jb-easy

[jb-easy]

SoundCheck: Issue Three (05.26.2017)

Spotlight: Linkin Park – One More Light

I have long been a supporter of Linkin Park moving away from their Nu-Metal sound and embracing a new territory sonically in the name of artistic freedom. For the most part, I quite enjoyed the direction they took after Meteora. I was quite excited when I heard they were hard at work with a new album. I got to thinking, “If it sounds anything like 2014’s The Hunting Party, then I’m in for a treat” then last week, I received an advanced copy of One More Light. Honestly, I wasn’t feeling it at first, but around the third or fourth listen it began to click for me. Major props to LP for thinking so far outside the box and producing a very solid Pop album. Slickly produced and great incorporation of guitar work (wear headphones and you can really hear all the nuances and layers) You can tell great care went into the making of One More Light.

That said, the knock against the album is that it despite the efforts of genre-bending, the album at a few points almost sounds like pretty much every current pop song on the radio today, which honestly is pretty disappointing. It doesn’t help that LP have never lit the world on fire with their lyric writing, so bringing in co-writers this go around actually hurt the lyric writing more than helping them as it all comes across pretty generic. The saving grace is that underneath the processed vocals, bells and whistles that goes into a Pop album, it still sounds distinctively LP and I can’t be mad at that.

In short – this assuredly won’t rank as one of my favorite LP albums, but if you take this work for what it is and NOT what you want it to be, you’ll find a very cohesive, competent and well produced if not a slightly middling Pop/Pop-Rock album that could easily hold it’s own against it’s contemporaries.

Other bits and pieces:

Misterwives – Connect the Dots

Two years removed from their stellar debut album Our Own House, the New York based five piece Indie-Pop outfit Misterwives are back with sophomore effort Connect the Dots. How does it stack up? Well pretty darn well, if I may say so.

First track and lead single “Machine” kicks off the whole album and serves as a tone setter for the rest of the album of sorts, that tone being loud, bombastic with extremely catchy choruses. It also sets the message of the album. A message of embracing one’s own dreams and individuality which is heard in each of the LP’s eleven tracks. From a production standpoint, everything sounds great. You can hear the intricacy of each instrument and interesting things are done throughout. My negative may sound like a contradiction to my positives, but the albums shortcoming comes in the form of the overall formula of the composition. While there is diversity in the music, everything starts to run together halfway through the album. What I mean by that is musically almost all the songs build to the same vibe (anthemic choruses + peppy indie drum sections = Misterwives song) though if I recall, I don’t quite remember Our Own House being quite this formulaic in that regard, which makes it a stronger album in my opinion.

Despite that little niggle, Connect the Dots is still a fantastic album that’s quite different than what’s currently floating out in pop music today.

Blink 182 – California (Deluxe Edition)

So this review is more about the deluxe portion of the album, as California proper dropped last year, in which I thought was a fun record despite the lack of Tom Delonge. Here we have eleven additional tracks to the main that takes a slightly darker tone musically and sonically than in the original album. What the songs in the first release, has been improved in the Deluxe release, if only slightly. Overall the lyrics have improved and Matt Skiba, while providing great riffs, rehashed quite a few for the new songs (which may make since if these songs were recorded in the same session)

Production and mixing honestly is a mixed bag. Over processed vocals and excessive use of pitch correction and auto-tune is still ever present in this edition of California. Also as a huge fan of Travis Barker’s work, I feel like his percussion were muted and understated. Let’s not get on the issue of letting Blink get away with way to many “Woahs” on this album. I felt maybe they could’ve been pushed a little harder. Despite all that, even if it’s not by much, the Deluxe edition of California is still a great, fun summer record and I’m still as excited about new Blink 182 than I ever have. Just get a different producer next time.

#blink 182 #misterwives #linkin park #music #dance pop #rock #pop #connect the dots #one more light #california deluxe

[jb-easy]

SoundCheck: Issue Two (05.12.2017)

It’s that time again. Another week, another SoundCheck! Enjoy!!

Spotlight: Lupe Fiasco – "Coulda Been"

I can’t tell you how many times I listened to this one over the weekend. In this aptly named track, Lupe spits about what life would be like for him if he never got into hip-hop:

“I could be hustlin’ bags / Strugglin’ bad, if I wasn’t up in the lab. Shit, I just might be cuttin’ your grass / Walkin’ your dog, pumpin’ your gas / Or nothin’ at all.” 

He raps in the chorus.

The track touches on various different vocations from being a grappler, to being homeless, to being an exterminator (The Orkin man, if you must know) before ultimately revealing that everyone has their own path to follow:

“Shit, I could be you, I could be him, he could be me, we all got a job.”

Combine the lyrics with the old school vibe the beat lays out, makes this one a worthy listen and honestly one of my favorite Lupe tracks in a while!

Other Bits and Pieces:

Paramore – After Laughter:

     I get it now. Totally. I bemoaned their last single “Told You So” and said I wasn’t digging the new direction at all. In a shocking turn of events, after finally listening to the album as a whole work, I actually quite like it. As a matter of fact, this is my favorite pop album of the year so far (to be fair, I said that singles don’t tell the whole story)

       Underneath the brightly colored, crisply produced LP still lies the angst and emo-centric lyrical content the band is known for. It’s almost as if Williams is at odds with the texture of the record. That’s what makes it work. After Laughter, while excellent, isn’t as good as 2013’s Self-titled. But it makes up for that in sheer execution and focus, something I felt the last one was missing.

PSY: 8th 4x2=8.

Long before the sensation that was “Gangnam Style” I was a PSY fan. He has a certain charm in delivery, performance and production. This album is no different. 

I’ll just leave this one here…

See ya next time!

#psy #8th4x2=8 #paramore #after laughter #lupe fiasco #coulda been #new face #rap #hip-hop #pop #rock #kpop

[jb-easy]

SoundCheck: Issue One (05.05.2017)

I’m baaaaack! Oh, and yay for new things!! So this post will eventually move over to a new Tumblr account (or a new blogging site altogether), because let’s just say this one has run it’s course. I figured I’d get one more post in as a send off to this one and kickoff to the new one!

So with that said, as opposed to me doing a long form review, I’m going to try something a little different. As I listen to more music than I care to admit, I figured I’d give you a snapshot of new music I’m listening to on a weekly basis. Hence the name: “Sounds of the Weekend” (catchy, right?) I’ll absolutely will do more long form reviews, but only if time in my hectic life will permit. Also, I have severe writer’s rust. I’ll need to shake that one off before I start tackling the big ums. So without further ado, let’s get to it!

Spotlight: Chris Stapleton -- From A Room: Volume 1:

My goodness. So far, this is my album of the year. By far. While not as polished as 2015’s Traveler, The production matches the output. I love the old 70’s Country vibe that’s present on the first half and the Bluesy feel of the second half. Pair it with Stapleton’s soulful, raspy vocals (man, that voice. I could listen to him sing all day), you got yourself a surefire hit. The only negative that I have is that it’s criminally short at a little over half an hour, which makes the weaker tracks on this 9 song LP (hello, “Them Stems”) stand out. Thankfully, Volume 2 releases later this year. More Stapleton in my life is always a good thing.

Notable Tracks: “Either Way” and “I Was Wrong”

Other Bits and Pieces:

Logic – Everybody: Far be it for me to say an album that speaks to my struggles comes across a little too preachy, but this is exactly how this album feels. I can’t really put my finger on it, even though I liked it well enough, it just sort of falls short in the lyrical prowess department. While I enjoyed the layered production, Everybody isn’t nearly as good as Logic’s previous output.

At the Drive-In – Inter Aila: What can I say, it’s At the Drive-In. In 2017. It’s been 17 years since their last fantastic and critical release, Relationship Command. While Inter Aila feels a little too nostalgic in places, it still lays a solid foundation for the El Paso, Post-Hardcore quintet to build on.

Fall Out Boy – “Young and Menace”: Technically, this one released last weekend and I’m just now catching it, but I gotta say, I don’t hate it. Then again I’ve never hated any current-day FOB singles, it’s always been the LP as a whole I’ve taken issue what with what how overproduced it it all sounds. Do you remember the scene from Walk Hard, when Dewy was in the studio, tripped out on LSD and he kept adding on instuments and other random noises until it was just a jumbled hot mess? Yea, that’s what current day FOB sounds like. I shall resvere judgement and see how M A N I A goes when it drops this September.

Paramore – “Told You So”: I just can’t. I tried, but I just can’t. Maybe I need to listen to it a few more times, but I’m not really digging the new direction they are taking. That said, singles don’t tell the whole story, so the jury is still out…

That’s all for now. See ya next week.

#chris stapleton #fall out boy #logic #paramore #at the drive-in #music #hip-hop #country #pop #quest entertainment

[jb-easy]

An example of Google Play's "I'm feeling lucky" radio gone wrong!

#miley cyrus #google #google play music #pop #music

[jb-easy]

A few observations about the X-Factor:

-The editing is extremely poor. -Most of the singers I've seen thus far this season sound like hot garbage. -Paulina Rubio is stunning

That is all.

#x factor #paulina rubio #demi lovato #simon cowell #music #reality television #singing #competition #kelly rowland

[jb-easy]

I may not write up a review on this, but I thought I'd point out right quick that I've given Drake's "Nothing Was The Same" a couple spins and I really dig it. Way better than that snooze fest that was "Take Care"

#drake #nothing was the same #ymcmb #hip hop #rap #music #leak #take care #new album

[jb-easy]

I'm by no means defending Miley, but oddly this is very true!

i looked at the comments on miley’s ‘wrecking ball’ and everyone’s like “slut!” “she’s shaming her family!” “why is she naked???”

but when you look at the comments for ‘blurred lines’ everyone’s like “aw hot naked girls”

like what the fuck a woman is allowed to be naked and used as a novelty in a man’s music video but a woman is not allowed to be naked in her own video?????

hmm

#Music #wrecking ball #miley cyrus #blurred lines #robin thicke #Naked women #music video

[jb-easy]

Google knows me so well, it's almost scary.... Review forthcoming.

#google #GoogleNow #technology #music #GooglePlay #moving mountains #triple crown records #post-rock #album #review

[jb-easy]

Bravery looks alot like Confidence…

Martin Boersma  (via bluerangerginger)

[jb-easy]

My weekly post of the Moving Mountains Telegraph Sessions. This one is titled, "Chords." These sessions just keep getting better!

#moving mountains #Telegraph sessions #chords #Triple Crown Records #post rock #music #youtube

[jb-easy]

So I've been commissioned again to work with a Hip-Hop act. Let's hope things go a little more swimmingly than last time.

#hip hop #producer #music #questcosgrove #rap #studio

[jb-easy]

It's totally one of those kind of days.

#the eagles #hotel california #classic rock #rock #Music #Music Mondays #70s #1977

[jb-easy]

Just started listening to the new Neko Case Album...

...and not sure how I feel about it yet. More to come.

#neko case #alt-country #indie #folk #americana #The worse things get the harder i fight the harder i fight the more i love you #new album #music

[jb-easy]

Man, I love how these guys feel every single note! The musical interlude from 2:06 on... I can't even!

Song: Hudson [Telegraph Sessions] Artist: Moving Mountains

#Hudson #moving mountains #post rock #telegraph sessions #music #triple crown records #rock #youtube

[jb-easy]

I love dance. I would say that I love it almost as much as music. I think it's one of the most graceful,  beautiful, expressive forms of art out there. You can say so much through the power of dance. Granted, I wasn't gifted with the the ability to dance, it's never stopped me from trying and it sure hasn't hampered my joy of watching others perform.

That said, I have a confession to make; I'm a huge fan of So You Think You Can Dance. I have been since it premiered nine seasons ago. It's for the very reasons I stated above. It's my favorite show of the summer and one of my favorite shows period. An example why is this beautiful performance this past week.

The story behind the piece is wonderful: It's about two brothers. One that hits rock bottom and gets a second chance in life and the other who helps and supports him with his new chance in life. This one was definitely one of my favorite performances this season. It's also placed among my favorites across the whole series. The song, the message, the performance and the emotion makes this a must watch in my opinion.

Song: Medicine Artist: Daughter Album: The Wild Youth EP

#so you think you can dance #sytycd #travis wall #robert roldan #tucker knox #season 10 #dance #medicine #daughter #the wild youth ep #sytycd contemporary

[jb-easy]

Ha. Love it!

RZA & GZA meet Bill Murray.

#hip hop #wu tang #wu tang clan #rza #gza #genius #bill murray #ghostbusters #groundhogs day

[jb-easy]

I literally haven't heard a skip worthy song yet. At this rate, this one is shaping up to be my album of the year and it hasn't even been released yet!

Song: Eastern Leaves [Telegraph Sessions]

Band: Moving Mountains

#moving mountains #Eastern Leaves #Telegraph sessions #post rock #Triple Crown Records #rock #music #youtube