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Reviews: music
MUSIC
Kanye West
Late Registration
☆☆☆1/2
Tight. Dope. Bomb-ass. Go ahead, shakin'. The Grammys love him. MTV loves him.
pick your clichéd, hip-hop adjective. It all applies to Kanye West's latest album, Late Registration.
We all know the beats and music are going to be amazing. Unfortunately, they're so amazing that Kanye West's rapping still seems sophomoric in comparison.
But don't get me wrong. These lyrics are much better than on The College Dropout, West's first album. Any improvement is a direct result of the confidence he gleaned from the mega-success of his first album. He's willing to try more things on this album. And some of the efforts are incredible, like the track "Roses," in which he raps about the health-care problems black Americans face in hospitals, or the track "Gone," which is the best song on the album, musically and lyrically.
There are hiccups, most notably evidenced on the track "Crack Music," a politically-charged track featuring rapper, The Game. The message is there, but it's difficult to access a message without the music behind it.
But if West has one strong point, it's his ability to appeal to every member of the listening community. He'll be played on the boring top-40 radio stations around Kansas City. The music snobs will play him on college radio. The DJs at the clubs will spin his records to get people
And yet, more important than the rhymes and the beats is the content. Unfortunately, for many people, West's music is the only music they will ever listen to that deals with racial and political messages. Top-40 kids, I'm looking at you.
West's new release opens like his last one,
with a blistering lecture from an old, black faculty member. He tells West that he "isn't doing anything with his life," and that "nothing has been promised to him." While we listeners think the faculty member is out of touch, West's comments ultimately frame his message and consequently the state of mind of the black community.
West's ultimate theme is a message that blacks will have to fight for their place in America, even through corrupt, disingenuous systems like college. So his music isn't perfect by any means, but his message is vitally important, especially in light of the way minorities were slighted in the recent tragic hurricane.
For some, West's political commentary Late Registration arrives just in time.
- Matt Sevcik
Minus The Bear
Menos el Oso
☆☆
MinusThe Bear has made a name for itself with its original form of progressive indie/emo. Powered by upbeat, dance-
able drumbeats, interesting guitar leads, odd time signatures, and subtle vocals, the group will have you dancing to its songs, but still thinking at the same time.
The band's latest release, Menos el Oso finds the group doing more of the same: writing uptempo, catchy songs with random titles such
as "This Ain't A Surfin' Movie" or "The Game Needed Me." As usual the drumbeats are impressive, the guitar leads are awesome and the songs never let
up with Minus The Bear's original style of writing.
The few standout tracks include the
20| Jayplay 09.22.05
somber, "The Pig War," where the band messes around with electronic drumbeats. Another favorite is "Pachuca Sunrise," which features Minus The Bear's standard blend of intertwining guitar sounds backed by a steady drumbeat.
But unfortunately, the songs just aren't as good as some of
the bands past efforts. Menos el Oso is a pretty enjoyable CD, after a few listens. But if you want to hear its best stuff, just pick up 2004's They Make Beer Commercials Like This.
- Chris Brower