Album Review: Kanye West - Yeezus

To those who dislike Kanye West simply because he is commercially successful or because he is arrogant, lighten up. Get over yourselves and give West's music a serious listen. The Chicago rapper's debut, College Dropout, is easily a masterpiece in its genre. No other artist has ever purposely captured their own essence and used it to their advantage the way that Kanye West has. He is well aware of his flashy appearance in the eye of the public. He speaks on this topic relentlessly on every record. The result, is a truly unique artist. The large majority of hip hop artists that talk about money and success, do not have it. Kanye is one of the few who does. People put him to shame for being arrogant. But think about it, is he really arrogant? Arrogance is an exaggeration of a person's ability or value. Many people agree that Kanye is obviously one of the greatest players in the game. So when he talks about being the best, is it still arrogance if it is the truth? To me, the don is simply calling things like they are. He is one of the best and he worked hard to be it. I believe it is fair to allow Kanye to act "arrogant" if he pleases to do so. His status was earned. Now to Yeezus...

Every album in Kanye's discography is fantastic. From College Dropout to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, he has tested his metal in a number of different musical styles. Not only does he succeed in making music that is nearly always pleasing to his audience, but he takes risks. 808's And Heartbreak is a perfect example of this. Kanye was always known as a rapper and producer. With 808's added singer to repertoire as well. This album was risky in the sense that it was new territory for Kanye. It was very possible that many people would dislike this side of him and the record would not sell very well. He knew this but was more concerned with what he wanted from his music. Unlike many other commercially successful artists, Kanye refuses to compromise his artistic desires for money (Watch The Throne and Cruel Summer are a different story...we're talking about his solo work here...). Yeezus is by far the biggest risk he has taken in his career this far. This record is incredibly odd in comparison to all the other releases over the years. Most of Kanye's albums tend to show some resemblance to their predecessors. Yeezus does the opposite, so much so that it must have been intentional. I was very curious about where his music could possibly go next after the release of his 5th album. Now that the 6th album is finally here, it is safe to say I never would have guessed it would be like this.

It seems that this entire album is Kanye telling the music industry to kiss his ass. It seems that every track on Yeezus is meant to scare away anyone lacking patience. The album kicks off with a thick, loud, and twangy synthesizer that might fool you into thinking your speakers have been damaged. The second track, Black Skinhead, also begins with a similar electronic type instrument in its intro. The third track, I Am A God, is fantastic. It seems that the most common recurring theme of the album is the fact that Kanye believed he is a god. I believe this is his response to people calling him arrogant. If he is going to display such behavior, he might as well take it to the limit. Interestingly, Yeezus sounds strongly, and I mean very strongly, influenced by an underground, experimental rap group, Death Grips. This is came as one of the most pleasant surprises this year. That is because not once have I ever associated Kanye West with Death Grips. Any serious fan of both artist would understand that would be absurd. But after hearing just one song from this new album, it i obvious that Kanye must have spent a great amount of time listening to No Love Deep Web. I do not believe this myself, but I would be surprised to hear someone claim that Kanye is "biting" Death Grips style. Fortunately, the combination is heavenly...in a hellish way. Best said by Anthony Fantano of The Neelde Drop, Death Grips takes normal hip hop stereotypes and turns them up to such a degree that they become somewhat satirical. Yeezus does the same with Kanye's personality. Many people criticize the lyrics on this album saying Kanye was lazy and did not put enough effort into them. I can definitely see this but I feel they are missing the point. I see the lack luster lyrics of this record as intentional, to some extent. "She said can you get my friends in the club? I said can you get my benz in the club?" I really do not think Kanye was trying to impress anyone with word play here. He is combining the theme of extreme arrogance with a little bit of humor. One totally unique aspect of the album is Kanye's tendency to stop a song completely and play offhand and soulful vocal samples. Many people were confused by this. I found it very interesting. Even more so because it happens all over the album, indicating that it is not a fluke. West is challenging his listeners and succeeding. It seems that almost every track on Yeezus has something unique to offer. Whether it is a silly guest feature from Chief Keef on "Hold My Liquor", or a flashy, trappy production feature from Hudson Mohawke on "Blood On The Leaves". Yeezus is truly a spectacle of 2013 and Kanye's discography. 8/10.

Favorite Tracks: I Am A God, New Slaves, Guilt Trip, Bound 2

Album Review: The Growlers - Hung At Heart

The songwriting dynamic that exists between Brooks Nielsen and Matt Taylor is one in a million. With Taylor on guitar, Nielsen has proved time and time again that he is the perfect match for this prolific artist. Nielsen channels the pure songwriting ability of Taylor into lyrics that prove to be quite endearing. The two have lead their band, The Growlers, through a whirlwind of touring and producing records for almost a decade all the while maintaining a modest following in their home turf of Costa Mesa, California. The band has created a catalogue that boasts a very unique style that can best be compared to old Western music especially in their 2010 album, Hot Tropics. Most music critics just put them in the garage rock group. The Growlers actually took to creating their own name for this unique style: "Beach Goth".

The band's most impressive album so far, Hung At Heart, was released earlier this year and presents a more accessible experience. The recording quality of this record is a little more low fi than its predecessors, however, it sets the mood perfectly. Rumors hold that Black Keys member Dan Auerbach was supposed to be behind the recording process but was dropped from the position. Whether or not this is true, the band still delivers the same mix of charm and manic grooves that you know and love. There are many catchy tracks on this record such as "Someday","Living In a Memory", and "Pet Shop Eyes". In fact, almost every track on the record is catchy in its own way which can range from brooding rock rhythms to poppy beach tunes. The presence of an organ style keyboard on some of the tracks really adds a nice touch which can prove to be either menacing or sweet. Hung At Heart is a very solid record and proves to be quite addicting. 8/10

Favorite Tracks: Someday, Salt On A Slug, Burden of the Captain

Track Review: Death Grips - Birds

In a sense, an introduction to Death Grips is somewhat counterproductive. If you are already a fan, you should understand. If you are not, I strongly recommend giving them a listen. Birds is the group's first single since the release of their second major full length, No Love Deep Web. Death Grips are known for playing extremely unusual and abrasive hip hop. Really the only thing that makes their music hip hop is the fact that MC Ride's lyrics just so happen to rhyme. The most captivating aspect of Death Grips's music is their beats which tend to sound like experimental electronic noise. Birds begins with a scratchy, wobbly sample of a person repeating the words "I got, I got tomorrow coming". This sample is then accompanied by a fast drum beat from a sequencer. You can hear MC Ride say the title of the song once with the same echo effect used on some tracks of their album The Money Store. After a short period, the fast paced beat and sample section ends, and what sounds like a pitch shifted guitar sample comes in. This sudden change makes the song sound very eerie. Like the intro, the sample plays on its own for few seconds and is then accompanied by drums. The drums in this verse sound like they must have been performed by Death Grips drumer, Zach Hill. MC Ride raps very slow and hesitantly. All of the lyrics on this track are extremely vague which leads me to question whether there is really any meaning behind them at all. Birds is a decent track. All of Death Grips's material is very pleasing. In comparison to the rest of the group's work, this track is not so strong. I believe the value in this new material is not in the music itself, but the fact that Death Grips are still making music. Could this mean another Death Grips record is in the works? I hope so. 6.5/10.

Album Review: Tyler, The Creator - Wolf

Released earlier this year was perhaps the most interesting and engaging work by rapper, producer, Tyler, the Creator. Wolf was a huge step in the right direction for Tyler as many were becoming increasingly disappointed with the works and solo projects being put out by rap group Odd Future. This album presents an impressive collection of songs that boast better production, more intricate instrumentation, and deeper more meaningful lyrics. The lyrics really seem to stand out on tracks such as "Answer" where Tyler expresses his desperate desire to finally know his father as well as his animosity towards him for abandoning him and his mother. "Colossus", while it may seem vain on the surface, highlights the rapper's increasing confusion and dissatisfaction with his fans' cult status and fanaticism. Within the track "Lone" Tyler comes to terms with his melancholy feelings associated with his grandmother's death. Not every song is to be praised as some seem to miss something in terms of creative direction and general interest. Wolf may fall short at some points, however, it makes it very apparent that Tyler, the Creator growing and maturing not only in life but also in his music. 8/10

Favorite Tracks: Answer, Colossus, Rusty

Album Review: Earl Sweatshirt - Doris

Earl Sweatshirt claimed he would lose many of his fans with the release of his debut album, Doris. He claimed his material was going to be more serious, indicating a lack of lyrics on topics such as rape and cannibalism. Whether for better or for worse, these topics have been subtracted from Earl’s lyrical content. To the dismay of myself and many friends of mine, his music seems to have remained at the same level of immaturity. The unusual lyrics about obscenities are indeed gone, but it seems they have been replaced by more brag raps and drug references. Earl continues to deliver very unique flows with interesting metaphors but his subject matter is still sub par. The first single from the album, Chum, was quite promising. It was wonderful to hear Earl speak openly about his past with such relatable clarity. After hearing Doris for the first time, I felt considerably less than satisfied. Not only is the lyrical performance lacking on this record, the production seems to fall short as well. Many of the beats feel as if they are missing some important finishing touches. To be completely blunt, they sound half-baked. The intro, “Pre”, literally sounds like a joke. This track sounds like it is straight out of OF Tape 2 (Odd Future’s train-wreck of a collective album). Also the SK La’ Flare feature on this track seems to be in poor taste. Why begin a rapper’s debut record with a feature from a wonky rapper few people know about? The second track “Burgundy”, is produced by The Neptunes. As a fan of Pharrell Williams’s, In My Mind, I had higher expectations for this track. The fake horns really get under my skin. Tracks like “Sunday”, “Sasquatch”, and “523” feel like unfinished projects. It is great to hear Earl trying his hand at production on some of these tracks, but I really believe his skills are underdeveloped here. A production feature from the jazz trio, BADBADNOTGOOD, on “Hoarse” was a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately I had a hard time appreciating the combination of these two musical styles. The punchy snare on this track sound a little out of place in juxtaposition with Earl’s laid back flow. Fortunately Doris really delivers with tracks such as “20 Wave Caps”, “Centurtion”, “Hive”, “Molasses”, and “Knights”. The RZA produced “Molasses” is very satisfying. RZA’s hook on this song is solid, funny, and clever. Overall, Doris was a disappointment. After falling in love with Earl’s first mixtape, many fans, including myself, had very high expectations for an album. Sadly, Earl’s debut turned out to be another miss in the Odd Future catalog. 7/10.

Favorite Track: 20 Wave Caps, Hive, Chum, Molasses, and Knights

Album Review: Deafheaven - Sunbather

Sunbather is a rare album that really finds a spot for itself among the best albums of the year. This album mixes three very diverse genres and doesn't disappoint in delivering an album with elements of Black Metal, Post-Rock, and Shoegazing. This album tends to change from structures in which you are attacked by intense, fast drumming, and very clean screaming vocals from George Clarke to slow calm guitar playing and piano keys. These styles are reminiscent of albums such as Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To The Heavens By Godspeedyou! Black Emperor. There are also parts that are very rich with effects such as chorus, sounds which would be compared to the shoegazing band, Slowdive. Although this combination of genres is unusual, it has been done by the french group Les Discrets in their album Septembre et ses dernière pensées which had a darker more ghostly feel. This is where Sunbather differs in the sense that it takes a much lighter, uplifting, energetic approach to the combination. Deafheaven did a good job which the song placement.  All the post-rock style interludes gave the album an interesting flow that could be compared to a roller coaster in which very passionate black metal is followed by soothing post-rock. Sunbather is one of 2013's most important and impressive releases. I recommend Sunbather to anyone, it is a rare album which you do not have to enjoy black metal nor like heavy music to be captivated by. 9.5/10

Album Review: Prefuse 73 - Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian

Scott Herren, aka Prefuse 73, is a relatively well known glitch hop beat maker. Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian is a solid album for its genre. The best description I can provide is that it sounds and feels like a dream that a robot would have. This robot would have to be partly human but mostly robot for sure. The sounds on this record all sound very fluid, bouncy, round, and colorful. Each track is consistently abstract and spacey while at the same time, there is always a constant beat that holds it down. The greatest thing about this record is that it is constantly moving forward. All the tracks are brief, yet exceptional. All of the beats have an admirable depth to them. With a decent pair of headphones, the mix is like a sandwich in which all the fix ins combine perfectly. Herren is an increidbly talented producer. His strongest point in his work is definitely his attention to detail. This is a great record to listen to while doing some homework or something of that sort. This record is also deep enough to enjoy on it's own. 7.5/10.

Album Review: Fat History Month - Bad History Month

Exploding In Sound Records really knows how to pick talented artists. Fat History Month's debut, Bad History Month, has a serious potential to be my favorite release of 2013. The entire album flows exactly as an album should. Each track connects to the next in a perfect fashion, like puzzle pieces. The acoustic guitar in the intro shines beautifully underneath some humorous lyrics, which are incredibly simple yet well put throughout. The entire album consists of only drums, guitar, and vocals. This minimalistic arsenal may come as a challenge to many artists, but not to Fat History Month. All of the guitar playing on the record gleams through the speakers with a unique reverb that sounds hot and sweaty. The summertime release is a definite justice to the album. The song structures seem to rise and fall in a somewhat similar fashion to certain post rock albums I have heard. But unlike post rock, Bad History Month never drones, it is consistently interesting. All of the lyrics seem to convey a feeling of exhausted acceptance towards life and its challenges. The last track contains several lines about understanding the value of miracles we are all born with and how many of us are still unhappy. Every time I think of this record, there is one word that constantly crosses my mind, grandiose. This album sounds big, and the message it bares undeniably so. 10/10!

Favorite Tracks: Bad History Month, I Ate Myself And I Want To Die
(This is truly and album album. Best served from start to finish...)