Teletextile - Care Package
Self-released (2007)
Art rock / Indie
Teletextile is the post-musical project of the Pamela Martinez Band. Lead singer Martinez is quoted on the band’s Web site as saying, “[Teletextile's] name comes from an obsession with relating music and art you can touch and feel like fabric.” Enlisting another talented multi-instrumentalist, Brian Hamilton, [...]
Thirsty Fish - Testing the Waters
Bell Rang Records (2008)
Hip-hop / Rap
In May of last year, I was able to catch a Thirsty Fish live show at a small club in West Hollywood. Featuring the core as well as the group’s extended family, I wasn’t disappointed, and even if I had been disappointed, Mike Eagle [...]
BLESTeNATION - F*ck a Mixtape Volume Four
Self-released (2007)
Hip-hop / Rap / Rock
Download it for free
I first heard about BLESTeNATION on the 1999 Ming & FS album, Hell’s Kitchen, where they’re featured on the effervescently funky “UN I SON”, which appears amid a sea of drum and bass and 2-step. They’ve been keeping a relatively [...]
DJ Axel - Breakin’ the Law
Holden Records (2007)
Rock / Rap / Hip-hop / Pop / Other
Official site
While the art of the mash-up has been around for years, it was more recently popularized by Danger Mouse’s Grey Album, and seeing how well it was received by the public, many underground DJs have now followed suit. [...]
Hurricane Chris – Louisi-Animal [MIXTAPE]
Polo Grounds Music (8/21/07)
Rap / Hip-hop
Anyone who has ever enjoyed rap—either for an instant or an era—must come to the realization that this industry is, at its heart, a young man’s game. The hunger that once drove a generation of future legends to the mic is inevitably satiated with money, [...]
Mark Ronson - Version
RCA Records (6/12/07)
Rock / Funk / Jazz
Hi, I’m Jeff, and after a relatively poorly-selling (commercially-speaking, though it was critically acclaimed) debut in 2003, with Here Comes the Fuzz, DJ/producer Mark Ronson is finally getting his just desserts, whether they be more critical praise, or death threats from disgruntled Smiths fans. While [...]
Haunt - Haunt
Unsigned (4/3/2007)
faux pas productions
Indie rock/Americana
http://www.myspace.com/hauntmusic
Haunt is the debut album by the band of the same name; the latest project from Ware River Club’s former front man, Matthew Hebert. The Western Massachusetts native has supported such artists as The Jayhawks, Dave Alvin, Marah, Blue Rodeo, EmmyLou Harris, Daniel Johnston and The Allman [...]
The Damage Manual - Damaged Dubs
Underground, Inc. (available exclusively through label)
Industrial Rock
The only way that this item managed not to slip under my radar was due to an e-mail from Underground, Inc.—drummer/industrial figurehead Martin Atkins own Chicago-based label and distributor. I haven’t heard anything from Damage Manual (another of Atkins’ pet projects, with vocals [...]
D-n-A - Hip-Hop and The Black Arts Movement
Sound Mind Productions
Rap/Hip-hop
There was a time not so long ago when one could walk into the local music shoppe and be pleasantly surprised. During my formative years, I used to frequent a spot called Dr. Wax in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. I never left that store without spending [...]
Potluck - Straight Outta Humboldt
Suburban Noize (released Sept. 19, 2006)
Hip Hop
“This is straight reality rap (Potluck)
Straight Outta Humboldt County
We ain’t all of that bling-bling… doin’ all that… flashiness…
We just some stoners… who keep it real…”
Underground, independent rap is often automatically embraced for the simple fact that it can’t be found on your FM dial. [...]