Temptations- Temptations Sing Smokey Review

Temptations- Temptations Sing Smokey
Released: March 22, 1965
Motown

The Temptations are well known for their countless hit singles and timeless tracks.  Songs like "Just My Imagination" "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" "Cloud Nine", and many more help punch their tickets as the greatest stand-up group of all time.  However, they were never well-known for their LP's.  This doesn't mean they never had a great album.  "Temptations Sing Smokey" is an example of that.

All of the songs on this album are songs written by Smokey Robinson either for the Temptations, or covers of other songs he has written.  Though these are Smokey's songs, the Temptations do a fantastic job of making them their own.

The record is full of 12 just wonderful tracks.  "Temptations Sing Smokey" is 100% free of boring tracks, and each song feels warm, fresh, and exciting.  Those familiar with the Temptations hit tracks will instantly recognize the opener "The Way You Do the Things You Do", an incredibly catchy, innocent, and classic tune.  This is the first album to feature David Ruffin, and you can hear him singing lead on another great track "It's Growing".  By far the highlight of this album is "My Girl," one of the great songs of all time.

Side 2 is almost all songs originally recorded by The Miracles except for one (You Beat Me to the Punch).  The Temptations do a great job at paying tribute to The Miracles while keeping the tracks feeling new and original.  One of the best covers on this side is of "You Really Got a Hold on Me", in which the group puts their own flair on this incredible tune.

This music is almost 50 years old, yet it still feels fresh and engaging.  These songs are simply timeless, and you get this wonderful nostalgic feeling while listening, no matter what you're age is.  It begs the question, "Why don't they make music like this anymore?"  This record is not a landmark release, or a masterpiece by any means.  However, "Temptations Sing Smokey,"is a quality release and a criminally underrated recording that should be heard by any music fan.

My rating: 79/100

Jay-Z: Magna Carta Holy Grail Review

Jay-Z- Magna Carta Holy Grail
Released: July 4, 2013
Roc-A-Fella, Roc-Nation, Universal


During the NBA finals on June 16, Jay-Z was featured in a commercial in which it was revealed that a new album was on the way in less than a month.  Through the ensuing month Jay would release videos in which he explains already released lyrics to a few of the tracks.  Samsung had paid $5 a copy for one million downloads that would be given for free early to Galaxy phone users who downloaded a special app.  These marketing methods are unconventional, but definitely intriguing.  After some disputing over the validity of these downloads, Jay-Z was able to convince the RIAA to change the industry rules and count the downloads that Samsung payed for as sales.  "Magna Carta Holy Grail" officially became platinum before it ever hit stores.  Impressive.

After all this sudden hype and commotion over this new album, I was looking forward to something bold, epic, and innovative from arguably one of raps greatest acts of all time.  I'm afraid that might now be what we have been given.  It is quite the opposite.

The opening track, "Holy Grail" features a guest appearance by Justin Timberlake.  Justin delivers on a very tender and memorable  but long intro and hook to start the album off.  Oddly, we don't even hear Jay-Z until a minute and a half into the song.  Unfortunately, when we do hear Jay-Z, we get a very uninspired and bland performance from Jay-Z.  His verse, like many on this LP, seems lacking of any real passion or emotion.  They just exist.  After this weak at best moment from Jay, we get more Justin Timberlake!  "Holy Grail" would be more justified being credited as Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z as opposed to the other way around.  This track also features a very awkwardly placed clip from Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit".  This is not the only 90's alternative sample found on this record, as Jay-Z places a piece of R.E.M's "Losing My Religion" later on.  These samples don't really work, and just come off as cheesy, out-of place, and just plain gimmicky.

Alot of this record just seems lazy, repetitive, and dull.  Jay-Z's rapping is not at his best, and it seems he's trying to hard.  The production from Timbaland on "Magna Carta Holy Grail" for the most part is decent, but at times seems cliche and unoriginal compared to the soul sample heavy "Blueprint", Jay-Z's classic release from 2001.  This record contradicts itself lyrically sometimes.  One recurring theme the struggles of fame and wealth.  However on many tracks he throws this away and just brags about how successful he is and how many cool cars and fancy pieces of art he owns (See "Picasso Baby").

There are positives on this album.  The track "Oceans" deals with the effects of the slave trade, and "Heaven" deals with ideas of faith and religion.  These are some of Jay-Z's most conscious and cerebral lyrical ideas.  Jay-Z collaborates with his ex-nemesis Nas, on a pretty fun track "BBC."  "Jay-Z Blue" is probably the standout track on this record.  This song is about his daughter and his concerns of balancing being a public icon and his new found responsibilities of being a father.  Jay-Z seems to be the most involved and present emotionally on this song.

Although there are a few good parts on this album, for the most part it is full of lazy and uninspired rhyme schemes and flow from Jay-Z.   I also want to mention all the lame product placement's and bad pop culture references. It seems after a 17 year career, and 12 studio albums, Shawn Carter is running out of ideas.  For example, "hashtag's and retweets, 140 characters in these streets."  Really, Jay..your inspiration is to vent out your dislike for Twitter?  Having a net worth of about a half billion and an a career already proven as legendary, seems to not beg as much need to impress.  Because of this,  I feel we have a less carefully crafted record than Jay has potential of making.   Jay-Z built a platform to put out something iconic and memorably, but instead gave us a very lacking record.  "Magna Carta Holy Grail" can definitely be labeled a disappointment.

My rating 62/100

Bon Iver- Bon Iver, Bon Iver Review

Bon Iver- Bon Iver, Bon Iver

June 2011

Jagjaguwar

For those who don't know the story about Justin Vernon, the man behind Bon Iver, here is a quick history lesson.  A few years ago Justin Vernon went through a break-up with both his girlfriend and his band DeYarmond Edison.  Shortly after he became ill with mononucleosis.  Dealing with all of this, he decided to head into seclusion with just an acoustic guitar, some cheap recording equipment, and a whole lot of hurt.  Out of this hibernation birthed the stellar "For Emma, Forever Ago"

Following this it didn't take long before Bon Iver developed a cult following among music fans, "hipsters", and music journalists.  After an appearance on the Dave Letterman show, some of his music played on Chuck, and a guest spot on Kanye West's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" album, Bon  Iver began to gain some fame.  Fast forward to 2011, Bon Iver released his sophomore effort, "Bon Iver, Bon Iver".  This year Bon Iver would take home the Grammy Award for best album and best new artists.  Everyone was beginning to know who this artist was.

If you have heard "For Emma, Forever Ago" and are used to Justin Vernon's stripped down acoustic sound, you will be very surprised to hear the large soundscapes and deep instrumentation used on this new record.  With the use of electric guitars, drums, horn sections, and lots of synths, this is a completely new musical direction for Bon Iver.  Some of his long time fans may not be extremely happy with this and may even think he slightly "sold out".  However, if one can disregard what was in the past and simply judge this for what it is, than this album will definitely be a very pleasant surprise.

From the very beginning of "Bon Iver, Bon Iver" on the first track "Perth" the listener is immediately drawn in by the beautiful and melodic electric guitar and snare drum intro.  This is blended with Justin Vernon's gorgeous falsetto voice and synths.  This track eventually cresendos into an epic double bass and guitar breakdown.  After just one track in I was already floored by Bon Iver's sense of texture and dynamics.  

Possibly the standout track of this album is Holocene, a beautiful finger picked ballad.  This song will remind listeners the most of the stylings on "For Emma, Forever Ago."  Although this album is stocked full of emotionally gripping moments, the most gripping may be found on Holocene.  In this track the lyrics state, "I knew I was not magnificent."  Mr.  Vernon I have to wholeheartedly disagree.

Other tracks to point out would be Towers, featuring a strummed electric guitar riff and touching vocal melodies.  I also want to point out the haunting piano driven track, "Calgary" which may be the most honest and vulnerable point on this album.  However, the track that has been a point of discussion the most would be the closer, "Beth/Rest."  This song has garnered many mixed opinions, with some dismissing the track as corny and out of place, while others take it as an emotionally charged masterpiece.  "Beth/Rest"  resembles very similarly to many of the power ballads of the 80's, with similar vocal effects, production, horn sounds,  background guitar leads, and synth pads.  This has clearly proven to be a bit too much for some listeners, but I'd have to ask, what's wrong with that?  Yes, it has it's cheesy moments, but behind it all is a very sincere and well-crafted performance from Bon Iver.  The only complaint I might have with it is that it slightly breaks up the flow and pacing, which is otherwise perfect on "Bon Iver, Bon Iver"

Although I am very impressed with this album, I can't right now say it has topped "For Emma, Forever Ago".  "Bon Iver, Bon Iver" misses the sincerity and realness you felt from Vernon's first effort.  I will however do what many other critics have failed at doing, and point out what this new album has that "For Emma, Forever Ago" does not.  "Bon Iver, Bon Iver" presents an astonishing sense of detail as every second of this record seems carefully and finely crafted.  From every softer and stripped down moment, to each built up epic chorus, Justin Vernon's attention to every little aspect of layers, dynamics, and emotion is really something to be praised.  The abstract lyrical ideas mixed with the underlying themes of finding reality though different places in life is very smart.  Justin Vernon's unbelievable falsetto voice can really choke one up.  He knows how to engage the emotions of the listener without every over doing it, while knowing the exact right times to pull away a bit.  

I know a many reviewers have given this record as much or maybe even more acclaim than I have, while a few others have seen it less favorably than I have.  I feel those few have tried to nitpicked the minor flaws on this Bon Iver album just to sound smarter than the casual listener. I will agree that this record isn't without fault however, these critics have missed the sheer fact that this album moves and grips the emotional core of the listener.  At the end of the day,  isn't that really the point?

My rating 84/100

10 Greatest Hip Hop Albums of All Time

Old School vs. New School. East Coast vs. West Coast. Hip-hop is a major part of American music history. I have compiled a list of the ten most influential albums in the hip-hop genre with commentary.


10. Beastie Boys- Pauls' Boutique (1989)
 


Although an initial commerical failure, this has gone on to become the Beastie Boys most heralded relase. Inspired by the The Beatle's "Abbey Road", the Beastie Boys take small parts of songs and piece them together into a sort of collage, much like the Abbey Road medley.  "Paul's Boutique's" main draw is its superb use of sampling, taking bit's from Johnny Cash, to the Beatles, to the Ramones, and everything in between.  Due to modern day copyright restrictions, nothing like this record will probably ever have the ability to come into existence.

9. Wu-Tang Clan- Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
















At the time, West Coast Hip-hop was dominating the charts.  This was until Wu-Tang was able to spark a revival of some sort with the release of Enter the Wu-Tang.  A plethora of classic east-coast albums would follow suit.  Underground in nature, this record is dark, violent, and has this weird fascination with martial arts.  Some of the most rememberable hip-hop skits are found here as well.  This is hardcore hip-hop the top of it's game.

8. The Notorious B.I.G.- Ready to Die (1994)

This might be one of the most important debut's in rap history.  Biggie Small's lyrics are funny and clever, but when it's time to get serious, he talks about his "Everyday Struggles"  (track 11) in the most believable and sincere way possible.  Marked by a continuous theme of suicidal lyrics and thoughts, Biggie almost makes the listener want to help him find another way.  Classic tracks originate on this album such as "Juicy" and "Big Poppa" This is all presented with The Notorious B.I.G.'s perfect and classic flow.

7. Eminem- The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)

Eminem has a rare ability to make a sarcastic joke about pop-culture, lash out against his critics, and provide a social commentary, all in one sentence.....and make it rhyme.  After "The Slim Shady LP" made Eminem a superstar, Mr. Mathers comes back with a darker and more autobiographical approach.  The lyrics are shocking, violent, and fuel of fueled anger.  Calling this controversial is more than understatement.   From the twisted opening song "Kill You,"to the chilling "Stan," the in your face "The Way I Am" and the very funny "The Real Slim Shady," Eminem takes us on an almost frightening ride as he looks to get back at everyone who's wronged him.

6. Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)

Bold. Daring. Adventurous.  These are the words I use to describe this work of art brought to us Kanye West.  The drive for experimentation, and the level of complexity on "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" goes unmatched by anything else in the rap genre.  With big sounds and instrumentation, and groundbreaking production by Kanye, this sonic maximalism at it's core.  With lyrics dealing with his social unpopularity,  fame, and doubt, the introspective honesty may be the most jaw dropping thing about this album.  Although "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" has only been out for a few years, it's already been heralded a classic!With landmark releases like "The College Dropout" and "Late Registration" already under his name, this is Kanye West's magnum opus.

5. De La Soul- 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)

This may be the most unique hip-hop album ever made.  Psychedlica and unusually positive lyrics for rap music, had listeners calling De La Soul "hippies" and the Beatles of hip-hop.  The very clever game-show interludes are some of the first examples of hip-hop skits, something that has become a tradition in rap albums. "3 Feet High and Rising" is playful and an extremely fun listen.  This is hip-hop you can dance to, especially on the infectious hit single "Me, Myself, and I."

4. Nas- Illimatic (1994)

It really doesn't get much better than Illimatic.  Nas commentates on the realities of being raised around poverty, drugs, and gang violence in the most serious and real way.  Musically, the production is flawless, and draws influence from jazz, blues, and earlier hip-hop.  His refusal to conform to commercial trends, allowed Nas to compose a work of art that was completely new and fresh.  With complex rhyme schemes, more than impressive articulation, keen sense of rhythm, and deep intelligent substance; this is just not hip-hop, this is sonic poetry.   The lyrical content and delivery of Illimatic is still being analyzed by scholars this day.  Simply put, this brings the art of rap to a new standard.

3. Dr Dre.- The Chronic (1992)















This was hip-hop's greatest producer's attempt at a solo album.  This could possibly the most well-produced album in the history of rap.  Dre is credited with innovating the G-funk style of rap marked with bass-heavy production, funky grooves,  and female backing vocals.  Snoop Dog's career was jump started from this record as Dre gives the unknown at the time rapper many appearances to shine.  These two rappers helped developed a more laid-back delivery approach nicknamed a "lazy drawl." The lyrics are controversially as they depict violent scenarios of street gangs and drugs, prevalent in the gangsta rap movement.  It should be stated that "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" will always go down as one of the greatest rap songs ever made.

2. N.W.A.- Straight Outta Compton (1988)

"Straight Outta Compton" brought gangsta rap to the forefront.  When someone mentions the term West-coast hip-hop, this is probably the first record that comes to mind. This crew consisted of Dr. Dre, Arabian Prince, MC Ren, Eazy-E, The D.O.C., and Ice Cube.  The chemistry between these six individuals worked to perfection as they crafted one of the most influential records in the rap genre.  Full of violence, crime, takes at racism, and production full of siren and gunshot sounds got N.W.A. unwanted attention from the FBI, which only made this album more popular.  N.W.A. defends "Straight Outta Compton" by arguing that it only brings to light reality.

1. Public Enemy- It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)

The duo of Chuck D. and Flava Flav bring us the best thing that has ever happened to rap music.  This is not only the greatest rap album, but simply one of the greatest albums of all time.  The music is fast, sonicly satisfying, and just grooves in an unmatched way. Fierce turnatable work and sampling brings the sound of this album to new heights.  Politically charged, Chuck D's lyrics bring messages of African American empowerment and fights against. racism and social injustice.  This is more than just an album.  This is a statement that is still resonating today.


I wanted to make a few honorable mentions of some albums that just missed the cut!

• A Tribe Called Quest- The Low End Theory
• Kanye West- The College Dropout
• Outkast- Stankonia
• Jay-Z- The Blueprint
• Beastie Boys- Licensed to Ill
• Eric B. and Rakim- Paid in Full
• Run D.M.C.- Raising Hell
• Kendrick Lamar- Good Kid, M.A.A.D City