BLOC PARTY REVEAL “MERCURY” Yesterday we posed the question ‘what do our favorite Gang of Four indebted dance-rockers Bloc Party have up their sleeve?’. Today we have our answer as Bloc Party’s radio announcement was for a new single entitled “Mercury” (the video for which you can view below). Reports are vague as to if this is a one-off single or the first cut from their as of yet untitled third LP but either way we’re digging the new, techno-infused ‘Flux-ish’ sound, even if its lacking some of Russel’s driving guitar-parts. Can’t wait for the next countdown from these guys.
******************************************************************** TRYOUTS: NAS’ UNTITLED It must be hard to capture a moment in time on record, when all the feelings, the culture, the zeitgeist of the moment coalesces on one singular album. Nas‘ Untitled however, a fantastic followup to 2006’s Hip Hop Is Dead and perhaps his best post-Illmatic album, genuinely captures the fear, the hypocrisy, and the madness that is today’s America, and in doing so has crafted perhaps the best record of the year. Whereas his collaboration with DJ Green Lantern produced tracks of great bombast and excitement, Untitled is a calculated affair, placing intellectual verses over smooth, thoughtful beats with an air of critical thought and perhaps a hint of impending sadness. While The Nigger Tape was fantastic, Untitled transcends such accolades, not necessarily because it’s a better album outright but more so because its political statement is so bold as to suggest the message outweighs the medium. Nas has outshone even his own career-path on this defining album. Makes the team and is first in line for captain.
Nas – “You Can’t Stop Us Now” ******************************************************************** TRYOUTS: BECK’S MODERN GUILT The good news about Beck’s new album Modern Guilt is that cuts like “Chemtrails”, so haunting and ethereal as to remind listeners of the artist’s magnum opus Sea Change, are peppered throughout the record. Tracks like “Orphans” (featuring Cat Power!) and “Youthless” transcend the middling territory of the past few Beck efforts and really standout as fantastic testaments to the power of the Odelayer’s freaky-folk ballads. However, the album, for all its effort to sound spare and stepped-down sounds at times a bit sleepy. Still, an award goes to Danger Mouse for recapturing the slacker nature of Beck’s lo-fi recordings. Makes the team though expect this one to get kicked from the team when the principal catches him under the bleachers making those special ‘Chemtrails’…
Beck – “Chemtrails” ******************************************************************** STARS’ BEDROOM UP FOR POLARIS AWARD According to this Stereogum articleStars‘ album In Our Bedroom After the War is up for the preeminent Canadian music prize the Polaris Award, given to the best Canada-produced album regardless of sales. Definitely a great break for one of our favorite albums of last year which nonetheless continues to pop up this year. Great work Stars, we’ll see you at ACL!
Stars – “Window Bird” ******************************************************************** KANYE NEEDS ANGER MANAGEMENT? Can’t a brother catch a break? Even Kanye’s management thinks he needs anger management according to this Rock Daily report. Sounds to me like a publicity stunt to help change the erroneous public opinion that a black man shouldn’t speak unless spoken too. Personally I like West’s outspoken nature but we’ll see how everyone feels when he’s Uncle Tomming it on your TV screen all night. Keep up the fight Kanye I say!
Ladies and gentlemen: The Nigger Tape. Just when it seemed like Nas was going to be backing down from the title of his forthcoming now self-titled album (which was at one point infamously going to be called Nigger), the rapper releases a mixtape with DJ Green Lantern that eschews any doubt that the artist bends easily to the will of Wal-Mart shoppers worldwide.
The controversy behind the word is almost insulting to me. If an artist uses a word in his artistic medium, does that necessarily means he condones the use of the word? If Nas is attempting to make a political statement about the state of black America as it is today, who are we to say anything about it? What happened to free speech? And more importantly, if an album’s title offends you, why should you buy it?
Politics aside (did we mention Nas is an Obama fan?) The Nigger Tape delivers in spades (if you feel me there). Chock full of the kind of experimentation and fiery political diatribes that would make a major label swoon like a southern belle, the mixtape hearkens back to a time when hip-hop was punk rock for black people – chock full of politically incorrect far-left sermons on the state of the working class. Tracks like “Hero” and “N.I.G.G.E.R.” make Green Lantern live up to the moniker “The Evil Genius”, as the listener can imagine him cutting together beats in some dark underground laboratory, and songs like “Cops Keep Firing” and “Esco Let’s Go” feature prominently Nas’ smooth, intellectual flow that places the artist back on top of his rap game.
Overall, not only does the Nigger Tape make the team, it’s one of the best album’s of the year so far and it will be a feat if Nas can match the excellence that is this LP. Definitely worth a download wherever you can find it *wink wink*.
FREE BODIES OF WATER SHIRTSHere’s a new Myspace post from our favorite pseudo-religious art collective/band Bodies of Water:
“SO i was dying t-shirts today and i guess i didn’t let all the dye powder dissolve properly before i put the shirts in so they all have a couple random little red blotches on them in some places. i personally like the way these blotches look but i understand that they are not for everyone…. SO im offering these shirts to you guys for FREE.
if you can cover the shipping, i’ll send them to you! just paypal $3 shipping /per shirt to accounts@bodiesofwater.net -make sure your mailing address is current w/ paypal and tell me the sizes you want (just L & XL are left) in the “Message to recipient” box.
get a bunch! i cant just throw these things away!! xx, meredith
ps. if you are outside the US and want me to send you one of these, the shipping is $8.” So there you have it! Grab a free BoW shirt ASAP and get yourself a copy of their new album A Certain Feeling when it drops!
Bodies of Water – link removed by artist’s request – check out their Myspace! ********************************************************************
NEW BAND CHEER: MAVERIC Seems like it’s hip-hop day here at Cannibal Cheerleader because we’ve got a cool new artist to feature called Maveric. Blending elements of soul and funk with some impressive instrumentation, this Brooklyn rapper is just now releasing his The Medicine mixtape. Jamming out on this guy for now, we’ll be sure and keep tabs on where he goes in the coming months. Most definitely worth checking out, but don’t take my word for it, check this track below!
Maveric – Feels So Good ********************************************************************
PREY FOR SLEEP THIS SATURDAY
Snap, another Prey For Sleep this Saturday at the Red Eyed Fly (PFS goes on at 11:30). Our favorite Austin metal band is back to rip it all to shreds once again. Here’s a little music video for the band’s single “Reborn” which will soon be featured on local Austin music channel ME-TV. Movin’ on up guys!
Yesterday we posed the question ‘what do our favorite Gang of Four indebted dance-rockers Bloc Party have up their sleeve?’. Today we have our answer as Bloc Party’s radio announcement was for a new single entitled “Mercury” (the video for which you can view below). Reports are vague as to if this is a one-off single or the first cut from their as of yet untitled third LP but either way we’re digging the new, techno-infused ‘Flux-ish’ sound, even if its lacking some of Russel’s driving guitar-parts. Can’t wait for the next countdown from these guys.
It must be hard to capture a moment in time on record, when all the feelings, the culture, the zeitgeist of the moment coalesces on one singular album. Nas‘ Untitled however, a fantastic followup to 2006’s Hip Hop Is Dead and perhaps his best post-Illmatic album, genuinely captures the fear, the hypocrisy, and the madness that is today’s America, and in doing so has crafted perhaps the best record of the year. Whereas his collaboration with DJ Green Lantern produced tracks of great bombast and excitement, Untitled is a calculated affair, placing intellectual verses over smooth, thoughtful beats with an air of critical thought and perhaps a hint of impending sadness. While The Nigger Tape was fantastic, Untitled transcends such accolades, not necessarily because it’s a better album outright but more so because its political statement is so bold as to suggest the message outweighs the medium. Nas has outshone even his own career-path on this defining album. Makes the team and is first in line for captain.
The good news about Beck’s new album Modern Guilt is that cuts like “Chemtrails”, so haunting and ethereal as to remind listeners of the artist’s magnum opus Sea Change, are peppered throughout the record. Tracks like “Orphans” (featuring Cat Power!) and “Youthless” transcend the middling territory of the past few Beck efforts and really standout as fantastic testaments to the power of the Odelayer’s freaky-folk ballads. However, the album, for all its effort to sound spare and stepped-down sounds at times a bit sleepy. Still, an award goes to Danger Mouse for recapturing the slacker nature of Beck’s lo-fi recordings. Makes the team though expect this one to get kicked from the team when the principal catches him under the bleachers making those special ‘Chemtrails’…
According to this Stereogum article Stars‘ album In Our Bedroom After the War is up for the preeminent Canadian music prize the Polaris Award, given to the best Canada-produced album regardless of sales. Definitely a great break for one of our favorite albums of last year which nonetheless continues to pop up this year. Great work Stars, we’ll see you at ACL!
Can’t a brother catch a break? Even Kanye’s management thinks he needs anger management according to this Rock Daily report. Sounds to me like a publicity stunt to help change the erroneous public opinion that a black man shouldn’t speak unless spoken too. Personally I like West’s outspoken nature but we’ll see how everyone feels when he’s Uncle Tomming it on your TV screen all night. Keep up the fight Kanye I say!
