While there's not going to be anything Mardis Gras related to this entry, I did want to take the chance to perhaps give you folks out there a few reasons to feel good about the music scene in 2006. Before I get to that though, a couple of you touched on a subject that I'd been meaning to get to but kept forgetting about. About a couple of weeks ago, CBS pulled the plug on "Love Monkey" much to the chagrin of both critics and its selective fans. I can understand wholeheartedly why it didn't receive the ratings of rival shows, but to completely shelve the show altogether is rather startling. I think that CBS was being exceedingly short-sighted in that they expected "Love Monkey" to be immediately rewarding (for the company) and thus be the proper successor to their relatively weak lineup of sitcom TV shows. Instead, they should have moved the date and time of the show, and market it differently, because it's really a solid show, but between the dozens of other shows that have been going on and off the air it always felt lost in the shuffle. So, speaking on a relative topic, I thought I'd first give some insight to what I'm currently watching on TV, and then also give you a heads up on a movie that I hope will be #1 this weekend.
What's good on TV
Meanwhile, my favorite new show "The Boondocks" (Sundays 11PM ET on Cartoon Network's Adult swim) is still going strong as it's been renewed for a second season much to the dismay of many (ahem, Al Sharpton) who feel that the TV show is too edgy for its own good. Moving on to another show, "24" has managed to captivate me, despite having no problems avoiding it for the previous four seasons. I'm not sure if it's actually better this year or I just have finally been able to "get it," but it seems to me that the plot is much tighter than I can ever remember this season. Another show that I've been watching religiously, although it's a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, is "Grey's Anatomy." With its diverse casting, intriguing characters, consistent storyline, and not to mention an outstanding soundtrack, it's no surprise that it's been the hit TV show of the year.
Upcoming movies to look for
Coming up on Friday, Dave Chappelle's Block Party finally hits the big screen. Directed by Michel Gondry, while there is some focus on Dave Chappelle and his comedic talents, the main point of Block Party are the performers. Joined by the newly-reunited Fugees, the Roots, Common, Talib Kweli, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Jill Scott, and many more, this is looking to be a true gem of a documentary. Block Party will be released this Friday.
Reasons to feel good about music 2006
As many of the comments lately have suggested, things are running a little dry right now in the music industry. However, I do completely expect 2006 to be one of the best years of music in recent memory by the time all is said and done. With that in mind, I'm going to discuss some of the upcoming albums that should be coming out that are well worth getting excited (or at least hopeful about).
Rock
This category is easily the most promising, with veteran acts Ben Harper and Flaming Lips returning with new releases. Ben Harper's latest Both Sides of the Gun, to be released March 21, is a two-disc effort, one disc containing a softer acoustic sound while the other rocks just a bit harder. While this would mean an almost certain automatic failure for any other artist, Ben Harper is one of the few that works equally well in both respects, as both his slower, quieter ballads as well as his harder songs have both earned substantial acclaim. Harper currently has a single that's available on iTunes entitled "Better Way," and is definitely worth checking out. As positive as it is political, this is easily one of the best songs to be released by Ben Harper and manages to avoid coming off as preachy. Also a major positive as far as touring is concerned is that it's almost guaranteed that Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals will be doing some extensive touring all over the country (and perhaps internationally once again) to support his latest effort. The Flaming Lips' latest, At War With the Mystics, is their first album since the delightfully strange Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots which was released four years ago. From the sound of both "The WAND" and "Ambulance Driver," this album seems to fall somewhere in between their last couple of records-- in other words, a much more guitar oriented electro-rock sound. The date of release will be April 4th. Guster is also set to release a new album June 13, which will be entitled Ganging Up on the Sun. The single for the album was released digitally last year and is entitled "Manifest Destiny/Sorority Tears" and proves that Guster is indeed going into a different direction with their sound, which is probably a good thing given the success of Keep It Together. Dave Matthews Band is heavily rumored to have their new album ready by late this year, as they are in the process of working with Stand Up producer Mark Batson once again. In the meantime, DMB has been keeping busy as they have been collaborating with Jurassic 5 (yes, you read that correctly) and will be featured in J5's upcoming single "Work It Out" for their new album which will be released June 6. Also, one of the albums I'm personally anticipating the most is Subtitulo by Josh Rouse, which will be coming out March 21. Considering Rouse has already established an impressive set of releases already, it would not be surprising to see Subtitulo follow suit and be considered one of the most impressive efforts by years end. Finally, one of the most anticipated releases is John Mayer Trio's Continuum which is still set for release sometime in May. While the live album Try! was not only an outstanding preview as to what's to come, it also showed the versatility of John Mayer that will hopefully be even more visible on the studio effort. It is also worth noting that Robert Randolph & The Family Band will be back with a new album in May that will feature such guests as Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews and a few others, which could potentially help to surpass the success of their studio debut Unclassified. Lastly, Red Hot Chili Peppers look to propel themselves back into the limelight with their latest double-album Stadium Arcadium, which will be released May 9. In support of the album, RHCP will be doing some extensive touring, including being recently confirmed to headline Chicago's Lollapalooza festival.
Alternative
In case you missed my earlier post on them, The Raconteurs look to be the latest supergroup to win over fans and critics alike. With the singles "Steady as She Goes" and "Store Bought Bones" available on their webpage, you get an idea that this could very well be something special. With the braintrust of Jack White (of White Stripes fame) and Brendan Benson, it'd be very difficult for them to go wrong. While I wouldn't agree with some of the comments heralding them as the "Nirvana of Detroit" (I believe that was NME but I might be wrong), their album Broken Boy Soldiers should be quite the treat regardless. The CD should be released sometime in May. The other-worldly rockers known as Radiohead are also slated to release their latest studio effort some time this year. For anyone that has checked out any of the numerous Radiohead affiliated webpages, you've probably seen the messages from those within the band, and by the looks of things it appears that Radiohead is almost, if not finished, with their album, so hopefully it will be released sometime in the summer or fall. Out of nowhere alt-rock darlings Snow Patrol is all set for their new album Eyes Open to be released in April, and since they've now broken into the mainstream it will be incredibly interesting to see how the reception to their latest release will be. Bloc Party, who made an incredible breakthrough album in Silent Alarm is already getting set to head back into the studio for their new album which is hoped to be released in August. From the gate, Bloc Party has stated that the band is looking to change their sound, so look for a lot of experimentation to take place, for better or worse. Finally, The Walkmen are all ready for their follow up to Bows + Arrows with their new album A Hundred Miles Off to be released May 23rd. Expect a relatively lighter sound to come from the New York based band this time around, rather than the harsher sound that they have displayed in previous efforts.
Hip-Hop/Rap and R&B
Easily the most anticipated album to come out this year in the Hip Hop category will be The Roots' debut on Jay-Z's Def Jam label with their September release of The Game Theory. While details are relatively unknown about the album, it is worth mentioning that the album will be on a new Def Jam imprint called Def Jam Left. Also of note, there has been talk, as Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson has pointed out, that Black Thought (lead MC of The Roots) could possibly do a solo project with acclaimed producer Danger Mouse. While realistically this project would not necessarily see the light of day until 2007, especially considering the September release of Game Theory it's definitely something worth keeping an eye on. Speaking of Danger Mouse, his collaborative effort with Cee-Lo under the name Gnarls Barkley will be released May 2. The album, which will be entitled St. Elsewhere, has been hugely anticipated, and will feature "Crazy" as the lead single. While the single won't be officially released until April 10, it appears some of the overseas press has been able to get it already and BBC called it "one of the hottest tracks of 2006." Ludacris is all set to release his latest album, his sixth in as many years, Release Therapy. In a pleasant surprise, it seems that Ludacris, who has lately been featured in a number of acclaimed movies, most notably Crash, has been influenced by his roles and as such plans to be much more politically and socially aware in his approach to music, starting with the upcoming release. The most delayed album of the year, Outkast's Idlewild is now supposed to be released in April, and hopefully that will remain true as the date approaches. The soundtrack for the movie with the same name is set in the rural south during the 1930's, so it's to be expected that the sound will be deeply rooted in ragtime/delta blues genres. Finally, Busta Rhymes is releasing The Big Bang sometime this year and could prove to be one of the top albums sales-wise this year. Also, the most prolific R&B artist to be releasing an album this year, Prince's latest album 3121 will be out March 21. He has already released several singles for the album, most notably "Black Sweat" and "Te Amo Corazon" which both have supporting videos. "Black Sweat" is much like the Prince we've come to know and love, and is as funky and sexy as anything he's released (without being over the top) and his video definitely backs that up. "Te Amo Corazon" is also a very sensual song, and it's latin flavor will definitely make it a favorite for many. The video for "Te Amo Corzon" is also very well done, as it was directed by actress Salma Hayek.
So, there you have it. As you can see there are plenty of reasons to get excited about 2006, and for those that are looking for albums that are currently out now I'd still highly recommend the following which I recently reviewed:
Aceyalone & RJD2 Magnificent City
Belle & Sebastian The Life Pursuit
KT Tunstall Eyes to the Telescope
Mylo Destroy Rock & Roll
Also, for the list of my top ranked albums of last year, here are the links:
40-30
29-20
19-11
The Top 10
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Fuzzy Bits: February 26, 2006
Reader recap and response
For those of you who've posted comments, first and foremost let me thank you again, as I love getting feedback from readers. To respond to some of the comments I've been getting and also from friends that have frequented the site, I'd like to let you all know that each of my reviews are on a full 100-point scale. Personally, I'm very reluctant to give scores higher than 90 unless I know with relatively great certainty that come the end of the year it will be competing for being one of the best albums all year long. With KT Tunstall's album I had no intentions of being harsh or anything of the sort, I absolutely adore her sound and I think in a couple of years she'll be a household name, but I think that her album-- like many other debuts-- is somewhat inconsistent, hence why it received the score it did. Also, in regards to the Super Bowl XL performances, I really wanted to write about them afterwards but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. There was nothing good about it, the "Star-Spangled Banner" rendition performed was painful to say the least, and while Aretha Franklin doesn't have nearly the vocal chops she used to, I don't think anyone could have saved it after Aaron Neville started singing. The problem with the Rolling Stones performance was pretty simple, they "jammed" way too much. I put jam in quotes because in essence it really wasn't jamming as much as it was watching everyone play the same riff for an additional five minutes long after the real song has ended so Mick Jagger can dance around the stage in his all too confining latex jumpsuit. They would've been much better off had they played more songs and simply trimmed down the amount of time on each of them to about the same length as their studio efforts. I can't believe that the Stones really have lost their touch (as a matter of fact, I popped in Four Flicks after watching their performance to convince myself of this), but I suppose we'll all know for sure after their tour is over.
Meet Your New Favorite Band: The Arctic Monkeys
If you haven't heard this name at least a dozen times already, I'm betting you will at least by spring break. This hugely anticipated album sold in record time over in England, and looks to be doing about the same here. After trying repeatedly to listen to them, I really don't get it. Falling somewhere between The Libertines and Franz Ferdinand with a touch of Sex Pistols, all of which are great bands to be compared to, but the outcome just isn't all that impressive. There are moments where musically, they are relatively interesting, but then the vocals or lyrics screw up an otherwise decent song. I just don't know what to make of these guys, but if it works, it works, right?
Sex Pistols do their best impression of themselves by vulgarly turning down Rock 'N Roll HOF honor
In the only fashion that Johnny Rotten and co. know how, the Sex Pistols angrily wrote on their website that they wish no part of the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame festivities, much less be inducted. Whether or not that will prove to be the case when the event occurs on March 13 remains to be seen, but if nothing else, it's good to know that age has not changed them one bit.
Coldplay set to follow up X&Y (Hopefully it won't be zzzz...)
As much as I love Coldplay, I have to say that X&Y left me a little cold, and bored... and sleepy-- but hopefully that will change with the next album. They've been working on their new songs while touring and have been performing them during soundchecks, and also for the first time Coldplay is planning on working in a single studio that will be built in London for their personal use. Looking to be more experimental this time around, it seems like from their interview with NME.com that they are indeed looking to push themselves a bit farther than they did with X&Y, and that's definitely a good thing.
Bob Dylan announces some dates for the spring
Touring with Merle Haggard, it looks like Bob Dylan could be doing a lot more touring if the rumors of him working on a new album are indeed true. Either way, I can pretty much guarantee that these aren't the only venues that Mr. Dylan will be playing, so there's hope for all of us over in the midwest and east coast. The dates are as follows:
04/01 - Reno, NV - Reno Events Center
04/03 - Stockton, CA - Stockton Arena
04/04 - Santa Rosa, CA - Grace Pavilion
04/05 - Bakersfield, CA - Rabobank Arena
04/07 - Las Vegas, NV - Aladdin Hotel & Casino
04/08 - Sun City West, AZ - Maricopa County Events Center
04/10 - Tucson, AZ - Tucson Convention Center
Editors touring with Stellastarr* to promote upcoming album
With their debut album The Back Room finally coming March 21, Editors will be extensively touring with the equally talented Stellastarr*. Be sure to check these guys out! Here are the dates:
03/20 - Boston, MA @ The Roxy
03/21 - South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground - Ballroom
03/22 - Montreal, QC @ Cabaret du Musee Juste Pour Rire
03/24 - Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
03/25 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater
03/26 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (Stellastarr* only, headlining show)
03/27 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (Stellastarr* only, headlining show)
03/28 - Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
03/29 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
03/30 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall (Editors only, headlining show)
04/01 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
04/02 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar Lounge
04/04 - Norfolk, VA @ NorVa
04/05 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
04/06 - Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club
04/07 - Orlando, FL @ The Social
04/08 - Miami, FL @ Studio A
04/09 - Saint Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre
04/11 - Nashville, TN @ Exit In
04/12 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
04/13 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
04/14 - Covington, KY @ The Mad Hatter
04/15 - Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
04/16 - Chicago, IL @ Metro – Smart Bar
04/18 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe
04/19 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theatre
04/21 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
04/22 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
04/25 - Vancouver, BC @ Richard's On Richard's
04/27 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
04/28 - Portland, OR @ Dante's
04/29 - San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine
04/30 - Indio, CA @ Coachella Festival
For those of you who've posted comments, first and foremost let me thank you again, as I love getting feedback from readers. To respond to some of the comments I've been getting and also from friends that have frequented the site, I'd like to let you all know that each of my reviews are on a full 100-point scale. Personally, I'm very reluctant to give scores higher than 90 unless I know with relatively great certainty that come the end of the year it will be competing for being one of the best albums all year long. With KT Tunstall's album I had no intentions of being harsh or anything of the sort, I absolutely adore her sound and I think in a couple of years she'll be a household name, but I think that her album-- like many other debuts-- is somewhat inconsistent, hence why it received the score it did. Also, in regards to the Super Bowl XL performances, I really wanted to write about them afterwards but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. There was nothing good about it, the "Star-Spangled Banner" rendition performed was painful to say the least, and while Aretha Franklin doesn't have nearly the vocal chops she used to, I don't think anyone could have saved it after Aaron Neville started singing. The problem with the Rolling Stones performance was pretty simple, they "jammed" way too much. I put jam in quotes because in essence it really wasn't jamming as much as it was watching everyone play the same riff for an additional five minutes long after the real song has ended so Mick Jagger can dance around the stage in his all too confining latex jumpsuit. They would've been much better off had they played more songs and simply trimmed down the amount of time on each of them to about the same length as their studio efforts. I can't believe that the Stones really have lost their touch (as a matter of fact, I popped in Four Flicks after watching their performance to convince myself of this), but I suppose we'll all know for sure after their tour is over.
Meet Your New Favorite Band: The Arctic Monkeys
If you haven't heard this name at least a dozen times already, I'm betting you will at least by spring break. This hugely anticipated album sold in record time over in England, and looks to be doing about the same here. After trying repeatedly to listen to them, I really don't get it. Falling somewhere between The Libertines and Franz Ferdinand with a touch of Sex Pistols, all of which are great bands to be compared to, but the outcome just isn't all that impressive. There are moments where musically, they are relatively interesting, but then the vocals or lyrics screw up an otherwise decent song. I just don't know what to make of these guys, but if it works, it works, right?
Sex Pistols do their best impression of themselves by vulgarly turning down Rock 'N Roll HOF honor
In the only fashion that Johnny Rotten and co. know how, the Sex Pistols angrily wrote on their website that they wish no part of the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame festivities, much less be inducted. Whether or not that will prove to be the case when the event occurs on March 13 remains to be seen, but if nothing else, it's good to know that age has not changed them one bit.
Coldplay set to follow up X&Y (Hopefully it won't be zzzz...)
As much as I love Coldplay, I have to say that X&Y left me a little cold, and bored... and sleepy-- but hopefully that will change with the next album. They've been working on their new songs while touring and have been performing them during soundchecks, and also for the first time Coldplay is planning on working in a single studio that will be built in London for their personal use. Looking to be more experimental this time around, it seems like from their interview with NME.com that they are indeed looking to push themselves a bit farther than they did with X&Y, and that's definitely a good thing.
Bob Dylan announces some dates for the spring
Touring with Merle Haggard, it looks like Bob Dylan could be doing a lot more touring if the rumors of him working on a new album are indeed true. Either way, I can pretty much guarantee that these aren't the only venues that Mr. Dylan will be playing, so there's hope for all of us over in the midwest and east coast. The dates are as follows:
04/01 - Reno, NV - Reno Events Center
04/03 - Stockton, CA - Stockton Arena
04/04 - Santa Rosa, CA - Grace Pavilion
04/05 - Bakersfield, CA - Rabobank Arena
04/07 - Las Vegas, NV - Aladdin Hotel & Casino
04/08 - Sun City West, AZ - Maricopa County Events Center
04/10 - Tucson, AZ - Tucson Convention Center
Editors touring with Stellastarr* to promote upcoming album
With their debut album The Back Room finally coming March 21, Editors will be extensively touring with the equally talented Stellastarr*. Be sure to check these guys out! Here are the dates:
03/20 - Boston, MA @ The Roxy
03/21 - South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground - Ballroom
03/22 - Montreal, QC @ Cabaret du Musee Juste Pour Rire
03/24 - Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
03/25 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater
03/26 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (Stellastarr* only, headlining show)
03/27 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (Stellastarr* only, headlining show)
03/28 - Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
03/29 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
03/30 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall (Editors only, headlining show)
04/01 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
04/02 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar Lounge
04/04 - Norfolk, VA @ NorVa
04/05 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
04/06 - Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club
04/07 - Orlando, FL @ The Social
04/08 - Miami, FL @ Studio A
04/09 - Saint Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre
04/11 - Nashville, TN @ Exit In
04/12 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
04/13 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
04/14 - Covington, KY @ The Mad Hatter
04/15 - Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
04/16 - Chicago, IL @ Metro – Smart Bar
04/18 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe
04/19 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theatre
04/21 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
04/22 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
04/25 - Vancouver, BC @ Richard's On Richard's
04/27 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
04/28 - Portland, OR @ Dante's
04/29 - San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine
04/30 - Indio, CA @ Coachella Festival
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Two More Reviews!
Yes, churning them out like butter, I have two more reviews going this week, enjoy!
Mylo Destroy Rock & Roll
Warm... warmer... disco!
After being in the UK for nearly two years, Destroy Rock & Roll has finally come to our shores, with three additional tracks no less. It's worth noting that this album was actually made in produced in the artist's (real name Myles MacInnes) home using nothing but his G4 Mac and some basic computer software, which is very admirable given the success he's experienced overseas and the hype he's garnered here in the states. Focusing on the music itself, the first three tracks, "Valley of the Dolls," "Sunworshipper" and "Musclecars," are all laid back yet incredibly engaging. While falling somewhere between Röyksopp and Daft Punk in presentation, the songs are so well crafted that even the aforementioned groups would envy it. What becomes exceedingly apparent as the disc continues is Mylo's incredible sense of pop culture. Much like Fatboy Slim, Mylo utilizes vocals to a degree that truly enhances his music, whether it's the tacky, yet amusing synth vocal cursing that occurs on "Drop the Pressure," or the irresistibly catchiness of 80's pop that Mylo captures on "In My Arms" and "Guilty of Love." Where this skill becomes incredibly apparent is on the title track, where basically every single prominant rock star apparently needs to be destroyed. While this could come off as being not only slightly clichéd, but also pompous, it really works well within the context of this song and appears to read as more of a anti-commercialism rant, rather than anything else, particularly considering how obviously influenced he is by many of the artists listed. This could very well be the most outstanding Electronica album I've heard since Daft Punk's Homework. It's quite simply a masterpiece.
Rating: 100
Aceyalone & RJD2 Magnificent City
A pure work of genius, this album will take you back to the golden age of hip-hop.
Much like the collaboration that brought you Dangerdoom (Danger Mouse and MF Doom) last year, Aceyalone & RJD2's Magnificent City is the kind of album that really should completely alter the way people look at hip-hop. With the one two punch of "All For U" and the single "Fire," it's immediately apparent how much RJD2's productions elevated Aceyalone's already established lyrics to being not only incredibly crafted but also slick and accessible. Unlike Dangerdoom, of course, this album isn't all about fun and games either, as there are some outstanding but dark songs such as "Junior," "Heaven," and "Here & Now." Hopefully with the success of these albums it will encourage more collaboration between artists in the underground hip-hop genre, such as the upcoming Gnarles Barkley (Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse) project. These collaborations should be what's celebrated in the hip-hop genre, and in the case of Magnificent City, I think you'd be hard pressed to buy a better hip-hop album this year, it's just that good.
Rating: 95
Mylo Destroy Rock & Roll
Warm... warmer... disco!
After being in the UK for nearly two years, Destroy Rock & Roll has finally come to our shores, with three additional tracks no less. It's worth noting that this album was actually made in produced in the artist's (real name Myles MacInnes) home using nothing but his G4 Mac and some basic computer software, which is very admirable given the success he's experienced overseas and the hype he's garnered here in the states. Focusing on the music itself, the first three tracks, "Valley of the Dolls," "Sunworshipper" and "Musclecars," are all laid back yet incredibly engaging. While falling somewhere between Röyksopp and Daft Punk in presentation, the songs are so well crafted that even the aforementioned groups would envy it. What becomes exceedingly apparent as the disc continues is Mylo's incredible sense of pop culture. Much like Fatboy Slim, Mylo utilizes vocals to a degree that truly enhances his music, whether it's the tacky, yet amusing synth vocal cursing that occurs on "Drop the Pressure," or the irresistibly catchiness of 80's pop that Mylo captures on "In My Arms" and "Guilty of Love." Where this skill becomes incredibly apparent is on the title track, where basically every single prominant rock star apparently needs to be destroyed. While this could come off as being not only slightly clichéd, but also pompous, it really works well within the context of this song and appears to read as more of a anti-commercialism rant, rather than anything else, particularly considering how obviously influenced he is by many of the artists listed. This could very well be the most outstanding Electronica album I've heard since Daft Punk's Homework. It's quite simply a masterpiece.
Rating: 100
Aceyalone & RJD2 Magnificent City
A pure work of genius, this album will take you back to the golden age of hip-hop.
Much like the collaboration that brought you Dangerdoom (Danger Mouse and MF Doom) last year, Aceyalone & RJD2's Magnificent City is the kind of album that really should completely alter the way people look at hip-hop. With the one two punch of "All For U" and the single "Fire," it's immediately apparent how much RJD2's productions elevated Aceyalone's already established lyrics to being not only incredibly crafted but also slick and accessible. Unlike Dangerdoom, of course, this album isn't all about fun and games either, as there are some outstanding but dark songs such as "Junior," "Heaven," and "Here & Now." Hopefully with the success of these albums it will encourage more collaboration between artists in the underground hip-hop genre, such as the upcoming Gnarles Barkley (Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse) project. These collaborations should be what's celebrated in the hip-hop genre, and in the case of Magnificent City, I think you'd be hard pressed to buy a better hip-hop album this year, it's just that good.
Rating: 95
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Trio of Reviews
For this past week I've managed to pick up a few very noteworthy albums, which will be discussed here in this review. Hopefully, I'll get the latest Beth Orton cd sometime soon, as I've been hearing great things about it. Until then, here are this weeks reviews, enjoy!
Belle & Sebastian The Life Pursuit
An incredibly fun yet quirky romp, The Life Pursuit represents all that is good about Belle & Sebastian
In their first full-length release since 2003's Dear Catastrophe Waitress, Belle & Sebastian is back in top form, arguably matching their best work. Songs such as "The Blues are Still Blue," "Sukie in the Graveyard" display Belle & Sebastians incredible knack for creating slick alternative pop songs that are worthy additions to any fan's favorite track list, but also accessible enough to be unintimidating for novices. Another great song comes in the three-and-a-half minute rollicking jaunt of "We Are the Sleepyheads," which could easily be the most fun song to listen to on the entire album. An outstanding effort and could hold up as being one of the top 10 records by the end of this year.
Rating: 90
KT Tunstall Eyes to the Telescope
Artist to Watch
Hard to believe it's a debut album, hands down one of the most impressive pop debuts to come along in a long time.
While already established in Europe, Tunstall's a relative unkown here, but do look for that to change very quickly (having your song featured on Grey's Anatomy is always a good start, not to mention her stellar Today show performance). Tunstall is definitely not your typical pop star by any means. She has an exceptional voice, as well as very solid in her guitar playing, and also writes her own music. That's just scratching the surface however, as beyond the absolutely gorgeous pop ballads such as "Other Side of the World," you'll find that she's actually got quite a knack for making blues-infused folk-rock, some of which is potently raw as it is catchy. The prime example of this is the single "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree," which struts along in such a confident fashion, it's hard to believe the sound could ever be coming from a relative newcomer, let alone someone of a relatively young age. This album is really quite mesmerizing in the sense that it's not only good for a debut album, but it really gives the feeling that Tunstall really might be something truly special. As such, she rightfully earns the title of "Artist to Watch," and if there's any justice in the world, she'll break the pop world open like gangbusters.
Rating: 85
Planet Asia The Sickness, vol. 1
Good, with a number of highlights, but could've been better.
It's hard to argue with Planet Asia as a talent, and while he's been burning up the underground, he hadn't yet made the big break just yet. While there are a number of standout tracks, the funny yet seriously talented lyrics on the "I'm So High Freestyle," as well as tracks such as "Act Like You Know" "Baby Food" and "U Beta," it feels somewhat uneven as an overall effort. The lyrics are almost always on, and really if nothing else you should be able to appreciate that much on every single track, the weakness comes in the occasionally flat delivery matched with beats and rhythms that are at times anything but ideal. For hip-hop heads, particularly those looking for something new, this album is definitely worth looking at (especially if you're able to get it for under $10) but it's not going to attract any new listeners.
Rating: 75
Belle & Sebastian The Life Pursuit
An incredibly fun yet quirky romp, The Life Pursuit represents all that is good about Belle & Sebastian
In their first full-length release since 2003's Dear Catastrophe Waitress, Belle & Sebastian is back in top form, arguably matching their best work. Songs such as "The Blues are Still Blue," "Sukie in the Graveyard" display Belle & Sebastians incredible knack for creating slick alternative pop songs that are worthy additions to any fan's favorite track list, but also accessible enough to be unintimidating for novices. Another great song comes in the three-and-a-half minute rollicking jaunt of "We Are the Sleepyheads," which could easily be the most fun song to listen to on the entire album. An outstanding effort and could hold up as being one of the top 10 records by the end of this year.
Rating: 90
KT Tunstall Eyes to the Telescope
Artist to Watch
Hard to believe it's a debut album, hands down one of the most impressive pop debuts to come along in a long time.
While already established in Europe, Tunstall's a relative unkown here, but do look for that to change very quickly (having your song featured on Grey's Anatomy is always a good start, not to mention her stellar Today show performance). Tunstall is definitely not your typical pop star by any means. She has an exceptional voice, as well as very solid in her guitar playing, and also writes her own music. That's just scratching the surface however, as beyond the absolutely gorgeous pop ballads such as "Other Side of the World," you'll find that she's actually got quite a knack for making blues-infused folk-rock, some of which is potently raw as it is catchy. The prime example of this is the single "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree," which struts along in such a confident fashion, it's hard to believe the sound could ever be coming from a relative newcomer, let alone someone of a relatively young age. This album is really quite mesmerizing in the sense that it's not only good for a debut album, but it really gives the feeling that Tunstall really might be something truly special. As such, she rightfully earns the title of "Artist to Watch," and if there's any justice in the world, she'll break the pop world open like gangbusters.
Rating: 85
Planet Asia The Sickness, vol. 1
Good, with a number of highlights, but could've been better.
It's hard to argue with Planet Asia as a talent, and while he's been burning up the underground, he hadn't yet made the big break just yet. While there are a number of standout tracks, the funny yet seriously talented lyrics on the "I'm So High Freestyle," as well as tracks such as "Act Like You Know" "Baby Food" and "U Beta," it feels somewhat uneven as an overall effort. The lyrics are almost always on, and really if nothing else you should be able to appreciate that much on every single track, the weakness comes in the occasionally flat delivery matched with beats and rhythms that are at times anything but ideal. For hip-hop heads, particularly those looking for something new, this album is definitely worth looking at (especially if you're able to get it for under $10) but it's not going to attract any new listeners.
Rating: 75
Thursday, February 9, 2006
Fuzzy Bits: Grammy Recap
U2 left very happy campers after the GrammysU2, Kelly Clarkson shine at Grammys
While I'm not the biggest fan, well, not really a fan at all, of Kelly Clarkson, I was happy that she won for both Pop Vocal album as well as best Female Pop Vocal Performance, because I felt she was most deserving in both categories. What I can not wrap my head around however, is how U2 walked away with five grammys including Album of the Year and consequently, Rock Album of the Year. I will say that I am a fan of How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, and also U2, but I really think that Late Registration had it beat hands down. Also, despite being disappointed with the album as a whole I thought that "Speed of Sound" should've beaten out "City of Blinding Lights" for Rock Performance by Duo/Group. Beyond that, I was happy that John Legend was able to win a few grammys, and more importantly that Mariah Carey walked away with nothing. Sure it may seem like a giant slap in the face that she would be nominated so many times and get nothing out of it, but really, she didn't deserve a single win, and shouldn't have received so many nominations to begin with. Two final big surprises for me as far as the actual awards were that the White Stripes beat out both Beck and The Arcade Fire for Best Alternative Album, and also that Steve Lillywhite beat out Danger Mouse for Producer of the Year (although Danger Mouse will win it next year, I guarantee it).
As for the performances, they were all pretty awful to say the least. I unfortunately missed out on the opener so if you saw it please post a comment about it because I'd love to hear a response. Coldplay was pretty good, but no one seemed to be getting into it, maybe they were wondering why Chris Martin was hopping around. The impromptu Stevie Wonder/Alicia Keys performance was nice, if a bit cliched. The whole Sly and the Family Stone reunion was aptly bizarre and should answer the question of whether or not there is extraterrestrial life (the answer being in the affirmative). Even scarier is that they're supposedly thinking about working on a comeback. Someone might want to tell Sly that could involve being in studio for longer than five minutes. Coming onto the stage with a crossing-guard-yellow mohawk and an even louder jacket that would make Liberace want to gag, he sang along with the various rock stars behind him towards the end of the performance for what seemed to be two minutes before waving and exiting the stage as quickly as he came on, never to be heard from again. Now, while that in any other awards show would probably constitute as being the worst performance of the night, they were definitely outdone by the absolutely terrible performance by Jay-Z, Linkin Park, and Paul McCartney. While it started out sensibly enough with LP and Jay-Z doing their grammy winning single "Numb/Encore" all of a sudden, the refrain from "Yesterday" started playing while Jay-Z was rapping, and out pops McCartney in a move which I'm sure made every other Beatle cringe and have another reason to want to kick McCartney's butt. To make matters worse, McCartney's voice was so bad (maybe because he had strained during his earlier performance) that he was basically outclassed by Linkin Park lead "singer" Chester Bennington. The best performances in my opinion were Christina Aguilera/Herbie Hancock's performance of "A Song For You," and the finale which was sadly cut off, which included Bonnie Raitt, Allen Touissant, Dr. John, Elvis Costello, and others as they performed "Yes We Can Can" (from the New Orleans cd) and ended with Wilson Pickett cover "In the Midnight Hour."
Thursday, February 2, 2006
Fuzzy Bits: February 2, 2006
Happy groundhog day all! I had actually intended to do a news update a week ago but my browser crashed in the process and thus I lost all my information, but I've got even more goodies to share with you all now. I finally have a review on tap (Planet Asia's latest) and it should be up over the weekend. Other than that I will be doing a recap of all of the movie/tv award shows after the oscars are over, since many of the winners tend to carry over. Anyway, here's some news:
Bonnaroo 2006 lineup announced
I swear this thing just gets better and better every year. While Daveheads might be sad to hear that there will be no Dave or Trey or DMB this year for that matter, I think this could be the best lineup of artists they've had in a long time. Tickets will set you back $170 assuming you're among the first purchasers, and eventually they will sell at $185. Bonnaroo 2006 will be from June 16-18 in Manchester, Tenn. While tickets usually don't sell out quickly, if you know you're going best to get them early to avoid having to pay the higher prices. Tickets go on sale Feb 11th, and for those interested here is the full band list as of right now:
Radiohead
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Phil Lesh & Friends
Beck
Elvis Costello & the Imposters
Bonnie Raitt
Death Cab for Cutie
moe.
Bright Eyes
The Neville Brothers
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
Buddy Guy
Damian Marley
Ben Folds
Robert Randolph & the Family Band
Dr. John
Matisyahu
G. Love & Special Sauce
My Morning Jacket
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Steel Pulse
Mike Gordon and Ramble Dove
Cat Power
Medeski Martin & Wood
Nickel Creek
Gomez
Atmosphere
Steve Earle
Blues Traveler
Amadou & Mariam
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks
Dresden Dolls
Son Volt
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Jerry Douglas
Soulive
Rusted Root
Devendra Banhart Band
Donavon Frankenreiter
Mike Doughty
Sasha
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
The Magic Numbers
Bill Frisell
Seu Jorge
Bettye LaVette
Dungen
Shooter Jennings
Rebirth Brass Band
Robinella
Andrew Bird
Steel Train
Jackie Greene
Devotchka
Wood Brothers
dios (malos)
Toubab Krewe
The Motet
Marah
I-Nine
Balkan Beat Box
Cat Empire
Madonna and Gorillaz to perform Grammy Awards opener
A surprising and (hopefully) innovative move, it's been announced that Madonna will be performing with the Gorillaz as the opening act for the upcoming Grammy Awards. It appears that Madonna will be animated along with the band, which would make things a lot less confusing than having her perform on stage with the world's most famous animated band this side of the Chipmunks behind on a screen. Also worth noting, Paul McCartney has been added to the performance list for the first time in Grammy history. Other artists set to perform are Mariah Carey, Coldplay, Jamie Foxx, Faith Hill with Keith Urban, John Legend, Sugarland, U2 with Mary J. Blige (I'm pretty sure I'll skip out on that one), and of course Kanye West.
PLUG awards tonight
The 2006 PLUG awards, yet another celebration of indie music are going to be going tonight (7pm). If you happen to be in the NYC area, tickets are on sale for $20. Performers include The Perceptionists, Aesop Rock, and The National. Among the special guests are Matisyahu, TV on the Radio and many more. The coolest part of all this of course, is that you do the voting on who wins and who loses, so be sure to check it out!
Coachella listing show no signs of Smashing Pumpkins
Yep, sad but true, but there's still quite a lot out there for music fans regardless. Here's a full listing of the bands for each day. Tickets go on sale February 4th and are $165 for a two-day pass.
SAT APRIL 29
Depeche Mode
Franz Ferdinand
Sigur Ros
Common
Damien Marley
Atmosphere
Carl Cox
My Morning Jacket
Ladytron
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
Posca
Cat Power
Animal Collective
Hard-Fi
Devendra Banhart
She Wants Revenge
The Walkmen
The Juan Maclean
Audio Bullys
Lady Sovereign
Deerhoof
The Duke Spirit
Editors
Stellastarr
Lyrics Born
The Zutons
White Rose Movement
Colette
Wolf Mother
The Living Things
Nine Black Alps
Youth Group
SUN APRIL 30
Tool
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Bloc Party
Paul Oakenfold
Scissor Sisters
Matisyahu
James Blunt
Mogwai
TV On The Radio
Sleater Kinney
Gnarls Barkley (Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo)
Coldcut
Digable Planets
Amadou Mariam
Little Louie Vega
Mylo
Seu Jorge
Phoenix
Wolf Parade
The Go! Team
Metric
Imogen Heap
Art Brut
Dungen
The Dears
Jamie Liddell
The Magic Numbers
Los Amigos Invisibles
Jazzanova
Michael Mayer
Mates of State
Gilles Peterson
Gabriel & Dresden
The Subways
Minus the Bear
Be Your Own Pet
Giant Drag
Gnarles Barkley leaks!
Depending on how closely you paid attention, you might've noticed that there was a group by the name of Gnarles Barkley (Charles' long lost brother maybe?). It's only Danger Mouse's latest concoction, this time working with the equally eclectic Cee-Lo. There have been a couple of track leaks, although neither one have an actual title as of yet. While there has been a lot of talk about this project, very little has actually materialized as of yet, so here's hoping that we get more information as the album nears it's release.
Check out the Raconteurs
Jack White and Brendan Benson have teamed up to form the Raconteurs, a band that appears to have a really awesome 70's AM radio pop sound going for them. Both White and Benson are on vocals, while Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler play bass and drums, respectively. There are two fantastic tracks which are listed on their exceptionally retro-themed webpage , so be sure to keep a look out for them to make it big in 2006. This might be enough for me to forgive Mr. White for releasing "Get Behind Me Satan," not that he needs my approval.
Bonnaroo 2006 lineup announced
I swear this thing just gets better and better every year. While Daveheads might be sad to hear that there will be no Dave or Trey or DMB this year for that matter, I think this could be the best lineup of artists they've had in a long time. Tickets will set you back $170 assuming you're among the first purchasers, and eventually they will sell at $185. Bonnaroo 2006 will be from June 16-18 in Manchester, Tenn. While tickets usually don't sell out quickly, if you know you're going best to get them early to avoid having to pay the higher prices. Tickets go on sale Feb 11th, and for those interested here is the full band list as of right now:
Radiohead
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Phil Lesh & Friends
Beck
Elvis Costello & the Imposters
Bonnie Raitt
Death Cab for Cutie
moe.
Bright Eyes
The Neville Brothers
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
Buddy Guy
Damian Marley
Ben Folds
Robert Randolph & the Family Band
Dr. John
Matisyahu
G. Love & Special Sauce
My Morning Jacket
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Steel Pulse
Mike Gordon and Ramble Dove
Cat Power
Medeski Martin & Wood
Nickel Creek
Gomez
Atmosphere
Steve Earle
Blues Traveler
Amadou & Mariam
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks
Dresden Dolls
Son Volt
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Jerry Douglas
Soulive
Rusted Root
Devendra Banhart Band
Donavon Frankenreiter
Mike Doughty
Sasha
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
The Magic Numbers
Bill Frisell
Seu Jorge
Bettye LaVette
Dungen
Shooter Jennings
Rebirth Brass Band
Robinella
Andrew Bird
Steel Train
Jackie Greene
Devotchka
Wood Brothers
dios (malos)
Toubab Krewe
The Motet
Marah
I-Nine
Balkan Beat Box
Cat Empire
Madonna and Gorillaz to perform Grammy Awards opener
A surprising and (hopefully) innovative move, it's been announced that Madonna will be performing with the Gorillaz as the opening act for the upcoming Grammy Awards. It appears that Madonna will be animated along with the band, which would make things a lot less confusing than having her perform on stage with the world's most famous animated band this side of the Chipmunks behind on a screen. Also worth noting, Paul McCartney has been added to the performance list for the first time in Grammy history. Other artists set to perform are Mariah Carey, Coldplay, Jamie Foxx, Faith Hill with Keith Urban, John Legend, Sugarland, U2 with Mary J. Blige (I'm pretty sure I'll skip out on that one), and of course Kanye West.
PLUG awards tonight
The 2006 PLUG awards, yet another celebration of indie music are going to be going tonight (7pm). If you happen to be in the NYC area, tickets are on sale for $20. Performers include The Perceptionists, Aesop Rock, and The National. Among the special guests are Matisyahu, TV on the Radio and many more. The coolest part of all this of course, is that you do the voting on who wins and who loses, so be sure to check it out!
Coachella listing show no signs of Smashing Pumpkins
Yep, sad but true, but there's still quite a lot out there for music fans regardless. Here's a full listing of the bands for each day. Tickets go on sale February 4th and are $165 for a two-day pass.
SAT APRIL 29
Depeche Mode
Franz Ferdinand
Sigur Ros
Common
Damien Marley
Atmosphere
Carl Cox
My Morning Jacket
Ladytron
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
Posca
Cat Power
Animal Collective
Hard-Fi
Devendra Banhart
She Wants Revenge
The Walkmen
The Juan Maclean
Audio Bullys
Lady Sovereign
Deerhoof
The Duke Spirit
Editors
Stellastarr
Lyrics Born
The Zutons
White Rose Movement
Colette
Wolf Mother
The Living Things
Nine Black Alps
Youth Group
SUN APRIL 30
Tool
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Bloc Party
Paul Oakenfold
Scissor Sisters
Matisyahu
James Blunt
Mogwai
TV On The Radio
Sleater Kinney
Gnarls Barkley (Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo)
Coldcut
Digable Planets
Amadou Mariam
Little Louie Vega
Mylo
Seu Jorge
Phoenix
Wolf Parade
The Go! Team
Metric
Imogen Heap
Art Brut
Dungen
The Dears
Jamie Liddell
The Magic Numbers
Los Amigos Invisibles
Jazzanova
Michael Mayer
Mates of State
Gilles Peterson
Gabriel & Dresden
The Subways
Minus the Bear
Be Your Own Pet
Giant Drag
Gnarles Barkley leaks!
Depending on how closely you paid attention, you might've noticed that there was a group by the name of Gnarles Barkley (Charles' long lost brother maybe?). It's only Danger Mouse's latest concoction, this time working with the equally eclectic Cee-Lo. There have been a couple of track leaks, although neither one have an actual title as of yet. While there has been a lot of talk about this project, very little has actually materialized as of yet, so here's hoping that we get more information as the album nears it's release.
Check out the Raconteurs
Jack White and Brendan Benson have teamed up to form the Raconteurs, a band that appears to have a really awesome 70's AM radio pop sound going for them. Both White and Benson are on vocals, while Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler play bass and drums, respectively. There are two fantastic tracks which are listed on their exceptionally retro-themed webpage , so be sure to keep a look out for them to make it big in 2006. This might be enough for me to forgive Mr. White for releasing "Get Behind Me Satan," not that he needs my approval.
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