Jean-Baptiste “Rain”

I received a very short and polite email ten days ago from a rapper who goes by the name Jean-Baptiste. He stated that he considers “Rain” to be a fight song, and I couldn’t agree more. I’m keeping this post brief, but don’t think for a second I don’t love this track. After a super 70’s vibe to kick off “Rain,” Jean-Baptiste spits bars that … Continue reading Jean-Baptiste “Rain”

Molehill-“Hearts On Fire”

Chicago rockers Molehill have released the first of three singles coming out over the next few months that will make up their Hearts On Fire EP. The title track premiered on 50Thirdand3rd‘s website yesterday. The protest anthem feels very in-step with the times, and I’m all for any songs that stand behind the #Resist movement. Molehill has always been a band who knows what they … Continue reading Molehill-“Hearts On Fire”

CIFF Capsule Review: Red Rose

The film Red Rose takes place in an apartment above the streets of Tehran just after the sham election of 2009 that kept Mahmoud Ahmedinijad in power. Supporters of Mousavi, the main competitor of Ahmedinijad took to the streets to protest the results. The Green Wave (or Sea Of Green/Green Revolution) was a key point in Iranian history when the people stood up and made … Continue reading CIFF Capsule Review: Red Rose

Hurray For The Riff Raff-Look Out Mama

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Back in August of last year I did a short write up on the band Hurray For The Riff Raff. I had stumbled upon a release that combined some of their earlier EP’s into one full-length record and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Because it was really more of a compilation, there were definitely parts that seemed disjointed but it was all the same style and fit together sonically. At that time they were still well under the radar, with no one really talking about their music other than lead singer Alynda Lee Segarra’s work on the HBO series “Treme.” Now, with the title-track/lead single making it’s way around radio and blogs, Look Out Mama is looking to be a big hit for the band I said “catches the essence of America so brilliantly.” Continue reading “Hurray For The Riff Raff-Look Out Mama”