A few items of note have crossed my transom of late that I thought I'd address, so here they be. Let's start with...
THE GOOD:
* For a start, let's begin with what is categorically THE BEST THING EVER.
* I must confess that I was only somewhat aware of the Black Keys (a bluesy indie rock duo from Akron, Ohio -- home of Devo, let's remember) and frankly kept confusing them with the comparatively tuneless cacophony of the Black Dice (much-feted, ersatz Neo-No Wave/post-hardcore ensemble from Brooklyn). In any case, the Black Keys are kinda like a more hirsute, less tonsorially-conscious version of the White Stripes (only they're both dudes -- and were never married, nor do they try to convince people that they're siblings). "Your Touch" is really the only track of theirs I've ever paid much attention to, but I think it kicks a man-sized platter of ass. Plus the video (featuring a goodly amount of violent gunplay and, um, faberge eggs) is a scream. See it here.
THE BAD:
*Yes, this is almost a week old, but I'm only getting around to commenting on it n
ow. I should mention at this point in the proceedings that I enjoy contemporary R&B (with precious few exceptions) about as much as I enjoy being vomited on. With that disclaimer in mind, please read on: While it's not like I've ever shared his tastes, agreed with his viewpoints nor particularly admired his writing before, I found Kelefa Sanneh's slavishly fawning article in The New York Times regarding Beyoncé’s latest dollop of sonic offal to be particularly eggregious. Listen, people: to each their own and all that, but let's get something straight: Beyoncé is an evil, vaccuous dingbatty diva-replicant with a shamelessly voracious ego and a not-even-that-accomplished voice. Let's stop crowning her as the new messiah, shall we? Stop treating your ears like urinals.
AND THE UGLY:
* I'm still not quite sure what to make of this, but surely when an "alternative hip hop" group -- in this case, the Gym Class Heroes -- sees fit to lift the hook from the title track of Supertramp's Breakfast in America (as they've done on their single, "Cupid's Chokehold"), that's a sign of the apocalypse, right? I should start packing provisions and preparing my family for the coming of the four horsemen, correct? Don't get me wrong -- I admire Gym Class Heroes' balls for doing it (surely it's not going to win them any favor in the Hip Hop community), but I just wonder how it came about. And, for the record, I must confess to owning and, despite my better judgement, actually liking that Supertramp album as well.
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