2008 Woodie Awards
[critic]al thinking
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: Arts and Entertainment
Radiohead continues to stick it to the man
Amplive
Rainydayz Remixes
(self released)
4 Stars
Record Review Connor Boals
Oakland DJ and producer Amplive sent ripples through the blogosphere in 2007 when he announced that he was releasing a remix album of the already infamous and critically lauded Radiohead release "In Rainbows."
The legacy of "In Rainbows," which was released without a record label as a digital download, in which fans could name their own price, continues to defy the boundaries of traditional record label politics.
Originally thought to never see the light of day due to a missive from Warner/Chappell that was issued on Dec. 18, the remixes are now available for free download via Amplive's MySpace page.
Composed entirely of source material from the original "In Rainbows" release, the product is eight tracks of re-envisioned ambiance with contributions from Too $hort, MC Zumbi of Zion I, Chali 2na of Jurassic 5, Codany Holiday and Del The Funky Homosapien.
"Rainydayz Remixes" is beyond novel, it's captivating. Take "Nudez" which samples the track "Nude" and Thom Yorke's classic weird, tortured crooning to provide a back drop for Bay Area legend Too $hort to drop rhymes and warnings about keeping one's cool in order to come up in the hustling game.
It's these unlikely combinations, flowing together seamlessly, that make Amplive's work just as original as the composition from which he samples.
Wondering what Stringer Bell would make of this
Beach House
Devotion
(Carpark Records)
4.5 Stars
Record Review John McMillin
Beach House, a duo from Baltimore on the Carpark label, home to mostly electronic artists (though this band could hardly be more analogue), have managed to circumvent the sophomore slump, crafting an album that is just as lovely as their first.
Few contemporary indie bands have a sound as singular as Beach House; the second one of their tracks comes on you know exactly who it is. Their music creates an environment where one can easily get lost in the bittersweet melodies.
Amplive
Rainydayz Remixes
(self released)
4 Stars
Record Review Connor Boals
Oakland DJ and producer Amplive sent ripples through the blogosphere in 2007 when he announced that he was releasing a remix album of the already infamous and critically lauded Radiohead release "In Rainbows."
The legacy of "In Rainbows," which was released without a record label as a digital download, in which fans could name their own price, continues to defy the boundaries of traditional record label politics.
Originally thought to never see the light of day due to a missive from Warner/Chappell that was issued on Dec. 18, the remixes are now available for free download via Amplive's MySpace page.
Composed entirely of source material from the original "In Rainbows" release, the product is eight tracks of re-envisioned ambiance with contributions from Too $hort, MC Zumbi of Zion I, Chali 2na of Jurassic 5, Codany Holiday and Del The Funky Homosapien.
"Rainydayz Remixes" is beyond novel, it's captivating. Take "Nudez" which samples the track "Nude" and Thom Yorke's classic weird, tortured crooning to provide a back drop for Bay Area legend Too $hort to drop rhymes and warnings about keeping one's cool in order to come up in the hustling game.
It's these unlikely combinations, flowing together seamlessly, that make Amplive's work just as original as the composition from which he samples.
Wondering what Stringer Bell would make of this
Beach House
Devotion
(Carpark Records)
4.5 Stars
Record Review John McMillin
Beach House, a duo from Baltimore on the Carpark label, home to mostly electronic artists (though this band could hardly be more analogue), have managed to circumvent the sophomore slump, crafting an album that is just as lovely as their first.
Few contemporary indie bands have a sound as singular as Beach House; the second one of their tracks comes on you know exactly who it is. Their music creates an environment where one can easily get lost in the bittersweet melodies.
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