340ml - Fairy Tales
Ok, so this band is in that African Punk documentary. This stuff sounds way more accessible than punk. (That is to say, not punk-sounding at all.) They’re from Mozambique and are based in South Africa. You can find two of their LPs on Spotify.
It reminds me of far more pop fare, but it’s decidedly rock music and isn’t cute. It’s very well produced, fun and enjoyable.
The Tallest Man on Earth - 1904
A new single! Looking forward to another album from him.
Death Metal Angola trailer
It’s as if it were a scream. A scream in revolt.
War ravaged and potentially the richest country in Africa, Angola is the epicenter of the African hardcore music scene. Sonia Ferreira and Wilker Flores live and breath rock and roll. They run and live in the Okutiuka orphanage in Huambo, Angola and have a dream. They are going to mount the first ever national rock concert, bringing together for the first time the best and the brightest in Angolan hardcore death metal, thrash metal and melodic death-core.
THIS HATH GIVEN ME EVERLASTING LIFE
Awesome x 1000
How will you know if you’ve found me at last?
‘Cause I’ll be the one, be the one, be the one
With my heart in my lap
I’m so tired
I’m so tired
And I wish I was the moon tonight
Michael Kiwanuka - Bones
I guess I would leave this world alone
cause without you I’m just bones.
I hoped his album would sound this good. So so good.
At what point does the experience of a person who picked up rap late get considered credible enough for them to weigh in on their experience?
But for so many of these fans it turns into this contest of “I’m more rap than you.” Ok, congratulations here’s your merit badge. Now can we consider the topic at hand? Or write a substantive rebuttal about the legacy of nerds in rap to provide even more exegesis for those newbies who will inevitably be attracted to dive in thanks to an article like this?
Reflecting on acceptance, geekdom & a love of hip-hop (via artisntreal)
My humble attempt at trying to unpack people’s criticisms of a not-so-bad article (except badly misconstrued) about geeks taking mainstream takeover of hip-hop. The thing that drives me nuts — and part of why I don’t even touch it — about rap criticism is these people who feel this reflexive need to overcorrect the rap narrative, as if hip-hop remains this hallowed cultural burial ground that’s nearly above reproach.
It’s fine to disagree, I just think their criticism completely missed the point.
Be the materials, know your limits only to break your limits.
Are you listening? God dammit boy, pay attention!
Try it again. Little bit more juice this time.
Try it again. Yeah a little bit more elbow grease this time.
Try it again. Concentrate, a little more focus this time.
You can kick and scream and yell but damn I’m only tryin’ to help.
Blu - ’Til We Die
This just seemed to fit the mood this morning. Plus, this track is criminally underrated.
I found these guys earlier today. They have a new album out called Remembrance of Things to Come that’s just plain excellent. But this is from an EP that’s two songs and just so good too. Reminds me of Jens Lekman foremost, but also harkens to Owen Pallett but more melodic. So so good.
