Tales of Interest: Lil' Wayne is a Better Writer than me Edition

• Hang on, Lil' Wayne is blogging for ESPN?
  

• Two 'big time' albums that I'm not really sold on at all: Jenny Lewis Acid Tongue and TV on the Radio Dear Science,. Let me start by saying the song 'Acid Tongue' is terrific. I remember after seeing Jenny w/ the Watson Twins a couple years ago at Thanksgiving having that song stuck in my head for months after the concert. The rest of the album I think is pretty bland. In fact, if I had one word to describe Acid Tongue it'd be: meh. On the other hand, if I were to believe all the reviews I've been seeing TVOTR may be jesus incarnate, in band form. Really, I just can't get into it. I suspect that it might just be me, but If someone could tell me what's wrong with me, and how come I can't get into it, that'd be great.

• What I have been listening to a lot is this Daytrotter session with Frightened Rabbit. I will now begin looking back in their catalogue. Expect Midnight Organ Fight somewhere in the top 10 at the end of the year.

• For Kurtis - to prove that I'm not, say, 'soft like cottage cheese' - I expect I'll be picking up Jake One's White Van Music when it comes out in a couple of days. If nothing else the new single with Brother Ali is, as the kids say, Fiya.

[mp3] Jake One - The Truth ft. Freeway and Brother Ali

PS: Oh, and in case you heard "Rod Stewart Loves the Hamptons". If you see any of these tags around TO - you can bet that I've got into graffiti.

... My fellow Americans.

If you haven't seen it yet, Hilary Clinton and Sarah Palin address the Nation. Very, very, funny, which is surprising since it was on SNL.

• Lil Wayne is the Guitar Hero

• Charles Barkley's greatest hits

• Some band, The Airborne Toxic Event, writes an open letter to Pitchfork for giving them a bad review... and, the letter, is quite well written.

• I've heard a few songs from Winter Gloves (very appropriate for a Canadian band, no?), and am excited to get a chance to listen to the full album when they send it along... seems like a fun band to see live, and I'm crossing my fingers and hoping to see them later this fall.
  

Tales of Interest, Friday Night Edition

I gave the new Microsoft Zune (thoughts on the machine pending - although I can say the headphones they sent are terrific) a test drive walk tonight, and I've got some thoughts on a couple of albums that I haven't talked much about...



Cut Copy In Ghost Colours: Let me preface what I'm about to say with the proviso that I think its an excellent album, and if I get a chance to see them live I'll do it in a heart beat -- but, I'm pretty sure most of the music on this album might be stolen from video games from the Original Nintendo. That said, the more I give this album a chance the more I think it might be a top-10er at the end of the year. If nothing else 'Hearts on Fire' is easily a top-5 single...

[mp3] Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire



Lil' Wayne Tha Carter III: Normally I have a policy of not listening to any music by an artist whose name includes the abbreviated version of the word little -this began with Bow Wow - but after an outstanding Pitchfork review and the badgering from a co-worker, I relented. I can't say that I love the misogyny, drug talk, and all the references to the V.I.P., but its filling the rap related void in my life right now...

[mp3] Lil' Wayne - Mr. Carter ft. Jay-z removed to ensure Lil' Wayne doesn't pop a cap in my ass....



Girl Talk Feed the Animals: Greg Gillis - Girl Talk - seems like a good DJ, but I can't say that I really see myself sitting down to listen to him ... ever, really. I've seen guys like Mark Ronson (my favourite), RJD2 and local, or close to local guys, like the Peter Project and find this stuff is always best digested live, and probably after a few drinks. So, I'm not sure what all the fuss is about really....

[mp3] Girl Talk - She Wants It