New Music Reviews (4/19) KEXP
Each week, Music Director Don Yates (joined this week by DJs Alex, Abbie, and Gabriel Teodros) shares brief insights on new and upcoming releases for KEXP s rotation. These reviews help our DJs decide on what they want to play. See what we added this week below (and on our Charts page), including new releases from
Jupiter & Okwess,
Na Kozonga (Everloving)
The latest release from this Congolese band led by Jupiter Bokondji is an impressive, energetic set of various Congolese styles inflected with funk, rock and more, combining fiery electric guitars, percolating rhythms, call-and-response vocals and hypnotic song hooks. The album’s special guests include Ana Tijoux and Preservation Hall Jazz Band. DY
Mesquite
Texas
United-states
Louisiana
Brooklyn
Illinois
United-kingdom
Paris
France-general
France
Browns-wood
Wexford
Denton rapper
AV The Great took to the studio to give his thoughts on the insurrection at the Capitol building last week. The single “Jan 6th, 2021” captures the artist’s stunned disbelief at what unfolded and notes the utter hypocrisy of the domestic terrorists’ actions with lyrics such as: “Kaepernick just took a knee.”
Is your New Year’s resolution to learn the guitar? If so, here is your chance to get lessons from Dallas’ finest musicians.
Jess Garland is adding seven new music classes that begin in February. These additional classes are presented by the South Dallas Cultural Center and include beginner guitar, intermediate/advanced guitar, songwriting and voice. Classes will be taught by Garland and other local musicians such as Emsy Robinson Jr., Kierra Gray, Kate Fisher and Lala J. Those interested are encouraged to sign up through Garland’s nonprofit Swan Strings.
Corsicana
Texas
United-states
Ireland
Dallas
Ellsworth
Odenton
Irish
American
Simone-nicole
Levi-ray
Zane-faulhaber
Black Tie Dynasty drummer Eddie Thomas died Dec. 26 after a years-long battle with brain cancer. After reuniting in December 2019 after a decade-long hiatus, the band played a handful of shows before the pandemic and was planning to reschedule shows that had been subsequently postponed. Thomas is survived by his wife, daughter and granddaughter.
Emo band
awakebutstillinbed, whose lead singer Shannon Taylor hails from Mesquite, surprised fans with a new EP on Christmas Day, the band’s first release since their 2018 debut.
Stay who you are includes three new tracks “beauty,” “leave” and “mirror” that did not quite fit the band’s upcoming releases, but their balladry is perfect for a gray winter’s afternoon.
Cuba
Dallas
Texas
United-states
Fort-worth
Cuban
Kevin-russell
Trey-johnson
Jeremy-joel
David-fletcher
Eddie-thomas
Cameron-smith