Those Who Dig

DOOMSTARKS – Victory Laps

July 25, 2011

DOOMSTARKS – Victory Laps

The long-rumoured collaboration between Ghostface Killah and MF Doom has finally produced an actual song. Yes, you heard that right – the two finally created music together and allowed people to listen to it. Oddly, the remix of the track from Madvillainz came out last week before the original track.

Doom's production here is raw and gritty. It's like chewing on sand. Both rappers are on their game and their drastically different vocal tones and styles end up meshing well. Hopefully this leads to an album from two of my favorite rappers. Add in some Madlib production and my head might explode.

The Blogger Lowdown

w/ Citizen Dick

July 25, 2011

| Kyle

The Blogger Lowdown is a feature where we ask the good people who run our favorite, essential blogs to give some insight on themselves and their sites. There are some great resources for discovering all kinds of music on the interwebs and our hope is to introduce you to a few of these outlets and the people behind them.

It's been a minute since we've done this feature, but we're coming back with a bang! Today's interviewee is Kevin of the great Cleveland-based music blog, Citizen Dick.

Videos

Warren Zevon – Poor Poor Pitiful Me (Live 1982)

July 24, 2011

| Kyle

Warren Zevon rocking the shit out of "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" and "Cadillac Ranch" in Jers in 1982. Great audio on this one. Sometimes I forget how possessed and energetic Zevon was. This video clears that right up.

News

Chris Bathgate Kickstarter/World Cafe Appearance

July 21, 2011

| Kyle

A couple newsworthy events from the man behind one of our favorite albums of the year. First, Chris Bathgate has had a ridiculously unlucky string of accidents involving his tour vehicles this year. All the break-downs and accidents mean that he and his band have been left without a van to tour with, which means no Chris Bathgate live. This is truly a tragedy, so he started a Kickstarter page to fund the purchase of a van with biodiesel conversion.

Head on over to his Kickstarter page and throw a little money his way. Even five bucks would help!

Second, Chris and co. were recently on NPR's World Cafe and played some songs live and talked about Salt Year. It's a great listen, so head to the World Cafe page to stream it.

New Releases

Beat Radio – Teenage Anthems

July 21, 2011

| Kyle

Beat Radio – Teenage Anthem For A Drunken Boat

Our friends in the great band Beat Radio are putting together a compilation of some songs they've released via website and blog over the past couple years. Teenage Anthems is available on limited edition, handmade CD or as a digital download. If the title track "Teenage Anthem For The Drunken Boat" doesn't get you to shell out for the whole album, I think we're going to have to break up. It's not me, it's you.

News

Jeff Bridges Announces Album

July 19, 2011

| Kyle

Put this is the "news that made my day" category. Jeff Bridges, one of my all-time favorite actors and a great musician, is releasing a major label debut album. Jeff Bridges will be released September 5th from Parlophone Records and the music sounds like it will echo the tone of Crazy Heart, which is a great thing. It also features guest vocals from the likes of Rosanne Cash, Ryan Bingham, and Benji Hughes.

Unearthed Music

You Won?t

July 19, 2011

| Kyle

Boston-based band You Won't brought me two revelations recently. First, they are quite possibly the least Google-able band ever. Second, their album Skeptic Goodbye is quickly becoming one of my favorite releases of the year.

You Won't – Three Car Garage

You Won't – Who Knew

Unearthed Music

The Well-Informed – New York (We Love Her)

July 18, 2011

| Kyle

The Well-Informed – New York (We Love Her)

I'm going to go ahead and use The Well-Informed's own words to describe their music, because it's basically more clever than anything I can come up with: "Cuban Missile make-out music". Alright, maybe it doesn't exactly conjure up a specific sound in your mind but it's a hell of a line isn't it?

The Well-Informed are a three-piece from NYC that make a theatrical brand of Prohibition-era, dixieland tinged pop. Their single "New York (We Love Her)" makes me picture all those scenes in a fancy bar in Boardwalk Empire where there booze is flowing, the ladies are dancing, and the band is playing. It's a modern ode to the women of the city, but it transports you to a period and a time.

I also really like that fact that The Well-Informed embraced the streets of New York with a busking tour. In a time where many small bands are rethinking the classic touring tradition, taking your music to the streets and connecting to people intimately is a great idea. I'm sure it didn't make them millionares, but they got to travel around the city, doing what they love, and meeting people, so fuck it right?

All The Well-Informed's songs are currently available for free on their Bandcamp page, so head on over and get your download on.

Picture In A Frame

Tom Waits and a Horn

July 18, 2011

| Kyle

Tom Waits with a big, funny horn. No man has ever projected as much "cool" in every photograph of themselves as Thomas Alan Waits. Well, maybe Miles Davis, but it's a toss-up.

New Releases

Gorilla Warfare Tactics – RewindRhyme

July 17, 2011

| Kyle

Gorilla Warfare Tactics – RewindRhyme

One of the most promising hip hop acts emerging today, Gorilla Warfare Tactics, just released their first song since they dropped their Premier EP back in February. That EP has become one of my most listened to albums this year, so I've been waiting anxiously to see what the boys would do next.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: piano-led hip hop tracks get me everytime. Add in live (at least live sounding) drums and you've got the recipe for a Kyle guarantee. "RewindRhyme" is as solid, catchy, and rooted in nostalgia as we've come to expect from the young trio. GWT continue to carve out a unique, soulful sound in the oversaturated world of backpack blog rap. I wouldn't be surprised if these guys become a household name after releasing a proper album.