Plug 1 & Plug 2 Present First Serve

May 13, 2012 //
0

Plug 1 & Plug 2, Dave and Posdnuos of De La Soul, present First Serve. For unknown reasons, Maseo, the third member of De La Soul, is absent. What results is an a poppier version of previous De La Soul releases.
Plug 1 & Plug 2 present First Serve

Don’t judge First Serve by its Black-eyed Peas looking cover. It’s better than it looks. The feel is generally positive hip-hop and the lyrics are witty enough to cause one to crack a smile from time to time. The distinct voices of Dave and Posdnuos provide a great balance for the sound of the album as they verbally trade verses.

The absence of Maseo on this release is sure to have people talking about De La Soul breaking up, but there isn’t any evidence on the internet that this is the case. “The Book of Life” has lyrics that suggest there may have been tension in the group. “This is how we is when it comes to the biz. Off point, off centered. When you point it out he gets ill-tempered. The promoter of the show pissed because the the spot had a curfew… We only did four songs, but we were supposed to do more songs, now Ken do is dealing with a riot at the venue…Friends, how many have them? How long before they split like atoms?…I don’t disappear for hoes, unlike you who disappears for days for hoes.” And so for and so on. Several other songs seem to hint at underlying tensions. But who am I to speculate?

One thing I forget about is that lots of hip-hop albums include skits, which I could do without. In a day of picking which mp3s you want on your iPod, these tracks are unlikely to be loaded. Artist – don’t waste your time writing these things. You’re never as funny or clever as you think.

Generally speaking, I think hip-hop needs something new and exciting to bring people back into the genre. First Serve isn’t it. While there are a couple enjoyable songs on the album, it doesn’t do anything you haven’t heard before. You’re going to forget about this release just like you forgot about DMX until you heard he was releasing a new album. And let’s be honest, you’re not even interested in hearing it.

Party-goer opinions
Jason: “After the first listen I’m not really feeling this album. The track “We Made It” is good, but the rest is meh. Might have to give it another listen.”

Verdict: Worth a spin, but it’s unlikely that First Serve will go into regular rotation.

Prediction: Not a classic. You’ll forget about this album in a few months.

Video from First Serve
De La Soul’s Plug 1 & Plug 2
“Must B The Music”
First Serve

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M. Ward A Wasteland Companion Review

May 7, 2012 //
1

M. Ward, indie folk singer, brings us an enjoyable, upbeat album in A Wasteland Companion.

M. Ward A Wasteland Companion

M. Ward is probably best known as the “him” in She and Him. M. Ward is probably the more talented of the duo, but is often overlooked because Zoey Deschanel is way cuter. But don’t think that just because M. Ward is part of a duo that capitalizes on putting a manufactured indie star in the spotlight that he can’t create an enjoyable album by his lonesome. I actually think Ward writes better songs on his own.

As it turns out, A Wasteland Companion may be Ward’s best work yet. Calming and melodic, it is easy to get through in one sitting – something I had trouble doing with his previous albums. The songs, while folksy, each have their own distinct sound. They tend to mix twangy guitars, female backup vocals (sometimes Zoey Dechanel), and piano to give a nice, complete sound. All the songs sound like they’ve had a good amount thought put into the mixing. As for M. Ward’s vocals, sometimes I feel like he sounds like a coherent, actually-trying-to-sing, non-smoking version of Tom Waits. That’s a good thing.

Maybe it’s the music I tend to listen to, but M. Ward’s positive outlook on things is kind of refreshing. It’s great to hear someone sing about how great things are or can be. They are relaxing, uplifting and will put you in a good mood.

There isn’t too much else to say about A Wasteland Companion. It’s something both you and your mom can enjoy together, making it a good Mother’s Day present. And that’s better than giving her the Enya CD she asked for and will force you to listen to at some point in your life.

Verdict: If you like folk music, country music, or a bit of rock, you should check out this album. I only have good things to say about this album and every track on it.

Video from A Wasteland Companion
M. Ward
“The First Time I Ran Away”
A Wasteland Companion

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Plug 1 & Plug 2 Must B the Music

May 1, 2012 //
0

De La Soul’s Plug 1 & Plug 2
“Must B The Music”
First Serve

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Sebastien Tellier My God is Blue Review

April 22, 2012 //
0

French new wave act Sebastien Tellier brings his lounge sound to his latest album, My God is Blue.
Sebastien Tellier My God is Blue

I’m not sure what exactly to say about My God is Blue. Tellier’s previous album, Sexuality, was produced by Daft Punk’s Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and it sounded that way. Sexuality had more synthesizers, a poppy sound, and some really catch songs that I still listen to.
The lack of a Daft Punk influence on My God is Blue is apparent. The songs tend to sound like mix of bad disco ballads, with acoustical solos, chimes, a voice choir, wind instruments, wailing guitars, and other cringe-worthy cliches from the 70s and 80s.

I struggled to get through the entirety of My God is Blue several times. It is bad lounge electronica at its worst. This may be Tellier’s attempt to be kitschy, but I found it rather dull. I prefer to spend my time enjoying the music I listen to, not being “ironic.”

Tellier’s work is often hyper-sexualized to the point of amusement. I kind of love him for it. Imagine the least sexy guy you can think of in leather pants who thinks he’s the hottest thing any woman has ever seen, rolling around orgies filled with hot chicks. Check out the videos below to get an idea of what I’m talking about. Be warned, “Coconh Ville” is not safe for work.

Verdict: Find something else to listen to! The album, as a whole, is kind of boring. If you’re interested in Sebastien Tellier’s work (which is usually pretty enjoyable), I recommend checking out the album Sexuality. That album is actually quite enjoyable.

Stand out track: “Cochon Ville”

Videos from My God is Blue

Sebastien Tellier
“Pepito Bleu”
My God is Blue

Sebastien Tellier
“Cochon Ville”
My God is Blue

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M.I.A – Vicki Leekx Mixtape

April 16, 2012 //
0

In 2010, the UK indie rapper M.I.A. released the a mixtape under the pseudonym “Vicki Leekx.” Recently, she released a video for “Bad Girls,” one of the songs on the mixtape.

M.I.A.
“Bad Girls”
Vicki Leekx Mixtape

If you haven’t heard it, you can can download the Vicki Leekx Mixtape for free at vickileekx.com.

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Orbital Wonky Review

April 8, 2012 //
1

British techno house legends Orbital are back with Wonky, their first album since they went on hiatus in 2004.

Orbital Wonky

If you are wondering who Orbital is and you are approximately 30 years old, you were probably introduced to them while watching the movie Hackers. Hackers will forever be known as the movie that Angelina Jolie appeared naked in and for the song “Halcyon and On and On.” In my opinion, this song is way better than Angelina Jolie appearing naked. Angelina “Please eat a cheeseburger” Jolie has always looked like she was one pound above being dead from starvation, but we’re not here to discuss anorexia in Hollywood. “Halcyon,” and the extended version on the Hackers soundtrack, remains one of my favorite tracks of all time. It is responsible for turning me on to electronic music, and probably scores of other people. So I was pretty excited to learn Orbital was producing a new album.

Orbital was always leagues above the “uhn-tiss” sound often used to describe techno muisc. They incorporated samples and melodies as additional layers to create a much fuller, complex sound that progressively changes through the song so that nothing ever feels dull or repetitive.Wonky gives you the same feeling. Its sound reminds me of the songs they were producing in the mid 90s. I had a hard time figuring out if this was a good thing or not. A lot has changed since the 90s in the music world. A lot of tracks on Wonky felt like b-sides from Orbital’s popular albums. While I enjoyed what I heard, nothing really jumped out at me the way “Halcyon” did 10+ years ago.

What I did hear were some attempts to recreate previous success. “New France” seems to imitate “Halcyon” by attempting to infuse the song with powerful vocals. “Halcyon” did this to a great degree of success with a sample of then popular Kristy Hankshaw; “New France” does this with the amazing Zola Jesus. And Zola Jesus can sing – probably better than Kristy Hankshaw. “New France” sounds great, but it doesn’t match up to the classic that is “Halcyon.” The track, despite all its strengths, just doesn’t come together like previous Orbital songs.

And that’s how I felt about Wonky in general. A lot of the tracks are enjoyable, but they are missing whatever that thing is that makes a song truly great. A lot of the tracks feel like echos of the past, trying to be something they just are not. It’s like everything is just shy of being amazing, but the missing element is something that one must stumble across by accident.

Despite this, you should not dismiss Wonky entirely. It’s hard to compare recent Orbital material to their past work, which is considered classic in the techno genre. For Orbital fans and people that have been disappointed by recent techno acts, Wonky is worth your time. Just know you won’t be blown away.

Party goer opinions

Adam: “It sounds like elevator music, if it were in a video game.”

Tim: “Sounds like a ‘Hackers 2′ soundtrack.

Verdict: Wonky is not for everyone. Definitely check it out if you liked past Orbital work or want to reminisce about the rave scene in the 90s.

Stand out tracks: “Never”, “New France.”

Videos from the Wonky

Orbital
“New France” featuring Zola Jesus
Wonky

Orbital
“Wonky” featuring Lady Leshurr
Wonky

Orbital
“Sun Straight”
Wonky

Orbital
“Never”
Wonky

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Miike Snow Happy To You Review

April 1, 2012 //
2

Miike Snow’s second album, Happy To You, is much slower than their first release. While not completely barren of radio-friendly tracks, the Swedish trio delivers fewer dance-floor friendly hits this time around.

Miike Snow - Happy To You

I loved Miike Snow’s first, eponymously-named album. My expectations for Happy To You were very high. And I was a little let down. Gone are the dance tunes of the first album. While some of the tracks on Happy To You are catchy, their slow tempo doesn’t make you want to run out to the dance floor. Unfortunately, the dance tracks of the first album were what made it enjoyable. You still get the familiar electropop styling of Miike Snow, but it’s missing the energy of the previous album.

The slower pace of Happy To You isn’t all bad. You’re still getting Miike Snow’s synth heavy indie rock with solid vocals. Most of the tracks are somewhat relaxing to listen to. Nothing on the album compels you to skip over a song, but they don’t do anything to draw you in either. [Note: the Dutch version of the album contains several remixes. The repetitiveness of those tracks actually does get on my nerves.]

If you’re wondering about the content of Miike Snow’s songs, don’t bother analyzing the lyrics. Like many other electropop acts, your focus is meant to be on the sound and not the lyrics. The content borders on being entirely meaningless. Just try to relax your brain and enjoy the beat.

There are a few bright spots on the album. “Bavarian #1 (Say You Will)” and “The Wave” are really enjoyable. These two songs are the closest thing you are going to get to the dance tracks of the previous album. Everything else is rather ho-hum.

Verdict: Miike Snow gets a B- for Happy To You. My recommendation is to listen to the standout tracks. If you like them, give the album a shot.

If you aren’t familiar with Miike Snow, I highly recommend their first album.

Standout Tracks: “Bavarian #1 (Say You Will),” “The Wave”

Videos from Happy To You

Miike Snow
“Paddling Out”
Happy To You

Miike Snow
“The Wave”
Happy To You

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Hot Chip Flutes

March 31, 2012 //
0

Hot Chip
“Flutes”

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Orbital Wonky Video

March 30, 2012 //
0

Another Orbital video!

Orbital
“Wonky”
Wonky

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The Shins Port of Morrow Review

March 25, 2012 //
1

Indie rockers The Shins bring us their latest album, Port of Morrow.

The Shins Port of Morrow

With The Shins, it’s hard to say anything they put out is extremely bad. It’s also hard to say anything is really good.  What Port of Morrow delivers is something that is musically proficient, but ultimately rather dull.

For those of you not in the know, The Shins have an indie rock sound with a bit of a country twang. They give you a  mellow feel and nothing ever offends the ears.  It’s not an unpleasant band to listen to, but The Shins never stray too far from this sound.

Port of Morrow starts out strong.  Both “The Rifle’s Spiral” and “Simple Song” are a good way to bring listeners into the album. In fact, I enjoy “Simple Song” quite a bit.  Then enjoyment of Port of Morrow slowly starts to fade as you realize that most of the album sounds the same.  I mean really the same. To the point where it is entirely possible to not notice you’ve listened to several tracks because there isn’t anything that really differentiates them.  Album doldrums seem to plague a lot of artists trying fill whatever the requirements are to release a full album.  Port of Morrow suffers from this ailment to the extreme.

Despite being somewhat bland, Port of Morrow isn’t really a bad album. It just won’t be one you’ll listen to over and over.  There just isn’t anything to keep you coming back.

Party Goer Opinions

Lauren: “I think I’ve heard this song before on another Shins’ album.”

Dave: “It’s pretty ‘meh.’ And ‘meh’ isn’t worth my time.”

Matt: “It was ok, but kind of vanilla.”

Verdict: People didn’t have much to say about the album.  Overall, no one thought it was horrible, but they also thought it was rather bland. You’re not going to get anything unexpected.

If you liked previous Shins albums, it’s a safe bet that  you are going to like Port of Morrow.

Stand out tracks: “Simple Song,” “No Way Down”

Video from the album:

The Shins
“Simple Song”
Port of Morrow

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