Music
Essays, blog posts, playlists, and more focused broadly on music. For more playlists visit my Spotify profile.
- Justice Remix Klaxons’ “As Above, So Below” ()
After seeing Justice live last week I can now testify that they can do no wrong, and with this recently remixed Klaxons track I stand by my story. The duo livens the original track up, whipping it into a discotheque friendly model of danceable splendor. The waving outro is absolutely brilliant, as is the entire […]
- Justice at Foundation Nightclub (Minneapolis, MN) ()
The setting: a dark basement complex surrounded by a crowd of sweaty, dancing teenagers…an environment that could easily double as a cramped pool hall on any given night; but on this night two of the most elite electronic musicians in the world did what they do best – make people dance. Opening their set three […]
- Girl Talk & Dan Deacon at First Avenue (Minneapolis, MN) ()
This past Friday Girl Talk rocked the post-adolescent audience late into the night, the performance culminating one of the most entertaining events First Avenue has seen all year. The term “sold out” doesn’t even cover it, as block-long lines continued to wrap around the venue a half hour after doors opened and the body of […]
- “The Best of The Johnny Cash TV Show: 1969-1971” DVD Review ()
A deeply toned narrator introduces footage of Woodstock and Altamont, peace and war, comparing and contrasting various struggles and glories that the world, culture and art were facing through the late ’60s to the early ’70s; but who was there as a voice of reason? Johnny Cash. A tad on the dramatic? Absolutely. But no […]
- Queens of the Stone Age “3’s & 7’s” Video ()
So, you like go-go dancers, drag racing, cheesy b-movie font type and gory violence? Then chances are you’re going to enjoy Queens of the Stone Age’s latest video for “3’s & 7’s.” As much as the description above takes me back to my “Dragula” days (getting old, aren’t we?), isn’t it a tad strange to […]
- Serj Tankian “Empty Walls” & “The Unthinking Majority” Videos ()
System of a Down singer Serj Tankian will be releasing his first solo album next month which will be accompanied with a full tour in support of Elect The Dead. Who will be accompanying Tankian on the SOAD-less tour one might ask…how about drummer Brian “Brain” Mantia and guitarist Larry Lalonde, both of Primus-fame. If […]
- Tapes ‘n Tapes & the Melismatics at Fine Line Music Cafe (Minneapolis, MN) ()
Sunday night’s occasion was alive in spirit as a half dozen bands collected in support of Mercedes Gordon, a local resident who was severely injured in the collapse of the 35W bridge in early August. Among the bands playing were local favorites such as Coach Said Not To and The Melismatics, Hershey, Pennsylvania’s The Ocean […]
- Aesop Rock at First Avenue (Minneapolis, MN) ()
Video of Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic & DJ Big Wiz performing at First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN, featuring clips of “Coffee” and “Daylight.” [This post was first published by Culture Bully.]
- Rage Against the Machine at Alpine Valley Music Theatre (East Troy, WI) ()
Performing to at least 35,000 attendees, Rage Against the Machine played its only scheduled Midwest date of the year last Friday at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre. The day was hardly a gem on its own accord, offering anywhere between a slight drizzle to a heavy downpour, all to the disdain of the crowd who […]
- M.I.A. on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic ()
Continuing with a week crammed full of M.I.A. goodness, take a listen to a few tracks recorded from her in studio set from KCRW. Head over to the site to watch streaming video of the entire Morning Becomes Eclectic set including an interview conducted by Ed Harcourt. [This post was first published by Culture Bully.]
- Wu-Tang Clan at Myth Nightclub (Maplewood, MN) ()
Starting midday Saturday afternoon, the Rock The Bells tour stopped in the Twin Cities, playing Maplewood’s Myth rather than the previously scheduled parking lot at the Metrodome. Though the day began early, it wasn’t until late afternoon when I arrived, graciously welcomed to the club by “Free,” the lead track from Pharoahe Monch’s recent release. […]
- The Illuminoids: Justice vs. David Bowie Mashup ()
The Illuminoids have produced a mashup that suggests some weight to the argument against Kanye West’s recent single “Stronger;” that being that the song is nothing more than a crudely remixed track serving as background to a set of mediocre lyrics. After hearing the song a few dozen times I can attest to the point […]
- O’Reilly Continues to Bash Nas & An Ill Doctrine Rebuttle ()
Continuing his assault on Nazzz (though since we last saw him, he must have been informed of the proper pronunciation of Nas’ name), Bill O’Reilly continued his verbal assault on both Nas and Virginia Tech President Charles Steger this week. First “going at it” with “liberal” personality Geraldo Rivera, then again with Fox News Correspondent […]
- Animal Collective “Peacebone” Video ()
Immediately this clip reminds me of something similar to those wildly creepy videos put out by Aphex Twin in the ’90s, but after the introduction “Peacebone” calms down a bit, even developing somewhat of a storyline. What may be shocking to those who haven’t indulged in the widely available leaks of Strawberry Jam (myself included) […]
- Side One, Track One: Tim Armstrong “Wake Up” ()
Artist: Tim ArmstrongAlbum: A Poet’s LifeSide One Track One: “Wake Up” Marking his fortieth year on planet earth Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong released his first solo album this year entitled A Poet’s Life. The long awaited album celebrates lighthearted ska and delves heavily into melodica-based dub. “Wake Up” delivers a fairly mediocre lyrical base, the […]
- Turbo Fruits “Turbo Fruits” Review ()
It is not considerably hard to categorize Turbo Fruits as something similar to last year’s sensation Be Your Own PET, especially so considering their sounds are both vibrantly based in a lighter, southern-whipped style of punk, and both self-titled releases come from bands that include drummer John Eatherly and guitarist Jonas Stein. Prefix Magazine‘s Eric […]
- Hank Williams III, Big Red Goad & The Power of Country at First Avenue (Minneapolis, MN) ()
Kicking off the show with “a bit of national rag” Power of Country opened up with a rousing bluegrass introduction before singer Jim Goad (aka Big Red Goad) stepped on stage at First Avenue, promptly sticking his chewing gum to the microphone stand and taking stance with one boot firmly planted on one of the […]
- The Return of Los Gauchos ()
Not to detract from the efforts of Nobel Prize winner Luis Federico Leloir, heralded footballer Diego Armando Maradona or even the tango, but Martin, Agustin and Emilio Jorge are quite possibly the best thing to ever come from the beloved country of Argentina. In an interview I did with Los Gauchos earlier this year the […]
- The Chemical Brothers “We Are The Night” Review ()
The Chemical Brothers‘ latest album attempts to build momentum and create its own unique atmosphere, like so much of the duo’s back catalogue has done, but We Are The Night ultimately suffers the same fate as its title track: delivering tons of possibility with little result. “We Are The Night” sounds similar to “Star Guitar,” […]
- Beyonce Falls During Performance, Encourages Mankind To Hang In There ()
While performing in Orlando this past Tuesday, as a part of her Beyoncé Experience Tour, Beyoncé Knowles took a serious tumble, falling down a small set of stairs. As a sign of hope for all humanity however, she refused to let the mistake get in her way and she continued to belt out hit after […]
- Mastodon “Sleeping Giant” Video ()
I have no idea what’s going on in this video. There are spaceships, strange smoke clouds, hairless men, laser shooting Mastodon busts, miniature dinosaurs… and not a single sleeping giant to be found anywhere. What gives? [This post was first published by Culture Bully.]
- Tegan and Sara “Back In Your Head” Video ()
The Con’s first video, “Back in Your Head,” was debuted on Spinner this morning and with it comes a mixed up tale of the odd person out in a world of complacency. Either that or the video doesn’t really represent anything and is simply a means for getting a hundred people to wear ski masks… […]
- KMFDM “Tohuvabohu” ()
Before breaking into an uncharacteristic slap bass beat “Super Power” recites begins with what has long since been a staple in the KMFDM diet, a self-glorifying gas “What can KMFDM do for you? Now for one low price KMFDM can blow your mind, rock your face off and jump start your heart. Come see and […]
- Everlast Records “Saving Grace” Theme Song ()
Everlast recently tracked the theme song to TNT’s upcoming series Saving Grace. After checking out the trailer for the show I’m fairly certain that it’s a TNT original series however (aka: not entirely worth watching) but that being said I must admit that Everlast’s track, also called “Saving Grace,” sounds pretty good. Call it a […]
- Chamillionaire “Mix Tape Messiah 3″ ()
Chamillionaire returns with his latest mix tape, Mix Tape Messiah 3. In typical mix tape fashion he delivers over twenty tracks with some hits, some misses and some unnecessary skits. One of the main points of interest comes from Chamillionaire’s heavy use of Chicago-based beats in the mix combined with words distancing himself from the […]
- New Max & Igor Cavalera Project: Inflikted ()
Former Sepultura drummer Igor Cavalera and his brother Max (Soulfly, ex-Sepultura) recently rectified their differences, speaking for the first time in roughly a decade. The brothers last recorded an album together on Sepultura’s 1996 album Roots, by most accounts one of the best metal albums of the decade. While Max was touring Europe recently he […]
- Simian Mobile Disco “Attack Decay Sustain Release” Review ()
“What makes Simian Mobile Disco a better pop band than Justice or the Klaxons is their commitment to clean danceable beats,” suggests Jess Harvell in his review for Pitchfork. And throughout Attack Decay Sustain Release that thought remains a constant, with James Shaw and James Ford combining efforts to create something with its roots seeded […]
- The Meat Puppets Critics’ Pick ()
While the history of the Meat Puppets is unusual, what’s even more rare is that they lived to tell about it. The band started out punk, but eventually moved toward a more balanced rock sound as they worked their way through the ’80s. Surviving a tumultuous first decade together, they found their greatest success in 1994 when Kurt […]
- Romantic, sexy and funky all at once ()
“Musicology” (2004): I believe I will find myself in the minority in this situation, but the only Prince song that I’ve really spent any amount of time with is ‘Musicology.’ Having not been born, raised, or nurtured in Minnesota, my musical tastes were developed with different circumstances of favoritism and bias than that associated with Minnesotans […]
- Ben Harper “Glory & Consequence” ()
Context: Though his last few releases have been hit or miss Ben Harper’s 1997 album The Will To Live carries itself as a strong set, one which introduced Harper to a wider audience as it was his first ever charting release. One of the most touching and inspiring songs on the album is “Glory & […]