Afrika Bambaataa

Album Review: Mnolo — “Collagist”

A collage is supposed to be more than the sum of its parts, but Collagist — which features local beatmaker Manuel “Mnolo” Escobar collaborating with 18 different regional artists — seems to lack any overriding theme or logic. The subject of war rears its head on a few tracks, to mixed results: “Put Your Guns Away” rises above its generic anti-violence sentiment due to Suzanna Choffel’s seductive coo and strong guitar work, but the solid tribal beat of “Masters of War” is shot down by Anecha’s flat warbling.

The rest of the tracks are connected only by some truly annoying voicemail shout-outs, and seem to vary in quality based on genre. The singer-songwriter tracks fare the worst, particularly “But a Memory” by Aly Tadros (who sounds woefully out of place). The electronic, hip-hop, and R&B cuts are immeasurably more listenable, though — especially Mnolo’s solo remixes. And porno-jam “Candy” features Brandon Thomas singing the best (read: funniest) lyric I’ve heard so far this year: “Candy’s got peanut-butter legs / So brown and so smooth / And so easy to spread.” (At least he didn’t say “crunchy.”)

Album Review: Kanye West — “808s & Heartbreak”

The rumors are true: Kanye West’s newest, 808s and Heartbreak, isn’t really a rap record (‘Ye calls his new genre “pop art.” Um … sure). Grief-stricken over the loss of his mother and split from fiancé Alexis Phifer, West unleashes his inner Kan-flict through the timeless power of … Auto-Tune? … Uh-oh.

808s is easier to admire than actually like (although “Love Lockdown” isn’t terrible, and “Paranoid” is the new “Flashing Lights”), and you have to give West credit for breaking ranks from hip-hop’s lockstep. His melodies are surprisingly well-crafted — though not particularly well-sung — and his production is fittingly spare and intimate. However, 808s is crippled by stunningly stupid lyrics seemingly cut-and-pasted from a teen-poet’s LiveJournal (“Who knew she was a drama queen / That’ll turn my life to Stephen King’s?”). 

Ultimately, West’s soul-baring feels as cheap as the trendy Auto-Tune he uses to disguise his imperfect voice. If forced to choose between perfection and authenticity, I’d pick an honest, untrained singer over a trained, boring one every time. Ironically, by self-conciously glossing over his flaws with studio tricks, West has surgically removed any human feeling from his new “emotional” songs. To paraphrase West himself: How could he be so heartless?

This song is going to be stuck in my head until Tuesday.

The entire 20-month 2008 presidential campaign — summed up in a 4-minute rap song and delivered by the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. All political pundits have been rendered completely obsolete. Somebody give these kids a cable news show.

(Thanks to Andrea.)

“Say hello to my little friend and partner, H.W.”

While visiting my parents for Father’s Day, my dad and I started talking about There Will Be Blood, which he had just seen. We both agreed it was an excellent movie, and I couldn’t help but laugh inside when my dad called Daniel Plainview “hardcore.” But he’s right, of course: Plainview is the original Original Gangsta. This guy swindles the simple, pious townsfolk of Little Boston, threatens those who stand in his way with throat-cutting, shoots his fake brother in the face, slaps Eli Sunday around like a ho, and eventually bowling-pin whips him to death in his opulent mansion. Insane? Probably. Hardcore? Oh, most definitely.

Instead of worshipping Brian DePalma’s Tony Montana (from Scarface), rappers should adopt P.T. Anderson’s Daniel Plainview as their new role model. Think of the possibilities: MCs with broom-handle mustaches and wide-brim hats. Bowling as rap’s sport of choice instead of basketball (or Connect Four). Jonny Greenwood and Brahms samples. Sarsaparilla replaces Cristal. Albums with titles like Ol’ Dirty Bastard in a Basket, I am the Third Revelation, and I Drink Your Mix Tape, Vol. II.

So, my dad is right: Daniel Plainview is hardcore. And we all better recognize.

CONTEST: The photo above is begging for a caption. Let’s make this the new LOLCats.