Kanye West & Daft Punk (Discovery Pt. 2)

I figured since I mentioned it yesterday and in an effort of trying to keep consistent (January already has more posts than December!) I thought I would mention the one song I was familiar with off Discovery – albeit super popular!

I first heard the mention of “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” off Kanye West’s “Stronger.” I loved the way the was able to slow it down and build it into a tremendous flowing of dynamics and thrills. The original version by Daft Punk is fueled by high-paced beats that sound both 80’s-inspired and entirely robotic. The inflection of their voices, the way the beats are layered on top of each other, the way it all seems to speed up as it passes by, is seamlessly rendered. The song continues to build and build off the original melody in magnificent effort: harder, better, faster, stronger. It has the perfect combination of utter pop and catchy dance while encompassing a greater reach for the dramatics of cymbals and snares, ha. There’s a back-paced slow section at the end that feeds off the glowing crescendo from before and with a timeless synthesizer, an obvious hit.


The West version is entirely a few 60 bps or so slower and much more altered – in terms of everything from speed, to flow, to vocals. Here the climbing melody from the Daft Punk original is twisted into a looping scale that supports around the verses that ‘Ye delivers. The sample comes in every form – through the counter melody, the robotic atmosphere, the synthesizers – there’s an obvious influence from the robotic state Daft Punk perfected on Discovery. It’s much more a back-drop to the chanting chorus on this song and the way West inflects it all with bite and grit but the sample is definitely Daft Punk. There’s a few parts where the music cuts away to reveal a few sections where a speed up seems possible and while this is probably mostly a nod to Daft Punk, “Stronger” ends up killing it on its very own right; while still showcasing the magic found on just one amazing song off Discovery. – Bryan

Daft Punk - Discovery

I’d be lying if I didn’t come right out and admit that other contributors writing here isn’t a great thing: it’s an awesomely great thing. And it makes my posts seem somewhat worthwhile. Here’s to hoping the January infusion of posts is not an aberration; here’s to hoping we can get all contributors on here.

Whenever I buy new music I always get a little bit sad for a myriad of reasons, mostly dumb I know. Like the fact that a new album is another to add while another unopened CD or record (what, I know…) goes, well unopened. Ha, I’m bad at that. I’m bad at keeping all music together. But I love when I buy new music because I can tear it open and get lost in it for quite some time. I’m so glad this has happened recently. I’m hoping to buy more stuff soon.

Either way, I never was much of a Daft Punk fan. I definitely think the nico probably knows way more in this territory. But after buying Discovery on a limb (after never hearing any of it front to back, nor really many other songs except “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”) and for a few great reasons too, it’s been slowly melting my brain apart. First I heard this song while hanging with a friend and he simply played it with a preface of it being one of his favorite Daft Punk songs. Not thinking much but wondering what upbeat favorite he was going to play, I was stunned to hear the lush, ornate sounds pouring out of the speakers. There’s the way it creeps in and lulls you with these 70s-like synthesizers and a bubbling beat that sounds just as robotic as it does, peaceful. And then of course, the lyrics; somewhere in between falling in love and realizing that while she isn’t necessarily the right one, there’s just ‘something’ there: "There’s definitely something about us to pursue and get lost in, even if it maybe isn’t meant to be." It’s amazing because it combines both the aesthetic with the ambience of electronic music and refines with gentle synths and lush chords. After hearing the song for the first time I was blown away, now it’s one of my favorites too, ha.


So I bought it on vinyl and poured the time into the album I felt it deserved. I heard about how all these people just loved it and how it was an album you just had to own. I never seemed to understand in my stubborn, foolish head that Daft Punk are utterly amazing. And as the album played through my headphones, on my phone and everywhere else, I was just left in awe. But for sure, by the time “Digital Love" played I was entirely won over. There’s the beginning with the chugging guitar and the growing of beats into one snappy, tight melody. It’s about falling in love again, about digitalizing the love before it’s even begun and how she’s so amazing you dream about even being able to be with her. The beats and music joyously try to envision it all with fantastic rhythms and styles. I just wish I could’ve heard it like ten years ago, at least, ha. I mean, it came out in 2001; I envy people that got to hear it simultaneously with albums like Girls Can Tell and Vespertine or whatever. There’s so many things I learned about the duo, I would need to say that they’re absolute romantics and the music simply wins because of it. It makes your heart jump up and down and it makes you change all around; this is definitely music for all ages. – Bryan

Shut Up and Play the Hits

I'm never a real big fan of bands and artists having big send-offs for themselves when they "retire". Maybe I'm the ultimate cynic but too many times I feel like it's just an elaborate method to bank on the moment they inevitably come out of retirement or re unite. Maybe artists like Jay-Z made it way less authentic a move for possibly other, actually sincere artists to try and fallow suit. Oddly enough, fellow New Yorker James Murphy, iconic brain child behind dance-punk outfit LCD Sound System, finds himself in the same "self proclaimed" final concert at Madison Square Garden as Jay-Z did in 2003. Premiering in this years Sundance Film Festival, "Shut Up and Play the Hits" focuses around Murphy and days leading up to the final show at Madison Square Garden. How Murphy and LCD Sound System choose to walk off into the sunset is completely up to them, in the mean time we can all hopefully get a taste of what it was like to party one last epic night with the old gang.

-Nick

Ricky Gervais' Comedy

There was a time when “The Office” was the funniest show on TV. And there was a time when it really embraced its own hilarity with just off-the-wall, brilliant jokes. But there really should be credit to the original “The Office” as well. That show brims behind the sheer genius of Ricky Gervais. There was a lot of talk around his hosting the Golden Globes for the third straight time – a lot of ‘should he?’ and ‘why again?’ – and I really started to wonder what the big deal was. I’d seen his comedy on the aforementioned classic show (please watch all of it if you haven’t) and he also did a fantastic cameo on “Louie”’s first season and well, he’s just flat-out hilarious. Such a comedic genius in every way and his jokes are honest, blunt and always poignant ha. He gives true imagery to the fact that every joke has some truth to it.

So I started digging around and found this video that splices together his opening monologue from last year’s globes with a bunch of funny other introductions he does (as a host does on an award’s show.) However, he places a ton of amazing jokes that make fun of all the pompous actors in the room. I mean, the Golden Globes were always just a big party – it’s literally a dinner party where all the TV and movie nominees drink away three hours of their oh-so-busy lives – so I’m not sure why Gervais’ was ever questioned. Either way, he’s typically sarcastic as expected and makes jokes and comments that many would never dream of saying. I especially love the jab at Steve Carell when he introduces him. He’s bad ass because he says what everyone mostly thinks but just won’t admit. There are actually a lot of funny comedians like that, that’s what makes them so awesome really – Louis C.K. again! This year’s rants (on tonight’s show) he did were far friendlier than before and didn’t quite sting like last year. I watched a couple of episodes of “The Office” to get my fix back but until then, here’s the hilarious video of all his jokes from last year. – Bryan

The Weeknd & Beach House

I remember hearing House of Balloons a good ten times and realizing that The Weeknd had major potential. I remember reading about his other mixtape and how he was to put out another mixtape in December. I liked it quite a bit, it was a sweet sound. And then I remember meeting with a friend and how he commented “eh it’s good, the best stuff on it is some Beach House samples.” Then I started to see more and more love for The Weeknd and more and more attention made me check out his other two albums (deservedly) and now am definitely feeling a lot of love for The Weeknd. It’s definitely not what my friend described (he wont be too upset for the choice words quoted here ha) and very much deserving of a ton of praise.

All three of his individual albums kill it. This is just a small mention of tiny, insignificant relevancy haha.

On House of Balloons, The Weeknd mixes smooth beats with an R&B/dubstep/electronic/hip-hop blend of utter bliss. The mix of sounds makes for songs that both reach atmospheric highs both in terms of scope and sound. He sings about how women are the most beautiful and horrible things in life and how the rise has slowly just begun. There is a part where the album gets to “The Party & the After Party” and the Beach House lull begins. I remember getting lost in the sounds amassed here – there is a rich texture all throughout – all of his music really should get more and more talk as time passes. Heck, especially if he continues to make 3 amazing albums a year.

Here’s the song that he samples, “Master of None” by Beach House. It sounds a lot like the early progressions where the chops and movements were developed and later explored in full depth on future classics. It has this heavily drifting feel and the way she sings is so mesmerizing; the sheer bliss of the sounds and how everything melts around each other are sweet. I gotta get this whole album now. I might need to reconsider their first two albums some more ha.


Here there is a focus on the use of the sample at the beginning but other than that, the song swirls into a mashing of sounds that emphasize heavy bass, the stuttering guitar and The Weeknd’s twisted lyrics. There’s many theories to the lyrics on House of Balloons but whatever your take is, there is never no need to be so serious about it all. If anything, he’s talking about a girl he’s trying to get with and how she might overdose when it is all said and done. It’s pretty morbid sure and there is plenty of drama but it all sounds so lush and enveloping that it all seems to feel just fine. The song that follows is ridiculously perfect for the aftermath, maybe I can write about it soon. – Bryan

Oh Land

Its not all the time someone actually has something of substance to offer when I ask them if they've listed to any good stuff lately. However after a listen to classically trained ballerina turned musician Nanna Oland Fabricius, the brain child behind the stage name "Oh Land", I can definitively say there are people actually listening to good stuff out there. The daughter of a organist father and opera singer mother its obvious she fell back to her musical roots after a serious back injury ended her ballet career. To be honest she seems quite at home as a dancer turned musician. An accomplished producer and singer songwriter "Oh Land" is pushing what we should expect from true creative musicians, trying to stay relevant in our technologically saturated times. Here's a great example of Oh Land dancing herself around the topic of a jaded lover on the single from her self titled 2nd album "Oh Land", the single "The Wolf and I"



Calling Brooklyn home now, keep your ear out for Oh Land.
-nick

TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light (Will Do)

Well I’m not too good at keeping my word on here. Everything below I wrote on Sunday afternoon, before the rain came...no editing necessary but some preface is decent, ha.

Energy is one thing but lack of drive is another. I’m not entirely sure where my head and heart are at the moment. But haha, this blog needs more writing if it’s gonna sustain much more.

2011 is long over. Like a week ago over. It feels like a shift in time, into a further progression. As in, the last year was a challenging and rewarding one, here’s to making the new one even better.

This album has to be one of my personal faves at the moment. It’s adoring with touches of art rock in the best possible way: genuine, melodic and all-around exceptional. I remember digging TV on the Radio back in the day (’04) but it’s been a love affair with them ever since. This new one is one of my favorites because of the love theme of course but how it’s all so earnest and endearing, instead of boring. It’s intelligent rock music with modes of pop, electronic and jazz and more. Such an awesome album. Hopefully more to come soon. It has started to rain here.

The most immediate thing I remember about “Will Do” is the beat-driven pulse of the music. It lulls you in with its pensive feel and then the atmosphere clashes for a chugging, charming love song about how anytime will do. It’s true that I used to be a sucker for love songs and it’s true I haven’t found some as beautiful as the ones on Nine Types of Light. Maybe it’s that they’re all bunched together in a different format for ten stunning styles of awesome music (probably) or that I just might be getting that loving feeling back in my soft… blah blah. Either way, when Tunde Adebimpe sings “how your fire grows Hermosa caldera, glistening” before it all washes away into a repetitive drive of “anytime will do…my love…” always leaves me with goose bumps. Well, more so suddenly than always but I’m glad this album was in my top 20 because it’s really amazing. This song being just one slice example. – Bryan