Zak Recommends 'Erykah Badu' and Indie Artists of the Day 'Wunami'

Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh

Support your local independent record store. Record store day is April 17th. Check out http://www.recordstoreday.com/

Motown

Real. This is the adjective I will use to describe all things Erykah. The vibe, The Talent, The Music, The Groove thang, The bass, The message. A groovy sexy cool for real protest visionary R & B underline Rhythm underline blues Motown force of nature. Far from the autotuned phony glossy 'R&B' found on the top of the so called hot charts. This thing is burnin up. Now do yoself a real favour and get down. I mean to ground zero where the needle drops and pull hard on the gotta funk it out lever cuz thats the only way to go wit this piece of heaviness that just oozes truth for real and whatchoo need to hear not whatchoo think you need to hear. You gettin this? I ain't gonna go into some kindof waxy poetic motherfuckin squeeky bull shit review. I'm sayin this shit fo real. Go on now .. get yo pale ass down there and pik it up before I leave my bootprint on it.



Erykah Badu for those that don't know is the Queen of Neo-Soul. She is originally from Texas and this newest album marks her sixth release over the last 13 years. She has also appeared in a half dozen major motion pictures.

Tracks:
1. "20 Feet Tall" 3:25
2. "Window Seat" 4:50
3. "Agitation" 1:33
4. "Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY)" 5:26
5. "Gone Baby, Don't Be Long" 4:39
6. "Umm Hmm" 3:45
7. "Love" 6:02
8. "You Loving Me (Session)" 1:04
9. "Fall in Love (Your Funeral)" 6:06
10. "Incense" (featuring Kirsten Agresta) 3:27
11. "Out My Mind, Just in Time" 10:21

Upcoming Shows:
3 Apr 2010 20:00 The Wanda Sykes Show Los Angeles, California
5 Apr 2010 20:00 Chelsea Lately Los Angeles, California
8 Apr 2010 20:00 American Airlines Arena - Waterfront Theatre Miami, Florida
23 Apr 2010 19:30 2010 Tobago Jazz Experience

Official Website:  http://www.erykahbadu.com/

Wunami - Indie Artists of the Day

Wunami makes the following statement on their Myspace page:
Wunami is a four piece band that seeks to creatively destroy the rest. Our message is simple: relinquish your musical endeavors, for they are lost. No gimmick will help you. No amount of technical artistry will save you from our wrath. For the gods, RZA and GZA, are on our side. Let the holy Contra tear down the walls of Outer Heaven. For This is Good and This is Evil. All will and must be lost. May the revolution not fall on indifferent ears.
Now that is a mouthful and I don't know bout all that but I will say this. They are a hard rockin 'Ambient/Metal/' outfit. Tectonic riffs, pulsing bassline, rockin beats. Go to  http://www.wunami.bandcamp.com/  to get a free download of 'The Gutless Wonder' which is an epic awesome track.
Official website:   www.myspace.com/wunami



Zak's Tidbits for March 31st/2010

Check out this video from JustinTimberlake.com interviewing Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne.



Go to www.whoismgmt.com to see details on MGMT's newly announced U.K. tour as well as the new video for 'Flash Delirium'



Barsuk records has just announced the release of Zak favourites Phantogram's new video. Check it out at this link:  http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/musicvideo/4145-phantogram-mouthful-of-diamonds-barsuk

Zak Flak Recommends 'Gonjasufi' and Indie Artist of the Day 'Finneyerkes'

Gonjasufi - A Sufi and A Killer

Support your local independent record store. Record store day is April 17th. Check out http://www.recordstoreday.com/

Warp Records

This is Gonjasufi's debut full length release. AKA as Sumach Ecks. Gonjasufi takes us on a freaky trippy trip here. Gonja explores a variety of styles, always putting his strange re-realized shape to the music. Hip Hop and rap are two genre labels that are applied to define his sound however he takes these and pushes them into new unexplored territory. He sets the bar high in the quality of the creativity. He puts a far east twist on some of the tracks like 'Kowboyz & Indians' & 'Kobwebz'. 'Sheep' has Soul & R& B influences. 'Suzie Q' is a rocker. 'Candylane is pure 70's funk. 'Ageing' has a 60's psychedelia feel to it. The production is handled by Flying Lotus, The Gaslamp Killer and Mainframe. There is a crackly bassiness to the whole production which gives the album its atmosphere and pulls all the genre hopping together under on cohesive feel. This as well as Sumach's croaky vocals. Some reviewers are calling this album a masterpiece. I won't go this far but I feel it is close to that. It is an exhilarating and interesting listen.



Sumach Ecks is a yoga teacher, rapper and DJ from San Diego. He has been making music for twenty years and it was recognition form his appearance on a Flying Lotus album that caught Warp's attention.

Tracks:
1. Untitled - 0:55
2. "Kobwebz" - 2:13
3. "Ancestors" - 2:36
4. "Sheep" - 4:03
5. "She Gone" - 2:45
6. "SuzieQ" - 1:44
7. "Stardustin'" - 1:04
8. "Kowboyz&Indians" - 2:43
9. "Change" - 2:04
10. "Duet" - 3:06
11. "Candylane" - 2:07
12. "Holidays" - 3:57
13. "Love of Reign" - 2:39
14. "Advice" - 2:45
15. "Klowds" - 3:28
16. "Ageing" - 2:42
17. "DedNd" - 3:38
18. "I've Given" - 3:35
19. "Made" - 10:45

Official Website: http://www.sufisays.com

Finneyerkes - Indie Artists of the Day

Finneyerkes are Randy Yerkes & Matt Finney. They are ambient artists and if you love atmospheric sounds blending beautifully with natural sounds than you must check them out. They are currently working on their newest album 'Approaching'. Release date TBA. You can download four previous albums from their MySpace page.



Official website: http://www.myspace/finneyerkes



Zak's Tidbits for March 30th/2010

Jack White's latest project 'The Dead Weather' just released the first single from the upcoming album. 'Die By The Drop' is available to purchase. The new album is to be named 'Sea Of Cowards' and will be released May 10/11.

Zak Recommends 'Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate' and Indie Artist of the Day 'Wilfred'

Ali Farka Toure And Toumani Diabate - Ali & Toumani

Do not support piracy. Support the artists you love. BUY your music!

World Circuit

This album was recorded five years ago and was the second collaboration between these two great World Music artists. Ali was very sick at the time of this recording and unfortunately passed away the following year. These two men from Mali travelled together to London to play and to record. The desert blues of these two greats has a wonderful cultural tradition that is shaped by their distinctive style. Toure's steel guitar plucking is beautiful and Diabate plays the Kora which has a harp like quality which blends and intertwines wonderfully with the guitar work. The gentle instrumental melodies are backed by the acoustic bass of Orlando Lopez who calls these two Malian's 'Great musicians'.




Whatever the reason that saw this gorgeous recording take so long to see the light of day, the fact is that this is no posthumous throwaway intended to take commercial advantage of the deceased artist. This is a complete and wholly realised piece of work. It is deep and powerful. Ali said, 'playing this music on a traditional guitar is something different'. Of this music which is 100% in the Songhai style 'This blending of music from the north & the south of Mali is truly exceptional' . Highly recommended!

Tracks:
1. Ruby
2. Sabu Yerkoy
3. Be Mankan
4. Doudou
5. Warbe
6. Samba Geladio
7. Sina Mory
8. 56
9. Fantasy
10. Machengoida
11. Kala Djula

Official Website:   http://www.worldcircuit.co.uk/#Ali_Farka_Toure

Official Website: http://www.worldcircuit.co.uk/#Toumani_Diabate

Wilfred - Indie Artists of the Day

Americana folk rock Norwegian style! Drop the needle on Wilfred, lie back and close your eyes. No matter which guess you make on which part of the U.S. these guys are from you would be wrong. They are from Oslo, Norway. The music is base d on 70's rock with great pop hooks. they have been getting airplay in North America with their tunes 'Time After Time' & 'Blue Eyed Angel'. They have finished working on their first full length album and release. Date & Title TBA. You can check out the Myspace page for a variety of tracks or go to the bands official website to check them out.



Wilfred are: Terje Sager, Ingar Blix, Olav Torgeir Kopsland, Alf Magne Hillestad (Lars Andre Kvistum keys : "Searching" and Trond Lien featuring on Hammond B3 : "Land of the blind")

Official website: http://www.wilfredmusic.no

MySpace: http://www.myspace/psychedelic discoangels



Zak's Tidbits for March 29th/2010

From Devo's Blog dated today Mar. 29th :

Friends,

The response to our SXSW panel has been overwhelming and we thank all of you for your continued support. Representatives from our musical division, the band Devo, as well as our corporate partners, used the occasion to present the ongoing mission and plan for the future in an open forum where the public was given the opportunity to respond. And while, unfortunately, important business commitments kept me from attending, I can safely report to you that the meeting accomplished several key tasks:

- Clarifying the state of de-evolution
- Illustrating the mechanics of our marketing plan
- Reviewing our current data and online statistics
- Focus group testing possible album titles
- Autographing a large inflatable dinosaur.

Most importantly, we had the chance to hear directly from the public regarding our mission to appeal to everybody and officially announce the upcoming Devo Song Study. As Derek Feltcher, Manager of Business Affairs, is currently ironing out the final technical details, I can only reinforce to you the importance of this upcoming focus group and continue to express my burning anticipation for its release.

Until then please review this focus group in which, our corporate partner, Mother LA, tested the effectiveness of Devo's new song "Fresh".


I think we can surmise this down to Devo just released their new song 'Fresh'. Check out the video:

Zak Recommends 'Mose Allison' & Indie Artist Of the Day 'Psychedelic Disco Angels'

Mose Allison - The Way Of the World

Buy your music and support your favourite artists!

Anti Records

Mose Allison was born in 1927. He is one of the most influential Jazz Blues artists of all time. He had a huge impact on the blues based rock bands of the 60`s. Artists such as The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, Cream and the Who have repeatedly cited Mose as a major influence. The Who made `Young Man Blues`a staple of their live repertoire. The Yardbirds and many others have covered Ì`m Not Talking`. He was later covered by 70`s `punk`acts. The Clash & Elvis Costello. Van Morrison did an entire tribute album to the man.


After a twelve year absence from recording , Mose, 82 years young has returned with a new album titled `The Way Of The World`. this is his 34th full release in a recording career now going into its 7th decade. The shear depth and breadth of his work is utterly remarkable. This new album recorded over five days with a small loose group of collaborators demonstrates that this man still has the fire and wit of an active and curious mind. The voice is weathered and leathery. There are touches of waltz, swing, bop and blues here and it is played out on the piano with artful crispness.

Tracks:
1. My Brain
2. I Know You Didn`t Mean It
3. Everybody Thinks You`re An Angel
4. Let It Come Down
5. Modest Proposal
6. Crush
7. Some Right, Some Wrong
8. The Way Of the World
9. Ask Me Nice
10. Once In A While
11. I`m Alright
12. This New Situation

Official Website: http://www.moseallison.com

Upcoming Shows:
April 2 & 3, Jazz Corner, Hilton Head, SC
April 9, The Beauty Shop Restaurant, Memphis, TN
April 10, The Township Jazz Festival, Ridgeland, MS
May 22 & 23, Snug Harbor, New Orleans, LA
May 27, Anthology, San Diego, CA
May 28, Jazz Institute Jazz Festival, Los Angeles, CA Celebrating Al Cohn and Zoot Sims

Psychedelic Disco Angels - Indie Artists of the Day

Psychedelic Electronica house beats. Hypnotic cool rhythms. Dreamy disembodied vocals. Throbbing pulsating Bass lines. Based in Jersey City, PDA are currently in the studio working on the next batch of magic that will be their next album. This will be their second effort and is to b titled `Digital Power`. Check out the Myspace page where you can get a free download to chill to.



Psychedelic Disco Angels are: Roman - Vocals, Lead Guitar, Keys, Bass, Drums, Beats, Noise

Meredith - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Keys, Bass, Beats

Official website: http://www.myspace/psychedelic discoangels



Zak's Tidbits for March 26th/2010

Gord Downie - Still untitled third solo release is coming out June 8th. It is his first in 7 years. See  http://www.gordownie.com/

Zak Recommends 'The Dillinger Escape Plan' & Indie Artist of the Day 'Night of the Snake'

The Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis

Please BUY your music & support the artists you love! As my friend Fearless Fred said on the EDGE today, 'It's Basic Economics kids!'

Season Of Mist Records

The Dillinger Escape Plan's fourth release is an epic monster! 2010 has so far been a great year for music with many great releases by a great assortment of artists but honest to Betsy kids I am putting this one at the top of the list so far. This album is multi-faceted. DEP can assault you with an unbelievable sonic force of screaming guitars and vocals and then trail off into a melodic interlude then plunge you right back into the gale force sonic blast. It all works and it is all beautiful. This is an honest and brilliant piece of work. "Gold Teeth On A Bum' and album opener 'Farewell, Mona Lisa' are standout tracks. The vocals on Gold Teeth are awesome.

 This is such a raw tour de force of an album that it takes a few turns to really start to appreciate the detail and precision of this work as well as the technical proficiency of the playing. And thats a good thing because on first play you may not only miss the finer points, you may even have an adverse reaction. No worries because you can look forward to the fact that repeated plays will bring you to the point where you really appreciate all that is the glory of this great album.



The Dillinger Escape Plan emerged from the punk trio Arcane in 1997. Ben Weinman is the last remaining founding member and the lineup now consists also of Liam Wilson, Greg Puciato, Jeff Tuttle & Billy Rymer.

Tracks:
1. "Farewell, Mona Lisa" − 5:23
2. "Good Neighbor" − 2:30
3. "Gold Teeth on a Bum" − 5:22
4. "Crystal Morning" − 2:02
5. "Endless Endings" − 2:32
6. "Widower" − 6:23
7. "Room Full of Eyes" − 4:15
8. "Chinese Whispers" − 4:06
9. "I Wouldn't If You Didn't" − 4:14
10. "Parasitic Twins" − 4:41

Official Website:  http://www.myspace.com/dillingerescapeplan

Upcoming Shows:
27 Mar 2010 20:00 The Basement - HEADLINING Columbus, Ohio
28 Mar 2010 20:00 First Unitarian Church - HEADLINI Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
29 Mar 2010 20:00 Otto Bar - HEADLINING Baltimore, Maryland
30 Mar 2010 20:00 Chameleon Club - HEADLINING Lancaster, Pennsylvania
31 Mar 2010 20:00 Diesel - HEADLINING Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1 Apr 2010 20:00 The Eagle Theatre - HEADLINING Pontiac, Michigan

Night of the Snake - Indie Artists of the Day

 I needed to feature a tour de sonic force artist for this feature to equal the gale force of todays 'recommends' review. I needed to look no further than fellow Torontonians 'Night of the Snake'. Monster riffs, Monster vocals, Monster tunes. Self described Death Metal outfit ROCKS super hard. 'Earth+You=Happy Me' is a particular fave tune for me. Nights of the Snake is playing 'DC Music Theatre' in Toronto this Saturday. Please check out their Myspace page.



Night of the Snake are: Remi vocals, MattyB bass & Pat guitar

Official website: http://www.myspace/nightofthesnake

Zak's Tidbits for March 25th/2010

MGMT have some limited edition Litho prints available for sale on their website. Check out  http://www.whoismgmt.com/. New album releases officially April 13th.

Green Day - Check out Billy Joe Armstrong & Paul Westerberg's interview for Spin Magazine here:  http://www.spin.com/articles/billie-joe-armstrong-meets-paul-westerberg

Flames Of Ice - Indie Artist Of The Day

 

Buy Your Music and support the Artists you love!

If you love Techno/Industrial check out Flames Of Ice. He is an independent artist out of Ball Ground, Georgia. His Techno Industrial housebeats are grounded in that tradition. Brooding, Moody and Apocalyptic. The kind of beats that will get you on the floor. FOI is currently working on a new album and if tracks like 'Without', 'Starting Over' & 'My level' are any indication of what's in the pipeline I can't wait to hear what he's been stirring up. FOI has been cultivating a steadily rising fanbase and for fans of this genre there is good reason for this. Check it out for yourself on his website.


VLOG 3

Flames Of Ice ~NEW BLOG!!!~

MySpace Music Videos

Official website:  http://www.myspace.com/flamesofice

Crime In Stereo, I Was Trying To Describe Someone To You Review - Johnny Philko, Indie Artist Of The Day

Zak Recommends: Crime In Stereo - I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone

PLEASE BUY YOUR MUSIC & SUPPORT THE ARTISTS

Bridge Nine Records

'I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone' is a phenomenal album. It is the fourth for these hard rockers from Long Island, N.Y. Many of the tracks have an almost stadium size feel to them. Check out 'Exit Halo',' Type One' & 'Dark Island City'. On tracks like 'Drugwolf' & 'Everything I am not' I can hear the audience slogan chanting as I listen to these spacious anthems. To call this hard rock is to not do it justice. This is a band that has pushed themselves and in the process have achieved a new level that sets the bar high for them and their contemporaries. This is an accomplished piece of work. A definite contender for best album so far this year.


Crime In Stereo formed in 2002. They are Kristian Hallbert - Vocals, Alex Dunne - Guitar/Vocals, Scotty Giffin - Drums, Gary Ciono - Bass & Eric Kuster - Guitar.

Tracks:
1. Queue Moderns
2. Drugwolf
3. Exit Halo
4. Not Dead
5. Odalisque
6. Young
7. Type One
8. Republica
9. I Am Everything I Am Not
10. Dark Island City
11. I Cannot Answer You Tonight

Official Website:  http://www.crimeinstereo.com/

Upcoming Shows:
26 Mar 2010 19:00 Looney Tunes In Store and Signing West Babylon, New York
3 Apr 2010 20:00 Ethical Humanist Society Garden City, Long Island, New York
6 Apr 2010 7:30 The Basement **Headline Show** Columbus, Ohio
7 Apr 2010 20:00 Subterranean **Headline Show** Chicago, Illinois
8 Apr 2010 20:00 Mad Maggie’s **Headline Show** Elgin, Illinois
9 Apr 2010 20:00 The Loft **Headline Show** Madison, Wisconsin

Johnny Philko - Indie Artists of the Day

Johnny Philko are a Blues/Rock outfit from Cleveland. Their new album, Exit From Babylon is an excellent rocker. They do a cover of Bruce Cockburn's 'If I Had A Rocket Launcher' that gives me goose pimples. I truly love it. Peace Prayer is a beautiful slow paced hymn with super nice guitar work. Check out the MySpace page to get a listen. The album is available online from CDbaby, Kunaki, Amazon & Target through the bands official website. Their song 'One Stormy Night' from the first album, 'Songs To Swear By' is listed as # 29 on Neil Young's top protest songs of all time.


Johnny Philko are: Mike Kinkead, Chris Kinkead, John Hughes & David Sanderson.

Official website:  http://www.johnnyphilko.org/



Zak's Tidbits for March 3rd/2010

Justin Bieber's new album is out today and that is a fact that would not normally show up on this page. Funny thing is, it is getting good reviews for what it is.

Zak says 'Hey Man it's a slow fukn news day.