meandthestereo

Artist: Mos Def
Album: The Ecstatic
Label: Downtown
Release Date: June 9, 2009
Decision: 4/5 A Great Listen
Favorite Tunes: “Life In Marvelous Times”, ”Supermagic”, “No Hay Nada Mas”

1. Background

Speaking as a person with little experience listening to rap music, I can say that this is an album that can be heard by those who would not consider themselves fans of hip hop so that they can remember what hip hop is when one isn’t listening to the radio.  Mos Def has crafted an album that is complex and listenable.

I never really listened to much hip hop music other than what was played on the radio and what I picked up from friends who did.  While I have knowledge of some of the history of hip hop (Grandmaster Flash, Run DMC, Public Enemy), current radio hip hop, like most anything on the radio, is more likely to make my eyes glaze over in boredom than to invite me to explore the genre.  So, it is with this non-background in hip hop that I decided to dive in on the deep side of the pool and review Mos Def’s new album The Ecstatic, an album I figured would be like the hip hop I associate with positive things, like skate tapes and Spike Lee films. Read the rest of this entry →

Artist: Regina Spektor
Album: Far
Label: Warner Bros.
Release Date: June 23rd, 2009
Decision: 3/5 Mediocre…Right Away
Favorite Tunes: “Blue Lips”

1. The Background

After three years, Regina Spektor is back! Did you miss her? When I heard this album was coming out, I was extremely interested. And, of course, it’s going to do well. So much sells these days just because of the name that’s on the plastic. Let’s take a look and see if this album is worth all the hype: Read the rest of this entry →

For this album review, meandthestereo did something a little different and handed off the album to two of our columnists. Check out Belle’s (from the East Coast) and Renato’s (from Austin, TX) differing takes on this album!

  Artist: Street Sweeper Social Club
  Album: Street Sweeper Social Club
  Label: Warner
  Release Date: June 16th, 2009
  Decision: 3/5 Mediocre…You’ll enjoy it, but go download the singles first!
  Favorite Tunes: “100 Little Curses”

1. The Background

Belle says,

Street Sweeper Social Club is Tom Morello and Boots Riley.  There is a great video on youtube of both of them describing the origins of the band. Boots Riley says that these songs are, “anthems for the revolution.”  Morello says that they both, “go to a lot of rallies.”  Both musicians agree that they are tired of boring, peaceful protest songs.  Also, they were wanting to create choruses that people can latch onto easily.

They are “outspoken policial activists” (via wikipedia) to put it mildly.  Morello formed the organization “Axis of Justice” to bring people together for social justice. I thought the organization’s website was very informative; what better way to directly address issues of social justice.  You can hear Boots Riley’s perspective on different issues during an episode of Politically Incorrect on Youtube. So, upon investigation via the internet, Morello and Riley are actually very articulately bringing together social justice and catchy music.

and Renato adds,

As has been said by Belle, Boots Riley and Tom Morello are the primary members of Street Sweeper Social Club.  Boots Riley, member of The Coup and outspoken political activist (but who isn’t this day and age?) teamed up with Morello to form a side project that just about sounds like Rage Against the  Machine. Read the rest of this entry →

Artist: Murder By Death
Album: Red of Tooth and Claw
Label: Vagrant
Release Date: March 4th, 2008
Decision: 4/5 A Worthy Purchase Indeed
Favorite Tunes: “Comin’ Home”, “Theme”, “Spring Break 1899”

1. The Background

This is the fourth full release from Murder By Death, and my goodness, is it a good one. I really enjoyed Who Will Survive, and What Will be Left of Them? but thought In Bocca al Lupo was dissapointing, so I was hoping their latest release would get me excited again. For a broad idea of this band’s sound, think Westerny Folk Rock. Yeh. Modern music for that showdown you have at noon in front of the saloon.

2. The Substance

Acoustic guitars, electric guitars, keyboards, cellos and amazing vocals fill this album. Adam Turla’s vocals are really spot on here, and (did anyone notice?) his voice is so much deeper and more powerful than on previous releases. It’s like he aged 30 years in 3, but it’s really not a problem for the album; it adds to the overall feel. The lyrics are descriptive and very story-like (another of Mr. Turla’s talents), but the only thing lacking in them are the simple choruses. It doesn’t necessarily harm any of the songs; they just seem to be almost too simple for what I’d expect from this band. However, that was just a minor thing I noticed; the metaphors and imagery used in this album are excellent. Every instrument is recorded well, though I felt the keys could have been emphasized a bit more. They seem to get lost in the background a little more than I’d like in some of the busier songs. The arrangements are well done, though, and I especially enjoyed “Theme”, the only instrumental track on the album. This band seems to understand where lyrics aren’t essential to a song and the track serves as a good break from the action.

3. The Decision

4/5 A Worthy Purchase Indeed. Purchase this album! It may be something you’ve never really heard before (because it is different), but it’s definitely a good buy. Give it some time and you’ll most likely come around. It’s enjoyable beginning to end. Start this album anywhere between and it runs just as well. The last song is an especially interesting end to the story. These guys are also on tour right now, so look out for them around your area. I’m sure they’re great live.

Artist: She & Him
Album: Volume 1
Label: Merge
Release Date: March 18, 2008
Decision: 3/5 A Mediocre Minute
Favorite Tunes: “Sentimental Heart”, “Change is Hard”, “Untitled”

1. The Background

Zooey Deschanel, the popular actress from such movies as Elf, Eulogy and Winter Passing, has already proved that she has a voice. Mr. M. Ward, popular musician and supporter of shortening first names to single letters, has already proven his ability to make popular tunes. These two artists get together and decide to make an album. The world waits…and listens…

2. The Substance

First of all, this album has great sound quality, which is of no surprise since these two artists have essentially unlimited resources when it comes to recording. There are a couple of songs where Mr. Ward and Ms. Deschanel even went lo-fi and that’s a welcome sound that adds a little warmth to such high quality songs. Ms. Deschanel’s vocals are crisp and clear and are certainly the center of every track. This album has 13 songs, with one untitled tune at the end (a cover of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”) and is the perfect length for an album. There are two covers that I know of on this album, one being the above reference and a cover of Smoky Robinson’s “You Really Got a Hold on Me”. The songs deal with love and romance and are mostly energetic, minimalistic and well organized.

3. The Decision

3/5 A Mediocre Minute. I wanted to LOVE this album. I wanted it to rock me so hard I’d have to listen to other albums constantly to keep these songs out of my head. I was looking forward to Zooey Deschanel’s strong and soulful voice singing me songs of broken heartedness and pain. I wanted to be dragged back to a time where soul and rhythm & blues were powerful. Perhaps that was my mistake, though. I expected something and didn’t get it. I realized that the first time I listened to the whole album. I wanted something Ms. Deschanel and Mr. Ward didn’t want to give. Ms. Deschanel wanted to sing love songs with simple lyrics and melodies and I realized that was fine. It’s still not that great, though. I adore the first song. It’s Zooey’s cute voice with a cute melody and a nice ending. The rest of the songs are just a bit mediocre, though, and other than the almost acapella Untitled, her voice doesn’t hit that soul power that she has in her. Mr. Ward’s music arrangements are simple and far from being fascinating or ground breaking. And his added whispery, shaky vocals DO NOT jive with the strong, smooth flow of Ms. Deschanel’s voice. The songs where he does add backup would have done well without him. This album is worth a listen, but you won’t be missing anything spectacular if you happen to let it pass by. Hopefully all the good songs have been reserved for “Volume 2″.