John's Best of 2015 Albums List

It's the end of the Year, so you know what that means!
Top 10 Albums Of 2015 List (in no direct order):

1. Dr. Dre 'Compton'


2. Leon Bridges 'Coming Home'

3. Quiet Hollers S/T

4. Death Grips 'The Powers That b"

5. White Reaper 'Does It Again'

6. Skyscraper Stereo 'Scrape or Die'

7. Andrew Rinehart 'Nothing/Everything'

8. River City Rumble V/A

9. Cereal Glyphs S/T

10. Twin Limb 'Anything is possible and nothing makes sense' EP

Share your Fav 2015 Albums list with us by Dec.23 for a chance to win 2 tix to 'I'm Dreaming of a White Stripes Christmas' at Zanzabar on 12/25. (attach your list here or send to Louisvilleisforlovers@gmail.com).

See our other BEST OF lists here.

Review: DEATH GRIPS @ The Metro 6-30-15 (Chicago)

         We at 37flood have always been huge fans of Death Grips. Whether you're into punk, hip-hop, metal, or glitch they have something for everyone. Well... maybe not everyone but for a group that's so abrasive and shrouded in mystery they really seem to bring people together in a weird way. Through the onslaught of synthesizers and samples and the ambush of MC Ride's delivery, I think there's something in the way their lyrics embrace (and sometimes beleaguer) mortality that everyone can relate to, even if you don't talk to aliens or kill people.
         As the mysterious I.L.Y.'s EP "I've Always Been Good at True Love" played over the P.A., the floor level was packed to the back bar with hip-hop heads, floral patterns, annoyed girlfriends, and stiff shoulders. But, when Zach, Flatlander, and Ride abruptly sauntered onto the stage and into a "Powers that B" freestyle over the first "Runway E," there was an equally abrupt rush to the stage.

         The first song was interrupted by "Takyon (Death Yon)," and this pattern continued; no opener, no dialogue. I'm not sure if eleven hundred people ever felt like so many to me as it did in the first hour of this sold out show before I wrestled to the bar for a water and to make sure that I'd only lost my hat. It wasn't a mosh because there was no room for that kind of movement. We were packed in like a can of sardines being violently shaken. It seemed like everyone knew all the words too. Everywhere I looked were people screaming and ducking down every few seconds trying to catch a breath, or elbow someone in the ribs.

         Death Grips delivered an impressive 23-song set, flexing their entire catalogue for somewhere around two hours. Their sound was deafening to the point that it seemed all three of them were trying to play louder than the other two. One thing that surprised me about the performance was the cohesion between Zach Hill and Flatlander during songs like "Hacker" and "Inanimate Sensation." Zach's weird barrage style of drumming was complimented by Flatlander's glitch beats in a way that never quite translates even on their most live-drum oriented recordings. MC Ride was the tidal wave of a post-apocalyptic prophet who's trying to kill you that he's always been. That guy is a force of nature; sometimes howling through songs like "Get Got," and barking through "Hustle Bones" and "You Might Think He Loves You for Your Money but I Know What He Really Loves You for It's Your Brand New Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat." When they finished their closer, "I Want It I Need It (Death Heated)," they got up and left just as quickly as they took the stage (without a word), and I got my hat back.

New Music: Death Grips feat. Bjork

Last night, Death Grips posted on their facebook page for the first time since early May to release niggas on the moon, which features Bjork "on all 8 tracks." Niggas on the moon is disc one of their forthcoming two-disc album, the powers that b. While this is their first release to feature Bjork, it doesn't come as a complete surprise as Death Grips have already remixed two of Bjork's songs (Sacrifice and Thunderbolt).

Unlike their previous release, Government Plates, this work is fueled largely by MC Ride's lyrics rather than Zach Hill's trippy electronic instrumentals. Just like every other Death Grips album, the first track, Up My Sleeves, listens like a statement-of-intention for the rest of the album and stands well on its own. Say Hey Kid is the most "traditionally structured" song I think they've ever put out, complete with a verse, chorus, and a bridge urging the listener "don't you OD, come play dead." Up until the closing track (Big Dipper) all of the songs are under four minutes, leaving few instrumental gaps other than Have a Sad Cum, whose lyrics are glitched to the point of being unintelligible.

We highly recommend you add these tracks to your Summer of Ballin' playlist, feels good to know they're celebrating with us. download here

Free Music for your Summer Soundtrack

The weather is changing, you are cutting your pants into jean shorts, and  you are almost ready for that summer road trip. all you need now is a soundtrack for your summer fun, and we got you covered! here is a list of some absolutely free downloads to get your summer jam started  right.

Basement Up + Jay Elly - The Get Back (2014)
The Basement Up crew from Lexington Ky has doing doing some fine work lately, including a FREE EP from nov. 2013 (Who They Thought We Were, find it here), and a brand new track released just this week called The Get Back (grab it here) with Jay Elly. their website boasts "In an over saturated art form we are increasingly mindful of quality." Hopefully you will agree.

Chance The Rapper - Acid Rap (2013)
37FLOOD writer Logan Nichols told me about this album "it's the future of Hip Hop" I don't know about that but it is a damn uplifting album, and has recently hit certified platinum. If you are one of the few that hasn't grabbed this free album do it now.

DMX – The Weigh In (2012)

It’s easy to dismiss DMX due to his off stage antics, and let’s face it; his personal life has exceeded  R. Kelly proportions.  In 2013 alone he has been arrested 5 times for really stupid things and is currently in a mental institution. But we can’t forget his first 5 albums hit like a brick before his tour of correctional facilities. And even now, exiled in South Carolina, and in between incoherent video diary rants, he is still slaying tracks. In 2012 he released 2 hard hitting LPs, the first ‘The Weigh In’ for free (in current hip-hop mixed tape style) as a prelude to ‘Undisputed’. I think both albums  are well worth any DMX fan's collection, but I keep finding myself going back to the free download, as it is more gritty and with unabashed inflections that read like a prison diary that DMX was so good at in his early albums such as ‘It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot.’ Start with the free album, it costs you nothing, and if you need more grab ‘Undisputed’ as he could definitely use a win right about now. (for further viewing, isDMXinjail.com will let you know if DMX is in jail at any given time).

Death Grips - Exmilitary (2011)

Logan also said "It's the future of Hip Hop" about Deaths Grips, and on this one I will agree, even if their personal future is uncertain. Logan also said "there is a 100% chance that they will be dead in 4 years." I might also agree with this. Their completely insane punk rap explosion will force you to reconsider everything you know about music. and possibly reality. and their offstage antics might make you want to smack them, but if alienating the world around them is their conduit for making albums like Exmilitary then so be it.
It's my favorite of their impressive 4 albums in 3 years, and a great introduction to the force that is Death Grips. download it for free on their website. 


Team Totoro - Invites You to Enjoy LASER BEATS (2013) 
Ok we have told you about this one before, but if you are looking for summer jams with Morris Day style antics look no further than Louisville's own Team Totoro. the tracks 'Rompin' and Stompin' and 'Southern Rep' is summer-in-the-south style certified. Download it here for free, and it comes with extra bits and pieces as well for your summer pleasure.  

37FLOOD has here by declared summer 2014 THE SUMMER OF BALLIN' and now you got the jams to prove it..  But If you need more, read our 'Best Free Downloads' list from Summer 2011.