jesse last week on Breaking Bad

Polica "Smug"

New cut from the 'Sota pseudo-super group.

How to Dress Well "I Think Life Might Be Elsewhere"

Only Tom Krell could pull off a stunt like this and make it worth my time to listen to:

Greeks Protest after Rapper is Stabbed

Greeks riot after a rapper is murdered in a brawl by a fascist:


Check out the full story:

http://news.msn.com/world/protests-in-athens-after-rappers-murder

Porcelain Raft "Warehouse"

Porcelain Raft makes wistful, washy whimsical pop that manages to stand out in a world full of wistful, washy whimsical pop.

Below is "Warehouse" off of his latest, Permanent Signal.

Arctic Monkeys --AM

The Arctic Monkeys' newest is the strongest since their debut. Striking a perfect balance between their influences and the contemporary, the record sounds like either the most forward-thinking band in the 70's or the coolest revivalists of 2013.

Side note: S/O to whomever decided to make the drums so thunderous in the mix. It sounds like dude is using Thor's hammer on the tom-tom. Me likey.

Volcano Choir "Comrade"

The fortnight
Eye to eye the culprit
Just rid the fucking pulpit
I ain't giving you another full ride

Active Child "Evening Ceremony"

Active Child is coming through Chicago in a few months. Catch me at the front row.

Chance the Rapper x James Blake - "Life Round Here"

The best parts of both James Blake and Chance the Rapper are on display with this one, which was created after the duo met each other at SXSW. Behold, the beauty of networking:

Superchunk "Driveway To Driveway"

Driveway to driveway drunk
I don't remember this too well
Glad I have the scrapes to prove
Prove it was me who fell
And the names were all we knew
And the names were all erased

Clinton Sparks ft. 2 Chainz, Riff Raff, Waka Flocka Flame "Turnt Up"

Some thoughts on "Turnt Up"

• This song doesn't re-invent the wheel, it just throws 26's on it and straps it to a muscle car controlled by a drunk driver.
• I can't listen to this song at the gym because I will lift all the weights at once. 
• They can't play this song at a bar because someone will catch a bottle to the back of their head.
• This song is the logical conclusion of electo-rap that began with "Stronger" and got "trapped" by Lex Luger and Waka on Flockavelli. 
• Both 2 Chainz and Riff Raff body their verses

Check out the track, appearing on Clinton Spark's My Awesome Mixtape 4.

Active Child "Subtle" Ft. Mikky Ekko

The latest from Active Child is described by the man himself as one of the most sonically challenging songs in his catalog.

Kings of Leon "Dancing On My Own" (Robyn Cover)

Kings of Leon masterfully cover "Dancing On My Own".

Gucci Mane Twitter Rant

What took place last night was nothing short of astounding, as Gucci Mane took to twitter for hours on end to fire shots at Waka Flocka, Atlantic Records, Nikki Minaj and seemingly anyone else that he felt deserved it. Claiming to have slept with roughly 1/3 of all rappers' significant others, Guwop stumbled through the english language like a drunk crossing an icy street, with Twitter serving as the long line of cars that are sitting idly, waiting for him to finally get to the other side.

'Twas a glorious episode. Long live Gucci. Thank god for Twitter.

Beer in the Hand / Beer in the Face: Concert Edition

Time for another exciting round of Beer in the Hand or Beer in the face: Willis Earl Beal Concert.

Beer in the Hand: The man himself. Willis Earl Beal is cooler than you will ever be, so please don't try. It is embarrassing for everyone. I saw the dude before the show at the bar; he was wearing all black, including a black longsleeve of his own design. Oh, and a mask. Yeah, a fucking mask. At a bar. Just because.
He also crushed the concert, putting on a great performance for his hometown crowd.

Beer in the Face: Me. Way too drunk. Like...wayyyyyyy too drunk.

Beer in the Hand: Schubas. Somehow my antics didn't get me thrown out by the britches Jazzy Jeff style. I appreciate that.

Beer in the Hand: The new Willis Earl Beal record, which was purchased at the venue and gifted to me. Shit is next level.

Willis Earl Beal "Coming Through" ft. Cat Power

When I saw Willis Earl Beal in person outside of his concert, I asked him to get my friend on the guest list because the show was sold out. He obliged. I remember thinking I was speaking to a character from a movie--there was no way someone could look like that and actually be that cool in real life. Turns out one dude can.

Here is the new joint with Cat Power.

King Krule - 6 Feet Beneath the Moon

I have been anxiously awaiting the full-length release from British crooner King Krule since I heard "Out Getting Ribs" back when I was still in college (!).

6 Feet Beneath the Moon is a good introduction to the ginger with the most soul on the planet. His British-Elvis-on-Promethezine voice is the clear stand out--arcing, dipping, stretching and longing for better times, whether describing the dullness of the every day or the manic moments of heartache. His clean electric guitar serves as a perfect foil, piercing the synthetic stillness of each track like wood being chopped in a December morning. There is a real beauty in the simplicity of each King Krule composition--he has a real way of making the negative space of a track operate like an instrument--but it also can make the LP seem slightly too long.

There is a delicate balance between creating a "sound" for a record (or a career) that is unique and making sure to not have each track lost in the mire. For this record, the drums are the x factor, with the best cuts serving up the most interesting percussion. "Foreign 2" is a personal favorite.

While culling a few redundancies would really serve 6 Feet Beneath the Moon well,  in the grand scheme of things, it is a petty criticism. This record is a solid debut from an artist with great potential.

Gunplay "Bible on the Dash"

Since hearing Hemsworth throw this down in his Pitchfork set, I've listened to it at least once a day.

Kings of Leon "Wait for Me"

Kings of Leon are looking to make the world forget about the backlash and thus create the backlash to the backlash, completing the hype cycle with this newest record.

Teengirl Fantasy "Dancing in Slow Motion"

Re-visited this jam and I am pretty sure it is the best slow jam of the last five years  the last decade 

all time.

Seriously.

Yuck "Middle Sea"

A new Yuck album is coming out in October, which brings me immense joy and allows me to scratch off another request from my 2013 wish list.

Warren Zevon "Play it All Night Long"

There ain't much to country livin'

Sweat, piss, jizz and blood

Pavement "Gold Soundz"

I have been listening to Pavement recently because I decided to stop pretending that I didn't need to understand what every indie band has been referencing.  "Gold Soundz" is an absolute gem.

Kendrick Lamar "Control" Verse

Everyone lost their collective shit over this Kendrick Lamar verse on Big Sean's "Control". I simply don't understand it. Yes, he "called out" many rappers but in the friendliest of ways. He essentially said, I like you guys but I am better than you, which is what every rapper has said since the dawn of time. Moreover, his verse is mediocre. My biggest knock on Kendrick is that he has a tendency to make a technically sound verse without actually saying anything clever. His verse on "Control" is a perfect example of this.

So there's that.

Oh, and if every rapper could stop making a "response" verse...that'd be great.

Young Fathers "I Heard"

Young Fathers is certainly a band to watch. Somewhere between Why and The Streets with a little Vampire Weekend peppered in, these guys have a laid down a nice blueprint with their sound. Tape Two isn't the eight wonder of the world, but it is far from shoddy. Maybe Tape Three  finds them tapping into their Howard Roark and making something for the ages.

Get a glimpse of the potential with "I Heard".

Diarrhea Planet "Kids"

Awful name, dope band.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jake from JEFF the Brotherhood a few weeks ago, and he recommended these friends and fellow Infinity Cat signees Diarrhea Planet.

For real though, Nashville is the new Seattle. Mark my words.


Check out "Kids" off of  I'm Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams. 

Death Grips "Birds"

Post-Rap experimental shit that almost makes me forget about how they just didn't fucking show for a the Chicago show (which I was desperately trying to get tickets for and am now happy I didn't. Procrastination for the win!).

Excuses, Excuses

I haven't posted in over a fortnight. But I need not tell you.
I know there has been a void in your heart and in your ear in my absence. I apologize. The reasons are simple.

1. I have started a new job that consumes my life
2. My laptop is broken

Fear not. I am back again. I am hittin y'all with hot tracks from the last two weeks. And rants. And very short sentences. It is my new thing.
K, I'm bored with it.
But hot tracks, yeah, I'm still into that.

Boom!

CFCF "Jump Out of the Train"

CFCF has been releasing heavy hit after heavy hit. I can't wait to get this record on Oct. 24. This new one has a Peter Gabriel sample and features Active Child so, yeah, it's a winner.

Frankie Rose "Sorrow"

A new cut from that new Frankie Rose LP dropping September 24.

Tobias Jesso Jr "Just a Dream"

I know it's not that nice 
But, hey
It's just a dream

London Grammar "Feelings"

London Grammar further cement they are the best band to be exclusively inspired by the XX and Florence and the Machine. 

A$AP Rocky - Thuggin' Noise (It's Hemsworth, Bitch edit)

After announcing a tour with Cyril Hahn, Hemsworth drops a gem on us.

Lollapalooza

I ventured out to Lollapalooza to see what all the fuss was about. It was over-saturated with people but it was certainly worth the price of admission. I caught an incredible set by Palma Violets, then ticked Wild Nothing off the wish list, was impressed by Teagan and Sara, stood behind a 55 year old lady who was wayyy more into Alt -J than I was, watched a little Vampire Weekend, and turned up at both 2 Chainz and Major Lazer before ending the night with The Cure.

All in all, it was a beautiful day for music.

Jon Hopkins "Breathe This" ft. Purity Ring

Action Bronson in a Nursing Home

My Nana woulda been turnt up. Just sayin'.

Pitchfork Music Festival

I went to Pitchfork Music festival on Friday and Saturday. 'Twas a great success. I haven't had much time to blog, between starting a big-boy job and catching up on Mad Men, but a quick hit of the festival:

Flanked by a beautiful lady and an old friend on Friday, I watched performances from Daughn Gibson, Mac Demarco, Woods, Joanna Newsom and Bjork.  A late night show of Daughn Gibson/Merchandise capped off the night.

Saturday had me seeing Julia Holter, White Lung, Parquet Courts, Savages, Ryan Hemsworth, Solange and Belle and Sebastian.

Savages and Mac Demarco were the two biggest surprises, as I had no expectations and LOVED  both sets. Two completely different approaches (Savages being raw and aggressive, Mac Demarco being hilarious and fun loving) but both were effective.

Parquet Courts were everything I thought they would be.

Being introduced to Bjork and Belle and Sebastian on a huge stage surrounded by 10,000 fans is a magical thing.

Daughn Gibson/Merchandise was a great, great night cap on Friday. So loud.

Ryan Hemsworth is the reason I have a hurt neck right now. Just too much head nodding.

If it weren't for pesky responsibilities I would have certainly gone back on Sunday but, alas, the kid has to make money.

Kings of Leon "Supersoaker"

They're baaaaack

Keep Shelly In Athens "Recollection"

Dream pop bliss from Keep Shelly In Athens. Check out their debut LP on September 17 via CASCINE.

The Alchemist "Camp Registration" Ft. Step Brothers, Action Bronson, Blu and Domo Genesis

When The Alchemist makes a posse cut, you listen to it. 'Nuff said.

Deeco and JME "Let's Roll"

JME is one of the better personalities of the 2000's, doing for the grime scene what Das Racist and Riff Raff have done for hip hop as of late (eg treating the genre like a teen treats a parents' car;  getting behind the wheel, driving erratically and making jokes about what is seen in the rearview).

This new cut with Deeco is bananas. I always love to hear JME's approach on a track because I know it is going to be something original..."Let's Roll" is no different. While it is more straight ahead then, say, "Punch in the Face", he peppers in enough JME-isms to let you know who is controlling the mic. The outcome is three near-perfect JME verses put over a bottle rocket of a beat.

And if you disagree, remember... if he says a shit bar then he's trolling.

Skepta "Castles"

Got me thinking I'm looking at my enemy when I'm looking at my own people
Notice when a white man looks at my watch, I think he is trying to pay me a compliment
When a black man looks at my watch, I think he is trying to knock my confidence

July 15 Mix

I made a mix today.

Just Andre 3000's verse of "Sixteen"

Andre Benjamin at his best. Rap Game Matt LeTissier.

Rich Boy "Throw Some D's" (Simon SMTHNG Remix)

Like putting cherry in Pepsi

Autre Ne Veut "On & On"

Your faith goes on and on

Red Bull Music Academy Interviews

Great website for very long, extensive interviews with some great artists. Below is the interview with the enigmatic MF DOOM

King Krule "Easy Easy"

King Krule unleashes a new cut from his debut LP, 6 Feet Beneath the Moon, out August 24.

Mikal Cronin on Yours Truly

The masterminds over at Yours Truly follow Mikal Cronin and show you how the sausage is made. For the record, I still want to eat it.

PAPA "Young Rut"

Yeah, so it is well documented that the break up of Girls made me cry a little, and I will never say that I'm happy it happened, but uhhhh I FUCK WITH PAPA HARD THO!

PAPA, you are my favorite mistake.

The Streets "Let's Push Things Forward"

That ain't a bag it's a shipment
That ain't a track it's a movement

Jay-z - Magna Carta Holy Grail

Sean Carter is 42 and is unequivocally still the champion of the rap game . He has released a must-hear record in three different decades. He has more #1 records than Elvis. He is 1/2 of the  most powerful couple in America not in the White House. So it was with a high-octance cocktail of hesitation and nervous excitement that I listened to Magna Carta Holy Grail yesterday. I wanted it to be great but I also knew that  it was made by a man with every reason to slack off. This acknowledgement, coupled with an ad campaign that set expectations at Empire State Building-level heights, SHOULD have made this record a disappointment; but it didn't. Aside from immaculate production and the dexterous flow that are prerequisites for a Jay-z record, Hova impressively employs new approaches on his twelfth album, leaving you with the feeling that you are talking to an old friend who just returned from a trip abroad--it's the same guy, but he has a slightly new outlook on the world.

Jay-z is always ahead of the curve when it comes to making money, whether it be starting his own label, heading a clothing line, sponsoring a vodka, owning a club or the 360 deal with LiveNation, he simply won't settle for the status quo. It is no surprise, then, that he released this album with Samsung to ensure it had a million copies moved before it even dropped. He is also a man that has never shied awy from picking up on trends in the industry and putting his own spin on them. The influences of Kendrick Lamar (longer tracks with beat changes and different flows) and A$AP Rocky (a song entitled Tom Ford) are prevalent on Magna Carta Holy Grail. But by studying new talent and adding his favorite aspects of their approach to his own game, Jay-z  has managed to sound fresh with each successive release. This same approach led him to making a gem at a stage in his life where many are on their second or third profession. By being both forward-thinking and decidedly present moment, Jay-z makes Magna Carta Holy Grail a candidate for album of the year in a year replete with deserving selections.

Jay uses the dialectical yin and yang approach to perfectly strike a balance between the thought-provoking and the playful, the sentimental and the gritty, the rear-view recollections and the Gringotts-level of luxury he lives in presently. And it is beautiful. After Yeezus, there was a lot of talk about Kanye surpassing Jay-z in the race to have the best catalog (mostly by me) but with the drop of  Magna Carta Holy Grail, Mr. Carter retakes the crown. Long live the King.

Mount Kimbie "You Took Your Time" (ft. King Krule)

Mount Kimbie and King Krule collaborate to cook up on of the tastiest songs of the year.

Top Releases of 2013 Thus Far

Below is a list of my favorite records, EPs and mixtapes in 2013* at the mid-year point, in alphabetical order by artist.

Action Bronson - Saaab Stories

A$AP Rocky - Long.Live.A$AP

The Babies-Our House on the Hill

Chance the Rapper-Acid Rap

Christopher Owens-Lysandre

Kanye West - Yeezus

Kurt Vile  - Wakin on a Pretty Daze

ndeluv-Summer Jamz Vol. 2

Parquet Courts - Light Up Gold 

Pusha T - Wrath of Caine

Spook Houses-Trying

Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City
Waaves-Afraid of Heights
Wild Nothing - Empty Estate

*and late 2012 that I didn't hear until 2013

Talking Heads "Dream Operator"

You wish you were me
I wish I was you
Don't you wake up
This dream will come true

Mid-Year Round-Up: Top Tracks of 2013 Thus Far

I have made a Spotify playlist of my favorite tracks to have been released in 2013 thus far.

As Spotify didn't have some of my favorite songs, I made a supplementary Youtube list--mostly because "London" "hitmyline" and "Camera" are maybe the 3 best songs of the year and need to be heard.

Daughter "Winter"

And we were in flames I needed, I needed you
To run through my veins like disease, disease
And now we are strange, strangers

 

The Neighbourhood "Flawless"

I just can't wait for love to destroy us
I just can't wait for love 

Rev. Al Sharpton signs to Cash Money Records

Al Sharpton signed a book deal through Cash Money Records. I can't wait to read the foreward by Birdman. Check out the full story here.

Kevin Gates "4:30 A.M."

We have all been there--it is the wee hours of the morning and you are still awake, thinking about the skeletons in your closet. This usually happens after a long bender or a sleepless night, when there is no one else to distract you and nowhere left to go. The only thing left to do is give yourself over to your anxieties and ruminate on past vignettes that you'd love to forget. Kevin Gates channels this intense moment to create "4:30 A.M.", where he relays some of his own haunted past. In two minutes and forty seven seconds, Gates tells two of the darkest stories to come from the American South since Flannery O'Connor.

Magna Carta Holy Grail Preview

I haven't been so excited for an album to drop since back when Kanye dropped Yeezus!

iamsu! "Best Thing Yet"

The Bay Area's iamsu! does his best  "Last Call" impression on "Best Thing Yet" with great success.

Jimmy Fallon/The Doors "Reading Rainbow"

My good friend Dan showed me this clip the other day. It is brilliant.

Volcano Choir "Byegone"

With Bon Iver on hiatus, Justin Vernon has turned his attention to other projects--Gayngs, being the J. Lo to Kanye's Ja Rule, and Volcano Choir. The latter is releasing an album in September on Jagjaguwar and have put out a new track, "Byegone". With side projects like these, who needs a main gig?

Action Bronson "Heel Toe"

Control the whip with one arm like Richard Kimball

Stream the New Daughn Gibson Record

Head over to NPR (by clicking here) and check out the new Daughn Gibson record Me Moan.

Vince Staples - Stolen Youth

The new next-to-blow cat drops a mixtape featuring everyone.

ndeluv - SUMMER JAMZ VOL 2

R & B stoner-extraordinaire ndeluv blesses us with a new mixtape to rock with on those late night burn cruises. "hitmyline" is one of the best tracks of the year--it is also the best song The Weeknd never made.
I hope Kid Cudi doesn't hear this dude, because I imagine he will become obsessed trying to figure out how ndeluv pulls of this style so well. It'll be like the R&B version of The Prestige.

Drake "The Motion" and "Jodeci Freestyle"

"The Motion" is the most Drake song Drake has ever released. It is like he conscientiously made a song to be used when explaining why Drake is popular. It has all the Drake elements--verses that incorporate a litany of cleanly-in-the-pocket punches, slightly off-key singing, emo subject matter and top-shelf production. If it had a mentioned a condo I would have thought it was a ghost-written by someone trying to be Drake.

"Jodeci Freestyle" is that mixtape shit that started his meteoric rise. His wordplay is on point--The whole scheme about caps lock/shift/return is crazy...and the middle finger to the sore spot is vintage Drizzy...and that "hang you with it as soon as I show you the ropes".  Don't look me in the face and tell me dude is wack because I don't like being lied to.

Dylan Ettinger "Pale Mare"

"Pale Mare" from Dylan Ettinger is the sonic equivalent to eating acid and walking through a haunted house.

Mikky Ekko "Pull Me Down" (Ryan Hemsworth Remix)

I somehow missed that Mikky Ekko did a track with Clams Casino that was subsequently remixed by Ryan Hemsworth back back in February. Check it.

Twin Peaks "Stand in the Sand"

I have read three different stories about Twin Peaks since moving here. There is a reason why they are garnering so much attention. But don't take it on on faith:

Tree "Devotion"

Further proof that Chicago's rap scene is better than your city's rap scene:

All Moved in to the City of Wind

I'm back like I never left. Did you miss me? Of course you did. Bullet point catch up blog:

• I have finally finished my move to Chicago. (CHICAGO AIN'T LOOKED THIS GOOD SINCE THE BULLS HAD MJ!!) Accompanying me on my drive in was the new Kanye CD which is pretty damn impressive. Nothing that I can say about it will top this write-up by Steven Hyden so click here. I will say that this album puts 'Ye as the hip-hop artist with the best catalog, passing Jay-z. It takes a lot for me to say anything that could be construed as negative about Hova, so take that as the utmost compliment, Yeezy. ( I feel confident speaking directly to Yeezus 'cuz I know the Illuminati track this website and he will see it.)
• In related news, Jay-z is dropping an album in July that will be free to all people who own a Samsung phone because he is Jay-z and he loves guaranteed money. 
• Kanye and Kim named their kid North West. I swear to God. I am not making this up. Be on the lookout for the child's autobiography North by North West.
• I listened to a lot of "Rewind" radio which has now become music from my childhood because I am getting old. A few takeaways about the weird and wonderful late 90's/00s top 40:
• Christina Aguilera sings like a beached mermaid and "Beautiful" is one of the most trite songs ever recorded. 
• Nelly legit used the word "dirty" as a pronoun and people accepted it. As in, "Come here, dirty" and "I know you and dirty got ties for different reasons". What were we thinking, America? We are all to blame for letting that happen.
•  I'm pretty sure Blu Cantrell is the reason why they developed identity theft technology.
• EVERYTHING I LOVED AS A KID AND DISOWNED AS A TEENAGER I NOW LOVE AGAIN
• I am currently in the developmental stages of creating a film with a good friend of mine that is a re-make of Saturday Night Fever. The music will be exclusively from the new Daft Punk record. It will star Zac Effron, Get on board, America. 

Mr. Muthafuckin' Exquire - Kismet

Mr. Muthafuckin' Exquire compares himself to some of the Mount Rushmore of soul music in "Vanilla Rainbows" on his latest mixtape Kismet. While I don't necessarily agree with the comparison, I do agree with his sentiment that he is cut from a different cloth than many of the rappers in the game today. Any doubters need only to give Kismet a spin.
Never shying away from contradictions, Exquire presents a tape that features braggadocio and self-doubt, gratitude and dismissal, love songs and misogyny, boom-bap revivalism and present day production trends.
In other words, Exquire created a mixtape that presumably reflects the contradictions in his own life, leaving you feeling like you have just had a conversation with the man rather than simply having heard a collection of songs by his alter ego. Most importantly, after a single listen, he makes you want to hear more about his life. This, more than anything, is indication that we won't have to wait long to do so.

Pusha T "Who I Am" ft. 2 Chainz and Big Sean

Pusha T drops another crumb on the trail leading to his G.O.O.D Music debut My Name is My Name. On "Who I Am", Push goes in on the grimiest of beats and almost makes up for the lackluster Big Sean and 2 Chainz verses.

Himanshu is My Spirit Animal

They said get a real job only blog weekly
But I don't need blogs, told you blogs need me!

The Replacements are Re-Uniting

The Replacements are re-uniting for a tour this year, including multiple shows in Chicago. Fuck yeah. Check the article here.

Mexican Summer

Mexican Summer is a Brooklyn-based label with a proclivity for signing under-appreciated dream pop, jangle and fuzz-inflected acts. A quick scroll through their Soundcloud yields more than a few tracks that should quickly become staples on the ol' summer playlist:

"1/4 Circle Break" is a lush, infectious 80's-infused pop tune from Jorge Elbrecht. Listen once and have it running through your head all day.

"Hare Tarot Lies" oscillates between dark and euphoric, keeping you nodding your head the whole way through.


Part Time hail from San Francisco and sculpt Smiths-inspired gems such as the one below.

Serengeti "Crush Em"

Serengeti lends his dead-pan delivery to his alter-ego Kenny, a member of the equally fictional Chicago rap outfit tha Grimm Teachaz, on "Crush 'Em". The track sounds like a schizophrenic's conversation with himself in front of a bathroom mirror recorded over a boom-bap loop, which is to say I'm a fan.

Oh, Kanye

In my favorite passage from the recent Kanye West interview with the New York Times, Kanye manages to paint himself as a crusader for justice/dream enabler, equate himself to Michael Jordan, complain about the Grammys, deny caring about the Grammys and ask the world to be more accurate with their statistics-- all in the span of two paragraphs!! It is beautiful.

Yeah — you put me on the team. So I’m going to use my platform to tell people that they’re not being fair. Anytime I’ve had a big thing that’s ever pierced and cut across the Internet, it was a fight for justice. Justice. And when you say justice, it doesn’t have to be war. Justice could just be clearing a path for people to dream properly. It could be clearing a path to make it fair within the arena that I play. You know, if Michael Jordan can scream at the refs, me as Kanye West, as the Michael Jordan of music, can go and say, “This is wrong.”

You’ve won a lot of Grammys.

“[My Beautiful] Dark [Twisted] Fantasy” and “Watch the Throne”: neither was nominated for Album of the Year, and I made both of those in one year. I don’t know if this is statistically right, but I’m assuming I have the most Grammys of anyone my age, but I haven’t won one against a white person.

But the thing is, I don’t care about the Grammys; I just would like for the statistics to be more accurate.



Later in the interview West delivered what I consider to be the greatest single sentence in human history by saying  

"The longer your ‘gevity is, the more confidence you build"

Absolutely.

Loretta Lynn

I first heard Loretta Lynn through the speakers of my mom's mid-90s Buick Regal driving through the backroads of Kentucky, in one of my adolescent summers that have been blurred together due to substance abuse or otherwise repressed by my subconscious desires.  That moment shared with Loretta Lynn, however, has not lost its definition, and no amount of self destruction or self-preservation will ever make it fade from memory. Her voice seemed to be designed to further punctuate the surroundings of the rural landscape just as her lyrical content seemed to be created  to lessen the blow of the oppressive heat. "You ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man) " was pumping through the dashboard, along with an A/C unit that had seen better days, as I sat in the front seat on our way to God knows where.

I remember my mom doing her trademark mannerism of joyful recognition when she found the song on the dial--cocking her head back and to the left slightly--followed by her yelping out  "Aw! Loretta Lynn! How 'bout that!" and turning up the volume. To be honest, it was my mom's excitement that probably got me excited about this first experience with Loretta Lynn in the mid-90s, as kids love to pretend to love what their parents actually love. But my excitement hearing Loretta Lynn again in 2013 was anything but contrived.

My girlfriend and I popped in a Greatest Hits CD while driving through the Bluegrass early last week and Loretta again sang to me from behind a dusty dashboard in a car past its prime. The stifling heat and winding backgrounds took me right back to my younger days in my mom's beat-up Regal, but my fifteen extra years on this earth took me to a brand new place of appreciation for Ms. Lynn.

A hallmark of any good writer is that they have a style so unique, so decidedly their own, that it is immediately recognizable to even the casual listener. Loretta Lynn is at the top of my list in this regard. Few other writers, country, female or otherwise, will ever write lyrics that are simultaneously so brazenly regional, effortlessly universal, warts-and-all biographical and laugh-out-loud funny.Songs like "Don't Come Home a-Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)" and "Fist City" are as funny today as they were when they were recorded, and tracks like "The Pill"  prove even more important with the virtue of hindsight, as we are still struggling with women's roles in art and society today.

The notes of this particular greatest hits collection gave some interesting facts about the pride of Johnson County. Lynn was born a coal miner's daughter, married at the age of 15, was a protege of the great Patsy Cline, had 16 number one hits and had a song banned from radio play for "lewd" content. The rags-to-riches biography and the undeniable talent is the reason why she is one of the most recognizable names in old-time country. It is also the reason she was sought out by Jack White for their collaboration that led to her comeback and subsequent Grammy in the 2000's for the album Van Lear Rose. There is little doubt that there is a more deserving person to hold the title as The Queen of County Music.

Hearing Loretta Lynn sing country music is like hearing Miles Davis play jazz or Nas rap; they are the perfect embodiment of their genre, endowed with the unique ability to create music that transports you to the time and place where it was recorded, or anywhere else they desire to send you.

Muddy Waters "Champagne and Reefer"

Bring me champagne when I'm thirsty
bring me reefer when I want to get high
Well you know when I'm lonely
Bring my woman, set her right here by my side

Miley Cyrus "We Can't Stop"

Miley Cyrus gets the Mike Will Made It treatment.

Action Bronson-Saaab Stories

Action Bronson released his latest EP collaboration with Harry Fraud. It is better than I could have imagined. Bronson is as quotable and funny as ever (I'm bout to buy an alligator for my birthday!) and Fraud makes a case for being the best producer out right now (and probably would be if Mike Will Made It didn't just make a Miley Cyrus song that slaps).

This is music to have fun to. What separates it from other music of that ilk is that it is actually fun to listen to.

 Check out one of the singles below:

Washed Out "It All Feels Right"

From the upcoming LP Paracosm, out August 13

Close my eyes

Think about the old times

What's it all about? 

The feeling when it all works out.

Casino and Riff Raff "White" Remix

Riff Raff goes full Riff Raff on this Casino track.

New Okkervil River Record Coming Soon

Per Pitchfork, New Hampshire's finest, Okkervil River, is dropping a new record on September 3. It is apparently called The Silver Gymnasium but otherwise, this album should be brilliant.
For those that need convincin':

CFCF "Camera"

Stunning new CFCF. Hard to describe how much I feel this song.

George Pelecanos, Nick's Trip and the Music Therein

George Pelecanos has great taste in music and it bleeds through his work. Along with writing The Wire and Treme, the dude pens taut crime novels that are soaked in D.C. insider knowledge and music savvy.
I highly recommend his Nick Stefanos trilogy (which I finished this last week) not only for the entertainment value but also for the great music discussed.

Equally comfortable citing deep cuts in classic rock, funk,  rap, college radio, R & B and soul, Pelecanos mentions the music playing in a given scene to enhance the mood and/or for the reader to gain further insight into the characters. Reading his books has turned me on to some great artists and some overlooked tracks.

Below are a collection of such songs culled from Nick's Trip and What it Was.

Purgatory and the Accompanying Music

I am stuck in Purgatory. The map calls it Fort Wayne, Indiana but I know better.
Having traveled from Boston to Niagara Falls to Fort Wayne to Chicago to Fort Wayne to Jasper to Louisville to Lexington to Louisville now again to Fort Wayne in the last week and a half, I can say with conviction that this is the weigh station of the after-life. Nothing happens here and every action is judged (I'm staying with in-laws). It isn't the worst thing but it sure ain't the best.

The apartment I wanted in Chicago went to other renters and I am now in the process of getting another. Hopefully, our paperwork will go through and we can be moved in to our Midwest heaven by the end of the week. However, as I have found out again recently, the devil is in the detail. All I can do is hold my breath and bide my time.

IN OTHER NEWS

While in Lexington, I stopped by my favorite CD store to pick up some music. CD Central is one of the last brick and mortar bastions and it is being kept alive by young people. Located on the most popular street for UK students, it is surrounded by a fantastic pizza place, a campus bookstore, an incensed-soaked independently run bookstore/head shop clearly opened in the 60's and an all night eatery for those marathon drinking study sessions.
The moment Louisville's beloved Ear Ecstasy shut its doors, this spot became the best record store in the Bluegrass. My return trip was the first of its kind in three years, and stepping into the cramped space found me drowning in a  wave of nostalgia.

---Flashback time--- *Twinkling chimes and gentle string music*

As a freshman in high school, I saw The Black Keys perform at CD Central, along with about sixty other people who knew what the fuck was good.  I will never forget how LOUD this duo seemed, how cool I felt seeing them be so loud and how cool I thought Dan Auerbach was when I asked him to sign a CD for my sister's graduation gift.

Fifteen minutes after the Keys had ripped through a righteously raucous blues-rock set, I approached the lead singer for a John Hancock. He and the drummer had both signed copies of another disc for me during the designated signing session but I had purchased another album at the last minute to give as a gift to my older sister, who had first told me of the band.
Intently focused on the CD's he was rifling through, Auerbach didn't notice me as I approached but couldn't have been happier when he spotted me. He thanked me numerous times for coming out to the gig and gave some sage advice about autograph signing: "Whenever in doubt, just sign it 'Wish you were here'."
Thus, my elder sibling has a CD signed: "To Leslie, Wish you were here", and I have a moment I will never forget.

---Return to present---

I was in the market for a few records I had been listening to a lot recently but had neglected to purchase, along with some country classics--I was particularly interested in buying some Dolly Parton.
I snagged the new Wild Nothing EP and the Kurt Vile record that I had been wearing out. I also picked up Warren Zevon's Excitable Boy from the $5 rack because I was on a road trip and you have to have Excitable Boy on a road trip. You just do.
Alongside the Zevon record was Springsteen's Nebraska. I scooped that up along with The Dramatics' greatest hits and Sonic Youth's Goo.
To my surprise, CD Central had no Dolly Parton. It wasn't that they didn't have sections designated for her--they did--they were simply out of stock. It seems Ms. Parton is as popular as ever in Kentucky. As a consolation prize, I settled on Loretta Lynn's greatest hits, which turned out to be the disc played the most on this trip. Funny how life can go.
I will get around to making a playlist for these records in the near future and I will post it here, along with a review of the content.

For now, I have to go eat breakfast in silence.
Did I mention there isn't even a radio in this house?
Am I sure this isn't hell?

Kevin Gates "Roaming Around"

I keep hearing about Kevin Gates. I heard he is a bonafide star in the South and that it is only a matter of time before he blows. I heard a story about how he showed up three hours late to a lunch interview but paid for the interviewers meal to make up for it. I heard he can attract close to 1,000 people to a show, without the backing of a major label. Now, for the first time, I have heard what all the fuss is about. Check out "Roaming Around" below.

Jacques Green and How to Dress Well "On Your Side" Video

Jacques Green teamed up with my man How to Dress Well to make a track called "On Your Side". Check out the tune (AND INTERACTIVE VIDEO!!!!1!!?!!) here.

Moving, Daughn Gibson and My Re-kindled Love of Radio

I have been in the process of moving from Boston to Chicago and haven't been posting as a result. I will say that the cross-country move has found me listening to the radio more in the last few days than the last few years combined. Be it old-timey country, evangelical rants, new hip-hop (Power 92.3 in Chicago is going to be a new favorite) or some 90's hits, the radio has been on for the entire 20 hour drive.

When I can, I have been taking peeks at news outlets. A week or so ago I heard a new Daughn Gibson track. Also, I heard rumors that Chance the Rapper is going to sign with TDE.

For now, here is that Daughn Gibson track. I will be back in the habit of daily posting once all of this mayhem settles down.

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young "Almost Cut My Hair"

I feel
like I owe it
to someone

Kanye Kills it on SNL

I will never forget watching Kanye West debut two new songs last night on Saturday Night Live. It is one of my favorite musical experiences of my life. Watch "Black Skinhead" and "New Slaves" below.

Wikipedia, Outkast and Andre 3000

While it is true that Wikipedia wormholes are a procrastinator's best friend, they often yield fascinating results. Today's example: Outkast won Album of the Year for Spearkboxxx/Love Below at the 2004 Grammy Awards.  They did not simply win rap album of the year (which they also won that year, as well as in 2003 for Stankonia) but Album of the Year--this is the first rap album to have won this award and is quite an accomplishment. Remembering this, and also realizing my relative deficinency in Outkast knowledge, I decided to dedicate the next few days (weeks? months?) to listening to their discogrophy.

Outkast, like Public Enemy, is a group I only know from their greatest hits, despite knowing that they are one of the pre-eminent rap groups of all time. In my mind, Outkast are in the top 5 rap groups ever assembled--and this is only based on some cursory listens to their first three albums, the radio cuts from Stankonia and listening to Speakerboxxx in my dad's car (my dad is a big fan of Big Boi).  Outkast also ranks as the best rap artists that do not belong in my collection--for whatever reason, I have never purchased an album. It is embarrassing, especially because I know I will love their records. I am a huge fan of what I have heard, Big Boi continues to release good material and Andre 3000 continues to impress with every feature verse.

**Sidebar: Is Andre 3000 the best featured rapper of all time? Honestly, name another rapper who has been so consistently dazzling on every track her appears on, regardless of context. Go ahead, I'll wait.
Case in point: This T.I. track, which features (maybe) the best rap verse of all time. Seriously.***



With this in mind, I am setting out to listen to every Outkast track ever released.

Now, if you excuse me, I have to continue my Wiki-wormhole. I am reading some riveting facts about the Soviet War.

John Grant "GMF"

On "GMF", John Grant refeclets on a broken relationship with wit, heartache and verisimilitude.
Take for example the chorus:

"I am the greatest motherfucker that you're ever gonna meet
from the top of my head down to the tips of my toes on my feet
so go ahead and love while its still a crime
don't forget you could be laughin' 65% more of the time"

What separates this track from, say, a Taylor Swift break-up track, is that Grant laments on wasting his own time and addresses his own perceived shortcomings as much as he does his former partner.
When I heard "I should have practiced my scales/ I shouldn't be attracted to males", it struck an immediate chord. Each time a relationship ends I look back thinking, "Fuck--I really could have spent the time I wasted with my ex doing far more constructive things than sex and dinner dates." Take note, T Swift.

"GMF" is a refreshing take on the catharsis of a post-break up track. I'm sorry you had to go through this bad time, JG, but then again, I'm so glad you did.

Kanye Unveils New Songs, New Rant

Kanye West took the stage a few days ago and played some new songs off his upcoming album. More importantly, Ye laid out a classic Kanye rant--impassioned, childish and full of contradictions. Quote West (via Miss Info):

I ain’t no muthafuckin celebrity … there’s one thing about me, I’m a terrible, terrible, terrible celebrity. I don’t know if you really know there’s one thing about me, but I’m the worst kind of — the worst kind of celebrity. All I do is make real music. All I do is sit in the studio and make real shit. And that’s it. And that’s muthafuckin' it. That’s muthafuckin' it!
So I don’t want no people runnin’ up on me with cameras, trying to like sell pictures and shit to magazines, asking me dumb-ass questions, throwin’ me off my focus and shit. Harassin’ you all muthafuckin' day. I ain’t no muthafuckin' celebrity.
It’s so funny. Somebody asked me, "When you do SNL, are you going to do a skit about the paparazzi and shit. And like humanize yourself?" I ain’t here to apologize to no muthafuckas, man. It ain’t about me humanizing myself. At one point did I become un-human where I had to turn myself back. Or maybe I was demonized, or maybe I was treated inhumane and not human in that type of situation. I ain’t no muthafuckin celebrity. I ain’t runnin’ for office. I ain’t kissin’ nobody’s muthafuckin' babies. I drop your baby and you muthafuckin' sue me and shit. I’m trying to make some music that inspires people to be the best that they can be. And I don’t want nobody else to ask anything of me! Don’t ask nothing else of me.
Muthafuckas chasin' you down, about to make you crash and shit. And all they want is for a n---- to laugh and shit. Hell nah, I ain’t doin no muthafuckin' SNL skits. This is my goddamn life. This ain’t no muthafuckin' joke.

I'm looking forward to seeing him on Saturday Night Live this week.

Ryan Hemsworth - Perfectly

Ryan Hemsworth doing what he does best:

Lana Del Rey

Having seen the new video for Lana Del Rey's contribution to The Great Gatsby soundtrack, I was reminded that I once wrote a review for LDR's first album (and that I used to actually write reviews) that doubled as a rant against overreaction on the internets. I found it and posted it below, along with Lana's video. Apologies to Lil B and Paul Wall...dunno why I was so mean back then.* In addition, sorry to my English teacher, my grammar is pretty poor in this write-up and I'm too lazy to fix it. Also, my copy/paste is weird about importing from GoogleDocs. LOLZ, rightguys?

Reviewing Lana Del Rey’s album is sort of like disecting Tim Tebow’s play; it is nearly impossible to take an unbiased approach. If this were a murder trial, LDR’s jury pool would have to be made up solely of the 1,514 scientists currently inhabiting Anarctica; everyone else on planet earth has seen SNL, has read the internets, or has had a roommate who posted a cover of “Video Games” to Youtube which garnered 1,000 hits.  These truths are indisputable, and the tastemakers who adjudicate talent and mete out praise would be the first to second my opinion.
The moment that one partakes in the hype machine, thus acting as a cog in its wheel, is the moment  they are prone to do crazy things. The examples are ample: Pitchfork, one of Del Rey’s most fervent supporters, gave the album a tepid 5.5. (By comparison, they gave Lil B’s newest mixtape a 6.3. No disrespect to Lil’ B but...actually, lots of disrespect to Lil’ B. Dude is garbage). The AV Club rated the album a D+ after running an article relating to her seemingly every day. Juliette Lewis (known for her fantastic live performances and angelic voi--wait, what?) likened Del Rey’s SNL perfromance to that of a 12 year old and said she was unworthy of taking the stage. Even Lovable Brian Williams joined in on the act, dropping his metaphorical trousers to dump on Ms. Del Rey by tweeting that her SNL performance was “the worst in SNL history”.  My advice to the reviewing world: CHILL THE FUCK OUT. Like the car dealer said to the aging bachelor, “Now, you are just overcompensating”.

    Overcompensation is a virulent presence in our current insta-media world and it seems to be here to stay. Like naps after bong hits, backlash after hype seems to be a necessary evil. To further understand what might lead a reviewer (read: anyone with a twitter) to make hyperbolic overstatements, let’s take a look at how one becomes an indie-buzz-darling:

1. Artist X creates song (s) 2. blog hears/loves song  3.blog runs piece on Artist X telling the world why they love Artist X and why the world should too 4. Reader agrees with blog, says so in comments section and social media 5. Blog tracks every performance, new track, and bowel movement of Artist X 6. Readers begin backlash due to overexposure and to ensure the continuation of the mantra “haters gonna hate”  7. Readers begin backlash to the backlash and spawn a war of words, where Artist X has now become the Best Thing Ever or the Worst Thing Ever 8. Artist releases album 9. Blog writes overly-critical review of album because it doesn’t fulfill ridiculous standards created in the hyperbolic battle that has been raging amongst readers since step 7, and to ensure the continuation of the mantra “we are unbiased 3rd parties”. God Bless you, Al Gore.

    When Paul Wall rapped the great lyric “ I got the internet goin’ nuts” in 2007, there is no way that he thought this is what goin’ nuts would become in 2012. I mean, how could he--I doubt the man has ever had a single coherent thought in his life. But syrup-sipping, diamond-grill studded Houston jewelers aside, no one could have forseen that this is where “journalism” was headed. IT IS THE WORST THING EVER!

    Tastemakers- that is to say blogs that give exposure to burgeoning indie artists--set trends. They fill the role once done by zines or music publications and hire writers who are at least adequate and mostly good.  A great review from Pitchfork can launch your career (just ask Japandroids) and I have no problem with this.(My beef lay not with you, Pitchfork, so please do not rate my writing a 1.0 like you did Childish Gambino’s album, which will surely become a first-ballot Overcompensation Hall of Fame inductee.)  My problem doesn’t lie with these websites, necessarily. The problem comes from those who comment on these sites and then cite the site (he sighted a cite?) to justify their point. It is an echo chamber of fuckery.

The elimination of a few key barriers of entry (eg a space to get your opinion heard, the need to have good taste, and the ability to write) has created a world where everyone is a critic. And by critic, I mean asshole.

Having had enough time to give the album multiple listens and detach myself (as much as I ever will) from the fervent back-and-forth, I say that the album is a B+. It would benefit from culling a few tracks but otherwise it is a sound piece of work. The production is stellar, as Del Rey spares no expense, getting top shelf work from the likes of  the man behind Kanye West’s Runaway. Del Rey presents to the world a concept album about what it means to be a heart-broken, high-society woman in 2012--a sort of bizzaro 808’s and Heartbreaks. At times, Del Rey seems obsessive about her lost beau, willing to do anything to ensure a different outcome to the story of her broken romance. Other times, she seems to think that trying to change her life is hopeless and forlorn--that she is destined to be forever alone.  At its best it is stirring, at it’s worst it is vanilla. Never is it terrible.

In conclusion, I would like to describe Lana Del Rey’s album by paraphrasing the late Al Davis’ defense of Jamarcus Russell: “It’s a good album! Get Over it!” Here’s hoping Lana Del Rey’s career doesn’t end like Russell’s.

*By "back then" I mean a year or so ago...but that is like, what, 12 years in internet time right?

Phaseone - If I Tell U

Phaseone is a master of mood whose genius will be respected more upon reflection by our posterity than it is by the present populus. For whatever reason, despite having immense talent and a sound that has been mimiced and tampered with to great success, Phaseone hasn't yet gotten his proper recognition.

Luckily, being criminally underrated hasn't corrupted the producer's spirit. His new LP, If I Tell U, stands as a testament to his  true imagination in a world replete with jejune clones.

A beer in the hand to ya, Phaseone

Jay-z "100$ Bill"

Forgot to post this one the other day. Beat is so tuff.

The-Dream ft. Jay-z "High Art"

Another day, another Jay-z feature.

Shots Fired Podcast

Featuring one of my favorite underground MC's, Nocando, Shots Fired is a hip-hop podcast actually worth listening to. Co-hosted by Jeff Weiss, it provides interesting insights into all things hip-hop. It is like talking to my friends, if my friends were as obsessive as I am.

Check out the podcast here.

Just for good measure, a Nocando video.

Chief Keef to Brick Squad, Makes song with Gucci Mane "Darker"

The Twittersphere is saying that Chief Keef is going to be the newest member of Brick Squad. Brrrr!

Behold: The first of many collabs between Gucci Mane and Chief Keef where the duo throw morality and annunciation to the wind. The track is called "Darker"

Daniel Sierra's Masters' Thesis

Daniel Sierra shows us what it looks like to be a string that makes music. (via NPR)

MC Phaze "May the 4th"

MC Phaze spits some Star Wars bars for May 4 (Star Wars Day).
Dude kills it.

The Idler "Blessed Iscariot"

Not by fate that these stars align
Oh, Man see it crumble
One big empire turns to dust

Chance the Rapper "NaNa"

This is one of my favorite tracks from Chance's latest. Mostly 'cuz Action Bronson kills it with that Rick Pitino line and the Arnold ad-lib (GET TO THE CHOPPPAAA!!)

Kool & Kass

While I was salivating over the Chance the Rapper mixtape yesterday (which is dope), I missed the drop of the Kool & Kass tape.

It's Kool A.D. being Kool A.D. and Kass being Kass (presumably...I've never heard of dude before).

Here is the video for the single "Pleasance". Kool A.D. wrecks the last verse.

Give a fuck if you out here, me too
Everybody out here, what that even mean dude?




Here is the bandcamp to download the full thing.

Track 3 "Language Arts" has a line something like...

Best believe me
Ever since I heard chess was ouija
 the rest was easy.

Shit is cold.

Chance the Rapper - Acid Rap

The time has come. Download the new shit here.

April 2013 Playlist

A collection of songs I liked in April 2013

The Strokes "Welcome to Japan"

What kind of asshole drives a Lotus?

Chance the Rapper in the Booth

Video of Chance the Rapper creating the eagerly-anticipated Acid Rap mixtape, courtesy of Fake Shore Drive.

 

Ndeluv "Yougotit"

Ndeluv is like the perfect cross between Kid Cudi and How to Dress Well. This joint is a gem.

Baby, if you want it
Baby, you got it





Here is the mixtape he dropped on 4/20 called Faded

Action Bronson and Riff Raff "Bird on a Wire" and Riff Raff "Rap Game James Franco"

Almost forgot how dope this one was. I'm slowly becoming a huge Action Bronson fan.

In the morning do karate in the water

Love the dude's left-field approach.

That goes double for Riff Raff.





Non-stop through desert
salisbury steak sweater
figured i was kin to Chester 
The way I chase cheddar

Thoughts on Kanye

Earlier, I read an article on Consequence of Sound that said Kanye West has a new album completed, and is using this month's SNL appearance as a launching-off point for its promotion.

I then watched the interview below the article. It is the best display of Kanye West explaining himself that I have ever seen. I was captivated by how much Kanye seems to believe all of the things that he is saying; there is no doubt that this man is sincere with every sentence of self-praise. It is not a front. It is not a show. It is nothing something performed for our amusement. Using an ever-evolving talent of mental gymnastics, akin to Peter Parker's Spidey Sense, Kanye has convinced himself he is the most important, unfairly besmirched, perfomer-turned-martyr of our generation.

Later in the evening, on my way home from a friend's house in  Dorchester, I saw a woman ranting at the JFK/Umass T station. She was preaching about sin, how we have lost our way as a society, how she is the most important, unfairly bersmiched, citizen-turned- martyr of our generation.
She was as bombastic as she was non-nonsensical.
And, while she was making little to no sense to anyone but herself, it was clear to all that she was speaking with 100% sincerity.

This is not a coincidence.

Over/Under with Trinidad James

A surprisingly insightful look at Trinidad James in this edition of Over/Under.

Savages "Shut Up"

Do you tell me to shut up? 

Braids "Amends"

Having been a fan of their first LP Native Speaker and a huge fan of the track "Lemonade", I was very excited to hear the latest joint from Braids. It didn't disappoint.

Cayucas "High School Lover"

It's okay-- it's just kinda embarrassing
I been sneaking, wondering just what id see

MF DOOM and Clams Casino "Bookfiend"

The track we've all been waiting for...

The Roots Are Now Platinum

The seminal hip-hop record Things Fall Apart has finally gone platinum, making this the first of The Roots albums to do so.
'Bout damn time. 

Bombino "Azamane Tiliade"

Per Grantland, "(Bombino's) songs address the horrors of the Tuareg rebellions, and he has been making music while in and out of exile since he was a teenager."
I can't verify this, as I don't have a clue what this dude is saying and I have never heard of him before today.
I do, however, know that this shit goes hard.
Also, Dan Auerbach gave him a co-sign by producing his record, so there's that. 

Wild Nothing to Release EP Next Month

Wild Nothing is dropping an EP on Bella Union on May 13. Check out a track here.

The Onion Takes Shots at Hip-Hop Heads; Speaks Truth

I'll be damned if this isn't the truest shit ever.

church

Crishaun Singh "Half Priced"

Sell my soul for half price every day 

Gauntlet Hair "Human Nature"

When it comes out, it's all I see
That's when you tell me 
It's just your human nature

Andrew Cormack

Stumbled upon this Andrew Cormack guy. He's got a great ear for melody. Check him out.

Daughn Gibson Announces New Album

Pitchfork is reporting Daughn Gibson is putting out a new LP this summer.

In related news, I just got a huge boner.

New album Me Moan drops July 9.

Listen to the new track "The Sound of the Law"

Charli XCX - True Romance

I'm a big fan of Charli XCX, particularly her Heartbreaks and Earthquakes Mixtape. Her debut full-length, True Romance, shows off new material as well as some touched-up tracks from various releases that pre-date it.

The strengths and weaknesses, then, are the same as they ever were: One would never accuse Charli XCX of being a poet laureate, but the honesty and emotion make the stale lyrics (mostly) an after-thought. The production is strong and her voice serves her well.

All in all, a strong effort. 

Black Fly "The Act of Estimating as Worthless"

And if I die for you 

will you die for me, too?

Gucci Mane Might Be Guilty

Kurt Vile - Wakin' on a Pretty Day

Really been feeling this Kurt Vile record.