Cleveland based indie-rock band Nineteen Action News announces their 3rd release, a Christmas themed EP slated to hit i-tunes on Black Friday. The release is seasoned with the same tongue-in-cheek approach found in their past albums, the twist on this particular record is an end-of-days zombie attack on Christmas.
Though layered with comical descriptions of graphic violence, the album has a fun and light-hearted feel. The album comes across well done and fun to listen to, and sounds like the band had fun making it. While distinctly ‘christmasy,’ the album is also distinctly Nineteen Action News, taking novelty Christmas music to new heights.
Stay tuned for more updates, news, and previews from this generalpublic.net release.
That’s right, Cleveland’s own 19 Action News (the news) does a featured story on Cleveland’s own 19 Action News (the band). Kind of confusing, but still totally wicked!
Just in case you were wondering, 19actionnews.net (remember all “N’s”) is now active. A full scale website will be coming soon. For now, stay up to date with Facebook or Myspace.
TheSixyOne.com
19 Action News is also on a thesixtyone.com, a new social networking site designed for discovering music. The format is really great, and within minutes you can find music you like from independent artists all over the country. Check it out, make an account, send us a heart.
..And More!
19 Action News is in the Studio currently working on several projects including a Christmas EP, and a full length LP slated to be released sometime in 2010. Make sure you head out to a show in order to hear some of this new material performed first!
“Lost in Space” is a collection of new and unheard material from the “Our Time Has Come” sessions, featuring 5 brand news songs and 2 alternate recordings. This digital EP starts of with a Flaming Lips-style ballad called “Is there a Heaven?” The melody from the song can be heard faintly playing on their debut record in the track “Lost in Transmission,” setting these 5 tracks into the proper timeline of events.
“Heart Attack” is modeled like a 60’s pop song, and plays out in the traditional fun-but-moody way that we’ve come to hear from 19 Action News. G.P.S. however leaves the fun aside, and delivers a brooding tune that channels the Beatles’ “Happiness is a Warm Gun” delivering a barrage of guitars, and a poetic rap verse in an nontraditional 6/8 meter.
“Red Planet” rolls in like an imperial march, or universal anthem, as those escaping from earth make plans for their new home to be a place of perfection. The song drips with social commentary offering a polar opposite to the anthem “Meteor Rain” at the end of their previous album. “Spilled Milky Way” concludes the new material, with the phrase “Don’t you cry for me, we’re only spilled milk in this galaxy” illustrating a darker angle to the story they began telling on “19 Action News.”
“Greed (remix)” and “Happiness” are familiar tunes, one completely remixed while the other is a foot stomp, hand clap demo, letting the listener peek into the creative process of the Cleveland, Ohio band. Overall, the project is a solid effort and adds another strong piece into this band’s growing catalog.
The 3rd full length release from Mellow Drum Addict, this album plays like it looks, like a classic jazz record! With a team of collaborators, both on the mic and on various instruments, this album moves with a freedom that most hip-hop records don’t have. Even the unique packaging, a sleek 6 panel wallet with a resealable poly bag, makes this compact disc even look like it’s from the vinyl era.
I can’t say that I don’t get excited about new Tuesday drops… because I do. I’m a music lover and always have something to keep my ears and eyes out for. I’d like to think I’m acting how a true fan would, but it seems like some of that excitement has changed over the years with the industry shift. I always limit myself to only checking a few “leaked” song and promo videos, that way it’s new to me when I go to listen. When a album finally drops, I like to lay down at night, put the headphones on and dissect away. I listen to most of my music at night when I’m blocking out the neighborhood noise and daily stress. Now that I have the premise set, here’s my review of MOS DEF “The Ecstatic”.
The album starts off with a slick intro titled “Supermagic.” It’s classic mic ripping by the emcee I have listened to since ‘98. It’s followed up with a song called “Twilite Speedball,” produced by Chad Hugo of The Neptunes, a group I have never been a fan of – or any of their production. “Twilight Speedball” is no exception, however MOS is usually not one of those emcees that you can say, “He’s dope, but his beat selection is wack”. That and “Life In Marvelous Times” are the only songs where I felt he should have let it go and found a beat worthy of his lyrics and flow.
The rest of the production on “The Ecstatic” is definitely upper echelon. If you doubt that, just check out my favorite song on the album, “The Auditorium” featuring Slick Rick. The beat and concept are amazing and Slick Rick kills his guest spot. This is one to have you smiling and get the head nodding north/south. Other songs that were standouts for every reason people dig MOS are “Wahid,” a beautiful song called “Priority,” “The Embassy,” “Pistola,” “Revelations,” “Casa Bey” and “History” featuring the other Black Star member Talib Kweli.
One complaint about MOS’ albums is sometimes they seem a little sloppy. That doesn’t automatically make a song bad, but sometimes the rawness of what seems to be studio improvising leaves me wondering what could have been. But regardless of how much is written outside or off the top he always seems to have the wordplay that you keep finding nuggets in with every listen. That’s above being an emcee, that’s real writing. I don’t think I heard him slip off topic for even a second. Another thing I feel is great about his catalog is the mixing and people that know music/production will hopefully appreciate this. Madlib produced 4 songs on the album and I felt like he had the strongest production. “History” was produced by J Dilla and of course it’s dope!
There weren’t many at all, but the one disappointment was the song “Roses.” I’m a major fan of Georgia Anne Muldrow but the ad lib vocals from MOS on this song seem way out of place. He should have just left it be and maybe just let her put the song on her album. I know why he would want to keep it on his, but it just didn’t flow right. Other songs that I didn’t think were outstanding were “Workers Comp”, “Quiet Dog Bite Hard”, “No Hay Nada Mas”, and “Pretty Dancer”. Some of those fall into the studio improvising trap I mentioned.
It almost feels like a crime writing anything but good things about this emcee I hold in high esteem, because overall this album is really fresh. It’s inspiring in many ways to me as an artist and human being. The man’s soul always shines through no matter what.
– 2 Radios. This is a solid effort from MOS DEF, something his fans will appreciate, but if your not already a fan, there’s better MOS albums to start off with.
If Modest Mouse got together with Iron and Wine and made a hip-hop album about the apocalypse, the result might be the self-titled, independent debut release of 19 Action News. Clevelanders will recognize the name to be borrowed from a local news affiliate. In the spirit of 70’s concept albums, the message throughout this offering is simple: the end is near, look out!
The effortless rap of Jake Dahlke blends perfectly with the simple, monotone singing of Joshua Gardner. There is enough genre-bending on this record that the listener does not have to be a fan of hip-hop, indie or folk rock to appreciate the whole of their work. About half way through the album, you’ll begin wondering what the next song might sound like. Odds are you won’t be disappointed.
My favorite track is titled, Greed (music to loot by), which almost has a happy, Motown backbeat while the lyrics encourage all who would listen to live for themselves, as the earth is quickly fading away anyways. Dahlke’s lyrics are brilliant tongue-in-cheek that paint the end of the world as an enjoyable affair, not to be missed.
Visit their myspace for a listen. Or download the whole album from iTunes.
Cleveland based indie-rock band Nineteen Action News announces their 3rd release, a Christmas themed EP slated to hit i-tunes on Black Friday. The release is seasoned with the same tongue-in-cheek approach found in their past albums, the twist on this particular record is an end-of-days zombie attack on Christmas.
The 3rd full length release from Mellow Drum Addict, this album plays like it looks, like a classic jazz record! With a team of collaborators, both on the mic and on various instruments, this album moves with a freedom that most hip-hop records don’t have. Even the unique packaging, a sleek 6 panel wallet with a resealable poly bag, makes this compact disc even look like it’s from the vinyl era.
– 2 Radios. This is a solid effort from MOS DEF, something his fans will appreciate, but if your not already a fan, there’s better MOS albums to start off with.