Lots of good music came out this Tuesday.
The Roots - Rising Down
3.5 Pops
The Roots dropped their 8th studio album on Tuesday. Continuing with the darker themes and mood of Game Theory, the synth heavy album features guest spots from favorites like peedi peedi and Popsicle golden boy Wale. Luckily they dropped the Fall Out Boy ridden "Birthday Girl". I feel that the album is a good step for the boys from Philly. Dark and socially conscious, without it feeling forced.
Here is "Rising Up" featuring Wale and Chrisette Michele.
Santogold - Santogold
4 Pops
I had avoided the hype on this album and only heard 2 songs before it's release, "LES Artistes" and "You'll find a way". The prior definitely jumped out at me and I knew this album would be special. As soon as I got through that song, the first on the album, I found out the version of "You'll find a way" that I had was a remix, and the album version is a ska influenced rendition that couldn't be further away from what I had heard. I was pleasantly surprised and my expectations for the album shifted. Santi's debut jumps through influences, touching on dub, new wave, hip hop and pop sounds without ever feeling jarring. Her vocals range from yelps to smooth pop singing. A talented singer with a diverse backdrop to shine on. Great album.
Here is the first single, LES Artistes
Blue Sky Black Death - Late Night Cinema
4 Pops
Production duo Kingston and Young God are back with an album showcasing their instrumental prowess. 2006's A Heap of Broken Images was what hooked me, with the instrumental disc outshining the main disc with appearances from rappers. This album stands alone and continues with a similar sound and feel. A bit less dark, but the production is top-notch. Rich, atmospheric, often haunting instrumental hip hop. The sound is different from most well-known producers, relying less on obvious sampling and creating smooth, flowing music where the mood often shifts dramatically throughout the song. Unlike most instrumental hip hop releases which are either beats wishing for an MC or the instrumental accompaniment to an album, BSBD's production is moving and rich enough that there isn't even room for vocals. I've only had time to listen to this album a couple of times, but I suspect that like Heap of Broken Images, the appeal will last for years as I discover more and more nuances of their rich soundscapes.
3 songs from the album on their myspace.
The Roots - Rising Down
3.5 Pops
The Roots dropped their 8th studio album on Tuesday. Continuing with the darker themes and mood of Game Theory, the synth heavy album features guest spots from favorites like peedi peedi and Popsicle golden boy Wale. Luckily they dropped the Fall Out Boy ridden "Birthday Girl". I feel that the album is a good step for the boys from Philly. Dark and socially conscious, without it feeling forced.
Here is "Rising Up" featuring Wale and Chrisette Michele.
Santogold - Santogold
4 Pops
I had avoided the hype on this album and only heard 2 songs before it's release, "LES Artistes" and "You'll find a way". The prior definitely jumped out at me and I knew this album would be special. As soon as I got through that song, the first on the album, I found out the version of "You'll find a way" that I had was a remix, and the album version is a ska influenced rendition that couldn't be further away from what I had heard. I was pleasantly surprised and my expectations for the album shifted. Santi's debut jumps through influences, touching on dub, new wave, hip hop and pop sounds without ever feeling jarring. Her vocals range from yelps to smooth pop singing. A talented singer with a diverse backdrop to shine on. Great album.Here is the first single, LES Artistes
Blue Sky Black Death - Late Night Cinema
4 Pops
Production duo Kingston and Young God are back with an album showcasing their instrumental prowess. 2006's A Heap of Broken Images was what hooked me, with the instrumental disc outshining the main disc with appearances from rappers. This album stands alone and continues with a similar sound and feel. A bit less dark, but the production is top-notch. Rich, atmospheric, often haunting instrumental hip hop. The sound is different from most well-known producers, relying less on obvious sampling and creating smooth, flowing music where the mood often shifts dramatically throughout the song. Unlike most instrumental hip hop releases which are either beats wishing for an MC or the instrumental accompaniment to an album, BSBD's production is moving and rich enough that there isn't even room for vocals. I've only had time to listen to this album a couple of times, but I suspect that like Heap of Broken Images, the appeal will last for years as I discover more and more nuances of their rich soundscapes.3 songs from the album on their myspace.
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