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New Material: Diplo and Blaqstarr

Posted in Music News with tags , , , , , , , on Friday, December 19, 2008 by Erik Burg

Diplo tearing up the tables in Minneapolis this fall

Diplo tearing up the tables in Minneapolis this fall

Mad Decent records, who grabbed my attention earlier this year with the release of full length LPs from the likes of Abe Vigoda and Diplo (also the guy who runs the label) have some new material coming soon to the public. Most of the time singles like this seem to leak out and about a million and half remixes come following shortly after, but Mad Decent have kept a tight lid on this one, which leads me to hope/believe that track will be absolutely banging. And why not, these two artists have been putting out tons of material lately that has been mind-blowing, and this is sure to follow in the footsteps.

Here is a look at some questionable behavior by the Pizza and Hot Dog during Diplo’s beyond stellar set at First Ave a few months ago. The Mad Tour just recently wrapped up and it’s a damn shame if you missed out.

The single itself, which is slatted to start shipping January 20th if you pre-order, will feature three songs on Side A (yes, it’s printed on vinyl only. no word on digital download yet that I can find) will feature the title track along with two remixes, one by DJ Rob3 and another called Bonus Beats. Side B will feature something called Serato Control Record that is 10 minutes long, and don’t ask me dive any deeper into that because I have no idea what it could be, ha. 

The page to pre-order this sure to be amazing limited-edition Pink Vinyl can be found HERE, if you plan on getting a copy of this I’d jump all over it soon because I’ve following a lot of their singles lately and they seem to sell out pretty quick.

I’ll send some Diplo mp3s your way too, get a feel for the guy and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
Diplo- “Blow Your Head” Feist- “I Feel It All (Diplo Remix)” Kanye West- “Flashing Lights (Diplo remix)” and the crowning jewel of them all Spank Rock- “Put That Pussy On Me (Diplo Tonite Remix)

Mad Decent: Official Website, Myspace, Tour Diary

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Throw Your Geology Books Away!

Posted in Audio, Downloads, Music News with tags , , , , , , on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 by Erik Burg

A young VanWyngarden on the right

A young VanWyngarden on the right

Some very interesting (old) new music has surfaced from one half of 2008 spotlight stealers MGMT. Andrew VanWyngarden, while attending Wesleyan University, had a class called Earth & Earth Sciences and he certainly did his very best to use his musical talents to pass the class. For some sort of presentation on the magical world of volcanoes, VanWyngarden wrote and performed a song called “Super Volcano” that sounds almost identical to some of the earlier MGMT releases out there; It’s easy to see how MGMT finally came about because this track exemplifies much of what they’re all about: over-the-top synths, floaty and imaginative vocals, and some hilarious (yet informative) lyrics. See the hilarious video for “The Youth” directed by none other than Eric Wareheim of Tim and Eric Great Awesome Show Great Job! fame below.

The track, considering its for an environmental science course, is surprisingly better than expected. It’s obviously nothing that would have made an album cut, but it makes for a delightful B-Side for a band that’s been all over the map this year. To be quite honest, the song sounds quite familiar of some older Of Montreal tracks, say…Satanic Panic era Kevin Barnes. If you fall head over heels in love with this cut though, you can find more from VanWyngarden and his first take a two man band called Glitter Penis here.

Now if only the burning hot lava from the super volcano could come and rescue all of us stuck in the miserable weather this week in Minnesota. It’s effing -35 right now!! anyway, ENJOY!

mp3: Andrew VanWyngarden (MGMT) – “Super Volcano”

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Genghis Tron in-studio performance airs on the BBC tonight

Posted in Music News with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Monday, December 15, 2008 by Ryan Buege

If you’re cooped inside tonight, tune to UK’s BBC Radio 1 to hear the recent in-studio performance by Philadelphia’s unpredictable electroprogcore scientists in Genghis Tron. Their set will air tonight (Monday, December 15) at 12 midnight GMT (6:00 p.m. CST) on Radio 1’s “The Rock Show with Daniel P Carter”. The program will also be available for seven days at this location. If that’s not enough, the show also showcases the recent heavenly Melvins, Mike Patton curated ATP winter showcase in the UK w/ interviews with the Melvins, Mastodon, and Isis!

Just last week, Genghis Tron released volumes 3 and 4 of their  amazing new 5 VOLUME SERIES(!) of limited edition remixes, and it features some of the brightest underground musicians retouching songs from the band. Artists involved include Justin K. Broaderick, Eluvium, Rob Crow, Steve Moore, Tobacco (of Black Moth Super Rainbow), Dntel, Scott Hull, Danny Lohner, Ulver, Telefon Tel Aviv, Odd Nosdam, Tim Hecker, Nadja, and many, many more. Before the show starts, head to their special myspace remix site to listen to some of these unbelievable remixes; as announced earlier, Volume 5 is now up for preorder here.

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Raekwon gives details about Only Built For Cuban Linx 2, Wu Tour Dates

Posted in Concert Dates, Music News with tags , , , , , , , , , , on Monday, December 15, 2008 by Tim Althaus

the-chef

It seems as though the Chef is cooking up some classic material once again. Raekwon talked to Pitchfork about his new masterpiece, the sequel to arguably one of the greatest solo Wu albums of all time, Only Built for Cuban Linx 2. According to Raekwon, “This record is the shit, it’s been getting around in my camp. It’s another masterpiece that is ready to be released.” The Chef also said that he strayed away from all RZA production because as an artist he felt as though he wanted to move on to other things. He noted that he has some of the best producers in the game for the last 20 years on this shit. Who would he be speaking of? Dr. Dre, Marley Marl, J Dilla, Pete Rock and DJ Scratch (holy shit, what a producer list) will be heading the production side of the album and guest appearances will include Ghostface, Method Man, GZA, Busta Rhymes & Inspectah Deck.

If you go over to the original article Rae talks about how he wanted the new OBFCL  to compliment the original one coming out. he wanted to “be like seeing DeNiro do a mafia flick, do something completely different and then come back to another mafia film and be the same dude he was in The Godfather.” That’s almost exactly the way that Raekwon’s career has gone, he released two other albums since the original OBFCL and this is like him going back to the stove and cooking up classics.

It sounds like this album is already going to be one of the biggest albums to come out next year. All of you Wu heads out there get ready because this album is going to be exactly what you’ve been waiting for. Based on the last OBFCL I can assure you that chances are, you are going to be seeing plenty of Ghost on this album to.

ALSO… go check out the Wu in your city because they are on the road right now:

12-14 Chicago, IL – House of Blues
12-15 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
12-17 Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
12-18 Rochester, NY – Main Street Armory
12-19 Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero
12-20 New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
12-21 Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
12-23 New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom
12-26 Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Small’s
12-27 Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
12-31 Baltimore, MD – Sonar
01-01 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
01-02 Providence, RI – Lupo’s
01-03 Worcester, MA – Palladium Nightclub
01-04 Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
01-07 Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
01-08 Richmond, VA – The National
01-09 Greensboro, NC – N Club
01-10 Charleston, SC – Music Farm
01-11 Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend
01-12 Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
01-13 Columbia, SC – Level
01-14 Atlanta, GA – TBA
01-15 Jacksonville, FL – Plush
01-16 Tampa, FL – Jannus Landing

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Arcade Fire to Release DVD

Posted in Music News with tags , , , , , on Monday, December 15, 2008 by Erik Burg

mp3 of track from the above video: Arcade Fire – “Cold Wind”

Arcade Fire, one of the most consistently great indie rock bands out there, are releasing a DVD chronicling their 2007 effort Neon Bible. The Film is titled Miroir Noir and as their press release describes it, the vid “follows Arcade Fire through the making and touring of their 2007 album Neon Bible documenting the band at their Montreal studio, the making of promotional films and videos, along with live footage and a few short films made on the road.”

The official release date of the hard copy of the dvd and deluxe edition dvd have yet to be set, but expect to see them in early 2009. The deluxe edition will come packed with added live footage, and most intriguing is that fact that it has footage of their famed SNL set that they played well beyond the allotted time slot causing the set to shut down so Arcade Fire couldn’t play anymore, but it never stopped them, see below for a clip. The digital release of the film is Monday December 15th, so those anxious to get their hands on this (much like I am) can have it asap. Most notably is the fact that you can subscribe to the email list for the movie over at the official website and pre-order a copy of the documentary which comes with an instant digital download upon order confirmation. Sort of like having your cake and eating it too, sort of haha. 

I know I’m excited to see the footage from these guys because everything they have done so far in their short and illustrious career has been magnificent.   

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Merriweather Post Pavillion news

Posted in Music News with tags , , , , , , on Sunday, December 14, 2008 by Erik Burg

The Geologist, Avey Tarre, and Panda Bear

The Geologist, Panda Bear, and Avey Tarre

Big news from the Animal Collective camp this week, the release date for the Vinyl of Merriweather Post Pavilion has been pushed up two weeks to January 6th. The digital and cd release of the highly anticipated album will still be on January 20th, but the Vinyl comes equipped with a mp3/wav download of the album so you could essentially have the album two weeks early in any format. Since any mp3 or leak of this album is impossible to have, and sanctions by the “web sheriff” have already been handed down I don’t have any preview to lend, but I’ve heard a streamed version “My Girls” and I can surely say that it is an amazing, hard-hitting track that is in fashion with all the other Animal Collective material out there. Stay tuned for an album review as soon as it hits shelves.

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Akron/Family sign deal with Dead Ocean for album release in 2009

Posted in Music News with tags , , , on Sunday, December 14, 2008 by Ryan Buege

Akron/Family plays some sweet music indeed, and now I can drink merrily this evening knowing that their fourth album will be coming early in 2009. Also, part of the good news this week is that the band as partnered with the very respectable and fan-friendly Texas-based Dead Oceans label for the release of new experimental, folk-influenced rock .

But the most interesting news is about the direction the band has taken on the new album. In a recent interview, member Miles Seaton referred to the album as organic; he also implied that although it is undeniably an “Akron/Family album”, they are very proud of a progression on their sound that expands their sound into uncharted territories. “It started out being really inspired by American soul and West African music,” he says. “We’re all still in love with American classic rock music, but [the new ablum] is inspired by many different directions […] There’s even one track that emphasizes our fondness for extreme noise and painful, almost guttural sounds — raw, primal noise. We’ve alluded to those things, but I think there are a few moments that are mashing all those sounds together, into hopefully, one seven-minute prog masterpiece.”

From the sounds of it, the next album may be their most ambitious yet – but while many bands might fall flat on their faces attempting this kind of thing, Akron/Family seems to actually have the depth to pull something like this off. Every song I’ve heard so far from the band has been unique, but they all have (nearly instantly) earned my long-lasting appreciation. While they definitely show a well-versed appreciation for folk of yesteryear and solid chops to match, they really seem at home when submerging the listener in subliminal background pyschedelia, noise rock, ambience, and engaging, soaring vocals. This band has a very interesting and beautiful approach to modern music. I’m hoping that this release will finally push them into the spotlight so that they can get the credit they deserve for the contributions they’ve made; either way, I’m psyched!

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Talk About a Concept Album

Posted in Music News with tags , , , , on Sunday, December 14, 2008 by Erik Burg

CHECK OUT THE NEW ALBUM REVIEW OF BITTE ORCA! HERE

The Dirty Projectors, what is there to say about this band. Seemingly transforming from a one man act thanks to Dave Longstreth to a four piece band accompanied by his roommate from Yale and two rather beautiful women named Amber and Angel. Longstreth proclaims himself as the “musical director” on their myspace, but he is as active as ever in their musical performance. I saw them this summer at Pitchfork Music Festival and they played the tightest and most “studio-like” performance I saw all weekend, led front and center by Longstreth (and oh yeah, the beautiful girls too, haha). Last year the group released the critically praised “Rise Above” that turned the group from lo-fi one man act, to a band now designed around the entire group. Since then they have been quiet, but in the past week some information about a follow up album has been coming out. 

“The album is related to Plaxico Burress,” says Longstreth. Now there is a concept for an album, a man who shot himself in the leg. Do I have any suggestion as far as what the album will sound like? None at all, but I can only dream that it’ll sample some M.I.A. gunshots. In the past Dirty Projector albums have been based on The Black Flag, September 11th, and the Aztecs so what is next will hopefully come as a great surprise. Longstreth apparently wrote pages worth of words or phrases that had to do with his moods or thoughts and that’s what he started the album with. Most of what wrote deals with heartache, women, and loneliness, but how any of that relates to Plaxico Burress is beyond me. Obviously suggestive of pop-like lyrics hopefully the band will continue on its trend towards incorporating the women vocalists and creating a more pop sound compared to the older lo-fi rock that started with Longstreth. 

Okay so he’s probably fucking with all of us because the album was finished in September, well before any of this Plaxico Non-sense took place. So what to ultimately expect? I’m not quite sure, but I have high hopes because the Dirty Projectors have been evolving on each and every record, and in my opinion getting better and better. Look for the record in early to mid 2009, though no official date has been set (damnit).  Stay tuned for more news! 

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A Storm of Light release new song from collaboration with Nadja

Posted in Music News with tags , on Friday, December 12, 2008 by Ryan Buege

Josh Graham’s A Storm of Light has announced plans for a collaboration with the amazing post-doom/ambient noisemakers of Nadja(!!!), and they have even given us a taste of what we can expect. Go to their myspace page now to listen to “Sister”, the latest release from A Storm of Light.

This song is huge, and I really dig the Isis approach of diving right into the song that they embrace here. However, as I mentioned in my previous review, this is a band that really enjoys indulging in jamming hard on the moments where most bands lose focus.. For some reason, (from my point of view) their riffs during the quiet parts and segues are even more infected and interesting than when they crank out heavy shit during the epic parts. Whatever the case, it’s really refreshing to hear a doom band that is actually surprising and which demands my attention – rather than one that slowly drowns me to sleep with epic riffage. If A Storm of Light can continue to produce such unpredictable AND unforgiving songs, there will be no one to stop them. Really, Josh only needs to continue doing what makes him unique; eventually I could imagine this band being mentioned in the same  breath alongside the “post-metal” innovators like Neurosis and Isis.

More than anyone I’ve heard in a long time, A Storm of Light sound like they have more contributions to make.

LISTEN NOW -> “Sister” (from collaboration with Nadja)

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Ghostface Killah: “Slept on Tony”

Posted in Music News with tags , , , , on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 by Tim Althaus

ghostface1

Ghostface Killah’s new album Ghost Deini the Great comes out this coming Tuesday. This is the first track to be released off of the album and of course Ghost sounds like he’s murdering bars like he always does. Go out and grab Ghost Deini The Great on Tuesday and enjoy one of the best Ghostface collections to date.

Ghostface Killah – “Slept on Tony”

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