Review: Childish Gambino - Cul-de-sac

image source:googleimages

“He’s got a potty mouth for a Jehovah’s Witness”. That was my first thought as I listened to Donald Glover a.k.a Childish Gambino’s new (free) CD, ‘Cul-de-sac’.

The opening song has more ‘N-bombs’ than I care to count, but it doesn’t prevent from enjoying the track. About half way through the opening song ‘Difference, he whispers, ‘I’m just different’ and he truly is. His CV isn’t exactly typical of rappers out there. How many rappers can say they were nominated for a Writers’ Guild award?

Donald Glover started off as a stand-up/sketch comic, and then went on to become a writer on 30 Rock, and he is currently starting in the amazing TV series ‘Community’ alongside an ensemble cast of equally brilliant actors.

Donald’s move to rap is totally unexpected and it is hard to picture this geeky looking guy talking about how bad arse he is. But, he does it with such aplomb.  As a comedy writer, people expect his music to be comedic, but it isn’t. His lyrics are incredibly catchy, juvenile and sophisticated at the same time. After one listen, I found myself singing along to most of the songs. The album is full of one-liners and observations that are destined to be quoted on facebook statuses.

Donald Glover sounds like he went to the Kanye West School of rap, they have a similar style and possess and unabashed cockiness. You should hate it. However, the part of you that wishes you were that cocky, raps along and walks with the swagger of a rapper as you listen.

‘The Last’, explores the displacement most people feel at some point in their life. It is also my favourite song on the album. It shows that under all that bravado, is a decent person who is appreciative of this success, which he credits to Tina Fey taking a chance on him and helping him regain his confidence.

On the track, ‘Fuck It All’ Donald raps about fears, impending fame and depression from heart break. The lyrics are nihilistic and nonchalant. and based on the reference to Kanye, he must be expecting the inevitable comparisons to him.

In the coming months, there will be some talk on blogs and indie music sites about Donald Glover and the album. Whether or not the music industry takes him seriously with his squeaky clean history and a stage name like “Childish Gambino”, is yet to be seen. I believe he would be better off with a Milli-Vanilli type of arrangement. He writes raps and has someone more bad-arse as the face and public persona.Donald/Childish Gambino will eventually find fame and success with the hipsters and in the alternative music scene.

Check out

Difference

Fuck It All

Let Me Dope You

The Last

Hero

MITNB

Rupaul - Champion

image source:google images


I've always been aware of Rupaul as a drag artist, but not as a musician. Like many other people I watched the first season of Rupaul's drag race and I know her song 'Covergirl' was featured, but I thought it was a one off thing. During the second season, her songs were featured heavily and at this time I had become and even bigger fan so, I just had to have the album.


Champion is a positive empowering party album, it reminds me of early Cobra Starship albums (While The City Sleeps, We Rule The Streets). Rupaul is a shrewd business woman who knows her audience and plays up to them. It's not hard to picture 'Jealous of my Boogie' and 'Covergirl (put the bass in your walk)' playing loudly in a gay bar on a friday night.  That is not to say the album don't have cross over appeal. With the exception of 'Tranny Chaser' and 'Lady boy' the tracks never out rightly address Rupaul's sexuality or that of it's primary audience. 


Fans of Rupaul's drag race will be familiar with the songs and some diehard fans will already have their favourites. 


My favourite song is 'Main Event', it is also a great opening track, it really sweeps you away with it.


Main Event



If you are in need of an ego boost then the title track 'Champion' is the one for you. It's my least favourite song in the album, but I'm not sure why.


Champion





On 'Never Go Home Again', a track about people leaving abusive homes and terrible situations, Rupaul unexpectedly expresses some depth behind the party beats.





I had no expectation of Champion when I got it, so I was pleasantly surprised when I listened. 
I think Champion is a great album and one I see myself and my female friends singing along to as we get drunk and dressed to go out.


MITNB

No review saturday

No review this week. I'm working on a review of White Stripes' - Under Great White Northern Lights for http://frequencymagazine.net/


I'll post a link here once it's been published.  But, for now enjoy White Stripes's Cover of Dolly Parton's Jolene. 





I grew up listening to a bit of country music - which is weird for a black girl growing up in West Africa. And I hate when people say bad things about country music and brand the genre boring. There is so much great stuff out there, you just have to find the style that goes with your personality and taste.  








MITNB

Broken Bells - Review (not really)

image source: google images

This is going to be a rather short review because I'm really conflicted about this album. I really can't get my thoughts on it together. I don't want to say it's rubbish because it really isn't. That said, there is something about it that doesn't hit the auditory G-spot for me. 


To start with, I really had trouble listening to the album. The last Dangermouse collaboration I listened to was 'Dark Night of the Soul', his album with Mark Linkous. I don't know why Mark's death got to me as much as it did, I think it made it difficult for me to listen to 'Broken Bells' when I first got it. I added it to my weekly playlist so I could listen to it on the way to work and in the hopes that the journey would prevent me from focusing too much on Mark's death. It worked! I listened to the album and started to get a feel for the songs.  However, I still don't feel like I can give a good account of my opinion of the album. There are certain elements in it that remind me of stuff by Jon Brion and I feel like it should be the soundtrack to a quirky indie movie.


I'm just going to list my favourite songs and stop rambling.


Vapourize

Because of the lines - A simple plan we'd be different from the rest and never resign to a typical life. Common fears start to multiply, we realize we're paralyzed. Where'd it go, all that precious time?








Sounds like a modern day beegees song. 


I'll probably find myself editing and tweaking this, but for now this is what I think.


MITNB

Sade - Soldier Of Love

I've been listening to Sade on and off since I was little. Growing up in Nigeria, she was a part of my childhood. I was told about her Nigerian heritage, we even had a hairstyle named after her. The hair was parted from ear to ear, the front part was plaited into really tiny cornrows and the back was braided in single plaits. So, you end up with that smooth scraped back ponytail look that Sade often wears.


Image source: google

Smooth Operator was on heavy rotation, I was in my pre-teens back then and the only words to the song I really knew was; "No need to ask he is a smooth operator". Sade remained a part of my life for years to come. I never actively sought out her songs or albums, but she is one of those people I look at nostalgically. Her music takes me back to my childhood in Nigeria, lazy days when I just lay back and watch her videos or listen to her mellow sound come from the radio and wash over me.

In order to write this review, I looked back at previous works by Sade. One of the things many people (including me) seem to have discovered recently is the Sade is the name of the band. I always thought Sade was the person. I had no idea she occasionally sang about otherness and race like in the case of 'Tar Baby' (Album - Promise) and 'Immigrant' (Album - Lovers Rock). I had always known her for her love songs.

Despite listening to Sade for years, 'Soldier of Love' is the first album of theirs I've ever owned. I have a 'Best of...' album because it contains all the songs I knew growing up, but I've never made the effort to buy a complete album.

My first impression of 'Soldier Of Love' is that it's full of heartbreak. The first track 'The Moon and The Sky' sounds like a person living a relationship with as much dignity as she/he can muster. ‘The Moon and The Sky' is followed by 'Soldier of Love' which carries on that heartbreak theme, but it is about carrying on rather than being beaten, broken and depressed by the end of the previous relationship. So far so good, till you get to 'Babyfather' and it gets a bit dicey for me. It’s not a totally awful song; it just doesn't fit in with the rest of the album. And there is a Caribbean/Reggae twist to it that one doesn't readily associate with Sade. I can't deny that the line 'your daddy love come with a lifetime guarantee' is catchy and memorable, but other than that this song could have been shelved and put on a different album.



I first listened to this album walking to the bus stop after work. It was 12:30 am, I was tired and hating my job and wishing things had turned out the way I planned. 'Long Hard Road' came on and made me even more depressed, despite all that it's my favourite song on the album.



It is a short song, but it goes straight to the heart of the matter and packs a mean punch. There are two parts that stuck with me the most, 'When in this life, in this life, when I can only turn my chin, I know it's going to be alright', and 'When this big old town is closing in and I've lost again. Here I could stay, but I keep moving on'. I live London and my walk home takes me through Trafalgar square and Piccadilly Circus, so the line about the 'big old town' could not be any more perfect or apt.

I think Soldier of Love is a very sophisticated and classy album, but it takes a couple of listens to really get it. I listened to it all week, but it wasn't till this morning that it all made sense to me. It is different from the baby making albums that the band is known for. I know there are people that find their music too boring or mellow, but I tend to think of music in terms of time, mood and place. When I'm getting ready for a night out I would rather have some Gym Class heroes or even Lady Gaga. Sade's music (and specifically this album) is reserved for a lazy weekend or after a break up. You listen to it in a quiet house, with a cup of tea in hand and reflect on the past, love lost and hope regained.

mypspace: www.myspace.com/sade
www.sade.com



MINTB

Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young

I’ve got a cold – aaaaargh!
I thought I had conquered my colds. I tend to get them a lot, but haven’t had one in a year! I didn’t even get swine flu when it was all over the place. So imagine my shock when I work up this morning sneezing with one eye (yes, one eye) running, puffy and red. It’s like the cold virus was waiting for me to finally have a good night’s sleep. Luckily I have 4 days off so I can sleep it off and get high on Benylin.

Before I get into the review, I have a confession to make . . . I started listening to The Strokes because of a guy I had a crush on. He was a big fan and my naive little heart thought he would like me back and see me as a potential girlfriend if he sees that I like the same stuff that he likes. Years later, there have been messy rejections (which included him hitting on my friend in front of me) and awkward reunions. I look back at that moment and wonder ‘What the f**k was I thinking?’ I don’t see him anymore, but I still love The Strokes. I love them so much, I bought Albert Hammond jr.’s Solo albums (The second one wasn’t so good) and I’ve got Julian Casablancas’ latest offering.

I had no real expectation of the album. I listen to so much music that following my favourite musicians and bands would be a full time job (dream come true!). Unless they are regularly in the tabloids or there are posts about them on ONTD, I really won’t know what is happening with them and I tend to miss album release dates.

If I had paid more attention to fan sites, myspace and wherever else people find information about musicians and albums, I would have found out that Phrazes for the Young is heavily influenced by Synthpop . . . I hate Synthpop! It reminds me of the awful things about the 80s, garish sweaters, big hair and terrible pop music. Somehow, Julian has made me like Synthpop, but I’m not sure how he managed it. Maybe because he dishes it out in small doses?! Or I like him so much I’m willing to endure the Synth?!

Either way, I think Julian has produced a well put together album. His ability to weave meaningful lyrics into ‘11th Dimension’ is proof positive of this. It makes the song and the album more than the average Synth pop party album.



My favourite song on the album is '4 Chords of the Apocalypse', there is something so grand about it. Every time it comes on my MP3 player, I have to listen twice. The wave of pain, sadness and eventual acceptance in it is so beautiful and there is a something about the order and chaos in the backing track that just works.



'Ludlow Street' carries on where '4 Chords' leaves off. While not as grand as '4 Chords', it still has the Julian touch and his ability to almost physically transport you to the situation he is describing. Julian shows that it is possible to write and perform an emotionally charged song without Whitney Houston/Mary J Blige's vocal ability or vocal acrobatics. And it doesn't have to be mellow, folksy or R'n'B.

On the other side of all that is 'River of Brakelights' which makes me think of nights when I've had too much to drink and I'm on the dance floor with no inhibitions. Hilariously (to me anyway), the chorus of this song features the line 'Timing is everything, Timing is everything’, when I listen to this song timing is the last thing on my mind. I just want to dance like I did when I was kid with no concept of timing or rhythm.

I think Phrazes for the Young is a must have because it is such a fun album. And it is different from the albums by The Strokes so those that don't consider themselves fans can give it chance.

Myspace: www.myspace.com/juliancasablancas
www.juliancasablancas.com


MITNB

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros


Image Source: Last Fm V.I.A google images

I often (accidentally) call them ‘Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Heroes’ - LOL. I first heard of this band on an episode of Ugly Betty (this season has been a great source of new music). I wrote the lyrics down, did some googling and discovered ‘Home’ and it is easily the best song on the album - ‘Up From Below’.

I didn’t immediately warm to the album, I think I wasn’t paying enough attention to it. I was watching Nip tuck (I think) and a song came on, I loved it and rushed to google the lyrics while I could still remember them and it turned out to be ‘40 day dream’. This is a testament to how little attention I paid to the album, I knew the song sounded familiar but I couldn’t figure out where I had heard it.

After this revelation, I listened to the album again. This time, I was left with a whimsical album with no clear genre. It’s light heartedness and quirky nature occasionally reminds me a bit of stuff by Devendra Banhart . If it had to be categorised I guess “hippie” would be the best way to describe it, but hippie is not a genre so we are left with a genre defying album that has traces of country and good old pop.


If you download ‘Up From Below’ expecting an album full of songs like 'Home' then you’ll be let down a tiny bit like I was. But if you stay with it, you’ll find yourself listening for ‘Home’, but staying on for tracks like ‘Janglin’ whose chorus sounds like something out of a kid’s TV show. ‘Up From Below’ makes me wish it was summer; it makes me want to skip as I walk down the road, and it chases always dark clouds with an old fashion broom with a long stick. I know all that might sound cheesey or contrived, but if you listen to the album, it will all make sense.

Music like this rarely ever gets the mainstream recognition it deserves. I guess it is because the music is ‘safe’ and so is the band. They need to dress outrageously, get into a bitch fight with Sufjan Stevens, cut Devendra Banhart’s hair after getting him high on opiates.

Listen to:
Janglin

doesn't that make you want to lay in the grass and look up at the summer sky?!

40 day dream


Carries On



Myspace: www.myspace.com/edwardsharpe
Official site: www.edwardsharpeandthemagneticzeros.com/
No UK shows coming up . . . sorry folks!

MITNB

First post/The Avett Brothers

The Avett Brothers


image credit: google images (can't remember the exact site)

I discovered The Avett Brothers through a gossip blog (ONTD), I tend to stay away from hyped bands because it conjures up the image of overzealous publicists and even more overzealous fans trying to make their favourite band happen. I like to discover a band for myself and determine on my own if I like their music, not because someone else told me to like them. I guess it could be argued that I’m doing the same with this blog, telling people who to like. But, hopefully people would leave here with more than that. Every year, I am on the lookout for a great new band, popular or indie – it doesn’t matter. I go online and search through music sites looking for the right band. 2007, was the best year for this, I discovered Kate Nash, The Pigeon Detectives, The Holloways, The Kooks and a couple of others. Also, in 2007 and I interned for a company that produces radio shows and I got to see firsthand how the publicity machine works. Publicist, record companies or managers send CDs into radio stations, music magazines and companies like the one I interned with. Sometimes they are sent to a specific person, other times it is sent to no one at all – in which case it either ends up in a junk pile or the receptionist/office manager determines who gets what. The CD is listened to and if the listener likes it, it gets some airplay and if he/she doesn’t then . . .

One incident that stuck with me, was case of The Noisettes CD. I had discovered The Noisettes at this time and I had seen them play live in the middle of nowhere, Poole. The CD arrived and it was passed on to some producers. From behind my computer I watched them listen and anticipated their response. I loved The Noisettes and I hoped they would get a favourable response, but what I heard stuck with me even 3 years later. The producer felt Shingai (lead singer) had an image problem and wasn’t too keen on her, the CD was subsequently pushed aside and everyone carried on with their work. Years later, I look at Shingai and can’t help but notice how polished she looks now compared to back then and how much her quirkiness and the band’s sound has been toned down to 'pop-rock'. I guess that is the way of the industry, if you want to make it big you have to kiss a couple of arses and polish a few turds even if that turd turns out to be you.

I’ve digressed a whole lot from the topic at hand which is my review of The Avett Brothers. The first Avett Brothers album I listened to was ‘I And Love And You’, before this, the closest I’ve ever come to bluegrass was a couple of Dixie Chicks songs. I listened to a couple of songs on youtube and downloaded the album while experiencing a tiny bit of apprehension. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve like a song by a band/musician then listened to an entire album only to hate it and find the whole mess rather depressing. Luckily that wasn’t the case with TAB (The Avett Brothers), ‘I And Love And You’ is one for the history books. It features an interesting musical mix – you come for ‘Slight figure of Speech’ and stay for ‘Ten thousand words’ and don’t get me started on the harmonies . . . Dear God! The harmonies! They put most girl groups to shame. TAB are not one bit ashamed or afraid to write deep meaningful lyrics, they sing with a conviction that has been lacking in music lately. Too many bands these days content with being cool, indie, having some hipster-cred and they just phone the rest in but, that’s not TAB.

I listened to a couple of their old albums and it was really cool to hear them get better and better and develop that conviction. Some people may argue that their current sound has been watered down to please the masses and I agree . . . to an extent. While there are songs like ‘Tin Man’ or even the aforementioned ‘Slight figure of Speech’ that might give that impression, but ‘I And Love And You’ is still chuck full of songs that would still fit easily into albums like ‘A Carolina Jubliee’ and ‘Emotionalism.

The Avett Brothers have a sold out UK show coming up on the 16th of March, unfortunately I won’t be there to see it. But, hopefully those that go have a great time! For people new to the band, check out these videos . . .

From I and Love and you


From A Carolina Jubliee


From Emotionalism


Myspace: www.myspace.com/theavettbrothers

MITNB