Take Care, Check it out.

The Weeknd is my favorite new artist this year. Everything that this guy touches shines so bright. With a stellar freshman debut mix-tape (House of Balloons) and a good follow-up in the Thursday mix-tape, The Weeknd started to really take form and run. When I caught wind that The Weeknd was going to work with Drake I became excited, not because of Drake. I don't even really like this guy. However, the thought of new Weeknd material seemed intriguing. I knew it was a no-brainer. Drake & The Weeknd have had this teaser of a collaboration since Weeknd popped. It has been written about in various articles over at pitchfork.

So the collaborative track Crew Love is really what brought me to this album. Not for Drake. To hear how the Weeknd worked with this guy. I can't really seem to mesh with Drake's past work, it all seems too transparent. However, I listened to this album all of the way through. I wouldn't say that I loved this album, but I did enjoy a few tracks. First and foremost Crew Love, which I explained above. His track with fellow Young Money-er Nicki Minaj, titled Make Me Proud. Is a great stand out from the rest of what sounded like a passable attempt at an R-Kelly album. (circa. Trapped in the Closet). That is just due to my love for Minaj. I was mostly disappointed with the wasted collaboration of Lil Wayne, Andre 3000, and Drizzy, The Real Her. Looking at the track listing is appears as if this would be the club song, but it just turned out to be a slow B-Side. Drake makes up for that though with a harsher track featuring Weezy again, HYFR (Hell Yeah Fuckin' Right). That takes us to the end of the album...

Overall this mainstream hip-hop runoff release is pretty decent. With a steady line-up of guests and perfectly produced beats, Drake has picked up a few points. There is still a vast room for improvement. Drake, your still closer to Jimmy Brooks than Kanye West. There is a link to the album on Spotify at the bottom of this post. I am also posting the song Crew Love.

Check it out



S!D

What have we been listening too? Well lets see...

ASAP Rocky's new mix-tape just broke the illustrious' Pitchfork's Album Reviews and it walked away with a simple score, 8.2. Pitchfork also labeled it "Best New Music". After listening to this mixtape, it is official. This mixtape is amazing! Clams Casino's beats are perfect and the timing and lyrics are phenomenal. That being said, this might just be the beginning of the end for this "new on the scene" lyricist. It just seems that rappers that have a strong showing with their mixtapes are usually prone to releasing a less than stellar official release. I say usually because that isn't always the case (i.e. Tyler the Creator's Goblin). If Rocky's mixtape gets a more official release (i.e. Mellowhype's Blackened White), then we might see something really take off. I would like to think that with the right label behind him ASAP Rocky could really show out, to the levels of Wiz Khalifa. I guess that isn't saying much. Swag. Anyway, take this link to DatPiff to download the mixtape.

ASAP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP

Atlas Sound is Bradford Cox's group. Cox is the lead singer of hipster-cherished group Deerhoof. We here at earbuds are pretty happy to have found an early track from Atlas Sound that we use in our intro and outro on the podcast. Anyway, Atlas Sound is really blowing up. With mentions all over the web, the new album is doing stellar. This write-up may be a little late, but I think it is worth it. You can find the new song Te Amo, by Atlas Sound on our playlist. You can listen to that playlist by clicking the play button at the bottom of the page. If you don't see the play button, then I guess you suck. Have fun leading a mediocre lifestyle. 

Atlas Sound

Also, Happy Veterans Day! Now, sit down and be annoyed by some horrible songs that commemorate our fighting forces. Love those guys, but these songs are so terrible. 

3 Doors Down - Citizen Soldier (If you are in America and you saw a movie in 2008 - 2009 then you are most likely annoyed by even hearing the opening guitar)

Kid Rock - Warrior (This too over-saturated movie going audiences)

Drowning Pool - Let The Bodies Hit The Floor (its national metal day ((11-11-11)) and this is like a commemorative song of the military now right?)

Godsmack - I Stand Alone (Another metal one, I guess this is metal. This is all just really annoying right?)

So veterans rock and this music is junk, we can do better America!

OK now! For the last bit here I would like to plug my top tracks of 2011 play list on spotify, here. So here is the link. 

Best tracks of 2011

Later 

S!D

rage against pop music (music occupying Occupy) a few tracks...

So everyone knows about the movement that is happening on the left side of politics lately, that is Occupy Wall Street or just OCCUPY. This group of citizens that is tired of corporations getting rich while the hard-working masses get poorer. They started out by organizing a sit-in of Wall Street and caught the eye of the world as a motivated protest. They also caught the eye of protest rawkers everywhere including Radiohead, Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel), and rapper/poet Talib Kweli. The latter two of the three actually picking up the microphone and playing at the "event" protest. This is important for a number of reasons. It helps get the word out, of course. However, it also serves as a rare opportunity to see Jeff Mangum preform. No pop artist preformed.

Jeff Mangum preforming live @ Occupy Wall Street

Talib Kweli preforming live @ Occupy Wall Street

Radiohead was heavily rumored to make a surprise appearance at Occupy Wall Street. A rumor that they later debunked, however they lent their support to OCCUPY shortly after explaining their stance against corporations on the Colbert Report. This leads me to try to figure out just what Radiohead is doing recently and why they seem to be popping as of late. It has been a few months now since the release of King of Limbs and Radiohead is just now performing songs like Lotus Flower and Giving Up the Ghost on the late night TV show circuit. Well earlier this week Radiohead released a mixtape TKOL RMX 1234567 that features chill-waveish remixes of 19 songs. (I have included a link to listen to the mixtape). It seems to me that Radiohead isn't finished releasing The King of Limbs. I think that they have much more to do with it and they are planning some really big things. The release of the album was just the first. I am expecting really big things in the near future from Radiohead.

 

Radiohead - Lotus Flower (Jaques Greene Remix)

This week a former bassist for Weezer died. Mikey Welsh played with the group during their Green Album period, and toured with them during their re-claiming of success. I personally caught Weezer a number of times during this period and the band looked like they were so happy. I am happy to have seen Mikey Welsh in concert when he still appeared happy. It sucks when things just don't work out for people. Mikey Welsh will be missed.

Weezer (w/ Mikey Welsh) - Don't Let Go, Island in the Sun, American Gigolo, and Crab (Live 2001)

S!D

So, the Misfits have a new album...

From the film The Devil's Rain (1975)

The Misfits go through band members faster than Dr. Who goes through leading actors. Am I right? I don't really watch that show but I just wanted to throw that out there. I am sorry if I offended any Dr. Who-ians, is that right? Dr. Who-ians? Anyway, the Misfits came out with a new album earlier this week called The Devil's Rain. Not surprising to anyone that this record is a horrible excuse for a Misfits album. This poor band would of had a stellar reputation if they just knew when to hang up the make-up and clip-on devil locks.

Pretty awesome album cover

The Devil's Rain starts out heavy and rough, but it lacks the speed and attitude that goes hand-n-hand with the anti-establishment punk bands of their era. Hell, this version of the Misfits left that attitude and speed in their rear-view mirror long ago. They have since replaced it with snarky business moves and corporate branding. If anyone ever needs an example of a band that has sold out, I would point out the Misfits. Does any of that matter? The Misfits have always just been a band that likes to have fun and write songs about horror movies. If you knew me, you would have thought that the Misfits were my Beatles.

The album starts with its titular track The Devil's Rain. The song really sets the pace for the entirety of the album. If you don't feel like listening to this full album then you can go ahead and just listen to this one track. It IS the album, no other song on the albums shines nearly as bright and doesn't seem nearly as polished. The rest of the album seems forced and uncomfortable. I haven't seen Misfits live since 2000, but I am assuming that they wouldn't choose any songs from this album to fill up their set-list. Its just really disappointing. I hope Danzig does us all a favor and comes back to the Misfits just to shut Jerry Only up. Like a retirement tour. I could go for that.

Misfits - The Devil's Rain

-or-

Misfits - The Devil's Rain

Suggested Listening: The Misfits (The commercial version, not the Danzig version) had some pretty great tracks. Nothing that could hold a candle up to something from Danzig era Misfits, but it still holds its own in my eyes. Here are some of my favorite corporate Misfits songs.

Misfits - Kong at the Gates/Forbidden Zone/Lost In Space

Album: Famous Monsters

Why?: This may be stretching it but Kong at the Gates, Lost in Space, and Forbidden Zone are best when played together as one big track. Kong at the Gates is one of the best intros. They all kick so much major ass and make me want to mosh like crazy! If you are a skinny-jean teenager that loves punching other teens at hardcore shows than I would suggest listening to both of these tracks. This would be a great intro for anyone that wants to see a really true mix of old Misfits and new Misfits. Great songs. 

S!D

and here is a little something extra for you...

Misfits (ft. Joan Jett) - Astro Zombies

Track Review! -- Lana Del Rey "Kinda Outta Luck"

Lana Del Rey "Kinda Outta Luck"    This song serves as an adequate mission statement for the type of retro-pop diva aesthetic Lana Del Rey and her label are trying to cultivate. The intro begins with a lonely guitar plucking in dusty sepia tones that summon the same early 70's pulp feel of a Quentin Tarantino movie while Del Rey lazily laments along to before a rush of popcorn drums enthusiastically race to the sonic forefront and announce the song proper. Lana immediately switches gears and bounces along with the simple, but effective 1-2-3-4 step bassline singing "Femme Fatale/ Always on the run/ Diamonds on my wrist/ Whiskey on my tongue" with an air of knowing sweetness and don't-give-a-fuck confidence that you can almost smell a mixture of vanilla perfume and whiskey vapor coming out of the speakers.

     The chorus brings in a cadence of hand-claps as Ms. Rey begins an ocsillating sing-song voice that coolly rubber bands up and down as she playfully asks if it's, "wrong wrong THAT I think it's KINDA fun WHEN I hit you IN THE back OF THE head WITH A gun". She comes off like a female sociopath version of Ferris Bueller who always gets what she wants but you still can't help but think she totally deserves to get away with all of it.

     Lana Del Rey has been getting a lot of attention based on just a few songs which is a weird consequence of our modern "gimme gimme gimme" attitude towards music and right now she hasn't produced another track as unabashedly pop as "Kinda Outta Luck", and seems to be leaning towards a more moody fair based on the few other .mp3's I've heard. Hopefully I'm not getting excited over a fluke of a song and in-spite of her growing visibility, and the artistic pressure that brings, Lana Del Rey remembers to take a day off and just have some fun every once in a while.

Bueller?

...the week that R.E.M. broke up (a few tracks)

Last week was a pretty crazy week. R.E.M. broke up before I had a chance to see them live! How unfair is that! Lets count on them getting back together in a couple years for one last shot.

Thrice - Yellow Belly
This throwback to 2003 sounds like it was modeled after a song on a video game soundtrack, a selection in the Madden series perhaps.  Thrice is past their prime in my eyes, this sort of screaming/alt-easy-metal had it moment in the sun and they are just releasing some hold-over tracks. Something has to be working though, this album is pulling a 94 on Metacritic. It does sound cleaner than their previous songs. Its like they are just now getting the production that they could of done with years back. Check out the song and twitter about it or something.
Thrice - Yellow Belly

tUnE-yArDs - Gangsta
This is exactly what I needed this week, some creativity on a track! This highly experimental and fun track has me grooving while I am sitting here enjoying a carne-asada burrito. I love everything about this highly catchy and infectious track. The bizarre beats and often off time samples are just what intrigued me into catching this track. If you like Animal Collective you will like this better. Forget those guys, listen to tUnE-yArDs.
tUnE-yArDs - Gangsta

Mastodon - Curl of the Burl
Wow! This is Mastodon doing their best Queens of the Stone Age impression and it is so much better than anything off of Crack the Skye. That album just seemed so forced to me. This feels like an actual follow up to Blood Mountain. This is a great song to get your metal fix out too. I would suggest playing this song at maximum level with safe distances around your dome for heavy metal meat-head head banging. GET IT!!!
Mastodon - Curl of the Burl

R.E.M. - What's the Frequency Kenneth?
OK, OK so I can't start a music blog that reflects on the previous week and leave out the biggest story in music. Its just that, R.E.M. broke up a couple of days ago and it is already starting to become old news. Everyone is tired of hearing about the "break-up", "retirement", "hiatus", what have you. This is my favorite R.E.M. song, I am not sad or happy about whatever happened to them. I am sure Michael Stipe will still preform and the others have bands. This won't be the last we have heard of R.E.M. For now enjoy What's the Frequency Kenneth?
R.E.M. - What's The Frequency, Kenneth?

a few tracks to hear this week...

I decided to go ahead and listen to a few songs that are NEW to me, maybe not so new to you.

Nero - Promises (Skrillex Remix)
I realized that I hadn't heard any new dubstep in a long time and this song is quite the way to get back into the groove! Skrillex pimped the fuck out of this track. I mean it still sounds like typical Skrillex but its so smooth. It looks like Corey Feld... err... I mean Sonny Moore really learned something in his quick rise to laptop DJ fame. Nero hasn't put out anything yet that I haven't liked. Good solid mix for the two. Kudos.
Nero - Promises (Skrillex Remix)

Insane Clown Posse ft. Jack White - Mountain Girl
I don't know what the fuck Jack White is thinking? I guess that it doesn't matter, music is music in his eyes. He looks at music from that kind of point of view I bet. I still don't think that he has heard the final cut of the classic Leck Mich Im Arsch. Well this whimsical tale of love, rednecks, incest, and meth is everything that a good song by a couple of christian rappers should be. I am assuming that the Westboro Baptist Church's youth will be asking (Santa?) for a certain ICP CD this (Christmas?)? This is so painful to listen to... I can't even tell if Jack White's guitar playing is good, it sounds horrible. The vocals, if you would call them that, are completely drowning out the western twang of Jack White's git-fiddle. SKIP IT... No rubbernecking. Believe me its that bad.
Insane Clown Posse ft. Jack White - Mountain Girl

Nirvana - Breed (Smart Studios Version) // Previously Unreleased
There has been quite a bit of unreleased material getting to see the light of day, recently. Here we have Nirvana as grungy as ever. Mic pops and heavy scratches make this newly released Demo version of Breed. I love this song it is so damn raw and Kurt Cobain had just the right voice for the crappy recording. I love Nirvana so this is cool to hear.
Nirvana - Breed (Smart Studio Version)

Daft Punk - Drive // Previously Unreleased
Drive is a previously unreleased song released by the french progressive house duo known as Daft Punk. I barely see anything special about this song and so far (1:46) wouldn't mind if the song stayed unreleased. This is too repetitive for my nature. I like electronic music but this song isn't winning me over. Even when signature samples are used. I cannot bring myself to like this... Its a long song too clocking in at just over seven minuets.
Daft Punk - Drive

SBTRKT - SBTRKT (The Commercial DJ)

SBTRKT is an eclectic DJ that experiments with different sounds. I haven't heard his stuff outside of Spotify and YouTube so far. So listening to his debut album should be interesting. He reminds me a lot of Flying Lotus or TokiMonsta, he has that eclectic taste for samples. I guess the best thing about listening to alternative electronica is that you never know what is going to come next. Not one track sounds like the last. The album that I am going to be picking apart here is the self titled SBTRKT. The beats on the album are, of course, provided by SBTRKT who is supported with guest stars like Little Dragon, Sampha, and Jessie Ware. The album is a little thin and it doesn't take the twists and turns that a DJ like Flying Lotus would take. it is pretty listenable though.

Is SBTRKT just another DJ behind a mask? SBTRKT is one of many emerging artists that have decided to keep their "personal life" separate from their "professional life". He even hides his face with a mask! Does this mean he is just trying to be sneaky, or just trying to create some sort of buzz about him? It has to be a combination of both. He is both hiding his face from the crowds of people while creating buzz at the same time. It worked for countless other DJ's that I think are actually hiding themselves from crowds because they secretly have a fear of preforming in front of people. The mask makes him feel safer.

Also, when did this music start to pop off? Has eclectic electronica always been around and I am just now jumping on that hype-train. It seems that in 2010 - 2011 this neo-chillwave/experimental alternative electronica has become a household thing. There are tons of artists; SBTRKT, Flying Lotus, Nosaj Thing, TOKiMONSTA, Joy Orbison, Mount Kimbie, just to name a few. There seems to be a new "Hot" electronica DJ every month.

Well I am seven songs into SBTRKT's debut album and it is really good to get stoned too, other than that I don't ever see myself re-listening to this. It would be pretty cool to see this guy live and dance to the craziness but I don't see myself going back to this. The re-listen value is very low. The music seems just too thin, like it wouldn't exist if you turned away from it. It sounds like SBTRKT was influenced by early 90's Woman's Apparel Store background music. I can just close my eyes and flashback to the early to mid 90's when my mom was dragging me into crappy stores like Wet Seal and Forever 21. I would sit bored on some bench near the changing rooms while my mom "just browsed". That kind of music came a dime a dozen back then. I am afraid that this album has just enough teeth to be played in Jamba Juice or Starbucks... some sort of corporate background music. I guess SBTRKT is making the music equivalent of commercial art. Yes that was a stab at commercial artists. ;)

The end of the album jumped up pretty quickly, that means the album is short. I haven't truly enjoyed it but there are a few songs that caught my fancy. Like I said above though, i wouldn't re-listen to them. The songs are good for the time that you play them, other than that... its just background music. This music is perfect in the commercial setting. I could also see this music being played at an office, at a very low volume. Just barely in ear's reach. Czech it out if you really want to, you might come up with something different. I challenge you to listen to the album and not think about congested mid-grade clothing stores, I dare you.

Album: SBTRKT
Artist: SBTRKT
Label: Young Turks
Country: UK
Spotify URI: Sbtrkt – SBTRKT