I can't stop listening to .... the recent music bonanza, part two

Next in the bonanza is LCD Soundsystem. I'm still steaming over the fact I had to pass on a chance to see them this past Friday in New York, because they're awesome live and this new album is amazing. Mike, if he were still alive, would probably consider this blasphemy, but I like it more than Sound of Silver, even if it lacks a track as tight as All My Friends or Someone Great. Thankfully, Mike's dead, so I can get away with these sorts of claims.

LCD Soundsystem - All I Want
LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yourself Clean

Broken Social Scene also put out a new album, though it's a little older than the rest of this music. Like the National, this album is a bit of an evolution from their past albums, but not so much that their identity or sound is really different. Feist isn't on this album but I have to say I didn't really notice or miss her, which can also be said about Mike's recent passing.

Broken Social Scene - World Sick
Broken Social Scene - Forced to Love
Broken Social Scene - Art House Director

Continuing the hit parade is the Black Keys' latest album. Danger Mouse, of Grey Album and Broken Bells fame (whose post I would link to but for the damn DMCA) returned to produce this album. Like LCD's, I think this is my favorite album in their catalog, excluding their collab effort as part of BlackRoc.
The Black Keys - Next Girl
The Black Keys - Howlin' For You

J. Cole and Drake also recently released new tracks. In Drake's case, it seems like every day brings a new track or leak from him. The first is a song that won't be on Thank Me Later when it drops in three weeks. He also added a verse to the Alicia Keys song that I posted earlier, which is here. The last of the bunch is the first single of J. Cole's album so here it is. I hate the hook but the rest of it is tight.

Drake - 9AM in Dallas
J. Cole - Who Dat

Finally, now that Mike is no longer with us, I can post this last track without fear of reprisal. Here is the title track from Arcade Fire's album that doesn't drop until August. Were he alive today, this would bring on some ridiculous diatribe about how they're the most overrated band of all time and how he can't even listen to their album anymore even as he admits the album is good but not great. With him out of the picture, this track can be enjoyed in peace for what it is. Amen and may he RIP.
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

I can't stop listening to .... the recent music bonanza, part one

After what seems like months without more than a handful of decent releases, the last month has been a veritable music bonanza for listeners of all varieties. First up is the National. My love for them has been well established, but I have to say after my first listen through the album I was a little underwhelmed. Not anymore. "Sorrow" quite simply is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, and I've come around on the rest of the album.

The National - Sorrow
The National - Anyone's Ghost

Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek put out a classic, Train of Thought, 10 years ago under the name Reflection Eternal. They finally released its follow-up, Revolutions Per Minute. It's good, but Train of Thought it is not. I think part of my problem is that they at one point sample Jay-Z giving dap to Kweli's lyrical skills, just seems unnecessary and narcissistic. Also doesn't help that he gets shown up by his guests on the third track here. Overall, it's quality, just probably not worth buying. Here are a few of my favorite songs.

Reflection Eternal - Back Again
Reflection Eternal - Black Gold
Reflection Eternal - Just Begun

Whereas with the first two, I was counting down the days till their album released, I hadn't heard of Janelle Monae until I heard a track of hers on the interweb two weeks ago. Her album is unreal pretty much from start to finish. As Mike said regarding Phantogram, this is a true album, in that you really should listen to the whole thing as it was arranged rather than isolated tracks. It has this musical-like quality to it, I'm guessing in part due to the string compositions and up and down energy levels of the tracks. I truly can't stop listening to this one.

Janelle Monae - Faster
Janelle Monae ft. Big Boi - Tightrope
Janelle Monae - Say You'll Go

To be continued...

I can't stop .... posting for Mike's lazy ass

Mike put me on this today, though in his gyspy fashion he told me the only version was on Facebook, where I was forced to turn over all of my confidential information to Nike before being able to view. Of course, it's all over the interweb and Mike was just too lazy to look elsewhere. About the only thing wrong with this ad is Nike's shameless continued promotion of Ronaldinho, who isn't even on his squad's reserve team. Still, the commercial manages to top the Joga Bonito ads that preceded the last World Cup. I couldn't be more jacked for the World Cup. Enjoy.

I can't stop ..... calling 7 year olds terrorists

It's been a long time (long time), shouldn'ta left you (left you), without a dope post to step to (step to, step to). Alright enough corny Timbaland references. Unlike Mike, after trips to Napa and home, I'm back like cooked crack. Anyone who knows me knows that I have irrationally strong fears of certain things, two of which are pre-teen beauty pageant participants and middle school cheerleaders. Running into a team from those cheerleading competitions will induce a cold sweat and cause me to freeze like a Vietnam vet having a flashback. The sight of those little militant girls with their clown make up on and shrill voices is enough to shake me for a few hours.

Well, the rest of my work day has just been shot (which is the reason I'm posting this now) because I just came across this, which combines both of those fears in a hair-raising and terror-inspiring two minutes.


After watching this, I'm left wondering who's more of a terrorist, these girls or Faisal Shazahad. Tough to say... I'm curious as to two things. First, where people think these girls will be at age 25( my guess: hitting their prime in the soft-core porn industry or living week to week as a professional cheerleader down on their knees, maybe literally, praying for a shot at bagging an athlete) Second, what should be done to the parents who allow, and I'm guessing encourage, participation in terrorist activities like this (my vote: forcing them to watch their child's eventual sex tape that is released in order to generate buzz for an upcoming reality show appearance in which they attempt to hoodwink some washed up celeb into "marrying" them by demonstrating their ability to eat an extra-beef kosher hot dog without chewing.)