June 9th, 2008
Before the Wayne stans slink out of the woodwork, let me be clear: Tha Carter III is a good album. A three-star effort on the Times scale or in more rap-friendly terms, a four- mic album back when the phrase meant something. Yes, my review might be slightly overly critical. Then again, when you call yourself the “greatest rapper alive,” and can’t go 16 bars without insecurely boasting that you’re in a league with the Nas’, Jay-Z’s and BIG’s, you are intentionally subjecting yourself to a different rubric.
Point being, if you are constantly trumpeting your world-beating dominance and originality, you are not allowed to call a song “Get Money.” That is, unless you can make it better than “Get Money.” To paraphrase the Notorious L.L.O.Y.D. Bentsen, I have seen Biggie Smalls., Mr. Weezy F. Baby. and you sir are no Biggie Smalls.
So no, this is not Wayne’s Blueprint/Ready to Die/Illmatic, if anything it’s his Volume 3…Life and Times of D. Carter. I’d continue here but the review is linked below and the Times was gracious enough to let me ramble for 800 words, so there is that. Besides, this is the Internet and there is a comment box below and maybe just maybe you have an opinion on this Wayne fellow?
LA Times: Lil Wayne-Tha Carter III
MP3: Lil Wayne ft. Jay-Z-”Mr. Carter”
MP3: Lil Wayne ft. Kanye West-”Lollipop Remix”
Video: Junior Mafia-”Get Money” (Because I mean…)
Posted in LA Times, Are You From the Lester Bangs School of Thought? | 32 Comments »
June 4th, 2008
Originally Published at the LA Times
3.5 stars out of 4
Woody Allen once opined that 80 percent of success is showing up, an adage that proves especially accurate when applied to the music of Al Green. Since the 62-year-old son of a sharecropper paired with Willie Mitchell for 1969’s “Green Is Blues,” every time he shows up in the recording booth he brings one thing that few performers can match: namely, his now-fabled, almost extraterrestrially gorgeous voice, a delicate but rich timbre that reaches hard-to-reach notes as though it came equipped with a stepladder.
Of course, Green has had his share of missteps in his 40-plus-year recording career, but more often than not, the mere presence of his seraphic croon is good enough to turn a mundane song into a work of beauty. Luckily for Green, the tunes on “Lay On Down,” his third effort on the Blue Note label, are more than serviceable. Ditching Mitchell (who had produced Green’s last two records) in favor of Roots maestro Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson and James Poyser, the arrangements are meticulous and supple, with the trio wisely enlisting red-hot neo-soulsters the Dap Kings and Philly R&B legend Larry Gold for horns and strings, respectively.
As for Green, his voice sounds as though it’s been preserved in amber, with the ordained minister still blessed with a limitless register that he gainfully employs throughout the record’s 45-minute length. Tracks like the funky finale, “Standing in the Rain,” prove that though Green might be able to qualify for the AARP, he can still get down, while the swooning title track amply demonstrates that Green still knows his way around a ballad better than anyone. Featuring some of the Reverend’s finest work in years, Green’s latest is proof positive that as important as it is to show up, you still need to know how to lay it down.
Buy Al Green-Lay It Down
Download:
MP3: Al Green-”No One Like You”
MP3: Al Green-”Standing in the Rain”
Posted in LA Times, Album Reviews | 4 Comments »
June 2nd, 2008
Once I got past the rubble and sniper fire, the Beirut concert at the Wiltern was a great experience. I’ve written about Zach Condon, the 22-year old boy wonder/trumpeteer/po’ pimp* who is responsible for Beirut, once or twice or thrice prior. I really like him, think he’s going to be one of those career songwriters, yup. In the words of C. Barkley, I might be wrong, but I doubt it. Of course, I am not Charles Barkley, I am much thinner, poorer and whiter. However, there was about a one-week stretch in the 4th grade when I earned the nickname, the round mound of rebound for my prowess on the offensive glass. I also probably ate too much at McDonald’s.
*Condon may or may not be a “Po’ Pimp.” If he’s capable of playing two nights at the Wiltern and records for a label called Ba Da Bing, he may in fact be doing quite well for himself. However, due to a sudden 1:00 a.m. urge to hear Do or Die, the appellation suddenly seems to make sense.
LA Times: Beirut-Live at the Wiltern
Download:
MP3: Beirut-”A Sunday Smile”
MP3: Beirut-”Elephant Gun”
MP3: Beirut-”Mt. Wroclai (Idle Days)”
Posted in LA Times | 2 Comments »
May 22nd, 2008
No, the three and a half (out of four) stars that I tossed to II Trill does not mean that I have resolved to only rock 22 inch rims and sip syrup in my candy-colored Caddy. Nor does it mean this blog is about to turn into a Paul Wall, Lil Flip or Mike Jones tribute page (Remind me who is Mike Jones again?). But Bun B never deserved to be lumped in with the rest of those amateurs in the late great imagined 2005 Houston takeover, where the National Association of Critics Who Discovered Rap in 2002 tried to use the dubious logic of “B.b.but they’re from Houston,” to ride for a bunch of no-talent mealy-mouthed MC’s.
Despite the mixed reviews its drawn, II Trill is a very good record. In my opinion, it’s more consistently enjoyable and focused than both Underground Kingz and the first Trill. Of course, any album with song titles that include “Swang On ‘Em” and “That’s Gangsta” is liable to lapse into generic gangsterisms. But give Bun credit for mostly managing to transcend those tropes. Of course, like most rap records, it’s overly long, to say nothing of “Just be Good to Me,” Bun’s horrible collabo with Mya, that to be kind is no “Movin’ On.” Still, on a trillness scale (eerily similar to the Pitchfork scale), I’d give it an 8.2.
LA Times: II Trill review
Download:
MP3: Bun B ft. Lupe Fiasco-”Swang On ‘Em” (Removed due to extremely obnoxious label request)
MP3: Bun B ft. Pimp C & Chamillionaire-”Underground Thang” (Removed due to extremely obnoxious label request
Posted in LA Times, Album Reviews | 8 Comments »
May 8th, 2008
After Tuesday night’s Atmosphere show, I’m convinced that it’s high-time we retired the label, “underground hip-hop.” Like “indie rock,” before it, the term has ceased to have any real meaning. When the phrase first started to gain currency in the mid-to-late 90s, it actually referred to something specific: the Rawkus/Rhymesayers/Def Jux/Quannum/Fondle ‘Em stuff that outwardly bucked the mainstream, big Willie posturing. But in 2008 there’s no mainstream to speak of. Rappers that move units: Kanye, 50, Wayne, are as pop as they are hip-hop.* And when a guy like Slug can sell out every date of his West Coast Tour, be named MTV Artist of the Week and debut at #5 on the charts, it’s a sign that the lines have grown hopelessly hazy. A dub or a sendspace link to Black and White in Dub to the first person who thinks of a clever genre catch-phrase that I can co-opt. Act now while supplies last.
As for the show, it was solid. Slug’s always been an impressive rapper and even though he’s arguably past his prime, he still can bring it on-stage. Moreover, I was stunned by how rabid his fan base has gotten. I saw them in October but this time felt more triumphant, a victory lap with both crowd and artist semi-stunned by the group’s recent trajectory. And yes, in case you were wondering, Ant still looks eerily like Burt Reynolds on Celebrity Jeopardy.
*Don’t argue with me Wayne fanboys. Granted, I know that new cut with Bun B features dope rapping but still, this exists.
LA Times: Atmosphere Flying High
From When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold
MP3: Atmosphere-”Puppets”
MP3: Atmosphere-”Yesterday”
Posted in LA Times | 5 Comments »
May 5th, 2008
Consider this the perfunctory Iron Man post, something seemingly standard for all 20-somethings with a blog, a modicum of testosterone and an appreciation for whip-smart dialogue paired with visual effects most appropriately described as “super-awesome. ” I’ve never been a comic book guy per se (despite having a trunkful of ultra-rare Radioactive Man issues), but Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard and the film’s four credited screenwriters deserve a great deal of credit for turning in what I and many others consider the best super hero movie in years. If Ghost hadn’t been sliced out of the finished project, I’d consider it an almost flawless film.
Last Thursday, with Stark anticipation at a fever pitch, I had the chance to go to the listening party for Ironman star Terrence Howard’s musical debut. Anyone who has seen Hustle and Flow knows that he’s got some talent, but albums by actors typically constitute 17.4 percent of the bargain buy bins at any given record store (save for that 30 Odd Foot of Grunts record…oh Russell Crowe will you ever lose?). Shockingly, Howard’s album was pretty decent. Not the sort of thing I’d cop myself, but were I 54 years old, and a connoisseur of both Venti Mocha Latte’s and Pinot Noir’s, this would be the sort of thing I might ride for. Hell, maybe even Downey Jr. can dust off The Futurist and the two of them can rock the summer festival circuit. Or not.
LA Times: Terrence Howard-Iron Man’s Music Man
Download:
MP3: Black Sabbath-”Iron Man”
MP3: Ghostface Killah-”Iron Maiden”
Posted in LA Times | 5 Comments »
April 2nd, 2008
Yes, the title is true, one article, one interview, one post. All for the low low price of nothing. I am nothing if not bargain-minded. Act now while supplies last and before I run out of cliches to spew. Nonsensical gibberish aside, I may not be as a big a UGK fan as others on the Internet, but I’m not about to deny that they made a lot of great music, nor will I argue with anyone who wants to ascribe classic status to Ridin’ Dirty. Plus, Bun B is one of the world’s great interviews and it was an honor to speak with him. The link to the Times piece is below, the interview with Bun is below the jump.
LA Times: Bun B’s Birthday Has Him Thinking of Pimp C’s Death
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Interviews, LA Times | 3 Comments »
February 26th, 2008
Maybe there was a trace of hyberbole when I kicked off my Times piece by declaring that Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is the most underrated group in rap history. Then again, I’m willing to ride this point out. Of course, other possible answers may include Organized Konfusion, Ultramagnetic, Camp Lo and others. And no, UGK no longer count as underrated. In fact, in the aftermath of Pimp C’s death, they’ve officially become overrated. Really guys, “Intl. Player’s Anthem” aside, Underground Kingz just wasn’t that good.
But while there are roughly 3,321 bloggers currently considering naming their first born son, Bun, I’ve never heard a single word about Bone in the two years I’ve mucked around this so-called world wide web. Naturally I’m as guilty as anyone. I’ve probably written 52,212 words on Ghostface (last week alone!) but never wrote about Bone until today. This despite them being one of my favorite all-time groups, in addition to having once decided to only answer to the name of Layzie Bone for two weeks in the 10th grade (this is not true. However, I was extremely lazy in the 10th grade.)
Granted, Wish, Bizzy, Krayzie, Layzie and Sleepy never delivered a stone-cold classic, something that you can point to as inarguable testament of their genius. However, E. 1999 Eternal is damn close and Creepin’ On The Come Up might well be the best rap EP ever made. Plus, “No Surrender,” has been adopted as John McCain’s official campaign theme song. The link to my Times review is below. There were Thugs, there was harmony, though sadly there weren’t any bones. Not everyone’s perfect.
LA Times: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Live Review
MP3: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony-”Foe tha’ Love of $”
Posted in LA Times | 5 Comments »
January 21st, 2008
Granted, there’s something undeniably unctuous about watching hipsters dance to hip-hop. And yes, there were least four moments during the opening acts on Saturday night when you could hear me yelling loudly to anyone who would listen that “white people killed hip-hop.” (Let’s just say there should be some sort of taxing entrance exam to be a white rapper.) But you can’t really blame artists for their fan base, except possibly Tool.
As for the The Cool Kids, the way in which they slap new packaging on old ideas may lack originality, but they put on a fun live set, one that reminded me how much I missed the old two MC’s and one DJ arrangement that used to be standard, but seems almost novelty these days (shouts also to Clean Guns). Lyrically, these guys are just okay, but I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt considering Mikey Rocks is just 19 years and figures to improve with age. Plus, in their 808 minimalism some of their beats are pretty great. My review’s up right now at the LA Times, so check it out if you’re into that sort of thing.
LA Times: Cool Kids Review
Download:
MP3: The Cool Kids-”I (Mikey) Rock”
MP3: The Cool Kids-”Black Mags”
Posted in LA Times | 4 Comments »
January 14th, 2008
My article in this issue of the LA Weekly attempts to parse how Lupe Fiasco has sold nearly 250,000 copies of The Cool despite a weak sales climate and his stunning ability to alienate the entire Internet. It also analyzes the question of why hip-hop fans want to get high with their favorite rappers. There are epigraphs from Catcher in the Rye and “How to Roll a Blunt.” Hopefully, you will be entertained.
The LA Weekly: No One Wants to Smoke a Blunt With Lupe Fiasco
Update: LA Times Review of Lupe Fiasco Live at Anaheim HOB
Download:
MP3: Lupe Fiasco-”Go-Go Gadget Flow”
Posted in LA Weekly, LA Times | 22 Comments »
