About five years ago, I almost gave up on the hip-hop genre entirely. Then I heard T.I.’s “What You Know,” quite possibly one of the most raw, free-flowing, catchy and downright honest rap songs I’d heard in years, and I was easily drawn back in. It was then that I realized what hip-hip—at least that of the mainstream kind—had been missing in previous years: honesty.
And that brings me to our artist to watch, from Los Angeles by way of Alabama. With vibrant electro beats mixed with a full-force delivery that oozes swagger, Matchstik is on the verge of a breakthrough. Last year, he released single “Surina’s Song” independently in London, which sold over 100,000 ringtones, was featured in Billboard as an artist to look out for, and his debut LP Along Came Matchstik is set to be released later this summer. Right now he’s stuck in a bidding war between two major labels, and whoever scores him will surely have a gold mine in their hands. Not bad for a former high school dropout from the drug-infested neighborhood of Dothan, Alabama. Matchstik’s back-story is quite eye opening, and you can read all about it in this Billboard article.
And now onto the issue of honesty in the rap world. When T.I. broke through with a dose of realism and catchiness, he revived a dying hip-hop landscape that was obsessed with ridiculous supped-up cars, partying “like a rockstar” and waxing poetic on why MiMS was so “hot.” Nothing seemed real—just fake and processed, and nobody (at least me) could really connect to the themes. Now, the protégés of rap’s biggest names (Drake, Kid Cudi, Wale, B.O.B.) are ruling the charts and (for the most part) critical approval. And while these kids haven’t impressed me entirely, I will admit, things are better.
Now, given Matchtik’s back-story, including his dramatic fight to make it out of his neighborhood to make it to where he is now, it is important to note how truly honest his music feels. Along Came Matchstik can currently be heard here. Listen to opening track “Just An Artist,” in which Match reminds us that we are all human, and therefore imperfect, but that no matter who we are or where we come from, there is no reason we can’t dream of changing the world. The aura is hopeful, realistic, and as I said earlier, honest.
Matchstik is playing a show tonight at the Kress club in Hollywood. For more information on the show, go here. Hopefully I’ll be seeing a lot of you there, and you’ll be able to say that you “were there” when it all happened for him. Seriously, bet on it.
Wavves fans, get excited! The San Diego band is set to release a new single titled “Post Acid,” the first off of their upcoming sophomore LP, King of the Beach, on June 9 on Mountain Dew’s Green Label Sound. The Green Label, which incorporates its artists’ music in Mountain Dew’s online marketing, has in the past helped launch the careers of acts like Chromeo and Neon Indian, so this could be a sweet opportunity for Wavves to elevate its popularity.
King of the Beach will be released on August 3 on Fat Possum.
Come back on June 9 for our complete review of “Post-Acid.”
The new Arcade Fire 12″ single found its way onto the web! British radio host Zane Lowe apparently came upon a copy and played both songs on his radio show twice each. Now, OneThirtyBPM has posted tracks, titled “The Suburbs” and “Month of May.” Click here to listen
Jazz Reggae Festival, the annual concert event that takes place on UCLA’s intramural field on Memorial Day Weekend, unveiled its complete lineup, including Jam Day headliners Raphael Saadiq and Q-Tip as well as Reggae Day headliners Nas and Damien “Jr. Gong” Marley.
Other performers include alternative-soul diva Janelle Monae, dancehall musician Barrington Levy, neo-soul singer Bilal, and Grammy-nominated reggae artist Cham, among others.
The festival will be incorporating environment-friendly “go green” initiatives, including an on-campus co-generation energy plant, and a detailed recycling and waste separation program.
Tickets are now on-sale at Ticketmaster. Two-day passes are $45 each, while single-day tickets run for $26. A limited number of tickets will be offered for free to UCLA students at the Central Ticket Office beginning April 20.
Now in its 24th year, Jazz Reggae Festival is the largest student-run music festival in the country. It attracts an annual attendance of 30,000, and has featured some of the biggest names in reggae, jazz, R&B, soul, world beat and hip-hop. Past performers include The Roots, Erykah Badu, Stephen Marley, Capleton, De La Soul, Lupe Fiasco, and many others.
Danish alternative pop group the Asteroids Galaxy Tour are getting set to embark on their first headlining North American tour, which kicks off on Mar. 14 in Philadelphia.
The two-piece from Copenhagen, Denmark–consisting of singer Mette Lindberg and producer Lars Iversen–scored their first hit in 2008 when their single “Around The Bend” was featured on the ipod commercial. Since then, they have toured incessantly throughout Europe. However, the pair have yet to headline a tour in the U.S. until now.
The pair is set to play in New York, a few shows at Austin’s South By Southwest music festival, as well at San Diego’s Casbah on Mar. 21.
For more info on the Asteroids Galaxy Tour, visit www.myspace.com/theasteroidsgalaxytour
The Soft Pack can either be labeled as a bunch of smug California surf-punks or bland garage-rock. But if one thing’s for certain, it’s that this San Diego four-piece packs enough catchy punches to make their self-titled debut worth the (very) long wait.
In the early going, the group initially caught a wave of free publicity due to their previous, far bolder band name, The Muslims. But after all the scrutiny, they ditched the moniker in favor of The Soft Pack, and have since been trying to remind all of us of why they had any buzz in the first place. After releasing The Muslims EP almost a full year ago, their hype would have surely died had it not been for their impressive touring schedule that saw them opening for the likes of Phoenix and Wavves. Fortunately for them, this album appears to be the boost they need.
The Soft Pack is an appropriately sloppy onslaught of garage-rock from four pampered, smart-ass SoCal stoners. The album’s opening track, “C’mon,” incorporates guitar riffs that are beautiful in their simplicity, as well as an incessant barrage of cymbals that generates a seize-the-day tone. Stylistically, the album is nothing particularly new, eschewing the rhythms of The Strokes and the throwback guitar pop of the Raveonettes, tinged with their own unique, sunny SoCal vibes. “Answer to Yourself,” the most accomplished track on the album, delivers post-punk melodies ala The Cure before drifting into a truly explosive, harmony-filled chorus. The album’s lyrics further echo carpe-diem themes of living in the moment, keeping up with the buzz, and becoming “the next big thing,” as singer Matty Lamkin sings on “C’mon.” These lyrics make the band seem surprisingly self-aware. “Pull Out” may be most definitive of The Soft Pack’s sound, combining relentless beats with impulsive, Jan and Dean-style surf-rock riffs. Lamkin, meanwhile, commands the album’s mood, singing with an air of buzzed, holier-than-thou smugness.
The strong start aside, the album limps as it progresses; songs become more moody, reflective, and otherwise not as catchy or impetuous as earlier cuts. The dull chorus of “More or Less” takes away from an otherwise wonderfully rhythmic song, while “Flammable,” despite its excitingly fast punk style, is a bit too messy and unfocused. Nonetheless, the album closes on a one-two punch high-note, beginning with the dazed, dream-like “Mexico” and ending with the foot-stomping, visceral “Parasites,” the band’s very first single.
While their debut is not necessarily a classic, it can be considered a strong jumping-off point for a band still finding its groove. Therefore, I’ll keep the album on shuffle, but will be eagerly looking forward to what The Soft Pack puts out next.
