Artist: Portishead
Album: Third
Label: Universal
Year: 2008
Artist: Panic At The Disco
Album: Pretty. Odd.
Label: Atlantic
Year: 2008
Artist: Ours
Album: Mercy...Dancing
for the Death...
Label: AR, LLC
Year: 2008
Artist: The Submarines
Album: Honeysuckle Weeks
Label: Nettwerk Productions
Year: 2008
Artist: The Roots
Album: Rising Down
Label: Island Def Jam
Year: 2008
Walking into Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige’s Heart of the City show, I had high expectations. The self-declared “greatest rapper of all time" and the “queen of hip-hop soul” on one stage—could they possibly live up to the hype?
They came out swinging, opening the concert with a throwback to 1996, "Can't Knock the Hustle." Then Jay-Z was gone, and Mary J. did what she does best: belt song after song of “straight from the heart” tunes, including fan favorites like "No More Drama" and "Real Love." I could have done without her between-song monologues about pain, loss and drama, undoubtedly caused by men—which made me feel like an a-hole for being male—but I guess you don't become a master of soul without some serious heartbreak.
As soon as she was done, Jay-Z came back just the way he’d left: full of energy, flaunting his familiar swagger, floating from one side of the stage to the other, all while making sure everyone in the building was having as much fun as he was–and we were. As I people-watched from my balcony seat, I noticed how entranced my fellow Hova fans were–rapping along, throwing the Roc sign with both hands, and shouting words of encouragement at the mogul.
The stellar visual effects included a cinema-style big screen that spanned the entire stage and a full orchestra and percussion section filled the stadium. But my favorite part of the night was when Jigga Man showed off a bit of his maturity with an a capella of "Minority Report" (about Hurricane Katrina) while "unofficially" endorsing Barack Obama, putting the Democratic presidential nominee's face front and center on the stage screen.
Whether or not you like Jay-Z's new stuff or Mary J. Blige's tear-jerking ballads, this was a top-notch show. It's obvious that Jay-Z believes he's the real deal, but he backs it up by doing everything he can to make his audience believe it too. -Jeff Welter
For those of you who are unfamiliar with his music, Ours is the product of New Jersey singer Jimmy Gnecco, around whom an ever-changing lineup was solidified ten years ago. Mercy: Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy is the band’s third album, and truth be told, it isn’t wildly exciting, but it is a solid body of work showcasing the evolution of Gnecco’s almost thirty years in the biz.
It’s easy to pinpoint Gnecco’s influences, which have been present yet cleverly disguised in previous works. On Mercy, however, Gnecco and band have unleashed their inner desires and uninhibitedly fused their influences, subtly jumping from post-grunge to alternative indie-rock and bringing to mind U2, Radiohead, and Jeff Buckley. Though some may feel that this record comes too close to its influences, I believe that Gnecco has strictly drawn inspiration from these artists and has released his creativity in an honest way.
“Ran Away to Tell the World” is the high point of the album, while the track “Murder” is a strong contribution. Indie scenesters might really enjoy this collage of ambient rock, while others will struggle to listen. One thing for sure is that time has been a friend to this now family-man rock star; we just hope he has a stage on which to create in the future.
-Melissa Colosimo
Playlist Worthy: “Ran Away with the World,” “Moth,” “Murder”
John Dragonetti and Blake Hazard, the reunited couple known as The Submarines, have delivered their second LP, and love is definitely in the air. As you listen to Honeysuckle Weeks, the sweet-sugary happiness explodes with flowers and glitter from the rainbow unicorn they flew in on; it’s a cavity waiting to happen. The elitist music critic in me wants to bash this candy-coated album to bits, but I find myself smiling from ear to ear every time I listen to it.
Sure, the guitar riffs and piano melodies might be simple and straightforward, but their simplicity is seamlessly complimented by Hazard’s cute-as-a-button vocals. The lyrics, too, are a bit on the juvenile side, but they represent a sense of optimism that seems genuine and infectious. I could leave Dragonetti’s voice out of the equation, but it seems this puppy-love couple can’t help but sing together.
The star on the album is the pick-up-your-spirits anthem “You Me and the Bourgeoisie.” The other tracks offer chill acoustic sounds, electronic synthesized beats, and slight reggae influences that are just as cute as they are cheerful. So have yourself a “Honeysuckle Week” and listen with a light ear and easygoing mind.
-Melissa Colosimo
Playlist Worthy: “You Me and the Bourgeoisie,” “The Wake Up Song,” “Submarine Symphonika”
