Contributed by Erin Routson
Get behind this. Cincinnati’s finest in a 15 minute banger. Like a 513 version of that 12 minute One Blood remix.
Beat Gang – Cincinnati Riot (Feat. B.Luck, Tweez, Echeck, Young Butta, Young Maggz, K.I.D., Young Veagh, Mallio, Means, M 80, Showtime, Young Ceq, Dubb Santora, Supa, Bino)Rating: 7.9
Wow. Hello Seahorse! singer Denise Gutierrez’s voice is crazy. “Me Has Olvidado” (“You Have Forgotten Me”) feels operatic in parts, sublime even. The vocal feels soul wrenching, soul gutting, soul lifting all at once. It’s as if each quality, each tone of melody, each note is pointing to one singular emotion, than to the next, than to the next, and the next cause there’s motion in “Me Has Olvidado”, in the pulse of its rhythm, in it’s vocal cadences, it’s beautiful but it’s also kinetic, images projected to a screen, one moment of life to the next.
Hello Seahorse! – Me Has OlvidadoRating: 8.2
More new Raveonettes material continues to surface. This time it’s the dreamy slow burn of “War in Heaven”. Vaguely electronic drum tones, layered delay-driven guitars, Sharin’s hushed vocal. Classic Raves.
The Raveonettes – War in HeavenRating: 8.3
Two b3sci favs link up on this outta space Mux Mool remix for the Take track “If We All Don’t Go Insane”. Alpha Pup is putting out a full 16-song set remix LP of Take’s latest Only Mountain. Look out for additional features from TOKiMONSTA, Shigeto, and Anenon. We’re psyched!
Take – If We All Don’t Go Insane (Mux Mool Remix)Rating: 8.4
Lady Gaga has yet to meet a Pop chart she didn’t smash. Just last week, her new single “Born This Way” debuted at #1 with a highest ever 78.5 million in domestic airplay. Ay caramba! that’s like 1 in 4 of every Americans! For some perspective – line up like your goofy cousin, your creepy neighbor, that dude you have no clue what his name is that you see in the hall at the office, your grandma, at least 1 of those 4 people has heard “Born This Way” in the last week. Gaga is killing it. You know you want a piece.
Bloggers! Fans! Check this! Virgin Mobile is collaborating with the Monster Ball Tour, hooking up free passes to a show, access to interview her, and a peak at things behind the scenes for a select few. Check the details here. Get into it!
Upcoming Monster Ball dates.
* Las Vegas – MGM Grand, March 25th
* Phoenix – US Airways Center, March 26th
* Los Angeles – Staples Center, March 28th
* Houston – Toyota Center, April 8th
* New Orleans – New Orleans Arena, April 9th
* Miami – American Airlines Arena, April 13th
* Atlanta – Gwinnett Center, April 18th
* Nashville – Bridgestone Arena, April 19th
* New York – Nassau Coliseum, April 23rd
Contributed by Erin Routson
If you are nostalgic for the late 90s, My So-Called Life, and mixtapes, Greg Dulli will take you there. He’s never really left that time, actually. The Twilight Singers can still take you to that place where things are dark and sort of ominous, but you somehow creepily enjoy it. Why Shaq isn’t in the Santa costume in the video, though, is beyond me.
The Twilight Singers – On the CornerRating: 8.4
Another winner c/o of LA guitar band Funeral Party. “Postcards of Persuasion” is prob a hit on rock radio right now (if it still exists?!1), it def would’ve been one five years ago (danceable rhythms, delayed guitars, enough a pop hook to stick in your head). Can these guys open for Interpol or The Stills? or Editors? Will MTV 2 feature their vid on “Subterranean”? Are they a band to watch? Haha, anyway, the track is ace. Get into it.
Funeral Party – Postcards of PersuasionRating: 8.0
Fully exhumed and resurrected, worms still slithering, this classic Killa track from ’06 (right around when Cam got shot inside his Lambo) was recently raised from the grave by producer Duke Da God for his latest Harlem Classics compilation. It’s totally Sick hearing Cam on a less dreary track like this. Cam, we know you can still make hot records. When he’s on his game, Cam’ron’s got one of the best flows in hip hop, period. Tracks like “Oh What a Night” are the way back. Work on it.
Cam’ron – Oh What a Night (Prod. Duke Da God)Rating: 8.0
Can’t front, totally got this shit on repeat. Make your free throws.
Charles Barkley – I May Be Wrong (But I Doubt It) (Prod. Cool & Dre)
Rating: 8.5
Truth, the studio version of Jamie Woon’s “Lady Luck” is dope. This a capella vocal recorded live on a canoe in Cambodia (!) is a mindblower.
Jamie Woon – Lady Luck (Al Fresco)Rating: 8.3
Pet Scenes are fucking great. LOUD guitars, HEAVY rhythms. “Man Contest” has weight, a sense of tension, soul, emotional guts, something that separates the song and the band from others in its genre. Into it.
Pet Scenes – Man ContestRating: 8.2
