August 28th, 2009
Photo By Jeff Cowan
I stopped having a “favorite band” when I started to take this whole writing about music thing seriously. It seemed a relic of childhood absolutism, where there is A FAVORITE BASEBALL PLAYER (Eric Davis), FOOD (McDonald’s hamburgers), LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST (Tom Snyder, be thy name).
But for this week–at least until Akron/Family comes to town on Saturday–Dungen is my favorite band. As you might infer from the title, my Times review of Wednesday’s Troubadour performance analyzes the band through the narrow prism of psychedelic music. However, they’re much more than the sum of guitar solos and Swedish chef crooning. While you don’t necessarily need drugs to enjoy their music, Dungen is the best advertisement for narcotics since The Never Ending Story.
LA Times: Dungen’s Redefinition of Psychedelia
Below the jump: music from both Dungen and their excellent Swedish psychedelic forebears, plus a link to the entire photo gallery.
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July 25th, 2009
In my ongoing quest to avoid asking the 1,247th consecutive musician what they hope to achieve in the future, I discussed Summer Jamz with the Cut Chemist: specifically, his love of 80s French Industrial music, Metric, and that Michael Jackson fellow. We also discussed the new album that he hopes to drop next Spring, from which he will unveil several tracks tonight at the Getty. Cut from the final draft was was the revelation that Lucas Macfadden listens to almost zero new hip-hop, and continually returns to his old Main Source, Organized Konfusion, and De La Soul albums. I cannot really fault this.
If for some reason, you’re scrunching your face as to why I’d care enough to interview the former DJ from Jurassic 5, then obviously you never heard Brainfreeze, his live funk and soul mix with DJ Shadow (or its worthy sequels, Product Placement and The Hard Sell). Thankfully, we can remedy this just in time for Saturday night.
ZIP: DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist-Brainfreeze (Left-Click)
Posted in LA Times | 3 Comments »
July 24th, 2009
A quick one before I head to an undisclosed locale that involves absinthe appetizers, scantily clad women, and Cypress Hill. I should probably watch Nosaj Thing and Daddy Kev crush the Roxy tonight, but I’m clearly striving to embody the spirit of the Los Angeles D-bag. Although, to paraphrase Jay, I could be a fedora away my whole career, as long as Spencer Pratt’s alive I’m merely second-tier. Or something.
Senseless sarcasm aside, I spoke with Nosaj Thing about his chief influences: Dilla, Dre, Radiohead, and Boards of Canada. If you’re interested, it’s over at the Times Pop and Hiss blog . Even if you’re not, as your faithful solicitor, I advise you to download the MP3’s below, off Jason Chung’s excellent Views/Octopus and Remixes EP’s.
Download:
MP3: Nosaj Thing-”Heart Entire”
MP3: Nosaj Thing-”I Get Money by 50 Cent (Lazer Sword Neon Hot Pockets Remix)
Posted in Low End Theory, LA Times | 1 Comment »
July 17th, 2009
I was offered the chance to see Amadou & Miriam open for Coldplay tomorrow night. While the former rank among my favorite blind Malian husband and wife duos ever (just below the Blind Boys of Bamako, just ahead of the Timbuktu Two-Steppers), I’ll be heading to Beach Dazed instead. Partially, because I don’t think I can handle the emetic sororo-crowds that clot for Coldplay, partially because I am a sucker for any place that promises performances from Voxtrot, Busdriver, RJD2, Korean BBQ, Slip-N-Slides, and free ice cream. I am a simple man. I wrote a preview for Pop and Hiss, which is likely superfluous for this crowd, but you never know.
Thanks to the FMLY and The Tape for putting this thing on, and for putting up the Beach Dazed playlist that you can snag after the jump.
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July 7th, 2009
One last M.J. post–no more eulogizing in this space–just a simple re-direct to Pop and Hiss, where last week I ranked Jackson’s five greatest hip-hop samples (in no particular order). For a more comprehensive list and more MP3’s, head to T.R.O.Y.
LA Times: Break-Beat It: Kanye, Nas and the best Michael Jackson samples in hip-hop
Download:
MP3: Michael Jackson-”I Can’t Help It”
MP3: De La Soul-”Breakadawn”
MP3: Michael Jackson-”People Make the World Go Round”
MP3: Mobb Deep-”Apostle’s Warning”
Posted in LA Times | 1 Comment »
July 6th, 2009
Sasha Frere-Jones said it well: if you miss Fripp-Eno eBow guitar styles, check Citay, who foolishly did NOT call their album “Livin’ For The.”
Ezra Feinberg & Co. would be also well-served with “New Jack Citay”(M.O.P. version), “Bright Lights Big Citay” (Capo cover) or “Built This Citay” (Diplomats not Jefferson Starship). I interviewed Citay’s frontman for the Times last week. If you’re into pretty prog-rock filled with gravity bong guitar solos, this may be for you. Their last album, Little Kingdom was my 29th favorite of 07 and according to Feinberg, the new one features heavier guitars, Galaxie 500 covers, and free tabs of orange sunshine.
LA Times: Upcoming: Citay at the Silverlake Lounge
Download:
MP3: Citay-”First Fantasy”
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July 6th, 2009
My Times review was severely truncated due to space constraints, so I’m posting the original below the jump, complete with tons of corny but apropos Back to the Future jokes. In short, Back to the Feature is blandly enjoyable. Wale’ s ambitions are minimal this go-round–a bizarre shift for someone with obviously grandiose goals. If I were a betting man, I’d wager he’s saving the heavy artillery for Attention Deficit–let’s hope. Let’s also pray for more State Prop and less 9th Wonder. With the contemporary underground churning out the likes of Exile, Jake One, Flying Lotus, Black Milk, et. al, is it really necessary to rely on these melted soft serve sounds?
Also, let’s be unequivocal, complaining about someone un-following you from Twitter is the most trifling dilemma I’ve heard since Asher Roth bitched about forgetting his iPod on an airplane. That said, I’ll still ride for Wale. Flaws aside, this is a good tape with good rapping–it’s just that you get what you pay for.
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Posted in LA Times | 9 Comments »
June 25th, 2009
One of these days, I’ll do a lengthy sit-down interview with Spencer Krug and discover exactly why my favorite songwriter of the last decade is the exact antithesis of what I typically gravitate towards. Maybe it’s because we’re both Alex P. Keaton aficionados? I like the sometime Wolf Parader’s singing voice, but I’d be lying if he didn’t occasionally sound like a bleating billy goat. His songs are full of knotty art-rock pretensions and regularly boast patently absurd titles. If loving an album called Dragonslayer is wrong, then I want to be right.
Unfortunately, I will again reiterate that Spencer Krug is worthy of any and all attention he receives. If anything, the 8.3 BNM the Fork gave Sunset Rubdown’s new jaunt is probably a bit low for my tastes. Predictably, I rave about their recent Echoplex performance at Pop and Hiss. If you need me, I’ll be listening to Ironman to wash the indie out my ears–yes, this shit is raw.
LA Times: Live–Sunset Rubdown @ The Echoplex
MP3’s below the Jump
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June 21st, 2009
YouTube user Suprefan has graciously posted videos from both of Grizzly Bear’s sets this weekend at the Wiltern and Troubadour. Their Friday show at the former was one of the best I’ve seen this year, and despite typical Youtube graininess, the videos bear it out.
My review at the Times doesn’t come close to Derek Miller’s Vecktamist opus, but hopefully does the performance some justice. Every time I see this band it’s nothing short of amazing. More videos after the jump.
Download:
MP3: Grizzly Bear-”Cheerleader”
MP3: Grizzly Bear-”Owner of a Lonely Heart (Yes Cover)”
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June 19th, 2009
I know I say this roughly every other interview, but the unexpurgated transcript of my conversation with Quik and Kurupt ranks among my all-time favorites, with the pair waxing eloquent about everything from Quik is the Name, to Dilla and Pac, to the virtues of Italian beer. Expect it Monday or sooner.
In the interim, my piece on the BlaQKout duo is up at Pop and Hiss in advance of their show tomorrow night at the House of Blues–Sunset. Avoiding the Strip on weekends is one of the secrets to navigating Los Angeles with a modicum of sanity intact. These are two of the only people for whom I’m willing to make an exception. Well, them and Pauly Shore.
LA Times: DJ Quik & Kurupt Talk Tupac and BlaQKout
Amazon: DJ Quik & Kurupt-BlaQKout
Download:
MP3: DJ Quik & Kurupt-”Ohh”
MP3: DJ Quik & Kurupt-”Hey Playa”
Posted in LA Times | 5 Comments »
