Video: A Place To Bury Strangers, “My Weakness”

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

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Brooklyn, NY shoegaze/post-punk band A Place To Bury Strangers has posted the new video for their song of fuzz-soaked melodies entitled “My Weakness” off their self-titled debut on Pitchfork.tv. This intense video of high contrast imagery was directed by Dylan Mulick and was filmed partly in Vasquez Rocks (aka Star Trek’s filming location). Watch the video here.

Video: Evidence “For Whom the Bell Tolls”

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

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Here it is, the moment we’ve all been waiting for (at least I know I have). The “For Whom the Bell Tolls” video is now up on MTVu. Thanks to yours truly I was able to grab the video off of MTVu and post it. This video is pretty much amazing and is about to get my nod for video of the year in 2009 and we’re only 2 months in. All of these emcees together on one track makes for an impressive showing, and the concept for the video makes it even more impressive. This was actually the lead single off of the The LAyover EP but this is one of the only songs that EV didn’t shoot a video for until now. Make sure you check out the video, and if you haven’t, go out and get The LAyover EP because it was easily one of the best releases of last year.

Video: Dilla Keeps Shining (Jay Dee Tribute)

Posted in Video with tags , , , , on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 by Tim Althaus

I’m really glad that Hip Hop Official had this video up. I actually used a clip of this video last year when I gave a speech on Dilla, I think the clip I used was roughly a 30 second summary of this one. This video has names like Pharoahe Monch, Phife Dawg (of Tribe Called Quest) & Talib Kweli. These guys are all talking about their feelings on Jay Dee’s music. Talib tells a great story about Dilla and the Grammys. Apparently The Roots were nominated for a Grammy on a track that Dilla produced, when Kweli said something to Dilla he didn’t pay it any mind, he just kept making beats. This video has some of the best names in emceeing all talking about how Dilla changed the production game. This is a great video tribute for a great man.

XLR8R TV Episode 95: The Alchemist

Posted in Video with tags , , , , on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 by Tim Althaus

Alchemist is a guy that really needs no introduction. He’s been behind some of the best produced Hip-Hop for the last 15 or so years. He is also lifelong friend of Evidence with whom he will be releasing an album entitled Step Brothers. This is a good interview, and after watching this I think that Alchemist is pretty much a genius. The way that he relates him making music to art is unreal (him talking about making a “collage” beat), and he puts an awful lot of thought into his beats when he is making them for other artists. If you haven’t make sure you go out and get The Alchemist Cookbook EP which is out now.

Spotted at Hip Hop Official

Video: Black Star, Live @ The House of Blues

Posted in Video with tags , , , , , , on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 by Tim Althaus

Vodpod videos no longer available.

First off I want to say that Black Star is one of the main live acts I’ve wanted to see since I became a die hard fan of Hip-Hop. 2nd you will notice that there is an incredible roster of people on hand at this show (Karriem Riggins, Madlib & DJ Rhettmatic), and to me it’s no big surprise. Mos Def & Talib Kweli recently performed at the House of Blues in Los Angeles to a packed crowd, and needless to say they completely rocked it.

In this video they perform “Definition” & “Respiration” which are definitely classics. When you watch this video you will realize how amazing the dynamic is between these two, and my heart jumps in great excitement when I think about these two doing another album together. They both have so much energy and both of them feed off each other on a constant basis. I think the game needs another Black Star album, after all the first album changed the way I looked at the game.

Video: Fucked Up and Jello Biafra perform “Blitzkrieg Bop”

Posted in Video with tags , , , , , , , , , on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Punk legend Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys came out to Fucked Up’s recent San Francisco show and they invited him onstage (as I’m sure many bands do when they find out Jello is in the club in SF) to play this Ramones cover of “Blitzkrieg Bop”. Brilliant stuff!

In other news, Fucked Up just started streaming the song “Year of the Rat” from their upcoming 12″ single that will be released on What’s Your Rupture. Check it here!

Black metal storming into Minnesota in June 2009

Posted in Concert Dates with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 by Ryan Buege

It’s not often that Satan blesses this state with prestigious black metal tours (despite many of our resident’s strong Norwegian ancestry), but it appears that someone downstairs has some particularly evil plans for the region in early June. Just this week, two massive underground metal tours were announced, both headlined by some of the most feared band’s BM has to offer.

The most noteworthy show announcement is the Mayhem, Marduk concert on June 9th at Station 4 that is being opened by Cattle Decapitation, Cephalic Carnage, and Withered. Honestly, there will be so much awesome packed into this night that I’m having a hard time getting my head around it. I have not had the chance to see Norway’s Mayhem yet, but the well published details surrounding their gruesome history and sickening live show has me really intrigued. Marduk is equally imposing, and are sure to satisfy the many in Mayhem’s legions. Of all the performances, Cattle Decapitation is the “must-see” band; they are always very impressive live, and this year they are going to be supporting what I believe to be the best release of their career. The hilarious dudes of Cephalic Carnage will most likely incite a great brutal tech mosh fest to get things going, and the Withered performance will surely be an eye-opening starter for those who have not yet caught wind of their incredible technical black metal meets grindcore on their recent Folie Circulaire.

Hopefully the Mayhem show won’t wear out the local black metal fans too much, because on June 15th, Station 4 will be home to the CIII tour featuring long-running and revered USBM band Absu, with support from their labelmates Glorior Belli, Averse Sefira, and Sothis. Right now Absu is only a few weeks from releasing their highly antipated new self-titled album, and by the time this show hits St. Paul I’m sure it’ll still be on my heavy rotation playlist. Even after nearly 20 years as a band, their profile is still clearly rising, and for good reason.

Keep reading for the full tour schedules… Continue reading

New Audio: Black Lips – “Trapped in a Basement”

Posted in Audio, Downloads, Music News with tags , , , , , , , on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 by Erik Burg

While I’m not, by any means, a huge fan of the Black Lips, usually one or two from each album usually gets my attention enough to put on repeat for a while. Their third album, due to drop the 24th of this month, entitled 200 Million Thousand has been getting some play around the blogosphere as of late. This cut comes courtesy of the great people at I Guess I’m Floating. “Trapped in a Basement” is a bit of a change from their other material, but for me at least, it’s a welcome change. Shifting from the sound that makes me want to smash an empty beer bottle over my friends head, “Trapped” takes it down a notch while still remaining interesting. The lo-fi production remains, the scratchy vocals remain, but along with this track comes the lingering feeling that these guys would have fit in perfectly with the Doors, Yardbirds, and other classic rock groups. 

It’s definitely worth a look, and it’s definitely going to put some people off, but in the end I believe it’s a great step forward for the psych-rock-grunge band. Keep your eyes out for this release on the 24th on Vice Records. Enjoy!

blacklipsfaces1

mp3: Black Lips – “Trapped in a Basement”

Colin Munroe on HipHop Dx’s DX NEXT

Posted in News with tags , , , , on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 by Tim Althaus

colinmunroe I have already made a post about this extraordinary artist and prodigy Colin Munroe. This guy is absoutely captivating and is one of the most talented singers and musicians that I’ve heard in awhile. I normally am not a big fan of singers usually but this guy is a completely different story. I first heard this guy on Black Milk’s new album Tronic on the track “Without U” and was blown away by his talent. Some of you might have also heard of him from the “Flashing Lights (Remix)” and chances are if you haven’t heard of him yet you will very soon.

HipHop DX just did a feature on Colin Munroe in their DX Next feature. Apparently Colin is a huge fan of Detroit Hip-Hop and I’m guessing that’s how he got linked with Black Milk. Check out the article because it’s a great read on the future of music, because this kid is it.

HipHop DX’s Next Features Colin Munroe

Video: DJ Revolution, “Man or Machine” (Feat. Kbimean)

Posted in Video with tags , , on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 by Tim Althaus

This track is off of an album that I wish I would have found out about much much earlier. “Man or Machine” is off of DJ Revolution‘s album King of the Decks. In my opinion, this guy might be the sickest DJ I’ve ever heard, nobody has anything on this guy’s cuts. This video features the emcee Kbimean who drops a sick verse on this sick ass beat. Rev cuts this beat like steak, and makes it look completely effortless.

On a side note, the album King of the Decks is nothing short of amazing. We are talking about a guy the DJ Premier heralds as one of the best DJ’s he’s heard in the history of DJing. I highly reccomend you watch the video and go out and get the album.