Felt lost its warm & fuzzy feeling :o(

I could feel my heart flutter a little as soon as I heard that the new “Felt Vol. 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez” was set to drop on November 17th. Having been a big fan of what Slug and MURS have done separately and their work together on the first 2 Felt albums, I was eager to get my mitts on Vol. 3. As soon as it became available I grabbed it on iTunes. For those of you who don’t know, Felt is a collaborative project between Slug of Atmosphere and MURS from the Living Legends. Featuring The Grouch of Living Legends (Felt: A Tribute to Christina Ricci) and Anthony Davis (Ant) of Atmosphere (Felt Vol. 2: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet) on production.

Aesop Rock was chosen as the maestro on production of “Felt Vol. 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez” with a signature style of dark and gritty garage beats to bring to the table. Aesop has a very distinct manner of rappin and luminous beats to match that signature style. I can appreciate Aesop Rock as an individual artist, but I have to admit that I was skeptical of him on production and after listening to the new “Felt Vol. 3” a few times, rightfully so. It seems like the beats and the rhymes are like oil and water, they just don’t mix.

The first two Felt albums had a playful and imaginative vibe with a congealed sound that brought the whole album together. Like puzzle pieces, it all seemed to fit together perfectly to make a complete picture. Every song was juicy, full, and dripping with talent that made you want more. Felt appeared to be the ground-breaking project that revealed a delicious recipe for hip hop by bringing all the elements together. “Felt” and “Felt Vol. 2” lead us to believe that this was the beginning of beautiful relationship, setting us up for what we know that Slug and MURS are capable of.

“Felt Vol. 3” leaves much to be desired especially when compared to their previous projects. The beats have the personality of Aesop Rock, while Slug and MURS bring lyrics fit for hip hop kings making for a confusing combination that never quite comes together. I found myself waiting for a few tracks to balance out the album with some bump, funk, jazz, and electro samples, but the dirty, dark, low-fi, grinded beats were carried throughout the album.

I never quite got that warm & fuzzy feeling that the first two albums left me with. Reluctantly, I must admit they missed the mark on this one. But I still got mad love for Slug, MURS and Aesop! Better luck next time boys.

~Portia <3

Sweet Little White Lies <3

I recently discovered a wonderful British band called White Lies. A group of twenty-something British blokes that are reminiscent of the new wave sound of the post-punk 80's with their own original flavor. If you are or were a fan of The Cure, Joy Division, or New Order then White Lies should perk your little ears right up! The lyrics are wonderfully poetic and morbidly delectible in an emo/goth kind of way with songs about death, suicide, kidnapping and so on. Each song delivered by Harry Mc Veigh's haunting vocals that truly resonate in my soul. Thought provoking tracks with great danceability, a subtle pop undertone, and technically very tight on all levels. I for one and really enjoying thier premier album, To Lose My Life.

Chilly bone jones!

Hello Everyone!

I found out about the band Dead Man’s Bones last summer in Manhattan and they have just released their first album on October 6th. An early October release is entirely appropriate for an album rife with the theme of ghosts, zombies, death, and the living dead. The perfect soundtrack for the weeks leading up to All Hallows’ Eve with songs like ‘My Body’s a Zombie for You’, ‘Werewolf Heart’, and ‘Flowers Grow Out of My Grave’. Lead singer Ryan Gosling presents haunting vocals with a faint spirit of Ian Curtis and his own noticeably unique delivery balanced out by Zach Shields delicately delicious vocals on several songs. With an eerie and nostalgic sound offered up by the Silverlake Conservatory of Music Children’s Choir featured on almost every song. They run the gambit of instruments from antique piano to organ to xylophone and it comes together magically in a perfectly unpolished package. Almost like finding a suitcase at an antique store full of old 45s…a veritable treasure chest!

Ryan Gosling is most well known for his role the epic love story “The Notebook”. He has appeared in many independent films with equally notable performances such as “The Believer”, “Half Nelson”, and “Lars and the Real Girl”. Seeming to be a fan of projects off the beaten path, his musical endeavors have landed in the realm of independent as well.