EdanHere's some new stuff I've been listening in 2009. As far as hip hop goes there weren't many interesting records. There weren't any great records really, just a couple of solid ones. I haven't followed new stuff from other genres as much. Pretty much just new releases from my old favourites or random acclaimed record here and there.
Themselves - Crownsdown, The Freehoudini Mixtape
Dose One and Jel decided to get back to basics with their material in 2009. Though 'going back to basics' doesn't tell us much coming from these two. I can't say these two records sound like their earlier ones. More like version of their influences i.e. classic rap records from late 80s/early 90s. Dose is in fast rap mode here with occasional singing and all that other stuff he does. Jel is bringing in dope drums as usual. The mixtape came first as sort of an intro to the LP, giving an idea of the sound we're gonna hear on the official album. They've used the opportunity to invite all their past collaborators from the hip hop field to join in. Everyone one of them came correct on this mixtape, particularly Aesop Rock and Sole. While the mixtape is great in it's on right it's all about the album though. For me it's the best album of the year. In just 10 songs Dose and Jel show us pure skill in their respective field. No filler on this record. My favourite song is 'Skinning the Drum' which is an all fashioned ode to the dj/producer. Best parts come on when Jel cuts up classic breaks like Apache, Cold Sweat etc.
Cage - Depart From Me
This is the worst Cage record out of all his solo full length ones, but all in all it's
pretty solid. Cage consciously dumbed down his lyrics and went for catchy and chorus heavy songs. He succeeded in that department since I played this record a lot when it came out. Still, once you go bellow the surface of the record there's not much there. Rehashed subject matter from previous albums, few fun Suicidal Tendencies inspired songs and a couple of truly good songs. The album opener Nothing Left To Say is the obvious highlight and my favourite song of the year. It stands as yet another great collaboration between Cage and El-P, and deserves it's place amongst Cage's greatest songs. I Found My Mind In Connecticut and Eating It's Way out of me also deserve mention, but ultimately there's not enough material of that caliber on this record that can elevate it to a greater status. No lyrics and substance, no replay value. Simple as that.
Lightning Bolt - Earthly Delights
Lightning Bolt rules. How these guys menage to always stay fresh playing the way they play is beyond me. This is a bit more structured than previous efforts, but still anarchic enough.
Hudson Mohawke - Butter
A new guy in wonky-glitchy-instrumental-what-ever-the-fuck genre, Hudson Mohawke came up with a pretty interesting record. It's weird, but it's poppy. What I like about it is that he actually worked on making individual songs, and not 1-2 minute instrumental mood music that is prevalent with other illegitimate children of Madlib and J-Dilla doing this kind of stuff nowadays.
FELT (Slug & Murs) - Felt 3 (A Tribute To Rosie Perez)
This album should be called Felt 3 (A Tribute To Aesop Rock Cause He Made Such Great Beats That Make Us Tolerable To Listen To).
King Cannibal - Let The Night Roar
I can't say much about this album except that it's completely awesome. Also, very dark. There's probably some micro-genre that this stuff belongs to, but I'm too lazy to get informed about that.
The Dead Weather - Horehound
The Dead Weather is another one of Jack White's project. This record proved to be much more enjoyable than The Raconteurs albums. Treat Me Like Your Mother is the best track.
Blakroc - s/t
The Black Keys collaborating with hip hop artists didn't sound like a much of an idea when it was first revealed. I bet I'm not the only one surprised with the results. They came with pretty potent stuff here, a perfect balance between rock instrumentation and hip hop. It kind of reminds me of DJ Muggs or RZA production from the 90s. Who knew that blues rock musicians could come up with one of the most hardcore hip hop records of the year. Kudos to them.
Edan - Echo Party
Edan is the shit. Beauty and The Beat is easily one of the best hip hop albums of the last decade. Too bad he releases stuff so rarely. This time instead of a full length album we get this mix. With his psychedelic b-boy sound it's what we come to expect from him, so there's nothing mind-blowing here. Playing weird instruments over breaks and songs sounded more radical on paper than it actually is. Still I can't complain about this mix, it's fairly enjoyable. Now all he needs to do is to make another classic record.
P.O.S. - Never Better
Before Blakroc and Cage records, P.O.S. was the first guy this year to mix rap and rock the right way. Compared to his last album this is much more cohesive and ultimately a better record. On the downside there's not a single song that can compete with the highlights from 'Audition'.
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
Good indie rock album. My music knowledge tells me they based their whole style on a track 'Long Long Long' by The Beatles. I'm obviously wrong and showing off, but I got nothing else to say about them and the album.
Themselves - Crownsdown, The Freehoudini Mixtape
Dose One and Jel decided to get back to basics with their material in 2009. Though 'going back to basics' doesn't tell us much coming from these two. I can't say these two records sound like their earlier ones. More like version of their influences i.e. classic rap records from late 80s/early 90s. Dose is in fast rap mode here with occasional singing and all that other stuff he does. Jel is bringing in dope drums as usual. The mixtape came first as sort of an intro to the LP, giving an idea of the sound we're gonna hear on the official album. They've used the opportunity to invite all their past collaborators from the hip hop field to join in. Everyone one of them came correct on this mixtape, particularly Aesop Rock and Sole. While the mixtape is great in it's on right it's all about the album though. For me it's the best album of the year. In just 10 songs Dose and Jel show us pure skill in their respective field. No filler on this record. My favourite song is 'Skinning the Drum' which is an all fashioned ode to the dj/producer. Best parts come on when Jel cuts up classic breaks like Apache, Cold Sweat etc.
Cage - Depart From Me
This is the worst Cage record out of all his solo full length ones, but all in all it's
pretty solid. Cage consciously dumbed down his lyrics and went for catchy and chorus heavy songs. He succeeded in that department since I played this record a lot when it came out. Still, once you go bellow the surface of the record there's not much there. Rehashed subject matter from previous albums, few fun Suicidal Tendencies inspired songs and a couple of truly good songs. The album opener Nothing Left To Say is the obvious highlight and my favourite song of the year. It stands as yet another great collaboration between Cage and El-P, and deserves it's place amongst Cage's greatest songs. I Found My Mind In Connecticut and Eating It's Way out of me also deserve mention, but ultimately there's not enough material of that caliber on this record that can elevate it to a greater status. No lyrics and substance, no replay value. Simple as that.
Lightning Bolt - Earthly Delights
Lightning Bolt rules. How these guys menage to always stay fresh playing the way they play is beyond me. This is a bit more structured than previous efforts, but still anarchic enough.
Hudson Mohawke - Butter
A new guy in wonky-glitchy-instrumental-what-ever-the-fuck genre, Hudson Mohawke came up with a pretty interesting record. It's weird, but it's poppy. What I like about it is that he actually worked on making individual songs, and not 1-2 minute instrumental mood music that is prevalent with other illegitimate children of Madlib and J-Dilla doing this kind of stuff nowadays.
FELT (Slug & Murs) - Felt 3 (A Tribute To Rosie Perez)
This album should be called Felt 3 (A Tribute To Aesop Rock Cause He Made Such Great Beats That Make Us Tolerable To Listen To).
King Cannibal - Let The Night Roar
I can't say much about this album except that it's completely awesome. Also, very dark. There's probably some micro-genre that this stuff belongs to, but I'm too lazy to get informed about that.
The Dead Weather - Horehound
The Dead Weather is another one of Jack White's project. This record proved to be much more enjoyable than The Raconteurs albums. Treat Me Like Your Mother is the best track.
Blakroc - s/t
The Black Keys collaborating with hip hop artists didn't sound like a much of an idea when it was first revealed. I bet I'm not the only one surprised with the results. They came with pretty potent stuff here, a perfect balance between rock instrumentation and hip hop. It kind of reminds me of DJ Muggs or RZA production from the 90s. Who knew that blues rock musicians could come up with one of the most hardcore hip hop records of the year. Kudos to them.
Edan - Echo Party
Edan is the shit. Beauty and The Beat is easily one of the best hip hop albums of the last decade. Too bad he releases stuff so rarely. This time instead of a full length album we get this mix. With his psychedelic b-boy sound it's what we come to expect from him, so there's nothing mind-blowing here. Playing weird instruments over breaks and songs sounded more radical on paper than it actually is. Still I can't complain about this mix, it's fairly enjoyable. Now all he needs to do is to make another classic record.
P.O.S. - Never Better
Before Blakroc and Cage records, P.O.S. was the first guy this year to mix rap and rock the right way. Compared to his last album this is much more cohesive and ultimately a better record. On the downside there's not a single song that can compete with the highlights from 'Audition'.
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
Good indie rock album. My music knowledge tells me they based their whole style on a track 'Long Long Long' by The Beatles. I'm obviously wrong and showing off, but I got nothing else to say about them and the album.
