Album Review: Power Trip - Nightmare Logic

Power Trip 

Nightmare Logic

**** out of *****

On Power Trip's second album Nightmare Logic, the Texas based thrash quintet's combo of old school slamming riffs and head banging beats combined with modern day Armageddon is a metal-riffic combo.

Opener "Sould Sacrifice" is a long way from Santana, but it also contains an extended instrumental work out before slamming full on into a brick wall, exploding into ear drums. "Executioner's Tax" is slower and the vocals of front man Riley Gales jump to the forefront as he calls out all of the religious hypocrites that he sees.

Where the album really starts to break through into thrash metal hell is on "Firing Squad". It is a shift blast of power, speed and anger that motors with Jack Daniels and hell fire shouting out of the speakers. Reminding of excellent old school thrash gods like S.O.D., Exodus and Anthrax the guitars of Blake Ibanez screech into the sun only to deploy with the force of a neutron bomb on tracks like "If Not Us Then Who" and the propulsive title track.

The shotgun blasts of fury do not give up, "Ruination" recalls the early days of Metallica while disk closer "Cruifixation" channels the recently departed soul of Lemmy and Motorhead's unbridled power riffs. Even when they play with some digital intros/outros on "Waiting Around To Die" the group never ventures far from the metallic fury with a track that crams in a soaring solo and a huge breakdown that is sure to liter the dance floor with broken bones.

Aggressive, melodic, rhythmic, homicidal, Nightmare Logic contains everything that makes heavy music so vibrant and vital. Power Trip can make old school metal heads and young ones just finding the genre scream with delight.
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A great bandcamp find. Support the band, buy the album, stream it below and peep some video:

Album Review: Power Trip - Live in Seattle 05​.​28​.​2018

Power Trip

Live in Seattle 05.28.2018

*** out of *****

The Dallas, TX based metal band Power Trip have released a live album to their fans while the groups is locked down from touring due to Covid-19. The album captures the bands tour from a few years ago as Live in Seattle 05​.​28​.​2018 finds the players (Riley Gale (vocals), Chris Ulsh (drums), Chris Whetzel (bass), Blake Ibanez (guitar), and Nick Stewart (guitar)) in fiery form.

Opening with the brief "Drown (Intro)". the band gets the crowd raging before "Divine Apprehension" sets the screeching Slayer meets Pantera tone for this evenings chaos. Ulsh drums dominate "Suffer No Fool" which is dedicated to longtime fans as Gale screams through "Sould Sacrifice" the ripping opener from their best studio album Nightmare Logic.

The crossover thrash sound keeps pummeling for "Executioners Tax" and "Crucifixation" which hit like sledgehammers with their mosh ready sections, flights of si string fury and trudging low end. "Heretic's Fork" and "Firing Squad" use the Ibanez and Stewart guitar riffs as they blast around each other with chunky down strokes and lightning fast solos, as the band constitutes slamming forward.

Album and set closer on this night, "Crossbreaker", is an old tune that wraps up the set and album with a deep pocket groove around swaggering arena ready riffs, gang vocals and Whetzel's bass thumping along.

This capturing of the bands powerful live show is a great keepsake for those who have caught them, or those who haven't yet for any reason. While Power Trip's studio albums contain more energy and cleaner sound, Live in Seattle 05​.​28​.​2018 is a testament to the bands live talents.
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Support the band, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video:

RIP Riley Gale

Riley Gale, lead singer of Power Trip has passed away, he was 34.

In one of the oddest coincidences, RtBE just published a review of Power Trip's recent live release this morning (scheduled for today weeks ago) and now see the news that sadly the lead singer of the band has passed away. We dig their studio album Nightmare Logic rating it highly among 2017 releases. 

Sad news as he was just 34 years old and the band was on the rise. Here is some of his music to mark his passing:

Album Review: Fugitive - Maniac EP

Fugitive

Maniac EP

***and1/2 out of *****

With the passing of lead singer Riley Gale, the fast rising metal band Power Trip's future is unclear, and Fugitive is the first new offering to come out from the Power Trip camp as guitarist Blake Ibanez fronts the project. Also containing members of Creeping Death and Skourge the five piece's debut offering is a fierce EP titled Maniac. 

Album Review: Fireburn - Don't Stop The Youth

Fireburn

Don't Stop The Youth

*** out of *****

Old school punk and hardcore is making a high profile comeback and now another group with players from various stalwart bands of metal, punk and hardcore are coming together. This go around it is Fireburn with their short new EP Don't Stop The Youth.

The California based four piece consists of Israel Joseph I (ex-Bad Brains), Nick Townsend (Deadbeat/Knife Fight), Todd Jones (Nails) and Todd Youth (Murphy's Law and a ton more). The group goes back to basic, once again looking towards the Bad Brains for inspiration, even ending the short EP with a reggae tune and a remix of that tune.

Starting at the beginning however the group thunders and screeches straight ahead with punk from 1981 as a bass about to fall off the fiberboard leads to the burning guitars and machine gun drums of "Suspect". The powerful opening statement sets the bar high for the group and a more mainstream punk tune flows out next as "Break It Down" (complete with fluid Youth guitar solo) is more melodic before the chaotic fury of "Let This Be".

The twist of reggae ("Jah Jah Children") and the remix ("Jah Dub")will earn the Bad Brain comparisons but they are present from the first note, it is good to see the band still inspiring so much earned devotion as they are clearly legends in the genre.

The short EP is a good first effort from the band and with these sort of coming-together's there could be many more excellent releases or this could be a one time thing. Any which way the ten minutes of music Fireburn delivers on Don't Stop The Youth is worth hearing if you are an old school punk rock/hardcore metal fan.
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This is turning out to be a hell of good Fall season for heavy music on RtBE. Dead Cross, Bloodclot, Power Trip, all of these may show up on the year end list. Support the band check out their bandcamp and buy the EP, stream it below as well:

Original Misfits to Play Chicago, Integrity to Play Baltimore in 2019

Two announcements from aging metal bands that are both worthy of a mention here at RtBE even though the shows won't be taking place in NYC.

First, The Original Misfits: Glenn Danzig, Jerry Only and Doyle, with help from former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo and guitarist Acey Slade announced they will be playing Chicago in the Spring of next year.

Having caught the band earlier this year RtBE can not hype their live set enough. It was a blast to catch the men doing their painted faced horror punk thing.  Fear, Venom Inc and Power Trip make for fine openers as well as tickets go on-sale this Friday.

Also in aging punk/metal/hardcore touring news, Integrity is playing two shows in Baltimore. RtBE dug the band back in the day, specifically Those Who Fear Tomorrow and Systems Overload and honestly did not know they were still around, but apparently they released new music very recently so we are down to check that out.

If you are in Maryland January 11th or 12th 2019 check out the shows, night one tickets and night two tickets can both be had still. To celebrate these two old metal/punk legends return to stages how about a few of their tracks below:

Full Show Friday: J. Cole Made In America 2014

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...J.Cole!

Every April we have a special showcase for bands who are playing this years Jazzfest in NOLA. Today we will focus on J.Cole who will be headlining the Congo Square Stage Saturday April 24th.  

RtBE is actually kind of surprised that J.Cole was asked to play, let alone headlining at the festival this year, it makes us very happy that the festival doesn't just rely on the old classic artists and is evolving. 

While we have not listened to J.Cole's music until this, good friends of ours who enjoy hip-hop have and give him a thumbs up. This show is enjoyable with many musical breaks to go with Cole's rhyming. Theatrical and energetic, seems a perfect way to close out the Congo Square Stage in a few weeks, so enjoy the show, full set list below:

1. Be Free - 00:00:00
2. Enchanted - 00:03:45
3. Land of the Snakes - 00:06:52
4. Blow Up - 00:09:24
5. Nobody's Perfect - 00:11:46
6. Work Out - 00:17:17
7. She Knows - 00:22:21
8. Lit w/ Bas - 00:28:35
9. Kenny Lofton - 00:33:26
10. Lights Please - 00:36:28
11. In The Morning - 00:38:12
12. Can't Get Enough - 00:40:44
13. Crooked Smile - 00:44:57
14. Power Trip - 00:50:29

Year In Review 2017- Top 10 Albums Part 1: The Just Misses & Let Downs

Another great year is finishing up for @RockBodElec and we wouldn't be a proper music site if we didn't end the year with a "Best Of" list, so RtBE Presents the Best of 2017 Top Ten Albums Part One: The Just Misses & Let Downs:

In the instance that RtBE has reviewed the album either on the site or somewhere else we will link to that review and just give a quick summation, just click on the name and title and you can read it. As always RtBE worked with the Glide Team to give input on the their Top 20, so expect some overlap (though not as much as in years past).

Again the focus here is on full albums, not singles, but complete releases you can slap on and listen all the way through. We know these are a dying breed, but it still is the way we consume music, no shuffle or singles for RtBE.

Today we are going to focus on the "Just Misses" of our top ten and unfortunately the "Let Downs" released this year. Obviously these are just our personal preferences, feel free to voice your opinion in the comments. Expect installment 2 (#10-6) soon, but for now click on the green "Read More" below:

2011 Voodoo Experience Band Showcase: Morning 40 Federation

Rock The Body Electric will be covering this years Voodoo Experience.  Leading up to the event we will be showcasing some of the acts who are playing the show, now the spotlight shines on: Morning 40 Federation

Morning 40 Federation will be playing @ 3:15 at Le Carnival Bingo! Parlor.  

The band of marauders known as the Morning 40 Federation are a perfect example of the mystical power of the Voodoo Experience.  The band is no longer, but rises like revived Zombies every Halloween as the group reunites for a special concert.  The band is drawn to the fest like a drunk to a free shot...and that is something else this group knows about....

The group was legendary for their insane live sets at the beginning of the 00's becoming a must see live act in NOLA and one that would routinely sell out, party all night and end in a mix of sweat, liquor and mayhem.  Their were mainstays until 09 when they played their last show during Mardi Gras:


 
RtBE first got turned on to the group back in 02 or 03 (the years blur together) when we went to the quarter to celebrate Halloween, some insane costumes were in tow that year, but what stood out the most from that trip was catching Morning 40 Federation at One Eyed Jack's.  The band was on fire and the crowd was lapping up every minute, they played all night and we hung with the band post and then drank with the rising sun.  It was a trip as is the band:


We caught up again with them in NYC when they played one of the dirtiest bars in Manhattan (it was closed down shortly after they played) for a friends book release party.  The group does it's best to contain the mayhem and put out horn drenched funk-outs and break down/get down jams all behind lyrical yammering and howling. 

The cocktails and other things will be in full effect on  Sunday afternoon as the band takes the stage.  It is pure Boosh to catch the fellas when they are playing, and an even bigger one when it is this haunted time of year...their set is not to be missed.
 

2013 Jazzfest Acts: Annnounced Tomorrow, Predicted Tonight

Well "predicted" may be a bit strong, no research is really going into this, perhaps wish list would be a more accurate title.  The 2013 New Orleans Jazzfest will announce it's roster of artists tomorrow, which is pretty exciting as it confirms spring is just around the corner.

RtBE polled some of our Sazerwrapping Regulars who join us on our annual trip to the Big Easy to see who they would like to catch perform at the Fairgrounds this year.  Let find out what they say...

Full Show Friday: Iggy Pop Live @ A venue B 1999

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...Iggy Pop!

The ageless wonder Iggy Pop will be our focus today. What a frontman! The Trolls back him up here and it is a driving energetic display after an awesome acoustic opening. Really dynamite show from 1999 when Iggy was on top of his game working with a late career comeback, Raw Power Indeed! Pro Shot and Pro Sound. 
Enjoy:

1     No Shit
2     Nazi Girlfriend
3     Español
4     Raw Power
5     Search & Destroy
6     Shakin' All Over
7     Corruption
8     Real Wild Child
9     I Wanna Be Your Dog
10   I Felt the Luxury
11   Home
12   Lust for Life
13   The Passenger song review
14   Cold Metal
15   Avenue B
16   TV Eye
17   I Got a Right
18  No Fun
19  Death Trip
20  Sixteen
21  Louie, Louie

Album Review: Brownout - Fear of a Brown Planet

Brownout

Fear of a Brown Planet

*** out of *****

The last time we checked in with the Austin, TX funk outfit Brownout they had on another musical costume, Brown Sabbath. Now the band continues its musical cosplay with a tribute to Public Enemy titled Fear of a Brown Planet.

In truth, this not a direct tribute or even cover versions of Public Enemy's famous tunes, it is an amalgamation of The Bomb Squad (PE's Production Team) beats and more specifically the samples from which they drew from, all filtered through Brownout's vision. Some of these songs bare little resemblance to the Public Enemy tracks they are titled after, and were simply jumping off points for free flowing funk. 

"Fight The Power" is a good example as the group sidesteps PE's angst, diving right back to The JB's "Hot Pants Road" and James Brown "Funky Drummer". The trumpet runs and particularly the killer drumming lay the base while off in the distance synth lines update things. "Bring the Noise" is messier but the chicken scratch guitars, vibrant countering horn lines and pump up the energy. 

A standout track is "By The Time I Get To Arizona" which hits a little closer to home for the Texas crew, beginning with the aggression and wah-wah guitars the groove is thicker than molasses. The horns try to punctuate but get swamped by the mega bass bumps and beats; head bopping icky goodness. The space and airiness given to Flava Flav's "I Don't Wanna Be Called Yo Ni**a" is a unique tweak that works and "911 Is A Joke" is a '70's blaxploitation soundtrack cooker with layers of percussion and horn lines, allowing for the originals bass work while expanding on the sound and working wonders.     

Other tracks are fun on their own but seem to be at odds with, or have no spiritual connection to the originals. "Shut'Em Down" is one example, lacking the punch but contains a nice chilled out groove with a killer fuzz tone guitar fade out that could run all night. "Don't Believe The Hype" turns from empowering anthem to cool get down jam and the most jarring track from title to result is "Welcome To The Terrordome" which transforms one of the most exhilarating/frightening hip-hop songs ever into a late night lounge trip-hop number, stripping it of all its power.

RtBE grew up on Public Enemy and for this outfit to take inspiration from the Long Island legends (and those they sampled) is fine, but Brownout seem anxious to break out of their cover band shell too often on this release. If the songs were say "Inspired by..." as opposed to a full album of interpreted tracks things may have worked better in setting up expectations and results.

If you are not a huge PE fan but love jazzy funk this is for you, if you worship the originals this may be off putting at first, but removed from the inspirations it is still a funky offering.   
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Support the artist, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video:

Sazerwrap Part 2: Jazzfest

The Sazerwrap has been RtBE way of rounding up all the amazing things that happen down at our annual trip to Jazzfest in New Orleans.  This year we spent a week in town so we will breaking the review up into a few parts.  Only 11 Months until next years festival! 

Now we get to focus on our two days (Sunday April 29th & Saturday May 5th)  at the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival specifically the tunes we were lucky enough to catch, and let us just say now it was pure Boosh! 

Album Review: Soccer96 - Dopamine

Soccer96

Dopamine

**and1/2 out of *****

The London based experimental duo Soccer96 get freaky-styley with their newest offering Dopamine. The synth/drum combo touches on jazz, art rock, and hip hop while playing with in a modern electronica style 

Soccer96 are Danalogue (Dan Leavers) on Synths and Betamax (Maxwell Hallett) on drums, beginning the emotional travels with easing intro "Enter The Vortex" before things kick up on "Prelude To The Age of Transhumanism". Not only does the title sounds like a Black Mirror episode, the ominous horror laden music is eerily haunting in all forms before moving into the sci-fi realm with a brighter passage to close. 

The motoring drums and chill synths around distorted vocals coming from within the machine power "Pyschic Mechanics" through warbling speakers while "Entanglement" begins with a laid back club vibe but works as a true showcase for Hallett's impressive drumming. "Red Skies of the Anthropocene" moves in a techno realm with Eastern vibes while "Perfect Dystopia" would make a great beat for an experimental M.C. and an album highlight. 

The title track featuring Nuha Ruby Ra and "Sitting On a Satellite" featuring Salami Rose Joe Lewis are the two tracks most in the lounge/art-rock vein, keeping things direct yet positive with the guest vocalists. The flip side of that is "Use Music To Kill" is the most experimental free jazz of the tracks here. 

The sonic journey is designed as a trip through the cosmos and our reliance on technology. Thematically Dopamine works as Soccer96 manage to ominously warn about a future ruled by machines with few words and lots of machines helping out, a neat trick.

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Support the band, buy the album stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video: 

Monday in Tempe

So I went north this weekend for Ma'Dukes Birthday..had a great time with the family, even with the Cold Rain and Snow they had in Upstate NY this weekend.   While driving around with my mom I got to experience a bit of the XM/Sirius magical device.  I don't mess around with Marconi's invention much nowadze with the interwebs and all those stacks of Cassettes, Lp's and Cd's in my apartment, but this was a cool escape and wouldn't you know it XM has a Grateful Dead channel. In a word...Boosh.

My friend Mike actually mentioned this to me a few years ago and he played some when were driving up the Jersey Turnpike once, but to be honest I forgot all about it, so when we were going to pick up lunch on Saturday me and mom fired it up...what came on wasn't just good it was grand...a China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider combo/segue that ranks at or near the top of the class, and I had never heard this one before, so I wanted to share it with you today:
This Monday's show is from 11-25-1973 Live at Feyline Field in Tempe, Arizona.  Click that link or you can listen to it here:


The recording of this night is PRISTINE, Keith's piano plunks are crisp, Jerry's note bends weep, and the vocals are up front and loud.  A really great capture of this night.  Feel free to Skip right to the magical "China>Rider" if you want, I will detail what you skipped over.  Things don't start out all that promising with a shortened, almost cut off "Promised Land" opener, but stick with it good things are to come. Turns out they come quickly actually, with a beautiful "Sugaree" next, all of the Jerry tunes seem to be head and shoulders above Bobby tunes on this night, just the way it goes some nights.

Now to China>Rider...The sparseness of just Bill Kruetzman on the drums (Mickey Hart was out of the band for this tour and others) allows the band more blank space and here they show restraint, filling in as opposed to smothering the song.  After a pretty standard run through the verse and chorus at about 4 minutes in things really start to get fired up with Lesh's bass hits nimble then at moments notice becoming forceful, constantly moving the song along.  Keith's keys are excellent adding a sense of color that radiates through out, Jerry solo's on his own and simply owns the moment, and Bobby's jazzy rhythms entertain.  

 Crazy Cat peaking through a lace bandanna

 

At 6:25 the band lead by Lesh, drop into a clear Uncle John's band jam that is great, allowing Jerry to continue his solo into the unknown while the rest of the boys play with an already old favorite.  This is some enchanting music.  Bobby starts the first verse of "I Know You Rider" while Phil is still plopping out bass lines and with the power riff Jerry drops post first verse, you can tell he just wants to keep the magic going.  There may be some sound issues as Phil says something about "...the front one too..." that is audible on this recording, but there is certainly nothing wrong with the thunder brought after the "Wish I was a headlight/on a northbound train" lyric.  There is a bit of a stutter at the end but who can argue with the 13+ minutes that came before it, great stuff.  Give it a whirl, Ma'Dukes loved it, I think she may actually tune into the channel on her own now.   

News Break:  Turns out Feyline Field is now Called Tempe Diablo Stadium and the Angels hold their spring training there, looks gorgeous.

 

Looks worth a trip to catch some baseball there.  Back to the show...

OK other comments/highlights; I have no idea why there is filler in the middle on Archive, I understand someone slapped it on their CD #2 when they burned the show, but I would have thought Archive would have cleaned that up, any way, you can skip over it and come back to check out the Felt Forum 71 show. 

It's 1973 so you know you are going to get a perfectly blissful "Eyes of The World" that is just dominated by Phil Lesh who is all over the fret board, playing his bass with abandon.  This one is intense rumbling everywhere light and airy one measure then rearing back, becoming forboading the next. Complete with the nifty breakdown part, man I love those, this Eyes is great and worth your time. 

On the other hand, the "Playing in the Band" that ends the first set is a free wheeling jazz experiment clocking it at over 17 minutes, personally, I got bored with this one.  There is a whole lot of noodling that goes nowhere real special except for some amp antics and noise right before the reprise complete with Donna's wail I would skip it.  The wall of sound gets a bit glitchy at times, but the quality of the recording and the playing on this night make this a fine Monday listen. 

The Dead Weather will be playing Brooklyn

Just a quick heads up, The Dead Weather will be playing Brooklyn in a week, at the tiny Music Hall of Williamsburg, so you know this will sell out instantly.  From the Band:

November show in Brooklyn announced!

11.09.2009

The Dead Weather have just announced that they will be playing a show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY on November 17th. Tickets will be available for subscribers to The Vault, Third Man Records' online subscription service, for three days starting on Tuesday, November 10th at 12 pm EST, and available to the general public starting Friday, November 13th at 12 pm EST.

During this trip to NY the band will also be performing at the mtvU Woodie Awards so be sure to vote for them in the Best Video Woodie category HERE Tune in to see that performance on Friday, December 4th at 10 pm EST on mtvU, MTV, MTV2 and Palladia. 

More thoughts and some videos after the jump.

Album Review: Wednesday - Rat Saw God

Wednesday

Rat Saw God

**** out of *****

The quartet from Asheville, North Carolina, Wednesday, put their '90's rock love and country twang side by side, and in some cases overlapping in what they call "country-gaze", as Rat Saw God is a coming of age album written in/about/during the internet era via the Southern states. 

The group of Karly Hartzman - Guitar & Vocals, MJ Lenderman - Guitar & Back-up Vocals, Xandy Chelmis - Lap Steel, Margo Schultz - Bass, Alan Miller - Drums, were produced by Alex Farrar; the outfit has been at this for a few years now but this time feels like a break through. 

The band uses the term country-gaze to describe themselves and that is spot on, they can shift from side to side of that spectrum, but overall, Hartzman's tales of backwoods bleakness mixed with humor fits snuggly within large loud guitars and pounding drums. Opener "Hot Rotten Grass Smell" is a barn burning, buzz bin blast from the mid '90's that cuts out too fast, but the album highlight arrives next. 

"Bull Believer" is the essence of this outfit with Hatrzman both recalling specific details and yelping gutturally as she dives into the fuzz and crunch throughout the eight and half minute track that resolves with a huge My Bloody Valentine like ending. A dynamite song and one that defines this Wednesday. 

It isn't the only winner here though as "Got Shocked" uses big drums from Miller with layers of strings from Lenderman, Chelmis and Hatrzman. "Bath Country" drives home a pulsing road-trip through the south by a daughter of god with Schultz's bass pushing the way forward throughout the overloaded feedback chaos of loud guitars. 

The flip side to the shoegaze love is the loose country twang from the efforts like "Formula One" which keep Hartzman's specifics and humor front and center around the Americana sound. Things are pushed into Nashville pop rock territory for the smells like a single, "Chosen To Deserve" which is saved by Hartzman's less than saccharine lyrics and mild annoyance vocals. The details of "Quarry" also stand out as lived in, while the melody is reminiscent of The Kinks "Waterloo Sunset" and "Turkey Vultures" encompasses that country-gaze label exceptionally with building tension, squirrely guitars, and lap steel work.

The only negative here is the album ends with two fairly non-descript numbers ("What's So Funny" and "TV in the Gas Pump") after setting such a high bar previously. Not a bad problem to have when Hartzman's tales, and the bands power, shines through consistently on Wednesday's best effort of their career, Rat Saw God.          

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

Album Review: Toubab Krewe - Stylo

Toubab Krewe

Stylo

**** out of *****

The term 'world-music' always sounds lazy and lame, but when a band combines Appalachian folk with West African rhythms and present it in a jamband "any thing goes" dynamic, that term fits. 

Toubab Krewe are back with Stylo. The album comes after a 8 year recording break since their 2010 release TK2. The band has even been on hiatus from the road for the last two years where they make their living as their fluid music is intended to move in and out of the dancing crowd. 

Even with the long break, the bands style has not deviated much at all from their first offering back in 2005; light funky grooves, layers of percussion, easy hip-hop influenced beats, cutting guitar lines and bright break downs. Back then the group called it "Afro-Cowboy-Ninja-Surf-Music" and while elements still ring true they have evolved into a more polished/cohesive outfit. One noticeable change for Stylo is in the production, in the past their was more separation between players but now their sounds blend into an audio driven maafe.

The band, (Drew Heller - electric guitar and soku, Justin Perkins - kora, kamelengoni, and electric guitar, Justin Kimmel - electric bass Luke Quaranta - percussion Terrence Houston - drums) gets right back in their familiar groove with the lighthearted first single "That Damn Squash". Long time fans will immediately feel back at home, but newbies are easily welcomed also. 

Both the heavily thumping "Lafia" and "Night Shade" increase the percussive pressure adding heavy beats to the mix, "Lafia" in particular increases the head bopping aggression levels with metal guitar power, while the title track really shines. "Stylo" manages to merge deep bass with lightly distorted surf guitar culminating into a languid offering with a Caribbean tilt to it; super cool cruise music. 

"Saba Menyia" is one of the more experimental tracks as it almost two offerings in one as the beginning plays close to free jazz with everyone soloing before shifting gears into deliberate slow down and trip out the groove. While not the most successful track here, it shows the band pushing itself. "Salut" is more in the bands wheelhouse as the killer guitar riff sets the tone before all of the players increase the tempo to a frenzied celebratory state. 

There is very little that misses the mark on Stylo and while their's may be a sound new to listeners, it is instantly enjoyable. For a band who has been away for the game for a bit Toubab Krewe's newest feels like they never left and that is outstanding for the ears.
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We like this band and are happy they are still at it. We reviewed their first record for Glide back in 2005 and caught them when they came to NYC back in early 2006.

Support the band, buy the record, stream it and peep some video below:

Album Review: Ghostface Killah & BADBADNOTGOOD- Sour Soul

Ghostface Killah & BADBADNOTGOOD 

Sour Soul

*** out of *****

Ghostface Killah has been incredibly busy lately releasing an album a year since 2013 and this is the first of two scheduled for 2015. On his last effort, 36 Seasons, Ghost partnered with The Revelations a Brooklyn soul band who added a calming retro touch to the chaotic comic book/superhero story trying to be told. On Sour Soul Ghost has again teamed up with a live band, this time the Toronto based trip-hop/jazz outfit BADBADNOTGOOD, the result is a freer looser and more enjoyable effort then 36 Seasons but not a career milestone by any stretch.  

The band plays that retro soul style that fits the Wu Warrior's verses like a glove even managing to toss in a few instrumentals like the easy string laden "Stark Reality" or the horn blown "Experience" album closer. When the front man comes on though he does it in his trademark style, uncut repeating the ghetto war stories of yore and coming on the heels of 36 Seasons, he does have a feel of going through the motions as a lead MC. Far from poor he still links words and syllables effortlessly but there is a sense of having heard it all already that creeps in.  

Things are mixed equal measure for BBNG's smooth sliding beats and Ghostface's pimp rhymes ("Tone's Rap") or pumped up with energy when it is called for over crisp drums and keyboard choruses ("Mind Playing Tricks"). The guests add a nice texture update with Danny Brown injecting a verse for "Six Degrees" and Elzhi trumping Ghost's power on "Gunshowers".

The upbeat tone though is fleeting, the mainstay is the 70's retro soul vibe and BBNG perfectly play it, if without a distinct feel; if anything they replicate the sound too perfectly it almost feels sampled. The best combo of all the styles is the Tree helped "Street Knowledge" which rolls along effortlessly with musical flares from the ether and rhymes from the gutter.  

This album feels par for the course (not a major highlight far from a letdown) just more of the same smooth jams and gruff vocals, a pattern Ghostface has seemed to settled into nicely over recent years.
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Support the artists here and here, buy the album here, stream the album here, and peep some video below:

Album Review: Bleached Welcome The Worms

Bleached

Welcome The Worms

**** out of ***** 

While the title of Bleached second album has a decomposing ring to it, the band has actually improved their upbeat pop punk from their excellent first release. Welcome The Worms was written during some difficult times and lyrically that shows, but the music (moved along by top notch production) can't help but shine through and elevate the outfit.

The LA based trio of Micayla Grace, Jessie and Jennifer Clavin were experiencing personal turmoil in various forms when this record was written and recorded, a track like "Wasted On You" directly spells out a break up in direct format. It calls out both parties but still displays a power beat, deft background vocals and a killer "oo oo oooo" repeating that is dynamite; even during broken hardheartedness the pop/punk magic wins out.  

Opener "Keep On Keepin' On" sets the tone completely with a straight ahead beat, surviving lyrics and organ influx that twists the dynamics while "Trying To Lose Myself Again" hand claps and wishes for simpler times. "I'm All Over The Place (Mystic Mama)" gets its groove on and closer "Hollywood, We Did It All Wrong" confidently closes things with an eye forward. 

"Sleepwalking" is all about the beautiful bass runs that Grace manages to intertwine with the other players and "Chemical Air" is a showcase for guitarist Jennifer Clavin. A sugary sweet drug trip (complete with bong rip intro) is swayed to during the 50's by way of the Go-Go's "Sour Candy" and while there isn't a clunker in the bunch "Desolate Town" is confused as it goes grungy then tries a mid tune uplift that never really takes off.   

A shining gem of a song is the Joan Jett influenced "Wednesday Night Melody" that puts a positive spin on it all via a feel good, life affirming track that can't help but make a listener smile and shake a tail feather. Welcome The Worms is a great album from a band that only seems to be getting better. 
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RtBE enjoyed the bands first album, but this is a step up and an all around excellent release. Grab it and peep some video below: