Thank Me Later - Album Review

“Looking down from the top and it’s crowded below, 

My fifteen minutes started an hour ago.” 

-“Fireworks”

Hip-Hop has had a tough year. The titans of the industry have all fallen off their perch in different ways. Some have grown soft. After listening to Jay-Z’s Blueprint III, you get the feeling that year 2000 Jay-Z who produced the original Blueprint wouldn’t recognize his own work. With nothing to rap about besides being successful, Jay-Z has turned into rap’s version of U2. Kanye has self - imploded and is soul searching for the originality he summoned on his first three albums. Lil Wayne seems to be satisfied with pumping out nonsense on mixtapes and dropping a guest verse on the next Young Money radio single. TI has had his share of legal problems. Phenoms and top prospects such as Kid Cudi and others can’t live up to the hype of their early singles. Fortunately a new face has emerged and appears to have the broad shoulders to take the industry to a new place. 

“Did I just trade free time for camera time? 

Will I just blow all this money, Hammer-time? 

Yea, I just need some closure, and no turning back for me, 

I’m in it till it’s over…..”

-“The Resistance”

Producing the best full length rap album since Tha Carter III, Drake delivers on his promise as rap’s brightest diamond. Building off the viral success of his debut mixtape “So Far Gone”, Drake’s flow and lyrical prowess have only grown stronger in between works. Drake manages to produce a rare feat in rap of producing an album that is both self aware and personal. Drake takes the time to acknowledge his rapid accession into stardom and how fast it could all leave him. His lyrics traverse his struggles of carrying the weight of his success and the effect it is having on his personal relationships. Cocky in one minute (“Over”) and hollow in the next (“Karaoke”), the album struts an incredible range of sound that won’t disappoint fans who have been awaiting his first full length album. 

 ”They always tell me nobody’s working as hard as you 

 And even though I laugh it off, man, it’s probably true 

 Cause while most of my closest friends are partying, 

I’m just here making all the music that they party to.” 

-“Light Up”

While the album boasts a star studded guest list (Lil Wayne, Jay-Z), none can unseat their host on any track. TI makes his best guest appearance since “Swagger Like Us” on “Fancy” and Nicki Minaj does a nice job introducing herself on “Up All Night”. It seems that the title is aimed at his contemporaries for his service to their future career success. For taking rap to a new place, Drake should be thanked right now. 

-Kris 

    New Releases 2010: Update v2!

by Dan | posted June 7, 2010

Building off an earlier post, below is a freshly updated list of 40 past/future record releases for the spring/summer 2010; complete with my original (ranking of anticipation), and, for those albums that have already dropped, my [personalized rating].

As you’ll notice, all of June is already available in some capacity. And this is why the internet rules. Have fun!

April
4/13 MGMT — Congratulations (10) [5/10]
4/20 Delorean — Subiza (5) [7/10]
4/20 Javelin — No Mas (23) [6.5/10]
4/20 Nas and Damian Marley — Distant Relatives (26) [7/10]
4/21 The Radio Dept — Clinging to a Scheme (12) [8/10]
4/27 Small Black — Small Black (24) [5/10]

May
5/4 Broken Social Scene — Forgiveness Rock Record (T-6) [7.5/10]
5/4 Minus the Bear — Omni (T-6) [7/10]
5/11 The National — High Violet (8) [8/10]
5/18 The Black Keys — Brothers (14) [8.5/10]
5/18 LCD Soundsystem — This Is Happening (T-2) [10/10]
5/18 Band of Horses — Infinite Arms (3) [6.5/10]

June
6/1 Jack Johnson — To The Sea (13) [7/10]
6/1 Sleigh Bells — Treats (34) [5/10]
6/7 The Drums — The Drums (16) [9/10]
6/8 Ratatat — LP4 (15) [8/10]
6/8 Tokyo Police Club — Champ (T-2) [8/10]
6/8 Blitzen Trapper — Destroyer of the Void (T-27) [4/10]
6/15 Foals — Total Life Forever (17) [8/10]
6/15 Drake — Thank Me Later (29) [6.5/10]
6/15 Gaslight Anthem — American Slang (21) [6/10]
6/15 We Are Scientists — Barbara (22) [7/10]
6/22 Stars — The Five Ghosts (7) [8/10]
6/29 Delphic — Acolyte (20) [9/10]
6/29 Wolf Parade — Expo 86 (28) [7/10]

July
7/5 Mystery Jets — Serotonin (T-27)
7/6 Big Boi — Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son of Chico Dusty (25)
7/6 Fol Chen — Part II: The New December (32)
7/6 Thieves Like Us — Again & Again (19) [7/10]
7/13 M.I.A. — /\/\/\Y/\ (T-11)
7/13 School of Seven Bells — Disconnect From Desire (31)
7/13 Panda Bear — Tomboy (36)

August and Beyond
8/1 Miami Horror — Moon Theory (T-11)
8/3 Arcade Fire — The Suburbs (4)
8/10 Cam’ron — The UN: Gunz N’ Butta (33)
8/17 Chromeo — Business Casual (18)
8/24 Ra Ra Riot — The Orchard (9)
8/24 T.I. - King Uncaged (30)
9/14 Interpol — Interpol (1)
10/5 Antony And The Johnsons — Swanlights (35)

Additional 2010 Releases
Summer: Kanye West — Good Ass Job
Summer: Klaxons — Surfing the Void
Summer: Lil Wayne — Rebirth
Summer: Royksopp — Senior
Summer: Cut Copy — Title TBD
Summer: The Walkmen — Title TBD
Fall: OutKast — Title TBD
Fall: The Strokes —Title TBD
Winter: The Shins — Title TBD

    Spoiler Alert: Lolla 2010 Schedule Hack

by Dan | posted April 6, 2010

As you know, the long-awaited official Lollapalooza 2010 line-up was released earlier today. What you may not know is that there is was a assumed glitch in Lollapalooza’s website that revealed the performance breakdown by day.

Update: An unofficial Twitter source confirmed that Lolla’s reps have acknowledged the oversight and the snafu has since been rectified.

The assumed schedule, which is listed out below, lines up with current speculation dates as well as the information confirmed about Soundgarden and Arcade Fire closing the festival, and the notion that Lady Gaga will need her own stage and, thus, is a Friday act.

In closing, I would be remiss not to extend a big cheers to the folks at Lollapalooza for their steadfast ability to one-up themselves year over year. August 6 cannot come soon enough!

THE HEADLINERS
Friday: Lady Gaga, The Strokes, Jimmy Cliff, Hot Chip
Saturday: Green Day, Phoenix, Social Distortion, Spoon
Sunday: Soundgarden, Arcade Fire, MGMT, The National

Friday, August 6th
Lady Gaga
The Strokes
Jimmy Cliff
Hot Chip
The Black Keys
Devo
The New Pornographers
Chromeo
Dirty Projectors
Mavis Staples
Matt & Kim
Drive-By Truckers
Jamie Lidell
Fuck Buttons
Raphael Saadiq
The Walkmen
Los Amigos Invisbles
The Big Pink
Cymaballs Eat Guitars
B.o.B
Balkan Beat Box
Wavves
American Bang
The Constellations
Javelin
Foxy Shazam
Semi Precious Weapons
My Dear Disco
The Ettes
Jukebox The Ghost
These United States

2ManyDJs
Tiga
Erol Alkan
Caspa
Peanut Butter Wolf
Cut Copy (DJ set)
Ana Sia
FreeSol
BBU


Saturday, August 7th
Green Day
Phoenix
Social Distortion
Spoon
Cut Copy
Erykah Badu
Slightly Stoopid
Grizzly Bear
Gogol Bordello
Metric
AFI
The xx
Blues Traveler
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Deer Tick
Stars
Wild Beasts
Rogue Wave
Dawes
Warpaint
The Soft Pack
Rebelution
Harlem
Mimicking Birds
The Kissaway Trail
The Morning Benders
Royal Bangs
Dan Black
Dragonette
Skybox
MyNameIsJohnMichael

Empire of the Sun
Perry Farrell
Rusko
Kaskade
Wolfgang Gartner
Joachim Garraud
Beats Antique
Steve Porter
Ancient Astronauts
DJ Mel
Vonnegutt
Only Children
Lance Herbstrong


Sunday, August 8th
Soundgarden
Arcade Fire
MGMT
The National
Cypress Hill
Wolfmother
Yeasayer
X Japan
MUTEMATH
The Temper Trap
Frightened Rabbit
Blitzen Trapper
The Cribs
Minus The Bear
Switchfoot
Mumford & Sons
The Dodos
Hockey
The Antlers
Ike Reilly
Company of Thieves
Nneka
Miniature Tigers
HEALTH
Violent Soho
Freelance Whales
Band of Heathens
Shawn Fisher
Neon Hitch

Digitalism
Felix Da Housecat
Flosstradamus
Mexican Institute of Sound
Dirty South
NERVO
Didi Gutman of Brazilian Girls
Team Bayside High
Dani Deahl

Bonus: Check out this sweet Animoto vid from Lollapalooza 2007
(Arranged by: Blake)

    New Vid: Jamaica - I Think I Like U 2

by Dan | posted April 5, 2010

Fresh out of the film canister! Check out the new video for “I Think I Like U 2” from French electro-rock duo Jamaica (f/k/a Pony Pony).

    :: dan’s indie mix 32 ::

by Dan | posted March 26, 2010

♫ Download: direct via Sendspace | Soundcloud

Tracklist

01. Shy Child – Disconnected
02. Two Door Cinema Club – What You Know
03. Harlem – Friendly Ghost
04. Think About Life – Johanna
05. Tim & Jean – Come Around
06. Grum – Can’t Shake This Feeling
07. YACHT – Psychic City (Classixx Remix)
08. Minus the Bear – My Time
09. Gemini Club – Mary’s Day
10. Erik Hassle – Hurtful (Penguin Prison Remix)
11. Delphic – Halcyon
12. Mux Mool – Get Better John
13. Gypsy and The Cat – ‘Til Tomorrow
14. Late Of The Pier – Best In The Class
15. Phantogram – As Far As I Can See
16. The xx – Shelter (Them Jeans Drum Edit)
17. The Radio Dept. – Heaven’s On Fire
18. Delorean – Real Love
19. Hot Chip – We Have Love
20. Neon Indian – Sleep Paralysist

    New Vid: Fabian - Heatwave

by Dan | posted March 26, 2010

LA-based producer Fabian really aced it with “Heatwave,” an ethereal head-nodder that continues to thaw me out from the icy Chicago weather.

Even better, I just stumbled upon this music video for the song, which was crafted by TNUC. If this doesn’t put you in the summer frame-of-mind, nothing will. Give it a spin and let me know what you think.

    New: Grum - Can’t Shake This Feeling

by Dan | posted March 12, 2010

Check out this brilliant new song and hilarious video from Scottish electro/house artist Grum, who was responsible for last year’s banger “Heartbeats”— #55 on my 75 Best Tracks of 2009 list. Nicely done, mate.