Love Letdown...

Mr. West debuted his new single, Love Lockdown, off his upcoming album, 808's and Heartbreak, on Sunday at the VMA's and left everybody shocked.  Throughout the performance, he left us waiting for the beat to kick and a verse to rip, but he just continued to sing.  It definitely sounded like it was missing something, and that was probably rapping.  Though it sounded a little off at the VMA's, I was optimistic, hoping it would sound better on CD quality, but that was even more of a disappointment.  The production isn't bad but his vocals don't work at all with the hook.  It sounds even more overproduced on mp3, and Kanye has crossed the line with the Vocoder (T-Pain) effect.  We all loved it on the Lollipop Remix and Put On, but now Yeezy's inner longing to sing is becoming apparent and is getting played out.  Even though this is a sub-par Kanye single, I don't doubt that it will be successful just because he is the Louis Vuitton Don, and it will probably be appreciated by the pop audience.  Let's hope the whole 808's and Heartbreak isn't at this level.  It's very possible that it won't live up to the classic standard that Graduation set, but just because Kanye had one off single doesn't necessarily mean he's past his zenith... but it might.

808's and Heartbreak is set to drop on December 16.

Track:

Love Lockdown- Kanye West

Live:

Summer Playlist 2.0

Since Dan was so kind to share his summer playlist with everyone, I figured I'd do the same.  I tend not to listen to specific songs because it's the summer, so in that sense its not really a "summer playlist" per say,  but here's what I listened to over the past few months. Enjoy more!

Titus Andronicus- Titus Andronicus

Embrace The Martian (feat. KiD CuDi)- KiD CuDi

Lights and Music- Cut Copy

Sci-Fi Kid- Blitzen Trapper

Modern Girl- Sleater-Kinney

Drivin' Down the Block (Remix)(feat. Bun B, Pusha T, & The Cool Kids)- Kidz In The Hall

Water Curses- Animal Collective

Teen Drama- Times New Viking

DVNO- Justice

I'm Allways In Love- Wilco

Out Here Grindin'- DJ Khaled

First Class Riot- The Tough Alliance

The Jessica Numbers- The New Pornographers

Man On The Moon- KiD CuDi

What Up Man- The Cool Kids

A Milli- Lil' Wayne

Joga- Bjork

Everyone Nose (Remix) (feat. CRS & Pusha T)- N.E.R.D.

Heavy Metal- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Play Your Part (Pt. 2)- Girl Talk

Summer Playlist

Today I sat down and looked back at the summer, and thought about the upcoming school year, and realized that I don't have much to look forward to other than the new releases from Kanye, Deerhunter, Eminem, and the eventual print release of Amplified. Until us at Amplified sit down in the Cohen Dining Commons and share an eating experience and discuss the logistics of printing a magazine, this blog will have to suffice. While you wait for Amplified to become a full-fledged magazine, here's my post-summer summer playlist so I can listen to summer even during the middle of winter. Enjoy!

Seventeen Years- Ratatat
Pa' Bailar- Bajofondo
Ce Jeu- Yelle
& Down- Boys Noize
You, Me and the Bourgeoise- The Submarines
The Chills- Peter Bjorn & John
Get Over It- Ok Go
Sunrise- Yeasayer
The World Should Revolve Around Me- Little Jackie
Electric Feel (Justice Remix)- MGMT
Ooh Yeah- Moby
Dr. Carter- Lil' Wayne
Miami- The Tough Alliance
I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You (The Twelves Remix)- Black Kids
Melody Day-Caribou
Hanging On Too Long- Duffy
Marquee Moon- Television
Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)- The Zombies
Hung Up- Madonna
Seven Nation Army- White Stripes

The Virgins- The Virgins

The Virgins self-titled LP, The Virgins, released on June 3, is a semi-reproduction of their original 2007 five song LP with an addition of five new songs. While some claim that the original album was recorded better than the ten song LP, the alteration of the original five songs was somewhat negative because the music was less raw and more fashioned. Still, this styling quartet, famous for their trademark rolled up skinny jeans, generated a fantastic group of songs worth listening too. The final cut of the album which some have called too short is composed of 10 very well crafted songs which fit snuggly together.

The Virgins is an easy listen to from start to finish. Often compared to The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, and We are Scientists, the four man band is powered by four talented musicians: Donald Cummings, Wade Oates, Eric Ratensperger, and Nick Akerman. Singer Donald Cummings is reminiscent of Elvis Costello and his captivating voice really is the basis for the success of these songs. The Virgins’ sound can be described as Indie-infused 80’s disco music with a catchy yet dirty pop sound. The funky beats, upbeat bass lines, and overall fast tempos will move your body and get you to dance. The hipster New Yorkers pass on many elaborate stories through their somewhat poppy songs ranging from their experiences in New York including those about rich girls, crazy parties, and sex affairs. The genuine lyrics come directly from frontman Cummings’ tough life, who spent time homeless on the streets of New York. To some, the lyrics may seem over-explicit or ridiculous but fellow New Yorkers can relate to topics ranging from growing up in the big city, nights in the park, getting high, and casual sex. Cumming’s voice is able to move from tender to strong intonation, the whole time maintaining a sexy New York sound. All of the songs on the album manage to have grand choruses’ which beg you to sing along.

Rich Girls clearly is the hit of the album because of its playful sound, which was able to switch from funk to pop to rock with lyrics like “Hey, rich girl! / Well, can you tell me why/ You're so stuck up?” Love is Colder Than Death has a poppy-funk sound and is really held down by the great bassline and the distorted guitar hits. One Week of Danger comes off with an old-sound kind of vibe and resembles a rocker version of the song I Like The Way You Move by Bodyrockers. The Virgins slow down a bit in Fernando Pando their ballad about one high lover searching for another. And Hey Hey Girl which is composed of a simple progression and basic chord changes, has a cleaner California type sound and a really catchy chorus describing a wild teen girl living an intense life of partying in the city. I only give the Virgins 4 ½ stars because their sound was somewhat altered when redone, but the album was a treat to listen to. If the Virgins keep making records like this one they will become stars. Along with MGMT's debut Oracular Spectacular, The Virgins is definitely one of my favorite albums of the year, and I strongly recommend purchasing it.

Kanye West Swaggers on a Hundred Thousand Trillion, Set to Earn a Hundred Thousand Trillion More This December

Like many of you devoted Amplified readers who have been swept away by Kanye West and his band of merry gangstas, I have been eagerly awaiting the new Kanye West album since the day Graduation leaked last August. On this historic date, September 4th, 2008, less than a year after Graduation was released, Kanye West has announced a new album to be released this coming December. New York Magazine stated that "Kanye West has now solidified his status as the world's most productive person," and us Yeezy-heads at Amplified could not agree more. After writing the story line for animated Good Morning music video, producing a new Jay-Z album, collaborating with "The Internet's Favorite Rappers" T.I., Lil' Wayne, and Jay-Z on the new track Swagger Like Us (featuring the worst use of an M.I.A. sample known to man), traveling the world with the Glow in the Dark tour, launching a restaurant ownership corporation, and writing a book of inspirational quotes given out after every performance, we are still amazed that Kanye can have the time to create fresh new songs about drunk and hot girls while sampling Daft Punk. Kudos.

Kanye West- Good Morning (Video)

An even better cover...

Kooks covering Ace of Base....truly spectacular thing, boys and girls.

Gotta give them the love.

-IS

The Kooks- All That She Wants (Ace of Base cover)

Summer has come and passed...

On this night, the eve of the first day of school, I figured I'd post the most awesomest cover of the most awesomest summer song ever written as a tribute for the all too short season as it comes to a close.  Enjoy and get ready for a fantastic school year! 

Marah

The veteran band Marah has created a small, but passionate and devoted fan base. Although the band formed in the early 1990's and released their first full-length album over ten years ago in 1997, they remain relatively unknown to the general public. The band's obscurity, however, largely contributes to their uniqueness.

Dave Bielanko, from Conshocken, Pennsylania, formed the band with two other members, Danny Metz and Ronnie Vance in 1993. Two years later, Dave's brother, Serge Bielanko, joined the band. Throughout the subsequent years, the Bielanko brothers would stay in the band, trading in and out various other members. Currently, Dave Bielanko (vocals, guitar, banjo), Serge Bielanko (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Christine Smith (keyboard, accordian), Johnny Pisano (bass), and Joe Gorelick (drums) make up the band.

Of their thirteen albums, 20,000 Streets Under the Sky (2002) and If You Didn't Laugh You'd Cry (2005) are two classics. Both albums share the unique sound that is Marah, but still have their own idiosyncrasies and unique quirks.

   In their earlier album, If You Didn't Laugh You'd Cry, shows Springsteen-like energy and purity in each song. In their more mature album, If You Didn't Laugh You'd Cry, the hard rock sound coupled with more melodic tunes creates the perfect balance of the band's obvious passion for music and easy listening. The album starts of with the energetic song "The Closer," which immediately captivates the listener. 

 Anyways, I highly recommend listening to either of the aforementioned albums or any other one that interests you.

The Stand Ins

As an avid Okkervil River listener (e.g. one of twenty in the tri-state area), the prospect of a new album looming on September 9th is a mouth-watering thought. For those of you faithful readers and denizens of "Amplified (Blog)" who have not the faintest clue of whom I am writing about, I strongly recommend that you acquaint yourselves with them. They love concept albums and capos, and front-man Will Sheff's expressive way of songwriting is wondrously unique. The band's aural qualities balance finely between a sound that is both folk-like and delicate, but also unsettling; and Okkervil's finest utilize instrumentation that complements the emotion of Sheff's voice in a way that perfectly fits the band.


"The Stand Ins" was conceived around the same time as last years critically acclaimed "The Stage Names". Sheff and co. originally wanted to release both as a double album, but felt that the complications of attempting to do so would make the process too difficult. (Fun Fact: If you place the album art of "The Stage Names" over that of "The Stand Ins", it forms a complete picture. Cool eh?)

I have prevented myself from searching for any leaks of the album online, because I do not want to spoil the surprise. I am, however, plagued with questions: How will the album be accepted by the higher powers of the arcane music world? How will the content compare with it's doppelganger, "The Stage Names", but more importantly, with the epic concept-album masterpiece that is "Black Sheep Boy"? Why the heck are Okkervil River only playing an 18 + show in New York, and how can I gain access?

Expect an in-depth review immediately following the public release of the album.

The Stand Ins comes out on September 9th 2008

Thom Yorke Thinks He Is More Important Than Barack Obama

     Car-phobic Thom Yorke and his merry pranksters (also known as Radiohead) have announced via their website plans to broadcast the final show of their 2008 North American tour live on the internet. In an odd twist of fate, this coincides with Barack Obama's nomination acceptance speech at Invesco Field in Denver in front of a crowd that could reach 80,000. New York Magazine's website stipulates that the epic concert will "likely distract millions of young, progressive voters from Barack Obama's acceptance speech for the Democratic presidential nomination, scheduled for the exact same time, thereby clinching a Republican victory this November."  

    Tonight, while Barack Obama accepts his party's nomination for president, becoming the first African-American to be nominated by a major political party, Radiohead will play their unique brand of space-rock to a delicately balanced audience of bros and psuedo-hipsters. Much like the fill-in-the-blank price of their sixth studio album, In Rainbows, the choice is yours. 

   

Live Your Life- T.I. Samples Internet Sensation Dragostea Din Tei

On August 25th, a previously unreleased track from Atlanta rapper T.I.'s sixth studio album Paper Trail leaked onto the internet, spurring conversation among critics about the musical direction of the rapper's sixth take. Paper Trail features a myriad of guests, most prominently Kanye West, Lil' Wayne, Jay-Z, and Rihanna. On this track, Rihanna provides the hook, adding an excellent foil to T.I.'s strong, lucid flow. Representing a swift change from the Southern hip-hop that dominated previous albums King and T.I. vs T.I.P., the self-proclaimed King of the South trades in former producer DJ Toomp's heavy synths for a sample from the Romanian dance group O-Zone's signature track Dragostea Din Tei. This sample provides a perfect backdrop to Rihanna's soulful and captivating hook, and injects T.I.'s serious Southern rap with some pop kitsch. 

While many critics have been attacking T.I. and producer Just Blaze's choice to use Dragostea Din Tei as a sample, it actually makes Live Your Life even stronger. Rihanna adapts her vocals to the tune of Dragostea Din Tei to the extent that only Rihanna could, and she pulls it off with great gusto. Rihanna's regal vocals are only topped by her boastful lyrics, as she declares "You're gonna be a shining star/fancy clothes/fancy cars" but then further sings "life your life/instead of chasing that paper." These mixed messages in Rihanna's hook do add some confusion to her vocals as they are somewhat contradictory, however, they are still aesthetically pleasing. 

T.I. attacks the rap game in his verse, deriding what he declares to be an industry that has lost sight of what's important. T.I. finds issue with the fame, the arguing, the money and the cars of his contemporaries, which is interesting considering that he named his album Paper Trail. 

T.I. does not seem to be immune from the constant hypocrisy in the rap industry, as he too joins the group of rappers that declare the industry to be dead but still further all of the money loving, misogynistic, ostentatious features of rappers that they deplore in their songs. While Life Your Life makes little sense, it is still aesthetically pleasing, and will undoubtedly be a Top 20 hit when it is released on September 30th. 

Live Your Life- T.I. (feat. Rihanna)

Welcome to Your Amplification

Dearest reader,

We here at Amplified Music Publication, Horace Mann's premiere music publication, would like to extend our warmest welcome to you.  This is the launching of out first online venture, at hmamplified.blogspot.com.  Please check back soon for future posts on music, media, and culture.  Feel free to contact Peter (pjkneeboarder@gmail.com) or Matt (klimermanm@gmail.com) if you would like to contribute.  We hope you enjoy!

Love,

Peter and Matt