Indie Shuffle » Mike Madden

Black Milk and Jack White – Brain

Mike Madden — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:00:18 +0000

Sounds like: Elzhi, Nottz

Song: Black Milk and Jack White - Brain [download here]

What's so good?

I’m convinced Jack White can do anything. Over the past 10-odd years he has crafted umpteen immortal guitar riffs with the White Stripes and the Raconteurs, produced one of the best country albums of the millennium so far (Loretta Lynn’s Van Lear Rose), played drums with the Dead Weather, and recently made Stephen Colbert sound pretty decent. And now he’s teaming up with rapper/producer, fellow Detroit native, and Random Axe member Black Milk.

Released as the A-side of a new seven-inch single from White‘s Third Man Records, “Brain” finds Black’s signature live drum sounds providing a sturdy backbone for thick horns, some groovy bass, and a quasi-guitar solo from White. As usual, Black’s raps aren’t especially vivid or telling, but that certainly doesn’t disrupt the track in any way.

Head over to iTunes to pick up “Brain” and its B-side, “Royal Mega,” or you can make a trip to Black’s online store to pick up a limited, tri-color physical copy of the single.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Black Milk and Jack White – Brain

2. Posted in: hip-hop, black milk

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Soundset 2011: Interviews with Blueprint, Brother Ali, & Grieves and Budo

Mike Madden — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:48:48 +0000

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Sounds like: Atmosphere, Dilated Peoples, Shad

Song: Blueprint - Radio-Inactive [download here]

What's so good?

Once a year for each of the last four years, Shakopee, Minnesota, has been home to one of the greatest hip-hop festivals on the planet: Soundset. Assembled by underground label Rhymesayers, this year’s show was about as comprehensive as a rap fest can be, including a group who’s now in their fourth decade of performing (De La Soul) and an emcee who isn’t old enough to drink legally (Mac Miller).

Indie Shuffle caught up with three of the event’s main stage acts — Blueprint, Brother Ali (pictured), and Grieves and Budo — following their respective sets. Read on for info regarding Ali’s forthcoming album, Blueprint’s extensive record collection, and much more.

Brother Ali

As a Rhymesayers artist and someone who spent part of his youth in Minnesota, how exciting is it to see Soundset become such a spectacle?
It’s amazing, and the growth of the event feels very natural. [Main attraction and closing act] Atmosphere helped with two things: they made it possible for a lot of these artists to do what they do, and they made a lot of these fans feel like they can like hip-hop, too.

Do all the questions about your background – about you being a legally blind, albino, Islamic rapper – bother you?
I’d have a hard life if they did.

Over the years, you’ve talked about your love of old-school emcees like Rakim and KRS-One. What have those artists and that particular era of rap taught you?
I started listening to rap in the mid ‘80s, and the one thing that all those guys taught me is that you have to know who you are and be who you are. But I’m a fan of hip-hop in general, so I also like guys like Lil Wayne, T.I., and Kanye West.

Your latest album, Us, featured Chuck D of Public Enemy on its opening track. What was it like to work with such a legend?
It was amazing. When I asked Chuck whether he wanted hear the album before it was released, he told me no, because if I believed in what I was doing, he would endorse it. That really touched me. I’ve met a lot of legendary rappers, but Chuck’s the only one who exceeded my expectations.

During your set, you briefly talked about a new album that you’re getting ready to record. What will separate this record from your previous output, if anything?
The biggest difference is that this one will be produced by Jake One, and most of my previous work was produced by my friend Anthony [Ant of Atmosphere]. A lot of the beats I’ll be using weren’t made with me in mind, so I’ll have to do my best to make them fit.

When might the album be released?
Hopefully this fall.

Grieves and Budo

How is your upcoming album, Together/Apart (released June 21) different from your last album, 88 Keys and Counting?
Grieves: This is easily the best-sounding album either of us have ever made. It’s a lot more melody-based, and there’s no sampling at all. It’s a very clear yet organic record.

Budo: It’s a very focused and very consistent album from beginning to end, but it goes off in different directions, too.

Grieves, you were on Black Clover Records before you switched to Rhymesayers last year. Is there anything that substantially differentiates the labels?
Grieves: They’re just two different entities. Black Clover felt like more of a crew, and a lot of the dynamics of a business weren’t really there. That’s not saying anything against Black Clover, but I do feel more free on Rhymesayers and I have more opportunities where I am now.

Grieves, you’ve said that in addition to hip-hop acts like the Wu-Tang Clan and Westside Connection, you’ve been a fan of artists as diverse as Carole King and NOFX. Do you think you’ll ever make any music besides hip-hop?
Grieves: Yeah! I want to make some sexy-ass baby-making music! [laughs]

Budo, during the set today you played a trumpet and electric guitar. What instruments do you play and when did you start playing music?
Budo: I started playing drums and trumpet when I was nine, and I also play guitar, keys, and I can really wail on a tambourine. [laughs]

You two will be spending a good chunk of this summer performing together on Warped Tour. Since Warped is mostly comprised of non-rap acts, are you going to approach the shows differently, and what are your expectations for the stint?
Grieves: I think the whole thing is going to work to our benefit. There’s going to be a lot of people there who just aren’t going to be into what we’re doing, because they’re into metal bands and stuff. But if they‘re not feeling us, there are 30 other bands they can go see.

Blueprint

As its title suggests, your latest album, Adventures in Counter-Culture, features a lot of lyrics about your distaste for the mainstream media. What’s responsible for your malcontent?
Well, I think most of what’s being played on the radio is bullshit. It’s very corporate, but it should be run by the people, by people who care about the music.

So if you were the CEO of a major label, what’s the first thing you would change?
I’d fire myself. [laughs]

You sampled the Who’s “Baba O’Riley” in your song “Dream Big.” Are you a big classic rock fan, and if so, what are some of your favorite classic rock acts?
Yeah, definitely. My favorite bands include the Moody Blues, the Doors, the Who, Parliament and Funkadelic. It’s hard to pick favorites, though, because I have a record collection of about 5,000 vinyl albums, so there’s a lot to choose from.

You’ve been very prolific over the last decade or so, releasing material with Soul Position, Greenhouse, and as a solo artist. Is there a particular era of your career or a particular release that you’re most proud of?
I always put 100% into whatever I’m doing, even when I only have 50% control, which is the case when I’m working with somebody else. So I’m proud of everything I’ve done.

Last October, your friend and fellow emcee Eyedea died suddenly at the age of 28. Since he performed at each of the Soundsets when he was alive, does this one feel different?
Yeah. It’s very sad. The first person I saw when I arrived today was Eyedea’s mother, Kathy, and the pain we’ve shared is fucked up. Hopefully we can carry the torch and keep the energy there.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Soundset 2011: Interviews with Blueprint, Brother Ali, & Grieves and Budo

2. Posted in: hip-hop, rap, atmosphere, brother ali, blueprint

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

A.Dd+ – When Pigs Fly

Mike Madden — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:00:37 +0000

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Sounds like: Outkast, UGK

Song: A.Dd+ - Brain Sex [download here]

What's so good?

Outkast hasn’t released an album since 2006, and UGK are defunct due to the death of Pimp C. So, you’re probably looking for a new favorite southern rap group. Enter A.Dd+. The Dallas two-piece is one of the most refreshing Third Coast acts I’ve heard lately, and their debut full-length, When Pigs Fly, is an exercise in the finer points of Dixie rap.

Emcees Paris Pershun and Slim Gravy act as musical chameleons on When Pigs Fly, adeptly tackling a set of beats (all provided by producer Picnic Tyme) that are about the furthest thing from uniform yet somehow cohesive. From the thumping highlight “Southbound” to the introspective and downtempo “Under,“ there’s something here for just about every kind of hip-hop fan.

As lyricists, Slim and Paris are commendable but nothing amazing, as they don’t spit many quotable or memorable lines. How they really make their songs effective is by playing off each other like a true duo should, creating tracks that are greater than the sum of their parts.

All told, When Pigs Fly is an exciting showcase of how creative and versatile A.Dd+ are — and they’re only getting started.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: A.Dd+ – When Pigs Fly

2. Posted in: hip-hop, rap, Outkast, a.Dd+, UGK

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Panda Bear – Tomboy

Mike Madden — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 22:24:03 +0000

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Sounds like: Animal Collective, Atlas Sound, Braids

Song: Panda Bear - Slow Motion [download here]

What's so good?

Over the past year or so, Panda Bear’s ubiquity throughout the blogosphere has been matched by few. Though the Animal Collective member, whose real name is Noah Lennox, has been around for over a decade now, his popularity has increased dramatically over the last few years due to his game-changing third solo album, 2007’s Person Pitch, and his band’s 2009 masterpiece Merriweather Post Pavilion. This explains why any information involving Lennox’s fourth solo album, Tomboy, was greeted with a great deal of excitement. Now that the album has finally been released, I’m happy to report that all expectations surrounding it were met and maybe even exceeded.

If you are at all well-versed in Panda Bear’s discography, you are aware of the fact that he doesn’t like to stay in one place for long. This is why Tomboy sounds different from almost everything Lennox released before this album. In recent years, his music has been classified as everything from freak folk to psych pop, but the electronic-based Tomboy is closest to the latter. However, it isn’t sample-based like Person Pitch, nor is it loaded with dense layers of sounds like Merriweather Post Pavilion. Instead, it joins hallmarks of Lennox’s sound (psychedelic effects, serene vocal harmonies) with relatively straightforward song structures and lengths, creating something that can sound idyllic (“Alsatian Darn“), secluded (“Sheherazade”), or woozy (“Benfica“).

The first seven tracks on this album had already been released on 7” singles prior to Tomboy’s release, but even if you heard all of those songs and weren’t impressed, the remaining four are substantially different and definitely worth a listen. While the first half of the album (excepting “Drone”) emphasizes repetition, rhythm, and tunefulness, the second half is more sparse and drawn out, with less percussion, calling to mind the more sprawling moments of Merriweather Post Pavilion and the more conventional moments of AnCo’s 2010 visual album/soundtrack ODDSAC.

Throughout Tomboy’s entirety, however, almost every sound is soaked in some sort of effect (usually reverb or delay) and most of the vocals are obscured to the point that the lyrics can barely be made out upon first listen. None of this is unexpected or unwelcome, though, as mystery is something Lennox’s music has always thrived on.

Since I began really keeping tabs on Panda Bear a couple of years ago, I’ve hypothesized that he is going to be regarded as one of the most influential musicians of our time when it‘s all said and done, and I’m extremely pleased to say that Tomboy only adds to my theory. Nowadays, it’s rare to find an artist who can make the avant-garde sound accessible and the accessible sound fresh, but here Lennox proves once again that he’s capable of doing that and much, much more.t

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1. Original post: Panda Bear – Tomboy

2. Posted in: Electronic, electro pop, psychedelic pop, animal collective, braids

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

J Mascis – Several Shades of Why

Mike Madden — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:23:39 +0000

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Sounds like: Kurt Vile, Neil Young

Song: J Mascis - Several Shades of Why [download here]

What's so good?

To say J Mascis has been around the block once or twice would be a severe understatement. Though he’s best known as the soft-spoken frontman of Dinosaur Jr., he’s also contributed to a plethora of other acts since the mid 80s, including the Fog and Witch. Certainly Mascis is something of a musical renaissance man, but what seems like the most obvious of side projects, a solo one, had been absent from his catalog until the recent release of his latest album, Several Shades of Why.

Though this album shouldn’t throw anybody off too much, it does offer two things that much of Mascis’ prior output has been lacking. The first (and most obvious) is its acoustic nature. Mascis might be one of the few guitar heroes to emerge in the last 30 years, but here he mostly ditches his virtuoso tendencies for hearty strumming and graceful fingerpicking.

The second difference is the overall level of emotion, which may be at an all-time high for Mascis. In fact, it doesn’t take more than a glance at a few of the track titles (“What Happened,” “Make It Right,” “Not Enough”) to realize that Several Shades is somewhat confessional in nature. But while Mascis does do a good deal of venting, most of the lyrics are vague and sometimes ambiguous, suggesting that he’s not quite ready to come all the way out of his shell.

A few of his musical cohorts help out, too, including Kurt Vile, Band of Horses’ Ben Bridwell, and Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew. But even with the collaborations and other sonic tweaks, Several Shades is unmistakably Mascis. His Neil Young-like voice is as exposed as ever, and he does indulge in a few electrified solos along the way. Ultimately, this album should please both longtime fans and newcomers alike, and is certainly one of the best Mascis-affiliated releases of late.

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1. Original post: J Mascis – Several Shades of Why

2. Posted in: indie rock, folk, folk-rock, kurt vile, neil young

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Lupe Fiasco – Lasers

Mike Madden — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:50:08 +0000

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Sounds like: B.o.B., Kid Cudi, Talib Kweli

Song: Lupe Fiasco - Till I Get There [download here]

What's so good?

A few years ago, Lupe Fiasco seemed destined to be rap’s next superstar. His first two albums, 2006’s Food & Liquor and 2007’s The Cool, were successes among pop radio listeners and conscious rap purists alike, with songs that were as lyrically intellectual as they were danceable. What was most exciting about Lupe was that he appealed to all kinds of music fans without sacrificing artistic integrity. But, due to much-publicized feuding with his record label, Atlantic, that’s exactly what he was forced to give up on his long-awaited latest effort.

Lasers is a clichéd, mechanical album that’s barely tolerable when Lupe isn’t rapping. Most songs are detached, near-paradoxical messes, littered with auto-tune and cluttered, electronic-oriented beats. One such example is “Words I Never Said,” which virtually sounds like a duplication of a song I already can’t stand, Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie,” except the chorus here is provided by Skylar Grey instead of Rihanna.

But the album isn’t entirely terrible. Both “Till I Get There” and “All Black Everything” would’ve fit in just fine on either of Lupe’s first two albums, the former with less busy production than most of the tracks on Lasers, the latter with thought-provoking lyrics that ask what the world would be like if, say, W.E.B. Du Bois wrote the U.S. Constitution, or if Bill O’Reilly were a Muslim. When it comes down to it, though, the good moments on this album are few and far between, and don’t quite stand up to the best highlights on Food & Liquor and The Cool.

It’s quite a shame to see an artist as stellar as Lupe being overshadowed by all of the excess production that crowds Lasers. Overall, this album sounds like what it really is: greedy, tasteless, major label executives getting their way.

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1. Original post: Lupe Fiasco – Lasers

2. Posted in: hip-hop, kid cudi, lupe fiasco, talib kweli

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Raekwon – Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang

Mike Madden — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:18:55 +0000

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Sounds like: Cormega, MF DOOM, Joell Ortiz, Wu-Tang Clan

Song: Raekwon - Shaolin vs. Wu-tang [download here]

What's so good?

Hip-hop has typically been a genre that’s featured more up-and-comers than veterans. That’s especially true now in the Infomation Age, when artists can release mixtapes immediately after recording them and garner huge audiences via the many wonders of the internet (see: Lil B, Odd Future). However, a few of the most popular rappers nowadays have been on the scene for well over a decade, including the Wu-Tang Clan’s ever-consistent Raekwon.

Here on his fifth solo album, Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang, Rae effectively strengthens the Wu empire. He’s always lyrically on point, and imprints the album with his grimy voice and impenetrable flow. Fifteen producers handle the 17 tracks, and they all do their best to imitate the classic Wu sound in a RZA-like fashion (though RZA himself doesn’t appear anywhere).

With a handful of ineffective and atypical elements (check out the choruses on “Chop Chop Ninja” and “Rock N Roll” ) Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang is wholly strong but somewhat patchy. It doesn’t quite match its immediate predecessor, the sequel to 1996′s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, but it proves that Rae and the rest of his Clan still “ain’t nuthing ta fuck wit.”

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Raekwon – Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang

2. Posted in: hip-hop, wu-tang, raekwon

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Nicolas Jaar – Space Is Only Noise

Mike Madden — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:01:04 +0000

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Sounds like: The Books, Matthew Dear, Pantha du Prince

Song: Nicolas Jaar - Keep Me There [download here]

What's so good?

Nicolas Jaar is something of a wunderkind. At only 21 years old, the New York-based producer has garnered a healthy serving of hype by touring internationally and releasing a string of successful EPs, singles and remixes. Though he’s commonly associated with dance subgenres like deep house and minimal techno, Jaar is an artist who I’d like to avoid classifying too specifically simply because of the overall strangeness that constitutes his music.

Jaar’s debut full-length, Space Is Only Noise, mostly sounds like the implications of its title: atmospheric, mysterious, and sparse. A multitude of interesting sounds and styles are shuffled in and out of the mix here, including Jaar’s own baritone vocals, downtempo kick-clap drum patterns, and ethereal piano passages. Right from the get-go on opener “Être 1” – where splashing water, eerie keys and odd bubbly noises lay beneath sampled French film dialog – you’ll know you’re in for something different.

Spotty debut albums are fairly common among hyped young artists, but Jaar certainly brought his A-game here. Though a few tracks especially caught my ear, like “Keep Me There” and the title track, Space is an exceptionally balanced and cohesive album that deserves at least one continuous, uninterrupted listen. Don’t be surprised when it appears near the top of several “Greatest Electronic Albums” lists at the end of 2011.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Nicolas Jaar – Space Is Only Noise

2. Posted in: Electronic, ambient, minimal, nicolas jaar, the books

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Talib Kweli – Gutter Rainbows

Mike Madden — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 23:03:28 +0000

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Sounds like: Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, The Roots

Song: Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows [download here]

What's so good?

Ever since his Black Star days with Mos Def, Talib Kweli has acquired a reputation as one of hip-hop’s foremost sages by mixing keen street knowledge with sociopolitical commentary. Album after album, he’s proved that a dictionary, encyclopedia, and thesaurus might be the most vital tools for any rapper who wants his or her rhymes to be taken seriously.

Gutter Rainbows, Kweli’s fourth solo effort, was assembled completely outside of the mainstream music industry, and was intended to be something of a declaration against modern popular music. One statement made during the intro to “Friends and Family,” gets to the heart of the album’s genesis: “We are now witnessing the demise of the music business.”

Despite the presumably smaller, self-funded budget, Gutter Rainbows rarely sounds like a compromise. Usual Kweli cohorts Kanye West, Hi-Tek, and Mos Def are nowhere to be found, but an array of veteran producers (88-Keys and Ski Beatz included) and soulful vocalists (Jean Grae, Kendra Ross) effectively contribute to the album.

Sharp, insightful lyricism has always been Kweli’s greatest asset. Here, two of the best showcases for his ability are the title track, where he finds beauty and hope in the darkness of his Brooklyn hood, and the gospel-flavored “Cold Rain,” where he manages to rhyme “Reagonomics” with “Jay Electronica.”

All in all, Gutter Rainbows is a solid effort which proves that inspiration and talent – not a large budget – are most essential to the making of a good album.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Talib Kweli – Gutter Rainbows

2. Posted in: hip-hop, the roots, talib kweli, pharoahe

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Madlib – Madlib Medicine Show No. 11: Low Budget Hi Fi Music

Mike Madden — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:59:44 +0000

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Sounds like: Flying Lotus, J. Dilla, Madvillain

Song: Madlib - The Professionals (Madlib & Oh No) - Start Sumthin (Ft. Roc C) [download here]

What's so good?

Does Madlib ever sleep? The California native, whose real name is Otis Jackson Jr., is one of the most ambitious and prolific hip-hop producers of all time, releasing album after album under several different pseudonyms. Since the beginning of 2010 alone, he’s produced entire albums for Guilty Simpson, Strong Arm Steady, and has released 11 editions to his Medicine Show series.

A few Medicine Show installments have specifically focused on Jackson’s diverse influences (such as jazz and international music), but he mostly sticks to his hip-hop roots on this one. He uses his idiosyncratic style to fill this 60-minute album by sprinkling obscure spoken-word samples and deliberate crackle and hiss on top of traditional boom-bap drum beats and vintage soul samples. I highly recommend listening to this album by yourself with headphones; few producers lace as many sounds into their beats as Madlib does, so it’s hard to fully appreciate these 28 tracks without being able to hear every sound.

Low Budget High Fi Music probably works better as a treat for longtime Madlib fans than a proper introduction to him. Stones Throw affiliates like MED and Oh No contribute a few verses, and even Talib Kweli briefly stops by on “Interliberation (Interlude),” but this album is certainly more of a testament to Lib’s distinctive style than a showcase for the various emcees that appear. After the hundreds upon hundreds of tracks that Jackson has released, it’s hard to imagine what else he has up his sleeve – but you can be sure he’ll find something.

------------------------ With countless sub-genres

1. Original post: Madlib – Madlib Medicine Show No. 11: Low Budget Hi Fi Music

2. Posted in: hip-hop, j dilla, Flying Lotus, madlib

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

The Tallest Man on Earth – Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird EP

Mike Madden — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 21:53:38 +0000

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Sounds like: Bob Dylan, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes

Song: The Tallest Man on Earth - Little River [download here]

What's so good?

If you’re like me, you haven’t heard much exciting folk music in the last few years. Despite the recent emergence of songwriters like Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes), it often seems like a mere handful of contemporary artists truly display the same amount of earthiness and warmth that was so prominently exhibited by the stars of the sixties folk revival.

However, one artist who does separate himself from the pack is Kristian Matsson, aka the Tallest Man on Earth. Since he released his self-titled EP in 2006, the 27-year-old Swede has been one of the most exciting young folk artists of our generation.

Released four months on the heels of his sophomore full-length The Wild Hunt, Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird features five songs written in the midst of Matsson’s spring/summer 2010 tour.

Whether writing on the road is more difficult for him or not, it’s justifiable to say that the songs here are as strong as anything in the Tallest Man catalog. The melodies are pliant, the guitar playing is euphonic, and many of the lyrics are nature inspired and downright beautiful; some lines read like something Robert Frost would have written if he lived in Matsson’s mountainous Scandinavian homeland. Despite that, most of the tracks here are lightly tinged with somberness, but Matsson’s croaky voice is comforting enough to brighten even the most melancholy images.

Up until this point, Matsson has only been accompanied by his acoustic guitar, save for the occasional banjo and piano. But on the second track of the album, “The Dreamer,” he employs an electric guitar for the first time. It’s an unexpected turn after the delicate fingerpicking of opener “Little River,” but an exciting and effective change nonetheless.

Matsson’s sound has frequently been compared to the early work of Bob Dylan, but while the comparisons are still apt, it’s clear that he has become very comfortable with his own artistic identity. His consistency just might be the most exciting thing about him; release after release, he’s delivered batch after batch of strong tracks. It may be a stretch to say that Matsson could single-handedly replenish the contemporary folk scene, but it seems clear to me that he’s going to be near the forefront of that scene for years to come.

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1. Original post: The Tallest Man on Earth – Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird EP

2. Posted in: folk, acoustic, bon iver, fleet foxes, The Tallest Man on Earth

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Grinderman – Grinderman 2

Mike Madden — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:56:30 +0000

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Sounds like: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Black Mountain, The Afghan Whigs

Song: Grinderman - Mickey Mouse and The Goodbye Man [download here]

What's so good?

Though he may not be a household name, Nick Cave has reached legendary status in some circles over the past 30 or so years through his work with the Birthday Party, the Bad Seeds and Grinderman. Grinderman 2, quite obviously Grinderman’s sophomore effort, should only add to the Cave legacy while continuing the streak of strong releases from his projects.

The template that Grinderman (Cave plus three Bad Seeds members) set for itself with its 2007 debut remains intact: vulgar, bluesy rock that prominently exhibits Cave’s lyrical idiosyncrasies. He might be singing about psychopathic siblings (“Mickey Mouse and The Goodbye Man“), begging for a taken woman while identifying her children as “jug-eared, buck-toothed imbeciles” (“Kitchenette”) or telling his lover how she replaces his need for a variety of things, from the moon to a record player (“Evil”). The guitars and Warren Ellis’ violin howl along with Cave’s vocals, which occasionally reach the same level of horniness we found him at while he whined about the “No Pussy Blues” in 2007.

I’ll be blunt: this may be the best album Nick Cave has taken part in over the last few years. Fans of Grinderman’s eponymous debut will likely enjoy this even more, simply because it seems as though the band is improving whatever they’re trying to do. I personally can’t wait for the next album (I wonder what it will be titled…)

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1. Original post: Grinderman – Grinderman 2

2. Posted in: folk-rock, rock, alternative, garage, nick cave

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.

Japandroids – No Singles

Mike Madden — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:48:44 +0000

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Sounds like: No Age, Cymbals Eat Guitars

Song: Japandroids - To Hell With Good Intentions [download here]

What's so good?

Last year, Japandroids’ David Prowse said in an interview that his band experienced a drastic increase in popularity after an 8.3/Best New Music Pitchfork review of their debut album, Post-Nothing, and an Exclaim magazine cover. But before that attention, the Canadian duo had self-released two EPs.

No Singles compiles those EPs (2007’s All Lies and 2008’s Lullaby Death Jams) in a single set. When listening to material that a band originally released before they received more widespread attention, there are two questions you should ask yourself: 1. How much has this band evolved? and 2. Do I like them more now or then?

Both questions’ answers come fairly easily because of Japandroids’ minimal advance in sound; through the EPs, the album and their 2010 singles, these guys have played a fuzzy brand of fun, punk-influenced rock with lyrics that are often about both the carelessness and crisis of post-adolescence, and observations of others in their own demographic.

That’s not to say that every Japandroids release is the same. During that same interview, Prowse (drums/vocals) and Brian King (guitar/vocals) agreed that the biggest change in their group’s sound has been confidence – confidence in their vocals, songwriting and all-around ability. In fact, their uncertainty even shows up in No Singles’ liner notes: they covered Mclusky’s “To Hell with Good Intentions” on All Lies because they wanted to make sure their first EP had “at least one good song on it.” The most obvious change seems to be in their ability to craft a great hook — other than “Coma Complacency,“ there aren’t any tracks as catchy as “Young Hearts Spark Fire” or “Wet Hair” on this compilation.

If you’re looking for an incentive to buy the physical copy of No Singles, the packaging features a booklet full of photographs of the guys in their pre-Post-Nothing days, listed tour dates from 2006-2008, and even pictures of gig posters from when they were known as JPNDRDS.

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1. Original post: Japandroids – No Singles

2. Posted in: indie rock, indie pop, garage, punk, noise

3. Find more music on Indie Shuffle's Indie Music Blog.