In what could be The Game’s final album, track leaks from “LAX” are bouncing all over. Trying to concentrate on doing this album his own way, “My Life” is a song about being grateful to be alive amidst all the crazy things going on in this world. Innocent people are dying every day but The Game is still alive so he can keep producing dope tracks like this. This is the music video with Lil Wayne singing the chorus.
Gym Class Heros’, “Patches from the Quilt” mixtape is shaping up to be pretty rad. Busta Rhymes is featured in this specific track. You can’t go wrong with Busta! Click the media player below for a 3 min. preview of this track, then tell us what you think!
Meho Plaza’s recent self-titled album mixes a pop aesthetic with electronic punk noise. The trio, which consists of keyboardist Jennifer Hwang, drummer James Connely, and vocalist/guitarist Mike Thrasher, has garnered significant press by such reputable organizations as the Los Angeles Times and Pitchfork Media. Tracks like “I Sold My Organs”, “Lets Play Police”, “The Beach”, and “George Washington” all contain manic catchy guitar riffs, and a danceable backbeat. Interspersed at random are four or five songs out of the eleven that make me want to scratch out my eyes out. Perhaps the poppy half appeals to the people who have never heard Meho Plaza, and the five tracks of experimental synth-driven madness appeal to hardcore fans and live show attendees. Whoever the audience is, the juxtaposition of pop and noise makes for a good head scratcher. A good friend pointed out to me earlier that Radiohead is also a band that forces you listen to their albums many times, because the first time you question the experimental stuff. After thinking it over I will probably look forward to listening to this album more over time, and let it grow on me, like a weird fungus. – Jonathan Mendick, Mannerist Zine
I was recently reading an interview with The Game and he said the Travis Barker is his homeboy. They are both artists, and they are both tatted up, although I think it’s safe to say that Travis is working The Game in that category. The much anticipated new LAX album by The game is getting closer to it’s release. Here is a sneak peak at the track “Dope Boys” featuring T Bark.
The Cool Kids The Bake Sale EP
Chocolate Industries
The Cool Kids, Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks, have released a block rocking EP. The Chicago based duo, the self proclaimed “Black Beastie Boys”, mix old school beats with a relaxed organic flow. Establishing their own label and rocking house parties in Chicago, Mikey and Chuck recently signed to Chocolate Industries to release their EP. After finding out domestic and international demand for their music was higher than they could handle, they needed help to press records. And with such a unique sound, this comes as no surprise. The Cool Kids’ best track on The Bake Sale is “What It Is”. It uses a call and response technique reminiscent of the earliest MC’s. Anyone who has seen them will tell you that they rock the party by engaging the audience and energizing the crowd. “What It Is” captures this feel, while dropping a fast paced ride cymbal, bass drum, and snare backbeat that would induce swaggering heads and break dancing in even the squarest of audiences. The Cool Kids have recently played shows overseas in Australia and Europe, and are currently on tour in the States. Catch them at Lollapalooza and Outside Lands or else you’re a loser. – Jonathan Mendick, Mannerist Zine
Scumzine, is the newest addition to the Seshn blog network and man is it a good read. It’s written by our O.G. contributor, SirJorge. This guy has been a music fan for a real long time and now he has a place to spit honest game in the form of an online zine that is witty and creative. Check it out if you want the real scoop in what’s going on in the music scene.
Also, don’t miss the Mannerist Blog which is full of useful music reviews for you to check out. I am sure you will find some new stuff you’ve never even heard of on here to add to your ipod playlist.
If you are into metal and you like to skate, you need to check out Black Tide. These kids skate just like you and they are all 20 or younger. Did I mention they can rock as hard as anyone out there?
K’naan Dusty Foot Philosopher
Interdependent Media
The first thing I noticed on this album was the production quality. The opening track “Wash It Down”, utilizes the back splashing of water to form a very head-noddable beat sequence. K’naan who draws upon his childhood in terror and war torn Africa continues to infuse tribal tones and beats into some very catchy and unforgettable tales of toughing it out. “I Was Stabbed By Satan” hits the hardest with the chorus of, “I was stabbed by Satan on the day that I was born, I was promised lovin, but instead I was torn”. K’naan also has a keen grasp on the current style of “rap dissing” as he compares thug life in New York to the madness of children with AK-47s in his hometown. This is not an album that will go unnoticed. K’naan really has something going here. “Dusty Foot Philosopher” is one of those albums that as you say to yourself, “Wow, this is soooo good, that thought instantly reforms into, “but dang, listen to these words, it’s actually really jacked up.” What breaks my heart is how beautiful his work is as it bubbles out of one the most messed up scenes in the world. – Ryan Stephens, Mannerist Zine
Putios The Problem Is Not A Problem Anymore
99 Hours of Secrets (BMI) / Cerebral Cliff
Putios’ The Problem Is Not A Problem Anymore is the second full-length album Bob Mason has recorded under a pen name. This album’s folksy, bluesy do-it-yourself combination is a unique and successful formula. Mason’s vocals are sad, straightforward, and simple, but they paint a hopeful picture. The lyrics are an effective and simple amalgam of repetition, rhyme, and vivid imagery, resembling more poetry than music. And the music itself – also of a high caliber, uses subtle diminished chords, weepy picking and dynamic strumming. “Our Stand” is perhaps the best song, echoes surrounding the lyrics, “He led the women and men/ he led all of us too/ and we made our stand/ and we raised our hands/ and all was not lost”. It reminds us of a heroic person, solving a problem too great for ordinary people – timeless lyrics. However, the album cannot rely on only one song. And a particularly weak one is the last track, an instrumental keyboard song. The music is well written, but the keyboard work is off-putting, because it lacks dynamics. In spite of its weakness, the album leaves you wanting more. – Jonathan Mendick, Mannerist Zine
Extra Life’s newest release Secular Works sounds like a whale humping a dead manatee in an underwater church – it’s that specific sound that makes the record fail. It lacks any resemblance to rhythm. It lacks melody, generally not staying in any specific key. It lacks harmony – just one singer chanting his butt off. And it lacks dynamics – all the songs are about the same volume – annoying. Vocalist Charlie Looker sounds like a possessed Gothic church cantor. With his haunting chant-like singing and the rhythm-less rhythm-section, this album resembles being subjected to church as a kid. You are lost in the mass of weird possessed people, wondering what they could be talking about, wanting to be somewhere else, but unable. It doesn’t help that the average song length of the seven tracks is more than five minutes. After listening to the band, which has guitar, drums, bass, violin, keyboard, saxophone, and vocals, I wanted to listen to something more grounded. I didn’t understand what the album was trying to do – perhaps a combination of me not being in the mood, and them being completely shit. On the bright side, it’s their debut on Planaria, so there’s room to improve. – Jonathan Mendick, Mannerist Zine
Blue Velvet’s latest EP release Four Songs showcases the band’s new lineup. After a recent addition, the band is now comprised of two guitarists, two percussionists, a celloist, and a keyboardist. The New-York-City-based band has kept the same musical formula since their self –titled 2004 LP– no lyricist. The album begins with a drone of amplified, but not distorted guitar and a couple of drums. Cello comes in, giving a haunting sound, and keyboards add another thick wall. Each song starts out simple, layers are added, a mish-mashing of music making ensues. All live, with no editing equipment, loops or samples, the album has an edgy live quality. Since it’s only four tracks, let me walk you through each one. “Docile” is a simple start to the album, and sounds too much like the second track of the same name. “Blue Cannon”, the third track, and also my favorite, is the peak of the album. The track has a jazzy feel, with the climactic feel of a chase scene in an old 40’s gangster movie. “Untitled (Two)” is a track with dissident and uneasy keyboard smashing, an exciting way to end an album of rerecorded, previously released work. – Jonathan Mendick, Manenrist Zine
Meho Plaza
The Cool Kids
K’naan
Putios
Extra Life
Blue Velvet
