The deep voice of Tunde Adepbimpe opens Nine Types of Light on "Second Song" with a discouraged message of defeat.
"Confidence and ignorance approved me
Define my day today
I've tried so hard to shut it down like an oath
Gently walk away"
But as the song goes on, hope shines through
"Every lover on a mission shifted your known position due to the light
Every diamond elemental you are instrumental due to the light
Every sonic every illusion make your contribution due to the light
Every lover on a mission shifted your known position due to the light"
This is the pattern that the album follows. Triumphs exceed failures, and we discover "Nine Types of Light".
Adepbimpe, famous for looping his vocals, impresses us even further with his broad range of perfectly pitched notes.
If you aren't familiar with TV on the Radio or TVotR, they are a band from Brooklyn without any label on their style. They cover free jazz, soul music, blues, post-punk and almost everything inbetween on the musical spectrum. In Killer Crane, they even throw us off by playing a mandolin and giving the song a bluegrass feel. This quick trip into bluegrass, however, is not surprising.
"When there's music all around me, and I haven't got a single word to say" pretty much sums up the album. You don't HAVE to say anything. The music says it all.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Radiohead "King of Limbs"
Following in fashion of their previous album, "In Rainbows", Radiohead released another album digitally before it was available to buy in stores. I of course waited until the actual disc came out so that I could soak up all the quality. That is why this review is so late.
The King of Limbs is the shortest Radiohead album to date. It only has eight tracks. However, lengh does not take away from the quality. The King of Limbs is a journey, like every album should be. Noisy as the album is, it draws you in and allows you to access it in full force without being steered away by the experimental essence.
Visuals are everywhere from the start of this record. Piano keys open up the first track "Bloom", and then the heavy usage of unexpected sounds comes in, along with the steady sound of Phillip Selway's drumming. The artwork and the entire experience made me feel almost like I was in a rain forest with birds chirping and lush plant life all around. The listeining experience is very rich.When Thom Yorke's vocals come in, you are at last convinced that this is the Radiohead you know and love.
"Open your mouth wide, universal sigh, and while the ocean blooms, it's what keeps me alive".
As we move on in the album, the instruments get even stranger, but only fittingly so. "Lotus Flower" brings us back in, from a bit of an adventure, to reality. Yorke quietly whines over nothing but drums and a quiet bass "There's an empty space inside my heart, where the weeds take root, and now I'll set you free."
The final track "Separator", calmly closes the album. The lyrics seem to float over the music as it slowly drifts out.
King of Limbs, takes a pathway similar to "Amnesiac" in that it is much more experimental and abstract than other Radiohead albums.
If you are a fan of vinyl, I suggest you buy this album in that format, because something about the static seems to make the listening experience complete.
The King of Limbs is the shortest Radiohead album to date. It only has eight tracks. However, lengh does not take away from the quality. The King of Limbs is a journey, like every album should be. Noisy as the album is, it draws you in and allows you to access it in full force without being steered away by the experimental essence.
Visuals are everywhere from the start of this record. Piano keys open up the first track "Bloom", and then the heavy usage of unexpected sounds comes in, along with the steady sound of Phillip Selway's drumming. The artwork and the entire experience made me feel almost like I was in a rain forest with birds chirping and lush plant life all around. The listeining experience is very rich.When Thom Yorke's vocals come in, you are at last convinced that this is the Radiohead you know and love.
"Open your mouth wide, universal sigh, and while the ocean blooms, it's what keeps me alive".
As we move on in the album, the instruments get even stranger, but only fittingly so. "Lotus Flower" brings us back in, from a bit of an adventure, to reality. Yorke quietly whines over nothing but drums and a quiet bass "There's an empty space inside my heart, where the weeds take root, and now I'll set you free."
The final track "Separator", calmly closes the album. The lyrics seem to float over the music as it slowly drifts out.
King of Limbs, takes a pathway similar to "Amnesiac" in that it is much more experimental and abstract than other Radiohead albums.
If you are a fan of vinyl, I suggest you buy this album in that format, because something about the static seems to make the listening experience complete.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Gorillaz "Plastic Beach"
Opening with the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, the Gorillaz “Plastic Beach” promises it’s listeners to be freewheeling. From the minute you pop it in, you don’t know quite what to expect. Enjoyed by audiences that take interest in trippy space-rap, this album will leave you craving more.
The Gorillaz are a virtual group that consists of cartoon characters. Why they hide their true identities we never know, but they put off an aura of mystery and uncertainty that can’t be ignored. If you aren’t willing to let your mind get lost in the lush, quirky tone of this album, don’t bother. For those of you who want to go on a little trip, “Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach.”
“No War!
No Guns!
No Corps!
Just life.
Just Love
No Hate.
Just fun.
No ties.
Just me and my mind.
Just me and my wife.
But tell me if I'm dreamin'
'cause I don't wanna wake up till the evenin'
and I don't wanna be left sleepin'
from all the diseases
that I breathe in.”
Bashy smoothly spits out this in the track titled “White Flag” with a mystical approach challenging to negative thinkers. The universal theme is broadly displayed throughout the album: Life is not as bad as we make it seem. Take your mind to it’s own plastic beach and try to see some optimism in the world around you.
Plastic Beach moves the listener in and out of a daze, featuring artists such as Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, Mick Jones, Mos Def, and the Lebanese National Orchestra. Somehow this virtual band has pulled off yet another excellent album that is full of energy and surprises. They stay with their Gorillaz roots; quirky toned, multiple genres, and happy -go- lucky attitude, but they have obviously evolved and added another element to their project. This time, instead staying simply at stoner music, they have themed their album at giving a positive attitude to ecology and in so doing create a consumer friendly album.
While listening to the Gorillaz, don’t be surprised if you suddenly feel celebratory and playful. For a minute, it allows you to forget about the stresses of life, and appreciate how easy we really have it in this era. It takes us back to the simplicity of life without all the consuming politics, opinions and advice. It slyly transports us to a more happy place and allows us to adopt an alternative perspective.
Plastic Beach comes together with its funky twists and takes pieces of all its contributors. The unit of their work is smooth and features much more rap then previous Gorillaz albums. Being more musically evolved, it gives us a taste of orchestration and not just a sound board. People who enjoy artists like Beck, Daft Punk, Gnarls Barkley, Portishead, and Massive Attack will find this right up their alley. It also blends into the rap genre, but cares about much more universal issues like happiness.
Cloud of Unknowing is a bit melancholy and doesn’t really fit with the rest of the bright tunes. The song borrows the title from a Christian theme, and that throws off the already decided tag. We’re then launched into the final piece, “Pirate Track” which is arguably the happiest one of all. Aside from this difficult switch, the album transitions smoothly and flows throughout its entirety with ease.
Plastic Beach sticks out, because it appeals to many. Crossing the boundaries of soul, hip hop, alternative, electronic, and plain poppy goodness, this is sure to catch the ear of many. How many other artists do you know that can completely transfer you to another place without actually leaving your bedroom? If you like to put your mind at ease, and don’t mind a hippie happy day at the park then please, buy this album. It may just fit right alongside with anything else you have in your collection.
And this month, "The Fall", an album produced by the Gorillaz on strictly an Ipad, will be available in stores!
The Gorillaz are a virtual group that consists of cartoon characters. Why they hide their true identities we never know, but they put off an aura of mystery and uncertainty that can’t be ignored. If you aren’t willing to let your mind get lost in the lush, quirky tone of this album, don’t bother. For those of you who want to go on a little trip, “Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach.”
“No War!
No Guns!
No Corps!
Just life.
Just Love
No Hate.
Just fun.
No ties.
Just me and my mind.
Just me and my wife.
But tell me if I'm dreamin'
'cause I don't wanna wake up till the evenin'
and I don't wanna be left sleepin'
from all the diseases
that I breathe in.”
Bashy smoothly spits out this in the track titled “White Flag” with a mystical approach challenging to negative thinkers. The universal theme is broadly displayed throughout the album: Life is not as bad as we make it seem. Take your mind to it’s own plastic beach and try to see some optimism in the world around you.
Plastic Beach moves the listener in and out of a daze, featuring artists such as Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, Mick Jones, Mos Def, and the Lebanese National Orchestra. Somehow this virtual band has pulled off yet another excellent album that is full of energy and surprises. They stay with their Gorillaz roots; quirky toned, multiple genres, and happy -go- lucky attitude, but they have obviously evolved and added another element to their project. This time, instead staying simply at stoner music, they have themed their album at giving a positive attitude to ecology and in so doing create a consumer friendly album.
While listening to the Gorillaz, don’t be surprised if you suddenly feel celebratory and playful. For a minute, it allows you to forget about the stresses of life, and appreciate how easy we really have it in this era. It takes us back to the simplicity of life without all the consuming politics, opinions and advice. It slyly transports us to a more happy place and allows us to adopt an alternative perspective.
Plastic Beach comes together with its funky twists and takes pieces of all its contributors. The unit of their work is smooth and features much more rap then previous Gorillaz albums. Being more musically evolved, it gives us a taste of orchestration and not just a sound board. People who enjoy artists like Beck, Daft Punk, Gnarls Barkley, Portishead, and Massive Attack will find this right up their alley. It also blends into the rap genre, but cares about much more universal issues like happiness.
Cloud of Unknowing is a bit melancholy and doesn’t really fit with the rest of the bright tunes. The song borrows the title from a Christian theme, and that throws off the already decided tag. We’re then launched into the final piece, “Pirate Track” which is arguably the happiest one of all. Aside from this difficult switch, the album transitions smoothly and flows throughout its entirety with ease.
Plastic Beach sticks out, because it appeals to many. Crossing the boundaries of soul, hip hop, alternative, electronic, and plain poppy goodness, this is sure to catch the ear of many. How many other artists do you know that can completely transfer you to another place without actually leaving your bedroom? If you like to put your mind at ease, and don’t mind a hippie happy day at the park then please, buy this album. It may just fit right alongside with anything else you have in your collection.
And this month, "The Fall", an album produced by the Gorillaz on strictly an Ipad, will be available in stores!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Jessica Lea Mayfield "Tell Me"
An album written about a tortorous, hellish relationship that you still can't bear to leave isn't the easiest thing to write or describe. Jessica Lea Mayfield has the experience of a much more seasoned musician even though "Tell Me" is only her second full length album.Produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, "Tell Me" has that sad blues feel but still manages to sound upbeat. She blends a hint of country with her sad, dark, indie- rock songs, keeping us interested in what moody change she might throw out next. Mayfield's voice is haunting and convincing especially in lyrics like "my self esteem is heating up the room, you're intimidating as all hell, but I ain't scared of you" which she sings in "Our Hearts Are Wrong". In another track "Nervous Lonely Night", she tells us "I didn't mean to fuel the fire, now I'm alone watching the flames go higher, drunk on thoughts of you, red wine and tequlia too".We as listeners get an exclusive invitation into the mind and life of Mayfield as she explores her disturbed sense of love. If you're wondering why you recognize her voice, maybe you've heard her in Dan Auerbach's solo album on "When the Night Comes" or the Black Keys "Things Ain't Like They Used to Be".
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Adele "21"
I will be the first to tell you that mainstream vocalists and "artists" as they call themsleves have gone to dirt.There's a new major occurence of female singers/songwriters who don't have anything unique about them. It seems like everything they play on the radio now truely fits a cookie cutter mold not only lyrically but vocally and musically. As far as I'm concerned, Leona Lewis, Keri Hilson, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and you-name-who-else have all molded into one terribly boring supermold. However, among these "artists" there is someone special who really blew my mind, even though I went into is with the opposite attitude. Adele is an English singer songwriter who came to fame after her first album (which I didn't care for) in 2008. However, working in a record store doesn't let you escape everything and I was forced to give this new album a chance. Like I said before, I was blown away. Go ahead, give yourself a surpsise and look a picture of this girl and then listen to her voice. It's not what you expect it to be. This girl has got some serious soul. If it weren't for heartbreak in some form or another, lyricism would not have much a basis for existence. Adele has had her heart torn out with a dull blade and dragged behind a truck on a dirt road for miles and miles. And the pain and emotion in her voice alone tells the listener that. She does it in a way that acutally makes us feel for her though, instead of being reminded of our 7th grade heart break and that one record that we just knew was written just for us. I am also a firm believer that The Cure is really the only band that should sing lovesong and reggae/rock/rap/god knows what else should stop trying to cover it. Once again however, Adele has changed my mind. On 21 she does a fierce cover of Lovesong that really just makes you want to have the most intimate moment of your life. Talk about making a make out disc for your high school lover! But seriously. Adele takes us through her love life by making us feel bad for her, breaking us up, making us relate, giving us jealousy, saying **** you to love, and then ultimately saying I loved you I learned from you and I will miss you. I strongly encourage you to give this album a listen, and not just if you've had your heart broken.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Bright Eyes "The People's Key"
"Took the fireworks and the vanity the circuit boards and the city streets, shooting star, swaying palm tree, layed something at its feet." If you know Bright Eyes, you know that this is referencing each of their albums throughout the years. This is also confirming the rumors that this is the last album from Bright Eyes as we know them.
"The People's Key" is Bright Eyes 7th studio album, and it's unlike anything they have ever done. Instead of going forward with the country-folk sound that they have become known for, they go back to their early desire to eagerly discover what might come next. This time though, there's a bit of a twist. This time, the album is an exploration of the meaning of humanity and time and frankly, it's a bit spooky. It's a science fiction adventure with narrating done by "Denny" of the band "Refried Ice Cream".
There aren't any banjos, mandolins, or harmonicas in this chapter. The boys (Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, Nathaniel Walcott) invite some special guests for this one. We get memebers from The Faint, Mynabirds, Autolux and Cursive.
This album might be one of the happiest Bright Eyes album with the strongest theme. If you're ready for an adventure, take a listen to "The People's Key".
"The People's Key" is Bright Eyes 7th studio album, and it's unlike anything they have ever done. Instead of going forward with the country-folk sound that they have become known for, they go back to their early desire to eagerly discover what might come next. This time though, there's a bit of a twist. This time, the album is an exploration of the meaning of humanity and time and frankly, it's a bit spooky. It's a science fiction adventure with narrating done by "Denny" of the band "Refried Ice Cream".
There aren't any banjos, mandolins, or harmonicas in this chapter. The boys (Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, Nathaniel Walcott) invite some special guests for this one. We get memebers from The Faint, Mynabirds, Autolux and Cursive.
This album might be one of the happiest Bright Eyes album with the strongest theme. If you're ready for an adventure, take a listen to "The People's Key".
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Talib Kweli "Gutter Rainbows"
I am a huge fan of (pardon my scenester terrminolgy) the "underground hip hop movement." Therefore I love Living Legends, Definitive Jux, Rhymesayers etc. The main reason why I love this genre is because it generally has more concern than sex, money and drugs. It's oftentimes just average Joe's who want to talk about their lives, hardships and even triumphs. It's also focused on politcs sometimes. However, there is some "mainstrem" if you dare, hip hop that I also love. I think that the Wu-Tang Clan is fantastic. As a fan of the whole genre, I am also a huge believer that the West Coast hip-hop movement is one of the most exciting things that ever happened to the states. I love Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and other "OG's". All this being said, I love the knew Talib Kweli album "Gutter Rainbows", because I think that it does a great job bridging the gap between what's considered mainstrem and what's considered underground. I'm not saying that Talib is an OG by any means. I'm just saying that I think he does an incredible job at appealing to more of a mass audience than most hip-hop artists. "Gutter Rainbows" features guest appearances from Jean Grae, Blaq Toven, and Sean Price among others. Production on the album is done by many different producers including 88 Keys, Blaq Toven, and Ski Beatz. One of the highlight tracks off the album is "Uh Oh" which features Jean Grae. The album maintains an upbeat soulful hip-hop feel all the way through. My least favorite track off the album is easily "How You Love Me", because it sounds like something off a T-Pain album which is a little too mainstrem for my liking. For people who are most interested in the "mainstream" side of things though, I'm sure it'll be a hit. Through and through this has got to be one of my favorite releases so far of 2011. I know it's early to say that, but I do sift through a lot of releases. If you're looking to put a little hop in your step check this out. Also, my first link mentioned in this post goes to UGHH.dot which is the best website for anything underground hip-hop related. Check it out.
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