This album is to me far superior to Tawk Tamahawk which just showed me they had mad potential the the ability to make some incredible shit. But also some shit that ain't move me.
I'm really digging this all the way through so far.
--
"You can't beat white people. You can only knock them out."
7. "After my first 2 listens the album is really good, bordering on great" In response to Reply # 0 Fri Apr-10-15 07:01 AM by Hitokiri
Much better than Tawk Tamhawk to me but it is a little long. It might be an even stronger album with a little trimming. I'm not sure where I would do that yet because there aren't really weak cuts. There's still nothing quite as good or accessible as Nakamarra which I would say is one of the best songs of the last 5-10 years. I have no idea what Nai Palm is talking about on most of these tracks, but despite that they're still very, very good. The groove is undeniable. Another example of how 2015 is the year that keeps on giving. This immediately goes onto the best of the year so far list.
The standouts so far are Shaolin Monk Motherfunk Breathing Underwater Fingerprints The Lung Molasses (which was the star of the EP) Building a Ladder
--
"You can't beat white people. You can only knock them out."
9. "Dunno if it would sound better persay but they are def superfluous" In response to Reply # 8
HK's music doesn't need interludes because it's already musical enough. There are plenty of moments with the band playing and no vocals and their music can often be disjointed with the vocal and non-vocal parts being very different.
--
"You can't beat white people. You can only knock them out."
17. "RE: After my first 2 listens the album is really good, bordering on grea..." In response to Reply # 7
man, y'all really not feeling 'jekyll' or 'borderline with my atoms'? seriously?
this bangs man... i pretty much like the whole lot, apart from 'swamp thing'. 'by fire is alright', but i don't really ride for it like that.
i think this is WAY better than tawk. and i'll take a 70 minute album if it this damn good.
>Much better than Tawk Tamhawk to me but it is a little long. >It might be an even stronger album with a little trimming. I'm >not sure where I would do that yet because there aren't really >weak cuts. There's still nothing quite as good or accessible >as Nakamarra which I would say is one of the best songs of the >last 5-10 years. I have no idea what Nai Palm is talking about >on most of these tracks, but despite that they're still very, >very good. The groove is undeniable. Another example of how >2015 is the year that keeps on giving. This immediately goes >onto the best of the year so far list. > >The standouts so far are >Shaolin Monk Motherfunk >Breathing Underwater >Fingerprints >The Lung >Molasses (which was the star of the EP) >Building a Ladder > >
20. "this is a breathtaking record" In response to Reply # 0
Nai Palm is pretty amazing as a songwriter, and her vocal technique is both traditional and unorthodox. It's stunning that this kind of vocal power comes from someone that tiny. I prefer music that demands my attention, so I can't really listen to this album with doing something else. Definitely my favorite soul album of the year, I enjoyed this MUCH more than D'angelo's record.
__________________________________________ CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!! ------------------------------------ Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this
30. "Not a bad album but damn, if it isn't a tad too long" In response to Reply # 0 Thu Apr-30-15 10:39 PM by ramaj1
Truthfully, take the three cuts on the By Fire EP released in January (Laputa, Molasses, By Fire), Breathing Underwater, Atari and Swamp Thang and you have an incredible EP. The rest is nice but forgettable IMO.
Interesting how much it feels of a kin to Soulquarian material circa 2002, whether just a matter of obvious shared influences or being directly influenced by that era of Badu/Roots/Common/Dilla records.
My one real complaint is that the sequencing is kinda goofy, which I think is what really exacerbates some of the length complaints above. The interludes can really throw off the pace, and the EP tracks (especially Laputa and By Fire) seem wildly out of place in the structure of the record.
Swamp Thing and The Lung are my current highlights, with Fingerprints and Atari being jams that would probably have been saved as non-album B-sides back in the day.
64. "personally it's more sonically adventurous, but not better" In response to Reply # 45 Sun May-17-15 08:02 PM by astralblak
Nai's hippy dippy overly metaphorical lyrics detract from the strength of the songs at times. but her voice, vocal phrasing and melodic choices make her actual words secondary, HOW she sings is a manifestation of beauty
82. "Well, I didn't give you help in the first response there" In response to Reply # 81
but I get you.
If you're curious, I think Flying Buddha reprinted the blue one I'm referring to domestically, so you should be able to get it here in the States if you want it. I was fortunate enough to snag what I think was one of the last copies fatbeats.com had in their stock roughly 2-3 months ago, when I first got hipped to the band via Anderson.Paak's sample from Malibu.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
102. "Ha. Good lookin' out." In response to Reply # 100
In the years since this post, I've cooled on colored variants. I'll seek out a certain color if I feel it's unique to the brand of the music/graphic design.
>I'll seek out a certain color if I feel it's unique to the brand of the music/graphic design.
same here. basically, it's gotta compliment or play off the sleeve artwork in some way to catch my attention. case in point: I passed on those recent blue Sault LPs because nothing else really makes sense BUT black for Sault.
I copped this pink pressing as the original green was long gone by the time I was checking for this record. plus, the group didn't benefit at all from the used copy I got, so it felt good to support them officially.
normally I'd unload my earlier copy (keeping both is kinda pointless), but I have a good memory associated with the black pressing I found first, so it stays in the collection.
52. "Saw them last night in Boulder" In response to Reply # 0
Amazing show. I love everything about this band. It seems like they take little bits of all the different types of music I like and make something new out of it. They were only selling CD's at the show though, no vinyl
86. "I can't even begin to say how much I loved this album" In response to Reply # 0
Found out about the group in a round about way (listening to Robert Glasper's Miles Davis experiment their remake of Little Church got me through many a hard day at work. Went to see what Haiatus was, and stumbled Breathing Underwater. The rest was a wrap). That album was in rotation for 4 months straight. I can't remember an album resonating with me like that since Portishead's Third. While it wasn't perfect it was easily one of my favorite albums in years. Can't wait to see how they progress.
<-- Dave Thomas knows what's up... __________________________
Jay: Look here homie, any nigga can get a hit record. This here is about respect. Game: Like Gladys Knight. Jay: Aretha Franklin. Game: Word, I like her too. Jay: Nigga...
94. "I had a feeling they were sitting on a finished project" In response to Reply # 92
which is why I check every day for news of an impending release. (I'm right there with you on the vinyl tip)
>I dunno if dropping an album that they can't tour makes sense for them financially tho. makes me wonder how other artists are making it work. didn't Khruangbin drop Mordechai well after lockdown became a thing?
97. "I didn't mean to suggest they were *hoarding* new music" In response to Reply # 96
or intentionally holding it back, only that it was likely another album had been recorded by now. I am kinda surprised to hear it was finished just that recently, tho.
simply knowing a new joint (two, even!) exists makes me happy. I can be patient.
93. "I'd also like to know." In response to Reply # 90
I guess $5 is a low bar to find out. I don't care about vlog type content. I'm more interested in hearing unreleased stuff, or just having access to music that's not available to the public.
95. "I'm a member of the patreon" In response to Reply # 90
It started kinda strong, but it's fizzled out quite a bit. At the beginning they did a Nai Palm live performance, a Swooping Live performance... maybe a couple others. Some Q&A sessions. They were taking merch suggestions and designs. Then they went pretty quiet. They've also given early access to the Swooping Project and to Bender's rapping album or whatever.
But the latest is that they've got 2 albums done (or close to it). The first is called Mood Valiant. It's mixed and mastered and they're currently shopping it to labels. The second, I think they might still be finishing up.
--
"You can't beat white people. You can only knock them out."
104. "As per a recent Patreon update" In response to Reply # 0
they are asking folks for advice on which color to choose for vinyl records for an upcoming release. In addition, I believe a Patreon update from a month or two ago mentioned they signed a new contract for a new album.
Hopefully all this means a new album will drop this year.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
105. "The first album is definitely dropping this year" In response to Reply # 104
the question is whether the second will also drop this year. Mixed. Mastered. Art is done. Contract signed. Choosing vinyl colors is 4th quarter shit, I'd bet we have the album before June.
--
"You can't beat white people. You can only knock them out."
113. "Hiatus Kaiyote is signed to Brainfeeder Records." In response to Reply # 0
This is as per a recent post to instagram. Flying Lotus runs this label, correct? Should make it fairly easy for folks to cop the new album as their distribution is fair up to par.
If I'm not mistaken, Hiatus Kiayote was signed under Salaam Remi on Flying Budda for Choose Your Weapon. Two black owned labels. That's somewhat interesting.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
it makes more sense to make a brand new post for news for the whole album and not just the single since I would imagine a separate post will get generated once the album drops.
Based on what they've previewed on Patreon, it appears they will have a ton of new merch to sell with the album. Stinks they can't fully tour for this album run. Europe for sure is out of the question since they are now entering a third set of COVID-19 shut downs. I could be wrong, but I believe Australia and New Zealand have COVID-19 beat to respectable numbers, so I guess they can tour locally.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
117. "So they've got another 'nother album on the horizon" In response to Reply # 0 Wed Mar-17-21 07:42 PM by Numba_33
as per brand new post on their Patreon. Based on an image they shared in the post, a track I've seen on Youtube called Cinnamon Temple will be on the other LP. That makes me happy.
I'm curious if this second album will be on Brainfeeder as well. I'm impressed they are doing this album run while focused on another album. The benefits of being an indie band I suppose.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
118. "Blue variant for Choose Your Weapon 2LP available" In response to Reply # 0
Just in case folks haven't purchased the album yet, the band is offering a marble blue variant directly from their merch website. I think this is different from the solid blue variant that was around some years earlier.
Printer-friendly copy 
Email this topic to a friend
The Lesson
