en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal The Last.fm journal for primusluta. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2008/06/11/20oxvc_rob_swift_%22vietnam%3F%22 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:00:01 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2008/06/11/20oxvc_rob_swift_%22vietnam%3F%22 Rob Swift's Wargames is sure to go down as one of the strongest statements made by hip-hop. Vietnam is a perfect example of why. Rob cuts up Mobb Deep's classic Survival of the Fittest with quotes from W's speeches to pull together a statement no verse could.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2008/06/09/20mpx3_afghan_whigs_-_%22going_to_town%22 Mon, 9 Jun 2008 22:19:42 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2008/06/09/20mpx3_afghan_whigs_-_%22going_to_town%22 Greg Dulli comes up, quite often it is followed by something about his cinematic style of songwriting. Theoretically all music tells stories, but there's something to be said about the artist that can paint pictures with words, and not just pictures, movies. Black love could easily be a movie soundtrack, for the story of an outlaw, the love of his life and the people that want to see him dead. And if it were, Going To Town would be the shoot out. The rebel and his girl rush into town in a flury of bullets, making their way to the other side as the whole place goes up in flames. Seriously, Dulli wrote a song about it.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2008/06/08/20j2e4_me%2527shell_ndeg%25C3%25A9ocello_%2522virgo%2522_%2526_%2522lovely_lovely%2522 Sun, 8 Jun 2008 05:16:59 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2008/06/08/20j2e4_me%2527shell_ndeg%25C3%25A9ocello_%2522virgo%2522_%2526_%2522lovely_lovely%2522 Virgo and Lovely Lovely last led me to proclaim that Me'Shell is this generation's Hendrix. It's not a popular one but I'll still stand by it. On these two tracks Me'Shell NdegéOcello shows her growth as an artist. The interplay of rhythms leading groove heavy progressions to natural changes, is a mastery not only of concept but of form. Truly an other worldly musically experience. If this sequence of songs doesn't move you then The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams is not for you.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2008/06/06/20gwcs_jose_james_%22spirits_up_above%22 Fri, 6 Jun 2008 20:26:58 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2008/06/06/20gwcs_jose_james_%22spirits_up_above%22 Jose James's The Dreamer (an early pick for the Classic Albums of 2008), Spirits Up Above is one of those songs that speaks to the timelessness of spiritual music even in more secular contexts. One needs not share a religious affiliation with James here to respond in the affirmative when he asks, "Can you feel, the spirits up above?"]]> http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2008/06/02/208ort_i_can%27t_stop_listening_to.... Mon, 2 Jun 2008 16:51:41 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2008/06/02/208ort_i_can%27t_stop_listening_to.... Rising Down. On first listen I was kind of skeptical. The album opener "The Pow Wow" is a little TMI. I wish it could have been hidden track zero (they used to exist but now its illegal). There is no need to hear it every time as "Hello, hello" going into "Rising Down", is the real start of the album. I'm usually against guest verses as the first voice on an album, and despite the heat Mos Def drops I still stand by that. But what its an indication of is the overall. There are a lot of features on here. Practically a The Roots and Friends album. Thankfully though everyone steps up to the plate ready. Styles P with the killer "They Call it Downloading / I call it Downsizing!"

Black "Half Mandrill / Half Mandela" Thought comes through as well. "@ 15" gives it a little perspective. I've actually been stuck on this for a bit. When you hear the young thought and compare him to the modern thought, especially as displayed on "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)" it becomes apparent he's been nice for quite some time. And the one thing if any that has changed is his perspective. Especially on this album. Perhaps the company he's keeping. His ear to the streets but eyes on the world. There's an urgency in his voice reflective of the times. Perhaps here more than ever before the power of his poetry shines.

The times themselves seem to be under investigation on this one. Illustrated by the hook on "Criminal" which speaks to the news reporting in times of crisis while verses from Thought, Saigon and Truck North illustrate how disconnected that is from the everyday experience of those called criminal by society. An on-going theme seems to parallel the problems that America has created in the world are but a reflection of the ones they've created in their own backyards. Poignant perhaps because as everyone seems to be searching for answers to those 'bigger' problems the more the age old ones get ignored.

It's important to remember this album in the context of being an election year. And not just any election year but one in which the prime candidate (whom The Roots and OKP endorsed) is a man of African heritage. I hear songs like "I Will Not Apologize" as a statement to whoever becomes the next president, that the neglect which government and the social organism has put on folk, has created the issues raised and thus some accountability for those actions by the social organism, through the voice of government, must be taken or it will only get worse. Why should the symptom apologize for behavior indicative of the illness? As the next song indicates "I Can't Help It."

Coincidentally John McWhorter leaked an excerpt from his new book "All About the Beat: Why Hip-Hop Can't Save Black America" in which he takes The Roots among others to task for precisely this. Its a bit of a twisted perspective, or at least as an excerpt it is. The notion is that employment statistics seem to contradict the claim of rappers that there's no work available. Again though this is taking a microscopic look at the a symptom, and saying well there's a cold medicine for it. But the problem isn't just access to jobs, its things like Rick Ross (not the rapper), three strikes, the raise of single parent homes, etc. All of those symptoms though. Collectively they add up to a very complex issue, which hip-hop isn't so much trying to save, but make sure that its swept under the rug with black and white lines of right and wrong.

The chorus to "Singing man" seems to address the media's role in this. All these issues are going on, the pressures that are felt, and what are the songs the singing man is going to sing? "Get Money?" Symptoms. Another one "Unwritten" foreshadowed with "Becoming Unwritten" "The nigga just chase the dream but won't chase the monster," says Thought as he reflects on a youth on the brink of committing armed robbery. "Lost desire" seems to talk to McWhorter directly, as Malik B says, "Get off the choir with you soft attire / niggas out here don't give a fuck cause they lost desire." And that's what it comes down to. In his article McWhorter likes comparing todays community with those of days ago, but its a progression. The achievements of boot-strappers don't trickle down to the cat on the corner. As far as he can see, history has dealt him and his ancestors before him a hand from the bottom of the deck. Did the decisions of his great grands after reconstruction change his opportunity during the Bush era. Hardly. Those to whom it did are disproportionately lower than those that it didn't.

This is a landmark Roots album if you ask me. Perhaps the most focused effort ever. The thinking fans dream. Their second Def Jam release, and one riddled with controversy. Having watched the whole "Birthday Girl" ordeal online, I can't help but hear a message for their label through out the album as well. The radio single "Rising Up" is attacking the radio format, "what's wrong.... the radio's been playing the same song all day long." Is there a double meaning to "I Will Not Apologize" intended for label execs? Going back to the album opener which was intended to point out the problems that The Roots have had with labels have been consistent since the beginning. But hopefully in hindsight they recognize the truth in their then managers words, "it don't get no better than this unless you got your own record label."]]> http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2008/05/28/2001mq_nneka%27s_%22no_longer_at_ease%22 Wed, 28 May 2008 22:34:41 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2008/05/28/2001mq_nneka%27s_%22no_longer_at_ease%22 Nneka is but only one voice but the way she's able to convey the complexities of a Halfcast from africa is absolutely beautiful. Clever songwriting, and high production values make No Longer At Ease a must hear.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2007/09/12/1a9o_i_don%27t_know_of_a_more_soothing_voice_than_pyeng_threadgill Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:12:47 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2007/09/12/1a9o_i_don%27t_know_of_a_more_soothing_voice_than_pyeng_threadgill http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2007/09/11/1a9n_one_of_the_best_tracks_this_year Tue, 11 Sep 2007 05:52:49 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2007/09/11/1a9n_one_of_the_best_tracks_this_year Dead Ones was in heavy rotation over the summer. I think it's going to be the joint for winter.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2007/09/10/1a9m_corc_%2526_eutow Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:50:04 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2007/09/10/1a9m_corc_%2526_eutow Autechre late but Corc & Eutow are part and partial to my growing fandom.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2006/12/26/1a9l_the_best_of_what_you_missed_in_%2706 Tue, 26 Dec 2006 21:23:57 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/primusluta/journal/2006/12/26/1a9l_the_best_of_what_you_missed_in_%2706 There? You're only missing out on the absolute best album released this year. A perfect combination of soulfulness with jazzy inflections, sprinkled with the type of social relevence your soul desires. Can't find it? I know I had to order from Germany. But the good news is its on iTunes if you dig that type of thing.

Let me guess, you slept on Pick a Bigger Weapon. Damn shame too. I mean everyone's talking about the whole everyman MC experience and all, but no one this year really put it to wax like Boots. This joint has so many classic cuts it's like a must.

Well what about only the best instrumental album featuring real instruments this year, Other True Self. Don't tell my you didn't hear that the best Radiohead cover is on this and not that cover album. Not to mention the other heat Vernon brings on this album.

So did you happen upon that Overnite Encore Live? I mean seriously talk about a live show. Dude is definitely doing his thing.

You mean you're into world beat type music and you haven't heard Techari. A beautiful album which mixes influences like no other.

Did you know about that Heroes in the City of Dope project? Man that is just some straight fire right there.

Let me guess you're a rock head but didn't pick up Young Machetes album. I mean that joint almost makes me believe there isn't a cookie cutter that's producing all of the rock bands these days.

Did you sleep on Game Theory because of the lack of promotion? If so you missed one of their best albums to date. Easily one of the best put together albums this season.

Don't tell me you think the south killed hiphop. Cause if so you must not have heard A Piece of Strange. They let you know right from the jump how the south represents.

All in all 2006 was a very good year, and if it's any indication 2007 looks to be even better.]]>