Main Source- Breaking Atoms- 1991

While away on my incredible hiatus, i found myself in the parking lot of some conservation land, waiting for the rain to subside and the sun to finally make another appearance so we could resume filming for the Fire Pit. We were straight chilling, just killing time, and a group of the film crew decided to take a leave and head off to the Red Roof Inn to get some serious business done on the ceramic titanic, the ill toilet bowl action. Some of the actors were chilling in the car that decided to take off for the non-woodland facilities, and i invited them to chill in my car in the rain. Mike G and Keith popped in my ride, Keith hitting the back seat for some quick shut eye, and Mike G chilling shotgun. The two of us started talking hiphop, once again spurred from my love of Bizarre Ride and Madlib. Dude knows his shit; he has a serious background in loving all kinds of music, but has a large chunk of his heart dedicated to the art of rhyming and beatsmithery.

This is a dedication, and a recommendation through osmosis, from the library of Mike G.

Back from a Brief Hiatus!

Hey ya'll,
Just wanted to say a quick hello again, as I have been completely absent from the Swords action for the better part of a week. I've had a fuckton of good times, good conversations, met a lot of cool folks, and helped in the filming of an epic story. Picture Planet film, and all the great folk associated with it, is doing some really cool shit lately, and I am so glad I got to be on board to help them in their work. Expect to hear some updates about the Fire Pit, a short we filmed, now being edited and whatnot. To satiate any curiosity, heres a fake trailer they made to be shown in front of their prior short film, This is Don; Born 2 Ball will be a feature film some day, and i cant wait to hear Harvey St. Lawrences' acceptance speech for his Best Racism oscar.

BORN 2 BALL (TRAILER) from PICTURE PLANET on Vimeo.

Silver Jews - American Water (1998)

Silver Jews are realistically a vehicle for the poetic musings of Dave Berman. Is it country? well.... Is it indie rock?...ugh pop? Its really a few things but never fully commits to any one of them.  Now I know what you might be thinking.

"Indie country, like wilco? you've got to be kidding me"

The short answer is no by the way. Berman's baritone touched life musings are at times devastatingly honest while often being wildly quirky in the same breath, some pretty great stuff. It also helps a lot to have a friend around that knows how to work a memorable guitar line and rip shit, a guy by the name of Steve Malkmus. You might have heard of him. The founder of possibly one of (arguably) the most influential indie bands of all time, Pavement.  Its funny actually but Steve's work with Silver Jews actually predates Pavement, not a super widely known fact. If Steve's inclusion doesn't peak your interest then please take it from me its worth your time. There are quite a few releases actually but I believe this to be his strongest. N JOY.

American Water

metaghostin' vol V - Deadly Duos

Deadly Duos - 34'26"
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What's better than rapping by yourself?

Rapping with your best friend, of course.
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1. "The Science of the Two" - Edan (w/Insight) / Beauty & the Beat / 2005

EDAAAANNNNNNNN! Obviously it's his prerogative, but I really wish Edan would release some new rap material instead of the occasional mixtape blender thing. His beats are too dreamy. (Swoon)

2. "Bring it On" - Organized Konfusion / Stress: The Extinction Agenda / 1994

I wonder if it was sad to be Prince Po, an undeniable force on the mic, yet still getting upstaged on every track by Pharoahe Monch. Pharoahe's verse is probably about as vicious as an emcee ever got, going so far as to point out that he buttfucks other emcees. He also molds brains like pottery, apparently.

3. "What a N---- Know?" - KMD / Black Bastards / 1994

MF Doom in his earlier incarnation as Zevlov X still rapped hella drunk. I feel like if I keep typing "rapped", I'm eventually gonna type "raped".

4. "RE:DEFinition" - Black Star / Black Star / 1997

Mighty Mos and Talib Kweli, back before they were dudes whose albums you didn't care about.

5. "Wheelz of Steel" - Outkast / ATliens / 1996

Outkast got the best basslines in hip-hop.

6. "Survival of the Fittest" - Mobb Deep / The Infamous / 1995

I can't really listen to this album because I find it too damn depressing, but it's got an abundance of hot trackz. I wanted to pick a Big Noyd track, but then it wouldn't be much of a "Deadly Duo" thing, would it?

7. "Off (with) Their Heads (Be Prompt)" - Latyrx / The Album / 1997

Probably the least well-known group on here, being late 90's West Coast rap that didn't really fit the mold of any of the big names at the time and being way more chilled out than the East Coast underground of the era. Kinda funky, kinda stoned out.

8. "Lower da Boom" - The Artifacts / Between a Rock and a Hard Place / 1994

Every rap album needs a weed jam! So authentic.

9. "Scream Phoenix" - Cannibal Ox / Cold Vein / 2001

They made one LP and it's so good.

Owls - Owls

So the time line is as such. In keeping with my loose theme of Victor Villarreal related projects we are brought to Owls. This venture occured after his work with Ghosts and Vodka and features the original full line up of Cap. N Jazz members (minus Davey Von Bohlen). As we have Tim Kinsella in control of vocals and lyrics you know to expect crazy cryptic lines and semi out of tune warbling....its an acquired taste to be sure.  What is sure is the fact that instrumentally these guys are on point tearing into these songs. Like some sort of emo angular math lounge music its not really as odd as it sounds. Fun point of reference also is Ryan Rapsys from Noyes was also the Owls second drummer. Wasn't aware of that myself till just recently.

OWLS