Music Report

The Music Report is brought to you this week by AXE, the most foolproof way to get women to swoon over you in a hyper-unrealistic fashion.

Our first group is another one out of Sweden in Teddybears. Around since 1991, they’ve released only 5 albums thus far. Their name is a reaction to the morbid band names commonplace in the death metal scene at the time. Their single “Punkrocker” with Iggy Pop providing vocals will sound very familiar to most as it dominates a recent Cadillac spot. Tracks already in the can for the next album include guest appearances by Slick Rick and Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne.
http://www.teddybearsrock.com/home.php

Nas is in news this week with the upcoming release of his ninth solo album on July 15th. Formerly titled “Nigger,” the record is currently nameless after civil rights leaders (and undoubtedly retailers) demanded a change. Out now is “The Nigger Tape,” a mixtape preview of the album produced with DJ Green Lantern including “Legendary,” the theme to the Mike Tyson documentary that recently premiered at Cannes. If you like what you hear, Nas will be performing as part of the Rock the Bells festival at Jones Beach on Sunday, August 3rd.
http://www.mediafire.com/?wuzgp1mymrw
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1D0040A6C64C4ED5?artistid=1141759

If anyone needed to be persuaded that DJ Green Lantern doesn’t sleep (or maybe it’s like the real Green Lantern in that whomever wears the ring becomes the hero), proof is in his second killer mixtape release of the week: “Charles Hamilton: Outside Looking.” The whole thing is a great find from a newcomer to the scene (who goes by his real name) with its Sonic the Hedgehog iconography and sample from The Offspring on “Rockstar Girl” simply adding the icing to the cake.
http://www.iamnotcharleshamilton.com/

Next on the Hit Parade is Cryptacize out of California Bay Area. At times, their music might be (and has been) described as “showtunes-inspired mayhem.” Other times “gothic folk” is the name of the game. And this is all over the course of their one LP release entitled “Dig That Treasure” on Asthmatic Kitty Records of Lander, WY. See also their excellent cover of Steely Dan’s “Peg.” Cryptacize plays the Knitting Factory tonight (Thursday).
http://www.myspace.com/cryptacize
http://stereogum.com/mp3/Cryptacize%20-%20Peg.mp3

If it wasn’t yet, the word ‘bored’ should be eradicated from the vocabulary of anyone with broadband internet access. In addition to the video networks set up by Vice Magazine at vbs.tv and the indie music sages at Pitchfork Media in Pitchfork.tv, web TV network Revision3 has partnered with Seattle music and culture rag XLR8R (like West Coast FADER) for XLR8RTV. All of the above offer plenty of good quality, on-demand video. If still pictures remain your thing, take advantage of the free PDF downloads of every issue of XLR8R current and past.
http://revision3.com/xlr8rtv/
http://www.xlr8r.com/magazine

On a final note, I am beside myself that, with all of the possible rap names out there, misspellings, made up words and all, an up and comer from the Southside of Queens would opt for one already taken by semi-famed crooner Vic Damone. Bonus on this one is how the interview begins: “Q: What's good man? A: I'm chilling, you know what it is.” You don’t have to edit anything out when you have the unlimited word count enabled by web publishing.
http://www.hiphopgame.com/index2.php3?page=vicdamone