Monday, August 26, 2019
Album Review: BJ the Chicago Kid - 1123
I’m keeping my groove this week with the classic cool vibes of Second City native, BJ the Chicago Kid. BJ is an always-on hype man, who has worked behind the scenes to propel the careers of Kenya West, Chance the Rapper, and countless others. Despite his ubiquity in the local hip-hop scene, BJ has very few releases to call his own. His studio release this year, 1123, is only his second LP. Thankfully, it’s usually worth the wait with BJ, and 1123 sees the influencer sticking to what he knows and does best, translating the mood and flow of classic R’nB into the clubs of today. A talent he shares with the likes of D’Angelo and other enigmatic MCs. The album opens nice and easy with the smooth bass and wiggly beat of “Feel the Vibe” featuring Anderson .Paak, this is followed by the glossy, luxurious, and Chic flavored R’nB of ‘Champagne.” Other hits include the juicy bumping slow jam “Playa’s Ball” featuring Rick Ross, and the ‘00s soul throwback “Too Good.” However, the absolute, show-stopping highlight is the damp trap slapper “Worryin Bout Me,” a too hot to touch banger about minding your own damn business.
Pick up a copy of 1123 from Motown records.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Interview: Of Montreal
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| Photo thanks to Kevin Barnes |
Of all the podcasts you could listen to this week, I think you should give my interview with Kevin Barnes of Of Montreal a try! I had a great conversation with Barnes at his most recent Chicago stop, supporting his latest album White Is Relic / Irrealis Mood. We talked about his creative process, connecting with fans, building community, and his summer reading list. It's two parter, so get ready! Thanks for CHIRP Radio 107.1FM for the opportunity to talk to such a phenomenal musician. Links below.
Part 1: Conversation with Kevin Barnes @ CHIRP Radio Podcast
Part 2: Conversation with Kevin Barnes @ CHIRP Radio Podcast
Grab a copy of White Is Relic / Irrealis Mood over at Polyvinyl
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Album Review: Friendship - Undercurrent
My review of of the latest album from Japanese hardcore and grind golems, Friendship has just been published over on Post-Trash. The band has taken a bit of a left turn with their sound, but the results are no less affecting and unruly. Worth a spin if you are a fan of Harm's Way and Nails. Link below.
I made the mistake of buying that other Friendship (PA)'s Shock Out of Season while doing research for this one. Here is my review of that album as well: It sucks.
Labels:
Album,
Hardcore,
Post-Trash,
Punk
Monday, August 5, 2019
Album Review: Lowest Creature - Sacrilegious Pain
My review of the new crossover thrash and hardcore album from Scandinavians Lowest Creature is up over at InEffect Hardcore. f you like Power Trip, Red Death, and Iron Age, this brutal onslaught of an album was conjured with you in mind. A punishing party album for the end of the world, and I dug every fire-breathing second of it. Link below.
I'm really loving the cover art for this album. If you know who did it, let me know in the comments.
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Album Review: Thy Art is Murder - Human Target
Review of Thy Art is Murder's Human Target
We're all soft targets.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Deathcore,
Metal
Album Review: Sanction - Broken in Refraction
Everyone wants to talk about Knocked Loose, but their album one be out for a couple more months. There not even the only metallic-hardcore band making waves out there either. Like Jesus Piece? How about Year of the Knife? Then feast your ears on the purling fury of Sanction. You can read my review of their new LP over at Chicago Crowd Surfer.
Review of Sanction's Broken in Refraction
Break it all. Start over. Leave no regrets.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Hardcore,
Punk
Album Review: De Lorians - De Lorians
Checked out the debut by Japaneses psychedelic jazz ensemble De Loraians. I really dug it and you can read my review over at Chicago Crowd Surfer.
I have seen the future and it is trippy.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Jazz
Album Review: All Out War - Crawl Among the Filth
Got to cover a band who inspired some of my all time favorites. Check out my review of All Out War's Crawl Among the Filth over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. Link below.
Take a bite out of the new album by All out War
It's good to have another album from these guys.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Hardcore,
Punk
Show Review: Anderson .Paak @ House of Vans Chicago
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| Image provided by the artist |
I got to see Anderson .Paak be a boss at a house party he threw at Vans' place this past Thursday. It was pretty wild. Want to know what I thunk? Click below
Recap of Anderson .Paak laying it down over at Chicago Crowd Surfer
All the pictures featured in the article were taken on my cell phone. Judge if you want but I think they came out fine.
Labels:
Chicago,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Hip Hop,
Show Recap
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Interview: The Drums
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| Photo courtesy of Jonny Pierce |
Such a nice young man.
Friday, July 26, 2019
Album Review: Tomb Mold - Planetary Clairvoyance
Expand your mind with celestial chaos.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Death,
Metal
Album Review: Good Riddance - Thoughts and Prayers
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Pop-punk,
Punk
Album Review: Lingua Ignota - Caligula
Lingua Ignota's Caligula @ CCS
This may not be my best work. My mind was a little blow frankly and I'm at a loss for words.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Noise
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Album Review: Disentomb - The Decaying Light
Review Disentomb's The The Decaying Light @ CCS
Idols be hungry.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Death,
Metal
Show Recap: P4k 2019
Pitchfork Festival 2019 is thankfully over. Chicago's festival season is over stuffed with festivals and outdoor concerts during the summer and the entirety of P4K 20-whenever is always one of my least favorite parts of the season each year. Tired, over-hyped, and bougie. I'm over it. I covered a few of the acts that I actually liked this year for Chicago Crowd Surfer. You can read my thoughts at the link below. Look for the recaps attributed to MDR.
Recap of P4k 2019 byt CCS Staff
Labels:
Chicago,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Show Recap
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Album Review: Victims - Horse and Sparrow Theory
Covered some crust punk this week over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. Victims continues to impress me release after release and I'm glad I did a write up for this one. Link below.
Review of Victims' Horse and Sparrow Theory
What are some of your pet theories? Let me know in the comments.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Hardcore,
Punk
Album Review: Immortal Bird - Thrive On Neglect
Another local metal band drops another boundary pushing album. We're living through a metal Renaissance in Chicago, I swear. Read my thoughts on the latest from Immortal Bird over at Chicago Crowd Surfer.
Review Immortal Bird's Thrive On Neglect
This one's a beast.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Death,
Metal
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Show Recap: Logan Square Fest 2019
My coverage of Logan Square's 2019 edition is up over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. I honestly had more fun than I expected to this year. See what I thought of No Men, Hop Along, and Speedy Ortiz's after party at Sleeping Village with Froth and Fckr Jr. at the link.
Words about Logan Square Fest 2019 @ CCS
F*ck ICE
Labels:
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Show Recap
Thursday, July 4, 2019
Album Review: Baroness - Gold & Grey
Grab a copy of Gold & Grey from John Dyer Baizley's own Abraxan Hymns Records
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Interview: Dengue Fever
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| Image thanks to the band |
Whoa! My interview with Cambodia psyche and indie rock innovators Dengue Fever is up over on CHIRP Radio's site. We discussed the history of Cambodian rock music, traditional cuisine, and a stage show inspired by their music, Cambodian Rock Band - a play by Lauren Yee. I had a blast chatting with the band and I think the interview turned out not half bad, not half bad at all.
I've got a fever and the only cure is a Cambodian rock band.
Labels:
CHIRP,
Interview,
Psychedelic,
Rock
Friday, June 28, 2019
Album Review: Abyssal - A Beacon in the Husk
For some reason I didn't expect to like this one as much as I did.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Death,
Metal
Album Review: Hatchie - Keepsake
Your heart is like a locket.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Pop
Thursday, June 27, 2019
Album Review: Pacific Breeze: Japanese City
Pick up a copy from Light in the Attic Records
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Interview: Hitter
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| Image provided by Hitter |
Keep an eye on these guys. They're going to be big.
Friday, June 21, 2019
Album Review: City Girl - Chroma Velocity
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Pop
Album Review: Personal Best - What You At
Girls who date girls write the best break up songs
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Gay,
Rock
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Album Review: Shey Baba - Requiem
Get yourself a copy of Requiem here
Saturday, June 15, 2019
Album Review: Fuming Mouth - The Grand Descent
This is going to make it into my top 10 for the year. No doubt about.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Death,
Hardcore,
Metal
Album Review: Cave In - Final Transmission
They've done better but this isn't bad.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Post-hardcore,
Punk
Thursday, June 13, 2019
Album Review: Alice Clark - Alice Clark
Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Alice Clark's S/T over at WEANTSOUNDS Records
Thursday, June 6, 2019
Album Review: Death Angel - Humanicide
Humanity had it's chance.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Metal,
Thrash
Album Review: Darkthrone - Old Star
Some stars never lose their luster.
Labels:
Album,
Black,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Metal
Show Review: Doomed & Stoned 2019 @ Reggies Rock Club
It's a good time to be a metal fan in Chicago.
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| Coven (Photo by me) |
Labels:
Chicago,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Metal,
Show Recap
Thursday, May 30, 2019
Album Review: Earth - Full Upon Her Burning Lips
This week I covered the dusty new drone album Full Upon Her Burning Lips by Earth. It's an interesting departure for the band and I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. Check it out over at Chicago Crowd Surfer.
Desert witch. Lady of the Earth.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Doom,
Metal
Friday, May 24, 2019
Album Review: Full of Hell - Weeping Choir
My mind is still reeling after experiencing grindcore genre benders Full of Hell and their new LP Weeping Choir. Read my ramblings tongues over at Chicago Crowd Surfer.
Weep for the living, not the dead.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Grindcore,
Metal,
Punk
Album Review: Steel Pulse - Mass Manipulation
Forever in solidarity.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Reggae
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Album Review: Esperanza Spalding - 12 Little Spells
Get a copy of 12 Little Spells on vinyl here
Saturday, May 18, 2019
Album Review: Sâver - They Came With Sunlight
Still curious who "they" are.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Metal,
Sludge
Album Review: Possessed - Revelations of Oblivion
This week I covered the original death metal band, Possessed and their new LP Revelations of Oblivion. They're back from the abyss and I've got some thoughts on their return which you can read over at Chicago Crowd Surfer.
Spoilers: They nailed it!
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Death,
Metal,
Thrash
Friday, May 17, 2019
Show Review: Perturbator at Thalia Hall
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| Perturbator (Photo credit: CCS) |
No future but what we make.
Labels:
Chicago,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Electronic,
Show Recap
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Album Review: Combo Chimbita - Ahomale
Grab a vinyl copy of the album from Anti- Records here
Album Review: Fixed Fight - Empty Homes
The first rule of Fixed Fight Club, is that you don't talk about Fixed Fight Club. The second rule of Fixed Fight Club, is that you don't talk about Fixed Fight Club.
Friday, May 10, 2019
Album Review: Versus - Ex Nihilo
Something from nothing means nothing, gotta have something...
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Pop
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Album Review: Ringworm - Death Becomes My Voice
Chicago Crowd Surfer is running my review of the brutal and uncompromising return of hardcore legends Ringworm and their latest tour de force Death Becomes My Voice. This may be my album of the year. Only time will tell. Link below.
Death has always been my voice.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Hardcore
Album Review: Fury - Failed Entertainment
Are you not entertained?
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Hardcore,
Punk
Album Review: Helms Alee - Noctiluca
Pick up a copy of Noctiluca from Sargent House Records today!
Labels:
Album,
Post-hardcore
Thursday, May 2, 2019
Album Review: Chevalier - Destiny Calls
Helsinki based heavy metal heathens Chevalier just dropped their new LP Destiny Calls, and it is everything you could want out of a speed metal album in 2019. My write up is at Chicago Crowd Surfer. Link below.
Heed the call of destiny, and give this bad mother f*cker a spin.
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Metal
Album Review: Aldous Harding - Designer
There is no one in the world like Aldous Harding, and her new album Designer is a distinctly transportive masterpiece. My write up is over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. Link below.
Review of Aldous Harding's Designer
Design the world you deserve, not the one you were born into...
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Pop
Album Review: Walking Bicycle - Chooch EP
Walking Bicycle, local alternative rockers named for a strange hybrid mode of transportation, are thankfully back with some new music. The new Chooch EP may not be breaking new ground, but it's helping to break me out of the mood I'm in today. Check out my write up over at Chicago Crowd Surfer at the link below.
Review of Walking Bicycle's Chooch EP @ CCS
Do not ask for whom the bicycle bell tolls...
Labels:
Album,
Chicago Crowd Surfer,
Rock
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