In the world of Mike Ladd, reality is far stranger than fiction. The Boston-bred MC/producer/spoken-word poet is the merry prankster of underground hip-hop, a sonic jester gleefully melding dystopian imagery with lo-fi hardcore, dub, and retro soul to create party music for the year 2032. His lofty concepts have documented the simultaneous death and rebirth of hip-hop in his operatic Infesticons and Majesticons projects.
Music
Mike Ladd: Sci-Fi Hip Hop Futurist
Into Television: Reformating the Way We Watch
Recently, Sony Television Distribution teamed up with MySpace to unveil a novel little venture called the “Minisode Network.” A broadband video channel, the Minisode Network features five-to-seven-minute cut-down versions of classic TV shows like “Starsky and Hutch,” “Who’s The Boss?,” and “The Facts of Life.”
The Roots Picnic
Someone in The Roots crew has their thinking cap on tight. The roster for the upcoming Roots Picnic on June 7th, in Philadelphia, boast an impressive and eclectic selection of urban artist. Acts range from the gospel antics of Gnarls Barkley to the retro soul deity known as Sharon Jones. Imagine DJ’s Esperanza and Diplo playing along side Deerhoof and Santogold, ambling along the non sequitur of hip hop’s future. All of a sudden summer can’t come fast enough. As for The Roots…
Al Green Lays It Down With New Album, Headlines NOLA Jazz Fest
The legend of the late night love making standard, Al Green, is due to release a new album entitled Lay It Down (Blue Note) on May 27th. At the ripe age of 62, Green has been consistant in releasing new material every few years, but this time he’s enlisted the help of some younger talent to freshen up his game. Lay It Down features an updated soul sound complements of collaborators ?uestlove of the Roots, John Legend, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Anthony Hamilton.
International Songwriting Competition Winners Announced
Winners for The International Songwriting Competition [ISC] were recently announced, bestowing prestige upon the handful of aspiring songwriters from around the globe. “Weird Al” Yankovic, Frank Black, Tom Waits, Robert Smith, and Ray Davies were amongst the big name industry judges for the competition.
Weekly Burlesque: Bambi’s Blacklight Spectacular
New Yorkers often bring their most inventive A-Games to Coney Island’s Burlesque at the Beach, a series which has been taking place at Sideshows at the Seashore for nearly fifteen years. A theme show at Coney Island is a whole other kind of magical world.
Bambi the Mermaid, for many years the co-producer of the BOTB series, has created some outrageous theme shows there, and one of my favorites so far was the Blacklight Spectacular. She begins planning some of her theme shows years in advance, and they’re just not like anything else.
The Notwist Release Video for “Where in This World”
[youtube ksMkENKMlyk]
The Notwist, the German electronica outfit you might recognize from collaboration 13 & God with Themselves, are preparing to release their first proper album under the Notwist moniker in six years. Two years in the making, The Devil, You + Me will be out June 17. Until then, you can watch the video for the first single, “Where in This World,” or find the “Good Lies” mp3 available from the City Slang website.
The Mars Volta: In Control
Pumping out loud, fractured rock, The Mars Volta challenges their audience with every new release and live show. If you’re offered ear plugs, take them. And if you’re asked to describe them, don’t say “prog.”
Death Cab For Cutie’s “I Will Possess Your Heart”
[youtube jrcKjN3KQYs]
Video for the long version of Death Cab For Cutie’s “I Will Possess Your Heart,” the recently released single from Narrow Stairs, DCFC’s new full-length out in May 13th on Atlantic.
An Albatross Signs to Eyeball, Announces Fall Release
Pennsylvanian noisecore sextet An Albatross recently signed to Eyeball Records, a label known for “discovering” bands like Thursday, My Chemical Romance, and Murder by Death. In a web exclusive interview with Revolver, vocalist Edward B. Gieda III described their forthcoming full-length on Eyeball, entitled Blessphemy…of the Peace Beast Feastgiver and the Bear Warp Kumite, as being “significantly more listenable, [with] a heavy emphasis on the power of the performances.”
Swedish Electro Singer Lykke Li to Tour US
Swedish singer Lykke Li (Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson), who performed at this year’s SXSW Festival, and recently finished a European tour with El Perro Del Mar, will return to the US this May. Her debut album, a strangely tribal mix of electro and pop, Youth Novel, was released earlier this year.