06 hip hop

I'm going to try to remember what decent hip hop was released this year. I wasn't blown away by much, but I have been digging Cadence Weapon's "Breaking Kayfabe" for a bit. He's a smart dude. Used to write for Pitchfork, and certainly has a unique flow. Most impressive to me is his production prowess. Everyone is still gushing over the Neptunes work on the Clipse joint (so overrated, my god) for no reason. Cadence's futuro-funk is hot stuff. Fishscale was sick, but that was expected. New artists like Cadence blowing you away unexpectedly is what this music thing is all about people. 30 Seconds is taken straight out the Sage Francis playbook, skewering consumer culture.
Check it.
Black Hand.mp3
30 Seconds.mp3

besties

Chicago's Bound Stems put out a great album in 06 called Appreciation Night that I feel went largely unnoticed by many of the blogs and such that I (we, probably) all peruse daily. At first it seemed a little too derivative of Broken Social Scene, but ultimately grew on me. I think what impresses me most about them is their musicianship and flashy time changes they incorporate in their sound. The first half of the album is especially enticing. Definitely one of my favorites of the year...
Please Wake Up, Ma and Pa Are Gone.mp3
Andover.mp3

For those on the East Coast, they're comin' atcha. Check thier MySpace page for info.

Year end stuff...

I don't have a list, or even that many albums that spring to mind right off the bat when thinking of "Best of 06". I won't bore you with a list (because I'd probably need to edit it everyday), as you could get one almost everywhere else. What I'ma do is think of one album on my way to work (released this year), play it front to back, get laughed at while standing at red lights head boppin', then post some songs from it as if it were one of my favorites of the year. So you'll just have to come back tomorrow and the day after and so forth...

OXFORD COLLAPSE! Humorous power pop with catchy hooks, but also somewhat complex instrumental interludes, this SubPop band's "Remember the Night Parties" is still as fun today as it was the first time I heard it a few months ago. Read the Pfork review for a more nuanced view, and a string of run-on sentences. Yes, I think it warrants a "Best of 06" tag. But do you?

Please Visit Your National Parks.mp3
Return of Burno.mp3

mastodon. i like!

Mastodon's Euro tour with Tool will not reach as far east as Kazakhstan, but luckily for that country's inhabitants, and the rest of the world, they've decided to document some of it and offer it on YouTube. They're actually really funny guys. If you've ever wondered how an album is crafted, I suggest you peep the "Making of Blood Mountain" clips that also can be found at that link.

I hadn't been into metal for years until I stumbled upon "Leviathan",
their ode to the search for the "White Whale". Brutal, yes, but very melodic and as a concept album (Moby Dick), really cohesive. Some people who can't do "screamy" wouldn't dig, but if you can see through the guttural yells underneath lies some very heady stuff.

Blood Mountain, the latest and major label debut, picks up where they left off. The production is tight, and the dueling guitars lay down some serious grooves. Bran Dailor is also my new favorite drummer in the world. Check out him recording the drum tracks in the video clips. Wowser.

Crystal Skull.mp3
Hand of Stone.mp3

sexytime explosions

The new Explosions in the Sky is due out early February, making it the first big album release I'm giddy over. Some people call it pretentious. Some call it boring and repetitive. I call it beautiful. Hopefully "All of the Sudden, I Miss Everyone" is as dope as it's album art....


Feel the thunder.
Glittering Blackness.mp3
A Song For Our Fathers.mp3
happy weekending...