Posted on 05/21/2009
No surprises here. Between these dudes, decades upon decades of dues paid and relentless maverick steez for breaking new talent; it’s properly fitting that Rich Medina and Kool Bob Love got kicked the assignment of compiling an early summer drop chock full of today’s rising Afro-Beat and Latin talent crop for R2 Records. Whether you’re macking on a rooftop with a mojito or just maintaining in the shower like Mookie;...

Posted on 05/21/2009
The last time we heard from Ben Harper, he teamed with the Innocent Criminals to deliver the Lifeline LP, a no-frills, acoustic album recorded in Paris and heavily influenced by classic rock, folk and the blues. On Harper's latest offering, White Lies for Dark Times, "no-frills" remains the common theme, as the California native joins forces with Relentless7 to serve some raw, high-powered rock and roll to the musical universe....

Posted on 05/21/2009
Apart from Seattle, Minneapolis is one of those unlikely havens where musical movements seem to stew. Naturally, one of the most notable Minneapolis acts is the royalty that is Prince. But the Minneapolis sound doesn’t stop with electro-funked-out-rock music. It permeates into all the genres, and the Minnesota duo, Big Quarters, proves that.

Posted on 05/21/2009
Receiving a pre-release version of this CD, I did not get a chance to see the packaging or liner notes that have become a major part of The Numero Group's look on their project, thus this will be judged on the music alone. Smart's Palace is a continuation of the label's fantastic Eccentric Soul series where they look at different labels and artists, thus focusing on a specific region...

Posted on 05/21/2009
Yes, Jar-e’s sophomore album, Chicas Malas was given a Spanish name, but it is not, by any means, a Latin album. Actually, it’s difficult to decipher exactly what genre Jar-e’s Chicas Malas falls into, but maybe it doesn’t need to fall in anywhere. Whatever you or I decide on, Chicas Malas will roll on over to another genre just in time for the following track.

Posted on 05/21/2009
Jason the Argonaut is playful – the intelligent, good-natured type to shrug off life’s worries in a fun way, without indifference, and this makes Casting Couch approachable. Unfortunately the inconsistencies manage to weigh down the LP.