Metal Lungies

Spotted this first part of a series of shorts over at Mad Decent, it documents ML-fav Diplo & Dark Meat during their unique encounter at SXSW. Check out it for some words from Diplo & some nice in club footage.

After Diplo was nearly killed by Dark Meat’s tour bus at SXSW, the two joined forces, made some music, and played some shows in the South. True story.

I’m posting lots of videos lately, I know. Courtesy of Pitchfork TV.

Love the clips of Nosferatu integrated into the video.

You & Me is getting a lot of spins lately, I can’t recommend the new record enough. For god’s sake, buy it!

Read DaddyL’s review if you aren’t convinced.

If your a fan please take advantage of this.  The Walkmen have released their new album on amiestreet.com for three weeks only.  Even if you’ve downloaded it already, check it out; its for a good cause.  

“All donations go to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in honor of Luca Vasallo, a friend to the band and a current patient who is seven months old and doing a great job fighting a very difficult disease. This is a very good organization that certainly deserves the attention.”

See Also: The Walkmen-You & Me Review,   The Walkmen-In The New Year

I like to drink in the afternoon. Maybe even more so than at nighttime. And I am not saying I like to get drunk midday cause that would make me a loser, right? Im saying that having some beer with your buddies on a blistering hot day provides me with the kind of mental tension, that kind of neurological intrigue that I also find in great rock music. Everything runs together and your emotions are blurred or piqued without warning. Your not lost but your constantly searching.

Maybe it is my affection for this state of mind that makes me love The Walkmen so much.

Read the rest of this entry »

My favorite band at the moment.  This video only reinforces the notion that No Age is going to change the world.  These two guys from Los Angeles (Dean Spunt and Randy Randall) have made the loudest record of the year, but yet their sound remains elusive.  Mind boggling.  

More quality video here.  

Download: No Age-Teen Creeps 

The Walkmen make great drunken anthems.  Their particular flavor of garage rock succeeds in blending poetic lyrics with crunchy waves of distortion and driving rhythms.  The new track off the forthcoming album You and Me (out September 16th) shows the band playing up their strengths.  Much like “Wake Up,” an inspired track off of Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone, the sounds on “In the New Year” swell and rise then crumble softly, drawing the listener in yet again.  

Diplo’s take on Electric Relaxation.  Its summer, bitches.  Go out and move your bod to this one.  

Download (mp3): Diplo-Brew Barrymore

See Also: Mad Decent, and this awesomeness

Seeing as how Nigerian music has been getting mad love over the last few months, it was only fitting for Mike Love to put together this Fela mashup.  If you haven’t explored Fela Kuti now is as good as time as any.  The guy is the papa bear of an African music scene that is painfully underexposed.  

And speaking of bears (what a transition!), Grizzly Bear has been running shit in indie world.  I posted on a project they were working on a while back, and there will undoubtedly be posts dedicated to them in the future.  Meanwhile, this song is just amazing.  

Jay-Z feat. Fela Kuti: Nigerian Gangster 

Grizzly Bear-While You Wait for the Others (Live on Morning Becomes Eclectic)

My main beef with Hip-Hop is its exclusivist nature (we get it…your shit is the real shit…no one cares).  So I am always happy to share a rapper that exposes himself to different influences.  Atmosphere has always been hit or miss for me, but this performance is worth checking out.  

Atmosphere performs at Current Studios 

In the same vein, Thao Nguyen recently opened for the Ying Yang Twins.  Thao talks about how the fans weren’t feeling it.  But I bet one of the poor souls who came to see the “rap” show was moved to check out Nguyen.  One can only hope.  

(thanks to lhb for the links)

Def Jux continues to be one of my favorite labels because they are always signing new and interesting acts with an emphasis on originality. Chin Chin is no exception. If you’re waiting for the rhymes to drop on “Appetite” you’ll be waiting a while because Chin is the first non Hip-Hop act signed to Def Jux. They still bring the groove though, and this songs funkiness will delve into your brain and get nice and cozy. According to AG, Black Book likened the group to “Outkast meets the Dap Kings.” Not a bad rap.

Chin Chin: Appetite

Chin Chin’s self-titled debut will be out April 29th. hit that up!