You’re not dreaming. You are inside a song. It is transplanting you to a place. Inside. Into the catacombs, not Dante’s Inferno deep. But far enough to leave you curious. You poke your finger into this light and siphon breathlessly. Like me your desire is to hear more of Archer Black and their beautifully rendered song “Onward And Down” is just the beginning. Peace.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – Wings
Milo Greene – Don’t You Give Up On Me
Aside from the pick me up song title, which I like a lot. This band is filled with gargantuan promise and all the potential in the world. No unnecessary fillers either. Every song on their The Hello Sessions EP is organic and vibrant like the foodstuffs you decide over at a farmers market. And like the literal farmers market, the songs of Milo Greene are just as fresh and colorful. In addition to the “Don’t You Give Up On Me” song I really adore, well … all of them. Think I’m joshing you? Go ahead and check ’em out below. Peace.
Childish Gambino – Bonfire
It’s an all out assault of sorts courtesy of Childish Gambino and like everything he’s offered up so far I’m feelin’ it. Cop it however you like (Amazon or iTunes), and just in case you missed his full out display (edited that is) on the Jimmy Fallon show last night I got ya’ back, check it out here. Spoiler ALERT! Sir Donald killed it. Peace
More visuals for your eye holes.
Bonfire from Donald Glover on Vimeo.
loyal divide // vision vision
Have you ever been assaulted by a song? I mean literally taken out back and given a thorough ass kickin’? Well, if not you’re listening to the wrong music. Chicago’s Loyal Divide carries brass knuckles and is not just a shit-talker, these guys can actually back up every boast they utter, sonically speaking that is. Not that they’re a bunch of self-aggrandizing thugs, not at all. Listen to their single “Vision Vision” and you’ll understand my enthusiasm. Right away the liquid nitrogen beats freeze the blood in your veins, and the vocals of Adam Johnson are equally frosty. And although all the accoutrements of the typical electro outfit are present and accounted for there is so much more to these guys. I won’t brow beat you over the head, just check out the video for “Vision Vision” taken from their debut LP Bodice Ripper via Kilo Records. The visuals are arresting, and like a deer caught in the headlights you won’t look away. Peace. Continue reading “loyal divide // vision vision”
Drake – Motto (Ft. Lil Wayne) Hey Zeus Remix
So many heads out here are eagerly anticipating the release of Drake‘s forthcoming LP Take Care. And with good reason, one look at some of the names expected to share space on the various tracks is impressive indeed: Stevie Wonder, Lil Wayne, and The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) , that’s just the short list. However, you don’t have to wait to get a little slice of what’s to come. The track “Motto” is a rapper’s delight (Ha!) and more than a little braggadocio. But really that’s to be expected from two of the illest rappers out here today. Check ’em out while Drizzy and Weezy drop rhymes over this T-Minus production. Peace. Continue reading “Drake – Motto (Ft. Lil Wayne) Hey Zeus Remix”
now, now // giants
Instantly I liked this. It’s the tickling synth intro. Then the gently thrummed guitar. It’s the steady uphill climb until the sun breaks out and singer-keyboardist-guitarist Cacie Dalager opens her mouth. She had me at, “If I believed in god I would not have done the things you’ve done…” What is there to do against such a song? Nothing. Just try and be still and attune every fiber of your being to the task of listening and absorbing every single note. “Giants” is a formidable and precious song, even more so in its acoustic version. Which is also available on their EP Neighbors. Their album dropped last year 2010, but so what, it’s still brilliantly awesome. Peace.
P.S. Is Cacie Dalager channeling Harriet Wheeler? Just a thought. Continue reading “now, now // giants”
lana del rey // video games (sub swara remix)
I didn’t see it coming. Who did? I heard Lana Del Rey and her song “Video Games” way back when the rest of the developed world heard it. I liked it well enough, but not like I like it now. Sub Swara have put their collective subversive mitts all over it and made it a funkier and dirtier affair. Now, “Video Games” 2.0 needs to go to confession and say a few Hail Marys and Our Fathers, but I hope not. Now, it has swagga galore. Dhruva Ganesan and Dave Sharma has clothed Ms. Del Rey in Beth Gibbons’ attire. Now she walks a bit like PJ Harvey to the heady drone of uncircumcised ragga beats and swooning synths and the world is better for it. Thanks guys. Peace. Continue reading “lana del rey // video games (sub swara remix)”
la dispute // wildlife
Who says loud agitated music isn’t beautiful or thought provoking? Not I. Although the lyrics of La Dispute aren’t always incendiary political affairs, they feel like it. What’s also readily apparent, is these guys don’t lack, well, rage or talent . However, the good thing about this band is that they channel all the bitterness and beauty of living into deeply emotional fare. Their new album Wildlife (out now via No Sleep Records) is filled with tales of trail and error, longing, love lost, and lots of boiling over angst aplenty. And through it all this five-piece tour de force from Grand Rapids, MI sound like a veritable punk-rock orchestra of sound. Each song is refined chaos, more than anything else, hitting you square in your chest. Leaving your pulse racing, your brow sweaty and your fist clenched. But what do you do after this just under an hour album cranks you up to 11? You thank your lucky stars for every little ounce of joy you can eke out of life. Peace. Continue reading “la dispute // wildlife”
Brown Bird – Salt For Salt
How do you get inside of shadow and smothered facets of dim light. Further, how does one extrude those elusive analogies into potent song? It’s hard work for sure. Unless of course you’re the skillful sons of a gun going by Brown Bird. The songs on Salt For Salt cut you down like a fifth or two of Jameson, minus the shot glass and ice of course. Take these songs straight up without a chaser, and suffer through them to get to the warm glow of temporary peace at the bottom of the metaphorical glass. David Lamb and MorganEve Swain are taking their demons by the horns and creating a wondrous sound worth hearing. Listen below. Two of my favorites are “Bilgewater” and “End of Days” and of course the anchor weight of “Thunder and Lightning”. These songs, they’ll poke you right in the chest and get your attention like a shotgun brandished in the dead on night. Peace.
Watch a live session of “Thunder and Lightning” below.