The Thanksgive-n-take

I’m a put my old-fart hat on and reminisce for a spell before I open a box of digital chocolate on y’all.

As a teen in the ’90s, I had to work all kindsa angles to get my hands on the music I wanted: hanging around the weirdos at Mars for an hour to talk down the price of a Beastie Boys bootleg cassette by two bucks; dipping to Dutchy’s in my sweaty private school grey and maroon to cop a Specials record; spending dumb amounts of money special-ordering “imports” (read: poorly distributed indie records) at HMV stores.

One of the things that used to kill me was opening that new prize and having a 16-panel label mail-order pamphlet fall into my lap. Damn! I just spent 30 bucks on this Pharcyde CD or 20 on this Dead Kennedys tape, and you’re telling me that there is all this other cool shit out there I had no clue about, that I can’t possibly begin to think about hearing any time soon?

Then again, we did have these awesome shits called “blank tapes” and “radio.” They were handy, and if you had friends who knew how to use them, you could cover a lotta ground.

Now, most old farts will tell you the whole experience of going out and discovering and sharing was magical and blah, blah, blah. Face it: it sucked.

And as for local music, if someone decent put out an album, trust me, you bought it (or used those “blank tapes” I mentioned, because someone bought it). It didn’t come up often enough back then.

It’s good to have a foot in that era because it allows me to fully appreciate this one. When local acts take the time to put something together and then give it up, it ceases to be “local.” It’s out there for everyone.

With that, here are a few ill Montreal rap projects out now that you can’t say you weren’t able to get your hands on.

Milli Millz, S.O.A.L. Scrapbook of a legend, true story.

Loe Pesci, Expensive Heat Vol.1 Pesh can’t sit still. Hot off Good X2 , seven more gems.

DJ Midas, Meet me in the TRAP This shit is like a sexy earthquake in a hurricane ballroom.

Les Michel Chartrand, Le Mitchtape Aspect Mendoza and Ben aka Lindien live la révolution.

Vincent Pryce,Trapped in the Dark EP The MurderFace in-house Teknition gets spookier than Halloween.

Shash’u, Automne Four fly fall follies from a provincial treasure.

Shelz, Cereal street tapes for breakfast from another ‘Faced God. While you’re there, cop this other fine release from Scynical.

SHINE ON ARTIST:

Dirtwork
I won’t say it’s been a long time coming for Montreal beat engineer Dirtwork because he’s always been that Prime Producer. But his timing couldn’t be better. Dirt drops a big, shiny MTL posse cut entitled “Feels Like Home” today, and hit me with it last night just in time to blow my gaddamn mind. The pure luxury of this Madge-addled, speaker-ready collab with Magnum, Milli Millz, LES and I.Blast is nothing less than a guaranteed home run. Keep ’em peeled for the upcoming From Tragedy 2 Triumph project, and the vid for the single next week.
 
 
 
 

SHINE ON VISUAL:

Jai Nitai Lotus, “Mingus Clap”

It don’t get much straighter than the statue at the Mountain, so what more can I say about this claptastic prelude to the local producer/mic handler’s Something You Feel record, out Nov. 6? Well, I can say I am geeked for it.

 
Before this week’s listings, two more cool things to point you to. Firstly, remember to pick up Cult MTL’s second print edition, out Thursday, and check out my feature with Montreal classic Simahlak.

And check back here tomorrow, too, for a dope, dope Pop Montreal hip hop photo gallery recap I have the honour to put together with DShade and DJ BuddaBlaze.

Okay, let’s go party.

Wednesday – R&B old-schooler Lee Fields and the Expressions bring the soul to Cabaret du Mile End.

Big night at le Belmont, too — Keylime celebrates a bday, Wally releases the Reflexions EP with MC Ella Grave, and Thomas White and Vilify drop the Brigade EP, all in the name of Bass Drive.

Thursday – Sarah Linhares brings her “soulful electronic future-pop” to life at le Piano rouge backed by David Ryshpan, Mark Haynes and Anthony Pageot.

Over at Cabaret Underworld, get your yucks on at Ain’t Nothin’ but Punchlines 4, a marriage of comic stand-up and lyrical throwdown featuring Tyco, TJ Hazelden, Clarity, Art-Cons, Kris Dulgar and guests, hosted by Bookworm and DJed by Fatsak.

Friday – It’s gonna kill me to miss this one, but alas — DJ Shadow returns to Montreal for a good ol’ fashioned DJ set he calls All Bases Covered at the SAT. The last time the Bay beat legend rolled through, he completely blew my mind by performing inside a sphere-shaped projection screen (no shit). This won’t be that. But it’ll be something.

At Underworld, Hip Hop Showcase 3 brings Skin Deep, Agua Negra, Alquimia Verbal, Guapo and more to you, for free.

Saturday – “Contact the artists” for the location of Deathhouse, where MurderFace get the up-jump on Halloween with a party called Barbarianism. This’ll actually be more peaceful than it might sound, but probably not that much more. Penzo Gritty, Chuggo, Woodman, Urbn Logix and guests bring tha’ noise.

Sunday – Celebrate Thanksgiving with horns o’plenty full of nature’s finest. Cypress Hill frontman B Real blesses us with a solo set at Club Soda, for your long weekend. ■

Give thanks! shinecult@gmail.com