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  • The Kanye West Backlash

    It’s been talked about ad nauseum and Money Mike and I wrote our immediate thoughts here and here.

    Let’s quickly restate the facts.

    – Taylor Swift wins her first MTV Video Music Award.

    – Kanye West rudely interrupts her speech as a way to both direct attention to himself, and to Beyonce, who he thinks should’ve won.

    – Beyonce lets Taylor Swift join her onstage so that she can accept her award officially, since West rudely interrupted her before.

    – All pop culture hell breaks loose.

    – West apologizes.

    I’m not sure there’s ever been such a non-serious moment at such a non-serious awards show that has ever caused a stir in the media like this one.

    Kanye West might be the music version of Terrell Owens. I’ve never seen a man cause such hate and fervor just by yearning for attention. This was his “Terrell Owens runs to the star at Cowboys Stadium” moment. And it was dumb. This I agree. But should the feedback be as hateful and racist as it has been?

    Yes, I said racist. Do me a favor. Go to Google and type in the words “kanye west twitter n-word” and see what’s listed on the first page. It’s become ugly.

    I posted the same live blog that I first posted here on another website and one of the first comments talked about wanting to lynch West. How can someone who you don’t know instill such hate that you would want to lynch him? I don’t get it.

    West apologizes on The Jay Leno Show

    I’m still not 100% certain that this wasn’t some stunt concocted by MTV and Kanye West so that West and the show would dominate Twitter’s Trending Topics. I’m now convinced that Taylor Swift wasn’t in on anything, mostly based on how she’s reacted thus far.

    But for those of you who have so much hate for West and feel so badly for Swift, get over it. Swift doesn’t need the help. She’s one of the top female recording artists in the history, and her album outsold Kanye’s latest album by a 2-1 margin. She’s a breakout star who is only going to get more famous. She doesn’t need your pity.

    West clearly has some issues with his security and the fact that he’s so up and down with his persona is a bit frustrating. He’s still a talented artist, but just one who is addicted to the lime light and hopefully figures out how to not succumb to it at all opportunities.

    But let’s stay away from the hate. What he did should’ve made you roll your eyes, not call for his head.

  • Live!…and in Living Colour

    It’s not often that you get to see musical legends playing mere feet from you. However, that turned out to be the case last Thursday when I saw Grammy winners Living Colour play a tiny Boston bar called Johnny D’s. The groundbreaking funk/rock band was touring in support of their fifth studio album, “The Chair in the Doorway”, and their 2-hour plus set proved that after more than twenty years, they’ve still got the goods.

    The band structured their show somewhat strangely, kicking off with an hour of hits before playing their new album in it’s entirety. However, they were good enough that they were able to retain almost the entire audience for that second hour despite the fact that they were playing music no one had heard before.

    One thing that still resonates is the band’s diversity. Far more than your standard rock band, Living Colour’s performance incorporated elements of jazz, soul, electronica. Hell, there was even a 10-minute solo performed by drummer Will Calhoun! It’s a testament to their superior musicianship that they were able to traverse so many different styles and still sound like a cohesive unit.

    Perhaps the most impressive thing of all was the fact that lead singer Corey Glover has retained a quite impressive set of pipes. Straddling the line between rock ‘n roll growler and soul shouter, with one hell of a vocal range, Glover was equal parts attitude (strutting through “Elvis is Dead”) and emotion (a heart-rending version of “Open Letter (to a Landlord)”). He might be one of rock’s most underrated frontmen-he’s certainly a much better vocalist than even Living Colour’s records indicate.

    Although the crowd was there for “Cult of Personality” (which closed the show) and “Glamour Boys”, the new material was well-received, with one audience member shouting out “album of the year” in the midst of the proceedings.

    I grew up admiring this band and I must say, they did not disappoint live. Their show easily placed on my list of favorite concerts, and this was the *start* of their tour. I’d almost hate to see how good they are once they get their legs under them. While history might not be as kind as it should be to Living Colour, believe me when I say that these guys are still worth checking out two decades after their heyday.

    http://www.livingcolourmusic.com/

  • New Release of the Week 9/15/09: There’s Too Many!!!

    How do you know that the summer is over? Albums start coming out at breakneck speed. While I understand the concept of more music coming out closer to the holidays (when people are actually gonna, y’know, spend money?), I wish they would even out the release schedule a little more instead of putting a hurtin’ on the wallet all fall and winter, kna’mean?

    Anyway, I couldn’t decide on just one release to spotlight this week, so here’s four for you, representing several different subgenres of popular music. No matter your taste, you will find something to your liking amongst these selections:

    Muse “The Resistance”-

    Although the song they performed on the VMAs last Sunday didn’t exactly turn my crank (can someone agree with me that it sounds just like Britney’s “Womanizer”?), this British band turned me into a fan with their last album “Black Holes & Revelations”. With a sound that encompasses elements of classic, modern, and prog rock, Muse is one of the best new rock bands working today. Their previous two albums have sold quite well in an under-the-radar fashion. This new one should be their breakthrough.

    Kid Cudi “Man on the Moon: The End of the Day”:

    The latest Kanye protege to hit the streets is Kid Cudi, who scored a Top 5 hit earlier this summer with “Day & Nite”. Part of the “alternative hip-hop” renaissance that’s taken hold as a backlash against gangsta rap, Cudi (who is from Cleveland, of all places) is one of the gere’s most promising newcomers. Along with Mr. West, there are guest appearances on this album from Common and Snoop Dogg. I’m beginning to think that all you need to get Snoop on your album is some weed, he makes so many damn guest appearances.

    Living Colour “The Chair in the Doorway”:

    The pioneering funk/metal outfit returns after a five year siesta with a new album. As eclectic as ever, “Chair” jumps from straight-ahead rock to electronic-spiced tunes to ballads with ease. I was fortunate enough to see them in concert just a few days ago (more on that in another article) during which they performed this new album in its’ entirety. Believe me when I say that they’ve still got it.

    Q-Tip “Kamaal the Abstract”:

    Originally scheduled for a 2002 release, “Kamaal” was shelved by Jive, Tip’s label at the time, for being too uncommercial. Well, after seven years, it’s still not commercial, but it’s finally going to see the light of day (although I’m sure many of you Tribe/Tip fans, like me, got your grubby little hands on this album by, uh…less than savory means). Anyway, “Kamaal”, while rooted in hip-hop, is just as much of a jazz/funk album as it is a rap record. If you’re a typical boom-bap hip-hop fan, this album might give you pause. Then again, if you’re a typical boom-bap hip-hop fan, you probably gave up on Q-Tip after A Tribe Called Quest broke up. This artistic triumph was well worth the wait.

    There’s plenty more coming out, and you can find the entire list of this week’s releases here!