1,2, 1,2 FUCK YOUUU!
7″ Review: Semi-Precious Stone [2010]
Band: Wolf Parade
Release: 11/2010
Label: Sub Pop
1. “Semi-Precious Stone” – B+
2. “Agents of Love” – A-
Comments: This 7″ of leftover material from the Expo 86 sessions fits snug with what Expo gave to us. “Semi-Precious Stone” has the electronic elements — synthesizer, keyboard, distorted guitar — that we’ve gotten a taste of. It’s a larger than life, mythical tune sung by Spencer Krug. His vocal delivery is especially Sunset Rubdown-esque (in contrast to, say, his vocal delivery on “Cloud Shadow”). I’d say “Agents of Love” is one of the more passionate rockers I’ve heard from the group since maybe the Apologies days. It’s not especially heavy or anything like that, but all the instruments are very compact, for lack of a better word.
Grade: B+ (89)
CD Review: The Lady Killer [2010]
Artist: Cee-Lo Green
Release: 11/2010
Label: Elektra
1. “Lady Killer Theme (Intro)” – N/A
2. “Bright Lights Bigger City” – C
3. “Fuck You” – B+
4. “Wildflower” – B-
5. “Bodies” – C+
6. “Please” – C+
7. “Satisfied” – C+
8. “I Want You” – C
9. “Cry Baby” – B-
10. “Fool For You” – C+
11. “It’s OK” – B-
12. “Old Fashioned” – C
13. “No One’s Gonna Love You” – C
14. “Lady Killer Theme (Outro)” – N/A
Comments: Let’s get it straight. “Fuck You” blew up on the Internet. Everyone was sending it to everybody and their grandmother and the rest was history. Of course, the clean version has substituted the rated PG “Fuck You” for the G “Forget You,” which is a million times worse than even “F U” because of the mere amount of syllables involved in saying that. The song itself is not special special. I’ve heard many special special songs in my life…and in the past two months. “Fuck You” comes nowhere near any of those. The rest of the material on here is sort of showtunesy soul and/or slow jamz. “Please” is of the showtunes variety, which reminds me of something culled directly from an action packed cruise musical. Same with “I Want You”. As a musical disciple of the psychedelic soul of Arish King Khan, I can’t say that Cee-Lo’s neo-soul does much for me. Cee-Lo’s tunes are sugary, for certain, but lack any real hooks. I mean, there are sucker hooks — hooks that’ll make the average pop fan smile — but as far as anything substantial…nah, not really. Sorry, Cee-Lo, bro, you are a one-hit wonder in 2010.
Grade: C+ (78)
Great Interview With In The Red’s Larry Hardy
Check out this awesome TermBo interview with the founder of my favorite record label, Larry Hardy! Larry talks about a variety of interesting subjects like the record industry, Jay Reatard (including an unreleased cassette), and countless past and upcoming In The Red releases.
Quotes of the Day
Black Lips during a 2009 concert in France:
Cole: If you were the teacher, what would you grade us tonight?
Joe: A+, we know it all the way.
Cole: You would put us in special needs classes. If you were our teacher, you would put us in classes for retarded children.
Wasted Jared Swilley: This is why we are where we are right now. Because our whole life we were normal childrens in the retardeds classes. This is why we act the way do right now because no one understands us.
Cole: You put me with retarded children. I’m not retarded.
Jared: You can’t blame us for acting like retards when your whole world put us as retards. We are a product of this world that is run by white people.
Cole: It is a reflection of your whole generation. It’s just looking in the mirror.
Joe: I bet you wish you were retarded just like us!
Cole: Look in the mirror!
Jared: Your generation called us faggots, you called us white boys, you called us retards, queers, homos. We’re sick of that shit so this is the product of what we became because of you.
Ian: You were probably that kid, too. Stuck in the side room, didn’t have no friends.
The Ponys – “Small Talk”
A top tune off their 2007 Matador Records debut Turn the Lights Out.
CD Review: Man on the Moon 2 – The Legend of Mr. Rager [2010]
Rapper: Kid CuDi
Release: 11/2010
Label: Universal Motown
1. “Scott Mescudi vs. The World” – B-
2. “REVOFEV” – B+
3. “Don’t Play This Song” – B-
4. “We Aite (Wake Your Mind Up)” – B-
5. “Marijuana” – B+
6. “Mojo So Dope” – C+
7. “Ashin’ Kucher” – C
8. “Erase Me” – A
9. “Wild’n Cuz I’m Young” – B-
10. “The Mood” – C
11. “MANIAC” – C-
12. “Mr. Rager” – B-
13. “These Worries” – C+
14. “The End” – B
15. “All Along” – B-
16. “GHOST!” – B
17. “Trapped In My Mind” – C
Comments: Kid CuDi is practically the only rapper of the past year or so that I enjoy listening to. I really loved Man on the Moon: The End of Day. It was pretty tight top to bottom. This album sort of sucks, though. Lyrical content is pretty lame and the rapping just isn’t catchy. I thought End of Day added a nice mix of psychedelia, but the attempted psychedelia on here overstays its welcome. Fans of CuDi hit singles should reasonably be skeptical of this record. “Erase Me” is great, but what else is there? Anything? “Marijuana”??? It’s a chill song and stuff, but it will not blow you out of the water. Take “GHOST.” It is really dumb, but has a solid base beat. Overall, I am really disappointed.
Grade: B- (80)
KLYAM Endorses Jill Stein Fo’ Govnah
For Massachusetts governor. Baker, Patrick, Cahill…they all are representatives of the status quo quo fo’ sho sho.
Mini Classic Film Reviews: Dirty Work…
Full Title: Dirty Work
Director: Bob Saget
Year: 1998
Comments: It saddens me when I hear that so many young boys and girls have not heard of this hilarious, wacky, raunchy comedy from Bob Saget of all people. No, this aint Full House, but it is just as ridiculous, except in a good way. DW is in the same league as such Adam Sandler classics as Billy Madison (1995) and Happy Gilmore (1996) (Sandler even makes a cameo himself), not quite on par with those ditties, but certainly in the same league. If you dig dead hookers, people getting their noses (half) bitten off, and revenge then this is right up your alley- after all that best describes my typical weekend. DW is also special because it contains the great Chis Farley in his last on screen role, and as usual he is wildly brilliant. RIP buddy.
Grade: B+/A-
Full Title: Office Space
Director: Mike Judge
Year: 1999
Comments: One of the funniest films I have ever seen period. Just about everyone knows what it is like to hate their job (at least at some point in their life) and that is precisely what makes this film funny. If you have ever taken orders from multiple bosses and felt that horrible swoosh of vapidity that comes from work then this movie is for you. OS delivers a decent story with some goofball humor mixed with a clever take on the 9-5 world; in other words a fun way of saying FUCK OFF to Corporate America.
Grade: A (one of the finest comedies around)
Full Title: South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut
Director: Trey Parker
Year: 1999
Comments: Ahh good old South Park our modern day Voltaire (with dick jokes :). SP has never let us down and this movie is evidence that Trey and Matt can extend their satiric brilliance into a full-length feature. This is not simply a few episodes of SP slapped together, this is a high quality film with a conistent story that never ceases to amuse, shock, and certainly entertain. Seriously, this is the best musical I have seen in years and definitely the smoothest sitcom to silver screen transition. As much as I love the SP series, I think this is their greatest offering, by far.
Grade: A/A-
The Chameleons “Swamp Thing” live at The Bell House, Brooklyn & “Caution”
The Chameleons released one more album in their prime, the melancholy ‘Strange Times’ which again scored rave reviews but little sales, outside their cult status. Honestly the entire album is magnificent so I went with two videos this time, the first is probably one of my all time top ten songs “Swamp Thing” performed live, the second is an album version of another excellent song “Caution”, enjoy.
