Play It As It Lays #254
New Tommy Guerrero Album Out Today + MP3
Radio Citizen
Radio Citizen updates the big band concept for the hip hop generation. To be more precise, Radio Citizen is Niko Schabel, a one-man big band really, with a cast of players, including Indian-born vocalist Bajka. “The Hop’s” bluesy beats, grinding organ riffs, and seductively soulful vocals resurrect trip hop’s potential and tap hip hop’s power and promise—the ability to combine genres and moods to create a new work of art. Radio Citizen’s source genres are a potpourri of sixties jazz, funk 45s, soul, dub and reggae, afrobeat, electronica, trippy avantgarde, surf, Latin, boogaloo, and rocksteady just to name a few. Get in on this track now for an injection of soul into your usual, soul-sucking Monday.
The May Bees
This one’s hot outta the suggestion box. And by the way, let me just say we completely appreciate anyone who takes the time to send in a tip. I know we can take a long time to get to things, but it’s the nature of the proverbial beast that is an inbox jam-packed with music. Alright, on to The May Bees—primarily a dutch duo, guitars and drums (with what looks like a rent-a-bassist), who keep their rock stripped down and ferociously lo-fi without losing an ounce of listenability. They also keep their top myspace friends to a minimum (just four), revealing obvious influences/mentors/kindred spirits—a quadraphonic godhead of American indie rock really—Guided By Voices, Grandaddy, Sonic Youth and The Pixies. And what separates The May Bees from many of the micro-indie bands we cover on this site, is that they’re making a respectable run at touring, especially considering they’re coming across the Atlantic to do so. This is a call for our Canadian, East Coast and Mid West readers to pencil in The May Bees when they come through your town and give ’em a warm North American welcome courtesy of 3hive.
New MP3 + Album from Dosh
Tim Fite
He’s a little bit country; he’s a little bit rock ‘n’ roll; he’s a little bit hip-hop. He’s straight outta Brooklyn. He’s Tim Fite. Basically, Mr. Fite builds songs around hip-hop loops and beats, infusing the tracks with folk’s lyrical sensibilities. “Away From the Snakes,” for example, follows country’s song template: “I lost my dog, I lost my wife, I lost my money.” Then, on “No Good Here,” he’ll fracture an upbeat, diddy-of-a-riff, with rock’s explosive power. Consider him Beck’s East Coast brother-in-arms, ten years later, but mining the same, largely untapped source of urban-folk gems. If cursing offends, beware. If cursing delights, dig in.
The Mary Onettes
Sam, Clay and I bicker constantly about who’s gonna post the latest treat from Sweden’s ever-so-sweet Labrador Records. Thanks to Jason over at Mystery and Misery (and newly Minimal) I’ve won this round. The Mary Onettes not only have a playful ’80s era air about their name, they’ve also captured the artful earnestness of the decade’s music. “Lost” devos open with a driving drum beat that leads into a jangly, New Order guitar riff and A Flock of Seagulls keyboard flourish. On paper it sounds like a disaster, but to the ear it’s pure, um, music. They drop things down a few notches on “What’s So Strange?” an acoustic-y, track bordering on gentle, psychedelic XTC. Next time your parents complain that “They just don’t make music like they used to!” give ’em a dose of The Mary Onettes.