Music reviews, news, opinions + more
If you say what you’d like for something to be, does it make it so? Strong Arm Steady and Statik Selektah say hell yeah, so we deem this one “Classic”. Of course your mileage may verry, but I feel 9 out of 10 will agree that this is the good hip-hop. Their Stereo Type album was released by Stones Throw last week. Go get it.
In honor of those who died at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, Kosha Dillz had put together a song and video in commemoration, and it’s a nice one too. If you like it, you can download the full track for free directly from Shemspeed.com or the following players below.
You may have heard him before as Mega Ran, but some of you may know him or also know of him as Random. His new album, Language Arts, will be released in the form of three separate EP releases, with volume 2 to be unleashed on August 21st. Each album can be heard on its own terms, but get all three and you’ll be able to grasp what he’s trying to say and achieve with all three.
People this year have been too quick to say that Odd Future mania is over with. I don’t think these guys care, because they know once word of a new project is forthcoming, everyone goes crazy. Here’s an example.
Mellowhype has Numbers on the way, due out October 2nd.
Tr∀sh Talk has 119 ready to go, which will be released a week later.
Music videos from each album will premiere next week. After that, a Camp Flog Gnaw tour which ends with an Odd Future carnival. Yes, you read that right:
August 31… Norfolk, VA
September 1… Baltimore, MD
September 2… Philadelphia, PA
September 4… Huntington, NY
September 5… Portland, ME
September 7… Providence, RI
September 8… Wallingford, CT
September 9… Buffalo, NY
September 11… Cleveland, OH
September 12… Columbus, OH
September 14… Saint Louis, MO
September 15… Milwaukee, WI
September 16… Chicago, IL
September 18… Columbia, MO
September 19… Lawrence, KS
September 21… Boulder, CO
September 22… Boulder, CO
September 25… Vancouver, BC
September 26… Portland, OR
September 28… Santa Cruz, CA
September 29… Ventura, CA
September 30… Los Angeles, CA (Odd Future Carnival)
Venues were not given to me but if you’re a fan, you already know how to get that information.
The instrumental for this is incredible and I’m wanting to hear just that, but when you realize wait, there’s a MC here who is talking about how he’s “so far beyond that” and you want to dedicate your time to hearing him. He goes by the name of Neako, and he doesn’t care if you hate him, he’s aiming for those who are open to hearing more.
That more will be reality on November 27th, when These Are The Times (T.A.T.T.) is released.
Remember Dan Deacon? If you’ve visited this site anytime this year, his name or face should be familiar so… say hello to Mr. Deacon once again.
Deacon will release his America album next week Tuesday, but you can listen to it a week before it hits virtual and brick & mortar stores by clicking over to NPR.org.
Also next is more shows that he’ll do to wrap up the summer, before starting up again in October. The tour will take him all around North America where he’ll mix up shows with a band and solo sets. Check the dates below for details:
August 29 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom &
3August 30 Columbus, OH – The Bluestone &
August 31 Indianapolis, IN – Earth House &
September 1 Chicago, IL – North Coast Music Festival *
September 2 Saint Louis, MO – Firebird &
September 3 Louisville, KY – Kentucky Museum of Arts and Crafts &
September 4 Nashville, TN – Exit In &
September 5 Huntsville, AL – Flying Monkey &
September 6 Knoxville, TN – Pilot Light &
September 7 Raleigh, NC – Hopscotch Music Festival *
September 8 Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater &
October 3 Richmond, VA – Gallery 5 &
October 4 Greensboro, NC – The Blind Tiger &
October 5 Asheville, NC – Orange Peel &
October 6 Atlanta, GA – Terminal West &
October 8 Birmingham, AL – Bottletree &
October 9 New Orleans, LA – Le Maison &
October 10 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s &
October 11 Austin, TX – Beauty Ballroom &
October 12 Dallas, TX – Club Dada &
October 13 Norman, OK – Opolis &
October 16 Sante Fe, NM – Sol Sante Fe &
October 18 Phoenix, AZ – The Crescent Ballroom &
October 19 San Diego, CA – Irenic &
October 20 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre &
October 22 Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst Club &
October 23 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall &
October 25 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater &
October 26 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret &
October 27 Seattle,WA – Neptune &
October 29 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court &
October 31 Denver,CO – Bluebird Theater &
November 2 Lawrence, KS – The Granada Theatre &
November 3 Minneapolis, MN – The Cedar &
November 5 Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre &
November 8 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick &
November 9 Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace &
November 10 Montreal, QC – SAT &
November 11 South Burlington, VA – Higher Ground &
November 12 Portland, ME – SPACE Gallery &
November 13 Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club &
November 14 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg &
November 15 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer &
November 16 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom &
November 17 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club &
December 6 Tallahassee, FL – Club Downunder
December 9 Jacksonville, FL – Underbelly
December 10 Savannah, GA – Safe // Sound
December 11 Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
December 13 Pensacola, FL – Handlebar
December 14 Gainesville, FL – Double Down Live
December 15 Tampa, FL – Crowbar
& = Dan Deacon Ensemble w/ Height With Friends, Chester Endersby Gwazda, Alan Resnick
* = solo set
Chrome Canyon seems to create the kind of synth pop that is what you might hear as your soundtrack when entering your favorite video game room. Fairlights, Synclaviers, a Moog, and who knows what else, all coming from the mind of one Chrome Canyon, who also directed this video along with Noah Kalina.
The song is from Chrome Canyon’s forthcoming album on Stones Throw called Elemental Themes, due out on October 9th.
yU fans will get a treat out of this one, for he’s planning on moving out of his comfort zone for a moment to try out new musical textures. He does so in his brand new single “Dreams”, featuring Danedra Rowell on vocals. You can download the track for free via Bandcamp.
The song is the A-side from his new 7″ 45, being released as part of Mello Music Group’s 7″ series. You can order your copy by clicking here
The song begins before a time when full insertions were the norm, but the Mike Diva-directed video looks post apocalyptic with its zombies shooting guns and everyone eating each other’s face due to a mandatory bath salts intake. Freaky.
DDay One has put together a nice blend of music that is a part of his In Session mixes, and this one is his 15th installment, featuring tracks by the likes of Ice Cream Tee, Blackalicious, DJ Shadow, We, Diplo, Daedelus, and many more. You can listen to it right now, or download it as a 320kbps MP3 or FLAC lossless by heading to the Bandcamp page, where you’ll also be able to see a full track listing.
