Tag: Weird Journalism

THE CLAYPOOL LENNON DELIRIUM – BUBBLES BURST

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Anyone familiar with the works of Les Claypool know the Sonoma County resident’s mind is a psychedelic experience all on its own. From the wonderful and weird world of Primus to Oysterhead, Frog Brigade and even Duo de Twang, Claypool manages to top his strangeness with each passing album.

That’s why it was no surprise to hear he teamed up with Julian Lennon and released a psychedelic-garage inspired album called The Claypool Lennon Delirium. For you youngsters out there, Julian is the son of this guy, John, who was in a little known band called The Beatles (Julian is also the namesake for one of the Beatles’ more infamous songs, “Hey Jude”).

But Holy Hell. Even I wasn’t quite ready for this delirious trip despite one of my favorite concert memories is frying balls on acid while watching Primus play the entire “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”  complete with Oompa  Loompas and giant mushrooms on stage (or at least I think that was real). After all, nobody expected these two to collaborate, ESPECIALLY not on a song–or video–about the King of Pop’s chimpanzee companion, Bubbles.

If you have a solid mind or just like to fuck with the boundaries of your reality, then check out The Claypool Lennon Delirium’s first video, dropped today.  But be careful, some things can’t be unseen.

DJ SKIZZ – LISTEN TO JAZZ FEAT. YOUR OLD DROOG

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A melody of brass horns floats through the air as the murmur of a vinyl LP rotates in the background. Then a rough but smooth voice comes through the speakers as Your Old Droog spits (“I don’t rap, I skat”) lyrics not about money and bling, but jazz artists and real life.

The song twists and bends through the chambers of your mind.

Jazz guitar sporadically breaks through the smoke of music and memories, adding an extra layer of euphoria. And this is only the first single released by DJ Skizz from his upcoming album, Cruise Control, due July 29th.

Born in Boston, Skizz now resides in Brooklyn and if “Listen to Jazz” is any indication of what to expect from Cruise Control, he will have one of the hottest albums in 2016. For hip hop fans that prefer substance over materialism, “Listen to Jazz” is reminiscent of Entroducing DJ Shadow, and early De La Soul. The perfect soundtrack for chilling with your crush this summer to show him or her just how smooth you be.

 

BOB DYLAN – DON’T THINK TWICE, IT’S ALRIGHT (ANIMAL COLLECTIVE REMIX)

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Yesterday Bob Dylan–you know, that guy your parents always tried to get you to listen to when you were young but you really discover when you’re in college–celebrated his 75th birthday. In honor of the King of Garbled Crooning with the Golden Lyrics, Animal Collective remixed his famous, early career track, “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright.”

Needless to say, the Baltimore band of experimental pop artists do a complete make-over of the classic Dylan song. While the original is a break-up song, it’s also a little faster than most, moving away from the heartbreak and infusing a sliver of hope to the listener with it’s charismatic tempo. Animal Collective turns this concept on its head with a heartbeat tempo; strange mystical sounds and their signature animal noises in the background. We have to admit, it’s oddly soothing and surprisingly good, even with the looped samples of Dylan’s harmonica lulling ears at the end.

 

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PROPHETS OF RAGE

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Look, let’s be real. Shit’s getting bad out there in 2016. Global Warming, racial violence, terrorism, Donald Trump, all signs of our times and probably the Apocalypse. America, and the world, needs to hear more voices speaking up and shouting out. We need. . .the Prophets of Rage!

By now you might have heard the rumors that Rage Against the Machine members Tom Morello, Brad Wilk, and Tim Commerford will be regrouping. But wait, it gets better. They’ll be joined by Public Enemy’s own prophet of power, Chuck D., and the one-and-only B. Real of Cypress Hill.

A clock on the Prophetsofrage.com counting down to May 31, it appears the rumors are true. This week Chuck D tweeted teasers to his fans. Factmag.com is also reporting the band will make their live debut on June 3rd at the historic Hollywood Palladium, with a Whisky A-Go Go show to follow.

JOEY PURP – “GIRLS” FEAT. CHANCE THE RAPPER

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Anyone who says hip-hop is dead hasn’t checked out Chicago’s SaveMoney collective. The most famous name to come out of the group to this point has been Chance the Rapper, but all that is about to change with the drop of Joey Purps’ debut, iiiDrops.

I’m sure you’re thinking, “But Joey Purps has been building his name for the last year featuring bars on several tracks,” which is true. But fam, check it. The singles he has been releasing on the path to his debut have been some of the most fire hip hop I’ve heard in a minute. First came “Photobooth,” with it’s James Brown horn section samples and just the right amount of space floating between the booming beat.

Enter his second single, “Girls.”

Following in the footsteps of “Photobooth,” there’s a lot going on in this song and yet maintains a minimal sound that keeps it honest. Produced by Knox Fortune–another SaveMoney member who recently made his debut on Chance’s latest mixtape, Coloringbook,– “Girls” plays between a rubbery, bouncing bass and odd sounds like chimes, bubble pops and a subtle rhythm in the background as if someone is drumming on a drinking glass. So how did he create so much space for Purp and Chance to lay their flows so smoothly?

Purp and crew are creating new, exciting music with an old school flow and feel that feels almost timeless. I guess the future will tell but for now, turn this shit up loud!!!

iiiDrops on May 27th

 

 

 

TRINIDAD JAMES – JUST A LIL’ THICK (SHE JUICY) FEAT. MYSTIKAL & LIL DICKY

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Whhhhooaaaa, hold up.  How did this one pass us up??? Luckily the video just dropped last week, so we can pick up the fumble.

For every person who had their friends clownin’ on yo girl and you had to yell out, “She ain’t fat, just a lil thick,” this song is for you. The man who likes everything gold, Trinidad James, has joined forces with NOLA alumni, Mystikal and our newest favorite, Jewish rapper, Lil’ Dicky. This party jam celebrates the curvier side of life and all the joys they can bring. And honestly, how can anyone not love Mystikal angrily yelling lines like “She ain’t chubby, she juicy!” ???

The video is even more fun and outrageous with shots of Lil Dicky eating food in a hot tub with two thick hotties and even a random, mariachi midget getting it on under a table. Sure, maybe it’s a little offensive, but that’s one of the reasons why we all love  hip hop, right? Besides, ain’t nothing wrong with celebrating the big ladies. Like Mystikal says, “sure she might be a little round but she look like Beyonce layin’ down.”

MAYA PAYNE – SELF DEFINED

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Music knows no boundaries or boarders and New Zealand artist, Maya Payne, proves it. The 19 year old artist hit the scene last year with the singles “If Only,” “Fragile” and “Falling.” The talented prodigy began her singing career at only six and started composing her own songs at 11, when most of us were still discovering the internet.

She recently finishing her latest EP, The Lucky Ones. The first single, “Self Defined” is an upbeat number as beautiful as it is empowering. After all, what’s more powerful than a strong, talented woman enchanting the listener over a strong, electronic beat?

Maya Payne says she is currently working on her full-length, but we all know art takes time. So for now, define yourself with this euphoric debut and keep your ear to the internet.

https://soundcloud.com/maya-payne/self-defined-maya

BUOY–“Clouds & Rain”

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As we quickly approach the half-way mark of 2016, there have been several artists to watch for and Buoy is one of them. Born Charmian Kingston, this Aussie singer has been brewing in the underground with two singles from earlier this year.  Last week she released her debut EP, Immersion, and it has already gained momentum for his dark, ambient tones set to odd, yet catchy beats.

 

On “Clouds & Rain” we find Buoy exemplifying this.  A strange, house-like background sets the scene as Buoy lyrically explores the space between the sounds. Strikingly haunting and undeniably infectious, she builds upon the beat in ways many of today’s artists only dream. Keep your ear to the ground in the next several months and it’s a guarantee her name will pop up again, probably more than once.

 

 

 

 

 

ELOHIM – SENSATIONS

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Enigmatic, colorful and with a luscious voice, Elohim is changing the pop-synth scene. The L.A. based artist uses imagery and masks to conceal her identity, only going by the Hebrew name for “God.”

Debuting her first single only last year, Elohim has taken the blogosphere by storm, gaining momentum with listeners not being able to get enough of her pop songs and dark lyrics. Her music conveys a sense of intimacy, sometimes almost as if she is speaking directly to the listener about her life, a theory confirmed in the several interviews circulating the net.

“Sensations” is the debut single from her forthcoming, self-titled, EP.  But God only knows she is just starting to make her waves and will be riding the music scene for a while to come.

DARREN ASHLEY – QUESTION

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Malaysian beat-maker, Darren Ashley, gracefully blends beats and sounds together into the quickly budding Future Bass scene. Every Monday he has been releasing new, unique singles–via Soundcloud–for his “Monday Juice” project.

Last week he dropped “Question” a futuristic dance tune with plenty of bleeps and bloops somehow concocted into a tasty tune. Incredibly underground, undeniably different and continuously proficient, Darren Ashley might just become your favorite beat chef nobody’s heard of.