Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Session and The Bear - UK grime and Such

I surf and check hundreds of sites during the day, always looking at, listening to, whatever bands or artists catch my brain. Today I was at indiestore.com and was tempted by their "Random Indie Store" button. "Sure, ok. I'll press the button." It took a few presses of the button until I found something that didn't make me cringe (i.e., bad Swedish disco, 13 year old girl singers, earnest singer songwriters, etc.) . I finally stopped the button when I landed on Session and the Bear. This UK producer/rapper duo just felt like "yeah, they've got something." They're still in their larval beginnings, but have that glowing kernel of talent. I've been watching the UK grime scene for a while and find it fascinating -- Dizzee Rascal, The Streets, Lady Sovereign and the like. I don't know if grime is ever going to translate largely in the US -- -- or just continue to appeal to a the group of us that can't resist a "Norf' " London accent. But, in a way, I wonder since, [as Nas says] "hip hop is dead," is the US going to experience the Brits reintroducing us to "our" music again? The UK grime-sters are coming to hip hop and rap via a similar road as the originators of American rap and hip hop -- poverty, housing projects, bleak urban environment-- and writing about how they get through their everyday experiences. Or is Grime just the Punk for this generation of Brit Kids as their reaction against Tony Blair inspired cynicism and hopelessness? Will grime ever win over the US "backpack" hip hop crowd? It's definitely made inroads.

Session and The Bear - check out their Fade to Black track, as it seems to be the best of the bunch. No cheesy samples; just some nice, spare and appealing production behind "The Bear's" flow. I hope these blokes keep at it.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Gettin' Freaky in the Disco

Greenskeepers
Polo Club
(om records)


Want to hear every synth band from the 80s? Well then, buy or download this album. Sure they seem kind of jokey, but what heck! It's meant to dance to. Dance Punk? No, not really. The opening cut is, kinda, with opening slutty cheerleader shouts of "Hey motherf**ker!", but then its all dancing from there on out. "NY Lady" is a dancefloor fav and "I Want A New Drug" (yep, cover of the Huey Lewis tune) comes across well as a fuzzy electro-dirge. And, man! They does gots them some fancy clothes. Check out their video on You Tube.
And, how can you NOT like breakdancing?
Shut up and dance!

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Oct 26, 2006 - Jim Noir & Dean & Britta

So, it took me more than a week to get to this, but it's worth it. Two lovely, lovely suggestions for your listening pleasure.

Dean & Britta - Words You Used To Say (EP) (Zoe Records)
http://www.myspace.com/deanandbritta
http://www.deanandbritta.com/
Former members of the band Luna (and Dean formerly formerly of Galaxie 500), create some very comfortable, sub-cutaneous sound. His not too deep, not too rumbley voice instantly fits in your head; hers layers it like silk scarf, delicate, but worn, torn and loved. If you've liked Ballad of the Broken Seas from Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan, you need to listen to this. It's a nice night flight.

Jim Noir - Tower of Love (Barsuk Records)
http://www.barsuk.com/bands/jimnoir/discography
http://www.jimnoir.com/
I became totally won over by this artist, simply by listening to his music via his website. So incredible sweet and captivating. All the essences of 60s pops harmony and cords, and a beautifully innocent feeling, touched with nice little electronic frills. Whether a soft love pean, or a plea to keep away from his football (soccer ball), or to keep off his 'patch' (of turf, I imagine). Give in. Give in.

More soon.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Alright, it's time for post. I've been putting this off, but it's time to just do it. Like an intimidating blank sheet of paper waiting for you to draw on it, once the first pencil line is down, it's not so intimidating.

Despite the overtly anti-baby boomer paragraph at the top, this blog is actually about music. Music, I TELL YOU! Never doubt the power of a song (or a live performance) to change your life.

Even though a great number of people are shaking in their boots about the direction the music industry is going, I believe an even greater number of people are truly excited about the future of music -- how and where we hear it; how we acquire it to listen to it later; how and with what we make it; how we find it and share it with others.

We're in one of those larval, developmental space/times in the world of music. The old is not quite dead; the new is not quite developed enough for us to tell what kind of butterfly it is. Reminds me, strangely enough, of all the places where really interesting artists and other cultural creatives appeared and started shaping what would become the future. Music-wise, just think of David Bowie creation, springing forth in the gap between hippie rock and arena rock.

The future of music is under your fingertips right now. But, it's also down the block from you. What most people need is someone to "curate" the vast amounts of potential music out there. Radio doesn't do it anymore (except a select few independent stations, and internet radio), so it's virtual word of mouth. Check back later to see my semi-weekly posts of links to new bands, new music, new radio that I've been trolling. I'll show you my links if you show me yours. ;-)

Lady Miss