It's Fer Me Ma VIII
Well. It hasn’t been a year yet since I last wrote in this…
I think the cessation of driving everywhere has made me less dependent on rotating CDs in and out of play.
Hit the link for the latest blathering.
Artist: Bruce Springsteen & the Sessions Band
Album: Live in Dublin
Why: I loved the Seeger Sessions, and
Thoughts: The problem here, is that the Seeger Sessions album, of which this is a live in concert version, already had a live vibe to it. While there are a couple of new songs, this doesn’t really add much. Enjoyable, but nothing that exciting.
If you're curious: Keep Your Eyes On the Prize
Would My Mother Approve? Probably. She’s been a fan of the Boss for years.
Artist: Jay-Z
Album: The Blueprint
Why: Because I keep hoping that Jay-Z will turn out to be as fantastic as everyone seems to think he is.
Thoughts: The sad fact of the matter, is that Jay-Z is exceedingly overrated, and nothing so much drives that point home as when Eminem shows up on a track and makes him look like a damn fool for letting him anywhere near his album.
If you're curious: Renegades feat Eminem
Would My Mother Approve? Nope.
Artist: The Roots
Album: Game Theory
Why: Been curious about the Roots for a while now
Thoughts: The music’s much darker and minimalistic than I was expecting. Only listened to this one a handful of times, and had a hard time making my mind up about it. Isn’t an easy listen by any stretch, but a very solid album.
If you're curious: Here I Come
Would My Mother Approve? Maybe.
Artist: Lupe Fiasco
Album: Food & Liquor
Why: Pandora put him on my radar a few years back
Thoughts: I remember his stage name setting my teeth on edge and making me dismiss him out of hand. Turns out that was a mistake. Fiasco’s a fantastic rapper, and for a first album this one’s very, very, good. We get onomatopoeia of kids skateboarding, lyrics about giant robots, and a fun album on top of that.
If you're curious: Daydreamin featuring Jill Scott
Would My Mother Approve? Yes.
Artist: The White Stripes
Album: Elephant
Why: Because I’m always about 10 years behind the musical curve
Thoughts: Yeah. So, I was fantastically annoyed by the White Stripe’s image when they first came out that I pretty much made my mind up to hate them. Yet another mistake. This album is fantastic.
If you're curious: Seven Nation Army
Would My Mother Approve? Probably.
Artist: Mastodon
Album: Leviathan & The Hunter
Why: Tyler turned me on to Crack the Skye a few years ago
Thoughts: First let’s get Leviathan out of the way: it is not a good album. While the idea of metal about Moby Dick is a concept that’s delicious, there’s way too much screaming into a mic for me to be able to enjoy it. The Hunter, their most recent release, is a whole lot better in that regard. Good heavy album.
If you're curious: Black Tongue
Would My Mother Approve? Maybe. Might be a little on the hard side for her, but she does like her music angry.
Artist: Tom Waits
Album: Bad As Me
Why: Tom Waits put out an album, I buy
Thoughts: Eh. This… this is a disappointment. I love Waits, but this just exceedingly uneven. Chicago starts off promising then goes nowhere, Hell Broke Luce is just an exercise in why you shouldn’t force rhymes, and New Year’s Eve feels like Waits is lampooning himself. Title track is decent though.
If you're curious: Bad As Me
Would My Mother Approve? Doubtful.
Let’s see if I can’t get to reviewing these before a year is out:
Yes - Morphine
Marvin Gaye - Let’s Get It On
Run-D.M.C - Raising Hell
Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain
Busta Rhymes - Extinction Level Event
EPMD - Strictly Business
Lana Del Rey - Born to Die
GZA - Pro Tools
Florence + The Machine - Lungs
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
Garbage - Not Your Kind of People
I think the cessation of driving everywhere has made me less dependent on rotating CDs in and out of play.
Hit the link for the latest blathering.
Artist: Bruce Springsteen & the Sessions Band
Album: Live in Dublin
Why: I loved the Seeger Sessions, and
Thoughts: The problem here, is that the Seeger Sessions album, of which this is a live in concert version, already had a live vibe to it. While there are a couple of new songs, this doesn’t really add much. Enjoyable, but nothing that exciting.
If you're curious: Keep Your Eyes On the Prize
Would My Mother Approve? Probably. She’s been a fan of the Boss for years.
Artist: Jay-Z
Album: The Blueprint
Why: Because I keep hoping that Jay-Z will turn out to be as fantastic as everyone seems to think he is.
Thoughts: The sad fact of the matter, is that Jay-Z is exceedingly overrated, and nothing so much drives that point home as when Eminem shows up on a track and makes him look like a damn fool for letting him anywhere near his album.
If you're curious: Renegades feat Eminem
Would My Mother Approve? Nope.
Artist: The Roots
Album: Game Theory
Why: Been curious about the Roots for a while now
Thoughts: The music’s much darker and minimalistic than I was expecting. Only listened to this one a handful of times, and had a hard time making my mind up about it. Isn’t an easy listen by any stretch, but a very solid album.
If you're curious: Here I Come
Would My Mother Approve? Maybe.
Artist: Lupe Fiasco
Album: Food & Liquor
Why: Pandora put him on my radar a few years back
Thoughts: I remember his stage name setting my teeth on edge and making me dismiss him out of hand. Turns out that was a mistake. Fiasco’s a fantastic rapper, and for a first album this one’s very, very, good. We get onomatopoeia of kids skateboarding, lyrics about giant robots, and a fun album on top of that.
If you're curious: Daydreamin featuring Jill Scott
Would My Mother Approve? Yes.
Artist: The White Stripes
Album: Elephant
Why: Because I’m always about 10 years behind the musical curve
Thoughts: Yeah. So, I was fantastically annoyed by the White Stripe’s image when they first came out that I pretty much made my mind up to hate them. Yet another mistake. This album is fantastic.
If you're curious: Seven Nation Army
Would My Mother Approve? Probably.
Artist: Mastodon
Album: Leviathan & The Hunter
Why: Tyler turned me on to Crack the Skye a few years ago
Thoughts: First let’s get Leviathan out of the way: it is not a good album. While the idea of metal about Moby Dick is a concept that’s delicious, there’s way too much screaming into a mic for me to be able to enjoy it. The Hunter, their most recent release, is a whole lot better in that regard. Good heavy album.
If you're curious: Black Tongue
Would My Mother Approve? Maybe. Might be a little on the hard side for her, but she does like her music angry.
Artist: Tom Waits
Album: Bad As Me
Why: Tom Waits put out an album, I buy
Thoughts: Eh. This… this is a disappointment. I love Waits, but this just exceedingly uneven. Chicago starts off promising then goes nowhere, Hell Broke Luce is just an exercise in why you shouldn’t force rhymes, and New Year’s Eve feels like Waits is lampooning himself. Title track is decent though.
If you're curious: Bad As Me
Would My Mother Approve? Doubtful.
Let’s see if I can’t get to reviewing these before a year is out:
Yes - Morphine
Marvin Gaye - Let’s Get It On
Run-D.M.C - Raising Hell
Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain
Busta Rhymes - Extinction Level Event
EPMD - Strictly Business
Lana Del Rey - Born to Die
GZA - Pro Tools
Florence + The Machine - Lungs
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
Garbage - Not Your Kind of People