Just giving a friendly reminder to everybody about the show next Saturday @ Northern Lights. This spot is one of the best places in Detroit to have a drink, relax, and check out some great music. Hope to see you there.

And yes, we have booked some out of state shows for the summer; we’ll see you soon with more info on the site to come.

Peep the flyer and thank Robbie for getting something together for us in no time!  I have no idea how to stretch the flyer without it distorting, so I’m not gonna.

Look for A.M. to be getting out of town this summer.  We’ll keep you updated with details once everything is concrete.

First of all, thanks to everyone who came out and supported us during our shows in March. Our schedule seems to be getting a little busier, and we are very appreciative of that.

Thanks to Paradime and the whole BEATS AT WILL staff inviting us to perform St. Patty’s Day. We had a great time and got to kick it with faces new and old.

NORTHERN LIGHTS SAT. APRIL 24
Yes, we are playing my personal favorite spot in Detroit in April. We are very excited about touching new ground at a new venue, and look forward to the show. A flyer will be soon to come, but here is the info for the show:

Saturday, April 24th @
Northern Lights Lounge
660 West Baltimore Street
Detroit, MI 48202-2902

Uncle Paulie spinning the best all night
Performances by:
Abrasive Method (A.M.)
RenCen
Tasherre D’Enajetic
Madio

$5, 21+. Doors @ 9PM.

Although last year was hands-down my best St. Patty’s Day of all time, I’m hoping this year will be even better.  Peep the flyer.  12PM-2AM.  Cornbeef.  Bagpipes.  Great hiphop starring Detroit’s finest…yes, that includes us. 

Check out this review by rapreviews.com of our new album Living A Nightmare, Chasing The Dream:

I got to know Abrasive Method (A.M. for short) by watching the video for their newest single, “Rescue”. It was a bad idea. If like me you think that rappers like Kanye West and Andre 3000 sometimes exaggerate about what a rapper should look like, then you’ll be shocked by A.M.. Not because of their flamboyance, but rather because you have rarely seen two guys look more like average Joes. Pardon my shallowness, but because of that I was doubtful that I would like their music. For the most part, I was pleasantly surprised by their latest album, “Living a Nightmare, Chasing the Dream”. I shouldn’t have let first impressions discourage me.

Still an introduction is important. Classic hip hop albums have usually been started by classic intros. From old school favourites like ATCQ’s “Excursions” to new school ones like T.I.’s “56 Bars”, great openings are frequently indicative of what’s to come. In that regard, “Living a Nightmare, Chasing the Dream” starts off on the wrong foot with the song “Rescue”. The song is comparable to E-40’s “Captain Save a Hoe”, except the narrators are the ones getting played. That a rap group would begin their album with a song about how they had girlfriends that took advantage of them is startling to me. Since it’s also the first single, it’s as if they really wanted to get that point across.

The production on “Living a Nightmare, Chasing the Dream” is generally very refreshing. The soulful beats are the highlight of the album. Charlie Beans, the producer of the group, sounds like he was very much inspired by Pete Rock, but he manages to take that style and make it into his own. Songs like “High”, “Pause For The Cause” and “Chasing the Dream” have beautiful dreamy vibes and are a pleasure to listen to. “Chasing the Dream” uses a sample last heard on White Town’s techno-pop hit “Your Woman”. A.M uses it in a completely different way, and the smooth sample chops bring back memories of DJ Premier classics like “Above the Clouds” and “Suspended In Time”.

Sadly for all the praise I give the production, I give the mix none. It’s not terrible, but it’s just not fitting. There are few songs on this hip hop LP that will make you bob your head. It’s as if the person who handled the mix wanted the music to sound like ambient techno.

The rant about introductions I started this review with highlights one of the main problems I see with rappers similar to A.M. Lack of charisma and self-pity don’t mix, like two dicks and no….you know the rest. A.M. are at their best lyrically when they are being reflective or talking trash. When they get melancholic, they sound like whiny loser lovers. There is nothing wrong with being an everyman on the mic, but you have to make it appealing if you expect fans to buy it. Songs like the aforementioned “Rescue” and “Love Somebody” are exactly the kind a group like A.M. needs to avoid.

At twelve original songs and a remix, “Living a Nightmare, Chasing the Dream” is a tight little package, with only one weak spot in the middle. There is definitely more good than bad on A.M.’s latest opus, their third. I personally hope there will be a fourth. All this group needs is better mixing and marketing. If there were significant upgrades in those two departments, A.M. could have a really interesting product on their hands.

Music Vibes: 7 of 10 Lyric Vibes: 7 of 10 TOTAL Vibes: 7 of 10

A.M.’s video for “Rescue” is currently being featured on www.spatemag.com .  Spate covers and spotlights up and coming indie hip hop artists.  Go check out the site and let them know what you think of the video in the voting section.

We’ve gotten the opportunity to open up for Chicago artists Kidz In The Hall, and New York artist 88 Keys.  Tix are $12, and are available at www.Ticketweb.com  This is a cool opportunity for us to open for some out-of-towners at a great venue.  The Pike Room is located inside the Crofoot Ballroom in Downtown Pontiac. Artists Izza Kizza and Donnis are also performing.  I’m not too familiar with their work but saw Izza Kizza has a song with Lil’ Wayne & Birdman.

88 Keys holds a special place in my heart because his production can be heard on two of my favorite hip hop albums of all time:

Mos Def  & Talib Kweli are BLACK STAR

Mos Def- Black On Both Sides

He’s made several classics and his new album is executive produced by Kanye West and his single “Viagra” also features him.

Kidz In The Hall are signed to Duck Down Records.  Home of Sean Price, Buckshot, Smith N Wessun, Boot Camp Click,  and several other underground legends.  Their album, The In Crowd featured artists Phonte Of Little Brother, Estelle, Guilty Simpson, Black Milk, & Bun B.

Here’s links to both artists bio’s:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidz_in_the_hall

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/88_Keys

Thanks to everyone who has been helping and supporting us as it looks like we’re going to have a busy spring and summer!

Oh, and don’t worry…we’ve already started recording new material.  Holler.

That’s right!  Everyone knows how much two non-Irish white guys like Tony and myself love to have a couple adult sodas and St. Patty’s Day seems like the perfect day for us to be playing with PARADIME.  One of my personal favorite artists, Paradime has inspired me for a long while and it’s really great for BEATS AT WILL to work with us and give us such a cool opportunity to rock at the TOKEN LOUNGE with such great talent. 

The spot is in Westland, and is going to be an all day affair.  Opening at noon, there will be live bagpipes and Irish food, as well as green beer to guzzle down.  All this for $5…what a deal.  Also performing:  HUSH, STREET JUSTICE, & PONY BOY.

There will be plenty of details to come, but we wanted you to mark your calendars.  Peep the flyer and thanks for the love people.

First off, be sure to stop by the BULLFROG TOMORROW NIGHT to check your boys A.M. performing a small set at Detroitrap.com’s MONTHLY MIXER.  It’s $5, and 18+ I believe.  The Bullfrog is located on 5 Mile & Telegraph in Redford.

THURSDAY, MARCH 4th @ CAMP TICONDEROGA

To be honest, I’m quite shocked at how open Camp Ti aka my workplace has been open to hip hop as of recent.  Ever since our show on Thanksgiving Eve, our dj, UNCLE PAULIE, has been spinning soul/jazz/hip hop every Saturday night.  There’s no cover and 1/2 off drafts.  To say the least, it’s a bargain.

Annually, CAMP TI does what they call Beach Bash.  Basically, it’s a summer party in the winter equipped with sand, hawaiian shirts, and ABRASIVE METHOD the Thursday and opening evening of the event.  Although the Beach Bash party goes from Thurs. March 4 UNTIL Sat. March 6, we are only performing Thursday night.

THE SHOW IS FREE and we’ll be performing around 10:30.  Uncle Paulie will be holding down the turntables for the evening also.  There will be 1/2 off drafts as well as some special beach drinks that will be available also.  CAMP TICONDEROGA is located at 5725 Rochester Road in Troy.

Thanks to everyone who has purchased the album!  We’re getting some great responses and are so proud of the project!  We also have tee shirts for $12.  Holler at us if you want one.  The shirt is black and looks like this:

Please pass along the word and spread the video we’re working real hard to make Living A Nightmare, Chasing The Dream a success!

Online Skope Magazine posted our video for Rescue at their website:  www.skopemagazine.com  Just search for it.  Holler.