May 2005 Archives

The world of hip-hop hasn’t been all that captivating lately. Well, at least not to me. Apparently the rest of ‘Merica can’t stop lapping it up like so many pussies to milk.

Luckily, all rappers aren’t tattooed up, thugged-out pieces of untalented ghetto trash. Take for instance, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Lyrics Born, Kanye West, Common and Ludacris. All have released or will release new albums, and all of them have a bit of talent.

Mos and Talib dropped new albums late last year, Dangerous and The Beautiful Struggle, respectively. Mos’ Dangerous is infused with rock and blues licks and shows that more and more rappers are taking cues from the world of rock. Key tracks include “The Boogie Man Song” and “The Rape Over." Talib’s Beautiful Struggle is pretty straight forward, with decent beats and good rhymes. There is some rock here too, plus Talib's insightful lyrics. "Going Hard” is pretty indicative of what you will find on the rest of the album.

Instead of putting out something new, both Kanye West and Lyrics Born released remix albums. Normally, I’d call them money-grubbing chumps, but there is enough new material and great new mixes on both albums to make them worthwhile.

Lyrics Born, from San Fran - running with the West Coast clique that contains Jurassic 5 among others, makes some great, melodic and funkified hip hop. The remix album, Same Shit Different Day is full of fresh funk. Key track here is Dan "The Automator" Nakamura's take on “I'm Just Raw.”

Kanye released Freshman Adjustment, it looks to be an import release available everywhere but here. The disc contains some new stuff and some of the original demos he shopped around and got rejected before Roc-A-Fella picked him up. There is even the origianl version of "All Falls Down" featuring a Lauryn Hill sample that she wouldn't clear because Kanye was a nobody. Yeah, who's feeling stupid now?

Common’s soon to be released album Be has some gems, but there is just a bit too much R&B for me. If that's your thing, then that's your thing. Check out “Go (feat Kanye West and John Mayer)".

And finally, there is Ludacris. I know what you’re thinking, “Luda? Does he really fit in with the rest of these guys?” Well, maybe. But I really dig the new album. I just put off listening to it, but thinking back, he has never done anything to disappoint me (except for the appearance on that god awful Ciara song “Oh”) and I should have known the new disc would be the shit. And it is. Luda’s Red Light District is funny and irreverent, plus lots of bass. Key Track: "Get Back"
Stuff to Sample: Nothing here . . . sucka!

I’ve been listening to the new White Stripes album, Get Behind Me Satan, and the only thing I can think about is “Is this whole album about Renee Zellweger?” I’m serious. I don’t want to think that way, but I can’t help it and it’s really ruining my listening experience. She’s not even that great of an actress but there is a possibility that over half the songs about her. Who is the subject pronoun in all of your songs, Jack? Who, Jack, who?!? Tell me now!

The album itself is decent, it’s slower, with a lot more piano and acoustic guitar, and folksy is some spots. Overall, its a nice step in a different direction but I still miss the thrash of Jack's guitar.

The first single “Blue Orchid” is nothing like the rest of the album, and in a way, I’m glad. An album full of Electric Six rehashes would have been disappointing. And . . . uggh, still can’t stop thinking about Renee Zellweger. Screw it.

Stuff to Sample: Two songs about Renee Zellweger, “My Doorbell” and “Forever For Her (Is Over For Me)”

I love bands that aren’t immediately classifiable because that usually means, 1) they are original and thought provoking and 2) I get to make up my own classification like I was some sort of scientist discovering a new frog that looks like other frogs in every way but is somehow different.
Meet Caribou. They play electronaroll 'n' surfesque and beatasticulous music (like that? I just made it up).

Caribou’s new album The Milk of Human Kindness is ___________ (insert positive adjective, or negative adjective that conversely means something positive). Milk of Human Kindness has some great noise and I think Caribou reminds me a little bit of the Beta Band, who, on a completely unrelated note, released a terribly disappointing album some time back.

Caribou’s album, however, is anything but disappointing. There are nice melodies, epic prog rockish jams, noise for the sake of noise, crazy beats and some horns.

I also think these guys probably really dig Radiohead. Recent Radiohead. Kid A, Amnesiac Radiohead, not the whiny, blonde, foppish Thom Yorke - Pablo Honey, Radiohead.

Caribou’s history is a bit of a mess. They used to be called Manitoba and there was some side project called Up In Flames before the name change.Sorry, I still don't have the time to sort out the details but Google will do it for you. Right now, just listen.

Stuff to Sample: Caribou's "Bees" "Subotnick" and "Pelican Narrows"

The new Ponys record will be out sooner or later, or so I’m told. It’s more of the same, jangley guitars and scream shout gasping that guitarist and “singer” Jered Gummere employed for all of their 2004 debut Laced With Romance.

The new album, entitled Celebration Castle, does not have anything as well written as Laced With Romance’s “I’ll Make You A Star,” but no matter, it’s still rock and roll and we still love it.

We all know the Ponys hail from Chicago, but did we know that one their key members, Ian Adams, just quit. He did something semi-important in the band, I’m sure. So what kind of effect will his departure have? I can’t say for sure but I’m really hoping he isn’t the one that wrote “I’ll Make You a Star,” the world could use a couple more of those.

Stuff to Sample: From Celebration Castle, “Another Wound” and “I’m With You”

The Family Guy is freaking sweet. With new episodes and reruns on Adult Swim every night, I don’t think it will ever get old. But with any success comes the shameless marketing and tie-ins that can over saturate the TV watching populace and doom a show to an early grave (well, earlier then last time). What am I getting at, you may ask? The Family Guy Live in Las Vegas, the album. The Simpons did it, with The Simpsons Sing The Blues and five other albums that no one paid any attention to. And then there are the numerous South Park albums.

But Live in Las Vegas may be the best. With its esoteric wit and references, show tune styling and fart jokes, this cartoon album tops them all in stature and raunch. Just try and not laugh when Stewie drops the F-bomb. This album can drag after awhile, the "live Las Vegas show" format gets tired about three songs in but I still had a hard time picking samples, so many great one-liners. And that is the sole reason to listen.

Stuff to Sample: Stewie and Haylie Duff (I know, "A Duff on eLarceny?!? WTF?!?) doing “Babysitting is a Bum Deal” and the Griffins and Jason Alexander in “All Cartoons are Fuckin’ Dicks”

I’m going to be lazy about this and just post something I wrote for my other job two weeks ago. I’d write something funny and original, but I just don’t want to, especially after the Gorillaz sold their souls to Apple and MTV for a little prime time lovin'.

"The animated band the Gorillaz return with Demon Days, the follow-up to their 2001 self-titled debut. The brainchild of Blur lead singer Damon Albarn and cartoonist Jamie Hewlett, the Gorillaz’ second effort maintains the band’s bouncy, dub-filled sound, but Demon Days, as evidenced by the title, is a little darker.

Noticeably absent from the new release is producer Dan “The Automator” Nakamura, rapper Del the Funky Homosapien and turntablist Kid Koala. DJ Dangermouse and Albarn take over production duties and there is a long list of guest stars including De La Soul, Ike Turner, Deborah Harry, MF Doom and Dennis Hopper doing a creepy spoken-word bit.

Demon Days will be available on Tuesday, May 24. The first single “Feel Good Inc.,” featuring De La Soul, is available now."

Stuff to Sample: Just turn on your TV, and randomly flip. You will probably catch the new iPod commercial featuring "Feel Good Inc."

Yeah, Ok. Sample this: "DARE" and "Demon Days"

Whenever I hear the enchanting tones of a banjo being plucked my mind starts a rolling. First it conjures the South, then dirty folks with no shoes, mint juleps and so on. By the time it’s all said and done, I’m thinking about half-naked, toothless midgets, rasslin’ in a mud pit for spare change, OR the geo-political causes behind the Civil War, but usually, it’s the midgets. That’s just what the sound of the banjo does to me.

But when I listen The Boy Least Likely To and his new album The Best Party Ever (quite a bit of banjo here early on), I don’t see midgets mud rasslin’. I see midgets chicken fighting each other on the backs of other midgets who are surfing the beautiful breaks off California’s Pacific coast.

I will probably never listen to this album again, it’s just a bit too folksy for me, but a few of you may dig it. I just had to tell somebody about the midgets. Thanks for listening.

Stuff to Sample: The Boy Least Likely To’s “Fur Soft As Fur” and "Hugging My Grudge” and as an added bonus, more Sounds of the South.

There is a lot of news coming out of the Flaming Lips camp these days. First is the Lips’ participation in the Latenight Tales (AnotherLateNight) compilation series. The premise is this: famous bands or DJs put together a glorified mix tape of music they like to listen to after a night out.

Nice idea, but it would be much better if the producers actually took the artists out, got them ass-faced and then used whatever they played on the juke box that night as the mix. That might be embarrassing but ultimately, much funnier.

The Lips’ also have a documentary coming out called Fearless Freaks. The documentary follows the band almost from the beginning and is culled from over 400 hours of footage. Put together by Bradley Beesely, Wayne Coyne’s long-time friend and neighbor, the documnetary gives fans an unprecedented and intimate look at one of the best bands of this era. The DVD will be available on May 17, also there will be a screening in Detroit on May 24. Flaming Lips: Latenight Tales is available now.

Stuff to Sample: From Fearless Freaks “Space Age Love Song” and from Latenight Tales, the Flaming Lips cover of the White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army"

Just as an extra tid bit, the Flaming Lips made a few changes to "Seven Nation Army," most noticabley the lyrics, some of which are taken from the Butthole Surfers' song "Moving to Florida." Anybody out there have Rembrandt Pussyhorse?

The Shout Out Louds are from Sweden. They are much, much better then a certain other Swedish band that shall remain nameless.

After the first run through of the Shout Out Louds’ new album Howl How Gaff Gaff, I was slightly less then impressed.

But, as any highly opinionated blogger worth his salt would, I gave it a second listen. And then a third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, etc. By the time I reached the fifteenth go around or so, I was starting to like them, just a little bit.

The Shout Out Louds take their cues from 1960s American rock as well as a swath of indie rock that hit the scene around the time Nirvana exploded.

The Shout Out Louds have two modes, 1960s slow rock ala the Velvet Underground or early 1990s indie rock pop ala Jesus and Mary Chain.

Stuff to Sample: “Go Sadness” and “The Comeback”

Also, it was pointed out to me that the opening of “The Comeback” is taken from or emulates or coincidentally resembles a sound bite used in the NES game RC Pro AM.

And speaking of Nintendo games, check out the remixes for several songs off of Beck’s new album Guero. They are packaged on the Gameboy Variations (Hell Yes EP). My favorites? “Bit Rate Variations in B Flat (Girl Remix)” and “Bad Cartridge (E-Pro Remix)”

I seem to have lost my way with such mainstream posts about Nine Inch Nails, Weezer, Ben Folds, the Chemical Brothers and the White Stripes. And while the above constitute some of the better releases this year, they are hardly ground breaking. As of late I have forsaken the indie snob mentality and this will not do because it is that indie snobbiness that makes me better then all of you. No longer will I forsake myself in favor of mass marketed music! I will return to the hallowed halls of Obscurist Wankerdom from where I will drop knowledge like bombs . . . at least for the rest of the day, or until my arm gets tired.

The Mystery Jets hail from England’s Eel Pie Island. They are made up of four young men and one of the kid’s father. They like to bang on random metallic objects (Hey, is that a BNC?). They’ve drawn comparisons to recent Radiohead and the Mars Volta. They have two drummers. They have toured or played with the Futureheads, British Sea Power, the Secret Machines and Bloc Party. Here are three songs that may or may not sum up what the Mystery Jets are all about.

Stuff to Sample: The Mystery Jets' “Alas Agnes” “On My Feet” and “You Can’t Fool Me Dennis”

I’m having trouble mustering enough righteous indignation to make a post. It’s just not happening today. But it should because I’m about to talk about a mash up and as I’ve said before, I hate mash ups. They are the worst thing to happen to music since ABBA. And now, without the slightest bit of irony, I will post this mash up of Ray Parker Jr.’s “Ghostbuster” and Nine Inch Nail’s “The Hand That Feeds aptly title "The Ghost That Feeds."

“The Hand That Feeds” is from Nine Inch Nails’ new album With Teeth, in stores today. The new album, unlike that piece of shit mash up will not disappoint the legions of Reznor followers. What sort of douche bag even bothers to mix the theme of Ghostbusters with Nine Inch Nails? It doesn't even sound good. What the hell?! Oh forget it. I’m too tired to be indignant. Would somebody please take over for me? Seriously, being this indignant - not so easy.

Stuff to Sample: From With Teeth "The Hand That Feeds" (unmashed) and "Only" (is that a dance beat? Trent, what's going on?)