Herohill

Reviews:: Christopher Smith The Beckon Call

2010-04-16T07:13:00.004-04:00

Before I started hitting the keys in front of me this morning, I had planned on talking about the benefits of consistency and how Justin Rutledge plays off of that comfort I feel when I hear his voice and guitar. I'll still venture down that path closer to the release of his new record, but today searching for consistency felt more like complacency and I wanted to write about something that stood out.

Standing out from the crowd isn't what you'd probably associate from Vancouver's Christopher Smith, a hushed bed/bathroom (and beyond) artist that prefers emotions and echoed whispers to energy, burst and tempo. His songs sound like isolation. Introspective glimpses into his soul that eventually get carried by subtle, but his tasteful arrangements would be just as powerful if Smith never sung a word.

It's almost fitting that we all probably know a Christopher Smith, not only by name but by the stories he tells. The Beckon Call is full of pain; Smith, like so many of us, has been run over by love and can't get past some of the most most hurt filled days. The sad clown is a common personality for song writers, but Christopher refuses to close himself off or lose hope. The optimism and desire to find love again that keeps him going also keeps the record moving and helps Smiths chords turn heartbreak into something heart warming. At just the right time Smith uses airy falsettos that soar over the melancholy and force you to smile through the darkest moments.

Check out his great snowglobe video for the lead single, Gently, Gently:

Christopher Smith - Gently Gently from Boompa Records on Vimeo.

His previous two EPs (Gently, Gently and Keepsake) are available now (a track from each are on The Beckon Call) and offer a perfect introduction to this talented songwriter while you wait for his debut full length to hit the streets on May 11th.

MP3:: Christopher Smith - Gently, Gently

MP3:: Christopher Smith - Piece by Piece
WEB:: http://thebeckoncall.com/
LABEL:: BOOMPA

Video Hits:: Ghettosocks, Muneshine & Ron Contour

2010-04-15T13:00:00.001-04:00

I'm not sure what I was searching for the other day, but I came across a random link to a post of ours posted somewhere with this description of our little outfit: "HeroHill.com is one of Canada's reputable hip-hop blogs." Well it's pretty debatable how reputable we are, and calling us a hip hop blog is kind of a Shawn Bradley-esque stretch. I guess it's not completely outlandish, as I do try and post plenty of good Canadian hip hop content on the site, but I'm far from consistent in that posting. A big reason why I try and get Canadian hip hop up on the hill is simply because there aren't a lot of outlets for the folks making that music here in Canada to get something written about them.

So lets write about them! It's Thursday, and that means videos here on the hill, so a hip hop edition of the Video Hits seemed like the opposite of milk on a sweltering San Diego day. If you've been here before, it should be no surprise that the Grand Wizard Ghettosocks is our MC of choice as far as Halifax hip hop goes. Socks has a fresh new video for Out For Treats, which was one of my favorite tracks on the album, thanks to nonsensically delicious lyrics like ""me & my peeps got hot eats in the grotto, fresh meat in the taco, extra cheese on the nacho". The video is a perfect compliment to the track, with Socks & crew chowing down on plenty of treats, and Haltown legend Jorun manning the decks in a chef outfit, which is enjoyable.

Toronto's Muneshine is currently working Ghettosocks on a collaborative side project called Twin Peaks, and I'm certainly looking forward to hearing some of it. For now, I'm content with Muneshine's latest effort, the video for Gotta Feeling which is featured on Urbnet's recently released hip hop compilation. It's a solid song that features D-Sisive and Shad, and the video continues Urbnet's tradition of some really well done videos. To finish, we've got Glad from Moka Only alias Ron Contour, a song from Mr. Contour's latest album with Prairie producer Factor which is delightfully entitled Saffron. This is actually a great album that I plan to write more about, but for now, you can enjoy Moka only and his very realistic fake mustache as he hangs with Sasquatch. Pretty average day for Moka no doubt. Enjoy.

Ghettosocks - Out For Treats

MP3:: Ghettosocks - Don't Turn Around f. Edgar Allen Floe
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/ghettosocks

Muneshine - Gotta Feeling f. D-Sisive & Shad

MP3:: Muneshine - Gotta Feeling f. D-Sisive & Shad
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/muneshine

Ron Contour - Glad

MP3:: Ron Contour & Factor - Glad
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/mokaonly
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/factorg

Reviews:: Souljazz Orchestra Rising Sun

2010-04-15T08:45:00.006-04:00

I know it goes against most people's overwhelming desire to have the inspiration for each and every song to have traveled from war-torn and impoverished African nations, but truth be told Ottawa's Souljazz Orchestra have shown more courage and talent on Rising Sun than they achieved on either of their previous efforts.

In the past, Souljazz came across like an Afrobeat machine - which left the "educated and current" white music lover (infatuated with the recent Fela revival) very happy - but the Ottawa band revealed more influences and talent on Rising Sun and have grown well past a singular sound. Rising Sun uses its nine songs to prove that; going fully acoustic, excellent pacing, arrangements and above all, variety all make this smoothed out record a must hear.

Instead of booming drums and tight horns and political uprising, Rising Sun is a more spiritual experience, which provides the necessary comedowns and change of emotion from the booming horns of Agbara, the pure funk of Mamaya and the Ethiopian vibe heavy Negus Negast. The trumpet work the band delivers on Lotus Flower transports you to the most relaxed of states and the surprisingly minimal combination of percussion and traditional jazz you hear on Serenity is soothing and sensual.

The band is up to the challenge of grabbing your ear without relying on the crutch of frantic pace and the mid-tempo work is outstanding. Rising Sun might not offer boomer after boomer in an attempt to grab you on the most casual of listen, but what the band has created here is more magical and timeless. The 45 minutes take you to countless regions and emotional states, and honestly, if you think this sounds like elevator music, I want to live or work in the buildings you do, because both are super heady space with a soundtrack that would inspire me each and every day.

MP3:: Souljazz Orchestra - Agbara
MYSPACE:: http://myspace.com/souljazzorchestra
WEB:: http://souljazzorchestra.com/

Quick Hitters:: Kick Evrything This I is Demented and Possibly Deceased

2010-04-14T08:23:00.001-04:00

It's hard to jump into a review of Vancouver's Kick Evrything without being tempted to lead with an easy and obvious sounds like. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I constantly bitch when critics get lazy and take the obvious route (see how I did that?), but truth be told I don't like the band that is constantly throw around when describing the unique and unsettling sounds Casey and Paul are creating and relying on that descriptor would mean I didn't like Kick Evrything either.

And on paper, maybe I shouldn't, but the more I soak in This I is Demented and Possibly Deceased the more I enjoy it. The whole record sounds like it was recorded on Radio Raheem's boom box (note: this would be awesome and some band needs to make this happen), almost as if the sounds were bursting from the duo and not even time or money could stop KE from getting their music out. Stomping through lo-fi blues, swirling hippie freak folk, banged out synth driven tracks and fuzz filled ambiance, the thirty minutes has just enough sex appeal, grit, snot and washed out sun to keep you as interested as you are uncomfortable.

Casey has the presence you need in a front woman, and the band shows they can move freely across countless genres without sounding lost or unfocused. Even as they float from stomped out blues to a pseudo 90's/alterna-pop number (Dusty -> Tail End) or crank the noise and energy back up for the heavy tail end of the record (Buck and Fun certainly find the LP concluding on a spirited high), they keep it together nicely, which helps you stay with the band when they drift farther away from anyone's comfort zone.

MP3:: Kick Evrything - Dusty
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/kickevrything

Deeper into Music:: Apollo Ghosts Mount Benson

2010-04-13T14:06:00.000-04:00

Last year we fell in love with the Daniel, Fred & Julie record and asked Daniel Romano to give us a bit more information about the songs, the recordings and the nonsense and hilarity that ensued. IT was a pretty cool piece and people seemed to love the idea, so we thought why not reach out to one of our new favorites, Apollo Ghosts, and how the glory that is Mount Benson (a lock for my Polaris ballot for those keeping score at home) come to be.

Last fall we got together at the space and decided to record another album. A new Taco restaurant had opened up on Hastings street and we ate a lot of them while recording. Dave manned the boards and Loki the cat scratched the couch. We drank whiskey for courage. I think it took about a week. When we got our test pressings back--Dave played it on the studio player, tilted his ear to the spinning disc and summed up the whole project quite nicely: "Delightfully ragged."

01 Wakesiah
Adrian gives himself about two songs per record where he's allowed mega-overdubs. Amanda and Jay don't let Adrian use his loop pedal live so it was his only chance to get frisky. The opening lyric connects to the previous record, Hastings Sunrise. "This is about the time I said I'd choose to live." We recorded this song once before but the key was way too high. Adrian can barely hit it as is. Jay and Adrian did the mmmmm's and tried to make them sound like BC Ferry horns. This is about someone getting into a bathtub, sailing across the Strait of Georgia to find someone he lost. Seems pre-teen tragic.

02 Charms of Cars
Sometimes Adrian goes to the washroom during practice and Jay and I do bass/drum jamz. There usually pretty funky. A lot times he'll come back and scream: "Keep it going, we got a song here!!!" I think he told me Charms of Cars is about the illusion of teen car ownership. Or Capitalism.

03 Coka-Cola Admen
My friend Ken (from the band 'Madonna Bangers') asked me what this song was about on our little tour last summer. We were six beers deep in our sleeping bags somewhere in a Washington State campground. I think I mumbled something about the real-estate bubble and former eccentric mayor of Nanaimo, Frank Ney. I think the Coka-Cola Admen invented the modern day Santa-Claus.

04 To: A Friend Who Has Been Through A War
We play this as power-pop song live but I recorded the demo as an acoustic version and it stuck for the LP.

05 Witchcraft Lake
There is a lake at the foot of Mount Benson called 'Witchcraft Lake.' It's black and red and filled with eerie tree stumps. After you climb Benson it's really tempting to jump in and cool yourself off. The only problem is the lake tries to pull you in. Seriously. The banks of the lake give way and and it feels like a spirit dragging you under. There's been a plane crash and multiple alien sightings on Mount Benson.

06 Brown To Grey
Our friend Rose Melberg came in and sang the duet on this one. Kim Koch plays the violin.

07 Samurai Chatter
My friend Brent hunts Sasquatch down on the Nanaimo river. He has a big beard and amazing gold panning skills. I think this is the biggest cryptozoology song on the record. Dave gave us a disco-wah pedal for some overdubs. He also added these crazy alien sounds when he was alone in the studio, which both shocked and delighted. Like any island kid, I grew up hunting frogs and playing war games with my sister near lakes and rivers.

08 Sons Of Norway
There was one out in the last inning of the Nanaimo little league championship. Amber hadn't hit the ball all year. Bases were loaded. She bit her lip and smacked a single through the first baseman's glove. And the Sons of Norway hoisted to the trophy.

09 Hub City
Frank Ney, former eccentric mayor, created a bathtub race between Nanaimo and Vancouver. There is even an entire pirate themed island located in the Nanaimo harbour called 'Protection Island.' Nanaimo is the heart of Vancouver island.

10 Salmon Capital
Definitely about Capitalism.

11 Attaquez! Attaquez! Attaquez!
Ferdinand Foch, French Supreme Commander of the Allied Armies , had a strategy---forget defense, just attack! Attack with everything you've got!

12 Things You go Through
I think this is our sad attempt to write a Subterranean Homesick Blues'esque song. When we finished recording it, Dave said: "It needs something." Using a big piece of sheet metal, several tamborines and two sound barrier walls, we created the Frankle: an improvised garbage thunder drum. You can hear it thrashing around in the background.

13 Snow on Mount Benson
Adrian is a sucker for piano ballads even though he can't play. Our friend Chris-a-riffic came down and recorded the piano part in a few takes. You should really check out his music, not our crud!!!

MP3:: Apollo Ghost - Things You Go Through
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/adrianteacher

Quick Hitters:: Rae Spoon & CPI thereisafire

2010-04-13T08:45:00.001-04:00

Last year, Rae Spoon surprised everyone with an unexpected project that melded his guitar, vocals and new found love of electronics with the atmospheric textures of soundman/artist Alex Decoupigny (review). The shift in sound was yet another away from the standard country tinged sounds Rae had used in the past and it worked so well that it's not surprising that this time around Rae continued that progression.

Working with CPI, the duo transforms the soaring anthem Come On Forest Fire, Burn the Disco Down into a - ironically - more club ready jam. Remarkably, this latest shift seems completely natural as they manage to keep the heart of the song in tact. The song is still built on the hand claps and melody, but by adding some echo-y reverb and energy Rae and CPI get us to shake our asses instead of our raised fists.

The second track, There Is A Light, But It's Not For Everyone, is a show only gem, that the duo gives new life. Benefiting form a deep bass kick and subtle quick moving blips and bleeps this song seems intimate even with the all the programming. Hearing Rae sing about visiting the homelands of some of the biggest music legends (Leonard Cohen, Kraftwerk, Morrissey) and taking the position of a fan feels like Rae is reaching out his hand to the fans, moving amongst them instead of singing to them. I'm not sure it would work for everyone, but for someone that probably spent a lot of his life on the outside, that desire to include everyone in his love of music fits perfectly.

I know it's only two songs, but once again Rae exposes a trust in his musical growth. You could give the credit to touring non stop or a change in location, but really it seems like Rae has found peace in not only where he is, but who he is. The result is a confidence that has been growing since the the release of superioryouareinferior, and pushes Rae into new musical territory that works very well for him. He can crank out a heavy riff, show restraint with an intimate arrangement or move around intricate programming and tempo changes nicely. Basically, in just over a year, Rae Spoon has proven that he's able to hook you with any emotion or sound. Hopefully that means the next album will find the balance between all the new styles he's experimenting with and result in a record even better.

MP3:: Rae Spoon - Come On Forest Fire Burn The Disco Down (CPI Remix)

MP3:: Rae Spoon - There is a light, but it's not for everyone

WEB:: http://raespoon.com/
WEB:: http://thetastates.com/

Old School Mondays:: R.I.P. Malcolm McLaren

2010-04-12T14:00:00.001-04:00

Throughout its existence, hip hop has seen a ton of seemingly random and unlikely people play various roles in its evolution. Perhaps none were more unlikely than Malcolm McLaren, who died late last week of cancer. After all, a pasty, carrot-topped British dude who made his name as the outlandish manager of The Sex Pistols isn't the first person that comes to mind when you're thinking hip hop, but it's true.

Like many a NY Scenester before and after him in the late 70's and early 80's, McLaren because infatuated with the energy and potential of hip hop, and felt the need to inject himself into in some manner. The main manner he chose was to errr, team-up with NY radio DJ's The World Famous Supreme Team to release a number of records in the early 80's (what did he actually do on these records? I have no idea). McLaren was kind of a shameless self-promoter, but his foray into hip hop had to have some benefits for both McLaren and hip hop, as someone with his music-scene creds actually attempting to make a hip hop record would certainly brought some attention to what was still a fledgling, NY-centric culture.

And the songs they produced managed to make an impact too, as not only have they been sampled quite frequently, but I recall knowing that Malcolm McLaren was connected to hip hop in some way, even when I really had no idea who he was. Anyway, if you have no idea who he was, I'd give his wiki a perusal, as the guy led a rather interesting life, to say the least. We'll wrap things up by saying a final R.I.P. to Mr. McLaren and post a couple of his songs, along with a few great songs that sampled them. Enjoy.

MP3:: Malcolm McLaren - Dya Like Scratchin'

MP3:: Malcolm Mclaren - Buffalo Gals

MP3:: Das EFX - They Want EFX

MP3:: The Beatnuts - World's Famous (Feat. V.I.C.)

MP3:: A Tribe Called Quest - Award Tour

VIDEO:: Malcolm Mclaren - Buffalo Gals

Quick Hitters:: Collapsing Opposites

2010-04-11T15:05:00.004-04:00

Without question, the stark contrast Vancouver offers the artists that call the city home helps them form sounds that can't blossom in any other Canadian city. The beauty of mountain filled skies and hint of salt that filters up from the ocean are diametrically opposed to the homelessness (people with two steady incomes can barely afford to own) and substance abuse that city officials keep trying to push further and further from the downtown core, the cuts to the arts program and the harsh reality that venues close all the time.

That's why even when Vancouver's Collapsing Opposites hits on some ear pleasing psych-pop melodies on their new LP (In Time), the results never degrade to hippie love, flowers and drug induced hazes. There are no moments of free love and by no means does the band see the current world through rose coloured glasses. No, Collapsing Opposites uses those psych backdrops get your interest before getting to the heart of some real world issues.

Over the last two years, the ever changing lineup has been solidified and from what I've heard so far, they discarded the friendly guitar picks, plinky synths and saxophone we've come to expect and in their place front man Ryan McCormick delivers tangible streams of consciousness that get darker the deeper you get. Picture BARR playing with a swirling, looping band instead of over a drum machine and you get the idea.

They also seem much more focused. Don't Worry starts as a simple track about ruining a dude's high but McCormick starts probing into real problems (in this case, the downside of the all-inclusive tropical retreat) that people all too often sweep under the rug. Diamond Mind drives forward aggressively, using swirls and a heavy beat before the band changes pace to a more syncopated, up beat sound on the "chorus." Throughout it all, McCormick must be given credit for making a completely inaccessible style - rapid fire lyrics delivered from a completely unique sounding vocalist - and making the songs surprisingly accessible.

How does the rest of In Time play out? To be honest, I have no idea but the improved collaboration between McCormick and his band and a focus that helps keep the tracks from spiraling into chaos has me very excited.

MP3:: Collapsing Opposites - Diamond Mind

MP3:: Collapsing Opposites - Don't Worry
WEB:: http://collapsingopposites.com
BUY:: http://geographing.bigcartel.com/

Reviews:: Daniel, Fred & Julie @ The North Street Church

2010-04-10T09:16:00.005-04:00

Honestly, last night the music we heard couldn't have been much better. Starting with a set from Baby Eagle (apologies to Laura Peek for missing the set), the tiny, North End church was packed with fans of the talented musicians, no one sure how a set from three friends playing classic songs would unfold.

What we heard was memorable. Daniel Romano, Fred Squire and Julie Doiron played with smiles on their faces and a relaxed demeanor. Honest harmonies and guitar work more than overshadowed the slight laughs when the odd lyric was missed or chord progression was forgotten. Daniel, Julie and Fred also took their turn playing songs from their other projects - including new songs from Julie and Daniel harmonizing with band mate Spencer Burton.

For me though, the highlight was Fred - side note: points to Mr. Squire for style, as his blazer, glasses and homemade kerchief (that said Duck Hunting) combination was top shelf - pulling Julie onstage with him to sing Frankie & Albert. This song is on his new EP, available only in a CD-R format at shows, and until last night I had no idea the touching love song was actually Fred's reply to the powerful The Gambler And His Bride from the trio's folk album. The song was made even more poignant when Julie sang Frankie's part as she rests in the gallows, about to die for killing her man. The love that runs through this song is amazing, and it marked the high point in a set that constantly cleared the highest of expectations.

I'll be posting more video later, but enjoy this heartbreaking performance:
Fred Squire (ft. Julie Doiron) - Frankie & Albert

Daniel, Fred & Julie - The Gambler and His Bride

Reviews:: Dance Movie It's in the And

2010-04-09T09:10:00.003-04:00

After seeing local media woman about town Tara Thorne and her drummer (Craig Jennex) fight through a set of starts and stops, feedback and forced tenderness at the Company House a few months ago, I wasn't exactly excited to hear the recorded output she had on tap.

The set moved from romantic to chaotic, often within a few strums of the guitar and I wondered if Thorne's keen ear and critic's voice would result in songs aiming to please her peers, instead of coming from the person she holds back from the masses.

But when I listened to It's in the And, I realized there is something there. Thorne is obviously an educated woman, but as she proudly shows on the interesting fictional love affair/crime spree (Carjack My Heart) her love of pop culture - especially Gilmore Girls - and nerdiness are more important to her songs than the hottest trends or crafting songs to impress journalists.

The most pleasant surprise about the 16-minute EP was the clean and crisp sound the band delivers. Thorne is a relatively new musician, but patience and Amelia Curran's production eliminate the stumbles I heard on stage and the impact violinist Kinley Dowling brings to the band is crucial. Her deft bow work really helps thicken the mix and helps bridge the gap left by the quiet/loud/quiet/ arrangements Thorne prefers; and it's those arrangements really help make this EP bigger than it has the right to be.

The well paced build and group vocals on the inspiring Light Bright Tonight and the horns on Fail transform Thorne's personal admissions into full songs. Naturally, there are some lulls and missteps, but for a debut EP Tara has shown the potential that helps fans get excited to see what's next. And if the genre of dance movies has proven anything, there's always a sequel in the works.

MP3:: Dance Movie - Carjack My Heart
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/dancemovie

Video Hits:: Yukon Blonde, Ghostkeeper & The Junction

2010-04-08T13:00:00.001-04:00

Bit of a condensed version of the video hits this week, as starting a new project at a new company has left me jammed like it was Julius and I was Mike Cooper trying not to get flushed on. But it's Thursday, and you fine folks want videos, not my sob stories, so lets have at it.

Vancouver's Yukon Blonde has blown up a bit. The Ack was complementary of the band as he tried to short-circuit the Fleet Foxes comparisons before they got up a head of steam, and I said this about the band after catching their set during HPX: "Yukon Blonde were great: fun, polished set - they seem like they've been playing together for decades". So we liked them, but it's been surprising much I've been hearing about them from US sources. Good for them I say! Wind Blows was the standout of their HPX set for me, and so a video is a welcome development.

The next band from out west to blow up? It might very well be Ghostkeeper, as Shane Ghostkeeper & Co. have been all over the blogs of late. I haven't actually heard the album to be honest, but you can check out their new video for Haunted and decide for yourself.

To round things off, we have a new video from The Junction, who I reviewed last summer, when, ironically, I was starting my last project! Isn't that amazing, life is one big circle isn't it? Anyway, as I said in that review, The Junction's last album was perfect warm weather music, and this new single, No Road is no exception, so maybe posting it up will encourage some of that warm weather we enjoyed last weekend to come back. Enjoy!

Yukon Blonde - Wind Blows

MP3:: Yukon Blonde - Wind Blows
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/yukonblondeband

Ghostkeeper - Haunted

MP3:: Ghostkeeper - By Morning
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/childrenofthegreatnorthernmuskeg

The Junction - No Road

MP3:: The Junction - My Love Was There
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/thejunction

Contest:: Win the new DUZHEKNEW/COUSINS tape + tix to the release show

2010-04-08T07:13:00.008-04:00

You read that title right friend. Adam - aka DUZHEKNEW - and Aaron - front man of herohill fav Cousins - decided to unite their bands like Voltron and put together a cassette's worth of new music for you to hear.

New music from either band would be enough to get the hill salivating (you can check our reviews of each here and here), but honestly, if a quick glance at that tape cover up above doesn't get your nostalgic flow going, you are probably either too young to know what a tape is or dead inside.

The bands are about to head out on tour, so it would be a wise move to head down to The Khyber tomorrow evening and show some support. They are playing with The Bad Arts and Fuck Montreal and thanks to the bands, we have a copy of the tape and a ticket to give away to one lucky reader. All we ask in return is you to email us (HEROHILL [AT] GMAIL DOT COM) or leave your pertinents in the comments section.

We will pick the winner today, so enter now. Good luck.

MP3:: DUZHEKNEW - Came Out the Other Side, OK
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/duzheknew
LABEL:: http://drawndaggers.com/

MP3:: Cousins - Nans
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/cousinscousins

Quick Hitters:: Urbnet Underground Hip Hop Vol. 5

2010-04-07T13:00:00.000-04:00

Is it safe to say that Urbnet is the best indie hip hop label in Canada? I think I'd have to say yes. Don't get me wrong, there are certainly plenty of folks dedicated to the thankless task of producing solid hip hop here in this great big country of ours, but when you look at the volume of music Urbnet puts out, and the professional way they produce and promote it, this Toronto outfit likely takes the cake.

But don't take my word for it, just peruse their website for even a few minutes, and you'll likely come to the same conclusion. Or you can check out the latest release in their Underground Hip-Hop series, which features a long list of folks we've covered in one way or another here on the hill: D-Sisive, OK Cobra, Moka Only, DL Incognito, Circle Research, Dragon Fli Empire, Wordburglar, Ghettosocks, The Nope, and Grand Analog - to name but a few.

It's the kind of list that says a lot about Urbnet's good eye for Canadian hip hop talent, but for the amount of quality hip hop that you can find here if you're willing to look for it. Or you can skip all that looking jizz-jazz and simply get yourself a digital slice of Canadian awesome right here.

MP3:: DL Incognito - A Little Like This

MP3:: Religion - Lucid f. Moka Only & E.D.G.E.

MP3:: OK Cobra - Beautiful (Southwest Mix)

Texting Mackenzie - Quoi De Neuf

2010-04-07T07:36:00.006-04:00

In the late 90's, Halifax was over run with musical talent. Unbelievably, especially if you consider today's market, bands were turning down record contracts to avoid being labeled as sell-outs and to focus on the music and forming a sound. Over time that "sound" slowly filtered into our DNA like a love of donairs, constantly discussing the weather and stopping for pedestrians. Heavy riffs, minor chords, and the classic loud-quiet-loud progressions that cranked up the energy to a fever pitch rang from almost every bar in Halifax. Sigh.

So when Texting Mackenzie jump start their Quoi de Neuf EP with the prototypical Hali sounding The Annex, you can't help but fall in love the ear pleasing melodies. But rather than praise the band for sounding like the countless acts that picked clean a once fruitful orchard so many years ago (no matter how great the results sound, because trust me, The Annex is le jam), it's the remaining songs that showcase the creativity and future of the band.

Freckle Face uses a driving acoustic riff and some piano to showoff the band's ability to deliver a more standard pop sound, but TM still puts their stamp on the song when they spend the last minute adding the needed muscle and chaos to the well timed climax. Ozma Redux is a loud/quiet/loud anthem that shows the band willing to let the catchy hook do the work and showcase Robin Jools Wright's sci-fi heavy lyrics. For that three-minutes, it's impossible to sit still, especially when the band hits full stride which makes the shift to the classic, folk/pop Keen Speciman even more jarring. The nice duet with O'Darling's Ida Maldstone is well put together - the two vocalists mesh well and the mandolin really adds to the authenticity of the emotion - and on its own it would sound impressive, but I have to admit the abrupt change of pace derails the momentum of the EP.

Thankfully, the band finishes the 6-song effort strongly. The infectious bass line and group vocals on Municipal Pride get you moving again, and leads you happily into the most surprising and rewarding effort on Quoi de Neuf. RSVP dips into an almost soulful indie pop, where Wright's vocals stretch to their limit in a Ted Leo-like fashion and the band does what so few ever succeed at; putting their best foot forward to finish the race.

MP3:: Texting Mackenzie - RSVP
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/textingmackenzie
BANDCAMP:: http://textingmackenzie.bandcamp.com/

Reviews:: David Myles Turn Time Off

2010-04-06T07:34:00.006-04:00

Over the last few months, the strain of writing daily reviews has been wearing on me. It's no secret we try to write something worth reading each and every day, but the schedule means we are forced to try to judge good bands by their greatest moments. It's not really fair to the listener or the band. For any music fan, a song is more than three-minutes; a song is a moment in your life you want to hold onto forever.

Right around the same time, I was reading a blog post by musician turned entrepreneur Derek Sivers (trying to apply his dancing guy / first follower principle to social learning in an 35,000 organization) and realized his philosophy of hell yeah! or no makes a lot of sense from a music blog perspective. In a nutshell, if Sivers isn't excited about something, he's saying no. He believes that there is too much to get done and too many great things out there to spend time on things that don't matter.

Obviously, with music the immediacy of a song is undeniable so his thoughts make sense, but what about things that take time to grow? Well, this is actually the thing that hell yeah! or no really helps us with. By saying no to some bands we are only okay about, we have more time to let records blossom. Gone is the the pressure of daily posts and, more importantly, we start to enjoy listening to records and triggering memories each time we hear a song.

When we started herohill, it was to give unsigned bands we loved the chance to get heard by even just our friends. Over the years, our audience has grown but the idea hasn't. The thing is, trying to review 5 records a week and always have fresh content means that bad records turn good and good records turn great. Great records? Well, because you have to move on before the record stops spinning, they don't get the chance to become life-altering and even the best songs no longer become something you hold onto. That's the biggest crime of it all.

So what does this mean? Probably a few less posts from me on herohill over the next few months, but hopefully more quality for your ears. Singles might get a few less lines of thought; almost a musical tweet of sorts, and records that seep into my soul like Turn Time Off - the new long player from Fredericton's David Myles - will be given the time and attention they deserve.

On his fourth record, Myles has found the recipe that works best for him. With some excellent production from Polaris short-lister Joel Plaskett, Myles has delivered a rock solid collection of warm, soulful pop songs that warm you with each and every listen. Myles has always been a whip smart song writer; as accessible and his is enjoyable and over the last few years he's been leaning more on his electric and full band compositions, but Turn Time Off shows him standing front and center with a well earned confidence, trusting a collection of musicians moving perfectly in time behind him.

From the opening moments of the melancholic Out of Love, Myles owns each and every song. He fuses the tracks with emotion without losing the listener. His thoughts could be yours, and as the warm melodies make you sway in time you get lost in the record. Gentle picks and touching harmonies fit perfectly beside experimental sounds (he drifts into a reggae feel on Run Away and even adds some spacey fuzz and dub to the quizzically titled Peace of Mind), subtle textures and even some Chuck Berry inspired electric chug. It's easy to hear this record and say that Myles has written his strongest hooks to date, but also challenged himself with bolder sounds and bigger goals.

It's very fitting Myles decorate his record with a simple picture of him wearing a sharp suit and tie. A cover like that could have been pulled from a stack of vinyl at a yard sale as easily as it could have been uncovered on iTunes or the Web, and it suits Turn Time Off to a tee. The songs and emotions stay with you for much longer than its 36-minute run time; in fact, like a well tailored suit, Turn Time Off will never go out of style. If that doesn't refresh your love of music, I don't know what will.

MP3:: David Myles - Gone For Long
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/davidmyles
WEB:: http://davidmyles.com

Old School Mondays:: Holy Crap Flav is 51 Edition

2010-04-05T14:00:00.000-04:00

I'm a little late with this one, but Flavor Flav had a birthday last month, and he turned 51. 51! Not sure why this surprised me, but it did. I mean, I certainly realized the dudes in PE were older than me when they were in their prime, but man, a full 15 years? I guess that makes his antics somewhat more endearing, knowing that he was basically a full-grown man, right from the group's very beginning.

Not endearing: Flav's recent "career", where he's been doing a hip hop-hypeman version of the whole Paris Hilton, "famous for being famous" thing. I mean I'm not one to suggest that someone shouldn't get theirs, and of course with Flav's, shall we say, limited, MC-skills, he was never going to have a lucrative solo career. But, for folks like me, who grew up on PE, it's been pretty well impossible not to cringe anytime Flav gets mentioned in the last couple years. But hey, he's 50(1), so why not give the man his due.

There's no better way to do that than with his solo tracks - or rather, his solo tracks that matter to me, he might've done something on one of their later records, but these are the ones I consider "Flav songs". There's the endearing and nonsense filled Cold Lampin' With Flavor, which most PE fans likely think of fondly, mostly because of its nonsense-ness. There's the big "single" that Flav is associated with, 911 Is A Joke, which wrapped Flav's comedic styles around a serious issue that black communities in the US were facing in the early 90's - lack of response, or even service from ambulance response services. Last but not least, we have what might be my favorite Flav song, Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya Man, which appeared originally on the House Party soundtrack for some reason, but it nuttily enjoyable.

So there you go, if you are only familiar with Flav in his current mascot-like form, this might be somewhat fun for you. Enjoy.

MP3:: Public Enemy - Cold Lampin' With Flavor

MP3:: Public Enemy - 911 Is A Joke

MP3:: Public Enemy - Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya Man

VIDEO:: Public Enemy - 911 Is A Joke

VIDEO:: Public Enemy - Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya Man

Reviews:: Homo Duplex 01 EP

2010-04-05T07:35:00.005-04:00

When you consider the shocking difference between the sounds that Ron Bates of The Memories Attack and Kristina Parlee of The Maynards are known for, a side project with the name Homo Duplex seems like an over reaching effort. Latin for double human, the genesis of the band is the near impossible task of fusing Bates' gear head mentality and love of noise with Parlee's dedication to the mission of converting each and every venue she plays into a party with peppy, indie-dance gems.

But when you hear the three songs the duo is giving away on their debut EP - 01 - you start to see how well they know each others strengths and weaknesses. You see, Bates and Parlee are married, and even if their preferred sounds aren't completely in line, the concessions of life and the effort needed to make a marriage work translated well for them in music too.

Of course there are moments when you hear one member of the duo stepping forward with their comfortable sonic palette - Kristina's staccato delivery on the opening minute of Rough Dough or the Bates favored noisy sludge that frames Deadly Understudy - but the songs are a new journey for both artists, and I think the process helped focus the effort. The duo simply put themes, ideas and tempos in a hat and then drew them out to determine the subject and structure. It might sound like an obvious way to start writing songs (or more accurately, a ridiculous one), but that process let Bates and Parlee focus on a single vision for each song and draw on years of experience as they played with new sounds.

Kristina and Ron use emotion and mood nicely over all three songs, peaking interest and energy at just the right times without resorting to uptempo gimmicks to keep the listener engaged. Each song has unexpected moments of grit, beauty and substance, making Homo Duplex much more than another electro tinged experiment. The heavy beat they drop on Rough Dough changes the mood and unsettles the listener, but after that frantic beginning they settle into a slow moving, beautiful vibe. The simple, organic piano line that starts the aptly named Bleak Creek is just as surprising and incredibly powerful but it's the way they slowly spiral the track to the brink of chaos that really makes the song.

I'm not sure what is next for Homo Duplex, but even if they simply go back to their "day" jobs and 01 is the only output we get from Kristina and Ron, it's one of the best things I've heard come out of Halifax this year and should be downloaded ASAP. They are giving away the songs for free, but honestly, for the amount of times you will let these songs loop, I'd suggest tossing in some bucks to say thanks.

MP3:: Homo Duplex - Rough Dough
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/homoduplex
D/L:: http://homoduplex.bandcamp.com/

Contests:: Win tix to see Dinosaur Bones @ Gus' Pub

2010-04-04T10:19:00.002-04:00

Toronto's Dinosaur Bones are no strangers to the road, but c'maaan! Just back from SXSW and opening for Thrush Hermit in TO, the quintet is hitting the road East and certainly making the most of their time. They are turning their upcoming Halifax visit into one of those "do-all-you-can-in-48 hours" type of deals you see on the travel network.

In 48 hours, they are doing a free in-store @ Taz on April 9th, playing an all-ages show @ The Pavilion that same night and then proceeding to hit Gus' Pub for a night cap on April 10th. Well video lottery players, get ready because we have a guest list spot for you and a friend to the Gus' Pub show. To enter, just email us (HEROHILL [AT] GMAIL DOT COM) or leave your info in the comments below. Easy peezy.

The band is touring on the strength of a 7" from Hi-Scores Recordings, but they are also road-testing the tracks from their much awaited debut LP. With the impact they've made touring with some of the biggest indie bands in Canada, I'd advise seeing them now (I already gushed about their debut EP - review) before they are playing to much bigger crowds for much bigger ticket prices.

MP3:: Dinosaur Bones - Royalty
MYSPACE:: http://myspace.com/dinosaurbonesband
BUY:: http://hiscoresrecordinglibrary.com/

What's This, A Party?:: Diamond Rings & An Horse

2010-04-03T10:00:00.001-04:00

It's been a few weeks since our last look at remixes here on the hill, so I thought we'd better come back mighty strong for this long weekend edition. Luckily that wasn't too difficult, because today we're featuring the second remix project from Guelph synth-wreckers, Green Go. The Ack was pretty high on GG's initial foray into remixing some songs from a bunch a Canadian indie heavy hitters. I'm pretty sure that he's just as impressed with volume 2, because it's another stellar batch of songs.

And songs they are - it's really almost unfair to call them remixes because the band obviously takes so much care in re-making these songs in a way that lets their style show, but making sure the song itself doesn't get lost in the process. Take Diamond Rings' All Yr Songs which is an incredibly popular song, mainly because of its awesome video, which is awesome mainly because everyone says so. Green Go takes John O'Regan's song and almost dials it down a bit, letting what is, as I see now, a rather lovely song shine through. There's plenty of good stuff here, with Gregory Pepper and his Eddie Murphy/Rick James tribute likely being my favorite, but the better news is that you can grab yourself a copy for free right here.

I posted on Australia two-piece An Horse last year, and although their songs are catchy as hell, they aren't an obvious candidate for remixery, I wouldn't think. However, we were sent this Bodega Girls remix of Listen this past Thursday, and I rather enjoy its 80's 808's, so I thought I'd post it up. So there you have it, a couple solid remixes for your Easter weekend, enjoy.

MP3:: All Yr Songs (Diamond Rings) - Green Go Remix
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/greengomusic
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/diamondringsmusic

MP3:: An Horse - Listen (Bodega Girls Remix)
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/anhorse
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/bodegagirls

Quick Hitters:: Bohemian Rap CD

2010-04-02T14:00:00.000-04:00

It's Good Friday, aka a much-needed day off for me, so is anybody really checking the music blogs in earnest today? Likely not, but just in case I thought I'd leave a little easter egg for anyone who checks in the little crevice that holds this music blog of ours.

Well, the egg isn't actually from me per se, but from the folks behind freeicecream.net, who have been posting quality indie NYC hip hop projects, that are free for the downloading, for a couple years now. Their latest project is Bohemian Rap CD, which features site co-founder and producer Domer remixing the Queen classic, that the name plays on, into six different beats. Those beats are then laced with lyrics by Domer and four other freeicecream-affiliated MC's: Jake Lefco, illspokinn, Ryan-O'Neil and Kats.

The end-result is a fun EP that is much more enjoyable than one might expect based on it's somewhat gimmicky premise. But the beats are solid and the MC's all hold their own with ease. So don't dawdle, go treat yourself to some free ice cream this long weekend.

MP3:: Bohemian Rap CD - So You Think You Can Spit
GET IT:: freeicecream.net

Concert:: Catriona Sturton & Ruth Minnikin @ The Company House

2010-04-02T09:23:00.006-04:00

In an odd way, it's fitting that Catriona Sturton and Ruth Minnikin are playing a show here in Halifax @ The Company House on April 8th. You see, that's my birthday and as we all get older, it becomes more and more tempting to turn back time, rehash the past and get nostalgic over bands that helped shape our young musical personalities, especially since both Ruth and Catriona were fixtures in the Halifax scene in the late 90's.

Thankfully, both Catriona and Ruth's songs have grown with them over the last 10+ years and instead of leaving me pining for a Plumtree - even after seeing Scott Pilgram is being made into a film - or a Booming Airplanes/Blinkers/Guthries reunion (ed. note: I would happily show up for each and every one of those bands if they did happen to reunite), I'm happy knowing that both woman have moved forward as solo artists and are still delivering quality music.

I've already gushed about Ruth's latest effort (honestly, Depend on This was as creative as it was enjoyable, so hopefully Halifax stops sleeping on Ruth soon) but I wasn't sure what to expect from Catriona when she sent over a sneak preview of her new sound. Stripped down and honest, Wheel of Fortune is one of those songs that is more than the sum of its parts. Not even three-minutes, the song uses subtle harmonies to warm your ear but little else outside of her finger work and vocals. Hearing her fingers squeak along the fret board is comforting and oddly inviting.

I'm probably one of the few, but I'm quite happy to leave sweaty, all-ages shows and high school in the past, kept alive by fond memories that no one should ever want to revisit or relive. With new music from artists like Catriona and Ruth, it's easy to keep looking forward and growing older without letting go of a passion that is unique to music fans. So go spend your Thursday surrounded by good people and good music; it's one of the few things you will never grow tired of.

MP3:: Catriona Sturton - Wheel of Fortune
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/catrionasturton

The Leathers

2010-04-01T13:00:00.000-04:00

Bam, suck on that! Considering the amount of music we're sent, it seems funny that I almost never get the urge to post something based on cover art alone. But the notion of that cover above being associated to a hip hop album had my curiosity more than a little peaked. As it turns out, The Leathers are the T.O. duo of Atherton and P-Brain, and, as the story goes, shortly after they teamed up, they purchased some leather jackets at a vintage store for $20 and decided to rock them on-stage. They realized the jackets were super-awesome, and so, The Leathers were born.

And I, for one, am glad for their birth, as their self-titled debut is pretty enjoyable. I might just be projecting, but the group's name does feel appropriate when you listen to the album. It's full of loud, aggressive beats that use big drums and splice in guitar riffs and other dark sounds here and there to create a mostly ominous sound. Lyrically, the songs also sound aggressive, on the surface anyway, but the subject matter is much more introspective than one would think on first listen. Hair Loss for example, finds the fellas getting their Redman/Dr. Trevis on, and examining exactly what it is about being an underground rapper that causes so much anxiety, or there's Self Sabotage which is about various short-circuiting one's chances with the opposite sex.

That said, it's not all emo-raps and sad-sackery when The Leathers are on the scene. Songs like Bridge Breaks, Forevermore, Too Bad, and even the peppy, Fresh Kils-produced Paul & Devin hit with the kind of impact you'd expect from straight-ahead, boom-bap rap. Quite simply, the more I hear The Leathers, the more I like them. Of course they're going to appeal to anyone who already likes their brand of semi self-deprecating hip hop, that has been seen folks like Slug, Sole and Sage cultivate a ready-made audience for it, but they've got enough charm & humour in what they do that they might even lure in the elusive "I don't usually like hip hop, but I like this!" crowd. But, for what it's worth, I do like hip hop, and I do indeed like this.

MP3:: The Leathers - Too Bad
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/theleathers

Contest:: Win (5) copies of Canteen Knockout Broken Down Town

2010-03-31T08:31:00.001-04:00

The other day I was trying to put together some sort of flow chart for how we got to the point where almost every band has a pedal steel player and members don snappy cowboy shirts like Bart Simpson wears orange tees and blue shorts.

It would be easy to trace the history and talk about the genius of Sparklehorse or Uncle Tupelo (or just blame Wilco), but I had to point to a moment, it would be when Indie pranksters Ween put out 12 Country Golden Greats. After that, people with guitars could play funny songs about Japanese cowboys and pissing up ropes to make their friends laugh. It also meant that tons of song writers could try their hand at writing hokey songs full of twang without running the risk of turning people off.

That record transformed country from something pure and outdated into something accepted by our most indie-loving and eco/patchouli-friendly associates. Sadly though, it also made country music a bit of a joke for a lot of people now experimenting with it. That long winded preamble is my subtle dig at the authenticity of the most of the bands trying to cash in on the legacy, but its also makes me nod approvingly when I hear a band putting together sounds that pay tribute to the genre, not just try to take from it.

Enter Canteen Knockout.

I don't know much about the Toronto band's back story; I liked their debut LP Navajo Steel enough (and still think that;s a great name for an adult film star), but really had no knowledge of the countless styles Andre Skinner tried his hand at before he settled in with this band. The players that help him bring the songs on Broken Down Town to life - Alex Maxymiw (Luther Wright and the Wrongs), Jake Adams (Doug and the Slugs!) and Scott Whirmore, Janes Carroll and Dean Cavill - display an appreciation for the history of country music that can't be faked and help these songs stand out from the overcrowded collection of bands sampling from the same influences.

Whether it's shit hot country fried rockers like My Head's on Fire, a tear-in-your-beer ballad like Golden Day or a sincere take on a classic Lightfoot epic (The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald), the songs Canteen Knockout put together just feels real. Beautiful pedal steel floats around the electric guitar work. Simple but driving bass keeps you moving. Brushed and heavy drums keep time nicely and some well placed fiddle and female harmonies steep the emotion at just the right times.

Canteen Knockout rests firmly on the country side of that dreaded alt-country descriptor, which probably means more people will dismiss the sounds than embrace them, but for fans of actual country music, there is something here. Broken Down Town is full of melancholic nostalgia and Saturday night foot stompers, but the most important moments are the ones found in the closing five minutes. Driving starts like countless other sad sack, self-pity anthems but Skinner starts to realize that maybe, just maybe life is not as bad as he tries to make it out to be. Hearing bands like Canteen Knockout makes me feel the exact same way about the state of music today.

Thanks to Phil @ weewerk records, we have five copies of the record (actual copies, not just downloads) to give to the first five people that comment or email us (HEROHILL [AT] GMAIL.COM). It's that easy and well worth it... so enjoy.

MP3:: Canteen Knockout - My Head's On Fire

MP3:: Canteen Knockout - Louisiana

WEB:: http://www.canteenknockout.com/
BUY:: BUY from Zunior

Quick Hitters:: Kites Overhead In the Shadow of the Mountain

2010-03-31T08:14:00.004-04:00

Stumbling on a small, one man band like Kites Overhead is kind of why writing a blog is worthwhile. For every 50 PR mass-mail we get filled with sounds-like and buzz words, we probably get one or two honest submissions from artists like Gene Kondusky. Gene didn't try to lure us in with cliches or press quotes, he simply asked if we'd like to listen and appreciated any time we could offer.

After a few listens to his songs, it was obvious that the experience was definitely worth our time and then some. The 3-song EP he sent over - In the Shadow of the Mountain - was a unique look into the heart of a man finding freedom in isolation. Gene wrote and recorded the songs living in the Arctic, but the focus of the EP (two songs from his upcoming album and a nice Magnetic Fields cover) was to free himself from the restrictions of only recording what he could play himself on stage with loops and his own two hands.

Distinguishing the studio from the stage allowed Gene is able to focus on simply writing songs. In the Shadow of the Mountain is a cinematic instrumental that surges with power but is filled with intricate textures that keep your attention. His acoustic guitar starts the track, but electronic pulses, drums and loops soon stand alongside the simple notes and slowly the song grows with the the joy of freedom, not the added weight of forced importance. Obviously this type of effort would be hard to replicate alone on stage, but it sounds great in your headphones.

The second two songs on the EP are more standard in sound and arrangement, but still equally enjoyable. Thaw builds slowly, organically and you feel almost as if Gene is giving a slight tip of the cap to one of his influences (Sigur Ros). The restrained pace and dual language really adds to the atmospheric vibe of the track, and the female harmonies are a nice add. The EP closer is a more spirited take on the classic Magnetic Fields track, Grand Canyon. Gene picks up the pace and adds a bit more weight to the song. Instead of the bleak outlook you get from Merrit's sad baritone, you take some hope from the song and wonder if just maybe she can actually love him that way again.

Kites Overhead is getting ready to release a full-length in a few weeks, so in the mean time grab the free EP and enjoy.

MP3:: Kites Overhead - In the Shadow of the Mountain

MP3:: Kites Overhead - Grand Canyon (Magnetic Fields cover)

MYSPACE:: http://kitesoverhead.com/
D/L:: http://homeisnothere.com/

Old School Tuesdays:: Organized Konfusion

2010-03-30T14:24:00.001-04:00

For some reason I thought I was late getting this posted, well, I am a day late as the rare Old School Tuesday makes an appearance due to work craziness, but I thought the event that inspired this post had already occurred. But it hasn't, so don't worry, you can still see Pharoahe Monch and Slaughterhouse this Sunday night at the Paragon Theatre here in Halifax.

Unfortunately, I know nothing much about Slaughterhouse, other than being familiar with the solo work of a couple of the band's members, but I have been a Pharoahe Monch fan for a while. I played the bejebus out of Internal Affairs, and I think you'll find plenty of folks like myself that think it's perhaps the best album that came out of the great Rawkus experiment (and also, I'm thinking the Paragon might get hyped when this comes in). That said, most people in my old-foggie-esque age bracket remember Monch from his original group: Organized Konfusion.

Monch teamed with fellow Jamaica, Queens MC Prince Po in a lyrically formidable duo that came on the scene at the dawn of the 90's. They were initially signed to the enigmatic Hollywood BASIC label, which meant their debut album was impossible to get unless you wanted to pay a more-than-double "import" cassette version. But we got their videos on Rap City, and I remember being kind of blown away by the ridiculous Who Stole My Last Piece of Chicken, which was ridiculous not only in title, but in lyrical skill. Monch and Po were way outside the box for 1991, and I think one of the roots of lyrically heavy, thoughtful, "indie" or "underground" hip hop has to point to these guys.

I think Fudge Pudge, which also introduced O.C. is perhaps the most well known song on the album, but there are plenty of good tracks, like Releasing Hypnotical Gases, Audience Pleasers, Prisoners of War and The Rough Side of Town. They are also given almost all of the production credits for their debut, which makes it even more impressive, as the production is pretty classic, and still sounds good today. Seriously, this is a great album, and if you've never heard it, I highly recommend checking out the songs below. Enjoy.

MP3:: Organized Konfusion - Fudge Pudge (Feat. O.C)

MP3:: Organized Konfusion - The Rough Side of Town

MP3:: Organized Konfusion - Who Stole My Last Piece of Chicken

VIDEO:: Organized Konfusion - Who Stole My Last Piece of Chicken

VIDEO:: Organized Konfusion - Fudge Pudge