justice - dior homme spring summer '09 mix

a second or two late on this one, but here's justice's runway mix for the recent dior homme show held in paris. get hype.

justice on myspace.

download the justice mix for dior homme.

- panda

p.s. i was a little dissapointed when i saw pictures of the actual line. dior homme is usually one of the best lines out, but they hit a little on the trendy side with this one. still some ill shit though.

young jeezy - put on (remix) featuring jay-z (2008)

just when i couldn't love this song anymore, hova jumps on it and kills it. even though it's missing the ye' verse, hova ALMOST makes up for it. jeezy has a new verse too. absolutely disgusting.


download:

young jeezy - put on (remix) featuring jay-z

update (8/5): RE-UPPED with kanye's verse spliced in. high quality. shit is ace.

-grizzly

album review: eye alaska - yellow and elephant ep (2008)

Artist: Eye Alaska
Album: Yellow and Elephant EP
Record Label: Fearless Records
Release Date: July 22, 2008

There are several record labels that take risks by signing artists that will stick out as sore thumbs. In this case, we have Fearless Records, who are notorious for signing generic rock bands by the boatload, and their signing of Orange, California’s Eye Alaska. Eye Alaska are undoubtedly the black sheep of Fearless, straying away from run-of-the-mill pop-rock and infusing it with soul, rhythm and blues and jazz, and recently released Yellow

The quartet recently released Yellow and Elephant, their debut 6-song genre-bending EP. “I Knew You’d Never Fly” immediately hooks the listener in with the soaring croon of lead singer Brandon Wronski.

Eye Alaska’s best asset is easily the vocal dynamic between Wronski and back-up singing from bassist Chris Osegueda, and guitarists Cameron Trowbridge and Chase Kensrue, the latter of which is the younger brother of Dustin Kensrue, lead singer of Thrice. The quartet finds a safe place between soul and R&B, and makes the vocals the center force behind each song.

Musically, the band isn’t spectacular by any means, but considering that they just released their debut EP, one would assume that they’re on the right track. Songs like “Stop Me Now…I’m Not Ready” and “Through the Willows and Streams” are outstanding examples of their musicianship. The songs blend several layers of programming and electronics, incorporating orchestral arrangements and the use of brass instruments along the way, opting for a very cinematic and eclectic listen.

The highlight of the EP is “Roll Right Over,” which one could pin down as a contemporary hit straight from the radio during the 90s. All four vocalists mesh perfectly over the song, which would be an ideal candidate on the soundtrack to your summer night.

Yellow and Elephant, while a strong debut, is a little short. With the total running time a little over 20 minutes, Eye Alaska leaves the listener unfulfilled and wanting more. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Their ability to crossover between genres could be very beneficial for the band’s future. Let’s just hope Fearless Records sees the same potential in the group and invests enough time and promotion to help properly launch this young band’s career.

Grade: B+

sidebar: this EP is my current EP of the year. full length immediately, please.

and if you're not convinced, go listen to the tracks on their myspace immediately.

-grizzly

movie review: the wackness (2008)

so i caught the wackness last night, and i'm completely content with it. to clear it up, the movie isn't necessarily groundbreaking or amazing, but it is definitely well-done. aside from a few cheesy lines (especially the line where the movie's title originated from, haha), there is solid dialogue.

josh peck (yes, from drake and josh) has a bright future. the only advice that i hope someone has already given him is to try not to be pigeonholed into one role and one genre, like john cho. but the transition in his roles from drake and josh to the wackness is extreme, and i feel like there should've been some sort of gap that needed to be bridged.

there was a solid cast, too. ben kingsley is awesome, aside from being extremely creepy. now, i'll save you from spoilers, but the images from one scene have forever been burned into my mind. the worst aspects of the movie were method man's god awful jamaican accent (i'm not convinced) and mary-kate olsen as a drugged out hippie. seriously.

above all, the soundtrack is incredible. any fan of old school hip-hop will be more than happy to see mentions and clips of a tribe called quest, biggie smalls, nas and biz markie among many others. aside from being historically accurate, the soundtrack was intertwined with the movie in true spike lee fashion.

oh, and pick up/find the soundtrack immediately.

grade: B-

also, i'll leave you with this creepy picture of josh peck:


-grizzly

astra moveo - new songs + downloads

staying out all night + grinding on strangers + making love + rinse + repeat = astra moveo.

you might remember astra moveo from a post i did when we first started up the blog. anyway, the colorado beast are back with two new tracks, "kill ya stereo" and "shake the heavens". put on your sunday best before hitting the play button, because i promise you'll be grinding on the first person you see once they start (and we all like to look our best for a good grind session).

if you dig innerpartysystem (see a few posts down), the faint, etc.. definitely get into this. tossing in a disco/funk edge, they somehow manage to both dirty up and bring a fresh edge to the electro/rock genre. hopefully a proper release sees the light of day sooner than later.. but in the meantime, you've got these new tracks, plus i'm including the four songs they have up for download.

listen to two new astra moveo songs on myspace.

download four astra moveo tracks.

- panda moveo

team 20/20 presents: CRS - rebel music mixtape (2008)

you know i only post mixtapes when they go off. this shit is completely fresh. and try not to attempt to get your b-boy on to this tape. i dare you. the fanboy in me is saving several buckets worth of tears for the release of a crs album. brought to you by team 20/20, hosted by n.e.r.d.

download:



-grizzly rebel soldier

the bled - pass the flask (2003)

i never really thoroughly enjoyed many hardcore releases from bands like this until i heard this album. whatever genre you wanna label it as is over saturated with clones and clones of the same shit. but the first time i heard this album, i threw myself down a flight of stairs and punched several children. disgusting riffs, an incredible drummer, the most guttural vocals and one of the best one-liners mold together to form 'pass the flask.'

let's set our hearts at self-destruct.

the bled on myspace.

download:



-grizzly

monument monument - sleep well when you're there (2008)

so we've blogged these dudes before, and i got really excited when i saw that the group posted up a new EP for free. read up and grab this very free EP over at their website. young talents with a big future if they play their cards right. not to mention, anything remotely pop-rock with r&b influence means i'm sold.

download:



and if you like it, toss them a few bucks. or some onion rings. either way.

-grizzly

ludacris - stay together (2008)

i love luda. homeboy has a charisma and a certain spark and swagger that is unparalleled by most of mainstream hip-hop. either way, here is a new cut, along with a freestyle he did over jeezy's put on as a bonus. can't wait for his next album.

download:

ludacris - stay together
ludacris - put on freestyle

-grizzly

cursive - the ugly organ (2003)

cursive are one of the better indie bands of our time. despite the "old album is better" crowd, i personally feel that the ugly organ is and always will be their best work. the ugly organ is a haunting and morbid rock opera/play about sex and relationships, complete with kasher's self-loathing tendencies. this album will swoon you as well as mercilessly beat you.

i miss greta.

cursive on myspace

download:



-grizzly

p.s. tim kasher > conor oberst as far as saddle creek songwriters go. eat it.

acceptance - undone ep (2005)

acceptance was a criminally underrated band. considering the fact that they were on columbia records, they should've blown up. but like most bands that were too good for their time, they've since broken up and moved onto many subpar bands. jason, the lead vocalist, had one of the best voices in modern rock at the time. jason really shines on the undone ep (which was released as a bonus or something??). the acoustic version of "take cover" is arguably better than the original, too. either way, dig on these if you haven't already.


download the undone ep:

acceptance - undone EP
(no artwork, apologies)

-grizzly

innerpartysystem - the download ep (2007)

these guys are definitely an exciting up and coming act. the buzz has been building around them for a while now, and they're definitely living up to it. i love the fact that they put just as much effort into the visual aspect of their sound as they do their music. i keep hearing amazing things about their live show, but that couldn't get me to go see them this past week. i mean, i would have had to see the white tie affair, the medic droid, and kill hannah. not to mention the 16 year old scenesters that would have been in full effect. bad music + bad people = no thanks. i'll wait till they're on a good tour.

anyway, if you haven't jumped on the bandwagon by now, download this ep and prepare to start grinding on whatever is closest to you.

innerpartysystem on myspace.

watch their video for "don't stop":


download the download ep:


- innerpandasystem

peter toh - hollywood (2008)

toh just don't stop. our boy's back with another new demo straight off the laptop and into your ears. give this one a listen, it's a different step for him.. but i'm definitely feeling the vibe. more upbeat, more diverse, still dope. get with it.

note to labels out there: pick this album up. this dude is a workhorse with a sincerity in his music that's lacking in most of the "artists" on your collective rosters. if there's anyone you should listen to, it's we wore masks.. bears have better taste than any a&r rep out there.

listen to hollywood on myspace.

- panda can't wait for the wildlife.

gym class heroes - peace sign up, index down (video)

i couldn't possibly care less what anyone says.. this shit is ill.



look ma, no hands.

- panda