Courtesy of World Star Hip Hop.I recently read an article declaring 2014 as one of the worst years for rap ever. It is not surprising fans felt this way coming on the heels of a red hot year for hip hop in 2013. JAY Z, Eminem, and Kanye all dropped albums last...
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Minutia: Data, Democracy, Music & the Perpetual Race to the Bottom
Courtesy of Intelligence Aerospace.What better way to bring music to the masses than the Internet? There's never been a time when you could hear more music from the comfort of, well, anywhere. On top of that, what better way to serve the purposes of populism and...
Saint Saviour, "In the Seams" (Surface Area)
A real test for your eyelids.English singer-songwriter Becky Jones has come a long way from her start with electro pop band The RGB's and Groove Armada. After co-writing Groove Armada's Grammy-nominated album Black Light in 2010, Jones has shifted her attention to...
Arca, "Xen" (Mute)
Revolutionary, contemporary, Venezuelan producer Arca comes through with a record recorded from the deepest labyrinths of identity and solace.“You jump off a cliff because you know that when you land, and you crash like a bunch of Legos and you fall apart, you'll...
Dwarves, "The Dwarves Invented Rock & Roll" (Burger)
Loud, outrageous punk rock.If you do not like punk rock, do not listen to The Dwarves Invented Rock & Roll. The album is the band's Burger Records debut. After years of hiatus, incredible amounts of drug abuse, and a reputation of terrorizing live shows the band has...
Manchester Orchestra, "HOPE" (Loma Vista/Concord)
“Simplicity is the glory of expression.ÛManchester Orchestra released their fourth full-length album, Cope, in April of this past year. It fell in line with the progression of the band into a louder, more rock-driven style that made itself prominent on their latter...
Rose’s Pawn Shop, "Gravity Well" (Self-Released)
Energetic, creative Americana.Americana favorites Rose's Pawn Shop bring a rocking, rootsy masterpiece with their newest release Gravity Well. High-energy banjo melodies and deep bass played slap-style are the highlights of the album opener, and set an upbeat vibe...
Flake Music, "When You Land Here, It’s Time to Return"
JAMES MERCER I LOVE YOUR WORK.Before I exalt the worthiness of this album to the highest degree, let's quickly clarify: This isn't new. Released in 1997, When You Land Here, It's Time to Return is the holy grail of Flake Music, James Mercer's (pre-Shins) creation,...
Oil Boom, "Red Metal" (Self-Released)
Rock n' Roll at its finest.Sultry, strung out and with infectious rhythm, Red Metal is a really good back to basics rock album. All of the tracks are filled with lo-fi vocals, good vibes and wobbly and screechy guitar parts that rendezvous with each other while the...
Rancid, "…Honor is All We Know" (Hellcat/Epitaph)
90's mainstream punk for a modern era.Rancid is one of those bands who needs no introduction to a certain group of people. One of the founding bands of the mainstream punk revival in the 90's, Rancid has been in the game for well over a decade now, and they're...