Woof. Did you devote any attention to that Kanye West/Wiz Khalifa feud that happened on Twitter this afternoon? It was a doozy, at least from Kanye’s perspective. See, Wiz had been cracking a couple of lighthearted jokes about Kanye changing the name of his album from SWISH to WAVES, and then commented about “KK” which Kanye interpreted as an attempt to hit on his wife, Kim Kardashian. The thing was, Wiz was referring to a certain strain of weed with the nickname “KK”. Anyways, the confusion caused Kanye to go on a tweet rampage where he viciously insulted Wiz over and over again while simultaneously complimenting his style choices, particularly when it comes to pants. The whole thing was a bit dark but also very funny in hindsight. If you’re interested, check out the full play-by-play here. Now then, let’s dive right into a fresh mid-week edition of Pick Your Poison to enjoy while wearing stylish pants. Don’t miss downloads from Ashley Shadow, Chet Faker, Jesse Marco and Reina del Cid. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Amber Arcades, A$AP Rocky (ft. Pharrell), Ash Koosha, B Boys, Big Black Delta, Champion + Four Tet, Frankie Cosmos, Littler, Mind Bath, Operators and School of Seven Bells.
Month: January 2016
Happy Tuesday! We’re past Monday, and that’s worth celebrating. Please enjoy this fresh edition of Pick Your Poison, replete with quality downloads from GETOVERHER, Laura Jean Anderson, Lazy Legs and Rois. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Beach Baby, Beverly, Cousin Stizz, Father John Misty, John Congleton and The Nighty Nite, Lissie, Nap Eyes, The So So Glos, Wavves and more!
Alma – West Side Winter (ft. Marcus Broderick)
Joe Bataan – Magic Rose (Mark de Clive-Lowe Remix)
Kavinsky – Rampage (Screwed by Rissa Boo)
The Landing – Paranoid (Kanye West cover)
Hope everyone on the East Coast is doing okay following that massive blizzard that hit over the weekend. Feeling particularly fortunate to be in Chicago where El Nino has made it a remarkably dry (and slightly warmer than average) winter so far. January has actually been somewhat bearable. If you’re stuck still digging out from 2 feet of snow, maybe some new music will help heat things up a bit. Make sure to check out some quality downloads from Eric Taylor Escudero, Flower, Mynth, Young Greatness and more. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Allan Kingdom (ft. Chronixx), The Coathangers, DIIV, Fatima Al Qadiri, Japanese Breakfast, Moro, Polica, Public Access T.V., The Range, Tourist and Wild Nothing.
Eric Taylor Escudero – The Uncountable Colours of the Sky
Hashim – Al-Naafiysh (Will Clarke’s Bearded Dubbed ReRub)
Mica & Kardanski – Trouble (Sparkz Remix)
Wishing warmth and safety to all my friends and readers on the East Coast this upcoming weekend as a massive snowstorm heads your way. I’m sure you’ve heard this a million times already, but don’t go outside unless you absolutely have to! That’s actually good advice for anyone experiencing less than ideal winter conditions. Curling up on the couch with a good movie is one of the few things that can’t be beat. Maybe listen to some new music while you’re at it, too. Pick Your Poison can help with that, as always. Enjoy downloads in this set from Chrome Sparks, Foxtails Brigade, Mykki Blanco and Say No! to Architecture. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from AlunaGeorge (ft. Popcaan), Designer + Four Tet, Different Sleep (ft. Angelina Lucero), Future, Linden, Majical Cloudz, Mt. Si, Radiation City, Samantha Urbani (covering Rexy), Tinashe (ft. Juicy J) and Underworld.
Darren Styles – Come Running (Mija Remix)
Foxtails Brigade – We Are Not Ourselves
Last night, I had the privilege of catching one Mr. Bruce Springsteen, live in concert. If you’ve not had the chance to see the man along with the E Street Band, I strongly recommend checking it out. Granted, the Boss isn’t exactly a small independent artist on the rise who could use the support. He’s got millions upon millions of fans worldwide, and only plays stadiums. But unlike most “legacy” acts that have been around for a few decades, there’s been very little dip in quality with the show Springsteen puts on. Similar to Paul McCartney, he barely breaks a sweat as he cranks out hit after hit for 3+ hours, even taking the time to crowd surf and dance with audience members. The man may be in his mid-60s, but most musicians half his age would probably have trouble keeping up with him. I’m not even a die hard fan, but can’t deny the awesome power he and his band bring to the stage. You get your money’s worth, and that’s more than I can say about most artists. My sincere hope is that one of these Pick Your Poison artists can create a career as long and as vital as Springsteen’s. There are some promising choices in this particular set, so don’t miss downloads from Best Friends, Bike Thief, Shapes on Tape and Usurper of Modern Medicine. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from AURORA, Charlotte Day Wilson, Flume (ft. Kai), Guerilla Toss, Holy Wave, Kane Strang, Kanye West (ft. Kendrick Lamar), Posse, Purple Pilgrims, Radical Face and School of Seven Bells.
Alex Bent + The Emptiness – Run Like Hell
Laurent Wery – Bender (Watch My Hands Wobble)
After taking a brief holiday on Monday to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr., Pick Your Poison is back in action with a fresh edition packed to the gills with quality new music. In this particular set, you’re not going to want to miss downloads from Adam Lempel, Ben Pearce, Jon Patrick Walker and Warning Light. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Babe Rainbow, Lionlimb, Lushlife x CSLSX (ft. Killer Mike), Lust for Youth, Mayer Hawthorne, MORLY, Oscar, Saul Williams, Ski Lodge, Whitney and Your Friend.
Jon Patrick Walker – Hideous Monster
Kinder Than Wolves – Hazel Days
Mike Castle – Trying to Be the Man
It’s been just over eight months since Mackenzie Scott (aka Torres) released her sophomore album Sprinter, and I’m fairly certain she hasn’t left the road since then. At the very least, as of this past weekend she’s played three shows in Chicago over that time period – easily more than most non-local artists. I’d argue it’s the town that keeps drawing her back, but exceptional circumstances such as a tour opening for Garbage likely brought her back sooner than anticipated. This particular time she was asked to return for the Tomorrow Never Knows festival, a multi-day, multi-venue event focused on raising the profiles of up-and-coming bands/musicians. This is also known as “something for Chicagoans to do in the dead of winter when concert season is slow.” For the record, it’s a great way to pass the time with plenty of great live music. The triple bill of Torres, Palehound and Julien Baker is just a small testament to that, as all three left a sharp impression on 2015 with highly personal, emotionally devastating albums. It made me concerned I’d be walking out of Lincoln Hall on Friday night a shell of a human being, my insides shredded from so much anguish. Thankfully that wasn’t entirely the case.
The night began with an opening solo set from Julien Baker. Her debut album Sprained Ankle earned her a place on many “Best of” lists last year, with special attention paid to her powerful and raw lyrics delivered with the nuance of a strong gut punch. In a stunning six song set, Baker wrenched every bit of emotion from each moment. The packed room stood in hushed silence as the weight and beauty slowly became too much to bear. It was an incredibly compelling example of how a performer can fully connect with an audience and even drive a few to tears. My own eyes began to well up towards the end, and that’s a rarity. The 19-year-old Baker is undoubtedly a talent worth following with a long career ahead of her. This was her first-ever show in Chicago, and judging by how many people bought her record at the end of the night, it certainly won’t be her last.
After the delicate sadness that was Julien Baker’s set, it seemed like Palehound wanted to deal with serious emotional fallout in a completely different way. Very few of their songs could be considered delicate, instead opting for a much darker, angrier tone spiked with heavier ’90s style grunge guitars in the vein of Hole or (most accurately) Speedy Ortiz. Ellen Kempner doesn’t take relationships lightly, so getting emotionally wounded after a break-up fosters aggression and resentment rather than clear-cut sadness and depression. That’s what the record Dry Food is all about, and it hits hard. So too does the band’s live show. While Kempner played a few songs solo with just her and an electric guitar, a majority of the time she was joined by a bassist and drummer who helped flesh out many of the songs and give those wounds an extra little twist of the knife. The trio dynamic also allowed Kempner to take some sonic detours on songs like “Easy” and “Molly” with some solos that really gave the crowd a taste of her profoundly excellent guitar skills. While it certainly left me impressed in the first half of the set, things calmed down a bit towards the end, which would’ve been disappointing if this alternate side wasn’t equally as compelling. At one point we were treated to a new song she hadn’t played live before, taking care to note that it was written more recently when someone new had come into her life and changed her outlook in a more positive direction. It was just about the only love song that would be played all evening, and offered a glimpse into where Palehound might be headed next. No matter how things progress in terms of content or subject matter, the band made it pretty clear on Friday night that they are highly talented and a force to be reckoned with now and in the future. Don’t be surprised if you hear plenty about them in 2016 and beyond.
The biggest benefit of touring incessantly is that you develop a much stronger stage presence. That is to say you learn what works and what doesn’t to help create the best, most entertaining and engaging version of your live show as possible. Given that Mackenzie Scott spent a majority of her time on the road in 2015, it makes perfect sense that she’s all the better performer because of it. When I caught her last May, it was mere weeks after the release of Sprinter and there were clear indications she was still feeling things out a bit with the new songs. These are growing pains every artist goes through, and some handle it much better than others. In the case of Torres, eight months ago she sounded great and put on a confident, strong show, but a few small things like the set list could have used some adjustment. Specifically, the overall pacing was a little off, and there were a few moments when it felt like Scott was holding back just a bit. For all I know it could have been the circumstances of that particular day, mixing things up on tour for the sake of variety. No matter the factors, by all accounts the set on Friday at Lincoln Hall represented an increase in consistency and showmanship.
The somewhat ironic thing is that the set list was nearly the same as the previous Torres show last May, just the order of the songs had changed slightly. That served well to even everything out and create a clearer path from start to finish. From the slow burn opening salvos of “Mother Earth, father God” through the clawing descent of “The Harshest Light,” the nine song set felt very much like a journey into and out of darkness. The 1-2-3 punch of “New Skin,” Cowboy Guilt” and “Sprinter” slammed with the force and subtlety of a wrecking ball, leaving destruction and devastation in its wake. The weight of these songs also physically manifested itself through Scott’s body as she visibly trembled during the more intense moments of the set. This was particularly prominent during the back-to-back combination of “Son, You Are No Island” and “Strange Hellos,” the former of which was all underlying dread and the latter of which was all powerful, fiery release. For those few loudly punctuated minutes, everyone in the room was rapt with attention as the walls were painted with sheer ferocity and self-confidence. This was Torres at her most vital, suddenly coming into focus and finding her footing after wandering around lost in the darkness. Such a captivating catharsis contributed to what was the best Torres show I’ve seen to date. Can’t wait for the next one.
The Academy Award nominations came out today, bringing a dash of much-needed excitement into this rather humdrum week in January. Not that there were a lot of surprises or snubs, though the Academy’s refusal to recognize the film Carol in the Best Picture and Best Director categories feels like an oversight. The same goes with minorities as we’re looking at the second year of #OscarsSoWhite. Anyways, even though this is a music site, I’m quite the movie buff in my spare time, to the point where I saw 200 films last year and 85% of them were 2015 releases I watched in an actual theater. I’d like to think that I know what I’m talking about when it comes to movies – more than most people. That’s not meant to be a brag, just trying to provide some context for my opinions and why I have them. The grand point here is that you absolutely should check out all of the films that were nominated for Oscars this year, because honestly they’re among the best of the best. Can’t really go wrong with any of them. But if you catch some of them and want to share your opinions somewhere, feel free to in the comments section. We can have a vigorous debate if you’d like. Let’s jump into the final Pick Your Poison for the week, shall we? There are quality downloads in this set from Allies For Everyone, Chris Storrow, Mick Jenkins and Pleasant Grove. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Amber Arcades, Big Ups, Field Music, Into It. Over It., Lane 8, Memoryhouse, Shearwater, She-Devils, Tiga and Yuck.
Allies For Everyone – It Takes All Kinds
Chris Storrow – A True Christian
GABI – Trap Queen (Fetty Wap cover)
Jo Passed – No, Joy (I’m Not Real, Girl)
Mick Jenkins – Grenade Theory (ft. theMIND)
Pleasant Grove – Disintegration (Consider Your Brother)
Your mid-week Pick Your Poison contains a whole bunch of quality new music for you to enjoy, particularly in the Soundcloud section. But as far as downloads go, you should definitely not miss great cuts from Alpenglow, Flower, Lunice, Swaying Wires and Ursa Major. From a streaming perspective, after the jump you’ll want to check out songs from Bent Shapes, Charlie Hilton, Dilly Dally (covering Drake), Erykah Badu (remixing/covering Kanye West), Florist, Fort Romeau, Holy Esque, Mairead Green (ft. King Creosote), Woods and more!
Happy Tuesday. Chicago is in a deep freeze right now, which isn’t very fun. Allow me to provide some much needed warmth courtesy of some hot new songs. Don’t miss downloads in this set from Flatbush Zombies, Gladiola, Relick and The Romantic Era. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Anderson .Paak, Anna Meredith, DJDS, Mogwai, Philco Fiction, Pop. 1280, Prince Rama, RUFUS DU SOL and Wyland.
Flatbush Zombies – Glorious Thugs
Nice Motor – All the Neighbors
Major Tom. Starman. Ziggy Stardust. Aladdin Sane. The Thin White Duke. The Man Who Fell to Earth. The Man Who Sold the World. These are but a few iterations and personas of the man born Davy Jones but best known as David Bowie. Over the course of a 40+ year career, he became known as a creative genius, innovator and all-around unique individual who in some ways changed what it means to be human. Late Sunday night that force of nature, an inspiration to millions, left this planet a mere two days after his 69th birthday. According to a brief statement from his family, Bowie passed away peacefully surrounded by his family after an 18 month battle with cancer. Very few people knew he was ill, so the news came as a genuine surprise to just about everyone. It gives his final album Blackstar, released on his birthday, extra depth and meaning. Unlike the rest of us, he knew this was coming and chose to spend his final months recording an excellent collection of songs that meditated on death. Given how many of his other albums and songs reflected on the same topic, nobody really suspected anything was amiss at the time. Now we know that he was saying goodbye, and one of his final acts was in service to fans. That really shows what kind of person Bowie was, creative until the very end.
Over the course of the next few weeks and months, you’ll read, hear and see plenty of tributes to David Bowie from fans, friends and family. I’ve been sharing some classic quotes and photos over on Twitter and Instagram if you’re so inclined to check those out. It’s wonderful to see how far and wide his influence spread, and comforting to witness the outpouring of love by those who truly identified with his unique sensibilities. As many have already said, Bowie showed us it was okay to be your true self no matter your age, race, gender, sexual orientation or general proclivities. Never let anyone or anything stop you from living your truth, as you see it. “Turn to face the strange,” as the chorus of “Changes” goes. So I’m grateful to Bowie for that and a host of other important life lessons learned through his music, acting, fashion and overall presence here on Earth. All of it continues today and into eternity, as people will continue to uncover and embrace his legend. If you’ve not yet explored the world of David Bowie, now’s as good of a time as any to start.
Of course you may also want to check out some brand new music from other artists, and Pick Your Poison has you covered there. Don’t miss downloads from Black Twig, Hardwell, Right Hand Left Hand and They Call Him Zone. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from The Arcs, dvsn, Harriet, Little Green Cars, Mavis Staples, Michael Nau, Sonya Kitchell, Timbaland (ft. Aaliyah & Strado) and Wet Ones.
Andy Allo – Hello (Adele cover)
Miami Horror – Cellophane (Loframes Remix)
Right Hand Left Hand – Tarts and Darts
Scary Little Friends – Made Up My Mind
There are very few bands on this planet whose live show could accurately be called a party. Don’t get me wrong; any artist who brings lots of passion to a performance is worth your time and hard-earned money, no matter the energy level or content. But party bands are a special breed, particularly in their ability to transcend any real notions of quality associated with their music by pumping it full of fun and excitement. Andrew W.K. hasn’t released an album since 2009, and everything that came before it sounded pretty much the same, but he’s still out there touring and selling out shows by singing party anthem after party anthem. Good for him.
Which brings me to The Go! Team. They are, in my opinion, the quintessential party band. I’ve never had a bad time at a Go! Team show. Very few people probably have. There’s just too much to enjoy, which really gets reflected first and foremost on their albums. Their sound is something of a challenge to define, in large part because they slam together so many different genres and styles for the hell of it. For example, you could get a Bollywood sampled melody paired with an old school hip hop beat, garage rock guitars and school playground chanted lyrics. The best part is that it works a vast majority of the time, like a delicious stew made from leftovers in the fridge.
I can safely say there’s never been a bad Go! Team record, though we’ve yet to get one that eclipses the 2004 debut Thunder, Lightning, Strike. Part of the reason why that was such a success was because of its novelty at the time, and perhaps due to Ian Parton’s insistence on piecing together every single element himself. Two subsequent efforts had the live band take an active role in the studio, and there’s been a small struggle to transcend past that initial sound. But last year’s The Scene Between saw Parton return to that solo dynamic, perhaps seeking to recreate the magic of a decade earlier. The results were once again solid and generated good reviews, but not quite the raves or hype levels that would elevate The Go! Team beyond their current status. Just like the album (and song) title, they in some ways feel trapped between scenes, where it can be an occasional struggle to determine where they fit into the current music landscape.
Part of that I think has to do with the vexing mystery that is consistency. If you make good music on a regular basis without stirring up headlines or dramatically changing your sound, people tend to lose focus. Hype is a fickle beast that shift attentions on a whim in a quest for the Next Big Thing, while leaving everyone else in the dust. The Go! Team continue to deliver on their initial promise, and each live show remains a celebration worth attending. They are worthy of your love, and if you’ve not yet had the opportunity to hear their music or experience one of their unique and energetic performances, that’s something you need to remedy sooner rather than later. If you’ll be in Chicago next Saturday (January 16th), come hang out at Lincoln Hall if you want to dance, jump and enthusiastically sing along for what promises to be a highly memorable and fun evening with The Go! Team. Rounding out the bill will be Javelin and Jude Shuma. It’s part of the Tomorrow Never Knows festival, which you should also check out, just in general. Fine details:
The Go! Team with Javelin and Jude Shuma
Saturday, January 16
9PM / 18+ / $15
So far 2016 is starting off a little slow on the new music front, so I will spend the first couple weeks of this year with fewer editions of Pick Your Poison just until the momentum builds back up. So the final collection of tracks for this week features some quality downloads from Blanuks Larry, Coldair, Suntrodden and We/Or/Me. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Brandy, Camille Trust, Cavern of Anti-Matter, Keys N Krates (ft Aqui), Laser, Pinegrove, RJD2, Starlight Girls and Surgeon.
Blankus Larry – Your Boy Is Bad Inside
HiRollers – neverwouldvethought
Welcome to the first (official) edition of Pick Your Poison for 2016! What’s new with the site this year? Oh, I don’t know. Not much to announce right off the bat, but rest assured there will be a few additions at some point this upcoming year. Actually right now I’m still focused on wrapping up 2015 coverage. There are two “Best of” lists that still need to be published, which I’ve been writing and have decided to publish in one gigantic swoop. So keep an eye out for that in the next week or two. In the meantime, please enjoy this collection of fresh tracks. That includes downloads from Bowts, Crow’s Feet, Frank Rabeyrolles and Zoe Zac. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Cross Record, Dick Stusso, MALKA, Matt Kivel, Nap Eyes, Rae Sremmurd, Soda, Sunflower Bean, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Wild Nothing.
Bowts – Colonia (Original Mix)
Crow’s Feet – Alarm Clock Bones
Happy New Year! The site will be back in action like normal starting on Tuesday, January 5th. In the meantime, please enjoy this special holiday edition of Pick Your Poison, featuring an extra few tracks. Don’t miss downloads from Arca, DJ Paypal, DJ Shadow, Hudson Mohawke (covering John Carpenter) and Zeke Hunter (ft. Shruti Sen). In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Alesso, Bienart, D.R.A.M., Future + The Weeknd, Lennart Richter, Miley Cyrus, Port St. Willow and Travi$ Scott (ft. The Weeknd).
Dance Spirit & David Scuba – Dust (Original Mix)
Ducky x Ellie Herring – Be Honest
Galantis – In My Head (Generik Remix)
Hudson Mohawke – Escape (John Carpenter cover)
Of Monsters and Men – Wolves Without Teeth (Rhythm Scholar Remix)
