Magnetic Man - S/T (2010) [Columbia] // Grade: A-

If there is a dubstep act with the potential to guide the genre into the ears of the mainstream, win them over and become a bonafide name blasted through suburban car speakers and begged for by request in city nightclubs it is Magnetic Man. The trio of dubstep pioneers, Benga, Skream and Artwork have made that goal their mission with the formation of supergroup Magnetic Man. The right timing, heaps of talent and a clearly defined direction position the group’s self-titled, full-length debut as a tipping point for the genre.

Indie rock has seen no shortage of supergroups, with Dead Weather and Gayngs recent additions to the company of longtime collaborative career acts like Broken Social Scene. Magnetic Man’s formation arrives on trend and well-timed. Over the past couple years dubstep has emerged a dominating music force, its tentacles extending further and influencing a new cache of genres.

Magnetic Man is an album that will charm the public and frustrate purists. The trio take basic dubstep sound structures, water down the bass and create a kind of dubstep pop, calling on a list of vocal collaborators including the young, poised to explode Katy B, Ms. Dynamite, Sam Frank, Angela Hunte and John Legend. Led by Katy B’s crystalline range, “Crossover” would be a straightforward track of R&B-tinged electronic pop, were it not for the cloud of low-hanging bass. “Boiling Water” looks to jungle and drum & bass for inspiration, the quick-paced rhythmic cadence almost making you forget the slight autotune filter applied to Sam Frank’s voice. John Legend’s expressive croon closes out the album on “Getting Nowhere”, his voice the star of an otherwise basic composition.

The lack of any compositional invention is a moot argument. The real invention with Magnetic Man lies in their ability to craft an album that transcends previously comfortable notions. The production work is as glossy as anything in the Top 40,  studio sheen coated basslines meet vocals wherein every level has been meticulously tweaked. The more you grip onto Magnetic Man as a trio of dubstep names, the harder you will find the album to enjoy. As Magnetic Man, Benga, Skream and Artwork become a production powerhouse, utilizing dubstep sounds to push the face of pop music forward.

A lot has changed since we last checked in on Pete Feigenbaum and his band Dinowalrus, though perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised. He’s always been a man with lots and lots of different ideas, and that’s part of what we like about him. So, even though all the other members, and even the sound of the band have changed, Pete’s commitment to making great and original music certainly doesn’t seem to have wavered.

Judging by the chilled out new song “Phone Home From the Edge” and the accompanying photo, Pete and the boys of Dinowalrus have been kicking it out in nature. The song is decidedly earthier and more psych rock than a lot of their first CD, %. Pete’s vocals are also a lot more relaxed, free of the fuzzbox they used to seem perpetually tied to. Heck, there’s even some good old fashioned guitar noodling! Now, this being Dinowalrus, theirs still a whole lot going on in this song. Cascading synths, barking dogs, whizzing computer noises, and dueling guitar lines all make an appearance here. Still, the change is noticeable. Maybe, just maybe, Pete’s relaxing a bit. It sounds good.

Listen to Dinowalrus’ “Phone Home From the Edge”

This is Near Mint Condition. Keep your fucking fingers off the cover. Mind the spine, yo. The comic book column where I spit with vitriol, glee, and mostly confusion about the books dropping this week. Hit the comments section with derisive, witty, or contributory recommendations and comments.

Shazam.

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Thor: The Mighty Avenger #6
My friends, we have failed. As comic book reading collective, we have failed. Failed hard. Last weekend news leaked out that Thor: The Mighty Avenger was getting axed. This is nothing sort of a calamitous disregard for one of the most wondrous, beautiful mainstream titles hitting shelves. Canned, canned, canned. While other titles are hitting the shelves, depleted of quality, offering nothing new to existing mythos. I am significantly bummed out about this. Half of me wants to recommend nothing more than this title. A militant stance. But alas, there’s other worthwhile shit dropping, and that would be unfair to them.

But!, please, check this shit out tomorrow. The good news is that apparently they’ve been given the ability to wrap up the storyline by the final installment in January. You’re only six issues behind. It’ll cost you nothing more than something like twenty-four Junior Bacon Cheeseburgers. It’s a refreshing take on an existing origin. The dialogue is great, the artwork is gorgeous. Both of these creators, Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee will assuredly continue on doing dope work somewhere else.

But still. Hit this while you can.

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Elsewhere In the Marvel Universe:
Thankfully, I don’t think we’re failing in regard to following Hickman’s current work on the Fantastic Four. Tomorrow sees the release of Fantastic Four #585, which promises to work towards the conclusion of the “Three” storyline. I have a good idea that someone is going to die. I think maybe the storyline’s name gives that away. Hickman’s continues Reed Richard’s desire to solve everything while grounding it with a thunderous round of heart and humor. Last month when Ben Grimm got his one-week of humanity back, and went to see Alicia? I teared up. I know, fuck me.

Also dropping is Captain America #612 which follows Bucky as he goes on trial for his crimes as the Winter Soldier. While I like the story, and generally everything Brubaker does, I’m wondering how long he’s going to examine Bucky’s guilt over his past. Fair enough it’s been introspective to this point, and now he’s dealing with the public outrage regarding it. As I said, I still dig it. And finally, Invincible Iron Man #32 promises to be a slobberknocker, as Iron Man throws down with Detroit Steel. Fraction penned action scenes being realized by Salvador Larroca? I’m there.

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Action Comics #895
I rolled the dice on Action Comics last month. Lobbed a blind recommendation at you guys. Did you fucking hate it? Mea culpa, mea culpa! Me oh? I dug the shit out of it. It starred Luthor having a witty metaphysical conversation with good ole Emo Kid Favorite, Death. The comic was fun, self-contained, and inserted itself into my monthly pull list. This month? Our boy Luthor is coming under attack from Vandal Savage! Oh snap! It’s pulpy, easy-going fun. It doesn’t hurt that the Jimmy Olsen story in the back pages is as damn good as the main event.

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Elsewhere In The DC Universe:
There’s a fucking buttload of Bat-Books dropping this week. Like, an entire goddamn collection of them. There’s Neal Adams’ weird, metafictional ride through the Batverse in Batman: Odyssey #5. The comic is something of an oddball for me. It feels so unlike the other works being done regarding the Bat that I’ve come across. Be it courtesy of Mr. Miller or Grant Morrison. Then there’s Batman and Robin #17, with Paul Cornell taking over for the aforementioned Morrison. I have no idea how you follow up Morrison’s run on the comic, which was a continuation of something like five years of plotting and intertextual references.

My guess? Stamp your own mark on the son of a bitch. I got faith. There’s also Justice League #99 coming out. I’d say something about it, but I haven’t read it in years, but I felt like I should throw something else out there.

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When folks from overseas come by our flagship, it’s one of the more memorable customer experiences for obvious reasons. One such visitor was Melchior Abeille, a graphic designer & photographer from Paris France. Melchior was in Los Angeles as a photojournalist of sorts for South African New Wave Rapper Spoek Mathambo, who’s on a US tour for his new album Mshini Wam.

Meanwhile, Melchior has co-founded a web magazine called Street Tease that also organizes dope parties that I wish I could’ve gone to. In addition to regularly updated content in all things streetwear and street art related, they put out some solid mixtapes.

Funny enough, we’ve now discovered the lucky guy who got to eat our Cyco Simon Marzipan pal during the NY Caked Up! show last week. Melchior is truly representing Мишка, coast-to-coast and worldwide for that matter. And that’s not all. Melchior does art direction for a really cool skateboarding brand out of France called Gamble.

The Gamble skate team was recently throwing it down in Berlin and believe you me, these dudes got style. They are about to release some product including tees, beanies & snapbacks so be on the lookout, especially if you’re in Paris.

Мишка LA
1547 Echo Park Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90026
213-536-4234

I’m like a junkie in withdrawal the longer I go without a new Zombie Rave. There’s just something so evil, grandiose, and hedonistic about the mixes. Plus, time feels like it’s standing still when they’re playing. I’m so productive, I feel like the goddamn Flash whenever one of these is on.

Productivity aside, I just genuinely love the tunes. I like to pretend I’m at a party at that nightclub from Hellraiser 3 or some shit. Pinhead’s behind the turntables, the Cenobites are owning the dance floor and there’s probably a bunch of bloody corpses in the corners. You know what? I wouldn’t be surprised if ℑ⊇≥◊≤⊆ℜ was actually was Pinhead.

ℑ⊇≥◊≤⊆ℜ has been teasing us for the past few days with videos for some of the Zombie R4ve remixes. We’ve seen Justice’s “Stress (Zombie Rave Remix),” Yaz’s “Don’t go (Zombie Flesh Eaters Remix)” and Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life (Zombie Rave Remix).”

Late yesterday we were treated to The KLF’s “What Time is Love (The Beyond Mix)” video and then earlier today we got  the final taste of what to expect from this upcoming Zombie R4ve in a video for White Lion’s “When the Children Cry (Zombie Rave Remix).”

For the 4th Installment (5th if you count our Zombie Rave: Special Edition) of  Zombie R4ve, The mysterious ℑ⊇≥◊≤⊆ℜ of Mater Suspiria Vision has crafted what may be his most sinister Raves to date. There will only be 100 downloads available so the second you see this post you better jump at it or forever be stuck to just playing from the Soundcloud page.

I hope you’re prepared to return to the clutches of a Resident Evil. If not? Pray for your soul.

Mater Suspiria Vision – ZOMBIE R4VE by O ℑ⊇≥◊≤⊆ℜ O

Here is a Mediafire download link for anyone who missed the Soundcloud slots. (Courtesy of Over Muziek). Check out the track listing after the jump and good luck in getting your copy.

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Alan from Cycling WMD has quite the stable. From beautiful bicycles to his freakbikes, it’s safe to say that he has made some bicycle monstrosities in his day. Last Friday, we spent the afternoon riding his Milwaukee Bruiser chop-job tallbike. This thing is a lotta fun to ride and as Alan demonstrates below, is totally shredable!

This thing rules! It’s so much fun to ride around and his set up makes it highly maneuverable. Bunnyhops, skids and general thrashing is easy as cake.

You can really lean into it and since it’s essentially just a tall Bruiser, the ride is super stable.

Stoked! Check out what else Alan does with his spare time over at Cycling WMD. I’ve got more photos from that day up on my Flickr as well.

Мишка Black Friday Up to 50% Off All Weekend Long!

I think you all know what Friday is right? It’s the day you try and recover from your Turkey induced comas and unwind from having to spend the whole day around your family. Well it’s also one other thing…Black Friday. And I think you all know what that means, A HUGE MOTHERFUCKIN’ SALE!

We’re opening our shop at the stroke of midnight this Black Friday, November 26th with savings bloody savings! The sale will continue all weekend long, but check the schedule above for all the dirty details regarding any of the brand new holiday 2010 collection we have in-store. The sale will happen in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, so clear your plans and get ready to shop!

Oh and did I forget to mention that the first 50 customers at each shop will receive a FREE exclusive Black Friday T-shirt? Last year we introduced the Oversized Adder to our Black Friday customers, this year you get a special Black Sabbath inspired flip. Get It!?!??! Black Sabbath, Black Friday! Ah screw you!

This shirt will not be available for sale anywhere else. and it’s strictly first come first served. We’ll see you guys at midnight. Now I know we’re going to get a hundred emails, tweets and facebook messages asking about online. What about online? Are you on our mailing list? Well you should be.

Friday November 26th, 12am-8pm
Мишка
350 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY
718-388-1725
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Friday November 26th, 12am-7pm
Мишка LA
1547 Echo Park Ave
Los Angeles, CA
213-536-4234

Drop the Lime – “Sex Sax” (2010)

Vs.

Ducksauce – “Barbra Streisand” (2010)

I don’t mean to pit two of our pals (Trouble & Bass and Fool’s Gold) against each other, but these were two incredible dance tracks that not only make for an interesting discussion but a nice change of pace from the usual Choice Is Yours format. Wouldn’t you agree?

The Game is simple… if only one could exist which would it be? What’s more important… personal relevance, cultural significance, or simply being the better album all other things aside? Choice is yours…

I am almost positive that you are rolling your eyes at me. Already.

Do you see what I did there? I had every opportunity to say “I am almost positive that you are rolling your eyes at me, New York native and/or inhabitant.” But I didn’t. Because it’s cool to hate Friends, whether you’re in NYC or not. But those in the city that I’ve met and had this discussion with REALLY hate Friends (‘You know, I just think Seinfeld presents a much more realistic milieu’) and I sort of wanted to single them out, but I’d hate to leave you, Mister or Missus Midwestern/Southern/West Coast person, out in the cold. You can all hate this show, and as such, you are all allowed to roll your eyes at me for loving it. Because I love it.

This is also the part of the post where I try to wax philosophical and embed the lesson or hidden meaning…that being that I wonder if NY people hate FRIENDS in the same way/for the same reasons that California people hate shows like the O.C. or shit like that, but, well, it’s sort of thin, and so I’ll skip it.

And so here are my top 5 FRIENDS episodes. Don’t even hate. (Apologies, too, for the non-embedded movies. Please click through. It seems that WB has no issues with folks chopping and screwing FRIENDS [I looked for witchy ways to spell friends but I have no idea how to type that way. -Ed] episodes, but heaven forbid someone drop them into their blog. Click the titles of each, except where noted.)

1) The One With the Trivia Game (Season 4, Episode 12)

In which: Joey and Chandler fall into dispute with Rachel and Monica over who knows who better, the guys or the girls. Ross—who is my favorite character in the show, for reasons like this—volunteers to facilitate a trivia game contest to settle the matter, the winner of which getting the girls’ apartment (which is very nice, and as such a HUGE bone of contention for FRIENDS haters) as the purse.

Why I love it: Aside from it’s being hilarious, it is a perfect example of how, by this time (Season 4) these characters are not exactly the trite, flat morons that haters hate. They are deep, round, and full of nooks and crannies. Yes. There are things about them that get under your skin, but—Ross and Monica especially—one really gains a sense of how damaged these people are.

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2) The One With the Nap Partners (Season 7, Episode 6)

In which: there is a main plot to this episode, but I can’t remember what it is. The important part is that, in a totally non-gay way, Ross and Joey are perchance to accidentally sleeping together on the couch. Joey enjoys his nap with Ross so much, that he spends the rest of the episode trying to get him to do it again…this time on purpose. Hilarity ensues.

Why I love it: This is both bad and good humor. I get that. The delicacy with which this issue is treated, however…well. Maybe not delicacy. It’s just such fertile ground for churning out a bunch of gay jokes and it never goes there. It’s…sweet, sort of.

3) The One With Ross’ Sandwich (Season 5, Episode 9)

In which: Ross is coming off a hard few weeks. After a divorce and an eviction, one of the only good things he’s got going for him is an epic ‘Thanksgiving leftovers’ sandwich that gets eaten out of the fridge at work. He does not take it well.

Why I love it: First, ‘the moist maker’. Enter, again, my very valid, very subtle argument that no, these are not flat characters. Also take special note of what I call the Schwimmer Effect in which a totally capable and high-minded actor like David Schwimmer consistently and actively plays the fool for zillions of dollars per minute and then goes on to be, like, the real deal once his first show is over.

4) The One Where Rachel Has a Baby, pt. 1 (Season 8, Episode 23)

(Can’t find a good clip for this one…which makes sense, since the part I love is, like, totally obscure.)

In which: Rachel is having her baby. Monica and Chander are arriving at the hospital and are bringing flowers to Rachel’s room. They burst into a delivery room in which a woman is screaming to ‘get this kid out of me’ and it’s, like, the same delivery scene that’s ever been on any show, ever. Monica and Chandler back away, white as sheets, and before things cut away, Chandler earns his keep with one of my favorite jokes of all time..one that I use inappropriately frequently: “I think that kid was wearing a shirt!”

Why I love it: That joke, mostly. Which says alot, seeing as though, while a fan of Ross, I am not a fan of Ross and Rachel. I totally think Mona was way hotter.

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5) The One With the Baby Shower (Season 8, Episode 20)

In which: Joey is auditioning for a television gameshow called Bamboozled. Bamboozled is full of super weird, super crazy rules, and the three guys play a mock version of it to help him practice.

Why I love it: ONLY for the Bamboozled part. I don’t care about the baby shower or whatever. The rules for this game remind me of having my friends in the sixth grade try to describe how D&D works. I think it’s absolutely hilarious.

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Bonus: The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs (Season 7, Episode 8)

Love it or hate it, the FRIENDS writing staff maintained a tradition of capturing super-small, teeny-tiny idiosyncracies that everybody has experienced at some point or another…even a moo one. My wife and I have an ongoing battle over her insistence that it is ‘All The Sudden’ and I have borne witness to heated conversations dedicated solely to the validity of, ahem, ‘Supposebly.”

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Double Bonus: The One On the Last Night (Season 6, Episode 6)

Bonus because this is also a game-themed item and I already have two of those above….Chandler wants to give Joey money, but Joey has too much pride to just take it. After a few abortive attempts, Chandler invents a hack card game called ‘Cups’ which he uses as cause for losing thousands of dollars to Joey, who badly needs the money. Joey then proceeds to lose the money to Ross at ‘Cups’ and Ross doesn’t believe that Chandler made it all up as a charity ploy. Hilarity ensues. I love this, plain and simple.

I have watched all 10 seasons of FRIENDS at least two-dozen times over the past 7 years. I don’t THINK that one needs to make that much of an investment for this stuff to grow on them, but, well, maybe that’s the case. Either way, these are my top 5 favorite episodes of Friends. Thanks for playing.

There’s 3 groups of people who need to read this book: weed smokers who want to know more about where their weed comes from, business-minded folks who want to get a sense of the emerging marijuana industry, and government officials who’d like insight into how to regulate marijuana effectively. John Geluardi does a good job of summing up a lot of the key events, and key figures in California’s medical marijuana affair. He covers growers, politicians, law enforcement, activists, entrepreneurs, and pot’s sordid history in the United States.

Geluardi is a Bay Area newspaper reporter of ten years, so it makes sense that he’d author the book. As Geluardi points out, Oakland is a perfect storm of sorts. It is where politicians, entrepreneurs, and activists have come together to create an ordered and focused base for the industry. The key in Oakland has been cooperation and respect. Geluardi profiles different individuals and groups, and weaves together a summation that will allow uninitiated readers to have a great reference point for grasping this rather diffuse industry, and the people and events who have come to shape it.

My only gripe is on account of the back cover’s synopsis of the book. The publisher, Pollpoint Press claims that Geluardi, “…charts the rise of medical marijuana in California and 14 other states.” That’s not true though. While Geluardi does touch on a few other states, this is a book about California’s medical marijuana industry. This one comes with high recommendations, so if you’re interested in weed in the USA don’t sleep.