Low End Theory » Passion of the Weiss

Jan
31

Well before Dave Tompkins decrypted the DNA of the vocoder, it existed as Los Angeles’ preferred funk steroid. No telling how many times the Troutman’s soundtracked my juvenile declensions. Power 106 played “Computer Love” enough to make me wary of my shoddy Intel 486. Through the tubes Snufflupagusing out of his mouth, Roger was able… Continue reading »

Jan
25

Daedelus – “California”

Alfred the Great drops a bomb to rip up the nu-”California” stereotype established by Phantom Fucking Planet in 2002 and continued until whenever The OC croaked. How much would you rather hear this than that wrist-cutting-in-the-sunshine sop that soundtracked Adam Brody’s amateur neuroses? (Let the pro’s handle this, son.) Maybe I’m biased. Daedelus’s original last… Continue reading »

Sep
27

Low End Theory Podcast XX : D-Styles & Tokimonsta

The return of the wild style fashionist. The Low End Theory podcast, the only one in the world to feature Bangladesh beats, Annette Peacock’s “Pony,” and Mellowhype in a six minute span. This is a better return than last week’s Parks & Rec. Download: MP3: Low End Theory Podcast XX : D-Styles & Tokimonsta

Sep
16

Bridging The Cultural Divide: James Blake at Low End Theory

Photo by Lee “Intuition” Shaner via Knocksteady Aaron Frank knows what CMYK stands for but he ain’t telling. In the three years since I moved to LA, I’ve never seen a new artist sweep up fans across such a broad cross-section of socio-economic backgrounds quite like James Blake. The Sunset Strip crowd and industry crabs… Continue reading »

Sep
12

Beat Traps: My Philosophy – Kone’s “The Tracatus”

Chris Daly can’t say the word “syllogism” without giggling. Listening to The Tracatus by Kone is heady stuff, indeed. Not only does the title reference the great work Tracatus Logico-Philosophicus by the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, but vocal snippets throughout quote Nietzsche and espouse the tenants of logical positivism. Now, I’m more of an existentialist… Continue reading »

Aug
11

Jonwayne Thanks You, Bro

What do you know about the Wayniac? Forget the false white rap dualities. It’s 2011 and everyone knows that there a few white people who can really fucking rap, and a whole lot who can’t. Jonwayne can really fucking rap. He chooses not to most of the time, because the 21-year old La Habra headhunter… Continue reading »

Jun
16

Beards, Beats, and Battering Rams: Death Grips, Live @ Low End Theory

Whether or not you enjoy Death Grips depends on what you want out of your music. If you’re searching to replicate the disorientation of a drill sergeant screaming seig heils at you while you attempt to asphyxiate yourself with a plastic bag, this will be your favorite rap group of all-time. If not, they exist… Continue reading »

Mar
29

Question in the Form of an Answer: Take

At the forefront of instrumental hip-hop and modern electronic music, Take has spent years helping forge a strong scene within his native Los Angeles, but also constantly evolving to avoid stasis. Before critics got misty-eyed over James Blake’s sweater set this winter, Take had already covered similar territory, manipulating and stretching his own vocals over… Continue reading »

Mar
22

Thom Yorke @ Low End Theory

Thom Yorke Live DJ Set @ Low End Theory LA 3.9.11 from Theo Jemison on Vimeo. Footage of Thom Yorke’s infamous excursion to the Low End Theory courtesy of Theo Jemison. I’m unsure what the utility is for those who weren’t there, but it’s nice that it was preserved beyond wobbly YouTube clips. If you… Continue reading »

Mar
14

Low End Theory Podcast XIX – The Gaslamp Killer & Jon Hopkins

Do you really need to read another panegyric on the Low End Theory? No. What more needs to be said about a place that had surprise sets from Odd Future and Thom Yorke in consecutive weeks (my review of the latter is here for the interested). It’s been four months since the last podcast, a… Continue reading »