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Keyshia Cole -
A Different Me
Imani/Geffen/Universal |
The sensationalized star of twenty-first century r&b Keyshia Cole redirects the formula that her predecessors have built for her. Less in the vein of "blues" and hip-hop, A Different Me is more...Motown soul? Even a little big-band tossed in to the blender? A bit of jpop minced into the mix just to even it all out?
While the historical lineage of pop has progressed in bizarre ways, Cole has managed to take eras, taken their essential parts, and made herself a style of her own. Her vocal melodies are incredible, arguably the best from the newer pop artists, and the whole thing fits Cole perfectly: no slag, no awkward parts, not even a thread out of line on the entire album. |
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Dance Club Massacre -
Circle Of Death
Black Market Activities/Metal Blade/RED |
How has metal been so degraded by humanity? This band makes me wish the death sentence was still an appropriate punishment for wrong opinions. Some of the worst metal I have ever heard.
The only rewarding quality is a solid mix of high and low screams, but even that is drowned out by the layers of cheesy guitars, bad nu-black metal and stupid subject matter. Yes, if you thought songs about killing people was stupid, you will love hearing songs about money. A waste of plastic. |
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Willie Nelson -
Naked Willie
RCA/Legacy/Sony BMG |
Nelson's career is marked with only highlights. Can anyone give me a horrible Willie Nelson song? Sure, there are some sub par ones, but a bad track? And those are the rarities: with a history so rich with perfectly written albums, Nelson can really do no wrong at this point.
Which is why Naked Willie is the best thing to come out of his catalog: the best era of Nelson (late 60's) playing stripped down tracks (him at his best) with a recording quality that is perfect for the country genius. Songs on here include "Bring Me Sunshine," "Sunday Morning Coming Down" by Kris Kristofferson, and "Laying My Burdens Down," to name a few.
***Best Album Of The Week***
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Marcus Johnson -
Flo (For The Love Of): Romance
Three Keys/Marimelj |
Cool, smooth jazz. Johnson lets downtempo walking basslines meander their way from beginning to end of this album, not really doing anything new but still keeping in the genre presented. Nothing innovative, just the steady run of elevator music. |
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Cyndi Harvell -
The Night Turned to Song
War Chant/Citrus to Citrus |
Simplistically performed but unbelievably complex folk rock. With the slightest flavor of southern twang, The Night Turned to Song is the best of what is going on in contemporary folk, but funneled into one incredible lady.
Intricate vocal melodies, interesting songwriting (phenomenal guitar playing!), and a simplistic flow to it that makes the mix of elements become something far superior to all the rest. Highly recommenced for folk lovers.
***ARTIST TO WATCH!!!***
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Saltman Knowles -
Return of the Composer
Pacific Coast Jazz |
Piano backbone and beautifully flowing female vocals, Return of the Composer is the type of jazz more people should be working on. Mid-tempo, with progressions that aren't masturbatory (though there certainly are a few of those on here), and enough character through and through to give a real emotional personality to the music, Saltman Knowles has figured out how to put his music together. While not the best thing ever, and looses my interest at points, the album is none the less great for what it's doing. |
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AC/DC -
'74 Jailbreak EP
Albert/Epic/Sony BMG |
The best hard-rock band. Of all time. With almost all of their records being repressed, we have quite a lot of music to get our abused ears up to the task of listening to great songs again. '74 Jailbreak is the 5 song EP, composed of "Jailbreak," "You Ain't Got A Hold On Me," "Show Business," "Soul Stripper," and "Baby, Please Don't Go". It's great, just take my word for it.
***LATE BUT GREAT***
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The Luke Mulholland Ban -
Further
Self-Released |
Luke Mulholland has released 4 full length albums before his 20th birthday, which is a fact that speaks for itself. Amazing blues progressions, not really stepping out of the standards but still doing it well.
His voice does not sound like a 19 year old, but thats what they say. Heavily produced, with a great backing band, this record is for any interested in solid blues. |
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Crooked X -
Self-Titled
MPM/Capitol/EMI |
While Crooked X has opened up for respectable bands (AC/DC) and have opened for good-but-not-respectable bands (Kiss, Ted Nugent), they are neither respectable nor good. The bad parts of hard rock and the worse parts of nu-metal make a band that is somehow more unbearable than Creed. I guess that deserves recognition of some kind.
***MIGHTY, MIGHTY!!***
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T Bird and the Breaks -
Learn About It
Self-Released |
You would figure that the white bastardization of great black music would happen at the music's height, right? I guess for T Bird and the Breaks it works the opposite: you make white bastardizations when the music is all but dead.
Learn About It, despite my criticism, is surprisingly good. Straightforward funk/blues/soul that would have rivaled Clinton, if Clinton wasn't miles beyond this. The sound is perfect for what it is, with every horn in the right place, every stop note right on the dime, and the perfect amount of sexual crooning that you would think this was relic. If you like funk, you should dive into this. |
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Jack's Mannequin -
The Glass Passenger
Sire/Warner Bros. |
Something Corporate's frontman Andrew McMahon's new project Jack's Mannequin compares to his previous work, but has a sense of maturity lacking from his last project.
Somewhere between indie rock and pop rock, The Glass Passenger feels like a blend of U2's production, Ben Fold's song writing, mixed with something of the nu-pop punk wave from '05 ala The Starting Line.
Styles change between tracks, but it all amounts to the same outcome. Catchy choruses, whiny-but-heartfelt vocals, and some really over the top studio tricks, The Glass Passenger is for those wanting more pop rock in their lives.
***LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!!***
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Bill Frisell -
History, Mystery DOUBLE CD
Nonesuch/Warner Bros. |
"Avant-garde" jazz from guitarist Bill Frisell. He uses what sounds like a floor full of effects pedals, perhaps putting My Bloody Valentine to shame, but luckily not overdoing it. Tasteful use of echo and phase shifts, History, Mystery crafts itself in something that sounds like smooth jazz in hell.
Dissonance strikes Frisell's fancy, but feels much more together and pretty than what people generally think of when they say "dissonant jazz". Weird progressions that don't come across odd, strange instrumentation that adds but doesn't overdo, and not a single moment of masturbation, History, Mystery is one of the best jazz albums of the year. |
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Odetta -
Blues Everywhere I Go
American Roots/MC |
After a decade of not releasing music, Blues Everywhere I Go was one of the last Odetta wrote. She passed away late last year, making this relisten a bit heavier than I expected. Odetta was a civil rights activist her entire life, balanced only by her incredible ability to construct some of the most beautiful blues and soul songs I have ever heard.
With a deep, rambling singing voice, Odetta managed to word so much emotion in a single track that it was unbelievable that a single person could write all that she did. Blues Everywhere I Go is for any who like blues at all.
***POLITICAL ALBUM OF THE WEEK***
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Nous Non Plus -
Menagerie
Auronaut |
Sassy disco-punk from faux-French New York rock group Nous Non Plus makes bands like Gogol Bordello look like fools. Menagerie is catchy, fun, stripped down, and, well, good. Yes, I said it: this band is genuinely good.
You can hear emotions even through the goofy electronics and cheesy harmonies, and nothing detracts from anything else. All of the parts work together to make a record far better than its solitary components. If you want something upbeat, look no further.
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Rebecca Owen -
Self-Titled
Self-Released |
Run of the mill country rock from Owen. Solid voice, with a little of honky tonk that most people love. The music isn't that original, but it fits the genre well. If you like female country singers, go for it. |
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Colin Munroe -
Is The Unsung Hero
Marked/Rowdy/Universal Motown |
Concocting an odd combination of rock, pop, and hip-hop, with elements of downtempo swimming around in there, Colin Munroe is one of the few who has succeeded in doing something new that doesn't suck. Everyone should be taking notes.
So what do we have: one part decent melodies and acceptable vocal abilities, one part controlled and catchy pop music backed with hip hop beats, and with a pinch of production we have Is The Unsung Hero. It works, and it thrives. For fans of hip-hop and weird pop. |
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Incognito -
More Tales Remixed
Heads Up/Concord |
Technically this album is by "various artists", since it is a collection of remixes, but no matter: Incognito still plays the center stage on this recording. These remixes are arguably better than the originals: adding just another layer of over the top-ness to the already elaborate genre of acid-jazz.
Almost a disco feel, we see nothing short of a huge undertaking in this album. I don't recognize any of the names of the DJ's on here, but let me tell you: they are all phenomenal. |
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James Dunn -
The Long Ride Home
TrueTone |
Interesting singer/songwriter tracks from James Dunn. Songs are fairly epic, with an emphasis on the songwriting more than actual emotional portrayal. Don't get me wrong: this isn't bad, it just builds itself more through musical progressions than anything else. Not necessarily anything I've never heard before, but still an example of a well done singer/songwriter.
"SO NICE, GOTTA DO IT UP TWICE"
(created by the original NYC D.J. Jocko, 1955)
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Late of the Pier -
Fantasy Black Channel
Astralwerks/EMI |
A bunch of jokers calling themselves Late of the Pier are pretending that they are cool. And you know what, at times they come close: opening song "Hot Tent Blues", for instance. Bordering on harsh noise with a heavy electronic punch, occasional points are interesting and make my ears stand up.
But the problem is that so much of this is just the worst of the worst of electro-trash, sounding like a bad Devo. And Devo are great, so it's a huge fall. Hipsters need to stop making music. Or anything, for that matter. |
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Greg Skaff -
East Harlem Skyline
Zoho/Allegro |
Really interesting rock-styled jazz. Heavily distorted guitars create the thickness which crosses genres, and with high energy progressions, East Harlem Skyline makes a point to put this fact in your face every chance it gets. Greg Skaff knows his guitar playing well, and pulling of the jazz lead lines without sounding too self-involved. |
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Lady GaGa -
The Fame
Streamline/Konlive/Cherrytree/Interscope/Universal |
Really terrible pop music. I am usually into artists who spend more time on production than growing up, but Lady GaGa really has lost any sense of merit on me.
Where groups like the Venga Bros caught me with pure poppy-ness and silly lyrics, Lady GaGa just has nothing to grab onto. Annoying beats, a really awful voice, and...what is this...songs about being rich and loving money. Yeah, this is just stupid. |
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Artist: Blind Alfred Reed
Song: How Much Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?
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There once was a time when everything was cheap,
But now prices nearly puts a man to sleep.
When we pay our grocery bill,
We just feel like making our will --
I remember when dry goods were cheap as dirt,
We could take two bits and buy a dandy shirt.
Now we pay three bucks or more,
Maybe get a shirt that another man wore --
Tell me how can a poor man stand such times and live?
Well, I used to trade with a man by the name of Gray,
Flour was fifty cents for a twenty-four pound bag.
Now it's a dollar and a half beside,
Just like a-skinning off a flea for the hide --
Tell me how can a poor man stand such times and live?
Oh, the schools we have today ain't worth a cent,
But they see to it that every child is sent.
If we don't send everyday,
We have a heavy fine to pay --
Tell me how can a poor man stand such times and live?
Prohibition's good if 'tis conducted right,
There's no sense in shooting a man 'til he shows flight.
Officers kill without a cause,
They complain about funny laws --
Tell me how can a poor man stand such times and live?
Most all preachers preach for gold and not for souls,
That's what keeps a poor man always in a hole.
We can hardly get our breath,
Taxed and schooled and preached to death --
Tell me how can a poor man stand such times and live?
Oh, it's time for every man to be awake,
We pay fifty cents a pound when we ask for steak.
When we get our package home,
A little wad of paper with gristle and a bone --
Tell me how can a poor man stand such times and live?
Well, the doctor comes around with a face all bright,
And he says in a little while you'll be all right.
All he gives is a humbug pill,
A dose of dope and a great big bill --
Tell me how can a poor man stand such times and live?
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Political Article:
Afghanistan: Waiting for the 'Exit Strategy
By: Robert Dreyfuss
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It's Afghanistan week, with President Obama's Afghanistan review complete and the new strategy for the war set to be released any day now. In his 60 Minutes interview, Obama suggested that he's leaning toward the "minimalist" theory that the war in Afghanistan has to focus on Al Qaeda and that the United States needs "an exit strategy." From the transcript:
"What we can't do is think that just a military approach in Afghanistan is gonna be able to solve our problems. So what we're looking for is a comprehensive strategy. And there's gotta be an exit strategy. There's gotta be a sense that this is not perpetual drift."
Asked what America's mission in Afghanistan is, Obama replied:
"Making sure that Al Qaeda cannot attack the U.S. homeland and U.S. interests and our allies. That's our number one priority. And in service of that priority there may be a whole host of things that we need to do. We may need to build up economic capacity in Afghanistan. We may need to improve our diplomatic efforts in Pakistan.
"We may need to bring a more regional diplomatic approach to bear. We may need to coordinate more effectively with our allies. But we can't lose sight of what our central mission is. The same mission that we had when we went in after 9/11. And that is these folks can project violence against the United States' citizens. And that is something that we cannot tolerate."
But Obama has is sending 17,000 more US troops to the war that can't be won militarily, and he's talking about "building up economic capacity in Afghanistan," which could take many years. Are we prepared to stay for years? Is Obama prepared to spend his entire presidency fighting the Afghan war? That's the question asked by Jackson Diehl in a Washington Post op-ed today, in which Diehl answers in the affirmative. Citing General David McKiernan, who's demanding a further buildup, Diehl writes:
McKiernan believes the Afghan army, now at 80,000 members, will have to grow to 240,000 before it can defend the country on its own -- and that raising it to that level will take until 2016. Would Obama be willing, or politically able, to devote the entirety of his presidency to a war that has already lasted seven years? The thousands of American soldiers and civilians pouring into the country deserve that strategic patience; without it, the sacrifices we will soon hear of will be wasted.
That doesn't sound like an exit strategy to me.
The indefatigable Walter Pincus, writing the Post on Sunday, describes the huge buildup of US-funded military infrastructure in Afghanistan, which makes it look even more like we're settling in for the long haul:
At Bagram air base, for example, the Army Corps of Engineers is managing about $650 million in construction. ... The [U.S. Army] Corps of Engineers has become the largest employer of Afghans after the national government. Corps contractors ... will spend about $4 billion in Afghanistan this year and employ between 45 percent and 60 percent of the overall construction industry in that country. The U.S. Agency for International Development spends, he said, $1 billion to $1.5 billion a year in Afghanistan.
The corps has about 720 miles of roads under construction in Afghanistan, with another 250 to 350 planned for next year. [The U.S. will spend] about $4 billion this year and $4 billion to $6 billion in 2010 to more road contracts.
Does that sound an "exit strategy"? No.
As the New York Times reported last week, current plans for expanding the Afghan security forces to 400,000 -- including raising the size of Afghanistan's army from 80,000 to 260,000 -- will cost up to $20 billion over 6-7 years. And that's just the cost of training and equipping the forces. Sustaining them will cost, I've heard, as much as $4 billion a year ever year after that. (Afghanistan's entire national budget is only $1.1 billion a year.)
Various reports leaking out about Obama's Afghan strategy suggest that Vice President Biden and Bruce Riedel, the former CIA officer in charge of the review, are leaning toward the "minimalist" view -- that the US cannot rebuild the whole country and repair its shattered society, and that as long as Al Qaeda is defanged, we've "won." On the other hand, General Petraeus, Centcom commander, and Richard Holbrooke, the special envoy, want a much bigger strategy. According to Jim Hoagland of the Post, there is a developing "synthesis that moves everybody toward a middle ground," whatever that means.
Last week, John McCain and Joe Lieberman, in an op-ed entitled "Our Must Win War: The 'Minimalist' Path Is Wrong for Afghanistan", attacked attacked the idea of limited goals, saying instead that there is no "shortcut to success," no "middle way":
As the administration finalizes its policy review, we are troubled by calls in some quarters for the president to adopt a "minimalist" approach toward Afghanistan.
[Tonight's] news conference by Obama will be a big deal, and not only because he'll be defending his secretary of the treasury and the bailout plan. He'll also have to convince Americans that he knows what he'd doing in Afghanistan. The US public is increasingly skeptical of the war. According to Gallup:
A new USA Today/Gallup poll finds growing concern about the war in Afghanistan at the same time that Americans' optimism about Iraq is growing or holding steady.
Forty-two percent of Americans now say the United States made a mistake in sending troops to Afghanistan, up from 30% earlier this year and establishing a new high.
Originally Published in The Nation
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