Deep Hip-Hop...

...I mean from the moment I hit the play button to the very end, "Watch The Throne" had me thinking. Hip-Hop giants, Jay-Z and Kanye West collaborated to bring forth one of the most amazing compilation within the Hip-Hop genre to date. This is what this Hip-hop was intended to sound like right from the beginning. "Watch The Throne" embodies the relevant story telling of legendary Hip-Hop groups such as Tribe Called Quest, and De-la Soul.

The intense provocativeness of this duo really get's you thinking of all the events that have impacted people over the course of these difficult times and how those who struggle can rise out of their difficult times. Jay-Z and Kanye really push the envelope with their opening track, "No Church In the Wild". The song challenges faith and theological concepts that bring about hope, and meaning. The two are quick to address how confrontation and chaotic existences, are easily masked with such beliefs simply masking certain unwanted truths while leading towards hypocrisy.


When I say that this is an intense album, I mean it. For the first time in a long time I am presented with a true piece of urban mastery. If you have not yet heard this album, be sure to hook-up with Spotify and get your taste of what I think is the best Hip-Hop album of the year.

Boy Bands Were Cool in the Mid 90's

So, just when you thought the boy band craze had vanished into mid air, some how they just keep popping up. The only difference is that they package them a little differently.

One such group is Pop-emo looking quartet Hot Chelle Rae. Long hair and tight fitting jeans are used to present a different package, but the reality is that they are just another boy band. Here is the thing...

...See I may come across critical, but I'm a musician and love hearing progression and evolution in music. This stuff is the same thing. The band's full length album "Whatever" is exactly what it is. It's teenie-pop centered on simple concepts. The most notable track on the album is "Tonight Tonight" which hit the Top-40 station several months back. The groups music is fun and will get you moving a bit. For me it is definitely lacking. If this is your sort of thing go for it. To me it's like listening to a Disney Channel Compilation of the Victorious Cast. I know you are asking yourself...
..."How does he know about the Victorious Cast?" Well I have a 3 year old niece and my roomie's little one loves the show too, so I'm around it more than I'd like to be.

The album is designed to capture the attention of a more younger audience, but has the potential of drawing in some grown-ups through the group's somewhat maturer content on some tracks.

If you are interested in listening to Hot Chelle Rae's album, be sure to check out Spotify and get an account. You can hear the guy's whole album along with many others.

"Sexy and I Know It!" Finally Someone Had Enough Sense to Write a Song About Me...

"Thanks LMFAO for really offering the world a glimpse of who I am.  I mean when I look at myself I like what I see. How about you? Okay don't get your panties in a bunch. I'm just having a little fun. LMFAO has made looking like a nerd and a complete idiot cool. There latest single "Sexy and I Know It" has been holding the number 2 spot on the Bill Board Digital Songs Chart for 12 weeks. These nuts must be doing something right.

There Dubstep Club Style really gets you excited. I mean look at the rock'n hamsters in that cool Kia commercial. I mean there couldn't have been a more amazing promotional use of a song than, seeing a bunch of rodents dressed in street gear jamm'n to "Party Rock Anthem". It was that cool, I met one of the hamsters at a bar here in West Palm on Halloween. You should have seen how he shaked his little nub of a tail. All kidding aside this is a fun album with an over emphasis on Rock'n stuff.

If Eminem is The Jedi Master Yoda, and Yelawolf Was My Pupil, I'd be Pissed...

Look, I'm not a hater of Hip-hop. In fact I like it, but I'm not that nuts about a lot of the commercial stuff that is out there. I mean how many times can you write tracks about whoe's, bling, picking up whoe's at clubs, big booties, and fake grills. Isn't there more to that style of music than just that? Honestly!

That brings us to the latest creation of that Eminem's tutelage Yelawolf. Now before I commence with my review of his debut album "Radioactive"-which was produced by none other than Slim Shandy-I need to give you a little more background. Not on Yelawolf, just how I got the album.

So I was at Tar-gzey (that's the cool was of saying Target) and was combing through their CD section when I came across "Radioactive" for $10. Now amidst my moment of impulsivity, I stopped myself and thought...
..."I can listen to this new album on Spotify to see if I like it before I buy it." DUH! So here I am now previewing this new little album of the supposed next White Rapper Superstar. Hmmmmmmmmmmm...
...Look I don't doubt that the guy is talented in some way, and I think that it's really cute that Slim took on a big brother role and helped this kat break out, but the truth of the issue is that this album is really the same old rhymes that really make me not like a lot of commercial hip-hop.

The first half of the record is like a like a Dirty South super reunion. I mean really! Dirty South was the worst thing to happen to the hip-hop movement. The same fast pace beat free of cool samples (provided you have legal permission to use the sampled track :) ) and some lame, lame lyrics. I mean if this kid was to be the next big thing, I have to say that I'm not really impressed. For me the best song on the album was "Hardest Love Song in The World". That track had a cool guitar riff looped throughout, and really gave a cool authentic Hip-Hop sound. Clearly there was no expense spared in hyping this album with celebrity. "Radioactive" features rhymes by Kid Rock, Lil John, and Eminem himself.

If there was a rating scale on my blog I would provide Yelawolf's breakout album with 3 stars. It's really not all that great. If there is something that I'm missing in this whole thing, please let me know. I'm willing to learn. Thanks again and if you haven't yet, check out Spotify.com to set up an account and sample new releases of all your favorite and undiscovered artists.

Adele Live at the Royal Albert Hall

When I found out that they were planning on making a DVD recording of this show, November 29th, 2011 could not come any faster. I was quick to venture off to my nearest Best Buy on my lunch break and grab a copy. Once I reviewed the packaging I was even more thrilled to learn that my cool "Blu-ray" version of the concert came with a CD recording of the concert itself. "HOLY CRAP!"

Okay so let's get serious, shall we? This concert experience was something to behold. The Royal Albert Hall is the crème-de-la-crème of venues in the UK. It is a historic site that has housed the musical genius if legends and pit's pretty posh. As usual, Adele drops you on your butt the minute she opens her mouth and you hear the power of her magnificent voice. To me she is the modern day reincarnation of R&B Divas, Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin. Her music connects with you in a way that so few performers are able to do in today’s fast paste music market.

The show offers listeners and viewers a delightful assortment of Adele’s two albums ("19" and "21"). Her brilliant performance of "Someone Like You" is highly emotional for not only Adele herself, but for all those listening in attendance at Albert Hall and at home. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! If there is anything to criticize is the fact that there was a lot more banter in between songs than there should have been, however, Adele's commentary provides you with a closer look at the roots of her lyrical content for her music. Not only that but, you really get to enjoy her "cheeky" quips and personality that make her such a loveable person.

If you have not seen this show I would strongly recommend that you do so. Make it a "Block Buster Night", grab your friend, loved ones, and some wine and lose yourself in the angelic vocals of one of today's brightest stars.

Why is Mute Math so Awesome?...

...Because they just are! The band's latest (and for me, much anticipated) album brings a true refreshing sound for those who love bands that continue to evolve with their age. "Odd Soul" is the latest installment of the New Orleans band's eclectic pop sound approach to synth-rock. After a very personally combative writing process for Mute Math's second album "Armistice"-which earned the group critical acclaim in 2009-the once quartet, nor trio embarked on their first self produced album that provides their listeners with a more personal in depth look at the band's inner thoughts.

"Despite the fact that many of the songs on Odd Soul—such as the garage-inflected title track—will inevitably make bodies move, the album simultaneously addresses some deeper themes hovering around all of the head nodding. “The lyrical idea of this record is loosely based on our upbringing in what I guess you could call eccentric Christianity,” Meany explains, adding that this is also the first album where Meany and King fully collaborated on lyrics. “We wanted to address a lot of the stories we’ve gathered over the years in what is an admittedly odd culture,” he continues. “And not only that, it’s our culture, and we know it well… I think writing this record certainly gave us a new appreciation for it, and it gave us a chance to be much more up front about ourselves (retrieved from http://mutemath.com/about/ on November 28, 2011).” This personal style of writing was an indicative function in leading to the albums title "Odd Soul". The lyrical concept of the album is to present ideas that heighten the awareness of many of the awkward ideas and feelings individuals perceive and process in their life journeys.


"Odd Soul" is great album for everyone. If you haven't heard any of Mute Math's music before, this is certainly a great way to introduce yourself to some real head bobbin', mature music. "GET IT!"
 

Black Friday+Cyber Monday=Christmas Jams Are on The Move

As promised, this post looks at the tunes that keep us all in the Christmas spirit. Well for some of us that is. Within this review there a couple of artists that make me think more of the toilet than anything else. So let us begin shall we.

Let's kick this thing off with a newly pop monster's attempt at bringing forth some Yul-tie cheer. I present to you none other than Justin Bieber's Holiday album "Under The Mistletoe". Now if there are a couple of Biebernites (or whatever they call you cult followers) let me just tell you that this album is pure CRAP! There is nothing cool about taking some classic Christmas tunes and making them poppie. The album is predictable and lame. Not only that, I really tried to give the kid the benefit of the doubt but his voice made me want to hurl. "Sorry!" There I said it. In my opinion this record is only for the prepubescent teenie boppers who are praying for Santa to leave them a Bieber clone under the tree.

Our next album, and one of my faves, is an amazing interpretation of classic Holiday songs that really get's you in the mood. Three time Grammy Nominated Artist, Kim Hill brings a mature and balanced presentation of some memorable songs that just make you want to cozy up by the fire with your "Boo" and enjoy some hot coco. Hill's album "Christmas Back to You" offers a pleasant fusion of jazz, country, and some smooth rock that will really get you reflecting on what Christmas is all about. The album also provides a colaboration between Kim and her Son, Ben who bring a very interesting interpretation to a timeless Christmas classic. In all this is one of my favorites for this year.

He's known as the "Bube" in short by some of his friend, but the rest of us know him as Michael Buble. Buble maintains his smooth jazz style approach to music that brings his listeners back to a time where Dean Martin and the Rat Pack ruled the media airwaves. Buble's album, "Christmas" does nothing, but speak for itself. Listening to this album takes you back to a time where big band was the in thing, and Jazz set the foundation for style that remains classy, charismatic, and the foundation for everything modern in music. The album contains some fun duets with Shaina Twain and Latin Artist, Thalia. Michael Buble's "Christmas" is a must have in my opinion. 

Our next Christmas album comes from the cute little voice of Zoey Dechanel in her duo group She & Him. The duo's Holiday album is entitled "A Very She & Him Christmas", which offers a very laid back jazzy feel to timeless Christmas jams. The two do a magnificent job of keeping all of the songs true to form and tradition. There is no question that this album will catapult you into the Christmas spirit. You will love how She & Him stick to the integrity of what these songs are all about. Another great holiday album to add to your collection.


These are a couple of albums that I have selected that I think are fun. Well all except the Bieber one. I really tried to get into it, but I couldn't. There was no possible way for me to enjoy it no matter how hard I tried. That being said, I hope that you enjoy this post and if you haven't checked out Spotify and listened to these, and many other artists, I strongly suggest that you do. Spotify is a great way to preview your faves new material before investing in it. If you like what you hear, show you support and buy it. Thanks again and be on the look out for more posts.