Tag Archives: the doomsday device

Mind Designs :: Scuare Releases ‘Alphabet Soup’ To The Masses

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Austin Mic Exchange has literally been a factory of growth, productivity and exposure for a large handful of up and coming Austin based hip-hop artists, and for a select few, it has been the key factor to taking bigger steps and making moves.  One of that select few is Scuare, a cat who came in day one with amazing skills.  After collaborating with no1mportant to create the incomparable …&more…Scuare has stepped back into the solo realm to drop a new project, Alphabet Soup.  I expect nothing but thought-provoking rhymes, awe-inspiring performances and the want for more music almost immediately after diving into this one… hopefully the rest of you take the time to grab this project, share with others, and as always, support local.

-chief

Cold World :: SymmaTree Drops His ‘Frozen Leaves’ EP

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The homie SymmaTree from Grid Squid has been on a mission to make 2017 one for the books.  He and his crew have already begun the first of many road excursions in the name of spreading the word about Grid Squid, and now the Frozen Leaves EP is hitting our sound systems.  This 5 song offering is full of solid, jazzy production, and the lyrics are on point, which we’ve come to expect from SymmaTree.  Definitely cop this one, and throw him a few bones so that he doesn’t starve out there on the road.

-chief

Divine Elements :: Slop Musket Drops Visual For ‘The Perfect Fifth’

Austin-based band Slop Musket is constantly on a dual journey of personal growth and deeper insight with their music, and each piece of art they drop shows that.  With recording footage from Lava Studios, and live footage from Eyedea‘s Five Year Celebration at First Avenue in Minneapolis, the video for The Perfect Fifth is a rumination on love of creativity, and the drive it creates to reach further while getting ‘better’, whatever better may be.  Stand, the band’s 3rd EP, is looking promising if this is an indicator of what’s to come.  Let’s all stay tuned…

-chief

Collective Resonance :: AMX Cypher Vol. II

One of the true gems of the Austin hip-hop scene is the Austin Mic Exchange (AMX).  It allows MCs of all styles and levels of experience to get together, build collaborations, and hone in on your skills while gaining inspirations from others.  2017 brings us volume two of the AMX Cypher, and this go round, we’ve got a killer line-up : Ben Buck on rhymes and production, and verses by Valor AlanAggieN∆TEChuck DuzeYou F. Oh and K-Sol.  AMX godfather Protextor drops in to film, and props to Exploded Records for providing the proper backdrop.  You know the drill… like it, share it, and support local!

-chief

Divine Debut :: Abuzayed The Free Shares ‘Worlds Within’

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Sometimes, the gift of discovery is realizing that you were essentially born to excel in a realm you never realized you had potential in.  I had the pleasure of recently meeting Abuzayed the Free, and in a few brief conversations we spoke on topics such as self-reflection, potential, artistic responsibility and much more.  It made it that much more rewarding when I had the pleasure of hearing her debut project, Worlds Within.  The project wonderfully blends reflections on culture, religion, spirituality and self-affirmation.  It’s hard to believe that this is a first attempt at an album… the production is solid, both on the beats and the recording quality, and the content is uplifting and enlightening.  I highly recommend folks checking this out and sharing it far and wide.

-chief

Frontier Psychiatry :: Moodie Black Drops ‘Tuesday’ Visual

Moodie Black has never had an issue with laying it all out on the table.  The upcoming album Lucas Acid has the potential to really turn heads, and if Tuesday is an indicator of what’s to come, I’m ready to sit down and listen.  The production is as arresting as ever, but the real gem this round are the lyrics… bars about being cagey and caged-in, both literally and figuratively.  Once Lucas Acid drops, you better believe I’ll be there to support, and I suggest you all do the same.

-chief

Life Lessons :: ‘Eye Of The Needle’ Finds Sixo and Grace Park Collaborating Once More

Recent Fake Four signees Alligator Food surprised me in a major way when my friend Grace Park popped up on their debut project.  Cut to nearly a year later, and group member Sixo is preparing to drop a new project featuring his production and a long list of collaborators.  Lucky for us, Grace Park found her way onto Eye Of The Needle, and it’s quite the wonderful piece of music… sparse enough for Grace‘s voice to take hold, but a nice strong set of drums in the background to take us all by the hand and show us the way.  I am very curious about The Odds Of Free Will, and I am looking forward to hearing the finished album.

-chief

Summer Madness :: Protextor Drops Stunning Visual For ‘Heatstroke’

Protextor has perfectly captured what it must feel like to be on the outside looking in, and feeling helpless.  Police brutality, social-economic prejudice and privilege are all issues that have been just beneath the surface of our radars for ages.  Heatstroke is a very unique take on the entire situation, and another amazing video from Shift.  Props to John Valley and his crew on a masterful piece of cinema.

-chief

Personal Revolutions :: Lisa B. Thompson’s ‘Underground’ Blows Minds At The Vortex

The Austin theater scene has received a breath of fresh air with the March/April run of Lisa B. Thompson‘s masterpiece, Underground.  The play stars Marc Pouhe’ and Jeffery Da’Shade Johnson as former college revolutionaries caught up in the respective modern day roles, but with shadows of the past threatening to determine their future paths.  The play is wonderfully directed by Rudy Ramirez, and if you get the chance, you should certainly see it.

-chief

Home Adventures :: Om Wahs Drops ‘Fogwall’ Single

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If there is one thing that is plentiful in Austin, it’s rock bands.  They come in all shapes, sizes and genres, which makes it hard to cut through the noise.  What helps is discovering your niche, carving it out, and excelling at it, which Om Wahs appears to be on the  path to doing.  Fogwall, a new single released in anticipation of an album this spring, comes on with the strength of a Tame Impala or Deerhunter, making the fact that it was recorded in a bedroom that much more impressive (not bad company to keep, seeing as those artists started out doing a similar method of recording).  I love myself some psych rock, and Om Wahs has definitely made my watchlist.

-chief