We all get songs stuck in our heads. Sometimes we can’t get them out. The best thing to do in this situation?… Embrace the ear worm.
BBDLP1 (Coming Home, September 2011)
Thundercat is a bass player from Mars. Listen to his debut album, The Golden Age of Apocalypse for proof. The experimental album is equal parts jazz, electronic, funk, electro-soul, and all sorts of styles and genres that are cooler than whatever else you’re listening to. It’s a very intriguing combination of Flying Lotus, who produces several tracks and Jaco Pastorius, who I can’t help but believe played an immensely significant role in the influence of Thundercat’s sound. If that seems interesting, just wait until you actually hear the album.
The Golden Age of Apocalypse (Brainfeeder, August 2011)
I can’t believe I haven’t already posted about the new Little Dragon album, Ritual Union, which was released a couple of months ago. I’ve posted about the electronic Swedes in the past, but they have really honed their style and sound and shine brighter than ever with this album. It might not be for everyone, but it’s definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already…
Ritual Union (Peacefrog, July 2011)
- Posted by Eric B -
I’m not a huge fan of mash-ups but when you combine one of my favorite hip hop artists of all time in De La Soul with one of the legendary pioneers of funk in Fela Kuti, you have a winner in my book. See for yourself by checking out producer Amerigo Gazaway’s project entitled “Fela Soul”. You can check out the link to download the mixtape here.
I think this song is great, but what’s with the music video? I think music artists can let their artistic side get the best of them when it comes to creating videos to accompany songs. Then again, I don’t really appreciate music videos as most fans do. They just don’t appeal to me more than a song itself and this particular video is the epitome of why I feel this way. But, like I said, I love the song…
Making Mirrors (Samples ‘n’ Seconds, August 2011)
Jesse Futerman released his Super Basement EP back in June. I just checked it out and I’m digging it. Very K&D. Check out the tracks above…
Super Basement EP (Jus’ Like Music, June 2011)
The Boom Boxx With Nosaj Thing, De La Soul, and Dj Z-Trip – August 19, 2011
- Posted by Eric B -
Hip hop was definitely in the building at the Hollywood Palladium on Friday night when a couple of classic acts and an up and comer came to rock LA. Arriving half-way through Nosaj Thing’s set with low expectations, what I saw was a pleasant surprise and a fresh take on hip hop and turntableism as he wet the crowd’s appetite for my personal main event of the night, De La Soul.
De La did not disappoint either as Posdnous, Dave, and Maceo came out and rocked the crowd as usual mixing up the tunes with classics (“Saturdays”, “Me Myself and I”) to newer, still funky tracks like “Days of Our Lives” and “Much More”. Highlight for me was the J Dilla tribute where they played tracks from Stakes Is High including my all-time De La favorite “The Bizness”. These three hip hop pioneers did a great job of getting the crowd ready for the headliner in Z-Trip.
When Z-Trip hit the stage, he came out to a crowd foaming at the mouth waiting for some more hip hop and he came through and delivered the bad crap, in a good way. He slowly sucked the crowd in by spinning classic tracks from the golden era and clearly displaying his master of the turntables with moments of scratching that were able to put smiles on everyone. The Palladium may not have been sold out on this night, but what the crowd lacked in size, it made up for in energy and straight up love for hip hop. Z-Trip surprised everyone by bringing LL Cool J out for his swan song I would imagine, as he performed classic tracks from his catalog including “Doin It”, “Mama Said”, and “Rock the Bells”. LL and his ridiculously massive frame destroyed the crowd and by 1:30 when the lights came up, the crowd filtered out into the Hollywood night with their hip hop appetite satisfied, at least for one night.
Kasabian – “Days Are Forgotten (DJ Z-Trip Remix featuring LL Cool J)”
De La Soul – “Watch Out”
I used to love Latyrx. Consisting of emcees Lyrics Born and Lateef, Latyrx were at the top of a list of underground hip hop groups and artists that I loved back in the late 90′s. I thought they had more style than everyone else combined. Their distinctive voices and funky, percussive delivery matched poignant and, at times, humorous lyrics backed by vintage 90′s hip hop/electronic beats produced by DJ Shadow, Chief XL (Blackalicious), and Lyrics Born himself. For me, it was unbeatable.
After years of virtual silence, Latyrx is finally back with a very funky Headnodic produced track. ”Moving On Up” really brings me back. It’s a lot of fun to see Latyrx back in action, in true form. I’ve really been enjoying this one.
Ari Roze’s “Endless Memory” is seductively smooth, soulful, and funky. I forget where I first heard it, but I needed to check out some of his other tracks. Mighty Highness, his label, uploaded his songs (here) on SoundCloud along with some other really great tracks from other groups on their roster. Roze’s music really stuck with me. It kind of reminded me of Mocky – “Birds of a Feather” which I still occasionally throw on. There’s a warm quality to Roze’s sound, a vintage style that, for me, is impossible to resist. It’s best explained in this quote off his bio:
Ari Roze is a musician, composer & record collector hailing originally from Fire Island N.Y…& now living on the east coast of Australia…. Ari is not into taking the path of creating sample based or digitally fabricated music. Thus has emerged a recording studio focused on quality organic sounds. Original clavinet and rhodes keyboards, 60’s drum kits, RCA ribbon mics, Ampex tape, valve mic pre’s, tape echoes and a selection of killer musicians fill the space where original songwriting and musicianship are paramount.
(Mighty Highness, December 2010)
The New Limb – “Birds and Stuff”
- Post by Jneels -
The New Limb meander between brilliant pop melodies and innovative arrangements and you cannot be anything but engaged, emotive, and/or excited for the ride. It’s musically ambitious but never indulgent. Ballads skew cinematically poignant and heartfelt before you could ever question your romantic insecurities. The vocal keeps a cohesive pop identity and lyrics provide a consistent narrative companion no matter where the songwriting and sonic textures take you.
Bad fusion: If the Decemberists quit writing about Irish folktales and added an indie Michael Buble.
Where it could go: They’re one Sofia Coppola finale sync away from a late afternoon slot at next year’s Coachella.