Monday, February 29, 2016

Dylan Cover #223 Billy The Kid "Jokerman"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is live a cover by Billy The Kid playing "Jokerman"

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
The kick-start to his "back to rock and roll" album Infidels, "Jokerman" is a monster. A torrent of images, symbols, thoughts, proclamations, fears and fables; it feels like a dam was broken in Dylan's brain and all of these things just poured out. Musically it moves along but doesn't add much to the towering wordplay as the tune is dominated by the lyrics which seem almost never ending; Dylan has penned wordier tunes, but few feel as heavy as this. Flawed, but reaching for something, it is a not a great Dylan song but it is one that lets us peak into his brain a bit. For more on this tune, check out this post.
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Have never heard of Billy The Kid, a Canadian born singer (named Billy Pettinger) who has been in various projects who you can find more about if interested. Turns out she put a demo collection/new album on bandcamp two weeks ago so you can check that out. As well as her Billy The Kid bandcamp, good stuff.
Thoughts on Cover:
Lots of words for a basic acoustic run through. Different than the original and it works really well for BtK who has an excellent voice and a great delicate handle on the song. A nice way to start the week with a winding hurricane of a song that takes more of a sweet feel with this cover.

Friday, February 26, 2016

Full Show Friday: Michael Jackson 1987

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week..Michael Jackson!
Sure last week was the massive Madonna, but this week we go to the King of Pop and while we went big all of February we end it now because it doesn't get any bigger then this. Michael Jackson performing at perhaps the height of his career, during the mammoth Bad Tour. This show is from Brisbane, Australia, performed 11/25-28/87.

It finds Michael really working it and going back through things with a Jackson 5 Medley and a full rare Jacksons song "Heartbreak Hotel". While we rarely ever throw on MJ, this is a damn fine show and proof of his power as a performer. Pro-sound (if a bit warped by VHS age) and pro footage (same) with a setlist below. Enjoy:

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"
 "Things I Do For You"
"Off the Wall"
"Human Nature"
"Heartbreak Hotel"
"She's Out Of My Life"
 Jackson 5 Medley - "I Want You Back"/"The Love You Save"/"I'll Be There"
 "Rock With You"
"Lovely One"
"Working Day and Night"
"Beat It"
"Billie Jean"
"Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)"
 "Thriller"
 "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"
 "Bad"

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Album Review: The Suffers-The Suffers

The Suffers
The Suffers
*** out of *****

Funk and soul, sunshine and rain all come through on The Suffers confident self titled debut. The players that make up the Houston based ten piece are polished and refined, while still showing their individual talents enough to make things engaging.

The band has its chops down but it seems to be the magic in the moment that makes them special, and even from this studio release a live stage would seem the natural setting. The grooving bass and blaring horns of "Make Some Room" set the down-home-tone with lyrics of cooking and cleaning for love.  

Kam Franklin is the charismatic front woman and her lyrics of food and domestic harmony pop back up in "Peanuts" reinforcing that trend. There are also a few slowed down soul torch jams that focus on her warm vocals ("Midtown" and "Better"). The Suffers also like to put a twist on the Jamaican ska vibe via "Good Day" and more successfully "Slow It Down".

A healthy dose of blaxplotation soundtrack pops up in the bands best track "Gwan" where funky bass, big disco breaks and hand drums mix winningly. That late 70's lush instrumentation is everywhere.

Overall this debut disk throws the same styled, slightly different tracks, hoping one hits it big; this doesn't make for a cohesive album but rather a collection of would be singles. That is just fine though as the tracks work well on their own and the Gulf Coast Soul outfit seems to be a shoe-in to headline sunshiny (and rainy) festivals for years to come.
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Support the band, buy the album, peep some video.


 

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Live Review: Craig Finn 2/3/16 The Appel Room Lincoln Center, NYC

Craig Finn
Live 2/3/16
The Appel Room Lincoln Center, NY, NY

Seeing a lot of shows and being based in Manhattan RtBE will often get asked what is the best place to see live music in New York? Well now we have an official answer: The Appel Room. Overlooking Columbus Circle this venue is amazing not only in site, but sound.

Craig Finn took the stage on this cold rainy night as part of the American Songbook Series with his band: Stuart Bogie-Horns, Walter Martin-Keyboards, Josh Kaufman-Guitar, Jonathan Shaw-Bass, Joe Russo-Drums. The group were more relaxed and nuanced then past Finn outfits and the focus this night was clearly on Finn's newest record which Kaufman produced.

Opening with a delicate/stripped down version of "Certain Songs" the acoustics in the room were immediately evident, every note rose and soared crystal clear; not enough can be written about the venues beautiful clarity. Unfortunately though this was the only Hold Steady song to be played on the evening, with one Lifter Puller tune also getting a nod ("Nassau Coliseum"). The rest of the 15 song set saw Finns newest full album plus out takes, a few older solo tunes and of all things a new song get an airing.

Our favorite of the bunch was the b-cut from Faith in the Future that showed up second in the set list, "Three Drinks". A question RtBE would love to pose to Finn is why this was left off the album proper as it is a great song, and to these ears would have been FitF's top few tracks.

Everything from that album sounded excellent on this night if more restrained as the band never turned up the volume or energy which suited the space, arraignments and songs fine. "Sandra From Scranton" spread out luxuriously, "Christine" felt desperate and "Newmyers Roof" bubbled along. Other solo efforts off of Clear Heart Full Eyes like "Western Pier" lost a bit of their Austin edge, but still set a cinematic scene.

While RtBE has never ran from our all-out affection towards Finn, on this night more love for the band that brought him to national attention needed to be shown. It just didn't feel like the right place for multiple b-cuts and trying out a new song ("The Screenwriter's Office" which had some sort of siren/feedback throughout) was a misstep.

All that said, anytime one of our favorite all-time songwriters plays the best room in the best city, we can not complain too much...
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Support the artist, buy his most recent album, peep some video not from this show particularly but a promo for it:


Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Album Review: Kanye West- The Life of Pablo

Hey all got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!

When we reviewed Kanye West's last release Yeezus, we were enthralled not so much by the music, lyrics or songs, but by the statement. West released a minimalist art record masquerading as hip hop and still remained the biggest name in the biz.

This time out, West has just released pretty much nothing of consequence or even sound. The Life of Pablo is horrific, very little positive can be said about it. 

Artists (and West is most certainly that) need to evolve and while Yeezus felt like something new, Pablo feels like a gasp of pure confusion. Broken, half finished tracks are supposed to be a major statement on life, confidence, religion? Nah, it plays weak all around. We mentioned the number of cooks in the kitchen in the review, but the song "Famous" has 16 credited writers and 8 Producers, just what the hell is going on with these songs?  

We never read any other writers reviews before we submit ours, but since we sent this into Glide we had a chance to read the Pitchfork review (which likens him to Picasso) The AV Club and even All Music focus more on the backstory, the tweets, the drama...and rated the album well. We couldn't disagree more, for Glide we just focused on the album and the songs it contains; those suck.

But, that's just our opinion, support the artist, go to TIDAL for the album and peep some video below:
  

Monday, February 22, 2016

Dylan Cover #222 Michelle Lewis "I Want You"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Michelle Lewis playing "I Want You"

Thoughts on Original:
(From the first time we tackled a cover of this song)
A song that fits the Gemini Dylan like a glove; direct lyrical yearning chorus with verses that meander about introducing characters like roadblocks in the way of true love. It was the last tune written for the mega Blonde on Blonde and a song he and others (it was Al Kooper's favorite) admired so much he almost titled the album after it. Never a track that jumps to the top of peoples "favorites" or "best of" Dylan lists but one that really nails what the artist is all about in some of the simplest terms.     
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist
Michelle Lewis is a folk pop singer from Boston. You can grab her album and support her. 
Thoughts on Cover
A delicate take on a song where Dylan was more in his rambling wild mercury sound. Definitely a different spin then the original, but without the energy I am not sure it works as well, just personal preference on this one.   

Friday, February 19, 2016

Full Show Friday: Madonna Blond Ambition 1990

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week..Madonna!
We skew more popular for February after the cold (and un-clicked-on) Jazz Jan, hey we need page views. This was the biggest tour of the 90's as Madonna takes the stage for her Blond Ambition Tour in full here.

Not the biggest fan of Madonna, so we don't have much to say, but this is pro shot, pro sound and "remastered" according to the youtube poster, so Enjoy:

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Album Review: School of Seven Bells- SVIIB

School of Seven Bells
SVIIB
***and1/2 out of *****
During their career School of Seven Bells put out three decent efforts that dabbled in shoegaze at the start before moving into a more dream pop realm with shiny synths and electro bursts. Then tragedy struck as founding member of the once trio, then two piece, Ben Curtis was diagnosed with a rare lymphoma and three years ago passed away just as the band was starting SVIIB. Alejandra Deheza was left to work on the album on her own and while the move to full on 80's pop isn't unexpected, the upbeat music is.

While Deheza could have gone the Morrissey morose route yet the music remains positive, swelling with layers of synth that just drips 80's neon. Its not a full out party as lyrically Deheza is clearly still hurting (example A: "Confusion") from her partners all to sudden death but the words and vocal performance take on a more robotic/distant form and never drag things down.    

"Ablaze" opens with big heights of keyboard work but the album takes a little while to catch on. "On My Heart" is a safe if sterile love song while "Open Your Eyes" is glitchy and never clicks into a dance mode or full experimentation.

Then things mesh perfectly on "A Thousand Times More" where the electro feeling gains energy drive and focus. "Signals" is another highlight with a dance club vibe and a big riffed chorus while "Music Takes Me" brings around the beat to make things more organically fun. The end remains upbeat, a call to enjoy the moment with "This is Our Time".

RtBE's issue with School of Seven Bells in the past was always the sterilized nature of their efforts; all style over substance. While SVIIB could still play as the Replicants from Blade Runners favorite disk, it has a more human backstory, sadness and in the end a full on immersive enjoyable experience.  
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Two things, one it is sad that Curtis is no longer with us. While we never dug School of Seven Bells that much, The Secret Machines were mega in the mid 00's and gave us some of our favorite NYC music moments as well as at least one all-time disk. Second, I wonder how much the back story and the tragic loss effects/affects our ears with this one...

Support the band, buy the album, peep some video:

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Album Review: Reverend Shawn Amos - The Reverend Shawn Amos Loves You

The Reverend Shawn Amos
The Reverend Shawn Amos Loves You
***and1/2 out of *****
Reverend Shawn Amos's newest release is direct in it's affection for the blues, soul, gospel and most importantly the listener. The Reverend Shawn Amos Loves You is a joyous celebration of sound, retro playing and soulful singing all grounded in the blues style of Americana.

The New York born, Los Angeles based Amos (whose dad was the Famous Amos Cookie Guy) dips south for inspiration as the dusty hot delta is where these songs sprung to life. The opening "Days of Depression" is stripped down rural gospel incorporating The Blind Boys of Alabama to help with the swinging low.

This restrained opener however sets a fake scene as the rest of the album is upbeat and energetic, no song more so than "Brand New Man" which slams with old fashion rock and roll power of horns and blazing guitars. The sauntering blues power wanders into Tinseltown on "Hollywood Blues" while a bit of fried funky stuff powered by Amos harmonica highlights "You're Gonna Miss Me (When I Get Home)".

There aren't many missteps, "Brothers Keeper" is one note and stays too long an "Put Together" feels a bit over produced but overall Amos tribute/embodiment of modern/retro tinged blues is a success 

The ghost of Willie Dixon floats in and out of things specifically on "Will You Be Mine" and the "Spoonful'" sounding "Boogie" which has Missy Anderson helping out on vocals. "Joliet Bound" continues the blues wandering, this time up to Chicago, while a cover of Jimmy Reed's "Bright Lights, Big City" is sung as a duet with Mindi Abair and rings as true today as it did in 1961.

In looking back to the past, Amos has crafted an album that sounds fresh; a testament to the ever malleable genre of the blues and the performer himself. 
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Support the artist, buy the album or stream it and peep some video below:


Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Album Review: Sugar Fly- Sugar Fly EP

Sugar Fly
Sugar Fly
*** out of *****


The L.A. based Sugar Fly's self titled debut LP is a crisply produced exploration of hard rock and soul. The group came together during late night musical outings in the city of angels and the cinematic music fits the playbill while toying with different genres.

Starting out with power rocker "Heartbreak City", which is an obvious ode to their hometown, the players turn up the amps and wail. Immediately front woman Tia Simone dominates and puts her stamp on the close to the heart number. Simone is a dynamic presence who naturally takes over no matter what genre the band is pumping behind her.

"Blind" is the biggest winner from the outfit as the players riff in the way of big 70's heavy hard rock bands dropping in some funky accents on organ while Simone is allowed to take over the foreground with her impressive pipes.

The soul flows out with "Speak To Me" as the band digs into their Stax vinyl collections for inspiration before kicking into gear for an over driven ending. The sprinkling of funk and party rock gives "11 Steps" a get down vibe while "Dig" ends things back on that hard rock Jack Daniels tip.

The production is top notch but sterile, perhaps a bit more dirt and grime could add layers and intrigue to the tracks, but as it stands Sugar Fly is a confident and powerful first offering from a talented group from L.A.
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A new group we were turned on to. Support the players, and peep some video below:

Monday, February 15, 2016

Dylan Cover #221 Jon Bon Jovi- "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Jon Bon Jovi playing "Knockin' On Heavens Door"
Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
The song that seems to have been covered by anyone, but when originally recorded it it was on one of Dylan's oddest releases yet. A straight ahead mournful number that just seems to work, it has invaded culture (possibly because of all the covers) and I would wager is one of Dylan's most widely known tunes...
Cover: 

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Jon Bon Jovi, has never really been a fan favorite of RtBE, although we are noticing a disturbing lookalike trend with Chris Jericho, who is an RtBE fav. When he is with his main gig in Bon Jovi, is 80's pop rock personified, not a bad thing but not something we have ever once reached for. We will still take Poison any day of the week....
Thoughts on Cover:
That said this is a fine cover, with a little history lesson to start things and some cool high string strumming towards the end. Jon Bon himself sings it excellently and the accentuated background vocals help as well. A fine cover.

Friday, February 12, 2016

Full Show Friday- The Who Tommy USA 1989

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week..The Who!
After the frigid January Jazz month we usually like to go big names for February. The Who are one of our favorite rock bands, but Tommy was never up there as far as their albums go for RtBE. Quadrophenia is number one, by far. We would go Who's Next two then a big drop to, A Quick One three probably just ahead of Tommy.

That's not including live albums though and today's live performance of Tommy comes from the bands 1989 tour. Entwhistle on bass, but no Moon on drums. "The Who Three" so it be, with lots of guests including Phil Collins, Billy Idol, and Elton John. Pro shot, Pro Sound Pro Players...enjoy:
 

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Album Review: Freakwater- Scheherazade

Freakwater
Scheherazade
***and1/2 out of *****

The Alt-Country outfit from Louisville, Kentucky hasn't released an album in over a decade but Scheherazade shows them as confident and nuanced as ever.

The two main Freaks are singer/songwriters Catherine Irwin and Janet Bean who both contribute tracks and match each others vocals in an old time country/bluegrass tradition that sounds as good in a saw dust covered bar or on a moonlit back porch.

Both voices are excellently engaging, pairing perfectly and rising very high when needed. On the violin drenched "Bolshevik and Bollweevil" the soaring singing is enchanting as Bean and Irwin's interplay is easy and fluid. At other times the instrumentation takes center stage like the creaky sounding violin and guitars for "Number One With A Bullet".      

"Down Will Come" pushes the creep-out factor into overdrive as a children rhyme becomes cryptic with eerie electric guitars backing the duo while "Velveteen Matador" is more loose and rambling. One of the intriguing aspects of Freakwater is the dichotomy between dramatic and huge like the doomed waltzing of "Falls of Sleep" and soft and yearning "Take Me With You" and "Skinny Knee Bone".   

It all comes together on the track "The Asp and the Albatross" rolling, winking, tough and supped up with drama and strings. Scheherazade is another excellent one from the band put out by the consistently great Bloodshot Records, proving that both Bean and Irwin are still going strong in their own Appalachian alt-country ways. 
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Support the group, buy the album and peep some video:

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Album Review: The Megaphonic Thrift- Sun Stare Sound

The Megaphonic Thrift
Sun Stare Sound
*** out of *****

The noise rock northerners from Bergen, Norway most recent release is titled Sun Stare Sound as it swims in the noise/dream/pop realms. The four piece outfit scaled back some of the chaos of past releases and flow easily, if a bit restrained.

The opener "No Sleep, Only Dreams" eases into that dream pop vibe, but mixes things up with drums that never stay still creating a unsettling nightmare behind the dreams getting heavier throughout. "Interlopers" is the most single based as a dance laden beat bumps behind 80's rock clangs and breathy vocals that float above mixing female/male ah's/oh's.

"The Experimenter" is the centerpiece here running long and staying instrumental for a majority of the proceedings. Bass driven and bombastic it is a fun adventure but stays repetitive and never truly soars.

The drifting "Blistering Heat" has an easy vibe while "Bergen Revels" increases the pop rock while staying squiggling and digital with effects and guitar pedals. "If You Shiver (Overload)" is a disk highlight as the song slowly builds into it's parenthetical title as overloading definitely happens.

The band seems to be in it's groove moving more mellow and dreamy, but staying adventurous when it is needed. Sun Stare Sound...and dream.  
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We have dug this band since they came on our radar and beyond. We caught them live their first time in the US. Support the group, buy the album, peep some video below:

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Album Review: Yuppicide- Revenge Regret Repeat

Hey all got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!
It is of Yuppicide's excellent new release Revenge Regret Repeat. IT is out on Dead City Records and it is a primal punch of punk power for the aging rebel.

Full disclosure we really dig the band, the label and the producer/engineer (who also worked on our EP's) but it wouldn't matter if we personally hated everyone involved; this is a damn good record. The sound is incredible, really elastic and powerful for a punk rock recording and the songs are top notch and much more then one note; the nuances are what elevates this offering.

Support the band, buy the album, read the full review and peep some video:


Monday, February 8, 2016

Dylan Cover #220 Unknown "Hurricane" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by an Unknown Performer playing "Hurricane"

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover version of this tune:
One of the most iconic songs in Bob Dylan's repertoire and famously returned him to "topical" song writing that many of his fans clamored for. Coming on the story-song-centric album Desire, the song and attached cause obviously invigorated Dylan at a crucial point in his life, and gave us the cool term "pig circus" to boot. You can argue the facts and the case if you want to but simply as a work of art "Hurricane" holds a title belt.  
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
We got no idea who this performer is...


Thoughts on Cover:
...and we feel that makes this even cooler and a vital part of this series, everyone rich poor, beginner expert, old young, loves Dylan and is moved to cover him. If anyone knows who it is, let RtBE know and we will update this post.

Friday, February 5, 2016

Full Show Friday: The Police 2008 Tokyo Dome

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week..The Police!
After the frigid January Jazz month we usually like to go big names for February. The Police aren't our favorite rock band, but there is no doubting how popular they are. This show happens in 2008 on the bands reunion tour and is in the world famous Tokyo Dome. 

This is pro shot, pro sound and a fantastic capture of the band. Enjoy:

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Listen to "Your Hollows" From Heron Oblivion's Upcoming Debut

The San Francisco based four piece of psychedelic players are putting out their first album on Sub Pop next month and Heron Oblivion are certainly one to watch and listen for.
Pairing screeching guitars with a female vocal that can hit super highs the group has crafted a noiserock gem of a first song titled "Your Hollows", the lead track off their self titled debut:

The disk will be out on March 4th. We can't wait to hear the full thing as RtBE can't get enough of this jam.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Album Review: Dr. Dog- The Psychedlic Swamp

Dr. Dog
The Psychedelic Swamp
**and1/2 out of *****
The newest Dr. Dog release dates its origins back to before the band was even formed. Co-Frontmen Toby Leaman and Scott McMicken had worked on this topic/odd-concept album before they ever formed the full version of Dr. Dog and decided to revisit The Psychedelic Swamp once again to flush out all the weirdness.

There is an undercurrent of Joe's Garage with music being warped around society/the listener, possibly the internet acting as the Psychedelic Swamp itself, but the connections between tracks (minus the swamp interludes) are loose at best. The whole concept feels light, truly like a band's first effort and the album plays more like an EP with filler all around. It does however allow Dr. Dog to flex even more of their Beatles love, more in the vein of "Magical Mystery Tour" than say "Sgt. Peppers" big musical statement.

Opening with layers of augmented sound on "Golden Hind" the band uses its studio to full affect, burying vocals of returning band member Doug O’Donnell, amping acoustics and playing around with palpable freedom. The highlight track is "Dead Record Player" that takes on an off-kilter funk approach and winds it through a greasy filter.

Folk-Pop has always been a strong suite for the Philly band and "Swampedelic Pop" and "Bring My Baby Back" both fit in that 60's era that they crave. The first half of the album is noticeably stronger then the second which seems to stall on ideas.

"In Love" tries for the same swirling effect but falls short as a complete effort. "Badvertise" is upbeat and chugging while "Good Grief" ends the album on a fun groove that seems to be exhaling at the jokes or pain (one in the same?) lyrically. 

The constants concerning the group, it's killer harmonies/it's retro rock obsession, are going strong here. They amp up their weirdness, but lose their growing songwriting in the process; there is no "Too Weak To Ramble" or "Shadow People. While an overarching vibe is present, it's not a particularly exciting one and while The Psychedelic Swamp is obviously a place Dr. Dog is comfortable; it won't be one that the listener dives back into often. 
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We love the band and have ever since we first saw them, but aren't always on board with their studio efforts, this one is OK at best. That said, still support them, see them live, buy the album and peep some video:


Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Album Review: Aesop Rock & Homeboy Sandman- Lice

Aesop Rock & Homeboy Sandman
Lice EP
*** out of *****
Two well respected New York City MC's pair up for a their first release together as Aesop Rock and Homeboy Sandman work with a series of producers for the Lice EP. The nastiness of the title and cartoon cover art, is combined with crafty word play and sonic movements.

"Strange beats normal" is an agreed upon line by both MC's after going through legit concerns about current hip-hop fans, touring and society in "So Strange Here". That statement from the searching and understated track solidifies the message of this EP as a whole. Curve balls do get thrown as an intriguing organ fueled beat from Optiks seems to be setting up for grandiose rhymes before the duo get silly, talking nasty shit that "Katz" do or shouldn't do.

"Vertigo" kicks things off with energy, power and a sweet use of vibes but the most complete track is "Environmental Studies". Slow piano rolls with Ron Carter like bass before boom boxes and moon rocks roll out. Snares and hi-hats join as Blockheads production perfectly supports behind the duo reminding us to never count the kid out.        

Spinning a nu metal riff into an intriguing tense closer Charles Hamilton sets up the background while the dueling front-men bark out their bars. The pairing itself feels effortless even though their styles are very different. Aesop Rock rhymes direct, sharp and stoic while Homeboy Sandman is languid, nuanced and rope-a-dope. The partnership is comfortable with experimentation (5 tracks, 5 different producers) as it seems to be just beginning a symbiotic pairing if they wish to make this more then a one off adventure.
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Another bandcamp find, you can get the album from their page or stream it below:

Monday, February 1, 2016

Dylan Cover #219 Federico Borluzzi "Thunder On The Mountain"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune comes from Federico Borluzzi and is a live cover of "Thunder On The Mountain"  

Thoughts on Dylan Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
The opening track on Dylan's 2006 album Modern Times, "Thunder On The Mountain" has all the ingredients of a classic; ingenious word play, a rhythmic backbone and some sweet fret work.  In my original review of Modern Times I quoted three sets of lyrics from this tune.  It is epic and fits in with the heavyweights of Dylan's past.  
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
I have not hear of Federico Borluzzi before, but a quick search pulls up that: Federico Borluzzi is a singer-songwriter, cover artist and busker from Italy. Guitarist, singer and harmonica player
Thoughts on Cover:
This week and next we are showcasing two street performers in Italy doing covers of Dylan. Fun stuff all around even if this cover is a bit sped up. We would love to be strolling through the old world and come upon an artist playing Dylan, wouldn't get much better then that.