Music

This week we have the incredibly clever animated video for Flying Lotus’ “Putty Boy Strut” off his upcoming album Until the Quiet Comes. The video presents a bustling world in which everything is made up of tiny individual robots. From the houses to the trees, everything is a fully functioning (and cute looking) little dynamo hustling along to the groovy sounds of FlyLo. Unfortunately this world was not meant to last. When one robot accidentally consumes another and discovers the power of consumption, he begins to evolve into a giant robotic monster, growing larger as he begins to literally eat his entire world. The beat thumps along pleasantly as we watch this society collapse into a giant pile of wreckage. It’s mezmerizing. Watch the video for “Putty Boy Strut” above and check out Until the Quiet Comes when it releases on October 2nd via Warp.

By: Nathan Kerce

Today we have the first official single from the upcoming Titus Andronicus album Local Business. It’s called “In A Big City” and is mostly about what it’s actually like to venture out on your own and become a real life adult. Patrick Stickles kills it with hilarious and true to life lyrics that are both depressing and terribly inspiring. Lines like “Moved over to the other side of the river now I’m a drop in a deluge of hipsters” are laugh out loud funny but eventually the song devolves (in a good way) into a repetitive hook about the monotony of the workforce, sex and city-life in general (”It’s easy turning me on, I’m nearly a robot. I’ve been building bombs between beers and blowjobs”). It’s a very promising first taste. Watch the lyrics video for “In A Big City” below and check out Local Business out October 22nd via XL.

By: Nathan Kerce

Dog Bite is a fairly new project from former Washed Out live member Phil Jones who handled percussion and keyboard under poster child Ernest Greene. While Phil Jones recorded all the instruments himself in the studio, he has comprised an Atlanta super group of sorts featuring members from Red Sea, Mood Rings, Balkans and even the current touring drummer for Washed Out to support him in his live performances.

While Jones seems to want to reject the title chill-wave, “My Enthusiasm” doesn’t exactly turn and run from Jones’ roots, and I’m not even sure if he walks away. The music is a washed out (pun totally intended), lo-fi blend of 80’s sounding vocals, the steady insistence of drowned out drums and the sweet reverb, distortion and wall of sound of the shoe-gazey guitars that trudges along with its slow tempo. It is nothing new or groundbreaking but it is such a pleasing, beautiful and maybe even “chill” track that it deserves a shout out.

Dog Bite might be a strange monicker for the laid back shoe-gaze sound Jones is producing (always makes me think of Athens based Woodfangs) but there is no denying the potential of this project after listening to the two singles available from what I assume is an upcoming album. The band also as an upcoming show at the 40 Watt in the venue’s October 4th Atlanta vs. Athens showdown featuring similarly awesome local bands Ritvals (pronounced Rituals) and Pretty Bird who have been relatively quiet as of late.

Here’s the second single from the debut album from new Sub-Pop signees METZ. It’s not quite hardcore, it’s more of a tongue in cheek punk skewering of rock-a-billy with some post rock mixed in. The vocals are washed out and the mix blends all of the instruments into a single piece of weaponized noise so the fact that they manage to keep such a goofy rhythm going is nothing less than impressive. Listen to “Wet Blanket” below and check out METZ self titled album when it releases on October 9th via Sub-Pop.

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By: Nathan Kerce

It has been ten long years, but the early 2000’s post-hardcore band the Desaparecidos are back and screaming. Conor Oberst, best known for his band Bright Eyes, first had the idea to get the band back together in 2010. They wrote two new songs which they performed at Maha’s Music Festival as the surprise headliner. Their first two singles embody strong opinions about local politics and the music industry. When Oberst was asked what the biggest difference between playing in the Desaparecidos vs. Bright Eyes, he said it is the constant screaming (which I have dearly missed).

I must say, It’s good to have the Desaparecidos back.

Old Song: What’s New for Fall

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New Song #1: MariKKKopa

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New Song #2: Backsell

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By: Robyn Johnson

This week we have the incredibly depressing animated video for Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s “Time to Be Clear.”  It’s about a bunny who finds true love before everything is taken away in a whirlwind of sickness and cruel violence. With a story by Mike Ayers and art by Dustin Glick, this is a truly bizarre video that fits perfectly with Billy’s cynical sad-sack aesthetic. Watch “Time To Be Clear” above.

By: Nathan Kerce

Here’s a new single from teenaged producer (and brother!) duo Disclosure. It’s a blistering and catchy pop track with familiar 90’s R &B vocals from Sam Smith reminiscent of cheesy acts like Montell Jordon and Tevin Campbell. His performance completely works though and adds a distinctively compelling layer to an already top-notch dance track. It’s one of the most blissful and ear-catching tracks of the year. Listen to “Latch” below, the single will be out soon via PMR records.

By: Nathan Kerce

Captain Murphy is currently one of the most  talked about rappers in the industry despite the fact that no one knows his true identity. He’s an enigma, disguising his voice with intense and frequent pitch shifts, he plays with the listener, never staying in one place or focusing on one subject for too long. His most recent track “The Killing Joke” is really the first time Captain Murphy has gone outside of his twisted braggadocio comfort zone to address his mysterious place in the hip-hop stratosphere. Using an eerie Os Mutantes-sampled loop and some very on-the-nose Dark Knight clips, Murphy compares himself to Batman in both his shrouded identity and status as “savior”. Though the track isn’t full of egotistical “steal your girl” brags like some of his past work, it’s clear that Murphy still thinks very highly of himself and isn’t afraid to let people know how good he thinks he is. Thankfully his rhymes, while not overly intricate, live up to the hype. While the internet furiously debates if this is some sort of alter-ego for Tyler, The Creator (his flow is somewhat similar but his lyrical content couldn’t be more different), a new rap persona for producer Flying Lotus or just some random kid we’ve never heard of before, it’s clear from tracks like “The Killing Joke” that Captain Murphy is having too much fun to pull the curtain back any time soon. Listen to “The Killing Joke” below and check out Captain Murphy’s possible mixtape and/or album DU∆LITY sometime later this year.

By: Nathan Kerce