Music
battle of the hip-hop allstars
If there is one thing hip-hop loves more than expensive cars, loose women, and the occasional drive-by, it's a highly publicized battle involving its biggest stars.
Defibrillator
Mulatu Astatke Ethiopiques, Vol. 4 1998 With the Ethiopian musician Mulatu Astatke, Jim Jarmusch already did some of the resuscitation for us.
Where were you this summer?
We know - four months of music, but no Street to make sense of it all. Can we make it up to you? This week, we recap Summer 2007 with the Top 5 things you need to know, but might have missed. 1.
Listening Party
The song: Modest Mouse's "Fire it Up" off We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank Leo: Have not been so impressed by new MM, though never was so into them.
Five questions for Ben FOlds
34th Street: Do you remember performing here before, Ben? [Folds performed at Spring Fling in 2000] Ben Folds: With my schedule, its hard, but when I show up there I will remember.
Unbreakable
Throughout hip hop's three decade plus history, no true superstar has emerged from Philly. Emcee after Philly emcee has seen fleeting success, but problems (usually legal) stopped any true movement from occurring (see Beanie Sigel's State Property camp). So, the answer might have to come in the form of a producer.
Reviews
Redman Red Gone Wild Redman aka Reggie Noble is a self- acknowledged jokester, who wittily balances ridiculous weed-aggrandizing verse with hilarious social commentary.
Lil' Flip
Houston was a necessary step in the evolution of the southern hip hop aesthetic. It allowed the mainstream to digest the truly southern sound - previously only found on "BET Uncut" - rather than the sleeker major label-driven version with little compromise.
YouTube clip of the week
When asked to write about an up-and-coming or a classic jazz performance for this week's column I attempted to find something niche, but when it comes to jazz on YouTube, nothing beats the 1959 CBS performance by the Miles Davis Quintet of "So What." So what?
Neil Young
Neil Young follows up last year's release of Live at the Fillmore East with Live at Massey Hall 1971, and the two records could not be any less alike.
Klaxons
Myths of the Near Future is Klaxons' American debut album, lauded as the defining act of the New Rave movement - a term the band describes as "an in-joke that caught on." Hailing from London, where they have a large underground following, the Klaxons' debut starts off slow with the mild "Two Receivers" before picking up speed that doesn't relinquish for the remainder of the album. The band likes to characterize their music as "psychedelic/progressive/pop," with long keyboard solos and subtle use of vocal harmony, which sounds surprisingly versatile.
Modest Mouse
Three years after their last studio release, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank continues Modest Mouse's musical odyssey from where it left off.
Crime Mob
Crunk ain't dead. At least that's what Atlanta's Crime Mob would have you believe on their latest record, Hated on Mostly.
!!!
!!! (pronounced "chk-chk-chk") hits its three-year release schedule like clockwork with its third dance-punk album Myth Takes.
Macy Gray
Perhaps trying too hard to "Finally [Make You] Happy," Macy Gray's most recent album, Big, moves away from Gray's identifiably scratchy brand of R&B/soul towards a more sell-out sound of popular funk.
Stevie nicks
Before Britney shaved her head and Madonna abused wigs, there was Stevie Nicks and her static sorceress hairstyles.
Panda bear
Animal Collective band member Noah Lennox's (aka Panda Bear) cheery third solo album, Person Pitch, is a far cry from his previous album, Young Prayer.
Rock Academy
A raucous sound will fill the air at the corner of 22nd and Chestnut St. tonight as scores of people line up to see Tokyo Police Club open a sold out show for the Cold War Kids.
YouTube Clip of the week
Any conversation about the changing nature of music in the face of Myspace, YouTube et al.
