Happy Thanksgiving to all you Fuzzy Thoughts readers out there!
While I take a mini-break here (barring any major announcements), I leave you all with the free EP provided by Matt Pond PA for turkey day, appropriately called The Freeep. It’s actually quite good, and with it clocking at just over 30 minutes, it’s certainly not a waste. The .zip file link is below. Enjoy!
Tracklisting
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Released November 25, 2008
Last Album: Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008)
Sounds Like: A must have purchase for any and all persons who bought Viva La Vida…
Overall Rating: 95
EPs are a tricky business. These days, more often than not, it’ll contain a single followed by a couple of throw away tracks that will only appease the die hard fanbase that long for something as much as a drunken note bellowed by their favorite lead singer in the middle of a crowded street. Early indications showed that Prospekt’s March would follow a similar trajectory, with Jay-Z being piped in for a relatively uninspiring "Lost+", but that is purely an anomaly on what is otherwise a flawless release. Coldplay’s B-sides have always arguably outshined their more readily accessible brethren, and the songs on Prospekt’s March are no different. An 8-track release, the EP begins with a completed version of Viva La Vida’s "Life in Technicolor," imaginatively called "Life in Technicolor II." While the lyrics are mainly filler, it’s great to see "Life in Technicolor" get the full works after leaving most fans wanting more when hearing it abbreviated as the opener for Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends. Speaking of abbreviated, "Postcards from Far Away" is an absolutely gorgeous piece that accomplishes a great deal in its limited 50 second span and one can only hope that Chris Martin returns to it in the future for a full fledged song. "Glass of Water" is an all out anthem that is just about perfect from an instrumental standpoint. Unsurprisingly for a b-side, it’s not entirely hummable or catchy, but the bombastic chorus creates arguably the finest Brian Eno/Coldplay moment thus far. "Rainy Day" is a off-kilter piece with a rhythm that borders on reggae, that alternates between lush strings and an occasionally waterlogged Chris Martin vocal. The title track, which merges with "Poppyfields," begins as a very bleak piece before evolving at the one minute mark into something painfully beautiful, with Coldplay’s trademark chord changes and Chris Martin’s soaring vocals.
The next two tracks are virtual duplicates, but aren’t disposable by any means. The aforementioned "Lost+" boasts a largely recycled Jay-Z verse from a freestyle he did, but even so, it’s a surprisingly natural fit that will certainly impress fans. The Osaka Sun Mix of "Lovers in Japan" isn’t all that different from the original, but is still very good. Finally, the closing "Won’t Keep My Feet on the Ground" sounds like the kind of song Coldplay would have recorded earlier in their career (which is a good thing), as it mostly centers around the sparse arrangement of Chris Martin’s vocals and an acoustic guitar, with horns only joining at the end.
Unlike the majority of EPs released, Prospekt’s March genuinely has something to offer. If you’ve already purchased Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, this is a must have as it perfectly bookends the album. If you’ve yet to buy Viva La Vida, a deluxe edition will be offered which includes the EP in its entirety. As it stands, Prospekt’s March is very good on its own merit, and is especially worthwhile when you consider six of the eight tracks are brand new.
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Well, really it’s one of two– with the previously posted "Heartless" being the other. With 808s and Heartbreak being released digitally today (in stores tomorrow), I had a chance to check it out and really, it’s probably just marginally better than what was indicated in the previews. That being said, there is one golden nugget in the album and that is the following track, "Paranoid." Probably the most upbeat track on the album, the whole feel is pure 80’s R&B, and I mean that in a good way. Kanye’s auto tune doesn’t even seem as obnoxious on this track as it does on others, plus the mini-jam at the end is pretty special.
Kanye West 808s & Heartbreak "Paranoid"
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Ben Kweller is back with a new sound on his latest release, Changing Horses. Due out in February, Stereogum got the early leak on one of the songs to be featured from the album, "Hurtin’ You" and it’s (surprise, surprise) quite good to say the least. There is a strong country twinge here, which may be off-putting for Kweller fans that appreciate his more rock-oriented material. That being said, it’s hardly a liability and actually in the case of "Hurtin’ You," the sound heightens the focus on Kweller’s incredible penmanship, which occasionally got lost in some of his heavier tracks. "Old Hat" is another gem, with its sparse arrangements during the verses before swelling into a commanding piece of Americana. Definitely something to whet your whistle until the real deal comes out in 2009.
UPDATE: Both links are no longer active.
Ben Kweller "Hurtin’ You" Changing Horses
Ben Kweller "Old Hat" Changing Horses
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Now there’s a name you probably haven’t seen in a while, unless you’re still living in 2004 or perhaps studying the history of WWI. While somewhat forgotten, they are still around and they’ve got a new song to prove it. Quite honestly, it’s a bit of a mess, but FF always seems to know what they’re doing, so we’ll see what happens. Tonight: Franz Ferdinand will be released on January 26.
Franz Ferdinand “Ulysses” Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
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Featuring footage from The Kills/The Raconteurs US tour, the video for “Tape Song” is definitely random if nothing else. Look for a few scenes with Jack White, in addition to weird hats, toy guns, guitar poses and awkward dances.
The Kills Midnight Boom “Tape Song”
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File this one under catchy as all hell. AIH is back with a new disco-pop groove that is sure to be stuck in your head all day. While the single hasn’t been made available for release outside of Australia, you can stream the song from the following webpage:
From there you can also download the Radioclits French Remix to “That Beep” and watch the music video for said song as well.
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Released November 4, 2008
Last Album: Kamaal the Abstract (2002)
Sounds Like: The best hip-hop release of the year.
Overall Rating: 100
It really is a shame that Kamaal the Abstract never truly saw the light of day– as Arista shelved the project shortly after the advanced copies were released. With nearly half the songs clocking in at over five minutes, it’s true that Q-Tip was ahead of his time with the release, but at the same time it was not only short-sighted on Arista’s part for never releasing the album, it also hindered what should’ve been a prosperous solo career for Q-Tip.
That being said, if there’s a way to make up a nine year absence with a single release, The Renaissance pretty much pulls off that feat. A more accessible cousin of sorts to Kamaal the Abstract, The Renaissance never has a dull moment, with Q-Tip sounding at the top of his game, lyrically as well as with his superb production (all tracks were produced by Q-Tip except for the J Dilla produced “Move”).
Virtually every track can be considered a bright spot on this album, with Q-Tip simply glowing with his rhymes on “Won’t Trade” and “Dance on Glass.” “Gettin Up,” “Believe” and the closer “Shaka” are all incredibly smart and positive jams. Then on songs like “Official,” “WeFight/WeLove,” and “ManWomanBoogie,” Q-Tip continues on the jazzy trend that epitomized Kamaal the Abstract.
Needless to say, the improvement over Tip’s debut Amplified is immeasurable, and while it may be more difficult to argue its prowess over Kamaal the Abstract, one cannot argue against the timelessness of this record. The Renaissance lives up to its title, as it has officially restored Q-Tip’s career.
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It’s always exciting when talented minds come together, and at first blush, the folks behind Team B look to know what they’re doing. While the cutesy lounge sound may be a great departure from Beirut or Arcade Fire, there’s a great deal of promise here. The band perform their first ever live show on November 10 at the Union Pool in Brooklyn, so it’ll be interesting to see how things progress from there. Their album is available now on their Myspace page– hopefully a label will pick them up soon so that their release can be even more readily available.
The Team B lineup is as follows:
Kelly Pratt (Arcade Fire)
Tracy Pratt (Beirut)
Jon Natchez (Beirut, Stars Like Fleas)
Ryan Smith (Twin Thousands, Stars Like Fleas)
Jason Poranski (Beirut, FreeTime)
Mike Fadem (Jealous Girlfriends)
Team B Team B “On My Mind”
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