Top o’ the morning, tunegrapers!And yes, I am aware that it is 3 o’clock in the afternoon.I hope you all aren’t feeling the effects of whatever you did last night, ‘cause I know I am.Days like this call for some Advil, plenty of liquids and Atmosphere’s track “Sunshine”.It’s my go-to jam for the not-so-nice morning after.I’ll admit that the song’s imagery doesn’t quite fit this frigid winter day in Boston, but it’ll be sure to warm every crevice of your soul.So here’s to thoughts of sunshine and a speedy recovery.Enjoy.
Back to Curren$y, this mixtape is insane. I've been back and forth on the song Rain Delay, it's strange and unique and fascinates me every time I listen. I officially decided this morning to except the shrill sounds and other weird things that permeate the beat and accept the song for what it is. What is this song? An example of genius. There is so much potential in a new wave of rappers who I can only hope are about to take over the mainstream and Curren$y is one of the leaders in that group of rappers. Check out Rain Delay, hear for yourself.
It's Friday, I'm finally done with the work week and ready for the weekend. Moon and Stars (Remix) by Big K.R.I.T. ft. Curren$y and Killa Kyleon will definitely be on at wherever I'm going tonight, I'll make sure of it. Return to the Winners Circle is Curren$y's insane new mixtape (which includes Moon and Stars) that's necessary for purchase. So let it make its way into your party playlist this weekend and everyone will dig it.
I know, I've posted about Jay Electronica before, but I really think if he can step back up a bit better then Shiny Suit Theory back to like, Million in the Morning or The Pledge (Eternal Sunshine) status, he can be huge, and an actually legitimate mainstream talent with the help of Jay-Z. After enjoying the subhuman antics of the Jersey Shore earlier, I definitely needed a little something to bring me down to earth. I rode my longboard home and on the way listened to The PLedge (Eternal Sunshine). The song fit the ride perfectly, it was really relaxed and just worked with the cold January night in Boston. Try it out sometime.
As a society, we tend to let artists get away with more than most people because their art is worth whatever hell they raised in the process. We’ve seen this in the past, specifically with drug use, with artists such as Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and Janis Joplin, whose music was heavily influenced by whatever they were sippin’, smokin’ or droppin’. It’s certainly no new phenomena, and it’s something that occurs today throughout all music genres (except maybe Gospel). I myself don’t mind if an artist needs a little extra something-something to get the creative juices flowing, just as long as the final product is quality. But what happens if an artist’s drug use lowers the quality of their music? Do we still turn a blind eye and wait for an upturn?
This leads me to the most disappointing album of 2010: Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. Now, I happen to love Kid Cudi’s first album Man on the Moon: The End of Day, which is chalk-full of weed and ‘shroom references, but it seems that Cudi has gotten heavier into drugs these days. He is the self proclaimed “Mr. Rager” after all. And let’s not forget about his liquid cocaine bust or this shining moment:
Mama Cudi would be proud.
All jokes aside, Cudi’s drug use has seemed to hamper his performance on Man on the Moon II. Too much off-key singing, not enough rapping – lyrically, it falls flat and is clearly uninspired. I also noticed that I don’t sympathize with Cudi as much as I did on his first album. Man on the Moon II is definitely darker and more cohesive than Man on the Moon I, but it also feels a bit contrived. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some depressed Cudi, but how he talks about his own tortured soul with such, dare I say, pride? It just throws it off for me. Maybe I set my hopes too high for this album. Maybe Cudi is due, like many other artists, his own sophomore slump.
As much as Man on the Moon II fell short of my expectations, I have to give credit when it’s due. The production quality is sound. I wouldn’t expect anything less, as it came in part from Kanye West’s GOOD music label. Also, I’m really digging the hip-hop/alt. rock sound Cudi is growing into (listen to “REVOFEV”). I think he’s onto something there. He just needs to perfect it. And maybe rage a little less.
I have always loved the Sex Pistols. They are one of my favorite bands and a default when I'm in the mood for that kind of music. I agree with the SLC Punk line delivered by Steve-O (not of Jackass and WIld Boyz) that their message was not for people in the U.S. but for people in the U.K., but in the end, they did have a universal touch to them, as well as a distinctly catchy yet thrashed up and hard sound to them. Something unique, totally English yet totally punk. Recently Johnny Rottern has considered a Sex Pistols reunion. I consider him kind of a a sell out and product of the capitalist he once rebelled against these days but hey, who from my generation (who is a punk rock fan) wouldn't want the chance to see them live?
How could you deny the powerful and driving rhythm section of the Black Keys. Could you deny that Brothers was the best album of 2010? Well you could argue that it wasn't...but I'd surely argue against you. Either way the Black Keys are one of the most refreshing and revitalizing groups in the musical spectrum. I've seen them get compared to the White Stripes alot, and yeah, okay, I understand where those people are coming from but there is one huge difference. The Black Keys, despite the name and number-of-members similarities, take what the White Stripes do, and make it more raw, more to the point. They water down all the extras the White Stripes throw on and you get a pure bluesy rock sound, infused with soul and some funk, but pure nonetheless. When any song from the Black Keys comes on, there's really just two words that come to my head, "oh, fuck." Speechless and lost and in the drowning distortion and blues tinged riffs of their heavy rock and velvety soul.
A powerful example of their softer music. I've always thought the heavily distorted guitar riffs which pop up occasionally throughout the song were the bands attempt at horns. One of my favorite Black Keys songs by far though.
