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Archive for January, 2011

Wiz Khalifa Announces ‘Rolling Papers’

Big news from Pittsburgh rapper Wiz Khalifa! With the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl, expect the team’s playoff anthem “Black and Yellow” to gain plenty of playtime over the next two weeks.

A few days ago, Wiz revealed that his upcoming album will be titled Rolling Papersand will be released on March 29th via Atlantic Records. The first single, “Roll Up”, is set to debut on January 31. “It’s not just about the weed thing,” Khalifa says about the title. “It’s bigger than that. My career really took off when I started smoking papers … The second reason I called it Rolling Papers is when I left Warner Bros., I sort of got my ‘rolling papers.’ I got my contract, f#*king rolled up and smoked.” Finally, Khalifa said, “I write notes down, but I don’t write whole verses, so it was like saying goodbye to the paper. The paper’s rolling out too. So everything is real natural.”

Review: Ghostface Killah – Apollo Kids

Ghostface Killah – Apollo Kids

Released: December 21, 2010
Label: Def Jam
Purchase: iTunes | Insound | Amazon

Despite being a largely consistent critical hit across the fifteen years in his solo career, former Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah has never been able to tap into the commercial success of his former group. His last album, Ghostdini was panned for straying from what he did best, and some feared that he was beginning to lose his touch. His ninth album, Apollo Kids, proves that this was only a misstep and not an indication of future trends.

Ghostface employs his traditional alchemy by combining ’70’s samples, innumerable guest stars, and stories of growing up on the streets of Staten Island, yielding gold in track after track. One of the better samples comes immediately, with Ghostface asking on “Purified Thoughts”, “Am I a good man?” A reverent reflection on how far he has come, the theme of divinity is appropriate for his status in the rap world. This segues nicely into the acceptance of his rise in “Superstar,” boasting some of the strongest music on the album.

Not content to bask in the good life, though, Ghostface is quick to pay respect to his roots, and a good half of the album focuses on different facets of this theme. The gritty “Black Tequila” draws comparisons between New York gangs and Italian mobsters. “In Tha Park” traces Ghostface’s origins, paying homage to his musical and social influences. The album’s best track, “Ghetto” hits all of the right notes. The sample (Marlena Shaw‘s “Woman of the Ghetto”) is touching enough on its own, but to hear the Ghostface and his guests’ responses to such questions as “How do you raise your kids in the ghetto?,” driven by an appropriately soft beat, propels the song to a new level.

The album’s tracks focusing on relationships, or lack thereof, are less effective. The sample on single “2getha Baby” breaks the pace of the song (and through a bold looping decision, even breaks its own pace), but it just isn’t impactful enough to warrant such a break. “Handcuffin’ Them Hoes” is a standard “love ’em then leave ’em” rap that delves into crassness that Ghostface should be above by this point in his career. Guest artist Jim Jones‘ voice fits the beat and lyrics, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing.

Jones aside, many of the guests on Kids pack a punch. Busta Rhymes intricately weaves his way through an exciting verse on the already energetic “Superstar.” Black Thought infuses his rhymes with real passion on “In Tha Park”, aptly concluding his story with “That’s the reason for my real rap penmanship. / That’s where I started it and that’s where I’mma finish it.” Fellow Wu-Tang members RaekwonU-God, and Method Man bring the album to a strong finish. If the other guests fall short, it’s more often because of what they’re stacked up against rather than their own deficiencies.

Even though Kanye West shook up the rap world only a few weeks before the release of Apollo Kids, Ghostface shouldn’t be overlooked. In contrast to West’s bombastic, radio-friendly songs, Ghostface’s gangster rap is more down to earth, focusing on the content instead of catchy choruses (half of his songs don’t have one to begin with). It won’t make him a commercial success, but it demonstrates his continued relevance in the rap world.

8.4

Standout Tracks: “Superstar”, “In Tha Park”, “Ghetto”

Manchester Orchestra Announce ‘Simple Math’ Release

Manchester Orchestra‘s third record, titled Simple Math, will be released on May 10, 2011 via Columbia Records and Favorite Gentlemen Recordings.

“This record is two dueling conversations between me and my wife, and me and my God,” says frontman Andy Hull. “Sometimes even for myself, it’s difficult to decipher which one I’m actually talking to. Everything I’ve written in the past has been about those things. This album is the most realized form of my questioning.”

Love Is Hopeless Preorder

You can now preorder Hopeless Records’ Valentine’s Day digital compiliation, Love Is Hopelesshere. The pre-order package includes a “Love is Hopeless” wristband, a download of the compilation, and valentine cards from Hopeless artists. The compilation includes covers and acoustic versions of songs, including an acoustic version of The Dangerous Summer‘s “Never Feel Alone” and We Are The In Crowd‘s “Never Be What You Want”.

Tracklisting:

01.For The Foxes – Some Things
02.We Are The In Crowd – Never Be What You Want (Acoustic)
03.Divided By Friday – L-O-V-E (Nat King Cole cover)
04.Anarbor – Love Instead (Acoustic)
05.Shane Told (of Silverstein) – Can’t Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley cover)
06.The Dangerous Summer – Never Feel Alone (Acoustic)
07.Damion Suomi – Archer Woman (Live at Park Ave CDs)
08.Aaron West & The Roaring Twenties (feat. Dan Campbell of The Wonder Years and John James Ryan) – Borrowed Chords

The Strokes Reveal Tracklisting for Angles

The Strokes have revealed the tracklisting for their fourth studio album Angles. The album will be released on March 21 in the UK via Rough Trade and on March 22 in the U.S. via RCA. Track number two, “Under Cover of Darkness”, is the first single and will hit the radio airwaves in about a month’s time. Check out the tracklisting below.

Angles:

01 Machu Picchu
02 Under Cover of Darkness
03 Two Kinds of Happiness
04 You’re So Right
05 Taken for a Fool
06 Games
07 Call Me Back
08 Gratisfaction
09 Metabolism
10 Life Is Simple in the Moonlight


Lost In The Sound Presents: Big Big Plans

Big Big Plans

For Fans Of: This ConditionHoliday Parade

Lost In The Sound proudly presents Big Big Plans, a pop punk band hailing from West Chester, Pennsylvania. The young band has already released an EP in early 2010 and are currently at work on a new full length that will be out later this year. You can listen to the first single from Everything You’re Hiding below. “Stop & Go” features the use of a catchy guitar riff that subtly lies behind the driving vocals of frontman Eric Thomas Reavey. If you like fun, punk-enfused pop rock, be sure to give it a listen below. You can support the band by purchasing the track on their Bandcamp, listed below.

Big Big Plans is a four piece pop punk/pop rock band from West Chester, Pennsylvania. The band is composed of Eric Thomas Reavey on vocals and guitar, Kevin Shishko on drums, Derek Parker on guitar, and JP Florio on bass and vocals. Their first release was a 3 song EP titled 2010 EP back in early 2010. Since then, the band has been hard at work on a new full length that is set to come out in the next few months titledEverything You’re Hiding. “Stop & Go”, which is the first single off the new record is just a taste of what they have in store. Since forming, Big Big Plans has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Four Year StrongPolar Bear Club, and Koji. While they are made up of 3 college students and a high school junior, they are still hard at work currently writing more material to be released after the LP and also playing as many shows as possible.

Bandcamp: http://www.bigbigplans.bandcamp.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bigbigplans
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bigbigplans

Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds Announce Album and Tour

Kid Congo Powers will be releasing a new album with his band Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds this spring via In The Red Records. They will also be heading on a North East tour next month.

Read more for tour dates.

Tour Dates:

2-11 Lawrence, KS – Jack Pot Saloon
2-12 Kansas City, MO – Crosstown Station
2-13 St Louis, MO – Off Broadway Night Club
2-14 Cincinnati, OH – MOTR Pub
2-15 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
2-16 Pittsburgh, PA – Howler’s Coyote Cafe
2-17 Richmond, VA – Bandito’s Burrito Lounge
2-18 Washington, DC – Comet Ping Pong
2-19 New York, NY – TBA

Travie McCoy Announces First Headlining North American Tour

Gym Class Heroes frontman Travie McCoy has revealed dates for his upcoming “Sgt. Schlepper’s Who Needs Hearts Club Band Tour,” his first headlining tour of North America as a solo artist. The tour begins March 17 and will include DonnisXVBad Rabbits and Bad Cards as guests.

General tickets will be up for sale on January 29th. Check out the dates below.

Tour Dates:

3-17 Toronto, ON – Opera House
3-18 Montreal, QC – Le National
3-19 Philadelphia, PA – TLA
3-20 Towson, MD – Recher Theatre
3-22 Boston, MA – Paradise
3-23 New York, NY – Gramercy
3-24 Cleveland, OH – Peabody’s
3-25 Chicago, IL – Metro
3-26 Minneapolis, MN – Station 4
3-27 Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater
3-28 Denver, CO – Summit Theatre
3-30 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey
3-31 San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
4-01 Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
4-02 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
4-03 Seattle, WA – El Corazon


Arcade Fire Confirm Hyde Park Show; Announce Support

Arcade Fire have confirmed a show at London’s Hyde Park on June 30th, the band’s largest UK headlining show so far. Mumford and SonsBeirut, and The Vaccines have been announced as support acts.

Tickets will go on sale on January 28 at 9am (GMT).


Animal Collective Announce US Dates

Animal Collective will be playing a short tour in California this April, leading up to Coachella. The band will also be playing a European tour in May after the AFP Festival.

The band will be playing a new set at these shows. Check out the tour dates below.

Tour Dates:

04-11 Arcata, CA – Kate Buchanan Room
04-12 Redway, CA – Mateel Community Center
04-13 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
04-14 Big Sur, CA – Henry Miller Memorial Library
04-16 Indio, CA – Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
05-14 Minehead, England – All Tomorrow’s Parties
05-16 Eastbourne, England – Winter Gardens
05-17 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
05-18 Brussels, Belgium – Les Nuit
05-19 Cologne, Germany – Electron
05-20 Berlin, Germany – Melt Wee
05-21 Warsaw, Poland – Stodola
05-22 Krakow, Poland – TBA
05-23 Vienna, Austria – Arena Vienna
05-24 Zagreb, Croatia – Pogon Jedinstvo
05-28 Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound Festival