CUT OF THE DAY: AZEALIA BANKS – “212″ (w-LAZY JAY)
When I first heard this, it felt like a little punch in the mouth. A nasty jab from a tough Harlem chick wearing a Mickey Mouse shirt. Here’s the deal, this girl can rhyme. She has a mean flow. She will entertain your face off for 3 minutes and 26 seconds. Not sure if she can keep it up for a whole album, but either way this song is seriously dope. She’s rapping, singing, sort of yelling, I love it all. Watch out Nicki, this girl is trying to make a run at your crown. The Lazy Jay credit comes from sampling his house track, “Float My Boat”. He doesn’t appear in the song, but he wanted his name on it.
I can’t believe she drops cunt-bombs all over the joint like it’s no big deal. Normal? But that’s why I like this girl. She means business and I love it. It’s all energy. The U.K. magazine NME (New Musical Express) had Azealia on the top of their “Cool List” for 2011. I’m cool with a song named after your hometown area code. I’m from the 508, recognize. “212″ was also in Pitchfork’s Top 10 Tracks of 2011. Her EP arrives at the end of March. The video is in black and white and this white boy is totally into that black girl.
BRONZE RADIO RETURN, HOOTS & HELLMOUTH
by Grundle
I took my lady out for Valentine’s Day last weekend. It was a very romantic affair which included a visit to the Middle East Upstairs in the people’s republic of Cambridge. I wanted to check out Hoots & Hellmouth. They were playing an early show, which the wife liked because it meant we could still grab dinner after. Hoots are a solid bluegrass group from Philly. Their song “You and All of Us” is a real jam that should be enjoyed.
The band that really caught my ears though was the opener, Bronze Radio Return. The wife dug them. She said they sounded a bit like Kings of Leon and I agree. I talked to them after their set and found out we went to college together. I was blacked out most of those four years, but after hearing that I could picture them playing in the Hawks Nest at UHA. I took a listen to their album and I am sad to say it wasn’t what I was hoping for. Still good, but seeing them live was much better (maybe it was the PBRs). That seems to happen to me a lot when I see a new band that I think is unreal and is going to blow up. I go back and listen to their record and discover why they haven’t blown up yet. I hope these guys make it though. They definitely have the talent.
OK GO – “NEEDING/GETTING”
by Grundle
Seeing Bronze Radio Return and then hearing the record got me thinking about other bands I saw and had an opinion on before anyone told me about them. I remember seeing OK Go at Toad’s Place in New Haven back in ’04 when they opened up for Martin Sexton (85% sure it was him at least). I remember thinking they were ok, not great, just alright. They were memorable enough for me to think back to them once they started making the best music videos since MTV stopped playing music videos. Nobody has more creativity when it comes to music videos then OK Go. They have a new one out that was part of that Super Bowl ad for the Chevy Sonic. They put the Sonic in its first music video. The song is eh, but the idea behind the video is once again brilliant. Not sure if anything will ever top their first video when they’re dancing in their back yard though. That one goes right up there with “Thriller” for best dance video.
THE CURE – “JUST LIKE HEAVEN”
by Frank Hanks
I’m in the process of making a playlist for my upcoming drive from Seattle, WA to Jacksonville, FL with a stop in Boston, MA to see some family and friends. Making this playlist forces me to listen to every album I have (2200+). The benefit of this is finding great songs I haven’t listened to in years. I started at Z and I’m making my way to A. When I got to C, The Cure was the first group I listened to. I forgot how many good songs they have. Listening to them makes me think of all those great 80s movies. I know The Cure wasn’t in every one of those movies, but it still brings me back. I’m going to rent every John Hughes movie now. I’ll start with Mr. Mom and end with National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. And of course I’ll hit all the great ones in the middle too. (editor’s note – there’s no way that kid really watches those movies)
48 days with no caffeine or alcohol.
19 days til Black Keys and beers.
