Matt Garcia - Evening Eclectic - Wednesdays 9:00pm - 12:00am
"My only drug is music." - Matt Garcia
Growing up in Visalia, CA, Matt became a huge fan of undiscovered and underground music. While in junior high, when his friends were listening to the new Eminem and Dr. Dre records, people would look at him funny for breaking out the new punkrock record he found at Ragin Records in Visalia. He finally found a home for his musical appreciation upon arrival to Cal State University Fresno, and became a member of KFSR Afternoon Eclectic Staff. Some of Matt's favorite artists include (Radiohead, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones,) and some newer faves include (The Shins, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, and the Thievery Corporation). When he's not busy listening to music in the office or studying you can catch him at his favorite music spot in Visalia, Howie and Son's Pizza. Check out his weekly show on the Evening Eclectic every Wednesday Night 9:00 PM till Midnight. More about 90.7 KFSR's Evening Eclectic programming...
CD Review - Thievery Corporation: Radio Retaliation (ESL Records)
Thievery Corporation (international DJ and production duo Rob Garza and Eric Hilton) are back with their highly anticipated fifth independent studio album, Radio Retaliation. Along with longtime co-conspirators like Sleepy Wonder, Lou Lou, and Notch, the outernational DJ and production duo are joined this time by a new cast of musical collaborators including Nigeria's afro-beat heir Femi Kuti, Brazilian star vocalist and guitarist Seu Jorge, Indian sitar virtuoso Anushka Shankar. The album has an uncompromising socio-political agenda and richly layered production touching upon the eclectic sounds of Jamaica, Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Radio Retaliation finds inspiration in the uncompromising political music of groups like the Clash, Public Enemy, and Fela Kuti and is without a doubt Thievery Corporation's broadest and most progressive album yet. The album imparts tough messages largely absent from today's popular music and will knock you flat with its incredible sound! A must have album in 2008.
- M. Garcia
CD Review - Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - 100 Days 100 Nights
This album is spectacular. By the sound of them, you would think Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings started making funk-threaded soul music together in the 1960s. Few devotedly retro acts are as convincing. Her voice oozes soul and sass, and the Dap Kings back her with a groove that makes it impossible to stay still once you hear it. This is their third CD, and contains more ballad oriented material than their hard hitting first disc, "Dap Dippin". However, this disc is not lacking in grooves. The title track "100 Days/100 Nights" is so catchy its addictive. I have played this song so many times its not even funny. If you liked the first album by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, you should definitely pick this one up, they continue to be the best funk band around. - M Garcia
CD Review - Bitter:Sweet - "The Remix Game"
In this dynamic album, Bitter:Sweet’s captivating debut, The Mating Game, is reworked by top remix producers. Many of the songs on this album are rare unreleased gems. This album is loaded with the golden touch of mixmasters like Thievery Corporation, AtJazz, Skeewiff, Nicola Conte, and Fort Knox Five. Going from deep house to funky breakbeats, the lush album evolves a whole new approach to an already enchanting duo. - M Garcia
CD Review - Talib Kweli - "Eardrum"
Ever since emerging as a member of Black Star in the late 1990s, Talib Kweli is one of the few hip-hop artists making commercially viable music that matters. The Brooklyn bred rapper's hard-hitting music has been able to educate and entertain simultaneously. With Ear Drum, his first album released on his own Blacksmith Music and his sixth album overall, Kweli has delivered his career-defining work. - M Garcia
Thievery Corporation (international DJ and production duo Rob Garza and Eric Hilton) are back with their highly anticipated fifth independent studio album, Radio Retaliation. Along with longtime co-conspirators like Sleepy Wonder, Lou Lou, and Notch, the outernational DJ and production duo are joined this time by a new cast of musical collaborators including Nigeria's afro-beat heir Femi Kuti, Brazilian star vocalist and guitarist Seu Jorge, Indian sitar virtuoso Anushka Shankar. The album has an uncompromising socio-political agenda and richly layered production touching upon the eclectic sounds of Jamaica, Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
This album is spectacular. By the sound of them, you would think Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings started making funk-threaded soul music together in the 1960s. Few devotedly retro acts are as convincing. Her voice oozes soul and sass, and the Dap Kings back her with a groove that makes it impossible to stay still once you hear it. This is their third CD, and contains more ballad oriented material than their hard hitting first disc, "Dap Dippin". However, this disc is not lacking in grooves. The title track "100 Days/100 Nights" is so catchy its addictive. I have played this song so many times its not even funny. If you liked the first album by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, you should definitely pick this one up, they continue to be the best funk band around. - 
In this dynamic album, Bitter:Sweet’s captivating debut, The Mating Game, is reworked by top remix producers. Many of the songs on this album are rare unreleased gems. This album is loaded with the golden touch of mixmasters like Thievery Corporation, AtJazz, Skeewiff, Nicola Conte, and Fort Knox Five. Going from deep house to funky breakbeats, the lush album evolves a whole new approach to an already enchanting duo. - 
Ever since emerging as a member of Black Star in the late 1990s, Talib Kweli is one of the few hip-hop artists making commercially viable music that matters. The Brooklyn bred rapper's hard-hitting music has been able to educate and entertain simultaneously. With Ear Drum, his first album released on his own Blacksmith Music and his sixth album overall, Kweli has delivered his career-defining work. -