Da stelle ich eben noch die Frage “Gibt es sonst noch Album-Ankündigungen für 2010?” und keine Stunde später, ZACKpeng!BUMM! verkündet Anti-Records folgendes:
“Anti-Records is excited to announce the impending release of an impassioned new album Li(f)e by celebrated agent-provocateur of hip hop, Sage Francis. An underground star from his years as a battle champion, poet and founder of influential Strange Famous Records, … On his electrifying new album Li(f)e, Francis turns his keen observational skills to a culture of rampant hypocrisy and, in particular, organized religion.
This album is a marked evolution for Francis. His signature wordplay, a dazzling mix of sardonic humor and biting social commentary, is now complimented by a talented band consisting of producer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron and Wine) and cohorts Jim Becker and Tim Rutili of the acclaimed Chicago outfit Califone. It proves an effective soundtrack for Francis’ riveting lyrical discourse. The record’s title Li(f)e is a deliberate amalgamation of the words life and lie. …
To help convey his impassioned message Francis has enlisted a cadre of uniquely talented songwriters. The album begins with a stirring Steinbeck imbued tale of prison break entitled Little Houdini’ with music written by ex Grandaddy frontman turned solo artist Jason Lytle. “We specifically sought out songwriters who had never worked with a rapper,” Francis explains. “And I didn’t want them to write music they thought they should for hip-hop. The music for ‘Little Houdini’ was a long epic instrumental piece Jason had just hanging around which I then worked my story into.” Next up is a rousing and energetic anthem entitled “Three Sheets” with music written by Chris Walla of the band Death Cab for Cutie. Subsequent songs feature compositions by Tim Fite, members of Calexico, DeVotchKa, and Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse – each interpreted by Francis and the band resulting in an entirely organic and captivating vehicle for Francis’ dramatic narratives.” – Anti-Records
Sage Francis selber sagt über das Album:
“What about life is a lie? What we’re told about God is a lie. What we’re told about race, gender roles, beauty, war, food, drugs, sexuality, capitalism, history, the nature of humankind…a gang of lies. I feel it in my gut, I think it in my brain, I write it with my hands and I speak it with my mouth. That’s what makes Li(f)e the general theme of this album.” – Sage Franics
Es gibt wenig Musik die mich so berührt, erreicht, bewegt, an mich ran kommt, wie die von Sage Francis…
Angekündigt ist das Album für den 11ten Mai 2010. Warum es allerdings auf Anti und nicht auf Francis eigenem Label Strangefamous Records veröffentlicht ist mir ein Rätsel. Vielleicht wegen den mitwirkenden Musikern? Freunde, Bekannte, Künstler von Anti?
Anti Records ist übrigens ein sehr zu empfehlendes Label bei dem unter anderem auch Tom Waits unter Vertrag steht.
Li(f)e – ABSOLUTE Kaufempfehlung, für mich sogar ein MUSS… YEAH. Ich freu mich… Mai, Mai Mai.