The Retrospective

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Common Projects

March 19th, 2008 by
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Common Projects Low Top

I first heard about Common Projects through a friend of mine who happens to be in living in the U.K right now. Recently I noticed a couple posts and I had to see what the hype was about. I just had a chance to go through their Spring ’08 look book and I’m even more impressed. I really like the clean and simple design of their whole line. Everyone is talking about The Desert Boot but I’m really digging their even more minimalist Low Tops. These guys have been around for the last two years and are definitely making a statement with this collection. I must get my hands on a pair of these, Check it out.

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Tags: Fashion3 Comments

THE ROOTS – 75 BARS(BLACK RECONSTRUCTION)

February 29th, 2008 by
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[dailymotion x4jpvb]

One of my favorite groups The Roots is coming out with a new album called “Rising Down” on April 29th. They just released a video for a song called 75 Bars (Black Thoughts Reconstruction). The video is directed by Rik Cordero who also directed the “Blue Magic” video for Jay-Z. There is no chorus just Black Thought’s rhyme and ?uestlove’s bright snare and menacing bass line. Check it out and if you like it don’t forget to pick up their new album on premeiring April 29th.

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Saul Williams – The Invetible Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust

November 1st, 2007 by
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Saul Williams

Way back in high school is when I first got into Saul Williams; I’m not sure how, but at some point I got a hold of his first CD Amethyst Rock Star; I’m not going to lie it changed my life. Not really because of the subject matter, but because of the delivery. If you you’ve never heard Saul Williams before you are missing out on some serious stuff; he can transcend most mediums, he is a Writer, Musician, Poet, Actor. His last album self titled Saul Williams; was a reaction against the “gangster play” of both our country and popular music; songs like Grippo, Telegram to Hip-hop, African Student Movement all dealt with politics in this country and also and at times more importantly inner politics. At times it takes on some very heavy social matters but delivered in a way that you could bob your head to. Saul Williams is not just Hip-Hop, he transcends genres without even trying, the very nature of his art is the knowledge of self. His new and most ambitious album to date called The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Stardust is produced by both him and Trent Reznor. Take a look at the track listing and our probably going to be baffled (if the name of the album hasn’t already) if your not familiar I think it’s a play on The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust the seminal album by David Bowie. With songs like Tr(nigger), Raw, Skin of a Drum and Raised to be Lowered its definitely an intense album and a more focused one. The influence of Trent Reznor can be heard all over the place but the focus is still on Saul, his words never disappoint.

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Tags: Music1 Comment

M.I.A “Kala” Album Review

August 28th, 2007 by
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M.I.A

“Kala”

Interscope: 2007

When I first heard about M.I.A a couple years ago; I must say I automatically lumped her in with the emerging grime scene what was going on at the time. All of a sudden in late 2005 and early 2006 magazines started to get kids hip to this “new” scene out of the U.K; I was not impressed. The hype all over the internet was pretty much impossible to ignore, Pitchfork, Rollingstone, Fader all did stories on her and still I was unimpressed. Her First album Arular, named after her father a former Sri Lankan Tamil activist, was impressive for a person who just started “tinkering” with a cheap drum machine; it was a mixture of Hip hop, dance hall, electro-clash, Funk etc.. For me that was the genius of the record, the fact that she ignored the indie establishment and did exactly what she wanted to do.

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Interpol “Our Love to Admire” Album Review

July 29th, 2007 by
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Interpol
Our Love to Admire
Capital: 2007

Often when a band is in its infant stage, releases its first record and begins to gain recognition for its sound; they become attached or associated with that said style. In this case Interpol’s third record, Our Love to Admire, is an improvement of there old sound. Much to the bemoaning of some critics Interpol has signed to a major label (Capitol), and have added more instruments to there once static and stark mix. Thanks to bassist Carlos D, Interpol has added more cinematic style sound-scape’s to there already distinctly minimal sound.

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Gogol Bordello “Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike” Album Review

July 29th, 2007 by
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Gogol Bordello
Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike
Side One Dummy: 2005

After half watching live earth a few weeks ago I came across a strange performance which looked like Madonna fronting some kind of bizarre homeless gypsy band. After looking at a few comments about the clip on Youtube I realized it was a collaboration between Madonna and New York Based band Gogol Bordello. After checking out a few more clips I realized I had to get this album, although its actually two years old Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike still stands as one of the most bizarre albums I’ve heard in a while. Fronted my lead Singer Eugene Hutz, who looks like a cross between Freddy Mercury and David Bowie (circa Labyrinth); Mix an intense and sometimes comical stew of punk, traditional gypsy music, reggae, and various other musical forms.

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