Friday, July 20, 2012

Favourites: 7/20

No Rankings, No Best New, just what we're digging.


John Maus: No Title (Molly) 

 
Take a listen into the brain of John Maus. But be warned, it's a strange place. After last year's standout We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves, Ribbon Music just released A Collection of Rarities and Previously Unreleased Material, some unheard bedroom weirdness from the avant-pop musician.


Aesop Rock - ZZZ Top


Aesop Rock is back with a little bit of his own name appropriation. After a skinny MC from Harlem came out with an uncannily similar name, Aesop's reputation has faded slightly into an underground hip-hop memory. Especially since his last release, None Shall Pass, was released in the Bush Administration. On ZZZ Top, Aesop's back at the top of his game, shifting seamlessly from double-time to a slower tempo, knowing exactly what to emphasize and what to blast right through. Skelethon, Aesop's first release in the age of Internet Rap, came out July 10th on Rhymesayers.
 

The Alchemist - Flight Confimation [ft. Danny Brown & Schoolboy Q] (NSFW-ish)


Which brings us to the Age of Internet Rap. Where Youtube comments and Lil B's twitter reign supreme, and young MC's can sell out shows without an album, let alone a record deal. While this phenomenon is nothing new, the content itself is slowly morphing into something eerily similar to the internet itself. Songs are shorter, rhymes are even more self-referential, attention spans seem non-existent. The video appears to be something close to a statement - the rappers barely appear, and everyone from GG Allin to lots of boobs to Rick Santorum makes a brief appearance in GIF-form. The highlight of Flight Confirmation is the opening verse from Detroit MC Danny Brown, whose abrasive, high-register tone dares us to pay attention to the music, not the eye-blasting GIF-athon. It's all a hell of a lot smarter than it seems - I think.


Kavinsky - Nightcall


It took me a while to join the Gosling train, but between his unexpected appearance at Funfunfun's Black Stage last year and his nameless, nearly wordless performance in Drive, it finally happened. Of course, Drive's soundtrack may have had something to do with it. Put together by Cliff Martinez, ex-drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Captain Beefheart, the music of Drive helps pace the movie, given its minimal dialogue. This cut from Kavinsky matches the movie's tone to perfection, all with a sound reminiscent of the early synth-pop of Gary Numan.


Burning Sensations - Pablo Picasso



First written and performed by The Modern Lovers, Pablo Picasso was re-envisioned by Burning Sensations for Repo Man 1984), my other favorite LA-based car movie. When watching it the first time, I had to pause the movie and check it out a few times before continuing.


The XX - Angels



The XX are on a mission to create the most beautiful, luscious pop with as little sound as possible. Their sophomore release Coexist debuts September 10th on
Young Turks.


















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