2010 February » Passion of the Weiss

Feb
18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAIAGA-8EwA The mission statement of Ernest Gonzales’s Exponential imprint claims that it makes “electronic music for humans” — an aspiration almost as well-worn as the Oscar Wilde pun in the headline. But there’s an emotional warmth to the San Antonio native’s melancholy synthesis of acoustic guitars, 8-Bit nostalgia, and melting synths. Sonically, it’s a distant… Continue reading »

Feb
18

Sach O: Shackleton & Razor Rekta mixes

At the risk of turning the Thursday afternoon spot into a weekly summary of what I’ve got planned for the weekend, the awesome Komodo Dubs night is returning to Montreal after a two month hiatus: an event that my fellow citizens would be wise not to miss. In addition to some choice local talent and… Continue reading »

Feb
18

Due Dillagence Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7d-uMSsklc More posts coming shortly, but in the interim, Stussy continues to validate the massive contributions I made to its bottom line in the early 90s. Part two breaks down Dilla’s move to Cali, his creative symbiosis with Madlib, and whether he preferred Frank to Dank. Download: MP3: J Dilla ft. Frank-N-Dank-”Pause”

Feb
17

The Jerks in Gaul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVVbuuMrvH0 Like Woody Allen and Jerry Lewis, jerkin’ has become a sensation in the country of Camus. Last week, I was interviewed by a French journalist with an impenetrable accent and questions about ze crazee Amereecans. This makes perfect sense as skinny jeans are copacetic with the infallible logic behind French Women Don’t Get Fat.… Continue reading »

Feb
16

I’m Two Track Minded For These One Trick Ponys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Yr6v7qkeg The latest video from Jimmy the Lock provides a visual for possibly my favorite song from the record. A Gangstarr sample and a dope Busdriver guest spot will do that. The clip is filled with girls who look like they regularly attend Vinyasa yoga classes in Silverlake and provides more empirical evidence that Busdriver… Continue reading »

Feb
16

Low End Theory Podcast XII: D-Styles & Shlohmo

You already know by now. The 12th installment of the LET podcast eschews Dirty Dozen clips for Shlohmo’s decision to sample the hell out of Half Baked. Contemporary jeep music. The other half is manned by D-Styles, who brews a head-bobbing blend of Project Pat, “Welcome to Jamrock,” M.I.A., and dubstep remixes of “Hip-Hop.” We… Continue reading »

Feb
16

Question in the Form of An Answer: X.O. (Diamond District)

Jay Electronica may have been the obvious choice as 2009′s “rapper that everyone could agree on,” but the only other outfit as unanimously lauded was Washington D.C.’s Diamond District, a super-group of sorts formed from two of the DMV’s best rappers (X.O. and yU) and arguably its best producer (Oddisee.) While In the Ruff may… Continue reading »

Feb
15

Daedelus and The Golden Dawn

Daedelus “Righteous Fists of Harmony” from DestroyRockMusic Inc. on Vimeo. Yes, it’s President’s day, so in honor of that snuffed-out, wooden-teethed, powdered wig-wearer who never met a cherry tree he couldn’t chop, sloth and languor are the order of the day. However, it is also Chinese New Year, which means that it’s appropriate to unveil… Continue reading »

Feb
12

Farewell Def Jux

Download: ZIP: DJ Sach – Farewell Def Jux Mix (Left-Click) At first, the demise of indie rap powerhouse Definitive Jux left me… indifferent. That’s probably not the nicest way to start off a tribute post but it’s the truth. After a stunning early run of back to back classics, the label’s mid-decade expansion, loss of… Continue reading »

Feb
11

Due Dillagence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLVtAZQixOA Chalk it up to an American aversion to ancient history and LA’s love for J Dilla, but I surmise that these next few days will see more celebrations for James Yancey than George Washington. Of course, Jay Dee did not wear nut-hugging tights, a sartorial decision that clearly aided G-Dub’s jerkin’ ability but hindered… Continue reading »