A Tribe Called Quest - We The People

| Keith
You bastards overlooking street art
Better yet, street smarts but you keep us off the charts
So motherfuck your numbers and your statisticians
Fuck y'all know about true competition?
That's like a AL pitcher on deck talking about he hittin'
The only one who's hitting are the ones that's currently spittin'
We got your missy smitten rubbing on her little kitten
Dreaming of a world that's equal for women with no division
Boy, I tell you that's vision
Like Tony Romo when he hitting Witten
The Tribe be the best in they division
Shaheed Muhammad cut it with precision
Who can come back years later, still hit the shot?
Still them tryna move we off the fucking block
Babylon, bloodclot
Two pon yuh headtop

A Tribe Called Quest's new album, the first in 18 years, We got it from here...Thank you 4 your service came out last week. The first single "We The People" is a hard-hitting cut about equality that speaks to some of the tougher realities our world is currently dealing with. It has sick beats, sure, and some fun hooks, but it's also an anthem that should remind us that we're all in this together and we need to keep sticking up for the rights of all people.

I have yet to hear the full album, but I've read a couple of reviews that say it's terrific and a worthy tribute to the late Phife Dawg.

RIYL: De La Soul, The Pharcyde, Souls of Mischief, The Roots, Jurassic 5

Upcoming Shows

Declan McKenna - Isombard

| Kerri
I'll make it clear
You'll make it then
But never here
Never again
So which one hangs
Police with gangs?
It's all the same
It's all the same
I met you here
But then you ran
You ran with fear
You fearless man
So tell your violent and tame
That they will cry
Never again

Declan McKenna is a catchy but earnest songwriter, almost exclusively focusing on heavy (and timely) issues. Starting when he was 15, McKenna says he is merely reflecting what is on the mind of his peers (such as the massive FIFA corruption in "Brazil", or the undeniable tie between religion and hate in "Bethlehem"). For this track, he is taking on right-wing newscasters, with their frequent poor choice of words and frustrating justifications (AND he is attempting to channel e.e. cummings). This is definitely a boy after my own former-angsty-teen/deep-thinking/music-loving heart! I got to see him at his SXSW (and basically American) debut this March and he was adorably endearing, playing all his own instruments, on a tiny stage, with his lonely spotlight, sharing his heartfelt pop. If by chance you don't care for his politics, you can just enjoy the refreshing British indie pop sound - as I'm sure is the case for a good number of his peers as well. 

RIYL: Lewis Del Mar, Day Wave, The Shelters, Simon & Garfunkel, Counting Crows

Upcoming Shows

Happy Hollows - Way Home

| Keith
Sometimes the road is too hard to follow
And I'm running away
I'm on my way home

"Way Home" by Happy Hollows has been on my list to share here for a long time and I think it's finally time. Kerri and I are, appropriately on our way home from an awesome little work/love trip to San Francisco, my second home.

We were there for our wonderful friends Nishant and Ganga's wedding. It was such a blast, we danced, met lots of new friends from all over and most importantly shared a lot of love and laughter. We're now on our way home to Austin. We're bringing good California vibes back to Texas y'all. Get ready! In the meantime, enjoy the tunes.

RIYL: Future Islands, Twin River, The Joy Formidable

Upcoming Shows