album review

In a recent NYT times article, Jon Caramanica wrote, “Mr. West speaks until he is done, and only then does someone ask another question.” Nothing speaks more to that point than his fifth album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Just look at the length of the songs: 6:38, 7:50, 9:08? When Kanye West is cornered, pressured, interrupted, or drunk he says some pretty stupid and embarrassing shit. But if you give him space and time, he’ll be careful. Most of the time we’re frustrated and bored by nuance and carefulness, but West’s self-conception will inflate to fill the space of its container, and the more it grows the more we’re willing to listen.

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Once upon a time, there were these two dudes who just really liked drinking and making songs and shit. Then, one day, they decided to make music together. The result? The Fresh and Onlys. This San Francisco group (the city seems to be spawning rock-and-roll bands these days) is a conglomeration of guys in their thirties who know the music business inside and out (one of the founders, Shayde Sartin, still works for Amoeba records, while all the other members have all been in various bands over the years). Yet, in spite of the experienced group that makes up the band, their music still has an invitingly young quality to it. This is probably due to the fact that, although this is their third album, Fresh and Onlys have only been together for about three years. Read More »

The Russian Futurists produce an interesting blend of pop and hip-hop beats in their new album entitled The Weight’s On The Wheels. The end result is a collection of songs that will make you bop your head, but leave you shaking your head in disappointment. The Weight’s On The Wheels seems to be a good version of a rough draft, but is nowhere near a pop music masterpiece.

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When I first picked up RU with Me I was fairly reluctant because Paul Avion is not only an artist that I was almost completely unfamiliar with, but also composed music in a genre that I’ve never listened to. However, upon further research and listening, it came to my attention how fascinating a character and musician Avion is. By all intents and purposes, Avion follows the beat of his own drum. Having moved to Los Angeles from his hometown of New Orleans in 2005, he then moved to Paris where he took up a job as a dishwasher in order to immerse himself in French culture. This However, seems relatively pedestrian compared to his decision  to live over the past year in one of the poorest slums in Kenya where he lived and worked at a school for disabled children. While living there he filmed part of his experiences and posted them on his website. This fascinating story should not in any way overshadow the comparatively interesting nature of his music.

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While perusing the music blogosphere, I find it difficult to conceptualize just how much music exists. Countless artists churn out thousands of songs a day, most of which struggle to find a pair of receptive ears. A shame, no doubt, as musicians like the sincere Carl Hauck deserve better venues than dusky college bars in central Illinois. But earnestness alone won’t win fans, which may make Hauck’s music more fitting for a smaller audience simply seeking a sense of approachable intimacy. Read More »

Grandchildren, an electroacoustic band from Philadelphia, PA, are looking to make waves in the music industry with their debut album, Everlasting. Formed as a cross between two Alternative legends, the ever-popular Animal Collective and the more orthodox TV On the Radio, Grandchildren fail to impress and live up to the expectations I had for them. Read More »

Dear Kings Of Leon,

“I just wanna hold you / take you by your hand / and tell you that you’re good enough,” but I’m sorry to say that this indeed is The End.

In the words of NME‘s Luke Lewis, “there inevitably comes a moment in a huge band’s career where they lose their common touch and become slightly ridiculous.” It’s saddening to see a band that previously fostered immense creativity, versatility, and energy in their work begin to fall into a pit of lifelessness, masked by a one-dimensional, melodramatic sound. Needless to say, Kings of Leon seems to be lacking in their usual, quirky, southern rocker charm.

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