“You want it all, but it can’t save you,” explains Brooklyn rapper Elucid regarding the title of his new release 'Save Yourself.' A prominent member of the eminent Backwoodz Studioz label, Elucid’s polemic vocals complement his Sonic Youth cum Trent Reznor noise collage beats. The album is transformative. It’s a meditation on life, inequality, love, and racial disparity. As more and more of our heroes disappear and disappoint, his advice is well heeded. - BrokeMC

Oakland's NineteenEightyEight (aka 1988) has released their debut album! NineteenEightyEight started as the bedroom project of Luis Gutierrez, drummer of much-loved, psychedelic post-rock band Religious Girls, however, live 1988 has grown into a full band featuring revolving contributors from the Bay area music scene. NineteenEightyEight occupies a late-night dreamspace, where the drive of Post Punk crosses over with disco rhythms, horror movie atmosphere, and wasted, ghostly vocals meet washed out guitars and synths, creating a singular vibe not locked into any particular time or place. Check out their music and support up and coming local bands!

 Exactly one week from now, Holocene will be host to yet another year of PDX Pop Now's compilation release show. The comp, which has featured upwards of 40 Portland artists (both on and off the festival's bill) for quite a few years now, has presented the city's varied music scene with artists of all different genres. 

This year's release show will highlights three of the comp's artists, with performances by classic pop act the Minders, along with the noisey indie rock of Months and the endlessly entertaining experimental set from Kulululu.

Admission to the all ages May 15th show is $8-$10, which comes with either a physical or digital copy of the compilation. Listen to Months' comp contribution, "Cannibal," below.

We believe the health of a musical scene can be measured by the amount of bands that are completely out of their mind, and also by the amount of music fans interested in attending their shows. In this regard, there's a quality gig at Palisades in about a month (Saturday June 4th) that shines a bright, although rather psychotic, light on NYC, involving two local bands that sound nothing short of irrational (Palberta - pictured - and Guerilla Toss) and one coming across as "seriously disturbed" (PC Worship). Taking inspiration from subversive movements like No Wave and early Post Punk, without sounding simply amateurish (that's the hard part!), these groups represent NYC's current sound of "uncompromise" - and the sparkle that keeps the Rock'n'Roll flame alive in this problematic and increasingly art-hostile city.

'Kandy,' by Brooklyn electronic chanteause Lavachild, is a song (as singer Chantel Marie puts it) about 'greed and lost perspective,' so it's kind of appropriate for us to blog about it on the day Donal Trump has de facto won the Republican Presidential Nomination. (Ok, ok, this is not a political song at all, but... you know, today Trump is all we can think about!). This is Lavachild's eeriest and edgiest tune to date, developing on top of abstract, moody and ever-changing layers of synths and a simple, tenuous electronic drum pattern. Chantel Marie's voice - as sensual as always - carves delicate, haunting melodies. The track makes us look forward to the band's debut EP, scheduled to be released later this year.