Posted on 23 April 2009
While the Roots crew is giving late night television a musical facelift, their one-time DJ/beatboxer dude Scratch has assembled a heavyweight constellation of cameo talent for his second post-Phrenology solo LP. Tracks feature Kanye, Estelle, fellow Philly guy Musiq, Consequence, etc., but “Too Late” wins our vote for best cameo from a former member of Blur. Damon Albarn puts his years of droopy crooning over dreamy hip hop backdrops to good work for this Scratch track; think gorgeous, downcast Gorillaz with momentarily uplift via a quality Kweil verse and some of Scratch’s acid human turntabling on the out.
Continue reading New Scratch (Feat. Damon Albarn & Talib Kweli) - “Too Late”…
Posted on 23 April 2009
This weirdly affecting video for Michigan trio Breathe Owl Breath’s “Boat” was directed by Weston Currie, who recently brought us two views of Abe Vigoda. Micah Middaugh (vocals, guitar), Andrea Moreno-Beals (vocals, cello), and Trevor Hobbs (percussion) hang around by an autumnal lake and forest on the grayest of days, all shadows and fall trees. There’s a cloak, an old-fashioned colorful bonnet, and something hiding in a box awaiting its chance to fly. The most striking moment occurs after a minute or so of the members smiling, laughing or staring into the distance when they finally start their singing: “What if the sound waves to you / ‘Bye bye for now,’ / and leaves you.’” It’s reminiscent of stripped-down Poi Dog Pondering, if those folks started out in East Jordan, Michigan and not Hawaii. And you wouldn’t be wrong to hear Jonathan Richman (via Bowerbirds) in Middaugh’s intonations. Get your feet wet:
Continue reading New Breathe Owl Breathe Video - “Boat”…
Posted on 23 April 2009
of Montreal work harder than you. With more ideas than some bands have in a career stuffed into Hissing Fauna…, Skeletal Lamping, and their dazzling live shows, it would be OK for oM to set aside the instruments for a minute. Of course that is not how oM have ever worked, and so we are already seeing new songs on this tour, with the gaps in dates stopped with whatever radio or video studio sessions they can find. Here are two, one for 89.7 WTMD and the other for 90.7 WFUV (I miss call letters), which see B.P. and KB once again go acoustic for “Beware Our Nubile Miscreants” alongside a cover of the Beatles’ White Album classic “I’m So Tired.”
Continue reading of Montreal Unplug, Cover The Beatles…
Posted on 16 April 2009
Last month we took a look at the cover and tracklist for Dragonslayer (out 6/23), Sunset Rubdown’s third full-band LP and second for Jagjaguwar. (Also, their first with new member Mark Nicol on bass and percussion.) In a January Progress Report, hard-working band leader Spencer Krug told us that he doesn’t love 2007’s Random Spirit Lover and explained why its followup will rely less on studio magic: “I like [live] kinds of recordings because they’re very honest and it’s hard to pretend that you sound any different from whatever it is.” “Idiot Heart” is one of the tunes Spencer promised would make the cut, and now he’s ready for you to download it. We love David Horvitz’s new publicity shots of the group bonding at a spa (post-rubdown?), so peruse those while you listen.
Continue reading New Sunset Rubdown - “Idiot Heart”…
