Staff Picks and Good Shit for the Week of March 27

Well, it’s pointless to try to top our Staff Picks from last week, when everyone was in Austin for SXSW and they were all made up. But well, here we go. Here’s what the Noisey Staff was listening to in our non-Texas setting. They’re like, real or whatever.

“I’m so New York I still don’t bump Tupac.” The native New Yorker’s anthem right here.

Dan Ozzi, Editor
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Last night I saw Jazz Cartier perform his second show ever. Beyond it being a great performance full of energy and flailing arms, it felt like a moment for the city. Kardinal Offishal took to the stage to introduce Jazz, symbolically passing the torch before Jazz worked through his set. It's easy to forget that Toronto has a vibrant music community when the major players take up most of the public's attention. But events like Jazz Cartier's concert reaffirm that not only is there a rap world in Toronto beyond acronyms, but that it's on par—with the potential to be better—than what people know now.

Slava Pastuk, Canadian Editor
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Have you guys ever seen the music video for French Montana and Waka Flocka Flame's "Choppa Choppa Down" in which French Montana and Waka Flocka Flame have to go to a war zone in the Middle East to save Barack Obama because Barack Obama has been captured by terrorists and needs French Montana and Waka Flocka Flame to save him so French Montana and Waka Flocka Flame grab some guns and ride on a helicopter and goes to the Middle East and kill a bunch of terrorists and grab Barack Obama and then because French Montana and Waka Flocka Flame save Barack Obama they all decide to turn up? It's awesome.

Eric Sundermann, Managing Editor
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Lots of people ask me to do things for them. I wake up every day to a number of requests via email, social media, or text asking for information, for introductions, for reviews or advice or favors. It's draining and nerve-wracking, but because I know how hard this music industry bullshit can be, I usually try to lend a hand (unless they're being dicks about it, or if I'm even more overworked and stressed-out than usual). Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes I discover great bands and meet lovely people because of it, which gives me a reason to keep trying.

The other day, Canadian duo Vile Creature hit me up out of the blue asking for tips on booking a show in Brooklyn in a couple of months' time. While I try to help them solve that particular problem (May's a wild time for metal shows in NYC, thanks to the looming threat/promise of Maryland Deathfest), I've found myself listening to their latest album over, and over, and over. A Steady Descent Into The Soil is a shuddering black/doom masterpiece, atmospheric and suffocating in equal measure. The two (incredibly polite and friendly) souls behind the band describe themselves as "anti-oppressive, queer, vegan doom and gloom," and I for one am smitten.

Kim Kelly, Contributing Editor
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I'm still trying to get over SXSW (never going back!) which was a slushy, rainy shit-show for the final few days, and then I flew back to NYC and it's raining here too. I have a cold. Come on! THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I LEFT THE UK. That being said, the UK pumps out the best music and since I caught this LDN-based trio in Austin I've been listening to them for a week straight. So cute their songs definitely have dimples, they make me feel like I'm in a really rad computer game where I'm constantly winning and discovering new powers and secret levels. And I definitely have my own baby dragon to fly around on. Also their front-fox sing-speaks in English, French, and Japanese, which is just perfect because—for the same reason I used to love listening to Marseille hip-hop crew IAM—a language barrier helps me switch off.

Kim Taylor Bennett, Style Editor
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It's March Madness, baby! I'm sad because UNC lost last night, but basketball is still sweet. This is the best song about basketball. Listen to it instead of Jim Nantz or whoever, and help cheer your favorite team on to victory! Provided that team is not Wisconsin or Duke, both of whom are deserving of your utter and complete scorn.

Kyle Kramer, Editor

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Noisey

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Twitter

There are a lot of motherfuckers salivating, fiending, and crying like a baby at the idea of getting their hands on the new Prurient LP Frozen Niagara Falls. Makes sense… the album sits comfortably at the intersection of noise and dark techno, with songs that are alternately repulsive and serene. It's a triumph, a challenge, and a absolutely astonishing piece of work. Fred Pessaro, Editor-in-Chief
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