One Block Radius

Had I been able to catch Hieroglyphics in Tempe earlier this month, I also would have had the opportunity to see One Block Radius as a support act. The California-based trio is just another reason to think that hip-hop is cycling back to the good-time vibes of the early ’90s while pushing the genre in new creative directions.

Producer/singer Marty James, turntablist MDA (both formerly of Scapegoat Wax) and Hiero-affiliated rapper Z-Man make up One Block Radius, which recently dropped the LPLong Story Short.

James says on the group’s bio: “I hope the album sparks people’s creative sides. I want us to keep progressing in the fashion of an OutKast where you have the first record and it just grows and when it’s fully developed, it’s a beautiful thing. We are dudes that want to push the boundaries creatively.”

Creativity isn’t in doubt here. These guys are chameleon-like, going from the totally danceable Loud and Clear to the beatbox basics of Champion.

The links come via the group’s Web site. Check ‘em at MySpace, too.

One Block Radius | Look Out Below
One Block Radius | Loud and Clear
One Block Radius | Black Mercedes
One Block Radius | Champion

Check out the video for Loud and Clear here.

White lines … not the ones on the field

This was too good to not share: Todd Shell, head coach of the Rattlers, our local Arena Football League team, and a two-time Super Bowl winner with the 49ers in the 1980s, was found with cocaine, according to this story. Shell was “shirtless and sweating profusely when an officer found him pacing around his Land Cruiser about 1 a.m.” on early Tuesday.

Wait, it gets better. He then told an officer he kept looking north. When officers asked why, Shell told them he was alone but said a “guy wearing camouflage is in the tree.” Cocaine? I’m thinking LSD, maybe.

After first denying the cocaine belonged to him, Shell fessed up to having an “eight ball.” Then he said he’d used cocaine ONLY three times. What can he say? The AFL is a pressure cooker.

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In other news, you will be seeing posts very soon from my friend Royce; we’ll call him a contributing editor. His tastes are eclectic and he also was at the recent Sufjan Stevens show in Tempe, so I know about 99.6 percent of you will approve. (On that note, he was teased ruthlessly by a co-worker for wearing his Illinoise shirt to work the day after the show.) I do reckon Royce is cooking up something mighty special for his debut.

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And I officially prostituted myself out to MySpace. Go here and make me your friend. Please. There’s even a little picture there, in case you wondered what the underside of my chin looks like.

And Guppies Eat Their Young

Photo by Christian Johnson

It’s high time I posted on an Arizona band. If you missed the last one on Reubens Accomplice, go do some research here. (As an update, Reubens is touring Europe in October. So, if you’re in the area, go check ‘em out.)

Today’s Ariz. pick is … And Guppies Eat Their Young. Veterans of the local scene, the Guppies have 11 releases to their name, most of which can be purchased at Stinkweeds, including 2004’s Once.

The band — Jason DiGiacomo (guitar), Ron Marschall (drums), Roland Daum (guitar, synthesizer), Sonny Coccera (bass) and Brock Ruggles (vocals, guitar) — is decidedly lo-fi through a compelling mixture of indie, alt-country and a sometimes Low-ish depressive vibe.

Ruggles’ vocals are wistful and moody, and for some reason, tend to make me nostalgic for something I’m not even sure exists. “Will the pain give up the sky to sun beams / to warm the hearts of those who grieve,” on Carolina, an indie-twangy number off Once.

Visit them at My Space here. I’m including selections off Once, but I encourage you to visit their Web site for mp3s from the rest of their catalog.

And Guppies Eat Their Young | Parking Garage
And Guppies Eat Their Young | The Warbly Parade (personal fave)
And Guppies Eat Their Young | Carolina

Stateless

I was snooping around the Solesides Web site (and I suggest you do the same) when I came across a snippett about the group Stateless, from Leeds, England. Turns out, DJ Shadow is a huge fan and has enlisted singer Chris James to provide some vocals for Shadow’s 2006 album.

Now, I don’t know about you, but whenever one of my favorite artists recommends another group, I tend to listen. No less an authority than Shadow had this to say about the group’sBloodstream EP: “Their EP is stunning … As close to perfection as I’ve heard in a long time.” Ahhh, got your attention now, eh?

In addition to James (vocals, keyboards, guitars), Stateless is Kidkanevil (turntables, sampling, programming), Jon Taylor (bass, keyboards, guitar), Jimmy Sturdy (drums, piano, string arrangement) and Rod Buchanan Dunlop (FX, programming, keyboards).

The combination of piano, sampling and James’ voice offers a big, enthralling sound — not unlike what you’d hear from UNKLE. Don’t take my word for it — although you might want to take DJ Shadow’s. Check the three tracks below or visit them on My Space.

Stateless | Down Here (really, highly recommended. really)
Stateless | Horizon
Stateless | Running Out

New Blackalicious track

If you didn’t know, Blackalicious of the Quannum crew has a new album coming out Sept. 27: The Craft. The buzz is getting big, and the record label Anti has a new track available. Peep it.

Blackalicious (feat. Lifesavas) | Your Move

Elbow: Get the new album a week early

I’ve said it here before and I’ll say it again: I’m a big Elbow fan. In fact, I was just listening to Asleep in the Back yesterday at work. The group’s new album, Leaders of the Free World, is coming out Sept. 12.

Elbow’s label, V2, is offering the album exclusively a week before the release date through TellJack. Visit TellJack here and you can pre-order the album in digital or CD format and receive the content a week before Sept. 12. Packages include free bonus material, including videos for Station Approach and Forget Myself.

Check out the video for Forget Myself here (via Filter).

Caption winner

After much deliberation, the winner of the Rex Grossman caption contest is … (drum roll, please) … Goose! For his efforts, Goose has won a sourceVictoria EP and T-shirt. But please know, you’re all winners in my book.

I quite enjoyed Goose’s reference to Jim McMahon, who might be the last somewhat decent QB the Bears have had. And if I remember correctly, Goose is a Packers fan, so there was just the right touch of spite and venom in his entry. Goose, e-mail me your mailing address and T-shirt size. Well done.

More contests to come!

Maybe if I lay here long enough they’ll bring Jim McMahon back.