RJD2, The Simpsons?

Posted in Music News with tags , , , , , , on Thursday, November 20, 2008 by Tim Althaus

rjd2

I was very relieved to hear that one of my favorite producers, Ramble John Krohn (aka Rjd2), was back in the studio making more music. He had mentioned that his new album should be ready sometime around mid-2009 (although he doesn’t like to say things like that pre-emptively). I am really hoping that Rj goes back towards his Hip-Hop roots (Dead Ringer which was released to high critical acclaim) and stays away from the indie pop music. This guy is one of the most talented producers I’ve ever heard, and his music is simply beautiful.

I also found out that the Simpsons recently did a parody of the AMC show Mad Men (which is a Golden Globe winner) and they chose to use Rj’s track “A Beautiful Mine” off of the Magnificent City (which teamed RJ up with veteran Freestyle Fellowship emcee Aceyalone). When RJ was asked how he felt about the situation: “It’s really something when music you made in your basement for your own enjoyment ends up in places you never imagined it would.  You can tell they recreated the music for the show using orchestration and all live instruments, so that made it even cooler.”

CD Review: The Bronx – The Bronx (III)

Posted in Music Reviews with tags on Thursday, November 20, 2008 by Ryan Buege

There’s something that I’ve always liked about this band; the weird thing is that I never really understood exactly what it was that I truly admired until I gave their new album, their third self-titled full length, a couple of spins. With III, the Bronx has released an unbridled statement of hardcore ‘n’ roll bliss that proclaims their domination of their game.

This is an an album that bristles with a kind of haughty swagger that is rarely seen contrasted so beautifully with a riotous, jagged backdrop of hardcore punk dissonance. At any one time, you’d be hard pressed to decisively call the sound either “hardcore punk” or “rock ‘n’ roll”, and I think that’s where the beauty of the execution of this album lies. Moving from Kyuss-reminiscent whisky and weed soaked grooves to anthemic Snapcase-esque rhythms with ease, The Bronx have created a seemless album of the most enjoyable and likable good ole’ fashioned hard rock that I’ve heard in a long time.

On The Bronx’s third full length release, they deliver an exceptional collection of songs that will bring a confident smile to your face no matter your mood. III embodies the true rebellious spirit that has been accrued over years of hard earned experience in the the punk rock underground; it oozes with songs that are massive, groovy, catchy, and heavy as a steamroller. After an excellent sophomore release, The Bronx have once again raised the bar that only they set for themselves. Cheers to them for writing a record that defies the genres to create something that everyone can enjoy – something that rocks!

I’ll be waiting to see if big things are finally in store for these guys! Visit them online at their website or their myspace homepage.

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Concert Photo Recap: Today is the Day, Count Vesuvius, Ambassador Gun @ the Turf Club

Posted in Concert Reviews with tags , , , , , , , on Thursday, November 20, 2008 by Ryan Buege

Today is the Day live at the Turf Club

The date was Saturday, November 15th for experimental metal (underground legends) band Today is the Day‘s headling performance at the Turf Club in St. Paul with local crust/grind stalwarts Ambassador Gun and psychedelic doom prodigies Count Vesuvius. Despite being vastly underattended, the opening bands were AMAZING (..seriously, check them out)..) and the main set was a brilliant showcase of Today is the Day’s most recent album Axis of Eden set to feature film directed by David Hall. For nearly 2 decades, Steve Austin and Today is the Day have been redefining and expanding the definition of music, and even the performance that night redefined how a metal band can present a new album to its audience. The videos played throughout the performance were shockingly realistic, stark, and beautiful – the perfect mindfuck to complement the music of Today is the Day, a band that has embodied and defined this imagery ever since their early days on local AmRep.

While I didn’t capture any video, I’ve got a pretty spectacular photo gallery from the night!

Today is the Day

Today is the Day live at the Turf Club

Today is the Day live at the Turf Club

Today is the Day live at the Turf Club

Today is the Day live at the Turf Club

Today is the Day live at the Turf Club

Today is the Day live at the Turf Club

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Jurassic 5 EP being re-issued for 10th anniversary

Posted in Music News with tags , , , , , , , on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 by Tim Althaus

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It’s been 10 long years since Chali 2na, Akil, Mark 7even, Zaakir (Soup), Cut Chemist & DJ Nu Mark bust onto the hip-hop scene with their legendary Jurassic 5 EP. The Jurassic 5 EP was as close to a perfect record as you could get, hard hitting drums with great samples and absolutely amazing lyrics.

To celebrate the eleventh anniversary of this modern day classic, the EP is being re-released (it had been out of print since 2004) with additional bonus tracks (there are 29 tracks total on 2 discs), as well as a DVD with live performances, a documentary and the video for “Concrete Schoolyard”. I don’t know about you, but this package seems to have a great deal of added value here. For all of you die-hard J5 fans (I happen to be a pretty damn big one) this is a great item for you to add to the collection.jurassic5b1

Video: Evidence “Don’t Hate” ft. Defari

Posted in Video with tags , , , , on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 by Tim Althaus

ev

There are only 5 days left until EV drops The LAyover EP and EV was kind enough to drop the 4th video (produced by Jason Goldwatch) he’s released off this EP entitled “Don’t Hate”. The track features Defari who is a Cali native and solo artist, as well as a collaborator with DJ Babu in Likwit Junkies. This video is in straight black and white and there really isn’t too much to it, but that’s what I like about it. Both emcees flow craftily over this Evidence beat and make this a great listen. Watch out for the last video to drop on the 25th when the LAyover drops, you know I’ll have the video up as well as a copy of the EP playing all fucking day.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Also Check:

“So Fresh” (Featuring Alchemist) (Step Brothers) (Video)

“The Far Left” (Featuring Alchemist & Fashawn) (Produced by Alchemist) (Video)

“The LAyover” (Video)

Shake Your Groove Thang

Posted in Music Reviews with tags , , , , , on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 by Erik Burg

underwaterhg-hold-on

brooklyen-jamThe world of psychedelic disco house has been heating up as of late. Kings of new-era mid tempo disco DFA and their partner record company Death From Abroad have been busy as of late, releasing singles from new and old acts alike. Starting with the new guys on the block, Runaway, Panther, and Yacht have all releases 45’s within the past few months and I’m just now discovering them (thanks iTunes Store (not)).

Although Yacht has releases various material on other labels, their first release on DFA is much different than material from their past. Most fans have heard “See a Penny” a fun electro-pop tune, but their new single “Summer Song” is a more low-fi, hand-clapping, droning vocals mix. Supposedly a track dedicated to James Murphy and the LCD Soundsystem crew from when the two acts toured together, “Summer Song” may come as a surprise to longtime Yacht fans, but the release has definite potential for fans of other acts from this great label.
Runaway, the work of Jacques Renault and Marcos Cabral, have released their first single on DFA as well. “Brooklyn Club Jam,” the electrifying seven and a half minute romp, starts as a minimal disco dub and then transforming into an up beat club banger much the likes of anything heard in Brooklyn these days (how convenient). The duo has been getting play around the globe with this hit, most notably Lindstrom and Prins Thomas’ essential bbc 1 mix, while other labels have been taking note as well. Runaway has released singles on Cosmo Vitelli’s I’m a Cliche label and European heavy weights Rekids company as well.

As for the recent releases from prior acts, Mock & Toof, The Juan Maclean, and Holy Ghost have all issues great tracks.

It’s hard to give enough praise to the New Mock & Toof effort “Underwater.” What starts as a pretty basic disco track from any other DFA act, Underwater soon takes off thanks to vocals that sooth more than blow away. The music slowly bends and builds in the six minutes, creating landscapes that relax and at the same time make you want to get up and grab the girl next to you and boogie the night away. Turning the corner at the three minute mark, Underwater takes on an entirely new element- the piano. After a short bit of silence and ambiance, the piano comes back and grabs the listener to create a beautiful and amazingly overwhelming sound that never looks back. Mock & Toof have done it again with this track, and one can only hope a full length will be released eventually instead of the usual two or three track 45s.

The Juan Maclean, busy as usual between full length albums various 45s and Djing constantly, released “The Simple Life” with the help of various friends. Nacy Whang, long time DFA partner and part of LCD Soundystem, lends vocals to the track that spins at a consistent tempo and rhythm. A fan of any other Juan project will find this track to be expected, and a nice layover until the release of his next full length.

Mentioned earlier as well, Holy Ghost has been busy, or rather their fans have been busy. Recently releasing a 45 with two great remixes on it, both remixes of last year’s surprise hit “Hold On.” Mock & Toof lend their hand to both mixes, a remix and a mod mix, both tracks are dance ready and worthy of play for any fan of the original track. On another note for Holy Ghost, Cut Copy‘s latest single is slated to have a remix of “Hearts on Fire”, the horn-friendly track off of their 2008 release In Ghost Colors.

Well for now that’s all I have in DFA related news, more should be expected when it comes about. Hopefully next time I’ll have some new Shit Robot material to talk about but that only seems to be on a year-to-year basis, so I’m not getting my hopes up just yet.

mp3 of these are hard to come by so just hit up the links ive got on their names to find the tracks mentioned. You can find most of the tracks on iTunes as well if you use that or you can buy the 45s from the DFA webstore, for all you vinyls lovers out there.

Evidence & Alchemist, 6 projects in one year?

Posted in Music News with tags , , , , , , on Monday, November 17, 2008 by Tim Althaus

ev-and-alc

Well as I’ve repeatedly told you before, Evidence is one busy ass mother fucker. It seems as though the same can be said about his HIGH school friend Alchemist. Together they are releasing 6 different projects in the next year. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s mad ridiculous the work that these two are putting in, and I can’t wait to hear the fruits of their labor. Evidence already released the LAyover Mixtape, The LAyover EP is coming in less than 2 weeks (I can’t fucking wait). Alchemist has Alchemist’s Cookbook EP and Better Living Through Chemistry (which he claims he’s remade 5 times) due out in the next year. Alchemist also has a project with one of my favorite producing/emcees Oh No entitled Gangrene which should drop by the end of this year.

All of this work is ultimately leading up to the release of the album for their project Step Brothers next year, as well as Evidence’s follow up to the critically acclaimed Weatherman LP, Cats & Dogs. The song “So Fresh” off of the LAyover EP is the first official Step Brothers single. If you haven’t seen the video check it out below and make sure you get all this material coming out because it’s gonna be fresh.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Review: Jedi Mind Tricks A History of Violence

Posted in Music Reviews with tags , , , , , , , , on Monday, November 17, 2008 by Tim Althaus

jedimindtricksahov

I have to start this post off by saying that this album is very close to me. This Philadelphia trio changed my entire perspective on music with their sophomore outing Violent By Design. The first time I heard Vinnie Paz, Jus Allah & Stoupe I was instantly hooked and I needed more of their music like a fiend needs rock. I have to say that this album can not and does not stack up to Violent By Design (because in my opinion nothing really can), but next to Servants In Heaven, Kings In Hell it might be their best work since. I do feel however that Jus Allah might have fallen off a little bit since the VBD days. I had heard about Vin and Jus being in the studio again with that same dynamic as VBD and was overcome with joy, I just didn’t get that feeling when I heard Jus this time.

Stoupe’s production on this album is some of the most impeccable work he has done. I also want to mention that Vinnie Paz is on a completely new level when it comes to rhymes. I remember on VBD (Even though I still love Vinnie on that album) it would seem like Vinnie would be rhyming about nonsense, on this album that is not the case. Vinnie’s verses are full of metaphors and similes like you wouldn’t believe.

the first track on the album is “Deathbed Doctrine” and Vinnie comes out right away spitting fire over the impecable cuts of DJ Kwestion and the hard hitting murderous Stoupe beat.  If you listen to the track you will know what I mean about Jus Allah, he still has some good rhymes but his flow has totally changed from the VBD days. “Deadly Melody” is a track where Vinnie really shines when it comes to the metaphor aspect: “I’m your worst nightmare/the reversal of Christ here/the only thing you seein’ is a shadow and knife glare… Y’all are pussy, watered down like a light beer/I don’t run from it I embrace it I like fear/Call me Texas Chainsaw Massacre I invite fear/Call me Leatherface motha fucka’ I’m right here/Call me any other person that’s an evil killa’/Pazienza Pontius Pilate they call me Jesus Killa/Call me Richard Ramirez because he spill venom/I’m Mark David Chapman before he killed Lennon…”. That trend continues for the rest of the album, and although Jus doesn’t sound as “fluid” as before he doesn’t greatly affect the album in a negative manner. The shining jewel of this album is “Trail of Lies“, which in my opinion might be Vinnie & Stoupe’s shining moment as a duo (Jus is not on this track). The beat on this track is mesmerizing and the sample is absolutely beautiful. Vinnie goes off on the current trend of fathers managing their daughters and “pimping them for cash and money” and “what’s gonna happen in like 50 years, when Hannah Montana turnin’ into Britney Spears?”. If there was one reason I wouldn’t watch TV and listen to the media at all it’s because of this song, it’s very on point and very powerful.

This album is very good, like I said before Jus doesn’t really sound the same at all, but it doesn’t throw away the replay value of this album for me. This is definitely an album worth picking up and giving a really good listen to. Vinnie Paz does some of his best rhyming to this date, and Stoupe gives an excellent performance behind the boards.

8.5/10

Intronaut premieres “Australopithecus” music video

Posted in Video with tags , , , , on Monday, November 17, 2008 by Ryan Buege

The imagery is stark and uncompromising, the theme is osbcure and incomprehensible, and the soundtrack is a deadly slash and burn slab of progressive doom metal (think 1 part Neurosis, 2 parts Meshuggah). It’s a new Sera Timms video for Intronaut’s song “Australopithecus” from their new album Prehistoricisms, brought to us exclusively by the guys at the Deciblog.

I’ve been following Intronaut guys since their inception and the release of the Null EP demo, and it’s satisfying to see they finally have some good support behind them. In my opinion, they haven’t misexecuted a single note yet. The sound on this song in particular is huge and adventurous – contrasted nicely but they unfamiliar images Timms is known for. As Deciblog points out, you may remember her directing the eerie “Not In Rivers, But In Drops” video for Isis after they released In the Absence of Truth.

Concert Review: In Flames, Gojira, All That Remains, and 36 Crazyfists, 11/15/08 @ Myth

Posted in Concert Reviews with tags , , , , on Monday, November 17, 2008 by Ryan Buege

In Flames, All That Remains, Gojira, 36 Crazyfists
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Maplewood, MN at the Myth

The temperatures may have finally taken a dip here in Minnesota, but none of that mattered last Wednesday at the Myth in Maplewood, as In Flames and their touring partners set the venue ablaze to some roaring metal classics. While I have nothing good to say about my experiences with the overly cautious asshole security guards that blanket the Myth, I was highly anticipating seeing some of the bands playing that night, especially Gojira, so my spirits couldn’t be killed.

In Flames live at Myth

In Flames sets off the mosh

It had been nearly 6 years since I had last witnessed a live set from 36 Crazyfists. In April of 2002, I was lucky enough to attend their album release show for their debut Bitterness the Star when they opened for Chimaira, and I saw them again later that year at the Warehouse in La Crosse with Candiria. At that time, I had been really impressed by the dynamic nature of their music, and they really struck me as a band that had limitless potential. Fastforward 6 years, and this is still the same band that I saw in high school. Although they might not have progressed in the ways that I hoped and thought they might, they still play an extremely catchy brand of melody laced metal and punk that has more to do with bands like the Deftones rather than Atreyu (despite what some of their fans might lead you to believe). I only wished that they had played more songs from their older albums because these were the only ones I knew, but sadly I was only familiar with about 1 of their songs that they played.

Gojira live at Myth

Gojira's Duplantier brothers reverse the rotation of the planet with their groove

Gojira came on stage next. These guys have been favorites of mine for quite a while  and they are just coming off the release of their colossal new album The Way of All Flesh so I was really anticipating the show. On Wednesday they brought the massiveness of their new songs to an entirely new level. At the beginning of their set, Gojira sent the crowd into a frenzy that didn’t stop until they left the stage. Their heaviness is something that is almost hard to define until you hear it; while Mario Duplantier’s drumming is mind-boggingly technical and the riffs are devastatingly heavy, a psychedelic, unnerving melody takes underlies the heavy barrage and entrances you. These French masters of progressive death metal easily put on the best performance of the night.  I strongly suggest to any fan of music – especially metal heads – check out these guys on youtube or at their myspace.

All That Remains came out next and gave the worst performance of the night. In all honesty, I don’t see anything redeeming about this band; their singer is a self-indulgent doucebag who didn’t even know what town he was in, and the scrappy band sounds like a trend-hopping bastard version of every popular style of metal from the last 4 years. To me it seemed very amusing that a second rate Gothenburg metal ripoff band was playing direct support to the Swedish death metal innovators of In Flames. Thank God they weren’t headlining or some bullshit.

It was my first time seeing In Flames live, and they certainly made it worth my wait. Their set was surprisingly short, but it was packed tightly with some of their best songs from their catalog – both old and new. While it was most fun to headbang to the likes of “Pinball” and “Behind Space”, newer anthems like “Cloud Connected” and “Take This Life” drew the biggest response from the crowd. Anders and the band were full of energy and were feeding off the crowd and they made it a very interesting and varied performance. All in all, it was great to see In Flames show All That Remains fans how Swedish death metal riffs were supposed to by played.

For a photo album from the night, click on one of the pictures or visit MetalInjection.net.

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