In stamping his latest musical endeavour with the one artistic trait he most seeks to vanquish, Ghana-born lyricist and musician Blitz has ensured the goal of avoiding run-off-the-mill hip-hop conventions would never leave his line of sight. As such, Stereotype places high emphasis on live, dynamic musicianship, with Blitz sharing the energetic limelight with backing band the Embassy Ensemble at every turn. The crew's boisterous horns make the greatest impact, blasting through cuts like "Something To Believe" and the reggae-infused "Lovers Remorse" with a mass the could move stadiums, while the record's extensive sonic detail garners further texture from the varied use of pianos and guitars. The Ambassador's insightful wordplay comes in just as heavy, as the Brooklyn, NY resident balances well-penned attacks on the world's many ills with necessary doses of inspiration, the culmination coming in seven-minute opus "Remembering The Future." Were listeners to hear no other track, that song alone conveys all you need to know about what this album has to offer. (Embassy MVMT)
Scott Pilgrim may be targeting today's 20-something hipster, but the videogame-inspired book-turned-movie-turned-videogame franchise is embedded with references to creator Bryan Lee O'Malley's late '80s and early '90s youth.
So no surprise then that the game adaptation, which...Full Review
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Ray LaMontagne & the Pariah Dogs - God Willin & the Creek Dont 2272
As reticent as he can be, Ray LaMontagne has established himself over his previous three albums as one of the most compelling singer-songwriters in the world today. His country-tinged soul is often compared to Van Morrison's classic early work, something (as was the case with Morrison) that can be...
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The Sound Of The Drums
"Right now I am on a plane from Tokyo to London and I have no idea what day it is," says Jonathan Pierce, singer, songwriter and co-founder of the Drums. He and his band-mates have been forced to deal with a ridiculous level of demand as of late ― the kind of demand that fuels meltdowns, self-doubt and splits....
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