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| David Johnson-Igra's Articles: 1 to 10 of 14 | Previous Page 1 2 Next Page |
 | Released by The Drop Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
There is something to be said about taking your time, just ask Fat Freddy’s Drop. Though the New Zealand group was assembled in the late 90s, it has only released two albums.More |  | A Marathon Man His charming smile and good looks will you fool, Raphael Saadiq is 42 years old, and has been making music since the late 80s when he started with Tony! Toni! Toné! In Oakland.More |  | Coming to America It’s not cheap to fly, and it’s definitely not cheap to fly out a seven-piece band from New Zealand. That should say something about the promoter’s faith in Fat Freddy’s Drop, the Kiwi jazz, dub, reggae, and soul band that is touring the United States for the first time.More |  | All Grown Up Women in hip hop don’t have it easy, just ask anyone in the business. Keeping it real is difficult when most female rappers are anything but. Dolled up into sex objects, or shot up with testosterone, hip hop is seriously void of real females. Maybe this explains one of the reasons Kid Sister’s album has been so heavily anticipated. She’s not trying to impress anyone with something she’s not, rather she says things like “I’m gonna fart on Usher.” Not to mention, she has skills. The Chicago rapper has a style of her own, and as SF Station chatted with her, it became clear it’s more than just music.More |  | Being Human The first thing people notice about Brother Ali is that he’s a white albino rapper. To ask him about this fact completely ignores his life, his struggles, and the experiences he’s witnessed. With his last album [b]The Undisputed Truth[/b], Ali delved into experiences like his failing marriage and being homeless, providing one of the rawest personal narratives in recent hip hop albums. With his new album [b]Us[/b], Ali now looks outside himself, trying to understand American society discussing slavery, rape, and race. His messages are not preachy but insightful, encouraging and entirely what hip hop needs.More |  | What's in a Name? Starfucker, currently hosting a contest to help rename themselves, may be changing their image, but not their uplifting electro-pop sound. Known for their cross dressing antics, and non-stop dance parties, the group just wants to have fun. With big names like Target, the "Weeds" TV series, and IBM using the group’s music, it’s safe to say they’re on the rise. SF Station spoke with keyboardist and producer Josh Hodges before a show of theirs in Brooklyn, about having fun, names, and starfuckers.More |  | Fresh, rather than Retro For as many people that have called Mayer Hawthorne "retro", he’s not. While his falsetto voice draws comparison to Smokey Robinson, and his Detroit upbringing is a reminder of Motown, “retro” is too restricting. Mayer Hawthorne, born Andrew Mayer Cohen, is as Smokey as he is James Dewitt Yancey (J Dilla). Call Mayer Hawthorne “fresh", because he not only is soulful, he’s hip hop, he’s a skateboarder, and he’s surprising people with a voice he never knew he had. SF Station chatted Mayer before he embarked on his first US tour.More |  | Released by Ghostly International, 6/23/09 Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Maybe the answer can be found in the uncertainty surrounding our economy, the disillusionment facing recent graduates, or the intrinsic need for answers to all our questions. Any one of these would explain why Deastro’s [b]Moondagger[/b] feels perfect. This is more than an album.More |  | A Bright Spot in the Foggy City Since leaving San Francisco, Eric Rachmany went on to receive a degree at UC Santa Barbara, and now returns as the lead singer of Rebelution. With their debut album [b]Courage to Grow[/b], Rebelution had jumped into the forefront as one of the most promising reggae groups, after being awarded by iTunes with the "Best Reggae Album of 2007". On August 5th they will be stopping on their Bright Side Tour at the Great American Music Hall promoting the upcoming release of their second album [b]Bright Side of Life[/b]. SF Station spoke with Eric as he kicked back in Santa Barbara before starting their national tour.More |  | Released on XL Recordings, 7/7/09 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
The overuse of auto-tune in popular music has led rap mogul Jay-Z to say “Enough” -- but that hasn’t fazed these Brooklyn hipsters. Discovery, the new indie pop duo comprised of Rostam Batmanglij (producer of Vampire Weekend) and Wes Miles (vocalist of Ra Ra Riot) have created an album so overdone in auto-tune that Kanye West will probably ask for credit. Maybe I’m inferring too much, but it seems that Batmanglij is strategically using this proven method for pop success.More |
| David Johnson-Igra's Articles: 1 to 10 of 14 | Previous Page 1 2 Next Page |
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