The Roots, Rising Down (Def Jam)
Rising Down is billed as the Legendary Roots Crew's most political record to date, quite a tag to live up to since the South Philly hip hop group is the one to have paired the lyrics for "Masters of War" with the national anthem.
The new record, the group's second for Def Jam, is said to continue the darker and more political undertones of 2006's underappreciated Game Theory. Guest spots pop up on nearly every track — Common, Talib Kweli and Mos Def stop in to help out.
A lot of the pre-release drum beat has focused on "Birthday Girl," a collaboration with Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump that was issued as the first single. But the lighthearted fare didn't fit the bill, so it doesn't even show up on the final copy of the CD.
That says it all about Rising Down — The Roots want you to take them and their message seriously.
If I Were Really Rich ...
— Mudcrutch, Mudcrutch (Reprise/Wea) — Tom Petty side project Lazaruses its way back into existence and releases its debut album nearly 40 years later.
— Portishead, Third (Mercury/Island) — First record in more than a decade from English trip hoppers.
Others
— Augustana, Can't Love, Can't Hurt (Epic)
— Baby D, A-Town Secret Weapon (KR Urban)
— Boris, Smile (Southern Lord)
— The Cab, Whisper War (Decaydance/Fueled by Ramen)
— Chin Chin, Chin Chin (Definitive Lux)
— Def Leppard, Songs From the Sparkle Lounge (Bludgeon Riffola/Island)
— Robert Forster, The Evangelist (Yep Roc)
— Forever the Sickest Kids, Underdog Alma Mater (Universal Motown)
— Griffin House, Flying Upside Down (RCA)
— Lyfe Jennings, Lyfe Change (Sony Urban Music/Columbia)
— Jimmy Eat World, Bleed American [Deluxe Edition] (Geffen)
— Joy Division, The Best of Joy Division (Rhino/London)
— Liverpool FIve, Best of the Liverpool Five (Sundazed)
— Madonna, Hard Candy (Warner Bros.)
— Mindless Self Indulgence, If (The End)
— Puscifer, V is for Viagra: The Remixes (Zomba/Puscifer)
— Raven-Symone, Raven-Symone (Hollywood)
— Eli "Paperboy" Reed & The True Loves, Roll With You (Q-Division)
— Santogold, Santogold (Downtown)
— Carly Simon, This Kind of Love (Hear Music)
— Steve Winwood, Nine Lives (Columbia)
— Zappa Plays Zappa, Zappa Plays Zappa (Razor & Tie)
You might be interested in the album I just finished this month. It is political and subversive post-industrial rock with an interesting mix of classical instruments, guitars, electronic beats, and a small dash of aussie hip-hop. You can download the whole 11 track album at no cost at our website.
http://www.politicsapocalypse.com
I don’t mean to spam but I am trying to get the word out to those who may be interested.
Posted by: Politics Apocalypse | April 30, 2008 at 08:35 AM