Dean Martin

Øscillatör - Experiment XIII

Øscillatör

Experiment XIII

Track List:

1. Ømen

2. Planetary Devastation

3. Aborted Pt. I

4. Aborted Pt. II

5. Elixir 

6. Odium

7. Eradicate

8. Experiment XIII

With the amount of cookie cutter progressive deathcore/death metal bands that have started up in the past 3-4 years, it’s much harder for your music to get noticed and appreciated, let alone for it to make money, if you want to start a band in this genre. Starting up only last year, Øscillatör have released an EP called Experiment XIII, putting it up free of charge. Let me start by saying this is not your typical run of the mill tech death, with Experiment XIII having a fresh new outlook to this now somewhat stale genre. Øscillatör is a two man project with vocalist and audio engineer John and songwriter, guitarist and bassist Brett.

Experiment XIII stands out from the rest of the crowd with having awesome flow and atmosphere throughout the whole EP, which so many bands of this genre miss. Everything about the production is top notch. Without knowing it was a DIY release, most people would have thought this band was signed to a label, which is really saying something. It’s easy to tell how much effort has gone into the production with all the instruments sounding perfect and tight, which says something about them as musicians. The vocals are not the typical raspy low growls, but are instead clean, heavy and have that low guttural sound. The lyrics are full of galactic, alien and spacey themes which would appeal to a lot of people no doubt.

Blast beats are a plenty, which I am a sucker for, especially when they are done as well as they are in Experiment XIII. Øscillatör are not one of the many bands out there that are centred on breakdowns but despite this, their breakdowns hit harder than those other bands.

For fans of The Faceless and The Contortionist, Øscillatör’s Experiment XIII is a must download for any fans of this genre. Experiment XIII is up for free on their Facebook. 

 

Tyler, the Creator - Goblin

Tyler, the Creator

Goblin

Track List:

1. Goblin

2. Yonkers

3. Radicals

4. She (Featuring Frank Ocean)

5. Transylvania 

6. Nightmare

7.Tron Cat

8. Her

9. Sandwitches (Featuring Hodgy Beats)

10. Fish / Boppin Bitch

11. Analog (Featuring Hodgy Beats)

12. Bitch Suck Dick (Featuring Jasper Dolphin and Taco Bennett)

13. Window (Featuring Domo Genesis. Mike G, Hodgy Beats and Frank Ocean)

14. AU79

15. Golden

Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks:

16. Burger (Featuring Hodgy Beats)

17. Untitled 63

18. Steak Sauce

Goblin is the second album from hip hop artist, producer and director Tyler, the Creator (a.k.a. Wolf Haley, Ace, Tron Cat). Tyler is the leader of hip hop collective OFWGKTA and has rapped and produced on nearly every OFWGKTA release. I’ve been an Odd Future fan for quite some time now so I don’t want to bias this review and tell you how awesome it is and how you should buy it, so I’m going to break down each track on Goblin and try to explain what is on this album.

Goblin sets a much darker landscape than Tyler’s debut, Bastard, which was given out for free on the Odd Future website. After the success of Bastard, there was no doubt, excessive amounts of hype for the release of his next album Goblin. To most fans, it was all they expected, wanted and more, to others, they felt like he had turned away from his older lyrical styles about rape and murder and they didn’t like it. Much like Bastard, Goblin is a continuation of the sessions from Doctor T.C. which is heard through all different parts of the album. Some songs are directly spoken to his therapist, while others are more indirect.

The first track of the album and also title track, Goblin, starts the pace by picking up where Bastard left off, with another counselling session with Doctor T.C. Goblin has a slow, eerie beat, sounding like something from a movie, with Tyler rapping and talking to his therapist. Tyler raps about his sudden fame and how it affects him. The song is really focused around his story telling, pretty much giving a middle finger to all the critics and haters, calling him a homophobe and a devil worshipper. Goblin is one of the more lengthy songs on the album, but really paints a picture of what Tyler is going through and what he believes in.

The next track is the infamous Yonkers. Tyler himself said that this song was a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it has become so popular with over 38 million views on YouTube and creating so much hype over Odd Future. A curse because he absolutely hates the song and performing it as well. The song itself is a conversation between Tyler’s two personalities as every line contradicts each other as the song progresses. The actual rapping is not bad and quite catchy, but it bothers me how people only listen to this song and overlook the rest of Tyler’s work, as I think it’s his most overrated song.

The third track is where it gets wild. Radicals. The name says it all. There is a disclaimer at the start of the track telling everyone not to do anything he says in this song and that it is ‘fucking fiction’. Radicals is just about not giving a mother fuck, as the chorus “Kill people, burn shit, fuck school” tells me so many times. There are breaks from the ruckus throughout the song with a sort of reflective talk by Tyler, telling everyone to stand for what you believe in and do whatever you want. This song also displays Tyler’s producing at its best, as the last two minutes are just bliss after a solid 5 minutes of not giving a fuck. Doctor T.C. tries to convince Tyler to calm down and be mature with Tyler saying “Nigger, fuck you… you don’t know shit, you’re a fucking therapist”.

In my opinion, She is the most commercially friendly song on the album, with Frank Ocean featuring on the track for an amazing chorus hook. She is about Tyler stalking the girl of his dreams and with a hint of voyeurism added in the side. You can tell Tyler still acts like a teenager with lyrics such as “I just want to talk and conversate, but I usually just stalk and masturbate” which always brings a smile to my face. The video clip just emphases the message to the song and is very novel. Tyler’s storytelling and the ability to relate in this song make it one of my personal favourites.

Transylvania is next, with Tyler’s signature voice changer effects and an odd time signature, makes a dark, jumpy song, made to be played live. With a deeper voice sounding like an actual and lyrics such as “I’m Dracula bitch, don’t got a problem smacking a bitch” you can tell Tyler is just up to his antics again which makes this a typical Odd Future song. This song has some great one liners as well such as “God damn I love women, especially when they only suck dick and wash dishes”. Transylvania really displays the talent Tyler has being a rapper.

Nightmare comes in with another dark, deep, story song about Tyler’s problems with stress, fame and a sudden change of lifestyle. It also indulges the listener into Tyler’s head, and from what can be heard, is a very depressing place sometimes. There are also mentions about Earl, and the effect it had on Tyler when he was taken away.

The next song is Tron Cat, and is another experience with another one of Tyler’s personalities, appropriately named Tron Cat. Tron Cat is one of the darker and eviler sides of Tyler, telling him to do all the bad things he does. Tron Cat really shows Tyler’s talent of storytelling with such detail, and his rapping is really tight as well. It has some pretty controversial lyrics as well, which Odd Future are all about as they never hold back anything.

The Eighth track on the album and also my personal favourite, Her, is the most intimate and personal song that Tyler has ever released. Hell, maybe even the most personal song released ever. The song is about a trying to get close enough with this girl so she would date him, but Tyler was ‘friend zoned’. I know that myself and so many other teenage boys out there have been in this exact situation. As the song starts with Tyler trying to get closer with the girl of his dreams, but to no avail and as emotions rise, she finds yet another guy and he is put to the side once again. Her is really hard to describe in one song as it holds so much emotion, aided with the keyboard in the background with a metronome. If you are in a depressive state because of girl issues, I do not recommend listening to this song, as it will only make your situation worse.   

Sandwitches then comes on to pump the listener up once again, from the depressive song we just listened to. Sandwitches is a crowd chanter song, similar to Radicals with the chorus just being “Wolf gang, wolf gang, wolf gang” with the occasional slogan added in ‘Golf Wang’. The raps are top notch with Hodgy Beats adding to the song with some of his philosophical views “You told me god was the answer, when I asked him for shit I get no answer, so god is the cancer”. The beat is actually based around two notes, which adds a scary sort of effect and works really well for the song and what they are rapping about.

The next song actually has two songs on the same track, Fish / Boppin Bitch. Fish has the deep voice sound effects found in Transylvanian, which is the right effect used to display what he is rapping about. Tyler raps about the female anatomy and uses metaphors to do with pussy being like fish. The beat is really chilled, with just piano being played and breaks after the verses with a sensual female singer in the background. Jazz band BadBadNotGood did a jam session with Tyler and made this really amazing version of the song.

The second half of the song is Boppin Bitch. It is a classic Tyler teenage song about getting head from a ‘Boppin Bitch’. It’s just a fun song that should put a smile to your face.

Analog, one of the most chilled songs ever created. Again, featuring Hodgy Beats, sets the picture of a summer landscape with a girl, hanging out by the lake. Hodgy Beats rapping ability is displayed well in this song, showing some of the best rhymes he’s ever done.

Tyler always has to do a fun song with Taco and Jasper, which he just so happened to do in Bitch Suck Dick. I see Bitch Suck Dick as a mock song from the typical cliché rap songs that are going around today. Tyler also made a film clip for BSD which is actually really funny. Taco and Jasper aren’t really rappers, so their corny verses shouldn’t be taken seriously. This is actually Tyler’s rapping, so he is obviously having fun with Taco and Jasper “at the fucking mall, 40 bitches on my nutsack, pulled up on a motherfucking unicorn, we on our ponies nigga”. This song should just be taken as comic relief for the next 3 songs that are coming up.

Window, the longest song on the album clocking at 8 minutes, is a continuation of the therapist sessions with Doctor T.C., but he has brought over Mike G, Domo, Hodgy and Frank Ocean for the session. The song has a story told from each member of Odd Future, rapping about life before fame and what life is like now that the fame is setting in. The beat is a slow one which kind of makes it the hardest song on the album to get into. Regardless, it is a great listen for the overall story and concept of Goblin. Tyler ends up killing his friends at the end of the song after an emotional breakdown. Doctor T.C. says that he doesn’t have to worry about a thing and then it goes into the next song.

AU79 is an instrumental, chilled jazz interlude. You listen to it and you experience it in your own way. It is a really cool track, displaying Tyler’s producing talent.

Golden is the final track off Goblin and is a continuation from Window. Tyler’s suicidal side is coming out and he is struggling to handle it. Doctor T.C. tries to comfort and control him, but Tyler just spirals out of control. Tyler explains how he dislikes parts of his fame and how he is losing the life he used to have. Tyler eventually loses all control claiming “I’m not fucking crazy, I’m a fucking table”. The rapping keeps going, but he gets angrier as Doctor T.C. gets angrier as well and disagrees with what he is saying. Tyler is then sedated by security and Doctor T.C. then explains how Tyler isn’t going crazy and that he is his best friend. Doctor T.C. then says how he knows everything about him and that his friends are all a figment of his imagination. Doctor T.C. then says that he is Tyler’s conscience and that he is Tron Cat, Ace, Wolf Haley and then finally, that he is Tyler, the creator, which are all of his different personas.

In the deluxe edition of Goblin there are three bonus tracks which are actually really good and should have been added to the regular album. Burger, with the hypnotic chorus rapped by Hodgy, Untitled 63, a jazz instrumental and Steak Sauce, which has some of the best flow Tyler has ever done. One of my favourite lines by Tyler is also in this song “I was taught to act my shoe size; I’m eleven and a half”.

Goblin is a concept album, about the life of Tyler, the Creator. This album is not for people who get offended easily or over words. This is an album for young people, who want to live their life the way they want to. Along with Bastard, Tyler, the Creator has set up a two really strong albums that not only show the talent he has, but the talent of some of his other peers in OFWGKTA. His Third album titled ‘Wolf’ should hopefully be released sometime this year. Wolf will be the third and final part of the Doctor T.C. therapist sessions.

Infected Mushroom

Infected Mushroom
Saeed
This is just  a song I've recently discovered from a friend of mine, and I felt like it should be reviewed. The song isn't a short one, it is just over 7 minutes, but there is a lot displayed in this song... Some features displayed is the unique build up within this song, another feature i found clever was the fact that it surprises you with a dramatic change in melody. The best thing that makes this song in my opinion is the chorus, well placed piano keys, and tone from the singer.


My Rating: 7.5/10

A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders

A Tribe Called Quest
Midnight Marauders
Track List:
1. Midnight Marauders Tour Guide
2. Steve Biko (Stir it up)
3. Award Tour (ft. Truggy, The Dove of De La Soul)
4. 8 Million Stories 
5. Sucka Nigga
6. Midnight (ft. Raphael Wiggins)
7. We Can Get Down 
8. Electric Relaxation
9. Clap Your Hands
10. Oh My God (ft. Large Professor)
12. The Chase, Part II
13. Lyrics To Go
14. God Lives Through
15. Hot Sex






A Tribe Called Quest is an American Hip-Hop group, formed in 1985. From Quest's success, they have contributed a lot in the Hip-Hop production from their style of fusing Jazz and Hip-Hop. 
A Tribe Called Quest consists of 5 members; Q-Tip (Rapper/Producer), Phife Dawg (Rapper), Ali Shaheed Muhammad (DJ/Producer) and Jarobi White (Rapper). 


A Tribe Called Quest presents a lot of skill in these innovative beats. The idea of fusing both Jazz and Hip-Hop sounds odd, but from Quest's production they proven it's greatness. A lot of the songs that you hear from Quest are all strong, they grant a natural sense of calmness and excitement. Some songs that i personally consider being a classic within this album is; Award Tour, Electric Relaxation and Steve Biko. Still to this day, Quest is considered a classic. You can really see this appreciation especially within the breakdancing community as some of their songs are played within championship battles. 

As we look at the members, we aught to give Ali Shaheed Muhammad a BIG UP for his outstanding performance within the production of this album's beats. Rappers Q-Tip, Phife, Jarobi, also show amazing skill they have through the ill rhymes they present. Every song is unexpected, the way they come up with new beats and rhymes is awesome and I love it. 


I really would recommend this album to those who are really into 'Old School' Hip-Hop and for those who just want to endure a relaxing beat. Don't avoid the opportunity of listening to some of Quest's work, they will amaze you. 


Rating: 8/10 

Torrent
Last.fm

The Internet - Purple Naked Ladies

The Internet

Purple Naked Ladies

Track List:
1. Violent Nude Women
2. They Say/Shangrilla featuring Tay Walker
3. She Dgaf
4. Cunt
5. Cocaine/Tevie featuring Left Brain
6. Ode To A Dream featuring Kilo Kish & Coco O.
7. Gurl featuring Pyramid Vritra
8. Love Song - 1
9. Lincoln featuring Left Brain & Mike G
10. Web Of Me
11. She Knows
12. Fastlane
13. Visions featuring Coco O.
14. The Garden

The Internet is a soul/RnB duo with members Syd Tha Kid and Matt Martian, with Syd on vocals and Matt on production. They are one of the sub-groups which form up OFWGKTA. The Internet goes towards a much different path in their music compared to their counter parts in Odd Future which are mostly about hip-hop. Purple Naked Ladies is the Internet’s debut LP which has been graced by fans with mixed feelings.

I’d like to start off by saying the production on this album is fantastic. Syd and Matt have a real talent for making atmospheric beats, and that is what the Internet is all about. Music should paint a mood for the listener and Purple Naked Ladies does this exactly with their beats. Various guest performances are also a regular throughout the album which adds a great touch. Mike G’s feature on ‘Lincoln’ has to be some of the best rapping the man’s ever done, even though the song doesn’t really fit with album’s flow. Some of the interludes at the end of songs like ‘She Dgaf’ and ‘Cocaine’ are so chilled out it just amazes me as it fits so well with the rest of the song.

Odd Future are infamous for their out there lyrics and the Internet make no exceptions. Being the only female member of OF and being a Lesbian, you can tell that she has nothing to hide. Syd might not be the greatest of all female singers, but she delivers extremely well with the right production behind her.

I’ve always been a fan of bands that put out different or entertaining video clips that aren’t just the usual cliché thing we have seen hundreds of times before. Two official videos have been released so far for the songs ‘Cocaine’ and ‘Fastlane’. Both video clips tie into each other cleverly and it also just so happens that these two songs are some of their best work.

Syd and Matt don’t get as much credit as they should, as their peers in Odd Future overshadow them with popularity and as a result the duo often gets overlooked. With the release of Purple Naked Ladies the Internet has stepped up their game to be a major player in the collective of that which is OFWGKTA.

My rating: 8/10

Torrent
Last.fm

360

360 ft Bam Bam & Skrillex - Died This Way

360 is an underground rapper from Melbourne, Australia. His style somewhat unique, however, he is fairly similar to other Aussie rappers like Drapht, Pez, and Pegz.

'Died this way' is a remix of Lady Gaga's song, remixed by Skrillex (dubstep artist) and vocals by 360.

My rating: 7/10






360 ft Josh Pyke -Throw it away


'Throw it away' is another song by 360 featuring Josh Pyke. The song has a real instrumental feel to is going for the traditional approach of a simple drum beat with a piano overlay.


The lyrics are poetically rich, political and it questions society and it's materialism."While the homeless are beggin' for some change, there are some who are beggin for a change"


My Rating: 8.5/10


Acknowledgements: 
http://www.optimising.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/360-rapper.jpg
http://youtu.be/ZxFpD1uAiZA?hd=1 
http://tinyurl.com/6ngq7ew