Description

It may sound like a hyperbole, but there is truly no one out else there quite like Astronautalis. In addition to moonlighting as a travel writer, avid photographer, Harley-rider, and most assuredly being the first rapper to perform and have a piece on display at the world famous Venice Biennale, this nomadic wordsmith has been perfecting his own unique hybrid of hip-hop, indie rock and punk for over a decade.

Brilliantly produced by John Congleton (St. Vincent, Modest Mouse, Bill Callahan) Astronautalis is back with his fifth full length Cut The Body Loose. Having his roots planted firmly in hip-hop the sounds and styles of Astronautalis are an animal not so easily caged.

At any point he touches upon shoegaze-laced indie rock, pulsating electronic, swampy Southern-influenced blues, and more. Beside his ongoing collaboration with Grammy Award-winning producer John Congleton he has worked with Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Tegan Quin (Tegan & Sara), members of The Riverboat Gamblers and P.O.S. (Rhymesayers) amongst others to help craft his undeniably unique style.

While Cut The Body Loose may seem like Astronautalis’ most aggressive album to date, to call it angry or pessimistic would be to miss the point. Named for an aspect of a traditional New Orleans jazz funeral when the music guides grievers from heavy, insurmountable suffering to a full-on raucous celebration in the streets, Cut The Body Loose is the sonic equivalent of that same liberating process.

The scene of the album is set early with the gritty, glitchy opener "Kurt Cobain" which is as much a call to arms as it is an mission statement. Cut The BodyLoose exists in a space between heartache and acceptance, and that duality is evident in songs like "You Know What It Is," which starts as a downbeat critique of music and pop culture in general before exploding into a joyful, horn driven celebration of life. 

Like life, there's plenty of inherent variety, which is why there's room for ominous, ethereal bangers like "Kudzu" or the piano driven, downbeat hiphop ballad "Boiled Peanuts,” an ode to his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. The standout single “SIKE!” is a feisty and assertive track featuring horns by Reggie Pace (Bon Iver, No BS! Brass Band) that The A.V. Club declares is "brimming with energy and befitting of its exclamation point." When Astronautalis commands the audience to "turn it up 'til it shakes the rafters" on the emotionally-charged anthem "Running Away From God," it's not a metaphor, it's time to tear the fucking room apart. On the surface, Cut The Body Loose centers around themes of loss, disappointment, and struggle but in the end, it is really about finding redemption, triumph and catharsis in the face of all of that sadness.

ABOUT OXYMORRONS

Oxymorronsbegan as a collaboration between Queens-bred brothers, K.I. and Deee, who joined forces to cultivate a sound that modern music can no longer turn its back on. After years spent playing and touring with other groups the brothers decided it was time to set the New York scene ablaze with their sonic creations. The lineup expanded with the addition of staple drummer Matty Mayz, whose blistering talent along side bassist Joe Jordan and guitarist Adam November has become an intricate part of the bands live show. The genre-blending masterminds use their musical platform to speak for, and to, the rejected. Their message of embracing ones individuality resonates with their fellow underdogs.

The potent mixture of the bands sharp-witted lyrics and mesmerizing music has earned them a legion of loyal fans and inspired collaborations with Travie McCoy, Saba, Sam Gongol (Marian Hill), Maxine Ashley (Pharrell/I am OTHER) and Wynter Gordon. Oxymorrons caught attention with their undeniable artistry and found synergy in brand partnerships with RedBull, Converse, Rocawear, DeadBolt, Karmaloop, and Modify Watches. It's their captivating live show full of non-stop energy that has music lovers entranced. The band has played many notable festivals including SXSW, Firefly, AfroPunk, Funk Fest, CMJ and have shared the stage with dynamic acts like Lupe Fiasco, Common, Ludacris, Juicy J, Gym Class Heroes, Bruno Mars, Bad Rabbits, Rihanna, Salt N Pepa, Danny Brown, and more.

Oxymorrons are currently gearing up to release their new project, ‘Complex But Basic,’ in mid-2016 with indie label Tommy Boy Entertainment. They’ll soonbe unleashing an onslaught of ear-catching singles, imaginative music videos and taking their energetic live show on the road.