Fresh Track + Video: Death Grips “The Fever (Aye Aye)”
I listened to a lot of hip-hop growing up. I even had a stint in high school as a battle DJ. I was into the scene and I loved the culture that came with it. No I did not rock a Kangol hat, but I did think I was the man because I owned two 1200’s and a Vestax mixer. Somewhere between scratching my last sample as I left for college and now I fell out of hip-hop music. It still amazes me today because for a short time it was the music I adored.
I grew up idolizing Wu-Tang Clan, Outkast, 2-Pac, Biggie, KRS-One, NWA, and Nas because they brought certain aggressiveness to their music. It was this lack of this ferocious tone in recent hip-hop that caused me to lose interest. The bar has been set during my early years and there was not anyone coming close to touching it.
Today I proudly post this as I gain a special feeling of hip-hop rejuvenation. Sacramento experimental hip-hop group, Death Grips provides me with “The Fever (Aye Aye)”. This is their first single off their debut album The Money Store (Pre-Order) that is set to drop on April 24th. The dark, forceful delivery they present is invigorating. Vocalist, Stefan Burnett commands attention and has me interested.
A notorious nostalgia brought back to life with one play. It is fun to reflect on the past. It is even better to see old influences find their way to the present. Maybe, it is time to to dust off those old break records.
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“The Fever (Aye Aye)”
Written by Brett McGrath
Band to Watch: Pickwick
Great music requires feeling. It inspires. It’s turns good days into great days, and bad ones into livable ones. But the greatest music is timeless. The sounds of American music grew up in the bayous of Louisiana and traveled up the Mississippi River with different styles of jazz. As it continued its journey north into Chicago and Detroit, it morphed its way to the great rhythm, blues, and soul era of the 1950s. Everything after, whether it be disco or rock and roll, is rooted in the great American sounds of Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, and the countless other acts and personalities whose sound has and will continue to be listened to and admired.
What has been compelling over these past few years is the resurgence in this old sound, not only interested listeners amongst the twenty something crowd, but also in new acts looking to create their space and style in the indiesphere. But I don’t believe for a second that it’s come about by chance. With the economy still dragging a good majority of us through the gutter, people need something to be happy about. The backbone of Jazz and Soul music was the daily struggle and the need to have something make everything better. Something that got the feet moving and for lack of a better way to explain it, made people feel alive. And while our country still seems to be in a five-year hangover at this point, this type of music is needed now again more than ever.
“Hacienda Motel”
Seattle based six-piece Pickwick is the latest soulful pop project that seems destined for big things over this coming year. Led by the voice of Galen Disston, the band jives modern day soul with a paintbrush from 1950’s Motown. I say modern day soul because while it’s certainly clear there are some heavy influences from all the greats, it sounds like more of a pop project. More in the line of a band like Fitz & The Tantrums, Pickwick is really creating something new with some classic styles. Full of catchy hooks and emotion, it’s a sound that is unmistakably good. While we all await a full length LP, you can purchase their EP Myths HERE. Enjoy.
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Written by Greg Dahman
Fresh Track: Best Coast “The Only Place”
I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Best Coast’s sophomore LP The Only Place. I fell in love with frontwoman Bethany Consentino’s surf pop, stoner vibe on her 2010 debut Crazy For You. That album along with her 7″ Make You Mine cemented Consentino as hipsterdom’s ultimate beach chick. This week, Consentino offered fans a taste of the forthcoming LP, with a debut of the album’s title track. Listen and download a copy of “The Only Place” below, where Best Coast sticks to what it does best, espousing on the glories of California. Pre-order your copy of The Only Place, due out on Mexican Summer on May 15th – just in time for beach season.
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Written by Rob Peoni
Thought on Tracks 