Marshall Mathers

Enimem- Marshall Mathers LP (2001)




Got lots to say about this one, sorry. Hip-hop music is often easy to generalise and slim has become generic, but this album was really special. If this was a hyped blog and I was a well known critic people might think putting this album was attention seeking but i genuinely fucking love this album. I first heard it when I was 14 and into a lot of mainstream rap. It is pretty much the only one I've been able to persistantly love and appreciate no matter how much my taste in music has changed and broadened.

It's sometimes hard to “get” Eminem’s lyrics, hard to tell sincerity from satire and vice versa but I guess there's truth in the joke, joke in the truth.
Those who saw the funny side of The Slim Shady LP found it insincere and seemingly attention seeking in vulgarity, not “real enough”. Those who didn’t see the funny side branded him Satan’s voice in music, but off the back of that Slim takes what’s relevant in his life, his demonization in the media, the responsibility of being a reluctant role model, being the “white face” of rap and turns it into a witty yet dark lyrical mess:

“blurring the distinction between reality and fiction, humor and horror, satire and documentary”,

It wasn’t the album people expected. It wasn’t a stereotypical mainstream rap album glamorising “gangsters”, he raps about what’s real for him, what he finds funny and relevant as his alter ego "slim" but there’s passion and anger in his lyrics as an undertone. The music on this album is pretty typical of a record produced by Dre, but a lot darker that most of his normal East Coast affairs. The beats and bass are slow and droning, the piano melodies simple yet fitting to each song. This album is what good hip hop is all about, passionate lyrics, breaking tradition and making his contemparies look like immature stereotypes.

The sad thing this is that 8 years later, he became everything he hated, forced to chose between losing his fame and falling into obscurity (at times with his "quitting" the industry it seemed like that's what he wanted)and selling out he fell into the same crowd as snoop, his name's bigger than his music now and he produces hits with no integrity.

On the down side it has dido and a fucking shit cover. Click the name to listen

Wonderful Rainbow

It's the end of a decade and I am a definate youth of the "naughties".
NME were the first of the big music mags to bring out their list. It's full of cliches and an attempt at being alternative by picking mainstream artists rather than what people expect. Kind of sad they didnt think about what albums they really loved but what would be the reception to their list first and foremost.

But I've never really been into Albums that much. At the moment I'm really digging punk and mathrock, bands with very raw sounds who have to comprimise that to make a "headphone" album.

I guess that's why bands I really love have albums I feel two ways about. I'd rather listen to Foals grainy gang vocals and sloppy guitars on the 2006 demo than the over produced spacy couterparts on Antidotes most days.

Instead of choosing my favourite albums or the best albums, i just picked some fucking amazing ones that happened to come out in the last decade that you really should hear. When I sit down with the sole purpose of listening to music I like to put these on and just let them run. they aren't really exciting buzzbands but they're fucking interesting.

Anyway first album is

Lightning Bolt- Wonderful Rainbow (2003)


After saying all that I picked an album that's actually uncompromisingly raw, yet refined at the same time. This is probably the least accessible thing I'll post. If you haven't heard of LB before this is a damn good place to start.They have a fitting name because they kind of sound thunder, if thunder had an awesome prog rock and metal cd collection.

This is their second lp, and in my opinion their best. It's less jagged that their first attempt but still has so much energy, it's like being hit round the head with a pneumatic drill (in a really fucking good way).

At times they play noodly bits of guitar, spastic melodies jangling all over the place, then frenetically breaking out into all out noise assaults, all accompanied by the buzz of feedback and static. On Fire is one of the most mind blowing songs I've ever heard and 30,000 monkeys is similarly crazily brilliant. Like a super-band with Hella and Health covering Hendrix (accept if that were true they'd probably call themselves Triple H).

Click on the album name to listen

I don't really feel I can use this as an outlet, or facebook or twitter without getting ripped on atm so this'll be the last update I do, I ll probably just use this for music and start a new invite only for this shit. I feel like maybe some people read this just for new material to laugh at me behind my back.

basically I'm up at half 5 again, and I can't turn off, I worked something out too. She was sad all september, she was so sad. I assumed it was because I was leaving and she couldn't cope. Turns out she was cheating on me with her new guy (and she admitted to having cheated on him already too, funny how the world works). I guess I have reason to break his legs now, and it is kind of my business about him now too. I don't really feel hurt by this, it makes it obvious how she was "over" me so quickly, she had been even before I left.

I think about our last days together. She just cried and I held her and told her it was going to be ok. I was so sad, and excited at the same time, but I felt like at least she cared I was leaving, at least I would have someone back home who still cares for me. But she wasn't crying over me, she was crying for herself because she felt bad for cheating. Even now she doesnt have the decency to tell me, I'm the one having to confront her.

Years together, so many good times, so many bad and that's the note she wanted to go out on, and do you know what I'd still do anything for her. I must be so pathetic

If you managed to endure that shit there is now no reward because google waves a piece of shit

nooduls?

i havent eaten in 3 days now and im REALLY craving some noodle

hmmmmmm

FUCK YEAH WHATEVER!

come to this
looks totally bodacious.

Party

we went to a party,

we got very drunk first

we had lots of Nos... it was funny

10 minutes to get down stairs... not so funny

we smoked some weed, it was good

almost lost my keys in this mass, not good

NED (never forget... wire)

Roly Hoar Xmas Tape III

A side is all covers from the likes of Throats, Run Walk!, Maths, Betty Pariso and Guilty Parents.
B side includes crocus, youves, le easy swing hips (le swing and easy hips...), A boat to row and Dreamboats

looks pretty ace. SEE HERE FOR YOURSELF

Switzerland

Switzerland are a cool band from derbyshire, but i ll look past that as they're fucking ace. 4 piece indiemo who come in at an average age of 17 (awwww). They rip off cap n' jazz a treat but put some weird uk indie twist on it with the vocals (however can be weak at times). It sounds really raw and slapped together like good early emo, maybe not as complex as their midwestern peers though. The guys are a bit unsociable though (probably cos they're from derby).



Here's some of their music to DOWNLOAD

THESE WAVES

Continuing with some more local bands in the coming posts (but seriously all of them are really good) These Waves are a derby 5 piece (actually 4, currently lacking a drummer)

They make really REALLY good post hardcore, mathrocky stuff with piercing shouty vocals and intricate walls of sound making for "banging tunes". Disjointed and edgy they sound like bands before them but with new vigour. They've really impressed me with real stage presence and an obvious fun attitude before now. Similaritys can be drawn with bands like Secondsmile and Meet Me In St. Louis



You can download their ep "Painting by Units" HEEEEEERE

DEAD SPEX

Dead Spex are a pretty cool band from Nottingham, UK. They started doing stuff in like june of this year. For only three members, bass, guitar and drums they sure have a lot of noise, and even more attitude.

They're the chameleons' (my favourite venues) "house band" and play what they call SPAZZ POP; 2 and a half minute sprints of tuneful bass driven punk with lots of frenetic riffs and gang vocals (mostly shouting)and visceral screaming while jumping about like At the Drive In. I guess it could be seen as punk-pop at its best with heavy 80s hardcore influence and some 90s emo elements too. Blakfish and Meet Me in St Louis and some other bands I can't quite think of right now.

Live they come into their element, really intense and raw, going pretty mental, breaking their teeth on their instruments (no really...) its mental in the best way possible. Delightful chaps aswell. rock and/or roll! Download their ep "Rats Together" HERRRRRRE