Social awakeningWhen it comes to speaking out on injustice, who better to share words than people who’ve been held in high regard for their artistic and thought-provoking contributions within a specific canon. Hip-hop artist Killer Mike took to the written word (via an op-ed for Billboard) to speak his mind on the horrible outcomes surrounding the fatal shooting of unarmed black teen Michael Brown. He not only addresses the shooting, but addresses the abuse of power in regards to the unsightly tactics law enforcement have undertaken in an effort to keep protesters at bay. Head to Billboard to read the article in its entirety. The rapper also went on CNN to talk about the piece and his thoughts on Ferguson. You can watch it below.Delivering the rageAnd while we’re on the topic of Ferguson, rapper/singer Lauryn Hill posted an old sketch track (“Black Rage”) on SoundCloud, dedicating it to what’s going on over in Missouri. The song is a version of the famous number “My Favorite Things.” You can hear that ditty below.The voodoo chile returnsIf you have a pen, highlighter or Sharpie in hand, you should flip your calendar over to September, work your magic little finger over to the 15th and circle, circle, circle. Because on that day, two out-of-print records from the late, great Jimi Hendrix are set to be re-released. Both records (The Cry of Love and Rainbow Bridge) were recorded in 1969 and 1970, but weren’t released until after Hendrix’ death in 1970. Those albums will get the full treatment, meaning people can purchase them on CD, vinyl and digital formats. So, again, mark that calendar.A swift returnWell … it’s official. Taylor Swift has abandoned her country roots. Rebranding herself under the pop umbrella, Swift released the video for the first single (“Shake It Off”) off her upcoming record (1989), which comes out on Oct. 27. If we’re looking at the single from a very distant eye-glance, it’s not really anything special, though Swift is using her cutesy wiles to poke fun at herself, while alerting listeners to shake off the bad vibes. Cause that hasn’t been heard in music before. Have a looksie below.Tuff it outI mentioned a while back that King Tuff was coming out with a new record (Black Moon Spell) on Sept. 23. Well, that’s still happening. Gasp! But Tuff has taken the initiative to make the title track available for your listening pressure. And let’s just say that this is a real treat of a song, and if the tune is any indication of the record itself … it’s gonna be one ferocious little gem. Have a listen below.Still not fadin’ awayTalk about a sneaker-upper … a group of country musicians have banded together to create a tribute album to one of rock’s greatest gifts: Buddy Holly. Mmhmm, you read that right. Artists like Merle Haggard, T. Graham Brown and Helen Cornelius will tackle songs from Holly’s oeuvre and give them a good ol’ country spin. The record, The Buddy Holly Country Tribute: Remember Me, hits stores and online markets on Sept. 7, on what would have been Holly’s 78th birthday if he’d still been alive. Whether or not you dig country (or what passes for country nowadays), this should be an exciting release. The last sliceThis is a sad one, y’all. Swedish experimental duo The Knife have announced that they’re calling it quits. After their tour is finished in November, the band is going to dissolve, though they didn’t specify as to what’s next for each of the members. All speculation aside, I’m sure that they’ll both go on to do interesting and innovative things. So as a goodbye, have a listen to their song “Heartbeats” below. Head over to Dazed to read what the band had to say about the break-up and the future.Something savage this way comesIn case I wasn’t overtly explicit, I love Savages. Well, at least their debut record (which made my Best Albums of 2013 list). I’m not going to go into my love over it because it would take all day, and I’m sure you’ve got important things lined up in your schedule. To the point: Savages is teaming up with “acid punk” band Bo Ningen for a collaborative record. Apparently, the album is going to be one 37-minute track, described as a “Sonic Simultaneous Poem.” And that’s expected to be out and about on Nov. 17. Any way you spin this, it’s exciting news. Head over to Pitchfork to read more about the upcoming release.Out of the basementIt was announced a while back that unearthed Bob Dylan lyrics from 1967 were going to be recorded and released as Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes. The record is produced by T. Bone Burnett and includes performances by Jim James (of My Morning Jacket), Elvis Costello, Marcus Mumford and more. The first snippet of what the record will entail has been posted online. Have a listen to Jim James’ version of Dylan’s “Nothing To It.”Dream of the streamOh snap, it’s time for some album streamage. You know you’ve been waiting for this one … it’s the New Pornographers’ new record (Brill Bruisers)! Exciting news for people who like the band. I can’t count myself in that group, though I’ve not heard enough from them to make a valid listening decision. You know … laziness and all. It gets the best of us. Regardless, head over to iTunes Radio to give that a listen before it gets stale from staying out too long. Wait … that’s bread. And since you’re getting it for free, you may as well head over to NPR to hear Ty Segall’s new record Manipulator. EDITOR’S NOTE: These streams are only up for a limited time, so apologies if they’re no longer available by the time you click these links.
Rooster Roundabout: This Week’s Music Highlights
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