DELTRON 3030 RECOMMENDED: WALE ‘Attention Deficit’
After pushing out three solid mixtapes today is the day for Wale’s proper major label debut…and he saved some of his best stuff for it. Unlike what was previously reported the producer list is Kanye and P Diddy free. Instead Wale reached out to David Andrew Sitek of TV on the Radio to bring that raw TVOTR vibe to a new audience. . That sound is always welcome in my book. Beyond my TVOTR man crush, he’s a sensible producer choice here since Wale would seem to be trying to position himself as the next great introspective alternative rapper. You can almost buy that sentiment…but only if you dismiss the obligatory Neptunes track (“Let It Loose”) and the instantly accessible panderings of the lead single “Chillin” (featuring Lady Gaga). I can’t fault an artist for loading up his lead single with tons of hooks and honey. It’s where it goes after that what truly matters. Once you get past “Chillin” you’ll find some great beats (“Pretty Girls”) and some even greater social commentary (“90210″). Culture eviscerating lyrics coupled w/ great pop culture references and the occasional guest vocal are the building blocks to a great hip hop album. However what really sells it for me is what is NOT present. That would be the lack of skits. I’m not sure who ever gave rappers the idea that skits were a good thing to pepper in between songs but I think I can speak for everyone when I say “No Mas Por Favor”. Not even David Gray is that painful to listen to. When rocking your ipod on shuffle just about the last thing you want to hear is “The $20 Sack Pyramid”. If i wanted to force myself to hear unfunny hip hop artists channel their inner groundlings I’d go ahead and catch reruns of Wild N’ Out on MTV.
Highlights: “Triumph,” “Pretty Girls,” “90210,” “TV In The Radio”
Guilty Pleasure Highlight: “Chillin’”
DELTRON 3030 RECOMMENDED – Karen O and the Kids – “Where the Wild Things Are”
![(Karen O and the Kids) Where the Wild Things Are [A]](http://www.intraffik.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Karen-O-and-the-Kids-Where-the-Wild-Things-Are-A.jpg "(Karen O and the Kids) Where the Wild Things Are [A]")
When I first saw the trailer for “Where the Wild Things Are” my initial reaction was that there was no way in hell I could bring my five year old niece and four year old nephew to see it. The three year old nephew was having a hard enough transition from diapers that I didn’t need the other two regressing and crapping themselves from sheer fear. My other thought was never had I heard a song match up so well with a trailer’s content. The Arcade Fire’s “Wake Up” was an inspired choice that hopefully will begin a trend of cutting trailers to new songs instead of regurgitating overused staples like “Salisbury Hill“, “Heat of the Moment, and “Under Pressure”.
Quit being so lazy, people.
“Wake Up” evoked such an emotion out of me that I was downright giddy with the prospect of a full Arcade Fire soundtrack for this movie. Sadly, all you can do is imagine. We’ll never know what could have been since The Arcade Fire instead chose to score Richard Kelly’s sure to fail “The Box“. Truth be told they never really had a chance at scoring WTWTA as Spike Jonze tapped his then girlfriend at the time, Karen O, to man the scoring duties. If you were dating Karen O would you cross her? I didn’t think so. Perhaps that is what makes her such an inspired choice. Yes, Karen O is an odd selection as she is just about the last person I’d let supervise small children but she knows it!. She makes up for whatever maternal instincts she is clearly void of by toning down her her rocker YYYs black widow alter ego and embraces her childlike whimsy. It translates well and never feels forced. Of course, having a bunch of kids belt out your choruses can only help you seem more motherly. Perhaps Britney Spears should look into that, but I’m guessing Child Services would frown upon some toddlers chanting “Womanizer” over and over again.
Besides the actual kids on the CD, Karen O’s band accompaniment, named “The Kids” is a pretty impressive gathering, comprised of her band mates from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs plus indie favorites Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox, Liars’ Aaron Hemphill, The Dead Weather’s Dean Fertita, and Jack Lawrence from The Raconteurs. Karen O’s version of Fisher Prices’ My First Indie Soundtrack assures you that all the kids who go see this will be the coolest ones on their block. I’ve already sent this to my brother in the hopes that his kids will respond favorably to it and it will replace their current infatuation, Lady GaGa. Otherwise, If things don’t change my nephew will be a pants pooping poker face crooning nursery schooler next year and I just can’t have that.
Note: On top of all of those Pitchfork approved artists the hipster quotient is raised by including a cover of Daniel Johnston’s “Worried Shoes”.
Highlights: “All is Love,” “Worried Shoes,” “Hideaway”