Friday, October 28, 2011

Uncommon Records "Save the Horn"



Most people realize the world is much bigger than just themselves and their immediate friends and family. But how often do we do anything to help those outside of that area of people. Normally it takes a natural disaster for us to open up our wallets and even then it is only for a few weeks and then we all go about our lives as usual and feel we have done our part. I am just as guilty of this as everyone else, so do not think I am berating you, it is just how so many of us act, even those who are bleeding hearts. We forgot about the struggle of daily living for so many. Well, here is an opportunity to help those out who truly need it.

Uncommon Records has just released their second "pop up album" (first was for Japan) entitled "Save the Horn" where any and all money people give for the album will go directly to Charity:Water a group that builds water wells in 3rd world countries. In fact, right now, they are raising money to buy a rig to drill a well in Ethiopia. How many of us take for granted the clean water we have to drink, and I am not even factoring in bottled water. So many of us feel the tap water we drink isn't good enough for us, it isn't clean. People all over the world would kill for our tap water, so why not do what we can to provide one of the basic necessities of existence, water. So open up your hearts and wallets and do what you can to help Charity:Water provide that water to the people of Ethiopia.

The album will only be available for one month starting today and ending on November 28th, so go now and download "Save the Horn" here and do your part to help make the world a better place and get some dope music in the process.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Louis Mackey & ThirtySeven "No Humans Allowed"



The world sucks. We are all going to die. We are sheep, we never think for ourselves. BLAH. We have all heard this before, and it has become trite, boring, banal, common place even, (Lady Redundant Woman has taken over typing apparently.) But every so often, someone presents this information to you in a different matter or we see something that confirms what we thought was just the talk of a crazy few. Well, ladies and gentlemen, Louis Mackey and ThirtySeven are here to provide you with that different perspective, to show you the light (or the dark) and attempt to open your eyes to what is going on around you as they come down from their planet and give us this knowledge. That is the basic just of "No Humans Allowed," but instead of some Hunter S. Thompson want to be describing it to you, it is constructed by two incredibly talented MCs whose vocabulary will make you feel like a 3rd grader reading "Finnegan's Wake." But perhaps I am rambling a bit too much and going into the extreme nerd zone so let me stop and get the album, here it goes.

Normally when a track is called "Intro" (or "Outro" for that matter) it is very brief and acts simple as a way to get acquainted with the album and artist. On some rare occasions the track is something much more, yes it does introduce you to the album but it says something and is integral to the piece as a whole. That is the case with "Intro" on "No Humans Allowed." The track begins with some faded and distorted keyboards with drums, a very relaxed beat, that brings to mind the early morning, just before the sun comes up, that calm before all the craziness happens. Louis Mackey kicks off the album with a great display of his talent while offering a glimpse into the concept of the album
it’s early in the morning before the city’s awake
I’m busy forging the words that can get me to grace
no slippery slopes or apologetic diatribes
I’ll die tonight if you find a lie in this entire rhyme
I got Leviathan in my eyes again, doing it now
a beautiful sound, no motherfucking humans allowed
the earth looks pretty from here, as I’m eyein our chances
the cities appear on the dark side of the planet

Not to be outdone, Thirtyseven comes back with a much more graphic and horrorfilled verse
five oclock in the morning, somehow I’m still awake
these are not rhymes, these are thought crimes in fifty states
the cops showed, we chill and wait, got stoned and still escaped
run for blocks, buzzing off the blood in Bob Dylan’s veins
...see, I always figured that I’d probably die
before I ever became a sane and responsible guy
so I try the meet and greet but I can never relate
because to me you’re venison steaks doing impressions of apes

Now don't think this is going to be the pattern, Mackey has a more introspective, thought provoking verse, then Thirtyseven decides to bring violence and gore painting gruesome pictures. That is certainly not the case, but it does let you know there is certainly a difference between the two MCs, this is just an exaggerated example.

Sparse guitar chords occupy the beat of "Not of This Earth" where both Mackey and Thirtyseven go after the state of popular rap and the "mainstream rapper with a catchy line." While tracks like this are done often, what seperates this from the rest is how both MCs go about it. Instead of doing the "you are ruining hip hop and I am here to save it" angle, they decide instead to say fuck it, if that's what the public wants take it, we will do what we do. As Mackey puts it "this beat is just a reason to be breathing demons up, til I’m seeing leaking guts, steeping in sea of blood," ie this is his release, his art. Thirtyseven tries to bite his tongue but cannot "most of your flows are weak, and yet most of the shit I've said is straight over my critic's heads, I'm larger than life, the poverty nights with ramen and rice, then walk in tonight and Viking slaughter the mic" a great line for all MCs who are fighting to make it.

The beat for "Ungern-Sternberg" is a haunting bass guitar and rhythm guitar duet mixed with a choir like vocal snippet, it may not sound like a lot, but it doesn't need to be, it sets the scene perfectly for ThirtySeven's and Mackey's rhymes. This is the closest thing you will hear to a battle record from either MC. Each one kicks off their first verse addressing the concept, whether it is ThirtySeven "does thirtyseven still battle? probably not... if I gotta prove shit to you kids, I’ve already lost" or Mackey, "Does Lou Mackey talk shit with every breathe that he’s got ? Bet I’ve tested my weapon from Texas to Prague" you can see what they think about doing a battle. And just for fun the two both decide to address full frontal nudity. "I’ll book your home town, do a bunch of frontal nudity, and have you whole fan base running home to google me," spits ThirtySeven, only to have Mackey come back with "with whatever fuck-endeavor, convenient store attempt to get audience, and frontal nudity is nothing to new to me." But to my favorite lines come from ThirtySeven's second verse "can you poodles get the point of NO HUMANS ALLOWED? ...future mutant music for the few and the proud? ...of course you Normals are snooping around."

The saxophone that introduces "Death of You" feels like it could go into any film noire detective story, mix in a little drums and you have the chilled out music for this scything track where both Mackey and ThirtySeven go after those who allow themselves to become slaves to the money and those who become corrupt in that pursuit. But do not worry, those who stand by idlely and do nothing are also targets, because lets be honest, they are just as much to blame.

While the instrumentation of "Child of the 90s" is rather upbeat with the guitar and horns (plus a little vocals from the Godfather of Soul) the duo stays on task of taking down all the flaws of humanity. This time the target are all those who said they would never give in to "the man" and what never work in the system, but in the end when push comes to shove become just like all those who they use to speak up against. But it is more than that, it is those who masquerade as still standing up for the "little people" but are in fact cogs in the machine. Whether it is ThirtySeven who points out the hypocrisies and tries to figure out why this is happening, "crazy what can brew inside a human mind, but who am I to judge another's man stupid lies?" or Mackey who has decided he has had enough "...child of the 90s, before those beliefs had died, that piece of my life tried to eat me alive, the demon that thrived then is still sleeping inside keep speaking your mind, he’ll be easy to find."

A subtle piano, gaining strength along with some sparse horns and a vocal sample kick off "All Anxieties Tranquilized," the building tension comes to an apex as ThirtySeven begins his verse
History is nothing but an ad for being white
so I piss on your assumptions and your cracker Jesus Christ
yeah, hi folks...whats up, I like to rhyme yo
and leave your mind blown through your slave labor iPhones
stop bitching cuz they’re giving you prescription drugs
you don’t have a condition, chump, you’ve just given up

With these lines ThirtySeven is able to upset 90 percent of the population and finishes off the other 10 percent in the rest of his verse. But whether him getting under your skin is the point, (and in reality the point of the whole album) to get the listener to actually think for themselves, crazy idea I know. But even people who claim they do this, sometimes forget and fall into the safety of the group. Louis Mackey continues the onslaught with his verse “
experts” flock at speaking functions to sit and talk
while the preacher and priest are running to the liquor spot
living stops when the numbers on the ticker drop
seems your fickle God has gone and took a trip abroad


I shall not lie, the first time I saw the title "Big Ups from Carbondale" my first thought was, "oh shit, they are going to do a song about Carbondale, PA." I was obviously very, very wrong; their idea was much more interesting. Carbondale is their name for the rap industry, i.e. Carbon copies, much better than a song about a small town near Scranton. But I digress, let me get back to the song. The horn, drums and keys automatically get your head nodding, making you think they might be doing a more positive upbeat track (of course you are wrong) and you find out just how wrong very quickly. "We keep it too loud to fucking pretend there’s any way to safely fake a conversation with your dumb as shit friends," this is how ThirtySeven kicks off the track. There is one thing different about this song than any other on the album. The number of verse, 7, which is 3 more than any other song. Why does this matter you may ask. Well, it is rather simple, they continue to mock the copy cat/ dumbed down industry by creating shorter verses because that is all today's rap fans can memorize and all that the "top" rappers can do. Maybe I am reading too much into that, but I do not think so.

The album closes out with "Good Night, America," the background is set by just a view strings with some drums to hit. Rarely do albums realize the perfect song to end with, luckily, "No Humans Allowed" nailed it. By far the most apocalyptic and final song on the project, it sums up how Louis Mackey and ThirtySeven view the country and in fact the world. Whether it is on the discussion of euthanasia, ignoring the homeless, or as they both finish off their verse, with ThirtySeven
won’t matter when we’ve lost our heat and crops are freezing
won’t matter when you’ve gotta keep your Mom from screaming
cuz she’s watching zombies feeding off her daughter’s body pieces

or Mackey
...swim with sharks, dance with the angels
and I’ve made it far to see the ease with which
...saints get shot and thieves get rich

these certainly capture the thought and feel of the album.

Now that you have a basic concept of the album (hopefully a bit more than basic, at least that is what I aim for) you will see just what Mackey and ThirtySeven have done with "No Humans Allowed." That is of course, besides create a duo that this reviewer hopes to hear much more from, but they have crafted a focused album that attempts to instruct the listeners, while also insulting them a bit (but sometimes that is how we need to learn) about what is wrong with society and ourselves as humans. If we do not straighten up, quickly, this world will turn to the picture created in "Good Night, America," a dismal, disease ridden, wasteland (but without Pip Boys). So let us take a good look in the mirror and fix this place before it is too late. Unless you like the world the album paints which if that is the case, well, we are all fucked.

You can stream and download the album here.

LAMEBOT "No Proven Formulas"



If you have been paying attention to the blog lately, you have noticed me talking about LAMEBOT a bit, mostly via mixes and older albums. Now I am proud to give you my review of LAMEBOT's latest solo release (has a great piece of work with Black-Tokyo that came out 2 weeks ago.) "No Proven Formulas" is one of those albums that I love, one that was created to be an album and not just a hodgepodge of songs. In fact, you could go as far to say it is a concept album, the story of a weekend trip, although that is not how I reviewed it, but you see the theme played throughout rather visibly. Another impressive feature is how LAMEBOT begins each track with an element of the previous track, making it seem almost like one continuous piece of music that is only broken up to be nice to listeners. But perhaps my rambling is being more confusing than helpful, so let me explain it better in a track by track format, here it goes.

LAMEBOT kicks off the album by attempting to answer a monumental question, "What does Music Feel Like," and does so with a few vocal samples but almost entirely music. Which is typically a no no...trying to define a word by using the word etc. But really how else do you describe what music feels like but through the art itself. LAMEBOT's interpretation of the answer begins with a chopped up guitar, that becomes distorted with drums playing softly behind it. As the track continues, the drums start to take over, especially the bass, making sure you feel the music, giving you a physical sensation besides the emotional answer of what does music feel like. the constant distortion gets inside of your ears and seems as though the music is invading your mind and body. The periodic claps add to the physical sensation, this piece is certainly one of the standout tracks of the album, I find myself repeating it constantly and noticing smile nuances each time.

How do you follow up a song such as "What does Music Feel Like," well if you are LAMEBOT you create a laid back track that still hits, such as "Same Window, Different Visual." It is one of those tracks that upon first listen you enjoy it, no matter how discerning your ear is. Perfect example is as i am writing this, my son is listening and dancing to the music, always good when your music can appeal to a variety of ears. But what does this track sound like (besides laid back and hits) well it starts with some synths that are met up by drums that loops in about 10-15 second intervals, dropping out occasionally until the claps and what can describe as wooden sticks join in to create a very full sound that fills up your ears. That full sound continues to the end when the claps become the dominant feature, and this blends right into the next track.

"The Word Week Bends" has about 10 seconds or so of the claps from "Same Window, Different World" before disappearing entirely, creating a great transition, showing that this album is just that, an album, and not just a random collection of songs (elements of previous songs are routinely repeated in the intro to the next track on this album, and it works beautifully.) At first the track appears to just be drums and distortion, but if you listen careful, you can hear the soft piano playing and then a notch higher, the strings come in, along with some other great sounds that appear and disappear almost randomly, but there is a method to the madness, if you pay attention and open your ears.

While most of "No Proven Formulas" has a very free flowing, more relaxed vibe, the drums on "Star LIt Lap Dance" offer a more jerky motion. it is almost as though LAMEBOT does't want the listener to be complacent in their experience and also assume they know what the album is without experiencing it as a whole. The claps dominate the song with keys making some nice background appearances. But two things stand out on this track and they both deal with drastic changes throughout the track. The first being a pause in the beat at around 30 seconds that throws you for a loops, it only lasts a second or two but still very well done. The second is the addition of the woodwinds near the final third of the song. They work very well to compliment the almost uneasiness of the rest of the track.

For LAMEBOT's next trick he decides to do a mix of Death Cab for Cutie's "Title and Registration" appropriately titled "Title and Registrations [LAME Cab Death Mix.]" I shall be honest, I never heard the original until I was already familiar with LAMEBOT's version and it is almost odd to compare the two because they are so dramatically different. It is a total reconstruction of the song, slows down the speed of the original and then uses that to sample and adds on many other elements, thoroughly impressive in my humble opinion. But what does the song sound like? I shall tell you that now. It begins with a gentle guitar sound with a bit of drums faded into the background, then the drums come to center stage and hit hard causing you to sway a bit while listening. Then the distortion and vocals come in to play. Honestly, LAMEBOT has somehow made Death Cab for Cutie sound like a student of the Flaming Lips, the speed is often changed, either slower or faster, searching for the right sonic resonance. Incredibly well done.

When I first saw the title "A Nervous Tick," I expected a very disorienting that would leave my head spinning. Oddly, I found a solid groove based track with a few tricks up its sleeve. I guess I should've realized that is what the track would be because it really helps to capture the idea of a nervous tick. The drums and keys work to create a head bobbing rhythm, almost to the point where you start to "zone out" but then comes the little nervous tick, only for a few seconds as the whole track becomes muddled and distorted. Then to change things up even more, around half way through the track becomes much less drum heavy and focuses on the keys and guitars but still uses the idea of the nervous tick sprinkled throughout, no matter the situation, the tick is always present.

"Leaving Denver" does exactly what I expected "A Nervous Tick" to do, confuse and bewilder me with layer and layer of sound, throwing my ears from one place to another. The main attraction of this track is the multiple synths played throughout, but what really makes it shine are the supporting players, the strings and keys that play almost in the background but add to the musicality and disorientation.

LAMEBOT strips down to mainly drums and a few key notes for "Missed Connections" before adding some great effects prior to the synths joining the party at around the 1 minute mark. The synths offer a great uptempo, hectic feel to the track (almost as if someone is rushing to catch their flight *hint hint*.) The song ends with a very intriguing sound for the last 30 seconds, reminds me of jumping in 8 bit video games, works wonderfully.

The only guest on the album, Brain Cloud, appears on "Prussian Circus," a very spaced out track that still has a great bounce to it. Extended notes are played on the keyboard, while laser like synths are played overtop before the drums join in an match the synths. But of course, that is not all, there are many, "tiny instruments" that make what appear to be random appearances throughout but of course, there is a pattern, as long as you pay attention (which you should certainly be doing.) These intricacies are what really make this track (and in reality the album as a whole) it is LAMEBOT (and on this track Brain Cloud) adding that little something extra or tweaking that sound that keeps your ears on their feet.

One of the most interesting titles, "Bubbles or Butterflies, I Feel it in my Guts" is also one of best descriptions of the sound of a track. In fact, I can only listen to this track one time in a row (normally listen over and over again as I am writing about a track) but the distorting bass notes play with your head and stomach, you really do feel it, it is VERY intriguing but also rather disturbing to think about how easily sound can play tricks on your body, my descriptions of the sound wouldn't do it justice, so check out the track and I HIGHLY recommend wearing headphones to get the full effect (I recommend listening to any music through headphones at least on first listen, and good headphones at that no iPod earbuds.)

LAMEBOT wastes no time jumping all with drums, fades, and laser like synths on "Casey Jones" and just when you think the song is full, the real futuristic synths come in as everything else takes a back seat. We are talking new keyboards, synths and if I am correct (which I probably am not) there is even a theremin in there somewhere, and if there isn't there should be. What amazes me about this song is that even with everything going on, all the sounds, it does not seem convoluted or weighed down by sound, it works beautifully, I know I keep saying this but this is what makes LAMEBOT different from so many other artists out there layering sounds.

By far the best song to listen to with the windows down in your car on "No Proven Formula" goes to "Lunch Time in L.A." LAMEBOT's takes on the classic LA funk sound. It has everything you want for a ride in the warm rather, great bass drums with the all important funk clap, mixed in with some quality keyboard and synths that just screams 80 degrees and sunny. True, it may not be the most complex track on the album but still serves its purpose to the overall story of the album and it is sure to be played a lot for the sheer enjoyment of it.

The utter sonically beautiful chaos of "Sometimes It Backfires" acts in direct opposition to the rather stripped down "Lunch TIme in L.A." This piece might be LAMEBOT's best track I have heard so far. It begins with some hard hitting drums that almost sound like congo drums mixed with some bells, before the computer takes over (only way I can describe what happens) and we begin to go on an incredible ride with rapid fire keys and strings with drums, that suddenly fade and join together again in different combinations, while new instruments join as well (my guess would be there are about 50 or so different sounds used in this track) it really is mind-blowing and something that even as I describe it, I realize I am not doing it justice.

The album ends (excluding a hidden track which is worth checking out for sure) with a remix of "Sometimes It Backfires" by madSavVy. While LAMEBOT's version is spaced out and contemplative I get the feeling of the remix of being more of a dance type song and in reality, I wish this wasn't included, it is quality work for sure but just seems to put a bit of a damper on the album by not ending with the masterpiece of LAMEBOT's version.

Sometimes an artist who has such a high level of output such as LAMEBOT (check the bandcamp page and notice the string of releases recently) has a tendency to have lower quality work, luckily that is not the case here. LAMEBOT realizes that quanitiy is great but you most also have quality and in fact, this album might be LAMEBOT's best work so far. "No Proven Formulas" works well together, but impressively, each track can stand on its own and still offer enjoyment and intrigue to the listener, something that is not easily done. So go visit the link below, press play and get ready to go on one hell of a sonic journey.

You can stream and download the album here

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Mike Ladd "Kids and Animals"



Everyone has a few artists who they believe are incredible and do not understand why more people who are fans of the same sort of music, do not really know that artists music. (Could I have made that sentence any more confusing? Well yes but that isn't the point.) For me, one of the artists on the top of that list is Mike Ladd. Whether it is his solo work, his classic projects with Vijay Iyer, or in the brilliant battle of the Infesticons and Majesticons, the guy shines as a true artist, not just an MC. What's that you say? You are not familiar with Mr. Ladd, well then, why not check out this project and see what you are missing.

You can download the album here.

Eratic "Negative Balance"



Keeping on with the #ATFU theme, let me inform you about Eratic, while he may not be putting out the number of projects of some of the other members...do not think this is because he is lacking in talent. Eratic goes hard and does a great job of tying the sound of 5 different producers into one cohesive project. So check out the project and realize the world isn't all peaches and cream.

You can stream and download the album here.

Rusty Redenbacher "The Minion"



It is almost impossible to keep up with the music coming out of the Tornado Alley camp lately, but we should all be doing just that. First let me tell you about the new project by Rusty Redenbacher "The Minion" a FreeEp coming to whet your appetites before he drops "The Tinkerer" but do not think this is subpar because it is free, it is what I have learned to expect from Russ..high quality music. So check it out now and see what you've been missing. You might as well check out his maxi-single "Hello" which features A-Sky, E Dot Spencer, and Mr. Kinetik here.

You can download the album here.

Gajah and Graves33 "Two Headed Dragon"


I have been slowly working on getting reviews done and as this has happened I have been slipping on letting my loyal reader(s) know about dope new music being released. So, I figured why not let you know about a few dope releases tonight. Let us start with Gajah and Grave33 and their release "Two Headed Dragon." It is always interesting when two MCs come together to create an album, who will take the lead, how will they mesh, etc...these are the questions that always seem to come up and often are what you think about while listening to the album instead of actually enjoying. Luckily, Graves33 and Gajah got it right on this project. The two mesh perfectly while still remaining themselves (which if you do not know are two very talented MCs) so check out the album and enjoy.

You can stream and download the album here.