Monday, August 17, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
I think I Like Animal Collective....?
I think I like the Animal Collective. I have to admit, I've been a hater for a while. I just found it really hard to get into. I think its one of those things where I'd heard so much about them, and really only heard one or two songs that sounded like jumbled noisy mess. The title of the new album: "Merriweather Post Pavillion" didn't exactly put them on my good side either. I mean all I can help but think when I hear that name is annoying hippies from my freshman dorm ramping up for two days of Phish, and the lot and how its lame now because you can't smoke on the lawn anymore. But my troubled past aside, I gave this album a listen and finally figured this band out.
The intro to the track "My Girls", is all drawn-out and spacey and trippy sounding and shit, like they're about to break into some in your face ecstacy induced techno jam. But instead, they pleasantly get into a laid back electro folk groove with an amazingly catchy hook that shows serious restraint and creativity. I still find the rest of the album rather inaccessible but there a lot of really beautiful noise blends that come from samples, synthesizers, drum machines and often tapping the rim or side of a tomtom.
There's an obvious Beach Boys reference in the vocals that really needn't be pointed out, but I might sound completely dense if I left it out so there you go, jerks. The band calls its musical style: "freeform, electronic, horror, gospel, hip-hop, soul, pop madness", which is pretty accurate but I don't really hear any hip-hop. Sure they use samplers, but there's an entire Bjork album made with vocal samples (including a guest appearance by Razel) that I wouldn't exactly call hip-hop. I like the experimental nature of this group, usually when some youngsters get together with the intention of "challenging musical norms" it invloves a lot of reefer, and some annoying egotism, but I don't see that here. I think they know their stuff pretty well.
These guys have a daunting European tour coming up everynight from March 4 - 29 with one night off. I hope Dave doesn't lose his voice and couse the band to have to cancel any of these shows, like he did in LA tonight.
This video is pretty sweet by the way: http://myanimalhome.net/
The intro to the track "My Girls", is all drawn-out and spacey and trippy sounding and shit, like they're about to break into some in your face ecstacy induced techno jam. But instead, they pleasantly get into a laid back electro folk groove with an amazingly catchy hook that shows serious restraint and creativity. I still find the rest of the album rather inaccessible but there a lot of really beautiful noise blends that come from samples, synthesizers, drum machines and often tapping the rim or side of a tomtom.
There's an obvious Beach Boys reference in the vocals that really needn't be pointed out, but I might sound completely dense if I left it out so there you go, jerks. The band calls its musical style: "freeform, electronic, horror, gospel, hip-hop, soul, pop madness", which is pretty accurate but I don't really hear any hip-hop. Sure they use samplers, but there's an entire Bjork album made with vocal samples (including a guest appearance by Razel) that I wouldn't exactly call hip-hop. I like the experimental nature of this group, usually when some youngsters get together with the intention of "challenging musical norms" it invloves a lot of reefer, and some annoying egotism, but I don't see that here. I think they know their stuff pretty well.
These guys have a daunting European tour coming up everynight from March 4 - 29 with one night off. I hope Dave doesn't lose his voice and couse the band to have to cancel any of these shows, like he did in LA tonight.
This video is pretty sweet by the way: http://myanimalhome.net/
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Innauguration Day!
Well, today's inauguration seemed to go off with-out a hitch, besides the two old guys that passed out during lunch, but there were some awkward moments on stage. The poem... do... I... need... to... elaborate... here? They say to speak slow and enunciate very clearly but come-on! You're a poet lady, don't you know anything about inflection?
Even weirder, I thought, was Rick Warren. I personally think he's pretty weird in general, and seems kind of sleazy, like one day he'll probably end up like the guy from New Life church, who once raked down $130k for doing he lord's work, and now sells insurance door-to-door after a homosexual prostitution scandal. But back to the point, did anyone notice how Warren pronounced the President's kids names? "Muh-leee-yah, and SASHA!" The first one was straight from the mouth of a southern baptist pastor, and the latter sounded like a guest being welcomed to the Tyra Banks Show. I don't really know where I'm going with this besides the fact that it sounded weird, and creeped me out a bit.
Obviously, the benediction was kick-ass. Rev. Joseph Lowry is so old and harmless, it seemed it was going to be your usual uneventful prayer, but then something awesome happened. He began to riff on different skin tones and rhyming ways to say how they are okay: "...we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around ... when yellow will be mellow ... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right." My wife will shout immature at this, but it too obviously reminds me of an old saying I learned in college when trying to save on the water bill ("if its brown, send it down, if its yellow, let it mellow")... anyone? No? Okay fine.
Even weirder, I thought, was Rick Warren. I personally think he's pretty weird in general, and seems kind of sleazy, like one day he'll probably end up like the guy from New Life church, who once raked down $130k for doing he lord's work, and now sells insurance door-to-door after a homosexual prostitution scandal. But back to the point, did anyone notice how Warren pronounced the President's kids names? "Muh-leee-yah, and SASHA!" The first one was straight from the mouth of a southern baptist pastor, and the latter sounded like a guest being welcomed to the Tyra Banks Show. I don't really know where I'm going with this besides the fact that it sounded weird, and creeped me out a bit.
Obviously, the benediction was kick-ass. Rev. Joseph Lowry is so old and harmless, it seemed it was going to be your usual uneventful prayer, but then something awesome happened. He began to riff on different skin tones and rhyming ways to say how they are okay: "...we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around ... when yellow will be mellow ... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right." My wife will shout immature at this, but it too obviously reminds me of an old saying I learned in college when trying to save on the water bill ("if its brown, send it down, if its yellow, let it mellow")... anyone? No? Okay fine.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Blart?
Ummmm, this is getting out of hand. I know there weren't really any big openings this weekend. Well never mind that, Notorious opened which should have been #1, at least its about something cool and you probably hear some sweet music. But no, a bunch of morons had to go and see "Paul Blart: Mall Cop". Really people? are you all buying the new Joaquin Phoenix album too? (apparently he's a rapper now in case you haven't heard: check out his sad skillz here, if thats not embarrassing enough, he busts @$$ after he's done rockin' da mic:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F_Ikksg40U).
This is related to something I discussed yesterday, about artists hitting it big and then they immediately become terrible. And I think a big part of the problem is that the same idiots who rushed out to see Paul Blart: Mall Cop this weekend, are the same ones who would be easily convinced that they should listen to a Joaquin hip-hop album. Two truths must be realized if we are ever to be brought back to salvation: #1 - Kevin James is not funny, he has never been funny, and while The King of Queens may remind you of yourself, and your boring regular life, its holding you back. You can do better than that. #2 - Joaquin Phoenix is not 'Hip-Hop', he's a rich, white, vegan actor with an ethnic sounding name and millions of dollars. He does not identify with the kids of today. Hmmmm, maybe I'm wrong, what do these kids watch now anyways?.... The Hills? Gossip Girl? The OC? I don't know, I don't have cable, but maybe thats the thing. Its all about being a rich white a-hole that was born into money....The Paris Hilton syndrome.
This is no good. When I was a kid, I wanted to be badass and hard-core like Guns-n-Roses, Tupac and Biggie. Guys who were tough, came from nothing, and worked their ass off to get to where they are.
This is related to something I discussed yesterday, about artists hitting it big and then they immediately become terrible. And I think a big part of the problem is that the same idiots who rushed out to see Paul Blart: Mall Cop this weekend, are the same ones who would be easily convinced that they should listen to a Joaquin hip-hop album. Two truths must be realized if we are ever to be brought back to salvation: #1 - Kevin James is not funny, he has never been funny, and while The King of Queens may remind you of yourself, and your boring regular life, its holding you back. You can do better than that. #2 - Joaquin Phoenix is not 'Hip-Hop', he's a rich, white, vegan actor with an ethnic sounding name and millions of dollars. He does not identify with the kids of today. Hmmmm, maybe I'm wrong, what do these kids watch now anyways?.... The Hills? Gossip Girl? The OC? I don't know, I don't have cable, but maybe thats the thing. Its all about being a rich white a-hole that was born into money....The Paris Hilton syndrome.
This is no good. When I was a kid, I wanted to be badass and hard-core like Guns-n-Roses, Tupac and Biggie. Guys who were tough, came from nothing, and worked their ass off to get to where they are.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Jaydiohead
OK - so I know i'm a couple weeks behind on this fad, but this album is the best idea anyone has had in while. Usually I ain't all about the "mash-ups" that the kids are into these days. I think that guy, girl-talk, has an interesting knack for hilariously combining 30 80's-pop-songs into one 3 minute track, but its gimmicky.
Jaydiohead, on the other hand, makes perfect sense. Both artists are highly successful when it comes to selling records, both have gained mainstream and critical acclaim, and yet both have managed to maintain their 'coolness' or 'street-cred' or whatever you want to call it. The point being: usually when a group or artist gets to the point of selling millions of records and becoming a household name, they fizzle out artistically and their following work sucks @$$ (eg:Coldplay), because it lacks the inspiration and hunger that connects listeners to music.
(no, no, no....you're totally right. Chris Martin is married to Gwyneth and Jay-z is married to Beyonce, I know, it seems the same. But am I the only who thinks Chris Martin is a douche and Jay-z remains badass?)
So whats the gimmick of the Jaydiohead mash-up? none, it simply rips. The mix created by minty fresh beats (the producer) suggests hat it was meant to be. He amplifies the back-burner funkiness that I so often hear from Thom and the boys, and the subtle rock-n-roll style of the Roc-a-fella. Might this be the one positive result of rap-metal?
So here's a tip: check it out, you can download it for free: http://jaydiohead.com/
Jaydiohead, on the other hand, makes perfect sense. Both artists are highly successful when it comes to selling records, both have gained mainstream and critical acclaim, and yet both have managed to maintain their 'coolness' or 'street-cred' or whatever you want to call it. The point being: usually when a group or artist gets to the point of selling millions of records and becoming a household name, they fizzle out artistically and their following work sucks @$$ (eg:Coldplay), because it lacks the inspiration and hunger that connects listeners to music.
(no, no, no....you're totally right. Chris Martin is married to Gwyneth and Jay-z is married to Beyonce, I know, it seems the same. But am I the only who thinks Chris Martin is a douche and Jay-z remains badass?)
So whats the gimmick of the Jaydiohead mash-up? none, it simply rips. The mix created by minty fresh beats (the producer) suggests hat it was meant to be. He amplifies the back-burner funkiness that I so often hear from Thom and the boys, and the subtle rock-n-roll style of the Roc-a-fella. Might this be the one positive result of rap-metal?
So here's a tip: check it out, you can download it for free: http://jaydiohead.com/
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