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Mos Def: Fake Bonanza

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2:23 pm

Tuesday, Dec 19, 2006

by PopMatters Staff

Mos Def
True Magic
[Geffen]
US release: Friday, December 29th

Stream: “Fake Bonanza” [Real Audio | Windows]
Stream: “Napoleon Dynamite” [Real Audio | Windows]
[Mos Def | MySpace]

The Exies - “Once in a Lifetime”

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12:00 am

Friday, Dec 15, 2006

by PopMatters Staff

THE EXIES
A Modern Way of Living with the Truth
[Eleven Seven Music]

Download: “Once in a Lifetime” [MP3]

Stream: “Once in a Lifetime” [Real Audio | Windows]

“Los Angeles modern rock band The Exies recently completed their new album A Modern Way of Living with the Truth. The album was produced by James Michael (Mötley Crüe, Duran Duran, Camp Freddie) and is due out in stores in early 2007 through Eleven Seven Music. The Exies decided to create a music video for the classic Talking Heads track “Once in a Lifetime” because they felt the song embodied the essence of their record that at it’s core is existential in nature. Scott Stevens from The Exies comments, ‘The ‘Once in a Lifetime’ video is about rising above the past and moving on through life’s pain, suffering, love, and joy. Many people get caught up along life’s journey and pine for a period in their lives when they were happiest—full of hope, love, and friendship. However, these things are fleeting and ever changing. This is a video of everything that we are that binds us and penetrates us and brings us together. It is love, loss, empathy, and shame that in the end, leads us to our own personal truth.’”—Eleven Seven Music

Tagged as: the exies

ChiiDo: Afro Knowledge From Naija To London

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12:00 am

Thursday, Dec 14, 2006

by PopMatters Staff

ChiiDo
Afro Knowledge From Naija To London

“N.E.P.A.”
“African everywhere”

“ChiiDo is a fresh new Afro-hip-hop MC, a great lyricist with star quality. ChiiDo is the future of Afro-beat; his album “Afro knowledge… from Naija to London” is due out September 2006. His first single “Pigin English” is currently on rotation on selected popular music channels in the UK and local cable channel in Germany. ChiiDo’s debut album features other Nigerian artists such as AY of Pounds & Naira Inc and many more.

The album is simply a mix of Nigerian ‘Pigin English’ over modern creative music, with a touch of African beats. Several UK TV and radio shows have already noticed his talent for catchy songs and producing potential chart topping tunes.
Since dawn of the new millennium ChiiDo has been busy crafting his own style of musical expression. Encompassing elements of both hip-hop and Afro beat; ‘hip-life’ is an exciting new genre and one with which ChiiDo (real name Chinedum Nnochiri) is poised to make a splash.

Hailing from Lagos, Nigeria. ChiiDo’s musical ambitions first began to take shape at an early age. Around the house, ChiiDo’s father would spin vinyls of Nigerian legend Fela Kuti. Moments like these would serve to shape ChiiDo’s vision of one day making great music himself. After some initial recordings with like-minded people, ChiiDo decided to embark on a stylistic change, one that would lead him to his current incarnation.”—Blue Pie Productions

Matthew Ryan: From A Late Night High Rise

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12:00 am

Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006

by PopMatters Staff

Matthew Ryan
From A Late Night High Rise

“And Never Look Back”
“Babybird”

“From the first wave of symphonic keyboards to the last utterance of good advice FROM some accidental RF, From a Late Night High-Rise is a masterful rumination on mortality and morality. It’s an epic to behold.

Matthew Ryan has wandered around the edges for years now. Originally perceived as an alt-country troubadour, Ryan has slowly made his case for a more adventurous and cinematic American Singer/Songwriter. You get the feeling he doesn’t care much for anything that resembles a hollow victory. He’s clearly chosen the hard way. From major labels to small labels to indie labels to DIY and back again; he continues to follow some stubborn compass that keeps him quietly searching for his version of perfect weather in a song. All the while amassing a loyal following, a growing resume of film and television placements and a mountain of critical acclaim.

From a Late Night High-Rise is a movie without film, it’s a novel without a book. It’s absolutely beautiful, precise and unflinching. It’s music that glows like a city from high up in an airplane—first appearing alien, then blooming completely human. Shaken by the sentencing of his brother to 30 years in prison and the death of a dear friend, Ryan took to recording and writing songs on his Korg D16 Porta Studio to cope with his grief. “Follow the Leader”,“Gone for Good”, “Love Is the Silencer”,“Victory Waltz” and “The Complete Family” were all recorded at home. Those recordings were the seeds that would become From a Late Night High-Rise.”—00:02:59 LLC

Common and Will.i.am: “A Dream”

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12:00 am

Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006

by PopMatters Staff

Will.i.am and Common perform Common’s new single “A Dream”. The song was produced by Will.i.am and will be featured on the soundtrack for the upcoming film Freedom Writers, in theaters January 5th. Get more at Youtube.com/beheard.