Album Reviews: June 2013 Week 3

Ayatollah - "Avant Garde" 2013

It's weird. The first time I listened to this album, I didn't really like it. It seemed like a below average, east coast beat tape. I gave it a 2nd chance on my headphones, and it sounded pretty good. I like how he blends some familiar samples in with the unknown ones. There's nothing groundbreaking here, but if you're looking for some instrumental hip hop reminiscent of beats from 10-15 years ago, this is a solid release. Check out "Nothing But The Funk", the only song on here I can find a link for, for some reason.

Firewater - "International Orange" 2012

This album slipping through the cracks for me for more than half of a year is proof that either the market is oversaturated right now, or I need to narrow my scope of what music I choose to check out. I don't know how I missed the actual release of this last year, but i'm glad I got curious a couple weeks ago and thought to myself "I wonder if Firewater has anything new cooking up?". Ever since an old co-worker of mine introduced me to the music of lead singer Tod A, both this band and his old band, Cop Shoot Cop, i've been pretty mesmerized with his blend of international party rock sounds combined with mega-political lyrics. I feel like this new album is almost a little more straightforward and to the point than previous Firewater albums, if that's possible, but that's what this society needs right now, a fucking WAKE UP call. Anyone out there that says there's no good new rock music coming out with meaningful songwriting, needs to check this band out. Here is the video for "A Little Revolution". Also check out "Glitter Days", "The Monkey Song", and "Ex-Millionaire Mambo".

Groundislava - "Treasure Chest" 2013

I've been a pretty big fan of his previous work, and this was a cool free download. A collection of a bunch of remixes he did and a couple new tracks as well. Free download from his Bandcamp page.

Bonobo - "The North Borders" 2013

This album seems to be the apex of what he can do so far in his career, in terms of it being a perfect combination of accessible, dancey, crisp, detailed, and otherworldly. It's perplexing to me that I don't enjoy this album more than I do. Something about it seems too sterile and safe, but it's by no means that type of an album, really. It probably sounds like i'm being too harsh on this album when you read this, but understand that this album is better than more than 99% of all other music out there. I was just wanting something a little less friendly and predictable and more progressive than this album is, but I also recognize that this album is damn near flawless in it's execution. Check out the video for "Cirrus" (what a great video, btw, I love this). Also check out "Sapphire", "Antenna", and "Jets".

Vex Ruffin - "Eulogy" 2012

First of all, this is a free download from the Stones Throw site. This EP is an amazing display of lo-fi awesomeness. I would put him in the same category of DIY avant-garde artists as Zackey Force Funk, Baron Zen, and James Pants, who have many different influences and styles, and it all mashes together into it's own new style. It's very punk in concept and the end results of this EP sound great to my ears. Check out the title track, "Space Out", and "Perfect Congestion".

"Exploded Drawing SXSW 2013 Compilation"

First of all, you can download this for free here, and I strongly urge you to. This is one of the best compilations I think i've ever heard in my life. 24 tracks and not a single dud. Most of this falls into the instrumental hip hop/beat scene pocket. I can't stress enough how stellar of a release this is. A good portion of these artists are people i've never heard of before, so this gave me a lot of good new music suggestions.

Lil B - "Based Jam" 2012

So this is the next album from the self proclaimed "Based God" I decided to check out. At this point, i'm starting to think that Lil B is the closest thing to Kool Keith to come out of the next generation of rappers. Some of his lyrics are so incredibly shitty that you feel embarrassed to be listening to him, and then he'll turn around and be completely unique, and say some really heartfelt stuff that's well put together. He clearly has many sides to his personality and that is part of his appeal. You can download this for free from datpiff. Check out "Up & Down", "Supposed Ta", and "Hit Em Up".

"Stones Throw + Leaving Records: Dual Form (Double Cassette)" 2013

This is a decent collection of random weirdness that you might expect if you're familiar with these 2 record labels. The cassettes are all sold out already, but this is also available in other formats as well here. This is a nice compilation to kick back and get lost from reality to. Check out "Sadnis" by Knx or Knxwledge as he's better known. Also check out "Lion's Dream" by Dak, "Bardo States (Dreamwalker Version)" by Run DMT, and "Atimo" by Yuk.

Vandaam - "Vandaam" 2013

First of all, you can download this for free here. This is the full length debut from this Minneapolis trio consisting of the production duo of Sloslylove and Adept accompanied by the mysterious vocalist, Lady Midnight. I think more than anything, this album shows promise more than it actually delivers, but it's also heads and shoulders above most of the local music around here in my opinion. They lay down some pretty easy going, light electronic, slightly trip-hoppy, piano based beats that fit well with her easy going vocal style. Hopefully, this is just the beginning for these guys, as i'm looking forward to hearing the styles develop over time.

Madlib - "Beat Konducta Vol. 0: Earth Sounds" 2012

Apparently, this was the Beat Konducta EP that started it all, and was originally released as a double 7" in 2001, which explains why it sounds so primitive compared to what he's been doing more recently. All in all, this is still Madlib, and it's still a really nice beat tape. You can listen to them or purchase the mp3's here.

Thee Oh Sees - "Floating Coffin" 2013

Goddamn, look at that artwork! (haha). This is seriously one of the greatest rock albums i've heard in years. Ever since Ween broke up, I was thinking it would be hard for another band to provide me with at least some of that same sound pallette that they were providing, that my brain clearly craves, but up steps Thee Oh Sees. I had liked a couple of their previous releases well enough, but they straight hit it out of the park with this new one. I can't recommend this album enough. Check out "Minotaur", "No Spell", the title track, and "Nightcrawler".

Matmos - "The Ganzfield EP" 2012

I haven't listened to the album yet, but this is the pre-EP for their new full length release, which I will have to check out really soon. What I read about this album is that they did some Ghostbusters-esque experiments on volunteer test subjects that had to do with light and sound and sensory deprivation. Sounds spooky. Check out the video for "Very Large Green Triangles (Edit)", and also check out the insane (maybe not in a good way) vocal collage of "Just Waves", and also "You (Rrose Mix)".

Belbury Poly - "The Belbury Tales" 2012

I enjoy listening to this album. It falls in a pocket somewhere in between stuff like Stereolab but with a more trip hop style and live instrumental funk stuff such as Shawn Lee. I love it when a blind download turns out to be cool like this. Check out "A Pilgrim's Path", "Earth Lights", "My Hands", and "Summer Round".

"Enjoy The Experience" 2013

This is a 2 disc compilation of songs that are more on the offbeat/leftfield side of things. Check out "Piledriver" by Dennis The Fox, this crazy "Elton John Medley" by Silk & Silver, "6.4 = Make Out" by Gary Wilson, and "Monkey Bridge" by 33 1/3.

Grip Grand - "GG Doom! But How?" 2013

I've never heard of Grip Grand before, but this is a cool little EP of his remixes of random MF Doom songs. Here is a link for the free download.. Check out "Jive Turkeys", "Gonads", and my personal favorite, with the epic sounding Frank Zappa sample, "Jesus Pizzas".

Sweet Valley - "Jenova" 2012

This is the 3rd free download release of theirs, and unfortunately my least favorite, but that doesn't mean there's not some gems on here. The way the drum kit is on most of these songs and the way the samples are flipped, it reminds me a little of older Odd Nosdam stuff, which is pretty cool. You can download this for free here..

Mochipet - "Godzilla Rehab Center" 2012

This is an EP full of his more thick sounding, amped up sounding songs. Most of these tracks remind me of the remixes he did for Splatinum, which is cool. No super standouts, but no duds either. Check out "King Ghidorah", "The Cosmos", and "Hedorah".