Jamie Lidell Jim

Fuzzy Bits:

Release Date: April 29

Last Album: Multiply (2005)

Sounds Like: A much more refined album compared to its predecessor– a ton of fun.

Overall Rating: 90

From the opening track (the masterful “Another Day”) there’s a sense that Jamie Lidell is going for something completely different this time around compared to his last effort, Multiply. Gone are the elaborate, Prince-on-crack electronic/soul bursts that were a staple last time around– these elements are replaced by a much sunnier and deceptively straightforward production that doesn’t stray too far from old-school soul and R&B. “Wait for Me” and “Out of My System” are both somewhat standard affairs, but are infused with more than enough charm and frills to make even the biggest cynics crack a smile. Another highlight besides “Another Day” is “Hurricane,” which is a hyperdriven soul track that bounces along with a supreme playfulness. Unlike the last album, Lidell shows a great deal of maturity with the two ballads on the album, “All I Wanna Do” and the closing “Rope of Sand.” Both songs are achingly beautiful, with Lidell effortlessly crooning over a smartly minimalist arrangement. “Green Light” is another winner, as it balances perfectly between Lidell’s influences and his own personal style, and has a supremely timeless feel.
While the production of the album as a whole may feel stripped down, it’s really just a result of Lidell utilizing far more real instruments than computers, and also using horns and gospel-like choirs for background singers on a few songs. The result is a much more cohesive and refined album that has an added layer of warmth, something that is always welcome. Jim isn’t perfect, but it makes for such an enjoyable and addictive listen that it comes pretty close. Jamie Lidell not only avoids the dreaded sophomore slump here, but he also manages to outdo himself.

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New Coldplay: “Violet Hill”

From the album which features the lengthy title Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends, Coldplay attempts to hit a little harder with “Violet Hill.” It’s certainly a passionate piece and matches the Lady Liberty artwork, but Brian Eno’s production seems a bit off, as the song is almost too muddy– making it hard to appreciate Jonny Buckland’s guitar solo. Chris Martin’s vocals come from a distance while the other instruments pound away as if to simulate heavy artillery fire and bombs (especially with Will Champion’s robust drumming), with the chorus bursting out triumphantly of an otherwise grim scene. Lyrically, the song is packed with impressive imagery that has been sorely missing from Coldplay as of late, and the music is certainly intriguing as well, with a wonderfully curious ending. The song is strangely unsettling but incredibly addicting– here’s hoping that the rest if Viva La Vida proves to be as impactful.

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Atmosphere When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint that Shit Gold

Fuzzy Bits:

Release Date: April 22

Last Album: Strictly Leakage (2007)

Sounds Like: Atmosphere’s most realized album– it’s virtually flawless.

Overall Rating: 100

No one can really question Sean Daley’s (aka Slug) passion and lyrical skills, but his terribly honest lyrics often focused on being autobiographical. Rather than allowing his act to get stale amongst the crowd and critics, Slug has flipped the script in a way, bringing his brilliant storytelling abilities to a new “day in the life” perspective on the grittier side of life. As the title hints, each song is about the characters making the most of their difficult situations. Producer Ant has changed the sound for the album this time around as well, with productions that fit Slug’s vocals like a glove. The album begins with a music box introduction before transitioning into a sleek piano lounge piece that sets the scene for Slug’s laid back delivery. What makes this album so enjoyable is that not only do the songs on this album have superbly detailed lyrics that allow the listener to become lost in the world of the song, but also, even if you’re not the biggest hip-hop head, the album as a whole is musically intriguing– matching the story that Slug is telling word for word. The single “Shoulda Known” is an incredibly gritty track, while “Painting” is driven by a lonely guitar and a haunting organ. The piano-driven “Yesterday,” is easily the best song on the album, and is dedicated to Slug’s father. Other stand out tracks include the stripped-down “Guarantees,” which is backed by a terrific electric blues guitar, and “The Waitress,” which features Tom Waits showing his beatboxing skills. Atmosphere continues to challenge the listener throughout the album, with only “Puppets” being reminiscent of earlier days. To be sure, When Life Gives You Lemons… is a masterpiece, as they have successfully pushed the envelope in a way that’s difficult to conceptualize. Each track for the most part is immediately likeable and feels classic, in a way, but at the same time, Slug and Ant are so on top of their game on this release that it feels as if they are on another level. When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint that Shit Gold is the best album of Atmosphere’s career, an intricate balance of  musical and lyrical depth, masterful storytelling, and always interesting arrangements. Highly Recommended.

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New Video from Jamie Lidell: “Another Day”

Such a fine song is deserving of this clever (albeit somewhat disturbing) video. Jamie Lidell is continuing the hype with his latest video for the breezy soon to be summer jam “Another Day,” off of his upcoming album Jim. While the album hit store shelves next week, I can already promise you that it’s really, really, special (in a good way). In the meantime, enjoy the video below:

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New Video from the Roots, “Rising Up” (feat. Wale and Chrisette Michelle)

Here’s yet another Rik Cordero directed video for the Roots, but this one has quite an entertaining old-school feel. “Rising Up” is  sure to be the first single off of their upcoming album Rising Down, so you may be seeing a lot of this video soon.

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Does It Offend You, Yeah? You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Into

Fuzzy Bits:

Release Date: April 15

Sounds Like: A admirable and fun debut that falls just shy of being great.

Overall Rating: 87

While it’s possible to write these guys off as another electronic noise-punk band that relies far too heavily on Daft Punk (especially upon first hearing “Battle Royale”), the truth is that Does It Offend You, Yeah? isn’t nearly as pretentious as their name would lead you to believe. Instead, it’s merely a bunch of blokes having fun with music and, in their own little way, attempting to push the musical envelope on the way. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t as much, but it’s always a bit fun. The Rapture-esque “With A Heavy Heart (I Regret to Inform You),” is a standout track with its raucous, over-the-top delivery that never lets up. Similarly, “We Are Rockstars” is another stand out, perfectly balancing the powerful anthemic electro-riff and 80’s pop. When the band completely embraces 80’s pop, the results are successful on the surface, but at the same time, feel rather generic– especially “Dawn of the Dead” and “Doomed Now.” The instrumental “Attack of the 60 ft Lesbian Octopus” probably could’ve been left as a b-side but is a highly enjoyable song nonetheless and makes for a nice one, two punch as it segues into the head-nodding “Let’s Make Out.” Clearly, despite the majority of songs being pure party songs, Does It Offend You, Yeah? wants to be taken seriously. This is particularly evident on the closing “Epic Last Song,” an unexpected gem that expands on the previously established sound of the band and adds a does of pop sensibility. While much of <i>You Have No Idea…</i> seems to follow a paint by numbers approach, the truth is that Does It Offend You, Yeah? is an extremely talented band that only disappoints because of the larger than life hype that preceded the release of their debut. They may not save the day, but they’ll certainly garner a lot of play in your daily rotation and generate a lot of smiles in the process.

 

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New My Morning Jacket: “Evil Urges”

Well you’ve heard the live take already, now here’s the studio version. One of the most anticipated albums of 2008, Evil Urges seems as though, if nothing else, it’ll push the boundaries of My Morning Jacket’s sound further than ever before. Based on the title track, production seems to be exceptionally slick, which is a bit surprising, especially since Jim James sounds as if he’s back to singing into a tin can again. That aside, “Evil Urges” is a wickedly good song that should keep many fans entertained until the album comes out June 10.

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New Weezer, “Pork and Beans”

Well that was fast, soon after a short clip of the upcoming single reached the ‘net, the full length track quickly followed suit. While it sounds like one of the better Weezer songs in a while, who knows what to expect from the upcoming Red Album. In the meantime, enjoy your “Pork and Beans”– complete with references to Rogaine, Timbaland and pop culture nuggets. The latest album to be called Weezer  hits shelves June 17.

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Foals Antidotes

Fuzzy Bits:

Release Date: April 8

Sounds Like: A very promising debut release.

Overall Rating: 82

The debut from Foals begins with a set of unassuming tones from the horn section before erupting into a dramatic display of incredibly percussive sounds that are bouncing with energy. This liveliness that begins on the first track, “The French Open” continues throughout with varying degrees of success. The single “Olympic Airwaves” perhaps best encompasses the very detailed sound of the band– which is certainly going to garner comparisons to Bloc Party– while the band seems to truly excel on the longer tracks such as “Big Big Love (fig. 2).” While there are no inherently bad songs, the album suffers a bit with some songs sounding far too similar to each other. That being said, listening to Antidote is a pure joy strictly on the surface. The band shows a lot of promise here, with a release that is a lot of fun to listen to, and even contains a few standout tracks to boot.

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New from the Roots “Rising Up” (feat. Wale and Chrisette Michelle)

On the heels of announcing that the song “Birthday Girl” would be dropped from the Roots’ upcoming release Rising Down, the Roots offer a tune that seems to be a pretty good candidate to become the lead single. Black Thought is exceptional once again, while the steady percussion suggest a definite go-go inspired sound that fit the voice of both Black Thought and Wale like a glove. Guest star Wale, who is soon to be a household name, is also captivating as always. While The Roots lost much of their possible crossover appeal by dropping “Birthday Girl,” “Rising Up” should appeal to a similarly extensive audience. Check it out below:

Note: The song posted below is unedited and contains explicit lyrics.

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