M i d P o i n t s.

More Quick Reviews

2010-11-20T13:46:00.001-07:00

First, this is my first post from the BlogPress iPad app so if things a little off, thats why. I'm hoping it turns out alright because that will give me some freedom to post on the go more often. Anywho, here we go!

ONE SENTENCE REVIEWS

Halcyon Digest
Rating: 80/100
While immensely enjoyable and beautifully executed, Halcyon Digest fails to venture outside of territory that hasn't already been fully charted by The Velvet Underground, The Strokes or Pavement though a band could hardly be inspired by a better group of artists.
High Point Tracks: "Sailing", "Desire Lines", "Coronado"

Ra Ra Riot - The Orchard
Rating: 77/100
If you like Vampire Weekend, it is almost certain you will also like the latest offering from Ra Ra Riot as it is similarly polished, preppy and poppy but it lacks the wild energetic streak that has propelled VW to indie rock super stardom.
High Point Tracks: "You and I Know", "Too Dramatic", "Do You Remember"

Girl Talk - All Day
Rating: 86/100
It takes a while for All Day to really get moving, but once it does, it never looks back with Girl Talk aka Gregg Gillis creating a constant stream of hard core booty shaking mashups that are breathtakingly sublime, often comical and utterly unforgettable.
High Point Tracks: Not Applicable

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:E Brown Rd,Mesa,United States

A Couple of Quick Reviews

2010-11-12T12:42:00.001-07:00

Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
Rating: 90/100
After years of waiting for another installment of the legendary 50 States Project, Sufjan returns with a majestic and pioneering album that redefines his refined indie folk sound with electronic textures and innovative rhythmic patterns.
High Point Tracks: "Age of Adz", "Vesuvius", "Impossible Soul"

Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
Rating: 84/100
Post-rap prodigy Kid Cudi delivers another chapter in his Man on the Moon trilogy that leads the listener through a dark tour of his psyche with a highly enjoyable collection of infectious genre bending tracks.
High Point Tracks: "Erase Me ft. Kanye West", "Mojo So Dope", "These Worries ft. Mary J Blige"

Sleigh Bells Live!

2010-10-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

Last night Sleigh Bells put on one hell of a show at the Clubhouse. Don't believe me? Check out these videos I shot. If you are only going to watch one, definitely check out the set closing Crown On The Ground. They only played for 34 minutes, but as you can see, it was a wild 34 minutes.

SLEIGH BELLS - TELL EM

SLEIGH BELLS - KIDS

SLEIGH BELLS - RILL RILL

SLEIGH BELLS - CROWN ON THE GROUND

Live Shows & Reviews!

2010-10-12T15:06:00.007-07:00

LIVE SHOWS:

It doesn't happen very often but when the planets (free time & spare cash) align, I like to check out a live show. Over the past month I've had a chance to see both Sea Wolf and The Walkmen. I recorded a few full songs and posted them on the YouTubes but because I'm a nice guy, I've also embedded them right here into MidPoints. I've got a few more shows lined up so check back for more videos soon. Enjoy!

"Leaves In The River" - Sea Wolf

"You're A Wolf" - Sea Wolf

"The Rat" - The Walkmen

"Another One Goes By" - The Walkmen

"New Country" - The Walkmen

"Woe Is Me" - The Walkmen

"We've Been Had" - The Walkmen

ONE SENTENCE REVIEWS

Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles

Rating: 81/100

A promising debut album from a band that cleverly balances pop melodies, dance beats and robot noises not unlike Justice, Cut Copy & Daft Punk, but with there own enjoyably distinctive touches.

High Point Tracks: "Vanished", "Crimewave (Crystal Castles vs HEALTH)", "Knights"

The Roots - How I Got Over

Rating: 80/100

Excluding the final few tracks, How I Got Over is a remarkably thoughtful and cohesive hip-hop experience that emphasizes authentic instrumentation, rhythm and of course, an MC who actually has something to say.

High Point Tracks: "Walk Alone ft. Truck North, P.O.R.N. & Dice Raw", "The Fire ft. John Legend"

Band of Horses - Infinite Arms

Rating: 70/100

Both enjoyable and forgettable, Infinite Arms does little to distinguish itself from any of the bands preceding releases.

High Point Tracks: "Laredo", "Neighbor", "Compliments"

Best Coast - Crazy For You

Rating: 85/100

Filled with irresistible pop melodies, fuzzy guitars and soaring harmonies, Crazy For You is a quick but entrancing journey through the 'highs' and lows of summertime love and heartbreak.

High Point Track: "The End", "Goodbye", "When I'm With You"

Florence + The Machine - Lungs

Rating: 86/100

While the execution isn't always perfect, the debut album from Florence + the Machine is expansive, unapologetic and straight up epic.

High Point Tracks: "Dog Days Are Over", "Cosmic Love", "You've Got The Love"

The Walkmen - Lisbon

Rating: 79/100

Lisbon is a satisfying mix of energetic indie rock and relaxed guitar pop that sounds both comfortingly familiar and enticingly strange.

High Point Track: "Angela Surf City", "Victory", "Torch Song"

Lil Wayne - I Am Not A Human Being

Rating: 77/100

Half of it sounds like a triumph, a quarter of it is unnecessary features and everything else is a mix of useless trash and Planet Weezy weirdness; but all math aside, this is a solid place holder until Tha Carter IV drops.

High Point Tracks: "Right Above It ft. Drake", "I Am Not A Human Being", "What's Wrong With Them ft. Nicki Minaj"

Long Over Due Reviews

2010-09-06T21:48:00.004-07:00

ONE-SENTENCE REVIEWS:

The Black Keys - Brothers

Rating: 83/100

Enjoyable from start to finish, Brothers is the Black Keys doing work.

High Point Tracks: "Next Girl", "Tighten Up", "Sinister Kid"

Drake - Thank Me Later

Rating: 71/100

After the incredible So Far Gone mixtape and a handful of promising singles, Drake delivers a somewhat disappointing major label debut that reveals the young rappers fatal flaw: he just doesn't have much to say.

High Point Tracks: "Over", "Up All Night ft. Nicki Minaj"

Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (II)

Rating: 80/100

While somewhat repetitive and noisy, a healthy number of strange and satisfying tracks redeem Crystal Castles' self titled sophomore album.

High Point Tracks: "Baptism", "Suffocation", "Not In Love"

Sleigh Bells - Treats

Rating: 94/100

Treats is unabashedly loud, inventive, fun and easily one of the best albums of the year.

High Point Tracks: "Kids", Infinity Guitars", "Rill Rill", "Crown On The Ground"

Eminem - Recovery

Rating: 84/100

Relapse was only ok; Recovery is much better.

High Point Tracks: "Won't Back Down ft. P!nk", "No Love ft. Lil Wayne", "Almost Famous" "Havoc"

Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

Rating: 89/100

Big Boi's hip-hop epic is fresh and flawlessly executed.

High Point Tracks: "Daddy Fat Sax", "Shutterbug", "Fo Yo Sorrows", "Shine Blockas"

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Rating: 98/100

The Suburbs is another remarkable release from one of the best bands of the past decade; I believe there is no stopping them now.

High Point Tracks: "Half Light II (No Celebration)", "We Used To Wait", "Month of May", "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)"

Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People EP

Rating: 83/100

The title track which is more than 11 minutes long makes two appearances on the EP and they're both different, and uniquely enjoyable in a way only Sufjan Stevens can deliver; as is everything else in between.

High Point Tracks: "All Delighted People (Original Version)", "Enchanting Ghost", "Djohariah"

M.I.A. - Maya

Rating: 73/100

The chaotic splashes of noise and sound effects over deeply effected pop melodies sometimes seem more like a schtick than an artistic choice here, however they still seem work for her most of the time.

High Point Tracks: "Steppin Up", "XXO", "Meds and Feds"

I have a few more to do. Stay tuned.

Two, Count 'Em, TWO new Arcade Fire Singles

2010-05-26T13:42:00.001-07:00

No introduction needed, just listen and be excited.

ScatterPoints: Mid/Late May

2010-05-25T12:26:00.006-07:00

Heres some cool stuff I've found over the past few weeks. Enjoy!

MidPoints Top 5: Start of Summer Songs

If you don't like 'em, comment with your own!

5. "Summer Girls" - LFO

4. "Summer of '69" - Bryan Adams

3. "Deadbeat Summer" - Neon Indian

2. "Summer Babe (Winter Version) - Pavement

1. "Constructive Summer" - The Hold Steady

TRACKS

"Gold Skull" - Miniature Tigers

So my friend Kristie has been telling me about Miniature Tigers for a while but I was foolish and never really gave them a chance until I saw that Neon Indian has started producing their stuff. They have a new album, F O R T R E S S, dropping later this summer and you can download the Neon Indian produced first single "Gold Skull" right here.

Wolf Parade - Expo 86 preview

A pair of new tracks from the band's forthcoming third album were recently released and fans of the bands previous material won't be dissapointed with either. You can download them both for free right here:

"Ghost Pressure" - Wolf Parade

"What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had To Go This Way)" - Wolf Parade

VIDEO

"Afraid of Everyone" - The National w/Sufjan Stevens on Letterman

"Higher Than The Stars" - The Pains of Being Pure At Heart

"Next Girl" - The Black Keys

"Zebra" - Beach House

ONE-SENTENCE REVIEWS

Note: This has easily been the best month of new music releases that has happened since I started this blog. This stuff is really good, I'm just sayin'.

LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

Rating: 90/100

By drawing heavily from many of the most innovative artists of the past half-century, James Murphy aka LCD Soundsystem has once again synthesized countless familiar sounds and textures together with his own dance-production prowess to create a profoundly emotive, ridiculously danceable and brilliantly constructed album experience.

High Point Tracks: "Dance Yerself Clean", "All I Want", "I Can Change"

The Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever

Rating: 72/100

With out any of the urgency, heart, nostalgia or drunken poetics of their previous releases, The Hold Steady have disappointed me for the first time with a very average and unfortunately forgettable record.

High Point Tracks: "Hurricane J", "The Weekenders", "We Can Get Together"

The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards

Rating: 87/100

Everything I said about their debut album holds true with their sophomore effort but more so; its grittier, scarier, bluesier, more distorted and it flat out rocks harder.

High Point Tracks: "The Difference Between Us", "Die By The Drop", "Gasoline"

MIDPOINT OF INTEREST

The National - High Violet

Rating: 98/100

With four consecutive nearly flawless albums under their belt, The National continue to take strides towards being one of the greatest bands of this generation and High Violet proves that they can remain true to their core sound while wildly expanding their scope with a batch of 11 songs that dig deeper and soar higher than just about anything the band has previously released. This album delivers their loudest, most distorted guitar-rock anthems as well as their softest most desperate, heartbroken orchestral ballads; the crazy thing is that they are often the same song. Frontman and songwriter Matt Berninger isn't quite as mumbly as he was on Boxer and he doesn't yell as much as he did on Alligator or Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers, but the middle ground of High Violet translates to what is probably the most direct and melodic National record yet. With each release, he seems to expand his nuanced lyrical honesty and in my opinion, this album proves that he is more than just a great modern songwriter but a great modern poet. However, the quality of a record or a band isn't determined simply by lyrics or guitars or melodies, but in their ability to weave all of these elements together to create something innovative, moving and transcendent and that, above all else, is what makes High Violet more than just a great rock record, its the closest thing to perfection I've heard in years.

High Point Tracks: "Terrible Love", "Afraid of Everyone", "Lemonworld", "England"

ScatterPoints: Early May

2010-05-07T12:19:00.006-07:00

Here is some cool stuff I've found over the past week. Enjoy!

MidPoints Top 5: Mom Songs

I'm going to start posting more of these Top 5 countdowns so feel free to comment with your own Top 5s. Happy Mothers Day!

5. Chromeo - Momma's Boy

4. 2Pac - Dear Mama

3. Scissor Sisters - Take Your Mama

2. Sufjan Stevens - Decatur, Or, Round Of Applause For Your Stepmother!

1. Kanye West - Hey Mama

VIDEO

The National - Terrible Love

ONE SENTENCE REVIEWS

The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday

Rating: 90/100

Garage rock and drunken nostalgia have been perfected over the past decade by The Hold Steady, and Separation Sunday is the one that kicked off their hot-streak of great albums back in 2005.

High Point Tracks: "Your Little Hoodrat Friend", "Banging Camp", "Stevie Nix"

Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record

Rating: 81/100

When a phenomenal band like BSS releases a mildly disappointing record like this one, the result is sometimes still a very enjoyable and engaging album.

High Point Track: "World Sick", "All to All", "Water in Hell"

The Dead Weather - Horehound

Rating: 86/100

Its loud, dirty, and a little frightening but its also one of the most raw and powerful rock albums in recent memory.

High Point Tracks: "60 Feet Tall", "Treat Me Like Your Mother", "Hang You From The Heavens"

David Guetta - One Love

Rating: 68/100

European producer/DJ David Guetta delivers a hit or miss collection of up-tempo club jams, all of which feature at least one relevant name from the hip-hop/r&b scene.

High Point Tracks: "Sexy Bitch ft. Akon", "When Love Takes Over ft. Kelly Rowland"

The White Stripes - Under Great White Northern Lights

Rating: 93/100

This live album from 2007 features the lo-fi rock duo at their loudest, sloppiest and absolute finest while giving new life to both deep cuts and hits alike.

High Point Tracks: "Blue Orchid", "I'm Slowly Turning Into You", "Jolene" (Dolly Party cover), "Seven Nation Army"

New Interpol - "Lights"

2010-04-29T10:37:00.004-07:00

Some Crazy-Ass Stuff for a Wednesday

2010-04-28T19:38:00.004-07:00

M.I.A. - "Born Free"

New super-super-NSFW and extremely violent music video

M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

Also, this is cool and weird:

EMINEM - DESPICABLE (FREESTYLE)

REGINA SPEKTOR - "NO SURPRISES (RADIOHEAD COVER)"

SOUNDS OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

Have you ever wondered what the solar system sounds like? Some dude made a scale-music box thingy that lets you hear the music of the planets. Its crazy. Check it out here.

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM - DRUNK GIRLS MUSIC VIDEO

BRAND NEW STARS SINGLE - "FIXED"

Download the MP3 for free right here.

MGMT vs SNL

(SPOILER ALERT: MGMT wins)

"Flash Delerium"

"Brian Eno"

T.I.'s Back!

2010-04-27T23:14:00.002-07:00

T.I. - "I'm Back"

ScatterPoints: Late April/Summer Preview

2010-04-27T18:11:00.004-07:00

Here are some cool things that I've found over the past week.

I don't have a whole lot to report on the past week but I do have some cool things for you. Its almost summer time and that means that music will continue to come out at a slightly accelerated pace. Lots of good indie stuff on the way, and lots of it is available for a sneak peak now.

SUMMER ALBUM PREVIEWS:

LCD Soundsystem is one of the most innovative and exciting acts out there and the mastermind behind the whole shebang James Murphy has decided to stream the forthcoming This Is Happening on the groups website right here.

Broken Social Scene's highly anticipated return to albumdom Forgiveness Rock Record is streaming on the NPR website now. Check it out here.

The Hold Steady are also showing NPR (and us) some love by streaming their forthcoming Heaven is Whenver here.

Man, NPR is all about music I love. They also have the full album stream of The New Pornographers' Together. It is here.

MUSIC VIDEOS:

THE XX - ISLANDS

This video doesn't seem to be to much at first, but I find myself haunted it. It seems repetitive but I promise you its not. Every shot is a little bit different and its super artsy and really emotional in some strange intangible way. I can't put my finger on it but there is really something to this video. Let me know if you figure it out.

ONE PARAGRAPH REVIEWS:

Broken Bells - Broken Bells

Rating: 80/100

This collaborative project consisting of James Mercer, lead singer of the Shins, and crazy-ass producer Danger Mouse is a simple and upbeat affair that doesn't sound too far removed from either ones body of work. To put it simply, it mostly sounds like a Danger Mouse produced Shins album, though even that makes it sound a little crazier than it actually is. What the album lacks in surprises, it more than makes up for in execution. All ten tracks are beautifully crafted to create a very fluid album experience that is emotional, accessible and layered in such a way that each listen reveals something new. Ultimately, its not an earth shattering record, but it feels as though it was intentionally crafted to be straightforward with few unexpected turns and to that end both creators have succeeded in creating a wonderfully enjoyable set of tracks that won't change your life but you won't soon forget either.

MidPoints Lives! ScatterPoints: March/Mid April

2010-04-17T12:11:00.007-07:00

Here's some cool stuff I've found over the past few months, enjoy!

Record Store Day!
Yesterday was Record Store Day which means a lot of independent record stores have exclusives releases from literally hundreds of bands and labels. I went to my local Zia Records to see what kind of stuff they had and even though they were pretty picked over by the time I got there, I got two Record Store Day exclusives: a limited edition red-vinyl pressing of Passion Pit's "Little Secrets" and the Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Skeletons" limited edition 7" single. If you love music, please support record stores!

COOL TRACKS:

The Return of Broken Social Scene
"World Sick" was the first single released by Broken Social Scene to pave the way for their forthcoming Forgiveness Rock Record (May 4) which is the bands first album since 2005. Then they released a double A-Side single featuring "Forced to Love" and "All to All". All three songs are excellent but "World Sick" is definitely my favorite so far. Listen to all three right here:

Other Cool Stuff

"Sleep Paralysist" is a fun new track from Neon Indian. You can download it free with this thing:

I have to give a shout out to a song that I recently rediscovered. I don't know why but I just can't stop listening to R. Kelly's smash hit from 2002: "Ignition Remix".

Also, the video is hilarious.

ONE-SENTENCE REVIEWS:

Joanna Newson - Have One On Me

Rating: 84/100

Folky and mysterious, this 3-disc epic is a showcase of the singers vocal skill and songwriting abilities.

High Point Tracks: "Easy" "In California" "Go Long"

Death Cab For Cutie - The Open Door EP

Rating: 81/100

Sounds a lot like the Narrow Stairs material, and it is just further proof that Death Cab is one of the most consistent and enjoyable bands out there.

High Point Tracks: "My Mirror Speaks" "Little Bribes"

UGK - Underground Kingz

Rating: 80/100

It was the last full studio album released by the southern rap duo before the death of Pimp C, and Underground Kingz is a worthy testament to the talent, charisma and swagger of UGK.

High Point Tracks: "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) Feat. Outkast" "The Game Belongs To Me" "Hit The Block Feat. T.I."

Bun B - II Trill

Rating: 78/100

After Pimp C died, the other half of UGK aka Bun B starting releasing solo records and though II Trill is impressive, he thrives when has another rapper on the track and the album reaches its peak on "Underground Thang" which features a posthumous verse from Pimp C.

High Peak Tracks: "Underground Thang", "That's Gangsta ft. Sean Kingston", "Damn I'm Cold ft. Lil Wayne"

MGMT - Congratulations

Rating: 78/100

The highly anticipated follow up to Oracular Spectacular lacks the anthems of the debut, but it is filled with undeniably fun, quirky and artsy indie rock.

High Point Tracks: "Flash Delirium", "It's Working", "Someone's Missing"

Passion Pit - Manners (Bonus Tracks)

Rating: 96/100

This deluxe reissue of the 2009 MidPoints Album of the Year features new artwork and three new tracks including beautiful stripped down versions of "Sleepyhead" and "Moth's Wings" as well as a cover of the Cranberries' "Dreams".

High Point Tracks: "Sleepyhead (Stripped Down Version)", "Month's Wings (Stripped Down Version)", "Dreams"

Note: all 3 new songs are available on iTunes, so you don't have to buy the reissue to get the new stuff

New Broken Social Scene! Free MP3 Download!

2010-02-19T10:46:00.005-07:00

There are few bands I get downright giddy about hearing new stuff from and Broken Social Scene is one them. May 4 can't get here fast enough. I've been waiting 5 years for this band to put out another record and while the group offshoots like Stars, Feist, Jason Collett and their semi-solo Broken Social Scene Presents series were all very very good, there ain't nothing like a full-fledged Broken Social Scene album. This new track is, much like the band itself, fucking huge! Its almost 7 minutes long with plenty of their signature build and release crescendos. Its awesome. Download the epic, "World Sick" for free-ninety-nine right here:

ScatterPoints: Mid February

2010-02-15T16:12:00.003-07:00

This is some cool music stuff I've found over the past week. Enjoy!

DOWNLOADS:

Vampire Weekend - Ruby Soho (Rancid Cover)

I saw these guys do a DJ set at Lollapalooza '09 and it was a pretty damn good time. I found a bunch of cool mash-ups they've done, check it out:

The Hood Internet BEST OF ABX 2009 by hoodinternet

This is unrelated, but also good:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)

Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)...

ONE-SENTENCE REVIEWS:

Spoon - Transference

Rating: 80/100

Spoon continues their streak of solid albums and although less upbeat than some of their recent releases, it is a consistently enjoyable and interesting listen.

High Point Tracks: "Written In Reverse", "Who Makes Your Money"

Yeasayer - Odd Blood

Rating: 82/100

Sort of wacky, and at times brilliant, Odd Blood is certainly a departure from their debut but it is also an enjoyable and modest improvement. Show all

High Point Tracks: "O.N.E.", "Ambling Alp", "I Remember"

ScatterPoints: Late January/Early February

2010-02-04T23:38:00.006-07:00

Welcome back to ScatterPoints! Here's some cool stuff I've found in the world of music over the past few weeks.

DOWNLOADS:

Peter Gabriel - Flume (Bon Iver Cover)

Also, check out the Peter Gabriel cover of Arcade Fire's "My Body Is A Cage here.

VIDEOS:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Skeletons"

Crazy orchestral trailer for the Gorillaz forthcoming Plastic Beach:

Crazy orchestral trailer for the Gorillaz forthcoming Plastic Beach.

ONE-SENTENCE REVIEWS:

Animal Collective - Sung Tongs

Rating: 82/100

Although it lacks the some of the layered complexity present on Animal Collective's last few releases, the mostly acoustic Sung Tongs is a strange and enjoyable journey through the softer side of AC.

High Points Tracks: "Winters Love", "Who Could Win A Rabbit", "Sweet Road"

Beach House - Teen Dream

Rating: 88/100

Teen Dream is a beautiful, haunting, and flawlessly crafted indie pop album that is definitely an early contender for album of the year.

High Point Tracks: "Silver Soul", "Used To Be", "Real Love"

Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind EP

Rating: 83/100

This companion piece to Merriweather Post Pavilion, is yet another catchy, weird, and impressive release from the ol' Animal Collective.

High Point Tracks: "What Would I Want? Sky!", "I Think I Can"

Discovery - LP

Rating: 85/100

Comprised of members of Ra Ra Riot and Vampire Weekend, Discovery offers up a brief but impressive debut with more infectious hooks and synth riffs than you can shake stick at.

High Point Tracks: "Can You Discover", "So Insane", "I Want You Back (Jackson 5 Cover)"

The Fiery Furnaces - Rehearsing My Choir

Rating: 25/100

I like the Fiery Furnaces well enough, but bizarre music and painfully boring spoken word narratives make this album almost entirely unlistenable

High Point Tracks: N/A (It was really that bad)

Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals

Rating 79/100

Its a very top-heavy record beginning with a slew of wild and memorable tracks and ending without much of a bang but this unique debut certainly hints at some greatness to come.

High Point Tracks: "Sunrise", "No Need To Worry", "2080"

Lil Wayne - Rebirth

Rating: 50/100

Oh god, I love me some Lil Wayne but this monstrosity is baaaaaaad and it is only redeemed by that fact that Weezy is a genius, albiet a terribly terribly misguided genius but hey, at least its not Tha Carter IV.

High Point Tracks: "Prom Queen", "Drop the World"

ScatterPoints: Mid January

2010-01-22T18:04:00.003-07:00

Heres some random cool stuff from the past few weeks of music:

DOWNLOAD:

New Smashing Pumpkins - "Widow Wake My Mind" & "Song For A Son"

MUSIC VIDEOS:

The xx - "VCR"

Warpaint - "Elephants"

ONE-SENTENCE REVIEWS:

Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures

Rating: 77/100

The amount of raw rock power present in the Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), John Paul Jones (LED ZEPPELIN!) trio Them Crooked Vultures is absolutely legendary but it fails to come together consistently despite some truly epic moments of rocking.

Aziz Ansari - Intimate Moments For A Sensual Evening

Rating 85/100

Aziz Ansari's debut comedy album is fresh, energetic and absolutely hilarious.

Best of Bootie 2009 - Various Artists

Rating:72/100

I love a good mash-up, and there are definitely some really good mash-ups on this collection, but overall I wasn't blown away.

Download Best of Bootie 2009

New M.I.A. Video?!?!

2010-01-13T16:10:00.001-07:00

M.I.A posted this video on her Twitter yesterday and it seems like it might just be a new song from her forthcoming album that she has been talking about a lot lately. Specifically she mentioned that the album will be "gimmick free". I didn't realize Arular and Kala were so gimmick ridden that she needed to make a point of assuring me that her 3rd album would be gimmick free. Either way this song might not be on the album, hell, it might not even be M.I.A. All I know for sure is that she posted it on here Twitter. Enjoy!

Review: Vampire Weekend - Contra

2010-01-11T21:11:00.000-07:00

Vampire Weekend - Contra

Rating: 89/100

When the band's self titled debut dropped in early 2008, Vampire Weekend redefined indie pop by stripping the genre down to its bare basics. It was a reminder that melody, above all else, is what makes or breaks pop and their sophomore effort Contra only continues to highlight the profound song writing skill of front man Ezra Koenig. The album kicks off with the "Horchata" which introduces us to an evolved Vampire Weekend sound that builds upon the squeaky clean aesthetic of their first album by adding some synthesizers and drum pads, all without detracting from the intangibles that made the band's debut album so lovable. It is a little disconcerting at first to hear Vampire Weekend rely on all the staples of electronic music that have over-saturated the pop & indie landscapes, but Contra doesn't ever sound like its following any trends. Instead they use their synths and auto-tuned vocals like they were the first ones with the idea, and the result is a refreshing premium blend of sounds and genres that only expands the scope of their pop sensibility. When you look at the equation on paper (preppy indie, afro-beats, auto-tune) it seems like it would be a epic cluster fooey, but the flawless execution and good old fashioned songwriting skill hold the whole mess together. Contra is most certainly a testament to Vampire Weekend's talent, but more importantly it showcases their vision. A mere 12 days in, its reassuring that one of indie's most promising rising stars has stepped into the new decade with their eyes and ears on whats next. Contra is a perfect transition album from the 2000s to the 2010s, as it acknowledges the past but moves gracefully and energetically into the future. If Vampire Weekend has anything to say about it, I think we are in for another decade of great music.

High Point Tracks: "California English", "Cousins", "Giving Up The Gun"

BONUS: "Cousins" Music Video

Dirty Projectors Release Free Digital Single & Passion Pit Covers the Cranberries

2010-01-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

This morning the Dirty Projectors released a free digital single, that you can download by submitting your email address into the box below. Be patient for the email, as it can take a little while for the download link to arrive.

This isn't a great quality video but its still pretty awesome. The first two minutes of the video is the band covering The Cranberries' "Dreams" and it is followed with a incredible performance of "Sleepyhead". Enjoy!

ScatterPoints: December/Early January

2010-01-08T09:38:00.000-07:00

With the exception of my year-end and decade-end lists, I haven't had the time to blog about much of anything in the past month. But just because I wasn't writing about music, doesn't mean I wasn't listening to and buying music like my life depended on it. So here are some quick reviews of some of the jamz I've been into lately. There were a few more albums that I have but haven't been able to give a critical listen to, but as soon as I do, I'll post up some reviews.,

ONE-SENTENCE REVIEWS:

Miike Snow - Miike Snow

Rating: 79/100

The debut album from this indie production trio is easy to digest and has some real moments of true electro-pop genius, but lacks the depth and substance that often separates good albums from great albums.

High Point Tracks: "Animal", "Sylvia", "Cult Logic"

Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster

Rating: 81/100

One of the more refreshing pop albums I've heard in recent years and while it isn't particularly long, Lady Gaga proves that 34 minutes of intelligent, diverse & flawlessly executed pop is all you need to solidify your place at the top of the genre.

High Point Track: "Bad Romance", "Telephone"

Digitalism - Idealism

Rating: 80/100

The best and worst part of Idealism is it's similarity to other, more impressive electro-duos like Daft Punk and Justice, and though Digitalism has a competent grasp on the genre, there is little new ground explored here.

High Point Tracks: "The Pulse", "Jupiter Room", "Zdarlight"

Passion Pit - Chunk of Change EP

Rating: 77/100

While the bands debut LP was my favorite album of 2009, the Chunk of Change EP lacks the energy and polish of Manners; it is however, redeemed by the appearance of the always incredible "Sleepyhead".

High Point Tracks: "Sleepyhead", "I've Got Your Number"

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Rating: 86/100

Somehow TPOBPAH was able to take the worn out sound of fuzzy 90's low-fi indie and make it sound current, which is truly a testament to the band's songwriting prowess and aesthetic finesse.

High Point Track: "Young Adult Friction", "Everything With You"

Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms

Rating: 88/100

Psychic Chasms is a weird, dancey, drug-induced trip that reveals more of its character with every listen; the end result is one of the most strange, interesting and fun albums of the year.

High Point Track: "Deadbeat Summer", "I Should Have Taken Acid With You", "Psychic Chasms"

The Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

Rating: 90/100

This album is a bizarre combination of Zeppelin style guitar rock, indie freak folk and avant-guard pop, and when it comes together the result is so immensely satisfying that I am left wondering how no one else thought to make an album like this before now.

High Point Track: "Stillness Is The Move", "Temecula Sunrise", "Useful Chamber"

MidPoints Year-End/Decade-End Recap

2010-01-04T22:08:00.000-07:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! ITS 2010!!

So in 2009 the economy was crap, the environment melted, the Phoenix Suns didn't make the playoffs, and half of all celebrities died. But musically speaking, it was a pretty rockin turn through the ol' calendar. Heres my favorite music from the past year:

TOP ALBUMS of 2009

15. Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Pains of Being Pure at Heart

14. Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms

13. Eminem - Relapse

12. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns

11. Morrissey - Years of Refusal

10. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

9. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

8. The Decemberists - Hazards of Love

7. Drake - So Far Gone

6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Its Blitz!

5. The xx - xx

4. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

3. Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3

2. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

1. Passion Pit - Manners

Honorable Mentions:

Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon: The End of the Day

U2 - No Line On The Horizon

Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the Gru Grux King

Flaming Lips - Embryonic

Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster

TOP SONGS of 2009

25. "I'm On A Boat" - The Lonely Island

24. "Tik Tok" -Ke$ha

23. "Telephone" - Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce

22. "Forever"Drake ft. Lil Wayne, Kanye West & Eminem -

21. "Rome" - Phoenix

20. "Alive (Nightmare)" - Kid Cudi ft. Ratatat

19. "Zero" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

18. "Run This Town" - Jay-Z ft. Kanye West & Rihanna

17. "Heart Skipped A Beat" - The xx

16. "City Lights" - Method Man and Red Man ft. Bun B

15. "D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)" - Jay-Z

14. "Bad Romance" - Lady Gaga

13. "Moth's Wings" - Passion Pit

12. "Magnificent" - U2

11. "Blood Bank" - Bon Iver

10. "Its Not Your Birthday Anymore" - Morrissey

9. "Uptown" - Drake ft. Lil Wayne & Bun B

8. "Daniel" - Bat For Lashes

7. "Audacity of Huge" - Simian Mobile Disco ft. Chis Keating

6. "Heads Will Roll" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

5. "Evacuate The Dancefloor" - Cascada

4. "Little Secrets" - Passion Pit

3. "1901" - Phoenix

2. "My Girls" - Animal Collective

1. "Empire State of Mind" - Jay-Z

LAST.FM MOST PLAYED ARTIST of 2009

10. Eminem

9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs

8. Lil Wayne

7. Drake

6. Fleet Foxes

5. U2

4. Animal Collective

3. Kid Cudi

2. Radiohead

1. Jay-Z

In related news, we just ended a decade so here is my favorite music from the past decade:

TOP ALBUMS of the 2000s:

15. Kanye West - The College Dropout

14. Justice - Cross

13. Jay-Z - The Blueprint

12. Stars - Set Yourself On Fire

11. Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism

10. Passion Pit - Manners

9. Sufjan Stevens - Come On Feel The Illionoise!

8. Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People

7. The National - Boxer

6. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake Its Morning

5. Radiohead - Kid A

4. The Postal Service - Give Up

3. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America

2. Radiohead - In Rainbows

1. Arcade Fire - Funeral

Honorable Mentions:

Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker

The White Stripes - Elephant

Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Girl Talk - Night Ripper

TOP SONGS of the 2000s:

25. "Apartment Story" - The National

24. "Live Your Life" - T.I. ft. Rihanna

23. "Does He Love You" - Rilo Kiley

22. "When You Were Young" - The Killers

21. "Beautiful Day" - U2

20. "Sleepyhead" - Passion Pit

19. "Do You Realize??" - The Flaming Lips

18. "Wolf Like Me" - TV On The Radio

17. "Come Pick Me Up" - Ryan Adams

16. "Atlas" - Battles

15. "Fell In Love With A Girl" - The White Stripes

14. "99 Problems" - Jay-Z

13. "My Girls" - Animal Collective

12. "Kids" - MGMT

11. "Empire State of Mind" - Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys

10. "The Funeral" - Band of Horses

9. "All My Friends" - LCD Soundsystem

8. "Stronger" - Kanye West

7. "Crazy" - Gnarls Barkley

6. "Paper Planes" - M.I.A.

5. "Digital Love" - Daft Punk

4. "Maps" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

3. "Rebellion (Lies)" - Arcade Fire

2. "Such Great Heights" - The Postal Service

1. "Reckoner" - Radiohead

TOP ARTISTS of 2000s:

10. Jack White (The White Stripes/The Raconteurs/The Dead Weather)

9. Wilco

8. Death Cab For Cutie

7. Daft Punk

6. The National

5. The Hold Steady

4. Arcade Fire

3. Jay-Z

2. Kanye West

1. Radiohead

Its been a hell of a decade, but now its on to the next one...

MidPoints - Now On Twitter @MidPointsMusic

2009-11-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

Hello there! I've decided to take MidPoints into the future with it's very own dedicated Twitter account. I'm a busy guy and there is a lot of stuff I want to share but sometimes don't have the time to post and I don't want to wait for my ScatterPoints recaps to get it out there. So check it out at: www.twitter.com/MidPointsMusic

Also, I reworked the layout! You like?

ScatterPoints #3: Mid/Late Novemberish

2009-11-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a breif recap of the past weeks in the world of MidPoints music...

MUSIC VIDEOS:

Passion Pit - Little Secrets

Any music video with bright colors and journeys through space is a winner in my book. Way to make it happen, Passion Pit. Unfortunately, the embed feature is locked on this video, but it's definitely worth checking out. Watch the HD "Little Secrets" video on YouTube.

One Sentence Reviews:

The xx - xx

Rating: 92/100

Dark, sexy and simple, The xx's debut album is one of the most finely crafted indie-pop records of the year and it proves that minimalism can still be both stunningly complex and dramatically infectious.

High Point Tracks: "Heart Skipped A Beat", "Crystalised"

Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk

Rating: 82/100

Like most super-groups, the more you enjoy the collected of works of Bright Eyes, My Morning Jacket and M. Ward, the more you will enjoy the Monsters of Folk's eclectic and satisfying debut album.

High Point Tracks: "Say Please", "Slow Down Jo"

Michael Jackson - Dangerous

Rating: 76/100

The most surprising and condemning aspect of Dangerous is the fact that it is by far his most dated sounding album, though the stand out tracks are as good as anything the King of Pop has ever released.

High Point Tracks: "Black or White", "Will You Be There"

ScatterPoints #2: Late October/Early Novemberish

2009-11-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a breif recap of this past weekish in the world of MidPoints music...

ScatterPoints #2: Late October/Early Novemberish

Welcome back to ScatterPoints! This week I've got some hot new track downloads, music videos and a handful of reviews. Lets go!

DOWNLOAD THIS ISH:

"Mirrors" - Wale ft. Bun B (Produced by Mark Ronson)

Hey Wale, this song is awesome. I've been on a crazy Bun B/UGK kick lately, so way to time your leaks with my mood. Can't wait for your new album!

"Bye Bye Bayou" - LCD Soundsystem (Alan Vega Cover)

Long, bizarre and dancey as shit "Bye Bye Bayou" is typical LCD Soundsystem in the best way possible. New album drops in March of 2010 and it can't come quickly enough.

WATCH THESE VIDEOS:

ONE SENTENCE REVIEWS:

Lil Wayne - No Ceilings

Rating: 77/100

It's been a while since Weezy has released anything really noteworthy and it looks like it could be years before we get Rebirth or Tha Carter IV, but until that day arrives No Ceilings serves as uncharacteristically sleek and focused addition to the Lil Wayne mixtape canon.

High Point Track: "I Gotta Feeling"

Michael Jackson - This Is It (Special Edition)

Rating: 95/100

Contrary to what it would seem This Is It, is NOT the live recordings from the film or the rehearsals but rather just the original recordings of the songs that appear in the film making it essentially another greatest hits collection although the new song "This Is It" and the surprisingly incredible bonus disc demos make this a must-have for serious MJ fans.

High Point Track: "This Is It"

FILM REVIEW:

Michael Jackson's This Is It

So I went and saw This Is It this past weekend and it offered an immensely fascinating look inside the final months of the legendary entertainers life. The film is entirely comprised of rehearsal footage for MJ's 50 show residency at London's O2 Arena and clearly was never meant to be an actual feature length film as much of the footage is lo-fi and incomplete. That being said, the film perfectly illustrates the eccentric genius of Michael Jackson. As I walked out of the film I came to the conclusion that he is essentially a mad scientist; as bizarre and bat-shit crazy as he is meticulous and intelligent. His approach to his music and his show was unlike anything I have ever seen. The film outs Jackson as a perfectionist (to put it lightly) but it simultaneously shows us that the results of his process are truly unparalleled in popular entertainment. In one of the most insightful and intriguing scenes, Jackson discusses his music with the show's sound director and he explains that the music must sound exactly as he wrote it. Rather than updating or reorganizing his timeless compositions, MJ wanted to his show to be a flawless replication of the original recordings; demanding that the audience hear it precisely how they have been listening to it for years (this explains why the This Is It album is the just original recordings). Had the This Is It concert series ever actually made it to the stage, it would have been everything he promised: a show that is entirely dedicated to the fans. Decades after his prime, the man still could dance and sing exactly as he was able to in the 80s and he even looked pretty much the same although I have a sneaking suspicion that he has had some work done. Overall, the film was enormously satisfying and anyone who has ever enjoyed his work would be wise to see what he was planning for his own personal finale. Unfortunately, This Is It ends essentially the same way Jackson's life did: abrupt, unexpected and sadly incomplete.