The Musik Lounge

Even after 5 years in Seattle I never did see a “grunge” show. I saw a few rock shows in between copious amounts of rap shows. But hey, the Saturday spin column has always been about the stuff a little left of center I find myself listening too at all hours of the night. So what better way to bring it back to life than with some like this: Mike Glendinning , Random Acts of Grunge Jazz . My initial suspicions were proven slightly wrong as this meandering record will prove to be an very unique listen, if nothing else. Mike seems to be a talented musician playing guitar and holding down vocal duties and he has an decent line up behind him. Filled with fuzzy guitar chords, hard drums and some well placed strings this album comes off like Nirvana (sue me, I don't know another "grunge" band) meets Meg Christian and Herbie Hancock. While it's never quite as catchy as Nirvana proved to be, it is as loud. It's never quite as experimental as Herbie proved he could be, but

Damn... I never thought I'd be excited about a project that had such pop stars as Jermaine Dupri, Nelly and Usher but the song already had me curious and this video just sells it. Not to say they are bad artists, just not really something I've been fucking with in a minute. But I'll be rocking their new tape this afternoon thanks to this - be on the look out for a review! If you didn't have it, you can grab the song here - courtesy of the dope boy shake .

When I think of the Hip Hop I love, it’s not the hard core gangsta tales that inspire me but the soulful productions that any number of emcees chose to rhyme on about their life. From Nas telling stories about the view from his project window to Brother Ali doing the same almost a decade later or delivering a sermon about the modern day fuckery that is American politics ( “Uncle Sam Goddamn” anyone?) the music of these tracks and countless others inspire movement and excitement. The canvases produced by record collectors provided the right back drop for inspired poetry – and that is Hip Hop. Soulution may be an unknown name in the country which birthed his chosen genre of music, but he certainly managed to capture the pens of a number of talented emcees – some known and some not so known, but all incredibly talented at delivering impassioned rhymes for the people to take in and enjoy. Being born in the Netherlands in the early 80s, one listen to Soulution’s debut album Shine Through

When two of the biggest and baddest DJ's join forces with the greatest publication you've probably never read to put out a special Tee and companion mix CD you know it's gonna be hot! After dabbling with a fashion related post , I figure why not keep 'em coming? I like clothes, I can admit it - and when they are this fly whats not to dig? Cop the Tee here and shouts out to Blanco @ Put Me On It for, yes, putting me on it.

It's a new day, a new month and I'm trying to make some changes in my personal life. Hopefully this will mean more posts here at the lounge for ya'll! Back when I posted on the regular, Monday was reserved for mix tape reviews. It might not exactly be Monday but close enough right? Rock City caught my attention on the last Beans album with the single “Go Low” getting a video treatment. While you can argue the quality of a Beanie Sigel album for days (I'm a fan, always have been – It's the ROC!) the duo that is Rock City undoubtedly killed the track and proved that they can hold down a hook for the future – lets see them get some features from these lazy ass rappers! But where “Go Low” shed some light on their voices, this sneak peak of a mix tape shows that they are actually capable emcees – at least when going in on a number of modern day classic beats. From opening with the obligatory “Say You Will” cover they flip it up and attack Common's “Be” intro for thei