Atmosphere Performs Live on The Current, Kicks Off Tour Tonight In Chicago (Plus "Paint It Gold": The Final Chapter)

Download: Atmosphere - "You"

It doesn't really matter that you can no longer stream Atmosphere's new record (out today) on their MySpace Page. After all, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold. Of course, the gold painting in this scenario merely involves heading down to your local record store and purchasing...oh gosh, what's that record called again? Strictly Leakage? No, that was the online one. No, this one, their sixth is called...something...like...Life...Is Filled... With Cherry...Bowled...Goodness?

...

Damn, I just can't think of it. Oh well, it's not like it was some gloriously irreverent take on an old aphorism or anything like that.

Yes, you, yourselves can Paint It Gold by walking to your local record store today. Call it an "action painting". Zing!

I promise I will stop.

For those of you who can't quite get to the record store yet, you can stream Atmosphere's appearance on The Current (the one we told you about yesterday) by heading here. Songs performed include second single "Guarantees" and Sad Clown Bad Spring#12 track "Not Another Day".

In other Atmosphere news, the duo kick off their tour supporting the new album tonight in sweet home Chicago. They'll be playing two shows at the Metro. Tickets are still available. (Damn you unemployment! Damn you and your damn dirty ape-hands!)

Listen to Gold highlight "You" at the top of the post.

When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold is out now. Buy it here. And watch the final episode of the fan-based Q&A series "Paint It Gold" at the top of the post.

Atmosphere MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

*I almost ended this post with "Sincerely, Jonathan Graef". I've been spending way too much time writing cover letters.

New Atmosphere - "Guarantees" (Plus Episode 6 of "Paint It Gold")

(Atmosphere - "Guarantees")


(Paint it Gold Episode 6)

While we were joshin' it up with tales of carnage, accidentally record records, mixed-gendered Canadian soccer teams, and additions to the Oxford English Dictionary, MPLS rap-duo Atmos-following-the-phere released not one, but two videos. The first is for what is presumably the second single off their forthcoming record, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold. The song is called "Guarantees" and, like first single "Shoulda Known", it's a cautionary tale about the darker side of life, but whereas "Shoulda Known" seemed to be more of a fictional account of chemical excess, "Guarantees" is ripped right out of the pages of Slug's life.

Also, that's not the only way the two tracks differ. While "Shoulda Known" was a departure from previous efforts because of its G-funk sliding synth-bass hook and Slug's nasal-heavy delivery (making him sound much like Snoop Dogg), "Guarantees" is just a rap and a guitar. But, contrary Idolator's somehow-both-accurate-and-bogus analysis of the track, this shouldn't be taken as Atmosphere's rap-rock song.

Indeed, there's not nearly enough bombast or mysogyny for it to qualify it as "rap-rock". Rather, it's a stripped down, plantive lament about everyday struggles, and one that just happens to be set to guitar. The video itself is pretty simple too: Just Slug, who's looking more and more like Johnny Depp, rappin' about his struggles with his family and job. Despite so many details from his life, this track seems to ordinary for it to stand out upon first listen.

With that out of the way, "Guarantees" shouldn't stop the considerable momentum building up to the release of Gold, the duo's sixth effort. Watch it at the top of the post.

On a lighter note, the duo released part 6 of their YouTube Series "Paint it Gold", which you can also watch at the top of the post.

When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold is out on April 22nd.

Atmosphere Myspace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Stream Atmosphere's New Record In Its Entirety (Plus Atmosphere Karaoke and Paint It Gold #8)

Download: Atmosphere - "Shoulda Known"

As the old aphorism goes, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold. Or rather, that's how the old aphorism goes if you happen to be Slug and Ant, the Minneapolis-based rap duo known professionally as Atmosphere. You yourselves can find out whether or not the duo has made good on its unique brand of inspirational quoteage by streaming their new album in its entirety over at its MySpace Page.

Those wanting to hear the new songs in a live setting as well. In addition to kicking off their tour supporting Gold with two shows in the Windy City, Slug and Ant will also be headlining the Soundset Festival, an all-day hip-hop extravaganza featuring many of Rhymesayers's best players. However, if you think that you can rap just as well as Slug can, then you are in luck. How does Atmosphere karaoke sound to you? Check it out, via the duo's MySpace blog:

atmosphere karaoke.

on this upcoming string of release parties,
"when life gives you lemons, you paint your city gold,"
atmosphere, abstract rude, and dj rare groove will be doing sets,
and doing our bestest to make you smile.

but I am pleased to announce that before any of us play our music,
dj rare groove and myself will be personally hosting some "atmosphere karaoke."
a handful of you will be pulled up on stage to attempt to perform your
favorite atmosphere songs (while trying to keep your face straight).

this is not the normal tv screen karaoke where you get to see the words. atmosphere karaoke means you need to know the words to the songs you're performing. you sign up, tell us which song you're going to rap, dj rare groove drops the instrumental and you perform your favorite atmosphere song.

we will have a sign up sheet at the merch table.
along with a list of various songs for you to choose from.
each one of you that gets chosen will walk away with a free copy of
the new atmosphere album, "when life gives you lemons, you paint that shit gold."

Can it get any better? Actually, yes. Here is what in all likelihood be the last episode (since the record drops on Tuesday and everything) of the 'Sphere's YouTube series "Paint It Gold":



When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold comes out on Tuesday.

Atmosphere MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Atmosphere Answer Your Questions On Web-Only Program

Download: Atmosphere - "Little Math You" (from Strictly Leakage)


Anthony and Sean, aka Ant and Slug, aka Minneapolis hip-hop duo Atmosphere, have used the internet in one-of-a-kind ways in order to communicate their music and message directly to fans and potential fans alike. Now, they're asking you, the listener, to participate with the duo in a new web-only series by posing queries about their new album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, or anything else that might pop into that little head of yours.

The show, titled "Paint It Gold", is self-described on the band's MySpace Bulletin as "an attempt to get (the listener) more involved with our new album. basically, we want you to interview us. it's as simple as emailing us a question that you would like us to answer."

That email address, you must be wondering, is paintitgold@hotmail.com. You can ask multiple questions, but Atmosphere request that you send each question in a separate email.

Once questions are submitted, head on over to the Rhymesayers YouTube channel to see if Ant and Slug picked your question. Be sure to include your name and address in your email, because if your question is selected, then you'll receive a free copy of the band's upcoming album on its release date.

Hey, I got a question: When's the first single from Gold gonna drop?

Watch the first episode of "Paint It Gold" (not to give anything away, but the undisputed highlight of the show comes from a question asked by a fellow Rhymesayer) at the top of the post.

When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold is out April 22nd on Rhymesayers.

Atmosphere MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Atmosphere's "Paint It Gold" Part 5: The Dream Child

Speaking of videos of Minnesotan hip-hop acts shooting the shit, here's episode 5 of Atmosphere's YouTube series "Paint it Gold". We're starting to get into slasher movie territory here, folks.

The series, which takes its name from the duo's upcoming album When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, is an attempt to directly answer fan-submitted questions (and we all know that Slug loves to answer questions from strangers) about their new album, or whatever else may pop into their fans' little heads. Email the question, along with your name and address to paintitgold@hotmail.com. Each time a video is posted, one questioner (totally sic) will receive a copy of their new record, the title of which is...ah, dammit, it was right on the tip of my tongue? Something about fruits and life lessons?

Oh that's right! When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold is out April 22nd on Rhymesayers.

Atmosphere MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

New Atmosphere - "Shoulda Known"

Download: Atmosphere - "Shoulda Known"

Here it is. We wondered when it would arrive, but now here it is. Earlier today, Atmosphere leaked the first single off of their upcoming album (I still love typing this) When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold. It's a track called "Shoulda Known", and if you think that the song's main hook is familiar, there's a reason for that. The futuristic bass line is also the transition music for the duo's web-only series Paint It Gold. As for the song itself, it's much more sober and serious sounding that the soul-and-good-times vibe of Strictly Leakage, but that's because the subject matter is more serious; namely, drug addiction.

While creating laying down a tale of regret, "Shoulda Known" creates an intriguing paradox. The lyrics clearly say no (the song's refrain is "Shoulda known better than to fuck with you"), but the music, with its G-funk sleaze and slinky groove, says yes. No wonder Slug sounds so conflicted at times. This song clearly falls under Life giving you lemons. Luckily, "Shoulda Known" makes the listener curious to see how Slug and Ant will paint that shit gold.

When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold is out on April 22nd.

MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Atmosphere Awarded 7.0 From Pitchfork

These past few weeks haven't been so bad for Slug and Ant, otherwise known as Minneapolis rap duo Atmosphere. Their sixth album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, was released about two weeks ago Tuesday, and it had a surprisingly high debut on the Billboard Top 200 album charts, coming in at #5. Not only that, but the duo also released the latest in the Sad Clown EP series, the tour-only Sad Clown, Bad Spring #12, announced Soundset 2008, and completed their YouTube series Paint It Gold. To add some relatively good icing on their cake of success, Pitchfork weighed in favorably on Paint it Gold, rewarding the album a solid 7.0.

Read Roque Strew's review here

(Jonathan Graef)

Atmosphere Paints It Gold for a Fourth Time

Behold! The fourth episode of Atmosphere's YouTube series Paint it Gold. Did your question get answered? Only one way to find out.

When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold is out on April 22nd.

Atmosphere MySpace page

(Jonathan Graef)

Video Digest: Bon Iver, The Cool Kids, Lupe Fiasco, Ryan Adams, Rhymefest, Kanye West, Atmosphere

by lablogotheque

As if you readers needed any more convincing of Bon Iver's haunting stage presence. However, in case you do, watch this stirring, stunning video of Justin Vernon and company performing For Emma, Forever Ago centerpiece "The Wolves (Acts 1 and 2)". The footage was taken for La Blogotheque's new series Back On Stages, and was shot at Bon Iver's March 28th concert in San Francisco.

Watch the rest here.

Download: Bon Iver - "The Wolves (Act I and II)"


(The Cool Kids - "Black Mags Remix" - Live at SOBs)



(Lupe Fiasco - "Superstar" feat. Matthew Santos - Live on Radio One) (via Versitti)


(Rhymefest Previewing His Forthcoming Record El Che)

All three of these videos come courtesy of Nah Right (though they themselves had a little help with the Lupe Fiasco clip) and all three are an excellent indication of Chicago's vibrant hip-hop scene. The first two videos are live performances, both taken from shows that were recently performed. The third, from Rhymefest, is a promo clip for his upcoming second major-label album El Che. Earlier this year, Rhymefest directly released his excellent Michael Jackson tribute album/mixtape, Man In The Mirror, directly to the internet. It's an incredible record, and I'm surprised it hasn't gotten more attention. Listen to one of the tracks, "Can't Make It", below.

Download Man In The Mirror here.


Download: The Cool Kids - "Black Mags"
Download: Lupe Fiasco - "Superstar" (Feat. Matthew Santos)
Download: Rhymefest - "Can't Make It"

Switchblad Comb has got a video of Ryan Adams interview Bob Mould here



Download: Kanye Weset - "Homecoming" (feat. Chris Martin)

Kanye's new video features Chris Martin of Coldplay.



Download: Atmosphere - "Should Known"

Atmosphere's YouTube series "Paint It Gold" reaches part seven. And two weeks from today is the release of the duo's sixth album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold.

(Jonathan Graef)

Episode 2 of Atmosphere's YouTube Series Paint it Gold

Was your question answered this week by MPLS rap-duo Atmosphere? Find out by watching the video at the top of the post.

When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold is out on April 22nd.

(Jonathan Graef)

Atmosphere To "Paint The Nation" With New Tour

Having given David Letterman's shit a bright, yellowish hue (and doing a pretty great rendition of chart-hit "You", with some help from P.O.S.), hip-hop duo Atmosphere have announced that they're about to give the nation another veritable golden shower of live music. The rapper/DJ just announced their new full-length tour to support their latest LP, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold.

Although, these days, it seems that Atmosphere have gotten a hold of that miracle berry stuff, because their lemons keep getting sweeter and sweeter. This is the second tour in support of Gold, one that will span over 50 dates, with fellow Rhymesayers Abstract Rude and Blueprint along for the ride as openers.

Here they be:

PAINT THE NATION TOUR
09.10- Fargo, ND @ The Venue
09.11- Sioux Falls, SD @ Sioux Empire Expo Center
09.12- Omaha,NE @ Slowdown
09.13- Red Rocks, CO @ Monolifth Festival *
09.15- Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
09.16- Missoula, MT @ Wilma Theater
09.18- Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre
09.19- Sacramento, CA @ Empire
09.20- San Diego, CA @ Street Scene*
09.21- Bakersfield, CA @ The Dome
09.22- Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
09.25- Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
09.26- Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
09.27- Phoenix, AZ @ Edge Fest*
09.28- Tucson, AZ KFMA Fall Ball*
09.30- Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
10.01- New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina's
10.02- Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
10.03- Orlando, FL @ Firestone
10.06- Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
10.07- Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
10.08- Richmond, VA @ Toad's Place
10.10- Baltimore, MD @ Ram Head's Live
10.11- New Haven, CT @ Toad's Place

When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold is out now.

Atmosphere MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

POS Drops A Little Insight On "Never Better"

Download: POS - "Goodbye"

Basically, this is a promotional video for what will seemingly be POS month over at Rhymesayers. At with good reason; the Minneapolis-based rapper will be dropping his third solo LP Never Better on Feb. 3rd. Until then, POS himself says, in the video posted above, that you can expect a lot more of him on the Rhymesayers website, answering questions about the album, or anything else that you might think of. This type of video series went well last time with the "Paint it Gold". It should work here again. Watch the vid at the top of the post!

Video: Homeless - "An Open Letter To Asher Roth"

(via)

Download: Homeless - "An Open Letter To Asher Roth"
*MP3: Asher Roth - "I Love College"

I've had an essay kicking around in my head called "Why Atmosphere Must Destroy Asher Roth" for quite some time. I never got past the conceptual stage of it though, which would revolve contrasting the blue-collar anthems of When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, with collegiate-themed rapper Asher Roth's huge breakthrough hit "I Love College." (Discussed earlier here)

For those of you who don't know who Asher Roth is, he is a suburban-based rapper from Pennsylvania. He recently released his debut record, Asleep in the Bread Aisle (haha, white bread, get it?), which contains his aforementioned hit, which is basically all about how college is totally rad and filled with parties. Which, at times, it is. (Incidentally, I bet Asher Roth would totally hit on the overworked, overwhelmed waitress in Atmosphere's "You." Whether or not she'd dig it is a less clear proposition).

But, you know, and the risk of being Captain Buzzkill, there's also that whole studying thing, and not pissing away the multiple thousands of dollars spent paying for college, and working for study loans. But hey, why work, when there's a ubiquitous red cup that needs to be filled?

Naturally, given my ambivalence toward Roth, I was really curious when Midwest Broadcast posted a video by Minneapolis emcee Homeless posted a video called "An Open to Asher Roth." It pretty much lays out all the objections one could have to Roth, but does so in a constructive, thought-provoking manner. It's essential viewing for anyone who cares about popular music. Watch it at the top of the post.

Homeless MySpace Page

(Jon Graef)

Episode 3 of Atmosphere's YouTube Series "Paint It Gold"

(Jonathan Graef)

Pitchfork Bestows The Hold Steady With An 8.4

For a while there, it seemed like any band from Minnesota who put out a record got pooped on by Pitchfork. First, there was the great Tapes N' Tapes murder of 2008, where the 'Fork called Walk It Off "a textbook sophomore slump" before ever-so-gently backhanding the MPLS quartet with a 5.9. Oh snap, son! Apparently, the fork giveth and the fork taketh away.

What's that? Is that you, Cloud Cult? Did you put out your eighth album of cathartic, artistically-minded, socially-conscious orch-rock this year, too? How. Dare. You. Feel Good Ghosts felt pretty bad, and so the 'Fork slapped the album with a 4.2.

Things didn't look so good for major MPLS acts. But, as one man said, "When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold", and it so happens that that's the very album which started the Minnesota upswing, with Atmosphere's sixth album receiving a solid 7.0. The next big MPLS "indie" release is Stay Positive, the fourth album from The Hold Steady, which comes off the heels of the rapturously received Boys and Girls In America. So how did Craig Finn and company do? Drum roll please...

8.4!. That's good enough for the 'Fork's "Recommended" tag. Writer Jason Crock states that "While its title and lyrics often make Stay Positive sound like a darkest-before-the-dawn kind of record, the themes Finn keeps returning to... all speak to the redemptive power of second chances. When the Hold Steady plead with you to 'stay positive,'... you could do worse than take them at their word." Read the rest of the album review here.

But Pitchfork isn't the only online rag heaping praise upon the group. Yesterday, liberal opinion journal Salon published a great essay from Idolator/A.V. Club writer Michaelangelo Matos' review of Positive, which puts the band's work in the context of the NYC scene from the early aughts, the American road trip, and Craig Finn's past work in Lifter Puller. About Stay Positive, Matos writes

"Stay Positive" is a natural progression -- backward and forward. Nothing rhythmically fancy goes on in Hold Steady songs, but their beat hurtles, and Kubler and Nicolay both have a gift for instrumental fills that complement the onslaught of words. While there are a lot of new touches, particularly the brazenly plastic synthesizers of "Navy Sheets" and a handsome array of acoustic instruments on several songs, most of the time they just play basic rock. But they do it well enough that it can feel like you haven't heard its like in years. No new ground is broken; none needs be.

Read the rest here.

Re-read April Wright's take on Stay Positive below.

Stay Positive is out now.

The Hold Steady MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

The A.V. Club Asks Atmosphere's Slug About Love And Sex

Download: Atmosphere - "YMG"
Download: Atmosphere - "Domestic Dog"


Feeling frustrated with your love life? Feel like you can't get any answers and have no where to turn? Dreading spending another Valentine's Day alone? If so, head over to The A.V. Club by January 28yh, because you'll have the opportunity to ask questions about sex and love to one of hip-hop's foremost experts in those subjects: Slug, from Minneapolis-based hip-hop duo Atmosphere.

In order for you, the reader, to submit a question to Slug, you must do two things: Write your question to email address tastetest@theonion.com or ask your question on the comment board of the A.V. Club article announcing the feature. Do so by January 28th. If your question is one of the better ones, then the A.V. Club will forward the question on to Slug for his advice. Basically, it's the underground hip-hop version of Savage Love.

In other Atmosphere news, the duo's excellent online-only release Strictly Leakage was recently reviewed on Pitchfork. The fork also released Lemon's track
list. Here it be:

When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold tracklist:

01 Like the Rest of Us
02 Puppets
03 The Skinny
04 Dreamer
05 Shoulda Known
06 You
07 Painting
08 Your Glass House
09 Yesterday
10 Guarantees
11 Me
12 Wild Wild Horses
13 Can't Break
14 The Waitress
15 In Her Music Box

First pressings of Lemons will include a DVD of last fall's First Avenue shows which, as you may remember, were in support of Sad Clown Bad Winter 11, as well as a 40-page book which will include credits, lyrics, and a children's story from Slug. I really hope the tale resembles something like the Wonder Showzen Season 2 DVD storybook.

When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That Shit Gold is out in April on Rhymesayers

Atmosphere MySpace Page

Atmosphere Previews 13th Sad Clown Bad Dub EP

From Atmosphere's MySpace Page Bulletin:

Atmosphere are at it again bringing you their 13th installment of the Sad Clown Bad Dub series.

Included with the Deluxe version of their new album When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold this limited edition Sad Clown Bad Dub 13 DVD includes amazing live footage of the final two performances of the "Everybody Loves A Clown Tour" in Minneapolis, MN. Each song is separated by an interlude featuring Slug & Ant.

The video you see in this post is a live performance of When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold track "Guarantees", the original video of which you can find here.

Atmosphere MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Video: Atmosphere - Live at Take Back Labor Day Fest (Sept. 1st, 2008)

(Atmosphere - "Always Coming Back To You")


(Atmosphere - "God Loves Ugly")

Well, apparently, the past few days haven't been all about conventions, storms, and throwing away the Fourth Amendment. There was some music and merriment involved as well. The Take Back Labor Day Fest may not have had Lupe Fiasco, but we have a feeling that those wanting to rappers with a flow ripe with a jazz-like dexterity got their fill with Minneapolis-based duo (with a large backing band) Atmosphere. The twosome was one of many to play the bill at the all-day fest yesterday.

If you missed it--perhaps because you were out being arrested--fret not. Video of the bands performance has shown up on YouTube, specifically old classics like "God Loves Ugly" (the video of which might induce nausea) and Seven's Travels nugget "Always Coming Back To You", which also doubled as set closer. Based on these videos, it would seem as if Atmosphere stayed closed to the script laid down in the studio, though "God Loves Ugly" gets a nice Paint That Shit Gold reference. Well done.

Watch video of Atmosphere at Take Back Labor Day at the top of the post.

Atmosphere MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Just In Time For Valentine's Day: Slug from Atmosphere Dishes Romantic Advice For The Onion A.V. Club

Download: Atmosphere - "Don't Stop"

Today is Valentine's Day, and MFR can't think of a better way to celebrate V-Day than heading on over to the AV Club and reading Slug's advice to 14 questions submitted by readers themselves. As he does on his records, Slug waxes philosophical on matters romantic.

This is the Minneapolis-based rapper's response to the first question picked by the AV Club editors.

Every couple of years, some girl I'm dating will just spontaneously burst into tears after sex. I've talked to guy friends of mine, and they've had it happen, too. What the hell is the deal? Just some female thing I'm not getting? Or do I have an effect on women that reduces them to tears?

Slug: Crying is a common defense mechanism for the women who sleep with you. Don't get neurotic about it, though. They are not defending themselves from you. They are defending themselves from themselves and their overwhelming desire to burst into laughter.

Classic. Read more of Slug's wit and wisdom here.

Atmosphere's forthcoming album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, is due on April 22nd.

Atmosphere MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

New Video: Atmosphere - "You" (Alternate Video)

Midwest Broadcast found this alternate version of Atmosphere's "You", from last year's When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold. This version follows the lyrics of the song pretty literally--it's a depiction of a waitress trying not to let the bullshit of her job overwhelm her. Watch it at the top of the post.

Atmosphere MySpace Page