Ready to Die Revisited

Given that my first post was more of a "get used to this whole blog experience" trip for me, I don't think I gave Notorious B.I.G.'s seminal album "Ready To Die" the credit it deserves. So ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, a curtain call for "Ready to Die"

Although my rap experience is limited, this is certainly one of the greatest rap albums I've ever heard.

You'll remember from my Green Day review the "law of vinyl" which is - when in doubt the album should fit on a record - 12 or 14 songs max. The key here is "when in doubt". "Ready to Die" is 19 tracks, and the only one I would lose would be the one that is basically Biggie getting his freak on with his girlfriend. Even this track is pretty awesome, although not music.

The second track is "Things Done Changed", and it captures all the angst of a generation lost to drug dealing and hopelessness - but that can still remember summer cook outs. Lines like "back in the days our parents used to take care of us/look at em now, they even fuckin' scared of us".

"Gimme the Loot", "Machine Gun Funk", and others like it tell the story of the street. What it is like to deal drugs and fear death around every corner - and they made a white boy from small town B.C. get a small taste of just what it is like. Taking a concept that is alien to your audience and making them own that experience emotionally - that is art, my friends - and Biggie nails it.

And anyone who can realistically make a love song out of something that has a chorus of 'me and my bitch' has got talent.

And did I mention the music - no I did not, but allow me to do so. It is some of the most incredible combination of sampling, scratching and downright funky beats I have have heard since Erik B and Rakim or Public Enemy.

The final track is "Just Playing (Dreams)", a hilarious rap as Biggie imagines all the famous women he would like to get with. It reminds me of that 'coffee table book' the dude in "Throw Momma From the Train" who writes "101 Women I'd Like To Pork". Well Track 19 is like that, except it is Biggie's list. Also, it is frickin' hilarious.

After all the death and poverty and the climbing out of the gutter over the first 18 tracks, you need the break - and "Ready to Die" delivers it. But not before you're ready.

In short - this album is killer. The only down side is when you've got it playing in your car too loud, everyone is gonna think you are some kind of Pretty Fly for a White Guy poser - and maybe you are. But feel no shame - the music is worth it.

Logan's rating: 5/5 - buy this album, or be a chump. In my first post I gave this album 4 stars. Who was that guy from a week ago? I don't even know him anymore...

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown

This week my drive home has featured Green Day's new album "21st Century Breakdown". My buddy Spence taught me a valuable lesson years ago - always give a new album three full listens before you decide what you think.

Many people have mixed emotions about Green Day as a band. Generally, I think they are very talented - and I like them enough to own all their albums with the exception of that "International Mega Hits" one. Is that even an album? Frankly, if it is the title turns me off. Let's keep such titles for an actual "best of". If it is a "best of" - I'd rather make my own, which I'm sure would be better. And less radio friendly. But I repeat myself.

Anyway, Green Day gets blamed for a lot that is not their fault - mostly for the crappy bands that try (and fail) to reproduce their sound. It really isn't fair - after all it is not Pearl Jam's fault that Creed exists.

By the way - this argument does not extend to Nickelback - not only is it their fault that Daughtry exists, but Nickelback are themselves, an abomination inflicted on the music world (note to the MMVAs - please stop encouraging them!)

But, I digress.

21st Century Breakdown:
The album that is a little too long for what is essentially, a lesser blending of the sounds from two better albums ("American Idiot" and the often-underrated "Minority". "21st Century" has the pretensions of "American Idiot" but it has the poppy sounds of "Minority".

Did I say this album is overlong?. It is 18 tracks and almost 70 minutes. I am a firm believer that very few albums can justify going above 12 or at most 14 songs. "21st Century" could easily trim 6 very forgettable tracks and be a lot tighter of an album. Let's call this the "law of vinyl"; when in doubt, it should fit on a record.

There are some high points - I am partial to (what I am told) is the radio release - "Know Your Enemy", and I also like "!Viva La Gloria!" (while decrying the punctuation). I think it ends strong as well, where it captures a piece of the American Idiot angst with "21 Guns" and "American Eulogy".

The production is a tight - something I always enjoy about Green Day - and has always offended punk purists who wanted them all muddy (attention punk purists - throw out your Clash albums if that's how you feel). Besides - Green Day isn't punk and never has been - sometimes rock n'roll is all you need.

The drummer is actually pretty good - but I'm not naming him, because he has a silly name. As I get older I find I am hearing the drummer more and more. Maybe I just can't hear anything else...

If you are a Green Day completionist - buy this album - it is worth a listen. If you are just looking for an album not called American Idiot or Dookie - then get Minority. It is an underrated album with some great tracks.

Logan's rating (see sideboard) 2 with a thumbs up - but only because I don't allow myself the luxury of the half star.

Welcome to Creative Maelstrom!

There comes a time in every man's life when he must overcome his fear of technology. OK, my time came a little later than most...

So here I am - and I'm going to get started with the last figurine I painted and the last album that knocked my socks off.

First, the album - I just had a birthday, and both my Mother and Mother-in-Law (love them both) gave me the gift of cash (Ah, how I love the gift of cash). In my life, giving me cash is like buying me CDs - that is where it is going to end up. So I got about 8 or so - more on the other one's later.

What really blew me away was Notorious B.I.G. - I've been meaning to buy this for years, but never got around to it. I am not a huge rap/hip hop fan - it suffers from most forms of popular music (pop, country - and in 1979 - Disco) - it naturally draws bad artists looking for a buck.

Not so, with "Ready to Die" - this album is very real (minus the simulated sex track). It has an extra weight in that Biggie died after making it in the violent manner which he himself predicts. Best track: Things Done Changed.

Logan's rating - 4 stars.

I'm also posting the last figurine I painted. This is a hobby I've done since I was twelve years old, and I've never tired of it. The only downside is it takes 10 minutes to buy one of these things and about 10 hours to paint it. For this reason, I've got a bit of a..er...backlog. I roll randomly to see which one I paint next. I like to roll randomly. I guess if you are rolling, saying it is random is a bit redundant - but it just goes together.

Anyway - here is my latest - I'd say she is an elf thief (and a bit of a looker). What's with the chest (no - the one under her foot, you creep). Is it hers or did she just find it somewhere. I imagine she was in the process of stealing it and someone's interrupted her. Judging by the look in her eye, that was probably a mistake...

The back view. I did a good job on the cloak, so I'm showing off. Hey - it's my blog - get your own.

So - that's the first post. More music to come - and more figs. I'm thinking about restarting a CD Odyssey I did a few years back (listening to everything I've got). Last time I went alphabetically. This time, I am thinking I'm going to (drum roll) roll randomly.