Jadakiss is a member of the Ruff Ryders (along with Eve and DMX) and leader of the Lox. 'Kiss the Game Goodbye' is his first solo record and it's totally great. Dark and simple and stripped down. Big beats and rumbling bass. Hooks galore but still raw and vital. It's all about the delivery though, and Jadakiss sounds mean as shit when he's spitting out the rhymes, but somehow manages
Features production and guest appearances by Nas, DMX, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and more.
"The Rocks Crumble" - Jandek's eighth album which was originally released back in 1983 - find the Houston hermit 'rockin out' more than usual. There had been a number of theories that Jandek employed a drummer named John on some of his albums. While Jandek's correspondences have in fact stated that his drummer is named John, I'm not entirely convinced he's telling the truth. Rather,
Also of note is Jandek's continued revision of "European Jewel" - a tune first performed on his debut "Ready For The House." Three very different versions of that song appear on "The Rocks Crumble."
Jandek has put down his guitar for a second a capella album that's half-sung / half-spoken following "Put My Dream On This Planet." These two a capella albums debunk the myth that Jandek recorded all of his albums during an excessively manic period of his life, as the voice which utters and lolligags through the stream of consciousness verbage has clearly aged from the wispy
The reigning king of the Cash Money family returns. Some of you may remeber Juvenile from the puerile, but ridiculously catchy 'Back That Azz Up' from a year or two back. On first listen, 'Project English' is a little less obviously Cash Money unlike most
Listening to this new release from SF solo IDM/electronicist Kadet is an almost multi-sensory experience. A plethora of wonderfully itchy glitches, thick tenuous throbs and metallic percussive gasps probe your ears. Some sounds actually made my teeth buzz as if I'd chomped down on some aluminum foil - an impressive feat unto itself. The latter tracks gradually sink into a much
The AQ-beloved German 6-piece, as we've noted in reviews of their other records, "take (post) rock and a bit of subtly handled electronics and mix them up so skillfully that it doesn't sound like a 'mix' anymore -- it sounds like an organic hazy wash of
On Incommunicado, now finally released stateside, leader Thomas Weber asked the bandmembers to reinterpret their lovely Maander album, only this time the recording would be entirely improvised on different instruments (including guitar, strings, upright bass), and neither edited nor overdubbed. The recording is thus fresh, alive, and very very good. Those of us who already love Maander will enjoy this one too, it is substantially different and super interesting while still retaining the flavor (minus the electronics) of Kammerflimmer's signature sound. Recommended.
Volume four in the super limited $ series of split singles. Oaktown's Kid 606 once again plunders Ice Cube while Japan's Joseph Nothing runs around in ritalin fueled hip hop circles. Backwards.
Everyone here knows what a big Roland Kirk freak I (Andee) am so every reissue or previously unreleased track makes me way too excited. So you can imagine how I feel about this one. A reissue (originally released on an lp in 1956 that went practically unnoticed) of the very first Kirk recordings from when he was only 20 years old. Although these recordings are considerably less
Spaced-out swirling post-rock mellowness with dream-girl vocals. Definitely for fans of Windy and Carl (with whom they have toured and shared a split cd also listed here) who've been looking for a bit more melody and less drone. Lovely.
Languis' second album "Last Frequency Presets" pleasantly falls into the blissed-out IDM camp quite literally spawned from Boards Of Canada's "Music Has The Right To Children." A tactile assembly of downer digital sound elemenst to be filed next to Markant, Morr Music, Styrofoam, and even Safety Scissors.
Brooklynite Chris Lee plays a very appealing style of singer songwriter material. His style lies quite pleasantly between the grave solemnity of Tim Buckley and the light lackadaisacal delivery of the Sea and Cake (only not as "lounge", he's more '70s FM
Love Monster is what the mighty Monster Magnet were called before they became Monster Magnet. These seven songs were recorded in 1988 on a four track, and it sounds like it. The cock rock swagger of later Monster Magnet is woefully absent, and in its place a garage-y hard rock that sounds a bit like Iggy Pop fronting Kiss. Or something. Not a bad thing, just really rough and raw and for
Two excellent DJs offer side-long excursions of cut up voices, breakbeats, wonky scratching and tons of groove. Very very fun, along the lines of Z-trip, DJ Quest, and of course Cut Chemist's other solo work. Jazzmaster Billy Wooten's "In the Rain" is
Andee and Allan saw this band play last year at the Milwaukee Metalfest, and they made a definite impression: imagine a death metal band (three or four long-haired dudes with the requisite t-shirts and musical equipment) sharing the stage with several
Andee and Allan saw this band play last year at the Milwaukee Metalfest, and they made a definite impression: imagine a death metal band (three or four long-haired dudes with the requisite t-shirts and musical equipment) sharing the stage with several
Yes, Tokyo's Melt-Banana have made a much welcome return to their hardcore roots with six new songs, fast and furious as ever. Three Studies for a Crucifixion, from Athens, OH, contribute two tracks of technical spazz and grind. VERY limited, so act
Collection of odds and ends from these Swedish masters of super-technical death metal. If you've never heard Meshuggah, start with their 'Chaosphere' masterpiece. But if you're already a fan, then this might be of interest. The original 3 song mini lp (originally released in a pressing of 1000 copies) appears for the first time on cd, as does their demos (which vary in quality).
A few years back, Darren Tate dissolved his Ora project (which centered around Tate's collaborations with Andrew Chalk, Jonathan Coleclough, Colin Potter, and MNortham), and considered quitting making music altogether. Fortunately, the draw back to the droning manipulations of field recordings grew to strong for Tate to remain inactive; thus, he began the Monos recordings, which
Former no-wave (ex-DNA) drummer Ikue Mori has established a career in downtown NYC, performing solo and collaborating with others, as an improvisor with specially modified drum machines! This new Tzadik disc, though, sees her utilizing a laptop computer
The Musee Mecanique at San Francisco's historic Cliff House is one of our favorite things in the whole city. We *always* take visitors from out of town there, and they always love it. The Musee is a collection of antique coin-operated arcade machines,
Tarkatak really just needs to release a proper CD, as the project is clearly good enough to warrant putting out at least 500 copies or so. Yet, this collaboration between Tarkatak and No is another CD-R production, limited to 100 copies. Both Tarkatak and No are grim German post-industrial outfits, with Tarkatak following the Maeror Tri / Troum sound (which resulted producing a very
This is easily one of the best new metal-core bands we've heard. We had a split cd of theirs a while back, but three songs wasn't nearly enough to realise what these guys were truly capable of. Certainly worthy heirs to the Coalesce/Converge/Deadguy throne. Super heavy and well produced. They actually kind of sound like a heavy metal Jesus Lizard. Distorted bass with lots of
Kjetil Brandsdal may be known best for his antique, guitar-grit drones that got released on Corpus Hermeticum and Ecstatic Peace, but he's also been quite active in the "Nor Wav" scene in his native Norway. Where much of the No Wave sensibilities have been resurfacing in the US through the angular, noise-core, costume rock of Pink & Brown and Lightning Bolt, Brandsdal's Noxagt finds
What is it with Garm from Ulver (who runs the Jester label)? He just seems dead set on alienating everybody. I mean Garm and Ulver defined black metal for a while, even going so far as to record a record IN THE FOREST! Then they released an experimental double
A hellish new-wave circus. The Screamers meets the Butthole Surfers? No, it's not as good that would be, but Oakland's Phantom Limbs are pretty cool, with interesting and freakish vocals over carnival organ punk. Entertaining live too. With Jello Biafra's
From the same label that released Circulatory System (reviewed in a recent AQ-L), here's another Olivia Tremor Control related project, this time led by Olivias keyboardist Peter Erchick (although several of the Olivias appear on this record so you know
Mego boss Pita offers a wildly fluctuating digital collage for his contribution to Fallt's Invalid Object Series (a HUGE, very limited series of 3" cdeps by an international variety of well- and less-well-known electronic artists -- we've had the whole series but not in quanities that we could list. Actually we only have 3 of this Pita disc at the moment, and probably can't get
Swiss "cracked everyday electronics" improvisers Voice Crack team up with avant-percussionist Gunter Muller and French turntablist Erik M, in the group Poire Z. This disc documents their live performances at recent new music festivals in Zurich and Wels. "Tense and vibrating improvised electronic / electroacoustic music." Yes. There's almost every sort of hiss, rumble, crackle, squiggle,
Another European free jazz obscurity unearthed by Atavistic's Unheard Music Series. This disc was originally released in 1967 and is the work of a Danish quartet lead by pianist Tom Prehn. Abstract, advanced stuff.
Whew, the recent PSOI EP (which Cup was completely ambivalent about) was nothing compared to this new album. Eleven wonderful songs from Scott Kannberg and company. Hear them cruise along with breezy ease in a jangly pop direction (much more spiffy like
Pullman is an acoustic quartet into "rustic soundscapes" that features members of such great bands as Tortoise, Rex, Brokeback, Directions in Music, and Come. Ok, we said they were an acoustic quartet, but actually on this new disc (their 2nd) they've gone
Local trio featuring Jen Smith, Julianna Bright and Seth Lorinczi formerly of Circus Lupus (although *don't* take that to mean that if you liked the late great Circus Lupus, you'll neccesarily like The Quails). Herky jerky quirky pop with all members
These early tracks reveal a much moodier, heavier, tweaked Quasi which seems to have resurfaced on their newest "Sword of God" album. Kinda like the Olivia Tremor Control's entwined pop melodies and swirling sonic experimentation, but more rocked up and
Portland, Oregon's guitar/drums indierock duo Quasi deliver a fourth album (not including their recently reissued Early Recordings) on a new label, Touch and Go. It may be their best one yet. The boy/girl harmonies are pristine, the melodies are
Soul Jazz has started to release the original albums from whence the tracks came for their excellent cosmic jazz/funk comp "Universal Sounds of America" from a few years back. The Art Ensemble's magnificent "Les Stances A Sophie" was the first, now
"Winterval" begins with an almost hesitant simmering of guitar that slowly builds to a thunderous crescendo. And well, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed that the rest of the album continues in pretty much the same fashion of quiet/loud. However on the upside, it does so with raw, angular, barbed guitars and angstful, hollered vocals which make for more edginess in the build ups
Roman Bathhouse is one Carl DiSalvo, an SF experimental sound artist recently relocated to Pittsburgh (PA or CA, I don't know...). Lots of steamboat style horns, low rumbles and vinyl crackle. Sort of a lo-fi small scale amateur version of Philip Jeck. Sort of. On Hactivist, run by the forward thinking folks behind Creation Is Crucifixion.
If you've never been fortunate enough to see these marvels of Japanese musical technology perform in person, you'll be extra blown away by this new live document. The Ruins are a super heavy and hyperkinetic bass and drums duo from Tokyo, who over the past
Live recording of eccentric Chicago jazz experimentalist Hal Russell, from 1979.
First off, this cd has the best packaging I think we have ever seen, printed on shiny metallic paper, with the inside pages on vellum. *So* nice. Too bad it doesn't scan well, or you could see it on our website. Anyway, you should all be familiar with Slipknot by now. Whether it's their music or their costumes. It's been sort of hard to miss, if you have MTV or if you've even
This is the third full length from these four sweetie pies from Michigan. Gretchen, Aliccia, Marcie and Leagh make dreamy, retro and folky songs with sweet girl vocal harmonies. The guitar sound is soft and pretty. Low key and unassuming, this is quite
Amongst the dozens of records that Spacemen 3 have released, the group never had a huge repertoire of neo-psychedelic / post-punk songs that they recorded. Instead, they preferred to rework the same dozen or so songs as increasingly diffuse, droning, and
Hooray! AQ all-time fave Mark Linkous returns at last with a brand new Sparklehorse album and we are happy to report that he, once again, does not disappoint. Mr. Linkous has that innate ability to write incredibly infectious pop songs with teeth -- never
For those of you who aren't familiar with Sparklehorse, Linkous' aesthetic weaves delicate, about-to-crack vocals, gently strummed guitars, and all sorts of bizarre studio trickery (a wonderful amalgamation of lo-fi home recording and ultra-lush top dollar multi-track wizardry) to make his records SOUND so great. But it's the songs that make the biggest impression. Whether it's a super distorted rollicking rocker, a barely-there ghost of a melody, or a heart wrenching country ballad, every song, at its core, is a perfect, perfect pop song. Catchy as hell, but not immediately -- more a sort of insidious, slowly spreading, like a virus beautiful, but beautifully miserable as well. And the lyrics too are practically perfect. Simple but astonishing in their depth. Clever and brutally soulful, without being melodramatic or overwrought.
My coworker Cup, whose tolerance for musical sweetness I can only admire and envy, thinks this new Stereolab album displays a lot more thought and effort, and is more intriguingly organic than their recent slick muzak leanings. And certainly the tracks featuring Jim O'Rourke at the controls are very nice. However, in my opinion (and I'm not Cup), this new album sees Stereolab
Super rare Sun Ra record originally (and barely) released by the UK post-punk label Y Records in 1984 (with two tracks coming out as a 12" single in '82), an album that in response to the spectre of nuclear armaggedon, asks the musical question: "now whatcha
"Smile, even though your heart is aching / smile, even though it's aching / when there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by / if you smile, through your tears and sorrow / smile, and maybe tomorrow / you'll see the sun come shining through..." Think about *mushroom* clouds and wonder what Ra is trying to get across here...
If there's one thing you can count on, it's Mac and the Superchunk gang. Over the years, they've continued to evolve yet still maintained a warm familiarity. Sure, they don't rage with their former emo-intensity of "Slack Motherfucker" or "Seed Toss", but instead have shifted focus from indie rock firepower to subtlety and detail. Polished, intelligent, and composed pop. Get ready
Ultra technical and weirdly melodic death metal with lots of changes and super harsh distorted vocals. Sounds pretty mean, until the ridiculous keyboards kick in. Then it just gets weird. It's still heavy and fierce, switching back and forth between pounding blast beats and mid-tempo eighties-style metal, but the metal is generously sprinkled with wanky keyboard solos (ala Children of
Taraf De Haidouks are a 13 piece ensemble (not including vocalists) of Gypsy musicians who hail from the land encompassed by the country of Romania. Oft dismissed within their home country as "ragged Gypsies", they've nonetheless managed to acquire international acclaim, with four albums under their collective belt up to now and a featured appearance in the film Latcho Drom.
Well, of course you have no doubt that they succeeded because we wouldn't be listening to the cd here in the store and I wouldn't be writing all this now if they hadn't. Some of the best, most kick-ass eastern European blues and breakdowns that we've heard in a month of Sundays. A veritable Gypsy supergroup with more violin, cymbalum, accordion, flute, double bass, clarinet, darbuka, saxophone, baritone tuba, bass tuba, trumpet, tapan and vocal virtuosity than you can shake an encyclopedia of organology at. Shit yeah!
In spite of sporting a designwork very much like the recent output from Kozik, this split between stalwart prognosticators of the apocalypse Today Is The Day and Kentucky's bass heavy grind core group Metatron is not on Man's Ruin (who did in fact go out of
Torus is Adam MacGregor, formerly of technical grind outfit Creation Is Crucifixion. Recorded in 1998 and 2001, 'phlogistics' is a collection of noises ranging from metallic tinkerings to guitar-based feedback excursions.
