Blockhead may be best known for his genre-bending production for artists like Aesop Rock and Murs, but this sampler from his solo record,
Uncle Tony's Coloring Book, should prove him more than just an indie hip-hop sideman. The lack of an MC brings his diverse and acute beatsmanship to the forefront, giving Blockhead more room to color. He mingles, mashes and manipulates a funnel of jazz, hip-hop, downtempo, rock, turntablism and even Eastern instrumentation into a harmonious yet daring sound. This is one coloring book where drawing outside the lines is its ultimate triumph.