January 26th, 2004 2:53pm
Clouddead "The Teen Keen Skip" - Simply put, this...
Kisses For The Lasses
Clouddead "The Teen Keen Skip" - Simply put, this was not at all what I expected from a new Clouddead record. On their new record Ten, Clouddead wisely plays up its strengths (odd structures, unlikely samples, pleasantly awkward arrangements) while keeping their flaws (godawful attempts at rapping, annoying voices) in check. Indie rock sing-song suits their voices far better, and the psychedelic touches are inspired. It's a peculiar record, combining undie hip hop with a mix of Warp Records and Elephant Six aesthetics.
"Change Clothes" (Grey Album version) - This is part of DJ Dangermouse's The Grey Album project, which is one of the most ambitious and cringe-inducingly obvious bootleg/mash-up projects to date. DJ Dangermouse combines a cappella's from every song on Jay-Z's The Black Album with tracks derived from the music of The Beatles' The White Album, with mixed results. On the worst tracks, the backing music fails to match Jay-Z's vocal flow, and sounds overly glitchy and amateurish like a second rate Def Jux production. When the music does come together, as on the mixes of "December 4," "What More Can I Say," and "Change Clothes," it's nothing more than an interesting remix that doesn't come close to the original arrangement.
Also: Scissor Sisters fans should check out the new PopJustice interview with Jake Shears.
Clouddead "The Teen Keen Skip" - Simply put, this was not at all what I expected from a new Clouddead record. On their new record Ten, Clouddead wisely plays up its strengths (odd structures, unlikely samples, pleasantly awkward arrangements) while keeping their flaws (godawful attempts at rapping, annoying voices) in check. Indie rock sing-song suits their voices far better, and the psychedelic touches are inspired. It's a peculiar record, combining undie hip hop with a mix of Warp Records and Elephant Six aesthetics.
"Change Clothes" (Grey Album version) - This is part of DJ Dangermouse's The Grey Album project, which is one of the most ambitious and cringe-inducingly obvious bootleg/mash-up projects to date. DJ Dangermouse combines a cappella's from every song on Jay-Z's The Black Album with tracks derived from the music of The Beatles' The White Album, with mixed results. On the worst tracks, the backing music fails to match Jay-Z's vocal flow, and sounds overly glitchy and amateurish like a second rate Def Jux production. When the music does come together, as on the mixes of "December 4," "What More Can I Say," and "Change Clothes," it's nothing more than an interesting remix that doesn't come close to the original arrangement.
Also: Scissor Sisters fans should check out the new PopJustice interview with Jake Shears.
1/26/04 4:13 pm
“Undie hip hop”?
I’m not sure I’m ready for that trend!
1/26/04 9:22 pm
As with most hip-hop, the beat is extremely repetitive.. he definetly could have tried to do something a bit more interesting. At least judging off this one song.
1/27/04 10:26 am
Goddamn stinking no good repetitive beats!
1/27/04 12:15 pm
Speaking of mash-ups (and I was very disappointed by that Grey Album track), is anyone working on one of the Scissor Sisters’ “Better Luck Next Time” and Nelly’s “Hot in Herrre”? The melodic and rhythmic similarities between the verse of the first and the ‘chorus’ of the second are undeniable.
1/27/04 4:16 pm
Yeah, I don’t get the “repetitive beats” put-down - repetitive beats are an essential part of hip hop and dance music, and why would that be a bad thing? Should all music be prog or math rock?
1/27/04 9:14 pm
It’s not really a put down I don’t think - because it is dull. I love hip hop but this track is extremely dissapointing. nice idea - poorly realised. When you think what he had to work with from the white album there was quite a lot he coulkd have done. If this is one of the better tracks I don’t think i’ll be doing my best to get this album.
2/10/04 5:25 am
With all due respect, to say that Dose One is a “godawful” rapper borders on sacrilege. The whole point of his project in cLOUDDEAD (proper capitalization?), as well as in their collabos with Hood, is making melodic rapping work as a part of the instrumental landscape, rather than the main focus. There wasn’t much “rapping,” per se, even on the first record. Also, if you check out his work in Themselves, you’ll notice Dose is ridiculous in about two dozen styles.