New Audio: High Places – “Anyango”

Posted in Audio, Downloads, Music News with tags , , , , , , on Friday, February 13, 2009 by Erik Burg

A good start to a friday, if I’ve ever had one. A new High Places track from their upcoming album Thank You Very Quickly was released this morning, delighting listeners of their amazing afro-american infusion music. I’ve been digging tunes like this lately, whether it’s Very Best, El Guincho, or The Ruby Suns, I’ve been loving worldy influenced music. “Anyango” delivers a strong punch, and is a great start to their new album. Funky bass lines and amazing drumming heavily influenced by the African members of the group, “Anyango” is definietly worth checkign out if you haven’t heard anything by High Places yet. Enjoy and happy friday!

high-places1

MP3: High Places – “Anyango”

Video: Dope Dilla Tribute

Posted in Video with tags , on Friday, February 13, 2009 by Tim Althaus

Vodpod videos no longer available.
I saw this over at Stones Throw’s website today when I jumped over there for my weekly dose of news. It’s about a minute and thirty seconds long and it features some bad ass animation. It goes through Jay’s career with different clips of songs that he did during that era.

Concert Review: Fujiya & Miyagi, School of Seven Bells @ 7th Street Entry

Posted in Concert Reviews with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Friday, February 13, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Fujiyai & MiyagiFujiya & Miyagi came to the 7th St. Entry on Wednesday Feb. 11th with School of Seven Bells, and the show was nothing short of spectacular. The sold out basement club was packed wall-to-wall with a crowd who were highly anticipating the opening performance from SVIIB, and their fuzzed out, dreamy, drony psychedelic pop created an intoxicating atmosphere that did not fade until they left the stage. Sounding ultra classic, futuristic, AND foreign all at once, the twins of School of Seven Bells blend heavenly melodies over the hypnotic driving backbone of Benjamin Curtis’s guitar and electronic experimentation. Fujiya & Miyagi were even more powerful than I imagined they would be, with their bouncy electronic psych rock aided by the powerful presence of a full band. Depending on the point in their set, the crowd might have been dancing to the rhythm or swaying to the spacey fretwork; either way, it was always all fun for those who were wise enough to stick around. We were there all night and were able to snap a few photos; view them below!

Fujiyai & Miyagi(Fujiya & Miyagi)

Fujiyai & Miyagi(Fujiya & Miyagi)

Fujiyai & Miyagi(Fujiya & Miyagi)

Fujiyai & Miyagi(Fujiya & Miyagi)

School of Seven Bells(School Of Seven Bells)

School Of Seven Bells(School Of Seven Bells)

School Of Seven Bells(School Of Seven Bells)

School Of Seven Bells(School Of Seven Bells)

Don’t stop there! We’ve got LOTS more great photos after the jump! Click read more to keep viewing the album: Continue reading

Ozzfest is officially over, but who really cares?

Posted in Music News with tags , , , , , , , , , , on Thursday, February 12, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Ozzfest, Rest In Pain

As Blabbermouth reports today, Ozzy’s too busy with his shitty new reality show and half-assed music to put on another Ozzfest this year, but we don’t really need his shitty festival anyway!

Ozzfest has had its time in the sun, and after a year of hard economic times it’s not surprising that an expensive touring package of this kind would have a hard time succeeding unless it’s extremely well put together. Although I admittedly have not been to the show since 2001, I have heard many rumors that the recent experience was not nearly up to par with what I experienced and certainly not comparable to the shows’ glory days of the mid 90s.

For what my money’s worth, I would much rather go to a great destination festival of the traditional European variety. As MetalSucks reminds us, many new underground metal festivals of this kind have been popping up all over the United States during the last several years, and now many are getting quite reputtable lineups. Examples include New England’s Metal and Hardcore Festival, California Metalfest, Maryland Deathfest, Texas Metal Up Your Ass, LA Murderfest, Atlanta’s Scion Rock Fest, and even Milwaukee’s Robot Mosh Fest. With the high number of brilliant package tours being lined up as well, who really needs a bloated, commercialized Ozz-o-rama on wheels? Not me, and surely not most metalheads.

For those still craving the Ozzfest format, don’t worry! The Rockstar Energy sponsored Mayhem festival tour looks like its getting more success than ever. From the looks of their recent lineup additions for this summers tour, it will be worth every penny that you’ll pay, whether you agree with the shows corporate nature or not.

Video + New Audio: Simian Mobile Disco – “Synthesise”

Posted in Media, Music News, Video with tags , , , , , , on Thursday, February 12, 2009 by Erik Burg

Simian Mobile Disco have stayed fairly busy since their amazing 2007 release Attack Sustain Decay Release. Though the album didn’t gain as much support as it deserved (thank Justice and Daft Punk touring for that) the boys still released plenty of single around the album, touring heavily in support, and fixed up a Fabriclive mix as well. I haven’t heard much in the way of official plans for their next release, fingers crossed that it’s this year, but a new song they’ve been playing live got the video treatment. Though the video is nothing special, seeing as it’s just the video accompiament for when they play the track live, the song is something to stick around for. “Synthesise” is more beat driven and heavy than some of their prior songs that may have relied a bit more on vocal samples. At any rate though, it’s definitely worth a listen. Enjoy!

Stephen Malkmus Interview with Pitchfork

Posted in News with tags , , , on Thursday, February 12, 2009 by Tim Althaus

sm The genius behind the highly influential band Pavement Stephen Malkmus sat down with an interview with Pitchfork Media recently. I can’t tell you how much I absolutely love this man’s music. He is my favorite musician in the Rock world, and this guy is one of the most genius human beings I have ever had a pleasure of listening to. I constantly say that I don’t listen to rock music a great deal; I will always listen to Pavement. Pavement is long and gone though, and now Malkmus is with a new group called the Jicks. They put out and album last year entitled Real Emotional Trash. I thought the album was great and the dynamic is definitely there, not to mention Malkmus’ guitar is the best it’s ever been. Being a huge Pavement fan, I don’t know if anything he does can compare to the Slanted & Enchanted days. Pavement is a stamp in 90’s rock history. It’s shocking to think that 2009 celebrates the 20th anniversary of Pavement’s existence.

In the interview Malkmus did with Pitchfork and to be honest there is a lot of talk about Pavement in the interview. Many of the questions that are asked during the interview pertain to how he approaches music now, as compared to the Pavement days. This is a great fucking article and a lengthy read if you love Malkmus or Pavement. There’s a great deal about the album Brighten the Corners because it was Pavement’s fourth album, the Jicks’ new album was also their fourth. It’s great to hear Malkmus talking about Pavement again, and it’s great to hear some insight from one of the greatest voices of the present.

You can read the original article here.

Video: Black Milk, “Losing Out” (Featuring Royce Da 5’9″)

Posted in Video with tags , , , , on Thursday, February 12, 2009 by Tim Althaus

Man, today has been an insanely good day for me as far as posting is concerned. Videos were released for two of my favorite songs from the last year. The first one was “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Evidence, and now “Losing Out” by Black Milk. This song was a clear stand out on Black Milk’s album Tronic. The beat on this song is absolutely amazing (the sample is incredible, I heard the original song while riding around with my dad weeks ago) and Black Milk & Royce Da 5’9″ destroy every bar on this track as if it was their sole mission. I can’t tell you enough, if you haven’t picked up Tronic yet you should be kicking yourself in the ass. Make sure you watch out for Royce’s album Street Hop due out soon!

Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Release More Album Info

Posted in Audio, Downloads, Music News with tags , , , , on Thursday, February 12, 2009 by Erik Burg

Release Date: April 14th on Interscope

Album Title: It’s Blitz!

Album Cover: (wow I love it)

yyysalbumcover

I can’t wait to hear some new material for these guys. Enjoy their best track below. Enjoy!

mp3: Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Maps”

New Audio: Spoon – “Well Alright”

Posted in Audio, Downloads, Music News with tags , , , , , , , on Thursday, February 12, 2009 by Erik Burg

This new track comes via the Dark Was the Night compilation, like just about anything leaking out these days. The album compilation drops next Tuesday, Feb. 17th. on 4AD records. Get more info HERE

spoon

This cut though, from indie heavyweights Spoon, is a bit of a let down. Sorry guys, but this fast fasted and confusing song doesn’t remind me of anything Spoon has done in the past. At first I wanted to tap-my-toe along to “Well Alright” but eventually I just wanted to turn it off. But I suppose if there is any place to take the band in a different direction, this would be the place to do it. Oh well I guess, everything else I’ve heard from Dark Was The Night has sounded pretty much amazing, so I’ve still got high hopes and anxious nerves running through my veins for this release. Grab the mp3 below and see what you think. Enjoy!

mp3: Spoon – “Well Alright”

Talib Kweli Speaks: Reflection Eternal Before Summer, New Liberation?

Posted in News with tags , , , , , on Thursday, February 12, 2009 by Tim Althaus

talibhiphoplive1

Talib Kweli recently did an interview with KevinNottingham.com about current projects and things with his label Blacksmith. It sounds like the next year is jam packed for the god emcee from Brooklyn. I am excited to hear that Kweli has been in Cincinatti with Hi-Tek working hard in the studio on the new Reflection Eternal album, which they hope to release before summer. Talib metnioned that the new Black Star that I was hoping for will not be released this year, but I’m sure we can look forward to that in the future. Talib also mentione there there is a possibility of another Liberation album with Madlib.

All of the previously mentioned information makes me very anctious to hear what Talib has in store for us. Like I’ve said before the original the Reflection Eternal album pretty much changed the way that I listened to music, who knows what this one will do. It sounds like it could be an amazing year for this man and my guess is it will be. You know as soon as I have any updates I will keep you posted right away.