The Gaslamp Killer-”Anything Worse”
This is usually the part of the post where I unleash a litany of bad jokes involving the inanity of an artist’s name. But I can’t do that with The Gaslamp Killer, because he wields one of the most righteous monikers in music. The Gaslamp Killer–the name conjures shadowy Victorian cities, cobblestone streets, and sharp knives. Like something straight out of that stylish but slightly stupid, Jack the Ripper flick, From Hell. (On a related note, am I the only one still excited for the Hughes Brothers’ new film?).
If you don’t know The Gaslamp Killer, you probably haven’t been to Low End Theory, which is to LA’s abstract beat culture what The Smell is to punk rock. The music scene’s getting so good out here, it’s making it almost impossible for me to talk shit–which poses a dire dilemma. GLK is one of the reasons why.
His debut, My Troubled Mind, is slated to drop early next month on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder Records imprint, and the first taste, “Anything Worse,” has me ready to harass his publicist into sending me the whole thing now. Staten Island-hard drums, “The Horror” synths, chilling vocal samples–at once emblematic of the Low End aesthetic, but very much a unique, coherent vision. If you’re doing the math at home: Ghostface Killah> Gas Lamp Killer > Killer Klowns from Outerspace> Crazy Joe Davola> Insane Clown Posse.
Download:
MP3: The Gaslamp Killer-”Anything Worse”
Stumble It!
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Pretty sure (though not positive) that Gaslamp Killer comes from San Diego. The “Gaslamp” in his name refers to Downtown SD’s Gaslamp District which I guess is historic in that cobblestone way you describe. So the Jack-the-Ripper angle is sorta there but more by way of hometown pride than anything, I think. Of course, I’m not a big fan of GLK so I might be full of BS.
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Maybe he’s originally from there, but he’s been in LA for years and is a resident DJ at Low End.
I’ve been to the Gaslamp District on several occasions. It’s a poor man’s Old Town Pasadena.
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Yeah, not to try to stake some claim to him for my city or anything. Just helping to trace the origin of his name since you seemed to be fascinated with it. I asked on a SD forum and a couple people seemed to verify that GLK is originally from SD.
July 24th, 2009 at 6:36 am
I have a couple friends from LA who say they’ve been kicking it with him since high school, so he’s been in town at least that long. I also know that he used to play down in SD quite a bit though when he was starting out so there’s that.
July 24th, 2009 at 10:15 am
This is great.
I’m looking forward to hearing the whole album.
What are they putting in the water on the West Coast?
July 24th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Good guesses guys.
“Gaslamp Killer” originally refered to killing all the jackasses in the Gaslamp district of San Diego (Where Will is from).
July 24th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Ha, thanks for the clarification, Jeff.
July 24th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
GASLAMP KILLER, ELODIEO, INFLU3NZ, AND CUTSO
FRIDAY AUGUST 7
AGENDA LOUNGE, SAN JOSE
EVENT INVITE:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103633545958&ref=ts
July 24th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Nomenclature debate aside, that track is hot fire.
July 24th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Yeah Gaslamp (and SD in general) does house a lot of douches. Still, I was at least half-right (hah, I just had to throw that in there).
July 27th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Also check his track “Degasse” from the Secret Hangout EP. http://www.turntablelab.com/vinyl/0/0/20357.html
October 31st, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Hah! I went to high school with this kid!