RAFTER-Animal Feelings

Posted on April 15th, 2010 by ekko

Bring da indie noise, bring da indie funk.  Because that’s what makes Rafter so damn cool.

On casual or first listen, Rafter (a.k.a. Rafter Roberts) sounds like a lot of indie rock you’ve heard before.  But get closer.  Unwrap your ears.  As you do, the funk influence will be the first thing that strikes you.  And I’m talking real funk, not just a 1970’s beat or washed out Hot Chip.  I’m talking that kind of sexy, not-too-fast, not-too-slow groove that you used to hear in the best Isaac Hayes soundtracks.  Next, the lyrics impress.  It’s not just that many of them are rude, crude, and put you in the mood.  It’s some of the sweeter songs, too.  This man can do dance and raunch and pop and fluff, but he can also make truly touching, loving lyrics.  “Timeless Form” may be one of the greatest, simplest, and most honest love songs of the past few years—on a par with anything by Death Cab For Cutie—and yet is neither twee nor limp.  This is one of the best, most interesting records of the year.

Paper

Tags: Indie rock

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Posted on April 15th, 2010 by ekko

Tags: Picture of the day

STS-Demand More 2 (Mixtape)

Posted on April 14th, 2010 by ekko

On the very first track of his new mixtape, Sugar Tongue Slim a.k.a. STS flows like Em and Jay and Kanye, all at the same time.  Aptly named after Jay-Z’s “birth” track on the classic Black Album, “Dec 5” is an inspirational, powerful, and hilarious track that says, “I’m here!  Now pay attention!”  He also talks back to Jay-Z on “F*** a Hook” (which recalls another Jay song, “No Hook”) on which he speaks directly to a sample—which is both funny and brilliant.  The entire album borrows heavily from Jay-Z’s mythology and album catalog, in flow, in theme, and in samples and content.  He even calls himself “the new Vito.”  Hovito better watch his back.

For the rest of the tape, STS brings a unique flow mixing styles from the upper and lower states (he hails from Philly and Atlanta) that is constantly innovative.  You never where he’s going from song to song—hell, from verse to verse even.  This is easily the most versatile new rapper I’ve heard this year.

Also featuring verses from Black Thought, Truck North, Cassidy, and Dice Raw; samples from a wide variety of sources (well used and well-placed) including Hova, Sade, Young Money, and La Roux (on the amazing “In for the Kill”); and production from Don Cannon, Focus, Emile, and Sean C & LV.  From Tapemasters Inc.

If this isn’t the best mixtape I’ve heard this year, it’s damn close.

Taste it:

Ill Street Blues (dl)

Git it: (direct dl)!

Tags: Hip Hop, Mixtape

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Posted on April 14th, 2010 by ekko

And that, my friends, is what Punk Rock is really about.  All you new punk poseurs take note.

Tags: Picture of the day, Punk

GUILTY PLEASURE: Take On Me by A-Hahttp://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2010/04/26/hellride-east-j-mascis/

Posted on April 13th, 2010 by ekko

Haven’t done a guilty pleasure post in a while, so I figger it’s time.

“Take On Me” was the one with that video.  Y’know the one . . .

The band’s awful name, A-Ha, told you nothing about them.  Nor did the song reveal much; it was confectioner packaged pop, as much a child of the 1980s as a progenitor of it.  I was sick of this song within weeks.  It was more played out than Tears For Fears’ “Shout.”

And if it comes on the radio today, I won’t switch the station.

The “star” cover of this tune is AC Newman–the New Pornographer–wh0 makes it even more melodramatic that it was to begin with, and adds strings.  Here’s the direct DL link, and streaming info:

AC may be the big name celeb, but I really dig this version more. It’s by Phonte of Little Brother with Carlitta Durand. Awesome. Here’s the direct DL link, and then streaming info:

Then of course there’s the mash up version. Jay-Z, Outkast, and other folks over an A-Ha sample. Direct DL and stream:

And, in the zip file below, you’ll find a few more takes on the tune:

Reel Big Fish.  This is the popska aggressive horn section sound you’d expect.  The song gets an edge from it that I’m sure is intended to be ironic.  Not better than the original, but at least it doesn’t make you want to hear the original, either.

Down the Line.  These dudes add a reggae flavor, but it’s like hick reggae.  With a string section.  I’ve never heard of these guys, but I really like their take on Take On Me.

Whatnot.  An upbeat, pop version on acoustic guitar and bongos.

Envelope 3.  For the closer, the most experimental cover here.  A 25 minute instrumental.  It’s actually very cool if you take the time to listen to it . . .

ZIP FILE

Cut down your exam stress by using our latest testking 1Y0-A24 and high quality ccsp and testking HP0-D07 demos. We provide updated E20-335 questions with 100% pass guarantee along with pass4sure 70-523.

Tags: Covers, Guilty Pleasures

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Posted on April 13th, 2010 by ekko

Tags: Messiah, Picture of the day

THE END OF BLACKEST NIGHT

Posted on April 12th, 2010 by ekko

Now that it’s over, we can look back over the 8-issue expanse of D.C.’s most recent “event,” Blackest Night, and see how it measures up. First of all, I can easily say, without a doubt, that it’s the best D.C. event ever. Hands down. All of their past Crises (except perhaps Identity Crisis) have been cluttered, unmanageable affairs with a few assets or game-changers. Batman R.I.P. was confusing and required way too much background knowledge for the average reader. Yet Blackest Night, by focusing on the Green Lantern universe but threatening all existence, was at once self-contained and expansive. And, most importantly, it actually had a slam-bang ending. The climax of an event is where even mighty Marvel missteps (Cap surrenders at the end of Civil War?!?), but Geoff Johns’ conclusion—with its reunions and resurrection no-shows–was enough to warm the heart and bring tears to the eyes.

The first three and a half issues had me doubting whether it would be worth reading. It was just a lot of esoteric characters “rising” and other characters dying without any real emotional impact or any sense that they were, in fact, truly dead. The only cross-over miniseries that I read, Superman, Batman, Titans, and Flash, were disposable. As a casual D.C. reader, there wasn’t much for me there. I was in doubt.

But then the series began to gain momentum. I began to notice how brilliant Ivan Reis’ layouts were—I’ve never seen an entire series told in widescreen before. Geoff Johns’ philosophical discussions began to actually have impact—he was done with exposition and was ready to “show not tell.” Green Lantern has always been my least favorite major D.C. hero. The only time I really liked him before Geoff Johns took over the reigns was when Robin handed him his hat in All Star Batman and Robin. And although I liked the return of Hal Jordan, and liked Sinestro War a little more, I still wasn’t loving the character or concepts. Yet I found myself looking forward to each issue of Blackest Night. It became the book I read first each week.

Was it perfect? No. Johns still spends a little too much time on concept and not enough on character, which creates emotional distance between the reader and the action. And Reis can be a little too busy—he’s the student, while George Perez is the master. And I’m not sure I believe that from here on out, dead is dead in the DCU. After all, the next big thing will be the return of Bruce Wayne. (I know, I know, he was never really “dead.”)
And in the final issue, a lot of what we all knew would happen happened. But it still hit me right in the gut. And left me trusting in, and eagerly awaiting, Brightest Day.

Tags: Blackest Night, Comic books, Zombies

MURS AND 9TH WONDER-Fornever

Posted on April 12th, 2010 by ekko

I like Murs.  He’s intelligent, and his flow is nice and smooth.  I like 9th Wonder’s work with Little Brother and Jay-Z.  But neither of these two established artists are ever quite as good as they were on 2004′s “3:16: The 9th Edition.”  It was easily one of the best underground rap albums of all time.  Yet the follow-ups, solid as they might have been, just haven’t measured up to the greatness of that first release.

So, what about Fornever?

This release is a lot like their past work, but occassionally a bit more Gangsta, featuring spots by Kurupt, Uncle Chucc, and Slick Jacken, among others.  And there are some extremely powerful cuts, like the title track and his reimagining of a Common classic on, “I Used To Luv H.E.R. (Again).”  But overall, 9th Wonder seems a little tired.  There are a few cuts where the production really turns on, like on “The Problem Is…” which has organs and bongos, a tight vocal hook, and Wonder’s characteristic “inspirational” keyboard swells.  There’s definitely enough meat here to make this album a solid buy, but I guess I was expecting a little more.

The Problem Is video:

Tags: Hip Hop

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Posted on April 12th, 2010 by ekko

Tags: Messiah, Picture of the day

MI AMI-Steal Your Face

Posted on April 11th, 2010 by ekko

I think it’s pretty funny that Mi Ami literally stole Bob Marley’s face for the cover of their latest electroclashnoise album, titled “Steal Your Face.”

I think it’s odd that I actually like the record.  Not enough to listen to it often, but enough to admire this collaboration between Black Eyes guitarist Daniel Martin-McCormick and bassist Jacob Long.  It’s intense.

For fans of: Le Tigre, aggressive techno, and live rave sounds.

Here’s a non-album track to try out:

Cut Men (direct dl)

Tour dates:

Apr 9 Chicago, IL The Hideout w/Forest Juziuk (DJ), Running
Apr 10 Detroit, MI Lager House w/Forest Juziuk (DJ), Child Bite
Apr 11 Pittsburgh, PA Gooski’s
Apr 12 New York, NY Cake Shop w/Soft Circle
Apr 13 Baltimore, MD Open Space w/Thank You
Apr 14 Philadelphia, PA Danger Danger Gallery w/US Girls, Hot Guts
Apr 15 Washington, DC Velvet Lounge w/Steve Summers, Max D,
Apr 16 Ann Arbor, MI Arbor Vitae Loft w/Peaking Lights
Apr 29 San Francisco, CA Amnesia
May 18 Kortrijk, Belgium De Kreun
May 19 Amsterdam, Netherlands Studio
May 20 Koln, Germany Tsunami
May 21 Leipzig, Germany Conne Island
May 22 Berlin, Germany Volksbuhne Theatre w/Liars
May 23 Krakow, Poland Club Re
May 24 Prague, Czech Republic Klub 007
May 25 Vienna, Austria Fluc
May 27 Bologna, Italy MX24
May 29 Geneva, Switzerland L’Usine w/Wolf Eyes
May 30 Lyon, France Grnd Zero w/Wolf Eyes
May 31 Paris, France La Chaufferrie Du Moulin Rouge
Jun 1 Lille, France La Peniche
Jun 2 Brighton, UK Prince Albert
Jun 3 London, UK Barden’s Boudoir
Jun 4 Leeds, UK Nation of Shop Keepers
Jun 5 Glasgow, UK Sleazys w/Divorce
Jun 6 Manchester, UK The Ruby Lounge