Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Live Review: Run the Jewels at Terminal 5



In December 2013, Run the Jewels gave their first New York City concert inside Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg. It was a free event put on by Converse, the venue, which holds over 500 people was half filled. I recall this gig because it was one of the most incredible hip-hop shows I have ever seen but made my love for what El-P and Killer Mike were doing grow 100 times over.

Now, almost five years later, the return to the city after releasing their third album, the damn-near perfect RTJ3, and perform a series of sold-out shows inside Manhattan's Terminal 5 which hold just over 3,000 people. How the times have changed for Jamie and Mikey.


"From the bottom of our hearts, thank you," El-P said after he and his partner along with DJ Trackstar slammed through "Talk to Me," "Legend Has It," and "Call Ticketron." The humble dynamic duo were in the their third gig of their four night residency and not only brought the fire and fury but also left a piece of themselves on stage doing it.

"I can't express what this means to me, to be from New York and show Mike how we do it and to see you all come out, it means everything to me," El-P said as Killer Mike echoed the sentiment: "New York you are the most wild!"

It wasn't just a four night stand of gigs, it was two hip-hop heroes climbing to the summit like they have done their whole life and these shows display how far they have come after decades of doing this.


The duo make a specific type of hip-hop that it needs to be categorized all on its own. It is the intensity of New York lyricism meeting Southern spirit over such hard beats that at points it feels like a heavy metal concert. As the bass rumbled through the massive three-story building, fans on the ground were creating circle pits, crowd surfing, and having the time of their lives. It was discharge of energy that we all need in these turbulent times.


As they plowed through a majority of tracks from their latest record, it was songs off RTJ2 that got the most applause and energy from the crowd. As tracks like "Another Blockbuster Night Pt. 1," "Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)," "Feelin' This," were performed, the fans were giving an energy that hasn't seen inside that club since it was Exit back in the early 2000s. That is what Run the Jewels do to the audience, they perform as if it is the last time they will ever be on stage together and that intensity is carried out into the crowd who reciprocate it back.


In the five years that Run the Jewels have been together, they keep getting bigger and better each year. They have been in the music world so long and been burned by it, they are rewriting the rules as they go along. Yet, what makes them so special is their brotherhood. Mike and El-P brought each other to tears as they spoke about one another. While it was a hometown throwdown for El-P, Killer Mike has become an honorary New Yorker since his lyrics and love for the city is always being spoken about. After all, Bernie Sanders and El-P are from Brooklyn!

This is the group we need for these times. They speak the truth, keep it real, and bring the fury of punk rock and 90s hip-hop but with a new twist. This is more than socially conscious music, it is the "fake news" that Mango Mussolini is afraid of. It is the music of the people by the people for the people crafted by two men who have seen more in their young lives than most have that lived to be 100.

With El-P's production and Killer Mike's lyrics and flow, these guys are just starting to show what they are made of, meaning, for all of us fans, we haven't even seen the tip of the iceberg.


Live Pix: Rolling Stones Exhibitionism


The Rolling Stones' Exhibitionism landed in New York in November and we finally had a chance to check it out before it closes on March 12. 

Inside the massive Chelsea warehouse is a museum full of Stones gear, memorabilia, interactive stations, films, costumes, art, and the recreation of their first apartment together as well as their first studio. 

We were able to snap a few pictures inside the exhibit, take a look! 

Keith's first guitars 






Tour models from Voodoo Lounge, Let's Spend the Night Together, and Bridges to Babylon. 










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Regina Spektor on 'Seth Meyers'



Watch Regina Spektor perform "The Trapper and the Furrier" on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

2 Chainz and Gucci Mane on 'Fallon'


Watch 2 Chainz and Gucci Mane perform "Good Drank" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

QUICK SPINS

Thundercat- Drunk

If Key and Peele wrote songs for Prince it would sound like Thundercat's Drunk. The jazz, funk, psych bassist's third album is a concept record about getting drunk and figuring out life. While the record takes the listener on a musical journey and trip through some very strange places, it is an experience. The music gives the listener a visual idea of what they can play in their head when listening to it. Thundercat and the rest of the Brainfeeder label are the only artists pushing music in new directions and with the help of the label's master Flying Lotus as well as Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa, Pharrell, and others, Drunk is a trip and one you want to go back to.
FINAL GRADE: A






Ryan AdamsPrisoner

Ryan Adams has always been an artist who wears his heart on his sleeve and on his latest record, his lets it beat in full force. Taking inspiration from his recent divorce, his struggle to find himself and the solace of being alone, Adams creates his best record in years. Touching on almost all of the different sub genres of rock and roll he has written and recorded in, Prisoner is him coming undone and back together again.
FINAL GRADE: A


JapandroidsNear to the Wild Heart of Life

The Canadian garage duo are back and fire on all cylinders as they bring a joy back to rock and roll that has not been seen or heard in what feels like ages.
FINAL GRADE: A


Power Trip – Nightmare Logic

Take the early thrash sound and production of Slayer, mix it with the technical metal of Megadeath and give it a storyline like early Protest the Hero and you have Power Trip’s fantastic new album. Nightmare Logic is a whiplash of force, power, and brutality rolled into one.
FINAL GRADE: A


Los Campesinos!Sick Scenes

For years the British collective Los Campesinos! have been creating a joy and energy in their music while being tender and open about their feelings. Now, on Sick Scenes, they come full circle and mature and create their best record to date with a refreshing blend of new ideas but still sticking to who they are as a band.
FINAL GRADE: B+


The Menzingers – After the Party

The Philly punks know how to have a good time and be very enthusiastic about it on their latest, they deliver what fans love but further their ability to do it.
FINAL GRADE : B+


TinariwenElwan

The African guitar collective still manage to make interesting music after all these years and find a way to tap into the world while sticking to their roots.
FINAL GRADE: B+


ElbowLittle Fictions


On their best record since The Seldom Seen Kid, Elbow bring their orchestral symphonic rock back to the mainstream with an introspective album about love, loss, desperation and hope.
FINAL GRADE: B+


The Dig Bloodshot Tokyo

The New York band brings a new level of atmospheric and synth rock to their sound and on one of their tamest albums, they still show they are not only a very interesting band but one that can be played during any occasion.
FINAL GRADE: B


Steel PantherLower the Bar

You can’t take Steel Panther seriously and that is the whole point, yet, we highly doubt there is anyone having more fun making 80s power pop metal-inspired tunes than them.
FINAL GRADE: B


Lupe Fiasco Dragos Light

The Chicago emcee returns on what could be his final record and delivers his statement on the state of the union. Fiasco has always been a lyrical mastermind and on Dragos Light, he gives society the tongue-lashing it needs.
FINAL GRADE: B


Big Sean – I Decided

Big Sean has been making records for almost a decade but his latest finally hears him at his most confident and comfortable with his mic. I Decided features Eminem, The-Dream, Jeremih, Migos as the biggest heavy hitters and he can keep up with the best of them.
FINAL GRADE: B-


Thievery Corporation  - The Temple of I and I

The D.C.-based world music innovators don’t have to look very far to see the country is going to shit, so as they channel the nation’s fury into song, they give us all a lesson in global politics and it his us like a smack in the face. The Temple of I and I is easily their best record since 2004’s The Cosmic Game and as they continue to make music, they show us why they are very much needed in 2017.
FINAL GRADE: B-


Surfer BloodSnowdonia

There was so much promise with Surfer Blood when they arrived and as the years went on, they have gone through the death of a band member, players leaving and a handful of new recruits which as all made them push to make new music but not a new sound. Snowdonia doesn’t live up to the potential that the Florida band could have pushed to achieve with this record.
FINAL GRADE: C+


Dirty Projectors

On their new record, which is said to be a breakup LP, the band get so mellow you might fall asleep before the album even ends.
FINAL GRADE: C-


Sepultura Machine Messiah

Sepultura seem to have given up and are making records for the sake of making records which is what a band should never do. Machine Messiah is a lost, uninspired record that just throws a bunch of heavy riffs together where they hope to see what sticks and unfortunately, none of it really does.
FINAL GRADE: D

Erasure Detail New Album


In May, synthpop vets Erasure will release their new album, World Be Gone. 

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and watch the album trailer. 

Love You To The Sky
Be Careful What You Wish For!
World Be Gone
A Bitter Parting
Still It’s Not Over
Take Me Out Of Myself
Sweet Summer Loving
Oh What A World
Lousy Sum Of Nothing
Just A Little Love

Quick News


Next month, a massive 112-song song soundtrack to the fantastic animated series, Bob's Burgers will arrive. The soundtrack includes songs used in the series and sung by the cast as well as tracks by St. Vincent and The National. Take a look at the unboxing of the massive vinyl box set, above.

Rihanna has been named Harvard University's Humanitarian of the Year and will be presented the prestigious award on Tuesday. "Rihanna has charitably built a state-of- the-art center for oncology and nuclear medicine to diagnose and treat breast cancer at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados,” Harvard Foundation director S. Allen Counter told the Harvard Gazette. "In 2012, she founded the nonprofit the Clara Lionel Foundation Global Scholarship Program [named for her grandparents] for students attending college in the U.S. from Caribbean countries, and supports the Global Partnership for Education and Global Citizen Project, which provides children with access to education in over 60 developing countries, giving priority to girls, and those affected by lack of access to education in the world today."

Misfits guitarist Doyle will release his new solo album, Doyle II: As We Die, in May.

Eurythmics member Dave Stewart has taken to Facebook to showcase that he is working with Chvrches on their new album. 


Friday, February 24, 2017

Lupe Fiasco on 'Colbert'


Watch Lupe Fiasco perform "Jump" on The Late Show with Steven Colbert.

Ryan Adams on 'Late Late Show'


Watch Ryan Adams perform "Do You Still Love Me?" on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

The Lemon Twigs on 'Colbert'


Watch The Lemon Twigs perform "I Wanna Prove to You" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

At the Drive-In Detail First Album in 17 Years


In May, At the Drive-In will release their first album in 17 years called in•ter a•li•a. The record was produced by member Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Rich Costey.

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, plus hear the new single "Incurably Innocent:"


01 No Wolf Like the Present
02 Continuum
03 Tilting at the Univendor
04 Governed by Contagions
05 Pendulum in a Peasant Dress
06 Incurably Innocent
07 Call Broken Arrow
08 Holtzclaw
09 Torrentially Cutshaw
10 Ghost-tape No.9
11 Hostage Stamps

VINTAGE CLIP: The Mountain Goats on 'Letterman'


To celebrate The Mountain Goats upcoming album, Goths, we look back at their 2011 performance on The Late Show with David Lettermen for this VINTAGE CLIP when they played "Birth of Serpants." Take a look.

The Mountain Goats Detail New Album


The always entertaining Mountain Goats will release their new album, Goths, in May.

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and hear the first single "Andrew Eldritch Is Moving Back to Leeds."

01 Rain in Soho
02 Andrew Eldritch Is Moving Back to Leeds
03 The Grey King and the Silver Flame Attunement
04 We Do It Different on the West Coast
05 Unicorn Tolerance
06 Stench of the Unburied
07 Wear Black
08 Paid in Cocaine
09 Rage of Travers
10 Shelved
11 For the Portuguese Goth Metal Bands
12 Abandoned Flesh
13 For the West Coast Dark Ambient Bedroom Warriors
14 Scaling the Well
15 Vanishing Act
16 Grave Dust

Arca Announces New Album


The boundary-pushing Arca will release his self titled third record in April. 

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and hear the first single, "Piel."

01 Piel
02 Anoche
03 Saunter
04 Urchin
05 Reverie
06 Castration
07 Sin Rumbo
08 Coraje
09 Whip
10 Desafío
11 Fugaces
12 Miel
13 Child


Quick News


A group of fans in England want to get David Bowie's Aladdin Sane lightning bolt placed as a sculpture in the late singer's birthplace of Brixton, London. The Thin White Duke's Instagram account posted about it, for more information, see above.

Ted Leo plans on releasing a new album with the Pharmacists in September and has started a Kickstarter campaign to fund the record. For more information, click here.

Bad Brains' HR has recovered from brain surgery. His wife posted "Thank you for your many, many prayers! Surgery went well and he looks good. Now the recovery begins" on Facebook to let fans know what is happening. The singer underwent surgery for a disease called SUNCT, which causes massive and debilitating migraine headaches.

Jay Z will become the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The "Can I Get A" rapper posted about the news on Twitter, saying:

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Amanda Palmer Announces New Album With Edward Ka-Spel


In May, Amanda Palmer and Legendary Pink Dots singer Edward Ka-Spel will release their collaboration album, I Can Spin a Rainbow. 

"We merged our songwriting heads and poetic worlds to make a new universe," Palmer said in a press release. "We would sit in Imogen's house drinking cups of tea, bemoaning the state of the upcoming election, binge drinking in the UK, the refugee crisis, our internet addictions, frightening news we had read, our relationships...and then we'd compost all of the ingredients of our fears and conversations into song form. The Rainbow metaphor - which is also a nod to the 'spinning beach ball of death' on a Mac - was a wide-open image that kept popping up as a recurring theme on the record. It's both dark and light at the same time. To me, the songs are simultaneously frightening and comforting, like a thunderstorm heard from a living room."

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below:


1. Pulp Fiction
2.     Shahla's Missing Page
3.     The Shock of Kontakt
4.     Beyond The Beach
5.     The Clock at the Back of the Cage
6.     The Changing Room
7.     The Jack of Hands
8.     Prithee: Liquidation Day
9.     Rainbow's End

Quick News


On July 4, Garbage will release their autobiography, This is the Noise That Keeps Me Awake. A special limited edition version will come with a special 12" single. "We were starting to forget what we wanted to remember," said Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson in press release. "Twenty two years is a long time to keep track of the magic and the madness."

The Dead Kennedys have turned down a lucrative offer to reunite at Riot Fest this summer. According to member East Bay Ray's Facebook page, singer Jello Biafra turned it down. 


Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have been photographed in the studio together. Macca is said to be worked with his former Beatles bandmate's upcoming solo album. Starr shared the news on Instagram:
A post shared by Ringo Starr (@ringostarrmusic) on

Goldie spoke to NME about his new album, The Journey Man, which arrives in June, and said: "I think it’s pretty good, but that’s why I’ve come to shake it up again, 20 years late. I think it’s good – but they’ve got to find their way outside of the machine a little bit. Getting a bit of soul involved, you know.”

Old 97's on 'Seth Meters'



Watch Old 97s with Nikki Lane perform "Good With God" on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Live Pix: The Body at Irving Plaza


On Sunday night, The Body performed inside Irving Plaza in New York City. 

Our very own RICH D SMOOV was on hand to capture the action. Take a look!