Tyler, The Creator – Goblin

 

Talk about someone who has blown up.  When I first started listening to Tyler, The Creator in early 2010, when he first released his debut album Bastard, he and his cohorts in his collective, Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, had barely made a dent in the music world.  Now it seems like they are making an asteroid-sized crater on the musical industry.  Whether it is from Kanye West tweeting that Tyler created the best music video in 2011, to Diddy saying that they are the future of music, to Sony partnering with the group to create their own label, Odd Future records, it just seems like they are on a high that will never go away.  However, Tyler proves on his new release that what glitters isn’t always gold.  Goblin is boiling over with Tyler describing his internal struggles with his newfound “fame”, however slight that fame might actually be.  The finished product is an album that is long, angry, and sometimes even challenging to listen to, but at the same time rewarding, interesting, and an insightful glimpse into the life of Tyler.

Right off the bat, you can tell that Tyler is not going to change his style just because he has gained a certain level of fame among the musical blogosphere.  The title track is a near-seven minute rant about his fame, fortune, friends, fans, mindset, and everything else that just happened to pop into his head.  He is just as terse and furious as he was on the opening track on his 2009 album Bastard, not afraid to wear his emotions on his sleeve, and let you know that he isn’t impervious to the world around him.  He readily admits that he is just a nineteen-year-old kid, not a role model; in fact, this is the very first thing he says on Goblin.

For the most part, this release delivers in every manner possible.  There are the typical Tyler songs that are slow, dark, introspective tableaus of self-loathing (Goblin, Nightmare, She, Golden).  Then, there are the tracks that are quicker paced, and the beat and lyrics will stay lodged in your brain for days, never mind how morbid or inappropriate those lyrics may be (Transylvania, Sandwitches, Tron Cat, Analog, Her).  Also, the fact that he wrote and produced almost all of the songs on the album is incredibly impressive.  Tyler makes a giant leap from Bastard to Goblin as a producer.  He has found his own sound, and has been slowly perfecting it over the last few years, and it is most certainly showing on this album.  Finally, there are tracks that go above and beyond in all aspects.

"Nightmare" is the one track that perfectly sums up the album.  The song is a track that, like others on both of his albums, has him talking to his “therapist”, Dr. TC.  It is one of the very few tracks on this album that has a hook on it, and it is one of the more depressing hooks I can think of when placed in the context of the song (“I told her I’m her worst nightmare/This is hell you don’t ever got to fight fair/My spirit floats around in the night air/Or in your daydreams, that’s how death seems”).  However, then Dr. TC brings up the mysteriously missing OFWGKTA member Thebe Kgositsile, AKA Earl Sweatshirt, and Tyler launches into a rant about parents blaming him for messing up their kids.  After this he continues his own downward spiral of self-loathing, with lyrics about drinking to forget his problems (“My nigga Jasper said if I drink and get drunk enough I won’t feel the feelings I be feeling when I sobered up. / But that’s a fucking lie, why would he say that I’m as emotionally strained as Travis when he’s…”), his loss of his missing “brother” Thebe (“Don’t look at me, I’m 6’5” about to fucking cry about another guy”), and his OF brothers leaving LA (“I finally had a family.  But, Domo’s in another state, and where the fuck is Riley?”).  All in all, “Nightmare” is a perfect summation of the album as a whole.

With Goblin, Tyler, The Creator solidifies his continued rise from a kid rapping for fun with his friends to someone who is perfecting his craft at an alarmingly quick rate.  Tyler is already at work on his next album, tentatively scheduled to be called Wolf and to be released in 2012, so he has seemingly not lost any of his hunger to be the best.  All we can do is listen to Bastard and Goblin and imagine where he can go from here.


--Genesis

Buy here: Goblin (Deluxe Edition) [Explicit]

K. Flay - I Stopped Caring In ’96

My legs dangled off the examination table swinging to an off-time rhythm.  I had been staring at the optics chart on the wall in front of me for the better part of ten minutes.  Other people might see boredom set in after awhile, but I was completely indifferent.  To be blunt, that feeling of indifference was in point of fact the main catalyst behind this well being check up.  Since neither I nor anything mechanical in my room was producing any noise, I was able to hear the doctor’s footsteps as she approached from down the hall.  The door opened and the doctor greeted me warmly.

“Good morning Mr. Penfold.  I’m Doctor Clinique.  This is your first visit to my office?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“What seems to be the trouble?”
“Doc, I’m really not sure how to describe it.  I’ve simply stopped caring.”
“Mr. Penfold, I’m going to stop you for a moment.  You do realize that I am not a psychologist, yes?”
“I certainly do ma’am.  My troubles are physical in nature.”
“All right.  Do you remember when these troubles began?”
“Yes ma’am.  I’ve gone over my situation time and time again.  Although I cannot pinpoint one exact moment or event as the harbinger of my current predicament, I am absolutely certain about the timeframe.  I stopped caring about the world around me back in 1996.  This led directly to strange physical conditions that I’ve experienced ever since.”
“Can you elaborate on these physical conditions for me?”
“Of course, Doctor.  From early 1996 to halfway through 2000 I felt nothing.  Literally.  It was as if I were wearing a suit of heavy padding over my entire body.  My hands and feet gave very little tactile feedback.  I would hold an object in my hands, but without actually looking at the object I could not have identified it.  No nuance of the item’s surface would be gleaned from my touch alone.  Also, objects would impact my body with little or no immediate result.  My skin would bruise up after heavy contact like normal, but it was as if my nerve endings had gone to sleep.”
“I see Mr. Penfold.  Has that problem persisted?”
“No, ma’am.  The lack of feeling did stop, but a new problem took its place.  From late 2000 to the end of 2006 I felt everything.  I’m not just referring to the temperature or how hard or soft something is here.  No, I was hypersensitive.  The world was brought into sharp relief, and I was even able to feel other people’s emotions.  When someone spoke to me angrily it was as if their words were punching me in the stomach.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, when someone whispered something to me it felt like a feather running along the inside of my ear.”
“Very interesting Mr. Penfold.  You said these feelings ended back in 2006.  What happened next?”
“Well Doc, for a few months everything went back to normal and I felt fine.  But since the spring of 2007 I’ve been encountering stretches of time where I flip flop between my two previous conditions.  One day I feel nothing, the next I feel everything, and the next I’m normal again.  I know that you’re not a psychologist ma’am, but this constant turnabout has altered my worldview substantially.  I now strongly believe that everything is nothing.  While I’m not sure that I want that to change, I would certainly like my nerves to stabilize and give me a rest from this merry-go-round I’m stuck riding.  Can you help me Doc?”
“Mr. Penfold, I’m going to be honest with you.  I’ve never run across someone with your problem before.  If you’re willing to wait here for a few minutes, I need to make some phone calls to a few of my esteemed colleagues.  With any luck they will know exactly what can help you.  Is that okay?”
“Yeah sure, Doctor.  I’ve got some music to listen to while you’re away.  I’ll be fine.”
“Great.  I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

With the doctor gone I reached into my pocket and removed my mp3 player.  The earbuds went in my ears, the player was turned on, and the play button was depressed.  A bass heavy beat signaled the beginning of K. Flay’s new mixtape, coincidentally titled I Stopped Caring in ’96.  What followed was a nine track musical juggernaut.  If you’re looking for an interesting hip hop artist who offers something different than the norm, your search just ended.

What makes K. Flay different you ask?  Well for starters she’s a female emcee.  I’m not saying that there aren’t any other interesting female emcees producing music in the world, just that they are fairly difficult to locate if you’re using the mainstream media as your guide.  But hey, that’s why The Ripple Effect exists!  Another difference is that K. Flay doesn’t hide or downplay her intelligence.  Her lyrics jump from clever thought to clever idea with the clear understanding that the listener is either smart enough to follow along, or they will be left in the dust.  Speaking of her lyrical prowess, K. Flay utilizes a sick and varied lyrical flow which consistently captivates her audience.  Seriously, it’s borderline terminal.

I Stopped Caring in ’96 was released in three song increments, on three separate days over the course of the month of April.  The first block of tunes was entitled ‘I Feel Nothing’.  The three songs share feelings of detachment and disillusionment from the world.  ‘I Feel Everything’ came next.  As you might have guessed these three songs are more emotionally charged affairs.  “Doctor Don’t Know” happens to be my favorite song on the mixtape, and “Danger Starts” is harrowing.  The last piece to the puzzle is called ‘Everything is Nothing’.  This portion is fairly cathartic for the listener following the serious subject matter discussed in the earlier songs.  These last three tracks, including the standout “Elle Fanning” and especially “PARTY”, are far lighter in tone and content than the other six. 

I’m guessing at this point that you waveriders would appreciate a sample verse to help get a better feel for what to expect.  Happy to oblige.  This is the second verse from “Doctor Don’t Know”.

All these folks telling me I’m about to be something big, but you see joke’s on them / Sitting in a board room hella bored, can’t hear a thing though my amp’s on ten / Mind in a permanent state of flux, mental double dutch, had a bag of cheetos ate ‘em up / 3 PM and I’m still waking up / Wishin’ I could save myself but I’m not brave enough / Sick of all these handshakes, before knowing every morning bran flakes / How much bullshit can a man take, till she finally breaks? / The difference between getting what you want, and what they want, is nuance / So listen baby girl get your boots on, here’s something to chew on / In the end we might go to hell, or we might go to heaven, so you might as well / Cut it out with the crisis of faith, and then crushed in the dome like a vice to the face / And you might just escape all the time that you wasted, if you stuck to the basics / Get a grip, buckle up / Take a pill, what the fuck?

Mmmm, hmmmm.  By the way, this is a free mixtape.  That’s right!  There is absolutely no barrier to entry.  Simply surf your way over to K. Flay’s website, www.kflay.com, and get downloading.  The sooner you start listening, the sooner you can recommend K. Flay to someone else!  Waveriders, you all have your signed prescription sheets.  Disperse and be healed!

--Penfold

www.kflay.com

Pigeon John - Dragon Slayer

Another heavy gust of wind viciously tore at my clothing, and there was a strong possibility that the ominous darkness on the horizon was a suffocating sandstorm that would shortly overtake my position.  Indecision, the arch nemesis of all brave adventurers, had suddenly fallen on me like a ton of bricks.  I was standing a few steps away from my vehicle staring at a massive door which had been built directly into the side of a mountain.  I knew that what I sought would be behind the door.  All I had to do now was muster up the courage to enter the dwelling and complete my quest.

I took a deep breath and put one foot in front of the other…but on second thought, I could just come back some other time.  Yeah, that’s the ticket!  I could come back when it was more convenient.  Now that I thought about it, I did have to run some important errands back in town today.  Those movies needed to be returned by this evening, and I think I forgot to pick up my mail.  It’s not like this mountain was going anywhere.  Mountains don’t move for crying out loud!  They’re stationary.  That’s why they’re called mountains!

Unfortunately my inner dialogue/deliberation must have taken considerably more time to conclude than I imagined, because the sandstorm was right on top of me when I came to my senses.  Now I was left with no choice.  I could not drive anywhere in the sandstorm, so I had to seek shelter behind the door in the mountain.  Curses!  It took a determined effort to pull the massive door open to the point where I could slip inside.  The howling of the storm was truly demonic.  Pulling the door shut completely muffled the noise and left an eerie silence in its place.

“Oh hello there sir.  I say, it sounds like quite the storm outside doesn’t it?”

Terrified, I whipped around to face the mysterious, heavily accented voice and came face to face with an imposing dragon.  I say face to face, but actually, the dragon was about ten meters away reclining on an extremely large couch in a vertical humanoid manner, wearing a red smoking jacket, and sipping from what appeared to be a porcelain tea cup.  It was reading from a large book that was lying open in its lap.

“Oh my…I can’t…You’re…!!”
“Yes, yes, yes.  Let’s just skip the formalities shall we.  I’m the dragon that you didn’t actually believe existed.  You must be that Penfold fellow I heard about on the radio come to slay me, hmmm?  Don’t bother responding to that.  The truth is written all over your face.  And close your mouth.  That awestruck look you humans have is quite unbecoming.”
“Look Mr. Dragon…or sir…or whatever it is you wish to be called.  Please don’t kill me.   I’m rather fond of life at the moment.”
“Well now.  The way I see it, your continued existence depends entirely on you.”
“Huh?”
“Look Penfold; you don’t mind if I call you Penfold do you?  I feel like I’ve known you for eons.  You are just the latest in a long, long…long line of humans who have come to shuffle me from this mortal coil.”
“What happened to the others?”
The dragon raised his tea cup and pointed its pinkie claw at a rather large pile of bones off in the corner of the room.
“Oh.  I see.  I take it you’re drinking their blood from that cup?”
“Good heavens no!  This is my daily cup of Earl Grey.  I always take it when I sit down to read.  But back to my point.  I’m rather tired of you adventurers.  So here is what I propose.  I’ll let you live if you go back from whence you came and tell everyone that you slew me, the dragon.”
“You’re kidding?  No one will believe me!”
“Oh yes they will.  I’ll give you one of my scales along with some of my collected artifacts as evidence.  You’ll be a hero!  And I’ll finally be left in peace.  What do you say?”
“Can I have a minute to think it over?”
“No.”
“Okay then.  I’ll do it!”

Waveriders.  Allow me to introduce you to Pigeon John.  He is an utterly charming individual who will greet you like an old friend upon your first introduction.  You may not know him now, but trust me.  After you listen to some of his music he’ll become that long lost relative whom you’ll never lose track of again.  Sure, there might be times when you don’t pay close attention to his goings on, but sooner or later a voice in the back of your head will cry out, demanding to reestablish contact.  With that in mind it’s a very good thing that Pigeon John’s latest album, Dragon Slayer, has hit the market.

Quite a few years back, I was properly introduced to Pigeon John when he opened for one of my favorite hip hop groups, Blackalicious.  His performance was stupendously entertaining!  At the end of the show I approached his merch table where he was peddling his wares.  I shook his hand, exclaimed how awesome his show had been, and asked if I could buy a copy of four of the five CDs that he was selling.  Essentially, I wanted to buy everything he had ever done in one fell swoop (only lack of funds stopped me)!  The years have since come and gone waveriders, but my appreciation for PJ’s music has never wavered.

Taking that into account, it is with great remorse that I must relate I was not initially blown away by Dragon Slayer.  It had been four years since PJ’s last album, Pigeon John and the Summertime Pool Party.  During the lead up to the release of Dragon Slayer, I built up significant expectations as to what this new album would sound like.  Those expectations were shattered upon my very first listen.  PJ, like a lot of great artists, decided to take his music in an exciting new direction (much more singing, less rapping).  Unfortunately for me, it took about two weeks for my stubborn nature to accept this fact.  Once I let go of my expectations however, Dragon Slayer quickly became essential daily listening.  In fact, this may be my overall favorite PJ album ever!

So what makes this album so likable?  Dragon Slayer is a feel good, wonderful ride from beginning to end.  Unlike some other hip hop albums that come to mind, it is chock full of material perfectly relatable to the everyman.  As a matter of fact, that is a strong part of the appeal of Pigeon John’s music.  He is himself an everyman, just like you and me.  His concerns often match up very closely with our own.  A perfect example is the song “Buttersoft Seats” in which he worries about making enough money to adequately support his family.  Tell me.  Has your significant other/domestic partner ever left you a list of things to accomplish while they were away from home?  Take a listen to “To Do List” and have a laugh at PJ’s expense.

One of the other aspects I hang my hat on when recommending PJ is how soberingly honest his songs can get.  The tale spun in “Davey Rockit” of a boy stubbornly pursuing his dreams in the face of great personal adversity is beautiful, touching, and bittersweet.  “Rock Bottom Again” recounts the artist’s battle with substance abuse.  But hold on a second.  It’s not all doom and gloom here.  Dragon Slayer has plenty of happiness and cheer to spread far and wide.  The album opens with the electro-thump rave up “The Bomb”.  Later on one finds the highly energized “Hey You” (reminds me of early Arctic Monkeys musically), and the swaggerific “So Gangster”.  And the last track, “Ben Vereen”?  Ridiculous!

The bottom line is this.  Pigeon John has created an album that will appeal to anyone with open ears and a keen mind.  Get this album now.  You’ll love it!

--Penfold

Buy here:  Dragon Slayer
Buy here mp3: Dragon Slayer

Ryan-O’Neil - Hyphenated & Apostrophed

This whole escapade began like any other night.  I went to sleep at the appropriate time, but shortly thereafter things went awry.  As everyone knows the mind is a very dangerous place, and it often takes you to terrifying places while you are unconscious.  Some call these instances nightmares.  I like to think of these bad dreams as new episodes of ‘The Twilight Zone’.  The nightmare I experienced that night took me back to school.  I know…the horror!

“Penfold, have you finished your writing assignment yet?”
“Umm…yes?”  I look down at my desk and see a piece of paper with my writing on it.
“Well hand it to me you insolent brat!”
“All right, jeez.  Here you go.”  The teacher roughly snatched the paper from my hands and began to read.
“Penfold, Penfold, Penfold.  You continually amaze me.  This chicken scratch is some of the worst writing I’ve ever seen!  If it were in my power, I’d have you remanded all the way back to remedial English.  Look at this!?  Your grammar is astoundingly bad, even for a dimwit like you.  Seriously, how do you expect to graduate fifth grade and move onto middle school if you can’t figure out where to put an apostrophe to properly indicate possession?”
“Wait…did you say sixth grade?”
“What’s the matter Penfold?  Is simple addition beyond your grasp too?  I’ll tell you what.  If you can write down five convincing arguments in the next three minutes as to why I shouldn’t fail you right now, I’ll let you graduate.  Sound good?”

I was so emotionally devastated at that moment I couldn’t speak.  My response was limited to a half-hearted nod.  I set about my task with a sense of impending doom.  To my dismay every time I tried to write something my utensil failed.  Pens ran out of ink after one letter, or the ballpoint collapsed in on itself.  Pencils snapped or shattered.  Markers went bone dry.  Crayons dissolved into fine grains.  All the paint tubes around my desk had been squeezed flat and were empty.  When I reached for the watercolors in desperation I was unable to find a water-source, or even manufacture enough spittle to wet the brush.  At the three minute mark I was left with a patchwork of multicolored letters scattered randomly across two sheets of paper.  The teacher triumphantly tore the papers off my desk.

“Let’s see what you’ve come up with Penfold.  Hmmm?  In three minutes time it appears the only thing you can effectively demonstrate is command of less than half of the individual letters of the alphabet.  Truly, I’m in awe of your genius!  Can I have your autograph?  Wait, it doesn’t appear that you know the letter X so it looks like that’s not possible.  Too bad.  But on the positive side, I’ll have all next year to get that autograph because you’re not going anywhere.  Forget graduation.  Be thankful if you only have to repeat fifth grade!”

Waveriders, I’m here to tell you that waking up screaming and flailing your limbs wildly in a cold sweat is never fun.  Thankfully after this particular nightmare I was able to quickly banish all negative thoughts under a deluge of awesome tunes.  What artist provided this elixir you ask?  Why, it’s Ryan-O’Neil with his album Hyphenated and Apostrophed.  How did that work exactly?  Oh that’s easy to explain.  Hyphenated and Apostrophed is a multi-faceted explosion of lyrical goodness that will steer fans of intelligent music from whatever stormy seas they’ve run afoul of back to the calm, placid waters of musical enlightenment!  Pretty cool, huh?

Ryan-O’Neil is a talented emcee born in Jamaica, but who has lived in New York City since early 1994.  His musical education is impressive, boasting a bachelor’s degree in music from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.  You could confidently proclaim that he knows his way around a song’s composition.  Now I know what you’re going to say waveriders.  All the training and accreditations in the world don’t mean a thing if the end product doesn’t measure up.  I agree with that statement wholeheartedly!  And based on his music, Ryan-O’Neil does as well.

I mentioned before that this album is multi-faceted lyrically.  That wasn’t a joke.  With few exceptions, all hip-hop heads can find at least one track off of Hyphenated & Apostrophed that they can really get behind and enjoy.  Are you in the mood for a bouncy, straight up battle rap?  Try album opener “Knock Knock”.  Not your thing?  That’s okay.  Are you more interested in music addressing society’s ills?  Cool!  Just skip to track two, “The Way the World Is”.  Not interested in the big problems?  That’s all right.  I know!  You’re in the mood to hear a sophisticated entreaty towards a prospective love interest.  Great!  Take a listen to “Treat me so Bad”.  Still not finding something that tickles your fancy?  Fine.  I bet you would like to hear a captivating storyline told from multiple angles.  Would that be to your liking?  I thought so.  Listen to the devastating album closer “Perspectives”.  You’re welcome.

At this point, I’m going to step aside and let the actual lyrics do the talking.  My flattery can only go so far in convincing others of the artistic merit held within these songs.  So without further ado, straight from the artist’s mouth, here is the third verse from the song “The Way the World Is”.

There’s a war going on in a sandbox / Leaders acting like they big dogs, it’s a sandlot / The world’s in a mess but yes we can stop / The hole in the ozone so it ain’t so hot /
No stop I’m not trying to be your next president / Ain’t on the ballot, not quite legit I’m not valid / ‘Cause I wasn’t born in this country / But if I wanna go to war they take me promptly / Situation’s comfy, immigrant’s a scapegoat / If you want a job done but don’t want to pay for it / Why outsource it while we got a source of workhorses / Right here in the workforce? / And it’s growing like moss on the North side of trees / Of course I can see how some folks just can’t cope with ease / Well let’s face it, when we get down to the basics / None of y’all are natives / We all on vacation / I’m wasted /

Pretty slick, eh?  But that’s not all.  How about this smooth first verse from “Treat me so Bad”.

Just to court you, one must first approach you / I had to let you know that I am quite social / So I talk a lot and mingle / Yeah I’m single, see I made you giggle / And I talk in riddles / It’s this thing that I’m into / A fling sounds sinful/ A ring? / It’s much too early / Let’s get to know each other, there’s no need for us to hurry / Baby don’t worry, I’ll cook you curry once I learn it / Stick with me in the kitchen just to make sure I don’t burn it / It’s turning the tide, I can see it in your eyes / You done seen through all these lies, and games played by these guys / And lames they want dimes and dames, I want a lady / We can make war or make babies, yeah / The world’s gone crazy, so maybe I’m an optimist / Once we get together, you know there ain’t no stopping us / Disregard the populous, the majority they hate us / The schemers try to play us, they don’t want us to be greatness.

As impressive as these lyrics are when written out, they are even more so when performed with Ryan-O’Neil’s rhythmically solid lyrical flow.  To put it mildly, this man is a disgustingly entertaining lyricist and performer.  To top it all off, there is no barrier to entry to check out this album.  Yes sir, you can download Hyphenated and Apostrophed for free on either www.freeicecream.net or Ryan-O’Neil’s bandcamp page.  So why are you still here?  Get listening people!

--Penfold

Bully Blinders - City of Dirt

My investigative team and I were standing in the middle of Balboa Park in San Diego, California.  All of our research had led us to this exact location a month ago.  Upon scanning the area with subterranean radar we discovered the tunnel entrance.  It took a month of careful excavation to arrive at this point, the day that we would enter the tunnel.  We arrived a little before seven forty five in the morning, ready to document this momentous occasion.  All three trucks were unloaded, our two large tents were erected, and our prodigious supplies and equipment were organized and readied.  With any luck, it was going to be a long day filled with illuminating insights into a long forgotten society.

The cameras began filming at eight thirty while my team removed the last impediments blocking the mouth of the tunnel.  After everything was cleared away, I turned on my powerful flashlight and strode into the unknown with my camera crew following close behind.  By my estimation I walked about a hundred meters down the tunnel with not one twist or turn before I reached a modest sized room.  The room was a rectangular space with no ornamentation on the walls, and what appeared to be a clay pot on the ground.  To be frank, I was upset.  I expected much more from this tunnel than a featureless room that held nothing of interest, and I voiced my displeasure.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!?  Why go to the trouble of tunneling a good distance underground if all it leads to is an empty room?  I’m sorry…a room with a pot?”
“Mr. Penfold.  Why are you so upset?  This room might appear to hold nothing but a pot, but we need to properly analyze it before jumping to any conclusions.”
“Analyze this room?  Are you serious!?  I can hardly believe that anyone could…okay…breathe man.  Take a few deep breaths.  You know what Mr. Underling?  You’re right.  I let my hopes run away with me.  Of course you’re right.  Thank you my friend.”

No matter what I might admit to the others, I was still disillusioned.  Not thinking, I leaned sideways and put my hand against the wall right above the pot letting it support my weight.  Suddenly the wall around my fingers crumbled and gave way!  Half my arm disappeared inside the opening before I gained my balance!  Flashlight beams danced every which way as my crew rushed to my side.  Thankfully my careless stupidity had not been rewarded with any physical injury, only monumental embarrassment.  The same could not be said for the wall however.  Fissures continued to form, and the affected portion of the wall completely disintegrated all the way down to the floor.  All in all, this was not one of my shining moments as an archeologist.

The disgust I felt for myself was quickly wiped away when I cast a glance towards what lay beyond the hole in the wall.  Nothing interrupted the pitch black darkness beyond the opening.  When I shined my flashlight through the opening I received the same visual result.  This new room/area appeared to be very large, perhaps massive.  Now I was becoming excited.  This could be it!  Without consulting anyone on my team, I ducked my head down and passed through the wall.  Once I was on the other side I took ten steps forward and began shining my light in all directions.  I simply could not believe what my eyes were seeing.  Stretching away into the distance before me was an ancient cityscape.  This was the fabled City of Dirt!  We were standing in what might be the greatest archeological find of the new millennium!

Waveriders, I want to tell you about another important find.  This one is of the musical persuasion, and it could not have come at a better time.  For whatever reason I often encounter stretches where I am unable to find new hip hop artists (new to me at least) that genuinely pique my interest.  I know that they are out there waiting to be discovered, but I apparently lack the means to make their acquaintance.  In these circumstances I rely on others to steer me in the right direction.  Thankfully I have a few friends and coworkers who can do just that, including the great Racer X of The Ripple Effect.  Recently, Racer sent me out onto the internet superhighway to investigate a group named Bully Blinders, and the rest as they say is history.

Bully Blinders is a hip hop duo based out of San Diego made up of William Talls and Chad Tuthill.  In January of 2010 they put out their debut album entitled City Of Dirt, and it is that album which we are going to be talking about today.  To put it mildly, City Of Dirt is fantastic!  Honestly, I knew from the very first song that I was in for something good.  Track number two let me know I was in for something special!  This album is a perfect example of what I’m looking for in hip hop; intelligent, well-delivered lyrics backed by interesting, organic-sounding music.  As I alluded to before, these elements coalesce immediately in the first song.

“The Spirit of John Dewey” bounces to life behind an ultra funky organ/base/drum backdrop.  Honestly I’m not familiar with American philosopher John Dewey’s work, so I am not able to fully decipher the meaning behind this song.  That being said, when the first lyric concerns man’s ‘connection to insects in general / and to anything else in the world boasting wings, legs, and tentacles’, you have my attention.  The second song, “Aim Low Kid”, guaranteed my full and undivided attention with its attack upon the it’s okay to be dumb mindset and the rationale offered behind it.  Here is part of the first lyrical verse to illustrate what I’m referring to.

‘Well okay, it’s cool to be dumb in school / Girls you can play the bimbos, guys you can be the tools / But it’s not your fault, you just do what your told / and what you keep getting sold is the idea just to aim low / Single family homes are up to sixty percent / No time to raise your kids, so they end up learning from the TV sets / eliminating arts from the curriculum and class, so they do just enough to get up, make the grade and pass.’

The highlights keep coming.  There is the feel good ode to delicious cereals “Continental Breakfast”, and the fantastically woven together pastiche of eighties sitcom characters, show titles, and storylines entitled “The Charlie Sheen Theme”.  On the emotional flip side there is the seriously contemplative “Can’t Imagine”, and the sobering look at reality of “You Only Hear What You Want To Hear”.  My personal favorite is called “30 Feet Above Dirt”.  This song is a smooth, laid back story of a man who builds a treehouse to get away from his worldly troubles.  It’s awesome!  Actually, analyzing everything there is not one song out of the nine that I would not consider a highlight.  All nine are keepers!

So there you have it waveriders.  If you are looking for something funky and interesting that deviates from what can be considered the norm in mainstream hip hop, look no further than Bully Blinders’ album City Of Dirt.  If you are anything like me, this album will act like a breath of fresh air.  A palate cleanser if you will.  Oh, and the group has stated that a new full length album is in the works, with a planned release date later on in 2011.  You can bet that I’m looking forward to that release with great anticipation!  Now to check back in with the team.

I just couldn’t bring myself to believe that all our work had paid off!  We were standing in a whole city lost to time!  My team and I rushed out of the tunnel to get more cameras and equipment.  We were in the process of loading ourselves down when the small army of men in black suits approached.

“Who are you?”
“Mr. Penfold, we’re with the government.  I’m afraid that your excavation is finished.  For your own safety, we are going to seal that tunnel.  Also, it would be wise for you and your team to never mention what you have seen here today.  Am I understood?”
“Hold on a second!  You can’t do this!”
“Yes we can sir.  Now pack up and leave the area.  Anyone who does not leave will be forcibly evacuated.”
“But…I…fine, have it your way…for now.”
“Thank you for your cooperation sir.”

--Penfold


Buy here: City of Dirt
Buy here mp3: City Of Dirt

Random and K-Murdock - Forever Famicom

There are three words in existence that when put together create magic.  When read or spoken this incantation has the power to instantaneously transport any individual back in time.  Recollections vary from person to person of course, but in general the outcome remains the same.  Waves of memories and emotion will wash over the individual in an unstoppable flood of nostalgia.  Those three words are Nintendo Entertainment System, and this column is about two artists who combined forces to harness the energies summoned by those words to produce one magnificent album.

Only a short time ago in a galaxy exactly like our own a man named K-Murdock received a package in the mail containing two albums by a rapper named Random.  At the time K-Murdock was hosting an underground hip hop show on XM radio called SubSonic, and Random was hoping to get his music played on air.  One of the two albums, entitled Megaran, made a distinct impression on K-Murdock based on its use of music sampled from old Mega Man videogames.  In short order he communicated his desire to collaborate with Random on some new music.  It was at this point that Random realized that K-Murdock, host of SubSonic, was also the ace-producer K-Murdock of Panacea fame.  The two quickly bonded over their love of hip hop and videogames, and eventually the album Forever Famicom was born.

There are no two ways about it; Forever Famicom (which I will refer to as FF) is a special album.  Musically speaking, it holds a rather unique position.  While it is true that there have been other groups who have utilized classic video game music to flavor their own creations (for example Ripple favorites Urizen) as well as groups who perform straight cover versions of video game music (see the Minibosses), FF goes about things differently.  Historically K-Murdock’s productions have been labeled as “feel good music”.  This description holds true on FF where he expertly combines the sampled video game music in each song with drum beats, background vocals, assorted sound effects, and new orchestration to create lush soundscapes that envelop the listener like a warm blanket fresh from the dryer.  I guarantee that even people who do not recognize the video games the sampled music originally came from will find themselves involuntarily humming the tunes after only a couple of listens.  They are that memorable!  Once you get your head around the music, it’s time to address the other half of the equation.

Random is one of my favorite rappers.  He has been for a couple of years now, and he shows no signs of relinquishing his title.  Similar to K-Murdock, Random first came to my attention when I read a review of his Megaran album.  I recommended the album to a friend based on that review.  He bought it, listened to it, and immediately forced me to sit down for my own run through.  To say that I was impressed would be a massive understatement, and I have been buying up everything Random has put out since that day.  What I enjoy most about Random’s work is the same thing I enjoy about all other great lyricists’ work.  He not only has the ability to convey universal truths through autobiographical stories, but he can also deftly weave together fictional elements to create a story that sucks the listener in like a high end Dyson vacuum. 

The songs that make up FF effortlessly blend these strengths together to produce a work that can be appreciated by a wide range of people.  After reading my opening paragraph, did you immediately start listing off the great Nintendo games that you loved in your head?  Well chances are Random loved them too, and he conveniently runs down a cleverly composed list of titles on the song “Epoch”.  Instead of the classics do you fanaticize over current video games?  Listen to album standout “For the Gamers” where Random and featured guest rappers In80 and Schaffer the Darklord eloquently align themselves with the hardcore gaming crowd who strive for every gaming achievement to the detriment of sleep and their work.  Don’t like games at all?  That’s cool.  Songs like “Dream Master” or “The Girl With the Makeup” are there for you.  “Dream Master” tells the tale of how Random’s mother sacrificed and bought him a Nintendo Entertainment System in an effort to keep him off the streets of Philadelphia.  “The Girl With the Makeup”, my personal favorite song on the album, is about Random falling in love with the first girl he knew to wear makeup, only to foul up the relationship by desperately trying to be something he was not.  Everyone, without fail, can find something to relate to in both of these songs.  Still not satisfied?  How about something off the wall?  Try “Double Dragons” on for size.  That’s right.  A song about the events that unfold in the videogame Double Dragon, and it is just as awesome as you imagine!

I said it before but it bears repeating.  Forever Famicom is a special album.  It has established a near permanent spot in my music rotation since its release date last year, and it does not appear that it will wear out its welcome.  Was it my favorite album of 2010?  That depends on the day, but it was definitely my favorite hip hop album of the year, and I know for a fact that the album ended up on many other peoples year end lists as well.

Seriously people…there is a song about Double Dragon.  Who can argue with that!?

-- Penfold

Buy here:  Forever Famicom
Buy here mp3: Forever Famicom

Brother Ali - Us

“Hey there, we’re back!  You’re listening to KCRP and what you just heard were the top five songs on the Billboard rap chart.  Hot, hot, hotness!  Those tracks are fire!  Before we play some more bangin’ tunes for you guys we have some guy named Penfold in the studio with us.  Penfold, you dig music right?”
“Yes, I love music.”
“Well Pen, what do you think of those songs we just played?  Bangers right?”
“They were all right I guess.”
“What!?  Are you serious?  Just all right?”
“Honestly, I couldn’t tell that more than two songs had played the entire time.  It all sounded the same to me.”
“Oh I get it.  You just don’t like rap music, huh?”
“What?  No!  I love hip hop.”
“Yeah, whatever.  I know a lie when I hear one.  Tell you what.  Why don’t you just get out of here man?  See ya!”

Well, that ended quickly.  They cut off my microphone and rapidly showed me to the door.  One moment I’m inside a radio station, the next I’m outside very early on a drizzly Sunday morning.  These situations spring up often in my life and even though I am not normally at fault, I always feel lousy afterwards.  On this day, and in spite of the drizzle, I decided that I would attempt to walk off my disappointment.  I set off down the street with my eyes downcast, not really paying attention to where I was going.  After walking for a few minutes I glanced upwards and something beautiful caught my attention.  There was a solid beam of sunlight piercing the low hanging overcast.  I decided to treat the sunlight as if it was a spotlight, and set out to discover what it was shining upon.

I rounded the next street corner and found my answer.  The sunlight was bathing what appeared to be a converted church with a warm, friendly glow.  The structure had all the common church features: steeples, gothic architecture, stairs leading to large wooden entry doors, a bell tower, and people in fine clothing milling about.  But this was definitely not your normal place of worship.  Where you would expect to see crosses there were depictions of microphones in front of turntables.  My curiosity would not allow me to leave without discovering what was happening here, so I entered the building and sat down in a pew located in the rear of the assembly hall.  Behind the pulpit, which was also adorned with the microphone/turntable emblem, the choir you might expect to see was replaced with a full band dressed in flowing red robes.  Pretty cool I thought.  The real surprise however was seeing the legendary Chuck D of Public Enemy fame stride on stage behind the pulpit, wave his hands for silence, signal the band, and begin to address the audience.

“Brothers and Sisters.  The world we share is filled with such despair, and such pain.  We’re a people at odds with our very own selves.  The rich neglect the poor.  The young resent the old.  We’re divided by race, divided by religion.  Our politicians rob us and our leaders fail us.  I think it’s safe to say that we are our only hope.  Our speaker tonight is a soldier in the war for love.  He carries with him a message of true hope, and true peace.  I pray that you will listen with open hearts and open minds.  Brothers and Sisters.  Put your hands together and welcome Brother Ali!”

Let me tell you something.  From the moment that speech ended, it was on!  The man known as Brother Ali appeared on stage as if shot from a cannon, and the band went into overdrive with the drums thumping and the horns blaring!  The packed house, myself included, went nuts!  The rapid fire lyrical delivery of the first song performed, entitled “The Preacher”, left me in a state of shell shock.  While my mind failed to fully comprehend the message of the song, I knew with utter certainty that this was an artist not interested in propagating stupidity, materialism, or violence.  Yes sir, one song and I was hooked!  But I was not prepared for what came next.  “Crown Jewels” brought the energy level back down to reasonable levels and the first verse Brother Ali rapped went like this.

“I glide across the surface with my head held high / Shoulders pushed back, I’m convinced I’ll never die / Got a squint to my eye like I can’t take the world in / Too much beauty to behold by one person / Wear the sky around my shoulder like a tailor made cloak / create or decorated with my never fadin’ hopes / My same old skin like the robe of a King / Gold, platinum bling happen to grow from my chin / Sun keeps kissin’ my cheek as if it has to / And the Earth under my feet become a castle / Any word I endeavor to speak, I command you / Die grammer plan to make the Devil unhand you / Should the elements change and it ever rain / Drops fall around me, my garment is never stained / This is what God had in mind for me / Shine like the stars in the sky just align for me.”

Is that one of the coolest, best lyrical verses I have ever come across?  Yes.  Yes it is.  And that was only the tip of the iceberg!  The rest of the performance was filled to the brim with storytelling, message tracks, and braggadocio of the highest order.  I later learned that I had seen a full beginning-to-end performance of Brother Ali’s newest album Us.  Essentially, the songs that make up this album are designed to give the middle finger (please excuse my coarseness) to anyone who believes that hip hop/rap songs cannot be thought provoking or emotionally powerful.  To break it down further, if you want to mull over a subject broached by an intelligent artist look no further than the songs “Tight Rope”, “The Travelers”, and “Slippin’ Away”.  Do you simply want to listen to imaginative boasting?  Look no further than “Bad Mufucka Pt. II” or “Best @ It”, especially the latter with talk of his peer group.  Lastly, if you want a song to devastate you (in a good way…in a good way) listen to either “Breakin Dawn” or “Babygirl”.  Need a sample to see what I’m referring to?  All right, here is the second verse from “Babygirl”.

“How can she find peace in her mind when / Love means returning to the scene of a crime? / I can feel it inside we’ve reopened wounds every time we intertwine / Such an evil design when you can’t even enjoy the sweetness you find / Trying to see through the tears in your eyes and rebuild your shrine one piece at a time / E & K made it all fade away / Colors don’t burn no more it’s all gray / Can’t find heaven from within that shell but it’s enough of a blessing if just not seen hell / Constant inner dialog says just end the roller coaster ride you’re on / Only one solution seems final: slide into a hole where your pain can’t find you.”

For crying out loud, I’m in awe just typing out these lyrics!  People, I beseech you.  Seek out a copy of Brother Ali’s Us at your earliest opportunity.  I’ve been listening to it since it was released in late 2009, and I can attest that I always feel incredibly foolish when I come back to the album after even a short time away.  It is a bona fide modern classic that all waveriders interested in good music need to experience as soon as humanly possible.

-- Penfold


Buy here: Us
Buy here mp3: Us [Explicit]

CircleDown – Mobius EP

It’s a subtle thing, really, but it’s those subtle things that separate the pretenders from the contenders.  What I’m talking about here, oh waverider, is texture.  Having the confidence in the music and the playing to mix things up a bit.  Bring in contrast.  Nuance. 

You can pummel me all you want with screamo growls, chugging guitars, piledriver drums and anger.  It won’t impress me.  The louder you scream the wider my mouth will gape in a bored yawn.  But drop out the guitar, ride a bass riff, allow the noise to settle into an ambient dream, bring back the scream, counter it with a real melody, I mean a real, honest-to-goodness, sing-along melody, and suddenly you have my ear.

And to that regard, this 4 song EP captured my ear, tied it up, and is still holding it for ransom.

Following in a post-Linkin Park world of nu-metal riffs, synth textures, clean and angry vocals, CircleDown look primed to capture that throne that Linkin Park vacated long ago.  And they do it their own way.  While the Linkin Park reference is the best place to start with these guys, it’s in no way where they end.  Heavier than LP ever was, CircleDown toss some serious metal into the fray, along with their tight-as-nails songwriting.

“Halfstep,” brings the contrasting edges of CircleDown to the front right off the bat.  Gentle acoustic guitars, ambient textures lead us, guiding us gently, or rather misguiding us to the huge frenetic burst of crashing guitars and assailing beats.  Vocals interplay clean and harsh, the occasional rap, with a solid gold melody keeping the whole thing hanging together.   And when I say these guys rock harder than LP, I mean HARDER.  Mid song breakdown is pure metallic frenzy, which works deliciously with the contrast of the return to the sweet melody.  Contrast baby.  Texture.  It works.

As good as that first track is, “Ashes Falling,” is even better.  This baby launches off with a metallic riff just stolen from the glory days of the NWOBHM.  A real neckbreaking headbanger, revved up and amped up.  The dirty vocals wails off in some personal hellish torment while the clean vocals keep that always present melody anchoring the song.  “Crash,” begins with an almost Floyd-ish electro-passage, keys percolating in the foreground while the metal rises underneath.  Nice touch, as is the dropout of the riff and the rise of the bass line carrying the verse.  The drummer adopts an extra arm or two during this song, finding those extra limbs necessary to fill out some of those beats.   “ReConstitute,” launches off all industrial-fury, grinding into a riff that could weld steel together.  By this time, the band’s surrises aren’t surprising.  I’m expecting a melody about as infectious as metal will allow, some serious chops, a big, soaring chorus, and a nifty instrumental breakdown.  The boys never fail to deliver.

What I’ve discussed are just the barebones of this impressive EP.  I’ve said nothing of the frankly beautiful, freak-jazz breakdown in “Ashes Falling,” or the muted, ambient stutter stop in “HalfStep.”  But then sometimes it’s best to leave something for you waveriders to discover on your own. 

If you’ve been wondering what is pop metal will be like in the post LP years.  Here it is.  Violent and aggressive with the heart of a metal beast and the brain of a tunesmith.   Jump in without fear. 

--Racer

http://www.circledown.com/

A SOLO RAP

Enjoy



ht: geeks

Die Antwoord - 5 EP

Only one band can say they are the hottest and best thing to come out of South Africa since Charlize Theron. That band is Die Antwoord, a hip hop/rap group that heavily relies on electronics or as they describe it, new zef gang$ta rap. Their name is Afrikaans for "The Answer.” The lineup is reminiscent of Salt-N-Peppa and Run DMC with two excellent emcees backed by a remarkable DJ.Die Antwoord consists of lead vocalist Ninja, Yo-Landi Vi$$er also contributing vocals as a hype-man similar to Flavor Flav of Public Enemy and DJ Hi-Tekspinning their beats (Note: Vuilgeboost aka Hi-Tek Junior spins for the band  occasionally). Over the past two years, the band has become a YouTube and Internet sensation with their music videos, especially their “Enter the Ninja” music video.

The best way to describe the band is they are absolutely addictive. Their viral hit song, “Enter the Ninja” kicks of the "5" EP and is a tease of what lies ahead for the group. The obnoxiously catchy song is filled with smooth rapid flowing lyrics. And if you’re still haunted by the song and want some more, a danceable remix of “Enter the Ninja” is included as the fifth and final track.

Their next song, “Wat Kyk Jy,” an Afrikaan slang for “what are you looking at?”, shows the gritty side of the band with a lazy rap. Yo-Landi and Ninja exchange in English and Afrikan between persistent hooks. Their unpredictable vocal choice, beats and lyrics is what makes this band so unique and remarkable. This is followed up by “I Don’t Need You,” an infectious dance song that is more of a rave/ dance song. It completely catches you off guard at first, but once you recognize Ninja’s rapping its quite enjoyable. Ninja’s monotone rhyming and spacey sound is extremely enticing in a weird way, but it somehow works on this
song.

“Enter the Ninja” is the song that catapulted them to fame, but it’s “Fish Paste” that will bring Die Antwoord more mainstream success and their careers to a whole new level. This is easily by far the most accessible song of the bunch and proves this band isn’t one of those bands who will disappear. Ninja, Vi$$ser and DJ Hi-Tek are having fun with their music and so should you. This particular song is reminiscent of a Drake and Kid Cudi song, but it’s a smoother, ridiculous fun song.

 Die Antwoord is a breath of fresh air to the rap industry and that cannot be emphasized enough. This EP is merely a warm up act to a revamped version of their debut $0$ album, which was previously released through Die Antwoord’s website. Their odd, eclectic sound is what makes them such a fantastic and exciting band to listen to in this current dreary filled rap music scene. The future looks bright. If you enjoy this band, also check out similar artists Jack Parow and MaxNormal.Tv.  -- Mr Brownstone