I can make it good, I can make it hood, I can make you come, I can make you go! I can make it high, I can make it fly, make you touch the sky, hey maybe so!
Avril Lavigne's Girlfriend and Lil Mama's Lip Gloss are two of my favorite singles of the year thus far. And I'm telling you like Jennifer Hudson, that this remix of Avril's hit single feat. Lil Mama is straight fire. Don't believe me? Press play, hear Lil Mama spit, and then we'll talk.
So watching MTV Hits from a distance. This video starts and I'm all snapped out of what it is I am doing and think to myself, 'Oh? I can't believe MTV is showing new Daft Punk or Chromeo videos.' And then that reggaeton* beat kicks in. Ugh. And then I see it is a reggaeton video that also features 'D to the E to the L-I-C-I-O-U-S.' Double Ugh. See this is why Fergie released Big Girls Don't Cry as a single, cause other artists pay her mucho dinero to talk on a hook or spout a few bars before track's end.
There once was a time [let's just call it summer of 2006] when Lily Allen was in heavy rotation round these parts. Before the hype, before the magazine covers, my boy Justin grabbed a high priced import copy of her debut from the Virgin Megastore, based solely on her cover art and what he heard when he gave it a listen in the store, and boy did we have a gay old time listening to her on the freeway, and chuckling at her lyrics. [Lily to an unsuspecting suitor on track two, Knock Em' Out: "I got herpes. No AIDS. Yeah AIDS!"] And then it fizzled. I moved on. I realized that the disc is a little top heavy and this soulful brit chick named Amy Winehouse [have you heard of her?] came along and rocked my world. Though this may be the case, I still love me some Lily and can't wait to see what happens next. She's cute, she's talented, and as this video below proves, she also hillarious when candid. Check it out:
Tauwan Patterson here with yet another reason to love Kelly Clarkson:
"I work out when I want to work out; I don't work out when I don't want to work out. After a long day and I'm tired, yeah, a cookie helps. It makes me feel good. It's soul food! There's a reason why it's called that."
Male father of two enjoying breakfast with his wife and kids: So how long have you been dancing? Tauwan: Whoa! What? I mean, yeah. I danced all through college. MFOTEBWHWAK: Choreography and such? Tauwan: Yeah. I choreographed some pieces and danced in various groups. My school had shows twice a year and I danced in all of them. But I haven't done anything of the sort since I graduated last year. MFOTEBWHWAK: What? Well you gotta pick that up. Tauwan: How did you know that I danced? MFOTEBWHWAK: You're an elegant walker. I can just see it.
20 minutes later...
Male father of two enjoying breakfast with his wife and kids: Here's my card. When you start performing again let me know. I'll bring some people.
Needless to say, I am in a dancing state of mind today and need to get on the ball as far as picking that shit back up and getting inside some classes is concerned. This state of mind is also why I gotta say big ups to Merce Cunningham. It's amazing that at the ripe old age of 88 this man is still going, choreographing, pushing boundaries, and thinking outside the box. If you ain't hip to Mr. Cunningham yet, well, all I can say is if you don't know, now you know.
"Hip-hop leaves me cold. But there are some people out there who think it's the meaning of life...I don't wanna be yelled at, I wanna be sung to...I never really understood why someone would want to have some gangster from L.A. poking his fingers in your face...As I say, it don't grab me. I mean the rhythms are boring - they're all done on computers."-Keith Richards
Now if you visit this blog often, you know that old school jams are more often than not posted under the "Old School Funk for the True Funk Soldiers" headline. But sometimes old school joints are so good, so well put together, so classic to a brotha, [see Montell Jordan's This is how we do it] that all I can do is marvel at their goodness as they boldly play on and show us how's it done. This jam, presented below, is one such example.
1:45 a.m. Thursday night, Friday morning. La Cita. Downtown. Peter Bjorn put it down on the 1's and 2's, but unfortunately it's about that time. "Last call for alcohol!" "This will be our last song. And this one's for the ladies. Thank you, and goodnight!" And with that came this jam. And though I had not heard it in years, I still knew all the words to the song and was that guy on the dancefloor trying to shake it like there was no tomorrow, shouting the hook [and the verse, and the bridge] all up in my friends' faces. Good times.
By the way, I can NOT stop playing this song. I think I may have a problem.
Big ups to the anonymous reader who sent me a fresh, prettier, version of Lauryn Hill's new track Lose Myself. Now this is the Lauryn we all know and love. Enjoy!
Why can't I get stupid, jump up and go crazy when I listen to this record? I am still trying to get what all the fuss is about. It's not that it's bad, I just feel like it's a little monotonous. I don't know. Maybe I am missing something, I mean these folks seem to love it:
A new Lauryn Hill track has hit the net. Love the message, love the beat. Not sure if I am head over heels in love with the key she chose to sing the song in, but all in all, not bad. Eager to see what comes next.
Oh Passions, Passions, Passions. Now if you were born in the last 20-25 yrs, I am sure you have caught an episode of NBC's daytime soap Passions at some point in your life. Hell there was even a time back in high school when I watched it sorta-kinda-religiously and could name nearly all of the main characters. But then things got crazy, the actor who played Timmy died, and every other week a new character would step in to play Miguel, Sheridan, Luis, or whomever. It just became too much. That and I got a life.
But strange things happen when you look away. And let's just say I would have never expected Passions to take on the subject of brothers on the "DL" and I ESPECIALLY wouldn't have expected Chad to be the one sleeping around with some Noah looking dude from Noah's Arc looking dude behind Whitney's back. But I guess it would only be a matter of time before somebody went gay on Passions. Sorry to all of you wishing it was Jesse Metcalfe. I know you all must be heartbroken.
So after many failed attempts at record stores and online, I finally got my hands on 702 debut album No Doubt this afternoon, one of my favorite albums growing up. I really, really, really wanted to post All I Want [remember that song? That was my jam. Wasn't it on Goodburger's sdtrk?], but couldn't find it anywhere, so this one will do. This was THE slow jam for a little while back in the day, and trust me, I'm not lying when I say I ain't heard this one in a minute. It's nice to have it back in my life.
"The Lord Jesus Christ put us on this earth to please these beautiful ladies."
So proclaims one of the suave and subtle fellas of Pretty Ricky on a recent episode of 106 & Park. [Yes peeps this show still exists] Yes, Jesus Christ put you on this earth to please beautiful ladies and of course, inspire young black males everywhere to lock themselves in a room, put on their best fitting wife beaters, let their shorts hang low, and hump an ottoman to and fro. No homo of course. No homo...
Oh Sisqo, Sisqo, Sisqo. I don't even know what to say. Should I comment on your hatred with Usher for wearing dragons when apparently you did that first? Or should I take the time to remind niggas that you paved the way for all the R&B being produced today sometime in the year 2000? Or should I comment on the simple my first casio keyboard beat underlying it all? Or should I say something about how this ain't nothing more than an angry rant set to a beat as evidenced by the way the song just ends when you run out of things to say? I don't know man. It's just too much. But that's what happens when you're dealing with the work of a "legend", you're just baffled, and perplexed, cause they spit that fire that just keeps you guessing youknowwhatimean?
Never underestimate the power of middle aged American women, teenage girls, Rosie O'Donnell, and Elizabeth Hasselback. I don't vote, but I'm still rooting for Jordin, though I thought for sure that she was going home tonight.
*Did anybody else catch it in the middle of the episode when Ryan slipped and said Melinda is going home as if it was a joke and they cut right to commercial? No? Just me?
Okay Cassie. I see you. Do your thang girl. We didn't even know you were working on a new album. This ain't bad. Vocals are cool, the tune is light, and you let the beat ride out sans vocals. Good call. And its released just in time for Memorial Day and summer, summer, summertime. Will it stick with me the way Rihanna's Umbrella has? Only time will tell.
Sorry 50, but I get more of a fun, clap your hands, snap yo fingers, carnivalesque vibe from this track than I do yours. Just saying. Can't wait for this one to drop.
In this house we got the time and the energy for American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance [returning next week! I am too excited!], and of course Dancing with the Stars. On last night's let's drag what should be a 30 minute episode into a filler filled one hour results show, one of the guest performers was Enrique Iglesias. Huh?What? What is he promoting? More importantly, where the hell has he been? He's still making music? Okay. Of course I sat up and paid attention. Look, if you know me or read this blog, then you already know that Tauwan likes him some pop music, and more often than not I don't discriminate. Hero, Don't Turn Off The Lights, Bailamos, Be With You. If I were to hear these songs right now, I would sing along and probably enjoy myself and not in some young ironic, hip to be square kind of way. But I don't know about this song presented below. I mean why does it look like it hurts so much to sing that chorus? It's as if I am watching an a capella group cover Enrigue Iglesias, and the lead vocalist just can't cut it. I don't know. And is it just me or does his band wish they were somewhere else? I don't know, this pop song just does nothing for me. Maybe that's why I turned away for a few seconds before coming back to catch the end. Just because...
"I had a dream I could buy my way to heaven/When I woke I spent that on a necklace/I told God I'd be back in a second/ Man, it's so hard not to act reckless."-Kanye West, 'Can't Tell Me Nothing'
I have a hard time enjoying Ryan Adams' output with the Cardinals and -gasp-I don't own nor am I really familiar with anything he did with Whiskeytown. I don't know why, but I like my Ryan solo, and can appreciate it when he is accompanied by a female vocalist. Maybe that's why his duet with Norah Jones on Jacksonville City Nights grabbed me so. And I, like everyone else, am in love with the Emmylou Harris duets on Heartbreaker. And I can now say that I like this blink and you miss it, slow burning and subdued "duet" with Sherly Crow off his upcoming disc Easy Tiger, Two. Before you go ape shit over him singing with Sheryl Crow, don't fret, she harmonizes here and there and for the most part that is it. Check it out for yourself and get excited for Easy Tiger.
When I opened Pitchfork's homepage and saw this headline, I was so surprised that I jumped back in my computer chair and said really? I didn't even know the well known scholar had a debut record.
I must say, the man did muster up a pretty solid guest list. And also, Tavis Smiley raps and/or sings? Or will his track be more of a spoken word thing? Like an episode of The Tavis Smiley Show set to music perhaps?
I have a confession to make. I am a young twentysomething male who occasionally blogs, and enjoys dancing and listening to music, but I don't really care for the music of Dan Deacon. -GASP!- Sure the man is being championed by every music blog from here to Calcutta, but I don't know, -sigh- I'm just not feeling it dawg. But you know what I am feeling? This video presented below, taken from a recent show put on by Mr.Deacon at the Mercury Lounge in New York City. Not content with just standing there with crossed arms, staring you down, drinking, moaning, and dissing like the best of them, the crowd at this show [under the direction of Mr. Deacon of course]formed a circle, released their inhibitions, and got up on the good foot with a good old fashioned game of Dance-Tag. The dancing may not be on some Alvin Ailey or even Soul Train line level type shit, but that's not the point. Watching this video almost makes you wish you were there, and let's the world know that it is okay to cut a rug and actually look like you are having a good time when you attend a show. You paid good money to catch this live, so why not bring that fire you unleash in your bedroom everytime you press play when you hit the concert venue? I'm just saying. And stop looking at me like that, I'm not drunk [though I could be], I'm just getting down to my jam. The people up there in front of me wouldn't have it any other way.
A stereogum post led to a failed download attempt of a new Spoon track, which led to me just having to play The Beast and Dragon Adored, which then led me to play I Turn My Camera On, which in turn led me to play Stay Don't Go, all of which lead Itunes to recommend this four song EP cause listeners who bought Kill the Moonlight also got their hands on this, which just begs me to ask, how did I miss out on this? Granted it's from 2002, meaning, if my memory serves me correctly, I was a senior in high school who couldn't care for the overrated stylings of the one they called Bright Eyes [sorry Maya, but I had no time for Fevers and Mirrors back then.] And Spoon wouldn't be introduced to me til the following fall when I entered college, but still, Bright Eyes, Britt Daniel, and the rest of the Spoon gang? You best believe I am catching up as we speak.
Yo Linkin Park! What's really good? Look I understand what you guys are going for. And I hear the whole rap-rock thing might have been toned down a bit on this release, but you ain't fooling nobody with this wannabe pensive, Chris Martin strolling along the shore meets the
Oh Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Ricky. I knew no good would come of your popularity when On the Hotline got stuck in MY head and led me to consider getting it as a ringtone for my phone. SMH. Brace yourselves people. What you are about to see is NOT pretty. Proceed with caution. Shoutout to video sponsors BET, Russel Athletic, and Hanes T-Shirts. Just look who we got our hanes on now!
Now I ain't go and hate on Kells' new album cover. [though there is plenty to work with here. I mean really is that R.Kelly or MC Zaius?] Nope. Not today. Why? Cause this CD will fucking knock. And as long as that's the case, who cares about the album art, right?
"Whiskeytown frontman and solo artist, Ryan Adams has been helping damaged lovers fill breakup/makeup mix tapes for more than a decade. While prolific to the point of compulsion nothing he’s done has rivaled his classic solo debut, 2000’s uniformly gorgeous Heartbreaker…until now..."
When I first got my hands on Back to Black, and others around me heard a beat or two, I would immediately be asked if I was bumping that new Lauryn Hill joint. Hell, even I resorted to throwing out Lauryn Hill comparisons at the outset when trying to convince people to press play. And while praising Back to Black in his myspace blog late last year, Roots drummer ?uestlove proclaimed that "this is the album Lauryn woulda KILLED for..."
I am sure this is all music to L-Boogie's ears. [if the word has gotten back to her] Maybe that is why she's coming out of hiding to play three dates this July in the U.K. Here's hoping she brings it, and leaves the biting commentary, sore throat, and hard, standoffish exterior at home. [Not gon lie though; I did love me some MTV Unplugged 2.0 for a minute back in high school]
By our powers combined we are an awful show about hip-hop!
Are you sitting down?
"MTV is close to a development deal for "Rapping With the Stars," a reality competition show that will pair celebs with hip-hop pros...Project features teams squaring off in range of rap-oriented musical challenges. A hip-hop world panel will judge."
Said panel better not consist of Diddy, 50 Cent, or flavors of the moment [Huey, Young Jeezy, etc] just to pull in some viewers. I don't know. Maybe I am being cynical. But seriously Rapping with the Stars? I don't know dawg.
Somebody tell me why this hook has been stuck in my head all night? [And thank you Drew for playing a snippet of it from your cell phone(!) at dinner tonight. Apparently it's everybody's jam at the moment.]I don't even own this song, nor have I seen this video before. I'm gonna just go ahead and blame Brandon Wagner and his slow jam/smooth R&B packed iPod.
Believe me, I adore playing an old school hit like nobody's business, but sometimes there's nothing better than putting on one of your favorite long players, enjoying it for what it is: a tip-top, start to finish "headphone masterpiece".
Not having grown up with the music of Nirvana in my life didn't prevent me from falling in love with a band asking me to "come as you are" as they sang softly about a girl, and being dumb. Unlike many live albums I've come to listen to or own, this one wasn't too loud, nor did it feel impersonal. Each listen placed me in that New York studio, amidst the flowers and candles, Kurt's sunny disposition, and the band's entertaining and casual asides. And whenever a song's opening chords sprung to life and the celebratory applause came to an end, I listened and felt chills go down my spine as Kurt's voice yearned for Mary in "All Apologies" or questioned the love and fidelity of a loved one in "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" I also started a love affair with the work of David Bowie thanks to the band's honest and subdued version of his "The Man Who Sold The World" and wondered why I had never heard of the Meat Puppets.
For me this CD was [and still is] unabashedly raw, humorous, imperfect, and real. In other words, just plain good. And yes I also own Nevermind and [another personal fave] In Utero, but it was Unplugged in New York that grabbed me right out of the gate, sticking with me ever since. And yes I know that raving about a Nirvana album [or the band in general] is nothing new, but when the finished product is as good as what is presented on Nirvana: Unplugged in New York, it's hard for me to roll my eyes and say oh well whatever, nevermind. Key Tracks: Pennyroyal Tea/Plateau/All Apologies
I got this Ice Box where my shirt used to be? Can't you see it?
Ladies, prepare to SCREAM til your lungs give out!
"Bow Wow has revealed that he and R&B singer Omarion are gearing up to start recording a collaborative album that they plan to release by the end of the year...According to Billboard.com, the album will be a two-disc set.[!!!] The pair says they will begin recording by the end of May."
Okay, so it's official. I downloaded Rihanna's new single Unmbrella this morning. It will now go onto my iPod and go on to be played over and over again til I grow tired of it. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Initially I didn't think much of the song, then I saw the video and gave it another listen, and well here we are now, with me surrendering yet again to a well crafted single by the 19 year old vixen from Barbados. [Seriously I don't care what anyone says, she has been looking quite foxy recently]
Rihanna is yet another one of those interesting phenomenons for me. Another one of those popular popstars with the fun, vibrant, and accessible singles for the masses to enjoy. Another one of those artists whose albums you would probably never find yourself purchasing, but if you did, it would be only to have those few hit singles at your disposal whenever you felt the need to get your boogie on. Am I right or am I right? Whatever the case may be, good for Rihanna. [or shall I say good for Jay-Z and his Def Jam imprint?] I mean really, a few years back while flipping through some music channel or watching TRL [what?]who would've thought that the girl asking the DJ to Pon De Replay would still be tossing out hits left and right and set to release her third album in three years? Certainly not I.
Now if you visit this blog often, you know that old school jams are more often than not posted under the "Old School Funk for the True Funk Soldiers" headline. But sometimes old school joints are so good, so well put together, so classic to a brotha, [see Montell Jordan's This is how we do it] that all I can do is marvel at their goodness as they boldly play on and show us how's it done. This jam, presented below, is one such example.
He offers a handshake. Crooked, five fingers. They form a pattern, yet to be matched...
Remember Justin Timberlake's horrid video for his otherwise magnificent single What Goes Around Comes Around? Yeah, I don't either. But if you do, imagine that video in dark, goth form with more blood, and you'll get this. Marilyn Manson. Heart Shaped Box. Enjoy!
Not going to lie, I do like this song. But I've liked/tolerated all things Marilyn Manson since Mechanical Animals.
And you thought Medulla was a polarizing record...
I got it. It took a minute, but I got it. I walked into Best Buy all eager and excited to get my hands on the bright red packaging with the Now and Later/Kool-aid man looking shaman plastered on the cover. Unlike the countless other times I have ventured into this Best Buy for a new release, I had no idea where Volta was. This disc literally had me going in circles. I began to freak out. Could this disc indeed be sold out? Did this store only recieve ten copies of Volta because Bjork is no Mims, Jibbs, or Fall Out Boy? NO! This can't be happening. Round and round I went checking every kiosk as customes passed me with copies of Volta positioned safely in their hands. I began to sweat. I started to get dizzy. Had this been Cost Plus World Market, and I was a Sales Associate, I would have approached the wandering, confused looking customer [me] asking if he was finding everything okay today? Yes, that's how confused and lost I looked. Finally I gave up and did something that startles many a casual customer in stores across America: I approached the pretty young lady in the sun dress with a copy of Volta in her hand, startling her with my low and heavy excuse me, asking where she found that copy of Volta.
The B section, she replied.
She even led me to it. How nice. Of course Tauwan. Duh. And the store had tons of copies. Thank god. But I couldn't help but get angry at the fact that this album was not prominently displayed with the other new releases and -GASP-was NOT on sale. Oh word? Whatever. Buying it anyway.
I'm so excited.
I'm an iPod man now, but if you were to catch me pre 2003, I would have ripped open this disc and placed it in my Sony Discman with a quickness enjoying it on my ride home. Nowadays my non-driving ass must remain content with gawking at the CD booklet and packaging until I'm off the bus and within the comfort of my own home.
Home again jiggity jig.
Open. Press play. Smart move putting Earth Intruders first. Got my attention. I'm liking this. But then something strange happens. I have to turn the volume up. I have to pay attention. I think I went into this with too much excitement. At the moment said pre-release excitement is not being met. I'm having more trouble wrapping my head around this than I did when I tried to get my hands on the disc in Best Buy or when I attempted to pull the CD booklet out of its cardboard case. [Seriously please tell me that I am not the only one who had difficulty pulling that booklet out and putting it back in]
I just gotta know what other people are thinking.
I mean this disc has been hotly anticipated in many circles, and I saw at least six people, including myself grabbing copies at the Best Buy, so obviously I am not the only one who was waiting to get their hands on it. But upon first listen it seems many people are as up in the air as I am regarding their feelings for this album. Pitchfork gives the album a 5.8 out of ten, while Idolator rounds up a couple of high profile opinions on the album [including Pitchfork's] under the headline "Did Bjork Mar Volta?" [haha! Get it?] This of course led to a war of words on the message boards, where even I took the time to say a few words on the matter:
"...Look I love Bjork as much as the next man, but many times I found myself looking up to see when a song was coming to an end, only to find that the beat was set to vamp and play out for another two to three minutes. It's not bad, but after getting through it once I only went back to Earth Intruders and Innocence. I also popped in Medulla just for old times sake. Guess I just need more time with this. I am sure I will come around."
And that's where I stand right now. Some albums need more time, and yes, I have played this album a couple times without skipping tracks [cause really I feel Bjork albums are made to be listened to in their entirety even if you have some tracks you like more than others], turning up the volume to listen more carefully when it is needed, sitting through moments that baffle me, and let it sit with me. [boy Earth Intruders ended abruptly, but wait the track's not over? But I don't here anything? Wait was that a sound? Whatever. Next track please]
I've been here before. I had to do the same thing with Arcade Fire's Neon Bible, Kings of Leon's Because of the Times, and Bright Eyes' Cassadaga, which, much to my dismay [especially when you consider how much I adored I'm Wide Awake It's Morning], is still a work in progress, as is the case with Volta. But Bjork will be happy to know that after four or five listens I am slowly coming around, letting the record stick, enjoying it's ebb and flow. It's taking some time, but I am getting there.
Ever wondered what sex, love and pain looked like? According to the once gone, mostly forgotten, but now back lovah lovahman Tank, it looks a little something like this:
I'm wrong for 1)Biting my lip and 2)posing for someone who caught me being that fucked up in that get up. Whatever. I was drunk and it was my birthday anyway.
The folks over at NovaSlim ask: Is it just me, or does ilovenewyork2.com look like a gay dating site?
"It's a shame that they are being classified as video ho's. Halle Berry was in a video with [Fred Durst]. Does that make her a ho? She kissed him in the video too. Does that make her a ho? ... Not everybody is a video vixen. Some girls are into it because they are following their dreams. TV is a long way for a lot of these girls from the country or small parts of the world."-Snoop Doggy Dogg
Yo 50, What's really good? On the real though, why don't you go ahead and stop rapping. Yeah, just go sit still somewhere. You made a few dollars, and gave us some anthems for the streets [and for that, my drunk "in da club" persona will be forever grateful], but you sound tired and uninspired. And did this new track clock in at a measely three minutes? Oh hell naw. I just started paying attention.
Oh and word to this wise, if I EVER see this nigga's name on a list of best rappers alive/in the game/evah, best believe writer of said list should expect an ass kicking from me. Real talk playa, listen up.
"Briefly answering questions at the tour's launch in cental London, the singer [Prince] also said that he was a huge fan of Amy Winehouse and planned a cover of her song Love Is A Losing Game, with the intention of inviting her on stage at one of his shows."
Amy Winehouse, Prince. Prince, Amy Winehouse. [Smiles, places one hand over mouth] I think I just giggled a little bit with glee!
Oh !!!. You boys really stepped your game up with this release right here. And let me just go ahead and say how happy I am that track three, Must Be The Moon, is being released as a single. This gives me the opportunity to state how said track is, hands down, without a doubt, one of my top five singles of the year thus far. That throbbing bass line, Nic Offer's husky and playful yet come hither slither of a voice, the shake of that tambourine, and of course the thick and heavy bounce lying underneath all for five minutes and fifty five seconds. It's all too much. But I like it. And you should too. Check it out:
Don't call it a comeback. The wig, the lip singing, costumes that leave little to the imagination, and little to no interaction with the crowds; Nope, not really a concert. Not really a comeback either. Talent showcase at your local high school or open dress rehearsal? Yes. Comeback concert show? Nope. I don't think so. Come on now Britney. I know, no, YOU KNOW you can do better.
I had to have this album. No. Let me rephrase that one. For some strange reason I needed this album. Strange indeed when you consider that two years back I wanted nothing to do with his hit singles Sexylove and So Sick. Who had time for another flash in the pan, love sick R&B lothario cascading along on slow, syrupy beats? Not I.
But funny things can happen when you let your guards down. Not listening to the radio or watching music video channels constantly [that actually play videos]can often give one the room he or she needs to digest an artist, single, and album on his or her own, and eventually I stopped being a snob and started being real. Chris Brown, Usher, Omarion, Bobby Valentino, Lloyd, Mario, Marques Houston; I know I know, it's hard to keep up, but sometimes you got to. Sometimes an artist deserves to be heard, no matter how crowded the game may be, and right now Ne-Yo is that artist.
I finally got my hands on Ne-Yo's sophomore disc Because of You this past Friday, and it's been in heavy rotation ever since. [bought not downloaded. again, for some reason I had to wait until I got a case, booklet, and pressed disc. dunno why.]Lead single Because of You skates by on a slick bass line and light tinkering of the keys, as Ne-Yo's fluid vocals ache with desperation, giving in to a girl whose whip appeal is "the sweetest drug." This subject repeats itself again and again over the course of the album. Girls, women, ladies, fly honeys: muses to Ne-Yo's Pharoah. They drive him "crazy" [the light bounce, wink, and nod to Off the Wall era Michael Jackson, Crazy]; Make him beg and plead [the new jack, homie-lover-friend vibe of Can We Chill]; And of course, get him in loads of trouble. [Leaving Tonight. A Fire and Desire-esque duet with Jennifer Hudson (she of Dreamgirls and American Idol fame) begging to be a urban "you did me wrong", "no, baby please you got it all wrong, just listen" song for the ages.]And if you like Prince, [and his whole Camille alter ego in particular] then you surely won't mind Sex With My Ex. Cause sometimes it's them exes that get us in the most trouble.
At the end of the day all credit must be given to the man who calls himself Ne-Yo. Finely tuned, well studied, and masterfully crafted, Because of You plays like an album no different from those produced within his genre, but thanks to sincere, relatable lyrics [all written or co-written by Ne-Yo], solid production, and vocals drenched in soul, echoing the blood, sweat, and tears present in the verses and hooks of each song, Ne-Yo stands out in the crowd. Marques Houston he is not. YO FELLAS!... Step your game up.
THOSE WHO LISTEN WITHOUT PREJUDICE: Peep if you love you some Rod Temperton, Off the Wall and Thriller era Michael Jackson, Prince, Bobby's Brown's Don't Be Cruel, and late 80's to the mid 90's R&B. [You know that give me that honey love type shit]
You best believe that since the stroke of midnight on Thursday, everybody and their mama has been [and will continue to do so for at least the next two to three weeks] scoring tickets to Spiderman 3. Shit, who am I kidding? Even I have been going back and forth about whether or not I will see it, due mostly to the fact that I have been bombarded with ads for the damn thing since my college graduation nearly a year ago. And then I read something like what I present below and go back a year or two to the Century City AMC. I, along with a few friends, sit buzzed and attentive watching Spidey 2. As Kirsten Dunst runs across town in a wedding dress, tears rolling down her face to be with the man she truly loves, I knew I had enough of this shit, stood up, threw my hands in the air, and said aloud "That's it!", as I tried my hardest to storm out of the theatre in a buzzed yet coherent manner and wait for my friends in the lobby. Much to my dismay however, I managed to let myself sit through just about the whole film for five minutes later out came my friends and the highly satisfied crowd. As of late, I don't even take the time to take in more than five to ten minutes of Spiderman 1 or 2 when either of them pops up on TBS, Fox, or the Cartoon Network... Needless to say, I'll probably wind up watching Spiderman 3 this weekend or sometime soon just because. That, and because I'm a young American male in the 18-34 demographic who's always curious.
So there's this video floating around the internet of Gwen Stefani performing Wonderful Life live in SoCal recently.[the last track on her last album that has the least amount of most played spins by me] During the second verse Shirley Manson comes out of nowhere and the song becomes a somewhat better duet that makes you wonder where the hell Shirley Manson and the fellas of Garbage have been. It also made this song pop into my head.
Seems women ain't the only thing Kels and Usher are sharing these days.
I really don't know if I'll be able to handle this new R.Kelly album when it comes out. Day after day, leak after leak, Kels get me all excited and almost makes me forget about that TP3.Reloaded disc or whatever the hell it was called. And now we have this. Usher. R.Kelly. On the same track. I don't think urban airwaves will be able to handle it.
So I didn't really care that much for Bird Flu. [A lot of noise/too much sound if you ask me] But I am a fan of Wreckx-N-Effect's Rump Shaker. And sampling that song will never get old.
Oh it's so nice to be back in Southern California.
I'm sorry, but when I saw the clip for this near the end of American Idol last night I thought two things: 1) I hope this winds up on YouTube tomorrow and 2) I have got to share this with the masses. It's my duty as a god fearing American citizen.
THIS JUST IN: "The Emo Scene is back and its music is big!"
Can you keep up? This is album number three, with number one coming at us way back in 2005.
Now when this song dropped a month or so back, I pressed play once or twice, and then passed on the track. And then Lil Mama went and added some bars to the mix. I'm a believer. Nuff said.
This is, hands down, one of the best news blurbs about Coachella that I have read thus far. [Oh Coachella. Another year, another missed opportunity to sweat my ass off in the most unattractive of ways, feel ugly about myself, be psyched that so much music is in one place, and then easily feel defeated and as if it all is a little much.] Check it out!
