RUN WITH THE HUNTED-s/t

Posted on March 14th, 2011 by ekko

How to sum up RWTH‘s debut?  It’s a lot of yelling.  And there’s some chainsaw guitar and mad, mad, mad drumming, too.

The band is five guys who go by first names only, making hardcore in what sounds like the basement of a Chicago slaughterhouse.  Seriously, though, it’s actually recorded pretty well.  You’re able to hear the influences in the guitar of Metallica’s early stuff, but also 1980s headbanger “punk”–that music that crossed the lines between The Sex Pistols and Guns N Roses.  Good, hard stuff.  Stream the whole thing here.

On Panic records.

Occam’s Tazor

I Will Make This World Without You

Tags: Hardcore!, indie punk

YEAAAHHHHHHH BOY! HERE IT IS!

Posted on March 14th, 2011 by ekko

I still think Thor looks like it’ll be a better movie, but that Red Skull is freakin’ awesome.

Tags: Captain America

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Posted on March 13th, 2011 by ekko

Okay, the only thing that could justify texting when your newborn is being presented to you is if you’re sending a picture to the baby’s father who is serving in Afghanistan…..

Tags: Picture of the day

PICTURE OF THE DAY: Pink Flamingo Flashmob Edition

Posted on March 13th, 2011 by ekko

Tags: Picture of the day

MOHAMMAD DANGERFIELD-Mohammad Dangerfield

Posted on March 13th, 2011 by ekko

Hasan Salaam is one of my favorite modern rappers, so when I heard he’d started up a new project–called Mohammad Dangerfield–there was no question I’d be on board.  Alongside another rapper named Rugged N Raw, this duo has created the first great rap album of 2011. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for flow, lyricism, beats or raw power: It’s all here. No cliche references, no common rhymes, no made-up gangsta stories . . . Just pure honesty, empowering philosophy, creative, thoughtful music. Like Marvin Gaye was to soul, like Pearl Jam was to grunge, like Warren Zevon was to classic rock, Mohammad Dangerfield bring depth and heart to a genre that for the past ten to twenty years has been choking on its own vomit. More and more each year, hip hop has been proving that it has nothing left to say. And if doesn’t want to go the way that rock and roll finally seems to have gone, then real heads need to start bobbing to albums like this one.

You might not agree with everything you hear here: It’s heavily Muslim influenced, anti-abortion . . . But it’s never simplistic about it. Think of it as a grittier Chuck D for the 21st Century. And it’s not all darkness and rage. There’s plenty of love and faith and humor in there, too. It’s complex–like a real person. No cypher. Not phony or easy to pigeonhole. Listen to it with an open mind, and listen carefully so you don’t miss a word.

And, again, it’s the best rap album of 2011 so far. And I can’t see how a better one will be coming any time soon.

Hero Sandwich-MD

Bonus:

The Uprock Hasan Salaam Ft. Masta Ace

Plus, they’re giving away a free mixtape at their website.  Follow that link or click here for the sendspace link.

Tags: Hip Hop, Mixtape

MADISON SQUARE GARDENERS-Teeth of Champions (EP)

Posted on March 12th, 2011 by ekko

I have to confess–the first thing I thought of when I heard the first song, “Little Bit of Heart,” on Madison Square Gardeners’ latest EP, “Teeth of Champions,” I thought of Tom Petty.  Then, when the second song, “Record Store,” came on, I thought of Jill Sobule–along with Deep Purple (that guitar bit at the end of the chorus sounds exactly like “My Woman From Tokyo.”)  So, imagine my surprise when I say in their press release that they’ve actually toured as Sobule’s backing band?

But lest you think they’re nothing but derivative, let me assure you: This Brooklyn band have cramed 20 minutes of good, solid rock and roll/pop on this EP.  There’s not a bad song in the bunch.  Full of crisp lead vocals and harmonies, hooks that are as catchy as hell,and a slightly Southern feel that gives the band more texture than you usually find in pop rock.  I understand they’ve got a few other EPs out.  Time for an album, boys.  Let’s see what you can do with gears all open and wide road in front of you.

Get it for five bucks at Bandcamp.

Innocent

Catch ‘em on tour in March!

March 12 – Columbus, OH – Rumba Café
March 13 – Indianapolis, IN – Melody Inn
March 14 – St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway
March 15 – Dallas, TX – LaGrange
March 17 – Austin, TX – Texas Tornado @ Rusty Spurs – Tijuana Gift Shop party
March 20 – New Orleans, LA – Hi Ho Lounge
March 21 – Nashville, TN – The Basement
March 22 – Chattanooga, TN – JJ’s Bohemia
Mach 23 – Lexington, KY – Green Lantern
March 24 – Cleveland, OH – The Grog Shop
March 25 – Lakewood, OH – The Avenue Tap House
March 26 – Pittsburgh, PA – Brillobox
April 1 – Brooklyn, NY – Southpaw
April 2 – Boston, MA – Lizard Lounge

Tags: Extended Player (EP), Indie Pop, Indie rock

COVER FRIDAZE: JOURNEY A to Z . . .

Posted on March 11th, 2011 by ekko

I just watched the 2010 A-Team-meets-GI-Joe-only-way-way-way-better film, The Losers. I think it’s one of the most underrated action films of recent years. Fucking love it. Even though the best scene in the movie uses Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” as the backdrop. Talk about overused tunes in media. Blame it on The Sopranos. One thing I never noticed before, though, was that The Losers cuts the song in exactly the same place as the ending of Sopranos. So, at least it was a conscious lift. In fact, it was almost like the movie version of a cover: Using exactly the same song for exactly the same length of time, to evoke a similar–but slightly tailored–response from the viewer. In this case: A hankerin’ for more.

So, for this, my second “Covers on Fridaze” post, I thought I’d put up a buncha Journey for y’all.  In an A to Z, no less.  And although I probably could have done so, they’re not all Don’t Stop Believin’ covers.  Just mostly.

I haven’t done one of these in a long, long time.  And as my old fans know: There’s a zip file in there somewhere!

A is for Arpetrio.  An extended jam version of DSB that’s actually purdy gud.

B is for DSB-Badly Drawn Boy

C is for Cam’Ron’s “Just Us.”  Rappers like to sample DSB, too!

D is for Dolly Verden’s DSB.

E is for the shredding electric guitar on DSB-Marnie Stern. Is this my favorite of the lot?  Maybe.  Nah.  It’s probably Petra Haden’s.  But this one’s damn close.

F is for Faithfully-Clem Snide.

G is for Greensky Bluegrass’s bluegrass version of DSB.  I really like this one.  Wish it were better quality.

H is for DSB-Petra Haden.

J is for Jon Regen’s DSB.

M is for John Mayer’s DSB.  Because the man can’t leave a fad untouched.

N is for Matt Nathanson’s Faithfully cover.  Matt kicks ass in concert, truly.  He also does a great DSB, too, which I threw in to make up for skipping a few letters here and there.

P is for Curtis Peoples’ take on DSB.

R is for Josh Ritter’s DSB.

S is for Segway’s Separate Ways.  A freakin’ awesome synthy cover.

T is for Faithfully by Trainwreck.  It’s recorded a little low, but’s it’s a good cover.

V is for Vakill, who used Journey on this terrific Hurricane Katrina tune: Man Into Monster (Feat. Vizion).

X is for X-rated. But not really. Good Boy by Getaway Car is supposed to be about S&M but I don’t really get it. I do like the ripping on Don’t Stop Believin’ at the beginning of the tune, though.

Y is for yuck.  Fourth River’s DSB cover is terrible.  But it’s in the zip.  Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.

And, of course, Z is for Zip file.  Enjoy.  Zip source one.  Zip source two.

Tags: Covers On Fridaze

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Posted on March 10th, 2011 by ekko

Tags: Picture of the day

HARLAN PEPPER-Young and Old

Posted on March 10th, 2011 by ekko

What has four kids and sounds like O Brother Where Art Thou?  Harlan Pepper!  Kinda.  The band is four dudes who just got out of high school but who make country rock with a heavier emphasis on the country.  And by country, we’re talking rootsy.  Like Gram Parsons and Buck Owens (that’s their own reference, but it’s apt).  And if you’re thinking that a group of young lads can’t possibly sound so genuine, you’re wrong.

How the hell did these kids get so old so fast?  Maybe it’s ’cause they’re Canadian?

At the same time, though, youth brings a sense of humor (“I owe a lot of people, so I smoke a little reefer,” they sing in sardonic defeat) and a rollicking kid-friendly shout out to all of the Great Lakes.  It’s silly and stupid, and undeniably fun.

Is the album flawless?  Hardly.  There are some throw-away cuts here, and I’m not sure I could listen to “Great Lakes” more than once unless I was teaching Geography to grade-schoolers, but it hits right more often than not.  And it shows remarkable potential.  This is a band that’s found their style, but they’re perfecting their voice.  They’re figuring stuff out, and bringing us along for the ride.

In short, the band sounds wise and extremely talented, but hasn’t given up on being kids yet.

I’m sure that’s why it’s called “Young and Old.”

Get it for just $8 on Bandcamp.  It’s worth it.  They’re giving away “Great Lakes” for free there, which I think is a mistake.  Because they’re capable of much, much better music on this album.

Reefer

Tags: Americana

THE BUBBLES-Daydreaming in Technicolor

Posted on March 8th, 2011 by ekko

I like Spoon and Pavement. I like Black Rabbits. I like this band, too.

Name your price (including no bucks) at Bandcamp.

Never-ending Summer

It’s You

Tags: Indie Pop