If you’re a fan of Philadelphia classic rock quintet Dr. Dog, you’ll love their fifth album Fate, a varied, ambitious collection that strikes a balance between immediacy, timelessness, and Beatles-ness. We recently posted “The Old Days.” This new day is a bit of a Dr. Dog gold rush. First of all, we have a multi-camera live video for Fate’s “Hang On,” allowing you an intimate look at how the Dogs construct their harmonies and psych-tinged hooks. Then there’s another Fate gem “The Ark,” along with a Q&A with the band. Note: They have an actual dog with them in the studio.
The Brazilian trio Azymuth – keyboardist José Roberto Bertrami, bassist Alex Malheiros and drummer Ivan “Mamão” Conti – reached their peak of popularity in the mid-1980s. They played a self-branded style called “samba doido,” or “crazy samba,” which drew from the increasingly production-heavy and smooth-edged sound of radio-friendly jazz, soul and funk while still keeping with fusion’s synthtastic ultra-modern vibe. What separated the trio from the crowd was Conti, the man responsible for infusing traditional Brazilian rhythms within a sleek, muzak-like sound. It’s hard not to hear Azymuth’s music as easy listening or smooth jazz, but if there were ever a counterargument to these classifications, it would be grounded in the inventive rhythmic prowess of Conti.
It is clear why Azymuth’s music is so attractive to Otis Jackson Jr., the prolific producer known as Madlib. Under his Yesterday’s New Quintet moniker, Jackson has explored atmospheric, loungy concoctions of Rhodes-centric jazz and instrumental funk. Sparse rhythms lead vamping grooves and hypnotic, abstract soloing that, thanks to Jackson’s keen ear for mood and choice influences, sidesteps any notion of lounge-fusion or synthetic chamber jazz by keeping the music somewhere in the hazy realm of space dub and dedicated home studio experimentation. Whereas hearing most of Azymuth’s discography today may leave you cringing at the synthetic cheesiness of the sound, it was, in all respects, an exciting progression of fusion at the time of its release. Let’s hope it ages as well as Yesterday’s New Quintet’s 2001 release Angles Without Edges. Click here to keep reading and sample a track.
A few days ago LA Weekly ran a story entitled “Who’s Biting J Dilla’s Beats? Hip-Hop producer’s legend ascends posthumously; estate struggles to maintain control.” The by-line of this article is more accurate than the slightly misleading title, as the piece reveals the saddened situation of the declining J Dilla estate, struggling under the weight of hefty medical bills Dilla left behind, along with serious tax debt (due to his expensive health costs).
In an attempt to curb copyright infringement, Arthur Erk, the estate’s executor and Dilla’s former business manager, has launched a full-on attack on all Dilla bootlegs stating “If we don’t, it cheapens the value of his brand. We’re trying to protect his legacy and his heirs.” However, as one may imagine, the task of policing the use of Dilla’s beats is a daunting one, especially given the age of the internet. The essential message of Erk’s mission is that all the unauthorized use of Dilla beats is depriving the estate of income to pay off Dilla’s expenses, and provide a future for his children. Hopefully those leaking all unauthorized Dilla material will read this article and take heed; it isn’t helping keep his name alive to do so, it’s hurting his legacy.
Girl Talk, a Pittsburgh native, is one of the illest “mash-up” DJ’s ever. He’s taking the “Radiohead Approach” with this mixtape and you can pay whatever you want for it! Click Here to go to the page and start downloading.
Mick Luter is the premier artist of Chicago. From coming up with Lupe Fiasco to sharing the microphone with Slum Village, The Dramatics, Bump J, Yung Berg and the late Stack Bundles, Mick has the ability to captivate listeners with his vivid look into the life of coming up on the west side of Chicago. He boasts production from A-List producers such as: NO ID (Common, G Unit, Toni Braxton, etc.), SC (Mary J. Blige, Puffy, Mobb Deep), Buckwild (D.I.T.C.) and Brian “All Day” Miller (Kanye West) and he has a flow and wordplay that is unmatched. He won the Source Battle in 2000 defeating over 200 emcees. He recently won the Original Signal/Music Nation hip-hop contest defeating over 3,000 contestants which landed him a situation with Sony/Epic Records. He has an album “The Word” (largely produced by NO ID) and “The Mickstape Vol.1-Hustle Harder” which were both critically acclaimed and had fans, critics and execs wanting to hear more. His next mixtape titled “The Lesson” will be ready for release on July 1st. There are 12 original songs (produced by SC, Hi-Tek and NO ID) and 8 freestyle tracks that are sure to put Mick’s stamp on “THE PREMIER ARTIST OF CHICAGO!” “How We Raised” is the first single off of Mick’s untitled album and it has a b-side track “J-Down” which is produced by Hi-Tek.Both tracks are getting airplay in the urban market.
Just got word that Pacific Division signed with Universal yesterday. About a week ago, rumor had it Pac Div was going to be the premier act to sign with Jermaine Dupri’s new TAG Records – a Procter and Gamble/Island Def Jam effort to meld product with product.
Whoever signs with TAG will forever be known as “the TAG group.” It will be unduly difficult to shake the image of product placement. JD even said in his TAG press release, “I’m hand-selecting and molding these artists to make history in hip-hop.” He’s not looking for good music, he’s looking for an image, for artists to mold. It will be a damn shame to have another artist’s music lost to the pages of gimmick history.
One of the best magazines ever created containing tons of rare Hip-Hop, Jazz, Blues, Soul, Reggae, & pretty much anything else imaginable is now on sale digitally @ Wax Poetics. Issue 29 of the magazine will be on news stands everywhere within the next week. Go pick up a copy and get educated on the BEST music from all over the world.
If you’re a fan of Philadelphia classic rock quintet Dr. Dog, you’ll love their fifth album Fate, a varied, ambitious collection that strikes a balance between immediacy, timelessness, and Beatles-ness. We recently posted “The Old Days.” This new day is a bit of a Dr. Dog gold rush. First of all, we have a multi-camera live video for Fate’s “Hang On,” allowing you an intimate look at how the Dogs construct their harmonies and psych-tinged hooks. Then there’s another Fate gem “The Ark,” along with a Q&A with the band. Note: They have an actual dog with them in the studio.
Recent Comments