The Retrospective

The Retrospective random header image

N.A.S.A. shoots the moon with Spirit of Apollo

February 17th, 2009 by

picture-11

Spirit of Apollo, the new album from N.A.S.A. boasts collaborations with the likes of George Clinton, Kanye, M.I.A., Santogold, and Lykke Li, to name a few–and if you’re like me, you’ve been streaming all 17 tracks from the duo’s myspace page all weekend. N.A.S.A., which stands for North America South America, also collaborates on the album with indie artists like Spank Rock and The Cool Kids. There’s even some unexpected, and surprisingly smooth pairings with artists like Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fatlip and Ol’ Dirty (Bastard).

From N.A.S.A.’s MySpace Page:

Unexpected collaborations abound on the seventeen track release. Tom Waits growls over Kool Keith, Karen O taunts while Ol’ Dirty Bastard gives shoutouts to Wu Tang and N.A.S.A from the grave, and David Byrne, Chuck D and others expound on the evils of “Money.” In spite of the range of performers, the pairings seem organic, inspired and make perfect sense on the first listen, never coming off as ironic or impulsive.

l_5dd08688cd9579c4bebd3e1af7a0477c

N.A.S.A ft. Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santogold & Nick Zinner“Whatchadoin?”
[audio:whatchadoin.mp3]

N.A.S.A ft Kanye West, Lykke Li, & Santogold“Gifted”
[audio:gifted.mp3]

That’s right, you didn’t misread it–Tom Waits and Kool Keith. It seems the only time we ever see such mass-collaborating for an album or a single is on account of some sort of benefit…(We Are the World, We are the Children??). N.A.S.A., however, has managed to produce the star-studded, multi-collaborative, Spirit of Apollo, for the benefit of our ears and ears alone. Sam Spiegel (Squeak E. Clean) and Ze Gonzales (DJ Zegon) have definitely gone above and beyond their original goal of the album: to, “bring people together through music and art”.  If you’re left wanting more after listening to the album, don’t worry; there is a documentary film in progress that will hopefully share all of the details on how some of these awesome collaborations went down.  I wouln’t be surprised if at least a few of these tracks become summertime dance party bangers; but why wait until then when you can catch them on tour now?!

Previous Post: On the Verge – Wale at The Webster

Next Post: Fresh Lids for the White House, Fresh Lids for the World.

ShareThis

Tags: Music3 Comments

3sxiteen Ad
Advertise

Leave A Comment

3 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Caitlin Schiller Feb 17, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    These tracks make me want to dance, and I’m a terrible dancer–this is hugel. Awesomeness. 🙂 Props to the artists and to the author.

  • 2 Waow Rabalder Feb 17, 2009 at 6:41 pm

    Yeeeeees!!! I’ve been waiting for this album for like; forever!!!!! Amazing artists on this album, I must say…Been streaming all the songs from their myspace for a while now, so I look forward to buy the CD as soon as it reaches the stores here in cold Sweden :). Also cred to the Retrospective for mention this release :).

  • 3 Alicia Adams Feb 17, 2009 at 8:52 pm

    Thanks for the comments!! I was listening to the album while writing the article, and I all I wanted to do was get up and bust a move. 🙂