There’s a brief scene in Alfonso Cuarón’s still-terrifying dystopian masterpiece Children of Men where Jasper (Michael Caine) and Theo (Clive Owen) take advantage of a small break in the onslaught of horrors to smoke pot and hang out. Jasper suggests “a little zen music” before pressing play on a track created specifically for this scene: […]
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Kendra Mars – Remember When I Was Your Dad
“I’m takin’ rap back to pissy floors and crack in the walls,” proclaims “RAP-TURE,” one of four new cuts on Remember When I Was Your Dad?, the debut EP of Kendra Mars. The line isn’t unearned. The Muskogee artist is bold, crass, and unapologetic on the mic, and this is just one of numerous such […]
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Soundcheck: Limp Wizurdz – Vile
One oft-cited crumb of advice to remedy powerlessness is to focus not on outward change but on inner attitude. When a person cannot affect progress in people or systems, the person can at least decide how such forces affect them. This fortune cookie wisdom may have some merit, but it is easier said than done. […]
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Soundcheck: Various Artists – ᎠᏅᏛᏁᎵᏍᎩ (Anvdvnelisgi)
“ᎰᎵᎦᏧ ᏂᏥᏫᏪᏍᎬ?” According to the printed lyrics that accompany physical copies of ᎠᏅᏛᏁᎵᏍᎩ, a Cherokee language album released in latter 2022, the preceding question translates to, “Do you know what I’m saying?” Hip-hop artist Zebadiah cheekily and offhandedly mutters it at the tail end of “ᏗᎦᏚᎲᏍᎦ,” a track that is otherwise about big and luxurious […]
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Soundcheck: Generation Lossless – Advertising Films
In the old 4:3 aspect ratio of an outdated television screen, a teaser trailer for Advertising Films explains that the term generation loss refers to a condition under which recorded media degrades as it is copied and transferred over time. It is especially evident in the VHS format where horizontal waves of static and warped […]
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Soundcheck: Stunna – Solid Gold
Rock and roll is alive and well. One just needs to know where to find it — Ada, in this case. This oft-overlooked college town is a hidden treasure of original music, from metal to folk to hip-hop styles. It figures that one of its major wayward sons would strike gold with his new band, […]
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Soundcheck: John Fullbright – The Liar
Since its release at the end of September, John Fullbright’s long-awaited The Liar has carried avid word of mouth amongst loyal fans and genre listeners. Its 12 songs have gotten good marks in online music magazines, and the consensus is clear. Even though it’s been eight years since his last album, a practical eternity in […]
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Soundcheck: LRYN – HERE4EVER
LRYN is not an acronym, but if it was, it might stand for Low-key Rekindling Your Night. The project’s pop/R&B music wears a sound palette suited to a sensual evening of flirtatious conversation. With slick beats, smooth key synths, and smoky vocals, LRYN understands that a delicate touch applied to a few sweet spots can […]
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Soundcheck: Alison Sloan – Fate
With wine bottle, cellphone, guitar and more sprawling out from her being in swirls of Blue Willow china inkwork, a hand-drawn Alison Sloan rests comfortably on the cover of her new album. If her eyes were open, she would be looking directly at the viewer, but her mind is elsewhere, finally finding an inner peace […]
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Soundcheck: Chat Pile – God’s Country
Picture — or don’t — a poisoned, discolored body collapsed on concrete, convulsing into an early grave as horrors flash before its blurred eyes. This is the essence of Chat Pile. Drawing metaphors between cinematic body horror and the death throes of late-stage capitalism, the decidedly pessimistic quartet of Oklahoma City musicians has no shortage […]