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1 week ago | 
ghettoblastermagazine.com | Eddie Ugarte
Not many seem to understand, but real heads do. Since his debut album back in 2003, Camouflage, billy woods has been confounding listeners with his heady lyricism and innocuous soundscapes that bleed directly into your senses. He’s just released his 19-track opus GOLLIWOG, with an assortment of production that features EL-P, The Alchemist, DJ Haram, Kenny Segal, Human Error Club, and many more. “Lead Paint Test” has Woods trading verses with ELUCID over a somber and melancholic ride.
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2 weeks ago | 
ghettoblastermagazine.com | Eddie Ugarte
The poet Amir Sulaiman once said, “The Lord will come like a thief in the night,” but I can’t help but think the same could be said about time. It’s already been 20 years, and as much as I’ve championed Subtitle’s 2005 release Young Dangerous Heart (GSL), I don’t know if I’ve made a dent within my immediate circle.
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3 weeks ago | 
ghettoblastermagazine.com | Eddie Ugarte
As I sit here contemplating the fall of my immediate society due to the uncomplex nature of student loans, can we talk about something else? Of course, we can. We can begin with So It Goes, the third full-length release by Ersatz Splinter, that California emcee that can’t stop, won’t stop. While information on the reclusive rapper has been sporadic at best, it might just be the mystique surrounding him that draws listeners in.
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4 weeks ago | 
ghettoblastermagazine.com | Eddie Ugarte
FAFO is probably the acronym that I’ve been relatively happy to have come across in the past few months. I’m not sure why it’s never been used up until more recently but yeah, it’s a good one. When I think of the post-hardcore outfit Iron Lung, that’s what comes to mind.
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1 month ago | 
ghettoblastermagazine.com | Eddie Ugarte
With Hex Key (Epitaph), the third long-player by Atlanta-by-way-of-Los-Angeles-by-way-of-Austin Mamalarky, the group doesn’t stray from its pop sensibilities.
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1 month ago | 
ghettoblastermagazine.com | Eddie Ugarte
Oh that L.A. Witch returns with its third full-length release Doggod (Suicide Squeeze Records), a palindrome and ancient Scottish word meaning “do-gooder.” Yes, I did my research. Now with the band’s new album, much has remained the same while it’s translated into the group’s sound that’s showing a progression. When I say things have remained the same, I’m generalizing to the fact L.A. Witch, Sade Sanchez, Ellie English, and Irita Pai, continue on its gloomy, boozy garage rock pace it has been on.
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1 month ago | 
ghettoblastermagazine.com | Eddie Ugarte
It seems we get a new CocoRosie album every five years or so. The band of sisters Bianca Casady and Sierra Casady have always delivered what we all might believe are delicate songs but these two are far more durable than we’d originally thought. With the band’s eight full-length release, Little Death Wishes (Joyful Noise), CocoRosie allows us further in, to see a fiery version of itself.
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2 months ago | 
ghettoblastermagazine.com | Eddie Ugarte
The weather has taken quite a turn around me with winds speeding by as the rain angles off in a variety of directions. I thought there were rumblings coming from outside as well but then quickly realized the thundering wasn’t coming from out there but from inside my headphones. Was I Good Enough? is the collaborative effort between Rhode Island’s The Body and Toronto’s Intensive Care.
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2 months ago | 
ghettoblastermagazine.com | Eddie Ugarte
The great northwest has produced several groups that have fallen into obscurity never to be seen again but then some refuse to go gently into that good night. So many artists have fallen to darkness but there are those that some of us refuse to just let go of because there’s no ignoring great music. Now while Seattle’s post-punk rockers Kinski has shown no signs of slowing down Stumbledown Terrace (Comedy Minus One) is the group’s first release in 7 years.
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2 months ago | 
ghettoblastermagazine.com | Eddie Ugarte
Independence is important. This is something that becomes more and more relevant in various ways. Artists have the freedom to conjure up innumerable releases with the freedom of not having to answer to anyone. But it can also be a complication filled with stumbling blocks. It’s easy to share something with the world at the last possible moment although faced with the drawback of publicity. Yes, those are two different things.
