Michael Rodriguez - Reverence - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Kendrick Scott is one of the most sought-after drummers in the jazz world and has distinguished himself for several years with Terence Blanchard's Grammy-winning ensemble. Recently, in the fall of 2008 he toured the world as part of Herbie Hancock's famous band. He is the founder of World Culture Music, an artist collective and record tag out of New York. Kendrick now makes his Criss Cross leader debut with Reverence, a stirring quintet session featuring Moreno on guitar, Blanchard band mate Derrick Hodge on bass, and the prodigious up-and-comers Walter Smith on tenor and Gerald Clayton on piano. Together, Kendrick and the band put their own stamp on classics by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ornette Coleman and more.

Hole Erth, Chaz Bear's eighth full-length studio record as Toro yMoi, is the genre shapeshifter's most unexpected and boldmove to date, with Bear diving headlong into rap-rock,Soundcloud rap and Y2K emo. The album blitzes anthemicpop-punk next to autotuned, melancholic rap - two genres thatinform one another now more than ever before - and packs inthe most features ever on a Toro y Moi album.A sense of nostalgia sneaks it's way into almost every Toro y Moirelease, but angst is an emotion that Bear has neverintentionally explored the way he does here. Tracks likeInchTuesday' channel a specific, yet forever-relatable sense ofadolescent unease. A distorted guitar riff leads into a repeatingchorus that conjures misunderstood teenagers singing aloud,maybe too loud, while riding bikes through American suburbs.This foreboding can also be heard on InchHOV,Inch though not withoutpoking some fun with lines like InchRomance is so cold / Myadvice? To bring a coat.InchBear has the energy, but is acutely aware that his energy isn'tforever. At a time when the internet is blending multiple genresinto one at an increasingly rapid pace, Bear accomplishes therare feat of keeping up with the contemporary alternativelistener. Constantly changing, evolving and experimenting is theheart of Toro y Moi, and on Hole Erth Bear challenges but alsoreclaims himself, embracing the myriad sounds and eras thatformed him, while crashing new worlds together.

Stefan Esser - Jugendliche-Gewichtsre [COMPACT DISCS] date 09/16/2008