dj shadow

reverb: music from los angeles & beyond

Monday, November 12th, 2007

buck 65

I wonder if Buck 65 ever gets tired of being called the Tom Waits of hip-hop? It isn’t just his gravelly-throated vocal style that earns him the comparison. It isn’t his macabre and often humorous tales of strange characters in desperate situations. And it isn’t his whole “solitary man with the world weary heart of a romantic making his way through life with a wry grin and a stiff drink” getdown either. Well, yeah actually, it is precisely those three things that often garner the comparison. But it’s a bit simplistic to sum up Buck’s music by saying it’s TW set to fat beats. Buck 65 is a rebel in the truest sense. He looks like an indie kid, but completely eschews the wimpy trappings of the genre in favor of a more rugged, dispassionate approach to songwriting. Maybe he’s John Steinbeck set to a fat beat? But hip-hoppers wouldn’t automatically love Buck either. His rhymes are pretty cerebral, and although the delivery has swagger, he’s also pretty quirky. Hell, his previous record, Secret House Against the World was practically a folk album. Situation, Buck’s newest, brings him back to the sound I’ve been waiting to hear more of.

I first heard the man’s music on 2003’s Talkin’ Honky Blues. I try not to overuse the phrase, “I was blown away”, but that’s precisely what I was. It was like Ry Cooder, DJ Shadow, and yes, Tom Waits in a perfect cocktail of desolation, introspection, and love. Love songs about his father, his late mother, lovers from the past, his dog, and the road. God, is that record good. Check out “Wicked and Weird” down below. When I finally saw a picture of the guy behind music (see above), it certainly wasn’t what I was expecting. Music’s great like that. You conjure your own mental images based on a sound…sometimes you get it just right, sometimes you couldn’t be more wrong.

Situation is definitely going on my year’s end list of favorite albums from 2007. I’m already sure of that. It’s definitely the most “hip-hop” Buck 65’s ever sounded. But it’s got his own twist, and that’s why it’s so worth listening to. Give a listen to “The Rebel” in the player below. I hope Buck is active for a very long time. He’s an artist with a lot of creativity and a unique voice to express it. When people tell you that music today’s in the shitter, tell them to shutup and listen to this guy. Buck’s on tour right now, and he just might be passing through your town. Peep his Myspace page for tour dates and catch him if you can.

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If you enjoy these tunes, tune into my radio show on kxlu 88.9fm 10a-2p every monday. we’re also streaming live at www.kxlu.com.

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reverb: music from los angeles & beyond

Monday, June 4th, 2007

pigeon john live

for the inaugural installment of this column, i thought i’d start by mentioning a couple favorites from the town i call home: los angeles.

despite the fact that it’s 2007, i still get meatheads who call my radio show every week requesting (read: demanding) that i “play some punk rock”. man, am i tired of punk rock. well, more accurately, i’m tired of the people who desperately cling to it, despite the fact that 1977 was officially 30 years ago. punk rock was intended to be confrontational, immediate, and more than a little dangerous. while there’s plenty of bands who still fly the flag, there’s few who really capture that spirit in a way that’s updated and relevant.

die princess die is one of those rare exceptions. in the loosest terms, sure they’re a punk band. but somehow they’ve melded all that intensity of yesterpunk with modern samples, loops, and beats. make no mistake…this is no electroclash band. their sound is big, punishing, and relentless. live, they have a jagged elegance that belies their imposing presence. pick up “lions eat lions” on the gsl label. turn up “the racer” in your car…i personally guarantee a speeding ticket.

pigeon john is the real deal when it comes to hip-hop. he grew up in inglewood, came from a broken home, light on cash. so now that he’s a rapper with a record deal, why isn’t he rappin’ about bitches & money? real simple…pj’s got too much class for that.

with a couple full-lengths under his belt, pigeon john finally hit the bigtime when he signed with quannum projects last year. you know you’re doing something right when the guys from blackalicious and dj shadow give you the nod. check out “pigeon john and the summertime pool party”. it takes a brave soul to laugh in the face of gangstas, evil bosses, and golddiggers. pigeon john laughs, and does it with panache. give a listen to “the last sunshine”. it was produced by rjd2 and also features j-live on guest vocals.

new releases 6.5.07: go buy the new shellac album, “excellent italian greyhound”. just do it, trust me.

if you enjoy these tunes, tune into my radio show on kxlu 88.9fm 10a-2p every monday. we’re also streaming live at www.kxlu.com. if you think radio’s not worth listening to anymore, give me a chance to prove you wrong.

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inaugural reverb

Sunday, May 6th, 2007

pigeon john live

for the inaugural installment of this column, i thought i’d start by mentioning a couple favorites from the town i call home: los angeles.

despite the fact that it’s 2007, i still get meatheads who call my radio show every week requesting (read: demanding) that i “play some punk rock”. man, am i tired of punk rock. well, more accurately, i’m tired of the people who desperately cling to it, despite the fact that 1977 was officially 30 years ago. punk rock was intended to be confrontational, immediate, and more than a little dangerous. while there’s plenty of bands who still fly the flag, there’s few who really capture that spirit in a way that’s updated and relevant.

die princess die is one of those rare exceptions. in the loosest terms, sure they’re a punk band. but somehow they’ve melded all that intensity of yesterpunk with modern samples, loops, and beats. make no mistake… this is no electroclash band. their sound is big, punishing, and relentless. live, they have a jagged elegance that belies their imposing presence. pick up “lions eat lions” on the gsl label. turn up “the racer” in your car… i personally guarantee a speeding ticket.

pigeon john is the real deal when it comes to hip-hop. he grew up in inglewood, came from a broken home, light on cash. so now that he’s a rapper with a record deal, why isn’t he rappin’ about bitches & money? real simple…pj’s got too much class for that.

with a couple full-lengths under his belt, pigeon john finally hit the bigtime when he signed with quannum projects last year. you know you’re doing something right when the guys from blackalicious and dj shadow give you the nod. check out “pigeon john and the summertime pool party”. it takes a brave soul to laugh in the face of gangstas, evil bosses, and golddiggers. pigeon john laughs, and does it with panache. give a listen to “the last sunshine”. it was produced by rjd2 and also features j-live on guest vocals.

new releases 6.5.07: go buy the new shellac album, “excellent italian greyhound”. just do it, trust me.

if you enjoy these tunes, tune into my radio show on kxlu 88.9fm 10a-2p every monday. we’re also streaming live at www.kxlu.com. if you think radio’s not worth listening to anymore, give me a chance to prove you wrong.

Inaugural Reverb downloads available for a limited time here.

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