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Drop whatever you are doing on June 12th, and go to your local indie record store and buy this album. And if they don't have it in stock, recommend that they get it ASAP (and cop it here instead), because not only is "Bayani" the most important album to come out of the northwest, I'm going to venture to say that this is the single most important hip hop album to be released in the last 10 to 15 years, and it will remain that way for a while. It's already gone through pre-release at their most current shows, and is sending shock waves throughout the northwest, attaining good reviews from every publication that has touched it.
This effort is much more focused and structured than their previous releases (a debut LP and EP), spanning relevant issues ranging from individual relationships, to colonialism, the plight of the proletariat, and even the WTO riots in Seattle circa 1999. After repeat listens it quickly becomes apparent that the beats and the rhymes are inseparably intertwined on this disc-- it would be unimaginable for one to exist without the other. This symbiotic relationship produces some great songs, and DJ Sabzi integrates some pretty sick samples into the tracks, often blending in live and ethnic instrumentation into his beats. I can't say enough about this album, and I've only had it for about a week now, so be sure and get your own copy when it comes out, hopefully this track can hold you over in the meantime--it's one of my favorites, and a great example of the synergy created by Sabzi's beats and MC Geologic's lyrics.
Blue Scholars - 'Loyalty'
I'm heading out to Sasquatch! tomorrow, and I couldn't be more excited, of course I'll be posting about what goes down this weekend upon my safe return. Have a happy Memorial Day Weekend!
This album came out just last week, and I've been listening to it quite a bit recently. Fields is a new band from Britian (luckily one that isn't new rave/disco), and they use a lot of acustic gituar, which really works for them (most of the time). This is definately a debut album worth checking out.
Here are two songs from their album "Everything Last Winter"
'If You Fail We All Fail"
"Song for the Fields"
Buy it at amazon.
Even though there's probably nobody left asking this question, they did release a new album this week. I haven't had a ton of time to listen to it, but from what I've heard so far, it's more of the same catchy Brit rock that they burst onto the scene with last year (selling at a faster rate than the Beatles in the UK--that's saying something). This disc seems a bit darker, but no less catchy.
Check it:
Arctic Monkeys - 'Brainstorm'
-ALSO-
I plan on hitting up the 'Free Yr Radio' event this week at Urban Outfitters in Seattle to see the Long Winters (for the first time), they have a great lineup and are hitting quite a few cities, and it's free-- which is awesome. Plus it's all for a good cause benefiting college and independent radio stations across the country (KEXP in Seattle). Check out the remaining schedule here (and print tickets out for future shows).
After neglecting to actually download either of their albums after stumbling over posts about them for months, I have finally caved in and I'm hooked. Ghostland Observatory, much like LCD Soundsystem, takes cues from Daft Punk et al, to craft some pretty catchy electro/dance/pop.
They'll be on the 2nd (Wookie) stage at Sasquatch! this year, and I'm really excited to see what these two can do live (their show is rumored to be awesome).
Check it out:
Ghostland Observatory - 'Sad Sad City'
Be sure to buy their albums from their label here.
-ALSO-
I might be attending the Aseop Rock concert on my campus this Sunday, although I'm still undecided, msotly because I'm poor and Def Jux really doesn't do it for me like it does for others-- we'll see though...
In addition to listening to a lot of Panda Bear over the break, I also spent a lot of time listening to the new LCD Soundsystem album, "Sound Of Silver". As we drove through the expansive shanty towns that dotted the outskirts of Mexican cities and countryside I couldn't help thinking about the harsh irony presented by Murphy in the song 'North American Scum'. It's kind of twisted to go to a 'vacation destination' in Mexico (where we spent a few days camping) and see gated communities of all whites, literally trying to keep the Mexicans out of Mexico--fucked up, I know.
Political commentaries aside, this is a great song (and an excellent album overall), check it out:
LCD Soundsystem - 'North American Scum'
Buy "Sound Of Silver" at insound.
PS
Since I've been so stoked on LCD Soundsystem lately, I snagged and altered their record label's logo for use on the blog, I just replaced the 'DFA' in the lightning bolt with the Climate Change logo-- hopefully they don't mind.
Finals week has come and gone, and now I'm left with a fried brain and dark circles under my eyes due to lack of sleep...
But I just got the new Panda Bear CD "Person Pitch" (which came out this week), and I'm memorized by it-- the Beach Boys-esque vocals, and textured loops make me feel like I could listen to these songs forever. These are some pretty good tunes to listen to if you just want to relax and forget about everything, which is exactly what I'm about to do for the next week. I'm headed to Cali, then Mexico for spring break, should be a blast (really anything beats the hours of calculus and organic chemistry that I've been consumed by lately).
Here's a taste of what I'll be listening to the whole time:
Panda Bear - Comfy in Nautica
Convinced? Get it at insound now.
