Pusha T grimaces and nods his head like he’s trying to shake fleas off, but ignore that, because his phenomenal single, “Numbers on the Boards”, finally has video treatment. Check for some choice cameos and prepare yourself for My Name is My Name, due out July 16th.
In 2003, Chicago MC Chancellor Bennett, better known as Chance the Rapper, was 10 years old. At that point, it’s unclear whether the “rapper” surname was a predetermined pseudonym for Chance or a product of an the era in hip-hop to come for the 312. But, while rap was being bowled over that year by [...]
The video accompanying Tyler, the Creator’s lead single, “Domo 23″, from his third full length album, Wolf, features a clear, audible friction that occurs around the four minute and 36-second mark. It’s the threshold from which Tyler, the Reckless Misanthrope, crosses into Tyler, the Neptunian Free Spirit. Neither side is particularly stellar, and both exemplify [...]
As of right now, Sly, Slick and Wicked’s “Sho’ Nuff” is 40 years old. A sleekly performed, densely produced soul/jazz record that caught fire nationwide, culminating in a landmark Soul Train appearance; the Cleveland trio, in less than three minutes, achieved both compositional balance and instrumental complexity. This was no accident. The Godfather himself, James [...]
I’m a bit too giddy with excitement to even comprehend these new tracks, but the fact remains, NEW MUSIC IS HERE FROM VAMPIRE WEEKEND. Whip out your Sperry loafers and don you seasonally-incorrect afghan in preparation of VW’s third studio album, Modern Vampires of the City, due out May 7th. 1. Vampire Weekend – Obvious [...]
Earl Sweatshirt was kind (and sneaky) enough to hold a secret show in LA last night alongside Flying Lotus and Mac Miller. During Earl’s set, he performed three new tracks from his upcoming album, Doris. “Burgandy”, which was produced by Pharrell, “Hive”, produced by Sweatshirt himself and Matt Martians (which is reported to feature Casey [...]
Eric Wareheim of Tim & Eric and Ray Wise, aka The Greatest B-Movie Actor Ever, (of Twin Peaks fame) direct and star, respectively, in this invigorating, baffling and amazing video for Beach House’s “Wishes” — a highlight from their MJF-beloved 2012 album Bloom. Wareheim had to say of the video: “Beach House, Ray Wise, fireworks, [...]
Andrew and Daniel Aged are agents of atmosphere. The LA R&B duo measure their simplicity in a depth, not created by technical proficiency, but by creating the environment of something smoother than what meets the ear. Formerly Teen Inc., (kudos on dropping the “Teen”) the Aged bros. have taken the derivative, imitable nature of their [...]
That framed blank space being presented by those four gloved hands was intended to depict famed Norwegian painter Edvard Munch’s pastel print of “The Scream”. Conceptually, the interpretation of this cover might suggest a re-purposing of the standard responses developed toward how we (re: general, educated public) receive classic art. A sort of “stand back [...]
If interpretive dance is your thing, then you’ve stumbled upon the right clip. “Ingenue” is one of my favorite tracks off of Amok — the debut album of the Thom Yorke constructed supergroup, Atoms for Peace — and the one I never figured would get video treatment. If “Lotus Flower” wasn’t enough evidence that Thom [...]
The most immediate issue with Thom Yorke’s 2006 solo debut, The Eraser, was just how hollow the entire affair felt. While still a prodigiously convincing venture to this day, what became lacking was exactly what a solo record shouldn’t after over ten years with a prolific band: accompaniment. Each inflection of whizzing synth and clicking [...]
Self-titled albums tend to have a certain clandestine air about them. Ranging from deeply personal to ambiguously comprehensive, there’s an aura surrounding the eponymous LP that begs into question the artistic process. For UK producer and blue-eyed-soul crooner Jamie Lidell, it’s a reintroduction to his old, animated ways. With a solo catalog that kicked off [...]
