Sak Tzevul could be also be called rebel rock . As I type this, the term sounds cliche to me. But maybe it's only cliche from a particularly regulated US perspective that tends to want to discredit any creativity that truly subverts the clutches of the culture industry-that which tells us what to consume, how to consume it, and that creativity falling outside of these stringent guidelines should be ignored or ridiculed. What makes the band so intersting-ya know, aside from its fascinating fusion of indigenous and electronic instruments and dynamic song-writing-is its directness in challenging cultural [...]
This four-piece rock group from Mexico proper reminds me of things I've never heard. It's familiar, yet not. They've got a catchy shoegaze charisma with upbeat songs and swooning vocals that swim in just the amount of reverb, but they've got enough of their own style to avoid sounding trite. That said, their first release sounds like it could be from the 90s, and that's not a dis. Check out this video, and download their EP for free (all you gotta do is tweet about first).
I'm going to Mexico in July to talk with some producers and music collectives about a project I'm working on (among other reasons), and I've stumbled upon a wealth of amazing acoustic-based groups in the process of preparing myself to go. Ampersan & is one of them. I'll be posting a review of their latest release in the coming days, but check out this video in the meantime.
Three years is a long time to commit to anything . Little did I know, when I purchased an iPhone 3G three weeks after moving to Minneapolis that three years, two months, and fifteen days-ish would pass before it gets sent to the file cabinet up in the sky next to my desk. In that time span, my phone has come with me on the strange, random, wanderlust journeys I have been on in the last few years. My tendency to wander alone made my phone the one thing that was with me at every stop. It [...]
Richmond, VA-I realized recently that for the past several weeks I've been in cahoots with the emcee from the Richmond-based band, Double Rainbow -whose album I reviewed over the summer before ever stepping foot in this city-as we have both been heavily involved with Occupy Richmond . It's strange how life brings people together. It's strange how the Occupy moment has pulled every aspect of my being (academic, creative, social, spiritual, etc.) into chaotic synchronization, dissonant harmony, or some other thing that doesn't make any sense but makes perfect sense. The Occupy Richmond Education working group held a free [...]
Congratulations to the homies at MPLS.TV for their new Pitchfork-premiered City of Music with Toro Y Moi! These kids are goin' places! Be sure to watch out for the upcoming releases in the series. I don't think you're ready for them. Watch the video for Toro Y Moi's Light Black HERE
Richmond, VA -Last night several faculty members from Virginia Commonwealth University held a forum called "Why Occupy?" It was meant to introduce newcomers to our methods of communication and also to explore some of the motives behind the Occupy movement's (or "moment," as have suggested is a better term) sudden global outburst, such as economic inequality, the military industrial complex, and the exploitation of labor. We had a pretty nice turnout, packing a large lecture hall with over 200 hundred people. This video pretty much somes it up: Tonight we begin re-occupying Richmond! We are headed [...]
Tycho , the Bay-area electronic musician/designer, is back with his highly anticipated new LP Dive . The album has been getting love all over the place and can be picked up HERE . If you're a music/design/photo junkie you should also check out his blog ISO50 . Listen to the just released radio version of his title track Dive . Tycho - Dive (Radio Edit)
It's been a long road for WALE to reach the mainstream expectations his initial hype built for him. His new album, Ambition , has him breaking through in the way he was supposed to with his rookie release. Even though he has switched up his subject matter a bit, you still have to respect the grind. And that's why it's no surprise that one of the stand-out tracks on the album is Slight Work featuring Big Sean (who is in MPLS on 11/14) and was produced by Diplo. Listen below: [...]
Richmond, VA -Back in March, before all the Occupy Wall Street craziness began, a small group of activists in Richmond were already in occupation. They were protesting a new city ordinance that would make it illegal to stay in public parks after sunset, which was to inevitably displace many members of the local homeless population. The occupied site was nestled in the middle of Virginia Commonwealth University's main campus, in Monroe Park. After the occupation was demolished, the homeless population who were living in the park were directed, by the city, to downtown's Kanawha Plaza. Several occupiers [...]
Mates of State is, far and away, one of my favorite bands. They would be a guilty pleasure if the music wasn't arranged so beautifully. It's just sweet, touching pop music at its core. Hard to not get on board with that. They will be coming through Minneapolis 11/18, so be sure to check that out at the Fine Line Music Cafe. Watch their new video for their song Sway
Richmond, VA - I recently spent 16 days in occupation of Kanawha Plaza-a public park in the middle of Richmond, Virginia's financial district-in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street protests. We were camped out in front of and on top of the Federal Reserve (two-thirds of that bitch is underground), we were also next to several poisonous banks and lobbying firms. At about 1am on Halloween morning, the Richmond Police Department set up barricades at the major adjacent intersections and subsequently raided our camp, giving us less than an hour to clear out what had take us over [...]
Outasight is another Benzi cohort and a choice for Pepsi's New Icons contest, which I guess would make him the "choice of a new generation?" His first single Tonight is the Night has the appeal to make the mainstream jump, but honestly has its own steez. Download his Mixtape with DJ Benzi HERE Check out Tonight is the Night below: Outasight - Tonight Is The Night by iamoutasight
Beacon , a Brooklyn duo whose nostalgia-laden, ambient pop themes tug in a way I haven't felt since Gayngs . I hope they're ready for the James Blake comparisons, but if they keep this up, there will be plenty of room for both of them. No Body is available digitally on Nov. 15 HERE . Listen to standout track See Through You
Everyone's favorite Virginia lyricist Pusha T is back with another Fear of God EP, this one sub-titled Let Us Pray . The list of collabos is large on this one, but check out his track with Kanye and Young Jeezy titled Amen below. Album is out Nov. 8. Pusha T - Amen (Feat. Kanye West and Young Jeezy)
In what is their second official Moombahton release, the folks at Mad Decent got some of their friends to remix some popular hits with that Moombah flavor everyone's pallet has been so acute to of late. The entire EP is for sale HERE and features songs by Adele, Foster the People, the above mentioned dream team, and more. Take a listen to ATF friend Willy Joy doing his take on Hip Hop Royalty's Paris antics. Kanye West & Jay-Z - N****s In Paris [...]
In what is the first release for Get Right Records, the new label from ATF favorite DJ Benzi , Silver Medallion kills it with All I Ask . The song has the hook you need in your life with the steez of a post-apocalyptic club scene. Hop on the wagon while there's still room: Silver Medallion - All I Ask (feat Shwayze) by Get Right Records Buy it [...]
Villa Rosa , the new Minneapolis "it" duo of Muja Messiah and Maria Isa has been making waves. We've been sleeping on our end, but if you haven't caught up with these two either, nows the time to check out their visual jump for their track Liberation Karma . Also take a listen to their new track Uma Thurman ( Prod. by Martin "Doc" Mckinney - The Weeknd, Santigold, Florence & The Machine) Villa Rosa - Uma Thurman
The soundtrack for the new uber cool (uber violent!) movie Drive is a great nod to 802s synth pop. Cliff Martinez's score used the droning, almost dissonant synth noises to keep the tension in sixth gear from the start. The film achieved suspense with absolutey minimal dialogue, which could provide a point that most appearances of tension come through non-verbal communication. As for the movie itself, it is a must-see. The soundtrack's highlight for me was the illusion of hope provided with the film's closing track A Real Hero by College and Electric Youth. Take a listen [...]
Drake's new album Take Care is out on November 15. This track featuring Nicki Minaj will be on it. Take a listen: Drake - Make Me Proud (Feat. Nicki Minaj)
Above the Fold
Kendrick Lamar & Black Hippy Remix Rick Ross’ “U.O.E.N.O.”
MC Melodee x Cookin Soul – Think Twice [Video]
NSFW: Miley Cyrus shows off her BANGIN TANKINI BOD!
