What are you listening to at the present? (genres helpful)

[OldSchool_Boy]

I saw KRS live last year. Massive fan of him, but had a bad experience after paying £20 to get backstage along with about 50 others. He had pictures with about 10 guys and then fucked off. Thankfully the venue gave our money back after being threatened with a riot lol. I know he can be arrogant but it was disappointing to see. Would have loved a picture with him.
With regards to his albums, I thought Hip Hop Lives was a really good album, as was the Buckshot one "Survival Skills". I would say that album is his best since the mid 90s. A lot of his CDs like Keep Right and the one he just did with Showbiz have a couple of GREAT hip hop bangers, but then the rest feels like he is freestyling over poor beats.
As his work kind of gets less consistent (even though his guest spots seem to be good), I have found Canibus last few albums excellent. He has just stuck to what he does best. Especially Lyrical Law, if you like lyrical rap with a hard beat, that is awesome.

Damn man, that sucks about KRS-One leaving early. I heard good things about Survival Skills and that album cover is just great. From wikipedia, it states that he is releasing 2 albums collaborative albums with Bumpy Knuckles called Royalty Check and Return of the Boom Bip with DJ Premier. The release dates say 2011 but I doubt it and hopefully they'll be released next year. As far as Canibus, I only have his C True Hollywood Stories which is weak from what I remember the last I gave it a listen and Rip The Jacker which is just fantastic.

[o.pwuaioc]

so "Little Black Submarines" on the new Black Keys album sounds eerily similar to Stairway to Heaven. At first I thought they were covering some kind of early/alt lyrics demo or something....

Anyone else with the album hear this, or am I crazy?

By the way, you now got me listening to this album.

[Razzmatazz]

I saw KRS live last year. Massive fan of him, but had a bad experience after paying £20 to get backstage along with about 50 others. He had pictures with about 10 guys and then fucked off. Thankfully the venue gave our money back after being threatened with a riot lol. I know he can be arrogant but it was disappointing to see. Would have loved a picture with him.
With regards to his albums, I thought Hip Hop Lives was a really good album, as was the Buckshot one "Survival Skills". I would say that album is his best since the mid 90s. A lot of his CDs like Keep Right and the one he just did with Showbiz have a couple of GREAT hip hop bangers, but then the rest feels like he is freestyling over poor beats.
As his work kind of gets less consistent (even though his guest spots seem to be good), I have found Canibus last few albums excellent. He has just stuck to what he does best. Especially Lyrical Law, if you like lyrical rap with a hard beat, that is awesome.

Damn man, that sucks about KRS-One leaving early. I heard good things about Survival Skills and that album cover is just great. From wikipedia, it states that he is releasing 2 albums collaborative albums with Bumpy Knuckles called Royalty Check and Return of the Boom Bip with DJ Premier. The release dates say 2011 but I doubt it and hopefully they'll be released next year. As far as Canibus, I only have his C True Hollywood Stories which is weak from what I remember the last I gave it a listen and Rip The Jacker which is just fantastic.

Yeah I know Bumpy has an album "Kolexion" out in March 2012. KRS with Premo sounds divine though!
With regards to Canibus, check out "Melatonin Magick" (2010), "C of Tranquility" (2010) and "Lyrical Law" (2011). Other than "Rip The Jacker" his other albums are pretty average but the last three have been really good.

[Hobie-wan]

Hey guys, got a question. I have this girl I like, and she said I should dry listening to Dubstep. I typed it in, and to me it just sounded like techno. Whats the difference? If there isn't one, what are some good bands to try? This isn't too big my thing, but I could do okay.

Well, Dubstep is electronic music, but not all electronic music is techo. Just like not all music with electric guitars is rock. There is plain old rock, heavy metal, punk, country, and other flavors. Drum and Bass is a genre of electronic music that has, well, rhythmic percussion and heavy bass lines. Often there is also what is known as a 'drop' which is a moment where the song is quiet or has minimal sounds going on, then there is a sudden massive stab where the song winds up. Dubstep is an offshoot of D&B that has a particularly lethargic speed (low Beats Per Minute) and often the bass sounds will have 'wobbles' in them. Another characteristic is often referred to as sounding 'filthy'. This is the use of harsh sounds and particularly throbbing bass.


In this song there is a minor drop at :25, a major one around :50, and another at 3:40.

For a comparison, here is the original version of Robert Miles - Children.

And a fan made dubstep remix. This one isn't 'filthy', but note the slowed pace and wobbly synthetic bottom.

[fvgazi]

Hey guys, got a question. I have this girl I like, and she said I should dry listening to Dubstep. I typed it in, and to me it just sounded like techno. Whats the difference? If there isn't one, what are some good bands to try? This isn't too big my thing, but I could do okay.

Well, Dubstep is electronic music, but not all electronic music is techo. Just like not all music with electric guitars is rock. There is plain old rock, heavy metal, punk, country, and other flavors. Drum and Bass is a genre of electronic music that has, well, rhythmic percussion and heavy bass lines. Often there is also what is known as a 'drop' which is a moment where the song is quiet or has minimal sounds going on, then there is a sudden massive stab where the song winds up. Dubstep is an offshoot of D&B that has a particularly lethargic speed (low Beats Per Minute) and often the bass sounds will have 'wobbles' in them. Another characteristic is often referred to as sounding 'filthy'. This is the use of harsh sounds and particularly throbbing bass.


In this song there is a minor drop at :25, a major one around :50, and another at 3:40.

For a comparison, here is the original version of Robert Miles - Children.

And a fan made dubstep remix. This one isn't 'filthy', but note the slowed pace and wobbly synthetic bottom.

Early dubstep was also pretty minimal and a lot of it borrowed rhythms from reggae.
I like dubstep but only certain artists. Stuff like this interests me. I like both of Hobie's examples because they give a better feel for both sides of the genre. I hate the "clubby" stuff where it's all pop music mixed in.

http://youtu.be/UexCBJF_n-4: 16 bit - Chainsaw Calligraphy (using chainsaw samples)
http://youtu.be/U4NbfDKbzjA: Level 67 - It was You
http://youtu.be/rJ4GhPE4L0s: Level 67 - $100 Block of Hashish (one of my favorite tracks)
http://youtu.be/aJP3kk9VaTc: Level 67 - Bat Boy (incorporates bat slamming samples)
http://youtu.be/QS38JBh5gcw: Burial - Etched Headplate (a more minimal song)
http://youtu.be/ivW8f8hfbAg: Numa Crew (Alborosie - Herbalist remix) Shows some nice dub reggae remixing.
http://youtu.be/9yacWWF8xRs: Shekky - Street Fighter (my favorite video game remix) Really glitchy and crazy.. kinda poppy though.
http://youtu.be/-0KTKlCQTjE: Milanese - Caramel Congac Gives a good sense of filthy. I love this track. No big drops, really dark, repetitive, really wet and filthy.

[elmagicochrisg]

The Black Keys - Next Girl

A pool, chicks, 70's music and a T. Rex...

All we need now is some fuckin' blow and we're set.

Oh yeah, pure grade A Colombian only please...

[Luke]

Hey guys, got a question. I have this girl I like, and she said I should dry listening to Dubstep. I typed it in, and to me it just sounded like techno. Whats the difference?

DubStep is techno with a lot of "wub wub wub" sounds to it. Like with any electronic music, you have to feel your way around it and figure what artists you like. I love a few electronic artists, but the ones that I do love I listen to a lot. On the other side of the coin, there are a ton of complete shit "dubstep" bands.

[Hobie-wan]

On the other side of the coin, there are a ton of complete shit "Genre X" bands.

FTFY

The fact that people can make music on their PC and throw it up on the internet is a blessing and a curse. In the past having people hear your music meant performing live somewhere, having someone bankroll your studio time because they heard you and think you're good, or bankroll you because they have more money than sense. This probably did a pretty good job of filtering a lot of the crap out, with the unfortunate side effect of hiding some talent. Now anyone can make music in their bedroom and stick it on the internet so we do get to discover a lot of hidden talent, but there's just so much utter garbage to sift through as well.

[dsheinem]

Now anyone can make music in their bedroom and stick it on the internet so we do get to discover a lot of hidden talent, but there's just so much utter garbage to sift through as well.

One of these days I should post up the electronic album I made in college around 1998 or so.

[AppleQueso]

I could post some of the shitty death metal I've made over the years.