Seminal Golden Era hip-hop artists Chubb Rock and DJ Mighty Mi (High & Mighty, Eminem, Mos Def, El-P) have come together to bring us remix EP Same Rock (out now on Tribute Recordings). “Same Rock” is the first single off Mighty Mi’s forthcoming LP, which is slated to drop later this year, and will feature all Golden Era rappers. The Same Rock EP features the main mix of “Same Rock,” as well as five remixes by some of the hottest DJs in house, moombathon & trap. LISTEN HERE…
On their Tumblr page, up-and-coming rockers StarBenders describe their sound as akin to “Iggy Pop playing 7 minutes in heaven with Katy Perry.” It’s a bold and playful declaration, one that’s befitting of the group’s youthful presence. However, the Iggy Pop comparison also hints at the punk edge that rears its head throughout the otherwise thoroughly poppy songs StarBenders play. “Touch”, a tune from their forthcoming self-titled EP, is an ideal representation of the band’s style.
Singer and guitarist Kimi Shelter tells PopMatters about the song, “Me and my producer Nico Constantine have an inside joke—if something strikes me as material for a song, I say, ‘I’ll have it on your desk by tomorrow morning.’ We always have a good laugh about it. The day I came up with “Touch,” I asked him what I should write about. He said, ‘You need a song about sex.’
“I’m like, ‘No problem—I know a little bit about that.’ ‘Touch’ was born out of the initial riff you hear at the beginning of the song, and the rest of the music is built around that. It was one of those songs I didn’t have to force—I was just along for the ride. LISTEN HERE…
People’s Blues of Richmond will perform at the 2014 Lockn festival after earning their slot via the Rockn’ to Lockn’ contest. The trio shares a taste of what’s to come in the Relix boiler room. WATCH HERE…
FTM doesn’t usually post this sort of thing (and we get quite a few requests), but I really like this tune and the sounds of the record it’s on. Sara Rachele (pronounced Ra-kelly) is a singer-songwriter in the vein of Lydia Loveless, Lucinda Williams, and Neko Case. There’s also an atmospheric, indie quality to her approach a la Mazzy Star. You can read some quotes and her bio below and check out the premiere of her song “Strong As My Hands (Delilah)” right here. It’s also available to download for free! I think you’ll dig it.
Sara’s forthcoming album, Diamond Street, is out September 2. LISTEN HERE…
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, three-piece band Pillage & Plunder are far, far away from all that’s happening in Edinburgh right now. However, they sound like they’d thrive here, their debut album sounding like either a zany musical in itself, or a bunch of collected memories about a few weeks spent in Edinburgh. The Show Must Go Wrong (the title of which deserves applause and to be in lights somewhere) is full of unexpected left turns, theatrical bombast, and a self-deprecating sense of silliness that makes it a pleasure to listen to. There are air raid sirens, touching acoustic moments, emo-rock guitar play, songs that veer into waltz tempos, and a bunch of other features that help keep your attention fixed.
It’s appropriate that the album begins with a track called “Beetlejuice” as it not only sets the scene, but sounds like the inside of the titular character’s head. Backing vocals wander about in the background like some cartoon graveyard scene, before the track wanders into sounding like some twisted take on a swing song with vibraphone keys and brasswork teetering about the place with a playful disregard. Even though they were overdubbed after the band got the backing track down, they still sound like they’re just wandering through. This kind of musical theme continues throughout the album: “Boogeyman” is a tepid kid’s nightmare with guitars pummelling away; “I Will Drink the Ocean When I Go There” has Soviet marching noises punctuating its intro for no reason other than “Why the hell not?”; “The Last Date” goes into doo-wop territory unabashedly before cutting into a garage pop workout. Doing left turns in any kind of rock music is far from anything new, but perhaps because of the light-hearted workmanship the trio approach theirs with, it sounds fresh for the most part. READ MORE…
Nashville’s country-soul slinger Sam Lewis has just signed with Atlanta-based label Brash Records, with plans to enter the studio with producer Oliver Wood. In the wake of Lewis’ self-titled debut album, the two will embark on the new record via Southern Ground Studios in Nashville, TN.
Calling on the musical spirit of Leon Russell and maybe Al Green, after a weekend with Willie and Waylon in Dripping Springs, TX, Sam Lewis’ debut record was no slouch. Having enlisted the help of Marty Stuart’s guitar picker deluxe, Kenny Vaughn, Reggie Bradley Smith on the keys, and Dave Jaques, with Derek Mixon handling the rhythm section, Lewis surrounded himself with some of Nashville’s finest session players for his freshman effort. It was the first time he had played that particular batch of songs with anyone else, much less musicians of that caliber. — usually opting for just himself and an acoustic guitar to cast his art into an audience’s direction. READ MORE…