Paul A. Rosales is on some throwback sh*t

This L.A. based musician Paul A. Rosales has gone and created one of the most uncannily authentic lo-fi early 80s pop-rock jams I've heard. It's recorded straight to tape and has that "my friend did this with his boom box and a microphone" feel - the only difference is that Rosales is awesome, whereas your friend who tried to do this, unless he or she were equally awesome, probably sounded terrible.


Check out his first single "Crimes."


The 7-inch is out now on Care in the Community Records. Full-length is out next month.


More info on Rosales here.

Fki "KooKoo" featuring Travis Porter

This is a club banger worthy of $50g type cats. Atlanta stand up.
FKi "Koo Koo" featuring Travis Porter.

N.A.S.A.'s The Big Bang

This new album from N.A.S.A. (out 6/30 on Spectrophonic Sound) offers up an eclectic selection of remixes by a notable guest list, who reimagine tracks from the duo's debut, The Spirit of Apollo. There are a handful of other cuts mixed in as well, including originals and/or b-sides from the last record.

In case you expected anything other than a sureshot dance-stravganza, you're only fooling yourself. This almost purely over-the-top. One of the exceptions is the Squeak E. Clean Jupiter Remix of "Way Down." First of all, it's cool to remix your own track if you're gonna do something cool with it, and he ends up taking what was one of my favorite songs on the first record, making it even moodier to start with, and then twisting it up and pushing the tempo up.

Another gem is the Steve Aoki remix of "Gifted." What was originally an intelligent dance-pop jam featuring Kanye, Santigold and a ridiculously catchy melody ends up in a DJ-friendly chopped and pureed shoe shredder that's more than a little B-More meets Girl Talk stirred up with a disgusting bass line.

Take a listen:

City of Angels

The L.A. Times has an article on the next big musical acts to come out of Los Angeles. Some interesting choices, plus you can listen to each as you go. Glad to see Nosaj Thing made the list. I don't know enough about what's really good in L.A. to tell you whether or not the list is a fair portrayal, but I do know that I'm slightly perturbed by the opening of the article, which tries to play L.A.'s music scene like some overlooked and under-appreciated burb that's been passed over for places like Austin and Nashville...come on, Nic Harcourt, really?

Outlet Magazine's Music Issue

This upstart publication celebrating Savannah's creative side just released its third issue with a lovely party over at the Co-Lab. It's the music issue, so, in addition to having a magazine chock full of cool art, there was also a 30 track music compilation featuring an interesting selection of local bands, ranging from downtown regulars to bedroom musicians. The comp was accompanied by a lovely booklet (separate from the actual magazine), where each song was given to a local artist who interpreted it visually.

Here was a song I wasn't familiar with until I heard the mixtape. Now, I am enjoying it very much.
Aux Arc "High Noon"
 
For more info on the new issue of Outlet go here (you can download the pdf of the issue and the compilation booklet, but you need to get an actual copy of a download card in order to get the music comp)

Bob Andy "Let Them Say"

If this doesn't get you in a groove on a nice summer's day, then you've got problems.
"Let Them Say"

Learn more about Bob Andy from his website.

The Guy from Harlem (1977)

The Psychotronic Film Society of Savannah will be screening this mega-rare late 70's Blaxploitation film about a detective charged with protecting an ambassador's wife next Wednesday (6/30/10, 8pm) at the Sentient Bean (13 E. Park Ave.)
Follow the link for details.
Peep the trailer for a taste of the action:

Seu Jorge + Almaz

If you've seen City of God (Knock-Out Ned) or Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic (The Brazillian dude playing all those Bowie covers), then you know Seu Jorge and how awesome he is. And, subsequently, you might be excited by the news that he's putting out a record on Stones Throw. I know. It's a real "somebody put peanut butter in my chocolate" type moment.
Check out the leak, which is him covering the Roy Ayers' classic "Everybody Loves the Sunshine"
For more info on the album release + a download of the above track, click this.

!!! - "AM/FM"

Here's the new track from !!! (Chk Chk Chk), and it's pretty awesome. If you've ever heard them before, this is well within the realm of expectations from this group that really helped invigorate the whole dance-rock surge of the early 2000s. Get more info and download your own copy. Their new album Strange Weather Isn't It? comes out in August.
"AM/FM"

"Content is No Longer King: Curation is King"

Illustration taken from the original article. 

While I usually post about catches my ear, every now and then, an important read comes along and deserves some attention.

This is one of the best summations of the current state of media that I have read in a while. Rosenbaum gives a solid analysis of the content explosion made possible by the web and hi-tech personal gadgets, along with it's effects on more traditional avenues like publishing. Definitely worth 5 minutes of your time.

"Content is No Longer King: Curation is King" by Steve Rosenbaum in Business Insider.

It struck me because I had a very similar conversation recently with several people about the pros and cons of blogging, and quality of curation was among the items generally agreed upon as essential. There is no shortage of things floating around the "meta-verse" of the world wide web, but the real challenge for end users is finding the best ways to filter that content to see subjects of interest with as little hassle as possible.

Meddin Mural

Check out this awesome time lapse video of Hebermehl and Dr. Z doing a mural on the west side of the Meddin Studios building. (Plus, I thoroughly enjoy that they kept in the family with a track from Dope Sandwich)

Meddin Wall - Mural by Hebermehl & DrZ from WHACK media design on Vimeo.

Vinyl Appreciation Night #4

Bonaroo Day 1

Interspersed amongst the usual cultural ephemera will be a series of guest posts from music guru Keith Kozel, who will offer first hand analysis, hazy memories and other tidbits of knowledge stemming from this year's Bonnaroo. The first installment features a review of critically-acclaimed, Savannah-based rockers Baroness.

Bonnaroo Day 1: I picked up my friend Tara from a bus station on the way from Atlanta. We spent the next nine hours in the car. She had been living in New Jersey for the past few months so it gave us a chance to relax and catch up. When we finally made it to the farm in Manchester TN. it was 5:00pm. On the way in they confiscated my wood axe. I was pissed because I didn't even know it was in the trunk.  What the hell was I gonna do with a wood axe? 

 After setting up our camp, which was mercifully close to Centeroo, (the concert venue), we hustled through the gates and made it to the oddly named, "The Other Tent" just as our hometown rockers, Baroness hit the stage. Even if they are veterans of Coachella and European festival tours, I could sense their excitement to be on such an amazing bill. 

  At first it was just Peter and John onstage building a textured sound . The energy was rising to a slow boil as Alan climbed behind the drumkit, and last onstage was Summer adding a nearly subsonic rumble to the mix. The band never spoke a word, and the crowd was going nuts with excitement. The musical onslaught that followed wove a stoned heavy, psychedelic tapestry of emotion and sound. Brutal volcanic eruptions of sustained intensity and epic rivers of abstract sound and feedback gripped the moment and held the audience captive. The honed professionalism, honest feeling epic playing and sheer power that bAroness brought to the stage was awe inspiring. Heads banged, fists raised, bones vibrated.

The twin Guitar pyrotechnics of Baizley and Adams were worthy of any Viking Valhalla, but never kitschy or pretentious. Even when John unsheathed a white double necked guitar (it appeared to be a Gibson, but I couldn't see clearly), We all got the joke, but instead of cheezing it up we were delivered a thick complex journey into the realm of heavy Southern metal. Alternating between the glimmering twelve strings and the fuzzed out standard six. Rarely do such ripping solos and meaty dirges evoke both brutality and positive vibration. This show was world class, and I got chills when the first, last and only words addressed to the audience were, "We're Baroness, from Savannah, Georgia!"

Here is the setlist as I recall:

     1.Bullhead's Psalm

       2. The Sweetest Curse 

       3. Jake Leg      

       4.  Isak

       5.The Birthing

       6. Ogeechee Hymnal

       7.A Horse Called Golgotha

       8. War, Wisdom and Rhyme

       9. Swollen and Halo

       10.The Gnashing

       11.Grad (with double necked guitar)

  After such a long day I retired to camp, cooked dinner and listened to Blitzen trapper from my tent.  Gotta rest up for Day 2

Big Boi "General Patton"

This new Big Boi video drops this week, about 2 weeks after parts were filmed here in Savannah, including the bowling alley scenes, but not the ATL skyline part...P.B. Fresh, an AWOL alum, makes a cameo at the very end. What's really good though is the intro instrumental. Ennio Morricone meets Dr. Dre much?

This is what I want

This is alternately disturbing and true...



Thanks, Found Footage Fest.

Crocodiles "Sleep Forever"

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The Crocodiles are releasing a new single, with an album soon to follow. The duo is complimented by a full band this time around and the effects are poignant. It's like Phil Spector Wall of Sound era Beach Boys but grungier, and with a little more Brian Jonestown Massacre heroin chic.
"Sleep Forever"

The single, which will be released as a 7" b/w "Groove Is In the Heart/California Girls" comes out August 17 on Fat Possum. The full-length comes out September 14. Mark your calendar.

WFMU's Free Music Archive

If you want to spend some time looking through loads of obscure music spanning probably 30 years, from the early 80s through today, then go check out WFMU's Free Music Archive. Genre-wise, it's tons of rock deviations and sub-sub-categories, with lots of serious gems if you're willing to experiment a little along the way.

Sunglasses debut EP

Born in Savannah after a chance collaboration on between Baby Seal and 8000 Bam Bam on a movie project, Sunglasses' self-titled debut EP just came out on Lefse Records this week, so grab a copy. Follow the link if you're looking for a physical copy. Digital is available on iTunes, etc.
Here's the video for the single "Whiplash"

Aleon Craft x SMKA "Donkey Kong"

Here's something to ride to from ATL MC Aleon Craft and production team SMKA. AC has been doing a bunch of shows with the Nappy Roots lately. Catch them if you can.

More info.

FFJB

Swung by Tantra last night to check out Tough Junkie (JAX) and Dope Sandwich (SAV). If you aren't familiar with Junkie, you should take a moment to learn something because he's a quality individual in the world of hip hop.
He pays attention to detail and he has fun without taking shit too serious. The last two times I've seen him, he handed out candy to the crowd half-way through his set, and last summer, he tossed out autographed promo posters with curiously self-effacing messages on them.
He's also crazy with the beats and put a joint on Black Pool of Genius the new album from Dres (Black Sheep).
I grabbed a CD off him afterwards, and he passed me a copy of this FFJB compilation, Damage Control, featuring tracks from heads around JAX.
I'm enjoying this joint "Summer's Garden"

"Hipsters and Your Young Adult"

The scourge of impetuous couples' dancing threatens the sanctity of America...

Video: Numaad "Now"

This joint is soooo smoooooth.

For more info on the EP, which also features help from Robot Koch, J.Rawls and more, click here.

RIP Rue McClanahan

I'm totally a few days late with this RIP post for the woman best known as the sauciest Golden Girl, but when I saw this video, I felt compelled to remedy my omission.


Find more lost video treasures.

Methuzulah "Kemetic Aha" Mixtape

This is some quality listening from Atlanta-based MC Methuzulah. I don't know whether he got permission for these beats, which are all classic Premier instrumentals, but the musical product is such true school hip hop that I can't imagine Premier would be mad. 

Honestly, it's sort of nice to hear an underground head take it back to the old days before everyone and their mothers had a bed room lab and heads get on their friends beats even if they don't sound all that good. 

Tons of quality cameos on here too - Kam Moye, Akil from J5, Willie Evans Jr. and others. 

Download a copy. 

PROJECTS 4 Album Release

The young folks from AWOL's music education class The P.R.O.J.E.C.T.S. had their album release party last night at the black box theater. It was dope. The kids performed a couple songs and killed it. Then they talked about the program and answered questions from the audience. The class is a 22-week class that covers music history, creative writing, positive conflict resolution and more, taught by Lloyd 'KidSyc' Harold and I.
Once we get their minds open, the kids are set loose to create their own album. The results are pretty amazing. This is the program's fourth year and each year has brought about completely different results, although all of them have been impressive in their own way.
Here's one of my favorite tracks on the new album, although I'm biased because it's on one of my beats.
"The Cypher" featuring KJ, G.Lyric, Jesse Smalls, Two Face and Crown.


Visit AWOL's Website for more info.

Roc C "The Audition"

If you don't know Roc C, he's part of the Stones Throw stable of underground talents, and I've liked most of the stuff I've ever heard him on, which admittedly is not a ton, but enough to know he's got style. His flow is sometime similar to Buckshot - methodical line constructions highlighted, a cadence defined by strong word emphasis and understated cleverness. 

He just dropped a V-Tech sponsored mixtape hosted by Little Brother's Big Pooh. You can grab a copy here at no cost.  As I write this, I'm still on my first listen, but so far so good.

Here's another cut from Roc in case you don't know about him.

New Roots "Dear God 2.0"

Wow. I've been super busy, and not doing a good job of staying up on all the new-ness for the summer, that's the only way I can explain having just heard that the new Roots album is out June 22nd.
RCRDLBL was hosting a new cut off the album called "Dear God 2.0" that is pretty incredible.

Black Thought is one of the best MCs in hip hop. He's also kind of slept on, in so far as I don't think he gets the respect due to him. You don't see him getting on top 10 lists and all that. Not only has he been great for more than a decade and a half, but he seems to be getting doper the further we get into the 21st Century. If you don't believe it, go back and listen to "Reality TV" the cameo cut he did on Jay Stay Paid. Ill.

Download a copy from RCRDLBL.