Tell Us About 2012 Releases

[nosurprises12]

As of right now, "These Chains" is my favorite track on the new Hot Chip. Will dig deeper shortly.

I've listened to it a few times now, and I'm enjoying it. I think the run of "Look at Where We Are"--"These Chains"--"Night and Day"--"Flutes" is my favorite part, as each of these tracks is strong in its own way. "Now There is Nothing" is pretty awful, though. Finally, the bass line in "How Do You Do" reminds me a lot of "Wanna Be Startin' Something," which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

[Gribbz]

I thought the new Hot Chip was pretty underwhelming upon first listen. I'll have to re-visit later.

[nosurprises12]

I was in the same boat Gribbz, but for whatever reason it "clicked" a bit more when I listened to it again today.

[thestripe]

Early prediction: what Titus Andronicus was at Coachella 2011 for a lot of people on this board, Japandroids will be for 2013.

That's if they end up being there. It seems like they plan their tours around Coachella but never make the bill.

[thestripe]

People keep writing about how much better the lyrics are on the new record. Honestly, I thought the lyrics were great on the first album. Simple, yes. Repetitive, yes. But they were great at articulating very specific, intense feelings, and matching those feelings with musical moments that intensify them. "It's raining in Vancouver/But I don't give a fuck/Because I'm alone with you tonight" is beautiful in its simplicity. Anyone who has been in love can understand that.

YES! Excellent observation, Andrew.

[rage patton]

That's if they end up being there. It seems like they plan their tours around Coachella but never make the bill.

It would be a huge oversight on GV's part to not book Japandroids for next year. I can't imagine not seeing them on the bill at this point.

[thestripe]

Fingers crossed. I just hope we don't have another Why? situation going on.

[IceyHotshot]

What happened with Why? They have an album, or an EP, in the works. I want them at Coachella!

[thestripe]

Overlooked. Year after year. It's shameful.

[ods..]

I dig this Kindness album, I'm surprised I hadn't listened to it yet but it's pretty great. Curren$y's Stoned Immaculate and Spaceghostpurrp's newest have been on rotation as well. Crazy year for hip hop.

[bmack86]

2012: 1977 for Hip Hop

[SoulDischarge]

Yeah, my interest in hip-hop has been completely resurrected thanks to a couple of releases this year. Listened to that Gangrene album last night, really enjoyed it.

[GolfWang]

2010 was a waaayyyy better year for hip-hop than this year has been so far. at least for me. 2012 has been nice though.

[bmack86]

What were some 2010 standouts for you?

[GolfWang]

What were some 2010 standouts for you?

Kanye - MBDTF
Big Boi - Sir Luscious Left Foot
Roc Marciano - Marcberg
Big K.R.I.T. - K.R.I.T. Wuz Here
Waka Flocka - Flockavelli (although admittedly I was way late to appreciating this album)

and then all the Odd Future shit:
Earl
Bastard
Blackenedwhite
Rolling Papers
Radical

probably some others I can't think of. 2012 may rival 2010 for me when it's over, but as of now 2010 wins.

[Spooks]

Can't wait to pick this up next week



ps Trouble keeps coming for this dude haha....

[GeezrRckr]

Indie hip hop is the only thing keeping me interested in 2012. 2010 was so damn good all around. This year has been so damn mediocre for me. The AC, DPz and Grizz albums can't come soon enough.

[nicholasyames]

i'm sure somebody has talked about it already on here but...


the new walkmen album heaven is very good. i listened to it once through before sasquatch! and since am now on my third time through after seeing them play a majority of the songs at the festival. while the opening song, "we can't be beat" seems slow and boring, the live version certainly shows off lead singer's Hamilton Leithauser's voice and range as he dominates the microphone. Overall the entire album is very warm, certainly a sit down and listen to with headphones album for anyone looking for simple yet appreciative guitar licks. It's certainly a departure from what I thought of as the more surf oriented last album lisbon which I thoroughly enjoyed as well... But this new one is different, more laid back, less crossing guitars dueling with each other. instead it's much more straightforward, moving from songs with just one guitar to the whole band getting in on the action on others. i certainly would check it out if you're into them at all or if you like maybe the new lotus plaza album, which i certainly do, and anything else around that genre.

[PotVsKtl]

Kanye - MBDTF
Big Boi - Sir Luscious Left Foot
Roc Marciano - Marcberg
Big K.R.I.T. - K.R.I.T. Wuz Here

Innovation?

and then all the Odd Future shit:
Earl
Bastard
Blackenedwhite
Rolling Papers
Radical

Eh.

[GolfWang]

Innovation?

I'm assuming you're trying to infer that none of the albums I mentioned were innovative? I would disagree for some of them, but even if I didn't innovation doesn't mean shit if the music isn't compelling. But I guess that's all just subjective bullshit.

What this year has been released that's more innovative?
Death Grips? - Techno Animal did it first and did it better.
Killer Mike? - Ice Cube/Public Enemy " "
El-P? - I'll Sleep When You're Dead shits all over Cancer4Cure but nobody seemed to care when that album was released.

[wmgaretjax]

Techno Animal fucking sucks. The Killer Mike isn't exactly ground breaking, but definitely a perfect example of building on something great.

[GolfWang]

Techno Animal fucking sucks. The Killer Mike isn't exactly ground breaking, but definitely a perfect example of building on something great.

I love the Killer Mike record as well. Just because something isn't innovative or groundbreaking doesn't mean it's not great. That was pretty much my only point.

edit: and Techno Animal is the shit.

[wmgaretjax]

The production on the Techno Animal stuff blows. In my book Death Grips and Techo Animal are drawing from opposite ends of the pond as far as the production goes. That's mostly what appeals to me about Death Grips and exactly what turns me off of Techno Animal. Techno Animal is just recycling old shit in overdrive...

[GolfWang]

The production on the Techno Animal stuff blows. In my book Death Grips and Techo Animal are drawing from opposite ends of the pond as far as the production goes. That's mostly what appeals to me about Death Grips and exactly what turns me off of Techno Animal. Techno Animal is just recycling old shit in overdrive...

Really? I hear a lot of similarities between their production styles. It's not that I don't like Death Grips, though. I do. It's just that I don't think they're as special or as original as others do. I guess.

[xuclarockerx]

Was browsing Entertainment Weekly when I read this review:

To the list of people who've had mind-altering experiences at Coachella, you can add Usher. In April he was a surprise guest at the music festival, and he says his seventh album, Looking 4 Myself, was inspired by the eclectic acts he saw there, including Euro-disco champs Swedish House Mafia (who produced two songs for L4M) and Aussie synth-rockers Empire of the Sun (who guest on the title track). Even Usher's new look off stage — the Buddy Holly glasses, the facial scruff — suggests that he's warming to indie music. Did he go into Coachella as a Top 40 guy and come out a hipster?

Well, he's not exactly taking a stand against party-rock anthems here. Looking 4 Myself still sounds like the Usher you know; it's just a little more interesting than his usual onslaught of skull-pounding beats and silk-sheets ballads. Cool-kid DJ Diplo (M.I.A., Robyn) produced the electro-glitchy single ''Climax,'' which he's compared, not unfairly, to Radiohead. (Avant-classical composer Nico Muhly also arranged the strings on it.) Amy Winehouse producer Salaam Remi eases into a Motown vibe on ''Sins of My Father,'' and Pharrell Williams brings it back to the '60s with the retro-soul vamp ''Twisted.'' The slower songs drag, and when it comes to romance, Usher's hilariously clueless: He proposes a nice ''gang bang'' for his lady, and offers to ''let me be your body soap'' (um, yuck). But when he reins himself in and lets the producers experiment, he's getting something better than just another loverman hit. He's always been popular, but now he sounds cool. B

Also, they refer to the Walkmen in the sidebar as "brunch-rock"

[wmgaretjax]

how are japandroids not just a rock version of dashboard confessional? your melodrama isn't interesting.

[ods..]

It's whiny, but it's definitely catchy on repeat listens.

[wmgaretjax]

oh, certainly. i couldn't help but want to bob my head and dance around... but it isn't particularly compelling beyond that. the lyrics made me throw up in my mouth a couple of times.

[TallGuyCM]

I really like the new Japandroids record. It's so infectious. BUT...in general, I have a really hard time with overly earnest music. And Japandroids constantly tiptoe that line between stomachable and too much. It's why I can't handle Bright Eyes, Mumford and Sons, etc. (yes, I just put those two in the same sentence)...the music is so desperate for acceptance that it's nauseating. "Please, like our band! Listen to our music! This should be the soundtrack to your life!"

But most of the time, Japandroids manage to stay on the tolerable side of that line. And I enjoy both of their full-lengths very much. They were a bit annoying live the one time I saw them when they opened for The Walkmen a few years ago though.

[GeezrRckr]

What Jared said. Plus, ahen I saw them last summer, they bored the fuck out of me. Next.