Escalator Music

Checking in - Free Credits from EC

2008-05-23T15:08:00.001-04:00

Hey guys, I've been on a bit of a hiatus lately from Escalator Music blog, but wanted to check in. My Destrovega radio show still airs on Tuesday nights, see details on the left sidebar column here about how to tune in.

The site we use for advertising this blog and allowing others to advertise here is called Entrecard.com. They've recently added a new feature to "add a blog" if you have multiple blogs. It allows you to link all the blogs you author together under one account. That makes it easier to transfer credits between your various blogs, and also makes it so you don't have to log in and out of your accounts. Much more convenient.

There's also a free ebook available at Entrecard. It'll teach you how to use their system, about the Entrecard shop, tips, tricks, advice and much more. A definite must have if you're part of the system or just joining!

Download the Entrecard ebook here.

OR copy/paste this link:

http://entrecard.com/static/entrecard_official_ebook.pdf

Right now if you are a member of their site and want to earn yourself an easy 2,000 credits, all you need to do is mention their new ebook with its download link, and also mention the "add a blog" feature. They'll bestow 2,000 credits on you as of June 25th. Pretty sweet deal!

See more info at Entrecard's official blog here.

2007 Music in Review

2008-01-21T22:58:00.000-05:00

2007 saw music moving in a digital direction at an even faster pace. Face it, we now live in the iPod era, and what makes the music business money are downloads and ringtones. Fortunately, there were still a nice group of artists that rose above the business politics, and release great, cohesive albums. Here's my favorites of the year...

Don't forget to check out the actual music
tonight from 9-midnight EST on

Top 20 Albums of 2007:

1. Kanye West – "Graduation" - By the slimmest of margins, this is the best album released this year. "Graduation" shows Kanye totally grown up in his music making, even shedding the unfunny skits that interrupted his previous brilliant works. The fat has been trimmed, what's left here is all substance. What really put him at the top is the fact that he not only is the main performing, he had to make all the beats... and they all show him at his best. Looking forward to his album in '08.

Highlights - "Can't Tell Me Nothing," "Stronger," "Good Life" and "Champion"

2. Jay-Z – "American Gangster" - After the disgusting taste left in my mouth by "Kingdom Come," Jay-Z returns to his drug-slangin' roots with an album "inspired" by the motion picture of the same name. Let's be honest though, this is just an excuse to make street records, while still sitting on mansions in real life. So what though? The result is another fine album by Jay-Z, who shows that he is still light-years ahead of the young clowns that claim to be the best hip-hop has to offer. The question - can Jay-Z make an album like this again without the guise of a concept album for a movie? Here's to hoping so...

Highlights - "Blue Magic," "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is...)" and "Ignorant Shit"

3. Lily Allen – "Alright, Still" - So how can an album be on last year's list, AND this year's list? If you release your album domestically this year and show over time, that you might have the best pop album released in the last ten years. Allen even goes as far to top the UK version of her album by including a sort-of cover of 50 Cents "Window Shopper," but changes the content matter, turning the song from boastful, to hilarious. It even shows how ridiculous the original truly is.

Highlights - "Smile," "Everything's Just Wonderful" and "Nan, You're a Window Shopper"

4. Ghostface Killah – "The Big Doe Rehab" - Ghostface done did it again, his 6th proper studio album is yet another "Wu-Banger." There isn't much to say except if you like his previous albums, this will be right up your alley. I do have to point out that the Wu-Tang members guest appearance's are top-notch. Some of them even come harder than on the new Wu-Tang album that dropped a week later. (See #13)

Highlights - "Killa Lipstick," "Paisley Darts" and "Supa GFK"

5. The Hives – "Black and White Album" - These aren't your same old Hives... yet they are. The Hives 3rd album here in America find them experimenting with new sounds, both vocal and musical, yet still showcases their balls-to-the-wall style. I found the album to be pretty refreshing, and it really held my attention for the full 15 tracks. Definitely something to continue to grow on.

Highlights - "Tick Tick Boom," "Try it Again" and "Well All Right!"

6. Dizzee Rascal – "Maths + English" - UK "rapper" Dizzee Rascal has released some progressive albums in his short recording career, but has finally brought us a gem with his third album. Unfortunately, it will probably never see out shores... so I strongly encourage you to check out "Maths + English" through import or digital medium. Dizzee Rascal brings out tales of life on the street, and what type of life you can have off of them.

Highlights - "World Outside," "Where's da Gs?" and "Sirens"

7. Jimmy Eat World – "Chase This Light" - After the somewhat disappointing "Futures," Jimmy Eat World return with "Chase This Light," an album of one rocker after another. It seems they really went back to basics and decided to just rock out as much as possible, which pays off. While not as solid an album as "Bleed American," it definitely has no weak links.

Highlights - "Big Casino," "Gotta Be Somebody's Blues" and "Always Be"

8. Common – "Finding Forever" - On both "Be" and "Finding Forever," Common owes Kanye West a great debt for being album to finally bring Common the commercial praise he has rightfully deserved for so long. The production here is very good, and although Common's lyrics have gotten a little softer over the last few albums, he can still spit like crazy when he wants to. (see "The Game") I'd rather have an album with solid production and lyrics, then tip the see-saw to one side.

Highlights - "The Game," "The People" and "I Want You"

9. M.I.A. – "Kala" - What can one say about the sophomore album from Sri-Lankan descendant M.I.A.? It's definitely courageous, and experiments with all types of world sound from just about anywhere. And then there are those vocals; rap? singing? both? That's for you to decide. If you are looking for something different, and don't mind experimental music, this is the disc for you. (Oh there is a Timbaland track!)

Highlights - "Bird Flu," "$20" and "Jimmy"

10. Queens of the Stone Age – "Era Vulgaris" - QOTSA posses what might be the most pure and raw sound in rock today, and their new album is no different. It sounds much less polished than there last album, "Lullabies to Paralyze," but the is exactly what you want from Josh Homme and company. If you haven't seen the band live, run to a venue to check it out. If you don't have the album, do the same to your nearest store.

Highlights - "3's & 7's," "Make it Wit'chu" and "Into the Hollow"

11. The White Stripes – "Icky Thump" - An album much closer to the amazing "Elephant" than the country-tinged "Get Behind Me Satan," The White Stripes really return to form here. Let's face it, the title track is easily the best song they have release since "Seven Nation Army," and the guitar riff might be the best Jack White has ever laid down. Welcome back Jack and Meg.

Highlights - "Icky Thump," "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)" and "Conquest"

12. Mark Ronson – "Version" - An album of cleverly crafted cover songs, Mark Ronson shows why is such a brilliant producer. Whether it be the Phantom Planet remake of Radiohead's "Just, or the major reworking of Britney Spears "Toxic," featuring a rap by the late ODB!, "Version" is a change-up of style that's just what the musical doctor ordered. Throw in a Lily Allen fronted cover of the Kaiser Chief's "Oh My God" and you have quite a collection.

Highlights - "Stop Me," "Toxic" and "Valerie"

13. Wu-Tang Clan – "8 Diagrams" - Major controversy came to light just before the release of the first Wu-Tang album in seven years. Crew members weren't happy with beats, people said they weren't getting their due pay - everything seemed to be a mess. Listening to the album, I can't really see why Raekwon or Ghostface were complaining, RZA is still dropping some very advanced beats. The only problem I would have at times is the lack of hunger in the MCs voices... besides Method Man, who seems to destroy every verse he touches. It's no "36 Chambers," "Wu-Tang Forver," or even "The W," but it's still pretty damn good.

Highlights - "Campfire," "Take it Back," "Wolves" and "Rushing Elephants"

14. El-P – "I'll Sleep When You're Dead" - Let's get something out of the way right off the bat, El-P's new album only works when you listen to it all the way through, as single songs most of them just do not hold up as well. That said, this is a very dense album that takes numerous plays to truly begin to grasp musically. Ambitious and rewarding.

Highlights - "Habeas Corpses (Draconian Love)," "Flyentology" and "Smithereens (Stop Cryin')"

15. Maroon 5 – "It Won't Be Soon Before Long" - I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much at all from the follow-up to "Song About Jane," it was almost seven years for the second album to come out from Maroon 5. What they prove is how talented they are, and how lead singer Adam Levine and use his voice as another instrument in the band. Oh, and the band can rock pretty hard when they want to... for a pop-rock band.

Highlights - "Makes Me Wonder," "Little of Your Time" and "Can't Stop"

16. UGK – "Underground Kingz" - We can keep this one pretty short... UGK has been around forever, even if you hadn't heard them until Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin'." That said, they hadn't garnered much commercial attention until now, thanks to the Outkast assisted "Intl' Player's Anthem," which is the song of the year. Unfortunately, success was short-lived, at least for the group, as one-half of UGK, Pimp-C, died shortly after the album was released in his hotel room. A shame, because UGK delivers not one, but two discs of banger after banger. R.I.P.

Highlights - "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)," "Trill Niggas Don't Die" and "Candy"

17. Fall Out Boy – "Infinity on High" - In a world that still buys albums, Fall Out Boy would be pushing close to six million copies of "Infinity on High" right now. They have catchy choruses, and one hell of a song writer in Patrick Stump. As long as he is the anchor of the band, they will be around for some time, even if their fanbase outgrows them... they have the ability to make people adapt to THEM.

Highlights - "Thiller," "'The Take Over, The Breaks Over'" and "Fame/Infamy"

18. Brother Ali – "The Undisputed Truth" - Some music for the hip-hop backpacker, Brother Ali serves up some conscious underground rap. It's mellow and smooth for the most part, with introspective and thought provoking lyrics. A definite refresher.

Highlights - "Whatcha Got," "Here" and "Take Me Home"

19. Rjd2 – "The Third Hand" - Producer Rjd2 returns with an album full of the kind of beats he has been known for over his career, but this time he has no vocal samples to be heard. Instead, he sings his won vocals on the record and while most fans have blasted the attempt at singing, I find it a perfect compliment to his production. He tried something different, and it succeeded for me.

Highlights - "Beyond the Beyond," "You Never Had it so Good" and "Have Mercy"

20. Swizz Beatz – "One Man Band Man" - I'll be honest, this album will win no awards for originality or lyrical prowess, I just found the final product to be entertaining. The samples are very solid, including some Coldplay. Swizz Beatz produces all the beats here and for the most part holds the microphone through most songs, which has mixed results. But, if you want an album to get your party hopping, you could much worse than this.

Highlights - "It's Me Bitches (Remix)," "Money in the Bank" and "Part of the Plan"

Well, that's about it, I decided I didn't really have a good enough list to sort out the best singles and disappointing albums from the year, but you can hear some of that on tonight's show. Feel free to share some opinions... Here's to a great sounding 2008.

Back in the Saddle Again... TUESDAY NIGHTS 9 P.M. EST!!!

2008-01-14T18:40:00.000-05:00

I will be DJing again one night a week for a free internet radio station starting tomorrow...

Every Tuesday , from 9 p.m. - midnight.
(6 p.m. - 9 p.m. for my west coast friends)

It's easy to listen... just go to Total Gamer Radio!

On the top right there is a menu and you can select to listen to the station through Windows Media, iTunes or Winamp... It's very easy.

This week's show I will be just getting back into the groove, for next week's show I'll be going over my favorite albums of 2007, which you can read here at Escalator Music Blog. next week!

The show will be pretty open ended, I play lots of different genres.

So hopefully you can check me out while hanging around, and hopefully you discover some new stuff you haven't heard before but now can get into...

Total Gamer Radio - feel free to check it out now, it's live.

Also be sure to add us to your Myspace friends:
Total Gamer Radio on Myspace

Also, I'm going to do my best to update the blog with the latest album reviews now that we are in a new year... so check back for that as well!

Here's to a kick-ass music filled 2008!!

Free Internet Radio Station - Total Gamer Radio

2008-01-11T00:29:00.000-05:00

<- Listen to a Free Internet Radio Station!

DJ Destrovega appears each Tuesday night from 9PM to 12AM EST on Total Gamer Radio. He plays a mix of music ranging from old school rap to hard rock to alt rock and underground/mainstream hip hop. Total Gamer Radio offers news and info about video games and systems as well.

Destrovega will be taking you on a musical journey and be taking your requests as well, so don't miss out on the show!

Tune in to the free internet radio show each Tuesday night at 9PM EST.

Head over to Total Gamer Radio at; http://tgrradio.com/ and click on "Listen Now" in the Left column to check out the free internet radio!

Common - "Finding Forever"

2007-08-09T21:29:00.000-04:00

Rating - 91%

Anyone down with the underground hip-hop scene certainly knows about the rapper formerly known as Common Sense. Since 1992 Common has been carrying the torch for "backpackers" everywhere, kicking conscience rhymes throughout six solid albums. Only on 2005's excellent album, "BE", did Common catch somewhat of a commercial following. Thanks in large part to Kanye West, Common continues to finally get the attention he deserves on his latest album, "Finding Forever."

With a lean-but-mean track list only eleven deep, Common rides over each Kanye beat like a natural. Sometimes he almost sounds too at ease, where as Common used to viciously attack beats, he now rides them with slickness. Things jump off with "Start the Show," the first of many tracks where Kanye shows off beats with an underground influence. Common the smooth shows up on the will.i.am produced track "I Want You" (one of the few not provided to Common by Kanye). Say what you want about Will or the Black Eyed Peas, he is a superproducer at this point.

Things keep on the mellow tip with "Break My Heart," "Misunderstood," and "Black Maybe." Normally songs like these are too slow and lackluster, but the rhyming of Common, combined with excellent soul-music sample selection, make each song very strong.

The album really takes off when Kanye ups the tempo, and Common ups the intensity. The lead single, "The Game," is one of Common's best boom-bap tracks to date... not to mention it features cuts by the legendary DJ Premier. Not far behind that is the stellar "The People." The underground beat influence again shows through on the Kanye West beat, with a smooth chorus sung by Dwele. Not to be forgotten is "Drivin' Me Wild," featuring Lily Allen and "Southside," a back and fourth mic-duel with Kanye.

"Finding Forever" might be more of a grower than "BE," but if you give it a few spins, you will definitely hear the strong points. Give Kanye West major credit; he is about to drop a new solo album and still had enough beats to supply Common with a great follow-up to his biggest album to date.

Must Listens:
- The Game
- The People
- Drivin' Me Wild
- Break My Heart
- Start the Show

Garbage - "Absolute Garbage"

2007-07-29T19:50:00.000-04:00

Rating - 83%

Many times a greatest-hits album can leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. They can at times totally misfire (Nirvana's collection), or leave you wanting that one track not present (Smashing Pumpkin's "Rocket"). Luckily, the new "Best-Of" disc from 90s rock darlings Garbage is more hits than miss, and throughout the collection's 18 tracks, you also see the band's evolution.

Garbage was never as popular as they were after the success of their self-titled debut album, and all the highlights from that album are in this set. "Queer," "Only Happy When it Rains, "Stupid Girl"... everything you would want to hear. And that trend continues for the rest of their albums, the highlights are selected fairly wisely, from not just US singles, but also more popular songs overseas.

Listening to this collection, you become aware of the new sound they brought fourth on their third album, 2001's "beautifulgarbage." A style that is similar to some of Madonna's music, and that Gwen Stefani has been running with since her debut album in 2005. It's never more showcased than on tracks like "Shut Your Mouth" and "Cherry Lips," both included here.

The band also didn't forget to include their terrific soundtrack inclusions as both "#1 Crush," from Romeo and Juliet, and "The World is Not Enough," from the Jame's Bond series, are selected.

If you wanted to nitpick over the track list, one could wonder why "Androgyny" is no where to be found, or why the amped-up "Bad Boyfriend," off of 2005's very good release "Bleed Like Me," isn't included. But in all honesty, only the most hardcore fan would even recognize the slights.

"Absolute Garbage" just shows you there was yet another great band from the Golden Age of rock that was the 90s. If you have never given the band a shot, now is your chance to give them a real listen. You probably won't be disappointed.

Must Listens:
- Bleed Like Me
- The World is Not Enough
- Special
- Only Happy When It Rains
- Queer

The White Stripes - 7/25/07

2007-07-29T17:30:00.000-04:00

Sometimes less is more.

In the case of cranking out loud guitar riffs and hammering drum kicks, less is definitely more for The White Stripes. The two-person band rocked harder Wednesday night in Wallingford than most "regular size bands" could ever dream of.

Jack and Meg White's set list comprised largely of songs from their first self-titled album, and from their newest album, "Icky Thump," released last month. Most songs were interwoven seamlessly into one-another, with such ease if one weren't familiar with the material, you might not even know they were on to a new song.

The big surprise- most of their "hit" songs were not performed, leaving a big fan of the band left wanting more. But I guess sometimes that's the point. If you are a fan of The White Stripes, you definitely need to check them out live... I know I will be again.

Set List:
Dead Leaves & the Dirty Ground
I Think I Smell A Rat
(Yer Blues)
When I Hear My Name
Icky Thump
Lafayette Blues
Sugar Never Tasted So Good
Hotel Yorba
I'm Finding It Harder To Be A Gentleman
The Big Three Killed My Baby
Now Mary
(Stones In My Passway)
Catch Hell Blues (w/ Little Bird)
I'm Slowly Turning Into You
Same Boy You've Always Known
As Ugly As I Seem
300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues
Astro
Jack the Ripper

Encore:
Blue Orchid
Party of Special Things To Do
Ball & Biscuit
I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself

Last night a DJ saved my life...

2007-02-05T19:11:00.000-05:00

I will be DJing two nights for an internet radio station starting this week...

Every Tuesday and Wednesday, from 10p.m.-midnight.
(7p.m.-9p.m. for my west coast friends)

It's easy to listen... just go to www.kgmrradio.com, there's a link to the left of this post!

On the top left there is a menu and you can select to listen to the station through Windows Media or Winamp... If you have iTunes and not winamp, just select the winamp option, and it will ask if you want to open it with another program, and you can select iTunes. It's very easy.

Tuesday's shows will probably be theme-based, for the first show I'll be going over my favorite songs of 2006, which you can read at my website www.escalatormusic.blogspot.com. The second hour of the show should be mainly newer music after that.

Wednesdays will be pretty open ended, I play lots of different genres.

So hopefully you can check me out while hanging around, and hopefully you discover some new stuff you haven't heard before but now can get into...

www.kgmrradio.com feel free to check it out now, it's live

DJ ÖTzi Ein Stern Hey Baby Lyrics

2007-01-15T18:51:00.000-05:00

Hey Baby by DJ ÖTzi

Lyrics for DJ ÖTzi song, Hey Baby:

O.K. Seniorinos and Kalavieros, Ladies und Gentlemens, meine Damen und Herren
Hey Baby von the Seven-Teens, O.K put your hands up in the air, die Hnde in die Hhe
Und everybody sing Know, uno trees quadro )

Hey, hey hey baby! (Uh, Ah) I want to know (ooh) if you'll be my girl
Hey, hey hey baby! (Uh, Ah) I want to know (ooh) if you'll be my girl

When I saw you walking down the street ,I said thats a kind of girl i'd like to meet
She's so pretty, Lord she's fine ,I'm gonna make her mine all mine

Hey, hey hey baby! (Uh, Ah) I want to know (oh ooh) if you'll be my girl
(ok everybody in the house)
Hey, hey hey baby! (Uh, Ah) I want to know (ooh) if you'll be my girl

When you turned and walked away ,Thats when I want to say
C'mon baby, give me a whirl , I want to know , I want to know
When you turned and walked away ,Thats when I want to say
C'mon baby, give me a whirl , I want to know if you'll be my girl

Hey, hey hey baby! (Uh, Ah) I want to know (ooh) if you'll be my girl (come on know)
Hey, hey hey baby! (Uh, Ah) I want to know (ooh) if you'll be my girl (everbody know)

And now the Finale (Tonartwechsel)

Hey, hey hey baby! (Uh, Ah) I want to know (ooh) if you'll be my girl (come on know)
Hey, hey hey baby! (Uh, Ah) I want to know (ooh) if you'll be my girl (everbody know)

Hey, hey hey baby! (Uh, Ah) I want to know (ooh) if you'll be my girl
Hey, hey hey baby! (Uh, Ah) I want to know (ooh) if you'll be my girl

Hey, hey hey baby! (Uh, Ah) I want to know (ooh) if you'll be my girl
Hey, hey hey baby! (Uh, Ah) I want to know (ooh) if you'll be my girl

Check out the You Tube Video for Hey Baby!

See DJ ÖTzi's Official Website here!

Check out DJ Destrovega, Tuesday nights 9PM to 12AM EST on Total Gamer Radio!

Return to Escalator Music Blog here.

2006 Music in Review

2007-01-04T19:53:00.000-05:00

Well... 2006 wasn't exactly what I had expected musically... many high-profile releases failed to match their hype, others never came to fruition. There were some very pleasant surprises though, and here's what I had strong opinions about this year...

Top 20 Albums of 2006:

1. Apathy – "Eastern Philosophy" - The best album I heard this year. I have been waiting for a true Apathy debut ever since I heard him in 2000. Six years was well worth the wait. Apathy touches every kind of true hip-hop aspect here: Boom-bap, battle rhymes, incredible flow, brilliant lyrics, and creative concepts - all with dope beats and precise DJ scratching. Not to mention it's basically an ode to CT. Now if only his major label, Atlantic, would push him into stardom. He really is that talented.

Highlights - "1,000 Grams," "9 to 5," "Chemical" and "The Winter"

2. The Raconteurs – "Broken Boy Soldiers" - An album that is infinitely better than the last White Stripes' disc, Jack White gets together with a few friends and creates a stripped-down, hard rock album of short but sweet tracks. Basically came out of nowhere, and is one of the most solid rock albums in a year where mainstream rock was basically silent for the most part.

Highlights - "Steady as She Goes," "Level" and "Broken Boy Soldier"

3. Gnarls Barkley – "St. Elsewhere" - DangerMouse does it again, this time with the help of Cee-Lo Green, ex-Goodie Mob member whose two solo albums showed flashes of brilliance, yet fell totally on deaf ears. It seems Danger has the golden touch to not just make totally different music from what you hear today, but somehow finds a way to break it into the mainstream. Excellent from start to finish.

Highlights - "Crazy," "St. Elsewhere," "Who Cares" and "Just a Thought"

4. Ghostface Killah – "Fishscale" / "More Fish" - Two albums in one year from the most consistent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. The real gem here is "Fishscale," where Ghost tears through soul sample after soul sample. Not to be overlooked is "More Fish," which basically serves as a B-Side album, but is almost as good as "Fishscale," yet not as cohesive. Now, can we get that GhostDOOM album this year please?

Highlights - "Be Easy," "Kilo," "Underwater," "Back Like That (Remix)," "Alex (Stolen Script)" and "The Champ"

5. Beck – "The Information" - Back in 1994, hearing "Loser" on MTV constantly, I never thought Beck would still be relevant in music today, yet he somehow keeps getting better. "The Information" is a more cohesive album than last year's "Guero," really keeping a solid direction of songs constant throughout. Beck has already shown he can do just about anything musically.

Highlights - "Think I'm in Love," "Nausea" and "Cellphone's Dead"

6. J. Dilla – "Donuts" / "The Shining" - 2006 was a career highlight for J. Dilla in terms of popularity and production. It was also, unfortunately, the end of his life. He died a drawn out death from a rare disease, and these two albums are some of his last work. The first, "Donuts," is an instrumental album that any DJ would aspire to hope to create at any point during their career. "The Shining," on the other hand, was an album full of guest MC's, rapping over even more excellent Dilla beats. He was one of the best, and most overlooked by the mainstream, but he was behind much of the most influential early mainstream hip-hop music.

Highlights - "Workinonit," "Two Can Win," "Love" and "Love Movin'"

7. The Roots – "Game Theory”" - What can be said that hasn't already about The Roots. They bring some of the most creative and artistic music to hip-hop today. If "Phrenology" is their highlight, "Game Theory" is right behind, experimenting with new sounds and still holding true to the band's roots. Def Jam's banner year continues.

Highlights - "Don't Feel Right," "Game Theory" and "Here I Come"

8. Tool – "10,000 Days" - An epic album in every sense of the word. Maynard James Keenan experiments with unique vocals while many tracks are devoted to instrumental landscapes. Not quite the Tool of old, but right up there with the best rock has to offer today.

Highlights - "The Pot," "10,000 Days" and "Rosetta Stoned"

9. Lupe Fiasco – "Food & Liquor" - After hearing the advance of this album, I wondered what all the hype was about. Lupe then returned with a refined album that showcases all the talents he can bring to the table. One of the most honest and diverse debuts in hip-hop in the last 10 years. Lupe should have a long and bright future ahead of him.

Highlights - "The Cool," "Kick, Push" and "Daydreamin'"

10. The Game – "Doctor’s Advocate" - A total shock to me, I threw the Game into the category of a 50 Cent or DMX, where their first album is fresh, different, and really good... only to have their "style" played out early and never capture the lightning in a bottle their debut served up. The Game basically proves anyone with that thought totally wrong, even more surprising considering neither 50 nor Dre have his back any longer.

Highlights - "It's Okay (One Blood)" "Let's Ride" and "Wouldn't Get Far"

11. Lady Sovereign – "Public Warning" - Time to catch some hate... 90% of people who hear Lady Sovereign will hate her with a passion. The other percentage will appreciate the originality and passion to make music that is different and fun. The flow can't be argued, and the electronic-style beats really bring out Sovereign's unique style. Hey, Jay-Z signed her after one live performance, I think he might be able to see talent. Easily lumped into the British pool that contains The Streets, Dizzee Rascal and M.I.A. Just look at related searches on Amazon.

Highlights - "Love Me or Hate Me," "Fiddle with the Volume" and "My England"

12. Jedi Mind Tricks – "Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell" - While MC Vinnie Paz might be too much for some to take, you can't say anything negative about the production from Stoupe. The group brings fourth their best album yet, another underground hip-hop standout this year.

Highlights - "Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story," "Heavy Metal Kings" and "Razorblade Salvation"

13. Wolfmother – "Wolfmother" - Not too many rock releases grabbed me thew way Wolfmother did this year. While they definitely show an ode to classic rock groups (Black Sabbath, Judas Priest), they show enough of their own style on the album to establish themselves as a viable kick-ass band. They also show a different style from today's current rock bands, with sprawling songs that you think are over well before you actually get to the next track.

Highlights - "Woman," "White Unicorn," "Joker & The Thief" and "Mind's Eye"

14. Justin Timberlake – "Futuresex/Lovesounds" / Nelly Furtado – "Loose" - What do these albums have in common? The answer... groundbreaking production, yet again, from beat virtuoso Timbaland. Timberlake's album is the more cutting-edge of the two, with futuristic sounds never heard in music before. Furtado's album is somewhat more harnessed, but just as stellar. Banner year for Timbo in '06.

Highlights - "My Love," "Lovestoned" and "Maneater," "Say it Right"

15. Clipse – "Hell Hath No Fury" - The Clipse return with some more of the same drug-rap storytelling they featured on their debut album, with the same vicious flow they have always showcased. The Neptunes bring what could be the last of their great production to the table, as their sound has really started to wear thin, especially on a mainstream level.

Highlights - "Mr. Me Too," "Ride Around Shining" and "Chinese New Year"

16. Lily Allen – "Alright, Still" - I have always liked pop music that actually has some substance and bite to it, and Lily Allen is the epitome of that. That sarcastic dig is no more prevalent than on the lead-single "Smile," which definitely sets the scathing tone for the entire album. The American version shows up in stores at the end of the month.

Highlights - "Smile," "Everything's Just Wonderful" and "Alfie"

17. Peeping Tom – "Peeping Tom" - Mike Patton returns with possibly his most diverse album to date, which might be hard to believe considering all the various projects he has dabbled in in his long career. This album has more of a hip-hop feel than his other projects, with some electro music spread throughout. Lots of guest producers and vocalists.

Highlights - "Mojo," "Kill the DJ" and "Getaway"

18. Basement Jaxx – "Crazy Itch Radio" - Yet another solid album from the dance music masters. Not as stellar as their last album, but with 4 straight excellent albums, who have to wonder when the winning streak will come to an end...

Highlights - "Oh My Gosh," "Run 4 Cover" and "Smoke Bubbles"

19. Zero 7 – "The Garden" - Much different than their previous albums, the men behind Zero 7 decide to go towards a more organic sound. A different direction for the group, but still as good as their other work.

Highlights - "Futures," "The Pageant of the Bizarre" and "Throw it All Away"

20. Murs & 9th Wonder – "Murray’s Revenge" / Aceyalone & Rjd2 – "Magnificent City" - Two albums that feature entire production from one producer. Murs and 9th Wonder team up for their second collaboration, a blazing 30 minutes of soul samples and sharp rhyming. Meanwhile, Rjd2 lays down the amazing soundscape for Aceyalone, who hasn't sounded so hungry since "A Book of Human Language".

Highlights - "Murs Day," "LA" and "Supahero," "Fire"

Top 20 Singles of the year:

1. Gnarls Barkley – "Crazy" - Don't lie, you know this has been in your head from the first time you heard it. Easily the most infectious song to be released this year... sounds even better live.

2. Jay-Z – "Kingdom Come" - The best Jay had to offer on his new album. Just Blaze (who should have produced the whole album) laces Jay with a vicious Rick James sample. The hungriest Jay sounded all year.

3. Lupe Fiasco – "Kick, Push" - A rap throwback, the classic storytelling rhyme, and this one isn't even about drugs or violence! Lupe likes to skateboard, the public doesn't like skateboarders. Slick Rick is proud.

4. Jim Jones – "We Fly High" - "BAAALLLIIINNNN!!!" Jim Jones is no Rakim, but it's songs like these that can make you appreciate shitty mainstream rap music once in a while.

5. Massive Attack– "Live With Me" - If Massive Attack's new album "Weather Underground" is anything like this new track off of their greatest hits album, the group looks to be in for a triumphant return to form.

6. Red Hot Chili Peppers – "Dani California" - Easily the best song on a tedious and bloated double-album from the Peppers, who's best days are clearly 10 years behind them.

7. Hi-Tek - "Where it Started At (NY)" - The best use of a vocal sample in hip-hop this year, slightly ahead of Lupe Fiasco's "Daydreamin'". Jadakiss, Talib Kweli and Raekwon absolutely destroy the beat, while new-jack Papoose shows he can also get busy on the mic.

8. Snoop Dogg – "Vato" - Snoop hasn't sounded this gangsta since "Bitch Please".

9. Nelly Furtado – "Maneater" - Not as popular as her lead single, but this Hall & Oates inspired tune is light-years ahead of it. A definite club-banger.

10. Peeping Tom – "Mojo" - Shows what could have been had Dan the Automator produced the whole Peeping Tom album as originally planned. Still a great album, but this is the best Patton has to offer on his diverse disc.

11. Sia – "Breathe Me" - It's official, Zero 7 needs Sia more than she needs them. Funny how this song sounds more like a classic Zero 7 record than almost anything on their new album.

12. Christina Aguilera – "Ain’t No Other Man" - DJ Primier shocks his longtime followers, me included, and produces Aguilera's most daring music of her very promising career. Give her credit for reaching out to him, give him credit for really coming through in the clutch with a new sound.

13. The Raconteurs – "Level" - Great rock song off of a great rock album. Not much else to say.

14. Ludacris – "Grew Up a Screw Up" - Great vocal sample provided by Biggie, while Ludacris does his usual attack on the microphone. Great production and a solid guest turn by Young Jeezy. Like him or not, you can't question Luda's skills.

15. Chamillionaire – "Ridin’" - Big enough to be parodied by Weird Al, that deserves props in my book.

16. Rhymefest – "Brand New" - Rhymefest won a grammy before even dropping an album, he helped write "Jesus Walks" with Kanye West. Kanye returns the favor here, supplying a bass-heavy beat and lending a solid guest verse. Solid debut for Rhymefest.

17. My Chemical Romance – "Welcome to the Black Parade" - Not quite "Helena," but still pretty catchy. You can easily see the group knows how to write stellar songs.

18. Kool Keith – "Celestial" - You think Keith has gone through the motions until he "shows you he can flip many styles". He then proceeds to go apeshit, all over spaced-out beats.

19. Soul Position – "Blame it on the Jager" - Rjd2 on the boards, on a song about Jägermeister. What's not to love?

20. Fall Out Boy – "This Ain’t a Scene It’s An Arm’s Race" - The song has only been out a few weeks and if the new album follows in the same path, expect a monster.

Most disappointing albums of 2006:

1. The Killers - "Sam's Town" - What does a band do when they have a pretty cool, new sound and critics and fans alike all have their ear turned towards their music? They decide to put out an album that contains basically none of the elements that made them big, instead it features songs that sound like Springsteen and U2 covers. Sounds as if management got into the band's head, telling them how big they could be if they set their sights on sounding like Bono. Puzzling.

2. Jay-Z – "Kingdom Come" / Nas – "Hip-Hop is Dead" - Two hyped albums that failed to live up to the buzz. Jay-Z had 2 years to record and take his time, and I thought he would take advantage of that and create a masterpiece. Opps... Jay instead dropped his weakest album yet, he sounds like he's slept-rhymed through most of it. The Dr. Dre production is also lackluster. Nas on the other hand, released an album most people seem to love. I'm not one of those people. He used the same sample on his lead-single as he did on his last album's lead-single... what? I have never been a fan of hooks when Nas does them himself, and he does it a lot here. Sub-par production on this album too.

3. Pharrell - "In My Mind" - Where to begin? Pharrell created some buzz with the lead-single, then went through about a year of delays. The album finally came out, and sometime in between P forgot how to flow to beats as if he had never recorded before. And how about keeping some of your better beats for yourself dude? They are going to re-record this album like N*E*R*D did with their debut, hopefully it turns out just as good.

4. Lloyd Banks - "Rotten Apple" - Should have titled it "Rotten Album". Banks showed lots of promise on his great debut album, then follows it up with this piece of garbage. Cliche' from start to finish. It further shows that G-Unit is that much closer to saying G-G-G-G-Goodbye.

5. Gwen Stefani - "The Sweet Escape" - The definition of a rushed job. Stefani tries to strike while the iron is hot, but basically drains any buzz she had going for her solo career. Leftover Neptune tracks, dicey collaborations and too many different sounding tracks spell the recipe for a huge letdown. I guess a new No Doubt record could now be closer though, and that's a great consolation prize.

Well, that's about it. Feel free to share some opinions... Here's to a great sounding 2007.

Reincarnation...

2006-10-07T13:01:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the redone site, Escalator Music, where you can get album reviews once a week, and some sort of "feature" on music at least twice a month. I decided to just concentrate on music on the site, hoping that it would get me into a more steady posting routine. So, here's the first week of reviews... some big name albums on tap...

Reviews - week of 10/3/06

Big release of the week:

The Killers - "Sam's Town" - C+

Hype... The Killers garner tons of it. Possibly for good reason, their debut album, "Hot Fuss," was a monster; both on airplay, and sales. Which makes one wonder why they decided to so drastically change their sound for their follow-up disc, "Sam's Town." Think of a "Born to Run"-era Springsteen, mixed with some U2, covered by The Killers... this is the sound you get this time around.
Which isn't to say it's bad music, just something more built up than the stripped down sounds of songs like "Andy, Your'e A Star." The first single, "When You Were Young," is a perfect example of the new sound the Killers are aiming for. If you like it, you should dig the new album. If you don't, you might find yourself struggling through each track.
Give them credit for trying something different? Maybe... Change is always the key of longevity in the music industry, but such a quick transformation could throw some fans off, especially since the Killers are a "new" band.

Album of the Week:

Beck - "The Information" - A

Steering clear of the sample heavy sounds that made up Beck's last album, "Guero," Beck and producer Nigel Godrich bring funky live music throughout "The Information." The album represents three years of work, and Beck definitely shines on the broad musical soundscape.
As I have already talked about, change of the key to longevity in music, and Beck has mastered the art of changing his sound. This album is somewhere smack dab in the middle of his break-beat, rap drenched albums and his introspective, acoustic guitar filled sound. The result is another stellar album by Beck, who still hasn't lost that fresh sound he had when he jumped onto the scene in 1994.
If you are a fan of Beck this album is a must purchase. It's one of the best albums to come out this year.

Other Notable Releases:

Jet - "Shine On" - B-

Jet exploded onto the scene two years ago with a huge single, "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?," and had enough bullets in the chamber to stick around for a while. They expand on their sound on their follow up disc, "Shine On," but still have yet to find their actual direction.
Half of "Shine On" is fashioned in the style of "Rollover DJ" and "Cold Hard Bitch," while the other half will find the boys opening their heart as they did on "Look What You've Done."
There's nothing groundbreaking here, just more music in the style of their debut, with not as many potential hit singles. Either way, "Shine On" seems to be a logical stepping stone, and should lay the groundwork for more good music from the band.

Reissue of the week:

Kool Keith - "Sex Style" - B

After the breakout critical acclaim of "Dr. Octagon," Kool Keith decided to break away from the production of The Automator, and followed up with 1997's "Sex Style," produced mainly by his now longtime collaborator Kutmaster Kurt.
Throughout the 17 tracks here, Keith bobs and weaves through Kurt's beats with his off-kilter flow, spitting rhymes that range from sex to sex. More specifically, "bustin' off, oral sex, anal sex, and anything else kinky that comes to mind. It's Keith in classic form.
If you are a fan of Keith, this album is a must-have, and since it's only been repressed to 7,500 copies, you should scoop it up quickly. This is not the album to introduce new fans to Kool Keith, the combination of the subject matter and unusual flow will turn off any newcomer for sure.

Current '06 Wu-Tang Clan Rankings...

2006-07-06T16:47:00.000-04:00

1. Ghostface - Dropped the amazing Fishscale this year with a joint album with MF Doom to follow in the winter.
2. Masta Killa - His debut finally came out, and was shockingly great, Made in Brooklyn drops next month.
3. GZA - Stayed in the mix with his album, Grandmasters, produced by DJ Muggs. Still got lyrics and flows for days.
4. Raekwon - VERY good songs have been floating around leading up to the release of Cuban Linx 2, no word when it will come out. Rae's on Aftermath now, so we'll see.
5. RZA - Is said to be producing a lot of songs for the Wu members now, which will really help production-wise.
6. Inspecta Deck - Also has some good songs floating around with a new album coming sometime with more RZA production.
7. Method Man - Meth has admitted he might be washed-up, and is doing soul searching on his next album 4:21. There's a single with Lauryn Hill out that's pretty low-tempo and has gotten mixed-reviews.
8. ODB - He's dead. But he's still better than U-God. You can always pop in Return to 36... or Nigga Please and smile.
9. U-God - Has yet to release anything of real quality, his last album might be the worst solo from the Wu. He still shines in small, one-verse doses. Too bad there isn't much of that going on for him right now.

That's how things are looking right now... if you wanna check up on the latest Wu-Tang news and happenings, check out www.wutangcorp.com.

R.I.P. Jay-Dee aka J. Dilla (1974-2006)

2006-02-11T17:57:00.000-05:00

2005 Music in Review

2006-01-03T22:21:00.000-05:00

Well, another year down already. Lots of pretty solid music came out in 2005 although 2006 looks to be even better. Here's what I had strong opinions about this year...

Top 20 Albums of 2005:

1. Cage - "Hell's Winter" - The best album of the year. Cage came out of no where with a very chilling autobiographical account of his life, a big departure from his normal rhymes too outlandish to be true. Some label it as "emo," I just hear amazing production with spot-on flow and great wordplay... not to mention the words basically pour from his heart to the tape. A Classic.

Highlights - "Scenester," "Shoot Frank" and "Hell's Winter"

2. Madonna - "Confessions on a Dance Floor" - Madonna followed up the very weak "American Life" with a true dance album that shines from start to finish. The pretentious lyrics that plagued the last release are mostly gone, letting the producers really come to the forefront. The best dance album since Bassment Jaxx' "Kish Kash."

Highlights - "Hung Up," "Issac" and "Push"

3. Edan - "Beauty and the Beat" - Sonic overload... which turns out to be a good thing. The most experimental album I've heard since "Madvillainy," Edan's latest pushes the boundaries of convention on every track. Best listened to straight through.

Highlights - "Fumbling Over Words that Rhyme," "Torture Chamber" and "Promised Land"

4. Dangerdoom - "The Mouse and the Mask" - Doom comes through again. No need to wax poetic about this album, especially since Doom is my favorite MC. If you like Adult Swim, Doom or good rap music, this is right up your alley.

Highlights - "Old School," "Benzie Box" and "A.T.H.F."

5. Little Brother - "The Minstrel Show" - 9th Wonder, 9th Wonder, 9th Wonder. That's about the bottom line. This album pissed off a lot of people. Truth hurts sometimes. Terrific major label debut, the R. Kelly mocking gives it bonus points.

Highlights - "Lovin' It," "Beautiful Morning" and "We Got Now"

6. Weezer - "Make Believe" - Panned by most critics, this is the best frontman Rivers Cuomo has sounded five albums deep. Most of the songs follow the same formula: verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, guitar solo, chorus. But what is wrong with infectious power pop-rock?

Highlights - "We are All on Drugs," "Perfect Situation" and "Haunt You Everyday"

7. Gorillaz - "Demon Days" - Novelty act Gorillaz prove they aren't such a novelty with a tremendous second album. The music leans toward a more Brit-pop influence, but the guest stars are enough to bridge the gap. DangerMouse with two albums in the top ten.

Highlights - "DARE," "Dirty Harry" and "Every Planet We Reach is Dead"

8. System of a Down - "Hypotize" / "Mezmerize" - A double-album that isn't a double. What makes SOAD so great is that every song has every musical style in it. Hard to decide which album is better.

Highlights - "B.Y.O.B.," "Holy Mountains" and "Lost in Hollywood"

9. Common - "BE" - Could have been number one had someone not fucked up the tracklist so bad... A live song in the middle of a rap album? Ooookkkk! Find "The Food" studio version like I did, well worth it.

Highlights - "The Corner," "Testify" and "Chi-City"

10. Beck - "Guero" / "Guerolito" - One is the new Beck album, the other is said album completely remixed track-for-track. Any way you slice it, there has to be a version of each song you dig big time... in most cases you will love both versions. Both albums are a must have.

Highlights - "E-Pro," "Girl" and "Ghettochip Malfunction (Hell Yes)"

11. Gza/Muggz - "The Grandmasterz" - GZA finally has a album that can hold a candle to "Liquid Swords." While he doesn't attack the tracks with the same vigor, the wordplay is still there, and Muggz does a great job recreating that classic old school Wu-sound.

Highlights - "General Principles," "Queen's Gambit" and "All in Together"

12. Queens of the Stone Age - "Lullabies to Paralyze" - Another solid album from QOTSA. While the second half is very experimental, the majority is flawless hard rock.

Highlights - "In my Head," "Tangled Up in Plaid" and "Burn the Witch"

13. The Game - "The Documentary" - Like him or not, this album had the best mainstream production of any rap album this year. Sure-fire West Coast Gangsta Rap.

Highlights - "How we Do," "Higher" and "Put You on the Game"

14. M.I.A. - "Arular" - Rockin' Reggae.... kinda. An impossible album to describe, it touches just about every musical genre known to man. Tough to handle on first listen and definitely an album for the open minded.

Highlights - "Bucky Done Gun," "Galang" and "Pull Up the People"

15. Kanye West - "Late Registration" - While not as good as his debut, Kanye's latest has five of the best rap songs you might ever hear. A few too many filler tracks, this CD could have been in the top three.

Highlights - "Drive Slow," "We Major" and "Diamonds (Remix)"

16. Fort Minor - "The Rising Tied" - The side project from Linkin Park's rapper... executive produced by Hov. 'Nuff said... but seriously. LP knew good rap back when they released their remix album and still know it now. Not too mention the themes touched on during the album are creative. Surprisingly good.

Highlights - "Remember the Name," "Cigarettes" and "Get me Gone"

17. Hot Hot Heat - "Elevator" - Radio friendly dance rock. It's fun. It's good.

Highlights - "Goodnight, Goodnight," "You Owe me an I.O.U." and "Middle of Nowhere"

18. Quasimoto - "The Furthur Adventures of Lord Quas" - The high-pitched alien rapper is back. Madlib whips up another trippy underground rap album to digest. Hopefully "Madvillain 2" has this kind of potential.

Highlights - "Closer," "Fatbacks" and "The Exclusive"

19. Blackalicious - "The Craft" - Solid outing from Blackalicious. Mainstream still hasn't shown much love. Someday Gift of Gab will get his due.

Highlights - "Rhythm Sticks," "Supreme People" and "Your Move"

20. Blueprint - "1988" - An ode to the Golden Year of Hip-Hop, 1988. Pretty dope album, both lyrically and beatwise. Looking forward to more from Blueprint.

Highlights - "Boombox," "Fresh" and "Big Girls Need Love Too"

Top 20 Singles of the year:

1. Fall Out Boy - "Sugar, We're Goin' Down" - No one can possibly resist this being stuck in their head.

2. System of a Down - "B.Y.O.B." - Best chorus of the year.

3. The Strokes - "Juicebox" - Not what you would expect from the Strokes.

4. Little Brother - "Lovin' It" - 9th at his best.

5. Gorillaz - "Dare" - I didn't see this coming, even from a group as experimental as the Gorillaz.

6. Damion "Jr. Gong" Marley - "Welcome to Jamrock" - Classic the minute I heard it.

7. Weezer - "We Are All on Drugs" - The most rocking song on Weezer's latest.

8. Beck - "E-Pro" - Tru Beck.

9. Queens of the Stone Age - "In My Head" - This song got shitted on by radio. Exactly why radio today has no fuckin' clue.

10. Kanye West - "Drive Slow" - A cut above the other "Late" standouts.

11. LCD Soundsystem - "Daft Punk is Playing at my House" - Freak Out.

12. Teagan and Sara - "Walking with a Ghost" - Awesome song from two lesbos.

13. Ludacris - "#1 Spot" - Light years better than "Goldmember," even the video gives you more laughs than the movie.

14. My Chemical Romance - "Helena" - I don't know who this kid is, but he knows how to write damn good melodies.

15. 50 Cent - "Outta Control (Remix)" - Best song to hear in the club this year.

16. Gwen Stefani - "Hollaback Girl" - Loved it from the get go. Best heard performed live with a marching band.

17. Head Automatica - "Beating Heart Baby" - This album got absolutely no press or play. Everyone else's loss.

18. The Mars Volta - "The Widow" - Great stuff and the only song that could be a single on their newest album.

19. The Game - "How We Do" - Second best song to hear in the club this year.

20. Fat Joe - "Safe 2 Say (The Incredible)" / "So Much More" - Take your pick. A hard-edged street banger, or a club anthem you can badly sing along to.

Most disappointing albums of 2005:

1. Coldplay - "X&Y" - I was never a Coldplay fan until I heard some deep cuts from "A Rush of Blood to the Head." That was probably a gift and curse, I expected way more from their follow up. Quiet begining, rising verse, exploding chorus, next song, repeat. Way too formulaic. I expected some ground-breaking material.

2. Fat Joe - "All or Nothing" - Should have been called "Better than Nothing." Most songs that came out prior to the release had you anticipating a great album, what you got was 4 great songs and a pile of radio-geared club garbage. Pun would roll in his grave if he wasn't so fat.

3. Eisley - "Room Noises" - Upon hearing their song "Marvelous Things" I dubed this band the future of music... opps. I don't even like that song on this album, it's mixed totally different. They are still young, there might be room to grow.

4. Dave Matthews Band - "Stand Up" - I'm not a "pure" DMB fan, my favorite album from them is "Everyday." I don't know what this shit is. It's like Dave went down South a wrote an album while drowning in some Texas Tea. It's a copy-protected CD, don't worry, no one is trying.

5. The White Stripes - "Get Behind Me Satan" - It's good... it just isn't "Elephant." In fact, it's just too big a departure from "Elephant" for me to get into it. It sounds like Jack White's work with Loretta Lynn just took over these studio sessions with a few exceptions.

Well, that's about it. Feel free to share some opinions... Here's to a great sounding 2006.

I'm not a player...

2005-04-19T20:56:00.000-04:00

I forgot how dope the original "I'm Not a Player" by Big Pun is until it came up on the iPod today at the gym. He had that whole soul-loop sample thing going on in that song WAY before it was big. Pun was definitely one of the best mainstream MCs to come out in some time, and it kinda sucks that he is now pretty much forgotten about. If you don't have his debut, "Capital Punishment," or his (sorta)best-of, "Endangered Species," go check them out.
Almost "hump" day....

I can't wait to buy one of these and start mixing my way to stardom... no lugging around CDs or records...
Can I play? I have always wanted my name on there...
See your favorite celebrity sell out and make a nonsensical Japanese commercial.
For those who don't know, He plays in the NBA. Good looks Supp.
I hate to imagine what Mel Gibson fans would do if it came to re-enacting "Passion of the Christ"...
It's really cool that T.O. is such a down-to-earth guy.

That's all for today. If you are online late tonight, or any Tuesday night from Midnight to 1 a.m. eastern time, check out Late Nite Snax. They play plenty of underground hip-hop featuring new tracks, with a once-a-week spotlight on MF Doom.

Hidden Gems...

2005-04-14T19:27:00.000-04:00

Since my site is now somewhat about hidden gems, check out the album above for a hidden hip-hop gem. Afu-Ra's "Body of the Life Force" was released in 2000 and I only listened to it maybe once before today... consider myself sleepin'. If you like great beats and skilled, battle type rhymes, this is the album for you. Big-time guest spots from GZA, Masta Killa, M.O.P. and others... check it.
What else do we have for today...

Remember the Smurfs? Well, now you can relive your childhood and enjoy your adult life at the same time. Throwback classic...
You know her as the girl from Stuff magazine or the Dave Chapelle / R. Kelly mock video, "Piss on U," but her name is Vida. Here she is naked taken from pictures from her own cellphone... Why do (semi)celebrities feel the need to do this?
Oh boy... I wish I had the whole video because it was a frequent tape in my VCR senior year at UConn. Here is just a taste, but you need to watch it and need to seek out the rest.
I would love to own this.
Madden freaks get ready, here is the first bit of news for the '06 edition. The passing vision? Amazing.

I have some more stuff saved up, but I will do just that, put it in my picket and hold off for another day. The weekend is soon upon us, enjoy it.

Weezer - "Make Believe" 5/10/05

2005-04-13T00:09:00.000-04:00

1. Beverly Hills
2. Perfect Situation
3. This Is Such A Pity
4. Hold Me
5. Peace
6. We Are All On Drugs
7. The Damage In Your Heart
8. Pardon Me
9. My Best Friend
10. The Other Way
11. Freak Me Out
12. Haunt You Every Day

Nintendo Power...

2005-04-08T18:44:00.000-04:00

Um.... Coldplay must really love Tetris... I could understand if the band were from Russia, but this is just puzzling to me. I'll admit that I used to be a Coldplay playa hata, but then I heard "God Put a Smile On My Face" on Sirius and decided to check their album, which was pretty damn good, let's hope this is of the same quality...

What goodies do we have today?

Horrible news for anyone going to one of Queens of the Stone Age's final tour dates, or if you are just a fan of the band.
A terrific list of the 101 Most Mindblowing Movies of All-Time. I have seen about 30+ of these movies, and the guy who wrote this knows his shit.
Use this service if you wanna invite someone to the 'Candy Shoppe' or things of that nature.
I can't quite tell if this picture is for real or what, but it's funny either way.
Sorry, I can't help it... Jessica Alba is just too damn hot.
Meant to be a joke? I dunno, but this thing is either comedic brillance, or unintentional comedy at its best.
This site is a blast from the past, and still hilarious any way you cut it. Do black people love you too?

I'm only on Day #4 and already I'm dying for a glass of Pinot Noir, 4 down, 86 to go...

Rebirth...

2005-04-05T00:04:00.000-04:00

Hopefully this rebirth is better than a shitty J-Lo album... I have decided that putting something on here people might actually wanna read would be a good idea. So expect less yammering and more links to things that you might think are cool and/or funny.

Might as well dive right into it...

So this chick Tanya from the 'Real World' is a real bitch I guess, but she's really hot I know. Here is her Playboy spread... Not Safe For Work.
Fans of the movie 'Sin City' can see this pretty cool side-by-side comparison of the film and the source material.
Hilarious video of some college kid enjoying himself too much. Might not be safe for work, but not too big a deal.
I like Princess Superstar.
Will Ferrell's next... spellbinding? or are the sharks circling?
No NHL? No Problem.
GggGgGGGGggGGgGggGGggG... G-UNIT!

'Sideways' is out on DVD tomorrow... if you haven't seen it yet, I suggest you do.

Jay-Z's "Blackout" verse... still sizzlin'

2005-02-01T22:26:00.000-05:00

Yeah, yeah... I'm a monster
I sleep whole winters, wake up and spit summers
Ghetto nigga, puttin up Will Smith numbers
Surrounded by 6's and Hummers, bitches among us
Tryin not to let this bullshit become us
It started from hunger, til it all went insane
Now bitches notice the chains now that I hit my number
The chickens I twisted see the digits unlisted
The beeper done changed; you dead bitch, the Reaper done came
I suggest niggaz stop speakin' my name
Cause trust me, y'all can still feel the heat in the rain
I keep creepin', streets keep watchin', I keep poppin'
Niggaz is hot heads and the bullets is heat-seekin'
Jay flow for pesos -- chase hoes NOT
I just circle 'round the block in a drop
Tell them jump through the top where the sun roof used to be
I could see y'all not used to me
Nigga flows like none other
I'm the meanest, toughest Dun Duda, ta gun butt'cha
You the type that bust a lot of shots and none touch ya
I'm the type that get excited, when the gun touch ya, motherfuckers..
Y'all niggaz bout to witness a dynasty like no other

Eminem has fallen off the planet..

2005-01-17T22:22:00.000-05:00

It pains me to say it... I have supported this guy since before he signed with Dre.

Eminem has officially fallen the fuck off...

They say there isn't anywhere to go but down... when you reach the top that is.

And where exactly WAS Eminem's TOP? Well, following the classic "Eminem Show" was the 8 Mile Soundtrack that had 3 amazing Eminem tunes, and the posse cut "Love Me." His flow on that track was sick, as well as the lyrics...

"There's a certain mystique when I speak, that you notice
'Cause it's sort of unique 'cause you know it's me
My poetry's deep, and I'm stillmatic, the way I flow to this beat
You can't sit still, it's like trying to smoke crack and go to sleep
I'm strapped, it's known any minute I could snap
I'm the equivalent of what would happen if Bush rapped
I bully these rappers so bad lyrically
It ain't even funny, I ain't even hungry, it ain't even money
You can't pay me enough for you to play me
It's cockamamey you just ain't zany enough to rock with Shady
My noodle is cock-a-doodle, my clock's coo-coo
I got screws loose, yea the whole kitten caboodle, I'm just brutal
It's no rumor, I'm numero uno, assume it
There's no more humor in it, you know
I'm rolling with a swollen bowling ball in my bag
You need a fag and tear a near hole in my ass, you better love me, bitch..."

Classic...

He then followed this up by numerous forgettable guest shots, as well as his worst album, "Encore." An album with 6 great tracks, and a bunch of filler. Fine for any rap album, but not par for Eminem. A CD of pure babble... His recent non-effort being the verse on the Game's "We Ain't" where he disses Clay Aiken of all people.... WORD.

Em... stop the bullshit and come back strong. You're way better than this...

Best of 2004: Music...

2005-01-05T22:19:00.000-05:00

Guess who's bizzack...

Time for Best of 2004 music edition. I am only one man with one opinion, but I value it. Maybe you will too... drum roll, please...

Best Albums:

1. MadVillain - "MadVillainy" - Producer MadLib and emcee MF Doom come together and make a masterpiece. This is the first album since Wu-Tang's "36 Chambers" to take the current state of hip-hop, and smash it with a hammer... Nothing else you hear this year is like it. There are similarities to the Wu's debut: the unpolished grimey production, the dirty drums, the unfiltered vocals. But that's where they end. While Wu's album changed how people made rap music, MadVillain will just be a diamond in the... well, sea of albums talking about diamonds. Best when listened to whole, the album still has tons of gems, albeit short ones. "Curls," "Meat Grinder," "Operation Lifesaver" and "All Caps" show off what the album has to offer... it's a real classic underground album.

2. Green Day - "American Idiot" - While "Dookie" will always be considered their best album, "American Idiot" will be set on the mantle next to the Sex Pistols' debut and "London Calling" as a classic punk album. Everything is incredible from start to finish, the guitars (finally more than 3 chords!), the drumming, the lyrics, right down to the vocal melodies. It came at a time when it was needed, both by the band and with the state of the world. But let's not get too crazy, it's just an album... but a damn good one. Don't call it a comeback.

3. Ghostface - "The Pretty Toney Album" - Ghost has never dropped a wack album, making him the most consistent of all the Wu-Tang. This time, Ghost goes wild and reaches back into old soul records. He just doesn't sample the records, he raps OVER them. With some tweaking, could have been his best album to date, even though "not his best" is still light years ahead of most other artists. He is in it for all the right reasons.

4. Kanye West - "College Dropout" - An asshole with a huge ego? Yup. But like a NFL wide receiver, if you don't have that attitude, and you are on a record label that showcases Jay-Z, you wouldn't get very far. This album is easily the best mainstream rap album of the year, and might be the most solid since Jay-Z dropped two classics on us. Doing all his own production, Kanye manages to throw guest raps in at the right moments, and his affiliation with Common and Talib Kweli definitely works to his benefit. After listening to this album, it's amazing record labels were turning down his demos, and even Roc-A-Fella made him pay for his own videos at first..!? damn. But, with all that outside production, can Kanye keep it up? Supposedly he keeps his best beats for himself, let's hope so.

5. Modest Mouse - "Good News for People Who Love Bad News" - Modest Mouse has been making albums for a long time. In fact, it took this, their fourth album, for them to break into mainstream radio, and boy did they capitalize. Fueled by the hit single "Float On" the band moved over 1 million units, something they probably didn't reach with their three prior albums COMBINED. They are no one-trick-pony, the album has great tunes laced throughout.

6. De La Soul - "The Grind Date" - "Tommy ain't my motha fuckin' Boy"... indeed. As soon as De La bounces from the label that made them famous, they drop their best album in the last ten years. Every beat is bangin', and they called in the right guests. Makes you easily forget about their aborted AOI: volume 3 disc.

7. Masta Killa - "No Said Date" - Back when album release dates were hard to find, because there was nothing called INTERNET, Wu-Tang albums usually had pushed back release dates, or better yet, Strawberries would throw up names like Masta Killa with a TBA or No Said Date in the date column... well, it took ten years, but it was well worth the wait for Masta Killa's debut. Just the kind of gritty album you would expect from Wu ten years ago.

8. Snow Patrol - "Final Straw" - People say they sound like Coldplay, I think they sound like a bunch of different bands, at least vocally. Musically, there isn't many bands you could call similar. They have a killer hit single and lots of tracks to back that up. If you haven't heard of them, you will sometime soon. Oh wait... nevermind.

9. Lloyd Banks - "The Hunger for More" - Usually these G-Unit/Shady/Aftermath debuts are also fire, and Banks' is no exception. A lot of good production and solid gangsta lyrics make this a very solid debut. Having Dre, Eminem and Timbaland on the boards doesn't hurt either.

10. Terror Squad - "True Story" / The Donnas - "Gold Medal" - Both albums were extremely surprising. Terror Squad has some of the best production from front to back of any rap album this year, while the Donnas advanced their sound well past their last album. Right now, Fat Joe is virtually untouchable, and the Donnas have laid the groundwork for a long-term career.

Close, but no cuban cigar:

Gwen Stefani - "Love, Angel, Music, Baby" - Title not withstanding, this is a really good CD if you like to have fun once in a while. It's like "Rock Steady" with dance songs... oh wait....

MF Doom - "MM... Food" - It isn't MadVillain, but it is the next best thing. Almost every song here is on point, but 4 instrumental skits in a row and one song that Doom isn't even on, makes this an incomplete meal. Incomplete Filet Mignon anyway.

Kill Bill Volume 2 - Soundtrack - Great collection of songs. That Shivaree song is a gem. Robert Rodriguez has some strong pipes. That isn't a gay reference, thanks.

Handsome Boy Modeling School - "White People" - Del and Deftones? Jack Johnson and Barrington Levy? RZA and Mars Volta? yeah, they are all here... and more!... Most eclectic release this year.

Air - "Talkie Walkie" - Probably the best of all the "chill" artists to drop an album this year.

Best Singles:

1. Snoop Dogg - "Drop it Like it's Hot" - Snnnnooooooppppppppp!.

2. Terror Squad - "Lean Back" - Even Roy Jones was forced to do it. I had mangers gettin' down to it. Pure heat.

3. Modest Mouse - "Float On" - If you have heard it, (you don't live under a rock do you?) you know why.

4. Franz Ferdinand - "Take me Out" - It's good.

5. Usher - "Yeah!" - Great Song, got played out quick thanks to Lil' Jon and Dave Chappelle.

Any Jadakiss single - All the songs that made it to the radio were amazing.

Biggest Disappointments/Most Overrated:

1. Snoop Dogg - "R&G: Rhythm & Gangsta - Tha Masterpiece" - First off, the guy who said "Fuck them R&B singers" sure seems like he wants to be one. Second, aside from the lead single, and the "Pulp Fiction" inspired "Oh No," this album is trash. Makes the "Doggfather" look like "Paid in Full."

2. Eminem - "Encore" - Now, there are a handfull of great songs here. "Like Toy Soldiers," "Yellow Brock Road," "Never Enough" just to name a few. But this also contains his worst songs ever recorded. "Rain Man" and "My 1st Single" are only where the problems being. After dropping 3 albums where you didn't need to press skip, this is a real let down.

3. Franz Ferdinand - Self-titled - They have a great lead-single. They have some other great songs. But for people to act like they are the next U2... this is just so overrated. I still haven't figured out what all the hype is about.

4. Velvet Revolver - "Contraband" - I hoped for the best. I got... blah. The vocals are often drowned out, and usually aren't great. Please come back STP.

5. Jadakiss - "The Kiss of Death" - Every song released to radio was amazing. The best song wasn't even included on the album. Which made this so disappointing, way too much filler yet again from the LOX. Six bangers and shit makes a great EP, not an album.

Bonus... Usher - "Confessions" - Nominated for Best Album? There's one great song, another club track, two good ballads and a pile of shit. Overrated.

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2004-09-24T11:21:00.000-04:00

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'Green' Party...

2004-09-23T23:01:00.000-04:00

It's 2004, do you know where your Green Day is?... I have to admit, back in 1997, I thought I had definitely heard the last from the trio of pseudo-punk pro's Green Day. I remember being in Strawberries the day their album "Nimrod" came out. The manager was talking to a friend of mine and saying that Green Day was finished, while we both agreed, we said we did kinda like the single, "Hitchin' a Ride."

Well, I stand here today pretty astonished. Anyone who counted Green Day out was wrong. On Tuesday they released quite possible their best complete album, "American Idiot." At the very least, their latest album is the first to actually be about more than just snappy, sharp below-3-minute singles.

If you have ever heard Green Day's 2000 release, "Warning," you knew they had something special in them. My interest peaked When I heard the song "Misery" about midway through that album. It was just so different then anything they had done before, and it actually seemed to work pretty well.

The album has been called "controversial." I guess anything to do with politics today falls under that category, but it's more about people that live in our government then the government itself. There is a fictional, yet touching and realistic-feeling story here. So, even if you can't dig the political stuff on the album, I would say definitely check it out for the music quality alone. There are some amazing melodies and a few 9-minute tracks. Everything seems to click right.

Finally, Green Day are actually punks.