MIXTAPE ROUNDUP! Pusha T, K.R.I.T. and Xaphoon Jones!

Posted on April 6th, 2011 by ekko

I’m sure you know Terrance “Pusha T” Thornton as half of Clipse, a great VA rap duo who have had more than their fair share of battles with major labels. He just signed to Kanye West’s label, G.O.O.D. Music, and that’s led to a bunch of attention. His mixtape is pretty good–but not as good as it ought it be. He throws in with Fiddy and Pharrell, who are both a few years past their prime, digs in with Soulja Boy who was never close to being in Pusha’s league…In a lot of ways it feels like name dropping without artistic purpose. It feels like an attempt to gather hype for an album. Which is what most mixtapes are, but the good one also have content.

It’s not all bad, though. “I Still Wanna”, with Rick Ross and Clipse collaborator Ab-Liva, is hot as hell, and Open Your Eyes shows he’s still got it.

I Still Wanna

Raid-Pusha T Feat. 50 Cent & Pharrell

Get it here.

You might have better luck with Big K.R.I.T.’s “Return of 4eva.”  The guy’s got a great sense of humor and irony, and doesn’t pretend to be something he’s not.  One of my favorite new rappers.

Rise and Shine

Get it here.

And one I’m real excited about is Xaphoon Jones of Chiddy Bang.  It’s most remixes and mashes–but the beats are what make Chiddy’s stuff so great (not that their lyrics aren’t hot, but the music is really where it’s at).

Here’s the back cover, and the DL link is below:

The Good Life (Xaphoon Jones Remix)

Get it here or here!

Tags: Hip Hop, Mixtape

JAVELIN-Canyon Candy

Posted on April 5th, 2011 by ekko

David Byrne digs Javelin so much he had to put them on his label. And yes, they are that good.  More producers than performers, the Brooklyn duo have self-released a 2009 album (Jamz N Jemz) that got some blog love, a few singles, and one proper album (No Mas).  Now, they’ve taken their odd computery sensibilities to the music of the way out west.  Yeah, digital cowboy music.  Like the soundtrack to a David Lynch western or what you hear in the background of an Austin, Texas slaughterhouse, this is some of the coolest, spookiest, whacked out weirdness you’ll ever be lucky enough to hear.

Each “song” is short–they’re more bits and pieces than songs–and fun as hell.

Love this album!

Cowpoke

Love Gulch

If Javelin’s new album is an inspiration to you maybe you should think about cutting an album yourself.  You could visit http://www.nationalpayday.com to take out enough money to buy some instruments or to get some time in a recording studio.

Tags: Electronica, Indie

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Posted on April 4th, 2011 by ekko

Tags: Picture of the day

THE BIG EYES FAMILY PLAYERS-Family Favourites

Posted on April 4th, 2011 by ekko

Jack

Tags: Indie

GET YER BOOT ON! Andrew Bird and Calexico!

Posted on April 3rd, 2011 by ekko

Andrew Bird with Calexico – Newport Folk Festival; Fort Adams State Park; Newport, RI, July 31, 2010.

My Skin Is

Scythian Empires

Tables and Chairs

Tags: Bootleg

TOP 20 MONTHLY COMIC BOOKS—The ones you should be reading!

Posted on April 2nd, 2011 by ekko

Granted, I don’t (couldn’t possibly) read every comic book published on a weekly basis. I don’t even read every Marvel comic published each week, and they’re far and away my favorite publisher. But I do read an awful lot. So I feel competent to tell you that if you’ve got the money (about 80 bucks) and time (about 2 hours, depending on how long you savor the experience—and not counting re-reads) to read 20 books a month, these are the ones I’d go with. I’m not counting minis and one-shots here—just regular series.

As I created this list, I was shocked to find out that I don’t think that much of Brian Michael Bendis’ Avengers work anymore. If I’d created this snapshot a year ago, New Avengers and Dark Avengers would have been at the top. Also, S.H.I.E.L.D. and Secret Warriors would probably have been on here—but now, they’re cancelled.

So hit the break for the books that should be on your pull list.  Or else, Batman will kick you in the head.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Comic books, Filthy Muties, Garth Freakin Ennis, Spider-Man, The Caped Crusader

J MASCIS-Several Shades of Why

Posted on April 2nd, 2011 by ekko

“Several Shades of Why” is the best album Eddie Vedder ever made as lead singer for the stripped Rolling Stones. Oh, wait.  That’s not Eddie.  The voice is a little too clear–no growl, no phlegm.  And that’s not Keith Richards, either.  It’s a little too precise.  A little too gentle.  Who the hell is this?  J Mascis?  That guy from Dinosaur (Jr.)?  Oh, okay.  That answers two questions: (1) Why it sounds like Pearl Jam; and (2) why it’s so fucking good.

Dinosaur (Jr.) are one of those bands to whom everyone who loves alt-rock owes a great debt, but they still remain largely unheard.  People like to say they like them, but they don’t own a single record.  Well, if you’re one of them: Shame on you.  If you’re not: Good for you.  You need to get this album.

Several Shades of Why is an unusual, intimate, largely acoustic album.  It’s J’s only solo outing–and it’s completely different from anything he’s done before.  Featuring guest appearances by the likes of Kurt Vile (whose “Smoke Rings For My Halo” will compete with this album for a lot on my best of the year list, I am almost certain), Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene), Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses), and many other talented indie musicians.

This is one of the best albums I’ve heard this year, hands down.  It clocks in at ten songs, and every one is a keeper.  Get this, and you’ll understand why everyone from Eddie Vedder to Kurt Cobain considered Dinosaur (Jr.) a major inspiration and influence.

Not Enough

And here’s a little hippie love on the video:

Tags: Indie

EXCLUSIVE TRACK BY KANYE WEST AND FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE

Posted on April 1st, 2011 by ekko

From the upcoming benefit album for Japan, “Songs of Healing,” Kanye West and Florence and the Machine performed Woody Guthrie’s classic tune.  It sounds like they may have phoned this in–I doubt they were in the studio together–but the results are . . . Interesting?  Heroic, any way.

This Land Is Your Land-Kanye and Flo.

Donate to the relief fund here.

For more information on the benefit album, which will also feature performances by Jack White, Sting, and some talented indie artists, go here.

Tags: Covers On Fridaze