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'.