Pictureplane Free Mixtape

I don't know anything about this guy. It doesn't matter though because his mixtape is really dancy and one that shouldn't be passed up.

Altered Zones has put up two of the better tracks for sampling. His remix of "Closer" is as they say in Miami, fire.

Best, Jonathan

New Curren$y

Head over to LFTF to see what I wrote about the new Spitta track that leaked this afternoon.

It's pretty chill, but very unlike his recent two albums. Covert Coup is due out April 20th.

Best, Jonathan

New Incubus and Beastie Boys tracks

A new Incubus single from their upcoming album If Not Now, When? released yesterday. It's titled "Adolescents". Mike has a sick guitar solo as usual and the band has curbed their sound to be more like vintage Incubus. Check it out here.

Also, today the Beastie Boys released a track off their upcoming May 3rd album Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2. It reminds me of early 90s' Beastie, which can only mean that the album has the potential to be awesome. Check out "Make Some Noise" over here.

Best, Jonathan

Russ Chimes - Midnight Club EP

Wow. Watch this video. It's three tracks back to back to back. Whoever Russ Chimes is wrote a crazy electronica score over an even crazier video, which documents any lover's biggest nightmare. Seriously, you'll be glued to the video. The music itself is actually really technical. Chimes has a perfect balance among the low, mid, and high ends. The high synth isn't piercing, but rather muffled and strong. The melodies are so damn catchy. The lyrics are simple and universal. And holy crap is the video captivating.

5/5 for the overall experience. Music itself: 4.8/5 for a few moments of lag and prolonged suspension but they were few and far between. My favorite track is the first of the three. Although the second and third are just as incredible.

Best, Jonathan

Papercuts - Fading Parade

Papercuts reminds me a lot of Deerhunter. The only problem is that Deerhunter is really good whereas Papercuts is just okay. Fading Parade is somewhat of a plane jane. He plays a lot of off-beat rhythms and sings off key at certain points on purpose. It is nothing to be proud of and nothing to be ashamed of. It would sound better if he were not intentionally unsynchronized. It would sound better if he didn't strain his voice and just sang in tune. But yeah, you get the picture.

I'll give it a deserved 2.9/5. Favorite tracks: Chills, Marie Says You've Changed, and Charades.

Best, Jonathan

Stream all of Panda Bear's new album Tomboy

Oh yes. Thank you, NPR.

Best, Jonathan

Malachai - Return To The Ugly Side

Malachai is stoner funk. Released in late February, Return To The Ugly Side is dark and creepy. Listening to it makes me feel like it's Halloween in the dead of winter and I have a shotgun. In other words, there is a general and well-mixed blend of uneasiness and stability.

They have a sound that I've never really heard before. I can't even make abstract comparisons to anything. As a result, Malachai is really in a world of their own. They are individualistic enough to be unrecognizable but for themselves; its hard to listen to Malachai without realizing it's them. It's kind of like how when you hear something by Animal Collective you just know it's AC and that it can't be anyone else.

Despite its total unfamiliarity, Return To The Ugly Side is an excellent album. I listened with confusion and curiosity, but it still captivated me to the point that I listened four times straight (it's a quick 35-minute, 14-track compilation). What draws you in is the fact that they borrow from a motley of genres. There really is something that appeals to everyone as long as you can get over the initial moments of unchartered territory.

Verdict: 4.0/5. Favorite tracks: Monsters, Anne, Rainbows, (My) Ambulance, Distance, The Don't Just, How You Write, Let 'Em Fall, and HyperNation.

iTunes is the only place I can find the tracks for sampling. Let 'Em Fall is one of their more normal songs, but it's not at all indicative of their overall sound.

Best, Jonathan