Authors: Dan Vesper
Reviews: Sleep – Oregon Failure
“Thrift Shop” did more than provide an anthem for white tweenagers who don’t otherwise enjoy hip-hop. It also inspired artists like Sleep (not to be confused with the rock band) to make rap so terrible that Vanilla Ice seems legit by comparison. … read more
Review: The War On Drugs – Lost In The Dream
Perhaps you’ve never gotten into the Bon Ivers and Fleet Foxes of the world. Fair enough: They tend to be a bit precious. That said, if you check this one out, you might be pleasantly surprised. … read more
Review: Sun Kil Moon – Benji
Mark Kozelek has made a record so confrontational and real, you have to admire it even when it’s a bit much. It’s about how the things that seem “uncool” in life are often what make it worthwhile—a bold, artistic vision that can be a real bummer, honestly. … read more
Review: Nick Weaver – Yardwork
Nick Weaver Yardwork Self-Released Street: 01.06 Nick Weaver = Macklemore + The Pharcyde Nick Weaver is a nice guy. He raps about how much he loves his family. It comes from the heart and I respect that, but I don’t listen to rap to have my heartstrings pulled. I’ve got Joni Mitchell for that. If
Review: Neneh Cherry – Blank Project
You might be surprised to know that Neneh Cherry’s 1988 record, Raw Like Sushi, is bad as fuck. Still, I’m not losing my cool over the prospect of a new record by her. … read more
Review: Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly Top Dawg Entertainment Street: 03.15 Kendrick Lamar = The past 100 years of black American music x Compton At this point, Butterfly is old news. Still, it’s worth mentioning that it’s one of the most important pop records ever made. Few albums are this salient in their time, this
Review: Isaiah Rashad – Cilvia Demo
Rashad takes his father’s abandonment and turns it into a moral imperative—a move that could have been trite in hands of a lesser MC. This, however, is a daring labor of love by a very gifted young man. These strong but flawed songs creep into your soul without you even realizing it—the same way that forgiveness can. … read more
Review: Ikebe Shakedown – Stone By Stone
Ikebe Shakedown are part of a growing contingent of musicians dedicated to replicating the feel of classic recordings. They do a good job, and it’s a noble goal, too. … read more
Local Review: WE – WE-E.T.’s VOL. II
WE = Joey Bada$$ + 1995 Raekwon … read more
Local Review: Null – Break The Spell
This stuff was groan-inducing the first time I heard it, strolling through Zuccotti Park a few years back. (I think I have a hand signal to show how much I like it, too.) … read more