Saul Williams - Penny For a Thought

| Keith
Cancel the apocalypse
cartons of the milky way with pictures of a missing planet
last seen in pursuit of an American dream
this fool actually thinks he can drive his hummer on the moon
blasting DMX off the soundtrack of a South Park cartoon
niggas used to buy their families out of slavery
now we buy chains and links, smokes and drinks
they're paying me to record this, even more if you hear it
somebody tell me what you think I should do with the money
yes, friend tell me what you think I should do with the money
exactly how much is it gonna cost to free Mumia?
what's he gonna do with his freedom? talk on the radio?
radio programming is just that - a brainwashin' gleamed of purpose
to be honest, some freedom of speech makes me nervous
and you looking for another martyr in the form of a man
hair like a mane with an outstretched hand
in a roar of hearts, thoughts, reactionary defensiveness and counter
intelligence
what exactly is innocence?
fuck it, I do believe in the existence of police brutality
who do I make checks payable to? (How 'bout I pay it in prayers?)
a young child stares at a glowing screen transfixed by tales of violence
his teenage father tells him that that's life, not that Barney shit
a purple dinosaur that speaks of love, a black man that speaks of blood
which one is keeping it real, son?
who manufactured your steel, son?
hardcore, ancient elements at the earth's core
fuck it, I'mma keep speaking 'til my throats sore
an emcee told a crowd of hundreds to put their hands in the air
an armed robber stepped to a bank and told everyone to put their hands in
the air
a Christian minister gives his benediction while the congregation hold
their hands in the air
love the image of the happy Buddha with his hands in the air
hands up if you're confused, define tomorrow
your belief system ain't louder than my car system
nigga walked down my block with his rotwiler, a subwoofer on a leash
each one teach one
the DJ spins a new philosophy into a barren mind
I can't front on it
my head nods as if to clear the last image from an etch-a-sketch
something like Rakim said- I could quote any emcee, but why should I?
how would it benefit me? karmic repercussions
are your tales of reality worth their sonic laced discussions?
suddenly, the ground shivers and quakes
a newborn startles and wakes
her mother rushes to her bed side to hold her to her breast
milk of sustenance heals and nourishes
from the depths of creation life still flourishes
yet we focus on death and destruction, violence, corruption
my people, let pharaoh go
what have you bought into? how much will it cost to buy you out?
what have you bought into? how much will it cost to buy you out?
what have you bought into? how much will it cost to buy you out?

(spoken)
how much it gonna cost to buy you out of my mind?
penny for a thought, y'all niggas is half steppin' wastin' my time
please, nigga what? you talkin to me?
please baby, baby, baby can I borrow - can i borrow a nickle, a dime, and
that quarter
penny for a thought, penny for a thought
how much will it cost to buy you out of buyin' into a reality that
originally bought you?
dime a dozen, y'all niggas a dime a dozen
penny for a thought, nigga, c'mon, penny for a thought
think fast, think fast, c'mon, time is money

time is money, money is time
so i keep 7 o'clock in the bank and gain interest in the hour of God
I'm saving to buy my freedom, God, grant me wings, I'm too fly not to fly
I soared further past humans without wings so I soar
and fine tickling the feathers of my wings
flying hysterically, over land numerically
I am seven mountains higher than the valley of death

Seven mountains higher than the valley of death
Seven dimensions deeper than dimensions of breath

Well, that happened and I don't really have the energy to say much today. This morning I was thinking about Saul Williams and his words re: Trump. “We get the leaders we deserve...The effect of the bullshit we ingest reflects the bullshit that we’re given the possibility to elect." Watch the whole thing below.

RIYL: Sage Francis, Aesop Rock, EL-P, Mr. Lif

Upcoming Shows

Republican Hair - I Don't Care

| Kerri
I spent 18 years, baby, 18 years
Underneath an exploding sun
They say it's all going down, baby, all going down
So I might as well have fun

So turn it up, turn it up
I don't care
Burn it up, burn it up
I don't care
If the world is blowing up
I don't care
Gonna do what I want
I don't care

Get a bottle of this, get a bottle of that
Yeah I'm ready for some beer with you
'Cause if it's all going to end, baby, all going to end
We might as well break the rules

Fun, fairly mysterious band that hasn't revealed much about themselves beyond absurdist nonsense - unless you happen to catch a live gig. (Doesn't show below, but they'll play in Nashville on 11/21). For the record, I don't feel at all concerned, as these lyrics would indicate, that the world is going to end. Still, thought this band/song were a fitting tribute to this US election cycle finally being over. 

RIYL: The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, R.E.M., The Cars

Upcoming Shows

Sundara Karma - Loveblood

| Kerri
Wasted with my arms out, whisper and a loud shout
Lost in the way she says my name
I'm such a creep
Fortune brought me lovers, shadow tarot colors
Fated to kill the sweetest things
One by one

Hey, what's that from above?
Is it love for blood?
Hey, what's that from above?
Is it love for blood?

Hiding in the silence, one-way form of violence
Taste of the thunder from her thighs
Makes me shake
Calmly kicking outwards, since she misunderstood
Walking along the razor's edge
As she sweetly moans

Bright and rocking, yet still moody and thoughtful, British boys Sundara Karma have pretty much solid gems in their brief, 3-EP discography. Really looking forward to their debut LP coming this January. Good news, if you live in L.A. or SF, they just added tour dates for you this morning!

RIYL: Catfish and the Bottlemen, Wombats, Young Rising Sons, The Hunna, Nothing But Thieves

Upcoming Shows

The Academic - Mixtape 2003

| Kerri
In my car there's a CD
A mixtape of 2003
A better time for both of us
With skinny jeans and roll-ups
We look back at our time shared
Yeah it's all gone and well who cares?
But I do and I tell you
It's a comeback for now

Looking back on those days
You and your mistakes
Me and my mixtapes
Nothing's gonna change the way I feel

It's Irish bands all weekend on TMIS! Young indie rockers, The Academic, classmates and brothers from Mullingar (80km west of Dublin), will happily steal your French fries and your airwaves if you give them half a chance. They caught some great gigs touring around the UK before and since their EP came out last year, including opening for the Pixies, and here we have their first new song since. Bonus: a fun genre-bended cover performed live. 

RIYL: Castlecomer, COIN, Early Hours, Delorentos, Knox Hamilton

Upcoming Shows

Enemies - Leaves

| Keith
A place where I can be
A place where I can be
A place where I can be me

Think I'm gonna stay
Think I'm gonna stay

Alone, alone, alone
Alone, alone, alone

"Leaves" begins with intricate melodies and lush, ambient vocals that build, driven forward by powerful rhythms and riffs towards a magnificent, yet somehow relaxing crescendo. In other words, a new classic from my SXSW 2016 favorites, Enemies, who we previously featured back in May. Their new album, which I hear is also sadly their last, drops in early December.

RIYL: Minus The Bear, Little Comets, Foals, Adebisi Shank