February 2008 Archives

By Toshitaka Kondo

When The Inc. started to cave under pressure from CEO Irv Gotti's federal money-laundering case in 2005, many Inc. artists seemed to duck and cover – but Lloyd stayed busy. The 22-year-old New Orleans native sprinkled his feathery vocals on hooks for 8Ball and MJG, Young Jeezy and Rick Ross, and leveraged his relationships with various DJs to help “You,” featuring Lil Wayne, become one of 2007’s hugest hits. Along with the slinky second single, “Get It Shawty,” Lloyd catapulted into the “TRL” stratosphere, and Street Love went gold. Rhapsody caught up with Lloyd, eager to follow up on last year’s success, while in New York promoting “How We Do It in the A,” featuring Ludacris, the first single from his upcoming as-yet-untitled third album.

by Chris Ryan

As you can see from the album art for her newest full-length, New Amerykah, Erykah Badu has a lot of things on her mind. And as you can see from her fabulous video for "Honey," what's on her mind is music.  So we decided to check out how she made this Amerykhan quilt and, more specifically, the diverse fabric of sounds woven through it.

Song: Everytime
Album: You Were Here
Artist: Sarah Harmer
Selected by: Nate Cavalieri
Date: February 29, 2008

This working-class lullaby remains one of our favorites from the quietly celebrated Canadian songwriter.The swan song from Sarah Harmer's debut is as simple as they get -- only an acoustic guitar and her horse whisper gently griping about "all those poor bastards, [who] gotta go to work."

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by Chris Ryan

On Monday, February 25, songwriter Stephen "Static" Garret died of an apparent brain aneurysm, robbing pop music of one its most articulate and sensitive voices, even if his own voice was rarely heard.

Song: Heart of Stone
Album: No Regrets
Artist: SVT
Selected by: Linda Ryan
Date: February 28, 2008

Despite the formidable presence of former Airplane member Jack Casady on bass, San Francisco's SVT got lost in the gap when mid-'80s new wave was waning but hard rock hadn't yet found an audience. "Heart of Stone" is a taut, melodic slice of rock that should have propelled this band to fame and fortune.

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by Piotr Orlov

Even in election years, the music-and-politics story isn’t always about the soundtrack of the campaign trail. Sometimes it’s about the soundtrack behind the DMZ.

The New York Philharmonic Orchestra made news this week by traveling to North Korea to play what turned out to be a historic, internationally televised concert in Pyongyang on Tuesday. The visit took on both ambassadorial and artistic trappings. The trip was the first-ever to North Korea by an American cultural organization, and included the biggest delegation of Americans to visit the country since the end of the Korean War in 1953. It also included a Wednesday morning rehearsal during which members of the Philharmonic and the Orchestra’s musical director Lorin Maazel played with the State Symphony Orchestra of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, allowing for historic interaction between groups of people who may as well be ghosts to one another. (It may be the first of many: if reports of continued cultural exchange are to be believed, classic rock/blues legend Eric Clapton may be following the Phil to play for and with the North Koreans.)

by Sam Chennault

New York's Pete Rock is one of hip-hop’s most influential and respected artists. The Long Island native got his start in radio, during hip-hop’s “golden age,” working alongside the legendary producer Marley Marl on the beloved  radio show, In Control. In the early '90s, he reinvented the art of hip-hop sampling with his classic albums (Mecca & The Soul Brother and The Main Ingredient) with emcee C.L. Smooth. Since then, he’s worked with nearly every major emcee to come out of NYC in the past two decades, and he’s been cited as an influence by everyone from Kanye West to Pharrell Williams. His recent release, NY’s Finest, proves that he’s still got it. Appearing on this latest showcase of Rock’s beat acumen is a cast of emcees that includes Wu-Tang Clan, Little Brother and Papoose. Rhapsody recently got the legendary producer’s opinion on a variety of topics. 

Song: Heaven
Album: More Songs About Buildings and Food
Artist: Talking Heads
Selected by: Scott Indrisek
Date: February 27, 2008

Leave it to David Byrne to pull of a feel-good piano ballad about how awesome it might be to die. His vision of the appealing, repetitive monotony of the afterlife could break your heart if you let it. “When this kiss is over, we’ll start again. It will not be any different, it’ll be exactly the same.”

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by Chris Ryan

What’s new? What’s good? What will you find here that you won't hear anywhere else this week? Sit back, relax and click through to the premieres, the originals and the exclusives available only on Rhapsody! This week:

Kelley Polar, I Need You to Hold on While the Sky Is Falling (Streaming Premiere)
Beach Boys harmonies, lush string arrangements (courtesy of a Juilliard education), bubbling synth work and a deep disco jones, Kelley Polar's second full-length will keep all us Chicken Littles happy for a while. An elegant and sensual collection.

The Afters, Never Going Back to OK (Rhapsody Exclusive)
This prayer and amplifier-friendly troupe hail from Texas, but its hyperactive power-pop has roots in the Brit-pop of the '90s. Songs like "Tonight" and the bittersweet title track are reminiscent of U.K. rockers like Stereophonics and Coldplay.

by Chris Ryan

Nick Lowe, legendary solo artist and acclaimed producer (Elvis Costello) stopped by our offices recently to perform a couple of his power-pop nuggets. Check out an acoustic version of "People Change" from his 2007 album, At My Age, above, and check out a beautiful take on his classic "Without Love" after the jump.

Song: It's a Mug's Game
Album: The Very Best of Soft Cell
Artist: Soft Cell
Selected by: Nick Dedina
Date: February 26, 2008

One thing pop music does is make teenagers' boring lives feel exciting. It doesn't matter if it's hip-hop, nu metal or country -- it's all a fiction nobody is living. Soft Cell call on their Suicide-like tendency to use synth-pop to annoy by describing the banal, ugly truth of the typical English teen experience. The best bit is at the end where the threat of parental discipline swoops down into the picture. 

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by Piotr Orlov

Behold, a requiem for the music producer! In 2008, when pretty much any Tom, Dick or Harriet with a Pro Tools set-up and some decent microphones could finagle a “produced by” credit onto the meta-data file of a digital release, let’s take a moment to pay homage to a pair of gentlemen who worked a little harder in creating great music. It wasn’t just different skill sets or historical perspectives that separated Teo Macero and Joe Gibbs from the multitudes of today’s whippersnappers. Macero, who passed away after a long illness on February 19 at the age of 82, and Gibbs, who died of a sudden heart attack on February 21 at the age of 65, also possessed visions (sonic, aesthetic, hell, even commercial) they could share with their collaborators and guide them to a new place. Rare gifts in the age of press-and-record.

by Sam Chennault

Even for those of us paid to pay attention, a piece of music occasionally comes along to sneak up and surprise us. That’s the case with R&B singer Raheem DeVaughn’s sophomore album, Love Behind the Melody. Not that his 2005 debut, The Love Experience, was a slouch; but Behind the Melody is a revelation of sorts, from it’s sultry sweet lead single, “Woman,” to the 21st century doo-wop charmer, “Friday (Shut the Club Down).” At once building on and transcending his neo-soul roots, Devaughn has created a lush album marked by impeccable phrasing, great hooks and a satisfying diversity. Rhapsody caught up with the budding star two days after the 2008 Grammy Awards, where “Woman” was nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, the morning after the latest in a long line of recording sessions.

by Stephanie Benson

You knew about one minute into Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's (aka Swell Season) performance of "Falling Slowly" (from the film Once) at last night's 80th Academy Awards that they were gonna nab the statuette. Not to take anything away from Kristin Chenoweth—who deserved props for making it through her performance of "So Close," despite the presence of construction workers, a girl in lederhosen, a Jamaican dude, and a guy who looked like Michael McDonald's older brother playing bongos—but Hansard and Irglova were the feel-good story of the year. And despite being up against a Enchanted's three nominated tunes, they deserved the fairytale ending.

Further Reading:
Stephanie Benson's live review of Swell Season (PLAY)

Song: His Hands
Album: His Hands
Artist: Candi Staton
Selected by: Nate Baker
Date: February 25, 2008

Penned for the gospel singer, oddly, by Will Oldham, "His Hands" relates the first person narrative of an abused woman, proving that Oldham is capable of great creative reach. Staton's own experience with domestic violence lends a spooky verity to her heartrending vocals.

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by Chris Ryan

Robbie Robertson, guitarist and songwriter for The Band, chatted with our Nate Cavalieri in 2007, around the release of A Musical History, The Band's box set retrospective. Check out what he had to say about his favorite songs by The Band, his favorite new band, and much more.

Three things in life are guaranteed: death, taxes and “Robi-Rob's Boriqua Anthem” by dance-pop troupe C+C Music Factory. Plain and simple, it’s the requisite Latin dance-party jam of all time. And by all time, we mean from ’94 onward, but still. Whether you’re prowling Latin discotheques or attending your cousin Lupe's baby shower, which for some reason are always booked at the local Ukrainian community center, rest assured, it will play. Why? For one, it’s got the unique ability to resuscitate a party. Two, it serves as a musical bridge between generations. And three, the “Boriqua Anthem” was remarkably ahead of its time, pairing El General’s reggae-raps with salsa rhythms and all sorts of miscellaneous sabrosura.

Song: Hüter der Schwelle
Album: 70s Progressive
Artist: Popol Vuh 
Selected by: Eric Shea
Date: February 22, 2008

I stumbled on this song by accidentally hitting the Artist Channel button on Faust’s page in Rhapsody, and it just appeared out of nowhere to blow my mind! It recalls the droning mantra of “Venus in Furs” by the Velvet Underground: like a psychedelic orchestra jamming in space.

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by Chris Ryan

The Labratz are a new group from the long, rich tradition of socially conscious, leftfield Atlanta hip-hop. Made up of Leon Rawstein and Marty McFly (members of the critically lauded Da Backwudz), their childhood friends, G-WIz and Heavy Slim, and featuring the production savvy of Sol Messiah (known for his work with Chamillionaire and Nappy Roots), Labratz are the newest generation of Atliens to combine the cosmic funk of the '70s (think Sly Stone and Funkadelic) with the street smarts of the 21st century. It's as vibrant as the snap anthems of Yung Joc and DJ UNK, with lyrics that look beyond the club (or the mall); a perfect distillation of Atlanta, the party town, and Atlanta, the civil rights hub. Rhapsody talked to Leon and G-Wiz about the making of the band, their debut album, Atlantis Rising and the many sides (and sounds) of the ATL.

by Matty Karas

Song: Right Back At You
Album: The Infamous
Artist: Mobb Deep
Selected by: Toshi Kondo
Date: February 21, 2008

This Wu-Tang and Mobb collabo captured exactly how New York street rap sounded in the '90s. The last verse is an intense 32-bar movie: Ghostface and Raekwon toast to drug kingpin status while Noyd finishes off with a cautionary tale of almost getting smoked while schooling a young thug.

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(Photo: Andrew Parks)

It was 20-something degrees in New York last night, and after coming home to ice-cold radiators and a lame note from the slumlords apologizing for the “inconvenience,” it was in my good fortune that the pure heat from Yelle’s show traveled well – literally. Basically, I was still sweaty and it was awesome.

The French electro-pop fly girl’s American debut at The Knitting Factory was quite the full-throttle scorcher. The main room was packed and coat check was at capacity, thus driving average body temperature way, way up. After Kap10Kurt wrapped their set, the anxious crowd -- a mix of hipsters, civilians and Euro-mullets – was treated to filler fare, like the Jungle Brothers’ “I’ll House You.” And Yelle, along with producer/drummer Grand Marnier and TEPR, on keyboard duty, proceeded to do just that once they cut the lights.

by Chris Ryan

What’s new? What’s good? What will you find here that you won't hear anywhere else this week? Sit back, relax and click through to the premieres, the  originals and the exclusives available only on Rhapsody! This week:

Dirtbombs, We Have You Surrounded (Rhapsody Premiere)
A decidedly more psychedelic affair from Mick Collins' Detroit garage-rock superconductors. The sheer jet-plane-taking-off intensity of the album might actually stand as the closest approximation of the band's atomic live show.

Various Artists, Cell Block Female Quarters
Some of the world's greatest female toasters are on display on this rollicking compilation. Features Tanya Stephens and Marcia Griffiths.

Song: Tiny Little Fractures 
Album: Final Straw
Artist: Snow Patrol
Selected by: Linda Ryan
Date: February 20, 2008

Remember when you were a kid and you'd spin around and around until you got so dizzy you'd fall in heap, and even though you stopped spinning, it took a while for your head and your stomach to stop twisting? Snow Patrol's "Tiny Little Fractures" is the aural equivalent of that whirling ride. Fuzzy guitars, hand claps and the occasional squeak of feedback make the song a noise-pop lover's wet dream.

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by Piotr Orlov

 
Judging by the melodies, the beats and the lyrical smirks, Hot Chip is a band tailor-made for our times. That it happens to be kind of popular – ‘06’s The Warning was named the #4 album of that year by the NME, the new Made in the Dark debuted at #4 on the U.K. chart and a respectable #109 on the Billboard album chart -- is a cause to think our times aren’t all that bad.

Main Hot Chip conspirators and lifelong South London bro's, Joe Goddard and Alexis Taylor have the harmonic sense of classicists -- their songs invoking the whole history of rock and soul, but directly indebted to none of it. Simultaneously, with its creative fires lit by Timbaland, Destiny’s Child and other mid-‘90s futurist-RnB stars, Hot Chip never stopped subscribing to modern rhythms, freeing its collective ass with techno, house, disco, dubstep, funk, and as Made in the Dark proves, basically anything R. Kelly’s lab comes up with next. With a humorous streak by turns dark and irreverent, and wholly un-ironic, Hot Chip is sweet and sour. They are like that in real life too, as Rhapsody got to find out while sitting down with Goddard, Taylor, Al Doyle and Owen Clarke (Felix Martin had escaped the interview process) to talk about the new album and how Hot Chip works.

by Chris Ryan

With his toothy smile, "aw shucks" modesty and wide-eyed sincerity, a lot of people have fallen under the charming spell of former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. But with his Master's Degree from M.I.T. and multiple multi-platinum record plaques, Boston mastermind Tom Scholz is not one of them.

Song: Strokin
Album: Dr. C.C.
Artist: Clarence Carter
Selected by: Tim Quirk
Date: February 19, 2008

A risque jukebox staple in disreputable bars across the country, we insist this Clarence Carter novelty hit transcends its prurient subject matter. First, the bass lick is so irresistible, it gets echoed by the guitar, repeatedly, to continuously thrilling effect. Second, Carter narrates all the different ways and places one can make love with such unabashed glee that you can’t help but want to add whatever disreputable bar you happen to be in to the list. (Unfortunately, this particular version fades just as Carter’s partner gets “sassified” and starts calling out his name.)

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Song: Fallens Star
Album: Snoop Dogg Presents ... Welcome to Tha House, Vol. 1
Artist: Latoiya Williams
Selected by: Angela Bruno
Date: February 18, 2008

Heavenly soulstress Latoiya Williams was the brightest of Snoop’s protégés back in the early 2Ks -- despite her career having been sucked into a black hole since then. Longevity aside, this supernova’s raspy delivery makes the disillusionment of a broken heart sound sooo outta sight on a delectable, super-funky vintage-sounding cut.

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Song: Long Red
Album: Over the Top
Artist: Mountain
Selected by: Sam Chennault
Date: February 15, 2008

The song itself is decent '70s Southern rock -- gravely vocals, porch rhythm and a twisting, lemonade organ. But, somehow, this turned into the Rosetta Stone of hip-hop samples, and has been used in songs by Nas, Ice Cube, Eric B and Rakim, EPMD and A Tribe Called Quest among many others.

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by Chris Ryan

So I say, "The Allman Brothers are weak-sauce because any band with two drummers that sounds that thin is clearly afraid of the truth." And then my boss says, "Sometimes it amazes me that you aren't legally deaf. Have you listened to Live at the Fillmore East? Go listen to 'You Don't Love Me.' When Duane and Dicky Betts clash light sabers, it's like [insert mind-blown sound effect]."

I cop a plea and admit I haven't examined said evidence and add, because I'm an idiot prone to such tactics, "Does it sound like Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out? Because with two drummers, you better rock half as hard as Charlie Watts does -- otherwise the animal that died to make your drum skins did so in vain." And he gave me a look that said, 'Get out of my office,' and I went and listened to Fillmore and found out I was both right and wrong.

by Chris Ryan

Janet Jackson runs Valentine's Day. You wanna seduce your significant other? You want to take that special someone on an "Escapade"? Look no further: Janet's got you covered. Ms. Jackson recently gabbed it up with VH1.com's Rich Juzwiak and discussed the rhythm of the bedroom nation. Just for an appetizer, check out what Janet had to say about coming out of her tomboy shell: "Someone said to me a long time ago about the janet. album being very sensual and sexy: 'What message are you sending to the kids? You talked about ‘Let’s Wait a While.'" And I said, 'Well, I’m in my 20s now. How long do you want me to wait?'"

Scorching! Jackson was kind enough to give up some of her favorite, ahem, baby-making jams for a playlist. Read, listen and pro-create, people!

Further Listening:
"Janet Jackson's Baby-Making Playlist"

Further Reading:
Janet Jackson Interview on the VH1.com Blog

by Chris Ryan

The electro-rocking, Texas duo Ghostland Observatory have done their charitable duty for the day. The band has made the remix to their song "Dancing on My Grave" available, free of taxes, tariffs or price tags. "Dancing..." is from Ghostland's forthcoming third album, Robotique Majestique, available February 26. Until then, get blinded by the science.

And if free MP3s are your bag (and unless you're a baron or duke, why wouldn't they be), be sure to check out Rhapsody's indie hub for even more free music. This week it features the ludicrously unsung jazz vocalist Andy Bey rocking a standard, Jamaican saxophonist Cedric Brooks connecting the dots between the downbeat and Afro-Beat, and old-school legend Pete Rock in the mix. Dig the knowledge -- gratis!

Further Listening:
Ghostland Observatory, "Dancing on My Grave (Let There Be Vinyl Remix)"
More free MP3s at Rhapsody's Indie Hub

Song: And Then He Kissed Me
Artist: The Crystals
Album: Phil Spector: Back to Mono
Selected By: Sam Chennault
Date: February 14, 2008

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By Toshitaka Kondo

If 2006 was the year that Nate “Danja” Hills became the hottest co-producer in the game, 2007 was the year he established himself as a force to be reckoned with on his own. The 27-year-old Virginia native made his name sharing board duties with Timbaland on Nelly Furtado’s Loose and Justin Timberlake’s Futuresex/Lovesounds, racking up platinum stats, number one hits and Grammy Awards. However, when you break in with one of the most influential producers in pop history, people tend to be skeptical of your contributions. Thankfully, the music industry is not short on opportunities to prove oneself: Danja did so by producing Britney Spears’ comeback single (“Gimme More”), DJ Khaled’s heavyweight anthem (the futuristic, electronic “We Takin’ Over”) and a handful of songs by Canadian emo-popsters Simple Plan (on their new self-titled album). While he continues to work closely with Timbaland on upcoming Missy Elliott and Madonna projects, it’s clear that Danja is far from a sidekick.

Song: Understand Under
Album: In His Own Words
Artist: Nathan Moore
Selected by: Casey Lowdermilk
Date: February 13, 2008

This track from the poetically insightful singer-songwriter Nathan Moore is written with the honesty of a kindergartner excitedly listing his life goals and the maturity and intellectual curiosity of every person trying to make sense of this big world. Just imagine what's possible if The Slip were his backing band.

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by Chris Ryan

It was 25 years ago that a little album by the youngest son of the family Jackson came out, and promptly became as popular as sunshine, breathing and Christmas. That's right, today marks Thriller's quarter century in the game. Check out the above teaser video with behind the scenes clips of Michael-mania at its height; get inside-the-producer's-studio wisdom from Quincy Jones; and behold Beyoncé's wonderment at the "Billie Jean" video's illuminated floor tiles. (One bummer: no one wanted to discuss Eddie Van Halen's "Beat It" solo!)

Further Listening:
Michael Jackson, Thriller 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

by Chris Ryan

What’s new? What’s good? What will you find here that you won't hear anywhere else this week? Sit back, relax and click through to the premieres, the  originals and the exclusives available only on Rhapsody! This week:

Josh Rouse, Rhapsody Original
Josh Rouse is your quintessential singer-songwriter. His gift, however, is in how he continually finds new and exciting ways to play with style and genre; bracing power-pop volume, mellow soft-rock cool and Nashville twang . Listen to him go all over the dial on this awesome Rhapsody Original live recording.

The National, Rhapsody Original
This Brooklyn quintet mixes the arena-ready catharsis of U2 with the mood and instrumentation of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds; but mixed with Matt Berninger's detailed lyrics of mid-life urban malaise they become something all their own. Hear them play songs from their breakthrough album, Boxer, on this Rhapsody Original.

Song: L'isle Joyeuse
Album: The Best of Debussy
Artist: Claude DeBussy
Selected by: Sarah Bardeen
Date: February 12, 2008

The best classical music takes you on a journey, and "L'Isle Joyeuse" has to be one of my favorite five-minute journeys of all time. Walter Gieseking's version, though older and muddier sounding, swells and recedes with an intensity and enlightenment few other piano players have achieved with this piece.

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by Chris Ryan

The hushed brilliance of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' devastating '07 album, Raising Sand, was a favorite on the Rhapsody office playlist, and we're tripping over our mandolins at the prospect of those two titans re-creating the record's beauty on the new episode of CMT's "Crossroads," debuting Monday, February 11th, at 8 p.m. EST.

Song: Walk Away Renee
Album: The Essential Collection
Artist: The Four Tops
Selected by: Linda Ryan
Date: February 11, 2008

Caution: one listen to this soul-dripping version of "Walk Away Renee" and the Left Banke's (pale and anemic) version will never sound the same again.

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by Lauren Tabak

Here’s the quick recap of how this edition of Rhapsody’s Rock Star Guide to the Galaxy came together: last November, a filmmaker friend of mine Alexa had a film showing at the Mix Brasil Film Festival. The festival happened to be running at the same time that my friend Luiza  was going to be making one of her rare appearances in her hometown of Sao Paulo, recording with her band, the electro-dynamo C.S.S. (Cansei de Ser Sexy). And since I flaked on the invitation to join C.S.S. for a few stops on their European tour with Gwen Stefani, I was determined to make this happen. I’d met Luiza a while back through one of our mutual friends, the amazing artist Olivia Edith, who called me one day from Portland asking if her friend from Brazil could crash at my apartment in San Francisco with her five bandmates. The rest is history.

by Nate Cavalieri

(Real-life political musicians)

After so much feverish lead-up -- IM squabbles concerning the details of John McCain's heroism, will.i.am duets with Obama circulating YouTube, and "I don't usually send emails like this" messages from otherwise politically indifferent friends -- it was two relatively trivial events of Super Tuesday that left an odd taste on Back-to-Usual Wednesday. Don't laugh: the release of Jack Johnson's Static Through the Silence and Sheryl Crow's Detours.

by Jen Guyre

For most bands with 20-plus years of experience, ten albums and legions of disciples, public appearances are a mere matter of maintenance. But not Neurosis, the Bay Area hardcore upstarts turned mood scientists, experimental metal trailblazers and East Bay doom-scene pioneers. Today, Scott Kelly (vocals, guitar), Steve Von Till (vocals, guitar), Dave Edwardson (bass), Noah Landis (keys) and Jason Roeder (drums) continue to expand their legacy and what heavy music means -- all for their own gratification. “Music is more important than anything to us," says Kelly. "It’s our church. It’s our religion.” For 22 years, Neurosis has remained faithful to their DIY ethos, protecting the purity of their emotionally raw, introspective prose for the sake of their souls and the origins of their livelihood. Each album along the way has been marked by both inner conflict and an outward struggle with the music industry. And their tenth album, Given to the Rising, released in 2007 to critical acclaim, once again proved their undying commitment to mystifying and untainted music.

Rhapsody caught up with Scott Kelly to explore the inner workings of Neurosis' philosophy and why they won't stop making music until they die.

Song: Winds of Emotion
Album: Listen to My Shapes
Artist: Sensations
Selected by: Casey Lowdermilk
Date: February 8, 2008

Members of The Mother Hips and Cake deliver British Invasion-style harmonies and warm, lusty melodies for a delicate take on psychedelia -- one of several gems on the album and perfect for fans of both The Kinks and My Morning Jacket.

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Song: Round and Round
Album: Out of the Cellar
Artist: Ratt 
Selected by: Jen Guyre
Date: February 7, 2008

Happy Chinese New Year, folks! And what better way to celebrate the year of the rat than with some fist-pumping, hair-teasing, badass riffs by one of L.A.'s premier glam metal bands. This track is sure to sleaze!

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by Linda Ryan

Hip-hop’s lord of braggadocio stays true to the maxim “We gon’ do everything that

Kan like” in his attempt to become Kanye West, the brand -- i.e. blog about the miscellaneous things he covets, co-author a book and launch a search engine.

by Chris Ryan

What’s new? What’s good? What will you find here that you won't hear anywhere else this week? Sit back, relax and click through to the premieres, the  originals and the exclusives available only on Rhapsody! This week:

Lenny Kravitz, Rhapsody Originals
Lenny Kravitz kicks out the jams (timeless one's like "Are You Gonna Go My Way" and "Let Love Rule"), on this exclusive Rhapsody Originals recording. Any closer to the action and you'd be Lisa Bonet.

Betty Buckley, Quintessence (Rhapsody Exclusive)
Buckley's been seen on the run in Paris (Roman Polanski's Frantic) and she's been in the clink on HBO's prison-drama Oz. But, truly, her home turf is the great American songbook, which she tackles with verve on this Rhapsody Exclusive.

Song: Silver City
Album: Delete.Delete.I.Eat.Meat
Artist: Ghostland Observatory
Selected by: Casey Lowdermilk
Date: February 6, 2008

Lately, it's been difficult for me to go longer than a day without listening to this electro-soul rock track from the Austin duo Ghostland Observatory.  It has a mellow groove with falsetto vocals and hip lyrics for a classic-retro vibe as if it should be on the Blow soundtrack.

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By Toshitaka Kondo

The Cool Kids are hip-hop babies -- for real. Evan “Chuck Inglish” Ingersoll, 23, and Antoine “Mikey Rocks” Reed, 19, weren’t raised on classic soul or funk like many of rap’s older stars. Instead, they grew up in the suburbs of Mount Clemens, Michigan and  Matteson, Illinois, respectively, on a steady diet of Nas, Jay-Z, Slick Rick, and Eric B. and Rakim. They’re more than familiar with the music that today’s “hip-hop is dead” purists yearn for. Their video for “Black Mags” is an ode to BMX bikes and rap’s golden ‘80s -- with fly girls rockin’ huge doorknockers and d-boys donning crisp kicks and Starter hats. It’s far from a gimmick though: the Chicago duo channels the carefree and energetic essence of that era rather than trying to recreate it. 2008 should see the release of an EP or full-length from these critical darlings, who Rhapsody recently tapped for a starring role in a commercial with Sara Bareilles. We reunited with the Kids in New York. Warning: Artists who don’t support downloading won’t be too happy with the interview that follows.

Harsh weather, the Giants, “American Idol” and a record number of absentee ballots are adding extra fuzz and buzz to today’s historic 24-state Super Tuesday voting blitz. But eclectic, mash-up innovator/artiste-on-the-rise Santogold, formerly of the punk outfit Stiffed, has got her blinders on when it comes to putting her voice behind her choice: “I’m backing [she pauses for a gulp of pizza] ... Barack."

Song: Shawty Is Da Sh*t
Album: LoveHate
Artist: The-Dream
Selected by: Toshi Kondo
Date: February 5, 2008

The self-proclaimed “Radio Killa” (he wrote Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and J. Holiday’s “Bed”) employs his signature, hypnotic “ella, ella” echoes on this tale of reconnecting with a childhood love. He mixes in a little quirkiness and advises: “If she fix you eggs and grits in the morning, man, you should tip her.”

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by Chris Ryan

Sad news via Dischord Records. Sean Finnegan, 43, the drummer for the legendary Washingtong D.C. hardcore band Void, died of an apparent heart attack on January 30th. Finnegan was recently working on the set of HBO's The Wire, but 28 years ago, he was the engine of one of the most ferocious bands in the then-fledgling D.C. hardcore scene. Void's side of their split record with fellow D.C. punk pioneers Faith (their only non-compilation release) is a milestone hardcore record, and essential listening for anyone interested in having their mind blown.

Further Reading:
Dischord Records announces Sean Finnegan's passing
Baltimore Sun's obituary

Further Listening
Void, "Who Are You"
Void, "My Rules"
Void, "Ignorant People"

by Piotr Orlov

The Grateful Dead may have had a long strange history of political activism – from Black Panthers defense fund benefits in the late ‘60s and early '70s, to Rainforest Action Network charity shows in the ‘80s -- but they were rarely partisans. Al Gore is the most politically famous Deadhead in the land, but the former Republican governor of Massachusetts, William Weld, saw his share of Boston Garden shows in the ‘90s too. (Let’s all take this opportunity and bow to the memory of the 9/20/91 “Help”>”Slip”>”Fire.")

Hence, it was with some surprise that we read this weekend announcement that three of the core surviving members of the Dead – Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart – will play together Monday evening at San Francisco Warfield Theatre at a pre-California primary rally in support of Barack Obama. We are not sure whether drummer Bill Kreutzmann chose not to participate because of a disagreeable political disposition, or whether he’s too firmly ensconced in Hawaii to make the trip.

Song: Blue Train
Album: Blue Train
Artist: John Coltrane
Selected by: Piotr Orlov
Date: February 4, 2008

What? You expected "Tangled Up in Blue"? Sometimes you can say a lot more with a lot fewer words. The fire down below need not reveal itself in ways society expects. 12, 83½, 2:07, 17-14: these are numbers (and symbols)! 18-1 are too. And the sound of a Trane rollin'? No words there either.

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by Jen Guyre

Sports aren't really Rhapsody's thing, we fancy ourselves more band geeks than jocks. But luckily we found some devout football fans who just so happen to moonlight in metal bands to give us their predictions for the big game. Because let's face it, football is a pretty extreme exercise in brutality, so who better to commentate than extreme musicians? In honor of the 42nd Super Bowl, here are some of the finest predictions from some of the darkest dudes we could find.

While our ongoing discussion has been focused on Western, primarily Caucasian musicians experimenting with African influences, it’s interesting to note a band in the unique position of Extra Golden. The melding of two distinct musical groups (Extra and Golden, natch), Extra Golden is half American and half Kenyan. Their latest album, Hera Ma Nano, is a sincere celebration of its band members' combined heritages (and also contains a dedication to Barack Obama, who helped Extra Golden's Kenyan contingent with visa difficulties.)

PLAY asked guitarist Alex Minoff to reflect on indie-rock's ongoing fascination with music from the continent. He let us know what authenticity's all about, and then unleashed a sobering proposition -- maybe the problem is that music journalists just don't know what they're talking about when it comes to Africa.

Song: Super Freak
Album: Street Songs 
Artist: Rick James
Selected by: Rachel Devitt
Date: February 1, 2008

If you're a child of the '80s, it's a funk master's signature song. If you're a child of the '90s, it's what hypnotized you into buying Hammer pants. If you're a child of the '00s, it's a Dave Chappelle bit, biotch. Today, we honor a very kinky birthday boy with one of pop's most prolific freakshows.

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