Leonland > Music http://www.leonland.com/music/ Leon Barnard's Music Weblog en Copyright 2008 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 07:37:03 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss "Tuxedo Rap" Song: "Tuxedo Rap"
Artist: People Under the Stairs
Album: Stepfather
Track No.: 6
Notes: Man, the way they capture the old school hip-hop sound without mocking or using it as a gimmick it is great. The beat is so nice, but this track is solid all-around. It just makes me feel good each time I hear it.
 
]]> http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2008/03/tuxedo_rap.html http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2008/03/tuxedo_rap.html Songs I've been into Fri, 14 Mar 2008 07:37:03 -0800 Jonny Greenwood - Jonny Greenwood Is the Controller Artist: Jonny Greenwood
Title: Jonny Greenwood Is the Controller
Year: 2007
Rating: TBD
Notes:
 
]]> http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2007/04/jonny_greenwood_jonny_gre.html http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2007/04/jonny_greenwood_jonny_gre.html Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:11:12 -0800 Dengue Fever - Escape from Dragon House Artist: Dengue Fever
Title: Escape from Dragon House
Year: 2005
Rating: TBD
Notes:
 
]]> http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2007/04/dengue_fever_escape_from.html http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2007/04/dengue_fever_escape_from.html Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:01:36 -0800 Various Artists - Rawkus Records: Best of Decade I (1995-2005) Artist: Various Artists
Title: Rawkus Records: Best of Decade I (1995-2005)
Year: 2005
Rating: ****½
Notes: This disc was on my wish list for a long time. It's a compilation of songs from Rawkus Records (or, you could say, Mos Def, since he appears on about half of them), most of which I already own through the originating CDs. I thought it might be nice to have them all together on one disc so I pondered this purchase for a long while. The other day I saw it for six bucks at Amoeba and that sealed the deal. The final track, "B-Boy Document '99", is fresh enough to justify buying an album otherwise mostly filled with songs that I already have.
 
]]> http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/10/various_artists_rawkus_re.html http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/10/various_artists_rawkus_re.html Tue, 17 Oct 2006 17:31:30 -0800 Cassius - 15 Again Artist: Cassius
Title: 15 Again
Year: 2006
Rating: ***½
Notes: I had been waiting eagerly for a new album from Cassius, so I was very excited to hear that one was coming out in September. Since they're French, I wasn't surprised that it wasn't in stores here the day that it was released there. But I became increasingly frustrated that I couldn't find it, eventually deciding that it wasn't going to be released in the U.S. Fortunately, I live close to an Amoeba Music, and I found an imported French copy. After all that work, my anticipation had built up quite a bit, given my enthusiasm for their first two albums ("1999" and "Au Reve"). Sadly, I was quickly disappointed by the hit-or-miss tracks on this disc. The first song, "Toop Toop", is quite good, probably my favorite. There are some other songs that are either enjoyable or at least really interesting. But many are repetitive, uninspired, and/or unoriginal. It's possible that this disc will grow on me over time, as their second album did, but my initial reactions to their previous CDs were much more positive, so I'm not too optimistic. Oh well, it's still worth it for the few "winners" on this disc.
 
]]> http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/10/cassius_15_again_1.html http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/10/cassius_15_again_1.html Tue, 17 Oct 2006 17:11:20 -0800 Easy Star All-Stars - Radiodread Artist: Easy Star All-Stars
Title: Radiodread
Year: 2006
Rating: ****
Notes: I know, the concept of a reggae tribute to Radiohead's "OK Computer" doesn't really seem like it would work. On some tracks it doesn't. But the several good and few great tracks make this a nice pick-up. In particular, Toots and the Maytals singing Thom Yorke on "Let Down" really works, even though there's a juxtaposition between the feel-good reggae vibe and, well, Radiohead. "Electioneering" isn't one of the most memorable tracks on the original "OK Computer", but the reggae interpretation here is really tight and manages to come off as serious and heavy enough. Part of the reason I give this disc four stars is through association, since the songs all resemble the originals enough to make you think that you are listening to "OK Computer" at times. If this was a cover of a lesser album, my rating might not have been as high.
 
]]> http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/09/easy_star_allstars_radiod.html http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/09/easy_star_allstars_radiod.html Thu, 21 Sep 2006 14:17:59 -0800 "The Girl I Can't Forget" Song: "The Girl I Can't Forget"
Artist: Fountains of Wayne
Album: Out-Of-State Plates [Disc 2]
Track No.: 2
Notes: You would be hard-pressed to find a catchier tune than this pop-rock ditty. It's tempting to dislike it because it's so head-bobbingly pop, but it's genuine-ness is disarming enough to make you say "oh, what the hell" and totally get into it.
 
]]> http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/09/the_girl_i_cant_forget.html http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/09/the_girl_i_cant_forget.html Songs I've been into Tue, 19 Sep 2006 19:58:17 -0800 Zero 7 - The Garden Artist: Zero 7
Title: The Garden
Year: 2006
Rating: TBD
Notes:
 
]]> http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/09/zero_7_the_garden.html http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/09/zero_7_the_garden.html Review Queue Sun, 10 Sep 2006 00:22:48 -0800 Zero 7 - When It Falls Artist: Zero 7
Title: When It Falls
Year: 2004
Rating: TBD
Notes:
 
]]> http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/09/zero_7_when_it_falls.html http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/09/zero_7_when_it_falls.html Review Queue Sun, 10 Sep 2006 00:19:49 -0800 Aesop Rock - Daylight Artist: Aesop Rock
Title: Daylight
Year: 2002
Rating: TBD
Notes:
 
]]> http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/09/aesop_rock_daylight.html http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/09/aesop_rock_daylight.html Review Queue Sun, 10 Sep 2006 00:17:26 -0800 Jurassic 5 - Feedback Artist: Jurassic 5
Title: Feedback
Year: 2006
Rating: TBD
Notes:
 
]]> http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/09/jurassic_5_feedback.html http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/09/jurassic_5_feedback.html Review Queue Sun, 10 Sep 2006 00:07:04 -0800 The Roots - Game Theory Artist: The Roots
Title: Game Theory
Year: 2006
Rating: TBD
Notes:
 
]]> http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/08/the_roots_game_theory.html http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/08/the_roots_game_theory.html Review Queue Thu, 24 Aug 2006 17:01:57 -0800 Aesop Rock - Bazooka Tooth Artist: Aesop Rock
Title: Bazooka Tooth
Year: 2003
Desirability: Maybe
Notes: I read that this disc isn't as good as his previous two, but I might pick it up anyway, just because I'm desperate for more Aesop Rock.
 
]]> http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/08/aesop_rock_bazooka_tooth.html http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/08/aesop_rock_bazooka_tooth.html Wish List Wed, 23 Aug 2006 17:13:56 -0800 Danger Doom - The Mouse and the Mask Artist: Danger Doom
Title: The Mouse and the Mask
Year: 2005
Rating: ****½
Notes: This disc really grew on me. It plays very well as a complete disc (unlike another Danger Mouse project, Gnarls Barkley). The rapping is solid and the beats are clean and never annoying. The mood is light, and the energy is never too much or too little. I would have guessed that guest appearances by characters from Cartoon Network Adult Swim shows would detract from the album, but this unlikely pairing of rap music and cartoons brings a playfulness that is rather refreshing. The second half of the disc isn't quite as strong as the first, but, overall this disc is a quality production that's unique enough to stand out from anything that resembles it.
 
]]> http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/06/danger_doom_the_mouse_and_1.html http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/06/danger_doom_the_mouse_and_1.html Recent acquisitions Tue, 27 Jun 2006 11:56:41 -0800 Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere Artist: Gnarls Barkley
Title: St. Elsewhere
Year: 2006
Rating: ****
Notes: Another funky release from Danger Mouse (producer of "The Grey Album"; this time collaborating with Cee-Lo Green of Goodie Mob), this disc grabbed me with its genre-busting sounds. I was surprised at the track-to-track variety on first listen, which made it difficult to get into. At times, I think they're having a bit too much fun not being tied to any specific sound, free-wheeling and experimenting at the expense of listening enjoyment. But, when it works, it really works. Songs like "Smiley Faces", "Crazy", and "The Last Time" are varied and fun, and can be listened to over and over again without getting stale. I think that in most cases I'll be playing individual tracks on this disc, rather than listening to it straight through.
 
]]> http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/06/gnarls_barkley_st_elsewhe.html http://www.leonland.com/music/archives/2006/06/gnarls_barkley_st_elsewhe.html Fri, 09 Jun 2006 17:29:51 -0800