Track Reviews: September

Seat Change- Curren$y (feat. Snoop Dogg)
from Pilot Talk (Def Jam)
Learning from both Masta P and Lil Wayne, Curren$y shows his well-honed style on this slow jam from his debut "Pilot Talk". The track has an early 90's G-Funk vibe, and that's not just because Snoop Dogg rides shotgun. The beat slowly bounces and stutters with the only melody being provided by a psyched-out electric guitar. Producer Ski Beatz comes off like Rick Rubin on codeine syrup. Over this blunted beat, Curren$y paints the picture of how he rolls with the ladies. "I play the field with stiff arms and side steps." Snoop's verse variates between smooth and spastic, and it is easy to see that Snoop is an influence on Curren$y.

Final Thoughts:
It's basically a father/son car ride in a hot-boxed Benz.
Rappers hate finding seeds in their herb.
7 out of 10



Throwing Shade- Abe Vigoda
from Crush (Post Present Medium)

Abe Vigoda have stumbled upon a new sound with this debut single from their new album Crush. The opening guitar riff is immediate and becomes the glue that keeps the puzzle together. Fuzzy background synth textures give the song its large sound while the other synth adds stabbing micro-melodies. The song culminates in a guitar solo that manages to be both harsh and catchy. It seems as if Abe Vigoda watched how tourmates Vampire Weekend pushed their tropical, bedroom pop into the next dimension and followed suit. The catchiness is still there, but this sounds decidedly more modern. It does appear, however, that lead singer might have gotten tired of the tropics because the vocals are cold sounding and mostly obscured by noise or distortion. The tug-of-war between the frigid vocals and the warmth of the guitar line offers an aurally entertaining conflict.

Final Thoughts:
If Vampire Weekend and No Age got together to make a song, it would sound like this.
6 out of 10



TAOS- Menomena
from Mines (Barsuk)

If there ever was a song that was designed to appear in a car commercial, it is this song. Don't take that as a dig, though. This song locks in early and doesn't let up. From the opening bass riff, listeners can tell that Menomena's players were schooled in 60s/70s rock, but they took honors classes. TAOS is a song about looking to get laid, a classic theme of rock. Bravado explodes all over the track. The singer says "I'm not the most cocksure guy.", but that would be hard to tell from his vocals. Guitars cut in and out acting like pissed off background vocalists vying for equal attention. The most impressive aspect of this song is the way the song constantly surprises the listener. Just when you think the song will stick to its form, it moves to a different tone and feeling; it transfers from all out bombast to pensive pleading. It seems to represent the transition of a drunken night. It goes from revelry and confidence to loneliness and bedroom optimism.

Final Thoughts:
A great evolution from past power trios (Cream, ZZ Top) that provides tons of sound.
It's hard not to drum on the steering wheel or play air guitar while listening.
9 out of 10