Artist Profile
Lupe Fiasco | The Cool
If you like Kanye, N.E.R.D., Common, and Blackstar - you will absolutely love Lupe Fiasco. Lupe has managed to finesse me into both his fan club and his bandwagon when I saw him perform live at University of Delaware. He’s got skill and the great thing is - he’s still young and growing!
Immortal Technique | 3rd World
Immortal Technique can be best described as a hardcore underground hip-hop emcee with raw style; he uses simple beats and his lyrics can be downright caustic at times, but mostly everything he does has a message. [thx, Schiavoni] And that message is so engrossing, you can’t help but listen to more of what he has to say. Last week, he dropped his 3rd full album entitled The 3rd World (2008).
Lacuna Coil
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… there aren’t enough strong female voices in hard rock. Lacuna Coil is one of those few bands with a solid female singer, and they’re not known widely enough in the states. I have all four full length studio releases, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t either.
Finger Eleven
I’ve mentioned Finger Eleven on the site a couple times by now, and it’s about time they got their own post. I was pretty lucky to find these guys as I found them back in my gambling days of buying cheap rock CDs I hadn’t heard of. While I don’t agree with their creative choices for their most recent CD, they still had a few great albums before they turned to complete mainstream. The first album I purchased was The Greyest of Blue Skies (2000), but my favorite is their first release under Finger Eleven, Tip (1997).
Damian, Julian, and Stephen Marley
The Marley’s stand out far outside the realm of the norm. I consider them a distinct group of artists and brothers who inherited the wisdom and soul of Bob Marley, while still adapting to the new culture and politics of our generation. They stand firm as the roots of conscious reggae music.
Alexisonfire
For those of you haven’t heard of Alexisonfire, the name is pronounced “Alexis On Fire”… not “Alex Is On Fire”. Some how this band slipped under my radar for more than a few years. I first heard them being played at work back in 2006, but I never got around to buying any of their albums until about a month ago. Needless to say, I’ve purchased all three full length studio albums.
Death Metal with Talent | Opeth
Opeth released a new album on June 3rd entitled Watershed (2008). And let me tell you, it is one of the strongest rock/metal albums I’ve heard in a very long time. I will even go as far as to say since the release of 10,000 Days by Tool. Their latest single entitled “Porcelain Heart” summarizes the depth.
10 Years
A newcomer to my ears, 10 Years, has put out two amazing albums entitled Division (2008) and The Autumn Effect (2005) that I’ve had a chance to hear. Both albums are play from start to end type of music. I’ve probably listened to each over 50 times and never did I pick a single and move away. And you’re damn sure that after listening to an album that many times, I remember every change in beat and every word of their lyrics. I’m so glad their lyrics are actually quality and conscious!
Gateway to Post-Metal | Isis
Rhythm. That’s the best word to describe Isis. They are one of the heaviest bands I listen to and definitely the most rhythmically inclined. I believe Isis is among the most influential artists in rock (you just might not realize it), and they’re certainly one the most influential groups among my personal musical influences. It took a few albums for Isis to really develop, but their last two have done rather well for such a niche audience.
Post-Rocked Jazz | The Samuel Jackson Five
I’ll be honest, I purchased The Samuel Jackson Five strictly for the name. I can’t quite remember, but I’m pretty sure I saw their name under one of those “listener’s also bought” type categories when purchasing the new album by Russian Circles. I suppose they both somewhat fit into the Chicago math rock scene. However, there are two key differences between the two bands. The Samuel Jackson Five has a much more apparent jazz influence and even a little experimental rock from time to time. The other difference is that The Samuel Jackson Five isn’t from Chicago, but instead Oslo, Norway.
