Oscar Nominated Short Film
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
Thursday, January 3, 2013
N8's Top 10
This year my brother is participating and providing us with his top 10 list of 2012. Enjoy.
Top Ten (12) of 2012
My son (6 year old) and I have been on a serious Star Wars movie kick over the past two weeks (mercifully, the original three have been on heavier rotation). There are a number of thoughts/themes one can take away from these films, but the one that has been sticking with me lately is when, in the Return of the Jedi, Luke confronts the “ghost” of Obi Wan Kenobi about not disclosing that Darth Vader was his father.
“Obi-Wan! Why didn’t you tell me? You told me Vader betrayed and murdered my father.”
“Your father was seduced by the dark side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and became Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man who was your father was destroyed. So what I told you was true…from a certain point of view.”
“A certain point of view!”
“Luke, you’re going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.”
As time has continued to lurch forward, I’ve found this exchange to be increasingly profound. Our own paradigms or lenses greatly affect and create the world we see, feel and believe in; the truths we then in turn believe to be “the truth.”
While I think the authors of this blog are incredibly goofy at times, they are three of my very people in the world. I love their request for me to contribute on this year-end activity. In addition to sharing a passion for music and writing, I appreciate the exercise of having to write my thoughts on music that has influenced, shaped and created my vision of this past year, what my truth has been. There are themes of struggle, loss, creativity, rebirth, hope, power and progressing. These are my truths and this music is part of how I’ve come to that.
12) Purity Ring – Shrines – I love me some spacey electronic stuff at times. This album perfectly demonstrates that love. There are some wildly weird lyrics through out the album but they are dipped and covered in layers of sweet delicious sound thus taking the edge off of lines about ripping my sternum open and pulling….well, almost. Tracks to check: “Fireshrine,” Amenamy,” “Granloves,” and Belispeak.”
11) The Illz – The Darkest Hour – This guy has been kicking my ass for years. I dig his melancholy sound. But it’s his use of non-conventional, non-traditional samples that really advances the art of hip-hop for me and makes me love this guy. It’s a little bold to put this guy on my favorite albums of the year as this just dropped less than a month ago but what can I say, I love this dude’s feel/sound. “Closer,” “Weightless,” “A New Day” and “Jetstreaming” are my easy favorites.
10) Chairlift – Something – I completely fell in love with this album. I don’t listen to too much woman vocalist driven music but the feel of this record is soooooo great. Airy movement, bounce and life to it. Songs that jumped out for me were: “I Belong In Your Arms,” “Amanaemonesia,” “Wrong Opinion” and “Ghost Tonight.”
9) Patterson Hood – Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance – My brother introduced me to the Drive By Truckers years ago. In general they are a pretty driving country alt jamming band but on occasion they become exceptional story tellers, spinning yarn of the South, forgiveness, love, legacies, racism, drinking, etc. A huge component of their sound, no sh*t, is their lead vocalist, Patterson Hood. Either you like his sound or not. I happen to dig it. In this solo effort, he has some rocking tunes but then at his very best he tells and paints pictures of Americana, of heart, of burdens, of releases. “(untold pretties),” “12:01,” “Betty Ford,” “Depression Era,” and “Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance” really stand out for me. The ending to (untold pretties) encapsulated part of my year, my thoughts, my rise: “Maybe I thought about that sad snowy morning and burying my gran’daddy those few years later as I drove home in the rain, Home to my fiancés bed just a few weeks shy of getting married, With the taste of an old high school sweetheart lingering on my lips and fingers, And the rain started pouring down, Out of the sky like a wonderful wrath from God, The God who might smite me even if I turned from his grasp, shine and embrace, I was plotting an escape that I was still a few years away from having the guts to pull off, Years later that realization became a personal hell that followed me around for a while, And then didn’t any more, You can only carry hell around so long before it gets to be a drag.”
8) The XX – Coexist – I know, I know, I know, all of their songs sound the same. And in fact this album sounds almost exactly like their last album but when that same sound is sooooooo gooooood, I don’t care. Sexy, late night, wine/bourbon sipping, seducing music. Always encouraged. “Angels,” “Sunset,” “Chained,” and “Reunion” are the big stand-outs for me.
7) Gary Clark Jr – Blak and Blu – In contrast to the XX, this artist is a beautiful chameleon. Ranging from hard rocking guitar screams, to smooth R&B, to full on beautiful blues, this Austintonian has a complete sound. “Blak and Blu,” “Bright Lights,” “You Saved Me,” are all great songs. The two that got massive attention from me are “Soul” and “Things are Changin’.” They both talk about love that holds and keeps you with the tinge that they won’t last and are continuing to fade away. “I told you already girl, that I was so gone, but that sweet sweet love, yeah it had me hanging on, so strong and I, I know now girl, that I can stand alone, I was put here on this earth by myself, whoah, I gotta keep moving on…” Sung with grace and heart, lovely stuff.
6) Plan B – Ill Manors – This is the soundtrack for a movie supposedly written by and starring British rapper Plan B. Two immediate disclaimers: 1) I have a real love/hate relationship with British rappers and am therefore a bit critical of them, and 2) I haven’t seen the movie yet. It doesn’t take long to get the general sense of the story of the movie. Anger, loss, darkness, death, mistakes, pain, drugs and lost hope are themes throughout the album. I can live with the grittiness and the dark stuff though if the story telling is on point. And it is here. It’s not an easy walk but the songs “Ill Manors,” “Playing With Fire,” “Live Once,” “Pity the Plight,” (the dialogue snippets used during this song are pretty brutal though) and “Deepest Shame” are pretty powerful pieces. I’m going to keep my eye on Plan B. I’m a fan.
5) Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid M.A.A.D. City – Typically with a new album I will focus on one or maybe two songs, play them over and over before moving on to two new songs to which I play over and over before… But this album breaks that pattern. From the minute I played it I had to hear the whole album together. So for all intents and purposes this is actually THE BEST ALBUM of the year – as the sum of it is more than the parts by themselves. Excellent flow and feel from one song into the next. Soulful, spiritual, fun, playful, serious…this dude is for REAL. My favorites are: “Sherane,” “Bitch Dant Kill My Vibe,” “Money Trees,” “Poetic Justice” and “Swimming Pools.”
4) Grizzly Bears – Shields – I liked but didn’t love their first album. I felt they were a bit non-descript and blended into a massive pool of similar sounding groups that are all good but don’t really stand out to me (Seabear, Seawolf, Fleet Foxes, etc.). But then this album, particularly “Speak in Rounds,” “Yet Again” and “Half Gate” just totally blew me away. “Come get what’s lost, what’s left before it’s gone, But what makes each step worth the time and regret still shows, In the cradle of my unruly chest you belong, Take it as it is, Make another bid…” There is a vigor and sense of purpose in this album that came to me as I felt my own sail unfold and grow. I love it’s influence on me and that period.
3 and 3a) Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music AND Big Boi – Viscious Lies and Dangerous Rumors – Hip-hop is one of my very favorite forms of art. The mixture of bravado, story telling, creativity, beats, sounds, inflections and directions completely speak to me. American poetry at it’s finest – when done right. I’m an old enough cat to have grown up with Run DMC, Eric B & Rakim, EPMD, Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane and other early hip-hop pioneers. There was a beautiful period in the late 80’s and beginning of the 90’s when there was so much creative space for all kinds/shades/shapes/styles. You had De La Soul and the Jungle Brothers with their very hippy/lovey sound, you had Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy handling political issues, Heavy D and Big Daddy Kane doing some romance, Digital Underground being silly, etc. That period ended pretty abruptly with NWA and the introduction of “gangsta rap.” There was no longer room to be creative and exploratory. Don’t get me wrong, I loved NWA, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, etc. but felt that a golden era of hip-hop unceremoniously died. Over the years, there have been flashes of hip-hop coming back to its roots and then re-sprouting by doing what it has always done best: incorporating society/America, re-filtering it through its own lens and then kicking the stories back out again with a new distinct perspective. But with these albums by Big Boi and Killer Mike we may have a breakthrough. Both albums are genius. Artistry in full bloom. Their use and incorporation of so many sounds but then making them their own funky soundtrack is hip-hop at its artistic, talented best. Give a serious ear to Big Boi’s: “The Thickets,” “Apple of My Eye,” “Objectum Sexuality,” “Thom Pettie,” “Lines,” “Raspberries,” and “She Said OK.”
With Killer Mike, he mixes his style up perfectly. While I am not a huge fan of his take on Slick Rick’s style, I give the guy incredible respect for being able to pull it off. His ability to blend party banging, political blasts, intellectual creativity and phenomenal beats (producer El-P is incredible) make this album perfect for me. Cannot get enough of: “Untitled,” “Reagan,” “Ghetto Gospel” and “Anywhere But Here.”
I pray that other true hip-hop artists pay attention to what these two have done.
2) Frank Ocean – Color Orange – I credit attending Garfield High School with a lot of impact on me. One of the biggest results is my ever loving soft spot in my heart for R&B music. It started with New Edition, Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill and R.Kelly. Over what feels like forever there has been a huge gap to me of compelling powerful fresh R&B artists. I have tremendous respect for Alicia Keys and John Legend (both of whom I dig a bunch) but their sound has been missing a truly new perspective. 2012 feels like a rebirth of this new direction for R&B that has me very excited (in addition to the artists I talk about here, check out Miguel – great sound). Frank Ocean and The Weeknd highlight this for me. Exceptional mixture of sounds, restraint, expression, movement, fun, love, loss. What really brought this whole album home for me was watching him perform on the Saturday Night Live season premiere. His delivery of “Thinkin Bout You” and the second half of “Pyramids” were incredible. Perfectly done. Listen to the story telling in each of these two songs. Powerful artistry. Both of those songs got played over and over and over this past year. Other great songs from this album: “Lost,” “Pilot Jones,” “Monks,” “Bad Religion,” and “Pink Matter.” I think the mixture of swagger, humility, love, lust, ego, frailty in the second half of “Pyramids” is so perfectly laid out: “You showed up after work, I’m bathing your body, Touch you in places only I know, You’re wet and you’re warm just like our bathwater, Can we make love before you go, The way you say my name makes me feel like I’m that nigga, But I’m still unemployed, You say it’s big but you take it, Right kinda girl, But your love ain’t free no more baby, But you love ain’t free no more…”
1) The Weeknd – Trilogy – Maybe this is cheating as this 2012 album is basically a reissue of his three 2011 EPs as one big record. I don’t care, this album got more continuous play for me than anything else this past year. Dark and brooding but sexy and fun, this is another profoundly fresh R&B sound that like Frank Ocean completely captivated me. It is easy to get lost in “House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls,” “Wicked Games,” “The Party & The After Party,” “Twenty Eight,” “Lonely Star,” and “The Zone.” I have always loved music that you can either set in the background, letting spin into your sub conscious or really dial into and immerse yourself in. This music does that for me. Love it, love his sound and cannot wait for more.
Onwards, to 2013!
My son (6 year old) and I have been on a serious Star Wars movie kick over the past two weeks (mercifully, the original three have been on heavier rotation). There are a number of thoughts/themes one can take away from these films, but the one that has been sticking with me lately is when, in the Return of the Jedi, Luke confronts the “ghost” of Obi Wan Kenobi about not disclosing that Darth Vader was his father.
“Obi-Wan! Why didn’t you tell me? You told me Vader betrayed and murdered my father.”
“Your father was seduced by the dark side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and became Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man who was your father was destroyed. So what I told you was true…from a certain point of view.”
“A certain point of view!”
“Luke, you’re going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.”
As time has continued to lurch forward, I’ve found this exchange to be increasingly profound. Our own paradigms or lenses greatly affect and create the world we see, feel and believe in; the truths we then in turn believe to be “the truth.”
While I think the authors of this blog are incredibly goofy at times, they are three of my very people in the world. I love their request for me to contribute on this year-end activity. In addition to sharing a passion for music and writing, I appreciate the exercise of having to write my thoughts on music that has influenced, shaped and created my vision of this past year, what my truth has been. There are themes of struggle, loss, creativity, rebirth, hope, power and progressing. These are my truths and this music is part of how I’ve come to that.
12) Purity Ring – Shrines – I love me some spacey electronic stuff at times. This album perfectly demonstrates that love. There are some wildly weird lyrics through out the album but they are dipped and covered in layers of sweet delicious sound thus taking the edge off of lines about ripping my sternum open and pulling….well, almost. Tracks to check: “Fireshrine,” Amenamy,” “Granloves,” and Belispeak.”
11) The Illz – The Darkest Hour – This guy has been kicking my ass for years. I dig his melancholy sound. But it’s his use of non-conventional, non-traditional samples that really advances the art of hip-hop for me and makes me love this guy. It’s a little bold to put this guy on my favorite albums of the year as this just dropped less than a month ago but what can I say, I love this dude’s feel/sound. “Closer,” “Weightless,” “A New Day” and “Jetstreaming” are my easy favorites.
10) Chairlift – Something – I completely fell in love with this album. I don’t listen to too much woman vocalist driven music but the feel of this record is soooooo great. Airy movement, bounce and life to it. Songs that jumped out for me were: “I Belong In Your Arms,” “Amanaemonesia,” “Wrong Opinion” and “Ghost Tonight.”
9) Patterson Hood – Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance – My brother introduced me to the Drive By Truckers years ago. In general they are a pretty driving country alt jamming band but on occasion they become exceptional story tellers, spinning yarn of the South, forgiveness, love, legacies, racism, drinking, etc. A huge component of their sound, no sh*t, is their lead vocalist, Patterson Hood. Either you like his sound or not. I happen to dig it. In this solo effort, he has some rocking tunes but then at his very best he tells and paints pictures of Americana, of heart, of burdens, of releases. “(untold pretties),” “12:01,” “Betty Ford,” “Depression Era,” and “Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance” really stand out for me. The ending to (untold pretties) encapsulated part of my year, my thoughts, my rise: “Maybe I thought about that sad snowy morning and burying my gran’daddy those few years later as I drove home in the rain, Home to my fiancés bed just a few weeks shy of getting married, With the taste of an old high school sweetheart lingering on my lips and fingers, And the rain started pouring down, Out of the sky like a wonderful wrath from God, The God who might smite me even if I turned from his grasp, shine and embrace, I was plotting an escape that I was still a few years away from having the guts to pull off, Years later that realization became a personal hell that followed me around for a while, And then didn’t any more, You can only carry hell around so long before it gets to be a drag.”
8) The XX – Coexist – I know, I know, I know, all of their songs sound the same. And in fact this album sounds almost exactly like their last album but when that same sound is sooooooo gooooood, I don’t care. Sexy, late night, wine/bourbon sipping, seducing music. Always encouraged. “Angels,” “Sunset,” “Chained,” and “Reunion” are the big stand-outs for me.
7) Gary Clark Jr – Blak and Blu – In contrast to the XX, this artist is a beautiful chameleon. Ranging from hard rocking guitar screams, to smooth R&B, to full on beautiful blues, this Austintonian has a complete sound. “Blak and Blu,” “Bright Lights,” “You Saved Me,” are all great songs. The two that got massive attention from me are “Soul” and “Things are Changin’.” They both talk about love that holds and keeps you with the tinge that they won’t last and are continuing to fade away. “I told you already girl, that I was so gone, but that sweet sweet love, yeah it had me hanging on, so strong and I, I know now girl, that I can stand alone, I was put here on this earth by myself, whoah, I gotta keep moving on…” Sung with grace and heart, lovely stuff.
6) Plan B – Ill Manors – This is the soundtrack for a movie supposedly written by and starring British rapper Plan B. Two immediate disclaimers: 1) I have a real love/hate relationship with British rappers and am therefore a bit critical of them, and 2) I haven’t seen the movie yet. It doesn’t take long to get the general sense of the story of the movie. Anger, loss, darkness, death, mistakes, pain, drugs and lost hope are themes throughout the album. I can live with the grittiness and the dark stuff though if the story telling is on point. And it is here. It’s not an easy walk but the songs “Ill Manors,” “Playing With Fire,” “Live Once,” “Pity the Plight,” (the dialogue snippets used during this song are pretty brutal though) and “Deepest Shame” are pretty powerful pieces. I’m going to keep my eye on Plan B. I’m a fan.
5) Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid M.A.A.D. City – Typically with a new album I will focus on one or maybe two songs, play them over and over before moving on to two new songs to which I play over and over before… But this album breaks that pattern. From the minute I played it I had to hear the whole album together. So for all intents and purposes this is actually THE BEST ALBUM of the year – as the sum of it is more than the parts by themselves. Excellent flow and feel from one song into the next. Soulful, spiritual, fun, playful, serious…this dude is for REAL. My favorites are: “Sherane,” “Bitch Dant Kill My Vibe,” “Money Trees,” “Poetic Justice” and “Swimming Pools.”
4) Grizzly Bears – Shields – I liked but didn’t love their first album. I felt they were a bit non-descript and blended into a massive pool of similar sounding groups that are all good but don’t really stand out to me (Seabear, Seawolf, Fleet Foxes, etc.). But then this album, particularly “Speak in Rounds,” “Yet Again” and “Half Gate” just totally blew me away. “Come get what’s lost, what’s left before it’s gone, But what makes each step worth the time and regret still shows, In the cradle of my unruly chest you belong, Take it as it is, Make another bid…” There is a vigor and sense of purpose in this album that came to me as I felt my own sail unfold and grow. I love it’s influence on me and that period.
3 and 3a) Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music AND Big Boi – Viscious Lies and Dangerous Rumors – Hip-hop is one of my very favorite forms of art. The mixture of bravado, story telling, creativity, beats, sounds, inflections and directions completely speak to me. American poetry at it’s finest – when done right. I’m an old enough cat to have grown up with Run DMC, Eric B & Rakim, EPMD, Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane and other early hip-hop pioneers. There was a beautiful period in the late 80’s and beginning of the 90’s when there was so much creative space for all kinds/shades/shapes/styles. You had De La Soul and the Jungle Brothers with their very hippy/lovey sound, you had Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy handling political issues, Heavy D and Big Daddy Kane doing some romance, Digital Underground being silly, etc. That period ended pretty abruptly with NWA and the introduction of “gangsta rap.” There was no longer room to be creative and exploratory. Don’t get me wrong, I loved NWA, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, etc. but felt that a golden era of hip-hop unceremoniously died. Over the years, there have been flashes of hip-hop coming back to its roots and then re-sprouting by doing what it has always done best: incorporating society/America, re-filtering it through its own lens and then kicking the stories back out again with a new distinct perspective. But with these albums by Big Boi and Killer Mike we may have a breakthrough. Both albums are genius. Artistry in full bloom. Their use and incorporation of so many sounds but then making them their own funky soundtrack is hip-hop at its artistic, talented best. Give a serious ear to Big Boi’s: “The Thickets,” “Apple of My Eye,” “Objectum Sexuality,” “Thom Pettie,” “Lines,” “Raspberries,” and “She Said OK.”
With Killer Mike, he mixes his style up perfectly. While I am not a huge fan of his take on Slick Rick’s style, I give the guy incredible respect for being able to pull it off. His ability to blend party banging, political blasts, intellectual creativity and phenomenal beats (producer El-P is incredible) make this album perfect for me. Cannot get enough of: “Untitled,” “Reagan,” “Ghetto Gospel” and “Anywhere But Here.”
I pray that other true hip-hop artists pay attention to what these two have done.
2) Frank Ocean – Color Orange – I credit attending Garfield High School with a lot of impact on me. One of the biggest results is my ever loving soft spot in my heart for R&B music. It started with New Edition, Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill and R.Kelly. Over what feels like forever there has been a huge gap to me of compelling powerful fresh R&B artists. I have tremendous respect for Alicia Keys and John Legend (both of whom I dig a bunch) but their sound has been missing a truly new perspective. 2012 feels like a rebirth of this new direction for R&B that has me very excited (in addition to the artists I talk about here, check out Miguel – great sound). Frank Ocean and The Weeknd highlight this for me. Exceptional mixture of sounds, restraint, expression, movement, fun, love, loss. What really brought this whole album home for me was watching him perform on the Saturday Night Live season premiere. His delivery of “Thinkin Bout You” and the second half of “Pyramids” were incredible. Perfectly done. Listen to the story telling in each of these two songs. Powerful artistry. Both of those songs got played over and over and over this past year. Other great songs from this album: “Lost,” “Pilot Jones,” “Monks,” “Bad Religion,” and “Pink Matter.” I think the mixture of swagger, humility, love, lust, ego, frailty in the second half of “Pyramids” is so perfectly laid out: “You showed up after work, I’m bathing your body, Touch you in places only I know, You’re wet and you’re warm just like our bathwater, Can we make love before you go, The way you say my name makes me feel like I’m that nigga, But I’m still unemployed, You say it’s big but you take it, Right kinda girl, But your love ain’t free no more baby, But you love ain’t free no more…”
1) The Weeknd – Trilogy – Maybe this is cheating as this 2012 album is basically a reissue of his three 2011 EPs as one big record. I don’t care, this album got more continuous play for me than anything else this past year. Dark and brooding but sexy and fun, this is another profoundly fresh R&B sound that like Frank Ocean completely captivated me. It is easy to get lost in “House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls,” “Wicked Games,” “The Party & The After Party,” “Twenty Eight,” “Lonely Star,” and “The Zone.” I have always loved music that you can either set in the background, letting spin into your sub conscious or really dial into and immerse yourself in. This music does that for me. Love it, love his sound and cannot wait for more.
Onwards, to 2013!
Stefan’s Top 10
This is the third year that I am doing my Top 10 Music list (Click on these to see 2011 and 2010). It’s fun to go back and take a look at what were my previous Top 10s, some of those albums have held up while others have definitely faded away. It will be interesting to see how many of these will hold up over time.
For fun I have added two little side music bits...
Favorite Song Used in a Commercial: Odetta - Hit or Miss (Southern Comfort)
One mellow yet funky tune. Put on that speedo and drink your SoCo on the beach.
Favorite Song Used in a Movie: Chuck and Mac - Powerful Love (Looper)
Such a dope song. Makes me want to drive real slow in a big cadillac, does not make me want to chase down and kill my future self.
OK! Now my top 10
Honorable Mention: The Illz - The Darkest Hour: I am a big fan of The Illz mellow beats and smooth rhymes. He uses really great samples taken from music nobody else really uses. This album only came out a few weeks ago and really is more of an EP (5 of the songs are only a minute or two long) but I know I will listen to it quite a bit.
11. Beach House - Bloom: I know I am starting with 11 and not 10. I can count, shut up. I came to this album pretty late but it has steadily grown on me. This is one of those odd albums where in general I have no idea what they are singing about but the music just flows from one song to the next and I can kind of zone out. Space music.
10. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange: It’s crazy this guy is only 25 years old. He will make lots of great albums. This album is probably on every top 10 list out there but yeah, it’s that good. Dude has a smooth voice that is filled with emotion that just glides over his mid tempo beats and mellow electric piano work. One thing that makes the album very interesting is how he sings from male, female. straight and non-straight perspectives. This album is a genre changing work.
9. John Mayer - Born and Raised: Once again, John Mayer makes an album and it totally hooks me. The man is immensely talented at song writing and guitar playing. He has has his blues albums and pop albums but with this album he attempts folk/pop and nails it. This is a summer day mellow album. Jeez, all of my favorites are mellow types.
8. Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid M.A.A.D. City: Another 25 year old talent. Kendrick has brought that West Coast flair back to rap. This album tells the story of an individual growing up in Compton. His rhyming and story telling is exceptional. His vocals don’t fight with the beat. My only problem with this album though? All of the skits. This is a total throwback to rap albums from the 90s but I think they interrupt the flow. How often does one simply listen to an album and not do anything else? I don’t like skits.
7. Fresh Espresso - Bossalona: I find this album very interesting as producer and one of two rappers in Fresh Espresso, PSmoov, went clean midway through the production of this album. Pretty much every song is about partying it is interesting how some mention drugs and alcohol while others don’t mention any substances but instead how pimp one can be with just their attitude. I think PSmoov is a great producer who has influenced a lot of Seattle artists and this album a great example of his work combining, funk, electronica, and hip hop styes. One of the best songs on the album is Goodbye My Love, PSmoov’s song about giving up drugs.
6. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - The Heist: Something not totally mellow! These two have blown up this year with a sold out tour and a huge fan base. It seems Macklemore is everywhere now, good for him. This album is really on my list thought because of Ryan Lewis. This guy is such a good producer. He is the master at making a beat and hook. The entire album was made with no samples. NO SAMPLES! That’s hella filthy. Now of course the honesty of Macklemore’s lyrics can’t be denied but at times it can seem a bit preachy. I still applaud him for speaking what he believes in however. Same Love is one of the best songs of the year.
5. Gary Clark Jr - Blak and Blu: Back to some rock. Blak and Blu is a great combination of rock, blues and hip hop beats. With fuzzy distorted guitar and heavy beats this is a fun album to rock out to. One can definitely say this sounds like The Black Keys but this has a bit more produced sound and more guitar solo work. I recognize the similarities but I think Gary Clark Jr definitely stands on his own. Gary can also mix it up and play a pop song or a mellow R&B influenced tune.
4. Nas - Life is Good: Some artists have started out hard and started making kids movies (Ice Cube) or started out hard and then turned to reggae (Snoop) or started out hard and then turned to acting (Method Mad and most rappers). Nas has stuck to making straight hip hop, ok he was in Belly but that was basically one long music video. He doesn’t get really experimental, just sticks to 90s style hip hop. I love it. Nas is maybe the greatest story teller in the history of hip hop. I think the song The Black Bond is a perfect example of his story telling.
3. The Lumineers - The Lumineers: This is pretty hipster (which is totally cool) but damn, I love this album. Hipster folk! The American Mumford and Sons! You may not know this, but they have more songs than just Ho Hey. This is a fun album that is very summer. It is a nice change of pace from a lot of the music out there. I enjoy the simpleness of their music. This is not a super happy song but I think it is very powerful.
2. Sol - Yours Truly: Sol is still in college, damn. I think this is the most complete hip-hop album of the year. Great beats and rhymes. Some songs sounds a bit like Kanye while others could be compared to Kid Cudi. With different marketing and exposure this could be a very good selling album. Sol has talent and it will be fun to see how he progresses.
1. Patterson Hood - Heat Lighting Rumbles in the Distance: My number one album of the year. The Drive By Truckers have mellowed out over their last few albums but with Patterson Hood’s solo effort he has almost completely given up the electric guitar and taken that mellow vibe even further. This album is extremely personal about, the South, love, loss and living on the road. This album highlights how great of a songwriter Patterson is and how he has matured since starting the Drive By Truckers in 1996. Love it.
Tanner’s 2012 Music Review
I listened to a lot of new music this year, and I started
noting some trends when I wanted to sit down and write about 2012. Continually,
albums kept reminding me of each other, so I did little comparisons when I
tried to decide which one I liked better. Then, instead of doing a
straightforward review, I wanted to write about how I compared the two with a
couple of little snippets. Therefore, my Top
Ten Albums of 2012 is more like a top 21. Sorry if I went a little
overboard, but please enjoy.
Catchy Folk Bands who
are Best Played in the Background at a Party with a Bunch of Liberal White
People
10. The Lumineers – The Lumineers OVER Mumford and Sons – Babel
I don’t have much to say about these albums other than they
are best played in the background at a party with a bunch of liberal white
people. I liked The Lumineers more
because it was new and unexpected. Moving on.
Laid-Back Alternative
Bands Dependent on Vocal Harmonies but One Has a Synthesizer
9. Django Django – Django Django OVER Band of Horses – Mirage Rock
I love pretty much anything Band of Horses does, so I was
expecting a lot more from this album. It seems like they may have taken the
more folksy songs left over from when they were working on Infinite Arms (their previous, and very awesome, album) and put
them together on Mirage Rock. I have
no basis for that conjecture other than I made it up, but Mirage Rock definitely felt like a regressive step compared to
their more rock-influenced earlier albums. I would have liked to hear them do
something a little more experimental, like adding a synthesizer. And with that,
we have the perfect way to describe Django Django: Band of Horses with a
synthesizer.
Still don’t hear it?
How about now? KThnx.
Albums that Could
Have Been Magically Transported Here from 1987 but in a Good Way
8. Chairlift – Something OVER Tanlines
– Mixed Emotions
This year’s Chairlift album felt like a reworking of all the
popular (read: non-suicide inducing) songs that The Cure did, but with a female
(eunuch?) version of Robert Smith. In other words, it is really cool,
fantastically weird, well-written new wave alt-pop.
Tanlines’ album was a really cool surprise too, just not as memorable to me as Something. Check it out, but don’t expect an interpretive dancing lead singer in a silver spandex jumpsuit.
Tanlines’ album was a really cool surprise too, just not as memorable to me as Something. Check it out, but don’t expect an interpretive dancing lead singer in a silver spandex jumpsuit.
Two Awesome Indie Bands
First Introduced to Me by Danny’s Brother, James
7. Beach House – Bloom OVER Two Door Cinema Club – Beacon
Bloom was
incredibly beautiful, and Beacon was
incredibly loud and fun. In this instance, I went with beautiful. Bloom was my favorite album to listen to
while trying to relax, and I would hear different complexities and variations
of the songs each time I put it on in the background. It was simultaneously
intense and easy to ignore. There aren’t a lot of bands who can make music like
that. I can only imagine what it would be like if I took drugs.
Stripped Down Rock-and-Roll Albums
6. Jack White – Blunderbuss OVER Japandroids – Celebration
Rock
It’s really fantastic what some artists can do with only a
couple of instruments and a low-fi recording device. I loved both of these
albums, but I chose Blunderbuss
because Jack White is awesome and the lead singer for Japandroids went on this
really long rant about “the artistic process” on his XM Radio session and I
couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not and it was weird. This song
freaking rules though:
Obligatory Seattle
Hip-Hop Albums of which Stefan and Danny Probably have Eight Listed Each
5. Sol – Yours
Truly OVER Macklemore – The Heist
I’m thinking the others are going to write about these, so I’ll
just make one point: I think Macklemore is great at writing songs that are EITHER
super intense and personal OR gimmicky and completely tongue in cheek. He has
definitely matured and gets better with every new song, but I’d like to see him
develop a more intellectual middle ground. Sol’s album hit that middle ground
better for me.
Albums with “Global”
Sounds Produced by Crazy Talented Female Artists
4. Cat Power – Sun OVER Santigold – Master of my
Make Believe OVER Grimes – Visions
From most of the year end reviews I have read, I actually
have these in the reverse order of the consensus. I think that’s probably a
reflection of the personalities of the artists instead of the actual quality of
the music, though. Grimes is so quirky and artistic, I think she tricks people
into thinking her stuff is better than it actually is, and though the album was
really good, her voice is over-filtered and kind of annoying. Santigold, on the
other hand, is gregarious and well-loved by her peers, and a terrific talent. Master of my Make Believe is a great
bouncy dance album, and I admittedly loved it when it came out, but it didn’t
have the staying power I expected. Sun
seemed to be a nice middle ground between Santigold and Grimes, being at once
catchy and complex. Chan’s overly-preachy lyrics might turn some people off, but
she has a beautiful voice and the production is fantastic. I would love to hear
a talented rapper flow off of some of the beats.
Experimental
Americana Albums Expressing Further Development by Beloved Artists
3. Grizzly Bear – Shields OVER The Shins – Port of Morrow
I was super excited for both of these albums, and both bands
did amazing things with the long layoffs between their last LPs. The Shins
added some musical diversity and juiced up their rhythms, and Grizzly Bear got
crazy creative with their production. I love Port of Morrow, but I was absolutely floored by Shields. Grizzly Bear continues to
evolve and are the closest thing America has to Radiohead. I probably consider
this the “best” album of 2012, but one of the criteria I use for picking the “top”
albums of the year is how much I think the albums represent 2012 to me. That is
the only reason the following two albums are ranked higher.
Filthy Electronic-Pop
Albums which are “Hypothetically” Great for Sweet Sweet Love-Making
2. Purity Ring – Shrines OVER The XX –
Coexist
The story behind Purity Ring is that Corin James (the
instrumentalist) was a drummer for a band in Canada who got invited to a
buddy’s college and got to mess around with some of the electronic music
software and equipment and just magically started making amazing beats. He
asked a friend of his from home if she could sing on one of his tracks and she
brought over some unused poetry she just happened to have laying around and
they made an album. It’s incredible and ridiculous. I love The XX for making
music that is easier to feel than to hear, but Shrines is an example of “out XX-ing” the XX. This is the hardest
album to pick out example tracks from because all are similar and different and
above all, really good. My favorite surprise of the year.
Definitive Over-Hyped Hip Hop Albums of 2012 that Actually Turned out to be Adequately Hyped
1. Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid MAAD City OVER Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
I have been waiting for a truly great West Coast rap artist
since college. We thought it was going to be The Game that brought back Cali
rap, but he just wasn’t truly transcendent. Kendrick Lamar is. It’s strange how
even on my first listen I began to think of this album from a historian-like
viewpoint, thinking it was a throwback album and yet the future of hip-hop at
the same time. It’s a perfect mixture of nostalgia and talent, and the
reminiscent theme of the album mixes perfectly with the production. Kendrick is
a legitimate five-tool rapper, and flows through tracks while channeling
classic albums like Aquemini, NY State of Mind, Doggystyle, and The Chronic.
Hip Hop always seems to work best when someone is rapping about the pre-fame
lifestyle and having a melancholy but still rosy view of poverty, and this
album captures that perfectly. This is probably the best rap album in five
years, and definitely one of my all-time favorites.
Frank Ocean’s album was similarly great and important, as
truly solid R&B LPs are hard to come by. I hope someone else writes about
it here.
TEN AWESOME SINGLES
The Kim Kardashians (What? She gets come on her back
I think?)
Patterson Hood – Come Back Little Star
Sleigh Bells – Comeback Kid
Patterson Hood – Come Back Little Star
Sleigh Bells – Comeback Kid
Can’t wait for These Albums
CHVRCHES – The Mother We Share
Fossil Collective – Let It Go
I'm looking forward to 2013. My New Year's resolution is to blog more.
CHVRCHES – The Mother We Share
Fossil Collective – Let It Go
I'm looking forward to 2013. My New Year's resolution is to blog more.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The Top Ten of 2012
Since the Mayan gods decided to give us a reprieve on doomsday, I will appease our five readers with the best post of the year. Here is my list of the top 10 albums of 2012.
10. Purity Ring - Shrines
This Canadian duo is on the list thanks to suggestions to listen from both Nate and Tanner. As I get older, I'm getting more and more into electronica-type music. Shrines reinforces this growing appreciation. And when you get remixed with Danny Brown, how can I not like you?
9. Sol - Yours Truly
My list is pretty NW hip-hop heavy. If you ask Kenny, that is because I'm a NW hip-hop nerd (which is probably true). But it's also because this was a really good year for NW hip-hop. One of those leading the charge is Sol. He may not be getting the national recognition right now, but his debut album, following a series of short mixtapes and various guest spots, deserves rec. Keep an eye on this guy.
8. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti - Mature Theme
This album is super weird. But I love it. It's like a the Beach Boys had a baby with Os Mutantes, then that baby got really into punk, but then decided that the punk aesthetic was too limiting, and started listening to its parents old 45s. Then that baby had a baby (via immaculate conception) and that baby (the baby's baby) decided to make an album that would make The Cure proud. Yup, it's weird but good.
7. Dark Time Sunshine - ANX
What happens when you mix a Seattle-based rapper (Onry Ozzborn) and a Chicago-based producer (Zavala)? In this case, magic. Dark magic. The beats are heavy and melodic; the rapping is rapid and varied.
Plus, the "making of" video is great. Microphones everywhere.
6. Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe (just that one song)
I have only ever listened to one song by Carly Rae Jepsen. But that one song is awesome enough to make my list. Because seriously, has there been a more perfect pop song, ever? I don't care if this is supposed to be a top albums list. Call me, maybe?
5. The Physics - Tomorrow People
Did I say it was a good year for NW hip-hop. Yeah, I did. Because it was. Tomorrow People captures Seattle hip-hop in 2012. Fun, catchy, name dropping streets, collaborating with other local artists (Jarv Dee, Sol, Grynch). In a word: FUNKY. And having Jake One on a beat doesn't hurt either.
4. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist
Another local rap group? Seriously? Yup. And this isn't just another local rap group no more. If you haven't heard of The Heist, go ask any 19-year-old college student anywhere in the United State of America. Go ask. Now. Not only have Ben and Ryan crafted a great album, but they did it all themselves. For Christmas, I got my wife's brother-in-law a Macklemore t-shirt. When the package arrived at his house in Colorado, the return address was for Ben Haggerty. Yup, that is building an entertainment brand DIY-style.
3. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
Appearing for a second year on my top ten list, Mr. Ocean has done it again. First, he drops a metaphorical bomb about his sexuality, prompting cries of support from across the rap royalty pantheon. Then, he releases a spectacular album that covers everything from love to lust to pain to anguish to remorse. As I said last year, "When going in for a second, third, and fourth listen, it's Ocean who gets the play."
2. Flying Lotus - Until the Quiet Comes
Flying Lotus took the baton from J. Dilla and ran with it (1983, Los Angeles). Then he did some other, also good stuff (Commogramma). Now he is back at it again, kinda-sorta channelling J. Dilla, but in his own unique, futuristic soundscape that floats, beeps, gurgles, and bops. If this is the happy future where electronica, hip-hop, and house meld into a complete art form called Until the Quiet Comes, I welcome that future.
1. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city
Yes, this is a phenomenal first major-label album. Possibly a classic. And yes, Kendrick was on my top ten list last year. So you could kind of say I called it. But what I really love about this album is that it does an amazing job of balancing substance with appeal. The songs don't just say something or sound good, they say something and sound good. When your debut album is getting compared to The Great Gatsby and earns 9.5 on Pitchfork, you know you're doing it right. Not just the best rap album of the year, but the best overall album of the year.
10. Purity Ring - Shrines
This Canadian duo is on the list thanks to suggestions to listen from both Nate and Tanner. As I get older, I'm getting more and more into electronica-type music. Shrines reinforces this growing appreciation. And when you get remixed with Danny Brown, how can I not like you?
9. Sol - Yours Truly
My list is pretty NW hip-hop heavy. If you ask Kenny, that is because I'm a NW hip-hop nerd (which is probably true). But it's also because this was a really good year for NW hip-hop. One of those leading the charge is Sol. He may not be getting the national recognition right now, but his debut album, following a series of short mixtapes and various guest spots, deserves rec. Keep an eye on this guy.
8. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti - Mature Theme
This album is super weird. But I love it. It's like a the Beach Boys had a baby with Os Mutantes, then that baby got really into punk, but then decided that the punk aesthetic was too limiting, and started listening to its parents old 45s. Then that baby had a baby (via immaculate conception) and that baby (the baby's baby) decided to make an album that would make The Cure proud. Yup, it's weird but good.
7. Dark Time Sunshine - ANX
What happens when you mix a Seattle-based rapper (Onry Ozzborn) and a Chicago-based producer (Zavala)? In this case, magic. Dark magic. The beats are heavy and melodic; the rapping is rapid and varied.
Plus, the "making of" video is great. Microphones everywhere.
6. Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe (just that one song)
I have only ever listened to one song by Carly Rae Jepsen. But that one song is awesome enough to make my list. Because seriously, has there been a more perfect pop song, ever? I don't care if this is supposed to be a top albums list. Call me, maybe?
5. The Physics - Tomorrow People
Did I say it was a good year for NW hip-hop. Yeah, I did. Because it was. Tomorrow People captures Seattle hip-hop in 2012. Fun, catchy, name dropping streets, collaborating with other local artists (Jarv Dee, Sol, Grynch). In a word: FUNKY. And having Jake One on a beat doesn't hurt either.
4. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist
Another local rap group? Seriously? Yup. And this isn't just another local rap group no more. If you haven't heard of The Heist, go ask any 19-year-old college student anywhere in the United State of America. Go ask. Now. Not only have Ben and Ryan crafted a great album, but they did it all themselves. For Christmas, I got my wife's brother-in-law a Macklemore t-shirt. When the package arrived at his house in Colorado, the return address was for Ben Haggerty. Yup, that is building an entertainment brand DIY-style.
3. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
Appearing for a second year on my top ten list, Mr. Ocean has done it again. First, he drops a metaphorical bomb about his sexuality, prompting cries of support from across the rap royalty pantheon. Then, he releases a spectacular album that covers everything from love to lust to pain to anguish to remorse. As I said last year, "When going in for a second, third, and fourth listen, it's Ocean who gets the play."
2. Flying Lotus - Until the Quiet Comes
Flying Lotus took the baton from J. Dilla and ran with it (1983, Los Angeles). Then he did some other, also good stuff (Commogramma). Now he is back at it again, kinda-sorta channelling J. Dilla, but in his own unique, futuristic soundscape that floats, beeps, gurgles, and bops. If this is the happy future where electronica, hip-hop, and house meld into a complete art form called Until the Quiet Comes, I welcome that future.
1. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city
Yes, this is a phenomenal first major-label album. Possibly a classic. And yes, Kendrick was on my top ten list last year. So you could kind of say I called it. But what I really love about this album is that it does an amazing job of balancing substance with appeal. The songs don't just say something or sound good, they say something and sound good. When your debut album is getting compared to The Great Gatsby and earns 9.5 on Pitchfork, you know you're doing it right. Not just the best rap album of the year, but the best overall album of the year.
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