Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

Published in: 2009

Wikipedia

Years ago (I cannot believe that I can refer to this blog with that, but here we are,) I wrote about FF's breakout self titled album. I was pleased when my favorite New York/Cali hipster friend Grant commented on the album. I was shocked to read what he wrote.

What he wrote was something along the lines that the self titled album was the only one that was good, and that it was too bad the other ones had missed that mark.

I am here today, ladies and gentlemen to disagree with that statement. I think that this album is not as good, but pretty fucking awesome in it's own right. And I shall present a theory about why my tastefilled and totally awesome friend got it wrong. It will be presented thusly.

Grant, you dumb fuck, you are totally wrong and this album is awesome. I agree that it doesn't match the solid consistency of the self titled, but it is not the same kind of record.

This is a dance record, and to view it as anything but that is to make a mockery of yourself and everything you stand for, Grant. If this were a record that had any of the same aims as the slef titled, you might have q foot to stand on, but you don't and you know it.

What they did wrong is interesting to me. I think this is a flatter record as befits a dance record. The album doesn't has the diversity of music that the self titled did, and it doesn't have any sort of single on it. The songs are very wall of noisey and they don't have as much in them as the ones on FF.

However, the songs as judged by me, are pretty good dance songs. They play well, they are very poppy, and the music is highly accessible. The lyrics, while not as good as Michael or 40', are good enough to sustain, the band is tight, and there are some good songs on here.

But the real reason I love this album and you are wrong Grant is because of Lucid Dreams. Lucid Dreams has one of te most epic breakdowns of any song that has been on the project, and it is intensely awesome. You should listen to it again. It actually reminds me of LCD Soundsystem a bit. Ts excellent.

Anyway, Grant, you know you're right. It's not as good as FF, and it never will be, but it isn't a misfire, it's a refocusing of the band to be a more electronic based dance hall band, as opposed to a solid alt rock band, which is ultimately disappointing.

Thanks for being such a downer Grant.

"The spaceship hung in the air in much the same way that bricks don't."
Matt

If anyone is confused, I love Grant and he knows it. I just like being contentious and that wasthe only way this motherfucker was going to get written while I am hanging in the air over the ocean.

Reggie Watts - Simplified

Reggie Watts - Simplified

Published in 2004

Wikipedia

The discovery of music is an interesting thing to me. And if this blogs relative success is any indication (success is measured in how much I am motivated to do what I promised to the 10-12 of you who read my blog and myself who accounts for the other 90 hits a day probably. I hear it is going to be the standard unit of measurement soon.) it interests you too, a bit.

I was first introduced to Mr. Watts by what was then called Comedy Death Ray Radio, which is probably my favorite podcast in existence. It's incredibly funny, especially the ones featuring Andy Daly. But Reggie Watts was probably the breakout star of the show when he first came on, at least for me.

As a somewhat egotistic and narccistic person (could you tell?) I have a constant dialog in my head. When I hear music, I compare it to the way I'd do it if I were inclined/able. This project stemmed from that desire. Also, whenever I am handed a microphone, all bets are off, because, like my mother before me, I will sing scream do voices and generally make a fool of myself. Yes, I love my voice, I love singing and joking and everything, especially when others are forced to listen to me. It's the best.

So when I heard Mr. Watts creating music, it was a very strange feeling, because it sounded as if someone had finally made songs just for a person like me. He used a loop pedal and created some astonishingly complex beats, and as the songs developed, he added jokes, ideas and complexity of wordplay.

It was a revelation to hear someone make music like I wish I could. I immediately went on iTunes and bought his album.

His album was completely different than his comedy, but guess what. It's awesome.

Mr. Watts has the kind of voice that can be at one moment soulful and deep and transition, seemingly effortlessly to a high pitched, lovely bright tone. He's hot the kind of talent that people like me wish their voices could match.

His album is a collection of R & B styles songs, well written and strikingly performed. If this album had come out around 30 years ago, it would have been perfectly situated to take over the radio. It's a updated form that needed some updating. Quite spectacular.

You should pick up this album, and check it out or get on Earwolf.com and check out some of his appearances on there. His first comedy album, which came out a week after this one was purchased by me, is available now as well.

Support artists, get cool records.

"Dude, we've got a whole hour."
Matt

Gorillaz - Demon Days

Gorillaz - Demon Days

Published in 2005

Wikipedia

Wait, Dangermouse made a collaboration with a band Matt likes and he hasn't lead a dead horse to water to force you to read about it while he beats that selfsame dead horse? Well then, we better get right the fuck on that.

Demon Days is a continuation of the tradition that no two albums by the Gorillaz shall sound the same, and that they are going to make some of the ballerest music out there. You know how I know? Cause I said so.

First, let's talk singles. Feel Good Inc. is a masterful stroke of commercial and musical genius. De La Soul literally destroys the song, and the entire production is tight, handling huge tonal shifts with little to no difficulty. Beautiful. The other major track on this album, Dare, is one of those rare rock songs that one can completely surrender ones dancing ass to. You should be honored to know that Dare and your lifetime conicided.

The less well known tracks are quite good too. They have a very electronic music feel, using samples and sound as instrument as Dangermouse is want to do. Throw in some spectacular supporting turns from MF Doom and others, you have a solid album. This is the good.

Then there is the controversial and by controvertial I mean weird and maybe bad. Why is Dennis Hopper on this album? I love the guy, Blue Velvet and Apocolypse Now are like gospel to my insane taste but if there is something that derails your album more than a spoken word story that includes unwinked at and strange references to "happy folk" and "the monkey would stir from it's deep slumber" you may want to retry that.

However, the rest is superior. You need to get it and try it out, you'll like it. The end of the album is a miss or an experiment that sort of doesn't go off, but seriously, Dangermouse and the Gorillaz.

Maybe soon, I'll do their B side albums. Guess whether I like them or not. (I do.)

"Thanks Thom, let's drink until our hearts stop."
Matt

LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem

Published in 2005

Wikipedia

First off, I'd like to thank Grooveshark for introducing me to LCD Soundsystem, and for their incredible service. Secondly, when I was feeling like not listening to this anymore, Arianna interveined and told me about how much she liked this group, giving me fresh ears for it. If it weren't for her timely intervention, I might have missed out on this band for another year.

This is an interesting record. I say interesting a lot on here, but this time I mean it in a strict way. I mean that the actual record interests me, but, from time to time, it is difficult for me to remain interested. The more time I spend with it the more I realize how good it is, and yet, I still cannot say that I love this album.

I experience moments in which I am completely inside of the music, but these are not in the same way that I get involved with a Megadeth album. I am never inside the moment with it, but looking at it from the outside with a kind of jaded gaze.

Even the moments in which I am singing along, bobbing my head and such, I feel required to put some space between my animal enjoyment and my intellectual enjoyment.

Musically, this album is right up my alley. It's a deeply produced rock/electronic/hiphop/trance/house mix, which sounds like it would be cacophany, but works well in the moment. The opening track uses it's time to mix styles and build up to a climax, then continues to use the music past that point. It's a great song. Disco infiltrator is a fucking great song, and the beats for the rest of the tracks are this good already.

Lyrically, the songs are strong. Losing my Edge is a triumph for sheer interesting lyrics, and long form musical history. Also, for the criticism of jerk offs like me that delve into the history of music as if we were a part of it, when we are really only observers. It's a classically awesome song.

So far, I'm gushing about this album, and maybe that is because my criticism is so small, but it is a potent one. I don't feel that this album was made for me. I don't think that the band wants me to be their fan. Thy seem to be striving for a fan who is ironically detatched from the world of music and recognizes how derivitive music is as a whole. While I recognize these parts as ironic too, I have to say that they are not as ironically motivated as one would hope.

What I mean is that the aformentioned Losing My Edge assumes that you'll understand his point of view, and look at it through the detatched eyes of someone who thinks these things. I'm not saying that this feeling is false, but the most amazing thing is that the band seems to think that the feeling is false.

It shouldn't though. This is a song about the insecurity and loss that a person can feel. Like when I read a blog that I know is better than mine (look up and to the right) and think about how I am never going to be as good as them. My writing is pedantic, my words are used over and over, and I only write to figure out how to run away from the things that make me feel uncomfortable, and how all I really want is one person out there to recognize how hard I want to be noticed and picked up and invited and to reach the moment where I say something and people listen. But that moment, the one where I an acclaimed and appreciated, will be the moment that I think about the people who wrote those better blogs, and how mine wasn't the best. The insecurity there is a sincere thing, and to play it with detatchment is strange.

Well, this got personal. This is a great album, assuredly. You really should give it a shot, because it is very likely that you'll find at least one song that must be played at a party. And what more could you ask for?

"I'll solve it or my name isn't Mik Dtctiv."
Matt