Horchata
When we have everything in life, we sing about it. When we have nothing in life, we sing about it. As an essential facet of human culture, music comes in spite of the weather, or perhaps more accurately, due to the weather. Vampire Weekend has seen sunny skies after their small-scale pebble of a debut caused monsoons in the music industry. Next January, they try to replicate their success with differing emotional arrangements.
I Box Up All The Butterflies
The Boy Least Likely To takes one of my all time favourite activities and turns it into more than that. Not only does he catch butterflies, which I have yet to fully master, he boxes them up. What they are boxed up for I can not say but I’m sure I would know if I could catch butterflies. After the sense of failure that is inherent with the attempts to catch butterflies this track provides a nice way to relax and wonder what actually happens once they get boxed up.
Blakroc (A Black Keys Project), feat. Mos Def & Jim Jones
Ain’t Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)
The Black Keys want to take you on a journey to a distant land of fantasy. Here the Blues-rockers take the irresistibly dour oil of their heavy guitars and relentless percussion and mix it with the watery soul of hip hop and some of its most talented poets. Normally, one wouldn’t expect much, but in this brave new world, the two behave as if they are more than made for each other; they are both of the same entity, and that is music. Out on November 27.
Two Fingers, feat. Sway
What You Know
Grime is exactly what it sounds like, which is probably why I love it so much. The MCs’ voices skip along at velocities that embarrass F-22 bombers, the music is dirty and primitive, and the lyrics require scrutiny and attention comparable to that which is required of a college textbook. The experience is an exotic and entertaining one, and one that can be easily revisited a hundred times over.
Guiding Light
Progression is a funny thing, and in the hands of a band that can be described as “mainstream prog,” confusion can arise. Muse has had some creative glitches and commercial duds both, and although they never disappoint their audience, they seem to always want to perfect their sound. In The Resistance, they continue on this quest for refinement, and I can’t say I don’t like the incredibly commercial result, but I also can’t say the symphonic arrangements don’t come off as awkward.
Spotlight
Welcome to Armistice, please leave your inhibitions at the door. The spotlight’s on you, is that what you wanted? Stand up and tell us all about yourself. But watch out because we all want to see you fall. After all, you’re just one of us. MuteMath wants to hear what you have to say with their hit off of their new CD.
DJ /rupture, feat. Max Normal
Homeboys
There are few anatomical phenomena that are as satisfying as clearing your throat of all the nasty phlegm in the nasal cavity and spitting it into the sizzling pavement. Although horrific, you still feel infinitely cleaner than before, like some sort of nasal baptism. I have found that complex and sensible dub-step does the same for the human soul. It spits out the stresses and problems of your day-to-day life and invites you to stare at their sizzling corpses in bliss, but it reserves the nasty grunge for its own pleasure.
