Alright folks, I'm seriously groggy today so don't blame me for being a bit late. Also I'm listing to these tracks for the first time as I'm writing this so... on to the musak.
Styles & Complete, two amazing electronic DJs from Charlotte North Carolina. I have a serious problem with chart topping music, radio worthy tunes, and anything I hear coming from my neighbor's stereo, but there's one exception, mashups. I was cruising around GMAD today looking for inspiration and thought I would give it a shot, seeing as how it would be better than going through my history and smashing you guys with stale tracks.
All that being said I don't know if its the congestion thats killing my brain right now but I'm having a huge problem saying anything other than if you're thinking of partyin this week, you need mashups, and S & C have you covered, smooth rap over dirty dubstep tracks, all old school mixing, you can practically see them on stage scratchin and mixin. So grab it up and bump it.
Also because I love you guys and I think every post should have some variety, check out this brand new mashup from Fytch, just my opinion but its something special. Maybe I just have a thing for low end wubs, proper track overlays and vocals that just don't fool around. Maybe its the spacey retro samples, most interestingly its actually a pretty laid back mix, I love it. Also did you know this cat is 16 years old? Talent.
Also I've never really been into Notorious B.I.G. but I'm hearing more and more of his work in mashups these days and I must say I'm attracted to it, if you have a favorite Biggy album or want to suggest which one I should start off with , head on over to Facebook, help me out.
Alright, if you don't remember Friday posts are about what I deem to be essential music from my library, short reviews, maybe a story and definitely a download. So lets get cracking.
I was asked a couple weeks ago in my history of rock and roll class what my "guilty pleasure" music was, after a bit of deliberation I realized that it has always been Jhameel. Ever since TheBurningEar posted a link to his second album The Human Condition, I've been a noticeably better person. From the first track this album is absolutely full of inspirational strings and his voice, oh his voice... just take a second to look at that picture, then listen to that album, you'll understand. Since then Jhameel released a five track EP entitled Dance, and I swear he brought disco back. So far in 2012 Jhameel has released a further five tracks available for download for the Waves album, all absolute masterpieces, I mean can you imagine the internet says he used to be a marine? With a voice like that? He should have been singing from day one so I could fanatical about more of his music.
There are a few things that make me glad I'm British, Kasabian being one. If you have been hiding under a rock Kasabian is a four piece rock/electronica band from Leicestershire UK, formed in 1997. Their songs have been featured in many more video games than I would want to list and TV shows since Alias. I remember the first time I tried to find one of their albums at the local Sunrise, I purchased their first album, Kasabian, and ordered in the second, Empire, when Empire arrived I hurried to take it out of the case and snap, it broke, I don't remember being so depressed about an album... ever. But I got another copy for free and was rocking for quite some time, I must say though if you get the chance find their newest two albums, but only after hearing the first two, its interesting to hear the progression between albums. Do enjoy.
The Local Natives, formerly known as Cavil At Rest, they produced one of the few songs that moved me enough that I learned how to play it on bass, and by god is it fun. I did a little research and apparently their amazing blend of surf rock, tribal drums, and sing along lyrics could also be called Loft Rock, look it up. That being said their album Gorilla Manor is a soundscape of indie style riffs just simple enough to let even the least classically trained musician follow along, if there is a single song on this album you can't sing or play along to let me know I'll promptly show you up.
Well that's it for today's post, I kept my promise of a post every day this week, so please head on over to our Facebook page and wish me a happy birthday. I'll see you again on Monday.
I'm starting to think I might be a morning person, I mean I've been up for an hour, haven't had a coffee, and already I'm working on a new post. But in all truthfulness it was my goal this week to get a post up everyday, and I'm almost there, this weekend won't happen because I plan on driving around in the mountains for my birthday, but that's besides the point, to the tunes!
Doug Appling, or Emancipator is probably the second trip hop artist I found myself completely immersed in, but unlike Saltillo I can listen to his albums in the car with polite company. But why you might ask what makes Emancipator so different from other Trip Hop/Dowtempo artists, well slightly condescending viewer its all about the jazz.
Yes jazz, mister Appling spent quite some time recording with Japanese jazz instrumentalists really just letting the oriental feel seep into his newest non remix album, Safe In The Steep Cliffs. I really don't want to get too in depth this morning but I'll try to break down his overall sound; take the beat of you're favourite hip hop song, then layer it with soft fuzzy guitar then sprinkle on violin, piano and cello, and bake in the collective voices of a choir and serve with jazz saxophone and clarinet and a nice pinot noir, voila. Now as long as you don't actually turn your oven on we can move on, Soon It Will Be Cold Enough was Emancipator's first studio release way back in 2006 at the age of 19... yeah another child prodigy, its a little light on the jazz, heavy on the feeling, this is where trip hop really shines through. The whole album is just layered with synths and lilting vocal melodies, with just enough darkness and mystery to keep you stuck to your seat, its amazing, truly a masterpiece and I will gladly bite my thumb at anyone who says otherwise.
So yesterday afternoon I was creeping around Youtube as I am prone to do, and stumbled across a song, yes just one, that's really all it took. It was a remix of Frou Frou's The Dumbing Down of Love (just wait for the link ya?) and I can truthfully say it has been an excessively long time sing I have been moved by a trip hop song like this. Anyway the remix was by a Jeffrey Haviland (or Vital), or Jeffrey Evans (Think I might be related to him) if you go by Soundcloud, confusion aside I did some digging and lo and behold there was six pages of absolutely amazing tracks, from House to Ambient and back to downtempo, so lets take a look at that shall we?
The first mix I took a look at was called Steadfast Through The Seasons, roughly an hour and twenty minutes long weighing in at 182Mb it is a THICK file, let me say that again not only is it the musical representation of a Sumo but the sound itself is absolutely beefy. I mean picture the best burger you've ever had then throw in some chill synths and high hats, damn I'm hungry. For that matter every song I took the time to listen to on his Soundcloud had a crispness to it, they all sounded clean and refined and even though he only has 60 FB fans his tracks have raked in thousands of views and active comments, so there you go, don't judge a book by its advertisements. So grab it up, all of it and don't forget to support the artists even a "like" shows active support, (shameless plug) and check out our Facebook page here.
I don't know where you people are right now, but its early here, barely nine in the morning, I'm barely awake enough to slide over to the kettle and make some coffee. Comparative addiction aside I thought today would be a good time to let you guys in on a little secret, The Album Leaf.
About a week or so ago a good friend of mine (and fellow publisher) linked a song on my wall, Window, it took me a long time to listen to it but when I did, it transformed me. For the last week or so I've been so thoughtful you'd think I was depressed, I mean I spent yesterday afternoon sitting in the snow by a frozen lake writing poetry, its just that kind of music that can make you slow down, take a look at your life, appreciate the little things.
Personal reaction aside The Album Leaf was originally the solo project of Jimmy LaValle, formed in 1998 in San Diego, and truthfully I'm having a hard time deciding which label to plaster all over his art. I was thinking ambient, but then he throws in acoustic guitar; so acoustic or indie, but then he has songs completely made with synthesizers and piano; so electronic, but then spacey drum patterns and electric guitar kicked in and post rock was the only possible label. So for now its indieacousticpostrockica, deal?
Newest album first, Into The Blue Again, is an absolute soundscape, released in 2006 weighing in at ten songs its not necessarily a heavyweight, until you take the time to listen to it. It takes a little bit of time, to look past the obvious sadness and melancholy of the violins and piano to the blazing hope of the acoustic guitar and the steady assurances of the percussion, warning don't listen to this if you have empathetic reactions to music and have anything to do today. 2004's In A Safe Place, is refreshingly similar although with more vocals, this is where the indie/acoustic shows through in comparison to ITBA's post rock/ambient, I recommend having both albums in a playlist starting with 2006 and working back in a steady stream of consciousness and emotion.
Well thats two albums, all I feel safe giving you guys, I cannot stress this more, support the artist in any way you can even if its by using his website to donate to Japan relief or buying his albums, if you enjoy it please buy it. All of his albums are out there on the internet if you feel so inclined and please take a second to like our Facebook page here.
1 Cor. 15: 1-5
"Now I will remind you subscribers of the filth I preach to you, which you receive, in which you stand by, and by which you are being saved. Hold fast to the bass I preach to you, unless you eargasm in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received; that Jesus died for Dubstep in accordance with the scriptures."
Quick poll how many people would go to church if it preached the dirtiest of dubstep?? Yeah me too, "and that was the scripture according to Skrillex, let us break the ceremonial glow sticks and dance till we can't talk". Maybe I'm just looking for a new religion, that being said lets take a look at the best dubstep compilation I've seen in years.
JD4D, no real interesting story about how I found it today, something about some DJ/producer's FB page then three steps later I had 3GB left on my idevice and over about half a gig of dubstep kicking around. No complaints though, I'm a total audiophile like that, I'll download music till my laptop pukes its RAM all over me. Hopefully none of you took my word last week that I would be reviewing the newest Skrillex album, cause I'm not, the version I have is running at a horribly low quality, and in all truthfulness I think all the originality has been used up, Sonny needs to step his game up or move over for the next wave of electronic heavy hitters, JD4D.
So like I said, 512Mb of crunchy underground dubsteppa spread over five periodical compilation files, the last of which is being released the morning of next Monday, Jan. 30th mark your calenders. The albums are a means of promotion for over 20 lesser known Youtube producers... (Here's the list eh) 1up, Varien, Jippah, Kronic, Kidnap & Ransom, Ctwo, Cop Dickie, Cipher, System, Dark Elixir, Cubism, Skeng, OneMoreHit, London Nebel, Fytch, xKore, Skit, ToNKs, Zenji, F3tch, Astrobear, Crossman & Phizicist, FuhNetIk, Audiorabbit, Milkshakes, Veltix, Zantec, Showka, Atrium, Emptysight, Obscenity, Karetus, Niraya, Phrenik, Poseidon, BC BADMAN, Bratkilla, Sirkit, Chizzle, Kannamix, Point. Blank, Dubnium, Apashe, Good booM, Ecraseur, OscillatorZ, Fivel, Dub Scout & Eliminate, 50 Carrot, AMPR, Ronin X, VoidDS, Gunfingaz, Mr. Vandal, J. Nitrous.... the list goes on and thanks to the beauty of the internet I actually had to type all of those out, so if I spelled your stripper name wrong please forgive me. So there you have it a full paragraph of dubstep producers, only five of which I know well enough to cite songs, that being said not a single one of them should be removed from these mixes, every one of them has blown my mind, and all deserve the attention this will bring them, so if you're feeling benevolent check out JD4D's FB page here, the last release FB event w/ downloads here, and not one but two, and three different Youtube accounts the last of which is for Drum and Bass, also if you're into high quality tracks check out some free 320's here, oh and while I'm linking my brains out check out our FB page here. Also please do some digging and support the artists, my linking finger gave out on my before I could start.
So you remember way back when, the first of august to be exact, when we featured albums by Hoodie Allen and Wax, well guess who's back, Wax. His brand spanking new mixtape dropped not too long ago and already its all over the interwebs. DJ Booth has already seen about 30,000 views just cause of this album and it just keeps going. So before I get too far in head on over and listen to or download it for free, that's right free! When have I ever given you something that wasn't free?
So, Eviction Notice follows the tale of the new Def Jam signee's eviction from his former residence due to constant noise complaints. The album contains fourteen completely original tracks including a live remake of "Limousine", and features artists Jes Hudak, Gotham Green, Dumbfoundead and Herbal T, with beats by EOM, Nobody Famous, Quickie Mart, The Fyre Dept, Sam Barsh (of Palter Ego), Lack of Afro and Greg Wells. Tell me you aren't excited. Music wise this album is way above average for up and coming rappers and is perfect for the party or chilling at home party of one style, so grab it up and forgive my lack of a calender.
You may have heard of Korn, the giants of metal they are, still kicking after eighteen years of rocking my ears off. Well way back when, April 14, 2011, to be exact I heard the first single off their newest album and it moved me to a point where I just had to start a blog to write about it and spread the word to as many people as I could. I'm proud to say that nearly ten months and 10, 000 pageviews later I'm ready to put forth the complete album in all its glory.
So I was cruising Spin magazines website the other day and happened across the supposed "best metal albums" of 2011, to my delight not only was the new Mastodon album on it so was The Path of Totality, which believe it or not I had almost given up on seeing, last I checked it was delayed or maybe my local HMV was yanking my chain. Either way its out now and absolutely fucking amazing. First off lets say I attained my copy through less than legal sources but I plan on buying a physical copy at my earliest convenience, but if you can't wait grab it here on itunes or here if you don't give a fuck (just in general).
So if you happen to not be amazing then you don't have a clue whats so damn awesome about this album, well lets just say of the thirteen tracks in that .zip file none of them are unblemished by top notch dubstep. Yeah the boys shook the can and teamed up with nine different dubstep figureheads and created a masterpiece of epic proportions. Yeah you heard me right, nine, count 'em, Skrillex, Feed Me, Excision, Datsik, Downlink, Noisia, 12th Planet, Flinch, and Kill The Noise. Until you hear it you'll just have to take my word that every single track is pure gold and this album dserves more press than it has so far recieved. That being said if you're a hardcore Korn fan and have followed them from day one you might need to pull that stick out of your ass to appreciate the lengths this album pushes the limit and the industry. All in all The Path of Totality is the underdog but its day will come... its day will come.
