Time to figure out who will be dancing with the Blue Devils in the Sweet 16! Today, the LCD Soundsystem and Wilco regions.
(1) Kanye West vs. (9) Beach House
Winner: (1) Kanye West
I watched "Role Models" last night, and good God I forgot how funny Jane Lynch is in that movie. In honor of her performance, this represents the "You Can't Bullshit and Bullshitter" match-up of the Second Round. As in, anyone who thinks Beach House can match up with Kanye is in all-out BS mode. Musically, Beach House likely draws the slight edge, but as a package, Kanye will roll through this round. We've already mentioned the change in style for 808s and Heartbreak, but we also have to consider Kanye's past, going as far back as a producer for Jay-Z's seminal album, The Blueprint. Even before getting behind the mic, West excelled at making beats and hooks, and being around one of the greatest rappers ever definitely contributed to his ability to successfully transition from soundboard to studio. Maybe I just don't have the patience for Beach House's critically-acclaimed Devotion, but when push comes to shove, I'd rather hear Kanye's auto-tuned conflict of bravado-meets-lonliness than Beach House's slow-burner.
(12) No Age vs. (13) The Cool Kids
Winner: (13) The Cool Kids
I really want The Cool Kids to get big. If the Beastie Boys were able to infiltrate pop culture and earn critical praise, then there's no reason why Mikey Rocks and Chuck Inglish should be unknown (the same could be said of Wale, who should've been included in this bracket simply because of the buzz he's generating right now). Will their style of late 80s/early 90s hip-hop fly in an era of "ring-tone rappers"? Can rappers be successful if they don't create songs simply for the purpose of starting a dance? Is the auto-tuner destined to stay, or will we see an eventual revolt against the electronic and a return to pure voices creating original raps? Will those raps, out of necessity, be about drugs and guns and gratuitous sex, or can they be funny... ironic... intelligent? Who knows, but I nominate The Cool Kids to be ambassadors for ushering in a cleansing of the hip-hop landscape and a movement towards a world that exists sans Soulja Boy. It's time.
(6) The Decemberists vs. (14) The Walkmen
Winner: (6) The Decemberists
Of all the albums I'm excited about coming out this year, The Decemberists' Hazards of Love has to rank near the very top. I have yet to be disappointed by any of their records, and each new volume provides a two-pronged experience... music and lyrics. I can go multiple listens without truly hearing what Colin Meloy is saying, and then all of a sudden it becomes apparent that I've been ignoring a tightly written story... usually one that would be equally at home in an AP English class as on my car stereo. Is there really an audience for a song entitled "Valerie Plame" (yes, that Valerie Plame)? Maybe not, but The Decemberists have never really cared about making contemporary albums. In fact, many of their early albums lean... maritime. Yeah, maritime. As in, boats, seas, knots, etc. But they're incredibly entertaining (and not as cringe-inducing as one would think upon hearing the term "concept album"). As long as they continue to create musically and lyrically hefty albums, they'll continue to advance.
(2) Yeah Yeah Yeahs vs. (10) Cut Copy
Winner: (2) Yeah Yeah Yeahs
This match-up hurts my heart. Every time I hear Cut Copy, I feel happy. Synths and drum kits and loops and wandering bass lines and whatnot... it's glorious dance music. "Out There On The Ice," "So Haunted," and "Hearts On Fire" were absolutely 3 of my favorite 20 songs from 2008. If you haven't heard them, DO IT NOW!! But It's Blitz!, the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album, is sooooo good, I'm having trouble thinking of objective things to say about it. Karen O's voice is, for the most part, more restrained on this album than in the past... which makes her yelps and yips that much more goosebump-inducing when they do occur. This is looking like a serious contender for the overall title. Don't sleep on the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
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