Thursday, July 22, 2004
Who sucked out the feeling?
Though I'll probably never be sold on the Streets' current status as the greatest thing to ever happen to the UK's hip-hop scene, I have to admit- I kinda like the new album. Skinner's conversational, deliberately offbeat cockney flow is fascinating to listen to; and I love the dense, everything-but-the-kitchensink production. I still think the comparisons critics have drawn between Mike Skinner and Eminem are lazy and totally ridiculous (I'm not sure if I even feel comfortable calling Skinner a "rapper," let alone suggesting that his skills are on par with Mr. Mathers), but there's something about the way Skinner tells a story that makes it impossible for me to simply dismiss him as an overrated flavor of the month.
But even though I kinda dig the Streets, it really bothers me the way critics are practically elbowing more talented UK rappers like Wiley and Dizzee Rascal aside so they can get another quote from Mike Skinner. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to turn this into an anti-Streets tirade. I just can't figure out for the life of me why Dizzee and Wiley aren't generating the same level of ejaculatory praise as the Streets. I mean, come on- these guys can rhyme circles around Skinner. Why is it that they only warrant a tiny blurb in Blender while Skinner's face is plastered across every music magazine in the country?
I've been listening to an unhealthy amount of Local H lately. It all started a week ago when I picked up a used copy of Pack Up the Cats to replace the one I lost a few years ago. I'd totally forgotten just how amazing these guys are. The lyrics are smarter and funnier than 97.5% of the stuff you hear on 99X. And the hooks on this album are so addictive that I'm dangerously close to checking into a rehab facility. This is the kind of music that makes me wish I hadn't abandoned my guitar lessons last year. (I was way too impatient. I guess a part of me foolishly thought that after two months of lessons I'd be playing like Vernon Reid.)
I've found that the urge to spend absurd amounts of money on music has increased dramatically since moving back home. Now that I no longer have to worry about rent, I have a lot more cash to blow on CDs, but I'm trying my best to fight that impulse. Even though I've been pretty good about devoting a huge chunk of each paycheck to my "Get the Hell Out Of Your Parent's House, You Loser" fund, I can't keep my left eye from twitching whenever I pass Tower Records. It’s so hard to be responsible with my spending habits when there are so many CDs out there whispering sweet nothings into my ear every time I set foot inside a Barnes and Nobles. I still haven’t picked up the Madvillain album. And I don’t know how I’ve managed to go this long without adding Idlewild’s “The Remote Part” to my CD collection.
By the way: I was this close to buying the new Hives CD today, but I chickened out once I got within five feet of the register. Being a cheap bastard sux.
But even though I kinda dig the Streets, it really bothers me the way critics are practically elbowing more talented UK rappers like Wiley and Dizzee Rascal aside so they can get another quote from Mike Skinner. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to turn this into an anti-Streets tirade. I just can't figure out for the life of me why Dizzee and Wiley aren't generating the same level of ejaculatory praise as the Streets. I mean, come on- these guys can rhyme circles around Skinner. Why is it that they only warrant a tiny blurb in Blender while Skinner's face is plastered across every music magazine in the country?
I've been listening to an unhealthy amount of Local H lately. It all started a week ago when I picked up a used copy of Pack Up the Cats to replace the one I lost a few years ago. I'd totally forgotten just how amazing these guys are. The lyrics are smarter and funnier than 97.5% of the stuff you hear on 99X. And the hooks on this album are so addictive that I'm dangerously close to checking into a rehab facility. This is the kind of music that makes me wish I hadn't abandoned my guitar lessons last year. (I was way too impatient. I guess a part of me foolishly thought that after two months of lessons I'd be playing like Vernon Reid.)
I've found that the urge to spend absurd amounts of money on music has increased dramatically since moving back home. Now that I no longer have to worry about rent, I have a lot more cash to blow on CDs, but I'm trying my best to fight that impulse. Even though I've been pretty good about devoting a huge chunk of each paycheck to my "Get the Hell Out Of Your Parent's House, You Loser" fund, I can't keep my left eye from twitching whenever I pass Tower Records. It’s so hard to be responsible with my spending habits when there are so many CDs out there whispering sweet nothings into my ear every time I set foot inside a Barnes and Nobles. I still haven’t picked up the Madvillain album. And I don’t know how I’ve managed to go this long without adding Idlewild’s “The Remote Part” to my CD collection.
By the way: I was this close to buying the new Hives CD today, but I chickened out once I got within five feet of the register. Being a cheap bastard sux.
Monday, July 05, 2004
comix on the brain
I just finished reading David Boring and the Formerly Known As trade paperback. David Boring was very interesting. I liked the relationship between David and his roommate. In fact, I think I would have enjoyed the book even more if it had spent more time exploring their friendship and how they came to be best friends. Though there were a few moments where the story lost me (the scenes with David and the other Ex-boyfriend stalking/obsessing over what’s her name, tested my patience), overall I thought it was a solid story with a touching ending. Daniel Clowes continues to impress. I’d sell my family into indentured servitude for the ability to write/draw like him.
Formerly Known As was a lot of fun to read. I’m going to have to thank Marla for bringing this book to my attention. I love the idea that here you have a group made up of six of the world’s most powerful superheroes, yet they’re so busy arguing with each other that they never get anything done. The “Super Buddies” fought three bad guys throughout the series, and in two of those encounters they were either bailed out by the (hilariously smug) Justice League, or teleported back to safety because the badguy was simply sick and tired of dealing with them. It’s cool to read a super group book that wasn’t afraid to make the heroes look so bad.
And speaking of Super Group, that happens to be the name of the Powers trade I just picked up. I haven’t had much of a chance to read it yet, but I like what I’ve seen so far.
Formerly Known As was a lot of fun to read. I’m going to have to thank Marla for bringing this book to my attention. I love the idea that here you have a group made up of six of the world’s most powerful superheroes, yet they’re so busy arguing with each other that they never get anything done. The “Super Buddies” fought three bad guys throughout the series, and in two of those encounters they were either bailed out by the (hilariously smug) Justice League, or teleported back to safety because the badguy was simply sick and tired of dealing with them. It’s cool to read a super group book that wasn’t afraid to make the heroes look so bad.
And speaking of Super Group, that happens to be the name of the Powers trade I just picked up. I haven’t had much of a chance to read it yet, but I like what I’ve seen so far.
