TAG: alternative

Dec14

DJ Assal Releases New Club Mix

For all those looking for a new mix to get you through December, DJ and Rapper-Songwriter ASSAL has something fresh for your ears. Born in Germany and from a Persian background, ASSAL is that world class #veryrare chic tweaking your favorite genres with a global sound reminiscent of her upbringing. ASSAL and her music ignore traditional boundaries with her compositions combining elements of electronic, dance, alternative, hip hop and world music.  

Her eclectic background not only shows through in her music, but in her unique sense of style as well.  This jet setting partygoer and fashionite evokes global glamour, classic cool, and edginess all at once. What we’d like to call a “cultural cocktail.” Yes we just coined that. A tastemaker in her own right – her cutting edge style and genre-hopping have drawn comparisons to M.I.A or Santigold …

Nov04

Chiddy Bang ‘The Preview’ (Review)

Chiddy Bang

The Preview

Released by Virgin


The Philladelphia based Chiddy Bang packs a solid punch with their Virgin Records release The Preview. This alternative pop duo, comprised of  rapper Chidera Anamege and producer Noah Beresin, met as under-graduate students at Drexel University. After the success of  their first mixtape "The Swelly Express", the duo rose to social media stardom and soon inked a deal with EMI. Their radio friendly debut (which features guest appearances by hip-hop royalty Q-Tip and new comer Theodore Grams) applies Chidera's witty punchlines to the synth like creations of Noah, who ...
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Oct11

¡MAYDAY! – Stuck on an Island (Review)

¡MAYDAY!

Stuck on an Island

Released by Latchkey Recordings


When listeners first met ¡MAYDAY!, their sound was predominately hip-hop. Over the years, however, they have allowed their timbre to evolve, sharing stages with Daft Punk and collaborating with musical gems ranging from the brilliantly oddballish Devin the Dude to the far-out Cee-Lo. Their video for “Groundhog Day,” which featured the Gnarls Barkley half, premiered on YouTube in 2007, breaking two million views in less than two days and receiving hefty recognition from major media figures including the New York Times. Packaging both their success and growth ...
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Jan26

Terrence Cunningham — “Falling” and “Remember” (MP3)

At the end of 2009, pianist/singer/songwriter, Terrence Cunningham, gave an anticipating audience a soulful-alternative experience that they will never forget via his live recording in his hometown of Washington, DC. Although the album will not be released until Summer 2010, its only fair that I share a few until we get a chance to place the full album in our hands. If this only makes you anxious all the more and you are in the DC area, check him out at his artist residency at Layla Lounge. Until then, here are a couple of live acoustic tracks of songs that will be on the soon to be released album, recorded live on 88.8 FM in MD/DC this past weekend.

“Falling”
[audio:http://www.urb.com/files/2010/01/Falling.mp3]

“Remember”
[audio:http://www.urb.com/files/2010/01/Remember.mp3]

Nov16

The Pixies ‘Doolittle’ Live @ Hollywood Palladium, 11.05.09

It’s been half a decade since The Pixie’s triumphant reunion performance at Coachella. During that time, the band has revitalized the reunion industry for Alternative Nation alumni acts, played every major festival on earth, done a couple of theater tours, and refused to put out any new music (although Frank Black did release his best post-Pixies work to date as Grand Duchy.) So it was hardly a surprise when The Pixies announced they’d be hitting the road again, this time to perform their classic 1989 album Doolittle. How many people would come to hear one of the best 38:38 seconds of alternative rock? It turns out enough to sell out three nights in Hollywood.