January 20, 2005 Music » Sound Advice

Sound Advice 

by

Tools

click to enlarge Mos Def - - The New Danger - Geffen On The New Danger, Mos Def - sings, "I am the most beautiful boogieman," over syrupy - jazz. It's the sort of paradoxical statement that is - indicative of the entire CD, making it one of the more - interesting hip-hop albums to be released of late. As a - rapper-poet-actor, this renaissance man sings and crafts - complex rhymes while his music schizos between hip- - hop beats, angry rock guitars and down-and-out blues. - "Ghetto Rock" is similar to his work in Black Star, - featuring old-school vocals, while "Freaky Black - Greetings" manages not to say a whole lot, but the funk- - plonk bass provides a great groove. "Blue Black Jack" - with Shuggie Otis shines as a great hip-swaying blues - number. By keeping listeners on their toes, Mos Def and - his lovely smile are going to be around for a long time. -
  • Mos Def

    The New Danger
    Geffen

    On The New Danger, Mos Def sings, "I am the most beautiful boogieman," over syrupy jazz. It's the sort of paradoxical statement that is indicative of the entire CD, making it one of the more interesting hip-hop albums to be released of late. As a rapper-poet-actor, this renaissance man sings and crafts complex rhymes while his music schizos between hip- hop beats, angry rock guitars and down-and-out blues. "Ghetto Rock" is similar to his work in Black Star, featuring old-school vocals, while "Freaky Black Greetings" manages not to say a whole lot, but the funk- plonk bass provides a great groove. "Blue Black Jack" with Shuggie Otis shines as a great hip-swaying blues number. By keeping listeners on their toes, Mos Def and his lovely smile are going to be around for a long time.

click to enlarge Cake - - Pressure Chief - Columbia I am a diehard lover of sweets. - Cookies, brownies, anything chocolate ... but even I have - had too much of Cake. The CD's artwork is the same - design as every other Cake album, and the same holds - for the music -- not much new ground is covered. - Actually, that's not true -- nearly gone is the bright- - and-sassy horn section, instead replaced by the band's - hopping on the synthesizer wagon. While singer John - McCrea's distinctive mono-melodic voice drones on, - songs like "No Phone" are oddly reminiscent of the - similarily monotoned They Might Be Giants. While the - lyric "I'm a dime, I shine and I'm freshly minted" (from - "Dime") makes me want to want to destroy with a Hulk- - like ferocity, "Carbon Monoxide" saves the day with a fun - pop sound that's beach movie-worthy. The album finally - grinds to a halt with the short and sweet "End of the - Movie," where McCrea intones the prediction: "People - you hate will get their hooks into you." -
  • Cake

    Pressure Chief
    Columbia

    I am a diehard lover of sweets. Cookies, brownies, anything chocolate ... but even I have had too much of Cake. The CD's artwork is the same design as every other Cake album, and the same holds for the music -- not much new ground is covered. Actually, that's not true -- nearly gone is the bright- and-sassy horn section, instead replaced by the band's hopping on the synthesizer wagon. While singer John McCrea's distinctive mono-melodic voice drones on, songs like "No Phone" are oddly reminiscent of the similarily monotoned They Might Be Giants. While the lyric "I'm a dime, I shine and I'm freshly minted" (from "Dime") makes me want to want to destroy with a Hulk- like ferocity, "Carbon Monoxide" saves the day with a fun pop sound that's beach movie-worthy. The album finally grinds to a halt with the short and sweet "End of the Movie," where McCrea intones the prediction: "People you hate will get their hooks into you."

click to enlarge Handsome Boy Modeling School - - White People - Atlantic The Handsome Boy Modeling School - opened its doors in 2000 with the album So... How's - Your Girl? School's back in session with their second - CD, White People. DJs Dan "The Automator" - Nakamura and Prince Paul are the geniuses behind - Handsome Boy, assembling an eclectic jumble of artists - to help them out. Fun hip-hop abounds (De La Soul and - Casual), and Cat Power's solo piece is amazing, her - smoky vocals used to Dusty Springfield success. A - couple of songs immediately resonate, one being the - dub-fueled "The World's Gone Mad" by Handsome Boy - vet Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Barrington Levy, and - Alex Kapranos. Admittedly, there are a good share of - downward dips, the solo featuring John Oates being a - "what-the-hell?" moment, and the duet between Julee - Cruise and Pharrell Williams (The Neptunes) is just dull - and creepy. The album is overall a repeat of the first one, - which isn't all that bad, but knowing how amazing Prince - Paul and The Automator are, it frankly should've been an - amazing glitter-filled pony ride.
  • Handsome Boy Modeling School

    White People
    Atlantic

    The Handsome Boy Modeling School opened its doors in 2000 with the album So... How's Your Girl? School's back in session with their second CD, White People. DJs Dan "The Automator" Nakamura and Prince Paul are the geniuses behind Handsome Boy, assembling an eclectic jumble of artists to help them out. Fun hip-hop abounds (De La Soul and Casual), and Cat Power's solo piece is amazing, her smoky vocals used to Dusty Springfield success. A couple of songs immediately resonate, one being the dub-fueled "The World's Gone Mad" by Handsome Boy vet Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Barrington Levy, and Alex Kapranos. Admittedly, there are a good share of downward dips, the solo featuring John Oates being a "what-the-hell?" moment, and the duet between Julee Cruise and Pharrell Williams (The Neptunes) is just dull and creepy. The album is overall a repeat of the first one, which isn't all that bad, but knowing how amazing Prince Paul and The Automator are, it frankly should've been an amazing glitter-filled pony ride.

Sound Advice archives »

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this thread:
By Email
With RSS

Add a comment

Latest in Sound Advice

Popular Events

Most Commented On

Top Viewed Stories

COLORADO SPRINGS INDEPENDENT: Home | Jobs @ the Indy | Privacy Policy | Advertising | | Find a Newstand | Comment Policy | Contact Us | RSS

All content © Copyright 2013, The Colorado Springs Independent   |   Website powered by Foundation