HEAR is the enema your iTunes needs. Bringing you the most thought-provoking and up-to-date music reviews this side of Lester Bangs, HEAR sifts through the ever growing mountain of press releases and promos to only feature albums, EPs, LPs and mixes that we want to, not that we have to. Also, we try and make things make sense in 200 words or less so that you can just listen to the music.
We're all back in Sydney and thank God all that holiday crap is over with. You know how you can celebrate? Danimals!
One of the most exciting Aussie acts around, Danimals make music that twists, turns and sputters with life. They kinda sound like Flying Lotus making beats for Animal Collective (and their antecedent Beach Boys), with playful melodies, lo-fi, shambling production and a sunny disposition.
Lil Wayne may be one of the most misunderstood artists of our generation. Sure, he is fun, and hilarious, and definitely mad as a brush, but he is also a genius. It is as if he is actually blind, and instead of having heightened other senses, it all went straight into his rapping. Or maybe he has autism and is the rap world's equivalent to Rain Man.
It's always a bit weird when two different corners of your music taste collide. Like when your old high school friends crash your 25th birthday party it can be awkward and unnerving to see if two separate worlds can...mesh.
That's pretty much how I felt when Swedish Shangri-La esque songstress El Perro Del Mar (aka Sarah Assbring) was getting Rasmus Hagg, the guy from Studio (nu-Balearic funk duo) to produce her latest mini-album, Love is Not Pop.
Do you ever go completely OCD on a particular album or worst still, just one song? You play it over and over until you fear you'll out grow itlike a favourite childhood t-shirt. 'Ordinary' on Red Rider's long-awaited second album is that well-worn t-shirt, but I refuse to give it up. I like to wear it to bed.
If the Brain Children cover art isn't enough to make you want to listen to their self-titled debut EP, I don't know if there's anything I can say that will. It sits somewhere between a piss take of rap videos and an endorsement of body stockings - just to give you an idea.
The EP is one slick, smooth and super-catchy sounding package.
Belle and Sebastian is the band that never stopped putting out amazing records. We all love them, and we all therefore predict love for Stuart Murdoch's new offering, God Help The Girl. This film and music project was imagined years ago, but only recently conceived.
We have been graced with a new album comprised of new songs and even some re-recorded classics, but here's the kicker - the album is a loose narrative and the girls all look as good as the ones on previous B&S covers.
Have you ever had to interview someone before? It makes me nervous. When I spoke to Bradford Cox from Deerhunter I was freaking the fuck out. My arse was sweating and I needed to pee real bad all the time. Don't ask me why, I can't help it. I just get really nervous. Anyway, so I'm sitting there with my little notepad of questions and Bradford calls me.
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