On first listen, The Republic Tigers are a slightly uptempo ethereal kind of aural sex. “Made Concrete” reminds me of older Beta Band (circa “High Fidelity”) with so much to say that they have to add a few extra kick drums to the overall beat in order for they lyrics to not sound forced. And it’s delicious. The melody in the background swims against the electronic programming of the drums.

“The Contortionists” is reminiscent of the kind of 70’s era ambient-esque that Air produced for the movie “The Virgin Suicides.” Circling piano medleys and the chorusing of voices makes this one a winner as well. Of course, i’m a sucker for some good chill out sounding stuff.

The myspace tracklisting was somewhat cut of, but i’m assuming the next track was called “Buildings and Mountains.” It’s got a folksy driving feel to it with a steady kick from the drums moving it along. The effects on the vocals aren’t overdone, which is nice as a lot of bands of late have relied too heavily on excess electronics. The Republic Tigers meld it nicely so that neither the live instrumentation or the electronics being used take the front or back seat. Both gel together beautifully and without overpowering each other.

“Sinkin Annie Down” was probably the most memorable song for me, primarily because newer bands refuse to take cues from older soul records from the early to late 70’s. There is a chorus round that opens up this song that’s absolutely astounding and beautiful.

This is a band that will take a certain amount of open-mindedness to enjoy. If you like the later Radiohead releases, you’ll definitely be able to enjoy this. Don’t expect outrageous guitar solos or the infusion of punk/funk/dance that seems so prevalent in new bands now. This is one to sip mojitos on the porch to some sunday afternoon.

Out of 5 Spliffs possible, I give this a 7 Spliff rating. It’s just that good (and they’re Kansas City local! BIG UPS!)

The Republic Tigers can be heard on their myspace site at: Myspace.com/therepublictigers. Their new site, TheRepublicTigers.com is in the works now too.

Written by Bucho

Music w/ DJ Bucho | No Comments »

Alright Potheads…I’ve gotten absolutely no emails. I’m disappointed, but not surprised. Obviously our readership is too lazy to hit “compose, *insert text*, and then send.”

If you have some new music you want me to review or a mix cd or whatever, drop me a line at DjBucho@askapothead.com.

Quit being lazy bitches.

Written by Bucho

Music w/ DJ Bucho | No Comments »

The People Under The Stairs…one of (in my opinion) the few hip hop groups left out there constantly beat mining and sampling old soul and making it even more soulful than it was before. I’ve been into these cats since I heard their album “Question In The Form of An Answer” and I’ve scooped up every 12″ and LP ever since. ALWAYS high quality work out of Double K and Thes One.

Good luck finding a sample on these records that you’re gonna recognize though, as these cats pull samples from every aspect of music from every era and then tweak the shit out of it, either slowing it down, stretching it out, whatever. Add the tasty word play between the two and you’ve got an album that is truly gas-mask worthy.

The thing I enjoy the best about Thes One and Double K are their completely candid lyrics. No bling, no money, no fucking crazy amounts of women, just tracks about house parties with the homeboys, gettin drunk and passing out, barbecuing, and searchin LA for the best home grown food.

Stand out tracks: “Step In”, “Flex Off”, “Jamboree Pt1.” and “Pt. 2″, and “Eat Street”.

This album is easily 2006’s Summer Album. Don’t download it. Buy it and share it and turn your friends onto these cats. Since 2002, I’ve gotten all my friends excited about new People Under the Stairs music and this album is far exceeding expectations. Hasn’t left my stereo since Friday. It’s Wednesday now.

On a scale between “Spliffariffic” and “Gasmasktastic”…this one gets a 6 Foot Bubbler Rating. The shit is mad tasty on the ears.

Written by Bucho

Music w/ DJ Bucho | No Comments »

So, a bartender friend at Tonic gave me this cd the other night. Someone has taken it upon themselves to mix the music of Frank Sinatra with the lyrics of Biggie Smalls. I was skeptical. The first track. Fucking wow. I was blown away. Biggie’s “Juicy” over the top of Sinatra’s “New York, New York.” Of course, in typical hip hop fashion, the Sinatra track is chopped up accordingly, horns blaring and drums hitting hard, but then Biggie’s voice comes in tough as nails and just made me crank my car stereo up. This track gets a 10 Joint rating simply for pure pimpness. If you can find this, download it along with the rest of the tracks (which I thought were seminal at best).

Written by Bucho

Music w/ DJ Bucho | No Comments »

I recently recieved the opportunity to play a gig that I never really thought possible. I’m playing 2 one-hour sets of 80’s, specifically new wave and post-punk and perhaps a bit of older ska as well at the Dresden Dolls and The Zeros show here in Kansas City.

I’m not a huge fan of the Dresden Dolls and I’ve never heard the Zeros before, but I jumped at this chance immediately. One, I rarely ever turn down a gig, even if I’m not getting paid and two, I’d be playing for a demographic that probably doesn’t know I exist. Exposure is the key word here. Plus I fuckin love the 80’s era of music, so I’m gonna end up having a great fuckin time doin this.

It’s a free show and I think it’ll be good for some of these kids to hear where most of the music they hear now came from or spawned from. Too often, vast numbers of a specific generation stay too engrossed in their own music without exploring the inspiration/musical influences of their bands. Echo and the Bunnymen, The Sugarcubes, OMD, When In Rome, Depeche Mode, New Order, The Happy Mondays, Joy Division, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys…I could go on and on and chances are good, most kids these days would only know of Depeche Mode, and probably only by name. It’s time to change that.

Written by Bucho

Music w/ DJ Bucho | No Comments »

When done right, mashups are pretty good. i personally prefer doing a mashup vinyl to vinyl WHILE i’m dj-ing via dj p or dj z-trip…it’s a little more gratifying and a lot more difficult to do, but when it’s live it’s fucking HOT!

i was recently sent to these sites by a fellow dj here in kansas city who’s done some remixes of My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult named Ebon. here’s the stuff i really enjoyed.

from www.rebeldjs.com

A + D “An Honest MIA (The Bravery Vs. M.I.A.)”

MIA is an Indonesian rapper who’s just been thrown out in the last couple of years due to her mixtape with a dj named Diplo. The mixtape is called “Piracy Funds Terrorism” and the shit is hot. find it and download it. either way, you know the Bravery (pseudo new wave band that just came out recently too)…good stuff, but only appreciated if you know both bands.

A + D “Beethoven’s Fifth Golddigger (Kanye Vs. Walter Murphy)”

everyone knows the classic disco remake of Beethoven’s “Fifth Symphony”, but here the accapella of Kanye West’s “Golddigger” is laid over the top and makes this disgustingly sweet. i hate Kanye, but this is crazy hot.

A + D “Behind These Canonball Eyes (Kelly Clarkson Vs. The Breeders)”

the breeders (great old alternative band from the 90’s featuring a member of the newly revamped Pixies) vs. Kelly Clarkson of American Idol fame. all i can say is, download this from the site. it’s absurdly good.

A + D “I’m Really Hot Hot Hot (Missy Elliot Vs. The Cure)”

Missy Elliot accapella over The Cure’s “Hot Hot Hot”…i really don’t have to say anymore. i’ve heard a lot of stuff by the cure remixed and this is pretty good.

A + D “Real Big Time (Mannie Fresh Vs. Peter Gabriel Vs. Jean Knight)”

southern crunk meets mid 80’s and 90’s music man. way hot. Mannie’s vocals sound immediate over Peter Gabriel’s “Big Time” and give an already dope track some extra UNF!

you can hear EVERY ONE OF THESE SONGS IN THEIR ENTIRETY at www.rebeldjs.com. they should be on the left side of the website and they’re free. check these out. you may end up hearing someone play them live at your next night out on the town. everyone’s doin them these days, but i thought these were pretty tasty. enjoy.

Written by Bucho

Music w/ DJ Bucho | No Comments »

Cam, I’m assuming is a Kansas City rapper. From the 913 area code, so I’m guessin the Kansas side. It’s hard for me to really get into this style of hip hop because it’s too synthy for me. The production itself isn’t bad, but I’m one of those cats that prefers a warm analog sound as opposed to the digital sound in my hip hop.

The echoed handclaps caught my ear. It’s a nice effect, but Cam or his producer use it entirely too much in the four tracks posted on his myspace. The flows are good, the lyrics are average, but his voice doesn’t strike me. Some people have it (see: Guru, Q-tip, Dre, Imani), some people don’t and sometimes that’s what pushes an artist further.

3.5 out of 5 joints. Less synth, more warmth and I think this shit could be mad hot.
Cam’s stuff can be heard here: Cam’s MySpace

Written by Bucho

Music w/ DJ Bucho | No Comments »

In no particular order, these are songs that EVERY so called “music lover” must hear at least once, if not fall in love with. These are what I consider classics and at the very least, should be respected for the amount of influence they’ve had on musicians and other groups/bands over the last several decades.

1.) Joy Division - “Love Will Tear Us Apart”
2.) New Order - “Regret”
3.) The Smiths - “How Soon Is Now”
4.) The Cure - “Boys Don’t Cry”
5.) Depeche Mode - “Enjoy The Silence”
6.) A Tribe Called Quest - “Award Tour”
7.) The Dazz Band - “Let It Whip”
8.) Parliament/Funkadelic - “Knee Deep”
9.) Morris Day and The Time - “Jerk Out”
10.) Mos Def - “Umi Says”
11.) Jeff Buckley - “Last Goodbye”
12.) Blind Melon - “Tones Of Home”
13.) Pearl Jam - “State of Love and Trust”
14.) Smashing Pumpkins - (anything off “Gish” honestly)
15.) The Clash - “Rock The Casbah”
16.) Grandmaster Flash - “The Message”
17.) Chicago - “Saturday In The Park”
18.) Pink Floyd - The entire “Wall” album
19.) Rush - The entire “Exit Stage Left” Album
20.) Kraftwerk - “Musique Nonstop”

Obviously, not everyone is going to agree with me on this, but if you’ve got your own 20 Songs Every “Music Lover” HAS To Hear, drop me an e-mail and we can discuss it. I KNOW I’m missing some, but it’s difficult to narrow it down to 20.

Written by Bucho

Music w/ DJ Bucho | No Comments »

Jack’s Mannequin - “Dark Blue”

Music - 5
Vocals - 4
Lyrics - 4
Delivery - 5
Energy - 5

Imagine if the Ben Folds Five, The Postal Service, and The Get Up Kids had a love child…that’s what Jack’s Mannequin sounds like. Blending fiercly melodic (but simple) piano riffs, catchy vocal stylings and an energy that jumps off the cd, these guys are gonna be the ones to watch in 2006. Off their newest album, “Dark Blue” doesn’t change much throughout the song, but has a steady energy throughout that’s immediate via the lead singer’s vocals, which are slightly raspy. His range is excellent as well, adding something to the song unlike some bands who sing in monotone. The entire new cd is excellent and definitely worth checking out, even if you’re not a big fan of the three above mentioned bands.

Overall…4.6 Joints. Not much of a stoner album, but still a great listen for an afternoon jaunt on the highway.

Tyte Wurk - “Mary Jane Remix”

Backing Vocals : 5
Backing Sample : 5
Hi-Hat/Kick : 3
Flow : 4.5 (very bone-thuggish…i dig)
Range of Vocal : 5

Overall, this track was pretty dope. Not the typical hip-hop/rap that I listen to, but I dig it. It flows nicely, the vocals are very buttery and who DOESN’T love a good weed song, honestly? Tyte Wurk brings back memories of early Bone Thugs with the speed and delivery of his flow and even the range at which his voice goes within the first break of the song. I give this a 4 1/2 out of 5 Joints rating.
Tyte Wurk can be heard at: Superkala Records MySpace

Radiohead - “Climbing Up The Walls” (Zero 7 Remix)

Samples - 5
Orchestral Additions - 5
Chance of Vinyl Release - 0
Production - 5
Sexiness - 5
Overall - 5 (the release thing doesn’t really count…this track is just too fuckin sexy)

Zero 7 have been making lush, orchestral downtempo/trip hop for numerous years. I was looking for some new stuff by them online when I happened across this remix. As a dj, I hear a LOT of remixes…most are crap, but some turn out like this and just make you melt. It starts off pretty minimal, but then after the first verse the strings come in and just blow you away slowly, rising and echoing, reminding one of being on a beach at low tide right before sunset. If you have a download program, FIND THIS! It’s definitely worth the 2 minutes to download and it’s not available on cd as far as I know. I’d give this a 10 joint rating if it were possible. Download, fill a bowl, put on repeat and blaze on.

Written by Bucho

Music w/ DJ Bucho | No Comments »