Tagged: sfcritc

My first interview question for A-Trak on his 10,000LB Hamburger tour which stops in San Francisco tomorrow night, "Does everything revolve around food for you?" Better known as Kanye West's DJ, or the youngest turntabilist to win the DMC title (at age 15, he couldn't even drive!), A-Trak has a lot of new recipes he's cooking up. Recently collaborating with Armand Van Helden, with the assistance of his horse "Mustard," the duo worked together creating an old school house and techno record under the alias "Duck Sauce" (you getting all these food references?). First known for his hip [...]

So while on the one hand I have a friend calling me for Web 2.0 advise, the truth is--I know as much as you, and so when my "experienced" friend advised me to create more lists, well, I came up with this: The Top 5 Car Commercial's Songs. 5. Dirty Vegas: "Days Go By" for Mitsubishi Eclipse When house music was reaching mainstream audiences, no longer just a raver's delight, this Dirty Vegas' song hit the tube. This was a summer hit for [...]

Recently signed to the Lakers, Ron Artest felt it was necessary to throw himself into the limelight (no he didn't punch anyone) with a tribute to Michael Jackson. This might be the worst song since Joaquin Phoenix began rapping . Nonetheless, Artest is also donning #37, further showing his affinity for the late great, as Thriller spent 37 weeks on top the charts. Oh Artest, you've wanted to be in LA so bad so you legitimatize your rap career like Kobe, and Shaq--except it's still not legit. Don't you know this? Check it out. [...]

"Listen to What You're Missin'" takes you through four tracks of the week, giving you an updated look at what's good. This week I dug up some old gems and up and comers with: DJ Nujabes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, 88-Keys, and Fever Ray. DJ Nujabes: "Flowers" Nujabes is a Japanese producer and DJ, better known as Jun Seba (his alias is anagram of his real name). As a producer he use jazz and soul [...]

I first came to heard "Inside and Out" on Feist's album Let it Die . The original song is by the Bee Gees. Both version are stellar, but I might actually say it--I like Feist's version more. I'm just digging in my crates today. Tomorrow I'll have the "Listen to What You're Missin'." Bee Gees: "Love You Inside and Out" Feist: "Inside and Out" If you liked this post, [...]

Click the photo to be redirected, or the link below. So I get spam, and I get free music, and often the line differentiating is blurred, but Reverb Nation and Windows have teamed up to provided good ole spamless free music. The web page is divided into musical genres, with a listing of a ton of artists you probably never heard of--but hey, it's free--remember that. Take a look and enjoy: Reverb Nation and Windows

"Listen to What You're Missin'" takes you through four tracks of the week, giving you an updated look at what's good, so check it--Charles Trees, Greg Laswell, Michna and Telepathe. Charles Tree: "It's The" I wanted to dig in the crates of tracks I've posted that have been lost . "It's the," shit—is probably the full title of this song. With an intro that builds into the sample, the song takes off quickly. Charles Tree's "It's the" plays like [...]

Discovery's "Orange Shirt" is an overindulgent taste of hi hats, synthetic drums and playful keys. The new band from XL blends electro, indie and hip hop into an unfamiliar combo with familiar elements. At first the beat sounds like radio hip hop producers Timbaland or Pharrell, with heavy emphasis on 808 drums broken with repeating synthesized chords. Oh wait, did I mention the duo is comprised of the familiar Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend and Wes Miles of Ra Ra Riot. The vocals and lyrics make this track as he sing with an apathetically soft and sweet voice, "I promise [...]

Here is Animal Collective's new video for "Summertime Clothes" from their recent album Merriweather Pavillion. "Summertime Clothes" was one of my favorite songs from the album, and I'm glad to be able to share the recently released video. Enjoy. If you like this, check out: CD Review: Animal Collective's Merriweather Pavillion SOTD Deerhunter: "Nothing Ever Happened" Featured Artist: Metric [...]

Cleveland is known for King James, but if Charles Worth, aka Chip Tha Ripper has it way, he'll be crowned soon as Cleveland next great rap hope since Bone Thugs 'N Harmony. Already boasting the most successful mixtape in Cleveland titled J E-V Presents: Bitch I'm From Cleveland , he has a new mixtape called The Cleveland Show coming soon. The rapper has been featured on Kid Cudi's new album, Hi Tek's most recent album, and Kidz in the Hall's album. Chip Tha Ripper is witty, with freestyle lyrics like "interior crocodile alligator, I drive Chevrolet movie [...]

The "Thought Process" is a blog about my finds while blogging through music. Read, and follow as my mind takes me from one thing to the next. This weekend I watched Kicking and Screaming" (1995), a film about post undergraduates, and well--I'm not entirely sure because I stopped it 30mins in. Clearly, I'm not here to recommend the movie, but I did find a forgotten gem. Blondie : "Heart of Glass" [...]

At the beginning of the year I reviewed Animal Collective's recent album , Merriweather Pavillion. "Summertime Clothes" was one of my favorite songs from the album, and I'm glad to be able to share the recently released video. Enjoy.

Common's debut album, Can I Borrow A Dollar featured tracks like, A Penny For My Thoughts , and "Pitchin Pennies" , projecting himself as one of the most homeless sounding rappers of the Golden Era. Things have changed for Common who was labeled a sellout by fans after becoming a poster boy for Gap, and now has a new line of Diesel cologne. The dude has "Two Scoops of Raisins" and a vineyard with a bunch of workers making a gang more [...]

For all those Dre enthusiasts you've probably been reading about Detox for several years now, as everyone has been building up this album. The man responsible for the west coast gangsta rap sound has been M.I.A., and I'm not referencing the "Bambo Banga." In May, Dre released a little sample, just a morsel, on a Dr. Pepper commericial. Oh how fitting, Dr. Pepper and Dr. Dre. Take a look:

SOTD 6.10.09 as seen on Betterpropaganda.com Andrew Bird : "Oh No" After the propulsion of emo/indie/rock during the Garden State soundtrack era, with bands like The Shins milking the tit of success until they were surrounded in soothing booty, seemingly tainting this genre for listeners as trendy and pop, Andrew Bird remained a hit on Pitchfork, but overlooked by most. "Oh No," is a sharp social criticism as Bird's softly sings "Arm in Arm we are the [...]

While blogging I look first for the names of artists/bands I know, then let hyperlinks lead me to discover. Recently posted on Stereogum was an MGMT remix of the Violen's song "Doomed." I'm sure you're all familiar with MGMT, and as a side note, you should watch their drug induced/disturbing music video of "Kids." Below is their remix of the Violens, or you can hear it at Stereogum. Violens - "Doomed" MGMT Remix The Violens are a New Wave styled indie rock [...]

You'd be foolish to think Annie Clark is just a pretty face—because she's also the brilliance behind the emerging band St. Vincent. Clark's music is reflective of her unique taste, or as she describes, "I love the notion that something can be whimsical, delightful, but also disgusting,"—as her music can shift from love-wooing-coos to haunting marches of social criticism. With Actor, Clark's imagination ties dreams with realities, as she began creating the album while watching her favorite movies -- Badlands, Pierrot le Fou, The Wizard of Oz, Stardust Memories, Sleeping Beauty. With each track reflecting like individual film scores, the [...]

Step 1: To learn music outside the radio-pop realm, follow and learn about music labels. From Death Row to Om Records, music labels don't just release records, they showcase particular styles and genres. In the weeks to come, I will feature different labels, assisting you in finding artists you might enjoy. Tres Records This is Tres Records "About US": Tres Records, a label founded and run by artists, is committed to procuring the hip-hop aesthetic while exploring the infinite possibilities of [...]

The Sounds are a Swedish New Wave punk rock band--which sounds like an indie artsy fartsy group, and rightfully so. Their new video for "No One Sleep When I'm Awake" is directed with playfully interesting cinematography, accentuated by neon lights, midnight trips, blue lighting, last call subway trains, and life at 3am. Like the French Film, The Red Balloon , you see lead singer Maja Ivarsson walk across town, through the video with balloons in hand, as we venture through her late night life. No One Sleeps [...]

"You pronounce my Wall-Ay"--any questions? Wale, straight out of Maryland's Go Go , is making a name for himself quick. So get with it! On "Chillin" , Wale claims his title as he raps, "I remain a Giant, and you Jeremy Shockey." OH snaps! Lady Gaga is on the track, singing the hook in a M.I.A. tone. Listen, it's jumpin' and soon will be pumpin' on radios alike..enjoy: