Sound Check's Blog Posts Tagged 'Review' (11)

This past weekend, Kanye West premiered two new songs on Saturday Night Live from his forthcoming album, Yeezus, titled “New Slaves” and “Black Skinhead.” The new music, following the premier of the “New Slaves” music video projected on 66 buildings across the globe last Friday, suggests West is returning to the social…

Metal has always had a fixation on the mystical and magical. From the occult and demonic fixation of doom metal to the D&D Monster Manual of power metal. The fierce low guitar, thundering drums, and classical technicality convey something larger than life, something more epic than ordinary reality. So it makes perfect sense that UK based Vodun would base their music around West African Vodun rituals and Loa (Haitian elemental spirits).…

It's hard not to love pop music that you can get lost in. Far too often the artists get as far as a killer hook and declare “good enough.” More and more pop music just kind of coasts without bothering to flesh songs out with arrangements worthy of their hooks. So you have to respect a band like Meridian who pack their tracks with layers upon layers of texture and detail.…

Malian musician Bassekou Kouayte comes from a rich musical and storytelling history. He was born to a musician father Mustapha and mother Yagare Damba a praise singer, so it makes sense that he carries the unquestionable pedigree of African blues. He further explores the cultural shift and broadens its music as Kouyate rises among the Mali musicians alongside greats Ali Farka Toure, Salif Keita, Oumou Sangare and Toumani Diabate.



Review by Jon Jon…

Prince has a long tradition of taking young women under his purple wing and pushing them into the spotlight. There have been some good (yay Sheila E!) and some bad (ugh Carmen Electra...), but there haven't been many as genuine and worthy of respect in their own right as the Cameroonian singer Andy Allo. Although her latest record Superconductor was produced by Prince and features performances from members of the New Power Generation, Andy Allo is clearly the real person in…

No one could have prepared the city of Indianapolis for what took place on December 4, 2012. One the most influential hip hop groups of all time just happened to roll into town on a stop for their 14 city HipHopgods tour. Base!!! How Low Can You Go! You guessed it- Public Enemy! With a career that has spanned over 25 years, produced 85 tours, and a recent nomination for the 2013 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, there seems to be no stopping for Public Enemy any time…

In the days before my family had the internet (beyond the periodic 30 day free trial of AOL, of course), I spent many an afternoon obsessively tracking down and collecting the home recordings of Lou Barlow from Dinosaur Jr. and Sebadoh. I had nothing but rumor and recommendation from older friends about what recordings even existed, but I would trek from record store to record store hoping to stumble upon some basement gem by Folk Implosion or Sentridoh. I still never found the…

Sometimes a story is only as good as the storyteller, and in early October Esperanza Spalding told a story of love, hope, and life during her second visit to the city of Indianapolis. Spalding performed at the Old National Theatre with her 10-piece Radio Music Society Band. Spalding introduced each member of the band throughout the 2 hour long show as they each brought their own unique flavor to songs like “Black Gold” which backup singer Chris Turner sang out during the…

“There used to be a better kind / of rock and rolling superstar / they'd strut around and do their thing / all I know how to do is sing” Weezer sang in the lost album 4.5 gem “Superstar.” An eulogy to the days when rock gods were rock gods. No irony, no self-awareness, no Andrew WK meta-commentary. Just big guitars and big voices. And drum fills. A song didn't count unless the drum fills could legally be used as a defibrillator. Chicago glam rocker …

Dark wave duo Light Asylum open their self-titled debut full length with the epic 'Hour Fortress.' The song is built around a few simple repeating elements: an 8-bit bassline, a harsh dance beat, and a modulated synth lead. The instrumental may be minimal, but it creates a perfect backdrop for singer Shannon Funchess' super-human contra-alto to soar and crush. Her death-defying vocals shift from a low rumble to a scream in the blink of an eye. Synth player Bruno Coviello's…

Funk is not a genre known for restraint or minimalism. It's generally at its best when it goes as far over the top as possible. So it's no surprise that the most exciting new project in funk is the 100+ member Big Ol' Nasty Getdown. Born out of a jam between members of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band in 2007, bassist John Heintz, joined forces with guitarist John-Paul Miller and trombonist Derrick Johnson to form a studio project they called The Big…