One of the best things about being a blogger is the fact that I am under no obligation to be objective. So with that in mind, my last list of Bests/Favorites of 2007. Explanation where I feel its necessary, but I think you'll get the idea on most of these:
10 Best Musical Discoveries of 2007
Awarded to 10 bands/artists whose music I was at best familiar with, but not necessarily a fan of until this year
1. Pearl Jam
2. Snow Patrol
3. Paramore
4. Justin Timberlake
5. Dresden Dolls
6. Rage Against The Machine
7. The Police
8. Sufjian Stevens
9. Blue October
10. Secondhand Serenade
10 Most Underappreciated Albums of 2007
Albums that did not make the Top 10 Best of '07 list, but are still damn good and didn't get the credit they deserve
1. Chris Cornell - Carry On
2. The Crash Motive - Consequence
3. Finger Eleven - Them Vs. You Vs. Me
4. August Rush Soundtrack
5. Eddie Vedder - Into The Wild Soundtrack
6. Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
7. Dashboard Confessional - The Shade Of Poison Trees
8. Secondhand Serenade - Awake
9. Boys Like Girls - Boys Like Girls
10. Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero
Most Overrated Albums of 2007
The albums that got WAY more praise than they deserved
1. Radiohead - In Rainbows
2. Feist - The Reminder
3. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
4. Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist
5. M.I.A. - Kala
6. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
7. Britney Spears - Blackout
8. High School Musical 2 Soundtrack
9. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
10. The Good, The Bad, and the Queen - The Good, The Bad, and the Queen
And now, at long last...
Top 10 Albums of 2007 (From Worst to Best)
10. Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High
9. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
8. Paramore - Riot!
7. Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight
6. Jay-Z - American Gangster
5. The White Stripes - Icky Thump
4. Kanye West - Graduation
3. Across The Universe Soundtrack
2. Jimmy Eat World, Chase This Light
1. Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace
Foo Fighters - Long Road To Ruin
I tried to come up with a good reason why the Foo Fighters weren't #1, and I couldn't come up with one. Truth is, the Foo Fighters are the best band in rock music, and this album was their best to date. End of story. I might have some more stuff for what I expect in '08, but that's for later. If I'm not back before Tuesday, Happy New Year, and see you next year.
==TJ==
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Long Live The '90s
I feel as though the last sentence in the last entry needs explaining:
For Christmas I got (among other things) the Pearl Jam Live at the Gorge box set that came out earlier this year. 7 discs, 100 tracks, 69 individual songs. Also picked up with my iTunes gift card the U218 Singles collection, and have been enjoying both, but Pearl Jam far more for some reason.
My taste for Pearl Jam has been a strange one over the last few years. I tend to go long lengths of time without listening to them, and then when I pop a CD back in, it takes maybe 3 tracks for me to fall in love with them again and wonder why I ever stopped listening to them. I think it has something to do with the fact that, at least on their albums, Pearl Jam are never as glitzy or as clean as other bands. They never have been, and probably never will. Very few songs are immediately memorable for a good hook or a chorus that gets jammed in your head. Again, not what they do. What they do do is write a song or album that you can hear a few times and maybe acknowledge, or maybe it turns into background noise, but then when you hear one of those songs out of context, say, either when iTunes is in shuffle mode or on the radio and it's then that you say "Wow, THAT'S Pearl Jam, that's REALLY cool!".
As the Gorge box set proves and as millions of concertgoers would tell you, PJ put on one hell of a live show. I forget who it was that said that Pearl Jam can make a massive arena show seem like a small club, but it's true. I'm not even halfway through listening to all 7 discs and already the softer tracks like " I Am Mine" and "Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town" carry the same level of conviction and attention as crowd favorites "Even Flow" and "Given To Fly". One of my favorite moments on the set so far is after a particularly up-tempo performance of "Severed Hand" when Eddie Vedder talks to the crowd and tells them, referring to the heat "Y'all take care of yourselves, each other out there, we'll try to do the same."
Also unique about Pearl Jam's live show are the covers. Not many current rock bands have the balls to play a cover that came out before a fan's lifetime. Covers of classics like The Who's "Baba O'Riley" and Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World" are mainstays of a Pearl Jam live set, as commonplace as their own slew of hits. I don't know what halted my last round of Pearl Jam enjoyment, but it's not likely to happen again.
U2 has a slightly different situation. It's a known fact that Bono's constant preaching drives me nuts, and generally tends to turn me off to his music. But what's lost in that is the fact that more often than not the music is good. Not on the same level as Pearl Jam, but there's no denying that U2 is in fact a good band, in spite of its overzealous lead singer. If I have to choose one, then advantage: Pearl Jam, but either way, my love for the 1990s and its music is reborn.
Pearl Jam - Baba O'Riley (Live in Albany 4/29/03) [Who Cover]
U2 - One
==TJ==
For Christmas I got (among other things) the Pearl Jam Live at the Gorge box set that came out earlier this year. 7 discs, 100 tracks, 69 individual songs. Also picked up with my iTunes gift card the U218 Singles collection, and have been enjoying both, but Pearl Jam far more for some reason.
My taste for Pearl Jam has been a strange one over the last few years. I tend to go long lengths of time without listening to them, and then when I pop a CD back in, it takes maybe 3 tracks for me to fall in love with them again and wonder why I ever stopped listening to them. I think it has something to do with the fact that, at least on their albums, Pearl Jam are never as glitzy or as clean as other bands. They never have been, and probably never will. Very few songs are immediately memorable for a good hook or a chorus that gets jammed in your head. Again, not what they do. What they do do is write a song or album that you can hear a few times and maybe acknowledge, or maybe it turns into background noise, but then when you hear one of those songs out of context, say, either when iTunes is in shuffle mode or on the radio and it's then that you say "Wow, THAT'S Pearl Jam, that's REALLY cool!".
As the Gorge box set proves and as millions of concertgoers would tell you, PJ put on one hell of a live show. I forget who it was that said that Pearl Jam can make a massive arena show seem like a small club, but it's true. I'm not even halfway through listening to all 7 discs and already the softer tracks like " I Am Mine" and "Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town" carry the same level of conviction and attention as crowd favorites "Even Flow" and "Given To Fly". One of my favorite moments on the set so far is after a particularly up-tempo performance of "Severed Hand" when Eddie Vedder talks to the crowd and tells them, referring to the heat "Y'all take care of yourselves, each other out there, we'll try to do the same."
Also unique about Pearl Jam's live show are the covers. Not many current rock bands have the balls to play a cover that came out before a fan's lifetime. Covers of classics like The Who's "Baba O'Riley" and Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World" are mainstays of a Pearl Jam live set, as commonplace as their own slew of hits. I don't know what halted my last round of Pearl Jam enjoyment, but it's not likely to happen again.
U2 has a slightly different situation. It's a known fact that Bono's constant preaching drives me nuts, and generally tends to turn me off to his music. But what's lost in that is the fact that more often than not the music is good. Not on the same level as Pearl Jam, but there's no denying that U2 is in fact a good band, in spite of its overzealous lead singer. If I have to choose one, then advantage: Pearl Jam, but either way, my love for the 1990s and its music is reborn.
Pearl Jam - Baba O'Riley (Live in Albany 4/29/03) [Who Cover]
U2 - One
==TJ==
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Worst of 2007: Please...Make It Stop
I find it's always wildly entertaining to make fun of bad music, sometimes more than it is to enjoy the good stuff. So I present to you my picks for the worst albums of the year, the ones we could have done without quite nicely. Keep in mind I took a little bit of liberty with this, so please don't take it too seriously (except for that part where I mean that these albums sucked/will suck)
10. Britney Spears - Blackout
Yes, I admit; I listened to this CD earlier this week. I'll even go so far as to say that I tried to like it, and in fact in some places, I did (what the bloggers are saying about "Piece of Me" is right). Despite all reason, this album was not a complete disaster. I'm chalking that fact mostly up to the fact that Blackout was on the good end of the Snakes On A Plane Effect: expectations were so low on this CD that Spears' simply showing up was a success. But the fact remains there's more AutoTone on this than Britney, and this album did more to pay the bills than it did to mark Britney's "comeback".
9. Avril Lavigne - The Best Damn Thing
Another album that wasn't a complete and total dud, but lacked much to be desired. I will once again admit that I miss the Let Go-era Avril. That CD was nigh short of excellent when it came out, and sadly, Avril's done everything possible to stray from that work. As for this album, you may not believe, there are songs on this very CD, let alone other songs from this year, that are more annoying than "Girlfriend". Scary thought, but it's true. Keep reading and you'll learn about them.
8. Guns N Roses - Chinese Democracy
Yeah yeah, I know the album never came out. But we heard the first signs that it exists in some form or other, and it is crap. This would be far less disappointing if this were billed as an Axl Rose solo project; if that were the case I would expect garbage. But alas, I am still teased with the promise that before I die, Chinese Democracy could be part of my CD collection. Based on what I've heard thus far, it probably won't be, but the important thing is that it could.
7. Cartel - Cartel
I haven't actually heard this album yet, but:
Cartel being a by-the-numbers B-list punk band + the fact that they had to have a reality series on MTV to drum up excitement for the CD + the utter failure of said reality show = This HAD to suck.
6. Radiohead - In Rainbows
That's right. I said it. Now what?
Taking nothing away from what Radiohead did to promote and market In Rainbows, I did not like this album. Melodies were few and far-between, and it seemed like Thom Yorke spent more time coming up with new and pretentious ways to get the blogs talking than he did actually recording decent music. This is easily the most overrated album to come out this year, and with a January release date for the physical CD, we get to see it on all the Best Of '08 lists too. ...Joy...
5. Feist - The Reminder
Another one that's gonna earn me hatemail from Pitchfork, Idolator, and all the other Holy Music Blogs. "1234" made me want to punch things by the thousandth time I heard it; I hated it more than I hated "Rehab". The rest of this album just put me to sleep. If I want to fall asleep to music, I'll listen to Pink Floyd; at least that has the benefit of being memorable and socially cool. There's no feist in this music, it's just dreck.
4. Shop Boyz - Rockstar Mentality
This is here mostly on the strength of my hatred for "Party Like A Rockstar", and the fact that this album pretended to have meaning when it was just garbage. Same goes for the next one.
3. Mims - Music is my Savior
This and Shop Boyz are pretty much interchangeable; they both feature criminally stupid songs, and have no real soul in them at all. What makes Mims worse is a) a stupid name, rivaled only by the artist/album at #1, and b) an equally ridiculous hit song in "This is Why I'm Hot". To my knowledge only 3 good rap albums came out, and they belonged to Timbaland, Kanye, and Jay-Z. Most of the rest were marginal, and sad cases like Mims were just awful.
2. James Blunt - All The Lost Souls
As of September this was the worst thing I had heard all year. Bland, sleep-inducing, and generally unexciting, Blunt brought back all the things we had so pleasantly forgotten about 2005's Back to Bedlam. This album is the worst kind of bad; it's not exceptionally bad, its just boring. There's nothing actively noteworthy about it, except that I can't remember anything except how lame "1973" sounded. Memo to James Blunt; get a freakin' backbone.
For a long time I thought this was the worst CD of 2007, until I heard...
1. Soulja Boy Tell 'Em - souljaboytellem.com
Oh. My. God. I don't know where to begin. I guess we start with the God-awful name of both the artist and album (your website as an album title? C'mon. Even YOUR marketing people have to be better than that). Then there's the part where every song consists primarily of shouting Soulja Boy's name over some beat, while also writing tributes to either Sidekicks (the phone, not an actual counterpart) or some ridiculous dance. To be honest, I only got four songs in before I turned it off for the sake of my own sanity. Yep, I think that's a winner/loser.
It should now be noted that I compiled this list while being too apathetic to listen to a number of albums that could have been on this list, including AmyCokewhore's Back to Black, Colbie Cailat's Coco, among others. If/when I get to these, I might make amendments. Till then, avoid these albums at all costs, and I'll have a Best Albums list by New Year's Eve. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some U2 and Pearl Jam to enjoy.
==TJ==
10. Britney Spears - Blackout
Yes, I admit; I listened to this CD earlier this week. I'll even go so far as to say that I tried to like it, and in fact in some places, I did (what the bloggers are saying about "Piece of Me" is right). Despite all reason, this album was not a complete disaster. I'm chalking that fact mostly up to the fact that Blackout was on the good end of the Snakes On A Plane Effect: expectations were so low on this CD that Spears' simply showing up was a success. But the fact remains there's more AutoTone on this than Britney, and this album did more to pay the bills than it did to mark Britney's "comeback".
9. Avril Lavigne - The Best Damn Thing
Another album that wasn't a complete and total dud, but lacked much to be desired. I will once again admit that I miss the Let Go-era Avril. That CD was nigh short of excellent when it came out, and sadly, Avril's done everything possible to stray from that work. As for this album, you may not believe, there are songs on this very CD, let alone other songs from this year, that are more annoying than "Girlfriend". Scary thought, but it's true. Keep reading and you'll learn about them.
8. Guns N Roses - Chinese Democracy
Yeah yeah, I know the album never came out. But we heard the first signs that it exists in some form or other, and it is crap. This would be far less disappointing if this were billed as an Axl Rose solo project; if that were the case I would expect garbage. But alas, I am still teased with the promise that before I die, Chinese Democracy could be part of my CD collection. Based on what I've heard thus far, it probably won't be, but the important thing is that it could.
7. Cartel - Cartel
I haven't actually heard this album yet, but:
Cartel being a by-the-numbers B-list punk band + the fact that they had to have a reality series on MTV to drum up excitement for the CD + the utter failure of said reality show = This HAD to suck.
6. Radiohead - In Rainbows
That's right. I said it. Now what?
Taking nothing away from what Radiohead did to promote and market In Rainbows, I did not like this album. Melodies were few and far-between, and it seemed like Thom Yorke spent more time coming up with new and pretentious ways to get the blogs talking than he did actually recording decent music. This is easily the most overrated album to come out this year, and with a January release date for the physical CD, we get to see it on all the Best Of '08 lists too. ...Joy...
5. Feist - The Reminder
Another one that's gonna earn me hatemail from Pitchfork, Idolator, and all the other Holy Music Blogs. "1234" made me want to punch things by the thousandth time I heard it; I hated it more than I hated "Rehab". The rest of this album just put me to sleep. If I want to fall asleep to music, I'll listen to Pink Floyd; at least that has the benefit of being memorable and socially cool. There's no feist in this music, it's just dreck.
4. Shop Boyz - Rockstar Mentality
This is here mostly on the strength of my hatred for "Party Like A Rockstar", and the fact that this album pretended to have meaning when it was just garbage. Same goes for the next one.
3. Mims - Music is my Savior
This and Shop Boyz are pretty much interchangeable; they both feature criminally stupid songs, and have no real soul in them at all. What makes Mims worse is a) a stupid name, rivaled only by the artist/album at #1, and b) an equally ridiculous hit song in "This is Why I'm Hot". To my knowledge only 3 good rap albums came out, and they belonged to Timbaland, Kanye, and Jay-Z. Most of the rest were marginal, and sad cases like Mims were just awful.
2. James Blunt - All The Lost Souls
As of September this was the worst thing I had heard all year. Bland, sleep-inducing, and generally unexciting, Blunt brought back all the things we had so pleasantly forgotten about 2005's Back to Bedlam. This album is the worst kind of bad; it's not exceptionally bad, its just boring. There's nothing actively noteworthy about it, except that I can't remember anything except how lame "1973" sounded. Memo to James Blunt; get a freakin' backbone.
For a long time I thought this was the worst CD of 2007, until I heard...
1. Soulja Boy Tell 'Em - souljaboytellem.com
Oh. My. God. I don't know where to begin. I guess we start with the God-awful name of both the artist and album (your website as an album title? C'mon. Even YOUR marketing people have to be better than that). Then there's the part where every song consists primarily of shouting Soulja Boy's name over some beat, while also writing tributes to either Sidekicks (the phone, not an actual counterpart) or some ridiculous dance. To be honest, I only got four songs in before I turned it off for the sake of my own sanity. Yep, I think that's a winner/loser.
It should now be noted that I compiled this list while being too apathetic to listen to a number of albums that could have been on this list, including Amy
==TJ==
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Biggest Letdowns of 2007 (Some of them Anyway)
2007 had some great moments, which I talked about here. Sadly, there were some low points too. In no particular order, some of the things that sucked about the year that's nearly gone past.
Amy Lee becomes the female Axl Rose
The Evanescence frontwoman probably won't be getting Christmas presents from any of her original bandmates. Earlier this year she kicked out Rocky Gray and John LeCompt, the remaining original members of the band (Founding guitarist Ben Moody quit in 2003, more on him later). By most accounts, Amy Lee seems to kick out any member of the band that dares suggest she's wrong about what the band should be. Based on the war of words that went on after the fact (Lee more or less accused Gray and LeCompt of trying to destroy "her baby", and LeCompt joked about how he hoped we would become lyrical fodder for Lee), not much love lost here, except from the fans that miss what was once a good band becoming the Amy Lee show. As much as I love Lee, she can't carry that band on her back. The Open Door was a disappointment mostly because she released the shittiest songs as singles after "Call Me When You're Sober". At this point all we can do is hope the band quits while they're ahead, or that the band gets a backbone again.
Evanescence - Call Me When You're Sober [iTunes]
(As for Ben Moody, he's spent his time writing and producing for the likes of Lindsay Lohan and Avril Lavigne. A recent report also notes he collaborated with Celine Dion on her most recent album. On the Bill Simmons Vengeance Scale, I'd say this is about a 0.7 out of 10. )
Jay-Z pulls a fast one on iTunes, revokes American Gangster
It wasthe most the third most anticipated rap album of the year, and had racked up millions of pre-orders on iTunes by the time American Gangster, the new Jay-Z album inspired by the movie was due to be released. But then at the last minute, Hova pulls it from iTunes, citing his desire for the album to be heard as one unit, not song-by-song. As a result all the people who preordered the album got screwed. Smooth...reaalll smooth.
Having said that, I heard a couple tracks off the album, and am duly impressed.
Jay-Z - Roc Boys (And The Winner Is...) [AmazonMP3]
Matchbox 20's "New Album"
A 6-song EP and a greatest hits collection that even the most casual fans have does not an album make, guys. Get back in the studio and give me more.
Matchbox 20 - How Far We've Come [iTunes]
Live Earth
Huge dud. But then again, pretty much what you'd expect from a concert organized by Al Gore, no? Even the Foo Fighters sounded boring in this one. And that Police/Kanye/John Mayer performance? You wanna tell me that wasn't the most scripted thing ever? Points for effort and trying to be socially conscious, but no-good on the execution.
Buy the album on iTunes if you must (can't even give you an mp3 of Linkin Park's performance)
Legally Blonde on Broadway
OK, I'll admit, the movie didn't suck nearly as much as I thought it would. This is more a rant about Broadway's apparent decision to join Hollywood in not coming up with original ideas. Between this, Young Frankenstein, and the slew of Disney musicals, the theatre is almost as bad as TV and film at this point.
...and this is the industry I'm gonna go into...*sigh*
High School Musical 2
A sin against God, man, and everything I did for four years between September 2002 and May 2006.
50 Cent hasn't retired yet...
Despite his album Curtis getting soundly beaten by Kanye West. I guess a rapper's promise doesn't mean as much as it once did. Does anyone else miss the days when a rapper would promise to pop some caps, and then shortly thereafter the news would get out about another shooting?
50 Cent - Ayo Technology [iTunes]
Radiohead release In Rainbows, get verbal blowjob from the blogosphere
I'll admit, I was among those who praised Radiohead's ingenuity when they self-released their new album. I also think I was one of the first to dismiss the music itself as trippy, directionless and overrated. Meanwhile nearly every other blog has added In Rainbows to their Best of 07 list. Just 'cause you do something ballsy doesn't mean you're automatically the best.
I think that's all I've got. The Best Songs of 2007 list will be arriving shortly.
On a random note, I had the strangest urge to listen to the Red Hot Chili Peppers earlier today. There was no reason for it whatsoever, but I'm blasting the Greatest Hits CD now, and thought I'd share that fact.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Fortune Faded [iTunes]
==TJ==
Amy Lee becomes the female Axl Rose
The Evanescence frontwoman probably won't be getting Christmas presents from any of her original bandmates. Earlier this year she kicked out Rocky Gray and John LeCompt, the remaining original members of the band (Founding guitarist Ben Moody quit in 2003, more on him later). By most accounts, Amy Lee seems to kick out any member of the band that dares suggest she's wrong about what the band should be. Based on the war of words that went on after the fact (Lee more or less accused Gray and LeCompt of trying to destroy "her baby", and LeCompt joked about how he hoped we would become lyrical fodder for Lee), not much love lost here, except from the fans that miss what was once a good band becoming the Amy Lee show. As much as I love Lee, she can't carry that band on her back. The Open Door was a disappointment mostly because she released the shittiest songs as singles after "Call Me When You're Sober". At this point all we can do is hope the band quits while they're ahead, or that the band gets a backbone again.
Evanescence - Call Me When You're Sober [iTunes]
(As for Ben Moody, he's spent his time writing and producing for the likes of Lindsay Lohan and Avril Lavigne. A recent report also notes he collaborated with Celine Dion on her most recent album. On the Bill Simmons Vengeance Scale, I'd say this is about a 0.7 out of 10. )
Jay-Z pulls a fast one on iTunes, revokes American Gangster
It was
Having said that, I heard a couple tracks off the album, and am duly impressed.
Jay-Z - Roc Boys (And The Winner Is...) [AmazonMP3]
Matchbox 20's "New Album"
A 6-song EP and a greatest hits collection that even the most casual fans have does not an album make, guys. Get back in the studio and give me more.
Matchbox 20 - How Far We've Come [iTunes]
Live Earth
Huge dud. But then again, pretty much what you'd expect from a concert organized by Al Gore, no? Even the Foo Fighters sounded boring in this one. And that Police/Kanye/John Mayer performance? You wanna tell me that wasn't the most scripted thing ever? Points for effort and trying to be socially conscious, but no-good on the execution.
Buy the album on iTunes if you must (can't even give you an mp3 of Linkin Park's performance)
Legally Blonde on Broadway
OK, I'll admit, the movie didn't suck nearly as much as I thought it would. This is more a rant about Broadway's apparent decision to join Hollywood in not coming up with original ideas. Between this, Young Frankenstein, and the slew of Disney musicals, the theatre is almost as bad as TV and film at this point.
...and this is the industry I'm gonna go into...*sigh*
High School Musical 2
A sin against God, man, and everything I did for four years between September 2002 and May 2006.
50 Cent hasn't retired yet...
Despite his album Curtis getting soundly beaten by Kanye West. I guess a rapper's promise doesn't mean as much as it once did. Does anyone else miss the days when a rapper would promise to pop some caps, and then shortly thereafter the news would get out about another shooting?
50 Cent - Ayo Technology [iTunes]
Radiohead release In Rainbows, get verbal blowjob from the blogosphere
I'll admit, I was among those who praised Radiohead's ingenuity when they self-released their new album. I also think I was one of the first to dismiss the music itself as trippy, directionless and overrated. Meanwhile nearly every other blog has added In Rainbows to their Best of 07 list. Just 'cause you do something ballsy doesn't mean you're automatically the best.
I think that's all I've got. The Best Songs of 2007 list will be arriving shortly.
On a random note, I had the strangest urge to listen to the Red Hot Chili Peppers earlier today. There was no reason for it whatsoever, but I'm blasting the Greatest Hits CD now, and thought I'd share that fact.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Fortune Faded [iTunes]
==TJ==
Monday, December 17, 2007
People Are Reading this!!!
I've had this sitting on my computer for a month now, and am only now finding the time to upload the damn thing; for everyone who's wanted it, here's my Finest Hour on Radio 104.5 from last month:
TJ's Finest Hour on Radio 104.5
In other news, the mp3s I post are getting picked up by Hype Machine now. Apparently all I needed to do was switch to a different upload site. this means that VLM is a few steps closer to being legitimate. WOOHOO!
Look for some changes and other stuff to come in the near future, maybe even later tonight.
==TJ==
TJ's Finest Hour on Radio 104.5
In other news, the mp3s I post are getting picked up by Hype Machine now. Apparently all I needed to do was switch to a different upload site. this means that VLM is a few steps closer to being legitimate. WOOHOO!
Look for some changes and other stuff to come in the near future, maybe even later tonight.
==TJ==
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Random bits of what I'm Seeing/Hearing
I've been knee-deep in finals for the last week or so, so music has taken a bit of a sidestep. But I'm back with some quick reviews and other things I've been going through:
-So I'm giving LCD Soundsystem a second listen, but from the looks of it, definitely not an album of the year contender in my book. It's decent enough for dancerock, if that's the kinda thing you're into, but 6 minute tracks with at best average lyrics gets old before the hour-long album is up.
Ruling on the Field: 5.5/10
Highlight Reel: Someone Great
Also playing OneRepublic's debut Dreaming Out Loud. Believe it or not, they have more than just "Apologize". They've got some good borderline folky stuff, and even at their most generic, there's no reason to skip a song. Unfortunately with Timbaland's offering of "Apologize" boning the radio right now, OneRepublic will probably have a hard time being taken seriously for their next single. I'm predicting these guys will become the Nickelback of 2008.
OneRepublic - Stop and Stare
-My friend Alex gave me Cobra Starship's new CD so I could check it out for my Best of 07 list. Personally I didn't think they were coming back from the overtly gimmicky novelty track "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It!)". But last month out came a ¡Viva La Cobra!, yet another entry into the growing whiteboy dancerock genre. There's nothing inherently bad about the album, its just a bit jumblefucky. Gabe Saporta likes to experiment with a lot of different sounds (punk, latin, rock, etc.), and that's great, until they all appear in one song. It's a fast-paced, fun listen, but don't expect anything memorable (unless you're Alex and make one of the songs your ringtone).
Cobra Starship - Guilty Pleasure
-Last weekend I went to see August Rush, one of the few music-based movies where all the music was completely original (not that the rest were bad because of it). It's no Across the Universe, and you can see the ending coming a mile away, but dammit if the music isn't absolutely amazing. Johnathan Rhys-Myers' songs are on par with anything that's on the radio right now, and the instrumental songs by Kaki King are equally fun to listen to. Even if you don't see the movie, pick up the soundtrack and enjoy it.
Ruling on the Field:Movie: 6.5/10; Soundtrack: 8/10
Highlight Reel: This Time
As a result of my love for August Rush, I've been making a playlist of instrumental stuff. I've got a good mix of stuff ranging from Foo Fighters to the Final Fantasy VII soundtrack. If anyone has any stuff they recommend, feel free to post it. I'm especially interested in anything from the 300 Soundtrack as well as the themes from Stargate and Independence Day. Thanks.
Back later this week.
==TJ==
-So I'm giving LCD Soundsystem a second listen, but from the looks of it, definitely not an album of the year contender in my book. It's decent enough for dancerock, if that's the kinda thing you're into, but 6 minute tracks with at best average lyrics gets old before the hour-long album is up.
Ruling on the Field: 5.5/10
Highlight Reel: Someone Great
Also playing OneRepublic's debut Dreaming Out Loud. Believe it or not, they have more than just "Apologize". They've got some good borderline folky stuff, and even at their most generic, there's no reason to skip a song. Unfortunately with Timbaland's offering of "Apologize" boning the radio right now, OneRepublic will probably have a hard time being taken seriously for their next single. I'm predicting these guys will become the Nickelback of 2008.
OneRepublic - Stop and Stare
-My friend Alex gave me Cobra Starship's new CD so I could check it out for my Best of 07 list. Personally I didn't think they were coming back from the overtly gimmicky novelty track "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It!)". But last month out came a ¡Viva La Cobra!, yet another entry into the growing whiteboy dancerock genre. There's nothing inherently bad about the album, its just a bit jumblefucky. Gabe Saporta likes to experiment with a lot of different sounds (punk, latin, rock, etc.), and that's great, until they all appear in one song. It's a fast-paced, fun listen, but don't expect anything memorable (unless you're Alex and make one of the songs your ringtone).
Cobra Starship - Guilty Pleasure
-Last weekend I went to see August Rush, one of the few music-based movies where all the music was completely original (not that the rest were bad because of it). It's no Across the Universe, and you can see the ending coming a mile away, but dammit if the music isn't absolutely amazing. Johnathan Rhys-Myers' songs are on par with anything that's on the radio right now, and the instrumental songs by Kaki King are equally fun to listen to. Even if you don't see the movie, pick up the soundtrack and enjoy it.
Ruling on the Field:Movie: 6.5/10; Soundtrack: 8/10
Highlight Reel: This Time
As a result of my love for August Rush, I've been making a playlist of instrumental stuff. I've got a good mix of stuff ranging from Foo Fighters to the Final Fantasy VII soundtrack. If anyone has any stuff they recommend, feel free to post it. I'm especially interested in anything from the 300 Soundtrack as well as the themes from Stargate and Independence Day. Thanks.
Back later this week.
==TJ==
Monday, December 10, 2007
Stuff I Heard This Weekend
That review of LCD Soundsystem is still coming. Till then, a small taste of stuff I heard over the last few days:
-I've heard it about a dozen times now (my girlfriend is big into ridiculous rap songs), and I still don't know how I feel about Flo Rida's "Low". It's got a "feat. T-Pain" in it, and T-Pain is more ubiquitous than Nickelback at this point. It's also featured on the soundtrack to the utterly unnecessary Step Up 2 the Streets, a movie with a name only slightly less ridiculous than 2 Fast 2 Furious. Furthermore the name Flo Rida is about on par with 50 Cent on the terrible rapper name scale. But at the same time, I can't help but think it's a damned fun song. Expect me to be singing it in my subconscious for awhile.
Flo Rida - Low
(Side note: If you have a group of friends that are REALLY good at making fun of (MST3K-ing, if you will) a movie, go ahead and rent Step Up. It might actually be an enjoyable experience with the right people/right amount of alcohol.
-I think I found the song that will replace "You're Beautiful" for straddling the line between annoying and cute for its simplicity; I give you Colbie Cailat's "Bubbly". It's got shades of James Blunt all over it, right down to the dialogue before the actual entrance to the song. And another thing; am I distorting the lyrics too much, or is she singing about having an orgasm?
Colbie Cailat - Bubbly
And on the offchance you hear a dance version of this with the drums boosted and a bit faster, just run in the other direction
-It's pretty much a scientific fact that I hate Fergie. The only Black Eyed Peas song I truly liked was "Where is the Love?", and after "My Humps", she just kinda made me want to cut my ears off whenever she came on the radio. "London Bridge", "Fergalicious", and "Glamorous" all displayed things I hated about hip-hop. I was at best indifferent toward "Big Girls Don't Cry"; lacked the annoying factor of her first singles, but I always felt that it sounded like she was trying to be Kelly Clarkson on that song. Then in the car I heard this remix with Sean Kingston (who never did anything for me one way or the other), and it was just enough to lure me in. My feelings toward both artists pretty much remain the same, but points for a nice remix/collaboration.
Fergie - Big Girls Don't Cry [remix]
-Heard all of Cass Dillon's EP (as mentioned two entries back). Love it. Can't wait to hear what he comes out with in 2008.
Back tomorrow with that LCD review and other stuff.
==TJ==
-I've heard it about a dozen times now (my girlfriend is big into ridiculous rap songs), and I still don't know how I feel about Flo Rida's "Low". It's got a "feat. T-Pain" in it, and T-Pain is more ubiquitous than Nickelback at this point. It's also featured on the soundtrack to the utterly unnecessary Step Up 2 the Streets, a movie with a name only slightly less ridiculous than 2 Fast 2 Furious. Furthermore the name Flo Rida is about on par with 50 Cent on the terrible rapper name scale. But at the same time, I can't help but think it's a damned fun song. Expect me to be singing it in my subconscious for awhile.
Flo Rida - Low
(Side note: If you have a group of friends that are REALLY good at making fun of (MST3K-ing, if you will) a movie, go ahead and rent Step Up. It might actually be an enjoyable experience with the right people/right amount of alcohol.
-I think I found the song that will replace "You're Beautiful" for straddling the line between annoying and cute for its simplicity; I give you Colbie Cailat's "Bubbly". It's got shades of James Blunt all over it, right down to the dialogue before the actual entrance to the song. And another thing; am I distorting the lyrics too much, or is she singing about having an orgasm?
Colbie Cailat - Bubbly
And on the offchance you hear a dance version of this with the drums boosted and a bit faster, just run in the other direction
-It's pretty much a scientific fact that I hate Fergie. The only Black Eyed Peas song I truly liked was "Where is the Love?", and after "My Humps", she just kinda made me want to cut my ears off whenever she came on the radio. "London Bridge", "Fergalicious", and "Glamorous" all displayed things I hated about hip-hop. I was at best indifferent toward "Big Girls Don't Cry"; lacked the annoying factor of her first singles, but I always felt that it sounded like she was trying to be Kelly Clarkson on that song. Then in the car I heard this remix with Sean Kingston (who never did anything for me one way or the other), and it was just enough to lure me in. My feelings toward both artists pretty much remain the same, but points for a nice remix/collaboration.
Fergie - Big Girls Don't Cry [remix]
-Heard all of Cass Dillon's EP (as mentioned two entries back). Love it. Can't wait to hear what he comes out with in 2008.
Back tomorrow with that LCD review and other stuff.
==TJ==
Saturday, December 8, 2007
VLM's Yearly Rant About The Grammys (Or Is It?)
Earlier this week The Recording Academy released the nominations for the 2007 Grammys. Now would usually come the part where I rant and rave about how badly they screwed up and who got truly screwed...
...except this year they did a pretty good job. No, seriously, the nominees are pretty much right. Kanye has 8 including Album of the Year. In a showing of pure awesome, the Foo Fighters are up for Album, Song, and Record of the year. Didn't I tell you Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace was amazing? Amy Winehouse is up forsix counts of drug posession and being a dumb bitch Grammys for the inexplicably lauded Back to Black and song "Rehab". Other deserving nominees include Paramore for Best New Artist (in a category completely female dominated...coincidence?), Rihanna for Record and Song of the Year (the Grammy voters are clearly still singing "ella, ella, ella"), as well as Daughtry and Bruce Springsteen, who each got for noms in the rock category. All in all, props to the Grammy Association for not fucking this one up. Commentary on who will and should win will come sometime in 08 closer to the actual ceremony.
Meanwhile, I've been keeping tabs on various groups' Best of '07 lists, and two things pop into my mind:
-Who do Dave Grohl, Jim Adkins, and Trent Reznor need to blow in order to get in anyone's Top 25??
-The overwhelming love for LCD Soundsystem's CD Sound of Silver led me to pick up a copy for myself. Is it good? yes. Is it likely to grow on me? Yes. Do I think it belongs as #1 on everyone's list? NO. Full review coming, but my first impression was "Four-and-a-half Inch Nails".
Back later.
==TJ==
...except this year they did a pretty good job. No, seriously, the nominees are pretty much right. Kanye has 8 including Album of the Year. In a showing of pure awesome, the Foo Fighters are up for Album, Song, and Record of the year. Didn't I tell you Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace was amazing? Amy Winehouse is up for
Meanwhile, I've been keeping tabs on various groups' Best of '07 lists, and two things pop into my mind:
-Who do Dave Grohl, Jim Adkins, and Trent Reznor need to blow in order to get in anyone's Top 25??
-The overwhelming love for LCD Soundsystem's CD Sound of Silver led me to pick up a copy for myself. Is it good? yes. Is it likely to grow on me? Yes. Do I think it belongs as #1 on everyone's list? NO. Full review coming, but my first impression was "Four-and-a-half Inch Nails".
Back later.
==TJ==
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Introducing Cass Dillon: Billy Joel's New Golden Boy
Billy Joel has been in a form of self-imposed retirement for the last few years, popping up here and there with singles or special appearances. His most recent musical venture came out today, but don't look for any new album. The great American songwriter wrote the music and lyrics for a new holiday single called "Christmas in Fallujah". The voice behind the song is Cass Dillon, a singer/songwriter and fellow Long Islander and seemingly Joel's new protege. As you'd expect from the title, there's quite the political undertone in the song:
It's Christmas in Fallujah
And no one gives a damn
And I just got your letter
And this what I read
You said I'm fading from your memory
So I'm just as good as dead
Expected amount of time remaining until Joel gets flak for politicizing Christmas or whatever: 19 minutes. "Christmas in Fallujah" is only available through iTunes, and proceeds from the song go to charities that benefit Iraq War vets. iTunes also has a 6-track EP of Dillon's solo work available for a limited time. You'll hear more about this in the next round of Best Of '07 stuff, but remember Cass Dillon, 'cause hopefully you'll be hearing more of him by this time next year.
I'll post a link to Christmas in Fallujah on iTunes when it stops being glitchy
Cass Dillon - These Wounds
==TJ==
It's Christmas in Fallujah
And no one gives a damn
And I just got your letter
And this what I read
You said I'm fading from your memory
So I'm just as good as dead
Expected amount of time remaining until Joel gets flak for politicizing Christmas or whatever: 19 minutes. "Christmas in Fallujah" is only available through iTunes, and proceeds from the song go to charities that benefit Iraq War vets. iTunes also has a 6-track EP of Dillon's solo work available for a limited time. You'll hear more about this in the next round of Best Of '07 stuff, but remember Cass Dillon, 'cause hopefully you'll be hearing more of him by this time next year.
I'll post a link to Christmas in Fallujah on iTunes when it stops being glitchy
Cass Dillon - These Wounds
==TJ==
Monday, December 3, 2007
10 Awesome Things That Happened in 2007
Maybe it's just because I was paying more attention this year, but it seemed like a lot of really awesome things happened to the music world this year. And contrary to what Rolling Stone and Idolator will want you to think, not ALL of them were tied to Radiohead. Below are my top 10 awesome stories from 2007:
10. New Guns N' Roses tracks leak; proof Chinese Democracy was at some point being recorded
Ah, how could anyone forget how we all (OK, maybe it was just me) waited with bated breath for March 6th to roll around when Axl Rose announced said date as the release for the eternally anticipated Chinese Democracy album. Of course once again we/I was left hanging, but we got a few unmastered tracks from the album as consolation. Granted, only one of these was worth hearing, but it was still proof that maybe, just maybe, it* could happen.
Guns N' Roses - Better
*By "it", I actually mean democracy in China, not Chinese Democracy. Come on now, what kind of fool do I look like?
9. Radio 104.5 brings the rock back to Philly
For anyone reading outside of the greater Philadelphia area, this means almost nothing. But just know that prior to this past February, Philly was without a decent alt. rock station for just over 2 years after the demise of Y100. 104.5 (WRFF-FM) filled that hole, and Philly radio is a better place for it.
Finger Eleven - Paralyzer (Live on Radio 104.5)
8. "The Battle of Sept. 11"
It's refreshing to hear rappers talk about duels and fighting that don't involve guns. 50 Cent and Kanye West had plenty of hype, hoopla, and excitement building up to the simultaneous release of their new albums, Curtis and Graduation, respectively. 50 promised to retire from the business if Kanye sold more albums in the first week, only to then cry foul when his CD got stomped on in the charts. But in the end, when two music greats go head-to-head in the name of getting music to the fans, doesn't everybody win?
Well, except for those fools who bought Curtis. Sucks to be them.
Kanye West - Stronger
7. Guitar Hero III/Rock Band
As a college student and music lover, I feel that my life is somehow more fulfilled as a result of these games. I have yet to play Rock Band, but cannot wait to get behind the electronic drum set and go Keith Moon-style on "Learn to Fly". The rest of the track listing is damned impressive, almost better than GHIII. Speaking of which, I have played, and am thoroughly awed. As much as the wireless controllers made me nuts (stupid lag...), the gameplay is as good as ever, and the songs are classic. Words don't describe how excited I was to blast through "Paint It, Black" and "Even Flow". This year I have 2 more reasons to upgrade to an Xbox 360.
Foo Fighters - Learn to Fly
Pearl Jam - Even Flow
6. Movies + Movies = Good times for all
2007 saw a blend between music and film that hadn't been particularly strong of late. Between the biopics for Bob Dylan (I'm Not There) and Joy Division (Control), the fictional projects August Rush and Into the Wild (not actually dealing with music, but scored by the amazing Eddie Vedder), and Across the Universe, the Beatles tribute in a class all its own, moviegoers saw and heard one hell of a good experience this year. And that's all excluding the tradtional musicals (Hairspray and next month's Sweeney Todd).
The Killers - Shadowplay
Across the Universe Soundtrack - Hey Jude
5. John, Paul, George and Ringo go digital; Beatles to follow in '08?
So all of the solo work from the Beatles became available for digital download across 2007, most notably when Paul McCartney tied his new album's release to the launch of the iTunes DRM-free store. Lennon's solo catalog followed, and a few weeks ago McCartney said that the Beatles catalog could go digital by early 2008. If this happens, it will leave only Kid Rock in the stone age of major label acts without a good reason to have their music available online. I see no problem with this.
4. Year of the Reunions
2007 seemed to be the year for bands to kiss and make up, with The Police, Rage Against the Machine, Genesis, and Led Zeppelin all reuniting in some form or other for tours and/or new albums. Now that second-rate bands like Extreme are feeling the need to join the party, I think it's time to kiss the reunion train up to God, but all things considered, that's a damn good set of bands making comebacks. Now give me some new albums!!
Rage Against the Machine - Bulls on Parade
The Police - Roxanne
3. AmazonMP3
Finally someone has the balls to (seriously) take aim at the iTunes juggernaut. While it still has a ways to go to match iTunes, Amazon gave music listeners a lot of things that iTunes wasn't; good quality DRM free music from popular bands at a cheap price. The store itself is still a bit clunky and lacks the ease of use that iTunes users enjoy, but they've got the one-up in that they have the rights to the likes of Radiohead and deal exclusively in MP3s. iTunes is far from dead, but at least now there's another fish in the pond
Snow Patrol - You're All I Have (the first song I downloaded in Amazon's MP3 store)
2. Radiohead releases In Rainbows themselves, allow fans to name price
This proved to be the ultimate "Fuck You" to the record industry this year. While bloggers and journalists were wondering what to expect from Radiohead, the band was quietly putting together this little bombshell. The move was inspired; people who wanted the music decided just how badly they wanted it and no major label could touch it. It was ingenious and a move that's already being copied by other bands. The only downside is that the music itself was decidedly sub-par, and the band later admitted the self-release acted as a promotional device so people would buy the CD. Given my lack of interest in the music, I would say it backfired. But either way, any band that sticks it that hard and that fast deserves some kudos.
1. Year Zero Viral Marketing/ARG
Leave it to Trent Reznor to create the ultimate musical reality experience. Nine Inch Nails had fans foaming at the mouth for 3 months while Reznor let slip USB sticks in bathrooms at concerts, created fake forums to establish the world of the album...hell, he even went as far as to set up fake hotlines where people could call in "suspicious figures" and the like. With a concept album like Year Zero, it's essential to get a sense of what they're getting across. The Marketing campaign did exactly that, and wound up inspiring the entire entertainment industry to find new ways to market material (see also: The Dark Knight, Cloverfield). Forget about making the music sound different; make the whole experience different, make me believe what I'm hearing.
Nine Inch Nails - Survivalism
Back again this week with more 2007 madness.
==TJ==
10. New Guns N' Roses tracks leak; proof Chinese Democracy was at some point being recorded
Ah, how could anyone forget how we all (OK, maybe it was just me) waited with bated breath for March 6th to roll around when Axl Rose announced said date as the release for the eternally anticipated Chinese Democracy album. Of course once again we/I was left hanging, but we got a few unmastered tracks from the album as consolation. Granted, only one of these was worth hearing, but it was still proof that maybe, just maybe, it* could happen.
Guns N' Roses - Better
*By "it", I actually mean democracy in China, not Chinese Democracy. Come on now, what kind of fool do I look like?
9. Radio 104.5 brings the rock back to Philly
For anyone reading outside of the greater Philadelphia area, this means almost nothing. But just know that prior to this past February, Philly was without a decent alt. rock station for just over 2 years after the demise of Y100. 104.5 (WRFF-FM) filled that hole, and Philly radio is a better place for it.
Finger Eleven - Paralyzer (Live on Radio 104.5)
8. "The Battle of Sept. 11"
It's refreshing to hear rappers talk about duels and fighting that don't involve guns. 50 Cent and Kanye West had plenty of hype, hoopla, and excitement building up to the simultaneous release of their new albums, Curtis and Graduation, respectively. 50 promised to retire from the business if Kanye sold more albums in the first week, only to then cry foul when his CD got stomped on in the charts. But in the end, when two music greats go head-to-head in the name of getting music to the fans, doesn't everybody win?
Well, except for those fools who bought Curtis. Sucks to be them.
Kanye West - Stronger
7. Guitar Hero III/Rock Band
As a college student and music lover, I feel that my life is somehow more fulfilled as a result of these games. I have yet to play Rock Band, but cannot wait to get behind the electronic drum set and go Keith Moon-style on "Learn to Fly". The rest of the track listing is damned impressive, almost better than GHIII. Speaking of which, I have played, and am thoroughly awed. As much as the wireless controllers made me nuts (stupid lag...), the gameplay is as good as ever, and the songs are classic. Words don't describe how excited I was to blast through "Paint It, Black" and "Even Flow". This year I have 2 more reasons to upgrade to an Xbox 360.
Foo Fighters - Learn to Fly
Pearl Jam - Even Flow
6. Movies + Movies = Good times for all
2007 saw a blend between music and film that hadn't been particularly strong of late. Between the biopics for Bob Dylan (I'm Not There) and Joy Division (Control), the fictional projects August Rush and Into the Wild (not actually dealing with music, but scored by the amazing Eddie Vedder), and Across the Universe, the Beatles tribute in a class all its own, moviegoers saw and heard one hell of a good experience this year. And that's all excluding the tradtional musicals (Hairspray and next month's Sweeney Todd).
The Killers - Shadowplay
Across the Universe Soundtrack - Hey Jude
5. John, Paul, George and Ringo go digital; Beatles to follow in '08?
So all of the solo work from the Beatles became available for digital download across 2007, most notably when Paul McCartney tied his new album's release to the launch of the iTunes DRM-free store. Lennon's solo catalog followed, and a few weeks ago McCartney said that the Beatles catalog could go digital by early 2008. If this happens, it will leave only Kid Rock in the stone age of major label acts without a good reason to have their music available online. I see no problem with this.
4. Year of the Reunions
2007 seemed to be the year for bands to kiss and make up, with The Police, Rage Against the Machine, Genesis, and Led Zeppelin all reuniting in some form or other for tours and/or new albums. Now that second-rate bands like Extreme are feeling the need to join the party, I think it's time to kiss the reunion train up to God, but all things considered, that's a damn good set of bands making comebacks. Now give me some new albums!!
Rage Against the Machine - Bulls on Parade
The Police - Roxanne
3. AmazonMP3
Finally someone has the balls to (seriously) take aim at the iTunes juggernaut. While it still has a ways to go to match iTunes, Amazon gave music listeners a lot of things that iTunes wasn't; good quality DRM free music from popular bands at a cheap price. The store itself is still a bit clunky and lacks the ease of use that iTunes users enjoy, but they've got the one-up in that they have the rights to the likes of Radiohead and deal exclusively in MP3s. iTunes is far from dead, but at least now there's another fish in the pond
Snow Patrol - You're All I Have (the first song I downloaded in Amazon's MP3 store)
2. Radiohead releases In Rainbows themselves, allow fans to name price
This proved to be the ultimate "Fuck You" to the record industry this year. While bloggers and journalists were wondering what to expect from Radiohead, the band was quietly putting together this little bombshell. The move was inspired; people who wanted the music decided just how badly they wanted it and no major label could touch it. It was ingenious and a move that's already being copied by other bands. The only downside is that the music itself was decidedly sub-par, and the band later admitted the self-release acted as a promotional device so people would buy the CD. Given my lack of interest in the music, I would say it backfired. But either way, any band that sticks it that hard and that fast deserves some kudos.
1. Year Zero Viral Marketing/ARG
Leave it to Trent Reznor to create the ultimate musical reality experience. Nine Inch Nails had fans foaming at the mouth for 3 months while Reznor let slip USB sticks in bathrooms at concerts, created fake forums to establish the world of the album...hell, he even went as far as to set up fake hotlines where people could call in "suspicious figures" and the like. With a concept album like Year Zero, it's essential to get a sense of what they're getting across. The Marketing campaign did exactly that, and wound up inspiring the entire entertainment industry to find new ways to market material (see also: The Dark Knight, Cloverfield). Forget about making the music sound different; make the whole experience different, make me believe what I'm hearing.
Nine Inch Nails - Survivalism
Back again this week with more 2007 madness.
==TJ==
Sunday, December 2, 2007
10 things I DON'T Want to Hear in 2008
I'm going to devote most of December's entries to looking back on the year and some looking forward to next year. The easiest way to do this would be in a series of lists and the like. Some of these will be in a particular order, others notsomuch. What follows is the latter:
As great as some of the music in 2007 was, there were some awful stinkers too. I didn't realize this until I went to a dance this past weekend that seemed to have a small army of such songs. Some of these songs were decent for about 10 minutes, others begged for death on impact. Here's a small sampling of songs I sincerely hope fade into oblivion by year's end:
Britney Spears - Gimme More
The whole "It's Britney, Bitch" thing was funny for a good length of time, for no other reason then it was unexpected. It's too bad the song itself sucked. All the production and guest vocals in the universe couldn't have saved this piece of garbage. Every time this song comes on my friend Alex enjoys pointing out that the chorus sounds like it was spliced out of a deathmetal song (this is most notable whenever she sings the word "More") By all accounts the Britney Spears "comeback" was a disgrace to the music world, and if there's any mercy in this world it, like her, will fade into nothingness next year.
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em - Crank That (Soulja Boy)
Easily one of the most annoying things to come out of 2007. For starters rap songs with dance moves built in went out of style like 3 years ago, and for bonus suckage, when half of the people listening can't figure out what said dance is, you've got pure crap on their hands. Luckily this song is only half a notch better than the onslaught of "ringtone rap" that plagued us all this year (More on THAT later), so odds of this song going into the archives as a classic are slim to none.
Nickelback - Rockstar
As it is Nickelback is only tolerable in the smallest of doses before you want to throw something at your radio. This song has to crack into the upper echelons of Unintentional Comedy, whatwith the utterly ridiculous backing vocals that sound better in a porno than they do in a song like this. For added fun, despite my high tolerance for Nickelback, I certainly don't need to hear about Chad Kroeger's plans to get laid and piss away the money he claims to not have. Leave the tongue-in-cheek to Fall Out Boy, guys, and go back to crying over spilt milk.
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
OK, now follow me on this one before you go apeshit. I love this song as much as any other cultured music fan. But 2007 saw this track get played more than usual. Between it suddenly becoming fair game at every dance, everyone and their brother's ringtone, that absurd mashup with "Promiscuous", and it's appearance on The Sopranos finale. We need to remember this song came out 25 years ago, and most of its contemporaries are ridiculed these days. Thus I call for "Don't Stop Believin'" to go on a one-year moratorium, so come 2009 we can truly appreciate its greatness once more.
Any song containing the words "Featuring T-Pain" in the title
As much as I love when two artists collaborate, it's getting out of hand. There have been more tracks featuring T-Pain to become hits than T-Pain has had himself. Some of these are actually pretty good (See: "Kiss Kiss" by Chris Brown"). Others are positively insufferable ("Cyclone") or just annoying ("Low"). If this trend keeps up, I'm going to personally start an investigation into whether or not T-Pain is the Devil and helping artists get hits in exchange for their souls. I'm not kidding, it's possible.
Three Days Grace - Never Too Late
Yawn. This one track pretty much sums up the whole angst-rock genre to such a degree that it might be time to call time of death on it. Give me something new, or get off the stage.
Shop Boyz - "Party Like A Rock Star"
This song embodies the biggest problem the music world faces; ringtone rap. Ringtone rap has no soul. There's no message behind it, and the lyrics are secondary, at best. All that matters here is an infectiously catchy hook and a sound that sounds good through the crappy speakers of a cell phone. It gives the likes of Kanye West a bad name. Not unlike the bubblegum pop of the '60s, there's nothing behind this except the desire to make a buck. It needs to go away. Now.
The Cast of "High School Musical"
Except Zac Efron. I'll let him stay, since he might actually have a career ahead of him. The rest of you...no...oh, God, please.....no.
American Idol Contestants not named Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, and Chris Daughtry
Those four are the only ones to prove they have any legitimacy in the real world (looking at you, Taylor Hicks). Unless something drastic happens, the rest need to just fade away. And having said that, Bo Bice is on notice; this had BETTER be good.
Bono and/or Tom DeLonge doing anything that isn't singing
Enough with the preaching, now give me some good music dammit!
OK that's all for now. Back later this week.
==TJ==
As great as some of the music in 2007 was, there were some awful stinkers too. I didn't realize this until I went to a dance this past weekend that seemed to have a small army of such songs. Some of these songs were decent for about 10 minutes, others begged for death on impact. Here's a small sampling of songs I sincerely hope fade into oblivion by year's end:
Britney Spears - Gimme More
The whole "It's Britney, Bitch" thing was funny for a good length of time, for no other reason then it was unexpected. It's too bad the song itself sucked. All the production and guest vocals in the universe couldn't have saved this piece of garbage. Every time this song comes on my friend Alex enjoys pointing out that the chorus sounds like it was spliced out of a deathmetal song (this is most notable whenever she sings the word "More") By all accounts the Britney Spears "comeback" was a disgrace to the music world, and if there's any mercy in this world it, like her, will fade into nothingness next year.
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em - Crank That (Soulja Boy)
Easily one of the most annoying things to come out of 2007. For starters rap songs with dance moves built in went out of style like 3 years ago, and for bonus suckage, when half of the people listening can't figure out what said dance is, you've got pure crap on their hands. Luckily this song is only half a notch better than the onslaught of "ringtone rap" that plagued us all this year (More on THAT later), so odds of this song going into the archives as a classic are slim to none.
Nickelback - Rockstar
As it is Nickelback is only tolerable in the smallest of doses before you want to throw something at your radio. This song has to crack into the upper echelons of Unintentional Comedy, whatwith the utterly ridiculous backing vocals that sound better in a porno than they do in a song like this. For added fun, despite my high tolerance for Nickelback, I certainly don't need to hear about Chad Kroeger's plans to get laid and piss away the money he claims to not have. Leave the tongue-in-cheek to Fall Out Boy, guys, and go back to crying over spilt milk.
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
OK, now follow me on this one before you go apeshit. I love this song as much as any other cultured music fan. But 2007 saw this track get played more than usual. Between it suddenly becoming fair game at every dance, everyone and their brother's ringtone, that absurd mashup with "Promiscuous", and it's appearance on The Sopranos finale. We need to remember this song came out 25 years ago, and most of its contemporaries are ridiculed these days. Thus I call for "Don't Stop Believin'" to go on a one-year moratorium, so come 2009 we can truly appreciate its greatness once more.
Any song containing the words "Featuring T-Pain" in the title
As much as I love when two artists collaborate, it's getting out of hand. There have been more tracks featuring T-Pain to become hits than T-Pain has had himself. Some of these are actually pretty good (See: "Kiss Kiss" by Chris Brown"). Others are positively insufferable ("Cyclone") or just annoying ("Low"). If this trend keeps up, I'm going to personally start an investigation into whether or not T-Pain is the Devil and helping artists get hits in exchange for their souls. I'm not kidding, it's possible.
Three Days Grace - Never Too Late
Yawn. This one track pretty much sums up the whole angst-rock genre to such a degree that it might be time to call time of death on it. Give me something new, or get off the stage.
Shop Boyz - "Party Like A Rock Star"
This song embodies the biggest problem the music world faces; ringtone rap. Ringtone rap has no soul. There's no message behind it, and the lyrics are secondary, at best. All that matters here is an infectiously catchy hook and a sound that sounds good through the crappy speakers of a cell phone. It gives the likes of Kanye West a bad name. Not unlike the bubblegum pop of the '60s, there's nothing behind this except the desire to make a buck. It needs to go away. Now.
The Cast of "High School Musical"
Except Zac Efron. I'll let him stay, since he might actually have a career ahead of him. The rest of you...no...oh, God, please.....no.
American Idol Contestants not named Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, and Chris Daughtry
Those four are the only ones to prove they have any legitimacy in the real world (looking at you, Taylor Hicks). Unless something drastic happens, the rest need to just fade away. And having said that, Bo Bice is on notice; this had BETTER be good.
Bono and/or Tom DeLonge doing anything that isn't singing
Enough with the preaching, now give me some good music dammit!
OK that's all for now. Back later this week.
==TJ==
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