Girl Talk- All Day

  

   There are no surprises on Greg Gillis' (AKA Girl Talk) latest album.  Girl Talk Critics will not have an epiphany after hearing All Day.  The formula is the same, Gillis puts the last 30 years in a pop-music blender and produces a cocktail that is humorous, ironic, and danceable.
     With All Day, however, Gillis shows maturity as a producer.  In his previous works, Gillis seemed to force his samples together, which made his work too chaotic for the discerning (sober) listener.  With All Day, Gillis extends his samples, giving the songs room to breathe and evolve on their own.   It sounds like his most effortless album, but his cooldown moments, which are interspersed throughout, are carefully calculated.  The samples go on longer, and therefore, so does the punchline. The result is Gillis' most cohesive album to date.  All Day will still make dance floors erupt, but it is possible to listen to this album and appreciate his craft.

Track n Field- Marathon

 An underground electro classic eleased in 2007, Finnish producers Roberto Rodriguez and Jukka Kaartinen have produced an amazing tapestry of danceable music styles.  With Marathon, the duo display beats that are both driving electro and laid back lounge.  Throughout the album, there is sexy soul sounds immeshed with acid midtempo to create intelligent dance music easily appreciated by the critical ear.   Track n Field is an extremely accessible and genre nebulous project, so this album can be appreciated by fans across the board, be it jazz, hiphop, or electronic (and everywhere in between).  Marathon was never released in the United States, so finding this album can be a chore. The resulting feeling attained from this album is well worth the hunt!

 

Lawsuits For a Cure

     With complete reckless abandonment of public image, and a slap in the face to those affected by cancer, as well as their benefactors, the Susan G. Komen foundation has filed countless lawsuits against any other cancer awareness group using the phrase "for the cure."  Most of these non-profit organizations are smaller organizations completely unable to weather the fight against the Komen Foundation's top tier legal team.
      It's a sad chain of events to know that the the nation's preeminent charity vigilantly looks to seek and destroy other grassroots organization, creating some sort of altruistic hegemony.   Through some degree of separation, everyone is somehow affected by cancer, and those who donate to charities fighting the illness do so out of their own kindness.  It's a shame that their kind donations are going to lawyers instead of researchers and raising awareness for copyright laws instead of a plaguing disease.  It can only be imagined those suffering from cancer feel about how THEIR money (those who donate do so for the people affected, not the organization) being put to such a proactive endeavor.... kudos.
     The most disturbing of the matter is what this action represents to society.  It is already common knowledge that 98% of America is governed by corporate greed, the last 2% being charities and those who donate to them.  Now that the charities are corrupt, the donators now have no choice but to behoove apathy and cynicism.  The small percentage of people who do care are disillusioned.  How can someone donate money now when transparent politic muddy the compassion.  Why support causes, it all goes to the system anyway; abandon all hope!*

Author's(blogger's) note:  Im being a tad hyperbolic.  I still urge people to see the glass half-full and to support causes.

History repeated? Meh...

     In 2006, despite lacking a regular starting quarterback, the Chicago Bears fought there way to the Super Bowl.  Their 13-3 record underscored the fact that there was no true offensive greatness elevating the team to victory; the cards simply fell in the right place.
     The stage is once again set for Chicago's surprise return to greatness.  Jay Cutler, although still not walking on water, as many Bears fans originally predicted, seems to be getting hot at just the right moment.  Also, Forte has regained some steam (some) after a disappointing sophomore effort, and WR Johnny Knox is coming into his own as a offensive threat, tallying up nearly 1000 receiving yards.  This, along with its swarming run defense could easily catapult the Bears to the top.

     The tepid performances of other NFC teams further boost Chicago's potential.  The Philadelphia Eagles, despite looking like a frontrunner for a trip to Texas, has kinks needed to be addressed.  Michael Vick, team leader, and canine enthusiast, is hurt, and his performance is sure to suffer.  LeSean "Shady" McCoy, rarely breaks the 100 YPG mark, leaving DeSean Jackson to carry the bulk of offensive production.

     Atlanta Falcon's are an amazing team, but may be unready for the pressures of the playoffs.  Sure Matt Ryan is a good QB, but can such a young player persevere the stress of postseason play?  He will need to depend on his  (amazing) supporting cast for help.

     New Orleans are looking to repeat their performance, but they are lacking a solid running game, Chris Ivory only had one exceptional game this season.  Also,  the Saints defense hasn't been something to be desired.  Who Dat nation will be relying on Brees to carry the weight of the Lombardi from the French Quarter to Dallas. 

     Chicago seems in the right place to capture the NFC title, but they are reliant on Karma and productivity on both sides of the ball.  The three NFC teams previously highlighted are ALL more talented than the Monsters of the Midway.  For any success, the offensive line needs to protect Cutler (he's extremely fragile!), and the defense must continue to create offensive breathing room....although judging from last weeks game against New England, this whole blog could be a moot point.

     

Some notable releases of 2010

Being a new year (and a new blog),  it's about that time again for me to start making my "Best of" list.  Since in the past, I have always over-thought and stressed out about these lists, I will not be ranking the albums, but rather just make a list of great albums standing side-by-side.

So with no further ado, I give you the top (non-jamband) albums of 2010.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: Before Today- This album is a great fusion of 70's and 80's pop.  Before Today bounces from psychedelic guitar riffs and jangly guitars to synth lines and downtempo electro.  A great example of the modern emergence of Psych-Pop talent.

Of Montreal: False Priest-  After releasing two masterpieces previously, False Priest a bit of a step down for the Athens, GA electro-glam outfit.  Despite lowering from their highwater mark, this album still has the danceable disco beats and provactive lyrics that Of Montreal fans have come to expect from an album.   Although not their best work, False Priest is hardly a let down.

Vampire Weekend: Contra- This afternoon, while compiling this list, I have seen the "Holiday" Honda commercial at least 30 times. I will now by Ford and avoid Vampire Weekend.

Deerhunter:  Halycon Digest- One of the best albums of 2010.  Headed by art-rock maven Bradford Cox, Deerhunter release an amazing array of songs that blend and defy genres.  Halycon Digest tactfully intertwines art rock, ambient folk, and atmospheric sounds to produce his best work to date.

LCD Soundsystem: This Is Happening- In his latest, and most ambitious, release to date, producer James Murphy flirts with aging and maturity, while keeping the party going all night.  This Is Happening seemlessly combines art-house with dance party beats and synth lines galore.  Murphy pushes the envelope closer to the edge than most any other producers, as  he tends to have a proclivity to anthemic pop.  This album sounds more like Bowie or Talking Heads than the typical electro sounds of the modern DJ.  With This is happening, LCD Soundsystem shows that he continues to be the leader of the electric pop movement.

The Roots: How I Got Over- The Philadelphia legends return to greatness with this classic hip-hop album.  This is the bands most cohesive effort to date, beginning with melncholy and ending with survival. The band's previous two efforts have had a darker feel to them, with slightly more aggressive beats backing them.  How I got Over return to optimistic, conscious tunes over jazz beats.  A great profession of resilience from hip-hops finest musicians and wordsmiths.

Minus the Bear:  OMNI- Seattle's Minus the Bear released an impressive album unapologetically themed around sex and chemicals.  This album has sultry, x-rated lyrics that match well with the post-punk synth based indie rock that is played underneath.  This album is one part organic and one part electro, both shoegaze and danceable.  From this album emerges Minus the Bear as a rock band able to incorporate blips and synths to achieve a unique sound.

Beach House: Teen Dream-  An amazing album from a relatively unnoticed band. Teen dream has a dreamy pop sound that is second to none.  A cerebral blend of elegiac vocals, droning keys, and guitars, Teen Dream kindles a warm feeling of nostalgia and melancholy.  This album is loaded with rich melodies and hazy ambience. A very well done album.

The Black Keys: Brothers-  With the release of Brothers, The Black Keys are coming into their own as a band.  The Ohio grown duo's latest effort featured a myriad of sounds, exhibiting their past and shows their intentions for the future.  Brothers has both the garage rock feel of their earlier work, as well as the more technically produced tracks like their previous effort (produced by Dangermouse).  The result is the classic Black Keys sound with new enhancements.  

Arcade Fire:  The Suburbs-  Having dealt with the issues of death and religion in their previous two efforts, Arcade Fire tackles the issues of getting old and having responsibilities.  Despite the potential boredom of subject matter, The Suburbs delivers in typical genius fashion for the Canadian maestros of indie rock.  Arcade Fire blends genres fluently (Vocalist and guitarist Win Butler described the album as a combination of Depeche Mode and Neil Young).  Throughout the album there is, indeed, a cohesive mix of 80s new wave and classic folk-rock.  With The Suburbs, Arcade Fire continue to push the envelope and set the bar high.  

Flying Lotus: Cosmogramma- For his latest effort, Flying Lotus creates a sonic masterpiece.  Cosmogramma blends urban jazz beats with a multitude of electronic sounds (often simultaneously) to make a hip-hop/electronic/downtempo masterpiece.  The mood of Cosmogramma changes often throughout the album, but always seems to hold the same theme.  The guest appearance by Thom Yorke (Radiohead) only solidifies its place as one of the finest albums of the year, and declares Flying Lotus as one of the world's premier producers.

 Gorillaz: Plastic Beach-  This album, as opposed to their previous two efforts, lacks the potential for a Top 40 single, and will probably take longer to grow on the listener.  What it lacks in accessibility, Plastic Beach makes up for in creativity and talent.  The Gorillaz have released an album truly different than its predecessors.  This concept album is an evolution of the sound of the previous releases.   Plastic Beach is a benchmark for collaborative efforts, as it features such diverse guests as Snoop Dogg, Bobby Womack, and Lou Reed.

Caribou-Swim:  A great electronic work.  Caribou (aka Dan Snaith) creates a unique sound by blending his soft vocals with dark quiet electro sounds.  The end result is Caribou's best effort to date.  Swim is darker and moodier than Caribou's other efforts, but this album is a definitive step up for the Canadian producer.  This album has the rare ability to simultaneously ignite thought and bob heads.

Broken Bells: Self Titled- Indie Rock extraordinaire James Mercer (The Shins) and production legend DJ Dangermouse (AKA Brian Burton, Gnarls Barkley) create a brilliant album that demonstrates both artists at their finest.  Broken Bells features poignant lyrics and haunting vocals paired with organic and original beats.  Both Mercer and Burton embrace each others respective talents and genres, making this album truly original (this album doesn't sound like The Shins or Dangermouse). A masterful collaboration and beautiful album. A true masterpiece.