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Tim’s Top 10 Albums of All-Time (At Least To This Point)

Posted in Mind Inversion Exclusive, The Learned Man's Take with tags El-P, Evidence, Gang Starr, Hip-Hop, J Dilla, Jedi Mind Tricks, Masta Ace, Pete Rock, Reflection Eternal, Rjd2, Rock, The Who, top 10 albums on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 by Tim Althaus

I have to tell you all that this list was one of the hardest things I’ve had to get myself to do, because I knew it wasn’t going to be anywhere near easy. Even while going through this list I had to constantly change things because I felt something was missing. This list (to the best of my abilities) contains the quintessential list of albums that shaped my taste in music. To be put another way, I don’t know where I would be without these albums. I can also say that I feel that each one of these albums is timeless as well a masterpiece. So without further ado…

Top 10 Albums of All-Time (In Order from 10-1)

The Who – Live At Leeds (Deluxe Edition): Honestly I don’t even know where to begin when it comes to this album. I remember buying it in the store years ago, and it cost me just about thirty-five dollars. It may be the best money I’ve ever spent on an album. This album truly shows the pure rock fury of The Who. If you have ever had a doubt in your life as to the legitimacy of The Who, please listen to this album. The original album was released with just 35 minutes of the 120, and this album has all of it. This is one of the greatest live albums of all time, no doubt in my mind. Every single member of The Who sounds precise and musically sound. This also might be the heaviest material you will ever here from The Who. From the rapid fire boulder crashing drums of Keith Moon to the lion roaring vocals of Roger Daltrey this album is everything a live album should be and more… Continue reading →

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Soundset ’09

Posted in Music News with tags '09, 2009, Atmosphere, Brother Ali, doom, El-P, Eyedea & Abilities, Hip-Hop, Immortal Technique, Mr. Dibbs, P.O.S., Rhymesayers, sage francis, Sound Set, Sound Set 2009, Soundset, Soundset '09 on Monday, March 16, 2009 by Tim Althaus

On Sunday, May 24, 2009, Rhymesayers Entertainment and Rose Presents brings you the second annual Soundset: the official Midwest kick-off festival of the summer with over eight hours of the best independent Hip Hop music in one day. It all goes down at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN (rain or shine).
This is the first round of artists we are announcing, this IS NOT the final lineup.

What fun would it be to tell you everything right away?

Confirmed to perform on the Soundset main stage are:
Atmosphere, MF Doom, Brother Ali, Sage Francis with B. Dolan, Immortal Technique, P.O.S, El P featuring Mr.
Dibbs, Eyedea & Abilities, Abstract Rude and I Self Devine.

Ticket information is already available, and the festival is only two months away. It’s all after the jump… Continue reading →

Erik’s Top Ten Albums of All-Time

Posted in The Learned Man's Take with tags Arcade Fire, Audio, beck, broken social scene, daft punk, download, El-P, Erik Burg, fleet foxes, Hercules and Love Affair, lcd soundsystem, led zeppelin, Lists, mind inversion, the beatles, top 10 albums on Thursday, March 5, 2009 by Erik Burg

Pretty obvious, I think you know what you’re getting yourself into here. We here at Mind Inversion want you the reader to better know where all of us writers are coming from, as far as what’s changed our lives musically. So we’ll be running a special once a week for the next month, accompanied by Sound Immersion #2, that will be spotlighting our favorite music. I have the fine pleasure of starting this all off, which is pretty exciting. I’ve always thought about albums as “my favorite” much like I’m sure any person has, but actually having to compile a definitive top ten list seemed daunting. But alas, after many cuts, I finalized a list that I’m extremely happy about.

#1. LCD SOUNDSYSTEM – Lcd Soundsystem.Where would I be today without this album? Well for starters, not on this blog, not listening to music, and quite possibly actually finding lil wayne to be an enjoyable artist. This one album single handedly changed my life… Continue reading →

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Cage to Offer a Slew of Material

Posted in Music News with tags Cage, Def Jux, Depart From Me, El-P, I Never Knew You, Shia LaBeouf on Friday, February 20, 2009 by Tim Althaus

Cage standing in front of the very Mental Hospital he was once incarcerated in.

It appears as though your favorite wierdo indie Hip-Hop emcee, Cage, is going to be dropping a wealth of material in the months to come. His follow up to 2005’s classic Hell’s Winter, Depart From Me is dropping on June 30th via Def Jux. You may say, “Wow Tim… That’s a hell of a long time to wait for another album from Cage.” My answer to that statement is, “Well thank god for all of us, he is going to be dropping an EP this spring.”

The EP is going to be called I Never Knew You and it is going to contain seven tracks. Of course, Shia LaBeouf will be directing the video for the EP’s title track. As some of you may recall, Shia & Cage are supposed to be working on a biopic of Cage’s life. I’ve been looking all over for updates on the movie because Cage has had one of the craziest lives that you could ever imagine.

I can personally tell you that Depart From Me is a release that I have been itching for the last couple of years. Hell’s Winter was an instant classic and I think Cage is one of the most talented individuals on the Def Jux roster. By the way things look, Cage could dominate 2009. Make sure you watch out for this material because it is sure to please, and of course watch for the review at Mind Inversion once the material is out. Also, if you didn’t already check my man Erik’s post of the lead single “Nothing Left To Say”, which was produced by El-Producto, here.

Company Flow talks about the re-release of Funcrusher Plus

Posted in News, Video with tags Big Jus, Company Flow, Def Jux, El-P, Funcrusher Plus, Mr. Len on Monday, February 16, 2009 by Tim Althaus

149142coflow My heart jumped with great content today. I was browsing over at Pitchfork and apparently El-P, Big Jus & Mr. Len did an interview with the people at Pitchfork about the Funcrusher Plus 12th anniversary re-release. Apparently El-P is going to be releasing the album on his own label Def Jux. Might I also mention that El-P’s answers in this interview are downright hilarious, he’s chalked full of humor and it makes for a great read: Pitchfork: “Why reissue Funcrusher Plus now, 12 years after its original release?”, El-P: “I think I got my first hand job at 12.”

I personally can’t wait for this no brainer classic to be re-issued. Funcrusher Plus to me was so far ahead of its time. According to an article this re-release will feature some pre-1995 tracks that Company Flow did before Funcrusher as wel as tracks that were after the Funcrusher release. This album has been out of print for awhile now, so you know hardcore heads are going to be grabbing this album right when it comes out (hint: me). This last year also marked the reunion of Company Flow at a live concert. I wonder if we will get to hear any new creative genius anytime soon? (Lets all hope to god that we will)

Just a few things that have been said about Funcrusher Plus:

“One of the most influential rap groups of the late ’90s, Company Flow laid the groundwork for nearly all the experimental hip-hop that followed, and its advancement of hip-hop as an art form is still being felt.” ALL MUSIC

“Widely recognized as one of the genre’s greatest achievements.” PITCHFORK

“Company Flow became heroes to alternative rap fans when they released their Funcrusher album”. ROLLING STONE

You can read the interview with Pitchfork here. Make sure you go out and grab the re-issue of Funcrusher Plus when it comes out because it’s going to be a great addition to your collection, as well as a great album. But, don’t leave now; click read more and make the jump to watch Company Flow’s classic video for “8 Steps to Perfection” from the original release of Funcrusher Plus… Continue reading →

NEW AUDIO: Cage – “Nothing Left To Say” (Produced by El-P)

Posted in Audio, Downloads, Music News with tags Cage, download, el producto, El-P, hell's winter, Hip-Hop, I'll Sleep When You're Dead, mp3, new on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 by Erik Burg

Cage on the left

So this pretty much made my night, I happened to stop by Pitchfork one more time before I went to bed to see if I missed anything interesting today, and look what I found! A new Cage track, but not just any Cage track, this one is produced by El-P (my favorite hip-hop artist). “Nothing Left to Say” is slow to take flight, the first minute or so is essentially a Cage monologue, ranting about the usual life problems and lessons that he seems to touch on. But then lift off, after that first part the track grabs the listener immediately, blasting off into outer space. The production of El-P stand out on this cut for sure, thanks to the various different parts that contribute to the killer beat. Various loops all come together and bang throughout the entire track, coupled with NYC driven lyrics that are dark and dreary, as though Cage would have it any other way, ha. But yeah this is an absolutely sick track, give it a listen for sure.Hip-hop is alive and well y’all, Enjoy!!!

MP3: Cage – “Nothing Left to Say” (Prod. by El-P)

Watch out for Cage’s new album Depart From Me due out June 29th.

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