The Last Drop

Thao & Mirah, Thao & Mirah  - “Singer-songwriter” has never come to sell me on any musician. In fact, it usually signals a chance for me  to save my cash for something else. Like gum. Or toothpaste. Anything really. Put two together and it only multiplies my antipathy. Much to my surprise, Thao & Mirah are starting to chip away at my well honed diffidence to the term. It doesn’t hurt that they have enlisted the help of my favorite artist of 2011 to date.

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tUnE-yArDs, whokill – Wow. I sat on this draft for over 6 months. And this is probably my favorite album of last year. Well, here’s to cleaning up that old drafts box.

Eccentricity. What’s not to love?! Sure, anyone can come up with a slightly off hand band name, push further into excess with an even odder presentation of the name, and then a crazy sound to boot. Take this for example. But few can pull this off with ease and grace. And subtlety. I know, not quite what one should expect from an album with “kill” in it. But there it is – choice, intention, space – saddling up to experimentation like they belong. And making a good show of it. Yes, I am spending way too much time to say that this will probably be one of my favorite records of the year. So kill me. Read the rest of this entry »

Lykke Li, Wounded Rhymes – The second real album review of 2011. And what a pick. I guess I can say  that I am holding off until I hear something that is worth listening to. And, I confess, this album has been on repeat. I will dispense with the inevitable up front: long live Swedish pop! Good. It’s out of the way. Outside of the obvious genetics that pave the way to at least a decent recording, Lykke Li takes a rather unexpected turn towards the heavy. Which, if you judge her assets by her debut Youth Novels, would be a stretch at best of her talents and strengths.  Guess she was hiding this crap in the backroom the whole time. I’m glad she decided to let it out to the world, ’cause it’s a pretty rad follow up and is bound to have staying power.

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Das Racist, Shut Up, Dude/ Sit Down, Man –  Hmmm…I suppose we were overdue for a renaissance in college trained rappers. Ever since Talib and Kanye dropped out, we haven’t heard mention of college tinged rhyming making a real dent in hip hop. If Vampire Weekend can take music by storm by marrying the ivy league with African rhythms, why not use this formula (nee gimmick) for hip hop? Thus the rise of Das Racist. What’s not to like about the concept – met at requisite liberal arts school, all minorities , fans of pop culture and obscure literature with a well developed elitist sense of humor (try not to chuckle about a Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell…)? A perfect storm for the indie world to embrace. Even if for a blink in time. Well, that blink has lasted much longer than anyone anticipated – I mean, these dudes were everywhere when I was in Austin, a good 2 years after Combo Pizza Hut blew up – and they seem poised to last even longer. And in spite of their presumptive, jerkishness, I may look forward to their next work if it follows suite from their two first efforts.

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Nostalghia, I am Robot, Hear Me Glitch – It seems like everybody is getting bit by the electronic bug these days. True, that’s the beauty of technology – increasing accessibility to the masses and inviting talent and ideas to come rushing forth. But technology also has the power to mask deficiencies or provide a crutch instead of a platform for development. Nostalghia seem to be falling into the latter category, not without hope towards redemption. Read the rest of this entry »

James Blake, James Blake – Oh, to be young again! Well, at least barely legal. And overflowing with talent. A rare combination these days. Unless you count whatever Justin Bieber has as “talent” (a shag haircut does not a career make). Read the rest of this entry »

Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – I’m a hater. By nature. I had this same sentiment with Mrs. Jay Z until actually listened to B’day. I felt similarly annoyed with Animal Collective until they ended up here. And so I continue my base sense of negativity and dismissal with Mr. West. This time, it’s for keeps.

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Big Boi, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

Typical. How many times can we keep extoling the virtues of the best thing to come out of Atlanta since…Atlanta? Well, if either member of Outkast keeps on creating consistent heat, there’s nothing else to do but call it fire. Read the rest of this entry »

Bilal, Airtight’s Revenge - I like weird well enough. In all shapes and sizes. I especially like weird when it has been gestating for all too long. Bilal has rightly cultivated his weird over many years and Airtight’s Revenge is a fitting result of his labor.

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Sleigh Bells, Treats –  Now, I’m all up for noise. And pop. And occasionally Noise Pop. But I just don’t buy this formula. Sure, it’s fun for a while. But does it really add anything new? You can slap on many famous fans as a badge of viability, but at the end of the day do you stand on your own? IMHO, I don’t think so.

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