The Coup - Boots Riley

Aaaaaaw shit... i'm back.

So, Boots Riley is a force to be reckoned with. Like the ideas he promotes, he slinks in the background and you might never notice him. From doing the score for the Simpsons, to a side project with Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, this motherfucker has the groove runnin' all through him.

Earlier albums as the Coup (purposely pronounced the coop ??) were average at best. Similar to all low budget hip-hop, a genre which produces 98% the same, 2% amazing, they were at best forgettable, at least unnoticeable. All that changed with the release of Pick a Bigger Weapon.

This is one of the most underrated hip-hop albums that has graced a beat. Like a musical equivalent of a blaxploitation film, Pam the Funkstress' loops are exactly what you would need to paint a velvet painting that had a name with the word ebony in it. Boots Riley meets the challenge with the flow of a seasoned street kid. It retains both the sound, fun, and militant politicism that no one else could deliver.

Please, take a moment, work your dancin' legs, and enjoy this fine fella that will make you wanna have a house party like it's 1989.



The Coup - My Favorite Mutiny

The night was sultry

Thought I would post a random assortment for listening pleasure.  Best for nights alone or just being lowkey.

so, here ya go... enjoi.


The Ballad of the RAA - The Rural Alberta Advantage
This is the Dream of Wine and Regime - Owen Pallett
Good Woman - Cat Power
The Start of Something - Voxtrot
Green Grass of Tunnel - Mum
Starlfur - Sigur Ros
In the Summertime - The Rural Alberta Advantage

The Rural Alberta Advantage

With a hearty helping of optimistic ballads, The Rural Alberta Advantage's debut album Hometowns has been the perfect soundtrack for this winter.  Something about looking out on dirty snow and grey skies has seemed more hopeful since I've had this to listen to.

Nils Edenloff is the frontman of this Toronto-based group, and his voice is reminiscent of John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants if he had recently been dumped.  Couple that with simplistic arrangements and amazing songwriting and what you get is thirteen songs that produce a feeling similar to laying in bed all day... in a good way.

I love this album, start to finish.  Check out their website for more on them if you'd like.
 
c 





The Rural Alberta Advantage - Sleep All Day

The Rural Alberta Advantage - Don't Haunt This Place

The Rural Alberta Advantage - In The Summertime