Track Reviews: October

Snowmelt- Weed Diamond
7 inch single (Bridgetown)

Even though Lo-Fi rockers Weed Diamond hail from the snowy city of Denver, Colorado, this song sounds like it has been baked in the sun. The bouncy rhythm section keeps the main melody afloat in the sea of guitar noise that churns under it. The verses slowly build the anticipation to a chorus that is slammed out;the drummer sounds like he's playing with hammers. This is a song about making a change, and the use of the season's changing metaphor is unoriginal, but effective and honest. Like many bands of this ilk, the vocals are distorted and fuzzy. For a band that must love weed enough to put it in their name, it seems fitting.

Final Thoughts:
It's good to know that there's more to Denver's music scene than jam bands.
The melody is relentlessly catchy and will most likely be hummed in a shower near you.



So Appalled- Kanye West (feat. Jay Z, RZA, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz, Cyhi the Prynce)
from Watch the Throne EP (Def Jam)

2010 is going to be Kanye's year. With the fallout from most of his public appearances in 2009, he needed a comeback, and this is the Maserati of comebacks. The combination of his unreal SNL performance on October 2 and his promise to give out a free track every friday until Christmas is pushing him to a new level. Like the hook says, "This shit is fucking ridiculous"
This is Kanye and an all-star cast of versatile rappers howling over a sparse, grimy beat. The track clocks in at almost seven minutes, but it doesn't drag. This is the self conscious Kanye, and he takes us on a journey of hip hop fame during an economic recession. His guilt is palpable, and Ye tries to give back offering, "...Another goddamn dance track gotta hurt. That's why I rather spit something that gotta purp"
Jay-Z slowly simmers over the beat quoting The Dark Knight, and Pusha T, half of the duo Clipse, falls into his normal coke rap. Swizz Beatz and RZA have cameos on the hook, but don't offer much more. The end of the song is turned into a welcome party for largely unknown Georgia emcee Cyhi the Prynce. He takes the route of all out bragging, citing his place on God's I-Pod, his ability to have sex with more than one girl named after a month, and "getting bitches by the twos, nigga Noah's Ark".

Final Thoughts:
Kanye breaks hip hop canon (hook heavy structure, questioning materialism) and stomps out taboos (track length).
Look for this song to get cut before the final version is released.