Hood Internet

The Mixtape Volume Four - The Hood Internet

For those of you who are unaware, The Hood Internet is made up of a couple of DJs who take Rap, Hip-Hop and R&B songs and mix them with Indie-Pop/Rock and Alternative music. The resulting sound is rather unique and offers something different to your musical palette. The tracks really speak for themselves and with over thirty of them, its hard to just pick out one. I found this group by accident and was enchanted by their personal approach in terms of taking two rather different genres and blending them to almost invent a new sound. Though this is their fourth mixtape, they have over four hundred tracks and over seven hundred artists mixed together. Pretty amazing when you think about it, but the important part is listening to it. I've used the Hood Internet's mixtapes to discover several new artists both in Hip-Hop and in Indie music, and you could do the same. In short, enjoy a new musical experience and check out the rest of their stuff if you liked it.

Xero & The Boombox Theory

Galactic Fruit

Fruit - The Asteroids Galaxy Tour

All the way from Denmark, The Asteroids' first album is really out of this world. "Different" is a word that can very well define the majority of the tracks featured in this album. Mette's vocals have a rather rare tone to them that does a great job of complimenting the jazzy instrumentals and make for a unique overall sound. These songs take some getting used to because of their strange sound and unusual vocals and more than one track need a few listens before really enjoying it. "Around The Bend" would be the most recognizable since it was used in the iPod touch commercials when it was released, but it holds it's own regardless. "The Sun Ain't Shining No More" is a little more tamed than the rest of the tracks yet is a memorable addition to my playlist. "Sunshine Coolin'" is more Indie-Pop than Jazz/Alternative even though it manages to stay true to the formula and takes full advantage of Mette's fantastic voice. "Hero" is a laid back type of track with some great trumpets and a somewhat Jazz club ambiance about it. All in all, if you're open to hearing something new and different, give this album a chance and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Xero & The Boombox Theory

Breathe Deep

Lungs- Florence + The Machine

Released in April 2009, Florence + The Machine's debut album is a sign of great things to come. Florence's voice is truly something special; with talent abound, she can hit those epic notes and the melodic even soul-like tone of her voice offer a soothing yet powerful sensation. Let's not forget about the "Machine" part of the band which is comprised of various bands who add there vocals and instruments to the musical atmosphere. This album is near flawless although certain tracks stand out more than others; such as: "Howl", an angelic blend of vocals and ambient sound that result in something truly beautiful. "You've Got The Love", the title speaks for itself and the lyrics go where you would expect, but the way it gets there is the most enjoyable part. "Blinding" really shows off her vocal range in spades. "Drumming Song" the chorus best describes the album as a whole in my opinion: " Louder than sirens, louder than bells, sweeter than Heaven and hotter than Hell". "Rabbit Heart" is the song that grabbed me since the first listen and cemented my love for this band, fantastic lyrics, grandiose instrumental and just the right length, in short, perfect. If you enjoy Indie/Soul, you'll truly be enchanted with this album.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Firing Squad & Toy Soldiers

Pins & Panzers - Plushgun

I've been following Plushgun since the demos were released in 2007, and in 2009 their first album dropped. I can honestly say this one is a top-to-bottom fantastic album for any Synth-Pop/Indie Rock lover or even those who are still new and reluctant to the genre. Overall, the tracks tend to be easy-going, never too loud but still energetic and often found myself surprised at how smoothly one song can blend into the next while still maintaining their individual identities. "Just Impolite" is their better known single and also the best way to get introduced to this band; "The Dark In You" has a little more energy but manages to never get carried away; "How We Roll" speaks to all the teens in high-school who feel different and like it; "14 Candles" is a definite sing-along type song if you're a romantic at heart. All together you'll notice the wide range of instruments, most notably the piano and several synthesizers, but also ukuleles, dashes of violins and various strings, that will effectively put you in the right mood. Ultimately this album is not for everybody, yet it remains a New Wave gold nugget if you have the taste for it and hopefully I have done enough to sell you on it. If you like it, go get it, I know I did (No pressure).

P.S.- Sorry for the couple of months without posts, been going through a lot lately, I'll try harder to do this more often.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists