Michael Phelps also holds a gold medal for… Bong Olympics?

Posted in Culture with tags , , , on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 by Tim Althaus

bong-olympicsPictures are all over the net of Olympic Champion Michael Phelps taking a nice bong rip when he wasn’t training (he didn’t get tested). I think it’s pretty much hilarious. It just proves that you can be an olympian and still smoke grass. Why is everyone so harsh on this guy? He trains pretty much year round, and when he wants to relax and smoke all anyone does is criticize. He had to apologize to the IOC, and luckily they accepted his apology and took it as sincere.

Michael, you don’t have to appologize to me. The whole world now knows that you not only hold gold medals in swimming, but in the world of Bong Olympics as well. So wait until you go to your next college campus party, who knows, Michael Phelps might be in the back loading one up for you and your friends. This just proves more than ever that even an olympic athlete can be pretty down to earth. I honestly don’t think this would affect his training either because he works out so much.

Audio: Smashing Pumpkins release free mp3 for “FOL”

Posted in Downloads with tags , , on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 by Ryan Buege

As you may have heard, Smashing Pumpkins premiered a new song called “FOL” this past Sunday during a Hyundai commercial which aired during a certain well-publicized sporting event that day. Now, courtesy of Hyundai, you can download the song for free (with an email address) from their website. Forget that the song aired for the first time during the Super Bowl pregame show, Corgan seems to have plenty of detractors these days anyway – but to my ears he’s still got that magic 20 years on, and I thinnnnk that’s all that matters. I’m sure we’ll (hopefully) soon be hearing about more Pumpkins music to be released in the near future, but for now click below to get the latest.

Listen: DOWNLOAD “FOL”

New Audio: Fleet Foxes – “False Knight on the Road”

Posted in Downloads with tags , , , , , , on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 by Erik Burg

It’s nice to hear a new single from one of my favorite bands that isn’t from the Dark Was The Night compilation. This time around it’s Fleet Foxes with a cover of Steeleye Span’s 1976 track “False Knight on the Road.” Fleet Foxes version comes on the B-side of their newest release, the U.K. only Mykonos 7″.

Fleet Foxes frontman Robin Pecknold at the Pitchfork Music Festival 2008

Fleet Foxes frontman Robin Pecknold at the Pitchfork Music Festival 2008

The track certainly doesn’t make head-way into new aspects of Fleet Foxes releases, or show off any talent that wasn’t already flaunted on their two 2008 releases. It’s not all bad though, seeing as their formula turned out one of the better albums of 2008 that is still managing to captivate new listeners. “False Knight on the Road” is a fine track that would have blended seamlessly into their self-titled album, making it a great edition to the Fleet Foxes catalogue, yet it remains nothing ground breaking for the group. Grab the track below. enjoy!

mp3: Fleet Foxes – “False Knight on the Road” (Steeleye Span cover)

Dig Deeper:  Myspace Official Page Wiki

Album Preview: The Juan MaClean – “The Future Will Come”

Posted in Music News with tags , , , , , , , on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 by Erik Burg

The Juan and Nancy, names to remember in '09

The Juan and Nancy, names to remember in '09

It’s been four years in the making. It’s going to be featuring some of the best talent around. It’s being released on DFA. It ends with one of the best singles of 2008.

The Juan Maclean returns with a bang in 2009 with The Future Will Come, slated to be released on April 14th. The buzz surrounding this album and the anticipation along with it is unmatched. His last release in 2004 entitled Less Than Human has become a cult sensation thanks to the growing popularity of DFA records.

What makes the release so exciting is the fact that it features, as previously mentioned, the 2008 single “Happy House.” The track brought a new weapon to the Juan that wasn’t really utilized in the past: vocals. Fans of past DFA material should recognize the voice, seeing as she’s worked with headliners LCD Soundsystem for years now on their albums and live shows. It’s Nancy Whang, of course.

“In my career as the Juan Maclean, my guiding principle was to start out more dance-y and instrumental, and someday bow out making flat-out, three-and-a-half-minute pop songs”

Apparently drawing most of his influence from the album from The Human League, the Juan is moving into the realm of more 80’s styled pop music instead of the Air and Daft Punk instrumentals he has been known for on his albums and DJ sets. dfalogo2

The guests on the album are absolute outstanding as well. Nick Millhiser and Alex Frankel, the two halves of Holy Ghost! help out on the album, unknown whether its an actual contribution or production. Either way it’s good news. The Juan bring in !!! drummer Jerry Fuchs as well, again playing with new elements that a drummer that potentially loud and energetic can bring to the album.

I don’t want to crown this the Hercules & Love Affair of 2009 since I haven’t heard it yet, but the people involved in this project and the influences it draws upon point to success and success only. So save the date, April 14th. Track listing below:

1. “The Simple Life”
2. “The Future Will Come”
3. “One Day”
4. “A New Bot”
5. “Tonight”
6. “No Time”
7. “Accusations”
8. “The Station”
9. “Human Disaster”
10. “Happy House”

DFA records The Juan Maclean Nancy Whang

mp3: The Juan Maclean – “Happy House”

Audio: Raekwon, “Back From the Slums” (Featuring Ghotface & Method Man)

Posted in Audio with tags , , , , , on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 by Tim Althaus

ghostface-raekwon

I am starting to fiend for this album like crack. This is only the second track that I’ve heard and I’m completely blown away. Two tracks off of this album and I’m already feeling like this is a classic in the works. I posted about this album and the list of producers on this album is nothing short of amazing. Considering that Ghost has already been on two of the tracks, we can probably expect big things from the guest appearances on Only Built For Cuban Linx 2.

Listen: “Back From the Slums” (Featuring Ghostface & Method Man)

Spotted at OKP

Video: Joseph Duplaniter of Gojira interviewed by HBB Norway

Posted in Video with tags , , , , , on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Gojira interview with Headbanger's Ball

If my memory serves me correctly, Gojira is definitely the most versatile and praiseworthy death metal band to make a name for themselves in the last decade. Ever since the release of The Link, their star has noticeably been steadily rising, and with the release of last fall’s The Way of All Flesh the band has secured the most captive audience of their career. In this interview with MTV Norway’s Headbangers Ball, Joseph Duplantier gives us the details about the message he wanted to portray on the last album, why Gojira albums aren’t necessarily concept albums, and their new found (and well-deserved) fame. (ed note: Joe D. is obviously very satisfied with how The Way of All Flesh came out and how it was received. I had the opportunity to interview him at Cavalera Conspiracy’s debut gig in AZ last year, and Joe’s noticeably more eager and excited in this interview than he was then – and that is saying A LOT considering he was about to go on stage with the Cavalera brothers in their first gig in 10 years!)

Review: P.O.S., Never Better 

Posted in Music Reviews with tags , , , , , , , , on Monday, February 2, 2009 by Tim Althaus

pos-never-better-cd-cover-album-art I really don’t want to sell this album short because, this album is one more nail in the coffin as a testament to Rhymesayers Entertainment‘s complete solidity in independent Hip-Hop. I first heard about P.O.S. when Audition dropped in 2006, and I listened to the album and immediately fell in love with it. It was the perfect blend of Hip-Hop and punk attitude. I knew that this album was going to be special but I had no idea what to think.

I read an interview over at Culture Bully and the guy said that this album almost had the same fitting comparison as El-P’s masterpiece,  I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead. I honestly had the exact same thought in my mind because this album has different soundscapes all over the album but it shows major cohesiveness even while being so diverse with sound.

The opening track is called “Let It Rattle” and it starts off with Stef saying “Sorry I took so long”. I didn’t know the whole story about his album getting stolen at a show until I watched the interview with Kiwibox. P.O.S. rolls right in with an acapella first verse with no real beat in the background and political jabs and uppercuts. When the beat kicks in it’s a barrage of hard hitting drums and anger.  This might be one of the most politically driven albums you will hear the whole year, and it is pouring with Stef’s heart and soul. “Savion Glover” is one of those tracks that I could easily see playing at a party with a bunch of kids dancing infectiously to. It has some great cuts that had me smiling within the first five seconds of hearing the track. The track “Goodbye” could very well be the highlight of the album next to “Low Light Low Life”. “Goodbye” (produced by Lazer Beak) has an incredible beat with a great vocal sample, loud ear assaulting horns and Stef’s usual blood, sweat and tears pouring out onto the track like his life depended on it. Like I said before “Low Light Low Life” in opinion is probably the highlight of Never Better which features Sims & Dessa (of the Doomtree crew) on a great beat by Paper Tiger.

This is a fantastic album that is a great benchmark in the quality of music that P.O.S. and Rhymesayers are putting out. I hate to say things so early in the year, but this album will probably be one of my favorites this year. It’s great to see such great quality music coming out early in the year. It makes me proud to be from Minnesnota. It also lets me know that we can look forward to great things from P.O.S. and RSE this year.

9/10

Review: Evidence, The Purple Tape Instrumentals

Posted in Music Reviews with tags , , , , on Monday, February 2, 2009 by Tim Althaus

purple-tape You have all been hearing me talk about Evidence non-stop for what seems like the last 6 months. Everything that I have been discussing however has been about his emcee game, not his producing skills. I have to tell you that Evidence is one hell of a producer. I also have to let you know that I absolutely love beat tapes, so this one hits really close to home. I haven’t really listened to the Red or Yellow Tape Instrumentals for awhile, so I didn’t really know what to expect.

The album starts out with a track called “Take U Back”. The beat has a nice little sample flip and some hard hitting drums with your occasional guitar loop. It’s a great way to kick off the beat tape (not to mention the track has an intro almost as if a movie were beginning) and it hooked me right away. “Lost Cause” is one of those totally infectious beats, and it reminds me of a track that s0meone by the likes of Dr. Dre would spit over. This is another track that I could easily see being in a movie score. To be honest to me I kind of felt like I was listening to a movie score from beginning to end. This album is great quality and a great testament to EV’s production skills. I would love to hear emcees spitting over every single one of these beats. The song “Hour Glass” is truly a beautiful beat at the very least, and in my opinion might be the highlight of the beat tape.

The Purple Tape Instrumentals is a great supplement to follow up it’s predecessors (Red Tape & Yellow Tape Instrumentals) with 20 straight bangin’ beats, and I highly suggest that you go out and grab this if you are an Evidence fan because these are some great beats. Some of them are actually very simple beats, but the way they are arranged makes them very enjoyable.

8/10

Video: Tombs, “Gossamer” music video premieres

Posted in Video with tags , , , , on Monday, February 2, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Tombs, Gossamer
My most anticipated underground metal album of the year, Winterhours by Tombs, actually has a music video for a song called “Gossamer”! Not much to say; it’s a pretty standard band performance directed by Kevin Custer, shot in low lighting, and emphasizing the dynamism and subtleties behind Tombs epic post-doom song structures. Relapse must be doing a pretty proactive job pulling the strings for these guys ’cause it even premiered at P4K of all places; Winterhours will be available on Feb. 17, 2009. Check it out!

Madlib & Cut Chemist to Headline “Timeless” Concert Series

Posted in Music News with tags , , , , on Monday, February 2, 2009 by Tim Althaus

cut-chem

It turns out that two of the most consistently innovative producers in Hip-Hop will be headlining the same show together. The “Timeless” Concert Series is a four part series, that will be going down February 1st and every third Sunday after that. There is a different DJ headlining each night, the first one is Cut Chemist alongside a 15-piece orchestra, the second show (a tribute to Dilla) will be DJ Houseshoes along with a 36-piece orchestra (of L.A., formerly Detroit), the third will be Madlib with a 30-piece orchestra and the last DJ will be J Rocc along side David Axelrod and a 26-piece orchestra. To be honest this concert series sounds like it is going to be something that is beyond words to explain. I am almost to the point of weeping because I don’t live in California.

Spotted at HipHopDX