Have you ever noticed how one side of an argument is always right? And it just so happens, it's always the side you're on. This is most notable in politics. Last night I was watching President Obama address congress and he received something like 34 standing ovations during his address. There were several times where the Republicans only gave standing ovations and times where Democrats only gave the standing ovation. The rest of the time it was a bench clearer and both parties were standing and applauding at the same time. After Obama's heart lifting and hope giving speech, the Republican "spokesperson" Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal was all over Obama's economic plan like white on rice on a paper plate in a snow storm.
He was letting us know how the Republicans are there for the people. He assured us that his party is very bi-partisan and does not believe in growing the power of the Government but growing the power of the people. I wish I could believe him on his pleas to prove how much he cared for me but I just can't. The biggest reason why is the people they had running the show for the last 8 years. G-Dub, that's what I call him, did quite a bit of taking power from the people and with the help of Cheney, managed to shoot the checks and balances system in the face with a shotgun. Is it unfair to chastise an entire party based on a small group of people, no, but it's done every day. Maybe, if I look deeper into the party I could find some other politicians who have done what they can to screw the people over. Actually you know what, of course I can. There are members of congress on both sides of the fence that are pretty self serving.
I'm not picking sides, I'm simply saying that what's been tried for the last 8 years hasn't worked. This Obama character seems to have picked up on that. It seems as though the Republicans have too. They, like most people, fear change. This is evident by the nit picking and slamming of his bail out plan. I'm not entirely sure this bail out plan is going to have the desired effect, either, but hell what's the worst that could happen. The economy tumbles and we have a post apocalyptic event without something to make the teams a little smaller, for example a deep comet impact that decimates the world population. Too bad we won't be able to blame that on G-Dub as well.
Back to the bail out, round 2. The thing I like most about it is the infrastructure jobs and projects. This is one of the better parts of the plan, we need jobs and infrastructure. This should have a positive impact on the economy. One of the not so good parts of the plan is giving tax payer money to the banks so the banks can lend it back to us, this just doesn't make sense to me. I'm not sure the answer is giving money to the people to pay off their loans either. But hey, I'm not even an economist, I'm just an observer, like Isaac Newton. Money that comes in the form of tax cuts seems like a good idea, mostly because it's money that I earn, and (gasp) I get to keep. I might just invest that into something American made, like a keg of Budweiser, wait F*ck, that's not gonna work. Maybe I'll save up this tax cut and take a class on Economics and save the world from the economic apocalypse. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go enjoy some first amendment.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
I don't have that record...I'll buy it for forty: 808s & Heartbreak
"I'll buy it for forty" is Tom's album reviews. Try not to take them too seriously. Up first is Kanye West's new album 808s & Heartbreak.
Before I start this review I want to explain how I will be doing my album reviews. I think that albums should be reviewed as a cohesive whole, and thus will be assigning a completely arbitrary score to the album as a whole. But I also know that the music world is dominated by singles and music videos and so I will also write mini-reviews for each song on the album and either recommend them or not. And now, onto the review.
Kanye West has always been a polarizing figure. There is a tendency to either love him or hate him and a lot has to do with his very public, somewhat cartoonish persona. To put it lightly, Kanye is a bit of a narcissist...Ok, he is very much a narcissist. Kanye loves himself and what he does and does not levy criticism on himself. Normally this sort of attitude doesn't suit me, but there is some sort of charming allure to the Kanye West show.
The first Kanye song I ever heard was "Jesus Walks" that was used in the film Jarhead. I didn't much care for it but I knew that somehow it was going to be a hit. Kanye is first and foremost a rapper, and he is good, compared to most. He maintains rhythm and flow very well, which is complemented by his lyrics, which, although usually absurd and bizarre, meld with the song well. But Kanye became a worldwide sensation with his Jamie Foxx duet "Golddigger". Now this song I hated. I didn't like Foxx's Ray Charles impression, I didn't like how repetitive and annoying the song was, and I just flat out didn't like it at all.
After "Golddigger" I dismissed Kanye as "not my thing" and went on my way. Then lo and behold, he comes out with the album Graduation and the song "Stronger" which sampled the Daft Punk classic "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger". I am an enormous Daft Punk fan (Alive 2007 is the best live show I have ever seen, ever) and my first reaction was along the lines of "Oh God, Kanye is going to desecrate a great Daft song!" but when I heard it, I realized that he took the DP classic and, instead of interfering with it, used it to elevate his own music. You could say this was the song that turned me around on Kanye West. I listened to the rest of Graduation and found that the rest of the songs didn't catch me as much as "Stronger" but the album wasn't horrible. Kanye's crazy antics have built a love/hate relationship with him for me. For example, his hissy fit at last year's Bonarroo festival irked me, but his Grammy performance with Daft Punk was incredibly awesome. Over the years, Kanye has built his image to be larger than life. On one hand, he is insufferably self-absorbed, but on the other, he is an extremely dedicated musician who makes music according to what he feels like doing, not what people expect him to do. And like him or not, you gotta respect that.
I mention all of this because once you get an idea of who Kanye is up to this point it becomes obvious how completely different his new album, 808s & Heartbreak, really is. 808s isn't a slight change in direction for Kanye, its a complete 180 from his other material. Gone is the cocky and larger than life Kanye (well, almost) and in his place is a quieter, reflective, and downtrodden man. Upon listening to this album, it's painfully apparent that something terrible has happened to Mr. West, and he wants to tell everyone about it.
Kanye's previous albums have been all about big sound and production. Whether samples or his own material, the sound was always turned up to the proverbial 11 with a million different intricate layers of sound going off at the same time. Not so on this album. Kanye takes a very minimalistic approach (for him) by using limited sound effects that are highly mechanical and almost always reduced to background noise. In fact, the only high volume moments in the album come from the namesake 808 drum machine. Kanye uses it to startling effect. Songs such as "Coldest Winter" begin with a reserved Kanye lamenting when suddenly the chorus kicks in and the sythesized drum beats loudly announce themselves. It's odd, but the 808 machine is almost more the star of this album than West is.
Much has been made of the fact that Kanye decided to do more singing on this album as opposed to rapping. A bold move, and to his credit, Kanye knows he isn't a great singer and so employs generous amounts of Auto-Tune to mask his vocal inefficiencies. I am one of the people who think Auto-Tune is criminally overused these days, but considering that the album itself sounds cold and detached and mechanical, the Auto-Tune actually fits very well. I think it's important to consider this album with the motivation upon which it was made. This album is very personal, and I'm not being metaphorical. Most of these songs are obviously directed at someone in particular, likely Kanye's ex-fiance. She gets her fair share of ribbing on the album, but what is startling is the way Kanye reveals that he believes he is as much at fault as she is, and it's something he regrets very much. The immortal Kanye has been stripped away and the human Kanye is on full display. This song is illustrated nicely on the song "Amazing". Kanye begins the song with his old swagger but in the end only blames himself for his problems.
Like previous albums, there are a fair amount of guest appearances on 808s and it's no surprise that these are among the weakest songs on the album. It really isn't their fault though, this album is just too personal to have an outside presence interrupt in the middle. It breaks away from the flow and emotion of the album. 808s is not a cheerful album, it's very cold and dark, but in a way, refreshing. And don't think this story has a happy ending. The final song, "Coldest Winter" sees a resigned and defeated Kanye bidding goodbye to his friend and confessing he won't "ever love again". However, I suspect it won't take much time before Kanye gets over his broken heart and goes back to being his old, cartoon character self. Just like him, this album is polarizing. Many fans will hate it simply because it isn't the same stuff as before. I applaud him for going in this direction and trying something new. My only beefs with the album are the over-reliance on the bombastic drum beats and the sometimes silly lyrics that break the flow from the heavy emotional ones. If you are at all a Kanye West fan, you should at least give this album a quick listen. You may end up hating it, but you will at least understand where he is coming from.
Verdict:
4 BLOGS IN ALL CAPS out of 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Song Reviews:
1) Say You Will
Say You Will is the intro track, and right away it establishes the mood that permeates the entire album. The low drumming, Kanye's mournful vocals, the mechanical beeps, and the background humming all blend together to form a very cold atmosphere. The lyrics speak of Kanye becoming suspicious of someone and eventually begging that person to change their ways. For the album, it's a good starter song to set the mood, even though it is a little too long for an opener. Recommended.
Misses so fly crash lands in my room
2) Welcome to Heartbreak
Now we are talking. Welcome to Heartbreak opens with a sad violin before picking up pace and becoming my pick for best song on the album. Kanye begins the song confessing how materialistic he is - a father shows him pictures of his kids, and Kanye can only show him pictures of his cribs. This is a startling confession from Kanye, but subliminally, Kanye is regretting the fact that he doesn't have a family like the father mentioned, and it is something he clearly regrets. Highly Recommended.
My Godsister's getting married by the lake,
3) Heartless
Heartless is Kanye at his most vindictive. In this song he is on the offensive, lashing out at a "woman so heartless". It's all well and good, but self-reflecting, regretful Kanye is much more interesting than angry Kanye.
Musically, the song is clearly meant to the be a single. Kanye does more of his usual rapping in the song which kinda breaks from the flow of the album. Nevertheless, the song is catchy enough to guarantee its a successful single. If you love the old Kanye, this is as close as you are going to get and is recommended. If you prefer something new and different, give this one a pass. Possibly Recommended.
4) Amazing [ft. Young Jeezy]
Amazing starts right off with booming hollow drumming, followed by a piano the likes of which you would likely hear at some old western saloon. This sound combination immediately grabs your attention and holds it. Lyrically, this song is very interesting. Kanye begins with his trademark swagger, bragging about how he is the reason everyone is fired up this evening. But as the song goes on Kanye begins doubting himself, proclaiming himself a monster, a killer, and his own worst enemy. One can easily imagine Kanye sitting backstage before a set writing this song, thousands of fans screaming his name outside. Young Jeezy is the obvious weak point in the song. He elects not to use the Auto-Tune, which makes the song sound inconsistent. His lyrics also lack any depth or interest. Despite that, this song is still a good listen and is definitely Recommended.
I'm a monster, I'm a killer,
5) Love Lockdown
The second single from the album is a little bizarre in construction but is all the more appealing for it. The verses consist of only a low key bass beat with some light piano and Kanye's low vocals layered on top. Then the chorus hits and the drums are unleashed. Loud tribal drums seemingly playing something like a marching band cadence boom in. In the song, Kanye urges his listeners to keep their love in lockdown lest they face the same heartbreak as him. It is a quirky song that can be a little repetitive, but gets my vote. Recommended.
I got something to lose, so I gotta move,
6) Paranoid [Ft. Mr. Hudson]
Paranoid sounds like it belongs in some sort of disco hall. Lyrically and musically it just isn't an interesting song. Kanye's lyrics lack the depth of songs previous and are laced with bad puns and lots of repetition. Not Recommended
Cause I can make it good I can make it hood.
7) Robocop
Robocop starts off with a heavy mechanical beat, something you'd imagine from a movie like the Terminator. Then the vocals kick in and some light violin enters. Then the chorus hits and what sounds like a full orchestra comes in. This kind of varying arrangement is what makes some of Kanye's music appealing to me, and I like the way the violins are used on the song. It sounds like it could be the signature song of some epic hollywood film. The lyrics are the definite weakness of the song. Using Robocop as an analogy for your ex is a bit of a stretch. But in general the the lyrics are filled with weird comaprisons and puns that just sound stupidly funny. Especially the end of the song. But the end, music is definitely more important than lyrics so this gets a Recommended.
Oh you're kidding me
8) Street Lights
Street Lights is back to the melancholy Kanye who is his own critic. Kanye hops in a cab and watches the lights go by and thinks about his destination as a metaphor for his own life. The song is quiet and minimal with several electric effects, but what really sets the song off is a nice simple piano melody. The song is perfect length and musically interesting. A definite Recommend.
All the streetlights, glowing,
9) Bad News
Yikes. Kanye tries to go falsetto in this song about bad news and it's not a good idea. His vocals are bad, and not even the Auto-Tune can fix it. The redeeming factor is that he doesn't do much singing in the song at all, as most of it is instrumental. Musically, there is no variation and nothing really stands out. Not Recommended.
When'd you decide to break the rules?
Let me first say that I don't really like Lil Wayne or anything he does and thus I am biased on this song. Without him, I think this song might be all right, but he just sort of ruins it for me as a preference thing. This song is the first part of the finale of the album and there is a couple things to note. Kanye is very angry in this song, his voice even breaking a few times. At the beginning of the album he admits he still fantasizes about the his target, yet here, he states that he is simply cold and has absolutely no desire to ever see her again, except in his nightmares. The lyrics are interesting as part of the finale, but because Lil Wayne plays such a big part in the song he takes away from the poetry of them. Not Recommended.
11) Coldest Winter
My second favorite song from the album, Coldest Winter is the sad and depressing ending to this sad and depressing album. This song starts very quiet with almost no sound besides the vocals. Then the chorus hits and a massive, pounding bass drum beat comes in and blows your mind. This pattern continues until the final chorus and the massive drums are increased to the max, blowing your mind again. This song is about Kanye's resignation, his solitude, and his vow to "never love again". Some reviewers have speculated that this song is about his mother's death. If that's the case, this song is even more emotionally powerful. The massive drums accent the emotion even more. The swan song of the album is Kanye at his best and is absolutely Recommended.
Sold.
Second Opinion: Allmusic Review
Before I start this review I want to explain how I will be doing my album reviews. I think that albums should be reviewed as a cohesive whole, and thus will be assigning a completely arbitrary score to the album as a whole. But I also know that the music world is dominated by singles and music videos and so I will also write mini-reviews for each song on the album and either recommend them or not. And now, onto the review.
Kanye West has always been a polarizing figure. There is a tendency to either love him or hate him and a lot has to do with his very public, somewhat cartoonish persona. To put it lightly, Kanye is a bit of a narcissist...Ok, he is very much a narcissist. Kanye loves himself and what he does and does not levy criticism on himself. Normally this sort of attitude doesn't suit me, but there is some sort of charming allure to the Kanye West show.
The first Kanye song I ever heard was "Jesus Walks" that was used in the film Jarhead. I didn't much care for it but I knew that somehow it was going to be a hit. Kanye is first and foremost a rapper, and he is good, compared to most. He maintains rhythm and flow very well, which is complemented by his lyrics, which, although usually absurd and bizarre, meld with the song well. But Kanye became a worldwide sensation with his Jamie Foxx duet "Golddigger". Now this song I hated. I didn't like Foxx's Ray Charles impression, I didn't like how repetitive and annoying the song was, and I just flat out didn't like it at all.
After "Golddigger" I dismissed Kanye as "not my thing" and went on my way. Then lo and behold, he comes out with the album Graduation and the song "Stronger" which sampled the Daft Punk classic "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger". I am an enormous Daft Punk fan (Alive 2007 is the best live show I have ever seen, ever) and my first reaction was along the lines of "Oh God, Kanye is going to desecrate a great Daft song!" but when I heard it, I realized that he took the DP classic and, instead of interfering with it, used it to elevate his own music. You could say this was the song that turned me around on Kanye West. I listened to the rest of Graduation and found that the rest of the songs didn't catch me as much as "Stronger" but the album wasn't horrible. Kanye's crazy antics have built a love/hate relationship with him for me. For example, his hissy fit at last year's Bonarroo festival irked me, but his Grammy performance with Daft Punk was incredibly awesome. Over the years, Kanye has built his image to be larger than life. On one hand, he is insufferably self-absorbed, but on the other, he is an extremely dedicated musician who makes music according to what he feels like doing, not what people expect him to do. And like him or not, you gotta respect that.
I mention all of this because once you get an idea of who Kanye is up to this point it becomes obvious how completely different his new album, 808s & Heartbreak, really is. 808s isn't a slight change in direction for Kanye, its a complete 180 from his other material. Gone is the cocky and larger than life Kanye (well, almost) and in his place is a quieter, reflective, and downtrodden man. Upon listening to this album, it's painfully apparent that something terrible has happened to Mr. West, and he wants to tell everyone about it.
Kanye's previous albums have been all about big sound and production. Whether samples or his own material, the sound was always turned up to the proverbial 11 with a million different intricate layers of sound going off at the same time. Not so on this album. Kanye takes a very minimalistic approach (for him) by using limited sound effects that are highly mechanical and almost always reduced to background noise. In fact, the only high volume moments in the album come from the namesake 808 drum machine. Kanye uses it to startling effect. Songs such as "Coldest Winter" begin with a reserved Kanye lamenting when suddenly the chorus kicks in and the sythesized drum beats loudly announce themselves. It's odd, but the 808 machine is almost more the star of this album than West is.
Much has been made of the fact that Kanye decided to do more singing on this album as opposed to rapping. A bold move, and to his credit, Kanye knows he isn't a great singer and so employs generous amounts of Auto-Tune to mask his vocal inefficiencies. I am one of the people who think Auto-Tune is criminally overused these days, but considering that the album itself sounds cold and detached and mechanical, the Auto-Tune actually fits very well. I think it's important to consider this album with the motivation upon which it was made. This album is very personal, and I'm not being metaphorical. Most of these songs are obviously directed at someone in particular, likely Kanye's ex-fiance. She gets her fair share of ribbing on the album, but what is startling is the way Kanye reveals that he believes he is as much at fault as she is, and it's something he regrets very much. The immortal Kanye has been stripped away and the human Kanye is on full display. This song is illustrated nicely on the song "Amazing". Kanye begins the song with his old swagger but in the end only blames himself for his problems.
Like previous albums, there are a fair amount of guest appearances on 808s and it's no surprise that these are among the weakest songs on the album. It really isn't their fault though, this album is just too personal to have an outside presence interrupt in the middle. It breaks away from the flow and emotion of the album. 808s is not a cheerful album, it's very cold and dark, but in a way, refreshing. And don't think this story has a happy ending. The final song, "Coldest Winter" sees a resigned and defeated Kanye bidding goodbye to his friend and confessing he won't "ever love again". However, I suspect it won't take much time before Kanye gets over his broken heart and goes back to being his old, cartoon character self. Just like him, this album is polarizing. Many fans will hate it simply because it isn't the same stuff as before. I applaud him for going in this direction and trying something new. My only beefs with the album are the over-reliance on the bombastic drum beats and the sometimes silly lyrics that break the flow from the heavy emotional ones. If you are at all a Kanye West fan, you should at least give this album a quick listen. You may end up hating it, but you will at least understand where he is coming from.
Verdict:
4 BLOGS IN ALL CAPS out of 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Song Reviews:
1) Say You Will
Say You Will is the intro track, and right away it establishes the mood that permeates the entire album. The low drumming, Kanye's mournful vocals, the mechanical beeps, and the background humming all blend together to form a very cold atmosphere. The lyrics speak of Kanye becoming suspicious of someone and eventually begging that person to change their ways. For the album, it's a good starter song to set the mood, even though it is a little too long for an opener. Recommended.
Misses so fly crash lands in my room
Can't waste no time she might leave soon
2) Welcome to Heartbreak
Now we are talking. Welcome to Heartbreak opens with a sad violin before picking up pace and becoming my pick for best song on the album. Kanye begins the song confessing how materialistic he is - a father shows him pictures of his kids, and Kanye can only show him pictures of his cribs. This is a startling confession from Kanye, but subliminally, Kanye is regretting the fact that he doesn't have a family like the father mentioned, and it is something he clearly regrets. Highly Recommended.
My Godsister's getting married by the lake,
But I couldn’t figure out who I’d wanna take.
Bad enough that I showed up late,
I had to leave before they even cut the cake.
Welcome to heartbreak.
3) Heartless
Heartless is Kanye at his most vindictive. In this song he is on the offensive, lashing out at a "woman so heartless". It's all well and good, but self-reflecting, regretful Kanye is much more interesting than angry Kanye.
Musically, the song is clearly meant to the be a single. Kanye does more of his usual rapping in the song which kinda breaks from the flow of the album. Nevertheless, the song is catchy enough to guarantee its a successful single. If you love the old Kanye, this is as close as you are going to get and is recommended. If you prefer something new and different, give this one a pass. Possibly Recommended.
They don't know 'bout me and you.
So I got something new to see,
And you just gonna keep hating me,
And we just gonna be enemies.
4) Amazing [ft. Young Jeezy]
Amazing starts right off with booming hollow drumming, followed by a piano the likes of which you would likely hear at some old western saloon. This sound combination immediately grabs your attention and holds it. Lyrically, this song is very interesting. Kanye begins with his trademark swagger, bragging about how he is the reason everyone is fired up this evening. But as the song goes on Kanye begins doubting himself, proclaiming himself a monster, a killer, and his own worst enemy. One can easily imagine Kanye sitting backstage before a set writing this song, thousands of fans screaming his name outside. Young Jeezy is the obvious weak point in the song. He elects not to use the Auto-Tune, which makes the song sound inconsistent. His lyrics also lack any depth or interest. Despite that, this song is still a good listen and is definitely Recommended.
I'm a monster, I'm a killer,
I know I'm wrong.
I'm a problem, that'll never, ever be solved.
And no matter what you'll never take that from me.
I'm a problem, that'll never, ever be solved.
And no matter what you'll never take that from me.
My reign is as far as your eyes can see.
5) Love Lockdown
The second single from the album is a little bizarre in construction but is all the more appealing for it. The verses consist of only a low key bass beat with some light piano and Kanye's low vocals layered on top. Then the chorus hits and the drums are unleashed. Loud tribal drums seemingly playing something like a marching band cadence boom in. In the song, Kanye urges his listeners to keep their love in lockdown lest they face the same heartbreak as him. It is a quirky song that can be a little repetitive, but gets my vote. Recommended.
I got something to lose, so I gotta move,
I cant keep myself, and still keep you too
So I keep in mind, when I'm on my own,
Somewhere far from home, in the danger zone.
How many times did I take before I finally got through,
You lose...You lose.
The equally bizarre music video.
6) Paranoid [Ft. Mr. Hudson]
Paranoid sounds like it belongs in some sort of disco hall. Lyrically and musically it just isn't an interesting song. Kanye's lyrics lack the depth of songs previous and are laced with bad puns and lots of repetition. Not Recommended
Cause I can make it good I can make it hood.
I can make you come I can make you go.
I can make it high I can make it fly.
Make you touch the sky.
Hey maybe so.
7) Robocop
Robocop starts off with a heavy mechanical beat, something you'd imagine from a movie like the Terminator. Then the vocals kick in and some light violin enters. Then the chorus hits and what sounds like a full orchestra comes in. This kind of varying arrangement is what makes some of Kanye's music appealing to me, and I like the way the violins are used on the song. It sounds like it could be the signature song of some epic hollywood film. The lyrics are the definite weakness of the song. Using Robocop as an analogy for your ex is a bit of a stretch. But in general the the lyrics are filled with weird comaprisons and puns that just sound stupidly funny. Especially the end of the song. But the end, music is definitely more important than lyrics so this gets a Recommended.
Oh you're kidding me
You must be joking
Or you are smoking
Oh oh you're kidding me
Oh you're kidding me
Haha that was a good one
Your first good one in a while
8) Street Lights
Street Lights is back to the melancholy Kanye who is his own critic. Kanye hops in a cab and watches the lights go by and thinks about his destination as a metaphor for his own life. The song is quiet and minimal with several electric effects, but what really sets the song off is a nice simple piano melody. The song is perfect length and musically interesting. A definite Recommend.
All the streetlights, glowing,
Happen to be just like moments, passing,
In front of me so I,
Hopped in the cab and I paid my fare see I,
Know my destination, but I'm just not there.
9) Bad News
Yikes. Kanye tries to go falsetto in this song about bad news and it's not a good idea. His vocals are bad, and not even the Auto-Tune can fix it. The redeeming factor is that he doesn't do much singing in the song at all, as most of it is instrumental. Musically, there is no variation and nothing really stands out. Not Recommended.
When'd you decide to break the rules?
Cause I just heard some real bad news.
10) See You in My Nightmares [Ft. Lil Wayne]
Let me first say that I don't really like Lil Wayne or anything he does and thus I am biased on this song. Without him, I think this song might be all right, but he just sort of ruins it for me as a preference thing. This song is the first part of the finale of the album and there is a couple things to note. Kanye is very angry in this song, his voice even breaking a few times. At the beginning of the album he admits he still fantasizes about the his target, yet here, he states that he is simply cold and has absolutely no desire to ever see her again, except in his nightmares. The lyrics are interesting as part of the finale, but because Lil Wayne plays such a big part in the song he takes away from the poetry of them. Not Recommended.
Tell everybody that you know,
That I don`t love you no more.
11) Coldest Winter
My second favorite song from the album, Coldest Winter is the sad and depressing ending to this sad and depressing album. This song starts very quiet with almost no sound besides the vocals. Then the chorus hits and a massive, pounding bass drum beat comes in and blows your mind. This pattern continues until the final chorus and the massive drums are increased to the max, blowing your mind again. This song is about Kanye's resignation, his solitude, and his vow to "never love again". Some reviewers have speculated that this song is about his mother's death. If that's the case, this song is even more emotionally powerful. The massive drums accent the emotion even more. The swan song of the album is Kanye at his best and is absolutely Recommended.
If spring can take the snow away,
Can it melt away all our mistakes?
Memories made in the coldest winter,
Goodbye my friend, I won't ever love again.
Never again...
Can it melt away all our mistakes?
Memories made in the coldest winter,
Goodbye my friend, I won't ever love again.
Never again...
Sold.
Second Opinion: Allmusic Review
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Ball, Rolling
“You better wipe your feet on the door” Matt? Yeah, ok. As far as introductions go, the others nailed it handsomely. I don't even feel I need to add more to the pie, but they insist. With that said, here is Matt, quickfire style:
I am a terrible procrastinator, an anglophile, a contrarian, a ginger, an optimist. I am potent. I am a potable. And I appreciate all things orange flavored (and orange juliused). Also, I have electrolytes.
Self portrait
There! Anyway, now that you have met me, how bout you meet the Raisins?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Generous Punctuation
Let me be the second to welcome you to Melba Toast. We’re still trying to get some shoes on her but for now I think our 390 horsepower should be enough to power us through like a Warthog over a K rail. This is going to be a place where you will probably find something interesting to read on a quasi-regular basis with not one, not two, but three, count ‘em three authors of similar yet dissimilar tastes.
You’ve already met “no this isn’t MySpace” Tom and now you get to meet “enough with the, what’s that, it’s” Pat. I am currently residing in
I have a feeling that this teeny tiny section of the Internet will contain criticisms and witticisms and all around randomness. I say “sit back, buckle up, and enjoy the ride.” Maybe you’ll find something that piques your interest if not now then eventually we will hit on a topic that tickles your fancy.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A Toast to Melba Toast
As I sit here and watch the smoke monster from Lost drag some poor frenchmen through the jungle I figured it would be a good time to write the intro post to this blog. Truthfully, I am not so good at this intro stuff. I guess the best way to describe Melba Toast (Google it kids) is that it's a quaint little corner of the internet for me and my cohorts to ramble about whatever we find interesting.
I'll let my two comrades introduce themselves but I can assure you that they are both upstanding gentlemen who contribute greatly to society. I'm talking contribution such as ensuring Nebraska doesn't secede from the union and making sure the residents of Montana gamble their income away. This is important stuff here people. As for me, well, I am Tom, I enjoy video games, hockey, cheetos, cargo pants, etc. You know, the important things.
I'll admit I had a few concessions about creating a blog, mostly along the lines of "Will anybody ever read it?" and "Can I consistently update it?". I used to have a 1up.com blog that I failed to update very much. One of the reasons was that I felt since I was blogging for a gaming website I should try and center my topics around that. Here, we can blog about whatever we wish, so updates will come more frequently. Also, having two fellow authors will help me think of even more topics. So to present and future readers, welcome, enjoy, and keep on living man.
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