Already mentioned this producer

I know I keep bringing him up over and over again, but this guy really inspires me. I know it's electronic, and I get accused of being only a "techno guy" or only a "rap guy" but I do listen to more music than that. That being said, I want to, once again, give critical acclaim to a DJ/Producer that I've already brought up several times in this blog: Flying Lotus. His use of ambiance within his work is just amazing, and his ability to make mainstream rap more artistic with his remixes is quite phenomenal. Check out his two mixes of Lil Wayne songs: I...

Read More

Give Hendrix Some Respect.

This post is another go out and find it for yourself post. Now the title might be a bit misleading. First of all, I don't entirely condone and push for the heavy drug use Hendrix found infamy from. That being said, if there's one genre I see pretty under represented in music, it's definitely blues and heavy vamped music. In the 60s' through 80's the blues had an explosive revival. If you know it, you know it, the big names; Clapton, Otis Rush, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and of course Hendrix. Any history of rock'n'roll 101 course will get you through...

Read More

Chemically Electronica

 So, I eventually settled on, The Chemical Brothers, a duo of outrageously popular electronic artists. Alright, alright, if you have followed the origins of so called, "Techno" music, you'd see a huge branch off dedicated entirely to The Chemical Brothers. Quite interesting blend of what I'd say is trance and house if you really wanted to put a genre to it.  So, what do you need to know? This duo is famous for guest appearances, catchy tracks, and hitting it hard on the radios around the world. Really, this is another artist that you...

Read More

The Sounds of Electronic...Cats?

So, as I was finding the next artist to do a mix about, I couldn't help but run into an old album I was ga-ga for when I first discovered drill'n'bass music. Songs About My Cats by Venetian Snares. For it's time of release, 2001 so not THAT long ago but you have to consider IDM is really close to dying as is the fast paced monster that electronic...

Read More

Mix #1: See rap run. RUN DMC, Run!

So, without further adieu, I bid you the new project for the blog I've been working on. Yes, I am a mediocre DJ, but without practice, I can't get too much better now can I? At the same time, I want to share music with you guys without it being of cost to you, but at the same time I want it legal. So, what is the solution? Eureka! Though technically I don't have the legal rights to do this, I thought maybe I could present you with mixes I have made and you can listen to. If you download it, good for you, if you just listen, that's what it's meant...

Read More

When We Rise!

Sorry if the breif Hiatus had paniced anybody, but sometimes a blog writer has to face the life outside the internet for a bit before getting back to the comforting glow of a monitor. Well, summer has come and started, and for those in Alaska, the breakup period is over and it's damn green on everything. Time to get out, do something, dance about,...

Read More

Night Furries & Milkshakes

Hi-ho! No Soundtrack Outcasts today, but rather two film scores that deserve all of the limelight they've thus received (as always, tell me what you think). First, a small part of the score for Dreamworks' "How To Train Your Dragon" by John Powell. Gorgeous themes, boisterous brass and bagpipes for a Nordic/Irish sound, warm strings and flutters--fun and powerful and unashamedly smile-inducing:"This is Berk""Test Drive""Romantic Flight"Now a total gear shift. Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood" has a disconcerting soundtrack fashioned...

Read More

French Atmosphere

Around for over 10 years, Air is a French synth-electronica duo. They aren't really club techno; though some of their beats near the border, don't go slapping that stereotype too quickly. It's their myriad of fun, slip-beat, and poignant themes which makes them both minorly ambiant and cooly pigeon-headable. Their official YouTube channel doesn't allow...

Read More

We Need Heroes; Build Them

There’s a hell of a lot you can voice about Flobots, which is incredible because they already say so much, and they've only had one major commercial album release (until now). To me, and undoubtedly many others, Flobots’ “Fight With Tools” is about coming together for change, voicing that things are not the ideal, looking hard and realistically at...

Read More

/Rupture, Shade, and Moor

DJ /Rupture has been becoming a legend in his own field in New York. His skills at sociopolitical commentary through DJ work has been staggering. His work speaks subtly and is rabidly unique. When a DJ develops a taste that just sits in your head for days after, that DJ has done something great. DJ /Rupture is just that. If you're not familiar with...

Read More

Apples In Stereo?

There are many bands out there that have made themselves entirely known, been playing popular songs, made impressive covers, been on tours, and yet are never publicly known more than, "Oh, they play that song??" It's not a shame, but it's just a bit sad to see it happen to The Apples In Stereo. You know this band, even if you don't know you know. Don't believe me? This is their website and listen to a few songs. You can even sign up for their mailing list and download the latest single "Dancefloor." Ah psychedelica music, where would we be without...

Read More

Triumvirate

I haven't scoped out new music in a while (actually I've been listening to a lot of Johnny Cash) so I thought I'd bring a trio of songs that's been steadily lodged in my head to your attention. Now mind you, I've only tepidly investigated these artists and so can't recommend them on the whole--but in part these singles are worth a playthrough. Tell me what you think; I'll have more next time, Scout's honor:Jack's Mannequin--"Swim"No More Kings--"Michael"Lisa Miskovsky--"Still Alive"--The Last Mos...

Read More

Life on a Plastic Beach

0Only a few weeks ago did a new Gorillaz album drop. And only a few weeks ago, did I never hear anything about it, and was only informed about it two days ago by a friend who randomly stumbled across a Pitchfork review giving the album 8.5/10. Here at foX Note Hunter, we don't quite believe in a rating system, but never-the-less, I started to see nothing but good reviews for this music. All I can say is, THIS IS NOT YOUR PREVIOUS GORILLAZ RELEASE! That noted, and please do note it, it is quite interesting, but a good interesting mind you, to listen...

Read More

Pinch Me...Pinch Me...

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Here's a newsflash about Canadians!According to Amazon.com, Barenaked Ladies' next album “All in Good Time” drops March 30th, and it’s their 11th to date. Though their sound has fluctuated from quasi-bubble gum ‘90s pop to indi-ish lyrics near the ozone layer from their newer album “Are Men,” I still love ‘em. And Stephen Page, the plump lead singer with the glasses, has left the quintet--we’ll see how they fare with Ed Robertson front and center (though he’s written most of their songs).Anyhoozle, here's two samples from...

Read More

Balloons and Espresso

First, let's just say, if you lived thru the 90's and you've managed to never have heard of the Goo Goo Dolls, you might have been living in the middle of nowhere, have never seen a cheesy romance movie, or were completely stuck in Techno, (which there supposedly even is a techno remix of the song, but don't quote me on that). When everybody thinks of the Goo Goo Dolls... no not "Iris". No, no that one either. Ok, the song is "Black Balloon"Black Balloon - Goo Goo Dolls Ah, the distinct guitar picking at the start. The wondrous vocals. It's no...

Read More

Kinda Like a Chimp

Bonobo is a British DJ who writes delicious trip-hop/downtempo tunes. Some might call this stoner music, but I don't care about the label, and neither should you. Beautiful music just is--have a 25 minute listen and find out for yourself:"Ketto""Silver""Noctuary""Kota""Pick Up"--The Last Mos...

Read More

"You're a Bold Kid, Arnold."

"Hey Arnold!" is one of many reasons why I'm proud to be a product of '90s entertainment, especially cartoons. Here was a show with depth, heart, subtle humor, and characters who'd tackle real problems (bullies, rough family life, peer pressure) without resorting to zany editing or the easy way out. It was Nickelodeon's best effort, and whenever I peripherally catch wind of what's popular on the network now, I get downcast and grim. God, was I lucky to catch its heyday.Regardless if you know it or not, "Hey Arnold!" wouldn't've been half what it...

Read More

Haunt Me Haunt Me, Do It Again

Canadian artist Tim Hecker has never left my iPod after I found his music. True, he does doth protest the use of iPods or any other such "mp3 low quality" music; and that's just something even more to love about the man. He puts effort and top notch sound into all of his work. If you get the chance, either listen to his stuff on an amazing stereo system, or get a great cd/vinyl player and listen through an amazing pair of headphones. The soundscapes are just otherworldly, and it is just worth it if you are a huge audiophile. The Work of Art in...

Read More

Humerus + Radius + Ulna =

Elbow. This British alternative rock group has memorable, fantastic lyrics, dreamy backdrops, and a sound completely and utterly their own. They have a few albums out already, the songs below all from The Seldom-Seen Kid. Have a listen and tell me what you think:"Grounds For Divorce""The Bones Of You""One Day Like This"--The Last Mos...

Read More

Okay--3, 2, 1, Let's Jam!

"Tank!" is the name of this delicious jazz song, written by Yoko Kanno (the woman in the red jacket) as the theme for the late '90s anime Cowboy Bebop. Though she's composed for a lot of anime, you don't have to know anything about that artform to enjoy the incredible punch this number packs. This live performance was undertaken by a Japanese supergroup of sorts called Seatbelts, and the alto sax solo at the end is (to this blogger) ineffably, staggeringly, jaw-droppingly brilliant. Any doubters of jazz out there may just be converted to orthodox...

Read More

Who says Drum'N'Bass can't be happy?

IF you have followed Electronica, you undoubtedly know Relphex Records, created by the famous Aphex Twin himself, Richard D. James. IF not knowing this, go look into it. Now, being informed about this, perhaps you know about a man named Tom Jenkinson. Yes? No? Of course... better known as Squarepusher. Still don't know? Well, let's educate you. Back in the day when Drum'N'Bass was still being experimented with, and nobody really knew what to do, ol'Tom came out of the woodwork and, wabam!, brilliantly took jazz ideals and glitchcore beats to create...

Read More

Soundtrack Outcasts (Vol. 2)

Welcome to Volume 2 of Soundtrack Outcasts! (To read the goals and manifesto for of this series, click here.)Instead of looking at one film this time, I wanted to give prime, meaty examples of a single composer: James Newton Howard. He has great themes and works across all film genres. You might have only recently heard about him with a movie called The Dark Knight in ’08, but this talented musician has 20 years of work under his belt, much of it thrilling.Let’s start with the 2000 Disney film Dinosaur. The theme doesn’t kick in till the end, but...

Read More

Pre-Owned Heart-Shaped Box

Happy Valentine's Day! Why not take a 7-minute break from snogging your significant tax-deductible other by drowning in some hand-picked love song staples, all of them covers, with me not disclosing who originally wrote and/or performed them? Sound good? But of course! Hey, chocolate's still chocolate, right?Frank Sinatra--"My Funny Valentine"Cake--"Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps"Rita Moreno--"Fever"XoXo--The Last Moslow--X...

Read More

Guns in C Major

Here are a few quirky musical experiments. Using the gun sounds and sound effects from two Valve games--Half-Life 2 and Team Fortress 2--several people have crafted genuinely impressive percussion pieces. This is the first time I've heard anything like this before, though MinimalfoX found a similar mash-up of Pixar sounds last month. The first track's not nearly as loud and piercing as the second (which reminds me of banging on trash cans for the first minute or so), but still, the effort that went into these projects is pretty staggering to me:The...

Read More

Utensil Grooves

Just an indie rock band for you today, one that's been getting more exposure as of late--Spoon! They have a relaxed, balanced, upbeat quality to most of their tunes. Somehow, I kind of hear a throwback to older rock styles in Spoon's songs, but I can't quite put my finger on which ones. Whatever they are, they work swimmingly here. Hope you enjoy their sound:The Book I WriteYou Got Yr. Cherry BombDon't You Evah--The Last Mos...

Read More

Ghost(ly) Calm

Well, a quick post and download for you Ghost - Lullaby. Really great chill-downtempo/ ambient electronica song. No really, this one is looking into. I couldn't dig up more of this artist at the moment, but it's somewhat Brian Eno meets Boards of Canada. Soundtrack for the game Crayon Physics. Part of a new style of games called Ambient Games. Mainly slower paced games with ambient electronica. They are quite nice, and provide something to get lost in while your in an airport, they provide Music for Airports. -Minimal foX (Heading back to Anchorage...

Read More

Soundtrack Outcasts (Vol. 1)

Fact: Disregarding soundtracks is a musical sin.This series of posts aims to resurrect those film soundtracks that have been needlessly forgotten, either by proxy of their movie counterpart's slip from mainstream consciousness, or simply because no one really gets excited about original soundtracks (which truly is a shame). Soundtracks and themes in films aggrandize the universes we passively invest in by actively guiding our emotions; without them, modern cinema would not resonate.It is my sincerest wish that the names and works of Harry Gregson-Williams,...

Read More

The Courage Of Others

Short shout out today, Texas based indie rock band Midlake just dropped a new CD today, entitled The Courage Of Others. If you're like me, this is just estatic news, since it's been 3 years since the last Midlake full LP release. I haven't gotten my hands on it yet and have yet to find a place to listen to it, but this is just a lo-fi band that you...

Read More

And that can falter, But my swing is tropical

Ah Quantic what great music you have. I am so very surprized you've flown under the radar for so long. It wasn't until the song "Mi Swing Es Tropical" with Nickodemus being aired on an iPod commercial that people suddenly realized what great dance music you make. Ah, as a DJ myself, I love using Quantic songs for a mood. Whether I need an upbeat dance song, or something to play at a dinner party, or even something to just sit and relax too, Quantic just has it. I heavily recommend this artist. He does great postmodern music work, great sasla music,...

Read More