The late ’60s and early ’70s are often remembered within the context of rock n’ roll–complete with visions of free love, liberal drug use, protesting, and partying. While far from Janis Joplin or Joe Cocker, Betty Davis is the epitome of the rock lifestyle–an uncompromising artist who never once stepped into the box.

Betty Davis is a true badass. She turned down Eric Clapton from producing one of her albums; she introduced aggressive sensuality into her music far before Tina Turner; she penned the songs that lead to The Commodores signing to Motown (Davis later turned the label down for a record deal due to ownership issues); she married, influenced, and divorced Miles Davis; she was part of a crew that Carlos Santana referred to as the “cosmic ladies”; and she may have been the first artist to use the term “hater” in a song. On top of this summarized history, she produced her own records and wrote everything all by her damn self. Holy shit.

Davis’ ferocious punk-funk-R&B has played an immense role in contemporary hip-hop as well. MCs from Talib Kweli to Ice Cube to Ludacris have rapped over her beats and she’s been sampled excessively. Fortunately, she hasn’t died from a drug overdose or suicide. Unfortunately, she’s broke as hell and living in a Pittsburgh ghetto–, having never received proper royalties for her records.

Light in the Attic Records is paying true homage to the queen of anarchic-funk by re-releasing her 1973 self-titled debut and her sophomore effort They Say I’m Different (yes, she will get the royalties now!), setting up what was to become one of the most influential and unique forms of hard-funk. From Karen O to Kelis, it would be pretty fucked up not to attribute their aesthetics to Davis (usually perched on her album covers dressed as an intergalactic Egyptian or afro-topped party-vixen).

The two offerings are both remastered and come bundled with an extensive booklet documenting Davis’ well-deserved place in history. I believe Ice Cube stated it best when he said: “Betty was a G, for real.” For real.

Betty Davis and They Say I’m Different are out now on Light in the Attic.

Tracklisting
Betty Davis
1. If I’m in Luck, I Might Get Picked Up
2. Walkin’ Up the Road
3. Anti love Song
4. Your Man, My Man
5. Ooh Yea
6. Steppin’ In Her I. Miller Shoes
7. Game is My Middle Name
8. In the Meantime
9. Come Take Me
10. You Won’t See Me In the Morning
11. I Will Take That Ride

They Say I’m Different
1. Shoo-B-Doop and Cop Him
2. He Was A Big Freak
3. Your Mama Wants Ya Back
4. Don’t Call Her No tramp
5. Git In There
6. They Say I’m Different
7. ’70s Blues

Los Angeles-based dublab throws a party every year, with the sole purpose in mind of ruining your day. Or at least, attendees should feel pensive and melancholy by the end of the festivities. Give Up: Stop Dancing and Cry is held at The Redwood Bar and Grill, a nautical themed restaurant on Second St. The event is thrown complete with live silkscreened shirts and, as dublab’s site so eloquently states, “bummer movie scenes splashed on video screens.”

The event happened in March, and sorry if you missed it. The good news is that DJs Jimmy Tamborello (a.k.a. Dntel) and frosty–who both played–have compiled a CD of the night’s music, currently available for a mere $10 via the dublab site. A mix of everything from Paul McCartney’s mournful guitar strumming to Colleen’s tear-jerking ambience will aid you in reliving heartache and teeth gnashing, with or without an accompanying party.

Give Up: Stop Dancing and Cry is available through dublab.

Tracklisting
Jimmy’s Heart Sinking Songs
1. Tarwater “To Describe You”
2. Ulver “Silencing the Singing”
3. Lucky Kitchen “Rain and Hail, X-mas Eve”
4. Neu “Lieber Honig”
5. The Pale Saints “Hair Shoes”
6. A.R. Kane “Up”
7. Neurosis “The Road to Sovereignty”
8. Susanna and the Magical Orchestra “Love Will Tear Us Apart”
9. Colin Newman “Can I Explain the Delay?”

Frosty’s Misery Melodies
10. Gary Higgins “Unable to Fly”
11. Espers “Byss & Abyss”
12. Boduf Songs “Lord of the Flies”
13. Colleen “Your Heart is So Loud”
14. Papa M “Petals Weep”
15. Paul McCartney “Waterfalls”
16. Susan Christie “Rainy Day”
17. megAfarmer D “Weepin’ and Wailin’”
18. Phyllis Dillon “A Thing of the Past”
19. Phelan Sheppard “The Plantagenet Whore”
20. Mia Doi Todd “In the End”

Though a brand-new quintet, Stateless, !K7’s newest signing, has already toured the world alongside turntable virtuoso DJ Shadow, worked with highly sought-after producer Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys), and the band’s singer Chris James was a guest on Shadow’s last release, The Outsider.

As hot as the band has become in its own right with its ethereal, orchestral rock, it’s going to be hard to shake comparisons to the almighty Radiohead (and perhaps, a bit sadly, Coldplay). While James’ vocal range exceeds the realm of dynamic, the band’s shameless use of piano-derived, emotional soundscapes may alienate some diehard !K7 dance fanatics more accustomed to the likes of Herbert, Funkstorung, and Joakim. Still, with Shadow backing these young Brits, they’ll likely have no trouble finding a wide audience, wherever it may be.

Though Statelesss is ultimately a rock band, its use of alternative instrumentation like turntables, keys, effects, and live programming is a treat for the genre. The band’s scratchy glitches, layers of strings, and James’ passionate vocals on the self-titled debut is definitely worthy of buzz–even if it’s from the Coldplay sect.

Stateless is out this summer on !K7.

Tracklisting
1. Prism #1
2. Exit
3. Bloodstream
4. This Language (feat. Lateef the Truthspeaker)
5. Down Here
6. Radiokiller
7. Running Out
8. Crash
9. Bluetrace
10. Inscape

Dieter Sermeus is the quintessential nu-pop experience. Like his Morr counterparts, Sermeus blends the subtle, glitchy electronics of B. Fleischmann with the indie-pop instrumentation of just about any band on the Merge Roster (White Whale, The Rosebuds, etc.). Stars on the Wall is a dynamic step away from his 2004 debut Miami, with a full-live band, bass grooves, and lots of gentle, vintage-synth power. Sermeus’ songwriting is pure fire.

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