The Seattle Scene

Early 90s.  Grunge.  Some dude named Kurt.  Seattle.  But among all the videos that were issued at the outset of the "scene" this one is the best.  Who can forget this it and its dark, bleak tone?  And Veddar's classic oh-oh-ohs and head shake?  I imagine it is no longer played after that whole Columbine thing.  It still is pretty awesome.  Bet it has been years since you've checked this one out.

Pearl Jam - Jeremy

Mr. Lif - I Heard It Today

"Oh, I see.  So, uh , we all just supposed to start trusting the government again now that we got a friendlier face to it now, huh?  All our problems will be solved.  Everything's all good, right?"

And thus begins the latest from Boston native Mr. Lif's album I Heard It Today.  Lif is an individual with a lot to say; most notably his dislike (and overall distrust) of the government as well as those of a higher social class.  A few years back he dropped an excellent album in I Phantom.  That album took a playful, yet serious, look at the everyday life of most Americans (ie., the 9-5, family, the 9-5, war, and the 9-5) and it was great.  However, the years have passed and Lif spends a majority of his disapproval (and he has a shitload of qualms with a shitload of things) on the economy, the government, and the ever-present gap between social classes.

The start of the album gets right into with the nice little introductory track "Welcome to the World."  Over a rugged drumbeat and trippy, psychedelic-like guitar and interspersed cuts he begins his tirade.  And things segue nicely into the next track "What About Us?" (which, as you can probably guess, is about the lower class (a previously mentioned favorite topic of Lif's)).  However, things hit a complete wall after this track.

Next, we get "Breathe."  Guesting on this cut is female rapper Bahamadia.  And like most female rappers, she isn't good.  At all.  And furthermore the track sounds suited for her more so than for Lif.  Isn't this HIS album so why does she basically get her own track which happens to feature Mr. Lif?  The jazzy Tribe Called Quest-ish beat does not fit Lif's aggressive and gravely voice at all.  It is a complete failure.  However, things rebound nicely with the next track thanks to fellow Bostonian Edan (who supplied the beat and who, himself, released a nice little album a few years back with Beauty and the Beat).   

Following Edan's offering "Collapse the Walls" once again things slow down.  After a weak "posse" track featuring a Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks) who during his verse is incapable of delivering back to back lines in the same breath (which is supremely annoying to listen to once you pick up on it) and a few skits and a track about police brutality, Lif gets behind the boards for another passable track ("Hatred").  

Luckily the album finishes somewhat strongly with the final four cuts even though one happens to be an ode to da ganja ("Head High").  And with these tracks (excluding "Head High") Lif returns to voicing his personal opinions and beliefs on all the faults of the government and the overall shittiness of America's class system.  And they aren't half bad.  And not all that great either.  The beats just aren't the hard-hitting stuff of Lif's previous efforts and there is an obvious (and soon to be explained) reason for that.

After a few listens I am dissapointed (as I am a fan and have been for awhile now).  Mr. Lif seems to have hit a creative lull.  His lyrics aren't as thought-provoking as well as somewhat repetitive (theme-wise) and the beats are just not up to par with his previous efforts.  And the obvious answer to that is the absence of El-P.  El-P had helped significantly on the two prior Mr. Lif releases producing a majority of the tracks, but this time around Mr. Lif has moved away from Def Jux (El-P's label) and, as a result, has parted with El-P's cold, hard-hitting beats( which perfectly complemented Lif's themes and vocal style) and replaced them with what we get here on I Heard It Today.  Regardless, Mr. Lif still has the voice and tenacity to be a great lyricist, he just didn't hit the mark in 2009 with this release.

3.0/5.0

Standout tracks:  "Welcome to the World", "Head High", "The Sun"

Mr. Lif - I Heard It Today

Who Doesn't Love Claymation

During the summer vacation it was (for me) a time in which I could fully immerse myself in the art that MTV and (don't forget) VH1 had to offer.  That is another shame that VH1 strayed from the music video but they have replaced them with some totally kickass reality shows that I must watch each week (latest fave, "Tough Love").  But VH1 wasn't as cutting edge and up to date with their rotation as MTV, however, they did have some nuggets that I missed out on their first time in rotation.  For example,  "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel.  This here is just a cool video.  

Epic Rock

Seems like the epic rock anthem was everywhere in the late 60s and 70s but then what happened to it?  They had "Baba O'Reily", "Stairway to Heaven," and "Bohemian Rhapsody."  (I know I'm missing others but those were the ones that popped into my mind, and therefore, typed first)  Then came the 80s and....yeah.  But for me as a budding youth absorbing music at every opportunity it was Guns N' Roses' "November Rain" and that absolutely EPIC song and video that still gives me chills and awesome memories (depressed Axl, Slash's "church" solo, and the climatic wedding).  This is the complete package here.  Guitars, babes, death, a rockin' orchestra. 

And then you look at the state of today's music.  No epics to be found anywhere.

Sad times.

D-E-L

One of my favorite rappers (and a driving force behind one of the best hip hop albums ever made in Deltron 3030) has released a new album that can be downloaded digitally.  In case you don't know who he is, I bet you really do.  Peep this.

Thanks for the gift Del.

Del - Funk Man

Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle

Listening to music is much like many other things in life:  you must be in the right mood to listen to the right music.  In the mornings I have certain artists I prefer over others for the sole reason that they just fit my mood in the morning.  I'm not an up-and-atom kind of guy so it takes awhile for my engine to kick in.  Van Morrison, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, and any of the country greats (personal fave, Patsy Cline) are perfect for me in the morning.  And to add to this list is Bill Callahan.  I was going to review this album last nite but I was just not in the mood so I held it off until today.  

First off, this is a beautiful album.  The sound of it is just that, beautiful.  Callahan's voice is not going to blow anyone away but it perfectly compliments the backing instruments (which range from the the normal drums, guitar and bass to the addition of strings and horns) as well as the album's overall tone.  His lyrics are mostly first person tales which often sound as though he is describing dreams.  The track "Eid Ma Clack Shaw" has him taking advice in some zany language which I believe to not exist.  Nevertheless, the track sounds great and the addition of the strings in it's second half only strengthens it.

As the album progresses it tends to get better.  Which is too often not the case with many of today's releases.  You get a nice first track and it kind of rolls fizzles out from there (I recently experienced this with the latest PJ Harvey effort).  However, Callahan's Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle builds upon itself up until the excellent ten minute long finale "Faith/Void."  I would recommend other songs to check out but honestly, listen to the whole thing.  It's worth it.  

I listened to this album on a whim.  A British publication raved about it (they love any music that they can label "americana") so I decided to give it a go.  And it turned out to be one of those pleasant surprises.  Like a movie you sit down to watch only because you have nothing better to do and then after it's over you are calling friends and telling them they must check it out.  This album is the same deal.  And if it doesn't jump out at you right away, don't give up on it.  Give it a second chance (especially a morning listen (Sunday's are usually the best)).  Trust me.

4.3/5

Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle

Obits - I Blame You

Rock 'n Roll Is Dead.

For years and years this phrase has been published, uttered, and generally run into the ground claiming that rock is on it's last breath.  Well, that is bullshit.  Rock is, and will forever be, alive.  You just have to look for it at times.  When one examines the situation of music today, it is dominated by the single.  Country and "urban" (aka black) radio stations rule the airwaves with songs produced for no other reason than a quick buck.  Trust me, in two years the "T-Pain" vocal effect thing will be long gone and looked back upon with a kind of "what the fuck was that?" feeling.  But in the midst of all this, the niche known as "rock 'n roll" can still be located.  

The Obits, a group made up of some true rock vets, have just released their debut album I Blame You and it screams rock.  You get it all here.  The standard blues progression, pounding drums (although this drummer will not go down in rock history), and great guitar play.  The track "Two-headed Coin", for example, has one guitarist on a rockabilly vibe while the other rips out a power chord here and there.  And it works.  The foursome's two guitarists weave their riffs and rundowns around each other marvelously throughout the album.

However, the album as a whole does not fully gel as well as the two guitarists.  The feeling of the album just has too much of a retro feel which I dislike for the most part.  Lately, groups such as The Black Lips have capitalized on attempting to recapture the "sound" of the late 60s and for me it just doesn't work.  And the Obits have tried to pull this off as well.  I'm not asking for an overly polished sound but just one that doesn't try to sound underpolished.  

Another noticeable aspect of this album was its use of the tambourine.  It is all over the place on this thing.  It reminded me of the old SNL skit in which Christopher Walken is begging for the cow bell.  Instead of cow bell on I Blame You, however, we get the tambourine.  I would say that this often overlooked gem of an instrument (anyone can play a fucking tambourine, problem is you can't do it looking cool) is prevalent on half of the album's tracks.

Overall, the album ultimately falls short of producing something worthwhile.  The title track sums up this album perfectly:  it offers some nice guitar work until eventually the track fizzles out and ends after a minute.  And that's what the Obits have produced here, an album that just kind of starts, plays some cool guitar shit and ends.

(On a side note, I would pay money for these guys live for a bet they put on a nice high-energy show)

Obits - I Blame You

2.9/5.0

Late Nite Video Watching

Have been checking out music videos (old and new) and this is one that I've never been able to shake from my brain.  Years ago MTV used to run this show in which three videos were shown, critiqued and, finally, one was picked the best of the bunch.  (Does anyone remember this show or have any idea what I am referring to?)  This one didn't win but watching it I remember thinking "What the fuck?"  Check it out and tell me that no other phrase is repeatedly pulsing through your brain.

I saw it once until tonite.  It's a great video.  

Bizarre.  Very.  Very.  Bizarre.

I Want My MTV. No, Seriously.

I remember growing up raised on a healthy diet of music videos.  Coming home from school and switching on MTV to see what the latest was.  Because MTV, at one time at least, knew what was going on in terms of music.  Now, all you get is some lameass show about some loser white kid whose dad wrote "Funkytown" wanting to be a rap battle star.  That is seriously an episode of a show I've watched.

So in the spirit of music videos (which were and occasionally awesome), I will post videos frequently so that we can all have a taste of what else music can offer else.

And to kick things off is the best video made by my favorite band.

CunninLynguists - Strange Journey Volume One

Hip Hop Album Checklist:

   1.  Rep your city/region/state (check)

   2.  Include skits (check)

   3.  Reference a love for drinking and/or marijuana (check)

   4.  Song(s) about how much you love women (booties, boobs, etc) (check)

   5.  Song(s) about how much you love women (soul, mind, yada yada) (check)

Southern hip hop.  A term which has evolved over the years thanks in part to an influx of artists sharing their talents.  Initially, it was a lot of booty shaking, bass-heavy music ala groups such as 2 Live Crew.  Then it evolved into a more soul-embracing sound with positive lyrics about southern living with Arrested Development.  Then a little group called OutKast came and reinvented the term and launched it into national recognition along with the East and West coasts.  Today, the south is mass producing music with artists such as T.I. (great lyricist, commercial lap dog) and those who think they are the "greatest rapper alive" who are, in reality, not.  (Lil' Wayne, just because you are proficient doesn't mean you are great)  In addition, the South has also taken part in the underground hip hop scene.  Case in point:  CunninLynguists.

CunninLynguists are a southern hip hop group who have been making records since the beginning of this decade.  Earlier albums were all over the place, fairly unpolished, and playful.  Now, nearly ten years in "the game" they have found their niche sound and style.  And that, of course, is embracing their southern roots and drenching their songs in that vibe.

Strange Journey Volume One is the first of two releases the group plans on releasing in 2009.  Unlike their previous effort (2007's excellent Dirty Acres) Kno, Natti, and Deacon the Villain have taken a minor step back.  The album begins with an intro (of course) and moves into the first track "Nothing But Strangeness."   The track is a great one.  The production is tops, the lyrics are witty and funny, and has a definite nod-your-head feeling.  And you are introduced to a great rapper in Deacon the Villain (who sounds like Khujo of Goodie Mob (Soul Food is and will ever be a classic)).

As the album progresses you get locked into a similar formula production-wise.  Kno has definitely got the "southern sound" down but it would be nice if he would change is up here and there.  The album moves at the same tempo throughout (slow and lazy and I mean that in a positive way) with vocal samples used as hooks.  Along the way the group also knocks out the essentials of the hip hop album as listed above.  "KKKY" and "Georgia" rep.  Skits are included.  You get your song about weed (which is actually one of the album's best cuts in "Never Come Down").  And your songs about the ladies (the dismissable "Hypnotized" and "Die For You").  Also along the way you encounter guest appearances from Slug (Atmosphere) and Mac Lethal of the "underground" scene as well as the aforementioned Khujo.  Also joining the party are fellow Kentuckians Nappy Roots (remember them, right?) who stop by for a callabo.  

As you listen keep in mind that this is southern rap.  We southerners like stuff easy going and playful.  We don't get too uptight with too much drama.  And we like our bass consistent and thumping.  Although this album does not come highly recommended, it is worth checking out because CunninLynguists are a group that deems the attention.  

3.4/5