Some go to church. Others watch pro football. Listening Post loops cool tunes from beneath the radar into a playlist well worth rocking. Welcome to Sunday Soundtracking.
We get more music sent to us than we know what to do with, some of it very awesome. So we've decided to group the best free downloads and streams Listening Post receives each week into a weekend playlist perfect for soundtracking your barbecue, party or Sunday drive to a destination of your choosing.
For this inaugural set, we've got the gamut. Listen in, and tell us what you think. And if you've got music to share, hit us where it hurts, which is to say our inbox.
this audio or video is no longer availableKid Koala, "Slew Test 2" – The Asian Canadian turntablist brings the noise with a preview cut from his upcoming metal-hop supergroup Slew. For more on Koala, check out the previous post.
Lady Dottie and the Diamonds, "I Ain't Mad at Ya" – It's not often you run across a dynamite blues rock front woman in her 60s, but Dorothy Mae Whitsett, pictured above, is that woman. Her San Diego-based Diamonds are a rhythm section to die for, and "I Ain't Mad at Ya" is the roughest, toughest track on its self-titled release.
Doomtree, "The Wren" – Relevant hip-hop can be hard to find, if you don't know where to look. The underground usually has plenty of quality jams, and some of them are coming from this indie-hop supergroup's self-titled debut, which features five rappers and four producers, all of whom have the goods.
Storyville, "Jitterbug" – The same goes for this beneath-the-radar hip-hopper from Philly, whose mash of swing and hip-hop in "Jitterbug" shines like an old-school classic. A guest rap from Blackalicious' tongue-twister Gift of Gab drives the point home: You don't need bling or gangsta backstory to swing. Ever.
Bronx River Parkway, "La Valla" – Speaking of merges, this Brooklyn-based sound collective sequences salsa, jazz and rap into a powerhouse gene that sounds like the future of music. Its recent release San Sebastian 152 ought to appeal to anyone who loves music without borders.
The Panics, "Get Us Home" – These Australians probably could have picked a better name, as their music is far from the sonic equivalent of panic. Rather, it's chilled pop that lands somewhere between Simon & Garfunkel and The Church. Which is to say, very cool and creepy.
The Spinto Band, "Summer Grof" – Looking for a pop throwback that feels like it emerged from an era when college rock still meant something? Why not try this standout, whose latest effort Moonwink is much like its others: Clever, catchy and hard to shake, even as it makes you shake.
Talkdemonic, "March Movement" – This Portland-based duo concocts kitchen-sink sonics using viola, synths, guitars and other instruments. Its latest effort Eyes at Half Mast is a lo-fi symphony of strange attraction, which you can catch live on the road as I write.
Dungen, "Satt Att See" – Listening Post devoted a whole entry to this strange Swedish mixture, so go there and read it if you like what you hear. We sincerely hope you do.
Photo: Hi-Speed Soul
