Run The Jewels (El P and Killer Mike)

El P and Killer Mike, the two dudes responsible for my favorite hip-hop album last year (Killer Mike's excellent "R.A.P. Music") are finally putting out a full on collaborative effort this summer called Run The Jewels.  The first single out from Fool's Gold is "Get It."  Listen and download below and be on the lookout for the full album in June which is supposed to be available for free download.  Hooray!

Found Vinyl: God Less America

The amazingly awesome compilation "God Less America," or "Country & Western for all ye Sinners 'n' sufferers, 1955-1966," mines every crack and crevice across the country for solid gold nuggets of old school country and Americana.  Originally released in 1995 on Crypt Records, the album gives us a sample of real country and western music from a bunch of artists that you and i have never heard of.  Funny songs.  Depressing songs.  Just plain odd songs.  This is the kind of stuff Waylons and Merles of the world would have dug on, and to a later degree, the boys of Ween.

The record's been out of print for a while as far as i can tell, but i was able to find a smattering of tracks on youtube, so grab a beer and a pack of Marlboro Reds and enjoy a couple of tunes of good ol' country music.  "The music of pain."

Hi-Fi Guys - "Rock 'N' Roll Killed My Mother"



Troy Hess - "Don't Go Topless Mother"



Mohawk and The Rednecks - "Enchanted Forest"


I can not get enough of this stuff.

Bombino

Every now and again, there's an itch that only some meditative desert-blues can scratch.  And so we get "Nomad," the latest album from Nigerian Omara Moctar, otherwise known as Bombino.  The album cover sums up the vibe, traversing a barren landscape with sun and sand in your face, in search of an oasis that's always just over the horizon.  Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys mans the boards on this one, so it's got that going for it to.  Groovy stuff.  Get it from Nonesuch Records and listen to "Azamane Tiliade" below.

Ghost B.C.

I'm a little late with this, and i don't know why it's taken me so long to get to writing about Sweden metal act Ghost B.C., but here we are.  The anonymous, painted and robed members of the band use elements of old school metal, prog, and just the right amount of church organ to hail and praise Satan in the most entertaining and awesome way possible (i must give mad props to the always awesome and entertaining Shawn C. Baker for turning me on to these guys).  Listen to "Ghuleh / Zombie Queen" below and go get new album "Infestissumam" now.

Ty Segall - Music for a Film 1

The ever and always prolific San Francisco fuzz rocker Ty Segall has a new jam, "Music for a Film 1," up for grabs on the latest 7" from Less Artists More Condos, a split with Chad & The Meatbodies.  These splits are always a lot of fun, and Ty's song grooves and rocks with the best of them.  Listen below and get the songs here.

Hiatus Kaiyote

Melbourne, Australia's Hiatus Kaiyote comb through multiple genres and styles to craft your new driving through the desert at night soundtrack.  Bits of sprawling, Western, Morricone-esque notes swirl and splash with flourishes of futuristic computers and world beats on the band's debut "Tawk Tomahawk."  It's a fun ride.  You can listen to album opener "Mobius Streak" below and go here to get the album.

Wardruna

And here we have Norwegian band Wardruna.  Pagan, tribal, Norse folk with an underlying black metal vibe through the whole thing.  That's probably all you need to know.  It's awesome, and can currently be heard on the "Vikings" program on The History Channel.  Listen to "Fehu" below and look for the "Yggdrasil" album.  I think you can still buy it directly from the band.

Moby & Mark Lanegan

The unlikely duo of Moby and Mark Lanegan released a 7" single last Saturday for Record Store Day.  "The Lonely Night" is a slow burning, moody dirge, reminiscent of the early 90's output of Leonard Cohen.  In other words, it's haunting and gorgeous.  Listen below.

Temples

Here's some great modern psyche rock from the UK's Temples, in the vein of Dungen or Tame Impala.  Listen to "Shelter Song" below and look for the 7" from Heavenly Records.

Case Studies

Case Studies is the solo project from Jesse Lortz of Seattle folk due The Duchess and The Duke.  "Villain" is a slightly wistful dark folk song.  It's very melancholy, yet there's something menacing about the whole thing.  Listen below and get the 7" from Sweet Rot Records.