Some more filler stuff...

Okay the best of '08 list is almost done. It's like 75% written. So to fill the void I have a pretty sweet best of '08 vid from Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

FUNNY THING!

I don't watch Saturday Night Live because I don't think it's that funny anymore. But thanks to the lovely people at Hulu, I found this gem that has Ricky Gervais doing a good monologue.



HA HA HA HA HA!

Holy Mackerel!

Another Pro Wrestling based entry, so again, if you are too cool to waste 8 minutes of your life on something that will make you go "Oh shit!" like a dozen times feel free to X out of the window, but if you are open to watching something awesome, you are in the right place. This is from Total Nonstop Action wrestling, there's no date, but I can imagine it's from some time from 02-04. Like if you ever doubted that people could seriously get hurt watch this...



Wow. Just wow. It's funny how bad TNA is now compared to this kind of stuff. I'll leave that for another time, but wow.

ALSO, the top 20 albums of the year is in the works, and will be posted ASAP!

Kanye West is kind of stupid...

I'm not gonna ramble on about what I think of Kanye West, but he sang without a vocoder on SNL and here is the final result...

(NBC removed the vid...go find it yourselves.)

Jesus. I understand he wants to show he can sing, but he can't sing that well at all. I'll speak more of this subject on a different occasion but I just can't get over this.

Smashing Pumpkins are kind of crazy...

Well since last years Zeitgeist was a critical flop, regardless of how hard it rocked, Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin said that they're not going to try and compete with the digital music buyers who only pay $1 for a single rather than $10-15 for an album, so instead they'll just do singles from now until they lose relevance once again. Which will probably be soon judging by their idiodic method. So they made two new tracks, "G.L.O.W." and "Superchrist" as a digital EP.



So Billy, you wanna forget making an entire album in favor of making single-style songs that fans will eat up? Why in the hell are you making a seven minute, mostly instrumental track? Is that going to be as big as "1979" or "Tonight Tonight"? No. You are making me hate you. Please stop. I liked Zeitgeist. Don't ruin yourselves for forgiving old me.

My Christmas movie dilemma.

Okay. I'm the type of guy that I either see a movie the weekend it comes out or I forget completely, and come Christmas I seem to have a bit of a problem because there's not one, not two but THREE movies I'm interested in. Let me just give you a little break down of movies I wanna see in backwards order.

Number Three:
The Spirit



It looks like a ripoff of Sin City, but seeing as Frank Miller is directing it than I don't really care that much. But I've read a years worth of Spirit comics and I don't see how that upright citizen who lives in his own crypt turned out to be a womanizing bad-ass. Sam Jackson looks awesome as the Octopus, so I guess that's a plus. But the big negative is the PG-13 rating. A guy movie about a womanizing superhero starring EVA MENDES, SCARLETT JOHANSSON and the chick from Sin City that has a PG-13 rating basically means that us nerdy fanboys aren't getting any sugar. At least with the R we can hope.

Number Two:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button



I love David Fincher. Fight Club and Seven are two of my favorites ("Wow those two aren't the most cliché movies to have on your favorites list!") and they both have Brad Pitt acting his heart out. This is getting a lot of Oscar hype too, it looks really interesting to say the least and I have been looking forward to this. I just don't want to pay to see a mind-fuck of a movie when I could be going and watching the Spirit kill the Octopus or I could be going to see....

Number One:
Valkyrie



TOM CRUISE KILLING HITLER. Did I mention I also love Bryan Singer. X-Men 2 and The Usual Suspects are also on my list of favorites ("Wow just when I thought he couldn't get any more common!") and this looks to be in the same vein...and by same vein I mean kick-ass. This looks like one of those movies that I'll leave the theater going "That was everything I wanted and more!" Where Mr. Button and Mr. Spirit both are likely to have me going "Wow. That was...good." rather than my unrestrained Nazi-killing excitement that I think will come from Valkyrie.

So yeah, there goes $40 at the movies. Hooray for stimulating the economy!

Eminem gets owned...

Not literally, but "Number One," the absolutely horrible new track that is supposedly on Em's new album samples "Preservation" a track from the Dreddy Kreuger helmed Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture album that came out in 2005. If Eminem wanted to sample somebody he should've tried sampling someone who wasn't as good as he was.

Here's the Slim track...



And here's Aesop and Del.



You be the judge. Even forgiving the terrible audio quality on the Eminem track, Aesop and Del both rap circles around him...and I don't even think Eminem is bad!

Elementary #3

Okay, the second to last issue of the Chronicle came out yesterday and even though it was submitted forever ago, Elementary #1 was not featured. Hooray! So I figure there is absolutely no reason not to give you, the one person who comes here, the good fortune to see what may end up being the last issue of Elementary...ever.



Soak it in.

Elementary #2

It's back! I don't know whether or not the Hofstra Chronicle plans on running the first issue, which I sent them 2 weeks ago, but regardless, the first set of comics is a bit of a trilogy, and there are only two papers left. So without any more rambling...here it is...the second issue in the Elementary premier trfecta.

The Top 5 Awesomely Terrible Songs

Now we all have those songs on our iPod’s that are meant to be funny, whether they be inside jokes that form from association, like that time we almost got Bill laid by putting on “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham, or whether they’re actually funny songs like all of Weird Al’s famed discography. There is sarcasm there.

But in the day of Tenacious D and Flight of the Conchords, the art of making funny music seems to be mainly built on delivering offbeat punchlines over sweet instrumentals (I mean, Kyle Gass is a beast at guitar). But there is that market out there…those people that take themselves a bit too seriously, or perhaps go in the opposite direction and go completely off the deep end in an effort to gain notoriety, and with that I present to you…the top five songs that may be funny, but are also awesome.

5. The Rock ft. Slick Rick-Pie



It’s funny to think that a decade ago the Rock wasn’t a Hollywood star, but it always is a little fun to reminisce about the olden days of Rocky’s wrestling career. Whether it be his notable feuds, or his trademark promos, The Rock seemed to be the hands down king of pro wrestling. But the comedy-rap track off of WWF The Music: Volume 5 in 2001 “Pie” was met with harsh criticism, saying it wasn’t funny and it took away from Rocky’s credibility. Amazon.com user Jay Hunter deemed the song, “A rather poor attempt at the Rock at lyrical humour.” But…it’s one of those songs you just have to listen to, and in it’s poorness, it is genius. The Rock knows how absolutely corny the song is, but he runs with it and makes it an ingenious track that makes you want to show your friends, and has you humming along with gospel singers and spitting The Rock’s poorly delivered raps. Dats good pie!

4. Riskay-Smell Yo Dick



The title of the song makes you laugh, as does the hook “Why you comin’ home / 5 in tha morn / Somethings going on can I smell yo dick?” But this track is awesome because there is sincerity in it. Riskay actually wants to boil down to the problem she’s having and find out if her man is cheating or not, and what’s the easiest way? Smelling his dick when he comes home at 5 AM from a night of doing who knows what! And the verses are great, the third verse, done by rapper Real, is a highlight, denying his girl the right to smell his dick. If it weren’t for the chorus, this marvelous track would fumble, but Riskay hit the gold mine.

3. Leonard Nimoy- The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins



This cult hymn based on The Hobbit was and written by composer Charles Randolf Grean. The subject matter is laughable, and considering it’s Spock singing, the track loses all credibility and just becomes a hokey gimmick for Sci-Fi nerds. But what makes the “Ballad” great is the backing band, the music itself is incredibly catchy and they seemed to know just how to wrap the music around the stupidity of the lyrics. And the bassoon solo towards the end is just classic. Leonard really should be a mainstay in music, but I guess Shatner was too hard of a competitor.

2. Chuggo-Ah C’Mon



Canadian based rapper Chuggo is one of the ugliest and most annoying people I’ve ever seen. He’s short, he’s weird looking, and he carries a big skull staff wherever he goes. That enough gives him this spot on the list. However, on the track “Ah C’Mon” Chuggo really exceeds all of the weirdness contributed to him by his image alone. He raps like he has a disorder of sorts, and he fumbles lines in order to fit them into the beat. The first verse is classic in regard to his relentless confidence in the terrible, terrible rhymes, the blink-drink-stink-ink rhyme scheme is classic. And the video is a perfect sidekick to the music, placing Chuggo in front of green screens, throwing trashy women on top of him, and having his friends pretend like they’re driving a car when they clearly aren’t. But the beat is infectious, the simple piano line is extremely entertaining, and the rousing chorus will have you singing along before the song is even over. At the end of the video we see a Hollywood-esque sign in the hills that reads “Chuggo Would” and when you listen to this song, it all makes sense.

1. Kevin Federline- PopoZão



Most well known for his marriage to the talent-less Britney Spears, Kevin Federline went from being hated by the world, to being sympathized for, because after all, who wants to be the one guy to say he is the father of the bald umbrella wielding woman’s children? But who can forget K-Fed’s attempt at music, before he released his album Playing With Fire, he put the track “PopoZão” on the internet in hopes of gaining some buzz. But when critics bashed it’s corny themes and even cornier lyrics, Federline pulled it from the album. But let’s take a step back. What makes a pop track in this day and age? A good beat, PopoZão has this. A dance? Watch the video, Kevin gives this a dance. A catchy hook? The first time I heard it I couldn’t stop singing “Po-po-po-po PopoZão! PopoZão!” and what else, oh a talentless leech rapping? Federline fits the bill. This track is glorious, and the video of Federline in the studio is priceless, I mean, how many people can honestly sit in the studio, play their track and dance along like him? He just wants to see some po-po-zao.

Why doesn't this happen more often?

I was aimlessly searching for my favorite bands live on Youtube, and this came up for Queens of the Stone Age, but it has CEE-LO and DAVE GROHL which is so sweet. Check it out punks.

The Montreal Screwjob

Holy moly. I've heard tall tales about the legendary Montreal Screwjob but I've never actually watched it until today.

For those ill informed, this screwjob took place in the WWF ("Oh boy he's talking about professional wrestling? I'm un-bookmarking this!") where the schedules match ending was botched because of contract disagreements between two legends, Bret Hart and Shawn Michaesl.



He didn't even tap!

Lights is cool.

So I crewed a gig with one okay band called Cute is What We Aim For and one shitty band called Boys Like Girls, but their opener was this trancy-techno chick named Lights. And she's totally awesome and for some reason I can't get this track out of my head.



So basically I've traded my balls in for the oppurtunity to enjoy this beautiful music.

Some dumb iTunes shuffle thing...a.k.a. "A Little Stronger"

Here it goes...

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Jimi Hendrix Experience-Crosstown Traffic

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
M.I.A.-Paper Planes

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Vampire Weekend-Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Kelly Clarkson-Since U Been Gone

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Beck-Devil's Haircut

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
KISS-Calling Dr. Love (finally a humorous one!)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Eazy-E- We Want Eazy (two for two)

WHAT IS 2+2?
Queens of the Stone Age-No One Knows (three for three!)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Cake-Nugget (lyrically this is sort of funny, I guess it works)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Kanye West-Stronger

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Common ft. Lily Allen-Drivin' Me Wild

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Guns 'n Roses-My Michelle

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Kanye West-Diamonds from Sierra Leone


WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Common-Be


WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Big D and the Kids Table-Wailing Paddle (Wow. Skank circle at my wedding?)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Isaac Hayes-Two Cool Guys (Oh yes that deep voice will rock the funeral)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Buckethead ft. Saul Williams-Three Fingers

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Crash Test Dummies-I Think I'll Disappear Now

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Dangerdoom ft. Cee-Lo-Benzi Box

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Gorillaz-Clint Eastwood

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
George Harrison-Got My Mind Set on You (jeez this has been sucking since Isaac Hayes)

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
The Kinks-This Time Tomorrow

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
N*E*R*D*-Spaz

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Wolfmother-Joker & the Thief

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
The Hives-T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S. (inconclusive?)

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Green Day-Basket Case


DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Lil Wayne ft. T-Pain-Got Money (hell yes.)


IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Red Hot Chili Peppers-Rollercoaster of Love

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
John Mayer-Good Love is on the Way (if it's on the way then it shouldn't hurt)


WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Code Anchor-A Little Stronger

Elemtary #1

Hey everybody. I'm thinking about making a weekly comic for my schools newspaper the Hofstra Chronicle (check it out at http://hofstrachronicle.com) and I just want a little feedback before I go shipping out a product. The comic is called "Elementary" and is basically a recollection of childhood events as well as some stereotypical childhood events through the eyes of an adult looking back. Because I've noticed that as I look back on things I change the wording, re-work the situation and add my adult self into the shoes of a 5-12 year old me. So here is issue #1, let me know what you think.

R.I.P. Mitch Mitchell

For those unaware Mitch Mitchell passed away today. For those unaware Mitchell was the drummer of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Him and the late bassist Noel Redding are two of the most underrated musicians of all time and let's all just give Mr. Mitchell a moment of silence, or a moment of listening to any of the Experience albums.



Listen to "Manic Depression" if you have any doubt that Mitchell (and Redding as well) were on par with Hendrix musically.

My first Watchmen rant

For all those who have been living under a rock and haven’t seen The Dark Knight, attached to it was that really weird trailer with the blue guy and the Smashing Pumpkins song for a movie called Watchmen. Now, as many of you know the film is based on a graphic novel of the same name written by the king of the medium Alan Moore. Now, when I saw Dark Knight, all the high school jocks and frat boys in the audience saw “From the director of 300” and started mumbling to each other, “Whoa dude, this is gonna be cool,” but Watchmen is the furthest thing from 300. Let’s just say the action that defined 300 is limited to about 3 sequences in Watchmen, and the plot is much more interesting than a few battles and a whore wife (who couldn’t act) trying to overthrow some stupid all male government.

But with this movie coming out I have one major qualm, and that is that a book that I’ve held closer than any other in recent years is more than likely going to be ruined by massive media hype, as well as an audience of millions that will only know it for it’s film version. While it’s cool to see the world exposed to the content, it’s one of those things that no matter how loyal it is to the book, reading it panel for panel is an experience that must be had to truly appreciate the work that is Watchmen. Alan Moore has never been a fan of his works being made to film, V for Vendetta is seemingly the closest one to the source material, and for those that have read the book, it’s really not that close at all. So of course Mr. Moore would be upset about seeing his child, and the most beloved work in the graphic novel medium, get the same treatment. I just feel as though the novel is fantastic as a standalone piece of media and should be experienced in it’s original content before it’s seen on movie screens. All of you Harry Potter fans probably have similar feelings towards those movies.




With that in mind, I beg all of you who saw that trailer, liked it, and haven’t read the graphic novel to get out there and do it. And for those who think that because it’s a comic book it’ll be all fun and light like Iron Man, you’re incredibly wrong. Let me put it this way, Watchmen as a book is about 100 times better than The Dark Knight was as a movie. So for those of you who thought that Dark Knight was the first “deep” comic book experience, you are very, very wrong. The philosophies of all the characters, as well as the overall depth exceed anything that Dark Knight threw and the originality is so sharp and unpredictable. And I don’t mean to make it like I disliked Dark Knight, I thought it was fantastic, but the feeling that was going through me as I left the theater wasn’t even comparable to that of when I finished Watchmen for the first time.


I’m not going to rant and rave anymore about something that damn near changed my life some three years ago, I’m going to make a desperate call to you readers unfamiliar with the source material. Read Watchmen, I urge you too, hell I will go to you with my copy and hand it to you myself if it gets you to read that book before the movie comes out. Because god knows we’ve lost V and the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen to the millions who are “too cool to read comic books.” Think about it. And seriously, I will bring you my copy if it gets you to read it.

Eagles of Death Metal are AWESEOME!

For those unfamiliar with Eagles of Death Metal, take Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, add in the equally talented and insane Jesse Hughes and you have the coolest rock I've heard all year.

Check out this track.



The album is Heart On and it will rock your face off.

Check this out.

c/o iGoogle, when you do this look at one of the yellow dots and the other two will disappear.



DAMN!

Fanboys?

This movie has been on my radar for a while and it finally looks like it's gonna see the light of day.



Apparently there were some issues over the content, cause the Weinstein's wanted a more marketable outcome. I just pray it's good because god knows half the people in it aren't funny. George Lucas loved it, but then again he directed the prequel trilogy and you'd think he has to like his own movies.

The greatest music video of all time...

Now a lot of people say that Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice" is the greatest video of all time, but nothing epitomizes the 90's and G Funk more than Snoop Dogg's "Who Am I? (What's My Name?)" because it's just a hilarious video and the song is so darned catchy.

The future?

Let's be honest, this blog doesn't get updated all that often.

Because again, let's be honest, I don't have too much to say all the time, unless you want short entries where I write two sentences about how much I hate a certain album, song, artist, or how much I love it.

And let's not forget that I'm pretty much a nerd in general. Just like Dwight Schrute I have seen many films (I don't know whether or not the number is more than 240, I feel like it is) and I clock in many an hour watching my usual programs. So from hencefourth...Winch's Listening Corner is no longer solely a "listening" corner...but just a blog.


"But Dave, does this mean you'll stop giving us insightful lists about your favorite music and artists?"

No Mr. Christ, it means that I'm just going to do what everybody does. Post shit that makes me laugh, or makes me think, or things I happen to be thinking.

So let's all have fun okay?

Entry #7: My Life: An Album Mini-Review Session

So a few months back I was tagged in a note by a buddy of mine asking me to do a simple thing about my favorite albums for each year I was born. Being the nerd that I am, I wrote little tidbits about each one. So lets begin shall we?

1988:

N.W.A.-Straight Outta Compton



Strangely enough, the only real competition for this year is Public Enemy. However, the power and cultural impact that Compton had more than merits its place over PE's It Takes A Nation of Millions. While the first three tracks are so well known for being these in-your-face gangsta tracks, the rest of the album does have some “diversity” to offer. Two of the best tracks are Ice Cube fronted “I Aint Tha 1” and “A Bitch iz a Bitch” which really talk about the same thing. I didn’t say it offers much diversity. Also, Eazy completely tears it up, as his verses are easily the most entertaining on the album. And “Express Yourself” is one of the best songs in hip-hop.

1989:

Beastie Boys-Paul’s Boutique



This album is the perfect picture of what a sophomore album should be. While on License to Ill, the Beastie’s really got into their trademark rhythm, Paul’s sees them rarely breaking into that, as each songs different vibe dictates a different rhyme scheme. And who can forget all of the sampling controversy this album caused? It’s ridiculous to think that what they did here was legal, but it definitely adds a bit of a gimmick to the album that guys like Girl Talk are employing today.

1990:

Primus-Frizzle Fry



To me, Frizzle Fry may be the most entertaining and memorable Primus albums. While the later Seas of Cheese and Pork Soda both offer their fair share of gems, this album is the sort of thing that just takes the entire idea of what they stood for and throws it in your face. Claypool has some of his best basslines here from “Groundhog’s Day” to “John the Fisherman” to “Too Many Puppies.” Just an awesome funky album.

1991:

Red Hot Chili Peppers-Blood Sugar Sex Magik



The Peppers at their best. While everything following this album sees them trying to capture the glory of this, they never have been able to come close to it. Although the mixing is a bit too low as far as the master volume is concerned, the content of the album more than makes up for the lack of loudness. Before Kiedis was doing his “Zephyr Song” style swooning he was ripping it up with tracks like “Mellowship Slinky in B Major” and “Sir Psycho Sexy” which are highlights of the album. And the rhythmic cohesiveness of Flea, Frusciante and Smith is stunning.

1992:

Rage Against the Machine-Rage Against the Machine



This album is perfect to me. It’s chaotic, it’s beautiful, it’s scary, and it never backs down. Zack de la Rocha’s sharp lyrics, combined with the master rhythm section of Tom Morello, Brad Wilk and Tim Commerford equal an incredibly fresh sound that has yet to be matched as far as quality is concerned. The ten tracks bounce off each other very well, moving the moods with ease. Morello plays some downright badass solos too, shame he didn’t continue them during the bands later years. And the mix is just spot on, making it great in every single aspect.

1993:

Wu-Tang Clan-Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers



“Bring Da Ruckus” is just a track that grabs you by the collar and says “Don’t you ever fuck with the Wu-Tang Clan because we will kill you.” That’s a damn strong first impression. RZA’s intricate beats are near flawless from track to track, and the youth and hunger of the emcees is unmatched. Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon and the GZA show both their chops as well as their desire to be famous. And that hunger, that drive, is what sets this album apart from every other Wu album.

1994:

Weezer-Weezer (The Blue Album)



Rivers Cuomo is a genius and he was so smart when he made The Blue Album. It’s ten tracks of pop glory that’s just stemming with nerdy imagery. While Rivers appeals to the mainstream, he also keeps those like him close with slightly more obscure tracks. And while Rivers’ “creativity” has proven to be the downfall of more recent Weezer albums, bassist Matt Sharp kept his mind honed in on this one.

1995:

Smashing Pumpkins-Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness



While ’95 packed a punch with GZA’s Liquid Swords and Presidents of the U.S.A’s self titled album, Mellon Collie still takes the cake as it’s best in my humble opinion. Corgan and the crew deliver a powerfully epic two disc masterpiece here, choc full of memorable tracks, perhaps the most memorable of the groups recorded history. Singles like “1979” and “Tonight Tonight” pad out the bittersweet classic, giving it the perfect tracks to send to the radio.

1996:

Cake-Fashion Nugget



Cake is a great band because they are so aware of how cheesy they are. And this album is really the epitome of that cheesiness. With tracks like “Italian Leather Sofa” and “Nugget” we see the boys toss and idea of seriousness to the curb. While tracks like “The Distance,” “Frank Sinatra,” and “Friend is a Four Letter Word” keep the crazyness down, the downright funkiness of the instruments, especially the bass take this to the next level. A great listen from start to finish.

1997:

Incubus-S.C.I.E.N.C.E.



Just like the Peppers, Incubus is one of those bands that absolutely rocked before they became rock mainstays, and S.C.I.E.N.C.E. is like getting kicked in the balls by someone who happens to be telling you are great story. You are in complete shock by the absurdity of what’s going on, but you can’t help but appreciate the greatness of what you are hearing. While B.I.G’s Life After Death seems to be the only other contender for ’97, Incubus’youth and energy take the prize of the year in my mind.

1998:

Pitchshifter- www. pitchshifter .com



’98 was somewhat of a barren year for albums that have had a lasting impact on me, but the more I think back, the more Pitchifter’s .com is the album that stands out for me. This was one of the first CD’s I ever purchased, and although it seems to epitomize the worst puberty-ridden years of my life, I can’t help but still enjoy the thrash/industrial vibe the U.K. boys send out. Tracks like “Microwaved,” “Please Sir,” and “WYSIWYG” have rocked for the past decade and I’m not tired of them yet. We’ll see how they fare in the future.

1999:

Mr. Bungle- California



10 tracks of sheer genius. When Mike Patton put out the prior two major label Bungle albums, their self titled debut and the twisted masterpiece Disco Volante, it was hard to grasp what the band really stood for because they went to such bizarre places. On this album they don’t appear to alienate anyone, and as strange as the songs are, they’re all sort of welcoming. I recommend this album to every rock fan I meet, and if I haven’t to you then here’s your invitation.

2000:

Jurassic 5- Quality Control



The rapping harmonies! They seem so absurd when you’re just talking about them, but when you pop in Quality Control, you understand completely how J5 has solidified themselves as hip hop icons. The diversity between each member, combined with their unified desire to entertain and be original makes this a near perfect album, chock full of memorable tracks. Jurassic 5 definitely prove that they are up to par with great hip hop groups such as A Tribe Called Quest and The Beastie Boys.

2001:

Oysterhead-The Grand Pecking Order



Another band I love pimping out. This super group made up of Primus’ Les Claypool, Phish’s Trey Anastasio and Police drummer Stewart Copeland mesh together in an oddly fantastic album that works incredibly well. Each member shines with their playing as well as their songwriting skills, as neither Claypool or Anastasio dominate the tracks with their trademarked sounds. And that’s not to say Copeland isn’t a focal point, as his drums add the perfect framework to the two string players chaotic tracks.

2002:

Queens of the Stone Age-Songs For the Deaf



With the catchy singles “No One Knows” and “Go With the Flow” Queens launched their careers into superstardom with this album, giving them fame they had never witnessed before. The already established chemistry of guitarist Josh Homme and bassist Nick Oliveri is only enhanced by the addition of Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl behind the skins. His heavy hitting beats only add more energy to the already stoned out power rock that Homme and the boys spew out. The album not only sounds good, but it’s radio interludes add cohesiveness to an otherwise disjointed album. This year was one chock full of greats, but Songs definitely rings the most.

2003:

Yellowcard-Ocean Avenue



Pop music at it’s finest to me. Ocean Avenue is an album that will bring me up no matter how down I may end up (and living the super-stressful, anger inducing life I love, that’s pretty stressful). Every track is memorable and it’s not hard to end up singing along whether you want to or not. And the musicianship’s not that bad either, especially for such a poppy group, the vocal harmonies especially add to the mix. So you can say I have no balls, or that I’m a pussy for liking this CD, but my response to you haters is that you are too afraid to admit how catchy this is.

2004:

Chronic Future-Lines in My Face



What I like the most about this hip-hop/pop-punk hybrid is the fact that it works. So many of these bands that try and fuse genres whilst staying marketable fail, that or they get caught up in the label game and end up tweaking their sound to the point that it becomes marketable. Chronic Future really seems to have a catchy sound that doesn’t seem like some executive told them to play a certain way. It’s a greatly underrated album that has a few gems, and the rest of the album is a good listen too.

2005:

System of a Down-Mesmerize/Hypnotize



Can I just saw that 2005 was ridiculous? We had Common’s Be, Kanye’s Late Registration, Gym Class Heroes’ Papercut Chronicles and Gorillaz Demon Days! But there is not much in music that can do what the sibling System albums did that year. Rick Rubin honed in System’s already lucrative sound and accentuated it, giving Daron Malakian a front row seat alongside frontman Serj Tankian. While some fans dislike Daron’s more prominent role in singing, I feel like it gives a different layer for the band to play off of. Tracks like “Hypnotize” feature beautiful back-ups from Tankian, which works surprisingly well. The chaotic aspect of this album also makes it a memorable one. With tracks like “Revenga,” “B.Y.O.B,” and “Attack!” just raping your earholes. I enjoy these albums so much it’s not funny. It’ll be awkward singing “Cigaro” when I’m like 40.

2006:

RX Bandits- …And the Battle Begun



Two years ago I would’ve definitely said the Chili Pepper’s Stadium Arcadium was the best album, but as the time has passed Stadium has kind of gotten stale and RX Bandits’ Battle has only become greater. The Bandits are so intricate, yet they are so accessible. The rhythmic chemistry amongst the players is so awesomely original that every time I listen to this CD I find something cool that I didn’t recall from the last time. But just like ’05, this year had a whole tone of winners. The Roots’ Game Theory is among my favorites, and John Mayer’s Continuum and Gnarls Barkley’s St. Elsewhere are definite contenders.

2007:

Just go down and read my blog.

2008:

Well that is yet to be said isn’t it?

But as of now I’ll say this. Vampire Weekend put out one hell of an album, Atmosphere’s When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold is absolutely brilliant, The Cool Kids emerged as the new kings of hip-hop, Flight of the Conchords managed to translate their quirk to a record and Scars on Broadway rocked from front to back. Maybe if you come back in early 2009 you’ll have a clear answer. Until then…stay tuned!

Entry #6: The Qult Review

Let’s rewind to June of 2005. Me and the ska band I was in, Three Years Accident Free, were playing second stage supporting a pretty awesome band called Streetlight Manifesto. Being the respectful musicians that we were, we all watched the openers, there was an all black pop punk band called Whole Wheat Bread and this band called Gym Class Heroes. We all immediately assumed they were a generic ska band, I mean their name was Gym Class Heroes for God’s sake. But we went in to see them, and when their front man was a flashy dressed black guy inked out with gauged ears, we were all a bit taken aback. And when they started playing what they did was blow my mind. It was like catchy rock music with a charismatic MC as their front man. I bought their CD The Papercut Chronicles, bumped it a whole lot and pimped it out to anyone who liked good music. Some months later I was at Best Buy and I noticed they had a new CD, and after saying, “They sell this unknown band at Best Buy?” I bought it, and it was just as kick ass as their first. And then a few months later their track “Cupid’s Chokehold” got re-recorded and released as a cheesy love song single and it blew up. Now, a year and some change after they had their big hit, Gym Class Heroes have released The Quilt, and having that “I opened for you when you were unknown!” mentality, I eagerly bought it, and to put it bluntly, they’ve fallen from their graces.

The album starts with “Guilty as Charged,” a pretty catchy piece complete with a horn section and featuring R&B singer Estelle. The song is a welcome introduction, kind of saying “Hey people we’re gonna do something different but still be funky.” The next track, “Drnk Txt Rmeo” is yet another chronicle of front man Travis McCoy’s escapades with the ladies, and by this time around it seems kind of tired. Busta Rhymes hops on the next song “Peace Sign/Index Down” in an effort to add hip hop credibility to the group. And they fail. The song is repetitive and throws obscenities around like they have no meaning. Busta is one of the most innovative rappers around, his flow is by far one of the most intricate in the game, and yet in this track we see him dropping the F bomb and spitting lines like he’s just another mainstream rapper. The next two tracks, “Like Father Like Son” and “Blinded by the Sun” are two standouts, even though the latter is yet another song about girls. McCoy is downright bad ass when he spits “I called but you ignored it when you kissed him in the hallway. / Call me crazy, call me odd, call me what you want to. / But Karma is a bitch, I pray to god she always haunts you.” And the chorus, although repetitive, is very singable, regardless of the fact that the boys recruit Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump to sing another 80’s line. On “Like Father” we see McCoy go back into his past, avoiding his somewhat over the top metaphors and just spitting lyrics that hit the spot.




And while “Like Father” and “Blinded” are two high points, the next two tracks are by far the most annoying. “Catch Me If You Can” is a completely pretentious track where McCoy analyzes his youth, making rhymes about Hungry Hungry Hippos and other ridiculous nostalgia pieces. If you like listening to music and going, “Wow, that’s cool that he references a toy I played with when I was a kid!” then you may like the track, but it’s tough to take an MC seriously when he tries to seem legitimate while rapping about these things. “Cookie Jar” is an absolute disgrace to the band to be blunt. Featuring a guest appearance from current 15 minutes of fame cash-er The Dream, the song is another repetitive track about Travis’ problems with infidelity, and it’s blatant metaphor is so corny, especially when you have a T-Pain knockoff repeating the chorus, “I like girls / They like me…I want to be faithful / But I can’t keep my hands out the cookie jar.” Wow, I wonder what he means by that? The next track, “Live a Little” is another highlight, the now overbearing McCoy isn’t even on the track, as guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo sings a catchy pop song. The problem with it is that the group wants to clearly succeed as a power in hip-hop, and returning to their alternative routes doesn’t do them much good. The next few songs play off like typical Gym Class tracks, decent, but nothing particularly interesting. Oh and guess what? They bring the Dream back to sing a song called “Kissin’ Ears” and guess what it’s about?

The album ends on a decent note, the track “Home” feels like it belongs on Papercut and Lumumba-Kasongo’s second front-man track “No Place to Run” is another fun pop track with nicely layered pianos that don’t make you shake your head like on “Cookie Jar.” The last track “Coming Clean” is another perfectly good track, McCoy ends the album on a forgivable note, but yet again, he’s writing to a girl about something he may have done that would hurt her.

So all in all Gym Class Heroes make a perfectly listen-able album with The Quilt. The problem is that they have so much talent listenable just isn’t enough. McCoy is one of the most innovative rappers alive, he used to make tracks that picked out emo bands, or talked about how he was seduced by a teacher, or even about such heavy subjects as the unfair treatment of homosexuals. What happened to that Travis? And what happened to the simple band jams that we heard on Papercut Chronicles? The title seems to imply that the album is indeed like a quilt, sewn together from pieces of different things, but aside from a small handful of tracks, the entire album sounds the same. Maybe Gym Class Heroes were better as one of those bands guys like me opened for. I think the fame has gotten to their heads.

My Top 10 Frontmen

or Winch’s Listening Corner #6

Greetings loyal readers and it’s good to see you back here on my amazing blog. The last post seemed to have garnered the most attention out of every entry I’ve written, and since I enjoyed the format of it so much, I figured I should write another list. Now, anyone who knows me knows that I am a pretty avid musician as well as a music fan. I’ve played both guitar and bass in a band, and if there’s one thing I don’t pride myself in, it’s my voice. But the singer makes the band, as the saying goes it doesn’t matter how good the guitar player is, because all the girls will be looking at the singer. So without any further interruption, I present to you my top 10 frontmen of all time.

Oh, before I start don’t get mad that I didn’t put in McCartney/Lennon, the two of them are co-frontmen of the greatest band of all time. To qualify you need to be the sole frontman of the band. The criteria is simple, which person has the best voice, stage presence, and musical ability.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Maynard James Keenan- While I’m not a huge Tool fan, my first concert was A Perfect Circle and Maynard certainly is an incredible performer. Keenan’s voice is original and intricate. I apologize if I offend anyone by not putting him on the list, but I’m not in the niche that all the Maynard lovers are in.

Roger Daltry- Obviously he had the balls. The Who kicked some serious ass back in the day, not that they don’t anymore, but when they smashed their equipment at the end of every show, that was a thing of legend. Daltry has a phenomenal voice and if this list went up to 15 he’d be on it.

Jack Black- Humor aside, Jack Black would make one helluva metal singer if he hadn’t opted to be an actor. While The D is a joke band, there is no denying Black’s vocal chops.

Frank Zappa- Educate yourselves on Zappa, it’s worth every second.

Now…the list begins.

10. Billy Corgan



You know him from: The Smashing Pupkins, Zwan , solo
I think the 90’s was the best decade for music, and Billy Corgan is one of the reasons why. The Smashing Pumpkins were a band that experimented with rock music, adding textures no one had thought of before them, and Corgan was undoubtedly the captain of that ship. He was and still is meticulous, demanding perfect takes from his band members, which some say led to the demise of the original Pumpkins lineup. While Zwan kind of bridged the gap between old Pumpkins and the new incarnation, it did allow Corgan to make some upbeat poppy tracks which added even more credibility to his reputation. While some people don’t like his voice, I find it to be top perfect for the music he constructs.

9. Chris Cornell



You know him from: Soundgarden, Audioslave, solo (“You Know My Name” from Casino Royale)
Where do you start when you want to compliment Chris Cornell? The man’s voice was a staple of the 90’s (did I mention it was my favorite decade). Soundgarden saw the emergence of Cornell’s low swooning voice that could build into screams that maintained all the power of rock while avoiding that ugly 90’s metal scream. While I am ashamed to say that I listen to more Audioslave than Soundgarden, the diversity of Cornell’s voice is very present in the Audioslave recordings as well. That raspy yell in “Cochise” which is capped off with that like 25 second straight scream contrasts so well to his swoon of “Like a Stone” and “Be Yourself.” He’s just an awesome singer and there’s really no legitimate reason to dislike him.

8. Scott Weiland



You know him from: Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver, solo
Probably best known for his actions away from the microphone, Scott Weiland is yet another staple of 90’s alternative rock. Stone Temple Pilots showed off his vocal diversity from his lower-baritone-swoon to his poppy voice. Velvet Revolver added some bluesy-rock background for him to ‘slither’ all over, and if no one has ever seen a live performance by him in person or via video, the watch is necessary. He wriggles around the stage and oftentimes ends up without a shirt, leaving his twig like limbs flailing around in the air. He commands respect through his physical presence, regardless of how awkward it is, and sustains it by the range of his vocals.

7. Serj Tankian



You know him from: System of a Down, solo
The 00’s really gave System of a Down the chance to shine with their hit album Toxicity, and Tankian is undoubtedly the man listen to when this album is on. His voice bridges genres, giving System an audience broader than many other metal bands. He has a cooning singing voice that layers itself perfectly with the intricate guitar of Daron Malakian, and like a switch he can go from that coon to angry, thrashing screams with ease. The diversity of tracks from System, as well as his solo debut Elect The Dead give Tankian a perfect place to show off his talents. On some tracks it sounds almost like a new take on rapping, where Tankian talks in one pitch over the noodling of the other band members.

6. Zack de la Rocha



You know him from: Rage Against the Machine
Now many of the aforementioned singers have had one thing in common, vocal diversity. Zack de la Rocha however, has little to no diversity, he has two modes-rapping and screaming. But the thing about Zack that sets him aside from counterparts in his genre is that the sheer grit in his voice is incredible. Whether or not you are a fan of Rage, you can’t help but deny the fact that when the man has a microphone he is what you are listening to. His stage presence, with or without his trademark dreadlocks, is phenomenal, as he seemingly can’t stand still. His lyrics are powerful, and although there are a handful of Rage songs that repeat lines, (“Killing in the Name” especially) this repetition only adds momentum to de la Rocha, because once that chorus hits, he’s back in gear. While his rap career didn’t blossom, it is good to see Rage popping up every now and again for shows.

5. David Lee Roth



You know him from: Van Halen, solo
Where do you start when you talk about Diamond Dave? The man is a lunatic. Very rarely do I say something is badass when it’s wearing spandex, but Roth made it awesome. However, like de la Rocha, Roth doesn’t have too many musical modes. He can either sing or transform into a bird, because once he hits that loud screech there’s no turning back, and most of the time he’s yelling simple words like “Oh” and “Yeah” but Dave is another guy that you forgive his diversity because of his incredible over the top persona and stage presence. Although I don’t particularly like the way he and Van Halen do business, always kicking people out and letting them back in, I can’t help but forgive him when I see those old VH videos.

4. Damon Albarn



You know him from: Gorillaz, Blur, The Good The Bad and The Queen
Most people only knew Blur from “Song 2” and that was all they knew of Damon Albarn until Gorillaz burst onto the scene and Albarn’s simple vocal melody of “I’ve got sunshine in a bag” took the world by storm. But little do the masses know how influential Albarn is, fronting Blur through it’s epic career, and taking it to places that turned other members off, and after Blur’s demise focusing full force on Gorillaz. Both groups had two different Damon’s, Blur had the alternative frontman while Gorillaz had 2-D, the mastermind behind the beats and many of the songs vocals. Most people aren’t aware of The Good The Bad and The Queen, Albarn’s most recent work, which places him in the position of bandleader once again, this time his voice swooning over softer instruments. While many of the other men on this list are known to jump off anything they can, Albarn commands respect merely by standing still behind a piano, or even behind a curtain having a cartoon projected in front of him.

3. Robert Plant



You know him from: Led (fucking) Zeppelin, solo, most recently with Allison Krauss
Robert Plant is the voice of the 70’s. Everything about Zeppelin is top notch, and Robert Plant’s vocals are no different. He was one of the first frontmen who wasn’t afraid to really rock out and he’s gone down in the books as one of (many consider him to be the) best. And he was one of the first singers to really take advantage of his position as the front of the band, and his voice just completely changed the way that frontmen from that point onward performed. I feel like I don’t need to write anything about Robert Plant because you all know he’s the shit so I’ll stop.

2. Brandon Boyd



You know him from: Incubus
The women love him, and I gotta agree with them-in a completely heterosexual fashion. Boyd is one of those rockstars that you wish stayed young, but you appreciate the growth. Incubus started out as crazy funk thrashers with The Fungus Amongus and S.C.I.E.N.C.E. and Boyd was the leader of their pack, he would bounce all over the stage and scream and dance and every little thing they did was precise. And as Incubus aged (and as record labels pushed them) their sound became more tame, more emotional, and less screamy. But unlike so many bands that get castrated by record execs (Hoobastank for example) Boyd and Incubus kept their credibility and his voice brought them massive success. What I love about Boyd, is that as he grows his voice seems to go with him, while his lyrics and singing style get more and more mature you can still feel those hints of the early records popping out, I just wish he’d let them see the light of day.

1. Mike Patton



You know him from: Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Peeping Tom, Tomahawk, Fantomas and I’m sure there are more.
If you know me this should not shock you. While many of these other guys may be diverse singers, with a few different modes, Mike Patton can sing anything and everything with precision and skill. Faith No More is alternative rock, Mr. Bungle is experimental, Peeping Tom is poppy, his work with the X-Ecutioners is hip-hop, and he has an album of classic Italian songs coming out. Honestly there is no way for this guy to mess up. And not only is he extremely talented when he sings, but his stage presence is unmatched. He’s done some ridiculous things on stage, once with Faith No More he ate garbage! There is no frontman who can compare to Mike Patton, many come close, but none can touch his level.

The Top 10 Albums of 2007

a.k.a. Winch's Listening Corner Entry 5

2007 was a year that seems to be looked upon with a sad face as far as the future is concerned. The years breakout hit “Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)” was featured on what many critics call the worst album of the year. And T-Pain, a man known for his computer-tweaked voice has been on top of the charts all year long. And who can forget the comeback of the year with Britney Spears? Well…while the year may be remembered for a whole load of its own musical feces, there were a fair share of noteworthy albums (contrary to some friends of mine, I think the Arcade Fire was lackluster). And with that I present to you my top 10 albums of 2007.

Before I begin the countdown , I’ll give a few brief honorable mentions…

Talib Kweli- Ear Drum- While Talib seems to have found beats that match his impressive rhyming skills, the album runs about 7 tracks too long and although it has its gems, it falls on its face during its second half.

Kaiser Chiefs- Yours Truly, Angry Mob- This is a solid listenable album from the Kaiser Chiefs, it just doesn’t ring that bell in my book. Maybe after a few more listens it would have knocked its way onto my list, but it’s too late for that now isn’t it?

Amy Winehouse- Back to Black- This album played really well for the first couple of plays and then it just kind of got tired. Maybe after a nice break from Amy, and maybe if she took a nice break from causing all sorts of trouble, this album will re-assert itself into my head. But until that day, Amy can’t make the cut.

Okay, now onto the main course…

10. Tomahawk-Anonymous

Tomahawk frontman Mike Patton has been associated with weird and bizarre music since his first band Mr. Bungle caught the eye of the public in the late 80’s. However, Tomahawk’s Anonymous seems to get about as weird as possible as far as a modern metal album is concerned. While Patton has done some music so strange, some consider it un-listenable (Fantomas for example) this album somehow keeps the listener keen in a very unusual way. The entire album is based on Native American culture, and many of Patton’s lyrics are derived from Native tales. While the words are oftentimes incomprehensible, the music in the background is very moody, ranging from pow-wow happy tunes, to grim tracks that feel like they belong in a horror movie. The album is not meant for everyone, but if you’re one of those people that truly understand the art that made Anonymous, you can appreciate it.

Standout Tracks- Mescal Rite 1, Red Fox, Antelope Ceremony

9. Beastie Boys- The Mix Up

Beastie Boys have been known to push the bar. They went from macho clowns to genre jumping innovators, and gained massive popularity along the way. However with their previous work To The Five Boroughs, critics said the Beastie’s were simply falling into a mold, not really doing anything particularly innovative. The Mix-Up is in the same vein, while Boroughs allowed the Boys to make a straight up hip-hop record, Mix-Up gives them the chance to jam out like they do on Ill Communication and Check Your Head. Although the album can be a bit tiring, it has a few funky gems that make it a good listen, and a must-have for all of those who enjoy throwing relaxed social events.

Standout Tracks- B For My Name, The Rat Cage, The Cousin of Death

8. K-Os- Atlantis: Hymns For Disco

For those unfamiliar with K-Os (pronounced like the word “chaos”) he is a musician hailing from Canada who started out strictly as an emcee and moved more and more from his debut Exit to his most recent effort Atlantis: Hymns for Disco. K-Os jumps from genre to genre with ease on this album and he shows his level of talent as a vocalist both by rapping tracks, making statements about the current hip-hop game, his life and shouting out his influces, and also by singing some straight up rock songs very well. This is worth a listen for anyone, as there is something for everybody on it.

Standout Tracks- Fly Paper, Sunday Morning, Valhalla

7. Queens of the Stone Age- Era Vulgaris

Ever since the huge release of Queens of the Stone Age’s Songs for the Deaf, the band seems to have fallen from their graces as one of the most creative and original rock bands that make it through to the MTV airwaves. With the departure of bassist Nick Oliveri, as well as guest drummer Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame, Queens has gone from being awesome and unique to the lead singer/guitarist Josh Homme show. While on Songs and earlier efforts, the band split up frontman duty and each member seemingly had their part in the creative aspect of the band, we only see the musical power of Homme. With the negatives out of the way allow me to say that Era Vulgaris packs same punch as QOTSA’s last album Lullabies to Paralyze, and although it’s not particularly innovative it still rocks hard. With the addition of some grungy keyboards, Homme seems to have added another dimension to his muddy rock sound that makes it feel extremely familiar, yet new. Overall the album is worth a listen, but it will come off as a bit stale to hardcore fans of QOTSA.

Standout Tracks- Turnin’ on the Screw, 3’s and 7’s, Make it Wit Chu

6. The Hives- The Black and White Album

Coming out of the huge “The” phase of the early 00’s, The Hives have set themselves apart from their counterparts in The Vines, The Strokes and The White Stripes. These Sweedish boys have struck gold yet again with The Black and White Album which packs the same punch as their breakout album Veni Vidi Vicious but has crisp, smooth mixing, rather than grimy, twangy, almost garage sounding mixing. While “real” music fans may scold The Hives and similar bands for writing simple songs and riffs, no one can argue with the energy in all aspects of the band, from the quick guitar to the punchy drums to the over the top vocals, this album came out of left field and entertained me to no end.

Standout Tracks- Tick Tick Boom, Well All Right!, T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S.

5. Wu-Tang Clan- 8 Diagrams

The Wu-Tang Clan has been a dominant force in hip-hop since their debut in 1992 with Enter the Wu-Tang, and since then they have garnered a huge following from all colors, classes and ages. And after their highly successful stint on Rock the Bells over the summer, fans eagerly anticipated their next album, and lets just say 8 Diagrams delivers the necessary jolt mainstream hip-hop needs. While their may have been a rift between members Ghostface Killah and Raekwon against the guru beatmaker RZA, all the negative hype from Ghostface and Raekwon only make the album sound that much better the first time you play it. While it may not be as groundbreaking as Enter the Wu-Tang, this album brings a new, darker dimension to the Clan. With collaborations from George Clinton, Erykah Badu, John Frusciante, Dhani Harrison, Dexter Wiggle and others, the Wu re-assert themselves as the kings of hip-hop and command the respect they deserve through their verses and beats.

Standout Tracks- Unpredictable, Rushing Elephants, Starter

4. M.I.A.-Kala

My first taste of M.I.A. came from MTV’s constant play of her live performances between their quality programs like Next and The Ex-Effect. I must say I was hooked from the beginning as she sounded like a more chiseled Lady Sovereign. However, upon my purchase of Kala, I realized there was much more to M.I.A. than some grime rip-off. The beats are all entertaining and keep your head moving, and the lyrics range dabble in humor. While this album can be overbearing (especially with bass boost headphones) it never seems tired or overdone. I’m not a fan of electronica music, but for some strange reason M.I.A. hits the nail on the head. Give this one a listen if you’re up for some fun.

Standout Tracks-Bird Flu, $20, Paper Planes

3. Aesop Rock- None Shall Pass

Upon purchasing Aesop Rock’s None Shall Pass after hearing the single “Coffee” on MTVU, I was overwhelmed by the quality and originality of the music I was hearing. Aesop Rock has been infamous for combining high quality raps with sub-par beats, but on None Shall Pass the beats are on the same level as his rhymes. This album is particularly interesting because half of it plays like a rock album in the vein of some Rage Against the Machine while the other half plays like some hip-hop you’ve never heard before. Aesop Rock’s lyrics are supremely entertaining and his flow is complex and original, going places most mainstream and even some underground rappers wouldn’t dare. Now I don’t mean to say that Aesop Rock transcends his genre, but even the great hip-hop albums released this year don’t have the diversity presented in None Shall Pass.

Standout Tracks-None Shall Pass, Citronella, Coffee

2. Kanye West- Graduation

After shutting up 50 Cent after Graduation trampled over Curtis, Kanye West just sat back and let the listeners enjoy the downright awesome CD he put out this year. From the front to the back, this album is highly enjoyable and there is not one track that’s worth skipping. Although Kanye is no Talib Kweli by any means, his production makes up for his lack of tip top rhyming skills. And for once this year, every single released on the album is good, “Stronger” is probably the best track on the CD. Although sometimes he preaches to be something he’s not, claiming to be a genius at one point on the album, there is no denying the fact that Kanye West’s Graduation is easily the best and most fun hip-hop album of the year. For all those people that push for quality hip-hop on the radio, Kanye should be your savior.


Standout Tracks- Champion, Stronger, Barry Bonds

1.The Good, The Bad and The Queen-The Good, The Bad and The Queen

Damon Albarn is a name associated with quality. Blur is one of the defining bands of the 90’s, even if “Song 2” is their only major US hit. And Gorillaz did a good amount of turning heads by incorporating rappers like MF Doom and Del tha Funkee Homosapien into their rock/rap tracks. However with The Good, The Bad and The Queen, Albarn chills out, and makes arguably his best album yet. By calling in ex-Clash bassist Paul Simonon, Verve guitarist Simon Tong and Afro-beat drummer Tony Allen, TGTB&TQ effectively hooks in rock fans and keeps them in, all without the aid of distortion. Much of the albums success can be contributed to the production of Grey Album star and Gnarls Barkley member Danger Mouse, who treats the album as if it were hip-hop, making Simonon’s thumb plucked bass notes bounce through your subwoofer like it was a Pharrell beat. The album plays extremely well from front to back and although some may find it dull, this album hits the spot whenever it is needed.

Standout Tracks- History Song, Herculean, Kingdom of Doom