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09 May 2006

DJ Five & Pizzo, Backpack Thugs 2005 Megamix (self-released) Rating: 8
This CD shouldn't be any good, given the fact that it incorporates into its basic premise not one but two music clichés: both the compulsive need of music people to give end-of-the-year recaps and the no-longer-quite-as-fresh-as-before mash-up trend. On Backpack Thugs 2005 Megamix, DJ Five and Pizzo, of the Abe Froman Showmen and Inhumanz respectively, bring back all of their favorites from the past year in hip-hop by matching indie vocalists with commercial beats (and vice versa) in a series of popular/underground mash-ups (hence the title). They even include those cute little mash-up pun song titles like "Galangalicious". We've all seen this type of thing before, but Backpack Thugs doesn't even need its indie vs. commercial gimmick to differentiate itself -- it escapes the ghetto of novelty mash-ups by, surprise of all surprises, being really good. DJ Five and Pizzo offer mix after professionally-executed mix (no tempo glitches or grating discord to be found), and the match-ups are consistently well-planned. "Down and Out" can't be the same without Cam'Ron's mentally-unhinged, percussive gangsta-isms, but Buckshot's whispery flow takes the track in a whole new direction; even mixes that shouldn't work, like John Legend crooning over a Fort Minor beat, somehow fit. DJ Five and Pizzo know they're not the main attraction here, so they remain subtly out of the spotlight, scratching to blend the tracks into one another nicely but never excessively. And Kanye's verses from "Gold Digger" work perfectly with a sublime string selection courtesy of DJ Premier, Edan rips into "Wait (The Whisper Song)", Slug gets going over "1 Thing", and West's gorgeous "Hate It or Love It" beat is finally rescued from G-Unit and given to GZA. The original wrap-up track from Skillz is cute though unexceptional, but really, the minute you hear Mike Jones tip on the Danger Mouse groove of "Feel Good Inc.", none of that even matters. [HipHopSite | MixTapeBros]
      — Michael Frauenhofer
"Remember I Used to Love You - John Legend Vs. Fort Minor": [real]
"We Want Preemo - Kanye West Vs. AZ and Premier": [real]
"Smart Went 50 - 50 Cent Vs. Atmosphere": [real]
"Wait For Meat - Ying Yang Twins Vs. Danger Doom": [real]

Hail Social, "Warning Sign" b/w "Objects in Mirror" [7-inch single] (Polyvinyl) Rating: 5
Philadelphia's Hail Social has a license to confuse. On this seven-inch, singer Dayve Hawk flirts awfully close to imitating the vocal tics of David Gahan (Depeche Mode) on the awkward, flat, A-side, a song that sounds like an awkward breeding experiment between the Psychedelic Furs' Sister of Mine (without the sax) and the Pixies' Debaser. B-side Objects In Mirror is, strangely, a much peppier and danceable affair, and is perhaps a song that could be played during the end credits of a John Hughes film in an alternate universe. Why weren't the two songs flipped? This band might have the '80s in its rearview, but it has yet to understand how to put its dated rock and pop elements cohesively together in order to best move back towards the future. [Amazon | Insound]
      — Zachary Houle
multiple songs: [MySpace]

Blueground Undergrass, Faces (Landslide) Rating: 6
When I saw the name of the band I wondered if I was going to hear bluegrass with its tongue in its cheek -- Bill Monroe with a sense of humour, all speed and competitive extroversion, or Flatt and Scruggs with a psyche-folk hemp-powered twist -- but Blueground Undergrass play modern country music at a moderate speed. They have a fiddle and a banjo, two singers, and an electric guitar. Their version of country has a soft-rock flavour. Their lyrics are often rueful, sometimes nostalgic. "Who are the faces that you'll see... as you're drowning?" Jeff Mosier asks on the title song. I have no idea, but it's a melancholy thought. "In This Life" advises you to "work real hard to stand up tall," before you grow old and die. "Clinch Mountain Backstep" begins with banjo and fiddle; then the electric guitar comes in and starts doing polite power chords. Faces is easy listening. Bill Monroe won't be rolling over in his grave for this one. He'll be smiling at the radio, humming a little, then dozing off. [Amazon | Insound]
      — Deanne Sole

The Concretes, "Chosen One" [CD-single] (EMI) Rating: 7
Attractive and cool, the packaging for the first single, "Chosen One", off the Concretes' new record is a study in style. Occasionally, it can be hard to get beyond that style the Concretes' ooze so well. But In Colour is a step forward in the humanizing factor and this single is anything but a throwaway. The two exclusive tracks are pop songs slowed down to moody introspection. Drummer Lisa Milberg gives lead singer Victoria Bergsman a break on "Postpone It" and the result is simply charming. Also included is the video for "Chosen One", starring the band in their own make-believe town. It's eye candy for certain -- cool (that word again) and fun. [Amazon | Insound]
      — Jill LaBrack
"Chosen One" (video): [windows | real]
more songs and videos, click on "downloads": [official site]

.: posted by Editor 7:59 AM