album of the day!

the rapture - echoes

echoes deserves to be on everyone's playlist solely because of its cowbell. it is a good album, on top of that. dance punk, simple samples and production, awesome layered vocals, electronic atmospheres, and plenty of energy. this album is can switch seamlessly from frenzied, to trippy, to sweetly melodic. it keeps its scope in mind, pushing its own boundaries without losing is momentum. most importantly, House of Jealous Lovers has the best use of a cowbell i have heard in any song. this is what really pushes this album from merely good to permanent staple in my listening rotation. it keeps justifying its spot because every song can stand alone as good in its own right, and still feel distinctly a part of the album as a whole.

frivved up by Ben at 11:06 PM

Kanye West. My guilty little pleasure. How can someone so arrogant and yet incomprehensible most of the time produce such soulful, well thought out music? His Latest endeavor with Late registration has some of the best hooks and beats I’ve heard out of any producer for some time, and yet his lyrics make me cringe most of the time. His lyrics weren’t great on College Dropout either, but there are some this time around that make you wonder why his lyrics aren’t as well mapped out as his tracks.

But therein lies the enigma. Despite the fact that the lyrics are substandard, they become a part of the song. Since he’s the mastermind behind the tracks, his incomplete lyrics make the song his own, and even the lyrics that sound out of place end up finding a place in your idea of the song. It’s also weird when you do hear him hit some lyric pretty well, but there are far many more misses than hits.

The whole album goes on a good line though, and Kanye’s sound has really grown some more. His music is carving a new niche that doesn’t really fit in the east/west coast spectrum. It reminds me a lot of Wyclef Jean’s The Carnival in that it’s a great eclectic mix of tracks starring another MC that isn’t very good. Of course, whereas Wyclef had a whole lot of help from others (especially Lauryn Hill) Kanye is doing it himself, with some help from his huge ego. But his two singles Gold Digger and Diamonds from Sierra Leone are just a taste of what kind of sounds he can produce. The album starts off strong with Heard em’ Say, where a floaty piano sample with Adam Levin (of Maroon 5) singing makes for a potent combination. From there it goes to Touch the Sky, which is a horn driven song where Kanye does some of his best lyrically. Then to Gold Diggers, where Kanye’s more traditional song style shines through with a Motown sound. The album has a life of its own it feels at times, and Kanye’s ability to write a solid melody that blends well with a beat catches you in just about every song.

So if you can muck past the mediocre featured MC’s (half good, half bad) and some lyrics that would make the ying-yang twins proud, just listen to the music and then you’ll understand why he’s becoming one of the most influential people in hip-hop. Mostly if you liked his first album, you’ll like this one. I can’t understand my guilty pleasure, and I don’t know how much staying power this particular album will have, but I’m having a fun time with this fling.

frivved up by Ryan at 8:11 PM

it can't be helped, but i always lose my nerve when i sit in front of the computer. i just don't know how to follow thru with these ideas i get going, so i figure i just gotta start writing and hope for the best. i say all this as a prelude to endorsing ima robot as one of my top ten favorite albums. i'm not sure that really means anything to anyone else, but to me, i know that my tastes are broad, for the most part, and i've got a lot of music, so to say something is in my top ten, that makes it very high on a very long list. where do i begin to describe ima robot? i'll start with the lead singer. he's got this very distinct androgynous cocky swagger, (sorry if that sounds strange, but i guess it is strange) but he can also do delicate fairly well, although they don't go there that often. this band also has a sense of humor, but not in a presidents kind of way. i imagine this band's live show must have lots of jumping and contorting. that's just the image i get when i picture them performing. for only 40 minutes, this album packs a pretty intense punch. crazy energy songs like 'dynomite' and 'here come the bombs' are just as infectious as the mid tempo rockers like 'alive' and 'philosophee.' i'm not even sure who i'd say these guys sound like, cause honestly they don't conjure up any similarities to other bands i follow. but i suppose you'd say they'd fall in the alternative/indie category fairly easily. catchy as hell too. 'let's talk turkey' is a gem. anyway, pick this one up, and listen a couple times. you hopefully won't be displeased.

frivved up by Matt at 8:02 PM

as far as easily listenable albums are concerned, the faint's 'Wet from Birth' is right up there. diehard fans of the 80's, the faint polishes up their particular little niche with uber produced synth pop songs like 'how could i forget' and 'symptom finger'. want to know what synth and punk would sound like together? listen to 'drop kick the punks'. sound kinda cheesy? it is. but will it get stuck in your head? most likely. there's even a novelty song that about an embarrasing situation, and trust me, you'll know it when you hear it. not going to win any prizes for it's depth, but 'Wet from Birth' certainly pleases.

frivved up by Matt at 9:20 PM