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beautifully human fancy footwork

25 Dec

Finally a post after an exhausting 2 weeks, plus a brain fart, and some procrastinating! As mentioned in the previous post I was dealing with finals, plus things are getting busy with Dummy. In Rainbows without a doubt maintained my sanity, in fact I’m listening to it right now.  In Rainbows’ week was full of exams and what not, so after that week (last week), I needed to change gears.  Last week my final projects were due, and anyone that knows me, knows that I’m super critical and tend to rip myself and my work apart.  To help me counteract this unhealthy habit, I used Jill Scott as my therapist of sorts.  Her Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 album, was mellow, sexy, and some how kept me confident as a person (artist) and woman. Thanks Jill!

I don’t know about you, but after 2 weeks of finals i want to PARTAY! That’s what this week is all about…well i guess Christmas if you’re into that sort of thing…so let’s just say this week is about celebrating then, shall we? This week’s album is Chromeo’s Fancy Footwork. I CAN NOT stop listening to it! I had to make them the Album of the Week especially since i didn’t realize i was listening to them here and there, for the last 6 months.

I’ll explain, one of my favorite stations I have on Pandora, is based on a mix formed from N.E.R.D. and Cut Copy.  Whether it’s Pandora, verbal suggestions, catching a live show, etc I always write down groups that I enjoy or stir something in me.  Wait, I have to back track for this to make sense. So a few weeks ago A-trak posted Chromeo’s newest project Night by Night.  I listened to the song, watched the video, and loved their entire vibe, but didn’t really think anything of it, except that…hmmm music needs something like that. Then a little after that post, i found one of my many, many notebooks that i couldn’t kind for months and saw I had scribbled down, ‘Chromeo!’, among other artists, from a go-round on Pandora, but i didn’t put it together.  I’ve been in album mode, and hadn’t listened to Pandora in a minute, so while i was getting ready to go out, i put my N.E.R.D/Cut Copy station on so i could get my going out vibes flowing.  Anyway, I hear this song (which turned out to be Bonafied Lovin) and after uncontrollably busting into a 2-step, the Night by Night video flashed in my head, and i knew it had to be Chromeo…it was probably the synthesizer.  I ended up being correct, figured it was a sign, I immediately starting looking up their work, and I’ve been addicted ever since. Highly 80s influenced music, that is relevant, and somehow oddly modern? Whatever it is, i love it…I’m looking forward to their new project.

album of the week: 12.07.09

8 Dec

For those that don’t know, outside of managing DJ Dummy, i’m back in school getting a second Bachelors. Instead of learning boring but useful Business and Marketing, I’m learning Photography!  I love it, but December means it’s the end of the semester, which means FINALS; that means things are more than hectic.

I’ve finally gotten some sleep so I don’t need Kid Sister’s Ultraviolet album to keep me up. But what that does mean, is i need something that will keep me sane, centered, and level-headed. The album to do that is Radiohead’s In Rainbows (sorry Imeem doesn’t have the entire album). In Rainbows is an album that i have literally listened to every single solitary week since the November 2007 release where you could pay whatever you wanted, even nothing. (i payed for mine ;0) ) I love Radiohead, but there’s something in particular about In Rainbows that just gets my head right. I’m not sure what it is, maybe it’s just the perfect balance of upbeat and mellow…or maybe because when it came out I was in a major personal transition…i don’t know. But whatever it is, the album is a roborant remedy for me. That’s why it’ll be the album of the week. If you’ve been under some boulders, i’d advise checking it out.

-J

taking in some ultraviolet.

3 Dec

omg, what a week, so far! i’ve only slept 2 hours in the last 60+ hours!!!

…fortunately i’m not Stressed Out. Mostly because i’ve been listening to Kid Sister’s Ultraviolet album. All last week I was listening to Brazilian music, then from Thanksgiving onward, Kid Sister has taken over my life.
Ultraviolet is my new workout album for December…but its quickly turning into my keep me awake and upbeat album. (just a few minutes separates me with my pillow, i can’t wait!)

As I digress…I know i’m a few days late but Kid Sister’s Ultraviolet is the album of the week.  Don’t get me wrong, it not some prolific album or something. At 1st listen my music snobbery was peaked and i began to judge, plus i didn’t know anything about Kid Sister. But i found the Dance…Hip-Hop/Bass…Bending/Dance…what ever genre they’d like to call it… album infectious; its simple, but i keep putting it back on.  It’s the Southern girl in me; I’m just happy that someone is updating the southern 90s energy into something that isn’t nauseating …or maybe that’s how Chi-town rolls and i didn’t know all this time.  Regardless, good shit!

Let Me Bang 2009 is my fav…that’s my vibe…and Kid Sister seems relatable, refreshing!  Pro Nails (featuring Kanye) was released a looong time ago, but i sure nuff did my nails after listening to it, hahaha.  Day Dreaming is a nice way to transition that kind of MGNT vibe; Cee-lo was a nice addition.  And I like You Aint Really Down, it seems like an ode to 90s R&B (sounded like Michel’le jumped on for a few notes, lol), I wonder if more singing will be incorporated in the next album? hmmm… that could be fun. There are a  few weak, album-filler songs, but over all, you can’t help to just feel lighter when you listen to Ultraviolet…that’s what Dance is supposed to do, right?

– J