If there’s one thing that’s consistent about Blu besides his sharp rhymes and quick wit, it’s the fact that he’s always full of surprises. After randomly uploading his second album with producer Exile onto his Bandcamp page earlier this year, Blu has done it again by posting up UCLA, a brand new album completely produced by Madlib. The two California legends have been reported to be working with each other on UCLA for quite a while, but few details were ever released, with many believing that Blu had once again scrapped a project. Today, we can listen to the entire album or purchase it for a cool 15 bucks.
I’ve yet to understand Blu’s affinity for unmastered, lowish-quality tracks and UCLA is no exception. Although Blu and Madlib deliver and the plain fact that Blu is one of my favorite MCs of all time, the quality isn’t necessarily the best and the project sounds like a work in progress. You can listen for yourself below and purchase it here.
February 21st will mark the official release of new single “Shallow” from Jingle Jangle band Beach Fossils, which will be released alongside B-side track “Lessons”. Beach Fossils, who are known for their dreamy lo-fi and summery vibes, are currently leading into a release later this year to follow up last year’s What A Pleasure EP. Via the folks over at Pretty Much Amazing, “Shallow” is available for free streaming and download below.
Working with record labels 4AD and Jagjaguwar, Justin Vernon and Sean Carey of Bon Iver sat down at AIR Studio’s Lyndurst Hall to record a breathtaking 25 minute live session, a stylistic contrast from the band’s recent shows with a full eleven-piece band. Instead, Vernon and Carey provide an intimate, sit-down session, performing songs from the Blood Bank EP and the band’s Grammy Award winning Bon Iver, Bon Iver while also throwing in a cover of Bonnie Raitt‘s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” (which was also included as a bonus track from Bon Iver, Bon Iver).
Be sure to set aside half an hour this weekend and watch the session below, courtesy of 4AD and Jagjaguwar.
01) Hinnom, TX
02) Wash.
03) I Can’t Make You Love Me
04) Babys
05) Beth/Rest
Mat Cothran recently just released his first studio recording under the moniker Elvis Depressedly, supposedly his one and only time recording in an actual recording studio. Check out his new song “Waves of Bad Infection”, which is available on his blog Summer Time in Hell, or below. Mat also recently compiled the Elvis Depressedly songs onto a full length LP, Cutters Only, The Ontological Anarchy of Elvis Depressedly, which is currently available for purchase on iTunes, but will also be released for free in the near future.
Recently I was flown to the middle of the country to record a few songs, this is one of them. More info on this stuff as I’m allowed to disclose it. Thanks for your ears.
For this project, Mat Cothran provides most of the vocals alongside Katie Lee, who also plays the keyboard. Cothran further contributes with guitar, keyboard and drums. Patrick Jeffords adds the bass, keyboards, and guitar while Sam Ray provides his unique Ricky Eat Acid-esque style drums and noise.
“Maim My Bitch” combines different aspects from each of the artists. The song consists of melodies created through synthesizers entangled by a constant percussion beat. Scheduled for February 29th, the three song (plus “introducing” and “outroducing” tracks) record will be available on the Gremlins bandcamp page on a “Name Your Price” basis. I recommend you check this project out as it is a unique coming together of talented artists which seek to “express a sense of panic, reality, and death.”
Following up last week’s “By Your Side”, Chiddy Bang have posted another song that won’t make the final cut of the highly-anticipated Breakfast. This time, the track is the synth-heavy “Swelly Extra Well” with a feature from Cleveland’s Chip Tha Ripper, who appears on the hook and in a verse. Both acts have yet to release their debut records, something Chip touches on in his verse: “If my album ever drop, I hope it extra, extra sell.”
“Extra Well” will be released again on Chiddy Bang’s Grab A Plate mixtape, intended to help promote Breakfast, which will be available for purchase on February 28th.
Hip hop trio The Dean’s List teamed up with R&B vocalist Sid Sriram for a new track entitled “Youth”, which doubles as the group’s lead single for their debut album Generation X. Set for release in April via aveNUE Music, Generation X will have a series of three singles, with “Take Shape” and “Sex” set to follow “YOUTH” in the coming weeks. With the new release, Sonny, Mendoza, and Mik Beats hope to expand past the college crowd that has embraced their first two mixtapes with their genre-bending sound. Grab the single below for free download.
Head over here to stream the new EP from the always fantastic dubstep enigma Burial. The EP, titled Kindred, is being released through Hyperdub, and they are offering all three tracks for purchase at the link above. Kindred is characteristically similar to the producer’s past works, which include his self titled debut album and 2007’s critically acclaimed Untrue. Check out the tracklisting for the EP below:
Head over to James Blake‘s tumblr or this direct link to download a fan-compiled live album that the English electronic musician is offering for free. Blake is coming off of a busy year in which he not only released his debut self-titled album but two separate EPs, and given the rate at which he has put out music in the past, there should be even more expected in 2012. The live album contains cuts from all three of his recent releases, fantastic earlier EPs, and some unreleased tracks. Check out the tracklisting below:
James Blake Live:
01. Unluck (Live)
02. The Wilhelm Scream (Live)
03. I Never Learnt To Share (Live)
04. Lindisfarne (Live)
05. Limit To Your Love (Live)
06. Give Me My Month (Live)
07. To Care (Like You) (Live)
08. Anti-War Dub (Live)
09. Klavierwerke (Live)
10. CMYK (Live)
11. Once We All Agree (Live)
12. A Case Of You (Live)
13. Enough Thunder (Live)
14. Love What Happened Here (Live)
15. Tep And The Logic (Live)
Metalcore band Of Mice and Men have announced that bassist and clean vocalist Shayley Bourget will be leaving the band due to personal reasons. The band, including Bourget, has made a video addressing the issue which you can check out below. In the video, Bourget discusses his life while his bandmates support him and his decision.
If there’s one thing that’s consistent about Blu besides his sharp rhymes and quick wit, it’s the fact that he’s always full of surprises. After randomly uploading his second album with producer Exile onto his Bandcamp page earlier this year, Blu has done it again by posting up UCLA, a brand new album completely produced by Madlib. The two California legends have been reported to be working with each other on UCLA for quite a while, but few details were ever released, with many believing that Blu had once again scrapped a project. Today, we can listen to the entire album or purchase it for a cool 15 bucks.
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