Music
Essays, blog posts, playlists, and more focused broadly on music. For more playlists visit my Spotify profile.
- Refresher Course: Cypress Hill ()
It has been six years since Cypress Hill released their last album, the reggae-influenced Till Death Do Us Part. Since then the group has left its longtime label, Columbia Records, joined Priority Records—which boasts Snoop Dogg as its “creative chairman”—and continued work on its eight studio album; all while B-Real and Sen Dog took time […]
- Slash “Slash” Review ()
There is little left to be said about Slash’s past work that hasn’t already been dissected a million times over: The guitarist is widely considered to be one of the greatest soloists of all time—if not one of the greatest guitarists of all time—and the songs created during his years playing with Guns N’ Roses […]
- Meth, Ghost & Rae “Wu-Massacre” Review ()
In the world of hip hop Method Man, Ghostface Killah & Raekwon’s Wu-Massacre is an anomaly. As each year passes we’re left with more and more filler on records, augmented by bloated mixtapes packed with songs that fail to ever see a formal release. Even when considering each of these three Wu-Tang members’ most recent […]
- Deftones “Diamond Eyes” Review ()
It has been roughly three and a half years since the Deftones last released an album, 2006′s Saturday Night Wrist. And while the band is known for such spans of time between recordings, the space between Wrist and Diamond Eyes wasn’t entirely by choice. In November of 2008 bassist Chi Cheng was involved in a […]
- MGMT “Congratulations” Review ()
Imagine yourself in the place of MGMT‘s Ben Goldwasser. Following the amazing success of your band’s Oracular Spectacular, which has now sold over one million copies worldwide, you finalize production on your new album, and in preparation for its release you (the royal “you”) make a song available to fans as a free download. But […]
- The Dillinger Escape Plan “Option Paralysis” Review ()
“Option paralysis” is a bit of a double-edged sword. While having a vast selection of choices is nice there are now near-limitless options in every aspect of our lives—what to listen to, who you can communicate with, what to buy, what to eat—but with that comes a general dulling of the senses and a far-from-subtle […]
- Against Me! “White Crosses” Review ()
Not only was New Wave Against Me!’s major label debut (Sire), but it stands as both the most commercially and critically successful album in the band’s career. The 10 song set was produced by Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day), debuted at the #57 spot on the Billboard 200, and would eventually be named […]
- Beastie Boys & Battlestar Galactica “Sabotage” video mashup ()
Released as a fan-vid just four days ago, “Galactica: Sabotage” is already approaching 165k views on YouTube alone. And with good reason as the shot-for-shot recreation of the Beastie Boys‘ classic “Sabotage” video is ripe with brilliantly contrasted shots taken from the least likeliest of places: Battlestar Galactica. The video itself is great, but when […]
- Vitalic “Second Lives” Video ()
The Daily Swarm points out the reference in Vitalic’s new video for “Second Lives” to a photographic Toilet Cam series which sprang from the ever-so-creepy Asian-turned-global fetish. If nothing else, I’m thinking that this could make for a hell of an interesting party idea next time things are starting to get out a little rowdy. […]
- Burzum’s “Belus” and the Separation of Art and Artist ()
How does one separate an artist from their art? Or can it even be done? Some might perceive the art to be a piece indicative of a moment in time, while the artist continues to grow and evolve into a different person as each new day arrives. Such a question, or conflict, arises when approaching […]
- Lady Gaga feat. Beyoncé “Telephone” Video ()
Long-playing music videos are something that few acts can actually pull off. Those such as Metallica’s “All Nightmare Long” get lost within their own plots while classics such as Michael Jackson’s 14 minute “Thriller” are untouchable in their cohesiveness; somewhere in the middle lands this new nine and a half minute offering from Lady Gaga […]
- She & Him “In The Sun” Video ()
The only reason that I can imagine music fans cutting Zooey Deschanel a bit more slack than Scarlett Johansson in terms of their ability to carry a tune is the musical partners they’re associated with: Deschanel M. Ward, and Johansson Pete Yorn. Or maybe it’s just the general vibe of lavishness that accompanies Yorn & […]
- RJD2 “Small Plans” Video ()
I’m not sure what’s worse: the idea of being held captive by a group of odd cult-like figures or repeatedly being let down by RJD2‘s albums. Since I’ve only heard The Colossus, and have yet to find myself locked in a bamboo cage while being fed 40oz. beers, I’ll have to stick with the latter… […]
- Yeasayer “O.N.E.” Video ()
Late last year Yeasayer released a music video for “Ambling Alp,” the first single from the band’s Secretly Canadian debut Odd Blood, and it ended up being one of the most essential videos of 2009. But after watching the video for “O.N.E.” I’m starting to think that a new category needs to be created, especially […]
- Culture Bully Presents: 2009 Mashed ()
#1) ToToM [Angers, France]“If I Had A Life” [MP3](Fever Ray “If I Had a Heart” vs. The Beatles “A Day in the Life”) #2) DJ Paul V. [Los Angeles, California, United States of America]“Might Like Ghosts Better”* [MP3](Amanda Blank “Might Like You Better” vs. Bad Cabbage “You’re Rude, Get Fucked” vs. deadmau5 “Ghosts ‘N Stuff”) […]
- Culture Bully’s Best of the Decade Guest Posts ()
To close out the decade, Culture Bully solicited contributions from artists sharing their favorite albums of the 2000s. 14KT: Favorite Albums of the Decade Gnarls Barkley St. Elsewhere2. Kanye West The College Dropout3. Slum Village Fantastic Vol. 24. Erykah Badu Mama’s Gun5. Radiohead In Rainbows / Jill Scott Words & Sounds Vol. 1 (tie) [Reigning from […]
- Best Albums of the Decade ()
#1) Queens of the Stone Age Songs For The DeafPrior to the album’s release I remember listening to a raw demo of “Song For The Dead,” which was essentially Dave Grohl’s drum-intro looped on repeat for six minutes. I had never heard anything like it before. Grohl’s hand is heavy on the album, as is […]
- Best Albums of 2009 ()
#1) Fever Ray Fever RayA challenging record that is eerily beautiful from start to end. #2) The Slew 100%The Slew, a combination of Kid Koala, DJ Dynomite D, and the rhythm section from the first incarnation of Wolfmother, quickly reveals itself to be a surprisingly cohesive unit on 100%. Though it might casually sound like […]
- Lil Wayne “Rebirth” Review ()
It has been nearly a year since “Prom Queen” was released as the first single from Lil Wayne’s highly speculated rock album, a record which was later rumored to see release sometime in 2009. Since then, the album’s release was confirmed and three other tracks from the record were officially released, however Rebirth’s release was […]
- Best Concerts of 2009 ()
#1) Mayhem @ Station 4By the time of the St. Paul date, Cephalic Carnage, Cattle Decapitation and Withered had all pulled out of the tour due to backstage (thought to be financial) issues, and a delay in the visa process had prevented Marduk from performing at any of the Blackened Fest dates. Mayhem & Station […]
- Top Albums of 2009 That Should Have Been Great, But Weren’t ()
#1) Ghostface Killah Ghostdini the Wizard of Poetry in Emerald CityA crossover from hip hop to R&B that should have never taken place. By comparison, More Fish, an album of leftovers from the brilliant Fishscale, sounds like a classic. #2) UGK UGK 4 LifeSo much for going out on top. #3) Dead Man’s Bones Dead […]
- Guante and Big Cats! live at Bedlam Theatre (Minneapolis, MN) ()
Video of Guante and Big Cats!‘s December 13, 2009 show at the Bedlam Theatre in Minneapolis, MN features performances of “Stockholm Syndrome” (featuring Big Quarters & Truthbetold) and “Yes, God is a DJ; No, Not a Good One” (featuring Eric Blair of No Bird Sing and Truthbetold). [This post was first published by Culture Bully.]
- Best Twin Cities Albums of 2009 ()
#1) P.O.S Never BetterInnovative, challenging, and oh-so-fresh. Not only a prime candidate for TC album of the year, but a definite contender for hip hop album of the year. Period. #2) Red Pens ReasonsThe best rock duo to arise from the Twin Cities since Gay Witch Abortion, Red Pens’ songs offer a combination of ample […]
- Best Mashups of 2009 ()
#1) DJ Schmolli “The Trooper Believer” [MP3](Iron Maiden “The Trooper” vs. The Monkees “I’m A Believer”) #2) dj BC “Everybody’s Everywhere Girl” [MP3](Fleetwood Mac “Everywhere” vs. Snoop Dogg “That Girl” vs. Kanye West “This Way” vs. Q-Tip “Come Close” vs. Capleton) #3) ABX of the Hood Internet “Comfortable Up Here” [MP3](Lil Wayne “Comfortable” vs. Royksopp […]
- Favorite Songs of 2009 ()
#1) Bat For Lashes “Daniel”The most beautiful song on an album that made Bat For Lashes a household name this year. Well, in some households. #2) The Prodigy “Invaders Must Die”With all three original members of the group together again for the first time in over a decade, the Prodigy never sounded so fierce; even […]
- Best Music Videos of 2009 ()
#15) Dead Man’s Bones “In The Room Where You Sleep” #14) Depeche Mode “Peace” #13) The Maccabees “Can You Give It” #12) The Dead Weather “Treat Me Like Your Mother” #11) Grizzly Bear “Two Weeks” #10) Yeasayer “Ambling Alp” #9) Basement Jaxx “Raindrops” #8) Bat For Lashes “Daniel” #7) Fever Ray “When I Grow Up” […]
- Mashups of the Week: Michael Jackson & David Lynch ()
It’s a little late in the year to start releasing zombie-mashups, but combining Nirvana and Michael Jackson kind of seems like something that fits within the context of any month of the year. DJ Moule did just that this past week, bringing together the two less-than-alive acts, while tossing in some of the German electronics […]
- Estate Interview ()
Recently landing a pair of spots on national television, Minneapolis’ Estate is continuing to expand its audience outside of the Midwest. Recently speaking to [City Pages] about the new found exposure, the duo of Dan Kramer also Josh Johnson also spoke candidly about their unique approach to performing live and their affinity for creating remixes. […]
- Harper Simon Critics’ Pick ()
The strange relationship between famous musicians and their children likely dates back as far as music itself. While some offspring attempt to distance themselves from their parents, refusing to follow in their chosen path, others choose to take their parents’ leads in an attempt to plow ahead and carve out their own lines in history’s […]
- Avenpitch Interview ()
This weekend the TC electropunk scene is celebrating the release of its fifth compilation with a show at Club Underground. In preparation for the event I had a few words with Todd Millenacker of Avenpitch, the band which will be headlining the show. In addition to giving away free copies of the new album to […]