New Tune Tuesday (4/14/15)
–Written by Kevin Madert
Gramatik – Native Son (Ft. Raekwon & Orlando Napier)
The lead single from Gramatik’s upcoming Epigram EP sees the Slovenian teaming with an emerging talent and an established hip-hop legend to craft a too-smooth instant classic. The juxtaposition of frequent collaborator Orlando Napier’s syrupy tones and rapper Raekwon’s incendiary verses atop seriously sensual riffage amounts to some of Gramatik’s best work. The often humble producer seemed almost as excited as we were about the tune: “I’m sure you can imagine how some random kid from Slovenia must feel, realizing he just made a song with a legend.” (via Facebook)
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In Case You Missed It: Dance Gavin Dance – Downtown Battle Mountain
For those of you that haven’t been paying attention, I’ve been going on and on lately about a new album coming out from a little band called Dance Gavin Dance. Instant Gratification will be the follow up to 2013’s Acceptance Speech, and their second album with Tillian Pearson (formerly of Tides of Man) on lead vocals. Pearson was an immediate fit with the band, they put out an album that made it sound like they’ve been making music together for their entire careers. It was a seriously impressive album, and proved to be the biggest leap forward for Dance Gavin Dance since their debut full length Downtown Battle Mountain. Which is incidentally, precisely what we’re here to talk about. There is a ton of hype surrounding Instant Gratification, but this is the perfect time to reflect back on one of the original classics that will always be a huge milestone in the history of the band.
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New Tune Tuesday (4/7/15)
–Written by Kevin Madert
A smattering of new music from across the genre spectrum. Did we leave out your favorite band’s latest material? Let us know!
Kill The Noise & Tommy Trash – Louder
Having lived a relatively math-free life since I skated a B- in my requisite lecture hall course freshman year someone may have to check my calculations here, but I’ll give it a shot. A longtime bass music powerhouse + a longtime house music don = one hell of a tune. Accompanied by Rock City on vocals, Kill the Noise and Tommy Trash turn in here a dark hard-electro tune that’s got a little bit of everything: growling basslines, massive syncopated drum hits, shouted lyrics, and a surprisingly nuanced drop that’s sure to tear up festival mainstages this summer. In tandem with the release, the duo announced a short co-headlining tour – including a stop at Washington, DC’s Ultrabar. You can find more information about that here.
Read MoreNews: Dance Gavin Dance finish recording 7th studio album
Dance Gavin Dance have announced that they have finished recording their 7th album, the follow up to the critically acclaimed (especially by me), Acceptance Speech. No word on a release date yet, but I can assure you that I’ll be waiting quite impatiently for this one. If Acceptance Speech is any benchmark, DGD7 is sure to be one of the albums to watch in 2015.
We will be sure to keep you updated on any news regarding this album as it becomes available.
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Weekend Warm-Up No. 10: Post-Hardcore
–Words and list by Michael Hogan
A while ago I tried to explain post-hardcore to someone who had literally never heard of the genre or any of its bands before. Even though I am a self-proclaimed expert on the subject – someone who played in a post-hardcore band with a couple minor, unsuccessful tours, a pretty good album, and an overly-pretentious view of musicianship under its belt – I actually failed quite miserably. I still have no idea what to say.
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