Re-posted with streams instead of links
In theater we describe musicals as being scenarios where the stakes get so high that characters can't express themselves through words anymore; they feel so strongly about the given situation that they have to sing. That same idea is what drives Kanye West's new album, the remarkably divisive 808's & Heartbreak. Released less than a year after the death of West's mother and breaking up with his fiancee, 808's presents a drastically different side of the self-proclaimed voice of this generation. While purist rap fans will scoff at West's turn toward unfiltered emotion and honesty, those willing to let Kanye pour his soul out on his terms (and really, after the hits he's given us, don't we owe him that much?) will find an arresting, albeit flawed listen.
808's and Heartbreak features none of the ego and spectacle that's made Kanye West a household name. The album opens with West letting his barriers down to show that he's really hurting on "Say You Will". Between the warbling "hey, hey, hey, hey"s and the admissions that he misses the mystery girl, it's hard to suggest the hurt is anything but genuine. On the first single "Love Lockdown" 'Ye switches gears and becomes the one dealing out the hurt, declaring "Where I want to go / I don't need you". "Paranoid" and "Heartless" are the two songs closest in style to the West of old, with bouncy choruses and a touch of self-confidence, while "Amazing" lets Kanye's ego out for a little sun, while letting Kanye get to work his pipes (and Auto-Tune). The heart-wrenching closer "Coldest Winter" brings the record full circle, offering an emotionally charged tribute to Kanye's mother. Across the board 808's and Heartbreak is an honest record, immortalizing West's feelings in a style far different than anything we've heard from the man before now.
Kanye's feelings and passion are palpable throughout every track, and for the most part that carries this record a long way. Moments where other artists would sound cringe-inducingly bad are forgiven here because it's accepted that Kanye must be really commited to a song if he's willing to sing rather than rap it. That said, West is still a rapper first and foremost, and he's not ready to make the jump completely on this record, which hurts the product in some spots. "Amazing" sounds like it belongs, but its message doesn't fit the theme of the rest of the album, and his collaboration with Lil' Wayne "See You In My Nightmares" feels forced into this album, not really belonging in any sense. I applaud Kanye for taking a sharp turn out of his comfort zone and being fully committed to that turn for the most part, but this is by no means a perfect album.
808's and Heartbreak will likely be remembered as Kanye letting off steam in the wake of an unimaginably difficult year. it's very much a product of what Kanye was feeling in this present moment, and I don't foresee West continuing this path on the next album. Having said that, Kanye West has taken a jump with his music that few artists in any genre dare make, and for that it's only fair to give Kanye massive amounts of credit for his effort.
Final Score: 6.5/10
Kanye West - Heartless
Kanye West - Street Lights
==TJ==
Showing posts with label Kanye West. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kanye West. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Re-Post: Kanye West Does Something Different, Artistically Interesting; Music Snobs Turn Up Noses
Reposted without mp3s this time
I have no idea what Kanye West's plan is with 808s and Heartbreak. Right now he's got "Love Lockdown" out on the radio and up on iTunes. But by the time that song hit iTunes and was available for sale, the blogs had it up for free for over a week. Now there are three songs making waves on Hype Machine; the aforementioned "Love Lockdown", "Heartless" (the mastered version of which hit the web last night), and most recently "Coldest Winter". Again, only one of them available for purchase. Even if "Heartless" were to drop to iTunes tomorrow, West has still lost out on so many potential sales there. Are we going to have heard all of 808s and Heartbreak in these little spurts between now and Nov. 25?
I've only heard "Coldest Winter" but once, and in a subpar radio rip quality, but so far I really like the direction West is taking. At its core nothing's really different. It's still hip-hop music that's gonna be heard in the clubs for forever. "Coldest Winter" is pure soul from Kanye; no rap, and a bare bones beat beneath West's warbly voice, assisted by any rapper's best friend, AutoTune. But even in the moments where it sounds like it might've come off a T-Pain album, there's something that sets it apart and draws it in. The subject matter of this record allows for it to be more melodic and honest than we've heard from 'Ye on the last two records (The College Dropout had some really powerful emotional moments in comparison). And once again, because a rapper is daring to step out of the genre-defined comfort zone, the internet is having a conniption. Yes, Kanye is actually singing on a number of these tracks. That's why they're called 'songs'. I think "Heartless" is the best track I've heard from Kanye West...and this is from someone who listened to "Stronger" a million times when it first came out. The bridge on "Heartless" is probably my favorite part of the song. It's completely the opposite of what we've come to expect, and yet if you stop and think about the song, about Kanye, and just keep an open mind (I know, I know...I'm speaking heresy here)...you might find something you like.
Kanye West - Love Lockdown [iTunes]
Kanye West - Heartless
(Holding out for a decent copy of "Coldest Winter"...at this rate check back later this week)
I have no idea what Kanye West's plan is with 808s and Heartbreak. Right now he's got "Love Lockdown" out on the radio and up on iTunes. But by the time that song hit iTunes and was available for sale, the blogs had it up for free for over a week. Now there are three songs making waves on Hype Machine; the aforementioned "Love Lockdown", "Heartless" (the mastered version of which hit the web last night), and most recently "Coldest Winter". Again, only one of them available for purchase. Even if "Heartless" were to drop to iTunes tomorrow, West has still lost out on so many potential sales there. Are we going to have heard all of 808s and Heartbreak in these little spurts between now and Nov. 25?
I've only heard "Coldest Winter" but once, and in a subpar radio rip quality, but so far I really like the direction West is taking. At its core nothing's really different. It's still hip-hop music that's gonna be heard in the clubs for forever. "Coldest Winter" is pure soul from Kanye; no rap, and a bare bones beat beneath West's warbly voice, assisted by any rapper's best friend, AutoTune. But even in the moments where it sounds like it might've come off a T-Pain album, there's something that sets it apart and draws it in. The subject matter of this record allows for it to be more melodic and honest than we've heard from 'Ye on the last two records (The College Dropout had some really powerful emotional moments in comparison). And once again, because a rapper is daring to step out of the genre-defined comfort zone, the internet is having a conniption. Yes, Kanye is actually singing on a number of these tracks. That's why they're called 'songs'. I think "Heartless" is the best track I've heard from Kanye West...and this is from someone who listened to "Stronger" a million times when it first came out. The bridge on "Heartless" is probably my favorite part of the song. It's completely the opposite of what we've come to expect, and yet if you stop and think about the song, about Kanye, and just keep an open mind (I know, I know...I'm speaking heresy here)...you might find something you like.
(Holding out for a decent copy of "Coldest Winter"...at this rate check back later this week)
Friday, October 17, 2008
Rambling Through The Cracks
I was originally going to post a very simple, quick musical ramblings to catch you up to speed, but then 2 posts this week got taken down (both are back up) which slowed the process down. As much as it tickles me to know that I'm drawing the ire of the RIAA's copyright trolls, the whole mess gets a bit frustrating when there's stuff to be done. So instead this post is part ramblings, part stuff that fell through the cracks.
I started re-reading Watchmen late last week. I started reading it sometime freshman year (well before the movie trailer came out) and didn't get through it, but am now about 3/4 finished. If this gets put to film anywhere near as well as it was put to the page, it's gonna be fantastic.
Smashing Pumpkins - The Beginning Is The End Is The Beginning [iTunes]
(Song in the Watchmen trailer)
Smashing Pumpkins - The End Is The Beginning Is The End [iTunes]
(Alternate version of the above song)
Two rappers on opposite ends of the spectrum both debuted new material yesterday. Kanye West unveiled an unmastered version of his next single from 808s and Heartbreak "Heartless". The track is much more in keeping with what we're used to from Kanye, but not altogether boring. I like the fact that this album seems to be keeping true to hip-hop, while branching out into old-school R&B and soul. Props to Kanye for keeping it real.
Kanye West - Heartless (Unmastered)
Also coming out of hiding is one Marshall Mathers, alias Slim Shady, alias Eminem. After going into hiding since 2005's Curtain Call, Em is back in the studio recording new music. The first evidence that a new album is imminent came yesterday with "I'm Having A Relapse", a quick, largely unimpressive new song that I think does little more than remind people that Eminem is not, in fact, dead. No exact release date is set, but if 50 Cent is to be believed (he isn't usually, but it's fun to pretend sometimes), it could see the light of day in the coming weeks.
Eminem - I'm Having A Relapse
Speaking of the coming weeks, Best Buy has posted the tracklisting for the most anticipated exclusive in recent memory, Guns N Roses' Chinese Democracy. On an inactive preorder page, the 14 track setlist appeared, and showed us that the tracks that have been pirated around for the last year are legit, and that there are 3 songs that have never been heard by anyone on the web. Billboard has the tracklisting here. Chinese Democracy is set to drop in your local Best Buy on November 25th. Anybody know of a Best Buy doing a midnight release party?
(I'm only half-kidding there)
Two days have passed since my last Album-A-Day entry, so that means I've heard two full albums.
Wednesday: Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
Thursday: Dean Gray - American Edit (2008 Re-issue)
Today: Haven't decided yet...will return when I have listened to it.
For those unfamiliar with the latter, its the mixtape project from whence the oft-traded "Boulevard of Broken Songs" originates. Highly recommended by VLM, which says something given my ambivalence toward mashups and remixes. The album is available by way of any torrent site worth its salt. Go forth, young pirates, and claim your bounty!
I've been fussing around with the iTunes Genius function, and I was right that the more music you have the better a playlist you get. Good for my ears, bad for my medieval computer. Anyway, my travels through the Genius list have a number of times landed me this song.
Slipknot - Before I Forget [iTunes]
This song is the biggest piece of evidence I have that Stone Sour did the rest of the band good. It's also the first proof I have that Slipknot is capable of producing a melody.
OK that shall be all. Back later today with my daily album and whatever else happens.
==TJ==
I started re-reading Watchmen late last week. I started reading it sometime freshman year (well before the movie trailer came out) and didn't get through it, but am now about 3/4 finished. If this gets put to film anywhere near as well as it was put to the page, it's gonna be fantastic.
Smashing Pumpkins - The Beginning Is The End Is The Beginning [iTunes]
(Song in the Watchmen trailer)
Smashing Pumpkins - The End Is The Beginning Is The End [iTunes]
(Alternate version of the above song)
Two rappers on opposite ends of the spectrum both debuted new material yesterday. Kanye West unveiled an unmastered version of his next single from 808s and Heartbreak "Heartless". The track is much more in keeping with what we're used to from Kanye, but not altogether boring. I like the fact that this album seems to be keeping true to hip-hop, while branching out into old-school R&B and soul. Props to Kanye for keeping it real.
Kanye West - Heartless (Unmastered)
Also coming out of hiding is one Marshall Mathers, alias Slim Shady, alias Eminem. After going into hiding since 2005's Curtain Call, Em is back in the studio recording new music. The first evidence that a new album is imminent came yesterday with "I'm Having A Relapse", a quick, largely unimpressive new song that I think does little more than remind people that Eminem is not, in fact, dead. No exact release date is set, but if 50 Cent is to be believed (he isn't usually, but it's fun to pretend sometimes), it could see the light of day in the coming weeks.
Eminem - I'm Having A Relapse
Speaking of the coming weeks, Best Buy has posted the tracklisting for the most anticipated exclusive in recent memory, Guns N Roses' Chinese Democracy. On an inactive preorder page, the 14 track setlist appeared, and showed us that the tracks that have been pirated around for the last year are legit, and that there are 3 songs that have never been heard by anyone on the web. Billboard has the tracklisting here. Chinese Democracy is set to drop in your local Best Buy on November 25th. Anybody know of a Best Buy doing a midnight release party?
(I'm only half-kidding there)
Two days have passed since my last Album-A-Day entry, so that means I've heard two full albums.
Wednesday: Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
Thursday: Dean Gray - American Edit (2008 Re-issue)
Today: Haven't decided yet...will return when I have listened to it.
For those unfamiliar with the latter, its the mixtape project from whence the oft-traded "Boulevard of Broken Songs" originates. Highly recommended by VLM, which says something given my ambivalence toward mashups and remixes. The album is available by way of any torrent site worth its salt. Go forth, young pirates, and claim your bounty!
I've been fussing around with the iTunes Genius function, and I was right that the more music you have the better a playlist you get. Good for my ears, bad for my medieval computer. Anyway, my travels through the Genius list have a number of times landed me this song.
Slipknot - Before I Forget [iTunes]
This song is the biggest piece of evidence I have that Stone Sour did the rest of the band good. It's also the first proof I have that Slipknot is capable of producing a melody.
OK that shall be all. Back later today with my daily album and whatever else happens.
==TJ==
Friday, September 26, 2008
Time to Play Catch-Up
So this whole MOG thing is beginning to take shape. Those of you who saw the banner ad yesterday will soon see an ad that actually fits on the site and isn't cut off. Likewise you should also now see the RSS feed off in the sidebar. This is a bit of an experiment for VLM, and your feedback is certainly appreciated. Bear with the site as it gets used to the new stuff.
Meanwhile, it took less than a week for Kanye West's new track to undergo countless remixes, and it all culminates in the obligatory cover. In perhaps a year-late thank-you for the "This Ain't A Scene..." remix, Fall Out Boy's Pat Stump has placed his vocals on "Love Lockdown", and surprisingly enough its pretty damn good. It could use a little harmony to take the edge off (guess Pete Wentz was busy that day), but it's a worthy homage to a track we'll all be hearing a million times a day for the next few weeks.
Pat Stump - Love Lockdown (Kanye West Cover)
Kanye West - Love Lockdown [iTunes]
Fall Out Boy - This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race (Kanye West Remix) [iTunes]
'Ye also announced that 808s and Heartbreak was now set to drop "November something", effectively killing the already dead Kanye v. 50 part deux subplot that would have existed had the original December release date stuck.
That's it for now. Expect tons more in the next few hours, I've got a lot to catch up on.
==TJ==
Meanwhile, it took less than a week for Kanye West's new track to undergo countless remixes, and it all culminates in the obligatory cover. In perhaps a year-late thank-you for the "This Ain't A Scene..." remix, Fall Out Boy's Pat Stump has placed his vocals on "Love Lockdown", and surprisingly enough its pretty damn good. It could use a little harmony to take the edge off (guess Pete Wentz was busy that day), but it's a worthy homage to a track we'll all be hearing a million times a day for the next few weeks.
Pat Stump - Love Lockdown (Kanye West Cover)
Kanye West - Love Lockdown [iTunes]
Fall Out Boy - This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race (Kanye West Remix) [iTunes]
'Ye also announced that 808s and Heartbreak was now set to drop "November something", effectively killing the already dead Kanye v. 50 part deux subplot that would have existed had the original December release date stuck.
That's it for now. Expect tons more in the next few hours, I've got a lot to catch up on.
==TJ==
Saturday, February 16, 2008
It's Time for your Weekend WTF?!?!
Introducing a new weekly(ish) feature on Viva La Mainstream!, entitled Weekend WTF?!?! It's where I post and/or discuss a song that is pretty well described as What The F#(&. Some posts might actually have meaning, others will just be something ridiculous.
I know I posted this back in the spring when this first came out, but it's so cool it needs to be re-posted. Sometime in mid-2007, after Fall Out Boy released Infinity On High, but before Kanye released Graduation, a group of DJs put together a mixtape of mashups, blends and remixes between Kanye and FOB. The results were fairly mixed, but the highlight was the mashup of "Dance Dance" and "Golddigger". I love it, and I think you'd be hard pressed to not do the same.
Kanye West and Fall Out Boy - I Don't Care I Still Love Her
==TJ==
Currently Listening: Good Charlotte - I Don't Wanna Be In Love (Dance Floor Anthem) [iTunes]
(why...why do I like this song??)
I know I posted this back in the spring when this first came out, but it's so cool it needs to be re-posted. Sometime in mid-2007, after Fall Out Boy released Infinity On High, but before Kanye released Graduation, a group of DJs put together a mixtape of mashups, blends and remixes between Kanye and FOB. The results were fairly mixed, but the highlight was the mashup of "Dance Dance" and "Golddigger". I love it, and I think you'd be hard pressed to not do the same.
Kanye West and Fall Out Boy - I Don't Care I Still Love Her
==TJ==
Currently Listening: Good Charlotte - I Don't Wanna Be In Love (Dance Floor Anthem) [iTunes]
(why...why do I like this song??)
Sunday, February 10, 2008
2008 Grammys Diary: What is Box Happening??
About to turn on the TV for the Grammy pregame stuff before kicking it to the actual event. I didn't watch last year, mostly cause I thought all the nominees were crap, except for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who got shut out. Not really sure if I can predict anything in this year's set, but I know who I like, and I know who I'll spit blood at if they win (Looking at you, Feist and Amy Winehouse). And with that, I've got enough snacks to induce a heart attack, my roommate Sean is here to assist, there's no work to be done for the next several hours...I think it's time we get started.
7:27: turn on CBS to find...Katie Couric interviewing Hillary Clinton. Well that sucks. Sean proceeds to see if we get E! on campus...only to get distracted by some garbage on NBC.
7:30: just scrambled through the channels and went digging for a channel listing, and from the looks of it, we don't get E! at Arcadia...so odds of pregame are looking kinda slim. That's a pain in the ass. Be back when the show itself starts.
7:35: Bingo. CBS is streaming some live stuff on their website...this might get hairy, but let's give it a shot. Kevin Frazier and some nameless girl are talking about the postgame parties and something that Akon will be doing afterward. that might or might not involve fighting.
7:37: Interviewing Taylor Swift now, nominated for Best New Artist. And apparently she's only 18, so I don't need to worry about the fact that I don't care about who she is. But she just said she likes the Foo Fighters and Kanye...might need to download a track a bit later.
7:39: Stream just went dark. F***ing internet...
7:40: Stream comes back in time for commericals. Just as well, the red carpet folks seem worse than average, and the odds of an interview with someone decent doesn't look too good, given that we're 19 minutes out.
7:41: CBS scored the rights to Dexter apparently, and for some reason it looks like they're gonna try to tie it in to CSI. Don't ask me, I just like the music.
7:42: Obligatory montage of people including John Legend, Christina Aguilera (I think), and for some reason our lovely people feel as though Evander Holyfield is worth talking to. But before he can talk to, our other set of interviewers interject 'cause they've got Seal...and the stream goes dead. Comes back, and Seal's being a glorified ad for who's performing. Rumor has it that Michael Jackson is in attendance...perhaps a performance? Do we really want this to happen?
7:45: Seal talking about wife Heidi Klum and her singing and a battle with laryngitis (as if anyone watching gives a damn about how she sings). Stream dies.
7:46: Sean and I talk about the rumored Michael Jackson performance. We also note that neither of us have seen him perform during our lifetime. Neither of us know if this is a good or bad thing.
Sean: "I guess that's the one good thing about Britney Spears being in the news all the time; Michael Jackson's out of it"
7:50: The Mayor of LA just talked to one of the guys, just in time to drop a few names and close out the pregame show. Stream's being funky...and the last thing we get is the signoff. Guess I'll be back in 10 when the show starts for real.
The good news is now I'm not bouncing between two Firefox windows to try to see what's happening. CBS remains intent on showing the tail end of 60 Minutes, since Mickey Rooney probably has something to rant about that the world must hear, I guess.
7:53: turning around so I can see the action for real. Grammy commercial just aired. When did we name him "The Sensational Kanye West"??
7:55: Mickey Rooney is in a sports store buying Giants and/or Pats gear (the tape was recorded before the Super Bowl). THIS is what they're not giving me Grammy pregame for...wow...
7:56: Apparently Rooney went to the game too...but dammit if he didn't look bored as all hell. His closing thought? The Patriots should say they're from Boston. Truly Pulitzer-worthy journalism once again.
7:58: Back to back ads for CSI:Miami and New York...can we get a trifecta?
Nope. Without a Trace instead. If you didn't guess, I'm watching CBS right now.
7:59: During the credits for 60 Minutes they show an ad for Jericho. If you never watched the show, go rent the 1st season...it's incredible. So happy that it got renewed for 7 more episodes. Beats the cliffhanger the show was supposed to end on.
As I go back and fix a typo let me preface the rest of this diary by saying I'm not looking at the screen (I have a desktop so I can't see that and the TV...sue me). So please forgive any screwups, I'm trying to keep things clean though.
8:02: We have a start. How should the 50th Grammy Awards start? The same way every award show starts: a montage of previous Grammy moments. Or maybe just one clip and in comes Alicia Keys singing with a old video of Frank Sinatra. Don't know how I feel about this. We have one of our nominees singing with a video of a legend?
8:04: Keys is singing with the old video of Sinatra, but there's a full orchestra playing live. WTF??!! What kind of a slap in the face is this to the legendary musicians who are still alive??
8:06: A pan across the crowd shows us Patton Oswalt (according to Sean) and Yoko Ono. Alicia Keys welcomes us with another obligatory speech about how wonderful everything is. "We look forward towards the future...Here's to another 50 years". The RIAA just spit blood a little bit.
8:08: Carrie Underwood gets things started with a Stomp influenced version "Before He Cheats". Game on! Sean scoffs, but I'm sold. Not a huge fan of Underwood...but it's friggin' STOMP!!!
8:10: Sean still not a fan, but he likes the Stomp. Keep in mind Sean is an indie fanatic. Underwood herself is a bit static right now given what's happening behind her, but it's a network awards show, what can you expect?
8:11: "Before He Cheats" goes into its final bars...and we have the first performance of the night worth bootlegging.
8:11: Apparently they already named some of these awards as Prince is announced as a winner. He announces the Female R&B nominees. No song is particularly impressive to me, but I can't stand "No One".
8:12: But of course it wins. Not before Prince makes a failed attempt at a joke. AS Keys thanks God, Sean decides to keep tabs on thanks to "the G-Man". Yup...gonna be a good diary tonight. Keys thanks the radio DJs...there's hope for me yet in 20 years...
8:14: They appear to be showing some predetermined awards while they plug some of the upcoming performances, but the TV is too far away and the font is garbage, so i have no idea what they're supposed to be.
8:17: when did it become socially OK to use Queen's "You're My Best Friend" to advertise something? Isn't that universally considered one of their lamest songs ever? It also says something when the song is in an ad for an electronic product (didn't see what).
8:18: Sean and I debate who's more annoying: Abagail Breslin (Definitely, Maybe) or Dakota Fanning. I say Fanning is the next Lindsay Lohan. Sean hopes she just fades into obscurity.
8:20: The Time just kicked into their reunion performance. No one below the age of 30 cares, unless they REALLY like Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. It's one thing for a band from the 80s to reunite, but its different like they're still there.
8:21: The Time get interrupted by Rihanna, doing a disco twinged version of "Umbrella". Wow...this is not OK. And oh look, the girls had umbrellas!!! Ain't that cute?
8:22: Rihanna looks like Prince. Just sayin'...
I think the guy from Step Up was just dancing with Rihanna during her least impressive single yet? Correction: there were 2 of said guy...and we're back to the Time. Was that a segue or what?
8:25: There must be some rule that says Tom Hanks MUST be at every awards ceremony EVER. Unless I'm forgetting about some great album Hanks recorded. Oh yeah, and he's talking about The Band winning a Lifetime Acheivement Award. This would mean more if they weren't given out like they were going out of style. Hell, they don't even get a chance to be on stage. And now Hank is intro'ing the Beatles tribute as the camera goes in on Ringo, Yoko and two others. Tom Hanks is now reaching epic levels of excitement.
8:29: Cirque Du Soleil is doing their piece of "A Day in the Life" from LOVE. And I'm all out of LSD. Damn!
Full disclosure: I've never been a big fan of Cirque du Soleil...and this just looks like a deleted scene from Across the Universe. Meanwhile Sean and I debate which Beatle will die next (I say Paul), and who was the best.
8:33: The Across the Universe version of "Let it Be" is next up. Actually the original performers from the movie. I yell at Sean for not seeing the movie. As much as I skip this track on the CD, I like it anytime I see it. The song doesn't work as well when it's just heard, methinks. I'm still bummed that they couldn't get Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood to do "All You Need Is Love", but I'll live. Probably not eh worst performance of the night, but not actively memorable.
8:36: We consider Miley Cyrus a legitimate artist now? This physically hurts me a bit. The Best New Artist award is up next. GO PARAMORE!!!
8:37: AMY WINEHOUSE??!! WHAT??!! Of course she can't accept the award, she's too busy stoned and couldn't get a visa!!! ROBBED!!!
Meanwhile Sean is too busy wondering about Cyndi Lauper's accent. I'm inexplicably pissed now. 0 for 2 on my picks now. Curses. He redeems himself by being equally pissed about Winehouse's win, but he was rooting for Feist.
8:39: Jason Bateman was talking about the My Grammy Moment with the Foos during that rant. Dear Dave Grohl, why did you let your band sign up for this terrible idea? Bad ideas all over the place...but Jason Bateman has been the funniest thing of the night so far.
8:41: Commercial break means its time for popcorn. Back in a bit.
8:46: Back with popcorn, and still pissed about the Winehouse win. Do we have odds on her sobriety during her performance?
8:47: Daft Punk and Kanye performing "Stronger" now. Say what you will about Kanye and his attitude, but his music is damned peerless. I remember when I first liked Kanye; First Grammys performance of "Jesus Walks".
Kanye West - Jesus Walks [iTunes]
Kanye West - Stronger [iTunes]
West looks like he just came out of Tron, and I'm pretty sure he was doing the robot earlier. Either way, he's the second best performance of the night (I'm still loving the Carrie Underwood piece).
8:50: I think West has established that "this is what we been waitin' for" as Daft Punk finally get their due for being in the background of this song. The glow-in-the-dark bit gets old just as the song ends, thankfully. West segues into "Hey Mama", appropriate given his mother's passing.
8:53: Say what you will about West's ego, but he's pushing back tears right now...different side of Kanye and I love it. He might not win a Grammy tonight, but people'll still remember him tomorrow.
8:55: Most emotionally charged song gets followed up with...
Fergie. Correction: 3-Time Grammy Winner Fergie...with John Legend. I'm trying to like this song since I'm OK with John Legend, but my dislike for Fergie is prevailing.
Sean: "I'm half-expecting them to turn this into a remix of 'My Humps'"
8:58: LOVE wins the Best Soundtrack Category. I was pulling for Across the Universe, but this was the compilation prize since now Ringo gets stagetime.
9:00: Not liking the way they're showing pre-announced winners...too hard to seem, and thus too hard for me to make fun of. I just know Carrie Underwood won something for "Before He Cheats"
9:01: Sean goes looking online for Amy Winehouse fan groups, since neither of us know of anyone who likes her. Too bad we can't check sobriety over the internet. Apparently the only thing he found is a blog with two posts, last updated September. Once again, the Grammys show they have their finger on the pulse of the music world.
Just had a flashback to an old episode of Sports Night where one of the two leads admits to liking the Starlight Vocal Band, who were Best New Artist in the day. Clearly nothing has changed.
9:06: Dear Cher, just because we make fun of your age, doesn't mean its cool for you too. Love, society.
Meanwhile Beyonce doesn't look like she every changed out of her outfit from her Sports Illustrated covershoot as she drops names of 60s female soul artists to intro Tina Turner.
9:08: Sean: "I didn't realize I turned on WJJZ (local jazz station). The sadder part? I know all the words to ["What's Love Got To Do With It?]"
9:11: Beyonce and Tina Turner are gearing up to do "Proud Mary". I'm pretending to not hear this. In my mind, only one band did that song.: CCR.
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Proud Mary [iTunes]
9:13: This is hurting. Why are we letting young artists do songs from 30 years ago? I would much rather see these two "Irreplaceable". And I'm not a huge fan of that one either. Points for performance value, but B- on the song choice.
9:16: Song of the Year getting named now. Rooting for "Hey There Delilah" but odds aren't looking good.
9:17: DAMMIT!!! SON OF A BITCH!!! "Rehab" again!!??
9:18: It's official: Amy Winehouse will herein be known as Amy Cokewhore. I think it works.
9:22: A couple things can save this night: one is if the Foos wreck shop. and one is if Cokewhore performs beyond wasted.
9:23: The "cute Asian" (Sean's words) win the top slot playing with the Foo. And now the Foo play which means I stop typing for 5 minutes.
9:29: Back, and now there are TWO performances to be bootlegged. Of course the Foo Fighters were incredible. Please don't ask me to pick between that and Underwood's bit. The orchestra was positively epic, and that was the best Foo live performance I've ever seen. And according to Jason Bateman, the Foo already had one win tonight. Jason Bateman has definitely been the MVP of the night so far.
9:34: What goes on in Will Ferrell's mind that leads him to think that a movie like Semi-Pro is a good idea? Can we remove that part of his brain? Please?
9:35: George Lopez opens up his bit with.....racist comedy. Lovely. And he introduces the country act. Yeah, there's logic in that.
Sean: "Hey look, another country rocker in a cowboy hat."
Another one I'm trying to enjoy, but I'm well past my country phase. And I'm pretty sure this song is likening sex to checking a girl for ticks. Only in country music, people...
9:39: Sean is curious whether checking for ticks is an effective pickup line.
Sean: "I think he's only into girls with pubic lice"
Segue to Chris Brown, Solange and Akon for Best Rap Album, and an obligatory joke about parents understanding.
9:41: Best Rap Album...Kanye West for Graduation. A nuclear disaster may have just been averted. Sean is criticizing the oversized sunglasses while West rambles on and argues with the conductor playing him off.
9:43: West just OWNED the conductor as he talks about his mom. Just when things coulda gotten ugly, it gets really good. 50 points to both Kanye AND the conductor for not making things worse.
9:45: As Aretha comes in there's a giant cross lit up. Mention number 2 for God tonight (Sean's keeping score). Not impressed with this number. Nice thought, not particularly memorable though.
9:51: Aretha again. This has gone on too long...
9:57: Celine Dion with a special on CBS. This needs to not happen. What's wrose is that she's with artists who are weak enough as it is. And somehow she thinks her covering these songs will make them good. Strike Two. Ugh.
10:00: 2 and a half hours of blogging, and Feist is on now. Sean's transfixed, and I'm ready for a power nap. Scratch that; Feist was with Broken Social Scene??!! Never listened to them, but suddenly I care just a bit more. Not enough to like her, but still. I think sales of Ambien might plummet after people hear this song.
10:02: Even Sean admits the Feist song was weak. I don't know who they just intro'd (someone who won one of the first Grammys)...but Kid Rock is now accompanying her. What kind of world are we living in when we let a supposed legend sing with Kid Rock? ANd he just called that little old lady sexy. Good God have we lost all good taste.
10:05: Best Rock Album up now. Rooting for Springsteen or the Foo.
10:06: Foo Fighters pick up another! YES! The night is not yet lost. With all due respect to Sean (rooting for Wilco...bleck), the Grammys make the first right call of the night. "The Pretender" won hard rock performance, so that's 2 for 5 right now. Game on.
Foo Fighters - The Pretender [iTunes]
10:08: They seem to think I'm excited for Cokewhore's performance. If I'm excited for anything, it's to see if she shoots up on stage! GAH!
10:11: Just had my first taste of the new Mary J Blige song via a car commercial. Bette than I remember her being in the past. Perhaps a download for later...
10:13: Let the record show that the new CBS Monday is AWESOME. not just awesome...AWESOME. Don't forget this people.
Sean on Stevie Wonder's appearance and subsequent applause: "They're cheering so he knows he's not in an empty room." Dude, you're SO going to hell.
10:15: Alicia Keys gets a second performance of the night so she can do "No One" on top of the intro. Favoritism much? At least she's dressed and sounding better than she did at the Super Bowl. Who knows, with another 30 million plays, this song might get good.
10:18: John Mayer comes in for a guitar solo and makes the song a keeper. Bootleg #3 of the night.
10:20: Why are Ringo and Dave Stewart intro'ing the Country category? Missing the logic here. Sean says they all sound the same.
Vince Gill wins it, but I (still) don't care. So far every AotY nominee has won their genre. This might get ugly later on...
10:23: The makers of Godzilla and The Day After Tomorrow present another film with decent CGI, unintentionally funny dialog, and plenty of potential to show up on channel 347 six months from now (this one's called 10,000 BC).
10:26: After seeing a Big Brother ad, I must ask: What the hell is a "Dirty Jersey"?
10:29: Obligatory break for "Rhapsody in Blue"
10:33: Sean informs me that Flight of the Conchords win a Grammy for comedy album (beat out Geroge Lopez, thank God), and Barack Obama wins for spoken word. Game on.
10:36: Best Rap song collab is up next...T-Pain in there twice, and whiffs as "Umbrella" takes it. Loving this bit of Rihanna speaking and Jay-Z translating. I think Jay-Z might be climbing the ranks on my list of most appreciated rap artists.
Rihanna - Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z) [iTunes]
10:43: Amy Cokewhore takes the stage via satellite. I can't tell if she's dancing or trying to stand up straight and failing.
10:47: She segues into "Rehab" and I'm still trying to find a reason to like her. I'm estimating her BAL at about .04. Much lower than I anticipated. She still screams like a tonedeaf banshee, but at least she wasn't high...sadly.
10:51: Tony Bennett and Natalie Cole are naming the Record of the Year after giving Doris Day a Lifetime Award. "The Pretender" is my favorite, but I'm hoping for NOT "Rehab".
10:52: And I fail. "Rehab" again. She's definitely slurring her words and grasping her mum while she thanks any number of people. Not looking good for Foo Fighters to win AotY now. It'd be best to keep all sources of fire and all small children away from me for the next few hours.
11:00: Head of the recording industry announces all the things they're working on, then offers a backhanded shot at music pirates, then offers up a kid who was apparently on the Grammys many years ago as a kid, now a nominee. I would have had a better description than that but my dad IMed me about something.
11:03: Annual montage of musicians who died. The guy from Boston died?? Bummer. Hate to say it, but he's the only guy I find myself caring much about. And no mentions of Casey Calvert or the guy from Quiet Riot...that's garbage.
11:07: I think the Josh Groban/Andrea Bocelli piece would work better if it were one or the other. Neither of them are bad, I just think they both work better solo. Sean agrees.
11:15: Grammy takes a turn for classic rock with Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and John Fogerty from CCR. As much as I like the sound, I can't understand a word Fogerty is saying. Jerry Lee Lewis doesn't look like he can move anything except his jaw and his fingers. The energy in this performance is falling everytime I see Lewis.
11:20: Enter Little Richard, who looks the same now as he did 15 years ago. A little bit more energy from Richard, but Fogerty is stealing the show right now.
11:26: My friend Sam Keeler offers up the following: SCREW AMY WINEHOUSE. She also likens the current situation to Norah Jones a few years ago. Meanwhile will.i.am is singing something that I'm managing to forget as he's singing it.
11:29: Usher announces Producer of the Year, and now they're at AotY...Praying to the Gods on High right now...forget the Foos...anything but Cokewhore.
11:30: WHAT??!!?? Herbie Hancock? Seriously?
Well THAT was anticlimactic. I guess giving it to the Cokewhore would've sent the wrong message, Vince Gill was too dry, Kanye didn't need the ego boost, and the Foo Fighters, well, God forbid we give it to a modern artist??!! And now Hancock is going Barack Obama on us....bleck. He sounds like an African American Artist has NEVER won a Grammy before.
Well, I suppose as per my rule I need to give this album a shot, no matter how much I don't want to. Before I wrap things up, let's go through what we take away from the night:
Cokewhore: 3 Grammys
Foo Fighters: 2
God References: ~3 (Sean stopped counting)
Times TJ wanted to punch small children: 3
Memorable Performances: 3 (Carrie Underwood, Foo Fighters, Alicia Keys/John Mayer)
MVP: Jason Bateman for being the presenter with the most personality.
Worst speech: Tie between Cokewhore and Herbie Hancock
Best speech: Kanye West, for OWNING the conductor.
See you all later.
==TJ==
PS If you don't get the reference in the title of this entry, watch this video.
7:27: turn on CBS to find...Katie Couric interviewing Hillary Clinton. Well that sucks. Sean proceeds to see if we get E! on campus...only to get distracted by some garbage on NBC.
7:30: just scrambled through the channels and went digging for a channel listing, and from the looks of it, we don't get E! at Arcadia...so odds of pregame are looking kinda slim. That's a pain in the ass. Be back when the show itself starts.
7:35: Bingo. CBS is streaming some live stuff on their website...this might get hairy, but let's give it a shot. Kevin Frazier and some nameless girl are talking about the postgame parties and something that Akon will be doing afterward. that might or might not involve fighting.
7:37: Interviewing Taylor Swift now, nominated for Best New Artist. And apparently she's only 18, so I don't need to worry about the fact that I don't care about who she is. But she just said she likes the Foo Fighters and Kanye...might need to download a track a bit later.
7:39: Stream just went dark. F***ing internet...
7:40: Stream comes back in time for commericals. Just as well, the red carpet folks seem worse than average, and the odds of an interview with someone decent doesn't look too good, given that we're 19 minutes out.
7:41: CBS scored the rights to Dexter apparently, and for some reason it looks like they're gonna try to tie it in to CSI. Don't ask me, I just like the music.
7:42: Obligatory montage of people including John Legend, Christina Aguilera (I think), and for some reason our lovely people feel as though Evander Holyfield is worth talking to. But before he can talk to, our other set of interviewers interject 'cause they've got Seal...and the stream goes dead. Comes back, and Seal's being a glorified ad for who's performing. Rumor has it that Michael Jackson is in attendance...perhaps a performance? Do we really want this to happen?
7:45: Seal talking about wife Heidi Klum and her singing and a battle with laryngitis (as if anyone watching gives a damn about how she sings). Stream dies.
7:46: Sean and I talk about the rumored Michael Jackson performance. We also note that neither of us have seen him perform during our lifetime. Neither of us know if this is a good or bad thing.
Sean: "I guess that's the one good thing about Britney Spears being in the news all the time; Michael Jackson's out of it"
7:50: The Mayor of LA just talked to one of the guys, just in time to drop a few names and close out the pregame show. Stream's being funky...and the last thing we get is the signoff. Guess I'll be back in 10 when the show starts for real.
The good news is now I'm not bouncing between two Firefox windows to try to see what's happening. CBS remains intent on showing the tail end of 60 Minutes, since Mickey Rooney probably has something to rant about that the world must hear, I guess.
7:53: turning around so I can see the action for real. Grammy commercial just aired. When did we name him "The Sensational Kanye West"??
7:55: Mickey Rooney is in a sports store buying Giants and/or Pats gear (the tape was recorded before the Super Bowl). THIS is what they're not giving me Grammy pregame for...wow...
7:56: Apparently Rooney went to the game too...but dammit if he didn't look bored as all hell. His closing thought? The Patriots should say they're from Boston. Truly Pulitzer-worthy journalism once again.
7:58: Back to back ads for CSI:Miami and New York...can we get a trifecta?
Nope. Without a Trace instead. If you didn't guess, I'm watching CBS right now.
7:59: During the credits for 60 Minutes they show an ad for Jericho. If you never watched the show, go rent the 1st season...it's incredible. So happy that it got renewed for 7 more episodes. Beats the cliffhanger the show was supposed to end on.
As I go back and fix a typo let me preface the rest of this diary by saying I'm not looking at the screen (I have a desktop so I can't see that and the TV...sue me). So please forgive any screwups, I'm trying to keep things clean though.
8:02: We have a start. How should the 50th Grammy Awards start? The same way every award show starts: a montage of previous Grammy moments. Or maybe just one clip and in comes Alicia Keys singing with a old video of Frank Sinatra. Don't know how I feel about this. We have one of our nominees singing with a video of a legend?
8:04: Keys is singing with the old video of Sinatra, but there's a full orchestra playing live. WTF??!! What kind of a slap in the face is this to the legendary musicians who are still alive??
8:06: A pan across the crowd shows us Patton Oswalt (according to Sean) and Yoko Ono. Alicia Keys welcomes us with another obligatory speech about how wonderful everything is. "We look forward towards the future...Here's to another 50 years". The RIAA just spit blood a little bit.
8:08: Carrie Underwood gets things started with a Stomp influenced version "Before He Cheats". Game on! Sean scoffs, but I'm sold. Not a huge fan of Underwood...but it's friggin' STOMP!!!
8:10: Sean still not a fan, but he likes the Stomp. Keep in mind Sean is an indie fanatic. Underwood herself is a bit static right now given what's happening behind her, but it's a network awards show, what can you expect?
8:11: "Before He Cheats" goes into its final bars...and we have the first performance of the night worth bootlegging.
8:11: Apparently they already named some of these awards as Prince is announced as a winner. He announces the Female R&B nominees. No song is particularly impressive to me, but I can't stand "No One".
8:12: But of course it wins. Not before Prince makes a failed attempt at a joke. AS Keys thanks God, Sean decides to keep tabs on thanks to "the G-Man". Yup...gonna be a good diary tonight. Keys thanks the radio DJs...there's hope for me yet in 20 years...
8:14: They appear to be showing some predetermined awards while they plug some of the upcoming performances, but the TV is too far away and the font is garbage, so i have no idea what they're supposed to be.
8:17: when did it become socially OK to use Queen's "You're My Best Friend" to advertise something? Isn't that universally considered one of their lamest songs ever? It also says something when the song is in an ad for an electronic product (didn't see what).
8:18: Sean and I debate who's more annoying: Abagail Breslin (Definitely, Maybe) or Dakota Fanning. I say Fanning is the next Lindsay Lohan. Sean hopes she just fades into obscurity.
8:20: The Time just kicked into their reunion performance. No one below the age of 30 cares, unless they REALLY like Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. It's one thing for a band from the 80s to reunite, but its different like they're still there.
8:21: The Time get interrupted by Rihanna, doing a disco twinged version of "Umbrella". Wow...this is not OK. And oh look, the girls had umbrellas!!! Ain't that cute?
8:22: Rihanna looks like Prince. Just sayin'...
I think the guy from Step Up was just dancing with Rihanna during her least impressive single yet? Correction: there were 2 of said guy...and we're back to the Time. Was that a segue or what?
8:25: There must be some rule that says Tom Hanks MUST be at every awards ceremony EVER. Unless I'm forgetting about some great album Hanks recorded. Oh yeah, and he's talking about The Band winning a Lifetime Acheivement Award. This would mean more if they weren't given out like they were going out of style. Hell, they don't even get a chance to be on stage. And now Hank is intro'ing the Beatles tribute as the camera goes in on Ringo, Yoko and two others. Tom Hanks is now reaching epic levels of excitement.
8:29: Cirque Du Soleil is doing their piece of "A Day in the Life" from LOVE. And I'm all out of LSD. Damn!
Full disclosure: I've never been a big fan of Cirque du Soleil...and this just looks like a deleted scene from Across the Universe. Meanwhile Sean and I debate which Beatle will die next (I say Paul), and who was the best.
8:33: The Across the Universe version of "Let it Be" is next up. Actually the original performers from the movie. I yell at Sean for not seeing the movie. As much as I skip this track on the CD, I like it anytime I see it. The song doesn't work as well when it's just heard, methinks. I'm still bummed that they couldn't get Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood to do "All You Need Is Love", but I'll live. Probably not eh worst performance of the night, but not actively memorable.
8:36: We consider Miley Cyrus a legitimate artist now? This physically hurts me a bit. The Best New Artist award is up next. GO PARAMORE!!!
8:37: AMY WINEHOUSE??!! WHAT??!! Of course she can't accept the award, she's too busy stoned and couldn't get a visa!!! ROBBED!!!
Meanwhile Sean is too busy wondering about Cyndi Lauper's accent. I'm inexplicably pissed now. 0 for 2 on my picks now. Curses. He redeems himself by being equally pissed about Winehouse's win, but he was rooting for Feist.
8:39: Jason Bateman was talking about the My Grammy Moment with the Foos during that rant. Dear Dave Grohl, why did you let your band sign up for this terrible idea? Bad ideas all over the place...but Jason Bateman has been the funniest thing of the night so far.
8:41: Commercial break means its time for popcorn. Back in a bit.
8:46: Back with popcorn, and still pissed about the Winehouse win. Do we have odds on her sobriety during her performance?
8:47: Daft Punk and Kanye performing "Stronger" now. Say what you will about Kanye and his attitude, but his music is damned peerless. I remember when I first liked Kanye; First Grammys performance of "Jesus Walks".
Kanye West - Jesus Walks [iTunes]
Kanye West - Stronger [iTunes]
West looks like he just came out of Tron, and I'm pretty sure he was doing the robot earlier. Either way, he's the second best performance of the night (I'm still loving the Carrie Underwood piece).
8:50: I think West has established that "this is what we been waitin' for" as Daft Punk finally get their due for being in the background of this song. The glow-in-the-dark bit gets old just as the song ends, thankfully. West segues into "Hey Mama", appropriate given his mother's passing.
8:53: Say what you will about West's ego, but he's pushing back tears right now...different side of Kanye and I love it. He might not win a Grammy tonight, but people'll still remember him tomorrow.
8:55: Most emotionally charged song gets followed up with...
Fergie. Correction: 3-Time Grammy Winner Fergie...with John Legend. I'm trying to like this song since I'm OK with John Legend, but my dislike for Fergie is prevailing.
Sean: "I'm half-expecting them to turn this into a remix of 'My Humps'"
8:58: LOVE wins the Best Soundtrack Category. I was pulling for Across the Universe, but this was the compilation prize since now Ringo gets stagetime.
9:00: Not liking the way they're showing pre-announced winners...too hard to seem, and thus too hard for me to make fun of. I just know Carrie Underwood won something for "Before He Cheats"
9:01: Sean goes looking online for Amy Winehouse fan groups, since neither of us know of anyone who likes her. Too bad we can't check sobriety over the internet. Apparently the only thing he found is a blog with two posts, last updated September. Once again, the Grammys show they have their finger on the pulse of the music world.
Just had a flashback to an old episode of Sports Night where one of the two leads admits to liking the Starlight Vocal Band, who were Best New Artist in the day. Clearly nothing has changed.
9:06: Dear Cher, just because we make fun of your age, doesn't mean its cool for you too. Love, society.
Meanwhile Beyonce doesn't look like she every changed out of her outfit from her Sports Illustrated covershoot as she drops names of 60s female soul artists to intro Tina Turner.
9:08: Sean: "I didn't realize I turned on WJJZ (local jazz station). The sadder part? I know all the words to ["What's Love Got To Do With It?]"
9:11: Beyonce and Tina Turner are gearing up to do "Proud Mary". I'm pretending to not hear this. In my mind, only one band did that song.: CCR.
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Proud Mary [iTunes]
9:13: This is hurting. Why are we letting young artists do songs from 30 years ago? I would much rather see these two "Irreplaceable". And I'm not a huge fan of that one either. Points for performance value, but B- on the song choice.
9:16: Song of the Year getting named now. Rooting for "Hey There Delilah" but odds aren't looking good.
9:17: DAMMIT!!! SON OF A BITCH!!! "Rehab" again!!??
9:18: It's official: Amy Winehouse will herein be known as Amy Cokewhore. I think it works.
9:22: A couple things can save this night: one is if the Foos wreck shop. and one is if Cokewhore performs beyond wasted.
9:23: The "cute Asian" (Sean's words) win the top slot playing with the Foo. And now the Foo play which means I stop typing for 5 minutes.
9:29: Back, and now there are TWO performances to be bootlegged. Of course the Foo Fighters were incredible. Please don't ask me to pick between that and Underwood's bit. The orchestra was positively epic, and that was the best Foo live performance I've ever seen. And according to Jason Bateman, the Foo already had one win tonight. Jason Bateman has definitely been the MVP of the night so far.
9:34: What goes on in Will Ferrell's mind that leads him to think that a movie like Semi-Pro is a good idea? Can we remove that part of his brain? Please?
9:35: George Lopez opens up his bit with.....racist comedy. Lovely. And he introduces the country act. Yeah, there's logic in that.
Sean: "Hey look, another country rocker in a cowboy hat."
Another one I'm trying to enjoy, but I'm well past my country phase. And I'm pretty sure this song is likening sex to checking a girl for ticks. Only in country music, people...
9:39: Sean is curious whether checking for ticks is an effective pickup line.
Sean: "I think he's only into girls with pubic lice"
Segue to Chris Brown, Solange and Akon for Best Rap Album, and an obligatory joke about parents understanding.
9:41: Best Rap Album...Kanye West for Graduation. A nuclear disaster may have just been averted. Sean is criticizing the oversized sunglasses while West rambles on and argues with the conductor playing him off.
9:43: West just OWNED the conductor as he talks about his mom. Just when things coulda gotten ugly, it gets really good. 50 points to both Kanye AND the conductor for not making things worse.
9:45: As Aretha comes in there's a giant cross lit up. Mention number 2 for God tonight (Sean's keeping score). Not impressed with this number. Nice thought, not particularly memorable though.
9:51: Aretha again. This has gone on too long...
9:57: Celine Dion with a special on CBS. This needs to not happen. What's wrose is that she's with artists who are weak enough as it is. And somehow she thinks her covering these songs will make them good. Strike Two. Ugh.
10:00: 2 and a half hours of blogging, and Feist is on now. Sean's transfixed, and I'm ready for a power nap. Scratch that; Feist was with Broken Social Scene??!! Never listened to them, but suddenly I care just a bit more. Not enough to like her, but still. I think sales of Ambien might plummet after people hear this song.
10:02: Even Sean admits the Feist song was weak. I don't know who they just intro'd (someone who won one of the first Grammys)...but Kid Rock is now accompanying her. What kind of world are we living in when we let a supposed legend sing with Kid Rock? ANd he just called that little old lady sexy. Good God have we lost all good taste.
10:05: Best Rock Album up now. Rooting for Springsteen or the Foo.
10:06: Foo Fighters pick up another! YES! The night is not yet lost. With all due respect to Sean (rooting for Wilco...bleck), the Grammys make the first right call of the night. "The Pretender" won hard rock performance, so that's 2 for 5 right now. Game on.
Foo Fighters - The Pretender [iTunes]
10:08: They seem to think I'm excited for Cokewhore's performance. If I'm excited for anything, it's to see if she shoots up on stage! GAH!
10:11: Just had my first taste of the new Mary J Blige song via a car commercial. Bette than I remember her being in the past. Perhaps a download for later...
10:13: Let the record show that the new CBS Monday is AWESOME. not just awesome...AWESOME. Don't forget this people.
Sean on Stevie Wonder's appearance and subsequent applause: "They're cheering so he knows he's not in an empty room." Dude, you're SO going to hell.
10:15: Alicia Keys gets a second performance of the night so she can do "No One" on top of the intro. Favoritism much? At least she's dressed and sounding better than she did at the Super Bowl. Who knows, with another 30 million plays, this song might get good.
10:18: John Mayer comes in for a guitar solo and makes the song a keeper. Bootleg #3 of the night.
10:20: Why are Ringo and Dave Stewart intro'ing the Country category? Missing the logic here. Sean says they all sound the same.
Vince Gill wins it, but I (still) don't care. So far every AotY nominee has won their genre. This might get ugly later on...
10:23: The makers of Godzilla and The Day After Tomorrow present another film with decent CGI, unintentionally funny dialog, and plenty of potential to show up on channel 347 six months from now (this one's called 10,000 BC).
10:26: After seeing a Big Brother ad, I must ask: What the hell is a "Dirty Jersey"?
10:29: Obligatory break for "Rhapsody in Blue"
10:33: Sean informs me that Flight of the Conchords win a Grammy for comedy album (beat out Geroge Lopez, thank God), and Barack Obama wins for spoken word. Game on.
10:36: Best Rap song collab is up next...T-Pain in there twice, and whiffs as "Umbrella" takes it. Loving this bit of Rihanna speaking and Jay-Z translating. I think Jay-Z might be climbing the ranks on my list of most appreciated rap artists.
Rihanna - Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z) [iTunes]
10:43: Amy Cokewhore takes the stage via satellite. I can't tell if she's dancing or trying to stand up straight and failing.
10:47: She segues into "Rehab" and I'm still trying to find a reason to like her. I'm estimating her BAL at about .04. Much lower than I anticipated. She still screams like a tonedeaf banshee, but at least she wasn't high...sadly.
10:51: Tony Bennett and Natalie Cole are naming the Record of the Year after giving Doris Day a Lifetime Award. "The Pretender" is my favorite, but I'm hoping for NOT "Rehab".
10:52: And I fail. "Rehab" again. She's definitely slurring her words and grasping her mum while she thanks any number of people. Not looking good for Foo Fighters to win AotY now. It'd be best to keep all sources of fire and all small children away from me for the next few hours.
11:00: Head of the recording industry announces all the things they're working on, then offers a backhanded shot at music pirates, then offers up a kid who was apparently on the Grammys many years ago as a kid, now a nominee. I would have had a better description than that but my dad IMed me about something.
11:03: Annual montage of musicians who died. The guy from Boston died?? Bummer. Hate to say it, but he's the only guy I find myself caring much about. And no mentions of Casey Calvert or the guy from Quiet Riot...that's garbage.
11:07: I think the Josh Groban/Andrea Bocelli piece would work better if it were one or the other. Neither of them are bad, I just think they both work better solo. Sean agrees.
11:15: Grammy takes a turn for classic rock with Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and John Fogerty from CCR. As much as I like the sound, I can't understand a word Fogerty is saying. Jerry Lee Lewis doesn't look like he can move anything except his jaw and his fingers. The energy in this performance is falling everytime I see Lewis.
11:20: Enter Little Richard, who looks the same now as he did 15 years ago. A little bit more energy from Richard, but Fogerty is stealing the show right now.
11:26: My friend Sam Keeler offers up the following: SCREW AMY WINEHOUSE. She also likens the current situation to Norah Jones a few years ago. Meanwhile will.i.am is singing something that I'm managing to forget as he's singing it.
11:29: Usher announces Producer of the Year, and now they're at AotY...Praying to the Gods on High right now...forget the Foos...anything but Cokewhore.
11:30: WHAT??!!?? Herbie Hancock? Seriously?
Well THAT was anticlimactic. I guess giving it to the Cokewhore would've sent the wrong message, Vince Gill was too dry, Kanye didn't need the ego boost, and the Foo Fighters, well, God forbid we give it to a modern artist??!! And now Hancock is going Barack Obama on us....bleck. He sounds like an African American Artist has NEVER won a Grammy before.
Well, I suppose as per my rule I need to give this album a shot, no matter how much I don't want to. Before I wrap things up, let's go through what we take away from the night:
Cokewhore: 3 Grammys
Foo Fighters: 2
God References: ~3 (Sean stopped counting)
Times TJ wanted to punch small children: 3
Memorable Performances: 3 (Carrie Underwood, Foo Fighters, Alicia Keys/John Mayer)
MVP: Jason Bateman for being the presenter with the most personality.
Worst speech: Tie between Cokewhore and Herbie Hancock
Best speech: Kanye West, for OWNING the conductor.
See you all later.
==TJ==
PS If you don't get the reference in the title of this entry, watch this video.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Bonnaroo to Stop Sucking in 2008
The other day the REAL lineup for Bonnaroo hit the internet. Despite endless rumors to the contrary suggesting a Led Zeppelin appearance AND a botched report by NME that said they were in fact on the final lineup, the Zep sha'n't be playing. In their place will be all female tribute band Lez Zeppelin, as well as headliners Pearl Jam, Metallica, Kanye West, and Jack Johnson. Also on the lineup are OAR, Ben Folds, Rilo Kiley, and the Raconteurs, Jack White's side project when he's not dressed up like a matador.
In the past I've never been particularly impressed with the Bonnaroo lineup. Always a bunch of jam bands that you need to be positively shitfaced to appreciate. But this year there's actually something truly worth seeing in Pearl Jam and the strong likelihood of new stuff from Metallica (their new album is slated for a mid-2008 release). Don't know if this means I'll be hitchhiking down to Tennessee this summer (still holding out for a Foo Fighters concert...*sigh*), but definitely something to get intrigued by.
Back later with MP3s and stuff...just wanted to get that announcement out there.
==TJ==
In the past I've never been particularly impressed with the Bonnaroo lineup. Always a bunch of jam bands that you need to be positively shitfaced to appreciate. But this year there's actually something truly worth seeing in Pearl Jam and the strong likelihood of new stuff from Metallica (their new album is slated for a mid-2008 release). Don't know if this means I'll be hitchhiking down to Tennessee this summer (still holding out for a Foo Fighters concert...*sigh*), but definitely something to get intrigued by.
Back later with MP3s and stuff...just wanted to get that announcement out there.
==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==
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
About that Singles post...
...yeah life got in the way, and I'm only getting around to it now. What with the show opening I've been listening to a bunch of different stuff, some of it to get me pumped (or "amped" as Ernie liked to put it), other stuff just because it sounds good. Let's get started.
Kanye West - Stronger
This one is just a given. It played on the radio once in the dressing room, leading me to start rapping along since I knew every word to the track (having heard it a million times by now). After that it just got played every single pre-show after that. My love for this track is well documented on this blog.
Black Sabbath - War Pigs
A favorite of my castmate and friend Ernie. Before "Stronger" rolled around, this song was the song to which we all danced, moshed, and air-guitarred prior to curtain. I'm not a huge fan of Black Sabbath or even metal for that matter, but this song did what it had to do.
Finger Eleven - Paralyzer
Another dance around the dressing room favorite. Very sad to hear this song somehow got snubbed on the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock setlist. Awesome riff, the beat is simple, but unforgettable, and its just a great song by a band that most people wrote off.
Speaking of which, what should a band do when its core fans abandon them for having "sold out" for getting a radio friendly hit? Do what Finger Eleven did and get a new fanbase. I bought Them vs. You vs. Me the other day, and their new brand of bouncy hard rock is positively amazing. It'd be easy to assume "Paralyzer" is just another one-hit wonder track, but in reality its matched by the likes of "Falling On", "Change the World", and "I'll Keep Your Memory Vague". It's not earth-shattering, but dammit if isn't better than the by-the-numbers angst rock we've become so used to. I hope you're taking notes, Seether.
Ruling on the Field: 7.5/10
Rihanna - Umbrella (Cinderella remix feat. Chris Brown)
I know I'm way behind the times on this "Umbrella" remix, but it got played on Alex, Helen, and Amanda's show and I fell in love with it. The more I listen to Top 40 R&B, the less I find myself hating it. I ruckused Good Girl Gone Bad to see what I was missing, and it wasn't nearly as bad as I was thinking it would be (and nowhere near as sickeningly sugarpoppy as the new Backstreet Boys album). While I'm at it, Shut Up and Drive is equally good at getting the adrenaline flowing.
Dropkick Murphys - I'm Shipping Up To Boston
Anyone who saw The Departed will know this song, and it's textbook DKM with it's throat wrenching vocals, pulsing drums and sick guitars. Another fun song to get yourself worked up to.
The Crash Motive - Not Giving Up
Yeah, I know I posted this last time, but it's still just as appropriate. Every time I hear this song, I feel like I need to get up and fight someone. The drums sound like they belong on a rap album, and you can't not bounce along in your chair to the chorus. I'm playing through their debut album, and can't stop raving about these guys. If you don't have this song, you really have no excuse.
All these tracks and others can be found on the iMix I just threw together, aptly titled "GET AMPED". Go check it out on iTunes (I posted it as an entry for a contest The Crash Motive is holding right now). I'll link to the mix tomorrow after the updates I made to it take hold.
Back later with other stuff.
==TJ==
Kanye West - Stronger
This one is just a given. It played on the radio once in the dressing room, leading me to start rapping along since I knew every word to the track (having heard it a million times by now). After that it just got played every single pre-show after that. My love for this track is well documented on this blog.
Black Sabbath - War Pigs
A favorite of my castmate and friend Ernie. Before "Stronger" rolled around, this song was the song to which we all danced, moshed, and air-guitarred prior to curtain. I'm not a huge fan of Black Sabbath or even metal for that matter, but this song did what it had to do.
Finger Eleven - Paralyzer
Another dance around the dressing room favorite. Very sad to hear this song somehow got snubbed on the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock setlist. Awesome riff, the beat is simple, but unforgettable, and its just a great song by a band that most people wrote off.
Speaking of which, what should a band do when its core fans abandon them for having "sold out" for getting a radio friendly hit? Do what Finger Eleven did and get a new fanbase. I bought Them vs. You vs. Me the other day, and their new brand of bouncy hard rock is positively amazing. It'd be easy to assume "Paralyzer" is just another one-hit wonder track, but in reality its matched by the likes of "Falling On", "Change the World", and "I'll Keep Your Memory Vague". It's not earth-shattering, but dammit if isn't better than the by-the-numbers angst rock we've become so used to. I hope you're taking notes, Seether.
Ruling on the Field: 7.5/10
Rihanna - Umbrella (Cinderella remix feat. Chris Brown)
I know I'm way behind the times on this "Umbrella" remix, but it got played on Alex, Helen, and Amanda's show and I fell in love with it. The more I listen to Top 40 R&B, the less I find myself hating it. I ruckused Good Girl Gone Bad to see what I was missing, and it wasn't nearly as bad as I was thinking it would be (and nowhere near as sickeningly sugarpoppy as the new Backstreet Boys album). While I'm at it, Shut Up and Drive is equally good at getting the adrenaline flowing.
Dropkick Murphys - I'm Shipping Up To Boston
Anyone who saw The Departed will know this song, and it's textbook DKM with it's throat wrenching vocals, pulsing drums and sick guitars. Another fun song to get yourself worked up to.
The Crash Motive - Not Giving Up
Yeah, I know I posted this last time, but it's still just as appropriate. Every time I hear this song, I feel like I need to get up and fight someone. The drums sound like they belong on a rap album, and you can't not bounce along in your chair to the chorus. I'm playing through their debut album, and can't stop raving about these guys. If you don't have this song, you really have no excuse.
All these tracks and others can be found on the iMix I just threw together, aptly titled "GET AMPED". Go check it out on iTunes (I posted it as an entry for a contest The Crash Motive is holding right now). I'll link to the mix tomorrow after the updates I made to it take hold.
Back later with other stuff.
==TJ==
Monday, September 17, 2007
Boys Like Girls are good...WHAT!!??
Some quick reviews that got overshadowed by the awesomeness of the Foo Fighters leak last week:
-Going against the advice of Luis from Pretty Much Amazing, I went ahead and picked up the leak of James Blunt's All The Lost Souls. Luis, if you happen to be reading this, you were right. With a few marginal exceptions, its a snooze. If I want to hear a song like "1973", I'll stick with music that came out in 1973.
Ruling on the Field: 3/10
Highlight Reel:...Sad to say there really isn't one. If you really want a taste, I'll give you 1973.
-I've only barely gotten through all of Graduation, but it's definitely something that's gonna get a few more rounds on my iPod before it wears out. This is the only Kanye album I've heard in its entirety, so I don't really have a point of reference, but suffice it to say I'm impressed. Kanye's brand of rap is way more accessible than most of the rest of what the genre is offering up (with the exception of maybe Timbaland).
Ruling on the Field: 7/10
Highlight Reel: Stronger, Can't Tell Me Nothing
-I ruckused the self-titled debut from Boys Like Girls, primarily on the strength of this live version of "The Great Escape" I picked up from iTunes (the link is to the video of the AOL Session. The audio of the same performance is also on iTunes). "The Great Escape" is definitely one of the highlights of the album, but its matched by tracks like "Thunder" and "Five Minutes to Midnight". I don't know if there is a truly good way to do pop-punk, but Boys Like Girls put up something really fun.
Ruling on the Field: 8/10
No Highlight Reel for this because I ruckused it, but I'll try to get an mp3 of that live track up later in the week.
I think that's it for now. Back later with some other goodies.
==TJ==
-Going against the advice of Luis from Pretty Much Amazing, I went ahead and picked up the leak of James Blunt's All The Lost Souls. Luis, if you happen to be reading this, you were right. With a few marginal exceptions, its a snooze. If I want to hear a song like "1973", I'll stick with music that came out in 1973.
Ruling on the Field: 3/10
Highlight Reel:...Sad to say there really isn't one. If you really want a taste, I'll give you 1973.
-I've only barely gotten through all of Graduation, but it's definitely something that's gonna get a few more rounds on my iPod before it wears out. This is the only Kanye album I've heard in its entirety, so I don't really have a point of reference, but suffice it to say I'm impressed. Kanye's brand of rap is way more accessible than most of the rest of what the genre is offering up (with the exception of maybe Timbaland).
Ruling on the Field: 7/10
Highlight Reel: Stronger, Can't Tell Me Nothing
-I ruckused the self-titled debut from Boys Like Girls, primarily on the strength of this live version of "The Great Escape" I picked up from iTunes (the link is to the video of the AOL Session. The audio of the same performance is also on iTunes). "The Great Escape" is definitely one of the highlights of the album, but its matched by tracks like "Thunder" and "Five Minutes to Midnight". I don't know if there is a truly good way to do pop-punk, but Boys Like Girls put up something really fun.
Ruling on the Field: 8/10
No Highlight Reel for this because I ruckused it, but I'll try to get an mp3 of that live track up later in the week.
I think that's it for now. Back later with some other goodies.
==TJ==
Monday, September 10, 2007
Kanye, 50 set to do battle
For starters, I just started playing a leaked version of Graduation by Kanye West. I'll tell you what I think when I blast through the whole thing, but you should know that "Stronger" has been getting frequent play on my iPod for the last week or so. Both this album and 50 Cent's Curtis are slated for a Sept. 11th release, creating much fanfare and rivalry in the hip-hop world. In a very shady coincidence, both albums also leaked within hours of each other early last week. Fiddy has claimed that he will retire if Kanye sells more albums, a bet I sincerely wish we got in writing. Rolling Stone had the two appear as their cover story, and while the pieces are well worth the read, I was kind of disappointed to find out that the West/50 rivalry isn't nearly as heated as everyone would like to believe. I kind of enjoyed the image of Kanye holding his hands up in victory as he stands on a crying 50 Cent's body curled up in the fetal position. Maybe he's handing 50 a gold watch to help commemorate his retirement too. I dunno.
Last night my roommate handed me a mix of Okkervil River's stuff. I had heard of them insofar that their the new indie band du jour, but don't know much of their stuff. I'm gonna give it a shot a little later, see if maybe the indie kids got something right this time around.
Till then, I offer you a little taste of what I've been listening to in the last week or so:
Matchbox 20 - How Far We've Come
Kanye West - Stronger
Linkin Park - Shadow of the Day
Velvet Revolver - The Last Fight
Finger Eleven - Paralyzer
Pearl Jam - Daughter (Live at Lollapalooza 07) [The unedited version that caused a shitstorm last month]
That's pretty much it. Back later in the week, probably with more info on the radio show.
==TJ==
Last night my roommate handed me a mix of Okkervil River's stuff. I had heard of them insofar that their the new indie band du jour, but don't know much of their stuff. I'm gonna give it a shot a little later, see if maybe the indie kids got something right this time around.
Till then, I offer you a little taste of what I've been listening to in the last week or so:
Matchbox 20 - How Far We've Come
Kanye West - Stronger
Linkin Park - Shadow of the Day
Velvet Revolver - The Last Fight
Finger Eleven - Paralyzer
Pearl Jam - Daughter (Live at Lollapalooza 07) [The unedited version that caused a shitstorm last month]
That's pretty much it. Back later in the week, probably with more info on the radio show.
==TJ==
Thursday, August 23, 2007
The Heads of A Million Teenage Girls Just Exploded
Now, what if I were to tell you that Fall Out Boy and Kanye West got together and remixed, mashed up, and did cool stuff to all their popular hits, ie a mashup of "Gold Digger" and "Dance, Dance", and then released an online mixtape of the results of that gathering? Is that something you might be interested in?
Download from The Leak Source [via Idolator]
Yeah, I think my work here is done. Enjoy.
==TJ==
EDIT: I was slightly mistaken. As indicated by the "Presented by PDA & His Army of DJ's", this is the work of a group of relatively talented DJs. Kanye and FOB had nothing to do with the creation of this mixtape. Still damn cool though. Already listened through it once, and I think it needs another play-through for a decent rating. So far the highlights are "We Majorly Thankful", "Thanks For Telling Me Nothing" (a mashup of "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" and "Can't Tell Me Nothing"), and the "Arms Race Megamix" which you have to hear to understand fully.
(Tentative)Ruling on the Field: 7.5/10
Download from The Leak Source [via Idolator]
Yeah, I think my work here is done. Enjoy.
==TJ==
EDIT: I was slightly mistaken. As indicated by the "Presented by PDA & His Army of DJ's", this is the work of a group of relatively talented DJs. Kanye and FOB had nothing to do with the creation of this mixtape. Still damn cool though. Already listened through it once, and I think it needs another play-through for a decent rating. So far the highlights are "We Majorly Thankful", "Thanks For Telling Me Nothing" (a mashup of "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" and "Can't Tell Me Nothing"), and the "Arms Race Megamix" which you have to hear to understand fully.
(Tentative)Ruling on the Field: 7.5/10
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