All posts by Kevin

general

Devastations: Mistakes

3 Comments

If career trajectories/trends are your thing, consider Devastations. The three-piece Australian band (now stationed in Berlin) released its second album on Brassland, the label operated by writer Alec Hanley Bemis and Bryce and Aaron Dessner of the National. Like the National, Devastations have taken up residence with Beggars Banquet for their 2008 release Yes, U, a follow-up to the outstanding 2006 record Coal.

Nick Cave comparisons follow the band wherever it goes, but I can’t help but make a comparison more familiar to my music collection, and that’s Morphine.

With a mysterious/inviting baritone, Devastations singer Conrad Standish (an avid Ultramagnetic MC’s fan) sounds both brooding and vulnerable, much in the same way Mark Sandman (R.I.P.) used to.

On Mistakes, the lead single from Yes, U (due out Feb. 5), a moody bassline is the company to Standish’s misery: “I can see my reflection / in the tracks of your tears / now why must I destroy all that / I claim to love / tell me why.”

  • Devastations | Mistakes

From Coal (2006, Brassland):

(Such a great opening line: “The wine may have loosened my tongue / but you’re gonna thank me later on.”)

hip-hop, i used to love h.e.r.

I Used to Love H.E.R.: Eriksolo (Meanest Man Contest)

6 Comments

The 20th installment of I Used to Love H.E.R., a series in which artists/bloggers/writers discuss their most essential or favorite hip-hop albums (read intro), comes from Eriksolo, one-half of the eclectic indie hip-hop duo Meanest Man Contest, a recent gem of a discovery thanks to its 7-inch release on Gold Robot Records. MMC also released the Some People EP this past September on Plug Research. You can pick up two tracks from the new Partially Smart EP at RCRD LBL. Eriksolo kindly uploaded the track below, which he calls one of his favorite MMC songs.

Redman
Whut? Thee Album (Def Jam, 1992)
For me, Redman’s debut, Whut? Thee Album, perfectly typifies the sort of early ‘90s hip-hop that was both unabashedly “underground” but also great for, like, parties and just having fun. Whut? was not only big with the rap fans at my school, but also the skaters, the stoners, the jocks, the weirdos, the taggers, and the kids who liked to dance. The first albums by Del tha Funkee Homosapien and Cypress Hill (which both came out not too long before Whut?) also fall into this category, in my opinion. They’re odd and inventive, but totally unpretentious.

Lyrically, Redman came out of the gate on top of his game. He’d only been on record a few times before this (as a guest on some EPMD tracks), but he already sounds like a vet. His rhymes on Time 4 Sum Aksion are funny and loose. He’s sharp and clever on Blow Your Mind. Meanwhile, How to Roll a Blunt is, well, incredibly detailed in its instructiveness.

(A little aside: At a gathering I went to during my first year of college, I overheard a very tool-ish dude tell two girls who lived in my dorm that he learned everything he needed to know about smoking weed from listening to Redman. One of the girls replied with the most drawn-out and smoked-out “Whoooaaa, thaaat’s deeeeeep” imaginable. The way she said it was ridiculous to the point of parody, and it sounded like she was making fun of the stupid-ass thing he’d just said. But in actuality, I’m sure she was serious. This was a freshman party at UC Santa Barbara, after all. Anyway, the whole exchange makes me laugh whenever I think of it.)

Beat-wise, Whut? finds producer Erick Sermon at his best. He’s completely confident, playing around and experimenting with the sound he’d been perfecting on the previous few EPMD records. Although the sample sources (P-Funk, James Brown, the Gap Band) are generally pretty standard, E-Double layers loops upon loops and cranks the bass up super high, resulting in uniquely thick, chaotic tracks that are the perfect backdrop for Red’s unpredictable flow. Plus, Def Jam hooked up a Pete Rock beat (for the aforementioned How to Roll a Blunt), and you can never go wrong with one of those.

Redman is the rare dude who has been in the game for more than 15 years and has never really come out corny. (He’s even managed to do things like act in a Chucky movie and hawk deodorant on TV without looking like too bad of a cheeseball.) He’s just a straight-up great no-frills rapper who makes dope record after dope record. You gotta respect that.

general, video

Radar Bros.: When Cold Air Goes to Sleep (video)

2 Comments

Jan. 29 is a day I am eagerly anticipating. That’s when the Radar Bros. release their new record Auditorium on Merge Records. But, you know, I might have mentioned that once or twice or thrice before.

To whet the appetite, here’s the first video from the album for the song When Cold Air Goes to Sleep. Seriously: Radar Bros. as Kiss? And what’s with this … this … up-tempo stuff? I like it. Anyway, the video was directed by Bradley Beesley, the man responsible for, among other things, the great Fearless Freaks documentary on the Flaming Lips.

Also, bassist Senon Williams has possibly overtaken Band of Horses’ Ben Bridwell for best indie-rock beard.

Lastly, here’s a new track, Warm Rising Sun.

hip-hop, remix

Mr. Lif: Feb. 1 in Phoenix

1 Comment

The concert calendar has been slooooow around here lately. But there are signs of life, including a Feb. 1 show at the Brickhouse from Mr. Lif, who put out the fantastic Mo’ Mega last year on Definitive Jux.

I got a chance to catch Lif at the Paid Dues Festival, but I’m eager to catch him in a smaller venue that isn’t outdoors in the dead of an Arizona summer. He’s calling this the Road to the Super Bowl tour; the big game is at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale on Feb. 3, in case you weren’t paying attention. So it’s only appropriate that he plays Phoenix that weekend.

Kudos to the guys at Universatile Music, who are bringing this show – and so many other hip-hop acts – to the Valley.

general

Nada Surf: Lucky cover art/tracklisting

2 Comments

Not sure if this has made its way around the Internets, but it looks like we have some cover art for the new Nada Surf album Lucky, due out on Barsuk on Feb. 5.

Here’s the tracklisting, via Barsuk.

1. See These Bones.
2. Whose Authority.
3. Beautiful Beat.
4. Here Goes Something.
5. Weightless.
6. Are You Lightning?
7. I Like What You Say.
8. From Now On.
9. Ice on the Wing.
10. The Fox.
11. The Film Did Not Go ‘Round.

general

A note to commenter “Michael”

4 Comments

If you were man enough to leave an e-mail address, I wouldn’t have to show, in a public forum, how you embarrassed yourself in comments on the post about Z-Trip offering a remix of Lounge Act for download.

For starters, your comments were never deleted, as you claimed. Actually, I have to approve comments before they are published to prevent comment spam – you know, messages about penis and anxiety pills that are only slightly less unreadable than your trash. For the record, though, I did not approve two comments: the one in which you repeated “FUCK YOU DJZTRIP” ad infinitum and the other in which you so eloquently said, “You suck more dick than your mom.” Classy.

Look, if you don’t like a song, I don’t really care. And I’m always happy for someone to say so. But attacking me (“eater of shit” … oh, BURN) or the artist is just a pathetic cry for attention. I mean, for a song and a site you claim to hate so much, you sure spent a lot of time whining about it.

You said you’d never come back to this site (God willing), so I doubt you’ll even read this. But if you do, please do forward your remix of Lounge Act – with beats made on a pen, right?? – or direct us all to a Web site with your music. We’re all very eager to hear how much more talented you are.

general, video

New Calexico: Absent Afternoon

1 Comment

I feel like I should have something heavy and important to say with this first post of 2008. But I don’t. So, on with the show.

Thanks to tucsonscene.com, we have some audio AND visual proof of new material from one of Tucson’s finest, Calexico. The band just played at the Temple of Music and Arts in Tucson for a benefit show, and Tucson Scene – as its name might imply – was there to videotape the proceedings. The site kindly added seven video clips to its YouTube page from the show, including one of a new track called Absent Afternoon. Judging by this song, I’m more than excited about a possible Calexico album in ’08.

Remember, you can download an acoustic version of Calexico’s All Systems Red via City Slang right here.

general, year end

Favorite albums of 2007

9 Comments

I intended to stick to last year’s model of just writing about my favorite album of the year until Kimber Lanning, owner of Stinkweeds and Modified, asked me for a top-10 list for a year-end booklet she puts out at Stinkweeds.

So here’s the list, even though, quite honestly, I’m pretty list-ed out at this point.

It should also be noted that The Fast Escape, an album released this month by my brother’s band Source Victoria, is not included. Given my personal ties, it exists on a different plane and is more difficult to put in proper context. I don’t hesitate to say, though, that it belongs alongside any of these.

10. TRAVIS: The Boy With No Name (Sony/Independiente)
It’s too late now, but this record easily could have served as the successor to 2000’s humongous hit “The Man Who,” perhaps a sign that Fran Healy and Co. are comfortable letting the Coldplays of the world fight over the biggest-band-in-the-world title.
Favorite tracks: Selfish Jean, My Eyes.

9. WILCO: Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch)
Who knew an album as seemingly innocuous as this would piss people off so much? I didn’t care much for the album upon first and second listens, and I still think drummer Glenn Kotche is severely underutilized. But the musicianship is unmatched (thank you, Nels Cline), and the songs show Jeff Tweedy in a comfortable place, which isn’t a bad thing.
Favorite tracks: You Are My Face, What Light.

8. THE BESNARD LAKES: The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse (Jagjaguwar)
If the black stallion engulfed in flames on the album cover wasn’t enough to convince you, this album is a pretty epic piece of atmospheric space/pych-rock. And if you get the chance to see them live, do it. I have just two words about that: fog machine.
Favorite tracks: Devastation, Disaster.

7. THE BROKEN WEST: I Can’t Go On I’ll Go On (Merge)
An impressive debut from an LA band that reminds me of Summerteeth-era Wilco. Not a dud in the bunch. Seriously. When I was trying to decide what track (or tracks) to put on a year-end CD mix, it was damn near impossible to choose. For the record, I eventually decided on Brass Ring, though Shiftee is probably my favorite song.
Favorite tracks: Shiftee, Brass Ring, Hale Sunrise, on and on.

6. SPOON: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Merge)
“Less is more” might be cliche, but I don’t understand why more bands don’t heed its message. That Spoon has delivered such a satisfying album in 10 songs/36 minutes shows the focus and ambition (not to mention self-editing) of a band in its finest moment.
Favorite tracks: You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb, The Underdog.

5. KANYE WEST: Graduation (Roc-A-Fella Records)
Kanye overcomes his shortcomings as a lyricist – “I’m like the fly Malcolm X, buy any jeans necessary” (ugh) – with focused production and impassioned delivery. Cutting out the cumbersome “skits” – yeah, we know, concept record – can’t be overlooked, either. Despite what I said, I really love this record.
Favorite tracks: Can’t Tell Me Nothing, Flashing Lights, Barry Bonds.

4. BAND OF HORSES: Cease to Begin (Sub Pop)
I love that Ben Bridwell, with his endearing falsetto, can pull off potentially trite lines – “The world is such a wonderful place” – without causing so much as an eyeroll or snicker from my direction. I’ve either gotten a little soft or Bridwell just writes/sings with a sincere passion in what he believes. I say the latter.
Favorite tracks: Ode to LRC, No One’s Gonna Love You, Islands on the Coast.

3. EL-P: I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead (Definitive Jux)
Even if El-P takes himself a little too seriously, his unease and paranoia make for a sobering dose of reality. When so many rappers live in a fantasy world, El-P delivers post-9/11 doom and gloom in gritty Orwellian fashion. Favorite tracks: Smithereens (Stop Cryin’), The Overly Dramatic Truth, Flyentology (specifically, the Cassettes Won’t listen remix).

2. THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS: Challengers (Matador)
I don’t know how they do it, but the New Pornographers just crank out hit after hit. It took me about a month before diving into this album, and once I did I was hooked. Dan Bejar’s three contributions – Myriad Harbour (song of the year), Entering White Cecilia and The Spirit of Giving – anchor the album. Favorite tracks: Myriad Harbour, The Spirit of Giving, Mutiny, I Promise You.

1. THE NATIONAL: Boxer (Beggars Banquet)
I’ve expended quite a bit of mental energy debating with myself over which National record is better: Alligator (favorite of ’05) or Boxer. And I still haven’t come up with an answer. It’s probably a fool’s errand to even try comparing. What I loved about Alligator – mainly its somewhat drastic emotional ebb and flow – hardly exists on Boxer, a more even-keeled, patient album. It wows you with understated but overwhelming arrangements and fewer vocal flare-ups – like, say, on Abel or Mr. November. It’s tempting to call Boxer the group’s masterpiece, but that would mean the National has reached its peak. And I hardly think that’s the case. Given the pattern, I already have an idea what my favorite album of 2009 will be. Favorite tracks: Apartment Story, Slow Show, Ada, Mistaken for Strangers.

Albums that, on any other day, could be on this list: Ryan Adams, Easy Tiger; Busdriver, RoadKillOvercoat; Common, Finding Forever; Menomena, Friend and Foe; Andrew Bird, Armchair Apocrypha; The Ponys, Turn the Lights Out; Jay-Z, American Gangster; St. Vincent, Marry Me.

Sorry, I’m just not that into you: Panda Bear, Person Pitch (I’m trying really hard, though!); Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?; Amy Winehouse, Back to Black; The White Stripes, Icky Thump; Jens Lekman, Night Falls Over Kortedala.

Need more time: LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver; Lupe Fiasco, The Cool; Wu-Tang Clan, 8 Diagrams; Ghostface Killah, Big Doe Rehab.

Five favorite shows of the year, in no particular order:
Travis, Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Nov. 25 (recap).
Menomena, Rhythm Room in Phoenix, March 11 (recap).
The National with St. Vincent, The Wiltern in Los Angeles, Sept. 28.
The Hold Steady, The Brickhouse in Phoenix, June 2.
DJ Z-Trip, The Brickhouse in Phoenix, Aug. 22 (review at azcentral.com).

hip-hop, remix

Z-Trip offers Lounge Act remix for download

15 Comments

In keeping with his generous habit of giving away music, DJ Z-Trip is offering for download his remix of Nirvana’s Lounge Act from the soundtrack to the video game Skate. I talked about this mix previously here.

Also up for grabs are two blends – M@shUptight and Soundclash – from a recently released white label 45, which I ordered and got in the mail a couple weeks ago. This saves me the trouble of digitizing the vinyl. Amen for that.

I’d say you should go to his store and order the 45, but it looks like it’s no longer available. So at least grab the downloads.