Filed under: 20 Watts Video, City Sounds, Indie Rock, XCLUS!VES | Tags: 20 Watts Video, Concerts, Phantogram, Williamsburg
PREVIEW: Phantogram’s MySpace
The snow came down hard last night, but people still came out to see Phantogram at the Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, New York City. Yes, it was a bowling alley/concert venue, and yes, it was awesome. Ever since getting signed to Barsuk Records, Phantogram has picked up steam, and now is primed for a big year in 2010 when they finally release their debut LP, Eyelid Movies.
–Jett Wells
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: A Tribe Called Quest, Chappelle's Show, Close Edge, Dave Chappelle, Kanye, Martin Freeman, Mos Def, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, The New Danger, Zooey Deschanel
Mos Def
PREVIEW: WATCH Mos Def’s Flow On Chappelle’s Show on ebaumsworld
Whether he’s demolishing Kanye in a rap battle or traveling the galaxy with Martin Freeman and Zooey Deschanel, Mos Def is a legend. As one of the most well-known MCs in the entertainment industry, Mos Def has garnered friends such as Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, Talib Kweli and Dave Chappelle. The recent viewing of a clip of Mos Def on the latter’s show, however, was when Mos Def, for me, became not only one of the most respected MCs but also one of the most talented.
When the episode premiered on Chappelle’s Show in 2003, Mos Def had not yet released his third album “The New Danger”, which includes the song “Close Edge” that Mos presumably “freestyled” on the show. Even if you thought the rap was pre-meditated, it wouldn’t matter. I rewound the two minute segment at least four times in one sitting because I couldn’t stop watching Mos. Even when he’s casually driving around with an incredibly goofy comedian, his flow is absolutely flawless.
–Elizabeth Vogt, Assistant Front of Book Editor
Filed under: Editor Picks, Music Theory | Tags: Eigenharp, Eigenlabs, Mac, Mellotron, Moby, PC
PREVIEW: Visit Eigenlabs website to purchase or learn more about the Eigenharp
For us simple music lovers, the digital age has found countless ways to confuse the crap out of us with digital downloads, portable devices and now, new and foreign instruments. This year Eigenlabs has unveiled the new Eigenharp, available in two models, the fully featured Alpha and the less pricey Pico. Numerous electronic instruments have been created over the years like the still popular Mellotron, but none bear the crown as “the most revolutionary instrument in 60 years” like the Eigenharp. It is a musical controller that allows the musicians to play and sequence, and it’s the first of its kind. It can play and record loops, change scale and key, transpose, alter tempo, program beats, create arrangements, switch and layer multiple sounds, and all live. The instrument hooks up right to your Mac, and a PC compatible model has been promised in the near future. The Eigenharp has been played by names such as Moby and other musicians are still learning their way around this “sci-fi bassoon.“
-Jen Littman, Fact Checker
Filed under: Best of 2009 Albums | Tags: Jay-Z, Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, MGMT, Ratatat
Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon: The End of Day is #8 on our Best of 2009 list
PREVIEW: VISIT Kid Cudi’s MySpace
TOP TRACK: “Soundtrack 2 My Life”
Through fearless experimentation and superior producing, Kid Cudi went from mixtape phenom to premier hip-hop artist in 2009. His debut, Man on the Moon: The End of Day cannot be overstated for what it is– innovative and introspective rap at its finest. Yes, it’s a lot of praise to heap on an artist’s inaugural effort, but it’s not every year that hip-hop sees such an enterprising new face.
Avoiding the struggle for originality faced by most up-and-comers in rap today, Cudi’s first full-length embraces a style all its own. There’s very little preening and posturing a la friends Jay-Z and Kanye West. Instead, Cudi’s approach is more subdued– directly addressing his own insecurities, while embracing the circumstances which they’ve wrought. On every track, he addresses both the positives and negatives of each situation, playing heavily into the Jekkyl/Hyde, day/night juxtaposition that makes up the bulk of the album (save the made-for-radio “Make Her Say”).
On top of his atypical lyrical approach, Cudi can also boast some of the most enterprising experimentation of the year. Forgoing the pounding club beats and classic rock samples running rampant in today’s hip-hop, Cudi’s brand is a cohesive sonic collaboration of pop and electronic elements. Working extensively with the likes of MGMT and Ratatat, his results show not just a surface knowledge of electronic music, but a comprehensive and extensive tutorial on the successful merger of these elements with hip-hop.
Yes, the aforementioned Jay-Z and Kanye have recorded “pop” albums in the past two years, but not quite like this. Cudi uses rap as a vehicle for the proliferation of electronic pop experimentation on Man on the Moon: The End of Day, and the results are a refreshing breath of fresh air for both rap, and music as a whole.
– John Cassillo
Dinosaur Jr.'s Farm is #9 on our Best of 2009 list.
PREVIEW: VISIT Dinosaur Jr.´s Website
TOP TRACK: “Pieces”
In defiance of popular trends, Dinosaur Jr. released Beyond in 2007, the first record with the original trio since 1988, to boisterous praise and enormous success. While many were skeptical of the band’s reuniting release (because who isn’t skeptical about revivals?), the results were a nostalgic ride through a distant past of pioneering alternative rock, narrated by the melodic drawl of lead singer J Mascis.
Two years later, they returned with Farm, another album that rivals the surprise of Beyond. Farm kicks off with the animated track “Pieces,” and maintains a steady pattern of sprawling solos and heavy, loaded riffs – the easily identifiable sound that built the band in the first place. The record is filled with captivating melodies and catchy hooks in songs like “See You” and “Friends,” giving it an overall pop-y quality, which is not necessarily new, but certainly little-explored territory for the band.
Don’t let the pop-like undertone fool you though. The tracks are hearty and energetic, but – in true Dinosaur Jr. fashion – they seem to lack overly polished sounds and instead provide a fuzzy yet bright combination of melody and unapologetic solos. The album contains a solid number of anthemic songs (“Over It” and “I Want You to Know”) while “See You” and “Said the People” slow the pace near the middle.
They said it couldn’t be done– two back-to-back albums that contain enough musical heft to make this 80’s college-rock-alternative band remerge with an air of rejuvenation. And yet, here is Farm, with Mascis’ unchanged vocals and a brand new album, jam-packed with potential.
– Isabel Alcantara
Filed under: Best of 2009 Albums | Tags: Duran Duran, grammy, heads will roll, it's blitz!, Karen O, show your bones, Where the Wild Things Are, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, zero
Yeah Yeah Yeahs' It's Blitz! is #10 on our Best of 2009 list
TOP TRACK: “Hysteric”
Big things were happening for Yeah Yeah Yeahs in 2009. Even though Karen O’s recording of the Where The Wild Things Are soundtrack seemed to overshadow the band’s achievements for the last few months of the year, the defining moment of 2009 for the band was without a doubt their release of their third studio album, It’s Blitz!.
It’s Blitz! is quite possibly Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ best album to date, gaining them a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album. Compared to their last album, Show Your Bones, which received a nomination in 2007, It’s Blitz! follows the trend of experimenting with a more electronic sound. For YYYs, however, this undertaking was one of the smartest things they could have ever done.
The instant hit, “Zero”, is arguably the best track of the album. By releasing it as the first single, YYYs cleverly introduced their fans to a new style. While most songs still keep YYYs’ classic sound of Karen O’s stabbing vocals against loud guitars and bangin’ drum beats, the band throws in a few curveballs that pack more synth than a Duran Duran concert—well, you know what I mean. The most surprising tracks of the album, however, are the ballads such as “Little Shadow” and “Runaway”. While most slow tracks of an album usually get lost in the midst of fan favorites—“Heads Will Roll” for example—the slow tracks actually work in the band’s favor, showing Karen O and the gang’s emotional side to their audience.
It’s Blitz! was indubitably one of the best albums released in 2009. YYYs are rising faster and faster to the top and there’s no way they are coming down any time soon.
–Elizabeth Vogt, Assistant Front of Book Editor
Filed under: Editor Picks, Free 4 All | Tags: free music, Laces, the static jacks
The Static Jacks Offer Free Download of 'Laces'
PREVIEW: VISIT The Static Jacks MySpace
Previous Coverage: 20 Watts Video Interview with The Static Jacks
So, school’s out and you are stuck at home, probably snowed in. Well, here is a little treat to brighten up your day. Our favorite New Jersey five-some, The Static Jacks are giving away their latest EP laces for FREE via their official web page. Talk about some Christmas loving for their fans.The band came to visit SU barely over a month ago, performing a stellar set at Funk ‘n’ Waffles, certainly grabbing our attention. The EP is nothing short of spectacular, including tracks “Whoa Whoa Whoa” and “My Parents Lied.” The offer expires on Dec. 21st, that gives you barely a few hours to get your hands on it, so make sure you don’t miss out.
–Irina Dvalidze, Multimedia Editor
Filed under: Best of 2009 Albums | Tags: amy cole, hometowns, Neutral Milk Hotel, Nils Edenloff, paul banwatt, Saddle Creek, the air, The Rural Alberta Advantage
The Rural Alberta Advantage's Hometowns is #11 on our Best Of 2009 List
PREVIEW: VISIT The Rural Alberta Advantage Official Web Page
TOP TRACK: The Air
You’ve probably heard this Toronto trio compared to Neutral Milk Hotel on more then one occasion, but what many fail to do is recognize the impeccable originality that The Rural Alberta Advantage bring to the genre with their debut release Hometowns.
Re-released under Saddle Creek Records in July 2009, Hometowns is a perfectly tailored release, exceeding anyone’s expectations for a standard debut album. For a band that formed a mere four years earlier, Paul Banwatt, Amy Cole and Nils Edenloff demonstrate incredible harmony and unison within each facet of the album.
Employing the widest range of sound, RAA’s Hometowns is almost an oxymoron. Each note is incredibly fresh and unprecedented, yet every arrangement is drenched in homelike familiarity. The album is a mash of everything from indie synth-pop to post-punk, while retaining an immaculate flow.
Whether you are in a mood for a jam session or a melodic ballad, Hometowns seems to merge all of the above. The band’s ability to retain accessibility while exploring such an array of sounds is nothing short of astounding for the young band to master. Every song is precise and calculated, as each instrumental layer fits ideally with the next. Assortment of light drum thumps, tambourine beats sprinkled with the occasional airy violins give the album an incredible variety, making it relatable from multiple angles.
Hometowns has humbly caught attention this year, and put The Rural Alberta Advantage on the map. Hopefully, it’s just the first in a line of many intrepid releases for the group.
– Irina Dvalidze
Filed under: Best of 2009 Albums | Tags: Alejandro, Bad Romance, Beyonce, David Bowie, Just Dance, Kanye West, Lady GaGa, Michael Jackson, Poker Face, Telephone, The fAME, The Fame Monster
Lady Gaga's The Fame Monster is #12 on our Best of 2009 List
PREVIEW: VISIT Lady Gaga’s Website
TOP TRACK: “Bad Romance”
Michael Jackson. David Bowie. Madonna. Kanye West. Critics and fans alike don’t typically utters the names of pop legends with moderation in mind. It’s a good thing that Lady Gaga doesn’t seem to know the meaning of the word. Last year’s The Fame may have put Gaga on the map, but this year’s follow-up The Fame Monster gave us more new material and reminded the musically-inclined populace yet again that mass-consumed songwriting can indeed be a venue for true talent.
If you really want to know why The Fame Monster is one of the best albums of the year, you hardly need to look further than the video for lead single “Bad Romance” for proof. Lady Gaga literally sets potential suitors ablaze with the over-the-top display that colors the majority of her work — but on The Fame Monster the material is all darker, and all more vindictive. Each song is either a biting critique or a forlorn lament, and Gaga’s voice bounces beautifully over the eclectic production throughout, from Darkchild, Fernando Garibay,RedOne, Ron Fair, and others.
We see an angrier side of Gaga on The Fame Monster — and perhaps a more broken, vulnerable side of her as well. Gaga’s heartbreak-torn vocals on songs like “Alejandro” or “Telephone” (featuring Beyonce) would have been out of place alongside the hedonistic abandon of “Poker Face” or “Just Dance,” but adhere thematically to every other song on the record. This makes The Fame Monster as much a concept album as its predecessor was, in no way a bad thing. In eight songs Lady Gaga’s shown us yet another side of fame and kept herself more than fresh. Let’s just hope she can keep it up.
– Eric Vilas-Boas
Filed under: Interviews, Scene Around Town, XCLUS!VES | Tags: chris wood, Funk, funk n waffles, Martin, Medeski, oliver wood, the Wood Brothers, Westcott Theater
The Wood Brothers rocked Westcott Theater last Friday night
PREVIEW: VISIT The Wood Brothers’ Website
PHOTOS: VIEW below the cut!
The Friday night crowd wasted no time whooping and hollering during The Wood Brothers’ first song, a funky take on Steve Earle’s “Mystery Train Part II.”
“Feels like a Friday night,” guitarist Oliver Wood said, acknowledging the energetic crowd.
The brotherly duo treated the crowd to a night of personal, soulful, and bluesy songs. The music was carried by Oliver Wood’s pitch-perfect trebly vocals and bassist Chris Wood’s eloquent and tasteful lines. For this special show, they were joined by percussionist Jed Kosiner, who added rhythmic textures on his snare drum, cymbals, and pandeiro (a Latin, tambourine-like instrument).
Oliver later gave his appreciation for “The Wood Brothers dancers,” the smiling mini crowd of twirlers to his left the whole show. You would have guessed they were a rock band by the way the crowd yelled during songs.
“The foundations of their music are spiritually inspiring. If you look inside to the nature of yourself, you’ll see that that’s what they’re singing about. The spirit,” said Funk ‘n’ Waffles co-owner Kyle Corea.
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