Sole
Live from Rome
Anticon (2005)
Decrying hip hop's more self-obsessed, corporate, "bitches n' bling" oriented side has become somewhat of an expected formality in the discussion of any Anticon release. Such is the "thinking man's rap" reputation the San Francisco based label has established for itself amongst the more discerning part of the record buying public that it's often held aloft as the antithesis of all that is wrong with hip hop. Unfortunately for the label, such comments add weight to their no doubt already heavy shoulders, and as a result each new record they drop seems like a struggle to retain their position at the vanguard of the intelligent rap movement. And as de facto leader of Anticon (it's a collective, remember) Sole is sure to feel the pressure most. Judging by this, his third solo album, Sole has little to worry about. Over an expansive 17 tracks he manages to surf across a sea of discorded beats, ranging from classic 80's scratches to tinkly piano samples to almost-improv jazz style drumming, more akin to Jackie O Motherfucker than anything coming out of Roc-A-Fella Records. "On Martyrdom" samples what is possibly the soundtrack to a long lost Nintendo game breaking into a more dance … Read more
The Locust
Safety Second, Body Last
Ipecac (2005)
On hearing of The Locust's signing to Ipecac, one might be inclined to call this an unexpected pairing. But if … Read more
Kill Your Idols
From Companionship to Competition
Side One Dummy (2005)
he new Kill Your Idols record, From Companionship to Competition, is the best mediocre record since Shutdown's Against All Odds … Read more
Bloc Party
Silent Alarm
Vice (2005)
Hype generates a high death count, because critics are merciless. Bands with ridiculous amounts of hype seem to have big … Read more
Annihilation Time
II
Six Weeks (2005)
For the past few years these ragers have been taking their brand of Bl'ast-influenced punk all over the world. Their … Read more
