Posts Tagged ‘Blues’

We are always looking for new sound and musical experiences here at cutbucket.  Thus, when I heard Black Keys were teaming up with some hip-hop heavy hitters we were all over it.  We went as far as setting Google Cal reminders for the release date, which by no coincidence was “Black” Friday.  Nice marketing nuance.

First impressions on a handful of tracks were slightly less enthusiastic than had been expected.  Some tracks leave me feeling like the last true good hip-hop/rock collaboration was the Judgment Night soundtrack.  As we listened on we were happy to find some serious sick cuts.

The tracks that still maintain and showcase the vintage Black Keys blues rock sound while fusing the flow of a fine selection of MC’s are wonderful.  Some tracks seem to lose the Keys signature and that is a shame.  That being said, well worth the wait for the few gems!!

By far our favorite cut is What You Do to Me.  Super swanky flow by Dan Auerbach on the chorus make you want light a smoke and sport a fedora.  Dan’s keyboard lick that echoes throughout kills!!  Nicole Wray’s sexy voice is the glue that binds the hard hitting verses by Billy Danze and Jim Jones.  As a total package, OUTSTANDING!!!

Note:  Make sure you check out the great video webisodes of the making of the album. www.blakroc.com/videos.html

Download: Blakroc – What You Do to Me (feat. Billy Danze, Jim Jones & Nicole Wray)

Download: Blakroc – Hope You’re Happy (feat. Billy Danze, Nicole Wray & Q-Tip)

Download: Blakroc – Ain’t Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo) [feat. Jim Jones & Mos Def]

Van Morrison at his best.  Off of the New York Sessions ‘67 album.  The entire album is well worth the price of addmission, but T.B. Sheets stands out.  Over 9 minutes of Van slanging smooth funk and soul.  The first time I heard it, I listed to it 4 times in a row.  A half hour well spent in my opinion.

Note: This is a lower quality file as to cut the file size down.  Buy the full cut in all of its glory here, http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/new-york-sessions-67/id183330860

Download: Van Morrison – T.B. Sheets