Hand & Leg "Lust In Peace (Slovenly)"
Hand & Leg are a duo from Athens, Greece and Lust In Peace (Slovenly) is BRM’s first introduction to them. We sure are glad we got introduced however, as this is as tremendous a dose of “freak-rock” as we’ve gotten in some time. Blisteringly distorted bass, drums, and vocals from Iro and Stelios. The White Stripes wish they would have rocked this hard. The Black Keys can only dream of being this rock and roll. The… uh… yeah, I know. I should have done three comparisons here for maximum efficiency but I’m having trouble thinking on another bass/drum duo, especially since all I can think about it Hand & Leg now. Check out “L.I.P.”
Scoville Unit "Scoville Unit (Ernest Jenning Record Co.)"
If you have room in your heart for at least one more guitar-based, pop-punk/indie rock record full of real emotions, harmonies, and hooks, then make that record the latest (and greatest) record from Scoville Unit. Their new self-titled LP was written in secret by Gandhar Savur (but with guidance and advice from Cigarettes After Sex’s Greg Gonzales), recorded by the band, and then mastered at Abbey Road. The result is decidedly out of time for 2019, but maybe that’s why it stands out the way it does? This is clearly a personal record… no. I don’t mean like a diary (but personal record would be a funny way to describe a diary) I mean that this is obviously some from the heart songwriting. Jangly, punky, poppy, and nostalgic, this record is sure to have a little something for everybody. Fall under Scoville Unit’s spell and check out “Weight Of Misunderstanding.”
Connie Price & The Keystones "Lucas High (Fat Beats)"
Connie Price & The Keystones have teamed up with Zach Lucas, the son of jazz-funk pioneer Doug Lucas for a record teeming with great beats and amazing verses from some of the most beloved hip hop artists of the ‘90s. Lucas High is a musical conversation Zach never was able to have with his dad, who passed away when he was a teenager. Here, together with producers and musicians, he’s created an album full of both sampled tracks from his dad as well as new music written meant to sound like the kinds of things he was famous for. One listen and it’ll be no wonder why the likes of Busta Rhymes and Nas were known to sample his beats. Here, these beats and live instrumental backing tracks are treated to verses from the likes of Big Daddy Kane, Talib Kweli, members of The Pharcyde and Jurassic 5, as well as vocal turns by Macy Gray, and tons of other guests. This is as fun as it gets. Well, maybe it would be more fun if it came with an eggplant lasagna, but that’s not gonna happen. What is gonna happen is you are gonna check out the laid back cool of “Three Kings (featuring Brand Nubian & Macy Gray).”
