Blackout! 2 - Method Man & Redman (2009)

Least Favorite: "Mrs. International" ft. Erick Sermon, "A-Yo" ft. Saukrates if only because I've heard it way too many times due to the automatic play feature of my iPhone that starts with the first song alphabetically every time it's plugged into my fm transmitter in my car


Favorite: "City Lights" ft. Bun B, "Dis Iz 4 All My Smokers", "Father's Day", Errbody Scream" ft. Keith Murray good to hear Keith Murray back at it - HARD!

Rainydayz remixes - AmpLive (of Zion-I)

Rainydayz remixes - AmpLive (of Zion-I) (2007)

after seeing AmpLive open for Blockhead and Signify a couple weeks back, I wanted to revist his remix project for Radiohead's "In Rainbows" album. His performance was unlike any other live production show I've seen. Rather than having his equipment flat on a table, he mounted his gear on a diagonal stand (like a music stand the length of a piano keyboard) so that the interfaces were angled toward the audience. He then leaned over toward the crowd to trigger his samples, etc. In this way, it was much more interactive and entertaining than watching the top of someone's head as they tap out drum patterns on an MPC for half an hour.

The album is a bit heavy on the stuttered kick drum thing for me but overall it's pretty solid. And it's interesting to hear rappers like Del & Too $hort backed by Radiohead.

Favorite: "All I Need", "Reckonerz" ft. Charli 2na

Bad Brains

Bad Brains - Bad Brains (1982)

I've never been big into punk. I appreciate it, I just couldn't ever really listen to it for long periods. But I appreciate that this album breaks it up a bit with some slower dub reggae.

Favorite: "I" "The Regulator"

Audition - P.O.S.

Audition by P.O.S. (2006)

clearly this album is a little uneven to me since I have almost as many least favorites as favorites. I've always liked P.O.S. since my Minneapolis friends Bitsy & Jamie put me up on his stuff back in '04, but sometimes he just doesn't do it for me. That being said, the good songs on this album are amazing.

Least Favorite: "Safety In Speed (Heavy Metal)" ft. Craig Finn, "Living Slightly Larger" ft. Mictlan, "Bleeding Hearts Club (Mpls Chapter)" ft. Slug

Favorite: "The Kill In Me" ft. Maggie, "P.O.S. Is Ruining My Life" "Stand Up (Let's Get Murdered)"

Antics - Interpol

Antics by Interpol (2004)

I like the music, but the lead singer's voice gets really monotonous over the length of the album.

Favorite: "Narc" "Slow Hands" "Length Of Love"

Of Cities - DJ Signify

Of Cities - DJ Signify (2009)

Signify gave me a copy of his latest album at his show with Blockhead the other week. I've listened to it quite a bit since then, but wasn't quite sure what to say about it. He told me it was his favorite thing he's done thus far. I asked him how long he spent making it, because I thought he'd been close to finishing an album the last time I saw him, 2 years ago! He told me that he had lost the whole thing in a ProTools failure and had to start over from scratch. I can only imagine the frustration that comes with that.

Apparently, this one's been out since January on the incomparable Bully Records. Shows just how out of the loop I've become in the past few years.

I do enjoy this album. It's delicately layered but still hard-hitting. The only vocal appearances are provided by Aesop Rock (on "Low Tide" and "Sink Or Swim"). They provide a nice contrast to the otherwise totally instrumental album.

Favorite: "1993" "Costume Kids"