Album Reviews: February 2014 Week 1

Funtcase - "Don't Piss Me Off" 2013

This is an OK mid-length (a long EP or a short LP) dubstep release. As usual, I could do without the grime MC's jibber jabbering on the couple songs they are on. This is one of those albums that's not super hard sounding (it won't blow your face off), but it's not one of those 'dubstep gone soft' type releases i've been hearing the last couple years either. It just falls into a nice mid-range of energy. This album is enjoyable enough, it's just not going to blow anyone's mind or anything. Check out "Stompdown", "Predator", "Angry Claws", and "Titanium" (featuring Daniil Svetlov).

Black Milk - "Synth Or Soul" 2013

I still haven't checked out his new rap album, "No Poison, No Paradise" yet. This was released shortly before that, and is a nice EP chock full of dope little beats. I really like what he's doing here with the combination of samples and synths. There's no duds here, just straight bangers all the way through. This kinda reminds me of the Karriem Riggins album from the year before, stylistically. Highly recommended. The only link I can find for this is to listen to the whole thing (only 22 minutes, it's a quick fulfilling listen that makes you want more), so here it is....

The Melvins - "Tres Cabrones" 2013

This is The Melvins as a trio this time. They brought back their original drummer from 1983, Mike Dillard, and have their normal drummer, Dale Crover, playing bass this time around. Listening to this album for the first time, I realized I had heard most of these songs already before. They had put out a couple of vinyl EP's within the last year with this same lineup, and all of those songs are included here, so for the extreme Melvins nerds and collectors, there is only 5 new songs on this release. I still like that they put this album together, because most people don't collect all the one-off vinyl pressings, and it's good to catalogue all of this material they recorded in the same way for an album. The styles on this album range from all over the course of their career, and it's pleasantly all over the place. It's funny, this album almost sounds foreign to me when I first start listening to it, but after having it on for 10 minutes, everything seems alright in the world, and I just get lost in the songs. Check out "American Cow", "You're In The Army Now", "Stick Em Up Bitch", "Dogs & Cattle Prods", and "I Told You I Was Crazy".

Blue Daisy & Unknown Shapes - "Used To Give A Fuck" 2013

Who is Blue Daisy? I've heard a few releases by him now, and none of them have the same sound at all. When I first heard him, I thought he was some kinda wanna-be Flying Lotus, but now I see that was a false presumption, as his sounds are quite varied and not stuck in one particular style at all. These 3 songs are all some kinda weird, chilled out version of the current trap craze. It's like he's trying to stick in his own personal stamp of sound onto what's currently trendy, and for the most part it works pretty good. Check out "Used To Give A Fuck", 'Rick Ross", and "5's Up".

Grape God - "Hazyrain" 2013

Grape God is a rapper that most people would deem unlistenable. His off kilter flow definitely takes getting used to, but is at least slightly enjoyable to me. He reminds me of comedy rapper Curtis Plum crossed with the dudes in Das Racist, and also Kool Keith, but mostly his loose sounding Lost Masters material. He also kinda reminds me of that Snagglepuss rapper from the 90's. The beats on the EP are pretty decent, with familiar samples from people like Prince and Jimi Hendrix chopped up to oblivion. Everything on here sounds very spontaneous and one take, kinda like a weird Lil B style from the opposite end of the hip hop spectrum. You can listen and download this EP for free here from his Bandcamp page.

Boys Noize - "Ich R U / What You Want Remixes" 2013

2 remixes for each of these songs, all of which sound pretty damn good. I especially like the Chromeo and Jacques Lu Cont ones. Check out "Ich R U (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)", "What You Want (Chromeo Remix)", and "What You Want (Jimmy Edgar Remix)".

Hulk - "The Dragon EP" 2012

This is some pretty run of the mill dubstep. Nothing mind blowing or fancy, but nothing that bores me or makes me think it's super weak either. Just 4 tracks that are OK. Check out "Mile High", the only song I can find a link to.