New Releases 11.1.2011
Black Milk & Danny Brown _ Black & Brown EP (hip-hop)
(3.0/4.0)
Detroit duo Black Milk and Danny Brown prove that Detroit has more to offer than Eminem, GM cars, and $1,000 houses on their debut disc. From the stuttering guitar and bass of "Sound Check" through the self titled closer the beats are unique. Live drums meet eerie samples and stuttering rhythms to give the record a gritty feel.
"Wake Up," "Loosie" and "Zap" set the tone with Brown's unique, dirty flow over classically flowing beats and are all outstanding tracks. "Jordan VIII, " and "Dada"move to more a more adventurous sound with interludes "Dark Sunshine" and "Wtf" ensuring the weird quota is met.
The closing title track is a return to the traditional hip-hop format where they're at their most effective. A promising EP from a promising duo from one of the most depressing places in the country and a must listen for bored hip-hop fans.
Key Tracks: "Wake Up," "Loosie," "Zap," "Black & Brown."
The Decemberists _ Long Live The King EP (indie/folk)(1.5/4.0)
Long Live the King finds Portland indie kings looking to do something beyond their standard sound, which is admirable. While the band undoubtedly has the right intentions with this EP, the songwriting pales in comparison to their early work.
The opener "E. Watson" feels weak and uninspired, relying too heavily on an understated acoustic guitar to propel the song forward. "Forgone" is an excellent track with crystal clear pedal steel swooning over a crisp electric guitar line. "Burying Davy" is a somewhat awkward attempt at the dark prairie ballad and might be the least successful track of the short record.
"I 4 U & U 4 Me" finds the band back in their sweet spot playing bright, upbeat folk perfect for a day in the sun. "Row Jimmy" moves back into unfamiliar territory for the band with elements of classic bluegrass although the results are better than could be expected. Colin Meloy's nasal nerd-croon is carefully accented and drawn back when needed, but even this isn't enough to make this EP a worthwhile buy, or even inclusion on our internet radio playlists.
Key Tracks: "Forgone," "I 4 U & U 4 Me."
