Holiday Shores, “Your Motion Says” (Arthur Russell Cover) MP3
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
This is not an invitation for every band to cover the immensely coverable Arthur Russell, but we will say that the majority of reworks we’ve heard lately have been pretty solid. Next in line is Holiday Shores‘ cover of “Your Motion Says,” which actually benefits from the fact that it originally came from a super limited cassette. Tape hiss is prevalent, it’s intimate and sparse and singer Nathan Pemberton turns Russell’s hushed vocal quiver into an imperfect gauzy moan. Catch the band on tour and pick up Through the Thin Cloud if they still have them and if you still have a tape player.
(via RCRD LBL)
Alley Boy f. Pill, Yung Ralph & Big Bank Black, “Heavy in the Street” MP3
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
This is a little too full-bodied to be an actual snap song, but Big Bank Black’s growl-sung chorus is giving us crazy visions of when it looked like Fabo was going to ride the funk wave to argyle-socked superstardom (we can still hope). Plus you also get Alley Boy nimbly bouncing over the track, Pill channeling Killer Mike and Yung Ralph fast-rapping and showing some I’m-not-just-Gucci’s-weed-carrier chops.
Download: Alley Boy f. Pill, Yung Ralph & Big Bank Black, “Heavy in the Street” (via BLVD ST)
Kevin Greenspon, “Softened” + Two More MP3s
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
Since we sent Dee Dee of Mayfair Set/Dum Dum Girls to talk to bands all over the California coast for a story in FADER 62, you’ve probably been wondering what’s up with the dudes at Family Time Records. If your initial thought was, not much is up with the dudes at Family Time Records, you’d be wrong but forgiven because they’ve been steadily cranking out releases to little fanfare. And surprise, surprise! In the midst of all our sleeping on Family Time, they’ve released some jams from Kevin Greenspon, head of Bridgetown Records, who is releasing a Cloud Nothings CD-R. Should we be making a map of this? We’re already getting confused. Although we’re posting them on Thursday, the best look would be to save these pieces of pillowy guitar washed bedroom pop for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Download: Kevin Greenspon, “Softened”
Download: Kevin Greenspon, “Sundowner Lane”
Download: Kevin Greenspon, “Reveille” (all three via Get Off the Coast)
Video: Several Dudes from Minnesota Rapping
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
At first it was like, The last thing we need in our lives is a six-minute posse cut featuring a grip of rappers we’ve mostly never heard of, but it turns out that is exactly what we never knew we wanted. Every dude on this song raps like this is his big moment, and maybe it is. Maybe Minnesota can be the next Philadelphia (or maybe it already is and we don’t know?), turning out rappers that get us excited about the entire concept of “lyricism” without sounding boring. (via Cocaine Blunts)
Premiere: Weekend, “Youth Haunts” MP3
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
Weekend’s “Youth Haunts” is what happens if No Age traded in good vibes and instead got real angry from the depths of a muffled cavern. It’s about four minutes of build up, windy moans and plodding drums giving way to a balls to the wall freakout as the whole song collapses on itself. Kinda like watching a dog get exhausted chasing its own tail, but, you know, in a good way. “Youth Haunts” is from Weekend’s upcoming 10-inch on Mexican Summer.
Download: Weekend, “Youth Haunts”
G-Side, Huntsville International Mixtape
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
After spending a couple days in Huntsville, Alabama, a couple years ago, we discovered that their music scene is even larger than we could have anticipated. As the artists began to get some shine, an entire secret rap history emerged, and we get the impression we’re only now scratching the surface of its scene. Huntsville International is the next move forward forG-Side, the Block Beataz and other assorted rappers making local names for themselves. The album showcases the rappers’ versatility, as well as shedding light on the Block Beataz’s ability to incorporate cheesed-out trance in a beat (see also: “Rollin“) without it seeming like an empty cash grab.
Download: G-Side,Huntsville International
Video: Bushwick Bill, “Testimony of Redemption”
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
In the scheme of things, this isn’t one of Bushwick Bill’s best songs. Not even close. Instead it works as a primer to those who might not know what his deal is (there is a lot to recap). If we’re judging it by that, it’s pretty good. If we’re judging it by the final scenes, in which Bill is giving a motivational speech flanked by KRS One and Lil Wayne, then it is great and maybe also confusing. When did this happen? Where were we? Can we come next time?
Harlem, “Sometimes” MP3
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
Harlem’s “Sometimes” wins our new “Cover of the Month” award, a song which was originally by Gene Thomas, then Paul Revere and the Raiders, then The Kingsmen, before finally landing at the Flamin’ Groovies version. Okay! Harlem changed this from a pretty sweet love song into something darker, just by virtue of being so messy and sloppy it seems the band barely held it together long enough to actually record it. At some point, hopefully soon, Harlem will be releasing a new album on Matador.
Download: Harlem, “Sometimes”
Video Premiere: Dragon Turtle, “Island of Broken Glass”
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
Terrible band name aside (sorry dudes! If we saw a real Dragon Turtle we’d probably be pretty psyched though), Dragon Turtle’s “Island of Broken Glass” works because even as it’s going balls to the wall and throwing all sorts of guitar lines everywhere, those hand drums keep everything centered and in control. It’s a full-on downer jam, but with studied restraint. While making this video, the duo decided they’d burn the organs they used to record their album, Almanac, signifying a fresh start and also signifying that making a big fire is really fun.
Stream: That Ghost, Get It And Get Out EP
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
We have a tendency to gravitate towards music that promotes good vibes, good times and feeling complete or whole and content. It’s not that we aren’t listening to downer music, because we are, it’s just that it’s nice to spread the love around, you know? For right now, or at least for the duration of this EP, we’re saying fuck good vibes because That Ghost’s digital only EP Get It And Get Out is seven songs of pure sneer. It’s like Ryan Schmale (aka the only dude in That Ghost) has been saving up every bitter thought and every drunken rant for this EP, spitting it back at us through a wall of grit and surprisingly catchy melodies.
Stream: That Ghost Get It And Get Out EP
