New Music: The Roots - "When The People Cheer" & "Tommorow" (ft. Raheem DeVaughn)

It's been a while, but finally I have something I can look forward to as far as music goes. While they were busy being the best damn band on television, The Roots found time to record, what sounds like so far, another classic album titled And Then You Shoot Your Cousin.

Set for release on May 13th, this will be their 11th studio album. They have blessed the world with 2 songs that can only be described as, at the risk of sounding corny as hell, MAJESTIC!

When The People Cheer is The Roots sticking to their bread and butter, Black Thought delivering thoughtful yet lethal bars on a smooth ?uestlove directed orchestration. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 
Tomorrow features almost the same formula, subtract Black Thought's lyrics and add in Raheem DeVaughn's vocals. The result is just as effective and beautiful. Since I'm not cool enough (yet) for The Roots and Def Jam to personally send me a CDQ file to post, here's a link to hear it in all its glory, courtesy of Rap Radar.

The Roots - Tomorrow (ft. Raheem DeVaughn)

...and just throw a little more of The Roots' dopeness, here's John Legend joining them for a cover of the Bruce Springsteen's classic Dancing in the Dark. May 20th can't come soon enough. You're welcome.

Tycho & GEMS @ Concord Music Hall 4/10/2014

I was a trance virgin until last Thursday, when I popped my trance cherry at the Concord Music Hall by going to see Tycho presented by React Presents. The doors opened at 8 PM, and there was a line for ticket holders that was long, but the line moved quick. When I entered the hall, blue and green lights danced across the main floor as I made my way to the balcony. Lucky for me, there was also a bar hiding in the balcony. Drink in hand, I found a suitable observation spot as the opening act, GEMS, took the stage.

GEMS is a shadow-pop duo based out of Washington D.C. I wonder if they have had a chance to take a selfie with POTUS yet? Any-who. Clifford Usher and Lindsay Pitts harmonize together over guitar, synthesizers, and thick bass. The whole stage was flooded with purple lights, and when the bass kicked in the strobe lights would flash, putting the whole room in a trance. The crowd pulsed with music and roared after each song. So much energy. It was an excellent show and I plan on seeing them again whenever they come back this way.

Tycho is the musical pseudonym of Scott Hansen, an ambient music producer out of Sacramento (Sac Town for the cool kids). Tycho is backed by a drummer, a guitarist, and a bassist. No vocals, purely instrumental. Like I said before, I am fairly new to the trance genre, so the experience was just different for me. In contrast to the high-energy GEMS, Tycho played mellow, soothing tones. I enjoyed the live drums played alongside the echoing melodies. The crowd swayed as lights pulsed slowly in yellow and orange to accentuate the flowing music. Tycho's set massaged the crowds mentals for the remainder of the evening.

All in all, for my first live trance experience, it was very enjoyable. Through both acts, I was able to see both ends of the trance spectrum. GEMS was there to get that last lap of energy out of you right before Tycho came in to tuck you in, a perfect combination. See you next time.

WacGyver Episode 6: Trumbo's World!

This episode is crazy.  Mac heads deep into the jungle with his good friend Charley to find out what is freaking out the local birds.  Is it a Governor who dresses like a casual Nazi?  Is it Trumbo, a guy who refers to all of his workers as, "My Indians"?

Nope, just a shitload of ants.

The world gets turned upside down when Mac faces his toughest villains yet, an ton of ants.

Listen to it here!

DJ Snake ft. Lil' Jon - Turn Down for What?!

The anthem of my summer has come. I was on Reddit late Tuesday night and I came across a strange post. A video, by DJ Snake & Lil Jon, Turn Down For What,  that is so infectiously crazy that I couldn't help from dancing or hitting the repeat button.

The vid was up on the web for 2 days but is now set to private. Hopefully, you will get to see it's glory but until then I'll fill you in. The video starts out by flying up on a high rise to reveal a man on the roof. He is grimy, in sweat pants, and about to get wild. The song builds up to the chorus with Lil Jon yelling "Fire up, get loud, and let the body shots!" ((BASS DROP)) "Turn Down For What?!" Then the song goes off. The guy in sweats jumps up and body slams his junk into the floor, crashing through the ceiling and bringing the party at the same time. Crashing through the ceiling begins the turnt up twerk fest. He wildly gyrates in every way, crumping on the couch, and violating the t.v. All the while there is a girl in the room freaking out. She calls the cops and is on the line. Sweatpants dances over grabs the phone and yells "Turn down for what?!" which melts the officers FACE OFF just like the Nazis at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. THEN he takes the phone and slams it on his junk, disintegrating the phone.

and guess what... that was the first 30 seconds of the video. It only get weirder and wilder from here on.

Lil Jon only says the two phrases but DJ Snake takes over with turntable excellence mixing and scratching over the thick bass line. With all the bass drops in the song and screwed up dance faces in the video I could only expect this song to be a club hit.

Crank it up, get loud, and get nasty because Johnny said so.

***UPDATE***

Here's the video link, courtesy of WorldStarHipHop...you're welcome.

WacGyver episode 5: The Heist

In this episode of WacGyver we skip the "Opening Gambit," and get into Mac's enemy of the week, Jack Catlin.  Catlin is a diamond thief, who apparently loves his day job as a casino manager.  Mac needs to figure out a way to get into that casino and steal back some already stolen diamonds.  Join Chris, Tim, and special guest Joe Degand for, "The Heist!"

WacGyver episode 5

Lovely Ladies of New Zealand

It looks like I need to move to New Zealand.  I love Peter Jackson, Flight of the Conchords, and apparently their high export of female singers.

Primarily, I'm a rock and rap guy, liking mainly mid to extremes of both, and a little of the pop side from time to time.  I'm basically an old curmudgeon who scoffs at the possibility that any music made after 1999 could be better than what came before it.  So I turned into an old guy.  At least I'm aware that it's probably just me.  About 3 years ago, all of that changed.  

February Misses

Welcome to March. It's still cold and snowing, so ain't nothin' new other than this music that I'm about to hit you with. February started off slow. The first few weeks of the month, finding 10 songs that were good enough to post about seemed like a challenge, but around the mid-way point, the ball started rolling and the jams started to be unleashed.

I don't know if it was because of Valentine's Day, but February released a lot of good R&B. This list is very R&B heavy, and that's with me leaving off solid tracks from Alicia Keys and Marsha Ambrosius. The February Misses are also somewhat nostalgic, with homage being paid to Michael Jackson, Anita Baker, The Fugees and Shalamar. Enough talky-talky, go ahead an check out what you missed. You're welcome.