Always on the hunt for hip-hop on the positive tip, I recently picked up Giant Panda’s Fly School Reunion. I had good feeling before listening just because the LA-based trio is on Tres Records, along with one of my favorites, People Under the Stairs.
Fly School, the group’s first full-length album, proved my instincts correct. Without being overzealous in my defense of “backpack” rap, the album nails everything I love about a good hip-hop album: the lyrical interplay is seamless, production is consistent and the beats maintain a good-time vibe from start to finish.
Not to mention, Giant Panda is a walking example of social harmony, even if it wasn’t their intention. The trio is diverse (black, white and Japanese), which makes a track like Racist – a sarcastic yet sadly necessary statement on racial stereotypes – all the more sincere.
Giant Panda | Diggin’ in the Tapes
Giant Panda | Racist
Also …
- Question: Did everyone download Colin Meloy’s concert from NPR? I will consider splitting it up into separate mp3s if there’s a big enough demand (leave it in the comments).
- The Big Takeover makes note of a promising trend: purchase albums on vinyl and receive a coupon to download it digitally for free. The fantastic Merge Records has made this deal available on the Clientele’s Strange Geometry and Robert Pollard’s From a Compound Eye.
- Be sure to check out two new additions to the blog roll: Black Balloon and the newly launched Cable and Tweed.
- You’ve gotta be kidding: An iPod owner in Louisiana is suing Apple, alleging the mp3 player has the potential to cause hearing loss. Story here.
after seeing him live last week, i would be so very pleased to have the colin meloy mp3s…
i can dig. nice post. giant panda is solid.
I’d definitely like to get Meloy’s set. Saw him in NY and it was great. Very entertaining.
I too saw him live in NY and would be very grateful if you would split that NPR show up into separate tracks. I think I’m too stupid to do it myself.
Thanks for the link to C&T!
New visitors are encouraged to stop by. 😉
FWIW, I’ve got the new Minus 5 track up with Colin on vocals.
only studio quality for me please.
only studio quality are worth the download. i can trade tapes otherwise.