With “Swag” seemingly chosen as the buzz word for 2011 it was appropriate that Jay-Z and KanyeWest‘s long rumored collaboration had tons of it. . Having set the bar very high with last year’s ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy‘ it seems anything Kanye touches turns to gold and Jay-Z also has the midas touch again reminding us how much better than everyone else he is. ‘Watch The Throne‘ gives the rap megastars an opportunity to make as many outlandish and likely true boasts as they possible can over a tight production.
Cougar scribe Olivia said: “Take Jay Z and Kanye West, you expect something epic, huge and over the top ( just like the massive promotion around the album ), a mix of Kanye‘s creativity and Jay‘s flow , so something perfect basically. Indeed it is a great album. Considering the amount of talent in this twosome have that’s not too surprising“.
It is somewhat poetic that ‘We’re New Here‘ would turn out to be Gil Scott-Heron‘s last release before he sadly passed away in 2011. In a career where he distinguished himself for confounding expectations it felt like the tracks from ‘I’m New Here’, his triumphant comeback album from 2010, where ripe to be quoted, sampled and bastardised like much of his back catalogue.
Instead Jamie xx did something different breathing new life into these compositions. To tag this simply as a remix album would be disrespectful to the young producer as his concise ideas mix perfectly with the words ensuring the legends musings are projected to a hungry new audience.
‘We’re New Here‘ therefore serves to show how universal the appeal of Scott-Heron is while showcasing the versatility of a young British star. Cougar writer Thom puts it best when he says “Jamie xx can do little wrong. Whilst turning a younger audiences taste buds to the back catalogue of Gil Scott-Heron, his gorgeous use of pips and twinkles have utterly enchanted his loyal fan base”
Das Racist‘s free 2010 mixtapes had critics and fans scratching their heads over whether the trio were for real. The release of their official album ‘Relax‘, while simultaneously resembling a series of elaborate in-jokes, suggests the trio are genuine enough.
The Brooklyn band spit over a series of jagged beats produced by the likes of Anand Wilder (Yeasayer), Blood Diamonds, Diplo, El-P and Rostam Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend) and still maintain that unique Das Racist charm.
Check the track ‘Michael Jackson‘ for example. They are in top form both when linking up seemingly nonsensical one-liners into genial verses or when reeling off on social/racial issues. This latter point is one that shouldn’t be underestimated as the Brooklynites challenge preconceptions on color and creed as well as what a rapper should behave/look like.
On your list of things to do for 2012 should be buying a copy of ‘Relax‘. It represents the moment Das Racist prove their underground success wasn’t merely a fluke.
Over 25 years have passed since the release of ‘Licence To Ill‘ and the Beastie Boys still sound as exciting as ever. In today’s musical landscape their shared delivery style is almost singular and on ‘Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2‘ the true New York kings are as good as they have ever been.
Cougar regular Thom says ‘you’d expect the Beastie Boys to be out of touch by now but I can safely say I have not, and don’t think I will tire of their unpredictable nature. ‘Hot sauce committee part 2′ is sophisticated and balls out cool‘
Best still the Beasties have the power to make illustrious guests shine. There are few groups around today with as distinctive vocal styles of Mike D, Ad-Rock and MCA. The latter in particular sounds as hungry as ever following the cancer scare which practically shelved ‘Hot sauce committee pt 1‘. We are glad to have him and his partners back.
South Jamaica Queens rapper and producer K. Sparks has been on our radar for a while. Having self released a steady stream of accomplished releases it was only a matter of time before people sat up and took notice.
There is an admirable old school quality to his jams that makes them both hard hitting yet crucially they will have you coming back for repeat listens.
Looking forward to hearing more fresh tracks from the NYC man in 2012.
Here is the new video for Friends‘ infectious ‘I’m His Girl’ track co-directed by by Aurora Halal and lead singer Samantha Urbani.
It’s the perfect companion piece boasting a good dose of retro flair thanks to some lo-fi camera work and 80′s transitions and coming across equally as sassy, cool and confident as the track itself.
If you were at CMJ this week then you may have caught Brooklyn band at one of their numerous performances over the week. If you missed that there’s a bunch of upcoming US and UK dates for you to get your posterior shaking at.
I’ve had this on repeat for a bit and it never gets old. There is a possibility that next time you ask someone ‘hey, have your heard that Friends track?‘ they won’t think you are referring to the sitcom’s theme tune.
Fresh off the back of a successful nationwide tour Matt & Kimhave just announced a special New Years Eve show.
The Brooklyn mischief makers will be playing at the Hammersmith Ballroom on December 31st for what is set to be an electrifying way to end the year and usher in 2012.
For those of you who are interested tickets are available today at noon EST.
We caught Steel Train performing live in Ventura, CA as part of their recent North American tour with Jack’s Mannequin. After the show we caught up with bassist Evan Winkler to discuss Baseball, historic venues and a lot of Girls… the band.
Cougar Microbes: What time did you wake up today? Was it out of choice or necessity?
Steel Train: 10 AM. Choice. I had a basketball game at 10:30.
CM: Describe Steel Train to the uninitiated? What have you been up to recently?
ST: I’d say we’re a rock band from New Jersey… but now we all live everywhere (Charlotte, Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey). We spent the past year touring heavily on the self titled record we put out last summer. It’s been a good 2010/2011 but I gotta say I’m happy to be home… for a lil bit.
CM:How have you been killing time on the road, hobbies?
ST: I recently took up the hobby of going to minor league ball parks. On the last tour I went to eight games (with a few MLB games sprinkled in).
CM:What have been your favourite venues to play? Any venues you hated?
ST: That’s a tough question-I love places with history like Radio City but I also love places that bring me back to the legion hall days (places like DC9 in DC or The Middle East in Boston).
CM: Is there a song you are simply sick of playing?
ST: Not really, we do a good job of switching up the setlist a lot.
CM: What is the songwriting process like for Steel Train. Are you able to write on the road or do you do this in your off time?
ST: Jack does most of the songwriting, I’d say he spends a fair amount of time writing on the road, but he does the bulk of it at home.
CM: Favourite Steel Train track and why?
ST: To listen to or play? Possibly ‘SOG‘ or ‘Turnpike Ghost‘. ‘SOG‘ has a lot of layers and I’m always hearing something new, and ‘Turnpike Ghost‘ because I can feel the intensity in the vocals, music and the lyrics.
CM: If you could record any cover what would it be?
ST: Girls ‘Hellhole Ratrace‘
CM: Do your songs go through many revisions via demo recordings?
ST: Yeah. Jack usually records a demo at his place, we listen to it, maybe tinker with it a little bit, then hit the studio and record it.
CM: What came first, the lyrics or the melody?
ST: Probably for Jack the melody.
CM: What are your views on auto tune?
ST: I’ve heard bands misuse it and I’ve heard bands use it properly, no one really wants to sound like T-Pain.
CM: Any other band/bands from your local scene we really should know about?
ST: I’m digging three bands right now. Yellow Ostrich, Girls and Ariel Pink.
CM: Most flattering thing you’ve read about yourselves?
ST: That we put on great live shows.
CM: What was the first record/tape/cd you ever bought?
ST: It was a birthday gift from my friend Malachi in the third grade. the ‘Coneheads Soundtrack‘, it had a Red Hot Chili Peppers song on it that got me into rock music.
CM: What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
ST: Girls ‘Lust For life‘.
CM: What was the last show you paid and queued up for?
ST: Lykki Li last week at the Greek.
CM: If you had to bring on artist back from the dead in exchange for sending a living artist down ,which artists would it be and why?
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With “Swag” seemingly chosen as the buzz word for 2011 it was appropriate that Jay-Z and Kanye West‘s long rumored collaboration had tons of it. . Having set the bar very high with last year’s ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy‘ it seems anything Kanye touches turns to gold and Jay-Z also has the midas touch again reminding us how much better than everyone else he is. ‘Watch The Throne‘ gives the rap megastars an opportunity to make as many outlandish and likely true boasts as they possible can over a tight production.
