Mobile
CD Reviews
Friday, October 29, 2010
CD Reviews / Opinion / News CD Review: The Foreign Exchange's Authenticity
Posted By Mike McCray on Fri, Oct 29, 2010 at 4:50 PM
The Deal: Grammy-nominated duo with North Carolina lead singer releases their third studio album.
The Good: Soulful without fitting in a nice, little, soulful box. I mean it's really, really mellow. Nicolay continues to produce tracks right in Phonte Coleman's vocal wheelhouse, not giving the rapper turned singer anything he would necessarily have to stretch for. The production also had a dope familiarity. Tracks put you instantly in the mind of pop and R&B tracks from the '80s even with the electronic touches of Nicolay's European influence.
Monday, October 4, 2010
CD Reviews / New Releases / News CD Review: Aloe Blacc's Good Things
Posted By Mike McCray on Mon, Oct 4, 2010 at 4:42 PM
The Deal: Sophomore album from soul singer who skyrocketed in popularity after his single, "I Need A Dollar" became the theme music to the grind and the HBO series, How To Make It In America.
The Good: A true throwback, not just in sound but in passion. Some of the bass lines and instrumentation will conjure images of an era where singers like this dominated radio and weren't a novelty.
Classic without feeling old, there's definitely some a modern touches between all the music of a foregone era.
Blacc manages to be everyman without being generic. Even his pleading comes off well, with lyrics tinged in desperation leaving you inspired by his fight rather than pity or want to put him on the sidewalk and throw him some lose change.
"Momma Hold My Hand" is a tearjerker for sure.
The Bad: He's not going to blow you away with his vocals but for this record, it fits perfectly. Nothing but "good things" to say.
The Verdict: Parts Anthony Hamilton, parts Marvin Gaye. A soulful album that sucks you in from the very beginning, from an artist who's been plugging away since the mid-90's finally breaking through. Hopefully it doesn't get caught up in the whole Amy Winehouse, Raphael Saadiq mix of 60's period piece albums because it stands out on it's own as quality material.
INFO
Stones Throw; Release date: Sept. 28, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
CD Reviews / News Trey Songz "Passion, Pain and Pleasure" CD review
Posted By Debra Seth on Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 3:17 PM
\
The Deal: Born Tremaine Aldon Neverson, Songz has steadily carved his mark on the music world beginning in 2002 when he signed his first recording contract with Atlantic Records. Fast forward eight years and the same singer who had party goers everywhere "Saying Ahhhh...." all summer long is back with the unique soulful style that put him on the map.
CD Reviews / New Releases / News Mixtape Review: Young Jeezy's The Last Laugh
Posted By Mike McCray on Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 2:58 PM
The Deal: On the date which his album was originally supposed to drop, we get a mixtape instead from Young Jeezy.
The Good: "I'm Trippin" was ok. "Do It Again" would be a serviceable intro track to the actual album. All the beats by the incarcerated Shawty Redd were what you'd expect but probably would've jumped out the speakers even more if were available to put some minor touches on them.
The Bad: Completely uninspired, predictably generic lyrics and regurgitated themes, even the beats felt like joints resurrected from the cutting room floor. There was no sight of his signature flair and cleverness, which usually makes you forget you heard him spit about these things better. It actually sounded like an up and comer trying to make a mixtape sound like Young Jeezy instead of Young Jeezy himself.
One line on "Jizzle" says, "swear I hate n*ggas, I should be a fuckin' Nazi." I'm not even sensitive about shit like that but that felt out of place.
Still trying to figure out who the “they” is that says life is like a strip club, too.
The Verdict: Fingers crossed these were just throw aways from TM103 because this did the opposite of making me want that album. Thankfully, he's been three-for-three on studio albums, but none of his mixtapes have been as good or as impactful as Trap Or Die in 2005.
INFO
Release date: Sept. 29, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
CD Reviews / New Releases / News CD Review: Black Milk's Album of the Year
Posted By Mike McCray on Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 4:05 PM
The Deal: Detroit producer and MC attempts to back up the bold title of his fourth studio album.
The Good: For an entirely self-produced project, AOTY has range. While some tracks feel like they were ripped directly out of a Dilla instruction manual, others show Black Milk's own touch. There's obviously soul influences but the hints of rock and go-go were very dope surprises. Couple that with the Dilla-esque experimentation that was pulled off without being heavy-handed and there's no issues with how the sound of this album turned out. You would've thought he had The Roots backing him at times, straight up.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
CD Reviews / New Releases / News EP Review: Kendrick Lamar's Overly Dedicated
Posted By Mike McCray on Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 12:29 PM
The Deal: Compton, Calif. emcee takes his place among the best of the new West.
The Good: Pleasant surprises are great. "Growing Apart" was so smooth I almost missed the Jehovah's Witness references to how many people go to heaven. "Ignorance is Bliss" featured Lamar's fast flow and felt like a soulful remix of a track that was original grimey, instead it was hardcore lyrics over strings and timpanis.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
CD Reviews / New Releases / Opinion / News Mixtape Review: Wale's More About Nothing
Posted By Mike McCray on Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 10:52 AM
The Deal: Buzz for new mixtape from DMV front runner trends World wide on Twitter and gives nod to his previous mixtape, The Mixtape About Nothing.
The Good: Completely obliterated my modest expectations.
Lyrically, Wale is getting stronger and seems to be spitting with a keen understanding of who his original audience and the new people that listen to him now for his punchlines and innuendo.
I'm never against flipping Lenny Kravitz into something more hip-hop like he did on "The Get Away (Fly Away)"
Cleverly integrated Seinfeld quotes to not only move the mixtape along but to set the theme of songs. Nice touch.
"The Soup," "The Friends N Strangers," and "The Black N Gold" are pretty much can't miss.
The Bad: A lot of material to digest, makes me worry about how much of it will end up on his second studio album.
Friday, July 23, 2010
CD Reviews / News CD Review: Curren$y's Pilot Talk
Posted By Mike McCray on Fri, Jul 23, 2010 at 4:54 PM
The Deal: New Orleans MC sees bigger audience and wider distribution on his third studio album, sure to be every D.A.R.E. instructors nightmare and every stoner's dream.
The Good: There's something fascinating and dope about Curren$y's baked train of thought, whether it's obscure sports references or video game and classic TV nostalgia. The beats, primarily crafted by North Carolina super-producer Ski Beatz — probably most famous for producing "Dead Presidents" on Jay-Z'sReasonable Doubt — range from experimental and grimy early on to, at times, easy listening and adult contemporary later without sacrificing soul or precision. After the first few tracks go in different directions the album settles into a dope and consistent groove.
Love guest appearances. Newcomers like Big K.R.I.T. and Smoke DZA contribute dope verses to "Skybourne" while vets Mikey Rocks of The Cool Kids ("The Hangover"), Mos Def & Jay Electronica ("The Day") and Devin The Dude ("Chilled Coughphee") rode down tempo beats like a clean whip on Saturday afternoon. Can't forget Nesby Phips either who did his thing over a beat he produced ("Prioritize")
The Bad: Fans will recognize more than a few of these tracks from previous projects (mixtapes and leaks) with is probably frustrating for fans clamoring for new material. "Seat Change" with Snoop Dogg is one of those features you were excited to hear, but then, after hearing it, you'll say you want the "old Snoop" back.
The Verdict: Smooth and easy to re-play over and over. Truly one of hip hop's most unique and underrated voices delivers an album that should catch the ears of fans who only associated him with "Where The Cash At?" and push his already loaded underground bandwagon towards capacity. Hopefully, it's enough green to go around.
INFO
DD172; Release date: July 13, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
CD Reviews / News CD Review: Childish Gambino's Culdesac
Posted By Mike McCray on Fri, Jul 9, 2010 at 3:48 PM
The Deal: NBC Community & DERRICK Comedy star, Donald Glover, proves his side project is more than just noise.
The Good: Pulling from a truly unique set of experiences, Glover spits on broad range of topics from the stress of being a cultural outsider in his own community ("I wanna hang with Lil Wayne, I just hope I'm Black enough..."), being broke in college, standard lady troubles, self-doubt in his newfound fame and oh yeah, chilling with Tina Fey. His honesty and enthusiasm is refreshing, blending carefree lyrics about the party life ("NBC won't be the only thing I'm coming on tonight...") with sincere lyrics about the pressures of being a writer on a hit TV show, aspiring actor and rising comedian when you're 25. Entirely self-produced (with Ludwig Garonsson), the beats were dope and different. More electronic and eclectic than his Southern brethren with flashes of his electronic mashups and remixes he previously released under the name MC DJ.
His NYC connections make you forget he's actually from Atlanta.
He acknowledgeded those doubting his side gig, "They said him rapping was like MJ [Michael Jordan] and baseball but that would me MJ so motherfuck all of yall..." No "I'm On A Boat" rhymes here, but there's no doubt being a comedian didn't hurt his punchlines.
The Bad: Impossible to ignore his voice and cadence are Lil Wayne-esque, it almost sounds like an impression sometimes and he dropped about 10 too many swaggers.
The Verdict: Jokes aside, there's nothing amateur about Culdesac. For what may be lacking lyrically, the production more than picks up. Donald Glover may be a legit triple threat.
INFO
Release date: July 2, 2010
Download Childish Gambino's Culdesac.
Tracklist:
01. Difference
02. Hero
03. I Be On That
04. Got This Money
05. So Fly
06. You Know Me
07. Let Me Dope You
08. Do Ya Like
09. I'm Alright
10. Glory
11. Fuck It All
12. I'm On It
13. Put It In My Video
14. These Girls (feat. Garfunkel & Oates)
15. The Last
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
CD Reviews / Mike McCray / News Mixtape review: Cee-Lo's Stray Bullets
Posted By Mike McCray on Tue, Jun 8, 2010 at 4:17 PM
The Deal: Yet another Down South hip hop icon jumps into the mixtape game but this one's a little different.
The Good: Who else can have Goodie Mob and The B-52's on the same project? Seriously.
-
Rain doesn't dampen the party with Kesha and Macklemore
Both sets cut short as storms roll through Charlotte, N.C.
-
Live review: Fiona Apple, The Fillmore (9/26/2012) 16
Fans ate it up, but it was a trainwreck of tragic and frustrating proportions.
-
Frank Ocean tops Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll
Annual critics list creates requisite buzz
