By David Thomas
April 6, 2004
Pick Of The Week
EYEDEA & ABILITIES, E & A (Epitaph)
Some people ask me why I don't review more rap and hip-hop records since
they make up such a large amount of today's music landscape. The truth is
most of the rap that I hear on the radio or MTV just isn't any good. The MCs
have zero talent and their voices are what I consider grating and their
delivery is beyond lazy. They might be talented producers but rappers they
are not.
Most of the newer rap records that I do enjoy fall back on old school
aesthetics while adding fresh rhymes and beats. They also shy away from the
bling bling.
EYEDEA & ABILITIES follow right in line with the style of DAN THE AUTOMATER
and likeminded artists that spend more time on their lyrics than their
lifestyle. The MC in this duo, EYEDEA, can flow as a storyteller or confront
real or fictional competitors in the rap game. All the while DJ ABILITIES is
actually scratching records with amazing precision and an originality that
is truly refreshing in a world of recycled rock songs serving as the basis
for new hits. (Don't get me started on the new CYPRESS HILL single
slaughtering THE CLASH's "Guns of Brixton" with lyrics about trying to get a
girl's phone number. Shame on Tim Armstrong for even guesting on such a
travesty).
It's hard these days for an average Joe to sincerely enjoy a new rap record.
Listeners connect as much with the artists as they do millionaire pro
athletes. They live in unreal worlds most of us don't care about. When an
act like EYEDEA & ABILITIES comes along that sticks to the heart of the
genre allegiance is almost automatic.
Derivative Pick of the Week
TORTOISE, It's All Around You (Thrill Jockey)
When some bands in the indie rock world release a new record, it is very
easy to guess what it will sound like. Whether it's YO LA TENGO or BAD
RELIGION most of us know whether we're going to buy that album based on the
group's track record. TORTOISE's latest, It's All Around You, is
somewhat more straight forward than their past work but doesn't serve up
anything that would make fans falter at the checkout counter.
Tracks like "The Lithium Shifts" could fit into any of the group's last half
dozen releases and it's stark, jazz inspired feel will certainly not offend
any faithful. But what band's like TORTOISE fail to do is grow in any
noticeable measure. Obviously the band is different now that it was in 1994
when they debuted. The members are more skilled, the production is far
superior but there is nothing challenging to the work.
There is certainly not another band around that is like TORTOISE. So the
group is not drawing derivation among its peers. Instead the repetition of
the past is holding them back and leads to few surprises, thrills and
therefore leaves little chance for complete failure.
Indie Pick of the Week
OF MONTREAL, Satanic Picnic In The Attic (Polyvinyl Records)
OF MONTREAL may be one of those bands that go totally over my head. It
certainly seems the group is paying homage to the ROLLING STONES with the
artwork and title to their new disc Satanic Picnic In The Attic.
However, this is one of the most relaxed groups of rockers imaginable.
Sure there's a lot more melody than TORTOISE and vocals of course, but there
is a laid back attitude that draws away from the solid songwriting that
makes each album worthy of individual listens.
But the group will never draw mass appeal and lands them squarely under the
indie pick of the week. Band members were weaned on BEACH BOYS, BEATLES and
perhaps some MAMAS AND THE PAPAS and that's not necessarily horrible
especially since the band adds hints of modernity to songs like "Will You
Come and Fetch Me." The track is by far the closest to BEATLES admiration as
it gets but there's a 1990s frailty to the lyrics as well as a brilliant
transition to a much more contemporary "My British Tour Diary." It's the
subtleness of the songwriting underneath much more obvious influences that
propel the disc ahead of many others on the review stack.
Contest Update: I've sadly gotten zero responses to my contest to
give away a copy of the new PILOT TO GUNNER album Get Saved. If you
didn't read last week's column then go back and read it again. By next week
I'll just give the disc to whoever bothers to send me an e-mail. Lazy
bastards.
ENTER THE CONTEST HERE!
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