Music of 2012 Pt. 2: Sooo close

Woo! Part II of the end of year 2012 piece and yes that means the final part will come in the early days of 2013, sue me. 

Part II will be me mentioning which albums came up just short of my top five for 2012, and there are quite a few. Some of these projects are from my midway through 2012 piece earlier in the year so I won't touch on those for the purpose of avoiding redundancy. In no particular order by the way.

Also again forgive me for Blogspot's formatting.

Music of 2012 Pt. 1: The I have no name for this section

Now let me start off by saying, these lists I’m going to make are in no particular order. My eventual top 5 article will be, but for now the miscellaneous sections will be in a random assortment.

I was thinking of how I wanted to structure this end of year write-up, a lot of ideas passed through my head and I came up with this. However irrational and dumb it may be, it’s my format so shut up and leave me alone.

Forgive me for Blogspot's horrid formatting, I tried to make this as clean as possible.

With that said, let’s get started.

Music of 2012: Intro

Whoa, the year's almost over. And I can say it's been...interesting for me. But as far as music goes, it's been one of my most diverse years yet and I am proud of that fact.

I continue to branch out of my traditionally enjoyed genres into their sub-counterparts and then even farther down those holes. And as I continue to expand my library as an ever growing enthusiast to this day, I give you, my 2012 in Review.

The following posts will be ranging from projects I've listened to, need to listen to, want to listen to more, and concluding with my favorites of the entire year. Enjoy.

Artist Spotlight: Lushlife

Was planning on doing an album review, but I realized that this album came out months ago. Rather than showing my lack of comprehension of time and beating a dead horse by giving it more positivity I decided not to review Plateau Vision but felt I should write about Lushlife in some fashion. I felt the latest Artist Spotlight entry would be appropriate.

My summer has been highlighted by me discovering new artists to add to my music collection. Joey Bada$$, XV, Gorilla Biscuits, Death Grips, and now Lushlife. From the praise of Myke C-Town of Dead End Hip-Hop I decided to look into Lushlife and his latest release, Plateau Vision.

My Favorite Music Project of 2012...so far

1. Death Grips - The Money Store

Ah yes, number one! And I must admit, this really wasn't a hard choice at all for me to make...like at all...at all. 1999 was excellent but I haven't legitimately enjoyed an album this year quite like I've enjoyed listening to The Money Store. 

If this is your first time hearing of Death Grips, first of all find the nearest wall and slam your temple against it now.  No that was mean, and I probably should warn you that Death Grips' sound is not for everyone. It's very experimental, hip-hop, unorthodox, aggressive, dark, and MC Ride's voice will not be loved by many. If you have previously enjoyed aggressive metal, punk, or any experimental music then this style of hip-hop will be easier to listen to for you compared to someone who's coming off of listening to say, Wale or Drake. 

MC Ride of Death Grips portrays a character in his music that is a complete 180 to his actual self. The character is scarred, violent, and graphic at times, but it's just that...a character. MC Ride as a person is surprisingly timid and soft spoken, only amplifying the appreciation of Ride's writing when you realize what type of person is actually behind the mic.

I was really not into Death Grips' debut mix-tape Exmilitary, was it too abrasive for me? Probably so, but it didn't stop me from giving the group another try with The Money Store. And am I glad that I did. After giving The Money Store a chance I'm starting to listen to Exmilitary in portions to see if I like it the second time around, crossing fingers.

What separates The Money Store from Exmilitary? Simple, the sound. This album is much more catchy and melodically appealing to a wider audience than Exmilitary. At times, even a little poppy, which oddly enough works as Death Grips keeps their edge but just sprinkles a little "catch and pop" in the middle.

In summary, Death Grips is not a hip-hop group that will appeal to most, in fact I think maybe a handful of people I know would even give two songs a listen. Most would just rip out their speakers and probably recite a Holy Prayer of some kind after. I'm an open book when it comes to art so the style of it doesn't put me in a judgmental state. I will say if you asked me a year ago that I'd enjoy a Death Grips album like this, I'd have to catch my breath from the hysterical laughter. Anyways, there it is my list for the top 5 music projects of 2012 so far.

5. Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania

4. Big K.R.I.T. - Live from the Underground

3. Logic - Young Sinatra: Undeniable/fun. - Some Nights

2. Joey Bada$$ - 1999

1. Death Grips - The Money Store

Top 5 Music Projects of 2012...so far (#2)

 2. Joey Bada$$ - 1999

Sorry for the delay. Coming in second I have Joey Bada$$' 1999. Bada$$ was apart of an Artist Spotlight and few weeks back and I felt it was necessary to point this out to avoid any possible confusion:

I originally stated that 1999 was the best mix-tape I've heard this year, and that's exactly what it is, a mix-tape. Hinting that the project coming in at #1 has to be an album, right? Right.

I would say more about this mix-tape and how much I love Joey Bada$$ but I pretty much gushed over it in the Artist Spotlight, so I suggest reading that, and my favorite album of 2012 so far will be up soon...

Top 5 Music Projects of 2012...so far (#3)

3. Logic - Young Sinatra: Undeniable

&

fun. - Some Nights

Waht a tweest!  M. Night Shyamalan style, huh? A two-way tie for 3rd place in the countdown, and yes that is a very very mainstream album on the right, I enjoyed fun.'s album quite a bit. And Logic was one of my favorite artists of last year and his latest project gets love as well.

Logic 

 

First I'll start with Undeniable. As I previously stated, Logic was one of my favorite artists of 2011 he's shown versatlity to not only appeal to fans of lyrical gangsta rap, as well as fans of more modern sounds like Drake, Lupe Fiasco, etc. 

His mainstream appeal come from songs like Numbers and Tic Tac Toe where his flow is very Drakey...actually it pretty much is Drake's flow. His underground appeal is when he raps over classic instrumentals on the tracks No Biggie and the track that's a better Slim Shady track than anything Slim Shady has put out in about 10 years, Disgusting where he gets very lyrical dropping gems like "While you was learning about English, Big L was teaching Ebonics" and my favorite, "You can ask my ex, I bust quicker than two techs, caressed by a kid with category 5 tourettes".

fun. 

 

Now onto the more mainstream pick, surprised? Surprised fun. isn't the subject of one of my "THIS IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH MUSIC TODAY" rants? Yeah well no, I really do enjoy their music. The first thing that stuck to me about this album and about the band was how similar lead vocalist Nate Ruess sounds to Freddie Mercury and then the melodies and backing vocals on tracks like Some Nights  and Why Am I the One put a smile on my face as it also was very Queen inspired. This is how the power-pop/rock sound is supposed to be pulled off to me.

When I saw these guys were signed to the leader of the emo-teeny-punk label Fueled by Ramen, I was worried that it'd be just another band that I dislike but I was pleasantly surprised. The choruses and transition tempos into very powerful outros stand out to me so much that I really can't knock this album for having a few pretty horrible auto-tune sections. I'm all for auto-tune and they use it well at times but at others, it's unlistenable. But nonetheless I can't knock points off simply because I had so much fun (pun definitely not intended) giving this album listen after listen.

Top 5 Music Projects of 2012...so far (#4)

4. Big K.R.I.T. - Live from the Underground

A day late, oh well who cares. Two days ago I kicked off the list with Smashing Pumpkins coming in at #5. Now at #4 I got Big K.R.I.T.'s Live from the Underground. 

2012 is a huge year for K.R.I.T. he released his mixtape 4Eva N A Day earlier since his album got pushed back till the summer, and the project was nice but that's about it, aside from a few really really good tracks it didn't stick with me as much as his previous works. Live from the Underground (from now on referred to as simply Live by me) was considerably better in my opinion.

My Top 5 Music Projects of 2012...so far

Yeah! Music bloggin' time! I figured July is passing the halfway point for the year and now's a better time than any to come up with my top five projects for the 2012 year so far. I say projects because album implies I'm excluding mixtapes in hip-hop and that's not the case since mixtapes have recently been more populous than actual albums. This is gonna be divided into five parts, this one showing #5 on my list, counting down to #1 and then an honorable mentions list in the last entry.

And to anyone who may actually read this, all two of three of you that is...no I haven't heard every piece of musically listenable material for the 2012 nor did I intend to. This is my list of the projects I've heard and here it goooooeeeessss!

*The following list is very proudly void of any Tyga

Welcome to the Phoenix Suns, Kendall Marshall!

Well, the 2012 NBA Draft is over and surprisingly the Phoenix Suns didn't deal their pick for Marvin Williams or Matt Barnes. I think the biggest surprise from the draft is that of all the trades that were rumored to be on the table, the most underwhelming ones actually executed. I know one involved the amazing and game changing prospect Tyler Zeller (sarcasm for those who can't tell) and another involved the 76ers giving the Miami Heat a first round pick for some damn reason, other than that...eh.

I was probably kidding myself hoping the Rockets would throw the house at Dwight Howard only to be left in the dust next season, or waiting for the Cavaliers to trade up to #2 to take Bradley Beal and then the Wizards shatter Charlotte's dreams by taking Thomas Robinson with the rage of a middle school teenager.

But alas none of the goodness happened and we had a pretty underwhelming draft in terms of mixing it up. Although Cleveland did provide a good laugh by taking lottery prospect Dion Waiters at the #4 slot, and then Toronto was forced to take late first round prospect Terrence Ross at #8. But anyways, onto Phoenix...

Artist Spotlight: Joey Bada$$

Joey Bada$$ is a 17 year old rapper from Brooklyn New York who recently dropped his debut mixtape "1999". I decided to do an artist spotlight of Joey and 1999 as opposed to a review because I've already proclaimed the mix-tape as (in my beautiful opinion) the best of 2012 so far and I found it would be redundant to review it after such a statement. So I chose to dedicate my latest post to introducing this very talented young artist to new listeners

The most baffling and perhaps appealing aspect of Joey's talent, aside from the fact that he has shown the potential for greatness and the kid can't even buy scratch-off tickets is that his flow and style are about five years older than he is.

The boom-bap style of 90s East Coast hip-hop is pulled off excellently by Joey even though the gritty and raw sound was well out of the mainstream well before he could even coherently remember the right from left. I think that's the biggest reason I am attracted to his sound, he doesn't sound his age at all. Earl Sweatshirt, although very talented sounds his age, sounds under 20 years old using shock-rap content and other occasionally immature word plays. Not to hate on Earl because I am a fan, but just using him as an example

If the names of Big L, naS, and KRS One appeal to your liking, or if you're just a fan of the boom-bap sound of East Coast hip-hop, then certainly check out Joey Bada$$ and "1999". Destined for greatness after his first project, very impressed, keep the good material flowing.

Best Coast - The Only Place Review

Best Coast is a California surf-rock band consisting of Bethany Cosentino on lead guitar and vocals, and Bobb Bruno on varying instruments. Best Coast released their debut album Crazy for You in 2010 and I learned of them just last summer. Crazy for You and Best Coast's sound in general is a very simplistic distortion heavy, surf rock sound with the typical girl-band lyrics, which is certainly not a bad thing. The charm of Best Coast's sound is Bethany's lackadaisical vocals and the very lighthearted subjects of boys, laziness, and loving home highlighted in their single When I'm With You. If you're someone who only prefers the most complex of instrumentation and lyrical art you will not enjoy this, the reason people love the band is the simplicity and the catchy sound. With that background I move onto their latest release, The Only Place. 

The past few months I've really been into Best Coast, seeing at Urban Outfitters during SxSW, needless to say I was very excited to hear their latest work. I stayed away from song leaks to avoid any anticipation or dread that might've come along with it.

Wait, we didn't win the draft lottery!?

I sit here watching Mad Men on Netflix, after listening to Best Coast's latest album (review up later) something was on my mind, "oh right I had to do another sports blog entry...oh right the NBA draft lottery was today". I figured what better thing to talk about than the lottery and the upcoming NBA Draft? And yeah you may be wondering why I'm not discussing the playoffs well...in the words of the infamous Jim Mora tirade, "playoffs?!"

You thought I'd discuss the playoffs? No way, that's for fans of successful teams, and a group us Suns fans are traditionally apart of that. With the team in the lottery for the second straight year and about to enter the most crucial off-season in the past decade, I've come to terms with the harsh truth...the Suns are about to enter a rebuilding phase.

This isn't a familiar phase as Phoenix has been, historically one of the NBA's most successful franchises. The Steve Nash era has most likely come to an end in Phoenix, the front office now looks to the future and faces the most pivotal short period this summer. So this arises the great question, what happens with the draft?

Welcome, Kendall Wright!

Thursday, with the 20th Overall Pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans selected Wide Receiver Kendall Wright from Baylor much to the surprise of NFL and Titan fans alike. Throughout night the Titans were expected to address either the defensive side of the ball or the offensive line.

Highly touted defensive end Whitney Mercilus from Illinois and offensive guard David DeCastro from Stanford were both available at the Titans' pick and one was expected to end the night in a Titan uniform. The front office stunned the Music City community with picking neither player, nor addressing the defense or offensive line. Instead, the Titans chose to address a skill position to give young quarterback Jake Locker another offensive threat to develop with.