AltWeeklies Wire
Kev Choice Created a Cult of Personality by Straddling Two Worldsnew
Choice's new downloadable album, The Bailout, is a return to the classical mixtape format -- it has three sampled tracks and eighteen original beats, all blended seamlessly together by DJ D-Sharp, all available for free. It's a strange convergence of genres and creative processes, but the result is fascinating.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
01-07-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Toxic Holocaust Provides the Soundtrack for a Post-Apocalyptic Worldnew
Joel Grind claims he writes songs about a "Mad Max kind of world" more influenced by science-fiction fantasy or art than today's headlines. Toxic Holocaust isn't trying to provide commentary.
East Bay Express |
Jarret Keene |
01-07-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
How Al Lucchesi Built the Biggest Incubator in Bay Area Musicnew
Over the course of twenty-plus years, Lucchesi's Soundwave Studio and its predecessors have been home to virtually all of the East Bay's biggest names in music.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
01-07-2009 |
Music
E-40's Latest Already Sounds Like an Anachronismnew
A self-anointed hip-hop "ambassador" who's made most of his fortune in other industries, 40 takes few risks with his music. When he finds a successful formula, like the "hyphy" style that shaped his 2006 album My Ghetto Report Card, he'll beat it past the point of death.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
12-10-2008 |
Reviews
California Honeydrops Brings a New Sensibility to Old Styles of Musicnew
Unlike mainstream revivalist acts like Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, or Raphael Saadiq, of late, the Honeydrops aren't dredging up old trends in order to make a concept album or a nostalgia-based soundtrack.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
12-10-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: California Honeydrops, Soul Tub!
'President' is Easily Murs' Best Release to Datenew
Released a year behind schedule but at a timely moment nonetheless, Murs for President retains the qualities of backpacker hip-hop, despite its new Warner Bros. patina.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
11-19-2008 |
Reviews
Los Rakas Puts a New Spin on Barrio Hip-Hopnew
The group's forthcoming mixtape, La Tanda del Bus, takes its name from the "Diablo Rojo" buses in Panama, which are known for their splashy paintjobs and for the dancehall mixes that bump on their stereos. A follow-up to 2006's Panabay Twist, it's a distinctly Latino spin on the "yellow bus" motif that's been ubiquitous in Bay Area hip-hop.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
11-19-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Iraqi Oudist and Composer Rahim AlHaj Spreads Peace and Compassionnew
While countries around the world are in turmoil, their music lives on in refugee status. It makes sense, but it does rattle one's sense of cultural authenticity and what that means in the modern day. How does Iraqi music change when the musician doesn't live in Iraq anymore?
East Bay Express |
Tom Chandler |
11-06-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Los Cenzontles Blends the American Experience with Traditional Roots Musicnew
The Bay Area's brilliant-hued musical aviary boasts dozens of rare and exceptional hybrid ensembles, but none have risen from humble origins to scintillating creative heights like Los Cenzontles.
East Bay Express |
Andrew Gilbert |
11-06-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Sarah Palin, in Songnew
The Sarah Palin songwriting competition that we launched four weeks ago drew in seventeen submissions, ranging from pop tune rewrites to fully choreographed videos.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan, Kathleen Richards and Nate Seltenrich |
10-29-2008 |
Music
Paris Lets His Inner P-Funk Shine on 'Acid Reflex'new
Listening to Paris in 2008 is like walking on the edge of a razor blade. On one side of that slippery slope, the East Bay militant rap icon continues to espouse the anger and violent revolutionary tendencies he's famous for. On the other, as evident on his new album, his music grooves and swirls and lifts.
East Bay Express |
Tom Chandler |
10-22-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Giant Sand's Howe Gelb on His Band's Ever-Evolving Soundnew
"Whatever I've been a party of, music-wise, has been positive erosion," Gelb explained from his home in Tucson, his voice raspy and a little sly. "I think improvisation is too kind of a word, because it indicates talented people playing within a jazz structure."
East Bay Express |
Tom Chandler |
10-08-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Birdmonster, Tamednew
Norah Jones' producer ushers the San Francisco rockers into acoustic terrain.
East Bay Express |
David Downs |
10-08-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Pandora Boxes for Its Life in Congressnew
How the internet radio king harnessed an army of fans to beat back the broadcast radio industry and stay alive.
East Bay Express |
David Downs |
10-08-2008 |
Music
Oakland Band Real Blood Decided to Build its Career Undergroundnew
Despite their penchant for playing illegal shows, the members of Real Blood are hardly rock 'n' roll rebels. Rather, they're responsible, thoughtful musicians who upon careful consideration decided this was the best way to build their band.
East Bay Express |
Nate Seltenrich |
10-01-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
