Kanye West - Power

Kanye West's “Power” is just the type of track I expected from him.

Sonically, it's a cross between his Graduation and Late Registration material, maybe the love child of “Can't Tell Me Nothing” and “Diamonds from Sierra Leone”. Lyrically, it’s more aggressive than the two, leaning more towards his “Go Hard” verses, just “Power” is more specific. “Fuck SNL and the whole cast.”

After all of the Taylorgate drama and criticism, Kanye decided to repent and go into exile for a few months. Judging by the song's lyrical content, I think he decided there was no need to repent after all.

It seems like somewhere, he did a 180 and decided, "eff it. I am an asshole, and I am okay with that." Sure, he may not go on stage and interrupt someone again like he did Taylor, but he's not going to make "sorry-I'm-really-a-great- person music", which I think some of us expected.

I think the little Kanye inside came in and asked, "Can I talk my shit again?"

"I just needed time alone with my own thoughts" = "I needed a second to figure out if I still wanted to be a dick." I think he’s got it all figured out now. His inexorability is an asset.

When Kanye lacks decorum, he is fearless, so is his music.

kanyewest.com
kanyeuniversecity.com

Spoon - The Mystery Zone

What I gleaned from my first look at the tracklist for Transference was there is a track titled “The Mystery Zone.” I thought, “Wow. First, 88 Keys, now Spoon? Another love-limbo song, huh.” I was definitely had my reservations. Would the chorus sound cheesy? What would they sing about, really? Do people really still have these Michael Cera-esque situations after college? They might, but that’s not what the song is about.

Britt Daniel croons about a place where you’re “set up for good in a whole other life.” Where “all the trouble you look for all your life you’ll find it for sure”. This is many an adolescent’s fantasy, when “your dad’s not around.” Endless bliss.

The song’s idea is transmitted by way of an expertly crafted, trancing instrumental to imbue feelings overwhelming ebullience. It’s not only a great song to sing along or hum to; it really leaves you with the feel of an insouciant teenager. “The Mystery Zone” conjures up the same sort of feeling “Got Nuffin” does, only less aggressive and lighter on the drums.

Spoon wins again.

spoontheband.com

M.I.A. x Jay-z - XXXO (Remix)

I loved “XXXO” when it first dropped. The melody was embedded in my psyche for days and I couldn't refrain from humming it in social settings (that's a great problem to have, you hit-makers out there). Like “Paper Planes”, the track leans toward the commercial side and is frighteningly catchy. The track follows the lead of the door-slamming effect in the beginning, banging with conviction.

That said, the remix with Jay-Z just rubs me the wrong way. His flow was lacking for sure, and he didn't come hard enough. Given the way “Boyz” of all tracks was boosted by his feature, I must say, I am a tad disappointed.

The increasingly incurious M.I.A. seems to be just okay with a Hov feature, and I suppose, that’s fine, but I expect more from you, Maya, we all do.

Still people will drool over this one and Maya will gain a few more fans, owing to Hov's unparalleled popularity.

At any rate, I just played the original and danced around my room for the duration.

miauk.com

Lupe Fiasco - I'm Beamin

I really like this.



I'm glad Lupe came with it on this one. I can see lots of sing-a-longs at shows this summer.

lupefiasco.com

M.I.A. - Born Free

BOOM! bitches

here's the immensely NSFW video, directed by Romain Gavras, the same guy who did "Stress" by Justice.



neetrecordings.com
miauk.com

The xx - Islands

watch closely



"that bridge is on fire"

thexx.info

N*E*R*D - Hot & Fun/ Party People (Live)

I love seeing these guys live.

myspace.com/nerdofficial

Kraddy - Android Porn (Remix Godzillaporn)

Kraddy - Android Porn (Mochipet Godzillaporn Remix) - Music Video from MUSCLEBEAVER on Vimeo.

I really like this.

kraddyodaddy.com

Stalley - S.T.A.L.L.E.Y.

I need that 24 Hour Karate School to drop... like now.

Should be dropping 30 March.

creativecontrol.tv
myspace.com/madstalley

Jay-Z x Absolut: NY-Z

This guy inspires me everyday.

absolut.com

jay-z.com

Visa - World Cup Ad

Lady Gaga x Beyonce - T-t-t-telophone

I know I'm late but I was in Miami, bitch! A spring break post to come soon... or not. We'll see.

But for now...

"I can't keep my eyes off the screen because it was so weird. It's a mindfuck." -- Da Merciless



I hadn't heard the song before seeing this clip. It sure is catchy. I can see the jawns eating this up in the spring.

The clip was cool too. Girl-on-girl. Tyrese dying. Guys prancing. Gaga being Gaga. Beyonce being Gaga (Gagonce?).

They even found a way to make Beyonce not look like a giant standing next to Gaga, which was pleasant.

ladygaga.com

All Falls Down

I still think this video is great.

kanyewest.com

Childhood was awesome

Just coming out of my hiatus to say that listening to the soundtracks of computer games I played almost a decade ago is crazy nostalgic. All I played back in those days were real-time strategy games, and the 90's were a golden age for them (Age of Empires I and II, Starcraft, Dark Reign, Red Alert 2, etc.). And besides being outrageously addicting, they all also provided high-quality music to go along with the player's wanton slaughter of pixelated people. These were the tunes I had stuck in my head all day even before I started to listen to "actual" music. And now, after finding them again on Youtube, I can truly appreciate the work developers put into making the whole gaming experience something to remember.


This is my personal favorite...from Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. Shit is infectious. I guarantee that the beat will embed itself instantly into the deepest recesses of your minds.




Also, check out the EPIC soundtrack to Dark Reign, an underrated RTS from this era. All the songs are amazingly high-quality...it's like they were ripped straight out of the Star Trek/Wars/Gate movies.





There's also this fine number from Command and Conquer: Red Alert 2. I would give this bad boy a spin while pumping some iron.







Rock on, classic game soundtracks. Rock on.

RUDE Pants

A few years back, when I arrived to the new world which is college, I noticed a lot of girls wearing tights (leggings) (not yet RUDE pants) instead of sweat pants to the gym. At times, these women would wear the gym attire to, from, and in class, understandably so. The operative phrase here is gym attire.

The next year, it progressed into girls on campus wearing them with ballerina flats, canvas sneakers, and (gasp) heels. And so it began. The opening salvo had been fired in the make force-men-all-around-the-world-admire-your-figure crusade.

Well...fine, I am man. I like that. Go for it.

The trend/ malady was taken a further step still, with the girls on campus not only wearing said tights with Uggs (or knock off snow boots), but with shirts that stop at or above the waist. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, butts were indeed exposed. These girls quickly wised up to the fact they cannot simply wear any type of underwear with the pants, rapidly transitioning to having more thongs and seam-less underwear in their drawers. From that point forward, women's butts (arses, culos) were to be forever exposed.

The trend developed into a kind of style, sorta like the "girl uniform" of RUDE pants and shirt. No need to coordinate jean washes anymore. And, like many styles, this one expanded to the masses, so civilians (including black girls with ridiculously big arses) began to adopt the RUDE pants style.

Epidemic indeed.

I know you see it all around you. Butts everywhere, jiggling with reckless abandon, teasing everything down to the very core of my manhood. Regarding trends, however, be it musical or of fashion, saturation tends to kill them off, or at least dilute them a bit. The RUDE pants have since become ubiquitous, and it has come to a point where seeing them is a bit paralyzing. Trying to avert your attention from the thin piece of 34% polyester-42% acrylic-21% rayon-3% spandex cloth is mentally draining task really.

Not that I'm a butt connoisseur or anything, but I'm a man. It's what we do.

I'd just ask that the RUDE pants are worn in moderation, not as the essential part of a wardrobe.

I just told someone about this post while writing and she said, "Guilty! I haven't worn jeans in a year." She's not lying.

Oh, and thanks for the tongue-in-cheek, American Apparel.

I haven't come up with an acronym for them yet, so feel free to christen RUDE with one in the comments.

Rihanna - Rude Boy

This is nowhere near the oversexed beast I thought it would be, but it's a great clip nonetheless.

Still on the list, Rihanna comes thru with her sexy Caribbean parlance and speaks to me.

"If I don't feel it, I ain't fakin" <-- honesty is always the best policy. Some people can learn from her.

rihannanow.com

SNOW DAY!

So I was skeptical, but my wish came true: a snow day in college! This doesn't happen very often. Apparently it hasn't happened at Penn since 2003. Anyway, there's like a million inches of snow...and counting. Fun stuff.

I saw the campus plow guy attempting looking like a sucka to move the snow out of the way and it reminds me of the classic Mr. Plow, from The Simpsons.

People are frolicking in the snow but it's a tad violent out there. I'll just keep blogging/ studying the proximate and ultimate causes of bird song. Thanks, Alcock.

WTF! Is that someone skiing down Locust Walk?!

Good times, man, good times.

The Origin of "That's What She Said"

Just so you know.

That's What She Said from Megan Mullally

LOL

funnyordie.com

Spoon - Written in Reverse

I slept on this song at first, but it has definitely grown on me.



Sing that shit, Britt!

So...I should probably buy Transference now.

spoontheband.com

Big Sean - Supa Dupa Lemonade

Yay! More media!

Don't worry, more posts with more words coming soon, but for now...

Enjoy

Yep, he went in.

uknowbigsean.com

Looks Like You've Lost a Girl

Hello again, world. Check out "Lost a Girl" by New Young Pony Club now ("I'm kissing your hand/ I'm making you smile/ why am I doing that?").

Also, check out the song that put me on NYPC, "Ice Cream" ("drink me like a liquor/ come on and dip your dipper/ show me what you're here for, guy")

Oh, and I downloaded "Lost a Girl" for free. Legally! I know, rare, right? Anyway, you can find it on their website. Let's go, MUSIC, get the stuff to the PEOPLE!

newyoungponyclub.com

Music You Can Eat

This is awesome!



Think of the possibilities: you can buy a record for a special occasion (a certain Hallmark Holiday), listen to it, then eat it. Brilliant! Now, if only this can go live in about a month's time, so I can add this to my bag of tricks.

Things I've Learned Over Break

Hello, world.

Now that break is over and classes are getting underway, I thought I'd share with you some of the things I've learned (relearned) over my two week holiday. Here we go.

1. You can't listen to the XX on the train, with any headphones (Shures, Etymotics, etc.)

2. old friends, even acquaintances always remember you, so don't be a phony (Holden Caufield)

3. the Big East is still years behind the SEC in college football (see Florida def. Cincy, by a lot)

4. it’s not over ‘till it’s over (see NY Jets current NFL Playoff run)

5. Jay-Z may very well worship the devil, or he's just playing with our minds. ooooooo, spooky. I think it's the latter but hey, we've seen many stranger things

6. always bring a card/ gift home

7. grapes are an underrated chaser

8. Metal Gear Solid 4 is the best video game. ever.

9. canvas sneakers are not winter footwear

10. Gloves with holes in them are no longer gloves (blogging in freezing weather doesn't help either)

11. Time flies

12. Grays Papaya still makes the best hot dogs, and their banana papaya is magnificent

13. numb fingers don't work

14. it cuts her/ him deeper than you think, and even deeper than that, still

15. it's not that deep (response to #14)

16. lying is for losers

17. Greek frats sororities are more organized, kinda legalized gangs

18. girls from way back then should be left back when they were mildly attractive/ not obese

19. never honk your horn in the hood

20. dogs are legit a man's best friend, sorry ladies, it's not even close

Peace

M.I.A. is back! "Space Odyssey" bka "THERES SPACE FOR OL DAT I SEE"

Dreamy vocals, slick production, a sick beat break, loud everything. Welcome back, Maya.

Here's the clip



Ah, twitvid. There's nothing like music straight from the artist, no frills included.

twitter.com/_M_I_A_
miauk.com

The Cool Kids - We Can Do It Big (f. Stalley)

I still feel like they're gonna blow up soon. There's just something about this duo (Stalley's the bearded guy; just featured on this track). Maybe it's that I can relate. Or that they have a great live show (I've seen it. in person). Either way, maybe 2010's gonna be their breakout year.

WE CAN DO IT BIG: VIDEO from Creative Control on Vimeo.

coolxkids.com

"Me and my cousins and you and your cousins" -- Vampire Weekend

This Vampire Weekend song has been in my head all day. The video is fun and incredibly energetic.

See below.

Contra drops today. Get excited.

vampireweekend.com

The Situation x Snooki x Pauly D: My Inspirations

So... MTV's Jersey Shore is pretty much awesome (dad from Modern Family voice)! I'm sure you've heard of the show by now. Yes, the latest and biggest meme has so much steam it's been in Saturday Night Live, ESPN, and even The New York Times, in a semi-positive light (gasp). What's so captivating about this show, and other reality shows, for that matter is, it portrays a group of people with similar interests (insane women striving to fall in love with Flavor Flav). Anyway, here's a hilarious video I came upon about said show.

Enjoy.

The REAL Situation (Feat. MTV Jersey Shore's The Situation, Snooki, and Pauly D) - watch more funny videos

Here's a link to the NYT article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/arts/television/04shore.html

mtv.com
funnyordie.com

Mouse Pointer Torture at selfcontrolfreak

So while dicking around (browsing) the internetz I found this fun little website. It's basically this guy who interacts with and at times, abuses your mouse pointer. In one interactive video he eats it. In another, he runs away after seeing it. This is a really creative way to interact with the user in a video. I'd like to see something like this developed further in the future to implement things such as alternate endings/ storylines.

Anyway, click the picture. I dare you.

selfcontrolfreak.com

NY Jets are in the NFL Playoffs! I'm happy!

So Giants Stadium was serenaded the right way. Last weekend, the suddenly listless New York Football Giants played their last game in Giants Stadium, and they lost...by a lot.

Last night, the J-E-T-S and rude ass Rex Ryan gave the Cincinnati Bengals a smacking,a schellacking, which sends Gang Green into the playoffs. Sure, they play the Bengals again next week, but they showed on national television, they have what it takes.

The NY Jets are ranked #1 in rushing yards and overall defense. If you ask me, this is a great team (and yes, I am indeed biased). Going into the last two must-win games, all I heard was "the Jets let down their fans", bla bla bla. Well, maybe this time, they wanted to make it a tad more exciting. Good game, team, good game.