Still Rising… De La Soul – Ascension Into Hip-Hop History

December 7, 2015

As a kid, Kelvin Mercer (Posdnuos) would overhear his older brothers talking about cassettes featuring rhyming on them. Unbeknownst to him, he was hearing the emerging culture of hip-hop; artists like Cold Crush Brothers, Fantastic Romantic 5 and Afrika Bambaataa. This was the ‘80s, when hip-hop was new and exciting, especially to young, curious kids.

Continue reading

Top Tunes Thursday: Will Butler — Policy

December 3, 2015

As the year comes to a close, all us music geeks can finally start openly discussing the “best of” lists that have been taking up valuable storage in our brains. Best EP’s, best albums, best singles, best artists; From the months of October to January, the inside of your average music junkie’s brain is a tiny imaginary Grammy’s, rewarding and unrewarding as new albums put their name on the ballot. This week on TTT, I take a look back at one of my favorite records of the year, one which almost definitely appear on my own year end list (the official laminated one that I show people). The record is Policy, by Will Butler.

Continue reading

Album Review: Fuzz – II

December 2, 2015

If you’re a regular reader of our Top Tunes Thursday column, then you’ve heard me talking about my adoration for the side project. Low professional and high personal stakes make for an amicable environment for most artists, feeling the chains of “keeping food on the table” slip away.

Continue reading