Blakroc

This new hip-hop project from the Black Keys is shaping up to sound really good. "Stay Off the Fuckin' Flowers" features Raekwon sliding through a scatter shot beat that's held together by a steadily thick bass line. The track never looks back as the instruments build and shift under the guidance of Raekwon's definitive flow. The meshing of Blues/Rock with Hip-Hop isn't a clear winner on paper, but it works comfortably in practice. Rappers always project their life struggles through their lyrics, and the history of Blues stems from the same expression. It may be a stretch, but for some reason hearing Raekwon spit over some hazy guitars just feels nostalgic.

Blakroc

Miami Horror- Sometimes

Imagine pt. 3

The Smith Westerns have benefited from their touring schedule. "Imagine pt 3" ditches the garage for a more straight forward sound that bounces with pop energy. The clarity of the track really shows off the Smith Westerns' enormous potential to write great hooks and huge riffs,especially given that they're only teenagers. I've had this on repeat all day, spin it through a couple of times, and I think you'll feel the same.

Imagine pt. 3

Holy Ghost!

"There's a part of me that keeps coming through, and I will come back, I will come back to you"

BlakRoc

BlakRoc is a new project from The Black Keys and a gang of your favorite MC's. They got Mos Def, Raekwon, Jim Jones, Q-Tip, Ludacris, and even Ol' Dirty Bastard (R.I.P Ason) rapping over blues inspired beats. These dudes are also establishing their own record label to release the album, which is due out on November 27th. It's great to see genres embrace one another in order to create original music that stretches the bounds of conventional rap. I'm genuinely excited for this one, check out the website for some sound snippets and video.

Take This Ride

My main man Bernie is putting forth a great effort to delve into the world of Hip-hop. As a true connoisseur of the genre, he offers a refreshing perspective on what to expect and what to respect. It's interesting to see the growing disparity between people who search for genuinely authentic Hip-Hop and the masses who subserviently bow to Hip-Pop. The recent releases of Jay-Z's The Blueprint III and Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. 2 illustrate this dynamic well. True Hip-hop is what Take This Ride is all about, whether it be commercial or from the streets, Bernie has you locked down with some of the best commentary and writing you'll find on the fucking internet. After I finished reading the first preliminary posts I was ready to get M.O.B. tattooed across my neck. Hit up the link and enjoy.

I'm Still an Animal

But I'm still trying to make my mind up, am I free or am I tied up?

Criminology

Raekwon's much anticipated Only Built 4 Cuban Linx pt. 2 has lived up to expectations and beyond. Some Criminology as a tribute, the beat is militant.

Girls- Lust for Life

Girls have been getting a lot of press on blogs, I just picked up Album, and so far it's been a nice listen. "Lust for Life" is short and sweet, has a nice vibe though.

Gonna Stomp All Night

The new Julian Casablanca album Phrazes for the Young, is due out October 20th on RCA, and I'm excited to say it sounds pretty good. "11th Dimension" almost sounds like something Madonna could work with. Big 80s synths, a Daft Punk Guitar rift, and obscure lyrics makeup this heater .I'm down with anything the Strokes and their respective members do, so I think it's safe to say that Phrazes for the Young will be a nice additional to what should be a solid lineup of music this fall.

The Smith Westerns

The Smith Westerns self-titled debut invokes memories of T.Rex's Electric Warrior, but with a little less glam and a little more garage. Sifting through the fuzz and static-laden lyrics rewards the listener with really catchy hooks and rifts that get better with every repeat. Standouts include "The Boys Are Fine" and "Be My Girl", among many others. A really solid first outing. Check out myspace for some tracks.

Contra

Kid Kudi x MGMT x Ratatat

Supreme Fall 2009

Band of Outsiders Fall 2009

Band of Outsiders' latest offering for this fall is really good. The LA based brand employ the help of Jason Schwartzman to showcase some of their best styles to date. These are some of my favorite shots, the stuff is a little expensive, but if you can pick up a couple of items it's definitely worth it.

Fire

Cash Flow is Classixx

I'm feeling this severe remix of Major Lazer's "Cash Flow" and pretty much everything Classixx is putting out right now.

Cash Flow Classixx Glass Bottom Dub Mix

Overnite Religion

Kurt Vile's first track from Childish Prodigy

Overnite Religion

Almost Strokes

Major Lazer!

Diplo is responsible for so much good shit lately, and that's just not my Philly bias talking. Major Lazer is a blast through Jamaican dancehall/reggae with authentic MC's and beat conducta's giving the album firm rooting in the true culture of the music. Great for the summer especially.

MAJOR LAZER

P Rod- Today Was a Good Day

The Sun Was High So Was I

Sun Was High (So Was This Unauthorized Video) from vamos on Vimeo.

Unofficial Fan Video for Best Coast's great summer stoner jam

Discover Discovery

Discovery makes great electronica beats that are ready to be apart of your summer fun. Hand claps, heavy bass, and dance floor synths set the forum for Rostam Batmanglij and Wes Miles (Vampire Weekend and Ra Ra Riot) to drop some R & B ish lyrics about Tokyo and the disco. Auto-tune is implemented with taste and overall LP sounds good from start to finish. LP is slated for release on July 7th by XL recordings. This shit is funksman approved, standouts include "Orange Shirt", "Osaka Loop Line", "So Insane", and "Carby."

Discovery Myspace

The Monks in Germany

Can't Hear My Eyes

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti makes a really interesting blend of retro psychedelic funk pop. With a huge library of tracks it's hard to pick out the definitive stand outs, but the new track, "Can't Hear My Eyes" is a nice start. Hit up the myspace link below to get acclimated. 

Ariel Graffiti's - "Can't Hear My Eyes"

No Reasons

I'm really enjoying Vega these days. "No Reasons" is the perfect summer hit. Its' got a shiny coat of synth gloss that gets better with every listen. Well Known Pleasures Ep is slated for release on May 19th by Vogue College Records.

Vega Myspace

Supreme x Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst just put out some nice skate decks in collaboration with Supreme. The video is directed by Jake Davis who puts in a lot of nice board flashes, showcasing Damien's unique painting style. 

More Electronic Heat From Down Under

Exceptionally weird  and elaborate music video from Empire of the Sun. The track, "We Are the People" is built around the spanish guitar and disco heat, always a winning combination. 

Some tracks for the day:

1. "Get em High" (A-Track Remix) off of the Sky High Official Mixtape-  A- Track throws Kanye and Common's verses over The Knife's "Heartbeats" and pretty much just stands back. I think the whole thing flows really well and Common stomps the last line. 

http://www.zshare.net/audio/57723196ab737183/

2. "Come Saturday" a  single from the self-titled "The Pains of Being Pure At Heart"- A great new band from Brooklyn, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart put down a pop sound with a catchy guitar hook. 

http://www.zshare.net/audio/57723330b19fc2af/

3. "Mongoloid" by Devo from Are We Not Men?-  One of Devo's best songs.

 http://www.zshare.net/download/5772335901e5c8d5/

No Hope Kids

Wavves' self-titled digital LP has gotten mixed reviews after considerable hype leading up to the album's release. I'm still sort of on the fence with it, but I can say that certain tracks are really on point and deliver wave upon wave of blaring noise pop. "No Hope Kids" is stuffed with static and barely audible lyrics that somehow manage to exude a warmness you could only feel in California. 

No Hope Kids - Wavves

Handsome Furs- "Thy Will Be Done"

The Handsome Furs were formerly a Wolf Parade side project, but the release of their latest album, Face Control, has positioned the married duo as a great band all alone. There's not much going on in terms of instrumentation, but Dan Boekner does an outstanding job of songwriting/guitar playing, and Alexei Perry fills in the sound with a bunch of different synths. Otherwise a simple drum machine slaps in the background, yet somehow nearly every track on Face Control manages to be engaging. "Thy Will Be Done" is a standout, I reccomend picking up the album as soon as you can.

Yeah Yeah Yeah's- Skeletons

The new Yeah Yeah Yeah's album It's Blitz! is due out on March 31st, and my initial reaction is that it should be pretty on point. From what I can gather it'll be a little less guitar driven and more tied to atmospheric synths and Karen O. "Skeletons" is a slow-burner, but for some reason I keep going back for more. There's not much going on, but sometimes pure simplicity is all a track needs.

Skeletons - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Ghostface Killah x MF DOOM

The rumors about DOOM and Ghostface Killah working on some project together seem to be true as "Chinatown Wars" has been released for the new Grand Theft Auto hand held game. The people over at Rockstar obviously have some pull since they were able to snag this exclusive track. On its own, "Chinatown Wars" is a solid outing that does a great job of demonstrating how fiery Ghostface can be,while also affirming that DOOM still has that villainous flow. Expect more Ghostface X Doom content in the near future.

The Golden Filter- "Solid Gold"

Solid Gold - The Golden Filter from golden filter on Vimeo.

Honestly, fuck the top ten album list, from here on out I'm throwing up posts of tracks I've been into, albums that deserve a listen, and gear worth checking out. Hopefully, today will mark a nice turning point for Interplanetary Funk. To get things started here's a great new music video from The Golden Filter for their excellent single "Solid Gold." Plenty of artists have stepped in for the remix treatment, but the original is a really nice foray into electronica that's immediately infectious and ready for multiple replays.