The Wu Tang Clan has got to be the best and most colorful hip hop group ever.  They received praise along with The Beastie Boys, Rakim, Russell Simmons, MC Lyte, Ice Cube, and Easy E at last Monday's VH1 Hip Hop Honors.  Because of that, here's a list of why I admire The Clan:

1. Every one of them had a distinctive personality as an MC.  You could tell the difference in style and flow whether it was ODB, RZA, or Inspektah Deck.  It was like seeing someone from the X-Men flaunt their unique ability.

2.  They have encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture.  Be it Shaw Brothers kung fu films, Marvel superheroes, or Machiavelli, these guys know it and filter everything through their lyrics with impeccable grace and bravado.

3.  They appeal to both the mainstream and the underground culture.

4.  They're rock stars in their own way - no one had balls bigger than ODB to collect a welfare check riding in a limousine to get to Social Security.  Gangsta!

5.  Some of the best solo albums come from this crew.  Raekwon's Only Built for Cuban Linx, Ghostface Killah's Fishscale, GZA's Liquid Swords--just some of the brilliant gems in the treasure chest.

6.  They've made cameo appearances in some of the funniest comedy shows like Crank Yankers and Chappelle's Show.  Not limited to that, they've also made their presence felt in Jim Jarmusch films either in front of the camera or just in the soundscape.


Here are some Wu demos from back in the day:

The Wu Is Coming Thru (demo) - Wu Tang Clan
Bring The Ruckus (demo) - Wu Tang Clan

Bonus:
Be Easy - Ghosface Killah (w/DJ Premier)

Go to the Wu's website for more than a hundred downloads!

Portland-based Viva Voce is husband and wife duo Kevin and Anita Robertson.  They've got four albums under their belt, with Get Yr Blood Sucked Out as their most recent effort.  The new album has been lauded for the tight, simple arrangements.  The band continues to hold the torch up high for the Barsuk label just as Death Cab For Cutie once did.

When Planets Collide - Viva Voce

I can feel the frustration in Giant Drag's taunt as entitled as such in a song on their second album.  Kevin Shields has been in hiding for so long and hasn't given thought about releasing a follow-up to My Bloody Valentine's shoegaze masterpiece, Loveless.  He only shows up once in a while for the occasional Greg Araki or Sofia Coppola film (check Splendor for the former, Lost In Translation for the latter). He continues to do more work for Sofia in Friday's anticipated release of Marie Antoinette.  I've already been reeled in by the soundtrack, so this is a no-brainer for me to check out this weekend. 

Anyway, I'm not posting a soundtrack song.  Instead, I'm presenting Kevin where he's been creatively known.  This is the second track from Isn't Anything.

Lose My Breath - My Bloody Valentine

The Tarantino/Rodriguez project Grindhouse got a sneak peek at the Spike TV Scream Awards. If you want to check it out, start firing up that Youtube player below.

The group decided to upload their cover of Metallica's Escape.  Ride The F'n Lightning, y'all!

Escape (Metallica cover) - Gojira

Here's another band worth checking into.  If you like laid back vocals and music that's in the same vein as anything that's been on the Garden State soundtrack, then perhaps you'll like Outerhope as well.  Here's the script from their website:

Outerhope was formed when siblings Mike and Micaela Benedicto decided to collaborate on songs built with guitars, keyboards, and vocal harmonies. 

Their first studio recording is the album Strangely Paired, a collection of songs that are almost whimsical and a little absent-minded, with constant references to fictional forms of travel.

In 2005, the duo collaborated with Joon Guillen on a song called Final Hour which was completed entirely through mail.  Outerhope is now doing new versions of the Strangely Paired songs with Joon on electric guitar, Owel Alvero on bass and Zig Rabara on drums.

Strangely Paired was recorded by Shinji Tanaka at Sound Creation Studios, produced by Outerhope and to be re-released soon by Terno Recordings.

You can download Sky High Blue off their Myspace site.  They've also got a couple of other songs in their stream as well.

Formed in 1996, Gojira has been combining strains of various subgenres of metal.  From the old-school Thrash of Slayer, the Gothenburg-style vocals found in Death Metal, and even the progressive time-signature shift styles similar to that of Meshuggah, this band has mixed it all together to come up with very heavy results.  

The French group was originally named Godzilla.  Due to legal reasons, they had to change their name to the original Japanese movie equivalent.  Like the allegorical implications of the monster in their moniker, the band is very vocal about the way man has tampered with the environment.  Their latest album is entitled From Mars To Sirius.  

Ocean Planet - Gojira
From The Sky - Gojira

The Blow is Khaela Maricich and Jona Bechtolt.  They're signed to Calvin Johnson's K Records.  Khaela originally hails from Seattle and gradually moved to Portland via Olympia.  She started The Blow as something akin to Trent Reznor's Nine Inch Nails--a solo project under a band name.  That arrangement changed in 2004 when she enlisted Jona to collaborate with musically.  Khaela also has a gig as a visual artist at the Portland Institute of Art.

If you like electropop with girl vocals, I suggest you download today's tracks.

Pile of Gold - The Blow
What Tom Said About Girls - The Blow

You can also visit their myspace site.  New album from them on October 24.