The amazing Pharoahe Monch played at the Zoo last night and I, not really having a spare $65, did not get a chance to see him in action. I know that in a few months (probably weeks) I will regret this, like I always do when something like this happens, but I guess that's life. Anyway, below is the video for Body Baby, one of the more funkier tracks from Monch's 2006 album Desire - I figured this is the least I could do to support one of my favourite hip hop artists.
I first heard about Mayer Hawthorne through the emails I receive from Stones Throw. As I was in a hurry at the time, I never got to hear what all the fuss was about until I was browsing through some records in Rockinghorse a couple of weeks later. I happened to come across his 12" single Maybe So, Maybe No and figured I'd give it a quick listen. I'm so glad I took the time, because Mayer Hawthorne has some talent. Major talent.
At it's heart, A Strange Arrangement is a beautiful soul record, the kind of record you would take with you on a road trip in a big old Cadillac. Not only does he have a killer voice, Hawthorne also provided most of the instrumentation on the album too. So good is said instrumentation that when label head Peanut Butter Wolf heard some of Hawthorne's early songs, he thought he was listening to reworkings of early soul records.
A Strange Arrangement is a great album; if you're a fan of soul and/or hip hop, or you just have an open mind, you'll be eating this up in no time. Get it now!
Man, Defeater are great. This awesome band from Massachusetts play a style of modern hardcore similar to bands such as Ruiner and the now defunct Verse and Modern Life is War. Defeater's debut album Travels had me pretty excited about hardcore again, so when I heard that Lost Ground was floating around on the net I couldn't help myself.
Lost Ground opens with my favourite track of the six on offer, The Red, White and Blues. From the moment vocalist Derek screams "The whiskey burns going down", you know there's no turning back. Lost Ground grabs hold and doesn't let go for its entire 19 minutes; personally I wouldn't have it any other way. The music on Lost Ground is tight and aggressive, and the drummer is amazing. The lyrics are intelligent and well written too, which helps to keep Defeater above the standard hardcore fare. I think it may just be me, but I keep picking up on a bluesy vibe too; it probably has something to do with the awesome artwork. Great band, great EP.
I'm sorry it's been a while; I could throw a million excuses out there but I'm not even going to bother, I'm just going to get straight back into it.
I've been listening to Beggars, the new album from experimental rock quartet Thrice for a solid month now, and I have to say it is the best album they have released since 2003's The Artist in the Ambulance. Since that album, Thrice have grown immensely as individual musicians and as a band and are definitely now a shadow of the visceral post-hardcore band they used to be. Beggars is not a record that hits you immediately; it took me a couple of listens to get my head around this album, and I'm glad I persevered. Thrice have created a record that is cohesive yet jarring; lush yet angular and raw. From the fuzzed out bass intro of All the World is Mad to the stirring climax of the title track, Beggars is definitely an album that should be treated as a journey, not just a collection of songs. I have a feeling this one will be in my top ten at the end of this year.
Note: The physical edition of the album comes with a download card that includes two unreleased demos, two remixes (All the World is Mad & Circles) and a barnstorming version of The Beatles' Helter Skelter.
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