Matson on Music
Music news, concert reviews, analysis and opinion by music writer Andrew Matson.
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Capitol Hill rap group They Live! releases free "They LA Soul" album, reps left coast, brings back '90s R&B
Posted by Andrew Matson
"Can You Stand the Reign"
Having wrecked Seattle stages for about a year now, They Live! finally released some new recorded music Christmas Eve and followed up its excellent "Dro Bots Saga" EP (2008) with the full-length "They LA Soul." Both efforts can be downloaded here for no money at all.
First impressions: The three "Pancake Sandwiches" songs should have been on a separate release, "Sleeping with a Ghost" is the weirdest, most excellent R&B slow jam I've heard in a long time, and "Can You Stand the Reign" is the cut of the album.
A perfect synthesis of They Live!'s elements—Cali rap, fun-loving b-boy style, and throwback R&B—"Can You Stand the Reign" sounds like an audio version of Rosie Perez dance choreography.
Feb 9 - 2:06 PM Jay-Z and Kanye West's 'Paris' video
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Feb 7 - 5:06 PM Download these: Trails, Fatal Lucciauno, Key Nyata


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