Left Standing

Civilian - Wye Oak

The Indie-Folk/ Folk-Rock genre is full of bands with identical sounds and a shallow idea of what the genre is actually all about. Wye Oak have managed to distinguish themselves, along with a few others, in the eyes of all Folk-Rock lovers. Civilian is an elegant blend of dreamy vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, glorious drums and an always deliberate pacing that speak volumes for the quality of each song and create an environment you wouldn't mind getting lost in. The title track, "Civilian" is probably the overall best song on the album but unlike several other albums, it is not the only track with any kind of real value. "Dog's Eyes" is not filler to round the track list up to ten; with it's quick pace and amazing build-up from the acoustic to the electric guitar, it is one fun musical experience. "Fish" may start off a little slower, it pays off with fantastic vocals and a deep atmosphere. "Hot As Day" great name for a great track, loud, powerful instrumentals, superb vocals with that dreamy tone, hot indeed. Altogether, this is an album built from the bottom up with heart and passion and you can hear it in each cord and in every word; the best Indie-Folk album so far this year.

1.- Civilian 

2.- Dog's Eyes

3.- Doubt

4.- Fish

5.- Holy Holy

6.- Hot As Day

7.- Plains

8.- The Alter

9.- Two Small Deaths

10.- We Were Wealth

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Worth It's Weight

Golden Arrows - Dynasty Electric

This album was my very first taste of Dynasty Electric and I was pleasantly surprised by the content of their third release. One word comes to mind when listening to the album as whole: eclectic. It seems as though the tracks are bouncing from one genre of music to the other, from Pop to Electronic, from Soul to a modern type of Disco; overall is a rather unique musical experience that truly grows on you as you realize the talent and heart poured into each song. "Electro Retro" seems like it's from a completely different time yet feels so familiar, the title track, "Golden Arrows", is in my humble opinion the best song on the album if just for the range of sounds. "Box Of Light" would be the electric in the band name along with "And The Sky" and "Reality Check"  is simply entrancing. There is in truth very little I could say that would do this album justice, I'll let the music speak for itself but I will encourage you to let the songs play in their entirety to really appreciate the quality of each. Until next time, enjoy.

1.- And The Sky

2.- Bird Song

3.- Box Of Light

4.- Electro Retro

5.- Friends

6.- Golden Arrows

7.- Infectious

8.- Mountain Song

9.- Radiation

10.- Reality Check

11.- Spell Check

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

A Week In The Life...

7 Days - Cook Norman Blaze

Hip-Hop is a generation defining genre in music, so much so that it isn't simply a style of music, it's an entire culture, a way of life. "7 Days" taps into that 80's style of Hip-Hop when telling your story and getting your message through in a way that would be enjoyable to anyone who listened was the main goal. As the mixtape's title would lead you to believe, the tracks are set in the context of one week starting on a Wednesday I like to think; though there isn't one stream of thought., there is a coherence from "Day 1- The Show" to "Day 7 - Over". Being a mixtape, it does sound a bit raw while still being well mixed, but there is a lot of potential in CNB especially lyrically; nothing overly superficial or just put together right before recording, these are well put together and deliberate lyrics with their own meaning and value. I've always supported talented up-and-coming artists and I think Cook Norman Blaze is an artist worth listening to especially if you've been looking for a different sound without completely going off the tracks.

1.- Day 1 - The Show

2.- Day 2 - Thinking Out Loud

3.- Day 3 - Far From Kind

4.- Day 4 - Tonight (Ft. Lelelhe)

5.- Day 5 - Sunday Morning (Ft. Gigi)

6.- Day 6 - Lights Out

7.- Day 7 - Over

Xero & The Boombox Theory

Monsters Of Iceland

Of Monsters And Men EP - 
Of Monsters And Men

If we had a Song Of The Month category this would be on the top of my list. Of Monsters And Men, an up-and-coming Icelandic group, have been signed since December and I am now eagerly awaiting their debut album, certainly if it sounds anything like this fun and upbeat track. It just seems to hit all the right buttons, "Little Talks" just grabs you right from the beginning with that amazing instrumental and awesome vocals by the two singers who sound just as good live as they do on the track itself as the video will prove. I will be keeping my ear to the ground for whatever these guys release next because I feel it will be worth it.

1.- Little Talks -Of Monsters And Men

Discovered this band through this very video

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Old Soul

Kaputt - Destroyer

Destroyer's ninth studio album is a blast from the past as it seems to jump straight from the 1980's Jazz scene and into 2011. Having said that, the album never sounds dated or out of place. I have to point out that some of the lyrics can be confusing and obscure and are often drowned out or near inaudible but that is due more to the singing style rather than the loudness of the instruments. Speaking of, the instrumental aspect of "Kaputt" is simply magnificent, "Bay Of Pigs" does a great job of showcasing many of the variations common to the Jazz genre and more specific to this band. "Chinatown" is an instant classic: the cool vibe, the pitch perfect vocals, and a run-time that's just right. Destroyer is relatively new band to me even though they have been making music since '96; my first impression of them was overwhelmingly positive as I found very little wrong with the overall package except that "Bay Of Pigs" and "Suicide Demo For Kara Walker" ran a little too long and can't be fully appreciated. If you're looking to get lost in some smooth trumpets and dreamy vocals, this was made for you.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Tomorrow's Youth

Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow... - 
Youth Sounds

Continuing the trend of great second albums, Youth Sounds' eagerly anticipated sophomore album delivers on all the promises of "The Bit Parts EP". Their ever-present laid-back and overall smooth approach to making music bridges the gap between the two ensembles and creates a certain coherence between the tracks; and it doesn't hurt that they can make a pretty catchy tune that makes you want to sing along even on your first listen. The best first impression has got to be "It's Hell" followed by "We're No One", which takes nothing away from the rest of the album, I just cracked a smile as soon as "It's Hell" started playing. The ear-worm prize would have to go to "Whatever Works" but this is just a perk of the song, what makes this album special is the heart and soul that clearly shines through each of the five tracks; each song is so well put together and executed and everything from the pacing to the vocals seems chosen with care and never feels like a rush job which only cements my admiration for this still-up-and-coming band. In short, this is an amazing follow-up to the "The Bit Parts" and is worth a listen for anybody looking for a unique sound.

1.- It's Hell

2.- Whatever Works

3.- Foolish Love

4.-You'll Be The Death Of Me

5.- We're No One

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Innocent

Ritual - White Lies

White Lies' sophomore album "Ritual" is a short departure from their previous work "To Lose My Life..." yet is not more of the same. The balance on the album is a point worth noting: tracks such as "Bad Love", "Strangers" and "Bigger Than Us" tend to be faster paced and energetic, others like "Come Down" and "Turn The Bells" go for a slower vibe while not altogether crawling. One aspect which is constant is the dark lyrics and powerful vocals, both reasons why I was drawn to this band; think Alternative-Rock shell with a Punk-Rock and Grunge core. "To Lose My Life..." was an utterly satisfying musical experience and a real triumph for a debut album but "Ritual" is far from a simple after-taste of their previous oeuvre, it stands alone and  proves that this band still has room to grow and develop their sound while not straying too far from their roots. "Ritual" is not perfect, but after listening to it in it's entirety, it remains a well crafted ensemble, flat-lining in certain sections but picking itself up quickly. If you had the pleasure of listening to any track on "To Lose My Life..." you will enjoy this one as well and may even grow to appreciate White Lies even more.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Something Different

Marker - TimPermanent

Let me just start off by saying that the hiatus is now over and we will be doubling our efforts to post in a more timely fashion. I've been sitting on this album for much longer than I would have liked and that's just not right; my first impression of TimPermanent was "I've heard this before", now this can be either a good thing or quite the opposite, in my opinion that familiarity makes it easier to listen to the songs in their entirety and truly appreciate how this artist can stand out from all the others in and around the Pop scene. The ear-worm factor alone was enough to convince me that this was worth posting; I found myself humming the catchier tracks like "Alkaline", "Asymmetrical" and "Extraordinary". Keep in mind though that TimPermanent (love the name) doesn't just make Pop music but is part of the Avant-Pop movement,  which is just a shorter way of saying he mixes his personal style with current culture references and tendencies, making them easier to relate with. As always with my humble suggestions, tuning your ears is a must for this album and very little to ask for when it sounds like this. 

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Bang Bang !

Air Swell - Chiddy Bang

My very first impression of this Hip-Hop duo was simple: these guys are amazing. The talent and potential of these guys would make other artists extremely envious. Their sound is a mix of Alternative-Rock, Pop and Hip-Hop while using some outstanding sampling from Electronica and House songs. From The Intro to "Shooter", if this mixtape is a sign of things to come I am eagerly awaiting their very first studio album and I will bring it to you in due time.

The Swelly Express - Chiddy Bang

If "Air Swell" was good, this proves these guys can get better. Stuffed to the seams with thirteen tracks of Hip-Hop and Rap that I wish more artists would get behind. I am not the only one who believes that the rap game is thinning in talent and if anybody can make music as genuinely as these guys they have a bright future. Having said that, Chiddy Bang is not perfect but when you have songs like "Opposite Of Adults" , "Truth", "Never", "All Things Go", "Dream Chasin'" and I could go on, mistakes are quickly forgiven. I am not exaggerating when I say that if you love Hip-Hop you HAVE to give this a listen.

Air Swell

The Swelly Express

Xero & The Boombox Theory

Bloody Odd

Odd Blood - Yeasayer

Released in early 2010 Yeasayer's sophomore album is arguably the best Experimental Rock/Pop album of the year. Odd Blood is clearly influenced by a more Pop style than their previous album right down to the lyrics yet can still be classified as an Experimental Rock piece. The incredible instrumentals seem like they could fill a room with their cool ambient vibes and energetic sections and they will certainly keep you listening just to hear what variations and distinct sounds will creep up in each track. Tracks like "O.N.E", "Madder Red", "Mondegreen" and "Ambling Alp" are just catchy and that counts for a lot in this certainly unique album; granted certain tracks such as "The Children" and "Rome" can be quite odd and honestly surprising if you keep listening but they do strangely tie in with the experimental nature of the album. In this budding genre of music Yeasayer can claim the top spot even having some of their songs hit the mainstream to general acclaim.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Sweets At The Theater

Suite(s) - Ex Libras

It's kind of hard to put in words why I like this album; I certainly love Ex Libras' way of mixing several elements of Rock with more classic instrumentals, various Hip-Hop beats and altogether random sounds; and in many ways their style is eerily similar to Radiohead's. Some tracks can be plain quirky, such is the case of "Sum Numbers", it's a mix of beautiful piano work, blazing guitar riffs and haunting vocals that tend to cut into each other more than smoothly transition; it is the most enigmatic piece in this album for me and it stands as a hate-it-or-love-it track often leaving you asking "why?" yet still worth a listen. The length of the album is pretty surprising: it's only comprised of 8 tracks but lasts 46 minutes; with songs like "Phat Nickers", "Audio Video Disco" and "19:04" spanning more than 8 minutes and others such as "Issues" and "Discharge" lasting less than a minute and a half, you get quite a full range of sounds from this one. "Radar" is the all out winner of the album with a perfect run time of 3:23 followed closely, if not tied, with "Underachiever". "Phat Nickers" is the only track that feels sadly out of place in the overall experience. "Slow burn" is a fairly adequate way of describing the album; songs ebb and flow before getting to the vocals and end with for the most part with a boom. All in all this is a great debut album for a band with much promise; still pretty good for something that was entirely recorded in a garden shed.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Fascinating

Fine Fascination - Red Light Company

U.K. band Red Light Company released their debut Alternative Rock album back in 2009 to popular acclaim. "With Lights Out " was their debut single released in late 2008 and my first taste of R.L.C., from that point I was eagerly anticipating their follow-up singles. "Meccano" was pretty good but not better than "Scheme Eugene" and it only got better with "Arts & Crafts". I've had the album since it's release and I realized that the entire album was fantastic, especially "Bahnhof Zoo" that instantly became my favorite song in the collection. Their sound is not revolutionary but it certainly doesn't hurt the experience.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Hallowin

So I'm going to post a list that has nothing to do with Halloween - I don't care for the holiday - I just put it together coincidentally.

  1. Bahnhof Zoo - Red Light Company - Fine Fascination

  2. Black River Killer - Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer

  3. Education - Mirah - (a)spera

  4. Feel Good Together - Drummer - Feel Good Together

Honestly the whole song for me is about that killer guitar that permeates the chorus and the end of the song but I enjoyed the Spy Vs. Spy Vs. Spy vibe they got going on in the video.

  5. Fire - Kasabian - The West Rider Pauper Lunatic Asylum This song is nothing new but I've always loved the video -those who've seen FLCL will be familiar with their "special" guitars- not to mention the song is fantastic.

  6. Harder Hit - Loquat - Secrets Of The Sea

  7. Higher Than The Stars - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Higher Than The Stars

  8. My Delirium - Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke

  9. My Girlfriend's Boyfriend - Her Space Holiday - The Young Machines

10. Sleepwalking - The Jaguar Club - And We Woke Up Slow

11. Sunlight - Harlem Skakes - Technicolor Health

12. To Feel Love - Butterfly Boucher - Scary Fragile

13. Underdog - Kasabian - West Rider Pauper Lunatic Asylum

14. We Own The Sky - M83 - Saturdays = Youth Picnic on a nice day, he meets a girl he likes, she finds a boy she might want to be with; but wait... what's in the sky ?! It's Cubes !!!

15. Whoa Is Me - Down With Webster - Time To Win

16. *Complete List*

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Once In A While

Strict Joy - The Swell Season

I got my first taste of The Swell Season in the brilliant musical movie "Once" and was quite taken by the charm and genuine tone of the film and the soundtrack. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová have the greatest of chemistry and it really comes through in there music; their debut self-titled album was a delight to my ears but this recent installment puts them on another level in my opinion. Though never wandering too far from their Folk style of play, no two songs are alike yet the album manages to keep a coherent message: the real side of love. I would highly recommend checking out their film, you could get a good idea of what the swell season are all about and be entertained at the same time. I've fawned over this long enough; so until next time.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Down Under

Treasures EP - Antonio Paul

So I finally got around to listening to the latest EP released by Australian band Antonio Paul and my first impression of the Indie-Pop duo is quite positive. I didn't what to make of the sound that they make their own, not revolutionary but seldom ventured, they certainly have a laid-back attitude when it comes to music making. If you like a little quirk in your lyrics and a dash of weird to your instruments, you should give this one a try; chances are "City Dreams" will be your favorite. Plan on following these guys future releases.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Danish Delight

No More Stories Are Told Today, I'm Sorry They Washed Away // No More Stories, The World Is Grey, I'm Tired, Let's Wash Away - Mew

Danish band Mew's fifth studio release is one that caught my interest after listening to their first single "Cartoons And Macramé Wounds" and then following that up with my personal favorite "Repeaterbeater". And what you have read is actually the album's title commonly known by "No More Stories..." ; that plus the wacky artwork could give you an idea of what you might discover in this ensemble. These guys are the poster-boys in my opinion of the Progressive-Rock scene and it shows in the way they put together each individual track, the way sounds drift in and out, the many variations in a single song and the general ambiance that the fourteen tracks - even the interludes - can create are really brilliant. I must stress that if you are not willing or open to this genre, this will not change your mind, but I can't speak for everyone. If you think you can give it a shot, you will have no regrets.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Heart & Folk

Sigh No More - Mumford & Sons

The genre that is Folk has gifted us with many gems that simply ooze of the feel of a subway guitarist pouring his soul out to a crowd of indifferent passersby, but never before have I heard an entire ensemble collection that has tickled my fancy as much as the debut album of Mumford & Sons. The band name alone tells you where this is going but it is definitely worth taking that trip. Now Folk music entails many different things if you are not aware, those being: each song tells a story, not in pieces but as a whole, and at the end there is a moral or learned experience to a varying degree (this not being the case here); most if not all the tracks are played with acoustic instruments, and these guys bring it: guitar, drums, mandolin, banjo, dobro, accordion, double bass and some sounds I can't make out. The overall package is absolutely enchanting, very down-to-Earth lyrics, great vocals by Mr. Marcus Mumford himself, an engrossing sense of laying back while you are being told a story accompanied by some fantastic instrumentals.

The Cave

This is the track that started it all and I've only seen the video up until recently.

Little Lion Man

Heavy hitter back in Australia. That is a good looking banjo.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Tet Vav Semiprime

Got another list ready so here it is. I do not own any of the videos.

1.- Backfire - MuteMath - Armistice
2.- Belong In - Beerjacket - A Boy Of Action
3.- Borderline (Madonna) - Flaming Lips - Embryonic

Borderline - Flaming Lips

- This vid is long but the song makes it worth the length.

4.- Circles - As Tall As Lions - You Can't Take It With You
5.- Cloudbusting - Anthem In - The Cloudbusting
6.- Hostage Of Love - Razorlight - Slipway Fires
7.- Juno - Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell
8.- Mel's Song - Cosmo Jarvis - Hum As You Hitch/ Son Of A Bitch
9.- Repeaterbeater - Mew - No More Stories Are Told Today Sorry...

Repeaterbeater - Mew

- They sing in English but they speak something that sounds like Danish. Doesn't take away from the weirdness of this one.

10.- Return Of White Rabbit - Ash - Vol.1 A-Z

Return Of White Rabbit - Ash

- Animated vid about a man who has been tormented since he was a child by a another guy. The lesson to take away here is if you push somebody too hard he'll push back and probably succumb to a crazy-looking alter-ego.

11.- Riverside - Kid Harpoon - Once
12.- Stagger Gently Home - The Holy Roman Army - How The Light Gets In
13.- The Stone - Canoe - Places
14.- Watch As They Go - American Princes - Other People
15.- Work Day - It Hugs Back - Inside Your Guitar

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Burnt Or Crossed

Crossing The Rubicon - The Sounds

The Sounds released their third album on June of last year and I must admit it took me time to actually get this album seeing as how I had already gotten three great tracks. Right off the bat, this album is great from top to bottom, a dozen jewels in this release. The songs would be labeled as New Wave but to really get an idea of how this sounds, I believe it toes the line between Alternative Rock & Electro-Pop. Fantastic harmonies, superior mixing, superb vocals, provided by lead singer Maja, high energy sounds and all around genuine desire to make good music are what make this a must-have for lovers of the genre. I had recently learned that this album was self-produced and released by the label founded by The Sounds themselves and seemingly funded by their world tour; at least they had a say on what exactly is going to be on their album and I'm glad they did so because this was an experience for me, and it might be for you as well.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

The Diva Is Back

Hey Minus here. I've been really busy getting ready for schoolin' & such so i present my excuses. Hopefully when I'm all settled this can change. TRUST, I have quite the collection of oldies & even some new stuff you might enjoy & if you don't... well I do.

while I have you wait Amanda Diva shows us all that she hasn't forgotten her lyrical roots. Until the project drops here's a preview...

Brand New- Amanda Diva

Quite nice if i say so myself... which I do.

& I'm off again,

-Minus & The Theorists

Thistasteful

I haven't posted a list in a long time so why not start back up again ? This is the usual Indie-Rock/ Alternative kind of music you might come to expect from me but good music is good music, for me anyways, and you might love it.

1. Andrew - Crystal Antlers - Tentacles
2. Don't Forget To Regret - Benjamin E. Morsberger - Idiot Sleep
3. Easy Speak - Maple Leaves - Maple Leaves
4. Edgar - Lucky Elephant - Star Sign Trampoline
5. Eidolon - Sinew - The Beauty Of Contrast
6. First Love - Emmy The Great - First Love
7. Hi - Now It's Overhead - Now It's Overhead
8. How You Like Me Now - The Heavy - The House That Dirt Built
9. Last Dance - Chapeau Claque - Fabelweiss
10. Letting Go - Exit The Ordinary - The Place You Are
11. Light you Up - Pilot Speed - Wooden Bones
12. Natural Light - Casiotone For The Painfully Alone - Vs. Children
13. New Years - Ohbijou - Beacons New Years - Ohbijou - Created By: Exploding Motor Car
    
14. San Rafael - Petracovich -Crepusculo
    
15. She Does - Locksley - Don't Make Me Wait
16. Sit Down By The Fire - The Veils - Sun Gangs
17. Sometimes - The Barlights - If It Wasn't For The Light
18. Sparrow - Trespassers William - The Natural Order Of Things
    
19. Valium - Lisa Mitchell - Wonder
    
20. Welcome Home - Radical Face - Ghost
    

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

By Leaps

One Beacon In The Strand - Disalto

I like Punk-Rock; I especially like it when it sounds this good. While this is not the best album of this genre that I've heard, it is the best I've listened to in a long time. Punk rockers tend to be far too political in recent times and I feel it takes away from the musical experience; even though political themes play a huge part of Punk-Rock's history they shouldn't overtake an entire album. One of the best things about Disalto's second release is the great mixing job; sounds random but if you've ever listened to this genre you can understand my delight. Harmonies and subtle nuances come through just as much as blazing guitar riffs and explosive drums and I guarantee that it makes for a rather enjoyable experience. All ten of the featured tracks are good in their own way and there is not one definitive track that stands above all others which makes for a fairly balanced album. I've droned on long enough, so I'll leave you to it.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Polar Opposite

Remind Me Where The Light Is - Great Northern

Indie Rock band Great Northern released their second studio album last year and in my opinion it tops their previous work by far. While "Trading Twilight For Daylight" was a fantastic album, they have managed to improve on their always dreamy sound on their latest release. The general tone of every track is the underlying story of love lost and love remembered; the dual vocals of Solon and Rachel also add to the relationship themes. That being said, this is not the sappy kind of love wrapped in a melancholic melody, most of the lyrics are deeply enigmatic and take some deciphering to get the message. All in all, this is a truly satisfying listening experience full of ambient mystifying sounds and soothing vocals mixed with a dash of energy.

Xero & The Boombox Theory

Sunny Days Cloudy

Rainy Days - Wren

I don't know much about this band but I know that their music is the kind of different that isn't found around every corner. Each of the tracks featured are seemingly split up into two coherent songs which makes for a welcome change in the pace and tone. A fair warning: adjust your ears; this is a great album but I didn't think so the first time I gave it a listen, so if you're up for it, hear it out and then judge. Also, look out for a cover of one of the greatest classic pop songs ever made.

(As far as I know)The following videos are not the official ones, but they are shot by the artist himself.

Abusing Sunshine - Wren

This is the video that incited me to track down this band and get the album. I don't believe that the simplicity of this video as any symbolism to it but the single-angle aspect is brilliant.


A Philistine On The Sidewalk - Wren


The vocals are by Brittany Soldo and the music and lyrics are by Cody Weber (Wren). I wish this song was on the album.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Blastin' Bieber

Lee Bannon does it again! I am not fan of Justin Beiber nor do I understand the craze. I mean sure the kid can sing, but there are plenty his age and younger that can. He has yet to set his mark in my opinion. But Lee Bannon? Well this man has put the pre-teen craze's voice to good use. First time I heard this, I had the biggest grin on my face. That feeling has yet to change, and thus, without further a due. I present to you...

Lee Bannon x Justin Bieber Beat Tape

-Minus & The BoomBox Theorists

Jumpin' Joints

I've been M.I.A. for a while now... But as you can tell I'm back with a vengeance. This is Fats Waller's , an amazing Jazz album. Listening to this album brings me great joy as every single track screams out "SAMPLE ME!". seriously, this album in it's entirety makes for some great hip-hop sampling. Smooth, funky... 'nough said, just Listen.

The Joint Is Jumpin'

-Minus & The BoomBox Theorists

The Young Sound

The Bit Parts EP

Fresh from the still-rattled gulf coast, the Youth Sounds have not been stopped by the recent disasters. I discovered this new band a few days ago and was shocked to find out that these are their first tracks, ever. Their sound seems so worked, as if they have been recording for a long time and have just released their favorite tracks on an EP. I haven't analyzed the tracks enough so I can't formulate a concrete opinion; but I'm only just discovering this band and if my first impression is anything to go by, I plan on following their next releases with great excitement

1. As Strangers Would - Youth Sounds - The Bit Parts
   
2. Smoke And Mirrors - Youth Sounds - The Bit Parts
   
3. What Is It Like - Youth Sounds - The Bit Parts

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

A Boombox Can Change The World

BOOMBOX - THE LONELY ISLAND (Feat. JULIAN CASABLANCAS)

Being a big fan of the Lonely Island, I was so happy to stumble upon their latest video. As usual, the concept for this video is straight out of left field and goes right to the funny bone. The Strokes lead singer provides the vocals; great gig for him. Enjoy.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Corner Rap

TSOL - Shad

This is the first rap album I have ever posted and this is with good reason. Listening to rap these days is really hard for me, is it just me or are rappers less creative ? Regardless, I had the great fortune of stumbling onto this nugget brought to you by the Canadian rapper who goes by the name of Shad. This is his third album and having listened to his previous work, this is an overall improvement to his sound but his lyrics are still as potent and grounded as they were since he picked up the mic. The origin of his name is colorfully explained in "A Good Name", "Keep Shining" seems like it revolves around the standard rap brag yet it stands out as a polar opposite and the fantastic vibe surely does not hurt. "We, Myself & I" is by far the high energy track of the album and the use of the letter "I" in the first verse is the kind of creativity I was talking about. "At The Same Time" has a darker tone but the underlying message is meant to uplift and educate, the resulting sound is haunting yet beautiful; hard to get in a rap song. "Listen" has an oddly old-school vibe about it while still sounding very fresh and relevant, this track voices some of the concerns many of us have about the road rap is going down and the need for it to go back to the representation of the people. I have gone on long enough, so until the next post...

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

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