Take off of Air Yeezy.

Sorry for the delay between posts! Major computer problems!

However that has given me the chance to really get into the nitty gritty of the latest Kanye West offering! ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ is Ye’s 5^th mainstream release and defiantly lives up to the hype.

When I first started reading reviews of this album’s “excellence” and how it was lining up to be Kanye’s “Best Hip-Hop offering yet” I immediately began to dread this release. In my opinion you should never.... EVER over hype an album, as 99% of the time it simply doesn’t live up! (Look at Jay-Z’s infamous return to Hip-Hop in 2006 with ‘Kingdome Come’) and you end up ultimately disappointed and frustrated.

BUT occasionally, very occasionally you manage to discover an album that is more than just hype, and makes you sit up and listen. That priceless 1%, that tiny niche which doesn’t just happen by chance but by pure brilliance! ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ is just such an album!

I’m going to be straight up and say that I’m a massive Kanye fan, I’ve even heard a lot of his mix tape material, which a lot of is pretty awesome, (like his version of Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’). His music is just so powerful. And yes we all know that he can act out a little when it comes to being in the public eye, but to me that is just a way of keeping him in the public eye. Any publicity is good publicity.... ask Taylor.

Outbursts aside, the man falls into that category which I personally feel is FAR too over used, and has almost lost its significance due to this. But Yeezy, like his ‘Big Brother’, is nothing short of a musical Genius.

From his first venture into rap in 2004 with ‘The College Dropout’ his music has been streets ahead of his peers. From the first [skit] track to the last, the album had classic written in/ on/ through/ and all over it. Seeing the first single ‘Through the Wire,’ sampling Chaka Kahn’s ‘Through the Fire’, which in a literally sense painted the agony of the 2002 car accident which shattered his jaw. Ye exploded onto the scene... and when he arrived, it was obvious he was here to stay! Stepping away from the gun toting, gangsta persona which was almost inbuilt into Hip-Hop at the time, Kanye’s self reflective, style speaks volumes about love, loss, family, humour, politics, pain and life... and was a breath of fresh air! The meticulous production value is one of the key factors making Yeezys music so compelling, and is no more obvious than in ‘The College Dropout’. Infusing his Hip-Hop offerings with off-the-wall samples, string orchestras and Gospel choirs, this was truly a revelation in the genre.

His 2005 and 2007 albums ‘Late Registration’ and ‘Graduation’, respectively, continue this fantastically intricate blend of socio-political middle class Hip-Hop. Listening to these albums you get a real sense of Kanye West maturing in/ and through music. With tracks such as ‘Heard ‘um Say, ’Roses’ and ’Flashing Lights’ contributing more passion in a few lines, than most Hip-Hop artists can muster in their whole (usually short lived) careers.

2008 saw Ye reinvent himself (Madonna style) with the deeply emotional ‘first break-up album’ in Rap. ‘808’s & Heartbreaks’ welcomed you to Kanye’s own personal devastation, asking the question how could you be so heartless? This deviance from ‘straight’ Hip-Hop was described by Ye as less Rap, more ‘Pop Art’.(... clearly Kanye had ALOT to get off his chest, and felt the best way to do it was through synthesisers and Auto-tune...? Thank you Jay-Z for ‘The Death of Auto-Tune’!!)

But Yeezy has come back to his routes in Hip-Hop and ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ feels like a real leap forward for the charismatic mogul.

The album brings together all of the best parts of his previous offerings, bundles them together and spits out something new and innovative. The album has a beautiful flow to it beginning with the track ‘Dark Fantasy’, which I had to laugh at... the man who needs no introduction gives the first track on his new album TWO.... then the song starts. The scene is set like a twisted old fairytale, before throwing you down the rabbit hole to be spat out completely energised, with no idea whether there was a happy ending... or any ending at all! Then, as soon as its over, you want to take the trip again!

This feeling of almost an LSD style, trip through Kanye’s mind is elaborately coupled with the 30minute video he produced to extend the track ‘Runaway’. The track itself is an incredibly honest stunning song, (all be it for a rather prolonged ending), and is defiantly one of the stand out tracks on the album. This showing off one of the many creative facets to Kanye’s artistic, captivating personality.

The first single ‘POWER’ is classic Ye. With a heavy base and complex lyrics he smashes you with his deep emotional veiled metaphors, and his thick political undertones. The track is a monster! After nearly 3 years away from (true) Hip-Hop it is clear that he has lost none of his game. Choosing not to go with one of the many collaborations on the album is possibly a marker set down by West, as he comments on various tracks through his career that he feels that featured artists often outshine him (especially seen in ‘Big Brother’ from Graduation with regards to Jay-Z). This is a stand-alone track. It is all about Kanye West now. And he really does himself justice.

Other tracks worth mentioning on the album are... well... ALL of them!

I don’t often say this about an album, but there isn’t a track on there I don’t like! I even like the ‘All of the lights (Interlude)’ which butters you up before hitting you with the full track. ‘All of the lights’ is defiantly one of the biggest tracks, and a personal favourite of mine. Joining forces indiscriminately with the likes of Elton John, and Fergie on this one Ye shines through as the driving force of this song, and the album.

Speaking of monsters, the track ’Monster’ is a classic Kanye-Jigga collaboration, which really lives up to its name. With the likes of Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver also featured the track is a really heavy Hip-Hip track, which it looks like everyone wanted a piece of by the extensive list of names featured.

But for me it is the second half of the album that plays out the biggest tracks. ‘Lost In The World’ (feat. Bon Iver) is an amazingly striking track that has all the tenderness of a ballad with all the rawness of Hip-Hop infused. Ye’s confusion about love and loss bleeds from every pore of this track. Where as ‘Blame Game’ (feat. John Legend) is a fantastically composed track that once again speaks of Yeezy’s emotional turmoil post relationship. Culminating in a hilarious piece of improv by Chris Rock, parodying a phone call from Ye’s ex lover

(watch out for the lines:

"you know what i goota thank yeezy, 

and when i see that brother i gotta thank him!
I'ma buy the album, 

I'ma download that s**t.... 

I'ma shoot a bootlegger!! 

thats how good i feel about this!")

'Devil In A New Dress' (feat. Rick Ross) is yet another track on the album that needs a mention. Yeezy’s blunt honesty through the album is crescendo’d here. Speaking of his wild love life, and relationships through to one night stands, with the starp “the way you look should be a sin, you my sin-sation”.

I really can’t give this album any more plaudits, or like me you’ll start thinking I’m over hyping it and stop listening. But if you have any favour for Mainstream Hip-Hop this album is the Must of 2010… maybe even more so than Jay-Z’s Blueprint III (… controversially).

Definitely get this!
Cheers for reading! Leave me a comment!! Tx

Come around Kings?

Good morning! (… or good afternoon or good night! Which ever suits you best!)

This blog is going to focus on the latest Kings of Leon release ‘Come Around Sundown’.

As I sit here writing notes about the intricacy of the tracks, and the subtlety inbuilt into this album, I find myself wondering….. “What the hell am I doing writing notes when I could be enjoying new Kings of Leon Tunes!?? ”

The album comes as the bands fifth release off the back of the extremely successful 2008 ‘Only by the Night’, and will defiantly disappoint some fans that were hoping for another ‘Sex on Fire’ fuled alternative rock-fest.

This album has come under wide criticism for its lack of headline busting tracks, and its mellow Southern soulfulness. However in light of the previous KoL releases I am really not surprised by it. I, like many, am the first to admit I was slow on the uptake when it comes to the Kings of Leon. It was their 2007 hit ‘On Call’, from their third release ‘Because of the Times’, which alerted me to the deep, edgy lyrics, and ruthless guitar riffs, which was something I hadn’t heard performed so fascinatingly since first hearing The Rolling Stones ‘Brown Sugar’.

The back catalogue continues this trend of gritty, yet tenderly composed Southern infused indie. The foundations for ‘Come Around Sundown’ can clearly be heard through these releases. Seeing such tracks as ‘Trani’ and ‘Milk’ from ‘Youth and Young Manhood’ and ‘Aha Shake Heartbreak’ respectively, being clear forerunners for many of the tracks on this album.

It came as no surprise to me that the KoL have deliberately slowed their tempo, so as to almost re-find their routes in Nashville-based blues/indie. The album feels like a group of tracks specifically designed for live performances, after finally cracking their native U.S. it appears to be a strategic positioning to attempt to perfect their live set.

This is an album you really shouldn’t make a split second judgement on!

The intimacy of some of the album tracks, such as ‘The Face’ is something I feel needs time and some patience to really appreciate. The headline tracks are typically strong KoL, the first single ‘Radioactive’ boasts a punchy guitar riff, and intricate lyrics. However for me the biggest track on the album is the first, almost ironically titled, ‘The End’. The track bludgeons you with Calebs’s cries of “I aint got a home”, and I feel sets the scene of an omniscient moment of power felt by the front man during a gig, when he holds all the crowd in the palm of his hand toying with their emotions, “Sitting on your throne”. I personally equate this track to the likes of Jay-Z’s ‘Encore’… by creating the feeling of ‘The End’ [of the gig], and the loss that comes hand in hand with this, exhilarates andthe raw passion of the audience hits fever pitch! (Before slamming us with some of our favourites as their encore to finish). A real roller coaster of emotion, this is one of my favourite tracks! ‘The Immortals’ is a track I feel is worthy of mention as one of the strongest tracks on the album.

But sadly it is those tracks that didn’t quite entice and tease the way ‘Use Somebody’, and ‘Crawl’s’ raw muscle previously overpowered us.

Tracks such as ‘Back Down South’ and ‘Mi Amigo’ show a little too much moody melodrama to be any more than fillers (something I DIDN’T enjoy saying!! But that’s just how these offering feel).

I personally like this album! In terms of a live set, some of these songs would sit well with the KoL stylistics and unique manner. I also think with perseverance, it is effortless to find yourself falling in love with the easy, blues nature of tracks like ‘No Money’ and ‘Birthday’. As my friend Mark Davies says, ‘This album is a Grower!’

Cheers for reading! Let me know what you think with a comment, or simply if you have an idea of an album you’d like to see blogged about! 

Tx

Mr not-so-Brightside?

I said I was going to start with some slightly older albums, and here is one. Brandon Flowers: Flamingo

For a start, Brandon Flowers is one of the most enigmatic and energetic front men of our generation. A bastion of modern music whose live performances simply inspire! However, I know Brandon's 'flamboyant'... but Flamingo.. Really??

Ok so. I am completely, unequivocally, unquestionably a huge fan of The Killers. From the second I heard the demo of Mr. Brightside I was hooked. Their first offering, the 2006 'Hot Fuss', was/is the perfect contradiction, Glamorous Indie Rock'n'Roll. An almost too perfect first album. With real grit, and use of fascinating metaphors made this a defining musical moment.

The second, 'Sams Town' was three quarters genius, and a quarter questionable... however not to go without mention, involved possibly one of the most creative, holistic and (not to be a cliché) genius pieces of rock music ever written.. When You Were Young.

The third album 'Day and Age' (not completely ignoring 'Sawdust'- but strictly keeping to major releases) was in my opinion less than impressive. With only a few top tracks, it really lacked the punch and grit of earlier releases.

Taken from the video for 'Crossfire'

This first solo effort from Flowers, for me, continues a similar pattern. The album, less 'Indie Rock'n'Roll' more 'Country', shows a different side of Flowers. With a slower tempo, and a more reminiscent, crooning approach this album claims to be ‘Playing With Fire’, but I feel merely smoulders…

Flamingo has flickers of the Brandon Flowers genius that ignited the world in 2006, with the first single ‘Crossfire’ being a solid offering. BUT ‘Jilted Lovers And Broken Hearts’ is the real tour de force, starring as an anthemic Killers-esc track with a big chorus, and Flowers own cryptic way of telling stories of love and life experience. Also ‘Magdalena’ tells the story of a religious pilgrimage which takes in Mexico: A truly extraordinary showing of Brandon’s creative talents, staging the use of his own diverse inspiration.

What I feel is really disappointing about Flamingo is that the Best offerings, are only as good as some of the more average of Brandon’s earlier efforts. Tracks such as ‘The Clock Was Tickin'’ and ‘Jacksonville’ are prime examples of this. With no real tempo, the album as a whole is deflated by such lacklustre contributions. I really want to like this album, as Brandon Flowers is one of my favourite artists, but I find it hard to gain any sort of upbeat experience from Flamingo as it lacks flow and consistency. 

Flamingo is not going to be one of the albums I’ll request on my death bed, but in the wise words of one of my friends: you have to enjoy and accept when an artist attempts a new direction with their music, as without progression you get stagnation…. And nobody wants to hear another ‘Hot Fuss’… 

…..  

.......

 … Well…  .... ... ..... I wouldn't say no!

A little less production value and slightly more focus on the music, perhaps deviating and throwing in a few more Rock ‘n’ Roll riffs could have made this album a real force to be reckoned with! What I really want to say, is that sometimes less is more.

I do want to stress however that with The Killers Brandon is easily one of the best live front men going, and from personal experience puts on one of the most fantastic and complete gigs you could possibly imagine (and this goes for ALL of his music regardless of album, or period in his musical progression). So I have no doubt that when he puts on a show of Flamingo, it will be nothing short of this (and having heard their BBC Maida Vale session in September I get the impression my thoughts are not unfounded!)

Cheers for reading!

Tx

No introduction necessary.... well

As this is my first post, I'm guessing NO one will read this!

However I thought I'd put up a small amount about me, and what I'm going to post about.

Everyone has a blog these days, so I guess I'm just jumping on the bandwagon. Nothing wrong with that! Nothing wrong at all. I guess I haven’t had one until now, because I plainly thought they were for people who had no friends and allot to talk about.. Well sign me up!! (..lol still hoping no one's going to read this..)

I'm Tom! Hola! The bandwagon has truly been jumped upon!

Really though, I guess I thought what I had to say would be insignificant.... overlooked... skipped over, and to be honest... There's nothing wrong with that! Nothing wrong at all. I simply want to get myself out there.

Blogs are clearly alot harder to write for than I had initially anticipated! Though for this blog, I'm going to focus on what really consumes most of my time... music! and yes there are 1 billion other music blogs! But hey, you never know, you just may like mine... number 1 billion, and 1!

I'm a student, doing a masters in advertising, and though this has nothing to do with that, I feel it is very useful for anyone who is creative to be involved in as many artistic behaviours as humanly possible! (... therefore I may occasionally stray for the blogs purpose!)

As you can probably tell structure is the least important thing when it comes to me writing, I think that to be creative ideas need to be free, regardless of in what order. (a Jackson Pollock painting never appeared to have design, therefore why should this?!) I am going to begin with a few albums that have been out a little while... why not, get the creative juices going. Then I hope to give a (incredibly subjective) view of new music, as and when it crashes over us! Tom's music blog 1 billion and 1! Enjoy.....