Albums to Look Forward to in 2012

Galactic - Carnivale Electicos
Release Date: February 17th

Funk, funk, and more funk.  All built around Mardi Gras from New Orleans to Brazil.  A party record made for a party...to party to.  I can dig that. 




The Shins - Port of Morrow
Release Date: March 2012

James Mercer with a bunch of new members.  Should be interesting to see if Natalie Portman still thinks they'll change your life. 

Australia by theshins

Craig Finn - Clear Heart, Full Eyes
Release Date: January 24th

Love the rootsy sound on this with Craig Finn's distinctive voice, lyricism, and delivery. 



The Alabama Shakes - TBD
Release Date: TBD

Just in case you need a little primer, check out their EP here.

Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself
Release Date: March 6th

Check out all the details here.

Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself from Mom+Pop on Vimeo.

Dr. Dog - Be the Void 
Release Date: February 7th

Get down with the dog.

Dr. Dog - That Old Black Hole by antirecords

Gift of Gab - The Next Logical Progression
Release Date: March 2012

I guess all we can say is that it's the next logical progression.

First video for "Everything is Fine" (featuring Latyrx and George Clinton) coming in February. 

Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur
Release Date: January 17th

Check out the new video for "Change the Sheets" here.

Rapping in the Band

Short of Aerosmith & Run DMC, rap rock hasn't really worked out so well as a genre.

In fact, besides the 16 bars of rhymes obligatorily added to every pop song looking for edge since 1999, hip hop hasn't really played well with it neighbors.  Despite the fact that hip hop as an art form began with MC's rapping over soul, funk, and R&B records, a cohesive blending, beyond sampling, of hip hop with some of these genres has been a more difficult task to master.

Here's a couple, however, that really make the partnership work.  

Galactic is a hard driving stew of jazz, funk, and brass from New Orleans that sets the musical table about as well as anyone.  This track is from the album From the Corner to the Block, released in 2007, which is entirely dedicated to collaborations with hip-hop artists.  Other standout tracks include "Think Back" with Chali 2na from Jurassic 5 and "The Corner" with Gift of Gab from Blackalicious.  

The Black Keys dubbed their 2009 collaboration with a host of hip-hop wordsmiths BlakRoc.  Check out his track, "Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo) featuring Mos Def and Jim Jones.  I love the split screen in the video contrasting Jones laying down his verse (in between a marijuana cigarette or two) and the effects pedals, knobs, dials, and switches.

Also give a listen to "Telling Me Things" featuring RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan.