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.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
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.
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
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
Monday, July 15, 2013
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
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
King Krule "Easy Easy"
King Krule unleashes a new cut from his debut LP, 6 Feet Beneath the Moon, out August 24.
Monday, July 8, 2013
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.
PAPA, you are my favorite mistake.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
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
That ain't a track it's a movement
Friday, July 5, 2013
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$AP Rocky (a song entitled Tom Ford) are prevalent on Magna Carta Holy Grail. But by studying new talent and adding his favorite aspects of their approach to his own game, Jay-z has managed to sound fresh with each successive release. This same approach led him to making a gem at a stage in his life where many are on their second or third profession. By being both forward-thinking and decidedly present moment, Jay-z makes Magna Carta Holy Grail a candidate for album of the year in a year replete with deserving selections.
Jay uses the dialectical yin and yang approach to perfectly strike a balance between the thought-provoking and the playful, the sentimental and the gritty, the rear-view recollections and the Gringotts-level of luxury he lives in presently. And it is beautiful. After Yeezus, there was a lot of talk about Kanye surpassing Jay-z in the race to have the best catalog (mostly by me) but with the drop of Magna Carta Holy Grail, Mr. Carter retakes the crown. Long live the King.
Jay-z is always ahead of the curve when it comes to making money, whether it be starting his own label, heading a clothing line, sponsoring a vodka, owning a club or the 360 deal with LiveNation, he simply won't settle for the status quo. It is no surprise, then, that he released this album with Samsung to ensure it had a million copies moved before it even dropped. He is also a man that has never shied awy from picking up on trends in the industry and putting his own spin on them. The influences of Kendrick Lamar (longer tracks with beat changes and different flows) and A$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.
Monday, July 1, 2013
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
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
I wish I was you
Don't you wake up
This dream will come true
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