A grisly, retro-fitted, blood-spattered, cinematic Tarantino pastiche for music nerds and hip-hop heads everywhere, Ghostface Killah’s enthralling Twelve Reasons to Die isn’t merely the emcee’s finest hour since 2006’s career-high Fishscale; it’s also, assuming it gets the respect it deserves, poised to be hip-hop’s most prominent excursion into the grindhouse, and the true breakthrough of producer Adrian Younge. Or perhaps “composer” is the better word. Twelve Reasons to Die is the result of a miraculous and rare synergy between sound […]
Posts tagged "cd review"
Iron & Wine, Ghost on Ghost: Album Review
It’s interesting that being a fan of Iron & Wine isn’t necessarily a prerequisite for enjoying (or not enjoying, for that matter) Sam Beam’s latest album, Ghost on Ghost. Artistic evolution (and devolution) happens all the time — how different could Ghost on Ghost be? Well, for longtime fans of the hirsute folkie, the answer is: very. Beam — who performs as Iron & Wine — made his reputation on a host of recordings that caused the rock-crit elite to […]
Lil’ Wayne, I Am Not A Human Being II: Spin Cycle
Introduction: Lil’ Wayne is almost cool. For a few brief, shining moments, Lil’ Wayne’s latest album flirts with being cool. Like, legitimately cool from a musical standpoint, not merely cool in the sense that Lil’ Wayne fans tend to cling to that ludicrous period of time where people were calling him the greatest rapper alive. “IANAHB” opens the record with a flurry of ominous piano chords; it seems as though it’s setting the stage for a dark, piano-laced beat, but […]
Walk Off the Earth, R.E.V.O.: Spin Cycle
Album Reviews / Indie Rock / music / New Releases / pop culture / Pop Music / rock music / Spin Cycle
In several ways, the scrappy members of Walk Off the Earth are bucking the stereotypes. Consider that if this band name rings a bell, it’s likely for one of two reasons: 1. You saw that viral video of Walk Off the Earth covering “Somebody That I Used To Know” on a single guitar, or 2. You are a member of Walk Off the Earth. That video’s their claim to popular fame, and yet there’s no accusing them of being a […]
Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience: Spin Cycle
OK, so how good is “The 20/20 Experience?” I mean, really?
Spin Cycle: Jim James, Regions of Light and Sound of God
At first listen, Jim James’ first proper solo album might sound a bit alien to fans of his daytime gig, My Morning Jacket. It’s an intangible thing to pin down — vocally, James sounds as dynamic and distinctive as he ever has on record, and musically, Regions of Light and Sound of God bears a few particularly distinctive earmarks of his other band’s inimitable style. The vast, canyon-scaling vocals, the slow-burn funk that seeps into ambient soundscapes… it’s all there. It’s […]
Spin Cycle: Frightened Rabbit, Pedestrian Verse
Scottish indie-rockers Frightened Rabbit are back with “Pedestrian Verse”, and just as self-deprecating as ever. Popblerd has the review!
2012 Christmas Album Roundup: Spin Cycle
Album Reviews / Indie Rock / music / New Releases / pop culture / Pop Music / rock music / soul music / Spin Cycle
Once again, Popblerd listens to this year’s Christmas albums so you don’t have to! This year brings us music from Cee-Lo, Sufjan Stevens, and many others.
Spin Cycle: The Coup, Sorry to Bother You
Boots Riley is just as pissed off as ever on “Sorry to Bother You”. Check out our review.
Spin Cycle: A.C. Newman, Shut Down the Streets
New Pornographers front man delivers a third solo effort, heads for the woods.
Spin Cycle: Mumford & Sons, Babel
Scottish hitmakers Mumford & Sons are back with another agreeable, hooky collection of stomping folk-rock. How does “Babel” stack up to “Sigh No More”?