J. Cole - Friday Night Lights

Man its tough to make money.  Last summer i worked extremely hard and made a good amount of cash, later realizing that spending it is a lot easier then making it.  I have this crazy ambition that one day i'll move to Vancouver, go to school, get a tattoo, and eventually learn how to ride a motorcycle...but what do they all have in common...they all cost a Frick loud of money!  Talk is cheap, time is money, and admitting the road ahead is tough but pursuing it anyway is a good start.  When we were young...(ok younger)...my sister and I were extremely fortunate to have parents who love us, and supported us on what ever we did regardless of the cost.  They put us in dance classes, music classes, math classes, anything that would better our future...but money isn't what paid for our classes, it was hard work.  My parents...and your parents as well...work their asses off just to put food on the table.  Money is hard to come by, and after working countless hours just to afford subway tokens so i can do the whole routine again...i realize that money doesn't buy you happiness, but you can't deny it brings you some form of freedom...

#13

So instead of choosing any of the albums from my previous blog, i decided to write about an artist who solely works hard for what he earns.  Jermaine Lamarr Cole (stage name J. Cole) is the epitome of what you should do if you want to make it big....work your ass off.  With his most recent mix-tape entitled "Friday Night Lights", J.Cole produces his own music, and writes his own lyrics which landed him a spot on Roc-a-Fella Records (Roc-a-Fella Records is founded by Jay-z).  His lyrical range alludes from a variety of topics, from his college days, to his sleepless nights scrapping for change.  The song "Home for the Holidays" gave out such an original modern rhythm with an old school flow. It spoke about a kid wanting to find himself away from home, but he gets a little home sick, later realizing that home is not the same. 

"one year cost about the same as a Mercedes 

four years cost wife crib and a baby
ay maybe this aint for me
only if i could be Lebron and go straight to league
the worst part 'bout growing up man shit just aint for free
but maybe i can be somebody people pay to see
and maybe i should move up outta here to the place to be
to get from a to z ay what you think im crazy
if i told you one day that Imma sign with jay-z
and will i make it i guess we gotta wait and see"

The rest of the album speaks much of J.Cole's character, an aspiring artist aware of his surrounding, yet not afraid to exploit its faults...its just refreshing not to hear another artist rapping about the glitz and glamor that comes with stardom.  The road is tough, but eventually hard work does pay off. 

There are so many things in life that distract you, and discourage you from what and who you want to become...you have to realize that, how ever loved or spoiled you were before, no one is gonna hold your hand when shit gets rough....be tough...be you...and don't look back until you're sure you have a trail that you're proud of. 

J. Cole - Friday Night Lights

3.5/5

recommended songs:

Home for the Holiday

Blow Up

The Autograph

Higher

In the Morning (feat. drake)

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Yup, i got this album 3 weeks in advanced.  Not the most legal way, but lets be honest, Kanye makes enough money for himself plus 3 starving countries, so he doesn't need any of mine.  Besides, my music library is growing everyday, and I believe I have purchased as much music as I have downloaded, and trust me its a lot.  "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" is my first hip-hop review and I wouldn't choose any other artist to use as my first...ok maybe jay-z, but BP3 wasn't that good.  Kanye is a visionary artist, what other artist can you think of that is able to release a minute and a half music video with half naked women in the background, abstract dancing and pounding out the beat, while the artist just stands there without even performing the song...and STILL have people buzzing over it.  Kanye just knows how to create buzz...he's a trend in itself.
#12

The video i am referring is of course "Power", which was the first snippet of what would become "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy".  But enough about the video, this song has so many layers that the naked ear couldn't comprehend.  Kanye is known for his sampling....
(sampling (noun) - the process of taking brief segments of sound (from a song, movie or elsewhere) and using that sound to form another sound or musical piece)...where he proves that he is the best in the game.  Im gonna take this opportunity to dissect and break down the DNA of "Power": he takes three main samples...


Afromerica - Continent #6 - this is the "Oho..AAAAh aaah"
21st century Schiziod Man - King Crimson -this one is a little more obvious
It's your thing - Cold Gritts - this is the backbeat of the entire song
Now you put all these three together, speed it up a couple of clicks, put a little distorted bass and guitar in the background, have Kanye write a verse and a chorus...and boom!..you have a Kanye classic.  I absolutely love finding off timing beats and sounds, and sampling tracks that just don't belong in the song, but without it, it would be nothing.  I try to think how Kanye, and other artist that do the same, how do they come up with these samples, where do they find them, and how on earth do they put them together and make a track like "Power".  It's a talent that i hope one day I can learn...and produce for my own. 
I'm sorry I only gave you one track to listen to, and one that you most likely already heard, but if I dissected every Kanye track off this album, I would be writing him a novel.....hmmm thats a good idea...."The Science behind Kanye".  Maybe another time, but I do hope you take the time to look at the samples, then maybe you can have another outlook on "power", and listen to it again, not just for the song itself.  Also, I would love if you could help me choose which album to review next. I have decided among three, coincidently all hip-hop...
Jay-z - Black album (i recently bought "decoded", and it's jaw dropping)
Nicki Minaj - pink friday
Lloyd Banks - Hunger for more 2


Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
4/5
listen to:
Power
All of the Lights
Devil in a New Dress
Monster
So Appalled 

Eliza Doolittle - Eliza Doolittle

Life is good, life is also very fun.  We take advantage of how lucky we are and we don't take notice of the little things that make us happy.  I feel like negativity is contagious and too many times have i've been in a bad mood because of someone else; and vice versa.  Then i thought about it....positivity is contagious too.  So it was great to know that i was gonna share this album with you, it might not be on the top of your playlists, but i do hope it makes your day a little brighter.  I also have a wicked crush on this artist...she writes her own music, she plays the guitar, she has an adorable British accent, she covered a rendition of Coldplay's "Yellow", and she's my age....total heart throb!!!
any ways...heres #11

Eliza Doolittle - Eliza Doolittle

I just want to point out that I found Eliza Doolittle after searching for a cover of Cee Lo Green's "F*ck You".  Can you imagine someone like Eliza doing a cover of "F*ck You"?...Neither did I!  Either way, I found it hilarious so I decided to look up her music.  Fact is, her mother was the star of the musical "Les Miserable", and her grandmother was the founder of the london Stage School.  At age 12 Eliza started writing her own music and at age 16 she signed up with Universal Music.  Now, at the age of 22, with the release of her self titled debut album, her colourful poppy/jazzy style is drawing comparisons to London pop-star Lily Allen.  Eliza's approach to pop music is extremely unique and not like anything i've heard before.  "Skinny Genes" was the first track i heard from her and i was hooked from the start; she uses a whistle melody during the chorus that i find ingenious.  I also fell in love with her choice of instruments (which could be the effects of a good producer as well, but i'll give her the benefit of the doubt).  She uses strictly acoustic instruments such as the Cello, Ukulele, three piece drum kit, mini piano, back up harmony, and not once did i hear a distortion.  "Pack Up" was another track that caught my attention, mainly because it sounded like the 21st century pop version of Bobby McFerrin's "Don't worry, be happy".  The combination of pop and jazz speaks such a colourful picture that you can't help but smile and do the twist.  Eliza's music is pure...and that accent of hers doesn't hurt either.

Pop music is not one of my favourite genres, though I do admit it makes me kind of happy.  The Biebs and the Swifts may take a little longer to cope with, but I do understand how it plays as ear candy.  It's never a bad thing to share a good feeling, and if it feels good...just go for it and stop caring about what other people think.  If you want to stay home on a friday night while all your other friends are spending money for no reason, go for it.  If you want to eat that whole carton of Ben and Jerry's cookie dough ice cream while watching Lost or One Tree Hill, go for it.  If you want to spend 800$ on an iphone....ok don't go for that..but you know what i mean.

Eliza Doolittle - Eliza Doolittle
3/5
Recommended:
Skinny Genes
Pack Up
Rollerblades
Police Car

Wicked (musical soundtrack) - Stephen Schwartz

I realized that most of my music i've blogged about has been kind of similar, which makes me assume that you have a general idea of what i like to listen to.  This is both a positive and negative thing: Positive - if you enjoy my taste in music...chances are we can be best friends =)....negative - i hope you don't think i listen to one type of genre...so here is something out of the ordinary....way out of the ordinary.  Recently i went to go watch the musical Wicked...and not to be cheesy..but my god it was wicked.  The theatrical...the lighting..the costumes...the characters...and especially the music.  So don't hate me if you think this is too weird of me to write a review about...but to be honest..i was so stuck on what to listen to for this week...it was either this or taylor swift....really.......c'mon

so here's #10

Wicked (Musical soundtrack) 

To write music for a singer to convey a story is one thing...to compose the music for an already told story is another.  Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz has produced some of the finest music for stage and film: Pocahontas, Hunchback of Notre Dame (stage version), Prince of Egypt, just to name a few.  Schwartz has the ability to portray so many different emotions through his compositions and Wicked is no different.  I was first introduced to Wicked by a friend with the song "defying gravity"....so i'm gonna do the same for you....and man is this song epic!!!...One thing I admire the most about Schwartz is that he composes melodies that stay true to the story, and ones that stay in your head even after the play has concluded.  It was a treat to watch the rehearsal, and making of the song "for good", cause not only do you get a chance to see how Schwartz composes this piece, but you also see how he breaks down every aspect of the song, the way the singer breaths, the fills that should be used, which note should be placed where, which harmonies should be used and when..and so on.  As a musician, its extremely inspiring to see how much work and effort they have to put into in order to produce such a strong emotional song.  "Through music, one finds theres no filter, music seeps inside you, and pierces you in a way, in a deeper way then words alone do". 

At first i was skeptical on writing a review on a musical soundtrack, though, after consideration, and a choice between Wicked or taylor swift, i'm really glad i chose to do so.  Nothing against "Speak Now", cause i did give it a listen (everything kind of just sounded the same), but Wicked was something i had to share, a soundtrack i can't wait to learn, and a talent i wish i could duplicate.  If you do get a chance, i advice you to watch this musical, and it doesn't matter where you sit, trust me, my sister and I were sitting in an area i call "ventilation area 1 obstructed view"...next musical soundtrack review.."The Lion King"!!!

Wicked (musical soundtrack) - Stephen Schwartz 

4/5

Recommended pieces:

Defying Gravity

For Good

Popular

Dancing Through Life

Thank Goodness

Kings Of Leon - Come Around Sundown

One of my best friends came to visit for a couple of days and i forgot how fun it was to have someone around that summed up my university career.  Since he left to go back home for school out East a few years ago, i've never really had that someone i could turn to who knew exactly what i needed to hear.  We were only roommates for a year, but we acted like we knew each other for decades.  It's good to know that recent roommates can still act like brothers, even if they live in two different time zones; thats university for you. 

#9

Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown

I've been waiting for this album for some time.  Like many other KOL fans, i fell in love with the band listening to their recent album Only By The Night which exploded on the commercial scene.  Since the release of their latest Come Around Sundown, i've been extremely excited not only to listen to it, but to write about it and share what i thought would be the next album of the year.  Well after a few listens, i don't think it's worth a grammy, though i do believe that i fell on a gem.  "Pickup Truck" (don't mind the pink, just press play) is without a doubt my favourite song of the year thus far.  Jared's six note bass line packs the perfect amount of punch in a emotional song, the piano (which hasn't been used in the past) accents Matthew's guitar beautifully,  the drums are not only being played by Nathan, he gives a voice to his instrument, and the emotion Caleb evokes in this song is so strong, his lyrics grab hold of you as a listener.  I have a great connection with this song that many people may not understand, though i do believe everyone has a certain song they feel strongly for, this one is mine. 

"Pyro" is another song that i took interest in as well.  Not only does it have a drum beat that i cannot figure out even till this day, but i feel like it will blow my mind if i ever watched it live.  I had the pleasure of watching the Followill brothers back in 2008, and have no doubt i will watch them again. 

We did not use this album as our anthem for his visit here, though i chose to connect the two since they both speak of brotherhood.  I understand that i don't have a say on where he should go to school, or where he should live after, though i do know i have a choice to stay friends with him regardless of his location.  So i know we're not roommates any more, but we'll always be biggest bois! (slang for brother lol) 

Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown

3.5/5

recommended songs

Pickup Truck

Pyro

Radioactive

Back Down South
The Immortals

Joshua Radin - Simple Times

I admit...I miss it...lets be honest, who doesn't miss it.  I miss always having someone there for you when ever you need it...knowing that your not alone no matter what.  It's always hard not to think back at what you could of done, or what you shouldn't have...but if you really had the chance would you do anything different?...I would like to think not...but knowing me...i think waaaay to much into certain situations...so i tend to just not think about it at all.  Is it hard?...hell yea its hard...but its also working.  Fighting with someone else is always shitty....but fighting against yourself is the hardest....

#8

Joshua Radin - Simple Times

This album is great...start to finish, but the emotional ride that it brings you is exhausting...one song your down...next song your picking yourself up...next song your bobbing your head and singing the lyrics...next song your back down....i feel like i'm in a soap opera staring me and my ipod.  I couldn't choose which song i wanted you to hear first...so instead ill let you decide.  "No Envy, No Fear" is an emotional song with soft spoken lyrics, a warm cello bass line, gorgeous ukulele background, and a guitar riff that will leave you speechless.  On the other hand, "Brand New Day" is certainly a more uplifting song, even though it is not as technical as the other, a three chord progression in the chorus will still have you smiling near the 1:30 mark.  I would also like to stress Joshua's song writing ability.  Quoting from another review "Joshua doesn't write to impress, he writes to convey emotion".  Emotion is definitely an understatement with regards to Simple Times.  I believe in order to become a true song writer, or a true 'anything' for that matter, you have to leave all your emotions, give all your heart, and show commitment to become who you want to be.  Joshua proves he has what it takes with his work on Simple Times. 

There are two ways to look at this situation.  Easy way out: you allow yourself to feel alone, you find ways to distract yourself from what your really thinking of, and you listen to Joshua Radin.  

Better way out: you think of that feeling you had when you found someone new, and you look forward to that day, you look out for yourself first...and you listen on Joshua Radin. 

It's never easy to push people away who have made such an impact in your life....but people come and go...it's the people who stay that should be most important to you. 

Joshua Radin - Simple Times

4/5

recommended songs:

No Envy, No Fear

Brand New Day

Friend Like You

I'd Rather Be With You

Passion Pit - Manners

I have a million things going on in my head...just a brief summary..i worked my first raptors game..IT WAS AWESOME...i'm on reading week...which is also awesome...i have a lot of work to do before my friend comes to visit from New Brunswick, which is kind of awesome i guess, i'm also losing sleep..which is not so awesome....and me losing sleep brings me back to the fact that i have a lot of things going on in my head.  Its a constant circle and i'm having a hard time trying to find things that inspire me to continue....but then again, maybe i'm just looking to hard.  So what inspires you?...A certain song? An old teacher? Or maybe a friend?.....What inspires me?.....my dad.
So heres #7

Passion Pit - Manners 

I wasn't a fan of Passion Pit until I heard the song "Moth's Wing".  If i were to write a blog themed after my sisters "100 songs that saved my life", this song would without a doubt be one of my top 10.  The piano melody is gorgeous, the drummer only uses the ride and toms (he doesn't touch the snare once), the vocalist sings in a perfect falsetto, and the ambient sounds produced by the synths and electric pianos are genius.  This song inspires me to learn every instrument played during this track, and reproduce it as if my own.  It's hard not to single out this song from the rest of the album...not to say that Manners is not worth a full listen, "Moth's Wing" is just one of those songs....it's...inspirational.
The best description i can give for this band is a collaboration of different sounds.  Christmas chimes used in "Sleepyhead", or a children's choir sung during "Let your love grow tall".  Passion Pit definitely made a fan out of me with their work off Manners.  It's an album worth a listen, even though you aren't a fan of the lead singers extremely high voice not fit for a grown man...

I have to admit, I am a little frightened about what i'm supposed to do after I graduate.  I say that i have a plan, but what if the plan falls threw, what then?  Either way, my dad always told me to be proud of who I am and not to look to far into the future, focus on right now first.  Well I am extremely proud of who I am, and proud of who i will become....cause hopefully ill be more like him.

Passion Pit - Manners
4.5/5
Must listen:
Moth's Wing
Let Your Love Grow Tall
The Reeling
Sleepyhead