P.O.S.
We Don't Even Live Here
Rhymesayers (2012)
Minneapolis’ P.O.S (aka Stefon Alexander) might not necessarily befit the tastes of most within the punk community, but his music is as heavily indebted to it as it is to hip-hop’s long and storied past. Since his musical beginnings in punk bands from as far back as high school, his music has been predominantly D.I.Y. and its messages of hard work and integrity are ingrained in not only his solo projects, but in the hip-hop collective Doomtree that he co-founded and his many side projects. We Don’t Even Live Here, his 4th studio album, is yet another extension of his varied and experimental roots, dropping messages of dissent and determination with a gritty, expressive flow over wild, driving beats of futuristic electronics. The aggression that drives P.O.S’ latest album is immediate and relentless, first taking hold within the heavily drum-based production of “Bumper” and refusing to relinquish its suffocating grasp across the course of the following 40 minutes. Even backed by the soothing vocals of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon on the sprawling “How We Land,” P.O.S still sounds pissed off, muttering “we’re so amused with dismay, ignore the fuse,” before Vernon jumps into a solo verse in his characteristically haunting … Read more
Franz Nicolay
Do The Struggle
Xtra Mile (2012)
It must be stated that the quirkily moustachioed Franz Nicolay is an intriguing and rather singular gentleman. For those who … Read more
Legendary Wings
Making Paper Roses
Dirtnap (2012)
Dirtnap Records picked up Kalamazoo, MI’s Legendary Wings based on an unsolicited demo. Seeing that the label gave them a … Read more
