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As a fan of college football, I get worked up over polls. They can make or break your team's status. My school, Virginia Tech, finally got back in to the Top 25 this week following a victory over Nebraska. I feel this should be applied to music review site Pitchfork and their end of the year poll. I know you hate Pitchfork, think it's pretentious, and is in no way a barometer of "taste". Except when it is, and you need the concert dates. I've based the poll off of a few parameters 1) Garnering an 8.0 or higher, 2)name recognition and 3)total fucking guessing. The list takes into account records that were reviewed through the time of this writing (12:38 Eastern time, Tuesday, or Monday's Conan episode)
10. Lil Wayne-Tha Carter III This year's Clipse record, but from their enemy. Weezy's crossed over into P4k territory, and this album has universal acclaim. Score: 8.7
9. The Mae Shi-HLLLYH Smell scene stuff is in style this year. Starting with last year's debut from HEALTH, the LA noise venue's acts have made a definite impact. The Mae Shi-the most fun-loving of the bunch-have one of the lowest scoring acts on the top 10, but were celebrated in the earlier part of the year. Score: 8.1
8. Why?-Alopecia I love this record. It's my album of the year, and P4k's love affair with Yoni this year is only matched with their love for Britt Daniel. Yoni's lyrics and the band's innovative sound have made one gem. Score: 8.2
7. Fuck Buttons-Street Horrsing The first proper debut to make the top 10, from this English noise duo. Abrasive as fuck (heh), with one of the loudest live shows you'll see. Challenging music returns. Score:8.6
6. M83-Saturdays=Youth Anthony Gonzalez loves John Hughes more than anyone should. So, he decided to make the soundtrack no one asked him to make. It's full of synths, of course, but pretty damn good. Score:8.5
5. Fleet Foxes-Fleet Foxes Bands from Seattle are supposed to be loud, or in the new era of Sub Pop, poppy. Fleet Foxes are a folk-inspired rock group with the most enchanting vocal melodies of the past decade. It's charming music that will either enchant you or make you fall asleep (I mean that in a nice way). Score: 9.0
4.No Age-Nouns This album tied for the highest score this year on Pitchfork, but that may not be enough for this Smell scene duo's Sub Pop debut. No Age are the heirs apparent to Sonic Youth, alternating random noise compositions with left-field pop songs. The album is damn good, but maybe lacking in widespread appeal. Score:9.2
3. Vampire Weekend-Vampire Weekend I really don't want to talk about this band. There are several reasons not to, but everyone loves them! They make poppy pop poppy pop pop with Peter Gabriel, too! Peter Gabriel, too! Score: 8.8
2. Portishead-Third Well, we haven't heard a new My Bloody Valentine record yet, so here's Portishead. On their, ahem, third album, they've brought back a loyal fanbase. People love them, and rightfully so. Score: 8.8
1. TV On the Radio-Dear Science, In 2006, TV on the Radio's majestic Return to Cookie Mountain finished at number 2 on Pitchfork's list to The Knife. While The Knife are cool and all, do you really hear people talking about them like TVOTR? The new album is solid, and a step in a different direction. TVOTR tied for highest score with No Age, and this album is too damn good not to be number 1. Score: 9.2
Also Receiving Votes: Titus Andronicus-The Airing of Grievances (8.6), Cut Copy-In Ghost Colours (8.8)
Yet to be Released/Reviewed: Deerhoof-Offend Maggie, Deerhunter-Microcastle, Of Montreal-Skeletal Lamping
Put your votes in the comments below. This list will change from week-to-week, and will reflect any votes.
...apparently it might be titled "808s & Heartbreak". I wonder why it would be released the week before Christmas-typically death for any artist's sales. Big ups to SOMB.
Is this Kanye's new album?
Kanye might be suffering from depression.
While Mr. West is without a doubt one of the biggest musical acts that in this decade, he certainly could have some personal demons to face. He's grown from producing classic cuts for Jay-Z, to producing a classic debut and a well-respected discography. The sound was uniquely Ye though.
He had a swagger about his rap, clever lyricsim you could count on, and a certain sense of humor when it came to singles like "The New Workout Plan" and "Stronger". His self-doubt was there in "Can't Tell Me Nothing", his spiritualism in "Jesus Walks", and his sense of issues in the remix of "Diamonds from Sierra Leone". He covered a wide range of topics, but damn it was interesting.
Sometime this week, there was word that Kanye would be performing a new song at the VMAs. Hell, there might be a new album this year! It was the only reason for me to tune in, really. Of course, he ended up being the closer.
It's a dark shot, a wide-sweeping one to Kanye. He's framed at what looks to be a waist shot, and it's just him, at the microphone. He starts singing the hook, or what I think is the hook-but damn, it's the...verse? The hook comes in, and there's a long line of drummers behind him. They play on large timpanis when Kanye brings in the hook, nonchalantly saying "Keep your love locked down". But...there's no rapping.
For someone who is branded as a rapper, and worked hard to overcome the producer label, this is an odd career move for West. "Love Lockdown" features no rapping whatsoever, and his performance lacked energy. It's as if Ye decided that he needed to listen to Elliott Smith or a similar artist associated with depression and make a song. It's a love song, but a sad one all the same. It makes me think that something's going wrong with him, seriously.
Here's hoping for a great album.
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that's a chill title.
thanks for the info., i'm pretty excited...since i know kanye'll "never let down"
heh.