April 13 – Items Of Interest
Posted By Ben W. on April 11, 2009
Monday is for items of interest. It’s not Monday. It’s the Saturday before Easter.
But this is when I have time to get some items of interest together. And yeah, I know I could time-set the post to not go online until Monday. But why bother? I’m just gonna post it now when I’m done typing. And then you’ll have it tonight, or tomorrow, or Monday, or any day.
It’s been awhile too, and we have some interesting items of interest. We’ve got PETA asking a legendary synth-pop duo (who may or may not be pictured left) to change its name; a legendary gangsta rapper finding a legendary religion; not to mention a legendary songwriter working with a legendary producer.
So curb your enthusiasm – here are your items of interest.
PETA NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE
I have a cat. I like that cat a lot. I like the zoo. Animals are aces in my book all around, no doubt. But even I have to admit PETA is occasionally a little odd with their animal kindness strategies. I’m thinking you’d have to admit the same when you read this.
‘SEAN PENN? I AIN’T GOIN’ OUT LIKE THAT’
The Black Lips’ new album just keeps getting better and better the more I listen to it. A real grower, I believe is the term. Meanwhile, in this clip they come across as wanky little psych-rock hipsters. But likably so. I do wish the singer would quit throwing rocks at the squirrel, though.
BUN B IN NYC
In another cool interview clip, Bun B talks about UGK’s new album, the weather in Texas and what his name would be if he had his own cartoon.
Two observations:
a. His speaking voice is remarkably similar to his rapping voice.
2. Even in an 8-minute interview, he shows you why his no-frills rap personality works so well – he’s completely genuine and without any sense of pretense; and he’s just a really nice guy. He’s the only rapper I know who talk about pistol-whipping you and stealing your girlfriend, yet still make you want to invite him over for tea and cookies.
A SMALL, FAT CHILD IN A WELFARE HOUSE
Thanks to my friend Courtney for this excellent story about Morrissey and The Smiths. I was fortunate enough to see him play live in Columbus a couple weeks ago, and it was an experience I won’t soon forget. Nor will the Palace Theatre security detail, I’d guess.
Snoop Doggy Dogg has found God. Or rather, he’s found Allah.
I always did think of him as a gospel rapper. Kind of like a Kirk Franklin type, really.
My favorite spiritual lyric of his was in his first song, “Deep Cover,” at the ripe old age of 18 – “So if you wanna blast, n—- we can buck ‘em; If we stick ‘em, then we stuck ‘em, so f*@# ‘em.”
LACKING IN LUSTER
Four of my favorite rappers of all-time – Big Boi, Del Tha Funky Homospaien, Redman and the Method Man. Bam. All with new singles on the Internet. Happy day, right?
Not so much.
Meth and Red’s “A-Yo” is probably the least disappointing because it carried with it the lowest expectations. These guys haven’t really been relevant in a decade, have they? With that mindset going in, it’s actually not that bad a song.
Optimistically, Del’s “Get It Right Now” is a little better than the garbage he called an album last year. But realistically, it’s still pretty dull. I don’t know if it’s old age or what, but he’s again trading his idiosyncratic Del personality of old for cliches and tired slogans (see title of the song).
And last, and undoubtedly, least – Big Boi gives us another reason to not look forward to his forthcoming solo album with something called “Dubbz.” He’s fallen so far away from the terms “trend-setting” and “groundbreaking,” it’s kind of heartbreaking. His work during OutKast’s first 10 years firmly established him as one of the best 20 emcees of all time. No joke. Maybe top 10. But songs like this are really making it hard to defend that statement.
BREAKING NEWS
I know this may come as a bit of a shock to some of you, but The Decemberists are really pretentious. It’s true. I know, I know. Like I said, surprising stuff.
Actually, the real surprise is how it’s become to slag Colin Meloy and the gang off as pretentious lit geeks who make pretentious geeky albums. As if this really was a recent development. They haven’t changed, people! They’ve been pretentious and geeky since the jump. It’s just that now their critical bandwagon is running out of steam. But I guess that’s the way with fame’s cruel ebb and flow.
Anyhow, here’s a very funny bit of Decemberist backlash.
CAUGHT IN BETWEEN
1980 is a really strange time in pop music history. The first wave of Punk was ending, but MTV and the high gloss pop that came with it had yet to really emerge. So you had a lot of bands, a lot of albums and a lot of genres that were kind of caught in between, resulting in a lot of transitional works. But also a lot of really interesting music.
TEAR THE ROOF OFF THIS SUCKA
The Super Furry Animals’ album is such a massive production, they’re retiring from indoor concert venues!
THE QUEEN
Aretha Franklin is pretty cool. This you knew. But did you know she hates to fly?
and…
THE GRAND FINALE
I leave with the two most exciting facts of the year.
One, Jarvis Cocker has a new album ready for us this summer.
Two, it was recorded by Steve Albini.
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