Walk in the Park

I think Patrick Park should be forced to hang out with Andrew Bird and Patrick Wolf at all times, making brilliant music together. Too bad his last name isn't an animal.

I'm not really sure where I found Patrick Park, to be honest. I stumbled across this tune, "Here We Are" in my own library a few weeks ago, and have been listening non-stop. Park has a rich voice with a good range, and sings with an ease that really makes the song flow. It's one of those tracks that wins me over instantly, has me captive from the first few notes, and then doesn't cease to please throughout.

Apparently Park had one of his songs, "Life is a Song" featured on the OC, that delightfully crap TV show that had a pretty solid soundtrack. Worth checking out for sure.

Here's the original of Here We Are, that I just can't get enough of. And a live version of Life Is A Song from Park's Daytrotter Session, which is pretty great. There's a live cut of Here We Are over at Daytrotter, definitely check it out.

Patrick Park - Here We Are

Patrick Park - Life Is A Song (Live @ Daytrotter)

I think Patrick Park should be forced to hang out with Andrew Bird and Patrick Wolf at all times, making brilliant music together. Too bad his last name isn't an <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">animal</span>.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272033094222866066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0QIPuAvRmhYSsM0VsubnWVpnBSsLutGBwFzLBz_5dM5BmzqS9d9-gSa5-QjALzcsobmeXBUGybRAXdmzGU0MzSpXCpYWI-n2Fke_VxtigBIwB-tVSd124KNIImCqmgmF6MHHqxk3QMY-/s320/articulating.animal.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 320px;" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not really sure where I found Patrick Park, to be honest. I stumbled across this tune, "Here We Are" in my own library a few weeks ago, and have been listening non-stop. Park has a rich voice with a good range, and sings with an ease that really makes the song flow. It's one of those tracks that wins me over instantly, has me captive from the first few notes, and then doesn't cease to please throughout.</div><div><br /></div><div>Apparently Park had one of his songs, "Life is a Song" featured on the OC, that delightfully crap TV show that had a pretty solid soundtrack. Worth <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">checking out</span> for sure.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272032949800838818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoMbaLHgmjaql2jTo_pAKBwm9Fjn7ShcTo4xPn-DhSGRR7ojlcp-1rnys5J7sR_qfSvClMGPaL-Jn42EGWgO8DPKDofFmb8Pn_tenD8_JsAkiGZOdmFJFnAsK85b1n2dkz4CWsC6T4n1A/s320/check-out-my-volcano.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 304px;" /></div><div>Here's the original of Here We Are, that I just can't get enough of. And a live version of Life Is A Song from Park's Daytrotter Session, which is pretty great. There's a live cut of Here We Are over at Daytrotter, definitely check it out.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/hereweare">Patrick Park - Here We Are</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/03lifesasong">Patrick Park - Life Is A Song (Live @ Daytrotter)</a></div>

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Please participate in a holiday weight gain challenge if you are not doing so already. The standard rules are as follows as passed down through Dartmouth Ultimate lore.

------------------------------

--
RULES, by Adam Sigelman '05
--------------------------------
This isn't Nam, fellas. There are rules. You only get 3 hours between the weigh-in and the weigh-out. No day long stuffing allowed.

Also, make sure you are wearing the same clothes and accessories during both weighs. I think Agan or Flan tried to sneak on a pair of shoes back in '05. None of that crap.

Also, starting this year, no use of analog scales so as to avoid another disaster as we had last year in the Agan household. That contest is still under protest. Digital only, folks.

--------------------------------
STRATEGY, according to Samuel J. Haynor '08
---------------------------------
There are several schools of thought that have not been reconciled yet in competition.

Northeast:
The gastrointestinal galavanters of the northeast have relied heavily on high-density mashed potatoes to coat the inside of their lower intestines, creating a superhold on turkey and pumpkin pie.

South:
The jelly-chugging juggernauts below the Mason-Dixon have greatly relied on an initial burst of heavy consumption followed by clenched buttocks for the rest of the meal. While south to north transplant Adam Sigelman '05 has traditionally done well, comfort holds no place in his thanksgiving meals.

West:
The embellishing embibers of the west have relied on trickier methods, including Hayley Kennedy '08s victory two years ago with 6.5 pounds. Often resorting to last-second Martinelli chugs, and filling their sweet potato pie with leaden shrapnel, the West has conceded their relatively small digestive tract, trading it for Crewton-like squirreliness.

Mid-west:
Eat stuff.

As a personal word of caution, BE CAREFUL WHEN PLAYING FOOTBALL ON THANKSGIVING AFTER PARTICIPATING IN THE CHALLENGE. Stomach rupturing may occur and all of us here at TSRE will not be held legally responsible. As a fellow competitor I wish everyone good luck and god speed. May you gain weight gracefully and swiftly.


Let us all take a moment and enjoy the finale of Charlie Brown the Mayflower Voyages on this day of thanks. Just think of how absolutely ridiculous it was that Squanto and Samoset both had learned English, with Squanto traveling to England and Spain and were in the vicinity in order to aid the Pilgrims. It is so improbable for all of it to have happened, although I don't think Snoopy was there playing drums.



You just can't have Thanksgiving without Ram Jam. This song can be used as the introduction to anything.

Ram Jam - Black Betty

Francois Virot - Not the One

Even though the French were no way involved with Thanksgiving, this song is a lo-fi pop gem that is just plain enjoyable. So just sit back, relax and enjoy stuffing your face and watching the Lions get destroyed by the Titans tomorrow.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfWOPIDoVzHtGmFuJ7cVngzHYdsBQCFlE261LMCxh7WVT6y20AVWRL1Jp-SxGMpZTpb49UsYBD4ZQBHGFHgo2JAGzsluP0SaaP60bBlFbTyB-48MqmIF1FLLlQ8omCRbqc7PIG_0Jnj9a/s1600-h/url.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272346528887051874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfWOPIDoVzHtGmFuJ7cVngzHYdsBQCFlE261LMCxh7WVT6y20AVWRL1Jp-SxGMpZTpb49UsYBD4ZQBHGFHgo2JAGzsluP0SaaP60bBlFbTyB-48MqmIF1FLLlQ8omCRbqc7PIG_0Jnj9a/s320/url.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 320px;" /></a><br />Happy Thanksgiving everyone.<br /><br />Please participate in a holiday weight gain challenge if you are not doing so already. The standard rules are as follows as passed down through Dartmouth Ultimate lore.<br /><br />------------------------------<div id=":8e" class="ArwC7c ckChnd"><wbr>--<br />RULES, by Adam Sigelman '05<br />------------------------------<wbr>--<br />This isn't Nam, fellas. There are rules. You only get 3 hours between the weigh-in and the weigh-out. No day long stuffing allowed.<br /><br />Also, make sure you are wearing the same clothes and accessories during both weighs. I think Agan or Flan tried to sneak on a pair of shoes back in '05. None of that crap.<br /><br />Also, starting this year, no use of analog scales so as to avoid another disaster as we had last year in the Agan household. That contest is still under protest. Digital only, folks.<br /><br />------------------------------<wbr>--<br />STRATEGY, according to Samuel J. Haynor '08<br />------------------------------<wbr>---<br />There are several schools of thought that have not been reconciled yet in competition.<br /><br />Northeast:<br />The gastrointestinal galavanters of the northeast have relied heavily on high-density mashed potatoes to coat the inside of their lower intestines, creating a superhold on turkey and pumpkin pie.<br /><br />South:<br />The jelly-chugging juggernauts below the Mason-Dixon have greatly relied on an initial burst of heavy consumption followed by clenched buttocks for the rest of the meal. While south to north transplant Adam Sigelman '05 has traditionally done well, comfort holds no place in his thanksgiving meals.<br /><br />West:<br />The embellishing embibers of the west have relied on trickier methods, including Hayley Kennedy '08s victory two years ago with 6.5 pounds. Often resorting to last-second Martinelli chugs, and filling their sweet potato pie with leaden shrapnel, the West has conceded their relatively small digestive tract, trading it for Crewton-like squirreliness.<br /><br />Mid-west:<br />Eat stuff.</div><br />As a personal word of caution, BE CAREFUL WHEN PLAYING FOOTBALL ON THANKSGIVING AFTER PARTICIPATING IN THE CHALLENGE. Stomach rupturing may occur and all of us here at TSRE will not be held legally responsible. As a fellow competitor I wish everyone good luck and god speed. May you gain weight gracefully and swiftly.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNji9QlzESajGrk084m8XTUdFCHo-YYTyyO3P2kNIzpkMl1G9a1-D0sl87xUPWq_Z9ZDRlQVo4Jpk93mVfm3wT5idChxEE-tdJS3d7zBVvrPqE6SI8CU0f1W-DezA4VpFWgXSVxs3B9IRL/s1600-h/Charleston_Pilgrims.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272346318891093794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNji9QlzESajGrk084m8XTUdFCHo-YYTyyO3P2kNIzpkMl1G9a1-D0sl87xUPWq_Z9ZDRlQVo4Jpk93mVfm3wT5idChxEE-tdJS3d7zBVvrPqE6SI8CU0f1W-DezA4VpFWgXSVxs3B9IRL/s320/Charleston_Pilgrims.gif" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 311px;" /></a><br />Let us all take a moment and enjoy the finale of Charlie Brown the Mayflower Voyages on this day of thanks. Just think of how absolutely ridiculous it was that Squanto and Samoset both had learned English, with Squanto traveling to England and Spain and were in the vicinity in order to aid the Pilgrims. It is so improbable for all of it to have happened, although I don't think Snoopy was there playing drums.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dSYFS-vStO4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dSYFS-vStO4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />You just can't have Thanksgiving without Ram Jam. This song can be used as the introduction to anything.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/blackbetty" target="_blank">Ram Jam - Black Betty</a><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/werksman-francoisvirot-nottheone" target="_blank"><br />Francois Virot - Not the One</a><br /><br />Even though the French were no way involved with Thanksgiving, this song is a lo-fi pop gem that is just plain enjoyable. So just sit back, relax and enjoy stuffing your face and watching the Lions get destroyed by the Titans tomorrow.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/heartsamess" target="_blank"></a>

Home is Where the Heart Is

As a college senior in New Hampshire, sometimes my soul dies.

While this sounds horrible, it always seems to happen right when I'm about to go home and home is where my soul gets resuscitated. Atlanta is my home and if you want the truth, it's the most important city in music in the past 10-15 years.

Before I get too into the importance of the A, it's important to know that Atlanta has a sound. Listen to Jeezy. Listen to TIP and Luda. Listen to Andre and Big Boi. Even listen to the garbage Atlanta rappers like Joc and Rocko. There's something about the quality of the bass, the crispness of the high hats, the occasional snaps, hand claps, and stomps, and the heavy influence of Black high school and college marching bands. But, unlike other other areas of the country, the sound in Atlanta is versatile and can have these high hats, heavy bass lines, and hand claps occasionally coupled with acoustic guitars, xylophones, organs, whistles, and theremins.

Another quality of Atlanta is that even though occasional beefs come up between Atlanta artists (Luda and TI, Shawty Lo and TI, Me and TI), for the most part, there is very beautiful High School Musical-ish "We're All In This Together" feel. Everyone wants to rep Atlanta as loudly as possible, and as often as possible.

This ATL love fest can be often observed in music videos (see "5000 Ones" - DJ Drama) and in supersized Atlanta remixes ("Top Back (Remix)" - T.I. feat. Young Jeezy, Big Kuntry Kane, Young Dro).

Because of the strong sense of pride that exudes from the residents of this city and it's presence in the music, it isn't surprising that there is a large number of Atlanta "up and comers" trying to make it in the Atlanta (and hopefully beyond) music business.



A coalition (or a "Movement" as co-producer 7King corrected me last night) of Atlanta "up and comers" (28 to be exact -- see Cover) have come together to put out a exceptional product. Titled "The 808 Experiment: Vol 1," the compilation was put together by the threesome SMKA. By using the word "experiment" in the title, SMKA is being extremely modest. The project is less of an experiment and more of a statement. All of the diversity of Atlanta music that we have grown up on is present in this 20 track compilation. All the key puzzle pieces are present, but they're all there organically and not forced.

As I do with most albums when attempting to judge them, I burned it on a CD, got in my car, and drove around Atlanta. Within the first minute of the compilation, I am greeted with a hard hitting instrumental that mixes "Elevators (Me and You)" - Outkast and "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" - Rose Royce. I almost have to pull over. Once I get to track two, "Caddys", I had to stop myself mean mugging people every time I stopped at a stoplight. I could go on about something I was impressed by in every track, but I'll display some restraint (but I do urge you to pay attention to the piano part in "Fire in the Hole," the lyrical talents of Supreeme in "I'm On Fire," and all 4 minutes and 37 seconds of "Heartbreaker").

For an "indie" project, the production by 808 Blake and 7King is extremely crisp, which makes it sound much more like an album than any run-of-the-mill mixtape.

Bottom line, download this compilation--Right Now. You will not be disappointed. I promise.

http://www.zshare.net/download/514993816ecbfd6e/


I can't believe I've known the three members of SMKA since 5th grade. I'm filled with pride and extremely impressed. Hip Hop in Atlanta is here to stay.

Peace Up

-Rem Shady

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mE_qRWFPmxchyphenhyphenEXXIhMj-furjB_IYTABVj3jrT7pZXQNta06CAoBNtBxSePgUglpDMFeKE_k4XS1ZljPGAp2OZbd5zkOh7TYHII9tcgdlr_Jk1zkgcb6tvO1rtNYC4YmitjTOL7ER2o/s1600-h/SMKA-48.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273143694381936690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mE_qRWFPmxchyphenhyphenEXXIhMj-furjB_IYTABVj3jrT7pZXQNta06CAoBNtBxSePgUglpDMFeKE_k4XS1ZljPGAp2OZbd5zkOh7TYHII9tcgdlr_Jk1zkgcb6tvO1rtNYC4YmitjTOL7ER2o/s400/SMKA-48.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" /></a><br />As a college senior in New Hampshire, sometimes my soul dies.<br /><br />While this sounds horrible, it always seems to happen right when I'm about to go home and home is where my soul gets resuscitated. Atlanta is my home and if you want the truth, it's the most important city in music in the past 10-15 years.<br /><br />Before I get too into the importance of the A, it's important to know that Atlanta has a sound. Listen to Jeezy. Listen to TIP and Luda. Listen to Andre and Big Boi. Even listen to the garbage Atlanta rappers like Joc and Rocko. There's something about the quality of the bass, the crispness of the high hats, the occasional snaps, hand claps, and stomps, and the heavy influence of Black high school and college marching bands. But, unlike other other areas of the country, the sound in Atlanta is versatile and can have these high hats, heavy bass lines, and hand claps occasionally coupled with acoustic guitars, xylophones, organs, whistles, and theremins.<br /><br />Another quality of Atlanta is that even though occasional beefs come up between Atlanta artists (Luda and TI, Shawty Lo and TI, Me and TI), for the most part, there is very beautiful High School Musical-ish "We're All In This Together" feel. Everyone wants to rep Atlanta as loudly as possible, and as often as possible.<br /><br />This ATL love fest can be often observed in music videos (see "5000 Ones" - DJ Drama) and in supersized Atlanta remixes ("Top Back (Remix)" - T.I. feat. Young Jeezy, Big Kuntry Kane, Young Dro).<br /><br />Because of the strong sense of pride that exudes from the residents of this city and it's presence in the music, it isn't surprising that there is a large number of Atlanta "up and comers" trying to make it in the Atlanta (and hopefully beyond) music business.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZokE1jtd3QYLMqQ_5UioatKqqoBcs5vXZ6HrnCKleiK_njno0Hn99re-fzZRJOUEEI7k7NW0eZy5R_pJ4-4Bbd1k5ubO2Qv07K9rs4BqKM5VLXlogJX5zHhajMW4NfPrKOmOIobckiTE/s1600-h/SMKA+-+The+808+Experiment_+Vol+1+%28front%29.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273144098162206546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZokE1jtd3QYLMqQ_5UioatKqqoBcs5vXZ6HrnCKleiK_njno0Hn99re-fzZRJOUEEI7k7NW0eZy5R_pJ4-4Bbd1k5ubO2Qv07K9rs4BqKM5VLXlogJX5zHhajMW4NfPrKOmOIobckiTE/s400/SMKA+-+The+808+Experiment_+Vol+1+%28front%29.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><br />A coalition (or a "Movement" as co-producer 7King corrected me last night) of Atlanta "up and comers" (28 to be exact -- see Cover) have come together to put out a exceptional product. Titled "The 808 Experiment: Vol 1," the compilation was put together by the threesome SMKA. By using the word "experiment" in the title, SMKA is being extremely modest. The project is less of an experiment and more of a statement. All of the diversity of Atlanta music that we have grown up on is present in this 20 track compilation. All the key puzzle pieces are present, but they're all there organically and not forced.<br /><br />As I do with most albums when attempting to judge them, I burned it on a CD, got in my car, and drove around Atlanta. Within the first minute of the compilation, I am greeted with a hard hitting instrumental that mixes "Elevators (Me and You)" - Outkast and "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" - Rose Royce. I almost have to pull over. Once I get to track two, "Caddys", I had to stop myself mean mugging people every time I stopped at a stoplight. I could go on about something I was impressed by in every track, but I'll display some restraint (but I do urge you to pay attention to the piano part in "Fire in the Hole," the lyrical talents of Supreeme in "I'm On Fire," and all 4 minutes and 37 seconds of "Heartbreaker").<br /><br />For an "indie" project, the production by 808 Blake and 7King is extremely crisp, which makes it sound much more like an album than any run-of-the-mill mixtape.<br /><br />Bottom line, download this compilation--Right Now. You will not be disappointed. I promise.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/download/514993816ecbfd6e/">http://www.zshare.net/download/514993816ecbfd6e/</a><br /><br /><br />I can't believe I've known the three members of SMKA since 5th grade. I'm filled with pride and extremely impressed. Hip Hop in Atlanta is here to stay.<br /><br />Peace Up<br /><br />-Rem Shady

$hine on

I first heard Yeasayer after Pitchfork (grumble grumble, I know) gave All Hour Cymbals a glowing review. The description of "pan-ethnic spiritualism, filtered

through walls of echo and layers of gossamer synth" pretty much describes my taste in music, so it would be tough to ignore such a characterization. So I gave it a try.

Lo and behold, I loved it. All Hour Cymbals blew my mind, and I listened to it over and over and over. "2080" got the most critical acclaim, but for me it was "Sunrise" that took the cake. You know me and handclaps. Well, this was maybe the song that started it. "Sunrise" inspired my Make It Clap mix, and took that love to a new level.

I wanted to spread the Yeasayer love, telling all my friends to check out this amazing track. We saw them play in Boston and blow MGMT out of the water at Great Scott, but Sunrise never really seemed to catch. It took too long to develop, didn't pop enough. It made more sense in the context of the album than it did on its own. It was missing some bravado.

Enter Pocketknife's Rise and $hine mix, from Pocketknife and Cousin Cole's Canyon Dancing EP. I'm always a fan of anything that replaces "S" with "$" as if to denote that this, indeed, is a money track. Luckily, it is. It adds a driving beat to the track without sucking the air out of the original. If a drum circle decided to cover Sunrise, I'm pretty sure this is what it would sound like.

Yeasayer - Sunrise (Pocketknife's Rise & $hine Mix)

<div>I first heard Yeasayer after Pitchfork (grumble grumble, I know) gave All Hour Cymbals a glowing <a href="http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/46460-yeasayer-all-hour-cymbals">review</a>. The description of "pan-ethnic spiritualism, filtered</div><div> through walls of echo and layers of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">gossamer </span>synth" pretty much describes my taste in music, so it would be tough to ignore such a characterization. So I gave it a try.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272040183692670386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuG-Wgv0ZLTdl7uQofGIQK2G6nQiOqHvCIkTe3eytXMdF_bxiQHg1xO0b15ME7vcwB3O57zSS523_2zWNwADzdpDHDBG-AoXzh9DIZfsXH3LfOCc7pWoMpaqnro_KocreWcmayUp505bxg/s320/gossamer.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" /></div><div>Lo and behold, I loved it. All Hour Cymbals blew my mind, and I listened to it over and over and over. "2080" got the most critical acclaim, but for me it was "Sunrise" that took the cake. You know me and handclaps. Well, this was maybe the song that started it. "Sunrise" inspired my Make It Clap mix, and took that love to a new level.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wanted to spread the Yeasayer love, telling all my friends to check out this amazing track. We saw them play in Boston and blow MGMT out of the water at Great Scott, but Sunrise never really seemed to catch. It took too long to develop, didn't pop enough. It made more sense in the context of the album than it did on its own. It was missing some <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">bravado</span>.</div><div><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272040026968813682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvt1D4pURipX8xHv1NMeIsk-YsKWjboFaed0ITIBxwvbpOxNCxO6AOJgKRT0Lv__1oUc8dkXjBox1yJ3E87BJLI9vWB6Ss3jRRYSPOFE7-rP0HnNly5G16UK2wVyIF4Ysrso4Lu908vwyd/s320/bravado_bey_v07.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" /><div>Enter Pocketknife's Rise and $hine mix, from Pocketknife and Cousin Cole's Canyon Dancing EP. I'm always a fan of anything that replaces "S" with "$" as if to denote that this, indeed, is a money track. Luckily, it is. It adds a driving beat to the track without sucking the air out of the original. If a drum circle decided to cover Sunrise, I'm pretty sure this is what it would sound like.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/sunrisepocketknifesriseandhin">Yeasayer - Sunrise (Pocketknife's Rise & $hine Mix)</a></div>

The Conundrum

Like many of you our there who share our fine musical tastes, I regularly read Pitchfork. While luckily it isn't my sole source of music news and reviews (try Cokemachineglow its real good), I always go out and listen to whatever bands earn the Best New Music or Recommended labels from the site. The pundits over at Pitchfork sometimes get it right, sometimes they miss and sometimes they give an album a great score that really does deserve it, but somehow misses out on the hype. Like Black Milk, Max Tundra really deserves a listen. His music clearly expresses the pure joy he finds in making music and the album is a hodgepodge of different sonic styles and textures moving in a hundred different ways all at the same time. It is because the album is so diverse and the product of love that it is great. It is grounded in pop, but with the electronic noodlings that while reminiscent of Dan Deacon are way cooler and less pretentious. So in short for Max Tundra music=happiness and on his new album Parallax Error Beheads You, Ben Jacobs, the man behind the mask, makes a complex album that at face value makes you happy. How can you resist that? Please check it out at emusic.

Max Tundra - Gum Chimes (YSI) (filesavr)
Max Tundra - Which Song (YSI) (filesavr)
Max Tundra - Glycaemic Index Blues (YSI) (filesavr)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hOGBNn3bGtUVZnBY8IMAgfSqsetHumGVysR9dpdGbnVZWN_G82F_pzxT5IlCyrwhSQJ8V9o3YdtfevTPSpWy4jxvBKQKnG4dqqZw4j-0ZyUa8s39kg3l1wjYKiWw8-XjFNE8K-uVjpaO/s1600-h/itb127_ss_5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272341194094269586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hOGBNn3bGtUVZnBY8IMAgfSqsetHumGVysR9dpdGbnVZWN_G82F_pzxT5IlCyrwhSQJ8V9o3YdtfevTPSpWy4jxvBKQKnG4dqqZw4j-0ZyUa8s39kg3l1wjYKiWw8-XjFNE8K-uVjpaO/s320/itb127_ss_5.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" /></a><br />Like many of you our there who share our fine musical tastes, I regularly read Pitchfork. While luckily it isn't my sole source of music news and reviews (try <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.cokemachineglow.com" target="_blank">Cokemachineglow</a> its real good), I always go out and listen to whatever bands earn the Best New Music or Recommended labels from the site. The pundits over at Pitchfork sometimes get it right, sometimes they miss and sometimes they give an album a great score that really does deserve it, but somehow misses out on the hype. Like Black Milk, Max Tundra really deserves a listen. His music clearly expresses the pure joy he finds in making music and the album is a hodgepodge of different sonic styles and textures moving in a hundred different ways all at the same time. It is because the album is so diverse and the product of love that it is great. It is grounded in pop, but with the electronic noodlings that while reminiscent of Dan Deacon are way cooler and less pretentious. So in short for Max Tundra music=happiness and on his new album Parallax Error Beheads You, Ben Jacobs, the man behind the mask, makes a complex album that at face value makes you happy. How can you resist that? Please check it out at <a href="http://www.emusic.com/album/Parallax-Error-Beheads-You-Parallax-Error-Beheads-You-MP3-Download/11329008.html" target="_blank">emusic</a>.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GwwWpcbIhqmM8nGKHIxsfOb0LgmjGYQCDRivLV4iirsmenAT8__TdjDAejAThNXzNpveQhNnU4J8si0LM0AqkIIX0dI1GVaMDPIKSYdewxCRduP8ygmBeMS-6OMkuHEUFLUoWAfdvPPF/s1600-h/Tundra_Vole-feeding.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272341054076596322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GwwWpcbIhqmM8nGKHIxsfOb0LgmjGYQCDRivLV4iirsmenAT8__TdjDAejAThNXzNpveQhNnU4J8si0LM0AqkIIX0dI1GVaMDPIKSYdewxCRduP8ygmBeMS-6OMkuHEUFLUoWAfdvPPF/s320/Tundra_Vole-feeding.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" /></a><br />Max Tundra - Gum Chimes (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/WnBTb2VLbEo3N0NGa1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01-maxtundra-gumchimes_1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br />Max Tundra - Which Song (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/WnBTRm82Zy9uSlFLSkE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/03whichsong_1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br />Max Tundra - Glycaemic Index Blues (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/WnBTRm82Zy96NExIRGc9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/09glycaemicindexblues_1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)

Circus = Great. My Baby = Not Great. Negative Great.

Oh Britney.  You're such a good pop-star.  You give us fantastic teeny-bopper songs (Crazy, Oops...I Did It Again), hilariously horrendous songs (E-mail My Heart), and scandalously sexy songs (Slave 4 U, Gimme More, Womanizer).  You give us fake marriages, bad marriages, shaved heads and babies.  You give us everything we ask for in a celebrity, from the entertainment to the talent.

So for that, Thank You.

BUT.  You also have given us something else, here toward the end of 2008.  You have given us the Worst.  Song.  Ever.

How can I describe how terrible the track My Baby is?  Let me count the ways:

1.  From the first notes, the song drips with syrupy cheesy and schmutz.

2.  The first line is "Tiny hands.  Yes, that's you".

3.  Britney, your voice is raspy, and you're attempting this song at least an octave and a half too high.

4.  There are about 7 little vocal frills per syllable in this song.

5.  The third line is "I smell your breath, it makes me cry".

6.  Let me repeat that.  The third line is "I smell your breath, it makes me cry".  I kid you not.  

7.  What?

8.  The chorus to this track has about as much punch as...well...as taking three raspy Britney Spears singing in falsetto and layering them over each other.

Alright, I'm 43 seconds in and I already have 8 ways.  You get the point.  This track is miserable.  It's horrible.  And it comes in the context of a surprisingly good album, which makes it so much worse.  Also, it's one of the two tracks on the album that Britney co-wrote.  Disappointing.

On the plus side, Circus is a pretty great album, and the title track is hot fire - my favorite Britney track in a while.  I found myself singing it to myself at the gas station the other day, no joke.  Anyway....

Britney Spears - My Baby

Britney Spears - Circus

Oh Britney.  You're such a good pop-star.  You give us fantastic teeny-bopper songs (Crazy, Oops...I Did It Again), hilariously horrendous songs (E-mail My Heart), and scandalously sexy songs (Slave 4 U, Gimme More, Womanizer).  You give us fake marriages, bad marriages, shaved heads and babies.  You give us everything we ask for in a celebrity, from the entertainment to the talent.<div><br /></div><div>So for that, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Thank You</span>.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272047589274115042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xzt5ELtLfj5MyPeA9xp8b7mQjsIukXGEYudd0oB6K6O1tk3OTmDkYerBudpXknp4W-Fm-4X2wVUJK56FCyvrSCKDlQCNrtAH5kkID8kzWCyVjESao1JfDe2LGy0HZEylOjGYy-qINzWU/s320/thanks.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 246px;" /></div><div>BUT.  You also have given us something else, here toward the end of 2008.  You have given us the Worst.  Song.  Ever.</div><div><br /></div><div>How can I describe how terrible the track My Baby is?  Let me count the ways:</div><div><br /></div><div>1.  From the first notes, the song drips with syrupy cheesy and schmutz.</div><div>2.  The first line is "Tiny hands.  Yes, that's you".</div><div>3.  Britney, your voice is raspy, and you're attempting this song at least an octave and a half too high.</div><div>4.  There are about 7 little vocal frills per syllable in this song.</div><div>5.  The third line is "I smell your breath, it makes me cry".</div><div>6.  Let me repeat that.  The third line is "I smell your breath, it makes me cry".  I kid you not.  </div><div>7.  What?</div><div>8.  The chorus to this track has about as much punch as...well...as taking three raspy Britney Spears singing in falsetto and layering them over each other.</div><div><br /></div><div>Alright, I'm 43 seconds in and I already have 8 ways.  You get the point.  This track is miserable.  It's horrible.  And it comes in the context of a surprisingly good album, which makes it so much worse.  Also, it's one of the two tracks on the album that Britney co-wrote.  <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Disappointing</span>.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272047363539181810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQnI4nB6pjn4FbizU2rkP4cW7iuM4lGu5BPu-1RHdImJi7ht4-w6hakE43p2TRjpR-bn6f5oDjmmC5o4OLEHIkwLp-JWnsXBhH4Bh46qwDwRzv2vThcb8TVhLCh16VsAT0HHg5Nfg3Meg/s320/595disappointed3if8.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 207px;" /></div><div>On the plus side, Circus is a pretty great album, and the title track is hot fire - my favorite Britney track in a while.  I found myself singing it to myself at the gas station the other day, no joke.  Anyway....</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/12mybaby1">Britney Spears - My Baby</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/02-britneyspears-circus">Britney Spears - Circus</a></div>

Mos Definitely Marvelous

At first I had trouble putting my finger on why Mos Def's Life in Marvelous Times - the most leading single off of his forthcoming "The Ecstatic" - reminded me so much of a mixtape track from Weezy or Clipse.  But after a few spins I realized it's a combination of factors - the beat is epically large, the flow is solid, and it sounds like Mos Def has something that he feels is worth hearing.  He's not rapping, he's preaching.  Most importantly, however, the song doesn't rely on a hook to catch on, and no vocal breakbeat comes in until nearly two and a half minutes into the track.  It's rap without the decorations.

You could turn the track off after two and a half minutes (and in fact, maybe should, given the somewhat sub-par singing on the back side of the cut) and still would feel great about it.  The beat is sweet, and the flow is enjoyable.  More than anything, I'm just glad to see Mos Def back making music.  He was great in Be Kind Rewind and all those other flicks, but I think he provides a great voice for today's music, and can help wrest control of hip hop away from T-Pain and 50 Cent.  Here's hoping.

Mos Def - Life In Marvelous Times

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSjNAk4CUmraOXGykxwurXe-rnW80kO9Kfi-kOVapiFa6Uoq2cFcG4p05Qbgi8vo4MZJ4j09OYrzv3YbLZEeQKMcp3YXqZTnYi1mWSIj4GDHcdQoe62ECIxQI5eUh2JIB5CfnZcg0RiQQ/s1600-h/be-kind-miss-daisy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272060436122973490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSjNAk4CUmraOXGykxwurXe-rnW80kO9Kfi-kOVapiFa6Uoq2cFcG4p05Qbgi8vo4MZJ4j09OYrzv3YbLZEeQKMcp3YXqZTnYi1mWSIj4GDHcdQoe62ECIxQI5eUh2JIB5CfnZcg0RiQQ/s320/be-kind-miss-daisy.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" /></a><br />At first I had trouble putting my finger on why Mos Def's Life in Marvelous Times - the most leading single off of his forthcoming "The Ecstatic" - reminded me so much of a mixtape track from Weezy or Clipse.  But after a few spins I realized it's a combination of factors - the beat is epically large, the flow is solid, and it sounds like Mos Def has something that he feels is worth hearing.  He's not rapping, he's preaching.  Most importantly, however, the song doesn't rely on a hook to catch on, and no vocal breakbeat comes in until nearly two and a half minutes into the track.  It's rap without the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">decorations</span>.<div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272060266175681218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7cVPtOBJh032YVCXgBtzYelbzGUapFtE7gUmUyvyAuu6NKGVSwleY2Hfa5s3yZpASBgNpS4DmrRtc-yjNlA9U9P2LVte4ThnsZ-9O0kO8Ok9JB3HhtRcsmAimi2y9Xq3qysu4XdDRYCJ/s320/decorations.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" /><div><br /></div><div>You could turn the track off after two and a half minutes (and in fact, maybe should, given the somewhat sub-par singing on the back side of the cut) and still would feel great about it.  The beat is sweet, and the flow is enjoyable.  More than anything, I'm just glad to see Mos Def back making music.  He was great in Be Kind Rewind and all those other flicks, but I think he provides a great voice for today's music, and can help wrest control of hip hop away from T-Pain and 50 Cent.  Here's hoping.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/lifeinmarveloustimes">Mos Def - Life In Marvelous Times</a></div></div>

The big move!

Dear Loyal Readers,

Sometime in the next couple days, TSRE will be making the shift to the dotcom world! You'll be able to read our words and wit at www.thestureidexperiment.com!  And you'll still be able to find us, should you accidentally wander over to tsre.blogspot.com!  So no worries.

Alas, as things work on the interwebs, we've run into a couple tech hiccups.

Hopefully those will all get ironed out in the next couple days, thanks for being patient in the meantime.

Here's a picture for your effort.

Love,
The Stu Reid Experiment

Dear Loyal Readers,<div><br />Sometime in the next couple days, TSRE will be making the shift to the dotcom world! You'll be able to read our words and wit at www.thestureidexperiment.com!  And you'll still be able to find us, should you accidentally wander over to tsre.blogspot.com!  So no worries.<div><br /></div><div>Alas, as things work on the interwebs, we've run into a couple tech hiccups.<br /><br />Hopefully those will all get ironed out in the next couple days, thanks for being patient in the meantime.<br /><br />Here's a picture for your effort.<div><br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270751673062283634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqU7IU7KUkaefPBEqQVmTwOA5SK54NlZAzDFByiiD_CJVeqL0ztDtvps9xvFCnKsxbjB68DvWTPMiwpRy-UbEeLVmmhoFumHzKQeh32F0A3FtrbOgjJ1dQ1mj80BKiBv08gTzt4f62_Vn/s320/awesome_takes_practice.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 205px; height: 320px;" /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Love,<br />The Stu Reid Experiment</div></div></div>

Spiced

I have been going through my music library and my brain recently. History revolves around trade and the much of the early global economy was built upon spice. The British East India Company and the VOC scoured the seas for spices and other valuable trade goods that led to the mapping and ultimately the colonization of much of the globe. While many may say that this is a Euro-centric view, spice was a driving force of early modern history. Related to the history lesson, albeit a small one, here are three of the tracks that have formed the musical foundation of my last few years. I also recommend the book Batavia's Graveyard by Mike Dash for a look at the darker undertones of the eastern trade in the 17th century. Now you can see the source of my ramblings.

Here are three of my favorite tracks from the past few years. If you haven't listened to !!! yet, you absolutely need to. They make you dance, move, feel happy and just go let go for a little while. Horns and bells!

!!! - All My Heroes Are Weirdos

The New Rags - Your Room

Klaxons - Golden Skans

I encourage you to go out a explore all of these guys.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrkBvE_Br-3CQdCp_UqaEJIzu6FQ9Jitso11VgcRLwccO3p5uuo972hQHV2CdlfzpOPcqrQ9uNfxeuzS_nWWj_E3jGjp4TseS2g98UxZ8Sl9NNVYfXguRLAcsgU_WOwr9baxg39fNSf2B/s1600-h/bacon_salt_hat_blog._V28857871_.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270550436797848978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrkBvE_Br-3CQdCp_UqaEJIzu6FQ9Jitso11VgcRLwccO3p5uuo972hQHV2CdlfzpOPcqrQ9uNfxeuzS_nWWj_E3jGjp4TseS2g98UxZ8Sl9NNVYfXguRLAcsgU_WOwr9baxg39fNSf2B/s320/bacon_salt_hat_blog._V28857871_.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 246px;" /></a><br />I have been going through my music library and my brain recently. History revolves around trade and the much of the early global economy was built upon spice. The British East India Company and the VOC scoured the seas for spices and other valuable trade goods that led to the mapping and ultimately the colonization of much of the globe. While many may say that this is a Euro-centric view, spice was a driving force of early modern history. Related to the history lesson, albeit a small one, here are three of the tracks that have formed the musical foundation of my last few years. I also recommend the book Batavia's Graveyard by Mike Dash for a look at the darker undertones of the eastern trade in the 17th century. Now you can see the source of my ramblings.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6KIeth41mgoxAeU_PIhqSpfcS49TrWRbiVPBgZAjXbm1vJmVxCllLVCUQwH7CB2-EMW4MpuJ36y868Ut_9zmFjl4csOXLzGmGNjEvTwhKzH53fR7x5jj9ystHF64Uu8WeFAxhGsY9aV9/s1600-h/p30-b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270550231342457474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6KIeth41mgoxAeU_PIhqSpfcS49TrWRbiVPBgZAjXbm1vJmVxCllLVCUQwH7CB2-EMW4MpuJ36y868Ut_9zmFjl4csOXLzGmGNjEvTwhKzH53fR7x5jj9ystHF64Uu8WeFAxhGsY9aV9/s320/p30-b.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 249px;" /></a><br />Here are three of my favorite tracks from the past few years. If you haven't listened to !!! yet, you absolutely need to. They make you dance, move, feel happy and just go let go for a little while. Horns and bells!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/02allmyheroesareweirdos" target="_black">!!! - All My Heroes Are Weirdos</a><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01yourroom" target="_black"><br />The New Rags - Your Room</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/03goldenskans" target="_black">Klaxons - Golden Skans</a><br /><br />I encourage you to go out a explore all of these guys.

A Growing Epidemic

Let me be clear about one thing:  In the past 6 months - and intensifying in the past 2 - I have grown to hate the vocoder.  Autotune is singlehandedly killing pop music.  It was fine when Cher used it.  It was understandable when Kid Rock broke it out for Only God Knows Why.  I was even alright with it when Mr. Robot Rapper himself, T-Pain, came on to the scene as the exclusively autotuned mechanical voice.  But seriously, folks, this business is crazy.

New Kids On The Block use autotune on their new album (please don't ask how I know this).  Kanye's upcoming album features vocoded after vocoded track.  Lil Wayne has started using it more and more and more.  It's not good.

All of a sudden, people who can't sing (see above) think they're allowed to sing.  Why?  Because of the Robot Thingy.  This is like the musical version of Crystal Pepsi - "futuristic", totally in vogue, and crappy.  Please.  Make. It.  Stop.

This post, however, is the most hypocritical in the history of the universe.  Because I'm posting a track that makes extensive use of Autotune.  Why am I permitting it?  Four reasons:

1.  T-Pain has some sort of right to use the Vocoder, since without it he wouldn't be able to feed his family.

2.  When someone who can actually sing uses autotune (as in the case of JT here) it sounds pretty decent.

3.  At the end of the track, T-Pain himself proclaims that "Auto-Tune is on its way out"

4.  The song is damn catchy.

So here it is, the remix of Can't Believe It, with some smooth metallic stylings of a rapper turnt sangah and a sangah turnt different genre of sangah.  I don't know why this song is so good, but I can't stop listening to it.  

T-Pain  - Can't Believe It (Remix f. Justin Timberlake)

As an added bonus, Ludacris basically sums up my feelings on the Vocoder on his latest mixtape with the track The Vocalizer.  Dead on and pretty funny - pull over, Luda got somethin' to say.

Ludacris - The Vocalizer

Let me be clear about one thing:  In the past 6 months - and intensifying in the past 2 - I have grown to hate the vocoder.  Autotune is singlehandedly killing pop music.  It was fine when Cher used it.  It was understandable when Kid Rock broke it out for Only God Knows Why.  I was even alright with it when Mr. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Robot Rapper</span> himself, T-Pain, came on to the scene as the exclusively autotuned mechanical voice.  But seriously, folks, this business is crazy.<div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269370220577914194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6akz-f31Ko0WNjTpehUsG6dDbwFHIr1Y8gZysPqHqsM0G_CvmovgjNFsdlsXg__hrGqIzaRu910Peh3f1P087Vt1RVABcs7xvl64Ps45YXp4kjwiafW8bmVAPCHRNylLUZDxsu5MXgYgR/s320/robot+rapper.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" /><div><br /></div><div>New Kids On The Block use autotune on their new album (please don't ask how I know this).  Kanye's upcoming album features vocoded after vocoded track.  Lil Wayne has started using it more and more and more.  It's not good.</div><div><br /></div><div>All of a sudden, people who can't sing (see above) think they're allowed to sing.  Why?  Because of the Robot Thingy.  This is like the musical version of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Crystal Pepsi</span> - "futuristic", totally in vogue, and crappy.  Please.  Make. It.  Stop.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269370139534508050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN36uKWaeuEuFiCO2tiWO6cb3oSjHCEenpx9G7MIqo7xhbKBqikItx4zAXmmTNRR4b83P2m2OU6WGlDPi1Rad34VdxphSs8CJap20ww8SYVaA0OX3cgEidkky0ia7hIfjPmU48XB28hJv/s320/Crystal-pepsi.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 232px;" /></div><div>This post, however, is the most hypocritical in the history of the universe.  Because I'm posting a track that makes extensive use of Autotune.  Why am I permitting it?  Four reasons:</div><div>1.  T-Pain has some sort of right to use the Vocoder, since without it he wouldn't be able to feed his family.</div><div>2.  When someone who can actually sing uses autotune (as in the case of JT here) it sounds pretty decent.</div><div>3.  At the end of the track, T-Pain himself proclaims that "Auto-Tune is on its way out"</div><div>4.  The song is damn catchy.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269369965525156050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17LEies2UdEFRDaJ0kqIiOq7q3tHWYNngQtZtVifabhdsHXY5DPuIaW4dUrIKN0FSF7tuNv2KIuzB0LS1QSQOEIeLEDUWgUk4wK1E-swwguitqI9QmjF7H0XQ5LInnqeiwbtPpwKnZ1jm/s320/0711catch.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" /></div><div>So here it is, the remix of Can't Believe It, with some smooth metallic stylings of a rapper turnt sangah and a sangah turnt different genre of sangah.  I don't know why this song is so good, but I can't stop listening to it.  </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/cantbelieveitfjustintimberlak">T-Pain  - Can't Believe It (Remix f. Justin Timberlake)</a></div><div><br /></div><div>As an added bonus, Ludacris basically sums up my feelings on the Vocoder on his latest mixtape with the track The Vocalizer.  Dead on and pretty funny - pull over, Luda got somethin' to say.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/1-06thevocalizer">Ludacris - The Vocalizer</a></div></div>

Further Thoughts on Woods Rock

Woods Rock for me is characterized by its integration of horns, strings, sometimes gentle guitar, crooning and of course, hand claps. Both of these tracks by Secret Dakota Ring and Frontier Ruckus follow this outline to the promised land of the soaring, expansive West. Their music evokes images of an unspoiled landscape filled with bright eyed joy. Each band uses strings and horns to great success and I'm excited to add them both to my Woods Rock canon. Check them out for yourselves.

Secret Dakota Ring - The Fade to Black

Frontier Ruckus - Orion Town 2Also, keep an eye on Theophilus London, a young rapper MC who I think is going to blow up. Check him out over at Neon Gold, who not only run an outstanding blog, but are also a start up label who represent TSRE favorites Passion Pit. I love those guys. But yeah, Mr. London as I like to call him gets some help from some interesting, glitchy beats and just rhymes seemlessly all over it. Download the his mixtape JAM! at the Neon Gold site. DO IT!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolQr1XfbycVjq1wWBCEkIacbdfAfKzRlLv2Egx8Yd9yQWEfEP_uFBKVFeqS2gOD6aVqqe9WCD-ULBRm-FR5WXt9spLIYeJ0zzDr50npcUcYn5sjCizWV2ozfJAfot3zOvWdHrdTnViXxv/s1600-h/Henry-Rice.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269773245634231186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolQr1XfbycVjq1wWBCEkIacbdfAfKzRlLv2Egx8Yd9yQWEfEP_uFBKVFeqS2gOD6aVqqe9WCD-ULBRm-FR5WXt9spLIYeJ0zzDr50npcUcYn5sjCizWV2ozfJAfot3zOvWdHrdTnViXxv/s320/Henry-Rice.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" /></a><br />Woods Rock for me is characterized by its integration of horns, strings, sometimes gentle guitar, crooning and of course, hand claps. Both of these tracks by Secret Dakota Ring and Frontier Ruckus follow this outline to the promised land of the soaring, expansive West. Their music evokes images of an unspoiled landscape filled with bright eyed joy. Each band uses strings and horns to great success and I'm excited to add them both to my Woods Rock canon. Check them out for yourselves.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/02thefadetoblack">Secret Dakota Ring - The Fade to Black</a><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/09oriontown2"><br />Frontier Ruckus - Orion Town 2</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oF2XhZNuScwhJ_tohUeSi1-S4lPnJ02N-lBVf6TvnUyCViSvh0trBvX78iBwy6hEgsj7hbZTqxG5LSPNA8RSdM7LxuNNhyphenhyphenSRaBcVWmdTPj3nD0Uk10XbbMWRD8IkAqJ1rZxhOtkYybDd/s1600-h/Guys-shovels.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269773006642092706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oF2XhZNuScwhJ_tohUeSi1-S4lPnJ02N-lBVf6TvnUyCViSvh0trBvX78iBwy6hEgsj7hbZTqxG5LSPNA8RSdM7LxuNNhyphenhyphenSRaBcVWmdTPj3nD0Uk10XbbMWRD8IkAqJ1rZxhOtkYybDd/s320/Guys-shovels.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 225px;" /></a>Also, keep an eye on Theophilus London, a young rapper MC who I think is going to blow up. Check him out over at <a href="http://neongoldrecords.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Neon Gold</a>, who not only run an outstanding blog, but are also a start up label who represent TSRE favorites Passion Pit. I love those guys. But yeah, Mr. London as I like to call him gets some help from some interesting, glitchy beats and just rhymes seemlessly all over it. Download the his mixtape JAM! at the <a href="http://neongoldrecords.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Neon Gold</a> site. DO IT!

Beep That

I love Architecture in Helsinki.  I love their enthusiasm, their genuine energy, and their use of female/male vocal combos.  Most bands that pair a chick and a dude on the mic (see: Stars, Bell & Sebastian, Donnie & Marie Osmond) lose their energy and confine themselves to somewhat spacey alternative rock.  Architecture doesn't, choosing instead to crank up the synths, dance around, and shout a bit.

But I love more than just the music.  I love that they released their first single from Places Like This, "Heart It Races", with a number of covers and remixes available.  Dr. Dog's cover is probably my favorite cover of all time, and the DJ/Rupture raggae-dub cover is fantastic as well.

It took my a while to find AIH, but now I'm solidly in their camp.

It's no big surprise that That Beep, as well as the recent Radioclit remix that's kicking around, have swiftly rising playcounts.

The original starts with an echoey intro that quickly hits with a bass and clearly picked guitar.  Kellie Sutherland's magical voice resounds over a backdrop of typically eccentric synth instrumentation.  It's dope.  It's streaming, check it out at thatbeep.com.  

Additionally, a pretty fly Radioclit remix is available.  Perhaps they should have used That Beep to censor Radioclit's name?  Perhaps.  Regardless, the remix doesn't do anything drastic - rearranges some of the melodies, adds some stringy synth of its own, and lays down some sickies French verses.  I'm pretty sure the singer on the track (Marina?) mentions EZ Cheese twice, which gets her a 4 point bonus (2x2).  Kudos to you, Ms. Cheese.  

I highly recommend you investigate both of these tracks, and if you haven't heard Architecture in Helsinki before, consider Places Like This for your next musical purchase.

Architecture in Helsinki - That Beep (streaming)

Architecture in Helsinki - That Beep (Radioclit's French Mix f. Marina) (mp3)

I love Architecture in Helsinki.  I love their enthusiasm, their genuine energy, and their use of female/male vocal combos.  Most bands that pair a chick and a dude on the mic (see: Stars, Bell & Sebastian, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Donnie & Marie Osmond</span>) lose their energy and confine themselves to somewhat spacey alternative rock.  Architecture doesn't, choosing instead to crank up the synths, dance around, and shout a bit.<div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269376445944339762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnvQFfQROFZLGRMW3Xn7PsQizGnzAjFWQOZ134qDLJ5T7HDExUx4-p-FMEXS_fXS1_0O7VW6EPTNRtocBL00v3SUBvww-6Gb99jNxACHIt8qlcpdqJErpgEbauLagDDYZAAg9EsuEUM1Y/s320/Donnyandmarie_young.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" /><div><br /></div><div>But I love more than just the music.  I love that they released their first single from Places Like This, "Heart It Races", with a number of covers and remixes available.  Dr. Dog's cover is probably my favorite cover of all time, and the DJ/Rupture raggae-dub cover is fantastic as well.<div><br /></div><div>It took my a while to find AIH, but now I'm solidly in their <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">camp</span>.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269376319174574674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQ8Pa2SSbMd05ZACXbkKoyDQTgQXMqh04XRkAeyFvWWFcoQuoWMiNOu-D2veUq2nqZ8yfQICrPSj_OVcLBg2UyYMKzjqa2wLu82RnAoQ0421iB8wUmx7BZYPmxZt-R5aV6TjxLLDL7jUM/s320/camp.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 206px;" /></div><div>It's no big surprise that That Beep, as well as the recent Radioclit remix that's kicking around, have swiftly rising playcounts.</div><div><br />The original starts with an echoey intro that quickly hits with a bass and clearly picked guitar.  Kellie Sutherland's magical voice resounds over a backdrop of typically eccentric synth instrumentation.  It's dope.  It's streaming, check it out at <a href="http://thatbeep.com/" target="_blank">thatbeep.com</a>.  </div><div><br /></div><div>Additionally, a pretty fly Radioclit remix is available.  Perhaps they should have used That Beep to censor Radioclit's name?  Perhaps.  Regardless, the remix doesn't do anything drastic - rearranges some of the melodies, adds some stringy synth of its own, and lays down some sickies French verses.  I'm pretty sure the singer on the track (Marina?) mentions <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">EZ Cheese</span> twice, which gets her a 4 point bonus (2x2).  Kudos to you, Ms. Cheese.  </div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269376219678962306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKA3ua5Yrpo3VosRGSKZDWnWFBwrApf_7HOhzlrMGR7BVbQwE9qpHoeKSsSpF3uXTz2z0hSlTf9PvdS_0o2uaGvBAYLLjDhtWx9NNnsGQLCrV1OQxb6wGraVM7c3IBSlVAezsK9k3XfRK/s320/ez+cheese.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" /></div><div>I highly recommend you investigate both of these tracks, and if you haven't heard Architecture in Helsinki before, consider Places Like This for your next musical purchase.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://thatbeep.com/">Architecture in Helsinki - That Beep</a> (streaming)</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/02thatbeep-radioclitsfrenchmi">Architecture in Helsinki - That Beep (Radioclit's French Mix f. Marina)</a> (mp3)</div></div></div>

Oz

So I was at trivia last week with the Judge and dedicated fan X. One of the questions was on what popular TV show was the device the "cornballer" featured. The answer was Arrested Development, but one team answered Oz. I thought that was pretty darned funny. On a semi-related note I'm watching the Wizard of Oz right now. Toto is really cute and looks like he's high on drugs the whole time.

In the same vein as blasts from the past; here are two tracks from the past that I continue to enjoy.

White Denim - Let's Talk

White Denim are from Austin (a place I've always wanted to visit) and with their multiple EPs and new album Exposion, which a barnstormer of a rock record, it seems as if Lets Talk is eons old. Only about a year old Lets Talk is just the tip of the iceberg for White Denim, their albums and especially their live show, which I have been lucky enough to see myself, do not disappoint. Think sweaty, raucous rock that knows how to shake it.

Smashing Pumpkins - Eye

Eye was a special Pumpkins track that was only released on their greatest hits collection "Rotten Apples" and originally on the Lost Highway soundtrack. David Lynch is a crazy dude. With a robust synth line that drives the entire song, Eye is more like the Pumpkins' later work on Adore, but you can still hear their rock roots. Either way its a great song with atmosphere, which can't be said about a lot of things these days. This one is legitimately a blast from the past and its a good one.

Enjoy

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNwDYAY_G5JkOWBK7W27qGQbTck_Ri0-hx1zLQ5CzTJztCsiyBqOZHW-SfQxq9JcMBzXM9P5jzEioiBgzVfWIT9Qss4atjLKvi8vbmGUOerXO6SHMvLi-b_OOl67RDqjb_ISGRV9lflYp/s1600-h/metrosport.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268690868561608946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNwDYAY_G5JkOWBK7W27qGQbTck_Ri0-hx1zLQ5CzTJztCsiyBqOZHW-SfQxq9JcMBzXM9P5jzEioiBgzVfWIT9Qss4atjLKvi8vbmGUOerXO6SHMvLi-b_OOl67RDqjb_ISGRV9lflYp/s320/metrosport.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" /></a><br />So I was at trivia last week with the Judge and dedicated fan X. One of the questions was on what popular TV show was the device the "cornballer" featured. The answer was Arrested Development, but one team answered Oz. I thought that was pretty darned funny. On a semi-related note I'm watching the Wizard of Oz right now. Toto is really cute and looks like he's high on drugs the whole time.<br /><br />In the same vein as blasts from the past; here are two tracks from the past that I continue to enjoy.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/10letstalk">White Denim - Let's Talk</a><br /><br />White Denim are from Austin (a place I've always wanted to visit) and with their multiple EPs and new album Exposion, which a barnstormer of a rock record, it seems as if Lets Talk is eons old. Only about a year old Lets Talk is just the tip of the iceberg for White Denim, their albums and especially their live show, which I have been lucky enough to see myself, do not disappoint. Think sweaty, raucous rock that knows how to shake it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBOVMQv5Edkb3a-azr4ofYVVUjyzGmwCFSAziZlgNe66buHL1rAy_ZPtrwa0aVbt6mBLcZ97GA9CpSBRxBStxtSR9ITRD-oBEv-V8TCXBVoYkzLbSZozTJxb2kz3wv6Mlj9FhV883QV1T/s1600-h/2007_01_arts_eraserhead.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268690717714264258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBOVMQv5Edkb3a-azr4ofYVVUjyzGmwCFSAziZlgNe66buHL1rAy_ZPtrwa0aVbt6mBLcZ97GA9CpSBRxBStxtSR9ITRD-oBEv-V8TCXBVoYkzLbSZozTJxb2kz3wv6Mlj9FhV883QV1T/s320/2007_01_arts_eraserhead.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 320px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/12eye">Smashing Pumpkins - Eye</a><br /><br />Eye was a special Pumpkins track that was only released on their greatest hits collection "Rotten Apples" and originally on the Lost Highway soundtrack. David Lynch is a crazy dude. With a robust synth line that drives the entire song, Eye is more like the Pumpkins' later work on Adore, but you can still hear their rock roots. Either way its a great song with atmosphere, which can't be said about a lot of things these days. This one is legitimately a blast from the past and its a good one.<br /><br />Enjoy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMeNAZEFCVASR2Hltn3dzhbnWJr0dU-a1T3FGLKMta8hV1hAULYOpPFFYoqBv2_JdPaat3Rsllkyv42fxnn7OBzvg_wHX96DBjSYWn8G905-C7o75KdWYkpfo1JYNv4tTHEE0LxULB4TQ/s1600-h/munchkins2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268690172490411410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMeNAZEFCVASR2Hltn3dzhbnWJr0dU-a1T3FGLKMta8hV1hAULYOpPFFYoqBv2_JdPaat3Rsllkyv42fxnn7OBzvg_wHX96DBjSYWn8G905-C7o75KdWYkpfo1JYNv4tTHEE0LxULB4TQ/s320/munchkins2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 262px;" /></a>

Fresh Cream from Black Milk

I first heard about Black Milk's newest album, Tronic, when The Truth pointed out a stellar review on cokemachineglow.  Great review that makes you really want to check out the album.  And let me tell you, it's worth it.  On the first listen, half paying attention, I wasn't completely sold.  But slowly, as I worked, I found myself bumping to the beat more and more.  As the album progressed I became more and more entranced, hooked by the beats and flow.

The beats are lush and fresh, with live-sounding drums replacing the drum machines and 808s that are so in vogue, hot brass popping all over the tracks, and a refreshingly small reliance on the retro samples that characterize modern hip hop.  From the opener "Long Story Short" it's clear that this album is huge, far larger than Black Milk has earned.  The beats are so good it sounds like a mixtape that has ripped popular beats from various MCs and put them together in a best-of snapshot.  It's an album that doesn't ask for your attention, it blindsides you, smacks you upside the head, and grabs it from you.

Black Milk takes the Roots and packages them with a pop that they have never been able to find.  Black Milk takes The Cool Kids and adds the melodies they lack to avoid Beastie Boys comparisons.  Black Milk takes the intensity of Pharoah Monche (who guests on "The Matrix") and voices it with pipes that you can bear to listen to for more than 5 tracks.  

Indeed, it's rare for me to find a rap album I can listen to end-to-end without getting tired.  But  Tronic finds a magic sweet spot, avoiding the bloated hip hop norm and popping all over the album's 14 tracks.  Each track differs enough from the previous that never is the record repetitive.  "You love my style 'cause it's not what you're used to," Black Milk raps on "The Matrix," and he's right.  It's a fresh take that succeeds fully.

Oh, and there's no autotune/vocoder on the whole album.  Praise the Lord.

Black Milk - Long Story Short

Black Milk - The Matrix

<div style="text-align: left;">I first heard about Black <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Milk</span>'s newest album, Tronic, when The Truth pointed out a stellar review on <a href="http://www.cokemachineglow.com/record_review/4028">cokemachineglow</a>.  Great review that makes you really want to check out the album.  And let me tell you, it's worth it.  On the first listen, half paying attention, I wasn't completely sold.  But slowly, as I worked, I found myself bumping to the beat more and more.  As the album progressed I became more and more entranced, hooked by the beats and flow.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267994727415888258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOg2ajp-IJN_DtkoxZ2TkSEwf7balHWgwANBRrCkY3R10gbpubVb7ZeXQzrjjCqJ2n44mL-xD1-qszlxWLfz-iMsuQqHvJmdKy9N8NfDr623u_mYLvCXu1DBeS1ZHbf0FKvz_QsdZU6XK/s320/Milk_Flavors.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" /><div>The beats are lush and fresh, with live-sounding drums replacing the drum machines and 808s that are so in vogue, hot brass popping all over the tracks, and a refreshingly small reliance on the retro samples that characterize modern hip hop.  From the opener "Long Story Short" it's clear that this album is huge, far larger than Black Milk has earned.  The beats are so good it sounds like a mixtape that has <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ripped </span>popular beats from various MCs and put them together in a best-of snapshot.  It's an album that doesn't ask for your attention, it blindsides you, smacks you upside the head, and grabs it from you.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267994008143566738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD47f5k6X2namBuFXUJyIr-yotmPBDdnI6YLxHE1qsh0XQfoLyZOcIFiJ71i7IWdu_UnaXKXDhhhLHvOr4JG3aVPsfsCR8wdaTa6Zzo0i8YX7_H2Y7Ocl6RT0ndDMuPr_9lqeY4-ySz567/s320/arnold-schwarzenegger-with-two-old-ladies-celebrities-28932.jpg" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px; " /></span></div><div>Black Milk takes the Roots and packages them with a pop that they have never been able to find.  Black Milk takes The Cool Kids and adds the melodies they lack to avoid Beastie Boys comparisons.  Black Milk takes the intensity of Pharoah Monche (who guests on "The Matrix") and voices it with pipes that you can bear to listen to for more than 5 tracks.  </div><div><br /></div><div>Indeed, it's rare for me to find a rap album I can listen to end-to-end without getting tired.  But  Tronic finds a magic sweet spot, avoiding the bloated hip hop norm and popping all over the album's 14 tracks.  Each track differs enough from the previous that never is the record repetitive.  "You love my style 'cause it's not what you're used to," Black Milk raps on "The Matrix," and he's right.  It's a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">fresh </span>take that succeeds fully.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV4t6ZAwiDP4cJ9x1ngishVjbS-QAWGUUuGFtb6NZ7JQ1hyphenhyphenagYCAg2a3-yKm0VWVDeNnDOrNj7DOcwWVDcr7BPX4goSFBhhK-h46h9a1QlWmG1hbtY4QUVCqR6_uWCanUNUq_auwCAY0W/s320/fresh-prince-of-bel-air-will-smith.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Oh, and there's no autotune/vocoder on the whole album.  Praise the Lord.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01longstoryshort">Black Milk - Long Story Short</a></div><div><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/10thematrixfeatpharoahemonch"><br /></a></div><div><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/10thematrixfeatpharoahemonch">Black Milk - The Matrix</a></div><div><br /></div>

Alt-Folker? I Hardly Even Know 'er

So right now I'm on a what you would call an Alt-folk kick. I've been listening to The Loom and Pale Young Gentlemen A LOT right now. Pale Young Gentlemen hail from Madison, WI and they're part of a much larger scene out in the upper midwest. I could go off into a long tangent about graduate school choices and the midwest, but we'll leave that for next year. The new Pale Young Gentlemen album Black Forest (Tra La La) has been the first album that I've purchased in a long while and it has been very, very worth it. I think actually that instead of the lame title alt-folk, we should call it Woods Rock. Say it with me now, Woods Rock. Much better ring to it. Either way listen to these two tracks, which are perfect for fall and follow me into my newest musical obsession (listen to the strings!). Oh and go check them out on myspace or buy the album on emusic.

Pale Young Gentlemen - The Crook of my Good Arm

Jayber Crow - Oh my God when I Drop Dead

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvextBlH46usPeIvIqHQrGuMEXHDa35otNyswUYE3HiWHZpTGpcV3TmKYZFCUQlbPpkKsY6zGd4pTXfthGYyHnOyiA1veXsye5YxKnsNHeW6ktSwmF9kMti3LM6RdqeoUb3LejqN3JNsmw/s1600-h/l37%5B1%5D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266823990232056482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvextBlH46usPeIvIqHQrGuMEXHDa35otNyswUYE3HiWHZpTGpcV3TmKYZFCUQlbPpkKsY6zGd4pTXfthGYyHnOyiA1veXsye5YxKnsNHeW6ktSwmF9kMti3LM6RdqeoUb3LejqN3JNsmw/s320/l37%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 316px;" /></a><br />So right now I'm on a what you would call an Alt-folk kick. I've been listening to The Loom and Pale Young Gentlemen A LOT right now. Pale Young Gentlemen hail from Madison, WI and they're part of a much larger scene out in the upper midwest. I could go off into a long tangent about graduate school choices and the midwest, but we'll leave that for next year. The new Pale Young Gentlemen album Black Forest (Tra La La) has been the first album that I've purchased in a long while and it has been very, very worth it. I think actually that instead of the lame title alt-folk, we should call it Woods Rock. Say it with me now, Woods Rock. Much better ring to it. Either way listen to these two tracks, which are perfect for fall and follow me into my newest musical obsession (listen to the strings!). Oh and go check them out on myspace or buy the album on <a href="http://www.emusic.com/album/Pale-Young-Gentlemen-Black-Forest-Tra-La-La-MP3-Download/11307330.html">emusic</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/05thecrookofmygoodarm">Pale Young Gentlemen - The Crook of my Good Arm</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/05omygodwhenidropdead">Jayber Crow - Oh my God when I Drop Dead</a>

Stu Reid Under The Covers, Issue #3

I don't know if this is actually the third installment of Under The Covers, but I'm too lazy to go back and look, so yes! It's the 3rd!


Some great covers here - a little something something from Florence and the Machine, a great Paul Simon cut from Jens Lekman, and a real in-studio cover from Of Montreal (none of that horrible quality live stuff).

Florence, presumably with the help of Machine, strips down Hospital Beds to its core, using minimal instrumentation to dot the i's and cross the t's. I've always heard Hospital Beds as a raw, bare track that survives on strained vocals, so this type of mix definitely suits it well.


Florence and the Machine - Hospital Beds (Cold War Kids Cover)

Paul Simon covers. Can't say enough about them. And I totally dig Jens Lekman's voice. Well played with this lo-fi piece of work.


Jens Lekman - You Can Call Me Al (Paul Simon Cover)

And Of Montreal plays The Shins! Remember The Shins? They're the pretty good indie band that re-emerges every few years to pop some great tracks for a couple months before being forgotten for a while. Anyway, this is a fairly true-to-original cover. Maybe it will win back The Kid's affection for pre-Georgie Fruit Of Montreal?


Of Montreal - Know Your Onion (The Shins Cover)

God I love covers. Is that wrong?

I don't know if this is actually the third installment of Under The Covers, but I'm too lazy to go back and look, so yes! It's the <span style="font-weight: bold;">3rd</span>!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGM3oe59IV6c06W2GctddvVV_mZ3UX44G_DsFG9lCMBKaouiIWm4xzTmc8NIF8unQAf5uwoQBUaQhNmYYAZfG57CebDXHc3v99BjT1D0Z4_2a8cYmMX9TgDlc-YPjMWoHeHZ_oIRy3dI9f/s1600-h/3rdall.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266091697117739026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGM3oe59IV6c06W2GctddvVV_mZ3UX44G_DsFG9lCMBKaouiIWm4xzTmc8NIF8unQAf5uwoQBUaQhNmYYAZfG57CebDXHc3v99BjT1D0Z4_2a8cYmMX9TgDlc-YPjMWoHeHZ_oIRy3dI9f/s320/3rdall.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Some great covers here - a little something something from Florence and the Machine, a great Paul Simon cut from Jens Lekman, and a real in-studio cover from Of Montreal (none of that horrible quality live stuff).<br /><br />Florence, presumably with the help of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Machine</span>, strips down Hospital Beds to its core, using minimal instrumentation to dot the i's and cross the t's. I've always heard Hospital Beds as a raw, bare track that survives on strained vocals, so this type of mix definitely suits it well.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZX0-GDOQHpMROJ925Na6efXQixbExDcpXSOXNZe0Kne9gpqmRwJSC-XZ-axKGAbXGebl3mr9ZzkjV0vMIm2HOxQOdM-h8gr_bQkSsvd8KH6A-Asr0UuATdav6z560BF-0ycUwAgSDc3Z/s1600-h/how-to-repair-a-washing-machine-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266091708232043330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZX0-GDOQHpMROJ925Na6efXQixbExDcpXSOXNZe0Kne9gpqmRwJSC-XZ-axKGAbXGebl3mr9ZzkjV0vMIm2HOxQOdM-h8gr_bQkSsvd8KH6A-Asr0UuATdav6z560BF-0ycUwAgSDc3Z/s320/how-to-repair-a-washing-machine-1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 320px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/florenceandthemachine-hospitalbeds">Florence and the Machine - Hospital Beds (Cold War Kids Cover)</a><br /><br />Paul Simon covers. Can't say enough about them. And I totally <span style="font-weight: bold;">dig</span> Jens Lekman's voice. Well played with this lo-fi piece of work.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ycNXQaiY6GG1mOp-MN8kKVMuaQNrpNAjLUwZycT1Tokql1KgeaI4Q0J-lU38ZkMMAX1aRPkTUDrVu0ckgDwJUXMSA_fxdARXVz6A-TS97Hoep5NtHHQiLK50yq0_e-5E4nGaQv_1JsUE/s1600-h/Dig+Safe+Logo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266091697270695954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ycNXQaiY6GG1mOp-MN8kKVMuaQNrpNAjLUwZycT1Tokql1KgeaI4Q0J-lU38ZkMMAX1aRPkTUDrVu0ckgDwJUXMSA_fxdARXVz6A-TS97Hoep5NtHHQiLK50yq0_e-5E4nGaQv_1JsUE/s320/Dig+Safe+Logo.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/09youcancallmealcb1cf">Jens Lekman - You Can Call Me Al (Paul Simon Cover)</a><br /><br />And Of Montreal plays The Shins! Remember The Shins? They're the pretty good indie band that re-emerges every few years to pop some great tracks for a couple months before being forgotten for a while. Anyway, this is a fairly true-to-original cover. Maybe it will win back The Kid's affection for pre-Georgie Fruit Of Montreal?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-z1qdQKDA56LbEnQ2Vyk7bsoFrSgZKT7d7cpqa_0gkX3DHNiz8N4bgOselaHHnTGgDi_pJlwxTr_vxBUZzrHiyyIpKVt9b0vjTmWl3owyVGULSs31vBZC8gcD0EdYsYph8FcsVP3Q6887/s1600-h/onion-goggles-2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266091711302693442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-z1qdQKDA56LbEnQ2Vyk7bsoFrSgZKT7d7cpqa_0gkX3DHNiz8N4bgOselaHHnTGgDi_pJlwxTr_vxBUZzrHiyyIpKVt9b0vjTmWl3owyVGULSs31vBZC8gcD0EdYsYph8FcsVP3Q6887/s320/onion-goggles-2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 320px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/ofmontreal-knowy16cdf0">Of Montreal - Know Your <span style="font-weight: bold;">Onion</span> (The Shins Cover)</a><br /><br />God I love covers. Is that wrong?

How Mogwai Got It's Groove Back

When I was a sophomore or junior in high school, a friend of mine mentioned casually that Mogwai was a good band. It was early in my musical exploration, and I had no idea who/what Mogwai was. But it sounded like it might be related to the Jungle Book, so I was intrigued. When I got a gift certificate to the local independent mom and pop record shop (Tower Records, Inc.), I bought Happy Songs for Happy People.

Side note: Pot leaf? Really Disney?

Wow. Changed my life. My family listened to it on a long drive, and at the end my dad simply said "Well, not all purchases can be good ones." I was blissful in the back seat.

I don't know what it is about Mogwai, but they have captured my heart in a way that M83, Explosions in the Sky, Do Make Say Think, and other post-rockers have never been able to. Maybe it's that they were my first. Maybe it's that they have funny song titles (see: Japanese bonus track, "Stupid Prick Gets Chased by the Police and Loses His Slut Girlfriend"). Maybe it's that their sound is dense, beautiful, and blankets you with a sort of solemn-yet uplifting peace. Regardless, it's baller.


But they never really matched Happy Songs for Happy People with other efforts. I know lots of folks will say that Young Team is their best work, or that Come On Die Young was their closest shot at stardom (as much as you can be a star in the instrock world, at least). I beg to differ. HSfHP had a simplicity that hadn't been matched. I could run, read, or fall asleep to it. I could listen to it in the car, rock out to it on headphones, or play it for friends. Mr. Beast, HSfHP's follow-up, was good, but not great.


Wonder of wonders, they've found that sound again. On the latest from Mogwai, The Hawk Is Howling, the feeling is there - a wave of sound that doesn't fail to hit home at a single point. It's glorious. A month and a half after its release, I'm finding myself going to it more than almost anything else in my collection (exception: Lil Mama). I'm listening to it right now, and I'm happy.

Here, try it. If you're in the right mood, I think you'll quite like it.



Mogwai - Local Authority

Mogwai - The Sun Smells Too Loud

Mogwai - Hunted By A Freak (from Happy Songs for Happy People)

When I was a sophomore or junior in high school, a friend of mine mentioned casually that Mogwai was a good band. It was early in my musical exploration, and I had no idea who/what Mogwai was. But it sounded like it might be related to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jungle Book</span>, so I was intrigued. When I got a gift certificate to the local independent mom and pop record shop (Tower Records, Inc.), I bought Happy Songs for Happy People.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2-l6mt0JqvHjovw-sz5GOVigY5Y8MTVxFZsrU8lJBOdkglYM_opNiifm90gr1KTZeg2XSgDaQWSqZfjamV3vXU9Byogn_P4WMmbG12pk_M8YDnq7Z0AkG2OidNxVfgLvwxCsgK_noH9c/s1600-h/mogli.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266083368633398466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2-l6mt0JqvHjovw-sz5GOVigY5Y8MTVxFZsrU8lJBOdkglYM_opNiifm90gr1KTZeg2XSgDaQWSqZfjamV3vXU9Byogn_P4WMmbG12pk_M8YDnq7Z0AkG2OidNxVfgLvwxCsgK_noH9c/s320/mogli.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Side note: Pot leaf? Really Disney?</span><br /></span></div><br />Wow. Changed my life. My family listened to it on a long drive, and at the end my dad simply said "Well, not all purchases can be good ones." I was blissful in the back seat.<br /><br />I don't know what it is about Mogwai, but they have captured my heart in a way that M83, Explosions in the Sky, Do Make Say Think, and other post-rockers have never been able to. Maybe it's that they were my first. Maybe it's that they have funny song titles (see: Japanese bonus track, "Stupid Prick Gets Chased by the Police and Loses His Slut Girlfriend"). Maybe it's that their sound is dense, beautiful, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">blankets</span> you with a sort of solemn-yet uplifting peace. Regardless, it's baller.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_VRmPyba87toXnC-OYVGpW1LG-D_wJvGYxYR5HQH47Cg5CcHTYNoC1iRh43vARdo95BjuztFNmp9FjsXDCdAEgL6YLkB0PdgnakJWXwRM1-Fg2tZrdq1PEdffd0OI2hqrY-mhxBCVKwD/s1600-h/blankets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266083354787221442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_VRmPyba87toXnC-OYVGpW1LG-D_wJvGYxYR5HQH47Cg5CcHTYNoC1iRh43vARdo95BjuztFNmp9FjsXDCdAEgL6YLkB0PdgnakJWXwRM1-Fg2tZrdq1PEdffd0OI2hqrY-mhxBCVKwD/s320/blankets.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 180px;" /></a><br />But they never really matched Happy Songs for Happy People with other efforts. I know lots of folks will say that Young Team is their best work, or that Come On Die Young was their closest shot at <span style="font-weight: bold;">stardom</span> (as much as you can be a star in the instrock world, at least). I beg to differ. HSfHP had a simplicity that hadn't been matched. I could run, read, or fall asleep to it. I could listen to it in the car, rock out to it on headphones, or play it for friends. Mr. Beast, HSfHP's follow-up, was good, but not great.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCA2VLKaRbTkRDsOWw80ZgBnVpOMFddcH1N6bA-LHWdZSMzqT7Gjrau9A7HYhQ1ILcMbh9J2w_V_2CyaJdmlOV2HfCilTvLt9eJNFBRm8TfSFDvITF0GKoWZY6QnYvlTW7nEXYtw5yysr/s1600-h/stardom.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266083362701555026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCA2VLKaRbTkRDsOWw80ZgBnVpOMFddcH1N6bA-LHWdZSMzqT7Gjrau9A7HYhQ1ILcMbh9J2w_V_2CyaJdmlOV2HfCilTvLt9eJNFBRm8TfSFDvITF0GKoWZY6QnYvlTW7nEXYtw5yysr/s320/stardom.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" /></a><br />Wonder of wonders, they've found that sound again. On the latest from Mogwai, The Hawk Is Howling, the feeling is there - a wave of sound that doesn't fail to hit home at a single point. It's glorious. A month and a half after its release, I'm finding myself going to it more than almost anything else in my collection (exception: Lil Mama). I'm listening to it right now, and I'm happy.<br /><br />Here, try it. If you're in the right mood, I think you'll quite <span style="font-weight: bold;">like it</span>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08fFEm-yX4kcPDxvUgpg1fBr0VTgv_RLNYXytIRst2jjBy3XW4u530TAvBCk8l5bkbNqR8yfzytjjbBwwW9DGQw3_5KHhFOrfEbVfHJps8JYv27Vl4K2LiVUZiI1HdayBTOwtUke1ABT4/s1600-h/batcat-3-front.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266083131665018018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08fFEm-yX4kcPDxvUgpg1fBr0VTgv_RLNYXytIRst2jjBy3XW4u530TAvBCk8l5bkbNqR8yfzytjjbBwwW9DGQw3_5KHhFOrfEbVfHJps8JYv27Vl4K2LiVUZiI1HdayBTOwtUke1ABT4/s320/batcat-3-front.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 319px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/04-localauthority">Mogwai - Local Authority</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/05-thesunsmellstooloud">Mogwai - The Sun Smells Too Loud</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01huntedbyafreak">Mogwai - Hunted By A Freak</a> (from Happy Songs for Happy People)

Happy Election Day!

I know everyone is very busy today, so I'm not going to make it a long post. I've been in a music rut recently and as a result I haven't posted in a while. Last night though I caught up on all my music listening and am rejuvenated. My next few posts are going to be so sick. Just a heads up.

The Loom - Song for the Winter Sun

The title of this song says it all. This song is a beautiful autumn or early winter afternoon where the light dapples the barren trees as you walk across the hard ground. That's sappy, but really this song uses hand claps as the perfect percussion instrument that just goes right to the core. I love this song. I gotta go learn more about The Loom. I can't wait to hear their other stuff.

Good luck and Godspeed.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdbRzp45ChTBXuM__TSo6InCUFyk1lClVcydFhD0yyJ4qzpACLnHeeJMnkWjY0OYKI2SBcmjmJ5qsaDdmJxNkhDb5NyynB9GCvyBzmZKjG2siVPEuTPNEDvn0syWF-1UVWmMtyvtCQ3p0/s1600-h/20081104_voteobama_560x375.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264981349539633938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdbRzp45ChTBXuM__TSo6InCUFyk1lClVcydFhD0yyJ4qzpACLnHeeJMnkWjY0OYKI2SBcmjmJ5qsaDdmJxNkhDb5NyynB9GCvyBzmZKjG2siVPEuTPNEDvn0syWF-1UVWmMtyvtCQ3p0/s320/20081104_voteobama_560x375.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" /></a><br />I know everyone is very busy today, so I'm not going to make it a long post. I've been in a music rut recently and as a result I haven't posted in a while. Last night though I caught up on all my music listening and am rejuvenated. My next few posts are going to be so sick. Just a heads up.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/05songforthewintersun">The Loom - Song for the Winter Sun</a><br /><br />The title of this song says it all. This song is a beautiful autumn or early winter afternoon where the light dapples the barren trees as you walk across the hard ground. That's sappy, but really this song uses hand claps as the perfect percussion instrument that just goes right to the core. I love this song. I gotta go learn more about The Loom. I can't wait to hear their other stuff.<br /><br />Good luck and Godspeed.

Of Montreal.... Come back!!

I haven't had much time to post in a while. My apologies. In making my return, I'll offer my two cents on the new Of Montreal album. This is actually just a copy of a review I'm writing for Squeezebox.


[Start review]

With Of Montreal’s 2007 release, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?¸ kicking an unprecedented amount of ass, the band’s newest full-length, Skeletal Lamping, has been one of this year’s most anticipated albums in indie rock. But therein lies the problem. Still hot off the buzz from what many will likely call their tour de force, Of Montreal confronts the challenge faced by the select few who have made the mistake of birthing the perfect album: How the hell do you follow it up? It remains uncertain if any band has ever successfully tackled this challenge, and unfortunately Of Montreal makes no exception. This is not to say that Skeletal Lamping is necessarily a bad album, but as the successor to Hissing Fauna, it disappoints.

Above all, Skeletal Lamping suffers from a frustrating case of ADHD (not to mention schizophrenia), impulsively leaping from one short-lived melody to the next, shifting musical gears in such a spastic manner that it renders the songs--and in turn the album--feeling sloppy and incomplete. To its credit, despite being served in unfinished chunks, the catchy pop hooks are as fun as ever: the bright array of instruments, the pulsating drum machine, the groovy bass lines, the electronic punch of synthesizers, the vocal harmonies, howls, yips, and yells--all the super produced psychedelic pop sounds we’ve come to expect and love from Of Montreal are definitely still here. And in more comprehensible songs like “An Elurdian Instance,” a blissful toe-tapper fused with vibrant trumpets and a hodgepodge of other instruments, there’s justification for adding Skeletal Lamping to your collection of (pirated) music. That being said, there's a lot of weird shit in this album that isn't really that artistic, that experimental, or that necessary. Case in point: the two minutes of abrasive guitar distortion that kills the otherwise ballin’ opening track, “Nonpareil Of Favor.”

Oh, and speaking of unnecessary, here’s a nice tidbit: Lead singer Kevin Barnes is now delving even deeper into his alter ego as a "black shemale" by the name of Georgie Fruit, which, for those of you taking notes, he apparently morphed into during the 12 minute opus, "The Past Is A Grotesque Animal," halfway through the last album. In his return, Georgie goes fucking nuts. Skeletal Lamping becomes a channel for broadcasting his fictitious life story, and as a result, the album is slathered with sex. This absurd premise might be more permissible if not for songs like "For Our Elegant Caste," an obnoxious number in which Georgie repetitively and irritatingly proclaims that he "can do it softcore if you want…” (“but you should know [he takes] it both ways"). Charming. In the end, with lyrics like these (and sounds to match), the album gives an overarching feel that the music is merely mimicking this transvestite’s deranged and uncontrolled thoughts. I fully support employing themes or story lines as the impetus for an album, but when that ambition takes precedence over the quality of the music itself, the artistic motives become counterproductive.

Hissing Fauna succeeded as it did by harnessing the fresh edginess, intelligence, and experimentation from Of Montreal’s previous works and delivering it all in a manner that was surprisingly catchy and accessible. In Skeletal Lamping, without having any ostensible desire to maintain this balance, Of Montreal--or rather, Georgie Fruit--creates an album that comes off as an hour of self-serving noise. And while there are definitely some redeeming qualities scattered here and there, I can't grasp them long enough to be entirely convinced that I enjoy what I’m listening to.

[End review]

Cue the link (I actually like this track):

Of Montreal - "An Elurdian Instance"

I haven't had much time to post in a while. My apologies. In making my return, I'll offer my two cents on the new Of Montreal album. This is actually just a copy of a review I'm writing for Squeezebox.<br /><br /><a href="http://cdn.stereogum.com/img/of_montreal-skeletal_lamping-album-art.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://cdn.stereogum.com/img/of_montreal-skeletal_lamping-album-art.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 450px;" /></a><br />[Start review]<br /><br />With Of Montreal’s 2007 release, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?¸ kicking an unprecedented amount of ass, the band’s newest full-length, Skeletal Lamping, has been one of this year’s most anticipated albums in indie rock. But therein lies the problem. Still hot off the buzz from what many will likely call their tour de force, Of Montreal confronts the challenge faced by the select few who have made the mistake of birthing the perfect album: How the hell do you follow it up? It remains uncertain if any band has ever successfully tackled this challenge, and unfortunately Of Montreal makes no exception. This is not to say that Skeletal Lamping is necessarily a bad album, but as the successor to Hissing Fauna, it disappoints.<br /><br />Above all, Skeletal Lamping suffers from a frustrating case of ADHD (not to mention schizophrenia), impulsively leaping from one short-lived melody to the next, shifting musical gears in such a spastic manner that it renders the songs--and in turn the album--feeling sloppy and incomplete. To its credit, despite being served in unfinished chunks, the catchy pop hooks are as fun as ever: the bright array of instruments, the pulsating drum machine, the groovy bass lines, the electronic punch of synthesizers, the vocal harmonies, howls, yips, and yells--all the super produced psychedelic pop sounds we’ve come to expect and love from Of Montreal are definitely still here. And in more comprehensible songs like “An Elurdian Instance,” a blissful toe-tapper fused with vibrant trumpets and a hodgepodge of other instruments, there’s justification for adding Skeletal Lamping to your collection of (pirated) music. That being said, there's a lot of weird shit in this album that isn't really that artistic, that experimental, or that necessary. Case in point: the two minutes of abrasive guitar distortion that kills the otherwise ballin’ opening track, “Nonpareil Of Favor.”<br /><br />Oh, and speaking of unnecessary, here’s a nice tidbit: Lead singer Kevin Barnes is now delving even deeper into his alter ego as a "black shemale" by the name of Georgie Fruit, which, for those of you taking notes, he apparently morphed into during the 12 minute opus, "The Past Is A Grotesque Animal," halfway through the last album. In his return, Georgie goes fucking nuts. Skeletal Lamping becomes a channel for broadcasting his fictitious life story, and as a result, the album is slathered with sex. This absurd premise might be more permissible if not for songs like "For Our Elegant Caste," an obnoxious number in which Georgie repetitively and irritatingly proclaims that he "can do it softcore if you want…” (“but you should know [he takes] it both ways"). Charming. In the end, with lyrics like these (and sounds to match), the album gives an overarching feel that the music is merely mimicking this transvestite’s deranged and uncontrolled thoughts. I fully support employing themes or story lines as the impetus for an album, but when that ambition takes precedence over the quality of the music itself, the artistic motives become counterproductive.<br /><br />Hissing Fauna succeeded as it did by harnessing the fresh edginess, intelligence, and experimentation from Of Montreal’s previous works and delivering it all in a manner that was surprisingly catchy and accessible. In Skeletal Lamping, without having any ostensible desire to maintain this balance, Of Montreal--or rather, Georgie Fruit--creates an album that comes off as an hour of self-serving noise. And while there are definitely some redeeming qualities scattered here and there, I can't grasp them long enough to be entirely convinced that I enjoy what I’m listening to.<br /><br />[End review]<br /><br />Cue the link (I actually like this track):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/05anelurdianinstance">Of Montreal - "An Elurdian Instance"</a>