New Music: Alla - "Love Lockdown" (Kanye West Cover)

Download: Alla - "Love Lockdown" (via)
Download: Kanye West - "Love Lockdown"
Download: Alla - "Tu Vida
Download: Alla - "Sigue Tu Corazon"

Chicago psych-pop trio Alla, who last year put out one of the most tremendously underrated albums with Es Tiempo, released a cover of Kanye West's "Love Lockdown," a track that might appear on their upcoming covers album, Digs. For comparison sake, I've put up both the original and the Alla version. What do you think? Additionally, I've added a couple of tracks from Tiempo for your enjoyment.

Buy Es Tiempo here.

Alla MySpace Page

Cross-published on CIMI

N.A.S.A - "Money" (Featuring David Byrne and Chuck D)

Download: N.A.S.A - "Money" (Featuring David Byrne and Chuck D)
Download: N.A.S.A - "Gifted" (Featuring Kanye West, Santogold and Lykke Li)
Download: N.A.S.A - "Spacious Thoughts" (Featuring Kanye West, Santogold and Lykke Li)

N.A.S.A. have been just killing it lately. Amidst collaborations with the likes of David Byrne, Kanye West, and Santogold, N.A.S.A. are up to something real. "The Spirit Of Apollo" due out February 17, 2009 on Anti/Epitaph Records.

N.A.S.A on MySpace

Kanye West Gets Pennywise

At a recent Kanye West concert, some duder threw a penny at K-dubs. As a result, he freestyled for a solid two minutes about it. Pretty good, right?

Here's the full clip, things get real about two-thirds the way through.

Download: Kanye West Live Performance Freestyles About A Penny

New Kanye West - "Heartless" (Mastered) - plus new version of the video

Heartless from kwest on Vimeo.

Download: Kanye West - "Heartless"
Download: Kanye West - "Love Lockdown" (via)

Yeezy has released new versions of previously released material. The first is a mastered version of his song "Heartless", which finds West continuing in his new, dark musical direction while actually rapping, and another version of "Love Lockdown", the first single from his upcoming 808s and Heartbreak. Additionally, there's the VIMEO version of the "Heartless" video, which is at the top of the post.

Cross-published on CIMI.

New Kanye West Video - "Heartless"

(via)

Cross-Published on CIMI.

New Kanye West - "Coldest Winter" and "Robocop"

(Kanye West - "Coldest Winter")

Download: Kanye West - "Coldest Winter"


(Kanye West - "Robocop")



Downloads via P4K and Nah Right

More and more material is being leaked from Kanye West's upcoming fourth record, 808s and Heartbreak (the supposed cover album for which can be found at the bottom of the post. H/T ) Over the weekend, two new songs appeared. First off is "Coldest Winter", which is driven by a Tears for Fears sample and is reportedly about the passing of Kanye's mother. That track continues the "expressing-emotion-wounds-through-autotune" vibe of "Love Lockdown", in addition to being a more straightforward modern R&B track.

"Lockdown"'s lyrics concerned West playing the obsessed aggressor in a unhealthy relationship, and its interesting to note that the lyrics from the second leaked track "Robocop" are from the opposite perspective. In other words, it's Kanye on the receiving end of a too jealous lover. Kanye poses the question "who knew that she was a drama queen/that'd turn my life into Stephen King?" before asking "when did you become a Robocop"? The vocals in this track are more spoken, but that doesn't necessarily make it rap. It's definitely a synth-driven song with a poppy chorus.

Listen to both songs at the top of the post.



Kanye West MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)
jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com

Crosspublished on CIMI

New Kanye West - "Heartless" (Unmastered)

Download: Kanye West - "Heartless" (Unmastered) (via)

'Ye himself debuted this version of 808s and Heartbreak second single "Heartbreak", which features the vocoder heavily, but is more of a straight-ahead rap track, as compared to first track "Love Lockdown". Thematically, Kanye is treading similar dark emotional territory, but this time, 'Ye's playing victim rather than aggressor. Check it out at the top of the post.

Kanye West MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)
jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com

Video: Kanye West - "Love Lockdown" (Live on Jimmy Kimmel)

Video: Kanye West - "Love Lockdown"

New Kanye West - "Love Lockdown" (Young Son Remix)

Download: Kanye West - "Love Lockdown" (Young Son Remix)

Young Son is an emcee from the Twin Cities who, like many rappers in the Chicago area (like Rhymefest and Lupe Fiasco) peppers his rhymes with social commentary. Flow-wise, he skews closer to Lupe's Tribe Called Quest-isms, but lyrically, he deals with the day-to-day struggles, much like Rhymefest. Recently, he remixed Kanye West's new track "Love Lockdown", the heavily re-recorded first single from 'Ye's fourth album, supposedly titled 808s and Heartbreak. Listen to it at the top of the post.

Young Son MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Cross-published on CIMI.

Top Ten Songs On Elbo.Ws Reviewed In 50 Words or Less: 9/01/08--9/15/08

(Jenny Lewis)

Just a quick note: I've decided to review Justice's "Plainisphere" as one whole song, rather than the four separate parts. So if you're confused regarding the order of this edition, that's why.

1. Jenny Lewis - "Acid Tongue"

Download: Jenny Lewis - "Acid Tongue"

On the title track of her second solo album, the Rilo Kiley songstress harkens back to folk-and-country-influenced songwriters of the 70s, not only musically, but by eschewing modern-day production techniques. The narrative is somewhat trite, but the multi-tracked harmonies will still breaking hearts after multiple listens. Heck, after multiple years.

Grade: A-

2. Deerhoof - "Offend Maggie"

Download: Deerhoof - "Offend Maggie"

Speaking of title tracks, "Offend Maggie" shows that Deerhoof are just about to hit a creative plateau, with an offering that's not quite as spastic as their past work, but still showcases the deft instrumental interplay for which the art-pop trio are known. An abrupt end leaves the listener wanting more, and wondering why they didn't get it.

Grade: B-

3. Kanye West - "Love Lockdown"

Download: Kanye West - "Love Lockdown"

A departure from his past three educationally-themed albums, "Love Lockdown" is the most straightforward R&B song that Chicago-rapper West has written. It's also his darkest, with lyrics depicting conflicting, borderline possessive (think stalker), lyrics about relationships, and a dim heartbeat of an electronic beat keeping the pulse. A unusual change of pace, one that has potential to grow greatly on listeners.

Grade: B+

4, 5, 9, 10. Justice - "Planisphere"

Download: Justice - "Planisphere"

An epic, extended dance track created for the Dior Homme fashion show, this four-part dance symphony from the French duo introduces many different motifs, ranging from neo-classical to old-fashioned metal (dig the not-quite lightning fingers guitar solo) while still keeping a steady beat. Justice introduce enough ideas to keep listeners engaged throughout, but enough to blow their minds.

Grade: B

6. The Kooks - "Kids" (MGMT Cover)

Download: The Kooks - Kids (MGMT Cover)

The British rock quartet offer an acoustic take on the electro-pop group's standard anthemic tracks. Cue song being used to soundtrack a prom scene quarrel in three, two, one...

Grade: C

7. Annuals - "Confessor"

Download: Annuals - "Confessor"

The first representation of the North Carolina-based blog-buzz band's sophomore release, "Confessor" has the requisite multi-part harmonies that evoke the most sun-filled day, and reverb-heavy production characteristics that define the band's past work. A brisk tempo should work to the band's advantage, but instead ensures that the song suffers from an anti-climatic end.

Grade: B-

8. Chad VanGaalen - "Willow Tree"

Download: Chad VanGaalen - "Willow Tree"

Like Neil Young, this Canadian singer-songwriter has an affecting tenor that suggests both defiance and resignation in swinging, banjo-accented folk music. Despite a pleasant melody, VanGaalen adds nothing new to suggest that listeners should listen to his music instead of Young's.

Grade: C+

(Jonathan Graef)
jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com

Kanye West Out Of Jail

Here's yesterday's footage of Yeezy's arrest due to tangling with paparazzi, an event you've now doubt heard about by now. However, it would now appear, based on a post on Kanye West's blog, that he is out of jail, in the studio, and normally "cool with the paparazzi". West then stated that the guy who took his picture wasn't cool, hence the explosion. Because paparazzi are normally so respectful and granting of space. Read the Twitter-style post here. (h/t Idolator)

In music related news, Nah Right posted a mastered version of Kanye West's single "Love Lockdown", from his upcoming fourth album 808s and Heartbreak. Listen to it here.

Download: Kanye West - "Love Lockdown" (via)

Kanye West MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Cross-published on CIMI

Video: Kanye West - "Love Lockdown" (Live at the VMAs)

Download: Kanye West - "Love Lockdown" (via)

Although there's been new Kanye West material from his forthcoming fourth album, which may see release as early as December, floating around the internet, the first official taste of record numero quatro came last night at the VMAs. Breaking with his boycott of the show, Yeezy closed the 25th edition of the show by performing "Love Lockdown", a song which also sees release to iTunes today.

As for the song itself, 'Ye is going for a darker, slower, less self-assured vibe here which stands out immediately compared to the likes of "Stronger". "I'm in love with you/but the vibe is wrong/and it hauntin' me/all the way home" goes one lyric, and it aptly sums up the vibe here. "Love Lockdown" is heavy on drums, vocoder, and piano, and all those touches add to the fact that this is Kanye's most R&B-flavored single. I don't think there's any rapping on it at all, and the vocal hook could have come straight from a Daft Punk song. All in all, "Love Lockdown" shows that West is expanding his horizons creatively, but as far as the actual song quality is concerned...

Kanye West MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

This post was cross-published on Chicago is Mildly Interesting.

New Muja Messiah - "Growing Pains"

All of all Muja Messiah's fans, which include Brother Ali, Slug, and 2DopeBoyz, none are bigger than himself. Like Kanye West, Muja's got some kind of flair for self-promotion. Also like the Chicago-based rapper, Messiah delivers the goods that, haters be damned, show that his braggadocio may actually be justified.

"Growing Pains", the first leaked single from his upcoming album Thee Adventures Of A B-Boy D-Boy, tells the story of his success, but also the story of how hard he worked in order to get there, and what the stakes are for Messiah. "Every time I write a rhyme/I put my life on the line" sounds like hyperbole, but it's a line delivered with the conviction needed for the listener to believe him. The track, produced by Doc, based around a swirling orchestral loop and a soulful hook, is a compelling juxtaposition of extroverted confidence (check out the first verse) and introspective reflection (dig the description of Muja's teenage years).

Listen to "Growing Pains" at the top of the post, or download the track here.

Thee Adventures of A B-Boy D-Boy is out on July 29th.

Muja Messiah MySpace

(Jonathan Graef)

You Wouldn't Like It When Kanye's Angry (Especially If You Worked at Bonnaroo)

Download: Kanye West - "Stronger" (feat. Daft Punk)

Man alive. If you've been to p4k or Idolator, you've seen this already. But if you haven't...behold! Kanye West's response to the fabled Bonnaroo incident. Enjoy the wrath of Kanye (via Weezy/idolator/pitchfork):

I am sick of negative people who just sit around trying 2 plot my downfall... Why???? I understand if people don't like me because I like me or if people think tight clothes look gay or people say I run my mouth to much, But this Bonnaroo thing is the worst insult I've ever had in my life. This is the most offended I've ever been... this is the maddest I ever will be. I'm typing so fucking hard I might break my fucking Mac book Air!!!!!!!! Call me any name you want.... arrogant, conceited, narcissistic, racist, metro, fag whatever you can think of.... BUT NEVER SAY I DIDN'T GIVE MY ALL! NEVER SAY I DIDN'T GIVE MY ALL! THIS SHOWS NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY TO BE GOOD AT SOMETHING THERE WILL BE PEOPLE THERE TO LIE ABOUT YOU AND BRING YOU DOWN! LIKE WAYNE SAYS PLEASE DON'T SHOOT ME DOWN CAUSE I'M FLYING! I'M FUCKING HURT BY THIS ONE. ALL I CARE ABOUT ARE THE FANS. JUST SAY THIS OUT LOUD IN A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE, "KANYE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT GIVING A GOOD PERFORMANCE." CAN ANYONE HONESTLY SAY THAT ????????? HAS ANYONE EVEN TAKEN THE TIME TO AT LEAST DO THE MATH??? BONNAROO SHOULD HAVE RELEASED A STATEMENT IN MY DEFENSE BUT SINCE THEY HAVEN'T LET'S BREAK DOWN THE WALLS ON THIS TRUMAN SHOW AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT REALLY OCCURRED!!! FOR OVER A MONTH WE WENT BACK AND FORTH ON WETHER OR NOT WE COULD EVEN FIT MY STAGE AT THE FESTIVAL. ONE DAY THEY WOULD SAY YES... WE'D SEND THEM OUR SPECS THEN THEY THEY'D SAY OK... THEN THEY WOULD SEND SPECS BACK THAT DIDN'T FIT THE STAGE. WE WERE OBVIOUSLY DEALING WITH FUCKING IDIOTS WHO DIDN'T REALLY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO REALLY PUT ON THIS SHOW PROPERLY. THEY TRIED 2 GIVE ME A TIME SLOT WERE IT WAS STILL LIGHT OUTSIDE ... I HAVE A FUCKING LIGHT SHOW DUMB ASS, IT'S NOT CALLED GLOW IN THE DARK FOR NO REASON SQUID BRAINS! MY PEOPLE WORKED OUT A COMPROMISED STAGE PLOT AND A 3AM TIME SLOT AND I AGREED. FAST FOWARD TO THE DAY OF THE SHOW. MY PRODUCTION MANAGER TRIED TO LOAD IN FOR 24 HOURS BEFORE I WENT ON STAGE BUT THE FESTIVAL WOULDN'T ALLOW US TO DO ANYTHING UNTILL PEARL JAM LEFT THE STAGE. PEARL JAM ENDED ONE HOUR
LATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AT THAT POINT WE'RE RACING AGAINST THE SUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AT 4:20AM DON COMES BACK 2 THE BUS AND TELLS ME, " IT WOULD TAKE 45 MORE MINUTES TO PUT ALL YOUR PYRO IN!" I SAY I HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE . I HIT THE STAGE AND PEOPLE HAD BEEN THROWING SHIT ON THE STAGE AND HAD ACTUALLY HIT THE JANE SCREEN WITH, I GUESS BOTTLES OR SOMETHING AND HAD BROKEN MY FUCKING SCREEN. REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE A SHORTY AND WATER WOULD HIT THE TV?????? WHEN I GOT 2 "THROUGH THE WIRE" I STEPPED ON THE FRONT PART OF MY STAGE AND THERE WAS SO MUCH LIQUID ON THE STAGE I COULDN'T MOVE WITHOUT SLIPPING. I HAD TO ADJUST MY WHOLE PERFORMANCE STYLE BECAUSE OF IT. A FEW MORE SONGS IN AND THE SONG WAS ON IT'S WAY UP.. I CUT A FEW SONGS FROM THE SET BECAUSE I WANTED PEOPLE 2 EXPERIENCE STRONGER WHILE THERE WAS STILL SOME DARKNESS TO PERFORM IT IN. I'VE STRUGGLED WITH STRONGER FROM IT'S CONCEPTION. REMEMBER LAST SUMMER WHEN I CANCELED SOME TV APPEARANCES. IT WAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO PERFORM STRONGER IN THE DAYTIME. ANYONE WHO CAME TO THE GLOW TOUR CAN UNDERSTAND WHY I WANTED PEOPLE TO SEE IT PROPERLY. IT BROKE MY HEART THAT I COULDN'T GIVE THESE FANS STRONGER IN IT'S GREATEST FORM... BY THE TIME I GOT TO STRONGER IT WAS DAYTIME AND IT BROKE MY HEART. I'M SORRY TO EVERYONE THAT I DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY 2 GIVE THE PERFORMANCE I WANTED TO. I'M SORRY... SOMETIMES I GO 2, 3 DAYS W/O SLEEP WORKING ON MY PERFORMANCE... I HAVE TO ICE MY KNEES AFTER EVERY SHOW AND THEY HURT WHEN I WALK THROUGH THE AIRPORT... HAVING AN EXPENSIVE STAGE CUTS MY PAYDAY IN HALF... CALL ME WHAT YOU WANT BUT NEVER SAY I DIDN'T GIVE MY ALL!!!

In related news, Eddie Vedder was seen crying into his Victory Storm King Stout and rapidly chain-smoking American Spirits.

Can't Chicago-based musicians just get along?

In more constructive 'Ye news, Fake Shore Drive has a new West track up. Download it here. Song is called "Gotta Pose".

Kanye West MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Kanye West Handles Himself Well Addressing Minneapolis Heckler. Bonaroo Fans, However, Are An Entirely Different Story.

Kanye West is many things: talented, entertaining, gifted, etc. But I think that even his defenders have to admit that patience is not one of the brother's virtues. So it's incredibly surprising that, at the Minneapolis stop of ye's "Glow In The Dark" tour, when a heckler threw an object of some kind at the Chicago-based superstar, he reacted in a calm, collected fashion. Watch the video at the top of the post.

But whatever personal breakthrough West achieved that night was utterly lost by the time Kanye took the stage at the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee. As you undoubtedly know already, here's what happened:

According to the BBC the singer was an hour-and-a-half late for his performance, promoting fans to chant "Kanye sucks" and throw items, including glow sticks at the empty stage.

Festival spokesman Ken Weins said the delay was caused by having to take apart Pearl Jam's set and loading up Kanye West's equipment.

West had been due to perform in the early hours of Sunday morning but the extended delay resulted in many campers returning to their tents.

Musically, Kanye does suck...through the straw of perfection. However, in terms of dealing with setbacks...well, you know. West has yet to address the subject on his blog. Once he does, though, we'll let you know what he said.

In more positive West news, the rapper was recently added as a panelist to the Midwest Music Summit, a gathering devoted to the advancement of Midwestern Urban music. Read more here.

Kanye West MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Video: Kanye West - "Flashing Lights" (2nd Version)

(Jonathan Graef)

Kanye West Announces World Tour

Download: Kanye West - "Stronger" (feat. Daft Punk)
Download: Rhianna - "Umbrella" (feat. Jay-Z)
Download: Lupe Fiasco - "Superstar" (Feat. Matthew Santos)
Download: N.E.R.D. - Everyone Nose

Speaking of 'Ye, the native-Chicagoan announced the dates for his "Glow In The Dark" world tour. Joining up with West on almost all of the dates will be fellow Chicagoan Lupe Fiasco, alternative hip-hop supergroup N.E.R.D and shit-hot R&B singer Rihanna. Tour dates are below:


04-16 Seattle, WA - Key Arena
04-18 Sacramento, CA - ARCO Arena
04-19 San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
04-20 San Diego, CA - San Diego Sports Arena
04-27 Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
05-01 Dallas, TX - Superpages.com Center
05-02 Woodlands, TX - Woodlands Pavilion
05-23 Chicago, IL - United Center
05-24 Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
05-27 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Credit Union Centre *#
05-29 Edmonton, Rexall Place *#
05-30 Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome *#
06-12 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo *

West, of course, recently performed at the Grammys with Daft Punk, who made their first television appearance at the ceremony Sunday night. Kanye also won four trophies that night for his album Graduation. Lupe Fiasco and Rihanna also were Grammy winners this past Sunday.

Listen to MP3s of all the artists in the "Glow In The Dark" tour at the top of the post.

Kanye West MySpace Page
Lupe Fiasco MySpace Page
N.E.R.D. Website
Rihanna MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)