I. American Nightmare Return
Before Wes Eisold was gothing it up with his synth project Cold Cave he was the frontman for beloved hardcore titans American Nightmare. The group who were forced to change their name to Give Up the Ghost disbanded eight years ago but tattooed hardcore kids the world over shook in their Terror basketball shorts when they announced two reunion shows in December. The shows in Boston and Los Angeles respectively sold out in 20 minutes. Here’s hoping they decide to bring the reunion on tour.
II. Feist Flaming Lips and Mastodon
If you’ve heard Feist’s new record Metals you know that for better or worse the goddess of Cancon is playing it safe. The material is so inoffensive in fact that it inspired a New York Magazine article from Nitsuh Abebe who lumped it in with Wilco as the “new adult contemporary.” I don’t know if she read the article but Feist suggested some riskier choices soon after telling Hit Fix that she wanted to collaborate with both the Flaming Lips and sludgy metal dudes Mastodon. In other words your mom is going to become a Mastodon fan soon.
III. LiveLoveA$AP
Last month Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky signed the biggest rap deal since 50 Cent receiving a $3 million advance from Polo Grounds and RCA to develop his own label and work on a solo album. Then on Halloween the 23-year-old dropped his debut mixtape LIVELOVEA$AP . With all that hype built up I went into the project with a healthy dose of skepticism but this thing delivers in a big way thanks to A$AP’s creative flow and some truly forward-thinking production from Lil B collaborator Clams Casino among others. Rap’s new hero has arrived and you should download this mixtape immediately.
IV. Odd Future’s Slap
Then there are rap’s anti-heroes. California brats Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All have beefed with everyone from Tegan and Sara to GLAAD but now they’ve possibly outdone themselves with allegations that rapper Left Brain slapped a female photographer during a recent performance. Known for their disdain of photographers in front of the stage the group allegedly threw water bottles before Brain jumped into the photo pit and slapped freelancer Amy Harris. Odd Future’s publicist released a statement saying the slap allegations were unfounded clarifying that Left Brain did strike her camera but not her. Trying to wreck someone’s camera when they’re covering your band is still pretty shitty though guys.
V. YACHT’s Weird Science
Portland dance-pop group YACHT explore near-culty levels of esoterica in their music but their affinity for sci-fi and spirituality also translates to straightforward science as co-leader Claire L. Evans is a freelance science journalist and blogger. Now she’s completed a book with 60 different artists and art groups that explores the crossover between art and science. The book is called New Art / Science Affinities which abbreviates to NA/SA natch.
