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Erik B’s Year in Review ’08

Posted in Year in Review with tags 2008, End of Year, Lists, Music on Monday, November 24, 2008 by Erik Burg

In a year that brought us the Olympics (Michael Phelps is just starting to dry off I think), a new President Elect (please get rid of the BCS like promised), and endless amounts of slightly above average rap music (yes little wayne, that means you), I present to you the most definitive end of the year list, EVER!

TOP TEN ALBUMZ!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cut Copy “In Ghost Colours”. In a year littered with disappointing releases from formerly impressive acts (see Cold War Kids and Kings of Leon), Cut Copy managed to resurrect their careers with the stellar release of In Ghost Colours. Not that the act was dead, it is just that Cut Copy hadn’t released an LP in years and seemed destined to fall off the map, but they’ve managed to do just the opposite in 2008. Touring around the globe and making people of all ages dance with their 80’s styled synth pop music, Cut Copy is here to stay. Highlighted by booming tracks like “Lights and Music” “Unforgettable Season” and “Hearts On Fire” In Ghost Colours makes a lasting and overwhelming impression on the listener. It’s hard to say enough good things about an album this polished; all that’s really left to note is that if you have not yet heard In Ghost Colours you are either 1) foolish or 2) in denial for not admitting to option one.

Vampire Weekend “Vampire Weekend”. Can Vampire Weekend save American Music? Well it’s hard to say if it actually needs saving, but the boys from out East do a mighty fine job of making sure we have some great music to listen to. From first track to last, the debut effort is the easiest to sing-along to, easiest to bob your head to, easiest to love album of 2008. Accessible and appreciated by people who don’t usually cross into the “indie” genre, this album was probably the most listened to of any on the list. A perfectly tight live performance and some enjoyable b-sides floating around the internet, Vampire Weekend made more headlines than most acts this year…and for good reason.

Hercules & Love Affair “Hercules & Love Affair”. It’s hard to write a summary about an album that just so weird, well, as far as genre goes. This, let’s call is disco-pop, album surprised many fans of their two track ep released a long year before this self-titled debut. Adding vocals, minimal yet effective samples, and an overall tempo much higher than that of the 45, Hercules & Love Affair delivered a delightful and exotic mix of dance and minimalism. Singles like “Blind” and “You Belong” are immersive tracks that repeat while at the same time build and end up exploding in the listeners ears. The opposite of Vampire Weekend, Hercules & Love Affair may be the hardest to love, but it’s certainly worth the trouble of getting use to this fine wine.

Of Montreal “Skeletal Lamping”. I’m not gonna mention the album here, okay I lie. The album is great, go listen, yadda yadda. Praise needs to be given; however, to the work that Kevin Barnes has put in surrounding the album. As I write this I’m wearing an Of Montreal t-shirt, no big deal, except for the fact that this was my Skeletal Lamping album too. The insane packaging offers that Of Montreal did for this release was a fun and different take on the usual four page booklet and otherwise boring cd case. As Barnes suggested, the listener can “wear” the album around, and I’m doing just that. Along with an Album release comes touring, and the Skeletal Lamping tour is nothing short of absolute madness. From faux-gallows to giant nerd rope looking characters, the show is a non-stop romp though the new album, old favorites, and tones of covers (I never live “Smells Like Teen Spirit until the played it for an encore). So yes, Skeletal Lamping is an amazing album that again adds to OM’s expansive and impressive catalogue, but this time around it’s everything else around the release that impressed this listener.

Girl Talk “Feed The Animals”. Any passerby may mistake a Gregg Gillis ran concert for plenty of other shows. I’m willing to bet Kelly Clarkson never had as many people screaming “BUT SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE” at one of her own shows as this summer when Girl Talk took the stage of various music festivals. But If that same person gets stuck on the corner of a street waiting for a light to change he might also note the immediate change in tune, the obvious draw for this mash-up masterpiece. Feed The Animals is more of a lesson in musical history than it is anything new persay, but that doesn’t mean it deserves any less credit. I have been waiting all my life to hear “I wish that I had Jesse’s girl” and “but I’d rather get some head” plastered together, and the day has finally arrived. Sure, a bit unconventional and what many people consider a complete sham of what real music is, Girl Talk delivers one thing that no other band on the list can: pure, and often (thank god) excessive fun.

Department of Eagles “In Ear Park”. Never a fan of any Grizzly Bear effort, I was skeptic before I first played Department of Eagle’s In Ear Park. The Second the album ended however, I immediately opened my MacBook, opened iTunes and easy and conveniently accessed the iTunes Store (pay me Apple, you owe me big) to try and find more material from this group. The first four tracks off of this album are the most carefully sounding songs I’ve heard in along time. Perfectly hollow and echoing music is accompanied with a scratchy vocal lead that makes for a song that could seemingly transcend time. “Teenagers” is the perfect example of this, with the slow strings, mellow piano, and vocals that can easily be confused with a sample from any early twentieth century song. The perfect record for this time of year, In Ear Park is like carefully knitted scarf around your neck- warm and immersive.

Fleet Foxes “Fleet Foxes“. High hopes from the Sun Giant ep, Fleet Foxes did not disappoint on their first full length album. Fleet Foxes features the sounds of four perfectly harmonized, beard adorning, flannel loving Seattle natives. The record can go by fast if you don’t pay attention, especially in the early-going when album highlight “White Winter Hymnal” builds more a mere 2:27 before faintly turning into the expansive five minute “Ragged Wood.” More surprising than the achievement of this great album may be the live sound these guys create. Seeing them this summer at Pitchfork Music Festival I was weary of the terrible acoustics of an outdoor show on a rainy day dragging down their beautiful sound, but Fleet Foxes still delivered and amazing performance, showing the truly unending potential this group has.

Dr. Dog “Fate”. Fate may be the forgotten, or rather the undiscovered, great album of 2008. Taking from the play book of many sixties and early seventies era rock bands, Dr. Dog put together a sound that’s not too Rock and not too Indie but is instead a perfect blend of music and vocals. “The Breeze” barely missed by top tracks of the year list thanks to the layered music, clever vocals, and effective use of those wooden block instruments you always use to use in grade school and thought were probably pointless. That aside, the Fate of this album has already been decided (terrible pun, my bad), people who don’t know about these guys already didn’t seem to hear much of this album in 2008. I hope to see Dr. Dog on plenty of year end lists, gaining exposure for this excellent record.

The Walkmen “You & Me”. Styled much like the already mentioned Department of Eagles album, the Walkmen’s “You & Me” is an empty and yet beautiful lp. When used effectively, You & Me is dominated by guitars that sound miles away, and drums that come to the foreground and paint a picture of fall evenings done by. Look no further than “On the Water” and you will hear exactly what I mean, the guitar draw out and the music all slows while the listener is engulfed by the echoing cymbals. This formula is used on most every track for this album, not necessarily a bad thing for how well it is executed.

MGMT “Oracular Spectacular”. The Justice of 2008, MGMT have been remixed, edited, and covered by more acts than anybody else this year. Not a big surprise though for any listener of Oracular Spectacular. Tracks like “Electric Feel” and “Time To Pretend” just beg to be chopped up, and praised by all patrons of the dance floor. Plenty has already been said about this duo, but I’ll just have to reiterate what the world has already agreed upon- MGMT pretty much rocks, on tons of levels. Oracular Spectacular never lets up from the first synth hit to the last drop, and the countless number of re-works won’t allow for this album to be forgotten anytime soon.

Top Five Tracks Of This Glorious 2008

“No One Does It” by Department of Eagles off of In Ear Park

“Lights and Music” by Cut Copy off of In Ghost Colours

“Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac Cover)” By Vampire Weekend off of any blog you can find

“Electric Feel” By MGMT off of Oracular Spectacular

“You Belong” by Hercules & Love Affair off of Hercules & Love Affair

Biggest (good) Surprise of 2008

Peter, Bjorn, and John – “Seaside Rock”

Favorite New Band Not Featuring Kids From Cape Cod

Friendly Fires

Great album of 2007 I Finally Loved In 2008

Panda Bear- “Person Pitch”

Lifetime Achievement Award

Beck – “Modern Guilt”

Best Live Performance I Saw In 2008

(tie) Girl Talk and Animal Collective. share the honor guys.

5 Comments »

CD Review: The Bronx – The Bronx (III)

Posted in Music Reviews with tags the bronx on Thursday, November 20, 2008 by Ryan Buege

There’s something that I’ve always liked about this band; the weird thing is that I never really understood exactly what it was that I truly admired until I gave their new album, their third self-titled full length, a couple of spins. With III, the Bronx has released an unbridled statement of hardcore ‘n’ roll bliss that proclaims their domination of their game.

This is an an album that bristles with a kind of haughty swagger that is rarely seen contrasted so beautifully with a riotous, jagged backdrop of hardcore punk dissonance. At any one time, you’d be hard pressed to decisively call the sound either “hardcore punk” or “rock ‘n’ roll”, and I think that’s where the beauty of the execution of this album lies. Moving from Kyuss-reminiscent whisky and weed soaked grooves to anthemic Snapcase-esque rhythms with ease, The Bronx have created a seemless album of the most enjoyable and likable good ole’ fashioned hard rock that I’ve heard in a long time.

On The Bronx’s third full length release, they deliver an exceptional collection of songs that will bring a confident smile to your face no matter your mood. III embodies the true rebellious spirit that has been accrued over years of hard earned experience in the the punk rock underground; it oozes with songs that are massive, groovy, catchy, and heavy as a steamroller. After an excellent sophomore release, The Bronx have once again raised the bar that only they set for themselves. Cheers to them for writing a record that defies the genres to create something that everyone can enjoy – something that rocks!

I’ll be waiting to see if big things are finally in store for these guys! Visit them online at their website or their myspace homepage.

Continue reading →

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Shake Your Groove Thang

Posted in Music Reviews with tags DFA, Holy Ghost, James Murphy, Mock & Toof, Runaway, Yacht on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 by Erik Burg

The world of psychedelic disco house has been heating up as of late. Kings of new-era mid tempo disco DFA and their partner record company Death From Abroad have been busy as of late, releasing singles from new and old acts alike. Starting with the new guys on the block, Runaway, Panther, and Yacht have all releases 45’s within the past few months and I’m just now discovering them (thanks iTunes Store (not)).

Although Yacht has releases various material on other labels, their first release on DFA is much different than material from their past. Most fans have heard “See a Penny” a fun electro-pop tune, but their new single “Summer Song” is a more low-fi, hand-clapping, droning vocals mix. Supposedly a track dedicated to James Murphy and the LCD Soundsystem crew from when the two acts toured together, “Summer Song” may come as a surprise to longtime Yacht fans, but the release has definite potential for fans of other acts from this great label.
Runaway, the work of Jacques Renault and Marcos Cabral, have released their first single on DFA as well. “Brooklyn Club Jam,” the electrifying seven and a half minute romp, starts as a minimal disco dub and then transforming into an up beat club banger much the likes of anything heard in Brooklyn these days (how convenient). The duo has been getting play around the globe with this hit, most notably Lindstrom and Prins Thomas’ essential bbc 1 mix, while other labels have been taking note as well. Runaway has released singles on Cosmo Vitelli’s I’m a Cliche label and European heavy weights Rekids company as well.

As for the recent releases from prior acts, Mock & Toof, The Juan Maclean, and Holy Ghost have all issues great tracks.

It’s hard to give enough praise to the New Mock & Toof effort “Underwater.” What starts as a pretty basic disco track from any other DFA act, Underwater soon takes off thanks to vocals that sooth more than blow away. The music slowly bends and builds in the six minutes, creating landscapes that relax and at the same time make you want to get up and grab the girl next to you and boogie the night away. Turning the corner at the three minute mark, Underwater takes on an entirely new element- the piano. After a short bit of silence and ambiance, the piano comes back and grabs the listener to create a beautiful and amazingly overwhelming sound that never looks back. Mock & Toof have done it again with this track, and one can only hope a full length will be released eventually instead of the usual two or three track 45s.

The Juan Maclean, busy as usual between full length albums various 45s and Djing constantly, released “The Simple Life” with the help of various friends. Nacy Whang, long time DFA partner and part of LCD Soundystem, lends vocals to the track that spins at a consistent tempo and rhythm. A fan of any other Juan project will find this track to be expected, and a nice layover until the release of his next full length.

Mentioned earlier as well, Holy Ghost has been busy, or rather their fans have been busy. Recently releasing a 45 with two great remixes on it, both remixes of last year’s surprise hit “Hold On.” Mock & Toof lend their hand to both mixes, a remix and a mod mix, both tracks are dance ready and worthy of play for any fan of the original track. On another note for Holy Ghost, Cut Copy‘s latest single is slated to have a remix of “Hearts on Fire”, the horn-friendly track off of their 2008 release In Ghost Colors.

Well for now that’s all I have in DFA related news, more should be expected when it comes about. Hopefully next time I’ll have some new Shit Robot material to talk about but that only seems to be on a year-to-year basis, so I’m not getting my hopes up just yet.

mp3 of these are hard to come by so just hit up the links ive got on their names to find the tracks mentioned. You can find most of the tracks on iTunes as well if you use that or you can buy the 45s from the DFA webstore, for all you vinyls lovers out there.

Review: Jedi Mind Tricks A History of Violence

Posted in Music Reviews with tags DJ Kwestion, hardcore, Hip-Hop, Illadelphia, Jedi Mind Tricks, Jus Allah, Stoupe, Vinnie Paz, Violent By Design on Monday, November 17, 2008 by Tim Althaus

I have to start this post off by saying that this album is very close to me. This Philadelphia trio changed my entire perspective on music with their sophomore outing Violent By Design. The first time I heard Vinnie Paz, Jus Allah & Stoupe I was instantly hooked and I needed more of their music like a fiend needs rock. I have to say that this album can not and does not stack up to Violent By Design (because in my opinion nothing really can), but next to Servants In Heaven, Kings In Hell it might be their best work since. I do feel however that Jus Allah might have fallen off a little bit since the VBD days. I had heard about Vin and Jus being in the studio again with that same dynamic as VBD and was overcome with joy, I just didn’t get that feeling when I heard Jus this time.

Stoupe’s production on this album is some of the most impeccable work he has done. I also want to mention that Vinnie Paz is on a completely new level when it comes to rhymes. I remember on VBD (Even though I still love Vinnie on that album) it would seem like Vinnie would be rhyming about nonsense, on this album that is not the case. Vinnie’s verses are full of metaphors and similes like you wouldn’t believe.

the first track on the album is “Deathbed Doctrine” and Vinnie comes out right away spitting fire over the impecable cuts of DJ Kwestion and the hard hitting murderous Stoupe beat. If you listen to the track you will know what I mean about Jus Allah, he still has some good rhymes but his flow has totally changed from the VBD days. “Deadly Melody” is a track where Vinnie really shines when it comes to the metaphor aspect: “I’m your worst nightmare/the reversal of Christ here/the only thing you seein’ is a shadow and knife glare… Y’all are pussy, watered down like a light beer/I don’t run from it I embrace it I like fear/Call me Texas Chainsaw Massacre I invite fear/Call me Leatherface motha fucka’ I’m right here/Call me any other person that’s an evil killa’/Pazienza Pontius Pilate they call me Jesus Killa/Call me Richard Ramirez because he spill venom/I’m Mark David Chapman before he killed Lennon…”. That trend continues for the rest of the album, and although Jus doesn’t sound as “fluid” as before he doesn’t greatly affect the album in a negative manner. The shining jewel of this album is “Trail of Lies“, which in my opinion might be Vinnie & Stoupe’s shining moment as a duo (Jus is not on this track). The beat on this track is mesmerizing and the sample is absolutely beautiful. Vinnie goes off on the current trend of fathers managing their daughters and “pimping them for cash and money” and “what’s gonna happen in like 50 years, when Hannah Montana turnin’ into Britney Spears?”. If there was one reason I wouldn’t watch TV and listen to the media at all it’s because of this song, it’s very on point and very powerful.

This album is very good, like I said before Jus doesn’t really sound the same at all, but it doesn’t throw away the replay value of this album for me. This is definitely an album worth picking up and giving a really good listen to. Vinnie Paz does some of his best rhyming to this date, and Stoupe gives an excellent performance behind the boards.

8.5/10

1 Comment »

Inspectah Deck

Posted in Music Reviews with tags Inspectah Deck, Wu-Tang Clan on Friday, November 14, 2008 by Nickolaus

i must say….. damn son. I dont know what to call it… a Mixtape… whatever…

I really dont know what to write…. Classic INS plus some. Feel the ol’WUstyle baby!….. I need many many more listens to truly be able to post a good review…

thus far, all i can give you is that ‘The Resident Patient 2″ is off my charts… despite all the criticism i hear about it…. i still think INS keeps it deep, hard, true, with supreme lyrics… and laces it all with unimaginably perfect visions…. fits perfect.

these are the tracks as i recieved:

1: Monster
2: Feel Good
3: Streets
4: Queen
5: No Words At All
6: Ya’ll Niggaz
7: Who’s Who?
8: S.I.
9: Gotta Luvit
10: Certified
11: U Know U No G
12: Monster 2
13: Everybody Ride
14: A Rebel
15: Wooden Soldier
16: What’s it All About?
17: Nobody But You
18: Hood
19: N.Y.C.
20: Do it 2 Def
21: Sometimes
22: How I Get Down
23: Swaggin

I’ll have to see if i can find a link to some streams…. i was told their myspace, but… http://www.myspace.com/inspectahdeck

anyways… i’m interested in some opinions… especially if your a Wu-Fanatic like me son

let me know… i’ll be around.

3 Comments »

SPOTLIGHT ON! A Storm of Light

Posted in Music Reviews with tags a storm of light, battle for mice, neurosis, red sparowes, satanized, swans, tombs, unsane on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 by Ryan Buege

Ahhhhhhyessss….. Finally, two weeks of midterms are done with and I am free to write at the infamous mind inversion once again. So… “what should I write about this time?” – this is something that I often ask myself. With every one of these posts, I get to choose the topic; right now I feel like telling you about the best sludge metal band that I’ve heard of recently.

A Storm of Light is amazing. Blaze and listen in.

Josh Graham’s strikingly bleak outlook and unwavering artistic effort have always been the perfect visual complement to Neurosis’ likeminded visions of despair. With Red Sparowes debut release, we saw that he could translate the majestic beauty of his visual images into an aural soundtrack with ease. In A Storm of Light, we see Graham and his band of cronies charging the way in one the of the most innovative, engaging, and interesting doom metal bands in recent memory (..notice I said charging, and not plodding – this is music on a mission!). This is a band that draws influences from every aspect of life; I won’t even begin to drop band names, because that won’t even begin to do them justice. As I said, just blaze and listen in. I strongly recommend their album And We Wept the Black Ocean Within, and if you’re having a hard time finding it, hit me up privately and I’ll be glad to share.

If you aren’t convinced yet, I’ll just say that former members of Swans, Tombs, Satanized, and Unsane joined Graham to complete this band. From my point of view, ’nuff said’. This shit is massive…

…and now I’m off to see Gojira, In Flames, and 36 Crazyfists! Thank God midterms are done!

3 Comments »

Review: Q-Tip, The Renaissance

Posted in Music Reviews with tags A Tribe Called Quest, Hip-Hop, J Dilla, Q-Tip on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 by Tim Althaus

It’s been 9 long years since Q-Tip has put out a solo album (and even longer since we’ve heard something from Tribe except for Rock The Bells), and the last time he put out a solo album it had the beat crafting of J Dilla. If it weren’t for the label disagreement with Kamaal the Abstract we would have seen a Tip release sooner.

9 years later and The Renaissance is here, and boy is it one hell of an album. The first thing that I really want to stress about this album is that Q-Tip has some serious production skills on top of his already “all the time” “on point” rhymes. This album carries more of a funk/groove feel to it that creates a great vibe for the album as well as Tip’s rhymes. The album starts out with “Johnny Is Dead” which has a great guitar riff at the begininning and a mesmerizing beat throughout and Q-Tip’s flow is like liquid over the track (keeping in mind that he doesn’t sound half bad singing). “Won’t Trade” is another great beat with a spot on sample (“I wouldn’t trade it for nothin’!”) that compliments the piano in the background. “Gettin’ Up” which was the album’s lead single is one of the highlights on the album with a rolling thick bassline and great piano melody. Tip’s rhymes fit “Gettin’ Up” perfectly (as well as every single track on the album) and the track gives off a very groovy feel. I really like the track “Official” because the cuts are crazy and I love the beat as well as the sample, I can’t keep saying this enough as well but Q-Tip really flows well and sings great over this track. The Highlight of this album in my opinion is definitely “Move” which is the only track produced by someone else, and of course it’s Dilla. The first part of this track literally smacked me right in the face and gave me a great vibe, the Jackson 5 flip on this is amazing and the beat just makes me want to dance. I can see why Tip loved to work with Dilla because their chemistry together is great and always makes for an amazing track.

This album is very solid from front to back and there really aren’t any moments that I can say make this album drag at all. This album is going to be a serious contender for album of the year on a lot of people’s charts, and makes for a great late entry. You can bet that it’s going to make a great deal of top 10 lists without question.

8.5/10

1 Comment »

Review: DJ Babu, Duck Season, Vol. 3

Posted in Music Reviews with tags Beat Junkies, Dilated Peoples, DJ Babu, Evidence, Hip-Hop, Little Brother, MF Doom, Oh No, Sean Price on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 by Tim Althaus

Well what can I say? It definitely took me way too long for me to get a good review of this album up, partially because I have been terribly fucking busy with school and work. But suffice to say I found some time to give my view on this album.

First I want to say that Babu is one of the best DJ’s I’ve ever heard because his skill is unparalleled. He’s had an illustrious career with Dilated Peoples, gained fame with the World Famous Beat Junkies, and has been revered as one of the greatest battle DJ’s of all time. Babu is also a great beat maker (he put out The Beat Tape Vol. 1 last year) and this album truly shows that Babu is always in deep concentration.

Duck Season, Vol. 3 starts out the best way you could possibly start an album if you’re Babu, with the people you’ve been with your whole career. Evidence and Rakaa spit razor sharp verses on this track and the beat is crazy good. Keep in mind this is an intro and in my opinion at 1:47 long it could be my favorite on the album (I love the Looney Tunes sample at the end, as well as throughout the album). “Fan Mail” with Little Brother, Joe Scudda & Darrien Brockington is also another insane beat that Babu conjures up, and Big Pooh, Phonte & Scudda knock their verses out of the park like Sammy Sosa. Immediately after “Fan Mail” in my opinion is the best track on the album “The Unexpected” featuring MF DOOM & Sean Price. Doom and Sean Price compliment each other so well on this track and Babu’s canvas is spot on for these two to paint on. They pass the microphone back and forth like they are playing catch and their punchlines are great (Doom: we need to get a new beanie for Babu, the ones and twos genie”, Sean P: I always throw sixes, return an Ike Turner I always throw bitches”). Bishop Lamont makes a great mark on this album on the track “My Opinion” with on point rhymes and allusions the the current situation in the country. Evidence appears twice on the album (on the intro) and on the track “For Whatever It’s Worth” which is another great highlight on the album. The chemistry between EV and Babu is great and it makes for an amazing track. I was also really glad to see that Oh No (Madlib’s little brother) is starting to get some recognition (he’s on a track with Roc C entitled “Meant To Be”), he’s one of my favorite producers as well as emcees, and it’a about time more people gave him attention.

All in all this is an above average album, there are a lot of tracks that just don’t mesh with the rest of the album and tend to make it drag. This is however a great display of how good at beat making Babu really is, he can make some great soundscapes.

7.5/10

Review: Black Milk, Tronic

Posted in Music Reviews with tags Black Milk, Detroit Hip-Hop, Fat Beats, Hip-Hop, Tronic on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 by Tim Althaus

It seems like this year the show formerly know as Hip-Hop is being stolen away by the state of Michigan (Detroit area specifically). So far this year we have seen new albums from Guilty Simpson, 14KT, Buff1, two incredible albums from Elzhi and now we are privileged enough to receive Tronic with open arms. Last year Black Milk released Popular Demand to critical acclaim as a self producing emcee. I have to admit that it was one of my favorite albums of last year, and Tronic is definitely one of my favorites this year. Black Milk is one of those guys that just drops my jaw every time that I hear something new of his because it’s like nothing I’ve ever heard before, I hate to compare him to Dilla (because there is no comparison) but Milk is taking it to that level very rapidly.

I have to say that this album had me from the beginning track “Long Story Short”. I was completely blown away by the elements of this track. It starts out with an almost “futuristic” synthesizer sound and fades to a beautiful piano melody. What comes next is a beat the hit me like a ton of bricks, it was so hard it almost made me cry. The incredible thing about the track is it literally is a long story short, it’s Black’s entire life up to this point in time and he tells his fable like Aesop. “Losing Out”, which is a track that features crafty veteran fire spitting Royce Da 5’9″, is another great track because the beat is lights out (particularly the sample) and Black and Royce exchange some straight butter verses. Black is very good on his verses but Royce holds his own as well and outshines Black a little. The only real conclusion comes out of Royce’s mouth in his last 8 bars: “I’m talking bout how we got it mastered, the fact is whenever me and Black do a track it’s a classic!” Detroit native Fat Ray (who earlier this year released an album with Black Milk titled The Set Up) joins Black on the hook for the track “Hell Yeah” which has a ridiculously hard beat, and some vicious flows from Black: “The whole world’s been patiently waitin’ for my comin’ to strike, patiently waitin’ like the second comin’ of Christ”. The track that most people would call the highlight of Tronic, “The Matrix“, which features the legendary DJ Premier, Pharoahe Monch, and Sean Price is a straight classic and Pharoahe Monch absolutely kills this track: “Four finger ring rap sling slang Pharoahe the flows good/You couldn’t hang if you was Ving Rhames in Rosewood” “…Like the pant legs around the ankles of hipsters, I’m tight/Paint a more visual picture than Pixar…”. Black spits a great tongue twisting verse, and Sean Price never made gangs seem so interesting with his word usage: “I’m a kryptonite, but a blood today, Latin King tomorrow…”. The cuts on the album are done by Premier, and he never made it seem so effortless: “You love my style cuz’ I’m not what you used to, caught in the matrix… you’re in my danger field like Rodney”. I think that the track “Reppin’ For You” might be the highlight of the album for me. It has a great head noddin’ beat and Black’s flow to this track is lights out: “Every single line was written explodin’ like bombs droppin’/It’s like I’m Bin Laden when my pen’s jottin/The best to most with extra votes/A flow that’ll shock most like electric volts”.

All in all this is a great album and should be a indication of how great the Hip-Hop scene in Detroit really is. There are a few tracks that drag a little bit, but not enough to give this album anywhere near an average or below average review. Black Milk could hold up the city of Detroit on his shoulders, and chances are he probably will sooner than later with efforts like his last two. Tronic shows you what the definition of a producing/emcee should be.

9/10

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Foundations of Music

Posted in Music Reviews with tags air, boards of canada, broken social scene, Isis, m83, pink floyd, sigur ros, super furry animals on Monday, October 27, 2008 by raeflect

I am, (as are all the contributors to this site of literary exchange) a music lover. From when I was a small child, to as I am today, music in all it’s various forms has helped shape who I am and how I live my life. Thinking about ‘Violent by Design,’ spurred on by alteezimo’s article, I began to think of all the albums that have in the last five or six years affected this evolution. Many of these albums were either given or suggested by friends, who have assuredly also placed most if not all in the ‘never discard’ section of the individual’s music memory.

Personally, had these albums been physical records, I would have over time carved the grooves into canyons. These eight albums make up a core of my music listening history, and will forever be a part of my music library.

Air – Talkie Walkie

This album introduced me to the genius of Air, and helped forge my love of electronic music.

Boards of Canada – The Campfire Headphase

Being a drummer, I absolutely love stylish, inventive beats, and simple though many of their loops may be, their creativity in frequency and static distortion definitely makes them stand out from the very large crowd of electronic artists. It’s a shame they have not released any official material since 2006.

Broken Social Scene – You Forgot It in People

First introduced to me by my friend Shannon, this album absolutely captivated me, being of a sort of rock music that I had never known existed. My favorite track on this album is ‘Looks just like the Sun’ which sounds like two people sitting with their feet up on a porch railing: the sun setting over a gently flowing lake glittered with sparkling reflections while their docile music tones float around.

Isis – Panopticon

I bought this album only weeks after it’s release, on the recommendation of my friend Ryan, and I’ve never looked back. Just as ‘Violent by Design’ gave me an introduction to hip-hop, ‘Panopticon’ showed me the way to a now great appreciation of metal. Hearing many of the songs off this album played live proved to me that we can expect much more great music from this band.

M83 – Before the Dawn Heals Us

In it’s own way, ‘Before the Dawn Heals Us’ is one of the heaviest albums I own. Although I would associate it more with electronic music than rock, tracks such as ‘Don’t Save Us From the Flames,’ ‘Fields Shorelines and Hunters,’ ‘Asterick,’ and ‘Teen Angst’ are definite head bangers, and from firsthand knowledge: Loud and very intense live.

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here

Convinced of their worth by my brother, but lacking knowledge of their catalog, I picked up this album maybe in seventh or eight grade, and since that first listen of ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond (part I-V)’ my respect for Pink Floyd has never lapsed.

Sigur Ros- Takk

I saw Sigur Ros live in Madison just weeks after buying this album, and I can say that to this day, dozens of great shows later, that was one of my all time favorites. Their obvious skill for music composition reveals itself in the subtlety and direction of the string quartet section, everpresent on this album.

Super Furry Animals – Phantom Power

I love all of Super Furry’s catalog, but the playful and carefree nature of this album, backed up by it’s strong yet never over-reaching electronics, beautiful harmonies, and wonderfully crafted drum beats marks it as entirely unique in my mind. The slight background vocal samples, often voiced by Gruff Rhys, add a clever and often humorous touch. I absolutely love the psych-rock jam that breaks down the end of ‘The Piccolo Snare,’ and ‘Slow Life’ remains one of my favorite electronic tracks.

I mostly wrote this so others would share some of their lasting, if not all-time favorite, albums that will always have a place in the ideal music collection. Frankly, I’m just curious.

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