PLANNINGTOROCK channels Bowie/Berlin

Janine Rostron, aka Planningtorock, might hide behind a fake block-like nose that almost appears as if she had a large lego piece implanted under the top layer of skin on her nose, but on her new album titled, W, trust me when I say that she does absolutely nothing to hide her experimental expertise.

In an attempt to channel the darker, grimier, and particularly unexplored territories of a seedier Berlin club scene, which seems that only Bowie (on his albums known as the Berlin Trilogy) and now Rostron have been able to capture on an album, she has created a mix of songs that not only show-off the vigor behind her slow and soulful crooning, but also demonstrate her outstanding ability to puzzle sounds and samples together, in ways that even seem foreign to the uber diverse group of musicians/producers/instrumentalists on her label DFA.

Although Rostron's electronically charged vocals play a major role in the spacey feel that each track expels, its the synthesized bass, collection of bells, thick strings and the chopped-up eighties style sax that linger in the background that make you feel like you are being pushed and pulled in disparate directions. From the bump and throb of the song, "The Breaks", to the hypnotic vibrato of the album's ninth track, "Jam", Rostron serves up a sundry blend of grooves.

check out this junoplayer for a preview of the new album, W

the weekend just got better.

I usually would never be caught dead endorsing an artist that the crippled kid from Degrassi, oh wait... I mean the rapper Drake also champions, but I must say that THE WEEKND is truly the one man that could possibly change the face and sound of typical R&B. It's funny, the term Rhythm & Blues was originally used in order to describe the heavy and insistent beats of blues music that flooded the music scene during the 1940's and 50's and ultimately contributed to the development of GREAT rock and roll, like that of the Rolling Stones. Lately, R&B has become a term loosely thrown around to describe corny Ne-Yo love songs and music that is seriously lacking the urban soul that original R&B relied so heavily on.

Well, this was my view until I heard the Weeknd's song, "Glass Table Girls", where he starts out the song saying, "Two puffs for the lady who be down for that". This sex infused number will have you riding on the shallow thump of the songs underlying drum, while his lyrics expel the unsightly feelings of a three-day long drug haze as he vehemently spits, "i heard you do drugs now/you heard wrong i been on 'em for a minute/we just never act a fool that's just how we fuckin live it."

Although this ins't the official video for "Glass Table Girls", I think it perfectly parallels the song's spacey feel. When the Weeknd saw this video he posted it on his tumblr and wrote "in white girls we lust".  check it out.

With the recent release of his first record, House of Balloons, (which he released on his own and is actually now available for download via his website), the Weeknd has and will continue to receive notoriety for his intriguing sound and even more for his stimulating lyrics.

If you like "Glass Table Girls", definitely take the time listen to the rather hypnotic and passionate song, "Coming Down".

HOT SAUCE COMMITTEE PART 2

Beastie Boys are at it again with their new album, Hot Sauce Committee Part 2.  From throwback funk on the track "Nonstop Disco Powerpack" to an onslaught of vocoders on "OK" the Boys are back and sound hungry to remind all of those that their iconic hip-hop is still going strong.

Besides the fact that you'll think that your speakers are evaporating with every drop of the bass on the track "Too Many Rappers", it also screams classic Beastie with raw battle-style lyrics like, “Oh, my God –- just look at me / Grandpa been rapping since ’83”.  It's hard to believe that after three decades as pioneers of the hip-hop scene and not getting that great of a response to their last album To the Five Boroughs, that the Boys would be back to throw down an album that is of the same caliber as Licensed to Ill.  

Take a listen for yourself, this album will definitely be on repeat. Each track brings something new, its like you almost can't even wait for a song to finish because you're so excited to hear the next one.  Seriously digging "Funky Donkey" because you just can't get enough of dat funk, and "Lee Majors Come Again" is a punk rock/hip-hop combo that only the Beastie Boys could pull off.

don't even try and download this illegally, stop being cheap and BUY THIS ALBUM!

no bullshit rock 'n roll

I think I found my new favorite band.... at least for the moment. But first, an ultra brief 90's grunge history lesson.  So in 1988 Neil Hagerty and at-the-time girlfriend, Jennifer Herrema decided to create a band called Royal Trux.  The two came out with their first self-titled album, Royal Trux, that same year and soon found themselves cashing in on the overwhelming corporate interest in underground grunge rock after Nirvana's mainstream emergence.  After signing with Virgin records Royal Trux not only added drummer Chris Pyle (son of Artimus Pyle, drummer of Lynyrd Skynyrd), but came out with Untitled, Thank You, and Sweet Sixteen.  

Now, after the break up of Royal Trux and the dissolve of their romantic relationship, Herrema and Hagerty have since been working on solo projects with the record label, Drag City, but have also come together as RTX.  Since 2004 the band has released four albums, Western Xterminator and JJ Got Live Ratx being their most notable.  

I saw these guys open up for Kurt Vile on April 22nd at the Echo in L.A. and let me tell you...Herrema's performance and aura, reek the swagger and snarl of bar-room rock and roll. With face hidden beneath a faded oversized brown cowboy hat, Herrema stumbled around stage serenading those in attendance with her mettlesome voice, a voice that at times got lost in the heroin-haze of her Royal Trux days.  Anyways, Herrema's Siouxsie meets Sunset Boulevard glam is great and you should keep up with these guys.

Check out the Western Xterminator video here

And go to their myspace here and listen to "CHEAP WINE TIME"

www.myspace.com/rtx