Oct
06

BK-One ft. Brother Ali and Scarface-”American Nightmare”

“American Nightmare” has made the rounds, but hasn’t garnered the attention it deserves. The lead single from BK-One’s debut compilation, Radio Do Canibal, pares Houston hierophant Scarface with Minneapolis’ Brother Ali, a north-south meet-up as fluid as the Mississippi. The gentle down-tempo pianos angelic gospel choir, and dusty drums form a perfect foil to the… Continue reading »

Oct
06

The Boardwalk Beats of Mono/Poly

Bakersfield is Buck Owens and Merle Haggard territory. A dust-choked, sun-split farm town of about 300,000 people. Geographically, it is roughly 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Culturally, it is about 10,000. If you look hard enough, you can find 10 gallon-hats, spurs, rodeos, and most terrifying of all, vast hordes of people who pre-ordered… Continue reading »

Oct
05

Danny!-”Scrambled Eggs”

Savannah-based Danny Swain has never been one for conventionality, so it’s unsurprising that the first words of the lead single for his long-awaited Def Jux debut are “pass me the pomegranate jelly spread.” Rather than kick the trite “I’m Me,” intro manifesto, Danny does a left-field jag that aligns him nicely with his defiantly weird… Continue reading »

Oct
05

Popscene: Supergrass-”In It For the Money”

Aaron Matthews blogs for the money and the super grass.  Supergrass formed during Britpop’s ’93 apex. Only in their early 20s, the Oxford-based trio of singer/guitarist Gaz Coombes, drummer Danny Goffey, and bassist Mick Quinn  saw instant success with their Backbeat Records-released first single, “Caught By The Fuzz,” earning raves from the NME and Melody… Continue reading »

Oct
03

The Gospel of Tompkins Square

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lefJBwJhQ6E Yesterday was my 28th birthday. It’s a strange age to be, though I suspect they all are. You’re too old to qualify as young, but not nearly old enough to avoid eye rolls and the occasional kidney kick from people when you complain that you feel prematurely ancient. The born day mention isn’t intended… Continue reading »

Oct
02

Sach O: Olivia Tremor Control – California Demise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjG4K9WnixM I’ve been vaguely obsessed wit this song for the past few days. While the E6 collective were too-often deified (and later written off) as 60′s revivalists, their best work managed to transcend their Wilson/Lennon/McCartney fetishes to reach altogether weirder and more experimental territory. “Black Foliage Animation” from which California Demise originates is the perfect… Continue reading »

Oct
02

Ron Artest Has A Fever for Poker, Cigars, and Jacuzzis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGL3qigrgqk Lamentably, this is not a cover of the Peggy Lee via Madonna staple. Still, Ron Artest continues to fantasize that his life closely parallels Jay-Z’s “Reasonable Doubt” and who am I to argue. He is one of the few people capable of making Rick Ross seem subtle and restrained. You know Artest is from… Continue reading »

Oct
01

Hits from the Blog: The Los Angeles City Council’s Half-Baked Plan to Shut Down Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7zfnbdyAW8 Should you be too stoned to read or outright uninterested in clicking over to LA Weekly to read my diatribe against the Los Angeles City Council and their proposed ordinance banning medical marijuana dispensaries, the above clip neatly summarizes my sentiments. I can’t really add anything here, other than reiterating a phrase once employed… Continue reading »

Oct
01

Vibes and Stuff

The few things I miss about Los Angeles: Fred 62, tacos and pregnant burritos at El Nopal, F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Cat), The Low End Theory.  In my absence, I’ve been getting my fix by discovering the podcasts available for free download from the Lincoln Heights beat music mecca. Everyone from Nosaj Thing, to Ras… Continue reading »

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