Here at Mindinversion we like to show love to local up and comers in the music scene.  Some artists of our areal, even artists we might know and hang out with personally.  Cause we are so cool like that and we can.  Here is a chance for us to get out of the mainstream a bit and focus on the future, on things that interest us now, and to show you what’s up where we live.

In this edition of Local Love I have decided to do a little bit of a piece on my friend and almost neighbor Lukeb.

Lukeb. is a local Minneapolis transplant from La Crosse/La Crescent area (La Crosse Music Scene), as well as this guy, so there is empathy and recognition in his art and words that I can relate to.  He has been rocking his style for some time and he goes hard on the mic all the time.  His MC skills are authoritative, aggressive, and deep.  Northern Lightz live shows are always exciting.  He does his own production (“everything, Man.”) and he rages daily.  If you are looking for something local and homemade with a twist of great lyricism and humble humility then you are looking for Lukeb.  He has been doing shows for 10 plus years in the Midwest, he is a vet. go check out a show if one is near, also check the jukeboxes at your favorite bars, hit up Northern Lightz with a Z.

This video is good for a listen.  It makes a decent day start better.  These are beats made down the street.  I can enjoy that.  The video is artsy and made by Lukeb.  Well done, representing the neighborhood.

“We do all this shit ourselves.”  -Lukeb.

If you dig the video I advise you to check out more music from Lukeb.  Lukeb. also is part of the creative force surrounding Northern Lightz, and he does collaborations with numerous artists in and throughout the Midwest, specifically La Crosse, WI:  Motz, CASTaway, Sara Mae, Mysta J, YoursTruly, Cat Robey and the Whiiild Ones, MasterNate, and others.  Also, check out the above single and other songs on his soon to be dropped album The Midnight Zone.  

Check them at:

Soundcloud Link:  Northern Lightz Sound

ReverbNation Link:  Northern Lightz ReverbNation

Other Albums:  You Can’t get there from Here, Other Side of the Table, and others.  

To tell every one the honest truth I had been putting off listening to the new album by Sleigh Bells. This is because of my fear that I wouldn’t like the new album upon the first listen. With already getting a taste of the first 3 singles off of the record before listening to the entirety of the album I had mixed reviews. Upon first listen I forgot why I was scared to listen and wondered why I was so scared? Although, I recommend proceeding with caution and if at first you do not like the new album give it a second listen. The second listen is the most important because you will realize if an album is growing on you or if you just simply do not like it.

From the start with “True Shred Guitar” it feels like you are at a stadium rock show. With all of the crowd noise and Alexis Krauss screaming “What the fuck’s up?” it gets you going and ready for a live show or the album. The new album Reign of Terror plays out like a live performance and before long Derek Edward Miller is coming in with his high-powered machine. His guitar and stack of amps smack you in the face while Alexis gets you ready for the show. The album continues on with back-to-back singles that have already been released. “Born to Lose” is my least favorite of the 3 that they released but it is starting to grow on me. Especially when combined with the first song on the album.

Up next, they go to the track “Crush” and this song is my favorite single that they have released from this album. It features again a live crowd helping along with the chorus and chanting in the background of the entire song. It has a good ring to it and it is very cool how the duo from New York City used an original strategy in creating these almost melodic cult rock chant songs. They slow it up with the next to tracks on the album but this is a style that I haven’t heard too much of by Sleigh Bells. “End of the Line” is another great track that shows the softer side of the Sleigh Bells. This song may even be my favorite on the entire album and I could see it being the next single released off the album. Alexis has such a sweet voice in the song and talks so beautifully over the top of the track. I am absolutely in love.

“Comeback Kid” follows the two softer songs and comes back at you with a classic Sleigh Bells sound. Heavy bass, in your face guitar and Alexis’s sweet voice greet your ears with a glimpse into the past while showing you the band still has a bright future. Again, “Demons” is a heavy rock anthem that reminds you of the good old days. The duo follows up the two classic style songs by slowing it down with “Road to Hell”. Once again I am brought in by the slower more passionate Sleigh Bells. Although, she is saying “Road to Hell” it sounds like such a blissful place to be going.

“You Lost Me” is another slow, dreamy song that features Alexis’s voice and at the 3:20 mark it there is a great guitar rift by Derek. These new songs are so well put together and thought out. With more slow songs that feature her voice this album surpasses the first on quality work. I like these slow songs that inspire dream sequences that allow you to go somwhere else. “Never Say Die” is a song that seems to brainwash you with it’s sound. It is like Sleigh Bells is saying this sound is our religion and we are going to drive this message into your head. They finish up the album with the track “D.O.A.” and by this point you aren’t ready for the end.

The new album is more “dreamy” than their previous album. I think overall it is a better listen front to back. For a sophomore album I am very impressed and think that the sound of this album would translate to a live show very well. Even though, they do a great job making it seem like you are already at a live show. Reign of Terror is a must if you enjoyed the first album by Sleigh Bells. If you were scared like me to listen to the album in the entirety, all I can say is don’t be. Overcoming the fear of failure for the band is the first step in realizing how good the second album is. Now, when does their third album come out?

Album Release Date: February 21, 2012

Again, here is the same old story with another band who had so much success from their debut album. How is your sophomore album going to be? For the duo from the UK, we can only hope that Sounds from Nowheresville is worth this long wait. The Ting Tings debut album We Started Nothing was released in May of 2008 and featured hits “That’s Not my Name”, “Great DJ” and “Shut Up and Let Me Go”. Katie White and Jules de Martino rode the success of the new album all the way to a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2010 Grammys.

Almost 4 years later we have arrived at the sophomore album so the name is fitting for the new album since we haven’t heard but a few glimpses off of it. The Ting Tings have been working on this album for a while and the few glimpses we have heard points in the direction that Sounds from Nowheresville will not disapoint. “Hands” was released in October of 2010 and is a catchy track that made its way onto the Fifa ’12 Soundtrack. That soundtrack I may add is one of the best sport games soundtracks of all time.

“Hang It Up” was released in October of last year on YouTube.

“Silence” is another track off of the new album and the remix was released on The Ting TingsVEVO last November. Even though it has taken the band almost 4 years they have leaked a few tracks so we can get excited about this new album. The album was released in the UK on February 27th and is due out March 13th in the US.

What a great day for Hip-Hop music; first the Soundset 2012 lineup is announced (which K.R.I.T. will be at), and then the Meridian, Mississippi phenom dropped some new material for the world to hear. 4Eva N A Day is a mix tape that I’ve been anticipating for quite some time now; I really didn’t get into Big K.R.I.T. at first, but once I really started to dig deeper, I instantly became a huge fan. The one thing that I really enjoy about K.R.I.T. is that he always puts out original music. K.R.I.T’s mix tapes contain tracks that have production by none other than himself; he isn’t releasing half-assed mix tapes with jacked beats. In fact, I (along with the rest of the Hip-Hop community) consider his mix tape releases to be album quality

4Eva N A Day features seventeen all new original tracks from K.R.I.T., and there are no vocal guest appearances; it sounds like this tape could be monumental. It seems as though there is no slowing down one of the hardest working cats in the Hip-Hop game; he had released three top-tier mix tapes in the last three years, and he is readying the world for his Def Jam debut, Live From the Underground. Make sure click the download button and get yourself a syringe.

Download: Big K.R.I.T., 4Eva N A Day

Sorry for the delay in my posting lately folks, but I’ve been swamped in my personal life. Anyways, I was at work today when I got about 3 different text messages pertaining to this year’s Soundset Festival in Shakopee, MN. Let me tell you right now, my heart dropped when I saw this lineup; it is utterly fantastic. I went to the initial reincarnation of Soundset in 2008, and it’s one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. I also went in 2009, but I haven’t been back since because I wasn’t as enthused about the lineup as I had been in past years.

This year they have truly outdone themselves; I can’t even express how excited I am about this lineup. Some of the artists (just to name a few) include Atmosphere (as always), Aesop Rock, Evidence, Big K.R.I.T., Ghostface Killah & Raekwon, Danny Brown, DJ Premier, Kendrick Lamar, hometown heroes Audio Perm and more. Tickets will be on sale this Saturday, March 10th at 11AM, and I can assure you I will be picking up a VIP ticket stat. General admission is going to be $41, and VIP will be $90. I hope to see you all there!

About a month ago, I wrote an article about Erik Arbores, the 14-year old Dutch phenom, so I figure I better pay respect to the United States and honor a phenom of our own. All hail, the recent high school graduate out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Porter Robinson! Porter is currently 19-years old and living large in the world of electronic music. He started producing music at the age of 12 using Sony ACID Pro and his recent success has him sharing the stage with the likes of Tiësto and Skrillex.

The North Carolina native is taking the nation by storm and in 2011 he busted his festival cherry by performing at Electric Daisy Carnival, Ultra Music Festival and Electric Zoo. Porter Robinson utilized all of his time in the spotlight to his advantage gaining enough popularity to catapult his debut EP Spitfire all the way to #1 on Beatport. The release of this EP actually crashed Beatport’s server.

It appears that Porter is 100% in this Bitch and that is good for everyone who enjoys electronic music. Why don’t you check out his track “100% in the Bitch” right here? Then go pay respect by visiting his SoundCloud.

 Porter Robinson – “100% in the Bitch”

SOJA, the inspiring reggae group from DC, will make their national television debut on March 12th. They will be making this debut in light of their recent success with the band’s new album Strength to Survive. The performance will happen on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” which airs at 11:35 pm EST on NBC. If you ever have attended one of their live shows, you know the energy that the band will bring to the stage. We all know they will shine in the spotlight on national television with this being another avenue to spread their message. If you haven’t been to one of their shows, it is highly recommended you tune in on the upcoming Monday in March. What else do you have to do?

Besides checking out these other articles on SOJA…

SOJA Concert Review @ the Cabooze – Minneapolis

Mind Inversion Exclusive Interview with Jacob Hemphill

Album Review: SOJA, Strength to Survive

So it was no surprise that I found myself grooving in my car to Father Funk’s “Clap Your Hands.” This song has that fun, funked out sound that just puts a smile on the faceplate. This song by Father Funk was released in January of this year so it is a fresh sounding track with an old school feel. If you are a fan of “the funk” and are in need of something new look no further than Father Funk and give his song “Clap Your Hands” a listen.

Father Funk ”Clap Your Hands”

And remember friends, you can not spell funk without F-U-N.

Father Funk’s Soundcloud

Slaughterhouse have let go of the first single off of their forthcoming Shady Records debut, Welcome to Our House. “Hammer Dance” is a certified banger that features none other than araabMUZIK on the boards. I’ve been waiting to hear this single for quite some time, and without a doubt, I can say I’m impressed. Even though I was a huge fan of araabMUZIK’s solo album Electronic Dream, I’m glad to hear that he’s back behind the boards in the Hip-Hop realm. All four emcees absolutely decimate araab’s incredible instrumental that features a nice little hard rock sample that some of you may be familiar with (*cough* Korn *cough*). Tracks like this are going to make me very irritable while waiting for May 15th to get here.

In my mind, there are electronic dance music albums that are just that and then there are music albums that are electronic dance music. I Love You, Dude by Digitalism is definitely the latter. Digitalism is an electronic house duo from the city of Hamburg, Germany consisting of members, Jens Moelle and İsmail Tüfekçi. I Love You, Dude is their follow-up album to their idealistic debut, Idealism. Sophomore albums have a tendency to make me worry. Especially, when following a successful debut album and as in succesful, I mean a great listen for me.

Probably one reason I really like this album and what Digitalism is doing is because there is more to their electronic music. They bring more of a punk element to the table and use lyrics in a lot of the tracks on I Love You, Dude. The album starts with the classic heavy drones of Digitalism in “Stratoshpere.” The song is a perfect instrumental build up into what is to come. They follow it with “2 Hearts” which showcases the duos talent to sing and well, talk together through a portion of the track.

The third song on the album is definitely gaining popularity throughout the gaming community of the world as it is featured on EA Sports’ Fifa Soccer ’12. “Circles” is the name of the song and it has a way of making you want to play it again and again. This goes for the game, the song and the album. After two songs with lyrics they come back with “Blitz” another head bobbing instrumental track that gives your mind a break from having to digest too much information. Once you listen to the next song, “Forrest Gump,” you will understand just why it is called that.

Once the sixth track hits, you are wondering what kind of album you are listening to for a second? “Reeperbahn” is an in-your-face heavy electronic metal rendition. It gears you up for the home-stretch of the album. In the back portion of the album it makes you feel more like Digitalism made the soundtrack for Tron: Legacy instead of Daft Punk. “Antibiotics” is an upbeat funky rendition that makes you feel like you are participating on “The Grid.”

On “Just Gazin’” they do a great job of making you feel as if you are gazing off into a sunrise that causes you an ultimate euphoria. After you are placed in that peaceful state of well being the talented German electronic duo come back at you with the heavy hitting “Miami Showdown.” The second to last track, “Encore”, is another fun instrumental track on the album. It picks up momentum and at a point a couple of minutes in you get a picture in your mind of a crowd somewhere getting off of their feet. They close the album with ”Harrison Fjord,” enough said.

Release Date: June 20, 2011