Music for the Masses

September 8, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

I just happened upon MOJO magazine's review of Island Records' new reggae retrospective, War Ina Babylon (101 Distribution, May 2009). It seems the savvy compilers of this three-disc set decided to omit Bob Marley and the Wailers entirely, on the basis that this would allow lesser-known but more influential acts to shine on their own merits without being steamrolled over by the Marley hit machine. Per MOJO:

"Leaving Bob Marley off an anthology of Island reggae was a bold decision, and one that immediately proves its creative worth by allowing the likes of Derrick Morgan, The Paragons, Ernest Ranglin, Max Romeo, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Jimmy Cliff, Aswad, an...Read More

Industries: Audio Reviews

August 28, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Earlier this summer, the unexpected new single "Holy Are You" by legendary MC Rakim (of Eric B & Rakim fame) made the rounds on the Internet, dramatically spiking interest in the veteran MC and his long-promised (and still unreleased) album, The Seventh Seal. Putting aside from the obvious, and frankly tiresome, online bickering, does Rakim still has "it?" "It" being a liquid-smooth and dexterous delivery that influenced rappers from Big Daddy Kane&n...Read More
Industries: Audio Reviews

August 25, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (1)

It's a pretty safe bet that one of the earliest uses of what would become music was cavemen and cavewomen singing one another to sleep, warding off the unknown dangers of a foreboding and uncertain night. The Japanese-American couple that make up Lullatone have dedicated themselves to continuing that tradition, cloaking a primitive impulse in a very modern sonic vocabulary. The music of Lullatone was born out of necessity: keyboardist and soundscaper Shawn James Seymour needed to work on his music, and future vocalist and partner Yoshimi needed to sleep, so the songs and synth loops he was workshopping on his rudimentary synths were hushed and spare. Soon enough, Yoshimi was joining in on very understated vocals, and Lullatone was born. Through five albums, Lullatone have created consistently ...Read More

Industries: Audio Reviews

July 24, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

While in Chicago for the ALA Annual Conference, I was fortuante enough to catch a rare showing of the documentary 30 Century Man, all about reclusive performer—and subject of July's Music for the Masses column—Scott Walker, at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Though the screening was sparsely attended, those who were present were treated to a couple hours–worth of prime footage of an impossibly dramatic Walker and various famous acolytes gusting over the hold his art still has on their work. And I'm not talking obscure indie bands and sociopathic record collectors, either; I'm talking Goldfrapp, David Bowie, Sting, the ever-entertaining Jarvis Cocker, Ute Lemper, Brian Eno, Radiohead, Rob...Read More
Industries: ALA Annual Conference News, News & Features

July 7, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (1)

Sunn 0)))
Monoliths & Dimensions
Southern Lord Records [May 2009]

And finally.... full potential is reached. Even the most ardent doom-fiend would be forgiven for occasionally wondering how much of drone doom band Sunn 0)))'s music is self-replicating or accidental. Flowers of evil blooming from molten feedback, the liberating powers of the infinite chord, or just leaving a guitar too close to an amp for about an hour? In Monoliths & Dimensions, Sunn 0)))'s seventh studio album, Greg Anderson and Stephen O'Malley shut every doubter up, concisely and lyrically pairing their brutalist approach to music ...Read More

Industries: Audio Reviews