Evenings - "Unreleased Collection EP" 2012
I need to hear this guy's "real" stuff if this is his unreleased collection. Just some really great beats, right up my alley. I like the mix of electronic elements of live instruments. He makes it seem organic and not forced. You can listen to/download the EP here.
Kardinal Offishall & Nottz Raw - "Allow Me To Re-Introduce Myself" 2012
This album/mixtape is actually OK and it's going to sound like i'm dissing it while i'm taking it apart and breaking it down. Kardinal is one of those dudes who's got a couple semi-hits under his belt, but has never fully broke his way into the mainstream or into the memory of the average music fan. This appears to be his attempt at re-establishing himself in the industry and introducing himself to younger people. Some of the songs work, but then on some he'll attempt some ill advised comedy material on songs where it doesn't seem to belong, and it comes off sounding out of place within the song. If he wants to be a funny dude he should pick certain songs to do that on instead of during a more otherwise serious or focused song. Sadly enough, i'm sure this album is probably already forgotten about less than a year after it's release. Nottz does a decent job on the beats, with there only being a couple minor flubs in my mind, and i'm sure there's people out there who enjoy those couple r&b tinged jams on here that I don't. The beats are definitely the strong suit of the album though, but anyone familiar with Nottz's previous material should expect that. He pretty much always brings it. Listen to and download this here.
The Uncluded - "Hokey Fright" 2013
For those living under a rock, this is the duo of Kimya Dawson and Aesop Rock. This is one of those rare occasions where I had high expectations for an album and it meets them. As you might expect if you're familiar with her, this is like a children's album for weird adults. I really appreciate how they can make super child-like, modern Sesame Street sounding songs with step by step instructions on how to catch a frog or advocating being an organ donor and it sits perfectly fine on an album next to songs with grim subjects like cancer or being in the room with a friend and seeing on TV that his parents have died in a plane crash. It's one of those rare collaborations where it actually feels like an even mix of their styles, and in their case, those styles are vastly different from one another, so it makes for something completely different from anything you've heard in music before. Check out the videos for "Delicate Cycle", "TV On 10", "Alligator", "Earthquake", and "Scissorhands". Also check out "Bats" and "Boomerang".
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