Album Review: Eardrum Talib Kweli

If you know good hip-hop then you know the name, Talib Kweli. Coined as a conscious rapper, his name means seeker of truth and knowledge.   Talib Kweli  is an educated rapper, raps with a purpose and has been described as the last of a dying a breed.

 

To provide you a bit of history, Talib Kweli started out in a group called Black star formed with another hip hop star Mos Def. Talib Kweli and Mos def spilt to pursue there solo careers both making a name for themselves in hip-hop.

 

Talib completed his latest album, Eardrum in 2007; this is his third solo album. Eardrum featured big name artists like Kanye West, UGK, Lyfe Jenning, Will.I.AM, Musiq Soulchild, and Justin Timberlake plus many more. The whole album flows together with Talib rapping over the melodic beats. His rhymes are thought provoking and delve you in issues like religion, world poverty, and of course hip-hop. The song they released as the single was ‘Hot Thing’ produced and featuring Will.I.AM. ‘Hot Thing’ was probably more on the commercial side compare to the rest of the album. Some songs you may find repeat worthy are; ‘In the Mood’ featuring Kanye West and Roy Ayers, ‘Soon the New Day’ featuring Norah Jones, ‘Oh my Stars’ featuring Musiq Soulchild.  Talib Kweli makes you remember what real hip-hop is.

 

Talib Kweli will be releasing a part two of reflection eternal with Hi-Tek Reflection eternal back again. The single for the album ‘Back Again’ is now on Itunes and the official video has already been released. There is no set release date for Reflection Eternal Back Again but will be coming out soon. Until then keep listening to Eardrum there’s plenty to enjoy!

 

I give 4 stars

 

For More Talib Kweli

Talib Kwelis Website

Talib Kweli’s  Myspace

Talib Kweli’s Last.fm

Album Review: V.I.C

Disappointing, Disgusted, and I Disapprove and a bunch of other “diss”es I have to discuss with this V.I.C Beast album.

 

What does V.I.C. even stand for you ask? It’s an acronym with a meaning no where to be found, except that it may be short for his name Victor Owusu. Born in New York and raised in Atlanta, this 22 year old says his music is a hybrid between witty battle rhymes and southern party music. V.I.C is signed with Warner Brother Records and has worked with big name artists Soulja Boy Tell ’Em, Hurricane Chris, E-40 and few others that jumped on the hit ‘Get Silly Remix’. ‘Beast’ is the first album for V.I.C. and Get Silly, his first single, was a dance craze hit. Many confused him with Soulja Boy Tell ’Em, a featured artist on the remix, as the main artist of ‘Get Silly’. With an album like ‘Beast’, V.I.C. sounds like a one hit wonder.

 

The album starts out with heavy breathing and then drops the beat hard with chants of “I’m a Beast”. He continues this animal theme in the next track, with a person trying and failing to impersonate an Australian accent talking about mating rituals. There are also two other skits that carry out this same theme. The skits were not entertaining or funny, and could have been left out. The songs that were put on the album just didn’t flow together. Songs “Get Silly, “We Ridin” a song sampling the batman theme song, “Wobble” and “Duck Off”. These were more dance party songs for teens.  Then there were songs on the album that were decidedly more adult, with lyrics like, “Beat that” with the hook that rings, “I don’t let the p***y beat me up I beat that p***y”, and “Blow my mind” all about sexually pleasing a woman. Dance songs for teens and overtly sexual songs just don’t seem to go together on one album.

 

Overall he had some really great beats on the album. Too bad his nasally rap tone and odd emphasis on words ruined the majority of the songs on the album. “Get Silly” was the only hit on the album and that’s because superstar Soulja boy hopped on the Remix. This is definitely not an album I would listen to twice. I give 1 star : ( 

Concert Review: Kelly Clarkson Arizona State Fair

The Kelly Clarkson concert at the Arizona State Fair was packed on Saturday November 7^th.  It was a mission to get to the concert, which included the daunting challenge to find parking at the Arizona State Fair and a hike through the packed fair to get to the stadium.  

 

Kelly Clarkson began the night with her album titled song “All I Ever Wanted” the crowd was pumped and ready to go. Keeping the energy going she sang “Miss Independent”. The stage production of the show was blinking fun colorful arrays of violet-blue, red, yellow, blue, and pink lights. The lights were slightly blinding but simple enough to just focus on Kelly’s pure talent.

 

Clarkson dazzled the crowd, when she performed an acoustic cover song called “Lies by the Black Keys” followed up by a country song by Patsy Cline “After Midnight.” Clarkson’s vocals were amazing as the filled the venue! The crowd loved the country vibe and went wild for the trumpet solo in the song and had the whole crowd clapping to the beat. After the song ended they cut all stage production and did an acoustic version of “Hazel Eyes” with the audience, where Clarkson had the crowd singing parts of the chorus as the lights switched from the stage to the crowd, cuing them to belt it out.

 

To close out the end of her set, Clarkson sang her hits “Because of You”, “Walk away”, and “Since You Been Gone”. By this point in the show the majority of the crowd was on their feet jumping up and down, hands high in the air, and belting out Clarkson’s lyrics with her. Clarkson rejoiced at how great the crowd was and thanked them for being so great. The last song of the set was “My Life Would Suck” and the crowd was still dancing by the end of the concert. The show ended around an hour and half long and the crowd seem to love Kelly Clarkson by the end.

 

The show was mode chic and focused on the music. Audience members from little kids to mid-twenties men and old ladies seemed to walk away from the concert satisfied if not wanting more. Clarkson didn’t need dramatic effects or a theme behind her tour because her talent in itself will blow you away! 

 

The mission was well worth it and after seeing her performance you have a complete understanding of why she was the American Idol winner. 

Artist of the Month: We the Kings

We the Kings American pop-punk band is making a big splash in the music scene! These Kings are the new teenage heartthrobs serenading us with lyrics like “Heaven can wait up high in the sky it’s you and I.” Talented and under 25 they have already released a self-titled album back in 2007. Their new single Heaven Can wait is now out with a new video premiering on MTV. Their second highly anticipated album Smile, Kid is to be released on December 8^th.  If you haven’t heard about them by now, you will soon!

 

We the Kings grew up in Bradenton, Florida and got there name from their middle school they attended King Middle school. We the Kings have four band members ranging in ages 19-22; Travis Clark standing out not only because of his red hair, but for his awesome vocals. Hunter Thomsen guitar and backing vocals and Drew Thomson bass player are brothers. While Danny Duncan bangs out the drums. The band attributes their musical performance blend to Jimmy Eat world and Third Eye Blind. Determined to make music that you will still sing, long from now, and I think that We the Kings is on the right track with the catchy melodies that are easy to sing along to.

 

Five Crown Points that make them the Kings of the Month

• They are young and upcoming Artist
• New single and video for heaven can wait is Awesome
• New album Smile, Kid comes out in December
• They are on tour Glamour Kills Tour with All time low, Hey Monday, and Friday Night boys.
• In Phoenix 11.05.09 at the Marquee theater
• You won’t be able to stop singing their songs!

 

Check We the Kings out for yourself at: http://www.myspace.com/wethekings

Concert Photos: After Midnight Project

After Midnight Project performed at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, AZ on 10.27.2009 supporting Chevelle.

Photo Credit: Stephanie Baldwin

Concert Review: Chevelle Out of this World Performance

By D. Marcher, www.FromTheCrowd.com
Chevelle, the Chicago trio consisting of Pete Loeffler (vocals, guitars), Sam Loeffler (drums) and Dean Bernardini (bass, live backing vocals) performed at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe on October 27 in support of their new album Sci-Fi Crimes.

It was an evening full of music with three opening bands, The Asylum, New Medicine and After Midnight Project. While The Asylum seemed to be heavier metal rock, then one would expect for a Chevelle concert, New Medicine seemed to bridge the musical gap and After Midnight Projects’ performance completed the transition and was able to draw the majority of the crowd that had been waiting on the patio into the theatre, proving they are an excellent tour companion.

Chevelle took the stage around 10:15, providing an entertaining and interactive experience to the crowd. Accompanied by dence fog, green and deep blue lighting the stage defiantly set to provide a Sci –Fi feeling and allow the audience to be abducted by the trio.

It was immediately down to business as the intricate rifts of the first song began as the crowd exploded. Pete travelled across the stage ensuring to not neglect anyone from the audience. Vocals were right on point as the Marquee filled with energy from the performance. The crowd loved the musical journey they were on. The venue was not filled to capacity, however, this was an advantage as it allowed concertgoers to move freely to the music and not just stand there listening to it.

Clips from various movies would play providing transitions between songs and at times Pete would interacting to the crowd, at one point stating the obvious “As you can see know we’re sort of into the whole alien thing now.” But then followed by a surprising request, “ Oh and if anyone’s had any alien encounters we’d love to talk to you after the show” some members of the audience laughed others seemed very excited by the opportunity.

Chevelle set list was dominated by their latest effort, Sci-Fi Crimes featuring “Sleep Apnea”, “Jars”, “Letter From A Thief”, “Roswell Spell” and others. The Trio also played fan favorites such as “The Red” “Send the Pain Below” from Wonder What’s Next, and “Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)” from This Type of Thinking Could Do Us In during their 90 minute set.

Overall, it was a dynamic night of music. As I drove past the tour busses shortly after midnight, I couldn’t help but wonder about the small crowd that remained patiently waiting. Were they just dedicated fans or did they have they had alien abduction stories for Chevelle?  Your guess is as good as mine!

Concert Photos: Chevelle

Chevelle performed at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, AZ on 10.27.2009.

Photo Credit: Stephanie Baldwin

Album Review: Sunny Day Sets Fire

By Tamara, www.FromTheCrowd.com Contributor

 

Hailing from Hong Kong, UK, Canada and Italy I introduce Sunny Day Sets Fire (http://www.sunnydaysetsfire.com ), the band that sounds like a neon bright sunset. Sunny Day sets Fire is an indie psychedelic pop group formed in London. What’s unique about the group is that they are from all different parts of the world; which probably gives them their wide arrange of taste in music. The release of Stranger Release EP has a blend of DJ’s and artist from different genres such as; The Cool Kids, CSS, and The Slip just to name a few.

 

The Remix album starts out with the original version of ‘Strangers’ followed by 3 remixes. Each remix brings its own flavor to the song.  If you want the fast techno club version of ‘Stranger’ listen to the Remix with The Cool kids. My favorite version on ‘Strangers’ on the EP album is actually the radio edit Track 2. The radio version added different drums and the guitar giving it a reminiscent sound of The Monkees.  They also added remix versions of ‘Wilderness’, ‘Adrenaline’, and ‘Brainless’. Every Remix on the album gets your blood pumping your head banging and will get you ready to break out and dance. An 8 track album that has a lot to offer.

 

For the purpose of putting a remix album out Sunny Day Sets Fire manage to put out an adrenaline rushing album with a wild and strange twist. All while making it look Brainless! Looking forward to the next album Sunny Day Sets Fire puts out and the featuring artist they’ll be working with!

 

I give the album 3 ½ Stars

Album Review: Morcheeba “Dive Deep”

By Tamra, www.FromTheCrowd.com contributor

I’ve never heard anything like the Morcheeba album Dive Deep. Dive Deep is definitely an easy listen from beginning to end. This is the 6^th album completed by the band. With a fitting title and album cover of the ocean the album puts you into a calming deep trance like the ocean with the occasionally big waves to move you deeper. Morcheeba is a British band with an eclectic sound with many collaborating talents. The group members Paul and Ross Godfrey had a falling out with past lead singer and decided they no longer wanted to share decisions with a permanent singer; which lead them to the internet for the collaborations on Dive Deep. The album honestly sounds like a mix someone put together of there favorite songs with all of the different vocals. These collaborations gave the album sounds of many different genres of music such as; electro, blues, folk, country, and even trip-hop. 

 

I’ll give you a little taste of what this album offers. “Run Honey Run” a country folk song with an electro twist to the instrumental throughout the song. Run honey run and never stop to look inside your mind rings the chorus against the banjo the main instrumental in the song. Bradley’s twang flows well with the music creating a great melody.  A couple of tracks down you’ll find “One love Karma” telling you to keep it copasetic. “One love Karma” is featuring cool calm Pete a hip-hop track with the electro laid back beat. You’ll find a French track “Au De la” following “One Love Karma”.  Morcheeba also incorporated two tracks that are just instrumental no vocals. Now that’s just a taste of Dive Deep.

 

 For an album that is only 40 minutes Morcheeba gives a variety of different sounds to relax to. With out a lead vocalist to identify with on the album Morcheeba doesn’t sound like a band, it sounds like a CD of a variety of different artists. If you’re looking for a mix of relaxing music Morcheeba Dive Deep would be the album for you.

 

I Give 3 Stars.

Concert Photos: Daughtry 10.13.2009

Daughtry performed at the Marquee Theatre on 10.13.2009 to a sold out crowd.

Photo Credit:  Stephanie Baldwin

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