Album Reviews: February 2015 Week 4

Ras G - "Down 2 Earth Vol. 2 (The Standard Bap Edition)" - 2014

As any reader of this blog can attest, i've been listening to a lot of Ras G lately and loving it. This is what I would consider his most "normal" album, but that's a relative term for sure, as Ras is quite a psychedelic artist. Another solid collection of beats under his belt. Check out this video for "Love & Peace / Polo Jacket & Dashiki". You can listen to the whole album here. You can purchase the album here.

Traxman - "Slash Time" - 2014

One of his many releases from last year, this is a solid set of 6 tracks guaranteed to set off any party that's not full of squares. He just keeps it coming with tight release after tight release. You can listen to and purchase this EP here.

Teebs - "E S T A R A" - 2014

Teebs is a beat maker from LA that specializes in woozy, dreamlike soundscapes. He immediately caught my ear from the very first time I heard one of his tracks and positioned himself as someone who seems destined for greatness. This is considered his 2nd full length LP, and while I don't think he necessarily built on the last one and made a better LP this time around, I do think he at least maintained the same level of quality. He seems like the type of person who hasn't put out the ultimate album of his life yet, and is just getting started. This album is the perfect album for a lazy afternoon, where you just want to be carried away with your thoughts.You can listen to the full album here. You can purchase the album here.

Guilty Simpson & Oh No - "The Simpson Tape" - 2014

This was a cassette only release that Stones Throw did for the Cassette Day that was celebrated last September. Basically exactly what you would expect from these 2, which is 4 dope new songs with the instrumentals included. Check out the song "Look Alive". I got this through my subscription service, but you can also purchase either the actual tape or just the mp3's here.

Eyehategod - "Eyehategod" - 2014

Eyehategod is what I would consider a progressive sludge metal band, haling from New Orleans. I've had the pleasure of seeing them live in concert twice in my life. Once, way back in 1996, with them doing opening support for Pantera and White Zombie, and then again last year, in support of this new album. It's interesting to me that even though it was 2 different eras, and 2 different situations, and obviously 2 way different sized venues, they still brutally attacked these performances with absolute precision, and really forces you to respect them. They are obviously considered some of the earlier purveyors of sludge metal, but I think they are a lot more mathy than a lot of their contemporaries, with lots of weird timing changes and insane songwriting. The most odd thing about this is that they somehow manage to almost hide that fact within their sound, and it doesn't come off as being remotely stiff or nerdy, like a lot of music of that nature tends to be. I'm an idiot, because this album somehow slipped my mind when I was making my Top 50 list for 2014. It clearly belongs there. Check out the video for "Medicine Noose". You can purchase the album here.