M. Lamar is proof: Something else is going on.

Hey! I was born in the eighties and have a difficult time remembering original and exciting music too. Except for a handful of bands, the majority of music that has been recorded in the past 20 years sounds like a lot of time in a focus group was responsible for its production. By and large this is tedious and boring and a major reason why MTV totally became shitty and George Bush remains elected.

Every once and awhile something completely new comes along that challenges and demands the listener to really engage with it. M. Lamar’s music does that. To say it’s great or bad or weird or fucked up or haunting or too much is too little…

M. Lamar reaches a depth through his music that is unparalleled by the vast majority of his contemporaries. Recently I saw him play a show in San Francisco; the first half of the show I nervously adjusted and readjusted myself in my seat. The second half of the show a light bulb burst in my brain and I was overwhelmed with respect and admiration for the poignant depictions of race, class, and sexuality his music addressed.

His show included old spiritual hymnals, reworks of classic folk songs and some original work.

Diamanda Galas said, “this bitch can sing!”

In short, M. Lamar’s work is unsettling… if that gets your blood pumping then you should read an essay he wrote in the recently released and expanded anthology “That’s Revolting”… The essay discusses race, class, gender and the years he spent hanging out with Kathy Acker in the nineties. What a lucky bitch!

Watch this:

And this:

DOWNLOADS

M. Lamar – Dirty Nigger
M. Lamar – White Pussy