Consequence of Sound » Saul Williams http://consequenceofsound.net Think Fast, Listen Slowly Thu, 31 May 2012 18:15:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4-RC1-20950 Janelle Monáe’s debut album to feature Of Montreal, Big Boi, and Saul Williams http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/02/janelle-monaes-debut-album-to-feature-of-montreal-big-boi-and-saul-williams/ http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/02/janelle-monaes-debut-album-to-feature-of-montreal-big-boi-and-saul-williams/#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:00:28 +0000 Chris Coplan http://consequenceofsound.net/?p=25162 Normally, it takes quite the artist to create an album or song that features an absurd list of cameos that seemingly don’t match and yet plays wonderfully together, like Weezer’s collaborations with Kenny G and Chamillionaire. But for Janelle Monáe, rounding up Of Montreal, Outkast’s Big Boi, and Saul Williams for her debut album comes natural.

The ArchAndroid won’t be a mere album; instead, it’s what Kansas City singer calls an “Emotion Picture”. In an interview with SoulCulture.TV, Monáe said her first album would follow in the storyline of her EPs and the main character, Cindi Mayweather, “will realize her superpowers and embrace them.” Sounds perhaps like art imitating life? Regardless, with Big Boi co-producing and Monáe being, according to Bad Boy head Sean Combs, “one of the most important signings of my career”, expect some soul/dance punk/whatever she feels like music of sci-fi proportions.

To kick things off truly big, Monáe will be playing the rounds at Lilith Fair this year. But first, she’ll warm up with her own dates starting on March 15th. Get an early glimpse of Monáe and Mayweather’s “self-realization” by downloading “Tightrope” and “Cold War” from her official site. The ArchAndroid is scheduled to be released May 18th via Wondaland Arts Society/Bad Boy.

Janelle Monáe 2010 Tour Dates:
03/15 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
03/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
03/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
03/21 – San Francisco, CA @ Café Du Nord
03/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Café Du Nord
03/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Viper Room
03/24 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Viper Room
03/29 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern
03/30 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern
03/31 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
04/02 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews
04/05 – Atlanta, GA @ Smith’s Olde Bar
04/06 – Atlanta, GA @ Smith’s Olde Bar
04/09 – New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub
04/10 – New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub

]]> The ArchAndroid won't be a mere album; instead, it's what Kansas City singer calls an "Emotion Picture". In an interview with SoulCulture.TV, Monáe said her first album would follow in the storyline of her EPs and the main character, Cindi Mayweather, "will realize her superpowers and embrace them." Sounds perhaps like art imitating life? Regardless, with Big Boi co-producing and Monáe being, according to Bad Boy head Sean Combs, "one of the most important signings of my career", expect some soul/dance punk/whatever she feels like music of sci-fi proportions. To kick things off truly big, Monáe will be playing the rounds at Lilith Fair this year. But first, she'll warm up with her own dates starting on March 15th. Get an early glimpse of Monáe and Mayweather's "self-realization" by downloading "Tightrope" and "Cold War" from her official site. The ArchAndroid is scheduled to be released May 18th via Wondaland Arts Society/Bad Boy. Janelle Monáe 2010 Tour Dates: 03/15 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat 03/17 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's 03/18 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's 03/21 - San Francisco, CA @ Café Du Nord 03/22 - San Francisco, CA @ Café Du Nord 03/23 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Viper Room 03/24 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Viper Room 03/29 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern 03/30 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern 03/31 - Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater 04/02 - Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews 04/05 - Atlanta, GA @ Smith's Olde Bar 04/06 - Atlanta, GA @ Smith's Olde Bar 04/09 - New York, NY @ Joe's Pub 04/10 - New York, NY @ Joe's Pub]]> http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/02/janelle-monaes-debut-album-to-feature-of-montreal-big-boi-and-saul-williams/feed/ 1 Album Review: Idle Warship – Party Robots http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/12/album-review-idle-warship-party-robots/ http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/12/album-review-idle-warship-party-robots/#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:45:29 +0000 Chris Coplan http://consequenceofsound.net/?p=22354 Idle Warship is the electro rap group captained by rapper Talib Kweli. With first mates Res and Graph Nobel, the trio have been making music together for years. As their first mixtape, Party Robots sees the group striking out toward new frontiers. While the band is all about bringing the noise, there’s an old school quality to the music: lots of old synthy sounds and vocoders without a lot of the standard electro things like repetitive beats that spiral into massive breakdowns.

“Metro” is a great example of that. The Berlin original is already frantic and energetic like the movement of a bullet train, but they haven’t gone overboard with it, instead gradually shifting things up to create an even more kinetic experience. “World on Wheels” musically is like faintly techno old school Afrika Bambaataa. Plus, Saul Williams’ bit adds an angry club version of some David Byrne sing-screaming. “The Warship” blends parts of Edwin Starr’s “War” and Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” into a militaristic call for action that commands head-nodding galore. It’s a completely older Kweli song without a lot of the dance and electro tinge to it. “Steady”, which samples the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams”, is a impactful example of the sonic representation of their aim; it’s spun from a pretty dark song into something sort of elegant and sinister and mechanical before winding down, complete with the record skipping off into oblivion.

Kweli has always been known as a conscientious rapper, but with this album he learns to have fun while still being insightful and having depth. “Screamin’ “, featuring MC Chris, is a party record about abandoning reason for a hedonistic club experience; having a king of nerdcore brings a new perspective to the closed-off nature and social standards of hip-hop in general. Same goes for “Girls on the Dancefloor”. It’s less of a condemnation and more of this darkly poetic, intriguing look at the whole culture in the same way as American Psycho glorifies the yuppie culture; there’s an underlining wave of faceless and meaningless abandonment. “Party Robots” is another example of the dual existence; all about having fun and being a slave to the rhythm, it’s also a critique on the mindlessness of much of the club/party scene.

Worry not, though; despite the depth, the album’s full of lots of numbers that rumble with the sound of Prince-tastic beats processed through computers and the menacing movement of heavy drums. “LA Famous” is a banging example of the kind of disgusted worship of all that is shiny and fake. It’s built like some top 40 female pop goddess number with a posh synth line and lots of buzzing noises and predictably funky drum machine. It’s hard to tell if it’s a legitimate satire or celebration. Graph Nobel’s much more intense and real and less of the dainty pop queen that is portrayed in the song. It totally blurs the line of their insightfulness and total abandonment.

And speaking of Nobel, consider her a wellspring of female fury from here on out. “Bedroom Lights” shifts between a vocodered Nobel calling out from the dark to her Wonder Woman-esque accusations, separated by Kweli’s verse of a gameless man over a chirp-heavy DIY bedroom beat ripped from an arcade machine. “Fyah” is arguably where the voice of Nobel really shines. It’s the utter sweetness and vulnerability and emotional richness that would make Gwen Stefani circa Tragic Kingdom feel like weeping. But she also shows a tougher side with a verse in “Screamin’ “. It’s a straight-up rhythmic assault that flows like a streetwise seraphim. Undoubtedly part of what lets her step up is having to match wits with a legend like Kweli. One of the more interesting ways Nobel stands out is the seemingly insecure touches. “Black Snake Moan” finds the man and woman in a duel of overt sexiness. Graph totally wins by thrusting her heels into the ground and pulling him into her perverted den: a new spin on the whole gender dynamic of hip-hop, set to the sounds of some old roadhouse blues explosion.

While the idea of Kweli moving toward the clubbin’ direction may be a sign of the apocalypse for some, this is an album of balancing acts and of mining the past and braving the future.

Download:
Party Robots

]]> Party Robots sees the group striking out toward new frontiers. While the band is all about bringing the noise, there's an old school quality to the music: lots of old synthy sounds and vocoders without a lot of the standard electro things like repetitive beats that spiral into massive breakdowns. "Metro" is a great example of that. The Berlin original is already frantic and energetic like the movement of a bullet train, but they haven't gone overboard with it, instead gradually shifting things up to create an even more kinetic experience. "World on Wheels" musically is like faintly techno old school Afrika Bambaataa. Plus, Saul Williams' bit adds an angry club version of some David Byrne sing-screaming. "The Warship" blends parts of Edwin Starr's "War" and Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" into a militaristic call for action that commands head-nodding galore. It's a completely older Kweli song without a lot of the dance and electro tinge to it. "Steady", which samples the Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams", is a impactful example of the sonic representation of their aim; it's spun from a pretty dark song into something sort of elegant and sinister and mechanical before winding down, complete with the record skipping off into oblivion. Kweli has always been known as a conscientious rapper, but with this album he learns to have fun while still being insightful and having depth. "Screamin' ", featuring MC Chris, is a party record about abandoning reason for a hedonistic club experience; having a king of nerdcore brings a new perspective to the closed-off nature and social standards of hip-hop in general. Same goes for "Girls on the Dancefloor". It's less of a condemnation and more of this darkly poetic, intriguing look at the whole culture in the same way as American Psycho glorifies the yuppie culture; there's an underlining wave of faceless and meaningless abandonment. "Party Robots" is another example of the dual existence; all about having fun and being a slave to the rhythm, it's also a critique on the mindlessness of much of the club/party scene. Worry not, though; despite the depth, the album's full of lots of numbers that rumble with the sound of Prince-tastic beats processed through computers and the menacing movement of heavy drums. "LA Famous" is a banging example of the kind of disgusted worship of all that is shiny and fake. It's built like some top 40 female pop goddess number with a posh synth line and lots of buzzing noises and predictably funky drum machine. It's hard to tell if it's a legitimate satire or celebration. Graph Nobel's much more intense and real and less of the dainty pop queen that is portrayed in the song. It totally blurs the line of their insightfulness and total abandonment. And speaking of Nobel, consider her a wellspring of female fury from here on out. "Bedroom Lights" shifts between a vocodered Nobel calling out from the dark to her Wonder Woman-esque accusations, separated by Kweli's verse of a gameless man over a chirp-heavy DIY bedroom beat ripped from an arcade machine. "Fyah" is arguably where the voice of Nobel really shines. It's the utter sweetness and vulnerability and emotional richness that would make Gwen Stefani circa Tragic Kingdom feel like weeping. But she also shows a tougher side with a verse in "Screamin' ". It's a straight-up rhythmic assault that flows like a streetwise seraphim. Undoubtedly part of what lets her step up is having to match wits with a legend like Kweli. One of the more interesting ways Nobel stands out is the seemingly insecure touches. "Black Snake Moan" finds the man and woman in a duel of overt sexiness. Graph totally wins by thrusting her heels into the ground and pulling him into her perverted den: a new spin on the whole gender dynamic of hip-hop, set to the sounds of some old roadhouse blues explosion. While the idea of Kweli moving toward the clubbin' direction may be a sign of the apocalypse for some, this is an album of balancing acts and of mining the past and braving the future. Download: Party Robots]]> 70 http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/12/album-review-idle-warship-party-robots/feed/ 0 Les Claypool preps album and tour with lots of guests http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/01/les-claypool-preps-album-and-tour-with-lots-of-guests/ http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/01/les-claypool-preps-album-and-tour-with-lots-of-guests/#comments Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:45:51 +0000 Alex Young http://consequenceofsound.net/?p=10990 Little did we know that when Les Claypool was tapped to compose several songs for the Ninteno Wii video game, Mushroom Men, last year, the work would result in a spur of creativity, and ultimately a brand new-full length studio album. On March 17th, Les will unveil this album with the release of Of Fungi and Foe via Prawn Song Records. The record, which will serve as the followup to 2006′s Of Whale and Woe, will feature 11 tracks, highlighted by an expanded version of “Mushroom Men”, a selection originally featured in the aforementioned video game, as well as “jam session” with Gogol Bordello’s Eugene Hutz on “Bite Out Of Life”.

In support of the release, Claypool has tapped a slew of fellow musicians to take part in what is being billed as “The Oddity Faire – A Mutated Mini Fest”. If you’re confused, don’t worry, just know this. Beginning in early March, Claypool will head out on a month-long tour supported by the likes of O’Death, Saul Williams, DeVotchKa, Yard Dogs Road Show, and Secret Chiefs 3. So yeah, maybe calling it a “mini fest” isn’t that much of a stretch. Tickets for a number of these shows are available now via Ticketmaster.com.

Of Fungi and Foe Tracklist:
01. Mushroom Men
02. Amanitas
03. Red State Girl
04. Booneville Stomp
05. What Would Sir George Martin Do
06. you Can’t Tell Errol Anything
07. Bite Out Of Life (featuring Eugene Hutz)
08. Kazoo
09. Primed by 29
10. Pretty Little Song
11. Rosco

Les Claypool 2009 Tour Dates:
3/04 – San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues *
3/06 – Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues *^
3/07 – Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium Mutaytor *^
3/08 – Lake Tahoe, NV @ Montbleu Theatre *^
3/10 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Ballroom *^
3/11 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo *^
3/13 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Depot ^!
3/14 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore *^!
3/16 – Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont ^!%
3/17 – St. Louis, MO @ Pageant ^!%
3/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ Myth ^!%
3/20 – Milwaukee, WI @Rave ^!%
3/21 – Chicago, IL @ Riviera ^!%
3/22 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora ^!%
3/24 – Toronto, ON @ The Guvernment ^!
3/26 – Boston, MA @ House Of Blues ^!@
3/27 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory ^!@
3/28 – New York, NY @Terminal 5 ^!@

* = w/ Yard Dogs Road Show
^ = w/ Saul Williams
! = w/ Secret Chief 3
@ = w/ O’Death
% = w/ DeVotchKa

]]> Mushroom Men, last year, the work would result in a spur of creativity, and ultimately a brand new-full length studio album. On March 17th, Les will unveil this album with the release of Of Fungi and Foe via Prawn Song Records. The record, which will serve as the followup to 2006's Of Whale and Woe, will feature 11 tracks, highlighted by an expanded version of “Mushroom Men", a selection originally featured in the aforementioned video game, as well as "jam session" with Gogol Bordello’s Eugene Hutz on “Bite Out Of Life”. In support of the release, Claypool has tapped a slew of fellow musicians to take part in what is being billed as "The Oddity Faire - A Mutated Mini Fest". If you're confused, don't worry, just know this. Beginning in early March, Claypool will head out on a month-long tour supported by the likes of O'Death, Saul Williams, DeVotchKa, Yard Dogs Road Show, and Secret Chiefs 3. So yeah, maybe calling it a "mini fest" isn't that much of a stretch. Tickets for a number of these shows are available now via Ticketmaster.com. Of Fungi and Foe Tracklist: 01. Mushroom Men 02. Amanitas 03. Red State Girl 04. Booneville Stomp 05. What Would Sir George Martin Do 06. you Can’t Tell Errol Anything 07. Bite Out Of Life (featuring Eugene Hutz) 08. Kazoo 09. Primed by 29 10. Pretty Little Song 11. Rosco Les Claypool 2009 Tour Dates: 3/04 - San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues * 3/06 - Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues *^ 3/07 - Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium Mutaytor *^ 3/08 - Lake Tahoe, NV @ Montbleu Theatre *^ 3/10 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Ballroom *^ 3/11 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo *^ 3/13 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Depot ^! 3/14 - Denver, CO @ Fillmore *^! 3/16 - Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont ^!% 3/17 - St. Louis, MO @ Pageant ^!% 3/19 - Minneapolis, MN @ Myth ^!% 3/20 - Milwaukee, WI @Rave ^!% 3/21 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera ^!% 3/22 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora ^!% 3/24 - Toronto, ON @ The Guvernment ^! 3/26 - Boston, MA @ House Of Blues ^!@ 3/27 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory ^!@ 3/28 - New York, NY @Terminal 5 ^!@ * = w/ Yard Dogs Road Show ^ = w/ Saul Williams ! = w/ Secret Chief 3 @ = w/ O'Death % = w/ DeVotchKa]]> http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/01/les-claypool-preps-album-and-tour-with-lots-of-guests/feed/ 2 SXSW Video Recap: The first 36 hours http://consequenceofsound.net/2008/03/sxsw-video-recap-the-first-36-hours/ http://consequenceofsound.net/2008/03/sxsw-video-recap-the-first-36-hours/#comments Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:07:04 +0000 Alex Young http://consequenceofsound.net/2008/03/sxsw-video-recap-the-first-36-hours/ Besides our written coverage of this year’s South by Southwest, we figured a video recap of each day’s festivities might be appropriate as well. So without further ado, here is the recap for day one + 12 hours (we started a little late) of SXSW 2008…

R.E.M. performed “Second Guessing” at Schubb’s

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=s762khTI3g8&rel=1]

Lightspeed Champion was at Urban Outfitters

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=PiaZIF85pWw&rel=1]

The BBC interviewed MGMT

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=SxuvNcKwbCk&rel=1]

DeVotchka performed “Queen of the Surface Streets” on the Current Stage

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=mc5t5FlgRzM&rel=1]

Sons and Daughters performed “The Nest” on the Current Stage

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=0d4w2pf_QKQ&rel=1]

Billy Bob Thorton spoke….

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=O56z7GP76sA&rel=1]

Saul Williams was at a convention center

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=9Unvy8204Iw&rel=1]

The Black Keys were at Emo’s

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=V_Rvwb2XIjA&rel=1]

Keep checking back for more. Pitchfork has tons a bunch of recaps from Wednesday. SXSW.com also has their own coverage.

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]]> R.E.M. performed "Second Guessing" at Schubb's [youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=s762khTI3g8&rel=1] Lightspeed Champion was at Urban Outfitters [youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=PiaZIF85pWw&rel=1] The BBC interviewed MGMT [youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=SxuvNcKwbCk&rel=1] DeVotchka performed "Queen of the Surface Streets" on the Current Stage [youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=mc5t5FlgRzM&rel=1] Sons and Daughters performed "The Nest" on the Current Stage [youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=0d4w2pf_QKQ&rel=1] Billy Bob Thorton spoke.... [youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=O56z7GP76sA&rel=1] Saul Williams was at a convention center [youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=9Unvy8204Iw&rel=1] The Black Keys were at Emo's [youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=V_Rvwb2XIjA&rel=1] Keep checking back for more. Pitchfork has tons a bunch of recaps from Wednesday. SXSW.com also has their own coverage. :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ]]> http://consequenceofsound.net/2008/03/sxsw-video-recap-the-first-36-hours/feed/ 0