Lame visual, but just listen.

New Animal Collective EP!!

Cyclists beware, the world is out to get us.

So it sounds like a couple people died in 'bicycle-related accidents' in October here in Philly. In all of the reports and news stories I've read about the subsequent bill these idiots are proposing, City Councilmen Frank DiCicco and Jim Kenney, there've been no details about these deaths. Were the people killed drunk and homeless, maybe? Did they jump in front of a cyclist? Nope. They leave us to imagine some malicious fixed-gear hipster careening through red lights.

There's a lot of bicycle hate in cities, Philly especially. No matter where you live, cars dominate. And cyclists are seen as threats to their total monopolization of the road. These councilmen want to up fines for riding on sidewalks ($10) and riding with headphones on ($3) to $300 each. That's a lot of money. I try to never ride on sidewalks. I try to ride the wrong way on one way streets only until the next street where I am a lawful and cautious biker all the way home. I often ride with one iPod bud in my right ear that plays softly so that I can still be very aware of my surroundings. I know that some people are vehemently against this, but I trust myself and I've been riding a bike in metropolitan areas for over five years now.

Oh, and it sounds like people ride bikes without brakes? Or take them off? They're proposing a $1,000 fine for that. Or a forfeiture of your bike.

They want us to register our bikes and get some kind of plates. Plates on bikes! It's a funny thought. It's also a horrendous bureaucratic nightmare that no one is prepared for. With hundreds of thousands of cyclists in Philly, it seems completely insane.

What do you think?

Does this excite you?

This movie cost about $500000000 billion dollars to make, I'm pretty sure.

The Slew - 100%

Kid Koala and Dynomite D spin ’70s grunge rock into turntable gold

In 1996, DJ Shadow dumped a bucket of freezing cold water over the shoulders of hip hop with a record of turntablism for the ages. Entroducing… changed the game. We may have been slapped in the face by the Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique, Afrika Bambaataa, Kraftwerk or even De La Soul, but pure sampling and scratching had never sounded this funky. Chinese-Canadian Eric San is the scratch-master behind Kid Koala and half of the brains behind his brand new project The Slew. What Shadow did, San took to a similarly scratched and pasted place in 2000 with Kid Koala’s brilliant Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Seven years later, he and Dylan Frombach (aka Dynomite D) were asked to soundtrack a documentary about the Seattle psychedelic blues rock band by the same name. They were so inspired by their recording sessions with the legendary Mario Caldato Jr. that they are taking The Slew and running with it on 100%.

100% is a Seattle-inspired grunge record made from turntables and it’s going to blow people’s minds. They’ve assembled a dynamic backing band to accompany the recordings live. Former Wolfmother percussionist and bassist/keysman, Myles Heskett and Chris Ross, are set to provide stage support behind six turntables manned by San and Frombach themselves. Wolfmother’s ’70s love gels nicely with the dirty, grungy, bluesy rock that gushes forth from tracks like “Shackled Soul” and “Robbing Banks.” What Koala perfected by tweaking single notes of horns on tracks like “Skanky Panky” and “Drunk Trumpet,” he’s doing here with dramatic, glammed out guitar chords and feedback.

From the first rock howls and heavy guitar sludge of album opener “100%” to the deeply groovy finale of “Battle of Heaven and Hell,” The Slew are close to outperforming contemporaries like Cut Chemist, Dan the Automator and Danger Doom. Only whereas some DJs are looking around the next corner for inspiration or recycling old soul sounds and hip hop ground-breakers, Kid Koala and Dynomite D have found something in an obscure Seattle psych rock band. Using primarily looped spoken bits, shouts, beats and riffs that were transferred to vinyl, scratchable 33 1/3s, they’ve accomplished something so rich, complex and funky that their live show will be undoubtedly sweaty and head-bobbing.



The Real Deal.

30 Second Reviews from 11/24

Various Artists
5: Five Years of Hyperdub
SOUNDS LIKE: A collection and mission statement from London dub label; floaty, eerie rhythms to trip you out
FREE ASSOCIATION: A sick introduction to The Bug, Zomby, Burial, Darkstar and Code9
FOR FANS OF: Massive Attack, wordless Portishead, blunts

Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures
SOUNDS LIKE: The Dave Grohl/Josh Homme/John Paul Jones supergroup drops a beauty of chunky garage blues
FREE ASSOCIATION: It really is like a Zep, Foo and Queens a Stone Age record all in one!
FOR FANS OF: Mustachioed lip pursing, "Scumbag Blues"

The Clientele
Bonfires of the Heath
SOUNDS LIKE: A pop masterpiece of super-British dreamy arrangements from start to finish; brilliant breezy/peppy tunes
FREE ASSOCIATION: Like Belle & Sebastian with balls and fighting anyone who wants some
FOR FANS OF: Camera Obscura, modern Byrds

Pylon
Chomp (More)
SOUNDS LIKE: DFA re-issue of 2nd and best LP of influential angular, industrial rock from early '80s Athens, GA
FREE ASSOCIATION: A short-lived run overshadowed by The B-52s and R.E.M. - bullshit
FOR FANS OF: Karen O sings for Gang of Four

Person L
The Positives
SOUNDS LIKE: PA boy Ken Vasoli, bass/pipes of The Starting Line, births an earnest, thumping indie rock record
FREE ASSOCIATION: No work of genius, just a solidly passionate and foot-tapping LP
FOR FANS OF: Andrew Bird, Ryan Adams, Jason Collett

We Are The Willows
A Collection of Sounds and Something Like the Plague
SOUNDS LIKE: Sad bastard Minnesotan strums his guitar and ukelele while whisper singing his angst over found noises
FREE ASSOCIATION: Everything that bothers us about Neutral Milk and Decemberists together
FOR FANS OF: Bon Iver on helium, Death Vessel

Real Estate
Real Estate
SOUNDS LIKE: Slouchy and lazy surf rock debut from Jersey is soaring instrumentals, soft drums and joy
FREE ASSOCIATION: Jersey is responsible for this? List it under the Boss and vegetables
FOR FANS OF: Feelies, Ducktails, suburban cruises

Sting
If On a Winter's Night...
SOUNDS LIKE: Lullabies, carols, madrigals and originals performed dreadfully by an aging hippie who loves Christmas
FREE ASSOCIATION: Listen to "Soul Cake" without laughing; SO FAR from his Police days
FOR FANS OF: Michael Buble, Celine Dion, Elton John


CHARTICLES ARE FUN!

30 Second Reviews from 11/17

Mayer Hawthorne
A Strange Arrangement
SOUNDS LIKE: White soul goes for the gusto and nails it with ".. Work Out" but hits bedroom disco for most of the rest
FREE ASSOCIATION: Sometimes it feels like gems from the '50s, then it feels like '70s garbage
FOR FANS OF: Robin Thicke, Tom Jones, Mark Ronson

Pink Martini
Splendor in the Grass
SOUNDS LIKE: The lil' orchestra that could from Portland tones it down for a languid collection of international ballads
FREE ASSOCIATION: These songs could be plucked from the '20s and played at weddings
FOR FANS OF: Franz Schubert, the Jazz Age, Chicago

Asobi Seksu
Rewolf
SOUNDS LIKE: NY dream-pop practitioners deliver an acoustic rendering of songs that shouldn't be acoustically rendered
FREE ASSOCIATION: No matter it's recorded at Olympic Studios, too much of that voice
FOR FANS OF: Deerhoof, brutal Blonde Redhead

Taylor Hollingsworth
Life With a Slow Ear
SOUNDS LIKE: A hired hand for Conor's Mystic Valley Band, the guitarist's solo is a romping Alabama foot-stomper
FREE ASSOCIATION: You can play them strings, but singin' ain't your thing, someone help
FOR FANS OF: Dodos, Dylan, countrified blues

Norah Jones
The Fall
SOUNDS LIKE: She's finally left behind her schmaltzy piano girl act with a decent modern record that isn't a snoozefest
FREE ASSOCIATION: This is a long way from Come Away With Me and that's a good thing
FOR FANS OF: Aimee Mann, Melody Gardot, Diana Krall

Dark Meat
Truce Opium
SOUNDS LIKE: Athens, GA supergroup throws all kinds of horns, tambourines, sounds and psychedelia together
FREE ASSOCIATION: Exploding hearts and minds simultaneously with walls of sound
FOR FANS OF: Deerhunter, Phenomenal Handclap Band, indulgence

Robbie Williams
Reality Killed the Video Star
SOUNDS LIKE: The ego has landed again, and this time there's one catchy single ("Bodies") and a bunch of bollocks
FREE ASSOCIATION: Stick with pop jams, these ballads make you sound like Hedwig
FOR FANS OF: James Blunt, Boyzone, Take That

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Live
SOUNDS LIKE: San Fran-bred friends' fifth release is a greatest hits harvested from some stellar European live sets
FREE ASSOCIATION: A nice introduction to BRMC and a good sign for the future
FOR FANS OF: Yeahs x 3, Brian Jonestown, Velvet Underground


BIG CHARTICLE!

"Hooting and Howling" by the Wild Beasts

Love this band.

Murals story!

Philadelphia Murals

*Note: This is a story that has run in Charit'ee Magazine and this is the unedited version. The published version is not cut and pasteable. I'm throwing up a picture of my choosing, as well. The published version is beautifully accompanied by all kinds of art.

When I moved to South Philadelphia from Brooklyn last November, I started riding my bike to work in Center City almost everyday through the Italian Market along South 9th Street. Just before you hit Christian Street, sliding between cars and vendors selling fresh produce, you can't help but notice a massive mural of Frank Rizzo on the western side of the street. It's mostly just his face; a face that for many Philadelphians is unforgettable. He rose through the ranks of the Philadelphia Police Department starting in the 1940s to Police Commissioner in 1967-'71. On August 31, 1970, Rizzo's police officers raided the Black Panther Party's headquarters, days after the Panthers declared a war on Police Officers, and stripped members publicly in front of cameras. He also promoted and protected a lot of African American officers, 20% of his force in 1968, when race riots ripped apart L.A. and Detroit, but not Philly. Rizzo means a lot of things to a lot of Philly lifers, good and bad - he was just a big white face on the side of a wall to me until I started looking at the work of the Mural Arts Project (MAP). MAP is the driving force behind over 2,000 murals that cover buildings, roofs, houses and parking lots across the City of Brotherly Love.

The Rizzo memorial is mentionable because of the fact that the thousands of murals that decorate the city have a story behind them. There has been months and months of preparation, design and sometimes community-involvement, thousands of dollars, pounds of materials and hours of labor poured into every massive piece of public art. Philadelphians can even live and work in a neighborhood for months and years before they take the time to look 360 degrees around them and take in all the murals that blanket the exposed facades of buildings.

Arnetta is a legendary fixture at the front desk of Philadelphia Weekly. She's a wonderful black woman who loves her grandchildren and knows her Philly. I told her I was writing about murals and her face lit up. She has two favorites, both by Meg Saligman, "Common Threads" at Broad and Spring Garden and "The Theatre of Life" at Broad and Lombard. When I rode my bike down Spring Garden toward Broad Street I was facing the west when I saw the huge pairs of eyes that cover its main entrance and along its side. I dismounted, took some pictures and then I turned around. There it was, eight stories tall facing Broad Street from the east in front of a vacant barb-wire-topped parking lot - "Common Threads." A mix of modern imagery and antiquated, classical imagery, most everyone in some kind of pose or performance. It was one of the first murals, perhaps in part due to its size, location and level of sophistication, that turned murals into a respectful and welcome presence in Philly.

"'Common Threads' is probably our most recognizable," says Ryan Derfler, director of tours for MAP. "Jane [Golden, founder and director of MAP] likes to say that that was the one that really changed people's minds about murals." Derfler has been expanding MAP's tour programs since he took the position in October. There are the standard tours in antique trolleys with an experienced mural expert exposing riders to the history and significance of murals by neighborhood. The tours are in rotation by neighborhood: North Philly, West Philly, South Philly, and Center City. And, as Ryan explains, by touring murals you tour Philly's neighborhoods.

"In South Philly you see Frank Sinatra, Mario Lanza, Frank Rizzo," says Derfler. "You can look at the murals and see what's important to them. You go to North Philly and see Mexican nationals, the rainforest in Puerto Rico, they're really colorful. So a tour is really like getting to know each neighborhood" These murals are defined by and define neighborhoods. "You go to West Philly and you see the Will Smith mural, the Patta LaBelle mural. They were real proud of these people and they want to see them on a wall," he adds. Murals are about bringing art to the people, something muralists find particularly appealing, sometimes enough to leave the gallery completely behind.

"I enjoyed the inclusiveness of making art in a public space," says Eric Okdeh, a prominent muralist in Philadelphia and part of the winning design team behind one of MAP's big summer projects called This We Believe. "It's collaboration and community involvement and bringing art to the people." One of his biggest achievements is a mural at the site of the Elwyn Institute's Philadelphia branch on 41st and Market Streets in West Philly. Working with six different behavioral health organizations in Philly, Okdeh got nearly 200 people involved in the process: placing stained glass to form a sunflower, painting by number, and posing for photographs.

"The unfortunate part about mural-making is that you only see the mural," Okdeh adds. "You don't see the months of working with community." West Philadelphians living along the Elevated ('El') Train, the Market-Frankford line, have begun working with MAP and a former Philly resident, Steve Powers on another big project culminating this August called Love Letters. Powers was a graffiti artist at the age of 15, growing up in Philly and tagging his ESPO signature all over the city. MAP and Powers have begun speaking with residents about a project that will paint over rooftops and higher floors of buildings to create a love story between a young boy and girl riding the train. The story will unfold for train riders as they head west from 46th to 63rd Street and back east again.

Philadelphia is one-of-a-kind, being covered in murals. Jessica Kroboth, a dancer for a Philly company called Archdream for Humankind, just returned to Philly after a national tour and realized what an asset our murals are: "Chicago and L.A. had a few murals, but nothing like they are here. Philly is just unbelievable like that." With over 2,800 murals and probably closer to 3,000 by the end of the year, this MAP's 25th Anniversary, there are more murals than one resident could possibly see in a day, a month, a year. It's something that unravels for Philadelphians over time.

Not so nice review of Coheed and Cambria on MxDwn.com - jus' bein' real.

Coheed and Cambria – Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow

(Emo + Metal x Butt Rock)/Prog Rock = Just Too Much

Coheed and Cambria are to rock music as Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts are to the gaming community. Nerdy and weird, they’re a little over the top but not in a brazen, flashy kind of way. They’re more so in a no-haircuts, disgustingly decorated bedroom kind of way. The title of this record, their final piece of a prog-rock opera, is a mouthful: Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow. Only Coheed and Cambria fans can appreciate this dramatically epic rock opus.

These boys dwell in dangerous territory, mixing some tough genres to get into, namely prog rock, metal, emo, pop and punk. Pop/punk artisans are regularly booed by all with taste (Sum 41, Fall Out Boy, etc.). Prog rock had its heyday with Rush and Queensryche and the power pop of Queen echoing in Good Apollo had its moment in the ’70s. So how can a band successfully fold these elements into a late ’00s rock record? These Nyack, NY boys give it their all.

Claudio Sanchez, the group’s primary set of pipes, often channels Rush’s Geddy Lee with his high-pitched, warble-y vocals. Unfortunately, he also ends up sounding like an amped-up Rob Thomas. Singles and standouts are apparent: “The Hound (Of Blood and Rank),” “Feathers” and “The Running Free,” are tolerable but forgettable.

The dueling lead guitars, thundering synths, shrill singing and head banging pace are all just a little too much. It’s hard to wrap your head around everything you’re hearing, which is similar to the content. If you haven’t heard previous records in this cycle, you wouldn’t know that this record is about “family, homicide and apocalypse.” You can’t really decipher this from lyrical delivery or song titles either. The last five tracks are a ridiculous series of “The End Complete I – V: The Fall of House Atlantic, Radio Bye Bye, The End Complete, The Road and the Damned, and On the Brink.” No one marvels over rock operas anymore. The Who did it best with Tommy forty years ago. We want singles and records that are cohesive, not records that require listening to four other records and reading the liner notes just to get what’s going on.

Good Apollo is not completely devoid of clarity, but like the dark and stormy skies Coheed and Cambria seem to anticipate, it kind of ruins the day.

THE REAL DEAL.

HOORAY! A Week's Worst!

There’s nothing more exciting than watching two hipster dudes in hoodies bop and groove like deranged pigeons to their own self-gratifying noise while shyly peaking out behind unkempt bangs. Because, really, who needs perfectly played pop? Or head-bobbing hip-hop. What we need now is louder-than-necessary noise derived from too-cool kids tweaking knobs and turning dials in a box full of pedals. Fuck Buttons fit the bill. Their post-postness and scratchy, screechy assault of synths and percussion hypnotize. They do away with all the old rules, and have made their own. Like this one: Songs should be 10 to 12 minutes long, and they should be unlistenable. That’s why Pitchfork, NME, Mojo, Uncut and more have given them solid hand jobs. If you don’t get it, you’re a moron. A moron with taste. 


Tues., Nov. 3rd, 8pm. $10. With Growing. Kung Fu Necktie, 1248 N. Front St. 215.291.4919. 
kungfunecktie.com

THE REAL THING!

30 Second Reviews from 11/3

The Mountain Goats
The Life of the World to Come
SOUNDS LIKE: John Darnielle loves the bible but not really God, he's stopped whining/yelping and it's beautiful
FREE ASSOCIATION: A lil' Alt-Christian but he also chants the Crishna and won't preach
FOR FANS OF: Old R.E.M., indie folk, fables

The Very Best
Warm Heart of Africa
SOUNDS LIKE: Really real African electro-pop despite the presence of Ezra Koenig and M.I.A.; it's in Swahili/Portuguese!
FREE ASSOCIATION: If World music is a dangerous disease, this is the antidote
FOR FANS OF: Blk Jks, Vampy Weekend, internationalism

Pelican
What We All Come to Need
SOUNDS LIKE: Instrumental post-rock practitioners who make rad noisy droney epic songs of rhythm, guitar and bass
FREE ASSOCIATION: Most instrumental rock is too boring; this makes you tap n' move
FOR FANS OF: Isis, Neurosis, Tool

Dead Man's Bones
Dead Man's Bones
SOUNDS LIKE: Dreamy Ryan Gosling's dark folk project using an LA kids choir with ghostly themes right before Halloween!
FREE ASSOCIATION: Most actor bands are a joke, this is a well-done and pleasant surprise
FOR FANS OF: Arcade Fire, The Notebook, Half Nelson

Baroness
Blue Record
SOUNDS LIKE: Second LP of sludgy, melodic metal from Georgia boys who like indie rock more than other men of metal
FREE ASSOCIATION: Not sure why more metalists don't use soft and lovely interludes like this
FOR FANS OF: Mastadon, Sunny Day Real Estate, beards

BK-One with Benzilla
Radio Do Canibal
SOUNDS LIKE: Ridonculous slew of guests, mainstream to underground, on Brother Ali's DJ and Twin Cities MC Benzilla's mixtape
FREE ASSOCIATION: Oh snap, Black Thought's "Philly Boy" is smooth as silk
FOR FANS OF: Ol' school Outkast, melodic smart hip hop

Simian Mobile Disco
Temporary Pleasure
SOUNDS LIKE: Brit beat producers' second proper LP with some serious guests; electro with some depth n' hooks
FREE ASSOCIATION: Beth Ditto? Check. Jamie Lidell, cool. Alexis Taylor from Hot Chip? SICK.
FOR FANS OF: LCD Soundsystem, Hercules & Love Affair, ecstasy

Neon Indian
Psychic Chasms
SOUNDS LIKE: Delicious pop pastiche of nostalgia for an era us kids barely remember but love to reproduce
FREE ASSOCIATION: Synths and blurry vocals times cut and paste plus bedroom disco
FOR FANS OF: Empire of the Sun, MGMT, Air France

LOOK AT MY CHARTICLE!

30 Second Reviews from 10/28

Sufjan Stevens
The BQE
SOUNDS LIKE: Sufjan has freakin' lost us with this one; a big, complex, brainy orchestral tribute to the NY freeway
FREE ASSOCIATION: Dude, give us another state record for Chrissakes
FOR FANS OF: The orchestra, the philharmonic, driving

Alec Ounsworth
Mo Beauty
SOUNDS LIKE: Clap Your Hands frontman/warbler teams up with a brass band for a New Orleans-influenced solo project
FREE ASSOCIATION: "South Philadelphia (Drug Days)"? This song totally effing rules!
FOR FANS OF: CYHSY, Antony & the Johnsons, Bjork

Atlas Sound
Logos
SOUNDS LIKE: Deerhunter frontman genius' beautiful mess of fuzzy rock includes a kickass collab with Noah Lennox
FREE ASSOCIATION: Keep up the lanky weirdness, Cox, especially if it yields this gem
FOR FANS OF: Animal Collective, Deerhunter, joy

Lightning Bolt
Earthly Delights
SOUNDS LIKE: RI boys' fifth is a post-rock thrasher of balls-to-the-wall drums, guitar, reverb, energy and sparse vocals
FREE ASSOCIATION: Warning - this record may induce welcome rock seizures
FOR FANS OF: Black Dice, Japanther, volume

Kings of Convenience
Declaration of Dependence
SOUNDS LIKE: The Norwegian whisper-rockers' third album is another simple, strummy, slightly hokey indie folk masterpiece
FREE ASSOCIATION: The only percussion is guitar slapping, so hushed it is
FOR FANS OF: Belle & Sebastian kissing Simon & Garfunkel

Doveman
The Conformist
SOUNDS LIKE: NYU dropout and piano man's whispery and sorta-sad record of indie rock with superstar supporting guests
FREE ASSOCIATION: What? Speak up, can't hear you. Oh, you're said and artsy, got it.
FOR FANS OF: Sufjan Stevens, Chris Garneau

Brother Ali
Us
SOUNDS LIKE: The Twin Cities Albino maverick's sophomore is a soulful, intelligent and damn smooth hip hop record
FREE ASSOCIATION: Inspired by classics like KRS-One and Rakim and it shows
FOR FANS OF: Atmosphere, Cee-Lo, Blackalicious

Brooke Waggoner
Go Easy Little Doves
SOUNDS LIKE: Sophomore from Nashville's classically-trained pianist plus orchestrated help of woodwinds and strings
FREE ASSOCIATION: That pretty voice doesn't disguise the fact that this record is 'Faith-inspired'
FOR FANS OF: Christian Cat Power, Regina Spektor

A REAL LINK!

30 Second Reviews from 10/21

Grand Archives
Keep In Mind Frankenstein
SOUNDS LIKE: Carissa's Weird gave us Band of Horses, now Mat Brooke's baby is a Sub Pop gem of pretty alt-country folk rock
FREE ASSOCIATION: These records make us want to move to WA state. Rain? Whatever.
FOR FANS OF: B of H, CSNY, Fleet Foxes

Raekwon
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II
SOUNDS LIKE: One of Wu's alum follows up his '95 Cuban Linx with dankness: nutzo guests, production, rhymes and swagger
FREE ASSOCIATION: Cruisin' on the B.Q.E. with blunts, drenched in ice and packin' heat
FOR FANS OF: RZA, Method Man, Cappadonna, O.D.B.

Chuck Prophet
¡Let Freedom Ring!
SOUNDS LIKE: SoCal veteran's still goin' strong; lo-fi countrified folk rock 20 years after his debut and he's aging well
FREE ASSOCIATION: Sure, Americana can be a tiresome tag to avoid, this has got heart
FOR FANS OF: Tom Petty x Lyle Lovett

The Pantones
Inside The Sun's Wild Flame
SOUNDS LIKE: It could be from Nashville but comes from Michigan with lush arrangements: steel guitar, horns, organs
FREE ASSOCIATION: Solidly earnest Americana with dabs of country and folk
FOR FANS OF: The Band, not garbage country

The Temper Trap
Conditions
SOUNDS LIKE: Strong debut of Aussie rockers well-produced by UK's Jim Abiss (Arctic Monkeys); pop rock that will fill arenas
FREE ASSOCIATION: Amazing how a band can be influenced by U2 and not totally blow
FOR FANS OF: Early Coldplay, fun Arcade Fire

The Elms
The Great American Midrange
SOUNDS LIKE: Indiana Christians' fifth, a follow-up to Chess Hotel, is good for Religiorock but it's cheesy and dreadful
FREE ASSOCIATION: You should hear this song "County Fair," hilariously terrible
FOR FANS OF: Jonas Brothers + John Mellencamp

Anti-Pop Consortium
Fluorescent Black
SOUNDS LIKE: Underground hip-hop foursome (Beans, High Priest, M. Sayyid, Earl Blaize); smart, ambient, artsy beats
FREE ASSOCIATION: Love it when smart lyricsts and beat-makers take it to a higher level
FOR FANS OF: Dr. Octagon, El-P, glitchy Madvillain

Manassas
Pieces
SOUNDS LIKE: Born from Stephen Stills' solo stuff, their third is their first in 36 years; exactly like a CSN album but less charming
FREE ASSOCIATION: Somebody get this man the internet; only old people are listenin'
FOR FANS OF: Deja Vu, Woodstock, protest songs

CHECK OUT THE REAL CHARTICLE!