Surviving the Golden Age

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Estelle: Shine
2008-05-04 06:24:00
Estelle: Shine West London singer/rapper/producer Estelle releases her sophomore album Shine and her first album to make a dent in the states.Estelle's debut album, The 18th Day made a decent impact on British charts but never was released in the States. The album was a modest outing featuring the songstress' singing and rapping.Estelle's sophomore effort Shine seems to be constructed to be a hit in the states.The album starts off with "Wait a Minute (Just a Touch)" which is produced by will.i.am. With such an infectious beat, it is no wonder it was chosen as the lead single for the album in the UK.The first single in the States, however, was "American Boy" which features Kanye West. The first voice heard on the track is Kanye's making it an obvious choice for the first American single. With its major key and dance beat, "American Boy" has been on of the highlight singles of the first half of the year.I question Estelle's ability in the American market. Estelle's sound rem...
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GromKo.: Convert Augustine
2008-05-02 18:41:00
GromKo.: Convert Augustine Jazz vocalist and band leader Sarah Gromko self-releases Convert Augustine.I'm not a huge jazz vocalist fan. I gobble up bebop like its marbles and I'm a Hungry Hungry Hippo, but vocal jazz is another beast.Gromko's voice is not as obviously jazzy as Norah Jones or Squirrel Nut Zippers' Katharine Whalen. Gromko's voice is nice but not necessarily anything I would consider special.The album leads off with the Cole Porter classic "What is This Thing Called Love" which contains a bang up Rhodes solo by Art Hirahara. Sarah really features her vocal skill on "Larva" and a great clarinet solo by Javier Arou.Overall, it becomes painfully clear during my listening that I'm not all that into what Sarah is doing but she has assembled a crack team around her.Rating: 5.8/10MP3: GromKo. "Larva"

The Slackers: Self Medication
2008-05-02 17:26:00
The Slackers: Self Medication The Slackers have been making traditional ska for over 17 years now. On their 7th full length album, Self Medication they offer up more of their smooth blend of ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, soul, garage rock, and jazz.The luster of third wave ska like Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Reel Big Fish that made those bands hits in the 90s was the manic energy they played with. The Slackers play the ska that was the predecessor to reggae. The music is fairly slow and melodic and the vocals are very soul oriented. The main instruments are keyboards and guitar with horns used as accent pieces.I feel like there is a very specific mood you have to be in to enjoy the Slackers. On "Self Medication", the song for which the album is named, Vic Ruggiero sings "My favorite medication is whiskey and weed". I feel like that line speaks to the audience of the band. The music sounds great in a night club or in a opium den, but for everyday listening it doesn't quite make the ...

Lil Mama: VYP (Voice of the Young People)
2008-05-02 04:59:00
Lil Mama : VYP (Voice of the Young People )Eighteen-year-old Brooklyn rapper Lil Mama broke through into the mainstream last year with her single "Lip Gloss". Now she finally releases her debut album VYP to much expectations.Although rappers like Lady Sovereign and M.I.A. have broken into American mainstream to some extent neither of them have had the mass success that "Lip Gloss" had. Lil Mama not only has the pressure of following up a huge debut single but also the potential to be America's premier female rapper.Lil Mama's debut album does feature some big names like production from Cool & Dre, Scott Storch, and The Runners. The album also features appearances by T-Pain and Chris Brown. Clearly none of the names are there to outshine Lil Mama.For the most part, Lil Mama is an extremely solid rapper. I really don't think I've like a female rapper as much as I like Lil Mama. Unfortunately like many female rappers she doesn't seem content to be just a rapper. The album...
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New Busta Rhymes Video
2008-05-01 15:53:00
Busta Rhymes is preparing to release his 8th studio album entitled Blessed. The first single from the album is "We Made It" which features none other than rap/rock royalty Linkin Park . The song is better than anything that appeared on Linkin Park's last album. Also make sure you listen up for Mike Shinoda's verse which might be the highlight of the track for me. Enjoy the video!
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Madonna: Hard Candy
2008-05-01 04:59:00
Madonna: Hard Candy Madonna is turning 50 in August. Just let that sink in for a second. Whenever I listen to Madonna's music I still think of her as being in her twenties, maybe thirties at the oldest. While some will surely call her music daring, part of me feels like by now she should have developed passed this.On her 11th studio album, Madonna lines up producers like she is a rap artist making his comeback album. The production credits on the album is absolutely ridiculous. Production comes from such royalty as Pharrell, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, and Danja.With those names it obvious that the production on the album never fails. When the album does fail, its purely on Madonna's shoulders. On "Heartbeat", Madonna chants "see my booty get down like..." and you can't help but feel a little embarassed. It's not quite as bad as her rapping on American Life but its not far off.In the end, the production wins out. No matter how many embarrassing moments you ...
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New Cut Off Your Hands
2008-04-30 16:01:00
Aukland power-pop group, Cut Off Your Hands , is currently in the studio recording their debut EP. Fresh off the release of their third single "Oh Girl", they have leaked this little ditty to the press. "Shark Attack" is a Split Enz cover that the band has been doing live for the past year or so. It has become a bit of a fan favorite and this is the first time they are committing it to record. Enjoy!MP3: Cut Off Your Hands "Shark Attack"

Nerf Herder: IV
2008-04-29 17:46:00
Nerf Herder: IVPop Punk is seemingly a genre who's heyday has come and gone. In the Mid to late-90s bands like Green Day and Blink 182 changed nothing in their formula but the mainstream came to them. One of the minor hit makers during the pop punk explosion was Nerf Herder. Their comical song "Van Halen" garnered a considerable amount of radio play and got them signed to Arista Records.Since that time, Nerf Herder left Arista Records. Released a few more albums and broke up. Their last album was 2002's disappointing American Cheese. Lead singer/song writer Parry Gripp went solo and released the incredible For Those About to Shop...We Salute You in 2005. Three years later, Nerf Herder is reunited and back with another quirky pop punk album, IV.Its easy to write off Nerf Herder. Goofy music almost never gets its due (with the exception of They Might be Giants).Parry Gripp not only writes awesome power pop tunes but he is also incredibly intelligent. Unlike Bloodhound Gang who gaine...

Kid Creole: Going Places: The August Darnell Years 1974-1983
2008-04-28 17:42:00
Kid Creole: Going Places : The August Darnell Years 1974-1983When I think of Kid Creole, I think of the member of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. August Darnell aka Kid Creole is from New York but he is not a rapper. He is the band leader of the big band Kid Creole and the Coconuts.Creole came to be famous in New York as a side man playing with the likes of Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, Aural Exciters, and Ron Rogers.Kid Creole is noted for mixing Salsa with Jazz and Disco. As you listen to the collection of songs here that Creole has taken part of you can completely understand why he would have been a big deal in New York City in the 70s. His music definitely has a disco feel to it, but it also appeals to people's higher senses with his esoteric influences.Although the history of the music can't be overstated, the music itself can be. There are some quality tracks on the release that far outlast the disco era, but for the most the tracks are meant to be heard whil...
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Kail: True Hollywood Squares
2008-04-27 20:42:00
Kail: True Hollywood SquaresLA rapper Kail, releases True Hollywood Squares, a concept album where he assumes a different persona with every song.The album starts with a skit that introduces each character as a square in the familiar game show Hollywood Squares. The first song he assumes the role of the host of the game show, called "The Realest Muthafuckin' Tour Guide Ever".Until I saw the cover of the album I really thought Kail was white. Something about his rapping style just reminds me of underground white rappers. His repeated use of the n-word is what first prompted me to check his race.Production wise I think the album is really tight. Because each track is a new character, each track has very distinct production. "Wendy" employs an 8-bit Nintendo synth sound over a beat that reminds me a lot of Spank Rock. "Motorola Twins" has a 80s hip hop beat with minimal instruments.Kail's bio compares him to an early Ice Cube, I just don't see it. Ice Cube was an originator o...
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Tokyo Police Club: Elephant Shell
2008-04-26 19:50:00
Tokyo Police Club : Elephant Shell Canadian quartet, Tokyo Police Club , finally release their debut full length after two wildly successful EPs.Tokyo Police Club have a great sense of music. They give the listener exactly what they want and nothing more. With only one song breaking the three minute mark, Tokyo Police Clubs debut album clocks in in under a half hour.Now with that said people probably assume this band is playing fast hard punk, right? Wrong. Tokyo Police Club plays rhythm-heavy atmospheric indie pop. Their sound can be compared to Broken Social Scene with hints of Sunny Day Real Estate and Kula Shaker.The poppiness of TPC can not be over stated. Although they have lush arrangements and occasionally employ wall-of-guitar production, they never forget the luster of hand claps or a gang-vocal "HEY!".In the end, I can not think of a better way to follow up two well recieved EPs. This full-length feels like a sophomore effort just because of how much hype and suspense...
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Music in Advertising: Saul Williams "List of Demands"
2008-04-25 23:33:00
Nike is among America's most controversial companies. While Nike is easily the biggest sneaker company in the world, their production practices are questionable to say the least.Nike's latest marketing campaign is Nike Sparq. Sparq stands for "speed, power, agility, reaction, and quickness".Now how does a multi-national corporation who has been accused of using child labor to produce their product gain license to socially conscious poet-turned-rapper Saul Williams ' "List of Demands "? That's an interesting question. The songs energy makes it a good choice for a such a commercial but the question is how did Nike get Saul to agree to this. When Nike used the Beatles' "Revolution" is a commercial it was because Michael Jackson had outbid McCartney for the rights to the back catalog. The Beatles came out and chastised Jackson for the decision to license the song saying "Revolution" was not about selling shoes.Assumably Saul still has some say in how his music is used, so how d...
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Blue Scholars: Butter&Gun$ EP
2008-04-24 23:09:00
Blue Scholars : Butter &Gun$ EPSeattle hip-hop duo Blue Scholars release their second digital only EP.MC Geologic and DJ Sabzi make hip hop that can only be described as backpack. The beats Sabzi creates has a mass appeal feel. The first track on the EP "Loyalty" has a Three 6 Mafia feel to the beat. Geologic's lyrics are all very personal. As an MC he sounds like Sage Francis or Saul Williams.The second track which the EP is named for "Butter&Gun$ (Loyalty pt II)" is the best track on the EP. The beat sounds like a chopped and screwed Kanye West beat and Geologic works up his best cadence to date.The real problem I have with Blue Scholars is they have no swagger. Geologic's rhymes are competent but not fun. They're very autobiographical but not like Young Jeezy autobiographical. There are no similies or metaphors in Geologic's rhymes and it leaves the rhymes feeling bland.Beat-wise, I enjoy the EP a lot. Sabzi makes great accessible beats, although I often feel like they ...
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Sarandon: Kill Twee Pop!
2008-04-24 04:09:00
Sarandon: Kill Twee Pop!It's so hard to gauge an album named Kill Twee Pop! It could be hardcore; it could be an ironic twee pop album title. To my (welcome) surprise Sarandon is neither twee pop nor hardcore.Kill Twee Pop! is the sophomore album from English trio Sarandon. The band plays a mix of post-punk and indie rock.In some ways Sarandon wears their influences on their sleeves. From the first notes of the first song, unimaginatively named "Kill Twee Pop!", the listener can tell Sarandon is heavily influenced by Gang of Four, Pere Ubu, and The Fall. Their guitars are sloppy and often dissonant. The vocals are a mix between talked and yelped with very little melody behind them. The bass is heavy and extremely rhythmic. The drums are disjointed and chaotic.Although all of those elements may sound like a bad thing, the truth is Sarandon has a certain "je ne sais pas". It could be their sense of urgency or their addicting energy, but Sarandon's Kill Twee Pop! is more tha...

Goldfinger: Hello Destiny
2008-04-22 18:03:00
Goldfinger: Hello Destiny Goldfinger's 14 year career saw them cash-in during the 90s ska explosion. Goldfinger hasn't changed which is evident on their sixth full length record Hello Destiny.Goldfinger still plays their signature third-wave ska sound. They mix elements of ska, and pop punk into quick, catchy songs. Hello Destiny sees Goldfinger get a little more political than previous releases. Leadsinger John Feldmann has always been a big activist for Animal Liberation Front but this album they go after even more standard subjects like the war in Iraq.I'm not a huge Goldfinger fan but I have always enjoyed their singles. Something about this album just rubs me the wrong way. Maybe its having a song titled "Handjobs for Jesus" that makes the album easy to come into with a bad attitude, but this record just lacks something. The album doesn't seem fun. It sounds like a moody 90s punk album, similar to Pennywise, with some ska parts forced into it. Its not a good sound f...
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Atmosphere: When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold
2008-04-22 00:59:00
Atmosphere: When Life Gives You Lemons , You Paint That Shit Gold Hip-hop duo Slug and Ant are back with their fifth album as Atmosphere. The two are founding members of the Rhymesayers Entertainment which features such artists as Brother Ali, Blueprint, Boom Bap Project, Mac Lethal, and Eyedea & Abilities.While I do enjoy several of the Rhymesayers artists, something has always struck me as odd about Atmosphere. Some people call Talib Kweli or Kanye West backpackers, I wonder what they would call Atmosphere. Perhaps they wouldn't even recognize Atmosphere as rap.When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold finds Slug rapping about the other side of crack addicts. He paints emotive pictures of addicts and the pitfalls of addiction. It listens like a D.A.R.E. lesson I had in fifth grade.Although the production is iffy on some tracks, its the lyrics that are truly painful on this album. Slug's cadence is good but nothing special and his lyrics read like an inner-city...
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Music in Advertising: Andy Kim "Rock Me Gently"
2008-04-21 22:26:00
As a marketing graduate and a music blogger I've toying with doing this for a while. This is the inaugural "Music in Advertising " post.Canadian songster Andy Kim wrote "Rock Me Gently" which hit number 1 in 1974. It was his only number one hit.Jeep uses the song in their 'Pouring In' commercial for Jeep Liberty commercial. In this instance the song is the focal point of the commercial. The point of the commercial is hazy at best. The animals flying and falling in through the moon roof nicely highlights that particular feature of the vehicle without saying it outright.Overall as a commercial I think its poor at best. Perhaps the person getting the most of the commercial is Andy Kim who was probably never searched on google until the last two months that the commercial has been airing.MP3: Andy Kim "Rock Me Gently"

Kid Dakota: A Winner's Shadow
2008-04-18 19:44:00
Kid Dakota : A Winner's Shadow Minnesota duo, Kid Dakota, have made a home in between beauty and tragedy. Their melodies are undeniably poppy, the music ranges from acoustic folk to full on electric rock.The power of Kid Dakota lies in lead singer Darren Jackson's voice. The lyrics aren't always great, but Darren's emotive voice glazes over any pitfalls in the words. A great example of this is the opening track "New York System". The lyrics of "New York system is unfriendly/in the winter has bad coffee" would make the poetic type cringe, but when Darren sings it it somehow doesn't sound so ham-handed.For the most part the album shines. Occassionally the songs get sluggish, almost to the point of being slo-core. Overall, I enjoy the album. It's put together very well.Rating: 6.3/10MP3: Kid Dakota "New York System"

Quiet Life: Act Natural
2008-04-18 15:47:00
Quiet Life : Act Natural The Connecticut quartet known as the Quiet Life is anything but what you would expect from New Englanders. Their debut full length, Act Natural, is filled with alt-country, post-folk tunes reminiscent of My Morning Jacket or Ryan Adams.The Quiet Life utilizes instruments such as "mississippi sax", pedal steel, organ rhodes, banjo, upright bass, trumpet, and melodica. The band's sounds is dynamic, ranging from quiet folk to rocking blues inspired rock.Their quieter moments can be a little meandering as many quiet folk songs can get. Clearly their not operating in Bob Dylan's realm and they're not necessarily trying to. The lull created by their slower songs can take a toll on impatient listeners but it almost seems worth it just to have the lull smashed by their "down home jam" style.Clearly the band is having fun and making extremely unique music, especially for the part of the country they come from. I can't fault them for doing what they're doing; for a...
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The Kooks: Konk
2008-04-18 03:56:00
The Kooks: KonkBritish pop band the Kooks release their sophomore effort, two years after their very well received debut Inside In/Inside Out.The Kooks sound is not original. It's clearly defined pop but lies in between the British Invasion and South Californian pop. It's like the Fratellis mixed with Rooney.Although, I do enjoy both bands I compared the Kooks too, something about this album is lacking. The songs are obviously catchy but they lack that certain pop. The fully electric songs are fine enough, but the partially acoustic songs just fall completely flat in my opinion.The album is good enough but there is no way it will live up to fans expectations following their debut success. Konk isn't a full fledged sophomore slump but its no grand slam either.Rating: 5.3/10MP3: The Kooks "Do You Wanna"
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Water Fai: Girls In the White Dream
2008-04-17 05:27:00
Water Fai: Girls In the White Dream Brooklyn-based record label, White Shoe Records, releases the debut album of Osaka Japan's Water Fai on American soil for the first time. The album originally self released by Water Fai in Japan in 2006 is a combination of shoegaze and indie pop and for the most part is instrumental.The band is comprised of four women and their bio says they "bring a much needed feminine approach to the post-rock genre". I would say their music is so feminine I would not call it any near post-rock. Their guitars and melodies are most closely resembling American Football and a little Death Cab for Cutie.When vocals are added to their songs, the vocals are indecipherable hauntingly echoed vocals similar to early R.E.M. except female.I can probably count on one hand the instrumental rock albums I really like. For some reason though, I feel like this album would have faired better if it was completely instrumental. The vocals don't add much and if anything they ...
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Phantom Planet: Raise the Dead
2008-04-15 21:01:00
Phantom Planet : Raise the Dead Phantom Planet's wikipedia page states "The band is most widely known in popular culture for bearing former member, actor and drummer, Jason Schwartzman and its track "California", which became the theme song for the popular Fox TV series, The O.C..""California" was released in 2002 and Jason Swartzman left the band in 2003. The band seems like has beens even though they're merely 10 years old.Unlike many one-hit wonders, Phantom Planet not only keeps chugging on but they're not playing state fairs either. Phantom Planet has found their niche of being the premier beautiful Southern California pop group.Although the bands good looks have gained them a legion of female fans, their music is top notch as well. They reside somewhere between the Beach Boys and the Strokes. Their harmonies and background vocals are pure California pop, but their fuzzy guitar distortion are reminscent of British invasion bands.That combination is overly apparent in Raise...
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Mikal Blue: Gold
2008-04-15 17:12:00
Mikal Blue : Gold Mikal Blue has had one of the most successful careers in producing in recent memory. Any Adult Alternative Contemporary artist you can think of probably went through Mikal Blue. He has worked with artists like Five for Fighting, Augustana, Limousine, OneRepublic, The Daylights, Colbie Caillat, and Gary Jules.Now Mikal Blue steps into the spot light to release his own adult alternative contemporary album.It's impossible to argue with Mikal Blue's chops. His resume speaks for itself, but to release an album is a completely different bag from producing. His voice is good, but it's not strong. He would not make it on American Idol, yet that seems to be the demographic he's aiming for.His song writing is generally on point. He writes lasting and impressionable hooks. Musically, the album reminds me a lot of R.E.M.'s Reveal. There is a lot of ambience but not a whole lot of substance to the music.I guess for the everyday lite rock listener this album is probably right...

Mariah Carey: E=MC2
2008-04-15 05:56:00
Mariah Carey : E=MC2Mariah Carey releases her 11th studio album, E=MC2, the follow up to the critically acclaimed The Emancipation of Mimi.This album feels a lot like a sophomore effort. Mariah Carey basically had disappeared off the face of the earth following acting blunders, musical blunders, and live TV emotional breakdowns. The Emancipation of Mimi became Mariah's reintroduction into civilization and it was welcomed with open arms. So following up that kind of success suddenly makes E=MC2 seem like a very important album.The fact is Mariah past Elvis Presley into second place for the most number-one singles among all artists in the rock era for a reason. She generally knows what she's doing when she's in right mind.With productions credits from DJ Toomp, Jermaine Dupri, Scott Storch, Swizz Beatz, and Danja; Mariah has employed the best of the best on this effort. The album also has guest appearances from T-Pain, Young Jeezy, and Damian Marley.Much like Emancipation, E=MC...
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Man Man: Rabbit Habits
2008-04-13 18:03:00
Man Man: Rabbit Habits Philadelphia band Man Man release their third album, Rabbit Habits, via Anti- Records.Its almost impossible to describe Man Man's music. They have christianed themselves Viking-vaudeville, Manic Gypsy Jazz, but something about both of those "genres" don't seem to describe their whole persona.The band members are all multi-instrumentalists and play instruments such as a Clavinet, MicroKorg, Sousaphone, Saxophone, Flute, Drum Set, Euphonium, Fender Jazz Bass, Danelectro Guitar, Xylophone, Melodica and various percussive instruments including pots and pans and toy noise makers and horns.Their music has a certain manic energy that sounds like a mixture of Gogol Bordello and the Flaming Lips. It's seriously just weird but more importantly its also undeniably catchy.There are plenty of bands out there that are weird for the sake of being weird but seem to shun all pop sensibility but Man Man is not like that.The biggest mistake Man Man makes is how they put toget...

Jim Noir: Jim Noir
2008-04-12 20:08:00
Jim Noir : Jim NoirJim Noir's self-titled sophomore album sees him delve deeper into the world of glitch pop and farther away from his indie pop roots.The first time I became aware of Jim Noir was in 2006 when Adidas used his song "Eanie Meany" for their World Cup advertising. "Eanie Meany" had child-like lyrics, acoustic guitars, and neo-psychedelic pop feel.Jim Noir kicks off with "All Right". The song is essential glitch pop with computerized vocals and seeming little to no "real" instruments. It seems to be about as far away as "Eanie Meany" as possible.Sure some songs like "Don't You Worry" has acoustic guitars but its distorted vocals are slightly off putting. Then there is "Happy Day Today" which sounds like Vitalic remixing a Beach Boys tune.I find something very off putting about Jim Noir. It's almost like he's too poppy. Known as being a bit of an eccentric, there is almost something maniacal about his compositions. I do enjoy Noir's music, but I just can't tak...

Torche: Meanderthal
2008-04-12 01:22:00
Torche: MeanderthalThe sophomore effort from the Floridian stoner rock band, Torche, sees them expand even further from their metal roots.Although Torche has always made it difficult to be label simply metal their members all have significant metal pasts. Their current genre is somewhere in between the Melvins, Queens of the Stone Age, and the Misfits. They are clearly still heavy but for lack of a better word, they are poppy. This has forced people to carve out new terms for the band. Critics have called Torche ?stoner pop,? ?thunder rock,? and ?doom pop?. No matter what you call them, Torche clearly has few peers in their genre.Torche has toured with bands such as Mogwai and Isis, but its obvious that they have little to nothing in common with those bands. Over half the songs on the album are under three minutes, only one song clocks in over five minutes.Although their song lengths may not be epic, their riffs still are. There is the 35 second riff-fest that is "Little Cham...

Various Artists: Punk Goes Crunk
2008-04-10 23:30:00
Various Artists : Punk Goes Crunk The Punk Goes... series has been one of Fearless Records biggest hits. The latest is Punk Goes Crunk. For hip-hop purists, there is only one song covered on the comp that is actually in the "crunk" genre and that is Lil Jon's "Put Yo Hood Up" covered Set Your Goals.The general age range for this comp is pretty evident. The comp contains many mallcore bands covering hip hop songs. The mere idea of this comp has drawn ire from the blogosphere.I am here to tell you its not that bad. If you go into the album thinking that its a very serious project, then perhaps you did not look at the cover. The album's concept and content is equally ridiculous.The song that best exhibits that is Say Anything's cover of the ODB classic "I Got Your Money". Lead singer Max Bemis does a straight-faced monotone ODB, it's not a "good" song but it certainly will make most people crack a smile.On the opposite side of the spectrum there are a few bands that take their...

Colin Meloy: Sings Live!
2008-04-09 19:11:00
Colin Meloy: Sings Live !Colin Meloy Sings Live! is a 14-song set documenting The Decemberists? lead singer/songwriter?s 2006 solo tour. Meloy?s two-week trek across the U.S. coincided with the release of Colin Meloy Sings Shirley Collins. Two of the tracks are previously unreleased compositions: ?Dracula?s Daughter? and ?Wonder.? Meloy inserts snippets of songs from The Smiths, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd and REM along the way and performs a version of the traditional folk song ?Barbara Allen? that owes much to Shirley Collins? arrangement.Meloy speaks during in between song banter about how the atmosphere of the show is supposed to be like a campfire sing-along which obviously CD listeners can not participate fully in. Some songs like "Dracula's Daughter" are done in a Story Tellers format and Meloy prefaces it with "this is the worst song I've ever written". Other songs like Decemberists' classics "We Both Go Down Together" and "Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect" offer very little...
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Cloud Cult: Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)
2008-04-09 03:13:00
Cloud Cult : Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes )Craig Minowa and company have been self-releasing albums for almost a decade and a half. They first jumped onto the radio scene with 2004's Aurora Borealis. That success just seemed to grow with Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus which received critical acclaim. Last years The Meaning of 8 saw the band record their first music video.With all this success, Cloud Cult has never compromised their ethics or "sold out".Cloud Cult's music is a blend of symphonic pop and indie rock, their sound is somewhere in between the Eels and Modest Mouse.Fans of Cloud Cult know their M.O. In 2002, lead singer and songwriter Craig Minowa's two-year-old son passed away. Since that time, he has release six albums. The song writing usually deals with death. Although that might sound incredibly depressing Minowa has the chops to not overwhelm the listener by project his loss on them.Although "No One Said It Would Be Easy" and "Everybod...
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