As perfectly rich and varied as the musical spectrum has proven to be thus far in the twenty-first century, albums like Nation II Nation still stand out because they're completely unlike everything else on the pop music spectrum. If you doubt it – if you really think you've heard everything music (and especially hip hop) has to offer – then you haven't heard A Tribe Called Red. As over-developed and refined as hip hop has become over the last couple...
If the early twenty-first century has been characterized by anything thus far, it has been instant gratification and, tonight, Washingtone D.C. emcee Wale will show fans what the term really means. Tonight (that's right tonight), Wale will beat the excitement generated by the release of his new album, The Gifted, to the punch by doing a free live streaming show at Event Live. The Gifted (Wale's third full-length album) has only grown more hotly anticipated as details have slowly been...
It's incredible how, in spite of the fact that nothing has really changed about the band's circumstances, Mixtapes sound like they're primed to explode and take over the world on Ordinary Silence. That the band is giving off that kind of energy might simply be because they worked hard and, after a series of successes (including the release of a well-received LP and five great EPs between 2010 and 2012 as well as really good tours with Masked Intruder, The...
At this point in music history, multi-artist compilations and soundtracks (which are, most often, the same beast) are probably some of the hardest sells on any record store's new release rack. Why? Well, most often, such CDs only really have two or three good songs on them, which makes it far more cost effective to just buy those few songs on iTunes; after that, the discs just take up space in their owner's collection. Such a statement isn't intended to...
An unconventional album deserves an unconventional review. The views of the world on Yeezus are split like so: The big people love the album, and the small people are hating on it. I guess I’ll end up being the one small person who gives it love. If you want the cliff notes of this, it’s this: Yeezus is the child of the My Dark Twisted Fantasy and 808 & Heartbreaks, you assume that both of those albums are baby boomers...
I like to get excited about music. I mean, really excited; like “tell everyone else about it, can't wait for the show, want, no, need the new record right now,” kind of excited. Whether it's the Beatles, Bowie or Iggy Pop; punk rock or bar bands; the Rolling Stones in a football stadium, Elvis Costello in a theater or the Dead Boys at CBGBs, I've usually been able to find something to be thrilled about. But lately, it's been getting...
The first, most obvious thing that both Mixhell and its debut album prove beyond the shadow of a doubt is that life can be full of surprises. Don't think so? Well, who could have expected that former Sepultura drummer Iggor Cavalera would just spontaneously decide to quit the band one day? Not only that, who would have seen it coming that whatever he did next would be an electronica outfit? For a lot of metalheads (and – let's be honest...
John Fogerty has re-recorded a number of his biggest hits, with some of today’s biggest superstars, and I have to ask “Why?” Is he trying to cash in? Just having fun? Or can he not write a good song anymore? Fogerty was, of course, the leader of Creedence Clearwater Revival, one of the most popular bands from the late Sixties. They are still hugely popular, at least among the classic rock crowd; at least half the songs on this album...
Hearing that Thom Yorke and Flea have collaborated on an album together certainly sounds like an intriguing, with lots of creative potential. On AMOK, they team up with Nigel Goodrich, Joey Waronker and Mauro Refosco to produce some very spaced out jams. Unfortunately, the results are not nearly as interesting in fact as they are in theory. Influenced by Afrobeat, the album primarily consists of Yorke’s breathy vocals over stuttering beats and washes of electronica. The problem is there’s just...
Hey junky, Good ta see ya – ya addict. I ben missin' youse, sorry I ben gone, but the pickin' fer fresh SWAG's ben pretty lean lately; I dunno what's up, but tryin' ta pull a bag tagetha's ben no easy feat – ya know? I got some fo' ya though, annit's pretty friggin' primo. I nabbed a new tune from the upcomin' Dinosaur Bones reckid, annit's friggin' tight! The guitars an' drums are hittin' hard here, annat's guaranteed ta...