Tag Archives: the doomsday device

Distant Connections :: AMEA Takes Us On A Trip With ‘VayCay’

Posted on August 2, 2017 | Leave a comment

At this point, I don’t know much about AMEA, other than that I need to know more.  I unfortunately cannot remember how I stumbled across the video for VayCay, but I am very glad that I did, because the video is truly inspiring.  Not only is it a strong song with a wonderfully produced video to back it up, the video includes a strong narrative that tells a concurrent story with the song, culminating in a moving experience for the listener/viewer.  The amount of high quality music video work I am seeing that comes out of the central Texas area is truly amazing.  As for AMEA, she seems to be on the rise, so I will definitely keep watch for more from her.

-chief

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Dropping Knowledge :: TEE-DOUBLE Releases ‘Bless The Child’ EP

Posted on August 1, 2017 | Leave a comment

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Of all the Austin-based MCs and producers, you’d be hard-pressed to find one with the drive, vision and longevity of Tee-Double.  Of the many hats he wears (cultural diplomat, business educator, creative advocate), the man still finds time to produce, write and engineer his own albums, adding to his vast catalog.  Bless The Child E.P. finds Tee-Double really learning the limits of his studio, the newly crowned Teetopia.  Breakbeat exploration is still used, but Tee has been throwing more and more live musical elements into his production, giving this album the sound and feel of a funk-band’s back-up.  Add the natural dosage of lyrics about being hip to the business side of the game, the journey from where he came to where he’s arrived, and the inspirational messages he gives to listeners (artists and casual fans), this E.P. is shaping up to be one of the more important releases of 2017.  Cheers to you, sir, and keep doing what you’re doing.

-chief

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Twisted Beauty :: Furly Travis Creates ‘The Failed Artist’

Posted on July 31, 2017 | Leave a comment

San Marcos icon Furly Travis has always been a creative spirit.  His music pushes all kinds of creative boundaries, his painting style has a deceptive depth to it that is not always obvious upon first viewing, and there has always been an experimental film director budding within him.  Recent creative stints with indie director Jeffrey Garcia seemed to have stoked those flames within Furly, and The Failed Artist is the first of many flames to catch fire.  The short film is a David Lynch-esque view into the search for inspiration, and even with its amplified narrative, them film is very easy to relate to on a gut level.  If this is the first of what are hopefully many creative endeavors, I am curious as to what the future holds in store.

-chief

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Making Tracks :: Mama K & The Shades Unleash ‘Midnight Train’ Music Video

Posted on July 28, 2017 | Leave a comment

Austin-based super-ensemble Mama K & The Shades are shaping up for an extremely successful 2017.  After the late 2016 release of their debut LP Honey Made, the collective has released a stunning animated video for the single Midnight Train.  Mixing line drawn animation with color-filtered footage of 50s America, the video is a wonderful journey of visual stimulation and juxtaposed footage of a past reality.  Real, yet surreal.  Here’s to big adventures and a successful journey for Mama K & The Shades.

-chief

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Next Lifetime :: The Teeta x SheLovesLlyrik Dive Into ‘Afterlife’

Posted on July 27, 2017 | Leave a comment

The Teeta has been on a creative tear the last few months or so.  It seems like there’s always a new song or video dropping, and yet, each of these projects seems as if it’s had proper incubation time.  One of the latest presentations, the music video Afterlife, is a track with a cloud-rap type approach, and a visual element reminiscent of the late 1970s/early 1980s aesthetic that independent filmmakers and those in the wake of the New York Factory Scene became famous for.  The project grabs your attention and holds it for a few minutes without stressing a sense of immediacy or urgency, a testament to the assured approach of director Jesse Rodriguez.  I have definitely enjoyed the variety of creativity coming from The Teeta, and I am curious to see where this journey continues to lead all of us.

-chief

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Pack Leader :: Curbside Jones Drops ‘Wolves’ Clothing’ EP

Posted on July 26, 2017 | Leave a comment

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Nothing hits me harder than a well executed concept album.  I’m a casual fan just like anyone else… I dig it when production is going hard and lyrics are clever.  There’s something special, however, about an artist who can take an idea, explore it thoroughly from song to song, and yet have each song be its own entity.  I believe that Curbside Jones has dropped a concept album for the ages with his latest release, Wolves’ Clothing.  A very original take on the ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ concept, Curbside Jones gets extremely personal by using the analogy of the timid sheep ‘wearing’ the persona of the wolf.  The smart part is how the analogy is direct, and yet open ended and easy to apply to other concepts, not just the literal imagery being set forth.  Add in some of the hands down dopest cover art I’ve seen in ages, and it seems like we’re dealing with something that will more than likely make many best of lists at the end of the year.  I’d be surprised if it doesn’t make mine.

-chief

 

 

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Rising Sounds :: Mélat’s ‘No Bad News’ Video Hits The Internet

Posted on July 25, 2017 | Leave a comment

Mélat, the Austin-based self-proclaimed ‘eccentric soul of R&B’, has recently released a stunning music video for No Bad News, the final track from her latest album MéVen.  The song is a beautifully presented inspirational statement on chasing your dreams regardless of obstacles, and the video compliments this sentiment brilliantly.  Mélat is continuously shown as a strong, centering force throughout the video, and the literal demons used to represent the evils and shortcomings of the world contrast her brightness perfectly.  The track, produced by The SevenTH, gives me Portishead feels in the best ways.  Being introduced to her music last night at the live version of The Hot Conversation was a pleasant surprise, and I look forward to seeing her continue to excel in Austin music scene and beyond.

-chief

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Hidden Gems :: DEFY’d Gives You ‘Nothing For Your Birthday’

Posted on July 24, 2017 | Leave a comment

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There’s problems, and then there’s good problems.  A problem is when you have every intention of creating music, but you lack the motivation or the opportunities to do so.  A good problem is when your motivation and opportunities are so abundant, that sometimes your musical output goes overlooked by even those who stay checking for it.  The latter would be the case in regards to the homeboy SymmaTree.  Dude stays busy both representing for Grid Squid Entertainment and StereoFiend, so when I came across a post about a project he was in called DEFY’d, I was surprised that I completely missed the boat on it.  nothing for your birthday is the solid first effort from a band, an amalgamation of members from Call Me King and Dancing with Gepetto, as well as the previously mentioned SymmaTree and additional vocalist M.E. Farrell.  It would be easy to classify this project as rock/rap [see the very self-aware (my ears matter) interlude], but that would be doing this collaboration a disservice, as there is something definitely brewing here.  I’ve heard the song Fingertips previously, but it does a nice job of rounding out this debut offering.  I am looking forward to hearing more from DEFY’d, believe that.

-chief

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Another Take :: DDotElles Drops ‘EFAdemo:Take3’

Posted on July 21, 2017 | Leave a comment

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You already know what time it is.  Whenever a new DDotElles anything drops, be it single, video, or especially album, it’s gonna get shine around here.  This cat consistently puts out HIGH quality hip-hop, and in all honestly, should be operating on a much larger scale than he currently is.  I guess all that artists of our caliber can do is keep dropping music and hope that one day the masses catch up.  That being said, EFAdemo:Take3 is truly a project to be proud of.  The album flows damn near seamlessly from track to track as DDotElles provides us with the elements that we become accustomed to hearing on his projects : lyricism on both witty and deeply personal levels, banger production, beautifully chosen guest spots and skits/movie samples to break things up and usher listeners through the project.  This is what hip-hop sounds like in my perfect world.  Share it, support this cat and spread the word.

-chief

 

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Making Tracks :: Feral The Earthworm, Vanlife, Vanarchy And DIY Life

Posted on July 20, 2017 | Leave a comment

If you’ve ever been in need of true inspiration, Austin-based MC Feral The Earthworm is someone you need to look into.  He started off on the scene as a standout among the many wonderful MCs that frequent Austin Mic Exchange, and he was as brutally honest as he was talented.  You knew right from the beginning that he had a vision, and to see this vision manifest has been incredible.

After a DIY tour with Weird City, Feral began the process of eliminating bills and rent from his life in an effort to maximize doing what he loved, which was making music and performing shows.  What began as an idea has turned into his Vanarchy album and his Vanlife movement… he turned an empty van into a living space and a recording studio, and went straight to work on releasing the Vanarchy project:

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If this doesn’t inspire you to chase your dreams and say f-ck it to any obstacle in your way, I don’t know what will.  Mad props to Feral the Earthworm, and here’s to all of the well-deserved success that will hopefully come your way.

-chief

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