What happens when Canadian jazz/hip hop band BADBADNOTGOOD and Wu-Tang Clan’s founding member Ghostface Killah get together to make some music? Inspired by production techniques from the 1960s and 70s, the collaborative studio album “Sour Soul” plugs live instrumentation and free improvisation. BBNG’S soulful bass lines, soft snare drums and building orchestral arrangements set a sophisticated stage for Ghostface’s hypnotising gritty flow. Sonically, nothing is pushed back or left to die. On the contrary, what emerges is probably the most elegant and cinematic hip hop poetry that you most certainly have never heard before.

“Sour Soul” is out Feb 24th via Lex Records

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In the mid-60s and 70s art community, photographer Joel Meyerowitz was a revolutionary. Together with William Eggleston, Garry Winogrand and Stephen Shore, Meyerowitz championed the New Color Photography movement, seeing it through from general resistance to general acceptance. A New York native, Meyerowitz has now exhibited his street photography in over 350 museums and galleries worldwide. “Joel Meyerowitz Retrospective” canonizes the shrewd, sui generis eye that first began capturing New York streets in 1962. It is an anthology of every sort of milestone in Meyerowitz’s career, including his “blue hour” experimentations at Cape Cod, “Legacy: The Preservation of Wilderness in New York City Parks,” “After September 11: Images from Ground Zero” and his renowned early work, including his 1967 foray to Europe and his seminal transition from black and white to color photographs.

Published by D.A.P. / Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König

Ending a ten year hiatus, the essential late-90s/early-aughts classic and punk rock trio Sleater-Kinney have dropped their eighth studio album, “No Cities to Love”. Corin Tucker, Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss formed Sleater-Kinney in 1994 Olympia to record a total of seven albums regarded as defining principle rock albums of the decade. “No Cities to Love” sustains the band’s rock finesse right where it left off, while sweeping over lost years to push its relevancy as already one of 2015’s best rock albums. Its lyrics resume Sleater-Kinney’s signature leftist tone and feminist discourse on fear, power and capitalism.

“No Cities to Love” is out via Sub Pop.

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Pennsylvania born rock band, Dr. Dog has released “Live at a Flamingo Hotel”, featuring 19 (fan favored) songs cut during their 20-show stretch last year. The album, unlike their previous seven studio albums, fully embraces their more raw, electrically energized side; a characteristic that has come to distinguish their onstage performances and has prompted their cult-like following for the past 15 years.

“Live at a Flamingo Hotel” out via Anti Recordings

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California X debuts “Nights in the Dark”, their much anticipated second LP following 2013’s self-titled album. Formed by member Lemuel Gurtowsky, the band quickly gained spotlight as a best new garage band in punk owing to their progressive interpretation of 70s rock, 90s garage pop and post-hardcore. “Nights in the Dark” proves to be another break through, as California X’s sound has matured into a more brooding, textured, and overall lush version of itself.

“Nights in the Dark” is out January 13, 2015 via Don Giovanni Records
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Shirin is just trying to figure it out – but between a breakup with former girlfriend Maxine, coming out to her traditional Iranian family and navigating Brooklyn’s bisexual politics, she’s appropriately confused about how (or who) to be. “Appropriate Behavior” is writer, director and star Desiree Akhavan’s first feature film and unmistakably informed by her own life. Handled with intelligence and ease, the result is simply honest. It’s the kind of film that makes its home in the gray area of love, sex and adulthood without sacrificing sharp, deadpan wit. The kind that makes you want to stay with Akhavan for what comes next.

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Congratulations to Robert Greenwald and everyone at Brave New Films on 10 years of tenacious filmmaking. With the support of over 100 million viewers, Brave New Films creates critical, investigative documentaries challenging corporate media, encouraging volunteerism, and educating America on social justice and freedom issues.

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Legendary New York street artist Jean-Michel Basquiat tagged the walls of SoHo in the 70s and 80s as part of the graffiti group SAMO. Mixing image, poetry and social commentary, his tags critiqued modern power structures and racism and made him an international star.

This January, The Skateroom is teaming up with Basquiat’s estate to produce a line of limited edition skateboards featuring some of his most famous work from 1981 – 85. Collaboration is part of The Skateroom’s mission to empower youth, and proceeds go directly to non-profits that give children the chance to explore art through skateboarding.

This collection can currently be seen at MOMA Design Stores in Manhattan and at Colette in Paris. You can purchase boards online via The Skateroom starting January 7th.

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