Mongo Nation

Toronto’s hottest “Live Remixing” trio on music, tacos, DJ culture and GILFs!

Welcome to “Taco the Town”, the most delicious interview show on the Interwebs!

Because our studio is still a smoldering pile of ashes after our failed attempt to build a working volcano for the inter-office science fair, we’ll be talking to famous musicians, authors, comedians, weather-predicting groundhogs, actors, “exotic dancers” and life-size, 3-dimensional smurf people in the one place that everyone can agree on: The Taco Stand!

Today we’ll be talking to Keys N Krates, the Canada Land hipster band responsible for bringing the term “Live Remixing” into the vocabulary of music fans around the globe. DJ Jr Flo, Matisse and Tune were kind enough to eat tacos with us and discuss such hard-hitting subjects as the Candian health care system, reconfiguring our perception of what a live band is or should be, and how famous you have to be to f**k Paris Hilton! Check it all out right here, exclusively on CraveOnline!

B-Real, Asher Roth, Chris Cornell and more, holy crap!

By Jeremy Azevedo

Welcome back to another edition of “What I’m Listening To This Month”! No matter how many unsolicited CDs I get in my mailbox every month, I try to at least give each and every one of them a fair shot at a review, no matter how much it may pain me to listen to some of them.

In the interest of saving myself a hell of a lot of work, I’ve condensed all of the reviews for the aforementioned albums to 25 words or less. Not only does this make my job easier, but it also makes the reviews a hell of a lot more fun to read.

The RZA Presents: Afro Samurai Resurrection (Soundtrack)

Like a Wu-Tang album, only with Sam Jack doing the “skits” instead of Method Man. The RZA sure loves karate and ninjas and stuff.

B-Real: Smoke & Mirrors

B-Real is as relevant today as he ever was. (Getting stoned never goes out of style.) Recommended for hip-hoppers and heshers alike, as always.

Mandisa: Freedom

Exactly what you’d expect from a 9th place American Idol finalist. Like listening to a soulless puppet singing karaoke at a Christian youth group meeting.

Chris Cornell: Scream

There is no screaming in the song, “Scream”… This is either a work of genius, or the worst thing ever. I’m so confused…

Asher Roth: The Greenhouse Effect

I keep hearing that “College” song on the radio so I downloaded this. You should too, homedude is surprisingly good for a frat-bro Eminem.

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September’s CD pre-releases in 20 words or less!

By Jeremy Azevedo

No matter how many unsolicited CDs I get in my mailbox every month, I try to at least give each and every one of them a fair shot at a review, no matter how much it may pain me to listen to some of them.

In the interest of saving myself a hell of a lot of work, I’ve condensed all of the reviews for the aforementioned albums to 20 words or less. Not only does this make my job easier, but it also makes the reviews more fun to read.

The Silent Years: The Globe

Pretty decent, atmospheric indie pop by a bunch of science dorks from Detroit. Wait, there are science dorks in Detroit?!

Common Market: Tobacco Road

One of the best hip-hop albums I’ve heard all year. A nice surprise from the burgeoning Seattle rap scene.

Late of the Pier: Echoclistel Lambietroy EP

The coolest thing about this band is that one of the dudes looks exactly like Ronald Weasley from Harry Potter.

One Block Radius: Self Titled

Kind of like a modern version of Color Me Badd. Nice try, guys.

People in Planes: Beyond the Horizon

Really good 90s-style alternative rock. Used to have a way cooler name: “Robots in the Sky”.

Brian Wilson: Lucky Old Sun

Intolerably old fashioned. Sounds like the soundtrack to a really bad musical. My mom will probably like it.

Wonderbugg: Written in Flesh

Jesus H. Christ in a taxi cab, do people really still listen to techno?

Solskucca: Swimming Without Webbed Toes

Sounds like it was recorded at a gypsy camp in Kazakhstan.

Awesome sophomore album from British indie rock band

By Jeremy Azevedo

The Kooks’ 2006 album, “Inside In/Inside Out” was one of my favorite releases of that year, and despite the fact that they are kind of lame live performers, I’ve been eagerly awaiting new material from these talented young rockers for quite some time.

“Konk” doesn’t disappoint at all, delivering more of the same vintage-y rock and roll that made the Kooks popular in the first place. Say what you will about these dudes, they’re admittedly kinda pussy, but I’ll be damned if they’re not some catchy songwriters. This is the kind of music that radio was made for; “Always Where I Need To Be” is obviously the hot single, but “Love It All” is going to be the one that drops more panties than a wash and fold clerk with hooks for hands.

Either an ad for Supercuts or a picture of The Kooks, not sure which…

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Check out this month’s awesome free downloads!

This month’s offerings include some awesome selections from metal, indie rock and hip hop artists that you should really be acquainted with… check out this months free downloads and prepare to discover your new favorite bands!

Artist: Hezekiah
Song: Looking Up

Philadelphia-born HEZEKIAH was recently tapped to co-produce the music for a Showtime original series, Street Time. His new album, I Predict A Riot, was released on September 18th.

Hezekiah

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Artist: Hangar 18
Song title: Feet To Feet

HANGAR 18 is comprised of MC’s Windnbreeze and Alaska (aka Timillionaire), and producer paWL. Hanger 18 are known for their fun, upbeat style, and can be seen touring with Def Jux labelmates such as El-P and Aesop Rock.

Hangar 18

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Artist: Clan Destined
Song: Never All Way

CLAN DESTINED is the creation of the DJ/producer/emcee combo of AmDex and DT, the two youngest members of the nationally established crew, The VJC. With their mellow, thoughtful grooves, Clan may be the next generation of Mos Defs and Commons.

Clan Destined

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Artist: Turbonegro
Song: Do You Do You Dig Destruction

TURBONEGRO’s new album, Retox, is like a hurricane of bad-ass garage rock with an entirely psychotic undertone . The riotous lead-off single, “Do You Do You Dig Destruction,” will teabag your face with awesomnisity.

Turbonegro

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Artist: The Virginia City Revival

Song: Addicted

THE VIRGINIA CITY REVIVAL is sort of like Queens of the Stone Age if they were anywhere near as weird as they purport themselves to be. With its classic stoner rock sound, “Addicted” is the kind of song that Guitar Heroes can really sink their teeth into.

The Virginia City Revival

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Artist: Full Blown Chaos
Song: Halos For Heroes

Heavy Lies the Crown, the Ferret Music debut from FULL BLOWN CHAOS is full of depth and dimension, unrelenting in its intensity. Old school death metal the way it used to be, brutal and shredding.

Full Blown Chaos

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Artist: Film School
Song: Lectric

San Francisco 5-piece FILM SCHOOL creates giant soundscapes, emphasizing reverbed distortion, longing melodies and driving rhythms that make the band’s new album, Hideout, a wholly compelling and powerful experience. A modern shoegaze classic.

Film School

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Artist: Chiodos
Song: Is It Progression If A Cannibal Uses A Fork?

Post-hardcore powerhouse CHIODOS is one of those bands that manages to blend 80s synthesizers, scream-metal and pure pop effortlessly as if they were all one and the same. Bone Palace Ballet is their highly ambitious sophomore album.

Chiodos

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Artist: A Life Once Lost
Song: Worship

Philadelphia, PA rock powerhouse A LIFE ONCE LOST unveiled its long-awaited new album, Iron Gag, on September 18th. Says frontman Bob Meadows, “This album’s really pissed, and it’s very vicious.” Hipster metal at it’s finest.

A Life Once Lost