Tarja: From Spirits and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas)

By Robin Ervolina
It takes a lot for me to listen to Christmas music, and even more for me to address anything related to Christmas before Thanksgiving. I'm a scroogity Scrooge and the commercialism of the Christ child is only acceptable after Turkey Day has its due. That being said, I greedily and hypocritically devoured the new CD from ethereal vocalist Tarja, partly because of her unparalleled talent, and partly because it's titled From Spirits and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas) and the blackness of my jaded soul demanded it.
If you're unfamiliar with Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen-Cabuli let me briefly 411 you. This classically trained soprano hails from Finland and is the founder and former vocalist for the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. Her elegant three range octave has earned her multiple awards and millions of fans world wide. Her first solo album post-Nightwish was Henkäys ikuisuudesta (2005), also a Christmas album. I suppose it's safe to say Tarja is not a scrooge, however the theme of this newest Christmas CD is not for the merry hearted.

On this album, I explored the other side of Christmas — the Christmas of the lonely people and the missing ones, the Christmas for those that do not find joy in the blinking lights and the jingle bells. -- Tarja

"O Come,  Come, Emmanuel" kicks off From Spirits and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas) quite deceptively. It's extremely dressed down, barren of effects, most likely and rightly to highlight the dark angelic voice of Tarja. Soon however, the orchestra kicks in. I hope you make room for a new set of goosebumps. Tarja's voice produces one set, the grand orchestration another ... you know, basically like every Nightwish song ever. The second track is the one original tune on the CD. "Together" has an intro that is part Danny Elfman and part American Horror Story (Coven) and it's the loneliest Christmas song I've ever heard. It's entirely possible that before this CD is over, I may look forward to the holidays if for no other reason than to torture my blinking-lights-loving relatives. "We Three Kings" presents like a possessed music box full of haunting memories, a desert of Christmases past for maudlin souls. "Deck The Halls" delivers on the promise of a dark score and its dissidence is bone chilling. Children singing "fa la la la la, la la la la " in such a way will not go over well at the mall, but it sure as hell puts a Jack Skeleton smile on my face. All that being said, even a dark intent can't cast a shadow over the beautiful "Pie Jesu." Tarja's treatment of this popular requiem does the song more than justice; she elevates it. I considered skipping over the over-done "Amazing Grace" but decided in fairness to give it a shot. Tarja surprised me. With a War of the Worlds tripod roar underlying the celtic orchestration, Tarja soars above expectations and takes this classic to new heights. I wouldn't call it dark, but I would call it unique.
"O Tannenbaum" calls to mind possessed sugar-plum fairies tip toeing through a Tim Burton forest, and Tarja sounds the most mischievous of them all. The score is a stunning masterpiece, from tiny little music box tones to massive orchestrations.  "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" ends this CD and it's sinister as hell. We wish you a merry Christmas? Do we? And do we have a different definition of "merry" or "wish?" And who exactly is "we?" My former goth self so very much wishes this had been in my life earlier. Honestly, "we won't go until we get some" scares the hell out of me. I don't know what figgy pudding is but I'm afraid if I don't have it in my house, bad things will happen, worse-than-mistletoe level bad things.
In the end, From Spirits and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas) achieves its goal and this Grinch's heart grew larger and darker. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to make some figgy pudding.
Track List

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel	4:57
Together	3:21
We Three Kings	3:54
Deck the Halls	2:45
Pie Jesu	3:28
Amazing Grace	4:43
O Tannenbaum	3:38
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas	3:40
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen	4:14
Feliz Navidad	5:49
What Child is This	4:56
We Wish You a Merry Christmas	4:07

Red Hymns: Vol. 2

Written by Robin Ervolina
When an opening track is your straight-out-of-the-gate introduction to a band, it requires a few things to be effective: lyrical intent, passionate delivery, and a gripping melody. Red Hymns' "Callisto" nails it and then some, and the rest of their new EP Vol. 2 follows suit magnificently.
Red Hymns' first EP Vol. 1 was released August of 2016. Vol. 2 hit October 2017 and is part of a four-EP collection (no release dates have been announced for Vol. 3 and 4). The first two EPs are well worth a listen, the last two worth the wait, I'd guarantee it. New Jersey raised up Red Hymns in 2015, but Jeremy Hernandez (vocals), Alexander Grullon (guitar), Robert Piccininni Jr. (bass) and Michael Cipriano (drums) play as cohesively as bands ten times their "age." There are no missteps here, no sorting out of sound to be detected. Red Hymns clearly knows who they are, and their handshake hello is groove-heavy rock. Their calling card is etched with melodic determination. Something this good should make me feel guilty. It fails to do so, though it does succeed in making me feel dirty, in a very, very good way.
Opening track "Callisto" seduces in an instant with a guitar-driven melody and compelling vocals. It's an intro that doesn't rely on one facet of Red Hymns but rather showcases their cohesion. Hernandez' vocals are sharp and clean, pulling you into the sway-inducing verse, then coaxing you through a sweet chorus before dropping you back into an undeniably enchanting tone. A tune of 4 minutes and 33 seconds with so many twists and turns takes masterful precision to pull off, and Red Hymns demonstrates they have just that. Side note: Red Hymns recently collaborated with Barrier Brewing Company and released a beer titled Endless Sky IPA, inspired by the lyrics in "Callisto." If it's as rich and complex as this track, it begs to be imbibed.
"Callisto" fades out with Hernandez calling "What do you want?" Try as I might I still can't answer that question on a grand scale, but in the moment, I want more of Red Hymns complicated melodic rock, and they satisfy with "Vultures" and "Terra Preta." "Vultures" gives me a drum-driven desire to move through the room like a predator stalking every word and note, and "Terra Preta," Portuguese for "black earth," closes out Vol. 2 (too soon) in the way every last song should; compelling the listener to listen again.
While there is a definitive sound to Red Hymns, it's unique and not remotely repetitive. Vol. 2, though only three-songs long, can be played in rotation endlessly. If you love this first song, you'll continue loving Vol. 2 and like me, stream Vol. 1 alongside it on Spotify. This is a collective I can happily and confidently stake my reputation on. The songs are crafted with care and delivered with intensity. It's a moody, solid, emotive pure rock offering. If you're lucky enough to live near Teaneck, NJ., you can catch Red Hymns in concert with He Is Legend at Debonair Music Hall on December 14. If not, do like me and follow Red Hymns on Facebook to keep track of future tour dates.

Barenaked Ladies: Fake Nudes

By Robin Ervolina
It's been One Week since I received the advance copy of Barenaked Ladies new CD Fake Nudes. There is something so homey about the first few strums of one of their well-crafted tunes, something so satisfying about the first lines, or any line, of any one of their songs. Whether you're a long-time fan, or you're Falling for the First Time, If I Had 1,000,000 dollars I'd wager to bet the new Barenaked Ladies CD Fake Nudes will surprise and delight you. All the BNL character and talent is intact, but this is not entirely the BNL you'd expect; Fake Nudes illustrates that it has, in fact NOT, All Been Done yet.
Opening track "Canada Dry" is everything I love about Barenaked Ladies. The lyrics are strokes on the canvas of song, placed carefully and effortlessly by a master of his craft. If you've ever returned to the scene of a great love affair and found yourself stranded by the memories, this is your tune. Following is "Bringing It Home." The message is inspiring; bust out a life worth living. However in retrospect, what makes it really special is the little bit of island flare in the intro providing the first glimpse that BNL is here to play. Another great anthem of dealing with life like a champ is "Lookin' Up." It's unbelievably peppy, and upholds a message of positivity. It's textbook BNL and it's going to be a communal singalong live. I'm serious. Bring your lighter app for your phone. This will end a set and bring down a house.
Here's where things start to get interesting. For Fake Nudes, Barenaked Ladies 15th studio album, the guys seem to have thrown a ton of caution into a headstrong wind. There are influences that are obvious: Simon and Garfunkle in "Dusty Rooms" and "Flying Dreams," some 90s smooth groove in "We Took The Night," and even some Beach Boys Meets Zappa in "Bag of Bones." The eclectic nature of Fake Nudes is intoxicating. There are comfort zones and surprises along the way, but one thing is certain; the storytellers are alive and well.
There are a fair amount of turned down tunes in Fake Nudes. "Sunshine" drops the mood with a steady rim shot and a gorgeous melody that guides you into Ed Robertson's prose. An intro like this begs the listener to pay attention to lyrics like these:

Sunshine burns your skin / sometimes the things we love so much just eat us up from the outside in / oceans' blue will drown / I could find a way to live with your ghost but I won't be happy until I leave this town

"Navigate" is a gentle ballad with a melody that floats in space and lyrics that ground you to your dreams. It's one of my favorite respite tunes on this CD. "You And Me" is a soulmate love song that pays homage to one of my favorite movies with the line "I'll be your Wesley and you'll be my Buttercup." This is why I love Barenaked Ladies. They get me. They just get me. "The Township of King" wraps Fake Nudes up like the snow white bow on a Tiffany blue box. It's a beautiful fairy tale style story at the outset that quickly turns gloomy as a yellow bird warns our protagonist that paradise is paveable.
There's some bizarre stuff going on in Fake Nudes no doubt, but I posture they can get away with it. Their content is engaging, introspective, and the delivery is both everything you expect and nothing you were prepared for. Barenaked Ladies will be touring with Better Than Ezra and KT Tunstall as celebrated guests on their “Last Summer on Earth 2018” tour kicking off on June 1st  and wrapping up on July 15th.  With each ticket purchased, fans receive a download of BNL’s new album Fake Nudes. Tour dates are listed below, but if you can't wait, Fake Nudes can be pre-ordered now and releases for purchase at all major music retailers on November 17th, 2017.
Last Summer on Earth 2018 Tour Dates

Friday, June 1st	Prior Lake, MN	Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
Saturday, June 2nd	Kansas City, MO	Starlight Theatre
Sunday, June 3rd	Council Bluffs, IA	Stir Cove at Harrah's Casino
Wednesday, June 6th	Missoula, MT	Big Sky Brewing Company
Thursday, June 7th	Boise, ID	Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden
Friday, June 8th	Troutdale, OR	Edgefield
Saturday, June 9th	Redmond, WA	Marymoor Park
Tuesday, June 12th	Saratoga, CA	The Mountain Winery* - On sale TBD
Friday, June 15th	Los Angeles, CA	Greek Theatre
Saturday, June 16th	Las Vegas, NV	Red Rock Resort Spa & Casino - Sandbar
Tuesday, June 19th	Morrison, CO	Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Thursday, June 21st	Indianapolis, IN	Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park
Friday, June 22nd	Milwaukee, WI	Riverside Theater
Saturday, June 23rd	Cincinnati, OH	PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
Sunday, June 24th	Toledo, OH	Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre
Tuesday, June 26th	Philadelphia, PA	Mann Center for the Performing Arts
Wednesday, June 27th	Brooklyn, NY	Ford Amphitheatre at Coney Island
Friday, June 29th	Uncasville, CT	Mohegan Sun
Saturday, June 30th	Gilford, NH	Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
Sunday, July 1st	Boston, MA	Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
Monday, July 2nd	Vienna, VA	The Filene Center – Wolf Trap
Wednesday, July 4th	Raleigh, NC	The Red Hat Amphitheater
Thursday, July 5th	Charlotte, NC	Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
Friday, July 6th	St. Augustine, FL	Saint Augustine Amphitheatre
Monday, July 9th	Baltimore, MD	Pier Six Pavilion** - On sale December 8th
Tuesday, July 10th	Lewiston, NY	Artpark
Wednesday, July 11th	Columbus, OH	Express Live!
Friday, July 13th	Chicago, IL	Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Saturday, July 14th	Clarkston, MI	DTE Energy Music Theatre
Sunday, July 15th	Cleveland, OH	Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica

Louder Than Life 2017 at Champions Park in Louisville, KY: Day #2 October 1, 2017

[caption id="attachment_29702" align="aligncenter" width="3910"] Photo Credit: Robin Ervolina[/caption]
Written by Tiffany A. Mitchell
Sad to see Day Two of Danny Wimmer Presents Louder Than Life festival come to an end. But first, waking up in our super awesome Air BnB, started out not so fun, after realizing I needed to take a quick trip to the emergency room in Louisville, KY. )knowing how ER's can tie you down for several hours,) my boss Robin went ahead to the festival before the first band to photograph came on and I jumped in a cab to the nearest ER. No worries, I was in and out and the panic of missing my the days interviews and bands, subsided and I got back just in time to hear Greta Van Fleet's phenomenal performance echo across the festival grounds. What a voice that Josh Kiszka has (check out my interview with Josh in a later post).
Walking back to the media tent to grab my table, singing along to "Highway Tune," the weather was perfect and my bittersweet feelings began to lighten up as I passed friends laughing with friends and families enjoying themselves with smiles on their faces. Louder Than Life is more that just a sick lineup of your favorite bands, it's family fun, a place to connect and meet like minds. A place where we all share a commonality, our love of music and togetherness. I decided to take the long way around, to checkout some of  the other vendors that I may have missed yesterday and I've heard a lot of buzz about the FYE Fan Experience tent. It's like your one-stop-shop to find all your favorite band’s music and possibly do an artist meet & greet and autograph signing with your favorite Louder Than Life performer. How awesome is that? The crowd around the tent was massive and I knew getting up close would take some maneuvering, so I decided to come back in a few hours and I may get lucky.
In my travels I stopped at the Monster Energy viewing deck for some pink lemonade hydration and a perfect view of the Loudmouth Stage as the not so death metal, at all, Eagles of Death Metal were jamming on stage. Checking the time, I had a few more minutes before my next interview, so I took my time walking, taking in the sights and sounds of this epic weekend. With so many options for food, fun and drinks all around, I think I need a few more days of louder than life Danny Wimmer( wink,wink ) to hit every vendor on the grounds. There was the exclusive bar called Down The Rabbit Hole Feat. Proprietors LLC of Death & Co, Bourbon World Presented By Courier-Journal, World’s Loudest Bourbon Tent filled with some our favorite distilleries and The Big Cheesy, Gourmet Grilled Cheese with a New Orleans flair and many, many more that I know I'm missing.
As I wrapped up my last few interviews of the day, I checked the schedule to see what the rest of day two had to offer. As I turned my frown upside down and brushed the dreaded end away into the wind, I couldn't help but get excited for the rest of the evenings lineup. On the Loudmouth Stage, Stone Sour would play followed by Incubus and on the Monster Energy Stage, Thrice, Rise Against and Prophets of Rage. Now I must live under a rock because most people I talked to had seen each of these bands at some point in their lives, for me, it would be my first time for all of them. I arrived at the Loudmouth Stage as Rise Against was on and from the stands, it was an overwhelming sight to behold. Now I've worked and attended festivals before and enjoy myself every time, maybe I was nostalgic, maybe it was just me. But to see thousands of people singing in unison, jumping with excitement to their favorite songs, created some unforgettable moments for so many. It could be a couple first date, or a family's child is old enough now to experience these moments together, or it's someone's first festival ever. So many stories, memories being made, friendships being built and bonds growing stronger. Louder Than Life means many things to many people, and as my first Louder adventure, it will be one I'll remember forever.
Thank you Danny Wimmer Presents and thanks to all the participating vendors, sponsors, patrons and fans who make the magic happen.
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Danny Wimmer Presents Bourbon and Beyond: Louisville, KY Sept 22-23, 2017

Written and photographed by Robin Ervolina
Danny Wimmer Presents is no stranger to Louisville, Kentucky. Four years ago DWP launched the first rock and metal festival, Louder Than Life at Champions Park. The lineup was, of course, stellar; those in the know, know to expect nothing less from DWP. However, Louder Than Life did something unique; incorporating the Kentucky community into the festival, LTL brought us the best bourbon and gourmet comfort food Louisville had to offer. Champions Park became a condensed version of all the things Louisville is known and loved for. Imagine my excitement when DWP launched Bourbon and Beyond this year and invited Shockwave Magazine to experience this epic event.
Bourbon and Beyond took the Louder Than Life template (literally the exact same set up in terms of stages and vendors) and blended in some unique features. Attendees had the opportunity to take part in bourbon education seminars from some of the biggest distilleries, as well as cooking demos with renowned chefs. In between sampling bourbon and food from the Bluegrass State, festival goers secured shaded spaces with lawn chairs and enjoyed a variety of music from local blue grass outfits to headliners Steve Miller Band on Saturday and Stevie Nicks on Sunday. Though the heat was blistering, the crowd was not deterred. DWP provided outdoor a/c units and massive water coolers so attendees could stay hydrated throughout the day.
One girl and a camera can only cover so much ground, and I was determined to bring as much of the experience to this review as possible. I captured some of the most amazing acts, from Shockwave favorite Kenny Wayne Shepherd to personal favorite Amos Lee. I was also in place to discover some new-to-me talents such as rockers Band of Horses and genre defying Shawn James & The Shapeshifters. However, the highlight of Friday's music homecoming was experiencing the iconic Buddy Guy tearing up the stage and charming an audience with his personality and extraordinary gifts. I also downloaded ZZ Ward's CD on the spot, and hung around for an intimate acoustic performance by Eddie Vedder. Check out the slideshow below for a taste of Bourbon and Beyond, Day One.
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Day two held the promise of cooler weather, more bourbon, addicting food offerings, and music to die for. Due to an unfortunate Uber incident I didn't arrive in time to catch Nashville's Caitlyn Smith from the photo pit, but I listened to her set, spellbound by her vocals and relatable lyrics. It was Sunday gospel at the church of good damn music, and if that's what you're needing, check out her new LP Starfire now. Disclaimer: when she holds that note out in "Tacoma" you will drop to your knees and confess your sins. The woman behind Meghan Trainor's I'm Gonna Love you and Garth Brooks' "Tacoma" has been hidden away long enough, so definitely check her out. Following Smith, and one of the most anticipated performances of the weekend, was none other than Lost Boy Keifer Sutherland playing tunes off his upcoming CD Down in a Hole. Sutherland stated that while he can't stand actors that try to form bands, he finally gave in because he's too old to give a shit. His ease on stage was as evident as his love of song. It's just one more thing this gentleman does to the fullest. I was also lucky enough to finally catch up with my hometown sweetheart Jonny Lang after all these years. He was soulful as a child playing in blues clubs back when, but he's grown nearly godlike in depth and talent. The list of legends carried throughout the day with the the exhuberant Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Philly's G Love and Special Sauce, Gary Clark Jr, Paul Rodgers, Joe Bonamassa, and finally the lady herself, Stevie Nicks. Check out slides from Day Two below.
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Bourbon and Beyond is not your typical DWP festival. There, I said it. If you like the rock festival vibe with it's crowd surfing and mosh pits, you may find yourself feeling slightly out of place here. The crowd is laid back, all ages, and this event is more than music and mayhem. Bourbon and Beyond is you with your family or friends, a lawn chair and a cold drink, maybe a free-style dance off with the people perched next to you under the beer tree. Yes, you get all the upscale food and DWP amenities you've come to know and love, but you get something different, dare I say something more. I found the roots of the music I've loved for years and I found scraps of the the melodic quilt that make up the fabric of tears and cheers and "yes Jesus that's the stuff!" If that's your jam, I can't encourage you enough to check out next year's Bourbon and Beyond. Bring your lawn chair and your chill, an empty stomach and primed liver. Come to learn, to taste, to imbibe, and to enjoy! Personally, this festival will be a MUST for me from here going forward.

The Symmetry of Autumn Leaves: Perennial

Written by Robin Ervolina

Chaos leads way to chaos ... resolve the noise and then turn up the volume ... welcome to the first few seconds of The Symmetry of Autumn Leaves' CD Perennial.
This band of instrumental architects hails from New England and consists of Chelsey Hahn and Chad Jewett (formerly of Lions Club) and Will Mulheron (formerly of Airplane, 1929). They have pieced together an interesting collection of sounds and lyrics, and while neither outshines the other, their orchestral choices immediately stand out.
The title track opens the CD as the blueprint for Perennial: a few seconds of disorderly horns and strings leads into a full-throttle punk beat. The pandemonium creates tension, then fails to resolve with anything less than bedlam. My adrenaline surge is nearly piqued by the end of "Fauves," the second track from Perennial. Track three kicks in with a recitation that appeals to my own sense of symmetry.

My heart is a pile of leaves
My heart is a pile of leaves
My heart is a pile of leaves
Underneath the apple tree
Underneath the apple tree
Underneath the apple tree

Thus, you have "Evergreen, un deux troit" with its steady chant and jazz-like improv. "The Witching Witching Witching Hour Blues" channels The Doors lesser known works, my personal favorites as they were untainted by Hollywood and its damnable silver screen. Leading from that mellow moment is a Dead Kennedy-esque tune "Hippolyte," followed by "Welton 69," which drops straight into the grunge movement of the late 90s then leaves you hanging with a few string plucks for about a minute. As Perennial progresses I don't know whether I'm supposed to thrash to it, or flip the switch on my black light and stare at my lava lamp.
Each time I think I have The Symmetry of Autumn Leaves figured out, they pull some maddening auditory gymnastics. Perennial is like a curious ensemble of oddly matched mates; no one knows why they work, but they form the couple everyone wants to be like. This sublime dichotomy is not soothing, but rather sets the neurons afire with possibility, and that is what art should do.
Perennial is a quirky little bit of fun and worth a listen. You can check it out on The Symmetry of Autumn Leaves' Bandcamp page now. Follow, like and love them here:

www.facebook.com/perennialCT/

https://twitter.com/perennialband

Allday: Speeding

Written by Robin Ervolina
I'm going to ask you to stretch a little... and if you've ever taken a gym class you'll know that stretching is good. The purpose of stretching is to avoid injury by warming the muscles and easing them into activity. Now that you see the benefit, stretch with me.
I'm listening to Allday, a quick-witted lyricist laying thoughts on a bed of melodic down. Not all music is for every purpose or mood; maybe your mood is thrashing, or your mood is dancing, or your mood is not punching your boss. Allday brings a mood that is instantly soothing; seriously taking me down a notch from "Oh fuck with me not" to "Okay, I have no fucks. Go about your business."
From the initial track "First Light" I'm just a wee babe in his hands, and I understand now why he's selling out shows in Australia and getting tapped for festival slots. The second track, "In Motion," is playing now, and I'm all up in it with a head bob and a shoulder roll. Maybe it's that Ed Sheeran thing I've got going on, but when the drop hits, I can't think. Go on, try to multitask; Allday brings you back like ‘ahhhh.’
I abhor dance clubs, but my friends drag me there, so I'm pretty familiar with the "oonce oonce" beat and tried lyrics prevalent in the scene. This is NOT that club sound. It will play there, no doubt, because I'm still moving like someone slipped my drink a date, but it's got way more substance. I'm reminded (and remember, I said I want you to stretch) of the first time someone sat on me (literally) and forced me to listen to Kendrick Lamar. This is also the same person who sat on me and tickled me until I peed my pants, but I digress. It was good for me then, and this is good for you now. The lyrics and content are elevated. It's not vapid. It's not usual. It's inspired. Take the end of "10 Drinks," with a recording of a rambling man recalling a psychotic episode after a day of drinking; it becomes clear that Allday is interested in telling stories, and they're personal to someone, even if it's not him.

I haven't stopped listening yet, and that means Allday just exceeded my attention span, which is normally about 15 minutes. I'm on "Ghost" and my second glass of wine is nigh. I'm begging the world wide web for a lyric sheet for each of these songs because I know there's more to Allday than a great spin and catchy tune. Thanks to 240k fans on Facebook alone, they're available to me. I'm treated to gems like:

I'm not sure what this hole is I grew inside - "Ghost"
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
But sometimes you turn into a monster
But when you treat someone like they dirt
Then eventually they gon' turn around
And be the dirt that you said that they'd be - "Raceway"

Shaking me from my Google search is the track "Codeine 17" featuring the heavenly vocals of Graceland. It's not a sweet song, but it's brutal and honest. That day someone sat on me (Tyler) and made me listen to Lamar prepared me for the sound of struggle and choices. If an artist gives you their life in a song, you can appreciate the realness of that offering. I thought "Babyspiders" featuring Mallrat would be my favorite song on Speeding, with its steady rhythm line and once again, introspective and raw lyrics, but Allday saves the best for last with "Ultramarine," also featuring Mallrat. Says the artist:

 I also believe outro songs don’t count. So, I just went on a stream of consciousness trip through life with no drums because drums are for real songs, and an outro isn’t a real song. 

I'm not about to argue with him, but if this stream of consciousness isn't a real song, then to hell with real songs. I'm also not going to come at this like I'm some expert on hip hop and rap, but I'm going to come at this like I know what I like, and I like this.
Allday's "Speeding" is not PG-13, it's for adults, and it deserves an opportunity to lead you into your usual musical calisthenics. Check it out Speeding on iTunes now. Stretch with me.
Allday Tour Dates:

8/3 San Francisco CA - Rickshaw Stop 

8/5 Los Angeles CA - The Echo

8/6 Denver CO - Lost Lake Lounge

8/7 Chicago IL - Subterranean

8/9 Brooklyn NY - Rough Trade

8/12 Philadelphia PA - Voltage Lounge

8/13 Washington DC - DC9

8/14 Cambridge MA - Middle East Upstairs