Where the Wild Reviews Are: Catching Up…
All Is Love – Karen O and the Kids – Yeah, yeah, yeah it’s that Karen O on the soundtrack for Spike Jonz film of the children’s classic. I saw it today and like it as well -much more than the iffy reviews I’ve read. Jonz is a talented fellow and this story of a boy and his id looks splendid and plays very well. There is quite a bit of Karen O and the Kids and I like what she is doing here. It’s children songs that don’t come across as nursery rhymes, it’s all exuberant rush and handclap singalongs.
Then – Brad Paisley – I am holding off doing anything thorough on Paisley because I am waiting to review the concert on Wednesday which, since they’re trying to drop four tix for $100, isn’t selling to well. Still, the album is very good but far from great though some of the songs are very, very good. “Then” is almost a perfect song for happy married couples. It’s a twang ballad and Paisley saves a “like the river meets the sea stronger then its ever been” with “we’ve come so far since that day and I thought I loved you then”. There’s maybe another four killer songs on the album and then it blows.
Yayo – DJ Khaled – The Terror Squad’s DJ is more than that. Last years mix album was great and this song is a very powerful hip hop saving Pitbull among others from the tender mercies of the Backstreet Boys. It’s deceptively simple: a sample loooped and a rap over it. They don’t make em like this anymore.
Drop That – DJ Khaled – Flo Rida – Khaled provides any rapper with credibility simply by his presense. I love Flo Rida -the R.O.O.T.S earlier this yound needs no apology from me, but this is how the biy boys use a drum machine and Flo Rida swerves thru the song at full tilt. Superb.
Mama’s Song – Carrie Underwood – Isn’t Carrie meant to be the real American Idol deal. Sorta Kelly Clarkson for hayseeds or some such shit? Well, this is her second dog in a row. An unlistenable piece of familial crap. If I was a Mom and my kid sang it to me I’d demand a hallmark card instead.
Small Metal Gods – David Sylvian – On first spin I thought to myself, Japan weren’t these horrible wimps? So I went back and gave em a spin. Yes they were. Sylvian is the sort of New Romantic who changes his name and mispells it giving writers decades of heart break.
Out Of Ashes – Dead By Sunrise – A side project by the lead singer of Linkin. God save us from side projects and God save us for sure from Linkin Park. Linkin Park and Coldplay are Jay-Z’s idea of rock and roll. Really, just, I don’t know how to express the horror of this piece of cheesy shit. It makes Daughtry sound good.
You Are Free – Mates Of State (The Mei SHei Remix) – Mates Of State are a pretty good he said she said indie band. A bit on the precious side but I’ve heard worse. The remix is too hiccuppy to settle into a groove.
Panic Attack – The Fall Of Troy – A sorta crunchy goth rock called Mathcore. Apparently it’s all very well thought out and nobody needs me to draw the line connecting math to music. It is actually really good though a little sophomoric (hahahaa). Even the break is dissodant and different. It never lets go but even the sense of tight control lends itself to a metal roar.
Who Wants To Be Alone – Tiesto – Featuring Nelly Fertado no less. Her newbie, the spanish language one, has passed me by but this is very good with a hard bass synth so in place and Fertado nailing her place in time. over and over again. Oddly enough, considering this is off Tiesto’s album, it begs for a remix to push the bass to the top of the mix.
Last Dance – The Raveonettes – Last year? The year before? You couldn’t throw a brick without hitting a guy/gal duo from Europe like these guys. This song is excellent, nice synths, catchy tune, one of those cool Parisienne (actually Copenhageny) chick vocals and would sound like an outtake from the last Yeah Yeah Yeahs album only the harmonies are way, way, way good. Karen O…? Everything comes full circle.
