There was a fleeting thought in my mind that maybe after four years off, Eminem could regain some of his former glory as one of the most talented and exciting rappers of our time. Well, if his new single, “Crack a Bottle”, is any indication, I won’t be holding my breath for a comeback from Slim Shady. Proving that he’s pretty much completely lost touch with who he was ten years ago, Em seems to be content to spit rhymes that sound great from a technical standpoint, but when you actually listen to what he’s saying, you’re like “THIS is what he’s rapping about?” A storyteller once on par with legends like Slick Rick, he’s become a parody of himself. Dr. Dre and 50 Cent recycling their typical cliche-ridden schtick doesn’t help, either. Nor does the lazy production and absolutely wack chorus. Actually, lazy is the best word to describe this whole travesty of a song. If this is the best Eminem has to offer, maybe he would have been better off had he retired like he was threatening to do after “Encore”.
Category: Releases
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The New Music Files 12/16/08: Ending the Year With a Bang
Well, folks, we’ve come to the end of the road for 2008. The last big release date of the year. The labels are emptying their chambers until 2009 (and from the looks of the ’09 release schedule…those chambers won’t be emptied until we’re way into 2009). Here’s what you can expect to see on the new release shelves in stores today.Fall Out Boy Folie a Deux: This is supposed to be Pete Wentz and the boys’ “political” album, originally scheduled to release on Valentine’s Day. While I kinda like FOB (their last album impressed me, actually), I’m not so sure that I want to hear them talking about politics. Anyway, Folie a Deux continues their move from emo to power-pop as evidenced by their hit single “I Don’t Care”. Debbie Harry and Lil’ Wayne-of course-are among the guests on this album.
Anthony Hamilton The Point of it All: This man, ladies and gentlemen, is a soul singer the way they used to make ’em. His first two albums have been excellent, and even the pre-fame vault releases that have been put out are pretty good. The Point of it All is touted as a more uptempo effort from Anthony, but I’ve heard the whole album, and it’s not much different from his first two. This is a good thing, because I was scared when I found out the first single had a cameo from rapper David Banner.
Keyshia Cole A Different Me: It took Mary J. Blige 13 years and seven studio albums before she went from “troubled” to “diva”. Keyshia Cole is trying to turn the same trick in five years and three albums. Of course, Mary had to deal with drug and alcohol addiction and an abusive relationship. Keyshia’s pretty much only had to deal with being a hoodrat. This new album is already off to a shaky start, as the first single heads back to the grave of Tupac Shakur one more time. Leave the man alone! He’s been dead 12 years now!!!
Soulja Boy Tell ’em ISouljaboytellem.com: What’s that sound? It’s the sound of Soulja Boy Tellem’s career dying a quick and undignified death! The maker of last year’s biggest novelty hit returns for round 2, only this time, no one cares.
Jamie Foxx Intuition: Back when Jamie was playing Ugly Wanda on “In Living Color”, did anyone think the words “Oscar winner” would precede his name? Probably not, but here we are a decade and a half later, and Foxx has a successful dual career as actor and singer. This, his third solo album, features more slightly lecherous R&B (dude, you’re 40!) with cameos from T.I., Ne-Yo, and (you guessed it) Lil’ Wayne.
But wait, there’s more!
The All-American Rejects follow up their breakthrough album, Move Along, with When the World Comes Down, which features the hit single “Gives You Hell”. They’re joined on this week’s release schedule by rapper Plies (didn’t he just release an album?), Josey Scott & Saliva, and in this week’s oddest release, Vibes,a reggae album by Heavy D. Yes, that Heavy D.
On the reissue tip, The Bee Gees re-release their Love Songs compilation a full month and a half in advance of Valentine’s Day.How thoughtful. There’s also the annual Dave Matthews Band live album (I think this might be one of the last shows sax man Leroi Moore played), a best of from Ghostface Killah, and budget compilations from the likes of Bob Dylan, Brooks & Dunn and REO Speedwagon, so if you’ve been interested in checking these bands out, you can do so at a low price.
Get your full list of this week’s new releases here.
And with that, “The New Music Files” is taking the remainder of 2008 (and the first week or two of 2009) off. Enjoy the holiday season and see you next year!!
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Holiday Music That Won’t Kill You – Part 1: Christmas Present
Holiday music sucks! No, actually it’s only sappy overplayed Christmas music that gets annoying. The listening environment counts too. Anything played at Christmas Tree Shops while you are waiting for your mom to decide what size glass beads to buy will torture you. Jimi Hendrix and John Coltrane could be jamming right in front of you but the stink of scented candles and the puddle of sweat inside your jacket will ruin everything.Relax. The truth is there are some really great Christmas CDs available. Here is a guide to some holiday music that won’t kill you.
Part One:Â Christmas Present
Various Artists – We Wish You a Metal Christmas and a Headbanging New Year
The obvious comparison is to Twisted Sister’s 2006 release Twisted Christmas. This is way better.
The CD was produced by Ronnie James Dio’s wife/manager and one of the Kulick brothers. (I can never remember which one is the producer and which was in Kiss, but it doesn’t matter for this review.) It contains twelve very well-known Christmas songs performed by very well-known 70s and 80s metal and hard rock guys. Here are just a few of the bands they were in: Kiss, Motorhead, David Lee Roth (not him, thankfully), Alice Cooper (yes, him), ZZ Top, Foo Fighters, Black Sabbath, Dokken, Dio, Styx, Judas Priest, and Deep Purple.The lineup is what makes this CD so successful. All the musicians are really good (much better than anybody in Twisted Sister), but it’s really the variety that makes this work. The concept could get boring very quickly (Beatallica, anyone?). A different lineup and singer on every track keeps things fresh.
If you think you might like it, you probably will. If not, read on…
Enya – And Winter Came…
Like the previous selection, this is exactly what you would expect. Remember the song that goes “Sail away, sail away, sail away?â€Â No, not Randy Newman. I mean the one that sounds like the music Jet Blue plays when it’s time to get off the plane.
This CD sounds just like everything else Enya has done. If you like her ethereal vocals, orchestral synth playing and new agey Celticness, you will dig this. Holiday CDs can frequently disappoint, but I think this one works because Enya put a lot into it. She wrote ten of the twelve songs and came up with interesting arrangements for the other two.
Many songs are not specifically about Christmas. Some just refer to winter or the Star of Bethlehem. Two songs are about time passing, which makes them really more appropriate for the Winter Solstice or New Years.
James Taylor – At Christmas
Smarm Sandwich.
Various Artists – The Hotel Cafe Presents Winter Songs
This new compilation showcases the new generation of female singer-songwriters. It’s mostly very good, but I find myself skipping some of the standards. That’s to be expected from a holiday comp and I don’t think it’s a big problem, especially for people who really like this kind of music. Many of these women are good songwriters and it’s the original songs that I find most compelling. Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson, Brandi Carlisle, Lenka, Meiko, and Colbie Caillat all contributed very interesting songs. Priscilla Ahn’s version of “Silent Night” is really cool and a couple lesser names handle their standards well. KT Tunstall, Alice Smith, Katy Perry, and Nicole Atkins are among those who decided to turn their chestnuts into torch songs.
Like the metal CD, if you think you’ll like this, you probably will.
I’ll be back soon with Christmas Past and Future. Shine on.
Rock Dad is hoping whoever brings presents for the winter solstice brings him the Genesis 1970-75 box set and a good rock and mineral field guide.
