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Category Archives: Reviews

Quasimoto - The Further Adventures of Lord Quas

I’ve only had Madlib’s latest album for an hour, which makes writing one of my typical deep, insightful reviews challenging, but not impossible.

As with any album, the reviews use a consistent writing style and narritive structure. I’ve started writing a program that uses a combination of sophisticated lexical analysis, database queries, XML, speech recognition, and binary numbers to auto-generate a review for me. The results so far are promising:

010101110101101011101101010001010101010001101010 001010110100101011111101101111010000101010100010 100101010101011111010110000101000001011010001011 010110001001010010011010101011101011100101011101 100111100101010101011011010010101011010001010101

Registered users: Album of the week

Recommended (B+) 1010101110101

LCD Soundsystem and M.I.A. / Diplo at the Showbox

M.I.A. at the Showbox, Seattle James Murphy at the Showbox, Seattle

M.I.A. / Diplo

M.I.A. at the Showbox, Seattle

This was a good set that didn’t live up to my sky-high expectations. It was clear that M.I.A. had little experience performing live; Diplo was surprisingly uncreative, limiting himself to beats from Arular or Piracy Funds Terrorism.

The hype surrounding M.I.A. is astounding, and despite the lackluster performance, the crowd fawned over M.I.A. — all she needed to do was show up (which can be harder than it sounds).

Solid (B) Enthusiastic crowd made up for a weaker performance

LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem at the Showbox, Seattle

High energy! Dancing hipsters! Eight (8) cowbells! Insanely skilled drummer! Wine straight from the bottle!

Required (A) Best show this year

Edan - Beauty and the Beat

Diverse. Dense. Throwback. Brief.

(As usual, you’re better off reading a real review.)

Registered users: Album of the week!

Recommended (B+) Grows on you, works well as whole.

Beck - Guero

I’m too lazy to write a review today. There are plenty out there if you’re bored.

Of course, it’s in the album of the week (registered users only).

Recommended (B+) Easily his best since Odelay

Various Artists - The Best Mashups in the World Ever are from San Francisco

Mash-ups are a relatively new genre where two or more songs are mixed into one. In it’s simplest form, the acapella version of one song is played over the instrumental track of another. As the techniques have matured, more adventurous compositions are being created and the scene continues to grow.

I don’t know enough about the mash-up scene to give an informed opinion about the albums’ modest claim.

Highlights include: Sweet Home Country Grammar (Lynyrd Skynyrd / Nelly), “It Takes Two to Kiss” (Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock / Prince), “Benny got Back” (Benny Benassi / Sir Mix-A-Lot), “No One Takes Your Freedom” (George Michael / the Beatles), and “The Immigrant Check” (Led Zeppelin / Beastie Boys).

Registered users can sample the album through in the album of the week section. You can also hear samples through Juno Records.

Solid (B) Well executed, but the novelty fades quickly

DJ Kicks: Erlend Øye

DJ Kicks is a long-running series of DJ mixes by the !K7 label; Erlend Øye is half of the Norwegian indie pop duo Kings of Convenience. Through his side projects, Erlend has moved into electronic and dance music, touring as a DJ.

This mix was actually released last year, but I didn’t hear it until earlier this year and it’s been in heavy rotation ever since.

The music is primarily microhouse, but what makes the album unique is the fact that Erlend sings over most of the tracks. He’s got a surprisingly good voice, paired with goofy, melancholy lyrics that work well over his chosen instrumentals.

As usual, registered users can sample the album.

Highly Recommended (A-)

Various Artists - Run the Road

Run the Road is a compliation of greatest hits for grime, a recent sub-genre of UK hip-hop with heavy garage influence.

I was only familiar with a few of the artists on this compliation (Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, the Streets); one of the better tracks is by Lady Sovereign, a 19 year-old, 5′1″ girl who kinda looks like Sporty Spice and sounds more Jamaican than British.

The standouts are by Lady Sovereign, Kano, Wonder and Plan B, and Terror Danjah. Surprisingly, the biggest names give some of the weakest performances: Dizzee Rascal’s track is mediocre, and the Streets’ contribution is absolutely terrible.

Registered users can check out the album in the album of the week.

Recommended (B+) A good introduction to the genre; will completely alienate your elders

Dizzee Rascal at Neumo’s

Dizzee Rascal playing at Neumo's, Seattle

Dizzee Rascal’s albums are two of my all-time favorties (let’s say top 50); although he’s only 20, his beats, lyrics, and flow are mature and accomplished. His live performance was strong, but the show was held back by an unnecessary second MC (a frequent problem with hip-hop shows) and a DJ who wasn’t particularly creative.

Recommended (B+) Needless sidekick and overdubbed beats, but good nonetheless

Bloc Party - Slient Alarm

Bloc Party’s debut is already on many critics’ shortlist for the best of 2005. It’s a great rock album that will also appeal to all the hipsters pissed that Interpol and Franz Ferdinand made it outside of their circle of friends.

Registered Users can sample the album in the Album of the Week.

Highly Recommended (A-)

Pete Miser - Camoflauge is Relative

Pete Miser’s third solo album was released last year and somehow completely slipped through my radar (I’m not alone, Pitchfork seems to have missed the album as well). For those unfamiliar, Miser beats fit neatly within the latest generation of jazz-influenced hip-hop, and his MCing is reminiscent of Del the Funky Homosapien and J-Zone (although Pete not as profane, nor quite as witty, as J-Zone).

Neither beats nor lyrics are outstanding, but Camoflauge is Relative is an enjoyable listen. You can watch the video for Scent of a Robot, which, despite the slightly annoying chorus, is a decent song. Registered users can sample the album.

Solid (B) Some slow points, but good overall

Blue Scholars - Blue Scholars

The Blue Scholars are a local hip-hop band with good potential. Their intelligent lyrics and old-school jazzy beats will appeal to fans of Jurassic 5, Ugly Duckling, or People Under the Stairs. Standout tracks include “Blink” and “Bruise Brothers.”

I’m a little late here, as the album was released last year.

Registered users can sample this as part of the album of the week.

Recommended (B+)

Sage Francis - A Healthy Distrust

I’m off on vacation for a few days, so I don’t have time to go in depth. There are plenty of reviews that can give you backstory and pointless anecdotes.

My quick take: Sage Francis has verbal skill and an emotive style that is excellent when it works, and a bit annoying when it doesn’t. The beats are mostly solid, but there are no standouts, so the lyrics are what carry the album. Standout tracks include “Sea Lion” and “Guns, Yo.”

Registered users can sample this as the Album of the Week.

Solid (B). Above average with a few high points