If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Bodywash Album : I Held the Shape While I Could Quick Thoughts : This one was a really pleasant surprise. It's like a nice mix between shoegze and electronic-infuenced alt-rock. The album has that perfect hazy feel with a ton going for it, and I'm looking forward to getting back to this one quite a bit. Songs of Note : "Picture Of," "Massif Central," "Perfect Blue," "Sterilizer" Artist : Kid Koala Album : Creatures of the Late Afternoon Quick Thoughts : The consistently underrated turntablist is back with a very enjoyable record. The beats are great, it's got a nice sense of humor, and it's a good reminder that electronic music can be a lot of fun. I loved this a lot more than I thought I would, so check it out. Songs of Note : "Hear Now," "Get Level," "The Cards" Artist : El Michels Affair and Black Thought Album : Glorious Game Quick Thoughts : Easily my favorite listen of the...

Photo by Enno Kapitz / digitally altered by Kosuke Kawamur The latest song from Japanese noise legends Buffalo Daughter isn't subtle in its message. It's impossible not to know what "Global Warming Will Kill Us All" is about just based on the title. Aside from the message, the new single is actually pretty groovy. It's filled with tons of vocoder vocals, and sure, it's noisy. And weird. But the song has this great groove to it that is going to remind you a lot of the 90's, especially music released on Grand Royal. (Of course, Buffalo Daughter released their debut album on Grand Royal back in 1996, so it does make sense. suGar Yoshinaga of Buffalo Daughter explains the song's creation: "It was mid summer of 2018 (insanely hot summer when even mosquitoes were not around) when we gathered all those puzzles and pieces together to make them into songs for the album. This song is one of them, and with the impact from the extreme weather, we felt the cry...

Lots to cover this week. Album of the Week : Artist : Cherry Glazerr Album : Apocalypstick Quick Description : Great, hooky alt-rock. Why You Should Listen : Best release this week and will scratch that traditional alternative rock itch. Overall Thoughts : I fell in love with this band thanks to "Had Ten Dollaz" from a few years ago. The new album builds on their sound while showing a lot of musical improvements throughout, and there's a good deal of fun to go along with it, too. "Nurse Rached" is a highlight, but their crazy " Nuclear Bomb " video shows where they're coming from. Overall? Best of the week, for sure. Recommendation : A must listen. Artist : Foxygen Album : Follow the Leader Quick Description : Retro rock band with another fun, puzzling effort. Why You Should Listen : Foxygen definitely keeps me on my toes. Overall Thoughts : I don't ever think I like Foxygen until I listen to them with an absurd, goofy smile...

The most overhyped album of the year is also the most overlooked. Thirteen years after Deltron 3030 came out, Deltron 3030 released their long awaited follow up, Event II , this year. Deltron 3030  was set more than 1000 years in the future, and in 2000 it truly sounded like the future of hip hop. Once Del the Funky Homosapien, Kid Koala, and Dan the Automator were finally able to release a follow up, there was no way it could live up to thirteen years of anticipation.  Is Event II  as good as Deltron 3030 ? No. But that doesn't mean it's a bad album. As time goes on, Event II  will be considered much better than people are currently giving it credit for. Let's not forget In Utero  was once considered a disappointing follow up to Nevermind. If you dismissed it earlier this year, I urge you to listen again. Sure, the skits featuring David Cross and The Lonely Island could have been skipped, but they got Zack de la Rocha back in a recording studio. That alone ...

Thirteen long years ago, the hip hop supergroup known as Deltron 3030 released their debut album. Comprised of Del the Funky Homosapien, Dan the Automator, and Kid Koala, Deltron 3030 was set in the year 3030 and sounded exactly like the future of hip hop. It seemed like a one off, but every so often you’d hear a rumor of a follow up album. Now, in 2013 (or 3040 according to the album), it has finally happened. Event II somehow sounds like it could have been recorded immediately after Deltron 3030. Looking back on the past is a recurring theme on the album with song titles like “Do You Remember” and “Back in the Day.” The album is such a throw back they even include sketches between songs, which I can’t even remember the last time I heard that. It’s probably because sketches are usually terrible, but Deltron 3030 enlists David Cross, Amber Tamblyn, and The Lonely Island for sketches, which all keep the “back in my day” theme alive. The album features a few other non-musicians, ...

The excitement over the impending new Deltron 3030 album continues to grow with the release of "Melding of the Minds," a new track from the forthcoming album featuring Zack de la Rocha of (formerly of?) Rage Against the Machine. Unless I've missed something, it's the first officially released music featuring Zack since 2008's One Day as a Lion album, so that alone makes this track a big deal. Zack's intensity makes for an interesting contrast to Del the Funky Homosapien's chill style, and neither tries to conform to the other at all. Add that to the Deltron 3030 signature futuristic funk sound, and it's pure alt hip hop gold. The new album from Deltron 3030 will be out on September 30. Head over to their website for more details. Listen to "Melding of the Minds" below, and after that you can find their current tour dates. 10-08 Boston, MA - Paradise 10-09 Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl # 10-10 Washington, DC - Howard Theatre 10-11 Cha...

Long before Gorillaz stole their thunder, Deltron 3030 were the premier (and possibly only) experimental future hip hop collective. Comprised of Del the Funky Homosapien, Dan the Automator, and Kid Koala, 2000's  Deltron 3030 was a concept album that took place in the year 3030. Damned if I knew what the hell was going on, but City From the Rising Ashes EP takes place in 4010. In advance of their follow up album, Event II , City From the Rising Ashes EP is here to remind us when Deltron 3030 blew the shit out of our minds. It consists of 3 songs which feature guest spots by Mike Patton and Mary Elizabeth Winstead ( Scott Pilgrim vs The World, Smashed ). Existing pretty much solely to get us psyched for Event II , the EP does it's job. It's exactly what we want, and you know the best is still yet to come.  City From the Rising Ashes EP  is out now. You can stream the entire EP for free. Event II  is set for release on October 1. Head on over to Deltron 3030's webs...

For the inaugural Nines Festival, 10 diverse bands were brought to an athletic field in the middle of a decommissioned military base that has never hosted a music event of this size. It could have been a recipe for disaster. Instead it was a fantastic day of music and arts that will hopefully be the first of many to come. Upon walking into the venue, I was struck by how much art was integrated into the festival immediately. Installations and dancers were the first thing we came across before we even got into the main area. The main stage was set up right at the home plate of the baseball diamond, which created a fantastic natural line : People could stand in front of the stage on the dirt, while blankets and chairs stayed back on the grass . It probably wasn’t done on purpose, but it was the happiest of accidents. First up was Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys, who were an interesting choice to say the least. As much performance art as they are music, they mes...

1. A truly diverse line up Even “diverse” line ups tend to be pretty homogenous lately. Most festivals feel thrown together with whatever the big names of the moment tend to be, plus maybe a rapper. Because of this, you get a lot of bands that are pretty interchangeable and nothing unique. The Nines has done the opposite. Of all the bands, you can’t really point at any two and call them the same. Hip hop is always an iffy thing with festivals, as most just throw on the token rapper and call it a day. With both K Flay and Kid Koala performing, hip hop has a home, and two completely diverse sides are shown. 2. K Flay Ok, I’ll admit it. As soon as I saw K Flay’s picture and read her bio, I completely judged her. I think I was still feeling the burn from getting excited about Kitty Pryde (now Kitty), and then hearing really juvenile beats and lyrics . Most alternative rap today is either trying to be Jay Z and Kanye with lower production values, or people that can’t rap ...

Ok.. fine. It's not through us. But we want to make sure you know about a couple of contests to win free tickets to the Nines Festival, happening at Willard Field in Devens, MA on August 10. The inaugural event features Explosions In the Sky, Dr. Dog, Delta Spirit, Shuggie Otis, Walk Off the Earth, Kid Koala, and Matt Pond with more to be announced. There's also a comedy tent curated by Rick Jenkins of The Comedy Studio featuring Erin Judge, Ken Reid, and Jenny Zigrino with more to be announced. You can enter for tickets through Relix here and CMJ here. Hurry, because the CMJ contest ends tomorrow, June 27! And, of course, check out the Nines Festival website for more info.

Explosions in the Sky Central Massachusetts used to be a great area for live music. The Wallace Civic Center in Fitchburg used to host bands like Nirvana, Fugazi, House of Pain, Cypress Hill, Soundgarden, etc., there was the Worcester New Aud, shows at the Centrum, and the Fitchburg Municipal Airport even hosted a Warped Tour before it decided to go all Live Nation shed circuit. But, the last show at the Wallace Civic Center was in 1997 (if memory serves me correctly) and the Warped Tour was in 2006. I couldn’t even tell you what the last concert at the DCU Center was. This is where the Nines Festival comes in. Delta Spirit The 1 st ever Nines Festival is happening in Devens , MA on August 10 th . It’s a multistage, multi-arts festival featuring one of the best and most diverse line ups around this summer. You have the post-punk of Explosions in the Sky, neo-psychedelic Dr. Dog, Newport Folk Festival veterans Delta Spirit, Walk Off the Earth (best...