Music reviews from whenever I want to rate the project
January 17th, 2012
January 14th, 2012
REVIEW: Bon Iver - Bon Iver (2011)
Kappa Kappa Gamma and Alpha Phi are in courts today, battling over who came up with the idea of chasing their sushi with froyo. It’s called a “Bon Iver.”
I understand why so many critics could be “blown away” by this album, but did it deserve the years top spot on so many lists? I had put off listening to this release for quite some time, because I didn’t like what I heard of Bon Iver on Kanye’s MBDTF.
I like most of the tracks, before Justin Vernon begins singing. When his pretentiously omniscient gospel voice comes cooing in over the instrumentals, I immediately want to switch the track. The album is definitely a mood-changer, but it’s a somber one. I suspect that many of the critics who thought so highly of this project, curl up on their love seat with some high-fiber cereal and tune into the formulaic Extreme Home Makeover. They probably also rushed to see War Horse this holiday season. I don’t enjoy going out of my way to try and get sad.
One last bit, why the hell is this a self-titled release when it’s not his first project? Also, naming almost all of the tracks after places, unofficially states that he believes he can provide the anthem for various pockets around the globe.
I won’t be listening to this again.
January 11th, 2012
(super late) REVIEW: @LemaitreMusic - “The Friendly Sound EP” (2010)
I want to give a big shout out to Brett Rosenberg for introducing me to this awesome Norwegian collective. Their name means “The Teacher” in French and they are suitably in the new school of genre-busting thought.
When I first pressed play I was tempted to draw comparisons to Ratatat, Skrillex (I don’t know all that much about that type of music) and any of the wildass DJ’s I saw at Sensation White. Then by the time the smash“Blue Shift” clicked on, I had sort of MGMT feel. There’s really no use drawing comparison, Lemâitre has their own sound and I’m excited to see what they do with it in the future. This is a very good 20 minute EP you can play over and over again.
You can buy their EP on iTunes, and check out their new single: http://soundcloud.com/serious-url/excuse-me
Their new EP “Relativity I” drops in 9 days, January 20th, 2012. Here’s the teaser video
January 10th, 2012
(Inexcusably late) REVIEW: Sleigh Bells - Treats (Album 2010)
I spent the past half hour or so failing to focus on the task at hand because I was banging my head off the keyboard listening to this album. They seem to be the long-lost party-rock cousins of Rage Against the Machine, with a bit of MIA. It opens up with four straight bangers (the only one I’d heard before was Infinity Guitars). I cannot believe how hard I slept on this album, even though I’d heard about them in the past. I guess that’s what happens when you decide to devote 100% of your eardrums to pre-diagnosed hip hop. This music however, knocks as hard as some of the best hip hop out.
I’m extremely jealous of all the Floridians who have the chance to see Diplo and Sleigh Bells in theirupcoming takeover tour, but I guess picking up the new album, Reign of Terror, will have to do until I can earn a bloody nose when they come up north. Checkout this teaser video.
My guess is your local record store will have a copy or two of this album, and you should definitely pick it up… if not: http://www.amazon.com/Treats/dp/B003P72KGC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326225611&sr=8-1
REVIEW: tUnE-yArDs - W H O K I L L (Album)
After seeing this appear on many year end lists and also in an effort to perform a Coachella catch-up, I decided to finally give this one a listen. For 10 tracks it’s wildly ambitious, but the flow is very disjointed. There are some very fun tracks that I’d listen to over and over again, but they are followed by eerie and dark-sounding songs that slap you out of your music high. This might be how things work in real life, but I want to keep that shit going if I’m trying to have a good time listening to an album.
I really loved the tracks “Powa” (Definitely one of the better songs of the year) and “You Yes You”, but they were both followed by musical-debbie-downer-sounding songs. As far as a listening experience goes, the artist usually intends for you to listen to their album from start to finish (Unless they are shooting for the iTunes singles chart). This feels as though a bunch of songs were put together for individual listens, depending on the time of day or mood of the listener.
I wouldn’t recommend buying this album, but I’d stumble over to their set during a music festival.
Red Bull Academy Music Lecture // Madlib (Sao Paolo 2002)
Suit up for the occasion: Beat Konducta’s here to talk…sort of
January 8th, 2012
How classic is this intro! Damn, Kool A.D. you just made 7 minutes fly by, that was entirely too groovy
There’s no other rapper out who has as much persona as Kool. A.D. Bitch, I’m James Murphy. I’m in the swimming pool, I’m in Barcelona. UGHHH. I love this track
If you don’t like “Titties Out”, we’re not friends. Listen.
“Booty In The Air” Makes me laugh hysterically.
A Ganglion of Lightnings is just a good sounding song. Play this one whenever. Play it for your girl.
Girls and Women is real relaxed. I feel like in the past few tracks i transformed into some ovoxo shit. I don’t know if I like that, nah, I don’t really like that.
All I can say about “Fun” is Kool A.D. is right when he says “Everybody loves it”.. this beat couldn’t be more current
Alright, so, Kool A.D. is just fucking with everyone. “Flying thru the air ina airplane” is a waste of time, in my opinion.
These horns in Antenna man’s theme are pretty cool, but still, I don’t really know what’s going on in this tape. It’s kind of all over the place, which would be fine, if it were mostly enjoyable.
The last track is kinda jumping, I’m not really sure why this track was released, though. If you wan’t it… get it: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=40JRTF37
I can’t stress how much I was looking forward to this compilation and Chuck STILL managed to blow my mind. Why? It wasn’t his traditional boom bap sound. This is a complete sound. You won’t be able to detect track transitions. It’s like you are listening to a beautiful DJ Set. Aside from Apollo Brown, Chuck Inglish is my favorite producer out today. This tape is fantastic, and you need it immediately. 20 FREE BEATS! If you like hip-hop, if you like dancing, if you like having fun, if you wanna rap, download this.. NOW! http://www.mediafire.com/?z7pj1u4ouqggs09
REVIEW: Vince Staples - Shyne Coldchain Vol. 1
I fell asleep. If Vol. 2 isn’t a complete 180, i’ll call it “boring” and “a waste of time”.
REVIEW: T.I. - F*ck The City Up
hahahah this starts off so stupid, but I love it. T.I. you are the man, stay free. This intro is awesome
I’m clearly drunk, because I like this hard ass beat with Jeezy. It’s so bad, and I love it. I don’t like the producers name (Chuck Diesel)… sorry, the only Chuck I respect is Inglish (that’s rather ignorant of me to say). I mean, I wish I could sound like Jeezy for a second, dude is too captivating on these beats (makes me want to break everything/mosh.. I blame the beer, but sober, I’d probably feel at least 1/3 this way)
I swear T.I. just picks the craziest beats for everyone to zone out on. I literally can’t understand/comprehend/(don’t even want to listen) to any lyric on this next track, called “Hot Wheels (Young Dro & Travis Porter). T-Minus the producer, hey man, nice work, you kept my hype going from the previous Jeezy track. (This is the type of music I wanna roll out to, I don’t wanna just chill out to…pretty sure I have to be drunk to like it, though)
HAHAHA FUCK! THIS VALENTINO KHAN BEAT IS WILD. 2 CHAINZ!!! Hahaha, Why am I in the mood for this shit? I don’t know. I know why T.I. gets arrested all the time, though, you can only appreciate his tastes when fucked up. hahaha I hate 2chainz , this is terrible. Love the beat, though. If you’re pissed about me hating on “Tity Boi”… his line about “High like 5 swishers” I could freestlye that blacked out on 7 different substances. He’s awful.
(I already looked at the track list, much earlier than looking at Raekwon’s track list. Honestly, I just wanna listen to the Chuck Inglish beat tape again, but Ima ride out this drunken score for a minute)
T.I.!!! SERIOUSLY. I KNOW WHY YOU GO TO JAIL. THESE BEATS SCORE BAD DECISIONS. UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH. The features body this track.
This track “Stunt’n Like a Fool” is real tight. I’ll be listening to this on many drunken nights… well, now that I hear the hook… maybe not. Don’t sing man, c’mon. Yeah, nevermind. This is depressing, I don’t want to hear this again.
All I’m gonna say about this song (“Pimp”) is the beat is crack. Enjoy.
I Still love Nelly, I know most people are sick of his corporate sell out maneuvers, but this song’s right. T.I. got the hookup on this tape, you should definitely get it. That is, if you’re still reading this drunken tirade, haaa
Alright, 9 tracks in, i’m just gonna stop… download it, you’ll have fun: http://rapradar.com/2012/01/01/new-mixtape-t-i-fuck-da-city-up/
REVIEW: Raekwon - Unexpected Victory
Is this music from the Phantom of the motherfucking Opera, as your intro? C’mon man, I know you took it north of the border, and I’m from Rochester, so I’m used to being called “from Canada”… but shit man… PHANTOM OF THE OPERA! What would U-God say.
(I may edit this later, I’m kinda drunk, my taste differs when I’ve been drinking… but, shit Raekwon, you thought you should release this?)
Whatever, I’ll let it pass, because I heard it’s a great show. What I won’t let pass is Datpiff feeling the need to tag every song with (DatPiff Exclusive). Kill yourselves, Datpiff editors.
(I’m 6 Spaten Optimators deep)
Alright, so track one, “JD Era” sounds like a poor man’s Wale. I used to really like Wale, back in his Mixtape About Nothing day’s, even the Back to the Feature tape, but yo… don’t emulate that clown’s style. Come on Raekwon, where’s the heat?
OHHHH alright, this track “The Brewery” is starting off right. I like what Raekwon is saying on this track. He’s preaching, but it’s really dope. There’s the first llama reference, I’ll laugh my head off if I hear the word again. What are with these features Raekwon, whoever this dude is (Ceazar-n-reason) needs to put the mic down. I shouldn’t be looking at the track listing as I listen, because I see a 9th Wonder track is next, and my expectations are already way too high.
Goddamn 9th, thank you. Here’s that ill Raekwon flow that sounds like only he could spit it. Story tellin’ raps. This is the first good song on the tape, but it’s really good.
The next song has a grey poupon reference, how long ago did Wayne’s World come out (that nostalgia isn’t working on me)… however Raekwon’s lil’ hook about Goodfella shit is real tight (minus the Neo in the Matrix bar, except, wait, now I want to watch the first Matrix movie, so, yo, nice promo job ‘Kwon)
Shiiiit this Silk joint, produced by Scram Jones is right, from the start. This is the best track thus far, skip right to this one. This is really tight (halfway through)… then there’s a chick orgasming noise with sirens… if I was listening to this in my car, i’d be pissed… I hate rolling around and hearing sirens in songs, I started twitching and checking all my mirrors, stop with that bull, please. This is still the best song on the tape, thus far, you know what I’m sayin’ Chef?
Damn, That Good Good feat. Altrina Renee (prod. by Scram Jones & Blickstreet) zoned me out. Completely. I dig it. Trance music.
Damn! Luxury Rap sound’s like a Chuck Inglish throwaway beat. This is tight. I just cracked another beer, it’s not effecting my opinion. This is how I like my rap, Raekwon is one of my favorite’s, and he’s hitting his stride in the middle of this tape. I don’t know why he has all these feature on here though, it should just be him. The features are terrible, unless otherwise noted. I’m not really enjoying listening to this mixtape though, I’ve already thought about turning it off… Since I’m reviewing this drunk, and I know a lot of people listen to their music when their “partying”… not boding well for Raekwon.
Chinese Marines Ft. Mobb Deep “Play both sides like Serena’s” … next
(already looking at the tracklist thinking it’s way too long) Sorry I’m a product of my 21st century instant update environment
This Shit Hard could be played at parties and everybody would dig it. It’s cool, not too deep, just a fun song. At least it sounds fun, if you actually listen, not fun at all.
Alright, JD Era… you redeemed yourself on Soldier Story, it sounds good, I wasn’t really focused on what you were saying, but at this point, at least it sounds good.
I’m beginning to think I’m angry just because all of the tracks have been presented in all upper case. They don’t seem that important, or that angry. This track “MTV Cribs” with Busta, is alright. Nothing too crazy. Except for the fact that Busta doesn’t body the track.
I’m just going to stop reviewing this mixtape right now. I don’t want to listen to it anymore. Aside from “Silk” and “The Brewery”… I probably won’t listen to it again. I was really hyped when I heard Raekwon was moving to Toronto to take the next step. Then I saw him jock a bunch of young, wack rappers on twitter. I thought it’s cool, he just wants to say congrats, show his respect. Now, it seems like he’s reaching out, trying to stay relevant.
I really, really hope his album doesn’t sound like this.
(This review is subject to change and is imported from Munich, Germany… courtesy of Spaten Optimator)
