Posted on 04/27/2009
The work of Brighton, England native Natasha Khan, performing under the stage name Bat for Lashes, has been lauded and favorably compared to Kate Bush, Bjork, label mates Radiohead, and even Stevie Nicks. However, Khan’s sound is much more than knock-offs of those earlier greats. The singer/songwriter/visual artist brings to life her own style with sharp lyrics and melodies that border on the mystic. Her second album, Two Suns, is...

Posted on 04/27/2009
I don’t know what it is about this guy, Bru Lei, that reminds me of Guru, if Guru was 21 and a part of Wu-Tang Clan. Actually, I’m sure he gets “You remind me of Doom,” the most. But these comparisons aren’t fair. Bru Lei is Bru Lei. And his new EP, Shroom Crumbs, is just that; small snippets of what could potentially cause an incredible trip to...

Posted on 04/27/2009
Some believe Asher Roth is a breath of fresh air in the ever-changing climate of mainstream hip-hop. Others believe he was grown in a test tube by Viacom as a means of lining their already stuffed pockets with more cash. The content of the Morrisville, PA newcomer's major label debut, Asleep in the Bread Aisle, provides droplets of validity to both arguments. Song titles like "Sour Patch Kids," "La Di...

Posted on 04/21/2009
The artist and album title really underestimate the value of the work itself. The name Planet Pimp, by the law of stereotypes, does not insinuate a Jazz album, nor does it usually lend itself to anything substantial. Yet, this Koch release, crafted by an ensemble of six Japanese jazz musicians has pumped some fresh blood into the genre’s heart. Their thirteen track album sounds like it was bred on the...

Posted on 04/21/2009
Whether you like your jazz uncomplicated or densely layered, whether you know what a free-form, Butch Morris-inspired confab of musicians sounds like, whether you've ever made a life-saving escape over the hills or not, whether you like your music writers to spontaneously morph into dreamweaving conductors using laptops to create words one minute and funked-out space jazz the next, the newest offering from Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber has something...

Posted on 04/21/2009
As a long-time soloist and member of the D.C. Metropolitan-area Remainz Crew, producer/MC yU is enjoying a true resurgence in his visibility of late. His collaborative effort with fellow producer/MC Oddisee and young upstart MC XO – known collectively as the Diamond District –revealed yU’s show stealing, distinct, and snarling verses on the group’s recent debut In The Ruff. Before Taxes, originally planned as an EP, has blossomed into a...