I had the pleasure of visiting the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota recently and for two weeks I got to know the geography and the people. The geography is fairly standard issue. Not so dissimilar from the environs of my home state of Michigan. Yes, there are the rivers thrice which are the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix waterways. Yet, the new city of Minneapolis shimmers with modernity and gilt whilst the Old Guard of St. Paul is a bit more stoic with a sturdier spine. Continue reading “our sunday best: the electric fetus & minnesota craft breweries”
black milk | if there’s a hell below
Detroit native Black Milk needs not an introduction. No herald nor entourage either is required to create a sense of presence or permanence. All this very capable emcee needs to do is to man his electrified equipment and open his mouth to that other dimension and flow freely. Continue reading “black milk | if there’s a hell below”
hippo campus | little grace
Hippo Campus do the Vampire Weekend thing, who in turn did the west African (and Senegal, South African) thing. It’s all good though aaight! Continue reading “hippo campus | little grace”
pablo nutini | let me down easy
Pablo Nutini will not be denied entry into your heart. And let’s face it this man is destined to settle into the soft tissue of your brain matter like a thorny crucible. So when the needle drops and the song Let Me Down Easy starts to play make sure you have some Cognac (or some other heavy hitting elixir) close at hand to steady your nerves. Continue reading “pablo nutini | let me down easy”
les sins | michael | npr first listen
Les Sins is Toro Y Moi and combined these two personas are derivatives borne from Mr. Chaz Bundick’s head space. The latest release Michael is the work now free flowing on NPR Fist Listen and it may just replace your morning cup of Joe or not. Peace. Continue reading “les sins | michael | npr first listen”
the fire tonight | how could anyone REMIX this?! EP
The Fire Tonight have given birth to a fully functional and able bodied musical cyborg monstrosity known as the How Could Anyone REMIX This?! Continue reading “the fire tonight | how could anyone REMIX this?! EP”
Ásgeir | king and cross
Icelandic singer-songwriter Ásgeir manages to pack a whole lot of velutinous artistry into a song thus enabling the lyrics and music to become one and the same. Check out his cover of Wrecking Ball, it transcends sticky Pop-culture and elevates unnaturally and will have you saying Miley who?
On the track King And Cross one is spirited away upon such magical bounty it is nigh impossible not to press repeat. Continue reading “Ásgeir | king and cross”
strange lot | walk of the sun ep
Strange Lot is a Phoenix, Arizona-based band with a musical sound more akin to the Pacific Northwest (namely Seattle) than anything concretely rooted in the Southwestern plains. Continue reading “strange lot | walk of the sun ep”
little dragon | klapp klapp
Little Dragon has found a way to mass produce delight in the form of bars, vocals and melody. And if you want to do something good for yourself then get the vocals of lead vocalist Yukimi Nagano inside your ears STAT! Continue reading “little dragon | klapp klapp”
conor oberst | live on KEXP
Conor Oberst has been a favorite of mine for many a moon. Heck, who could resist his various incarnations. From the days of Bright Eyes and the intimately warm and fuzzy put him on the map video First Day Of My Life, which is still after all these years one of my favorite songs hands down. Continue reading “conor oberst | live on KEXP”