Kobe Bryant by Lil Wayne

You think Lil Wayne doesn't rack up the frequent flyer miles around this time of year he seems to be everywhere during the NBA Playoffs? In between flying from NBA city to city he managed to hit us with this ode to Mr. 24 himself. Download Kobe Bryant here.

Mirror's Edge Contest

With the holidays approaching, we here at A Walking Disaster are in the giving mood. To celebrate the release of Mirror's Edge, we are holding a contest. The winner will get a copy of the PS3 or XBOX360 game as well as the remix CD featuring the theme from the game featuring Lisa Miskovsky. All you have to do is post your name and email address in the comments section one winner will be chosen randomly. The contest is open to US residents and will be chosen Friday November 21st.

UPDATE: We are giving away the PS3 version...XBOX we ran out.


Track Listing:
1. Still Alive (Mirror's Edge Theme Song) - Lisa Miskovsky
2. Still Alive (Remix) - Benny Benassi
3. Still Alive (Remix) - Junkie XL
4. Still Alive (Remix) - Paul Van Dyk
5. Still Alive (Remix) - Teddybears
6. Still Alive (Remix) - Arman Van Helden

Although she’s only in the beginning of her North American climb, Lisa Miskovsky is already a household name in her homeland of Sweden. Judging by her alluring new single, “Still Alive”--which serves as the provocative theme song to the highly anticipated new DICE/EA video game Mirror’s Edge-–this tremendous talent is positioned for global ascent.

In its various incarnations, Miskovsky’s song defines the Mirror’s Edge remix album. A landmark digital release designed to continue the convergence of music and gaming, the project presented Miskovsky – who has earned international acclaim and a slew of top music honors on the strength of two chart-topping studio albums – an opportunity for her memorable and ethereal pop/rock anthem to be enthusiastically remixed by some of the world’s top electronic performers and producers.

Be it Teddybears’ exuberant, clap-driven rendering, Junkie XL’s lilting dance-pop renovation, Paul Van Dyk’s pulsing ten-minute trance-floor workout, Benny Benassi’s frenzied version or Armand Van Helden’s slice and dice interpretation or the song in its original, beautiful state, “Still Alive” sounds destined to live in the hearts and minds of pop fans, club denizens and consumed gamers alike for years to come.

“I wrote the melody for the vocals and the lyrics, inspired by the story and the characters in the game,” Lisa explains of the uplifting number she co-wrote with Rami Yacoub and Arnthor Birgisson (Pink, Britney Spears, Kelis). “I had never had my music remixed by any of them before and it is always interesting to hear what they will come up with.”

Whether in its gorgeous initial incarnation or in its inventive altered forms, Miskovsky says, “My hope is that it will be a success. It is a great song and I would love to be on tour in the U.S. Many of my friends get to hang out in the U.S. and some of them [like the (International) Noise Conspiracy are touring and recording their albums there with producers like Rick Rubin, which is super cool. I also have dreams I want to achieve. There are so many great producers and musicians that I would like to work with.”

With a mantle full of honors at home for her #1 eponymous debut and its platinum-selling #1 follow-up, Fallwater, Miskovsky--who was the recipient of several Rock Bears (Sweden’s Grammy equivalent) including “Best New Artist”, “Best Female Artist” and “Artist of the Year” and even co-wrote along with Max Martin and Rami Yacoub the Backstreet Boys hit “Shape Of My Heart”--is certainly deserving of the chance.

Since her 2001 debut, Lisa has racked up an impressive string of hits in her homeland, including “Driving One of Your Cars,” “Lady Stardust,” “Sing To Me”, “Mary” (from her 2006 studio disc, Changes) and “Another Shape of My Heart” (from 2008’s Last Years’ Songs: Greatest Hits). She’s also collaborated with Sweden’s alt-country hero Christian Kjellvander and dueted with Dennis Lyxen (frontman for the aforementioned (I)NC) on his Lost Patrol project.

Clearly a multi-instrumentalist, Miskovsky has embraced diversity in her music, even lending her vocals to “Dead End” the 2006 track by Swedish death metal group In Flames. And if that isn’t enough, Lisa is an avid sportswoman, who was once a member of the Swedish National Snowboarding team.

“I still ride but not as much as before,” Miskovsky explains. “I wasn’t into competing. I just wanted to free-ride, so I decided to ride on my free time. Now I play ice hockey and surf too, so I have time to do all the things I love.”

“I feel different from many people here in the music scene in Sweden,” Lisa continues, discussing her unique outlook. “They tend to forget that I also have this other side of me that loves sports, games and other things. It is my passion just as much as music. I need to get away from the music scene to be inspired by other things and the other way around.”

It’s perhaps the very reason that Lisa is an ideal fit for the highly anticipated Mirror’s Edge, successfully delivering a song that is as able to stand on its own two feet as it is able capable of representing the emotional experience brought forth by the new game.

It’s a feat that parallels with Lisa’s desire to thrive and evolve in her many pursuits. Or as Miskovsky says humbly, “I have managed to combine everything so far, so hopefully it will stay this way.”

With “Still Alive” as her introduction to North American audiences, Lisa Miskovsky has put a vital, memorable stamp on the music and gaming worlds.

For more information on EA, DICE or Mirror’s Edge,
please visit
www.ea.com
www.dice.se
www.mirrorsedge.com

Listen:
Still Alive (Mirror's Edge Theme Song) - Lisa Miskovsky

MSTRKRFT

MSTRKRFT will be launching off into their "Fist of God" tour, starting today, all the way through November 1. The Toronto-based electro wizards will be joined by Felix Cartel, LA Riots and Congarock.

Unfortunately, their highly anticipated release won't hit retailers until January 6 of next year, so we have to wait! The album will also include an appearance from N.O.R.E.

MSTRKRFT Tour Dates:
September
30 Pomona, CA - Glass House %+

October
1 San Francisco, CA – Mezzanine %+
2 Seattle, WA – Showbox %+
3 Vancouver, British Columbia – Celebrities %
4 Winnipeg, Manitoba - Exchange Event Center %
6 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue %+
7 Chicago, IL - Metro %+
8 Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre %+
9 Columbus, OH 0 Boma %+
10 New York, NY - Webster Hall %+$
11 Poughkeepsie, NY - Vassar College %+
12 Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of the Living Arts %+
13 Boston, MA - The Estate %#+
15 Baltimore, MD - Redrock %#
16 Charlotte, NC - Forum %#
17 Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge %#
18 Atlanta, GA - Masquerade Music Park %#
19 Memphis, TN - Hard Rock Café Memphis %#
22 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live %#
23 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa %#
24 Dallas, TX - House of Blues %#
25 New Orleans, LA - Voodoo Music Experience: The Tenth Ritual
27 Lawrence, KS - Liberty Hall %#
28 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre %#
31 Salt Lake City, UT - Salt Palace Convention Center %

November
1 Las Vegas, NV - Fabulous Festival

* = w/ DJ A-Trak
^ = w/ DJ Steve Aoki
% = w/ Felix Cartal, MK
# = w/ LA Riots
+ = w/ Congorock
$ = w/ DJ Assault

Listen:
MSTRKRFT feat N.O.R.E.-Bounce (MP3)

The Killers (News)

As many of you know or do not know, I consider myself a big fan of The Killers, news has surfaced of a few new tracks that they recently played in New York. The tracks are from their upcoming release Day & Age which is to be released November 25th. The first single "Human" will be available on iTunes September 30th. The video below is for another track "Sweet Talk", with production coming from Stuart Price (Madonna, Gwen Stefani), I'm eager to see if he brings a dance element which is a staple with his previous production. I really like the riff in the track below.  First impression from these two tracks is very reminiscent of Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, with a hint of New Order.

"Sweet Talk"

Listen:
The Killers-Human (MP3)

Weezer On Tour

Looks like Rivers and the boys are going on tour with openers Angeles and Airwaves and Tokyo Police Club. They arrive in The Mile High (or should I say Broomfield) on October 5th. I have always been a Weezer fan ever since listening to "The Sweater Song" which still gets constant play on the iPod.  How many bands can claim their lead singer is a Harvard graduate?

Weezer - 2008 Tour Dates 

  

Sep 23 Boston, MA Tsongas Arena
Sep 24 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Sep 26 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Casino
Sep 27 Philadelphia, PA Susquehanna Center
Sep 29 Detroit, MI The Palace of Auburn Hills
Sep 30 Toronto, ON Air Canada Center
Oct 2 Chicago, IL All State Arena

Oct 3 St. Paul, MN Xcel Arena

Oct 5 Denver, CO Broomfield

Oct 7 Salt Lake City, UT E Center

Oct 9 Portland OR Memorial Coliseum
Oct 10 Vancouver, BC GM Place
Oct 11 Seattle, WA Key Arena
Oct 13 San Jose, CA Events Center
Oct 14 Los Angeles, CA The Forum
Oct 17 San Diego, CA Cox Arena
Oct 18 Phoenix, AZ Arizona State Fair
Oct 20 Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center
Oct 21 Dallas, TX Nokia Theater
Oct 23 Houston, TX Reliant Arena
Oct 25 Atlanta, GA Gwinnett Arena

Weezer- Pork and Beans (MP3)

Weezer:

Website

MySpace

The Faint

The Faint are set to release their first album in four years – Fasciinatiion – on August 5th through their own, newly-formed label, blank.wav. Fasciinatiion, The Faint's fifth album, is the first in the band's ten-year history to be written, recorded, produced, art directed and released entirely on their own. Prior to the album's release, the Omaha quintet will be hitting the road, playing lots of new songs from Fasciinatiion, in addition to favorites from their critically-acclaimed catalogue. The tour begins in Des Moines, IA on July 27th, 2008. Tickets will go on sale for these shows this week.

Fasciinatiion is a culmination of nearly four years of writing and recording, a process that has always been a wholly democractic one for The Faint. After the release of the band's lauded fourth record, Wet From Birth, The Faint – Todd Fink (vocals), Joel Petersen (bass/guitar), Clark Baechle (drums), Jacob Thiele (synthesizers), Dapose (guitar/bass) – spent the next year on the road across the globe. They returned home to Omaha in 2005, where they began work on their newest venture – Enamel – a recording-and-art studio to take the place of their former workspace, The Orifice. Once built (another project The Faint undertook completely on their own), they began the long process of writing new material, and, once enough songs had been amassed, eventually made the decision to produce the record themselves. Working on their own without any time constraints, the songs went through many recorded incarnations before finding their final forms. The result is the best album in the band's career, a record that is the purest culmination of The Faint's brilliant musical instincts, ideas and aesthetic, with each member contributing equally to its creation.

Fasciinatiion is an album that draws on many defining facets of The Faint's sound, while remaining completely different from anything else they've put out. A record whose themes include predictions and the future, tabloid culture, the allure of what may never be, childhood lost and more, Fasciinatiion sounds as if it's been beamed in from a satellite whose sole purpose is observing, and making sense of, the details of every day existence. In certain ways, the album is the most mechanical and precise of the band's work: Todd's voice sounds less human than ever before; the bass lines are more mangled, keyboards spiral and squeal out of control; electronic pings and stabs invade the melodies; the lyrical anxiety and disdain of previous albums pervades almost every song on Fasciinatiion. Opener "Get Seduced" is The Faint at their best, the song’s critique of celebrity culture matched with one of the finest choruses they've ever written. First single "The Geeks Were Right" draws on the tenets of futurist literature and sliding, siren-call guitars. "Fulcrum and Lever" marries ambient noise with space references, alienation and a stuttering, flexing beat, while "Mirror Error" explores identity and consciousness within its perfect, propulsive electro-pop, its choruses swirling high and taking Todd's voice up with it. Closer "A Battle Hymn for Children" flinches with nervous rhythms against resentment of the future to be inherited and keyboards that sound like flailing voices (or is it flailing voices that sound like keyboards? On Fasciinatiion, one can never tell).

The tracklisting for Fasciinatiion:
1. Get Seduced
2. The Geeks Were Right
3. Machine in the Ghost
4. Fulcrum and Lever
5. Psycho
6. Mirror Error
7. I Treat You Wrong
8. Forever Growing Centipedes
9. Fish in a Womb
10. A Battle Hymn for Children


The tour dates:
7/27/08 Des Moines, IA @ Peoples Court
7/28/08 Sioux Falls, SD @ Ramkota Annex
7/29/08 Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
7/30/08 Salt Lake City, UT @ In the Venue
7/31/08 Boise, ID @ Big Easy Boise
8/1/08 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore
8/2/08 Seattle, WA @ Showbox at the Market
8/3/08 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
8/4/08 San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
8/5/08 San Francisco, CA @ Grand Ballroom
8/7/08 Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theatre
8/8/08 Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theatre
8/9/08 San Diego, CA @ Soma
8/11/08 Austin, TX @ La Zona Rosa
8/12/08 Dallas, TX @ Palladium
8/14/08 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
8/15/08 Carrboro, NC @ Cats Cradle
8/16/08 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
8/17/08 Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
8/18/08 New York, NY @ Terminal 5
8/20/08 Worcester, MA @ Palladium
8/21/08 Toronto, ON @ Opera House
8/22/08 Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
8/23/08 Omaha, NE @ Soko Auditorium


The Faint-The Geeks Were Right (DIOYY Remix) (MP3)

GZA

True genius can not be rushed. In the case of the legendary lyricist GZA, time has always been on his side. With Pro Tools, GZA’s latest release and fifth solo album courtesy of renowned indie Babygrande Records, the masterful MC adds yet another lyrically stunning LP to his rich musical catalogue. For the past 15 years, GZA has been stretching the sensibility of modern-day hip-hop with his finely crafted, thought provoking wordplay which he credits to his willingness to delve deep into the written word.

“I’m not one to write a rhyme in 30 minutes,” says GZA about his sometimes protracted creative process. “Once RZA came to me and was like, ‘Don’t take two fuckin’ weeks to write a verse man, don’t strain your brain.’ Then when I take two weeks to write something he’ll be like, ‘This is a masterpiece man!’ That’s how I have to do it, I like to work like that.”
As one of the founding members of the mighty Wu-Tang Clan, GZA’s mic mastery first gained prominence in 1993 with the release of the Clan’s first LP, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Two years later, GZA released his second solo album, Liquid Swords on Geffen Records which went on to sell over one million copies and earn a platinum plaque. Throughout his various projects with the Wu and classic appearances on other member’s side projects, GZA maintained a reputation as a skilled wordsmith with a highly recognizable and authoritative delivery.

“There’s always a double or triple meaning when I’m rhyming, that’s the good thing about it,” says the cerebral MC. “People can listen to something over and over and hear something different every time. That’s what writing is about. I don’t want to be simple, I don’t want to be literal.”

Originally slated to be a compilation featuring notable up & comers interlaced with a few of GZA’s own rhymes, the seeds of what would ultimately become Pro Tools were laid close to two years ago. After acquiring a bevy of beats and Wu-fam guest appearances, he decided to scrap the idea of a compilation and turned the album into a forum to flex his latest rhyme styles. With an overall technique that builds off of one of the greatest strengths of a good MC, GZA says Pro Tools features a higher level of braggadocio than heard on his past work. His favorite track on the album, “Zero Percent Finance” finds him name checking expensive cars and accessories in a way that challenges the hip-hop norm.

“I have a history of doing these songs where I incorporate the names of labels, famous people or animals like I did on ‘Animal Planet,’” he says. “This time I’m speaking about cars but I’m speaking about them in a whole different fashion. I start the song off by saying, ‘I took her off the floor, no money down.’ I’m talking about a female but I’m comparing her to a car. I’m not talking about how much my rims cost, my soft leather seats, the TVs in the headrest and all these things that really have no value or meaning to me.” Even when he’s taking on a certain Vitamin Water mogul as heard on the leak track “Paper Plate” (that’s currently burning up the web), GZA infuses his flow with vivid imagery and metaphorical symbolism. The reference to “Paper Plate” connotes the disposability of certain emcees’ rhymes and their questionable long term career prospects.

Traveling further into the far reaches of GZA’s imagination, “Nightmares,” a track produced by Arabian Night, takes listeners on a haunted ride through the paranormal. With additional production from RZA, Tru Master and Bronze Nazareth, Pro Tools is an audible continuation of the coveted Wu-Tang aesthetic. “I never focus on what people are listening to or what other guys are doing,” says GZA. “Since day one it’s always been about lyrics so I never go into the studio with the idea of making a club song or a radio song or something that females will like, it just has to come naturally.”

With another finely tuned project to his credit, GZA continues to hold his standing as one of the rap game’s most well versed lyricists. With the release of Pro Tools, hip-hop fans around the world will be able to catch an even deeper view into what goes on in the mind of a master. “I just think it’s a great piece of work,” says GZA. “It’s something that people will enjoy and will love to have. It’s needed.”

I consider myself an old school' Wu fan and GZA's Liquid Swords has always been a staple in my hip-hop rotation, with this release judging by the first single Paper Plate which takes aim at G-Units main man Mr. Curtis jackson himself, GZA takes us back to the days of glory.

Pro Tools is out August 19th

www.gza-genius.com
www.ihiphop.com/GZAgenius
www.babygrande.com



Listen:
GZA-Paper Plate (MP3)

Girl Talk

Greg Gillis a.k.a. Girl Talk will make a stop in Boulder this coming Friday at The Fox Theater.  This will be my first time seeing Girl Talk  and have been told that it might get a little crazy. I will be reviewing the show for Antics (which by the way is completely up and running) and will keep you in the mix when it's posted.  Girl Talk is also launching his tour as well (turns out we get to see him again on Halloween night here in Denver)

Girl Talk Tour Dates:

July

25 Seattle, WA - Capitol Hill Block Party

26 Portland, OR - Roseland Theater *

August

3 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza)

8 Jersey City, NJ - Liberty State Park (All Points West Festival)

October

9 Philadelphia, PA - Starlight Ballroom #^

10 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club #^

11 Baltimore, MD - Sonar #^

13 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle #^

14 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel #^

15 Knoxville, TN - Valarium #^

16 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse #^

17 New Orleans, LA - House of Blues #^

18 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live! #^

20 Austin, TX - Emo's #^

21 Dallas, TX - Palladium Ballroom #^

23 Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theater #^

24 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theater #^

25 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theater %!

27 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore %!

28 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore %!

30 Salt Lake City, UT - In the Venue %!

31 Denver, CO - Odgen Theater %!

November

1 Lawrence, KS - The Granada Theatre %!

3 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue %!

4 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom %!

5 Urbana, IL - Canopy Club %!

6 Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom %!

7 Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall %!

9 Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's %!

10 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom %!

11 Pontiac, MI - Eagle Theatre %!

14 Foxborough, MA - Showcase Live %!

* = w/ Panther

# = w/ Hearts of Darkness

^ = w/ Grand Buffet

% = w/ CX Kidtronik

! = w/ the Death Set

Pittsburgh artist Gregg Gillis (aka Girl Talk) has scrupulously created music from samples for over eight years. His fourth album, Feed the Animals, continues his sonic evolution towards his party-infested live show. While his first album, Secret Diary (2002), was full of purposeful glitches and noise, his subsequent albums, Unstoppable (2004) and the groundbreaking Night Ripper (2006), moved closer and closer towards dance-able mixes of varying genres, often including dozens of audio sources in a stream of juxtaposed hooks. With the fourth Girl Talk album on the Illegal Art label, Gillis steps even closer towards a creation that is centered on pop musicality rather than attention-deficit sample splicing.

Girl Talk has been known to underground audiences for several years, but it wasn't until 2006 that Gillis crossed over and caught the attention of a larger audience. With Rolling Stone, SPIN, Blender, Pitchfork, and even Beck including Night Ripper in their _best albums of 2006_ lists, Girl Talk has gone on to be booked by major festivals (Coachella, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Virgin, All Points West, Pitchfork, DEMF, etc.), and solicited for remixes (Beck, Thrill Jockey, Tokyo Police Club, Grizzly Bear, Simian Mobile Disco, Peter Bjorn & John, TeddyBears, and Of Montreal). And with roughly 200 live shows over the last couple of years, Gillis has consistently played larger venues to capacity crowds (every date on his 2007 North American tour with Dan Deacon sold out). A year after the critically acclaimed Night Ripper release, Gillis quit his job as a biomedical engineer and now focuses on music full time. With his newly acquired lifestyle he can now work on music during the week and fly out to play shows on the weekend. With only a laptop in hand, the Girl Talk live show is more portable than a traditional band and has afforded Gillis the opportunity to travel the world with minimal overhead. A visceral culture of audience involvement has also become key to the live Girl Talk experience. Performances oftentimes feature the stage being mobbed with a sweaty mass of dancers who surround Gillis as he triggers samples and create mixes, new and old, out of loops from his hard drive. Such performances have quickly become one of the most entertaining and exhilarating live shows many have experienced as Girl Talk has the extraordinary ability to get the crowd ecstatic and keep the thrill going for the entire concert.

The new album, Feed the Animals, collects the material that was developed over the last two years as part of Gillis' ever-changing live show. With hours of material in hand, it still took months to meticulously edit together the seamless album that combines 300+ samples in 50 minutes. Such fastidious care is what separates Girl Talk from the dime-a-dozen remixes that are posted to the Internet daily. In comparison to the previous release, Gillis has described this new album as expanded, with a larger range of tempos and samples. Yet, at the same time the focus has shifted from technical prowess to the flow and balance of each segment in an effort to successful translate the over-the-top party feel of the Girl Talk live show into album form. Before Girl Talk suddenly reached critical acclaim, a typical show would attract 15-30 people. During those initial years it was an extreme oddity for someone to show up with a laptop and play elaborately constructed mixes of pop samples. In the last couple of years, though, not only have Gillis' live shows exploded, but he is also being recognized for his innovations. From Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips nominating him for the Shortlist Music Prize to Representative Mike Doyle speaking about him to Congress (in relation to copyright laws), Gillis has quickly become a public figure. Emerging from his underground Pittsburgh roots, he is now being lauded as the future of electronic music by techno pioneer Richie Hawtin, while celebrities such as Paris Hilton are vying to dance onstage during a Girl Talk show. Gillis modestly takes it all in stride and has stated in interviews that he will eventually go back to a normal job, all the while reveling in the party while it lasts. 

While Girl Talk's music is often categorized alongside mashups, or DJ mixes, it is critical to note how distinct his assemblages are from the conventional mixing of two simultaneous tracks. Gillis' roots lie more in the rich history of sample-based compostion as demonstrated by artists such as Dickie Goodman, Negativland, John Oswald, Steinski, Public Enemy (The Bomb Squad era), and countless others. Rather than taking mashups to an extreme, Girl Talk is more focused on the art of the sampling and developing new tracks that have their own character, and surpass the original elements. Such transformative work is what helps qualify his output as being protected by the _fair use_ principle of U.S. Copyright Law.

Listen:

Girl Talk-Here's The Thing (MP3)

A-Trak ft. Lupe Fiasco: “Me and My Sneakers”

A collaboration by some of Chi'town's finest on this track. Check It.

Hypebeast:
A-Trak ft. Lupe Fiasco: “Me and My Sneakers”

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Download:
Me and My Sneakers (MP3): A-Trak ft. Lupe Fiasco