Frenchy’s Fracas

General Description
Artist/Band: Feist ||
Album Title: The Reminder
Year: 2007

Talented singer..

How I Got Into This Music
Well, it was one of those TV discoveries, that still works occassionally
Saw this funny video called One Two Three Four and the song and the video registered somewhere in my brain. Then I saw it again somewhere, and I gave the album a listen.

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Tracks that got my attention:
I’m Sorry
Wow, an opening track that sounds like a closing track
There’s a great vibe and a kinda 70’s feeling with this song.

Feel It All
Ah, bad choice of style. The up-tempo is going nowhere and the slower parts are.. meh..

My Moon My Man
Great balance between the soft vocals and the rest of the band. The chorus is also almost electro, nice.

The Park
Love the simple guitar intro and when her vocals take over. The whole track is very well supported by her vocal talents.

Sea Lion Woman
A nice change of pace and of style. It’s simple and catchy.

Past In Present
Second track that reminds me waaaay too much of Sheryl Crow, and that’s one too many. The buildup’s great, solid guitars, great beat, too bad.

One Two Three Four
Brilliant! I like the background vocals during the chorus, love the sweet and soft bits with the violins and banjo and the horns halfway the track. Tender vocals, beautiful!

Brandy Alexander
Very intense song, love it! There are more than one explanations for the title, have a read here.. I’m guessing it’s the cocktail
And again, her voice is excellent, wow..

Intuition
And in came a heatwave
A merciful save
You choose, you chose
Poetry over prose
Not sure what’s being told, but it’s beautifully performed, chills..
Even bigger chills: the background vocals at the end of this track; I have to restrain myself from skipping to the end, love that part that much, but it won’t be fair to the whole track.

Conclusion
First things first: her vocals. With almost every track I’m racking my brain thinking about a specific singer she’s reminding me of. That’s not always a negative, mind you. But sometimes, it can get on my nerves, especially when you trigger memories of artists like Sheryl Crow and Dido.
Still, I’ve been playing this record now for a while and it doesn’t get boring at all. It’s an excellent album to play when you’re having people over for dinner. Of course, shops like BarStucks will use the record too and play till everybody gets homocidal, I’m afraid..
So, not a bad album, definitely not a bad singer. Just nothing too much above average, easy listening to the max.

Rating:

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General Description
Artist/Band: Visioneers ||
Album Title: Dirty Old Hip Hop
Year: 2006

Excellent grooviness..

How I Got Into This Music
I’ve been enjoying 4hero and Marc Mac’s Chess Cadet All Stars for about a year now. This album’s another of Marc Mac’s projects and I just had to listen to it..

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Tracks that got my attention:
Replay ft. Voice
Mellowness taking the listener on a flashback trip through the history of quality rap musicians and producers like A Tribe Called Quest, Jazzy Jeff, Gangstarr and The Pharcyde. Love the smooth vocals by Voice.

Runnin’
Never thought people would be so smitten with the original version by The Pharcyde, but I ain’t complaining! I remember hearing the intro of this version with Hieronymus Fox and we were both jumping like happy kids; when we noticed it was an instrumental version, we stopped acting silly.. for about thirty seconds

The World Is Yours
Laidback bass and keyboards, catchy loops. Love the bass solo, but not that much else happening.

Funk Box ft. Capitol A
Familiar vocals by Capitol A, who also worked with Jazzanova. Basic quality, groove and funkiness.

It’s Simple
A very relaxed version of Simple Folk, a track from Marc Mac’s project from yesteryears, The Chess Cadet All Stars.
More jazzy influences, the flute working some nice magic in the background with the guitar, and that bass? Love it.

Dirty Old Bossa Nova
Damn, got me scanning all my CD’s from A Tribe Called Quest, grmbl.. Hold on.. Nope, I give up, can’t find it, argh!
Back to the track itself: lovely bossa groove!

Run For Cover
Yep, pure gold. Great way of using a central theme in the track, and then the sudden double tempo variant at the end? Great stuff!

55 Dollars
Oooooh.. Flashback to all those TV series from the seventies. Love the horns..

Paul’s Guitar Story
Hmmm, jazz guitar track, sounds nice, just a bit too bland for my taste.

Days Gone By (Egyptology)
Much better guitar work on this track. The track sounds a bit like Jill Scott’s Slowly Surely, I’m sure that’s intentional since they’ve worked with eachother in the past on Jill’s Experience album.

Conclusion
I think my love for previous work by Marc Mac and 4hero has kinda spoilt me a bit. Dirty Old Hip Hop is a great album and very tightly produced too. But… For me, there’s not a lot of new things happening. That’s why this album’s not one of my Favorites. Still very curious to hear the remix version called Dirty Old Remixes!

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General Description
Artist/Band: Plantlife
Album Title: The Return Of Jack Splash
Year: 2004

Swinging, up and down, still massively groovay..

How I Got Into This Music
Another one from last.fm that I just couldn’t ignore..

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Tracks that got my attention:
Jack’s Back
Kinda weird reviewing a 30 second intro but it’s worth it: a great way to start an album, a condensed version of what you can expect.
Promises, promises..

Appreciate
A bit lazy, a bit weak. Track’s very well produced, getting into a fine groove, but nothing spectacular.

Underwaterluvboogie (deep blue)
Well, they’ve been labeled as an electrotechnofunkrock band and they deliver as promised. But kinda so-so experience.

When She Smiles, She Lights The Sky
Ohwow.. Incredible build-up: the string loop, the soft falsettos, that bass/guitar in the background and then.. The Pay-off, sweet! Excellent track, yessirree!! Keeps your head bobbing with a great smile on your face..

Got2Get2Gether4Luv
Excellent funky nastiness, a Nile Rogers guitar, a plucking bass and a great chorus.

Two Beautiful Souls In A Crazy World
Here’s where the band keeps disappointing me (as if their existince is based on pleasing me, heh..). Just doesn’t work for me, yuck..

Beautiful Babies
Yeah, it’s been done a gazillion times, but they get this one right: just a sweet soulful kinda ballad, their style is right on the money for this track.

Stardancer
Hey, Jamiroquai got away with doing this kind of music for years and in this case, Plantlife nails it, even though I know I’d skip this track more times than I’d let it play on.

The Girl Said Give It To Me!
Excellent floorfiller. Plus a great MC Lyte sample at the end.

If I Wuz Ur Man
Hmm.. The title’s a dead giveaway - we’re invited to listen to a very Prince-inspired track. Kinda nice..

Conclusion
Here’s the thing, play some of these tracks on the dancefloor and the floor will go wild, but don’t you dare to play more than one song, it will become boring. And that’s the same thing with the whole album: some tracks are excellent, well-thought and deepdown Groovay. But most tracks just turn me off, there’s this laziness that just makes the songs a bit too cheezy to ignore. I love the fact that some classic styles are being recycled, but it’s not done well enough for me to enjoy. Probably getting way too many Outkast references from this record, but that’s my mindset being a bit too nasty.
The intro doesn’t deliver, but hey, we’re just talking about my expectations, I’m sure this album will work for other people..

Rating:

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General Description
Artist/Band: Jill Scott ||
Album Title: The Real Thing (Words And Sounds Vol.3)
Year: 2007

Almost had me fooled..

How I Got Into This Music
One of my favorite musicians/songwriters of this decade. Love the lady’s talent, sharp mind, open hearted lyrics and wicked smile. Her previous album wasn’t that much of a joy to listen to, but I saw her perform live and that’s more than enough compensation, GO SEE THE WOMAN PERFORM LIVE!
Now that I’ve ruled out any chance of an objective review of this latest album, let’s get to business..

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Tracks that got my attention:
Let It Be
Each opening track on her albums is an incredible introduction to this lady’s talents: a mix of dry drums, vocal changeups from soft whispers to bombast opera hall and clear declaration of her love for music.

Hate On Me
Much discussed first single release. The drum beats are great, the rest of the production is okay, nothing really exceptional. But the lyrics are what it’s all about, not clear to me if this is a simple venting of emotions concerning her recent marital breakup or a pure and simple declaration: you do not wanna cross a pissed-off Jilly..
I’m thinking both.

Crow Royal
I love it when Jill turns on the nasty lyrics, DAMNDAMNDAMN!
Your hands on my hips pull me right back to you
I catch that thrust, give it right back to you
You’re in so deep, I’m breathing for you,
You grab my braids, arch my back high for you
Your diesel engine, I’m squirting mad oil
On down on the floor til my speaker starts to boil
I flip shit, Quick slip
Hip dip and I’m twisted
In your hands and your lips
And your tongue tricks
And you’re so thick and you’re so thick
And you’re so..
Crown Royal on ice
Crown Royal on ice (On Ice)
There are parts of the song that a heterosexual man can’t sing out loud without getting weird looks from the people around him, heheh.. See if I could give a flying fork
Back to track, the brilliant simplicity: laidback keyboard effects, a very subdued bass line, a bit of percussion and Jilly on the double-dubbed vocals - my favorite track of the album (in case didn’t guess that yet)

Epiphany
Uhm.. Me Am Blushing.. Go Google the lyrics.. Best part of course is the final line. The track itself, it reminded me of.. of.. can’t put my finger on it. Another very simple setup, with the emphasis on the lyrics.

My Love
Nice track, a mix of Walk In The Park and Getting In The Way from her first album. The lyrics are compact and cut through diamonds. The bridge has a great lavish string arrangement on the background.
Cause ohh,
All I ever do is think about you baby
I hold you in my arms inside my dreams
And I know what I know and what I know is
That no matter where you go
You will always think of me

How It Make You Feel
If My Love was about not accepting the ex-lover moving on, this track’s more about strength: putting the black man in his place if he ever thought he could do without a black woman. For me, it’s a no-brainer, but maybe some guys still need this education

Only You
Waaaay too many flashbacks to the Songstress, Miss Anita Baker.

Wanna Be Loved
Yep, back on the quality train with this track. Vocals arranged smoothly, another laidback setup and incredibly honest lyrics.

Breathe
This could be called a Real Jill Scott song: great soul vibe, brainy lyrics and Lady Scott ruling the mic!

Conclusion
Here’s Jill’s own comments on her album (no, I’m not that lazy, my own comments follow after)
“I’m feeling gutsier, I’m feeling much more bold, free. In many ways, it’s closer to my first album. My original concept was to show different women – you know, like the housekeeper, the stripper, the congresswoman - but as I started writing and recording, I started taking on all these characters. I put myself in each woman’s place…and found that it became more about me, all of it, with the envy, the anger, the frustration, the loneliness, the joy, the passion and the rapture.
And that’s what makes it juicy…”

Well, that explains quite a lot. For me, the first coupla times listening to this album was a bit boring, seemed that she was keeping things nice and simple, not really attached. But when I started listening and reading the lyrics, shit changed dramatically. I still think that a lot of tracks are way too lazily produced and performed (yes, I know, I will burn in Hell or White Heaven for that remark). But the tracks that stand out like Crown Royal, How It Make You Feel and others, really, really do stand out for their high quality of Soul and True Pen(wo)manship and, sadly, because the other tracks are below average.
So, I still prefer her first album and the live record better than this one, and, yes, The Real Thing still is a great album. Not just a Favorite of mine, ohwell..
And come November 23rd, I’ll be jumping, dancing, grooving, moving, singing, shouting, smiling and even crying of joy when I see this Lady Of Soul perform her stuff live again. GO SEE HER SHIT LIVE!!

Rating: (Did I already mention you should go and see her live on stage?)

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General Description
Artist/Band: A Tribe Called Quest ||
Album Title: People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
Year: 1990

Influential To The Max!

How I Got Into This Music
A Tribe Called Quest was one of the first rap groups that really got me interested in rap. After the militant lyrics and antics of Public Enemy, the world was surprised by the more relaxed approach of the Native Tongue, a collective consisting of groups like De La Soul, The Jungle Brothers and A Tribe Called Quest. This was their first album and it made a lasting impression on my consciousness.

Google Search for reviews of this album || Album details at Artistdirect.com || Answers.com ||

But First..
This album is an incredible collection of samples. It’s a bloody education in itself to research all the tracks, and the nice people at Secondhandsongs.com did most of the hard work. If you’re interested in all kinds of sample trivia, go over to the site.

Tracks that got my attention:
Push It Along
The Boom, The Bip.. The Boom-Bip!
Crazy weird intro, followed by the mellowest of samples, can’t remember where I heard the original track. That sax during the bridge and at the end is highly enjoyable..
Sample Info

Luck Of Lucien
Not really very heavy-handed lyrics, but incredibly groovy samples, especially the chorus. Of course, Q-Tip’s nasal vocals gets the job done.
Sample Info

After Hours
Just lovelovelove that chorus, the heavy scratch-works in the background, oooooooweeee! Found out they’d sample some Sly & The Family Stone, I’m guessing it’s the guitar and bass, tasty!
Sample Info

Footprints
Starting off with Stevie Wonder’s Sir Duke, and taking us along this great laid back groove to the the awesome pay-off: an insane beat that would get your comatose granny to start dancing.
A Nubian, a Nubian, a proud one at that
Remember me? The brother who said “Black is black“
Sample Info

I Left My Wallet In El Segundo
Breakthrough single for this group, I mean, the first time I saw this clip was on an item by CNN for chrissakes. A very funny story is being told with some catchy beats and that corny guitar sample in the chorus.
TV watchers in the USA know this tracks also from the Sleeper Cell TV-series, where one of the bad guys performs this track at a karaoke bar.
Favorite lyrics (I catch myself singing/rapping these words many times, scaring my co-workers each and every time..)
..Pulled out the wallet and I saw this wicked beautiful lady,
She was a waitress there.
Put the wallet down and stared and stared.
To put me back into reality, here’s Shaheed:
“Yo, Tip, man, you got what you need?”
I checked for keys and started to step
What do you know, my wallet I forget..
Sample Info

Pubic Enemy
Public Service Anouncement about STD’s. Not one of my favorites, ’s okay. Cameo by Old School master DJ Red Alert.
Sample Info

Bonita Applebaum
Man-o-man! One of my all-time favorite tracks! It’s a great way to romance your loved one (kinda worked for me), the lyrics are funny and intelligent. The single remix used Carly Simon’s Why? and there’s a great remix that uses Grace Jones‘ Slave To The Rhythm, excellent!
38-24-37 (uh, uh, uh!)
You and me, hun, we’re a match made in heaven.
I like to kiss ya where some brothas won’t.
I like to tell ya things some brothas don’t.
Sample Info

Can I Kick It?
Their world hit. Love listening to it now, but back then, waaaay too much airplay. Legend has it that the guys didn’t clear the bass sample from Lou Reeds Walk On The Wild Side. Mr. Reed took offense and ATCQ had to pay out, leaving them with nothing on the single sales. A valuable lesson or fable, I guess..
Sample Info

Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving)
I got the rhythm, you got the rhythm.. That intro.. And then when the beat kicks in, ouch! That’s the nice kind of pain..
Polyrhythmatic with a big fat boom
You have an eargasm as you start to consume
The ghetto beat with a ghetto poem
Yeah, it’s from the heart, cuz it’s from the home
Sample Info

Descrption Of A Fool
Another educational track, they’ve used a sample from the Roy Ayers track Running Away. I discovered Mr. Ayers’ music partly through this sample.
Check out Groove Armada’s remix of this track on their Back To Mine album. It’s stripped of all the music, just using the vocals and their own flavors, bloody incredible!
Sample Info

Conclusion
Like I said before, this album’s one of the most interesting albums I’ve heard. It’s a favorite because it’s got great tracks but also because of the great samples and its impact on the music scene back then. A Tribe Called Quest together with The Native Tongue collective combined great music with thought-prevoking lyrics, not being radical about their opinions and not even using swear words (in the beginning).
An open hand full of grooviness and intellect instead of the closed fist of anger and payback. Both valid means of expression, but ATCQ’s approach worked better for me in the end.

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