Sweet post-holiday stocking stuffer or iPod space waster? That should be the only relevant question when discussing a free 13-song “album” from the established rap statesmen of Atmosphere. (It’s available on their label’s website at www.rhymesayers.com/atmosphere.) Even if it sucks, it’s costing you only the time it takes to skip…
A brilliant South African warrior and king in the 18th Century, the legendary Shaka Zulu was one of the great unifiers of his nation. On the other hand, he was a strong-willed, vengeful man who was murdered by his half-brothers, one of whom succeeded him to the throne. Now Joseph…
The debut EP by Los Campesinos!, Sticking Fingers into Sockets, noodled its way onto an infinity of 2007 best-of ballots. Colorful aural confetti like “We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives” addressed the schism between artist and audience, and tickled various pop fancies. There was Gareth Campesino! playfully sneering in his…
Just when you thought Snoop Dogg didn’t have any creativity left. I don’t know why this song gets stuck in your head so easily. Even though Snoop’s T-Pain approach gets annoying after a while, the video makes it all worth it. — Jonathan Cunningham…
Miami native and one-time TVT Recording artist Jacki-O had a tough last few years. She garnered some national attention with her 2003 single “Nookie,” and “All Grown Up” became the official ring entry music for Stephanie McMahon in the WWE. But a couple years after that, things took a nosedive…
I don’t care about his feathered hair. I don’t care about his unfortunate fascination, in the Seventies and Eighties, with puff sleeves. Or his continuing fascination with white suits. Or the fact that, with some teenage parenting, he could technically be old enough to be my grandfather. I love Rod…
Speaking of Hialeah (since the blog post below is on the self-professed king of Hialeah freestyle), the city’s favorite punk band Guajiro is playing a series of shows in Puerto Rico next month. Anybody that’s visiting the island around that time and looking for some good tunes should check out…
If you haven’t seen Jose El Rey perform around town yet … you’re missing out. How to describe the legend? He doesn’t really sing, he doesn’t really rap…. He just kind of is, over some tinny 808 freestyle beats. He makes ladies want him and guys want to be him…
So if you’ve ever visited the ice-cold city of Toronto, you’ll know that when it comes to music and culture, it’s one of the biggest melting pots North America has to offer. With relaxed immigration and a stronger currency than the U.S. (ahem), Toronto isn’t a bad city in which…
Here’s a fun video from the group Vampire Weekend that’s sure to stick in your head or at least make you tap your feet. The group is out of New York if you can’t already tell by their clanky style of up-top indie rock and they’ve got a sound that…
Arsis, in classical music parlance, most commonly refers to the up-beat, or unstressed parts of a measure. The term seems an odd choice of name for a technical death metal outfit whose lyrics focus on death, defilement, and the destruction of the sacred, and whose pummeling assault leaves no room…
By ANDY VIHSTADT Geek Squad “This milkshake won’t bring anyone to the yard,” thinks Chad to himself. N.E.R.D. will be releasing N.3.R.D. sometime this spring. After an unfinished version of “Everyone Nose” was leaked, the group decided to post the final studio mix on its blog. The song brings the…
Well, technically it’s now the “15th Annual Caribbean Fest,” but everybody knows it’s all about the Marleys. And this year, it looks like they’re getting it together musically. While the first few years were mostly reggae, and mostly Marley, things got a little scattered in the meantime. This led to…
David Allan Coe Saturday, January 26 Culture Room, Fort Lauderdale Better Than: An awkward car trip with the ghost of a country legend. Saturday was the first time I’d seen David Allan Coe since a show he did in Fort Worth, at Billy Bob’s Texas. It was his first gig…
Hate Eternal, 3 Inches of Blood, and the Black Dahlia Murder Wednesday, January 23, 2008 The Culture Room, Ft. Lauderdale Better Than:Oh, making offerings to false metal gods? The Review:It’s always a reassuring sign when, after driving almost an hour in torrential rain, one is greeted at a venue’s entrance…
I’m not sure how a band like UB40 can start having irreconcilable differences after almost 30 years of reggae bliss, but British band, UB40 is parting ways with its lead singer, Ali Campbell. According to this story, Campbell says he’s been upset with the band’s management for awhile and couldn’t…
Montreal DJ/producer Ghislain Poirier is known for remixing songs from artists like Lady Sovereign and Lil Mama to excellent effect; his mix of the latter’s “Lip Gloss” is particularly charming. His original compositions usually feature Canadian MCs, and No Ground Under is no different. But the disc is more about…
Say what you will about his hair-metal pedigree. Talk dismissively about his being firmly ensconced in the reality-TV wasteland (Supergroup, Celebrity Rap Superstar, I Married Sebastian Bach, etc.). The truth is, ex-Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach has a great fucking voice: a powerful, distinctive wail that’s typically the best aspect…
On November 13, 2004, a jolt of anguish ran through the hip-hop nation: Russell Jones was dead. The rapper known as Ol’ Dirty Bastard (also Ason Unique, Dirt McGirt, Big Baby Jesus, etc.), one of the most beloved members of Wu-Tang Clan, was found lifeless in the group’s Manhattan recording…
It’s not really album sales that propel a band into the annals of jazz history. No, it’s usually a steady fan base, good recordings, and a solid live show. It doesn’t really matter what kind of jazz is played, as long as it is honest and on the money. Spyro…
Ladies and gentlemen, this local trio is floating in space. Its tripped-out sound is a rare, galactic union of Pavement-style power-chord grit, hooky postpunk, and cerebral, swirly shoegaze. Although the band formed in 2005, the members each boast a Miami rock pedigree. Vocalist/guitarist Ivan Marchena and drummer Ed Artigas previously…
Bobby “Blue” Bland is anything but. He doesn’t play soul-rending slide guitar; he doesn’t wail away on the blues harp; he doesn’t even play an instrument. All he has is his voice, but that voice is one to make the ladies swoon and the men falter. The excitement offered up…
