Category Archives: Music

SXSW

Toro Y Moi Es Muy Bueno

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I don’t like to dip in the mainstream everyone once in awhile but I have in the case of Toro Y Moi.  What?  You haven’t heard of them before?  OH!  Sorry!  I mean the music blog mainstream.  Yeah, it’s still not the Top of the Pops, but what we have here is a very tasty artist that will be at SXSW this year.  Toro Y Moi is the stage brainchild of Chazwick Bundick and cemented its place in the chillwave movement.  There were two albums promised last year with Causers of This and Underneath the Pine,  with one electronic  and the other being more instrumental respectively.  Welp only Causers of This came out with Underneath the Pine coming out February 22.

“You Hid” off of Causers of This puts me in a hazy dream.  The subtle and muffled dream beats keep me entranced while Chazwick himself lays down some smooth lyrics to ride with the keys that blip and bleep along.  It’s the kind of cool that’s only cool when absolutely no effort is put into it.  Almost like wearing velcro shoes.  So slap on a pair and check out “You Hid” yourself.

[audio:http://146.190.132.255/audio/Toro_Y_Moi_-_You_Hid.mp3]

SXSW

I’ve Got My Helmet On

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Part of going to SXSW not only includes discovering new acts, but it also includes seeing older acts that are still on the road.  One of my favorite bands from the mid to late 1990s will be in Austin in March and I can’t wait the see them.   Helmet started out for me with two songs: “Unsung” and “Milqtoast.”  The first one nailed me with radio waves and the second one came from the stellar Crow Soundtrack.  Both Meantime and Betty rocked for me but when Aftertaste came out it went downhill.  That’s alright because they are back with a new album to support, Seeing Eye Dog, and they will be doing it in good ole Texarkana.

The title cut off Seeing Eye Dog, reminds me more of some the harsher Helmet songs.  Page Hamilton goes from screaming to melodic singing depending on the song.  We have screaming Page on “Seeing Eye Dog”.  You know, it kind of reminds me of “In the Meantime” but with the guttural screams.  It’s more high-pitched and whiney.  Still, these guys have mastered being heavy by using quiet breaks between riffs.  Sometimes a calm quiet before a thundering heavy riff doubles the effect.  Check out “Seeing Eye Dog” yourself.

[audio:http://146.190.132.255/audio/Helmet_-_Seeing_Eye_Dog.mp3]

SXSW

The Bees Knees

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I remember back in the day, when I was budding computer programmer and a budding (still) musician.  The college scene led me to some tasty underground and overseas scenes.  One of the destinations was a group called The Bees.  Their first album, “Sunshine Hit Me,” I actually owned in CD format and I wore a hole in the cd player listening to it.  Welp, the magic continues at SXSW this year as The Band of Bees, their American name, will showcase their talents for thirsty young peeps like myself.

The Bees were Blitzen Trapper before Blitzen Trapper was Blitzen Trapper.  And I’m not talking about the Super Bowl Sunday.  Their earlier stuff sound much like “Silver Line” except it was harsher and more Spanish.  I’m reminded of dirty hammock on the beach with a half empty beer (not Corona) jamming out to The Bees and watching the sun going down.  The blizzard I’m knee-deep in right only makes me long for that time and place more.  There’s always a sliver lining and in this cased, it’s The Bees and “Sliver Line.”

[audio:http://146.190.132.255/audio/The_Bees_-_Silver_Line.mp3]

SXSW

Yuck, Not So Much

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Back again with another SXSW Music 2011 Showcasing act that I’ll do my damnedest to see.  This time it’s Yuck.  Yuck is a bunch of blokes from London, England.  Two of them used to be a part of Cajun Dance Party, Daniel Blumberg and Max Bloom to be exact, but they got tired of the band and left in late 2009 to form Yuck.  Maybe they got their inspiration for the name by thinking about their time in Cajun Dance Party?

At any rate, they are coming out with a new album and will be in Austin to support.  Check out this B-Side called “Cocunut Bible.”  These guys sound like a lo-fi retread of some great early to mid 1990’s alt bands.  I’m thinking My Bloody Valentine or Sonic Youth.  Yuck got the touch of NPR from its latest All Songs Considered podcast so I would expect the inevitable 90’s alt rock revival to happen anytime now.  I, for one, welcome it.

[soundcloud params=”auto_play=false&show_comments=true”]http://soundcloud.com/yuck/coconut-bible-1[/soundcloud]

SXSW

A-Trak Attacks

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SXSW is coming up in March and once again I’m heading out there to catch all things music.  Leading up to it, I’m gonna curate the ginormous list of acts showcasing the event and talk about the ones you should see rightcheer.  First up, we got ourselves a legendary, but still somewhat unknown, A-Trak.  A-Trak won all, and I mean, all of the DJ competitions out there in the mid 90’s.  He did so at the age of 15 (and up).  Fast forward to today and we have a career that saw him be Kanye West’s tour DJ as well as a handful of original albums.  Check out his official web site for up to date deets on this guy, but head out to Austin to see his skillz up close and personal.

[soundcloud params=”auto_play=false&show_comments=true”]http://soundcloud.com/a-trak/robyn-indestructible-a-trak-remix[/soundcloud]