I Used to Be Cool: Music Edition

The Simpsons

There are many things that can make you feel old. I have had a bunch of these feelings lately. I was playing catch with my son the other day and my shoulder has not stopped hurting. I will get a cut from trail running and it will take forever to heal. If I sleep weird it is always a bummer the next day. These are typical getting older things. But there was an incident the other day that really put me getting older into perspective.

One of my nieces, who is a sophomore in college, was coming to town to go to a concert. I was talking to my folks before she got there, and asked what show she was going to see. They told me they didn't know, but that the show was at a venue called The Duck Room. I'm familiar with this spot, but I have not seen a show there in quite some time. I went on their website and looked up the calendar and saw the band. They are called Bendigo Fletcher. So, first off, I do not know if this is a band or a solo act. That was my first inclination that I was older.

I then looked at the full calendar or upcoming shows. I was scrolling and scrolling and kept coming up empty. I had no idea who any of the artists were. And it is not like I don't listen to cool music. I love finding new music to listen to. I'm open to almost any suggestions. But I was drawing a total blank. I thought to myself that The Duck Room is more of an indie venue. It is smaller and they book more up and coming acts. So I checked The Pageant website. I have gone to The Pageant a bunch over the years. I have seen all kinds of acts there. I saw A Tribe Called Quest when Phife was still alive. I saw The Black Keys when they had to set up their own equipment. I saw a live taping of Comedy Bang! Bang!. I've seen acts like Leon Bridges. The Shins and The Mars Volta. Needless to say, The Pageant gets all kinds of bands and artists to play there, big and small. But when I was scrolling through their calendar, it was mostly blank again. In fact, the only acts I recognized were comedians and tribute bands. I also knew a few of the older bands, guys a bit older than me, but that was it. All these groups or solo acts, who look hip and cool, I had zero idea who they were. I had never heard of more than eighty percent of the people playing The Pageant. It was the same with the venue next door to The Pageant, Delmar Hall. I could not recognize anyone. My buddy told me he was taking his kids to a show there soon, I asked the band, he told me and I had no idea who he was talking about. He knew the band, knew the songs and he is my age, but I was oblivious. I went on to check on some other venues around town, and much to my chagrin I only knew the big acts playing arenas and bigger spots around STL. It truly bummed me out. I've been thinking about it since Saturday night and I am disappointed in myself for not knowing a bunch of traveling musicians.

This “problem” has extended from there to other parts of my life. My other niece, who is a senior in high school, makes fun of my taste in hip hop. I listen to "old people" hip hop according to her. When did Kendrick Lamar become "old people" hip hop? My nephew plays stuff on YouTube when he visits and I have no clue what is happening. My son will tell me all these hip hop artists he likes, and I am just confused. I will tell him about the artists I listen to. I will go on and on about Tribe or Biggie or Outkast and he says they are too old for him. To him this is like when my dad would listen to The Beatles and Bob Dylan around the house, two musical acts I now adore but didn't as a kid.

This was a tough one for me. I am still having trouble with aging. I used to be cool, but I guess I am not anymore, especially when it comes to what is considered popular music. At least I still have the artists I enjoy making new music. But maybe this is just how it goes the older you get and I just have to deal with it. It's a bummer, but that is the way it goes. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Listens to "Penith"

Last week Lil Dicky put out his latest album "Penith". For all intents and purposes it is a soundtrack to his show, which I love also. I have been excited about this album coming out. I mentioned it on the podcast. So, the day it came out, I listened as soon as I could. I went to run at the gym, it was dangerously cold in Saint Louis last week, and turned the record on. I had planned on only doing about four miles that day. But, after turning the record on, I decided to keep going until the record was done. I was so into what I was hearing, I was vibing along and I forgot about my plans and felt good. I ended up doing seven miles that day.

This record is pretty excellent. I have been a fan of Lil Dicky's for a few years now, but he has never really put out a full record. He has songs here and there, he releases them every now and again, but never a full on record. "Penith" is a full on record. There are over twenty songs if you listen to the bonus tracks. What makes this record work so much for me is the space each song puts me in when I listen. I sit back and think about the show and the scene that has each song in it. It lets me reminisce. Again, I love that show, so going back without having to binge it for the millionth time, that is nice. I get to use my imagination. I especially like listening to "Harrison Ave". That song is awesome. It has a very good beat over it, and Lil Dicky's rapping is pretty phenomenal on this track. That episode is also one of the best episodes that I have ever seen on tv. "Brand New", which opens the record, brings me right back to Dave changing things around in his life and career. "Mr McAdams" is pretty fun and a good track. I also really like that episode of "Dave" due to the joke they play on the Met Gala. "Ally's Song" is gut wrenching and sad. And it brings me right back to the heartbreak you feel for Ally. "No Fruits or Vegetables" takes us back to season 1 and the wedding episode. That is where I felt this show got pretty great. This was where I was watching and thought, this has some serious legs. "Hi, I'm Dave" is the theme song to the first season of the show. I would listen to this track on Itunes a ton when it first dropped. To hear it again on this record was pretty cool. The album closes with "We Good", which is one of the more uplifting songs on the album. It also gives us GaTa doing his thing for the first time on the record.

I am loving the album so far. I have listened to it from start to finish three times so far and am not even close to being bored with it or skipping songs. I turn it on and just let myself sit back and listen. I was driving home from the vet today and on the way home my dog and I had a good time dancing to the record. This record is not just a soundtrack either, this is a good hip hop album. Lil Dicky can rap. He has good guest spots, but this record is pretty much all him, with GaTa dropping in here and there. He has good flow and is pretty damn good as a rapper. The beats are pretty solid as well.

I hope he doesn't stop here. I want to hear more music from him. And I hope the tv show comes back as well. But for now, I have "Penith" to listen to until a new Lil Dicky record comes out, and I'm totally fine with that. Check this record out. It is good. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Happy Birthday to Great All Around Person Dolly Parton

Today is Dolly Parton's birthday. Look, I'm a very late convert to Dolly Parton. I've always known who she is, why she's famous and that she has millions of fans. But, it wasn't until recently, namely the pandemic and the rollout of the vaccine, that I really paid attention to Parton. After what I have learned, I’m a big fan of Dolly.

From what I have read and been told by those close to me, Parton was involved in some way helping the COVID vaccine come out, and come out as fast as it did. I will forever be grateful to her for this. She helped usher in this new normal, and because of her tireless efforts, we are back to some kind of normalcy in America. She is an ally of the LGBTQ+ community. She has never given up her political leanings, but she has always been a supporter of same sex marriage and has always loved that she is an icon within the community. She helped with a telethon after wildfires broke out in the Smoky Mountains. She works with Red Cross and HIV/AIDS related charities. She has an honorary doctorate from the University of Tennessee. Dollywood has been a massive success. She has won multiple awards. She has written books. She revolutionized writing rights for songwriters. Colonel Parker tried to goose her out of money for the song "I Will Always Love You". He claimed that it was standard procedure for a songwriter to hand over half the publishing rights when another artist, namely his artist Elvis Presley, covered a song. Parton refused and the rest is history. Parton was not only a genius songwriter, but a genius business person. She has earned an endless amount of money during her career. She's gone on to do multiple genres of music. She is a country icon, but she has also done pop and rock records. She has covered old blues standards. She has a Christmas album. She's even done bluegrass. Not to be outdone on the stage, she is also a fairly accomplished actor. I just recently watched "9 to 5" with my wife, and Parton was the best one in the whole movie. Her music is all over soundtracks. She's appeared on "Grace and Frankie". She has multiple Hallmark Christmas movies. She has lent her voice to many, many animated movies and shows. She has almost an entire "Simpsons" episode dedicated to her. She's been married to the same person for over 50 years. She's never had kids, but she loves them. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has countless awards, including an Oscar. And she just performed at halftime of a Thanksgiving NFL game. She is a wonderful, beautiful star.

Dolly is 78 years old today, but you would never be able to tell. That is amazing. Dolly Parton is a national treasure. I wish I had come to her stuff earlier in my life. I was a snob when I was younger about music and movies. I still have snobbish tendencies, but it is getting better. I would not have watched "9 to 5" or listened to her music in my 20's. Now, being 41, I loved "9 to 5" and I will pop on "Jolene" at the drop of a hat. I love that tune. Happy Birthday Dolly Parton. Here's to many more and keep doing all that you do for the country. You are one hell of an awesome person. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Best of 2023 - Music

Today I have my top 5 music/rediscovering albums and moments of 2023. Music has always been a big deal in my life. Unfortunately I have not heard much new music the past couple years. I find myself going back to stuff I used to listen to, or finding older music that was popular a few years ago. I am not hip anymore. I'm 41 now. I don't know all the cool new artists out there at the moment. Maybe things will change as my kids get older. But right now, my music taste is not current. Keep that in mind as you read my list.

At number 5 I have Lil Dicky announcing his new record. I am a fan of his music. But even more so, I am a fan of his wonderful show "Dave" on FX. And this most recent season focused on him touring his new music. He also did a bunch of stuff in season two that referenced this upcoming record. The album is entitled "Penith". I can remember howling when he was doing publication for this record in season two. But he played some of the music in the show, and I found myself vibing out. He also did an entire episode this past season where he did a song with Rachel McAdams. It was a great episode, it centered around a fashion ball, and the song is dope. He also had some autotune stuff he did with Brad Pitt that I am curious to see if that made the record. He also had a great video for a song about his childhood crush. I am stoked. I feel like he hasn't put out new music in quite some time and I am more than ready to listen when the record comes out in January.

At number 4 I have my personal reintroduction to the band MGMT. I listened to them when they first came out, but after a bit I found them to be a bit pretentious and kind of forgot about them. Then I started to play a game on my phone called Beatstar and they had a song of theirs featured on the game, "Electric Feel". I would play the song on the game and find myself bobbing my head while playing. I was playing it one day and I looked at my wife and said, "this song slaps". Then I went to Spotify and started to listen to the record with "Electric Feel". I then went back to the beginning and found myself enjoying pretty much all of their work. They make pretty darn good music. They have a pretty cool sound. They make music to dance to. It is all pretty great and I'm glad that I stopped being a music snob with MGMT's discography. It has been nice to reacquaint myself with some pretty sweet, poppy and dancy music.

At number 3 I have my discovery of the band LSD. LSD is a three piece super group consisting of Sia, Diplo and Labrinth. The music is rad too. This is another band that Beatstar introduced me to. And I'm here for it. The music blends a bunch of genres. They have pop, electronic, hip hop and dance music vibes. The songs are catchy and fun to sing along to. They only put out one record, that I know of, and that record is one of my new favorites to listen to a lot in my car and home. I like the version of Sia this record has brought out. I enjoy Diplo's production here. And I love that I get to hear an artist new to me, Labrinth, who is great at his craft. LSD is one of my better personal discoveries lately and I'm glad they are in my music life now.

At number 2 I have Killer Mike's solo record, "Michael". This record is everything I hoped it would be. Killer Mike crushes verse after verse on this album. His guest list is second to none. He brought back a whole bunch of Atlanta rappers and let them shine here. But above all, Killer Mike further cemented his place as one of the best rappers in the game, now and possibly of all time. I knew going into listening that I was going to like this album, I just didn't know how much. Well, I love it and have been listening to it a bunch since this summer. Killer Mike is amazing and continues to do amazing work.

At number 1 I have Lil Yachty's "Let's Start Here". This album came out of nowhere for me. I have never listened to Lil Yachty priors to this record. He was never on my radar. And when people who's musical taste I trust would talk up this record, I laughed it off. Lil Yachty is a party rapper in my eyes. But "Let's Start Here" is an achievement. Lil Yachty did something completely out of his comfort zone, making a psychedelic record, and this is one of the best records I have heard in quite some time. It is wild and insane and wonderful. The songs range anywhere from eight to three minutes. Lil Yachty does hip hop verses, rock verses, R&B choruses and psychedelic stuff all over this album. The instrumentation is incredible. Whoever he got to play the instruments, he knocked it out of the whole entire park. This record is endlessly listenable and awesome. I have been blown away with every listen. Lil Yachty took a chance and hammered it. This album is amazing and you should listen to it immediately if you have not yet. It is worth your time.

That is it for my top 5 albums/musical moments of 2023. Come back tomorrow for my top 5 tv shows of the year. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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I'm Actually Pretty into Two Bruce Springsteen Albums

A week ago I wrote about Bruce Springsteen. I talked about how I appreciate his writing, his work ethic and the breadth of his career. But I also let it be known that I could not get into his music. Try as I might, it just didn;t work for me. Well, I have a little bit of a rebuttal today though.

The podcast about Springsteen is still going on, I'm still listening, and I am still finding it hard to get it. He makes adult contemporary music because his fans are contemporary adults. But in going back there are two records that I do like. There are two records that I can listen to and find myself enjoying what I'm hearing. Those records are "The Ghost of Tom Joad" and "Nebraska".

I have found my listening and repeat listening to these records to be quite enjoyable. They are dynamite, especially "Nebraska". That album is a masterpiece. I also think, despite its grueling lyrics, "The Ghost of Tom Joad" to be a very good record. So when I was listening to "Nebraska" this morning with my dad, we had a little chat. He asked why I was listening to Springsteen if I didn't like him. He reads some of my stuff. As I sat there and contemplated his question, while listening to "Nebraska" with him, it dawned on me. I know why I like these two albums, why I'm able to overlook what I consider misgivings. These records are so good for me, as a listener of music, because they are so stripped back and minimal. These records are like folk records that I adore from the 60's. The record has three musical elements on it, as opposed to his other records that have a full band and a string ensemble. These two records have acoustic guitar, harmonica and Springsteen doing a folky voice. There may be a drum machine here and there, and he may even play piano a bit, but it is very, very stripped down. I love acoustic music. It is one of my favorite styles of music to listen to. I love the barebones of an acoustic guitar. I also like how the acoustic guitar shows an artist's warts. It makes me appreciate the artist even more when they are proficient on an acoustic guitar. I have always loved Bob Dylan, so when you throw a harmonica in with the acoustic guitar, I am even more in. I enjoy the harmonica. And when Springsteen does that folky voice, it works for me. I like when he takes on that voice and really gives it a go. I like folk music, and when Springsteen uses it, singing his very well written words, it is obviously going to work for me. And that is the thing too with these records, the words. These songs tell vivid and enthralling stories. I can let myself get very heavily involved in the stories that are being told when Springsteen is singing. The stories are a drag, but I like stuff like that. I like to be transported into a dark world. It is a nice break for a few minutes.

"The Ghost of Tom Joad" is great, but "Nebraska" is a masterpiece. And it is seemingly an accidental masterpiece. "Nebraska" was just kind of slapped together by Springsteen himself in a farmhouse he was staying in, and it sounds that way. I love the archaic way he recorded that whole record. "The Ghost of Tom Joad" is very stripped down too, but it is mixed and produced by professionals. And that is fine, but it is missing the charm of "Nebraska". That record is amazing.

So, if you agreed with my first piece on Springsteen, but want to give him another shot, listen to "Nebraska" and "The Ghost of Tom Joad". Yes they have Springsteen's voice, but they are both stripped down, small records in comparison to his other stuff, and that is what makes them great. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Tries to Listen to Andre 3000's Flute Record

After a long, long time away, Andre 3000 released a new album today, "New Blue Sun". I was very excited when I heard that he was putting out new music. He hasn't done this in forever. He has shown up on some other songs here and there, but not anything in the way of it all being him. I think the last full length record he put out was "Idlewild", which is better than I remembered it being. So when the news was announced, I let myself get excited.

Then I saw people talking about their experience with the new record. I also have seen many pictures of him in China and Japan. These are the same pictures that show him carrying around flutes. I just assumed he was trying this instrument out for fun.

He was not.

This new record is not a rap record. It is not a rock record. It is not like what he did on "The Love Below". This is experimental, weird and jazzy. This record, I have only heard two songs so far, is totally out of left field. There are eight tracks on this album, but the runtime is nearly 90 minutes. I put on the record on my way to the store today thinking I could listen to a few of the new tracks. I didn't even finish the first song before I got home. The first track is over 12 minutes long. The second song is over 13 minutes long. I finished that one while prepping some kimchi. I will say, there were moments within these first two songs that I was vibing out to. Andre 3000 can really play the flute. But when I was listening I felt like Milhouse and the fireworks factory. I kept waiting for something to kick in. I was hoping that he would maybe sing a bit, and maybe he will when I go back and finish the album. But so far it is an instrumental jazz flute record.

Look, Andre 3000 is a genius. I love his work with Outkast and his features. I have come to the realization that he may be the greatest emcee to ever do it. He is an amazing musical artist. But I'm really struggling with this record two songs in. It is ambient. It is experimental. It's jazz. These are genres and musical styles that have never really been for me. I get that some people genuinely love these styles, and this album is definitely for them. But right now, for me, this just isn't my thing. I am going to keep listening to try and almost force myself to understand what Andre 3000 was trying to accomplish. I feel like he did this album for himself and decided he wanted to see what other people thought of it. And that is totally fine and Andre 3000 has earned the right to do whatever he wants to do. But this is just not my thing. I'm not into jazz. I like the fact that he is trying something different, something way out there. But so far it is not for me. Maybe it will be one day when I get smarter when I listen to music. But right now it is a tough, grueling listen. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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I'm Just Not that Into Bruce Springsteen

Scott Aukerman hosts one of the best podcasts ever created. "Comedy Bang! Bang!" is genius and one of the funniest shows out there. Adam Scott is an extremely dependable actor, and from what I've read, "Severance" is a revelation from him. I mention the two of them because they get together from time to time and do a podcast of their own where they go over a band or musician that they like and cover their catalog. They did it with REM, Talking Heads and U2. They have attempted a Red Hot Chili Peppers one, which they abandoned almost instantly to do the Talking Heads instead. They have a new artist they are covering now, Bruce Springsteen. let’s discuss.

I have never really listened to any Springsteen. I know who he is because he is wildly famous. My folks have also listened to his music. I have some older brothers who have checked him out. It is kind of hard to avoid him because he is a true deal rock star. So with the podcast coming out, and being such a fan of these two creators, I decided this was going to be the push I needed to try out Springsteen's music. I decided I wanted to give it a real shot too. I wanted to make sure that I actually tried with no preconceived notions. And I did. I gave it a real deal shot.

I started by listening to his top hits on Spotify. I then shifted to the albums they were covering on the podcast. I even went for the hits. I also thought about making a playlist of the songs that Aukerman and Scott mentioned as their favorites. But after they did the "Born to Run" record, and after I gave it a real listen, I decided that Springsteen just isn't for me.

Now, before I anger a bunch of people, Springsteen is a genius. The guy is a masterful writer. The way he puts pen to paper and writes his lyrics, he is a true poet. He is no Bob Dylan, but he is a close second. He can really paint a picture with his words. He has also written massive hits for other musicians. He is an amazing artist. He is also a very good guitar player. He can play both rhythm and lead. He integrates the guitar very well into his songs. He can shred from time to time. He is a very good band leader. He may be tough on his band members, but he gets the best out of them. He is also an incredibly hard worker. The dude is prolific, and given the fact that he writes all his own stuff, that has to take a ton of time. He is constantly making new music and has been for well over 40 years now. That is epic.

The reason I am not a big Springsteen fan is his voice. He has this gravely voice that I cannot get into at all. I will start vibing out to a song, but then he will start singing and I'm instantly out. I love the words, just not the voice it is coming from. I dig the backing band, but then he starts to sing and that completely takes over. I get what he is doing, and I get why it works, it just isn't for me. I have never been that much into the whole gravel voice, working man thing from musicians. It just isn't my thing. Again, I get it, I understand the appeal, I just prefer something different. I will say the album "Nebraska" is the most listenable one for me, but that gets too Springsteen-y for me about four songs in. I love the words, I love the imagery, I just don't like the singing. I get what makes "Born to Run" an elite album, but Springsteen's voice is too front and center. Even his early work, which outside of "Nebraska" is the best stuff he has done, his voice is too front and center.

I know I am wrong. I get that I'm in a very, very small group of music lovers that do not mess with Bruce Springsteen, but here we are. Maybe as I get older things will change, but probably not. I gave it a real chance, but it is not for me. Sorry, everyone. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches Flavor Flav Perform The National Anthem

The other night the Milwaukee Bucks invited Flavor Flav to sing the national anthem. This may seem like a weird artist to choose, but we must never forget that the Bucks did invite Ja Rule to perform at halftime of one of their games after the release of the Fyre Festival documentaries. They like to take chances in that front office and I am here for it.

I did not see Flavor Flav's performance in real time, but a bunch of people reached out to me afterward to see if I saw it. It was also plastered all over sports pages that I follow online. But it wasn't until RD texted me and asked if I watched it did I actually sit down and watch it. At the time of the text coming across my phone I had not seen it though. And RD told me it was "iconic". That was the push I needed to sit down and take it in. So I did.

You know what? It was exactly what I expected from Flavor Flav singing the national anthem. Sure it was off key. Sure it felt like he didn't know all the words. Sure he was either too quiet or too loud when he sang. But I loved it and I loved that he went out and did it with no fear. He sang his heart out. He gave it everything he had. He tried his hardest. And he seemed like he was having a damn good time.

I also appreciate that the people within the Bucks organization who decide these things tried to get a hip hop legend to do this. And Flavor Flav said yes. I can't imagine Chuck D doing this. No way is Busta Rhymes going to do the anthem unless he is trying to see how fast he can rap it. I don't see many modern hip hop artists clamoring to go do this. But Flavor Flav did, and he gave it all of his gusto. He had his big clock on and everything. I love that. He is also a very committed sports fan. Flavor Flav loves to go to live sporting events. I have seen him at college and pro football games. I'm sure he has gone to a number of baseball games. He would talk about his love for pro sports when he had his crazy dating show on VH1. And he has always loved basketball. The guy is a true hoop head. So I bet that when the phone call came across to do the anthem at an NBA game he jumped at the prospect. The fact that he got to do it and then watch Giannis and Dame play together so early in this new season was probably icing on the cake for Flavor Flav.

As for the people out here bad mouthing him and the Bucks, get over it. Also, what did you expect? This is not some polished singer. This isn't Adele. This isn't Taylor Swift. This isn't Josh Groban. Flavor Flav was the hype man for one of the most important hip hop groups in the history of music. And he was the best at his job. So for people to be giving him a hard time, I'd like to see any one of them go out and do the anthem any better. At least Flavor Flav gave it his all too. He went out there and did the song the best way he knew how and he did it with a smile never leaving his face.

I applaud you Flavor Flav and the Bucks front office. You all took a chance on a rap icon and I thought he did a very commendable job. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Listens to Prof

I wrote the other day about how I am trying out new music and new artists. My brother Seth has always been a reliable source when it comes to artists doing music I already like, but do not know. Seth is very much into hip hop as well, and he knows about many artists who are about to pop off, or just do some dope stuff. He was the first person to introduce me to Tribe Called Quest when I was a teen. He told me about RTJ before they blew up. He let me know about "Good Kid Maad City" before it became a chart topping smash. As I said, he always comes with the heat. So when he told me to check out Prof a while back I knew I was going to like his stuff. But I also kind of forgot about him for a bit.

Seth told me about Prof months ago, but I did not remember until I was scrolling through Instagram the other night and saw his stuff. I sent the video to my brother and asked him if this was the guy he told me about. He responded very quickly with a resounding yes. He also told me he saw him live a few days before this video was sent to him and he was even better in person. Yesterday after dropping my daughter off at school I decided it was time to dig into Prof's music. I went to Spotify and just let it play. I listened to the most played list. I like doing that first to get a taste of what his fans like most.

I was immediately into his music. The beats are super rad. They are slowed a bit and then have some heavy bass drops. And when he does speed up the beat it sounds even better over his rapping. His rapping is pretty awesome as well. He has a very cool style he uses to rhyme and I'm into it. He can be jokey at times. He can be serious. When he has a feature on a track he can go verse for verse with almost anyone. He also has a few tracks that he sings on and I dig that as well. There was a song I heard yesterday that was less than two minutes long, with an incredible beat, that Prof sang over the whole time. The song is called "Vulnerable God", and to this point it is my favorite song I have heard so far. I played it a few times in the twenty minute drive to my folks.

I mentioned the features earlier. One such feature was Redman from Wu Tang Clan. I am a very big Wu Tang fan and if a member is on another artists' song, they are the star. And while Redman crushed on this one song, Prof was right there with him the whole time. They traded verses and it was seamless. Redman also seemed to be having a blast recording with Prof as well. That came off on the recording. And one last thing that I really dig about Prof, that is a little out of left field, the artwork on his records is funny as hell. He has one where he is drinking a cocktail in a booth by himself and he looks very serious. It is hilarious to me. There is another one where he is a cartoon drawn as a mascot. The smile on his face is wild. There is his newest record where he is dressed to the nines, chain and all, and he has this very menacing look on his face. Again, it is wildly funny.

I'm in on Prof. I like his music. I dig his album artwork choices and I am definitely going to listen to more of his stuff. Thank you Seth for the recommendation. This is an absolute home run. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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The Greatest American Music: Beck's "Truckdrivin' Neighbors Downstairs (Yellow Sweat)"

I go back to Beck's music a lot. I am a fan, RD was the first to tell me about him and for that I am ever grateful and he is one of the better writers in the music industry. Lately I have been listening to his earlier stuff. When I revisit an artist I like to start at the beginning, and sometimes I stay at the beginning longer. That is the case right now with Beck. I adore his early stuff. The record that has been getting the most play for me right now is "Mellow Gold".

This album is awesome. I love the gruffness of the record. It sounds so primitive, especially considering his later work. And the song getting the most play is "Truckdrivin Neighbors Downstairs' '. This song is very simplistic, especially coming from Beck, but it is beautiful in its simplicity. There is not a whole lot to the song. It is four chords. And the four chords are easy chords. They can all be played barred. The song is an A major, followed by a G minor, then a F major with a little D major and finished off with a C minor. Those chords are all very close and I learned them all when I was first in guitar lessons. They are not that hard when you figure them out. But I think it is the construction of the chords and the genius lyrics. The lyrics are funny and perfect. I heard a rumor, probably from RD himself, that Beck wrote this song about literal truck driving neighbors that lived downstairs in the same apartment building as him. That is almost too perfect.

The song starts with some dudes yelling at each other and it makes me laugh every time. The two voices can be heard trading some of the craziest, most white trash insults. One calls the other a lousy lowlife that "can't do nothing for himself". The other guy comes back with, "I may be a lousy lowlife, but at least I'm not a drunk". One calls the other a "lousy puke", and tells him to "call your mommy". I mean, to start a track like this, chef's kiss. I love it so much and it never fails to make me laugh. Then Beck plays the chords and starts with the genius lyrics. We get some wonderful stuff like, "acid casualty with a repossessed car", which is followed by "Vietnam vet playing air guitar". I am instantly in and painting a picture in my mind of what these people look like. They are as white trash as white trash gets in my head. The chorus is glorious too. Beck gives us this gem, "it's just a shit kickin/speed takin/truck driving neighbors downstairs". Again, simplistic and beautiful. You get a great idea of what these people look and act like from one verse into the chorus. In the second verse we get another classic line, "whiskey stained buck-toothed backwoods creep/grizzly bear mother fucker never goes to sleep". I have to imagine Beck was so fed up with these people that he decided he was going to put his anger into a song that would become a classic with his fans, and it works to perfection. Some of my other favorite lines include, "belly floppin naked in a pool of yellow sweat/screamin jackass with a wet cigarette", or "psychotic breakdown double edged axe/growin hair like a shag rug on his greasy back", and the final chorus with Beck singing, "come on honey, feel the grease" over and over. This song is a perfect encapsulation of what it is like to live on your own and have to deal with people who only care about themselves.

I love that Beck took the time to record this. I love that you can see, very early on in his career, that his writing style is so different from everyone else's. I love this song so much and am so happy to live in a world where this song exists. Go listen and tell me I'm wrong about this song. I don't think that you can. "Truck Driving Neighbors Downstairs" is an almost perfect song. I love it so much. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Listens to "LSD"

I've been trying new genres of music lately. I've been in a rut with music lately, so I wanted to see if I liked something I never really gave a full go to just yet. I still do not like modern country, too twangy and misogynistic, and jazz is simply unbearable for me. But I have been checking out DJ's, and some of their side projects with other artists. In doing this I stumbled upon an album titled "LSD". Let’s discuss.

This record has three artists on it, Sia, Labrinth and Diplo. I heard of Diplo through my wife who reads gossip magazines. I guess he has dated a lot of famous people. But I also heard of him through "The Eric Andre Show". There is a great street bit they do in an early season where he goes out and talks about scientology. While speaking into a microphone he starts to play music with it and says, "this sounds like a Diplo song". I figured if Eric Andre liked him I'd give him a try. Sia is a massive pop star. I know she made a pretty insensitive movie recently, but she is a good singer. I enjoy her big hits. Labrinth I was not familiar with at all. Doing some research I found out he is an established rap and R&B artist in the UK. I also really enjoy his voice. I decided to give the album a listen because I knew 2/3 of the people, I like some of the stuff they do and the cover is rad.

I really like this record a lot. I'm glad that I gave it a go. This album kind of bounces all over the place genre wise, but that is a good thing. I feel like they let the artists use their strengths on the record. Sia doesn't rap, Labrinth can do that. Diplo picks out the beats. When they need a nice chorus or hook, they let Sia run with it. The songs flow very nicely on the record too. There is no real wasted space here. I have come to realize that the song "Thunderclouds" was a minor hit. I get it. They put it right in the middle of the album and it is an excellent bridge from the start to a wonderful finish. They have some bangers on the front half. Besides "Thunderclouds", the song "Genius" is awesome. It has a nice hip hop feel to it. Labrinth really shines on this song. They also did a remix with Lil Wayne and that version may be better than the original. The song "Audio" has a back and forth from Sia and Labrinth and it works. They both showcase their talents. The second half of the record shines. This is the part that made me love this album. The song "Mountains" is a perfect pop song. From the chorus to the time signature to the beat to the lyrics, it is electric. I also love the stuff Diplo does on this song, making it really, truly feel like this was his baby on the album. "No New Friends" is a fast, almost jarring song on the record, but it works. They then follow that up with "Heaven Can Wait". This is my personal favorite on the album. It bends from hip hop to dance to pop and a little R&B. They wrote a nearly perfect song with this one. The album finishes off with a sweet, slower song, "It's Time". This is a nice closer. It wraps everything up on the album.

I adore this record. I keep going back and finding more and more things I genuinely like with each new listen. Check this album out. It is very, very good. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Let's Take a Closer Look at the Lyrics of "Old Town Road"

My son has been a fan of Lil Nas X for a bit now. I find his music kind of blah, but I do appreciate his lifestyle and how open he is with everything. He leaves it all out on the table and he is very confident in his own skin. That is a feat and an accomplishment. I like that.

So, with my son and his friends enjoying his music, that means I listen to it a lot in my car. Again, the music is blah, but the message is dope. The way I consume music is the lyrics, like a lot of others. I really want to hear what the artist has to say. I try to figure out what they are trying to get across. Trying to memorize lyrics is very fun for me. I love it when I do figure them out as well.

With Lil Nas X and his biggest hit "Old Town Road", the realization of some of the lyrics is hilarious to me. The song is incredibly catchy and very easy to hum along to. I find myself singing the words while walking around my house. My wife does the same. And during one of these personal singalongs, I had to stop myself because I couldn't believe some of the words I was saying. There is some hilarious stuff in this song. In the first verse Lil Nas has two lines that crack me up. He says, "hat is black matte/got the boots that black to match". This is as simple a rhyming pattern as one can have. He even finds a way to rhyme black with black. It is kind of impressive. I also love the whole idea of mentioning multiple times that he has a black hat and he managed to get black boots so it all matches. Also, letting us know his hat is matte is simply wonderful. He also lets the listener know that we can all whip our Porsche's. It is hilarious to me that he thinks all his listeners have a Porsche. Cracks me up every time. I don't care to go into Billy Ray Cyrus' verse on the song because he is clearly doing a coattails thing. Lil Nas X is much more talented and Billy Ray is trying to stay relevant. He almost messes the song up in my opinion.

Lil Nas' second verse though, this is where the hilarity hits an entire new level. He has one lyric in particular that I constantly think about. It is definitely the reason why I wanted to write this blog. I'll touch on that near the end though. I first want to talk about a few other parts in verse two. Lil Nas says that, "my whole life is a movie/bull riding and boobies". First off, boobies, that is nuts. That is what my 11 year old calls them. My seven year old uses the word boobies as well. Also, I believe Lil Nas X is sexually fluid, I am almost positive he is gay. So why boobies? If he is talking about heftier dudes, okay. But he never clarifies that. Again, it is the rhyming scheme, and I get that, but it is still hilarious. Also, in Lil Nas X's mind, a life lived like the movies includes bull riding and boobies. That is iconic. I love that that is where his mind went when he wrote those lyrics. That rules.

He also says that his "cowboy hat from Gucci/Wrangler on my booty". So he will schill out the big bucks for a cowboy hat, but he has to save on jeans. That is almost relatable. Maybe he loves hats so he is willing to spend big bucks on them. But when it comes to pants he is thrifty. I get it. I spend big dollars on running shoes, but I have had the same set of t-shirts forever, with no intention of buying new ones anytime soon.

The creme de la creme of lyrics in this song are as follows, "riding on a tractor/lean all in my bladder". The riding on the tractor point is all fine and well. He is a cowboy on an old town road. The tractor makes enough sense. But the lean in his bladder. That is a chef's kiss if you ask me. Lean, to the uninitiated, is purple drank or sizzurp. Lean is a mixed drink consisting of codeine cough syrup, soda and hard candy. It is a dangerous opioid and highly addictive. I've never had it, but I do know people who have and they have let me know it is disgusting. So for Lil Nas X to say that he is on a tractor and his bladder is full of lean. I mean that is lightning in a bottle. It feels like a comedian wrote this lyric. It is too funny to not be a joke. When I figured out what he was singing I thought I misheard him. Nope, he was saying that he had so much lean and it is now just in his bladder until Lil Nas X goes to use the restroom. That is so wild and so weird and so genius. I cannot get enough of this lyric in this song. I have not stopped thinking about it since I figured out the actual words.

This song is wildly memorable and for people to just glide past that lyric, that makes it even more perfect. I will never not think of these lyrics, especially the lean lyric, everytime I hear this song from now on. I bet you will notice it now too. Keep doing your thing Lil Nas X. You are a true music wonder. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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The Music is Just One Part of Why "The Bear" is Television Perfection

Last night I finished season two of "The Bear". That show is something special. It is as near perfection as there is on tv today. I know some people do not like that it is all released in one day. I don't care about that. I took a week to watch all ten episodes. You can find a way to watch weekly if that is how you want to consume it. TV is in a streaming age, for better or worse, and we have to adapt as viewers. But, as I stated above, I adore this show. I am not going to review season two today though. I'd rather talk about the music, and how they used it, this season.

I saw some other publication, I cannot remember which one right now, say something about the music, this was before I finished the season, and that was when I started to clock the music this season. It is pretty awesome, and it harkens back to the 90's for me. Growing up in a house with three older brothers, all of which had differing tastes in music, this season of the show brought me back to that time in my life. There is a good amount of REM this season. I am a recent convert of their music, but I know RD has listened to them for a while now. I believe our oldest brother listened to them too. So whenever there was a somber, or even moving moment this season, a song like "Strange Currencies" would start and I would reminisce hearing that song as a pre teen. And it would be used so perfectly in the show. They would play it at pivotal moments. It was the perfect drop in for the perfect scene. They also played an Eddie Vedder song at the end of an episode this season and it moved me. I kid you not, hearing the song and seeing what I just saw, it made me tear up. A show about opening a restaurant took this very good Eddie Vedder tune and used it at the exact proper moment, and it moved me.They used Wilco in this season. A one hit wonder band, Fine Young Cannibals, had the perfect moment to play their hit. Steve Earle was peppered in and out this season. The Pixies would show up and amplify an important scene. The episode dedicated to Richie's moment of realization had this epic Taylor Swift soundtrack, but it was just one song. AC/DC was used for multiple scenes while they were breaking down the old restaurant to build the new one. They used Nine Inch Nails in a very fitting way for a viewer such as myself. They had one of my favorite David Byrne songs, "Glass, Concrete and Stone" playing during a montage that I adored. The end credits for the family Christmas episode had the best button of music with the Weezer song "The Christmas Song". Crowded House was featured. They played some solo George Harrison. The Bodeans had a song in this season. The Replacements, who are criminally underrated, had one of their songs used. Squeeze was there for a hot second. The Psychedelic Furs were featured. The season had some bangers by very famous musicians, but they also brought out some of the coolest, lesser known bands from the late 90's and early 2000's for all of the viewers to hear, and I dug it.

This is a soundtrack I will listen to multiple times. This is a season that when I revisit I will be even more focused on the music and how it is used. This is just another example of what makes this show so damn good. Watch "The Bear" for how great it is. But stay to see the food they make and to hear the excellent music they use. I love it and you will too. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Listens to Killer Mike's "Michael"

Killer Mike put out a new record a couple weeks ago. I finally got around to digging deep into it a few days ago. Let’s discuss.

The album is called “MICHAEL” and it is as good as I hoped. Killer Mike’s skills are not new to people who have listened to him since he was part of The Dungeon Family. He has this incredible ability to flip his cadence while rhyming. He can start slow and finish fast. Each song on this record shows that off. Killer Mike jumps from all speeds throughout the record. He is one of the best in the game right now. He also has something to say in his songs. He is telling truths. He is calling out the system. He is talking about family, relationships and the good and the bad of both. He calls out the government, the police and everyone else he feels is not up to snuff. The guest appearances on this album are wonderful. Andre 3000 is on this album. I haven’t heard new music from him in forever. It’s great to hear him, hear how excellent he still sounds and how effortless it comes for him. El-P is on a song here and it’s a great RTJ style song he guests on. These two have incredible chemistry and it constantly shows, especially on this track. 6lack is here, and he’s new to me, but I like his voice. He’s a rapper with a silky delivery. He’s like a young Pusha T. 2 Chainz pops up and this dude is underrated. I feel like people don’t take him seriously. They need to start now. He’s awesome. I could say the same about myself and doubting Ty $Ollar Sign. He’s dope. He can flow. This record starts strong, the middle is solid and finishes with a bang.

Killer Mike is at the top of his game. He had really put it all together and it really shows. I wish he was coming closer to STL on his upcoming tour. I’d love to see him perform these songs live. Until then, at least I have this record. It’s pretty awesome.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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R.I.P. Tina Turner

Another day, another legend gone. Tina Turner passed away at 83 years old yesterday.

This one hit almost as hard as Jim Brown. I never really listened to Tina Turner's music, but my mom did. She played it loud and proud in the house growing up. My mom is, and was, a fan of her music and her story. I also remember the movie "What's Love Got to Do With It" playing a lot in my house and my mom watching it a ton.

My mom worked in a battered women and children's center when I was growing up and Tina Turner's story was one that her clients could relate to. Tina Turner was abused to the brink while married to Ike Turner. Ike Turner was a fantastic musician, but he was a total asshole and a miserable human being. He used to abuse Tina Turner mentally and physically. She overcame it all to become an even better artist and person. But Ike, he was a prick. So my mom would show this movie to the attendants of her shelter to give them hope. Or least that was how I saw it as a kid. She wanted these women to know there was more out there than an abusive partner. Tina Turner lived that life and she came out on the other side. Tina Turner also worked with Mel Gibson on a "Mad Max" movie. I mean, she spent an inordinate amount of time with two of the biggest abusers in the business world, and she came out of both very scathed, but stronger and more powerful than she was before.

Tina Turner was an absolute legend in every sense of the word. But she was best known for her music and her dancing. Tina Turner was a powerhouse vocalist. She commanded the stage and took the crowd on a ride with how awesome her voice was. I mean, she had some serious pipes. I have gone back and listened to some of her early stuff, the work she did with Ike, and she was the reason to go watch them live. She was also the reason to listen to their music. She was such a commanding and dominating presence while perming music. When she split and became a solo artist I feel she got even better. She became this ballad singer and she absolutely crushed on her songs. I have seen so many people reposting her singing "Simply the Best" and each time, with each version, it gets better and better. I have been totally blown away at how incredible, and widely loved, she was as a solo artist. I always knew she was amazing, but never really listening to her until now, I missed out on a bunch of stuff I will have to familiarize myself with now.

Tina Turner was also an incredible dancer. That was another thing people talked about when I was younger that I never understood. But now, after going back and watching clips of live performances, it all makes sense. She was an absolute crowd pleaser. She knew what moves to do and when to do them. She would get these well deserved applause breaks after doing some amazing dance numbers.

Tina Turner was one of a kind. There is no one else from her early era to when she ended that was as powerful a stage presence. She rocked the house and was one of the best to ever do it. She will be missed by so many people. The response to her passing has been overwhelming. Rest in Peace Mrs Turner. Go amaze crowds wherever you may be now. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Listens to Lil Yachty's "Let's Start Here"

I've always been on the fence when it comes to Lil Yachty. He will make stuff I really like, then he will make some stuff that is too mainstream. He has this ebb and flow deal with me. Sometimes it hits, other times it doesn't.

I have this deal with a lot of artists. I'm sure other people do too. But I have had lots of people I know, people whose opinion I respect, tell me I have to listen to his new record. I was putting it off for a while. I just didn't think I was ready for it. I also heard it wasn't a rap record, but more of a psychedelic record. I have an odd history with psychedelic music. But I had some time by myself Saturday. I took my daughter to a birthday party, my son was over at his grandparents house and my wife was going out with a friend. So I went on a run and decided to give the record a shot.

I love this album, everyone. I have already gone through the record fully two times. I started to listen to it again this morning on the way to take my kids to school. My son seemed to dig it. My daughter said it sounded weird, but it wasn't bad weird. This was another feather in its cap. The record is called "Let's Start Here". The cover is also wild and I love it. It has all these presumably business people with faces that look like they are melting. They also have these odd permanent smiles on their faces. It is fascinating to look at people. It was scary at first, but now I am all about it. And the songs, these are works of art. I truly did not know that Lil Yachty had this in him.

This record is nothing like he has ever done before. It is so out there and different. He took a big swing and boy did he connect. From start to finish this record hits on every level. The music on this album is dope too. There are big guitars playing some good stuff. It sounds like something from the 70's but modernized. The drums have this rock groove, but also it skews very hip hop. It has the tempo and groove of hip hop. There is bass all over this record and it is great. Some songs are straight psychedelic. Lil Yachty will do some old school singing on these songs and it rules. He crushes the vocals. It is very impressive. There are a few songs where he slips back into hip hop, and it works with the music in the background. He even does some stuff where he is just speaking over instruments and I love it. I'm fully in on this album. I have loved every second of it to this point. I have been telling friends about it. I'm going to tell my dad about it tomorrow, and he is my barometer for how well new music translates to older generations. He is also the one who introduced me to psychedelic music, so I am very interested in his thoughts. But I adore this album. I'm all in. I think it is one of the better records I have heard in a very long time.

My hat is off to Lil Yachty. He has done something highly impressive and innovative here. I am hoping to see him live here in Saint Louis in October because I want to see these songs performed live. I definitely recommend checking this album out. It is great. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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I Miss "MTV Unplugged"

Recently I have gotten into watching old clips of bands I like playing their songs acoustically. I have always liked acoustic music, and to hear a song that is normally done electrically acoustically has always been something I enjoy.

This new passion has sent me down a Spotify rabbit hole that I am totally here for. I am being reintroduced to music that I used to listen to and adore. I heard some stuff from Alice in Chains, a band I don't even like, Nirvana, Tracy Chapman and Lauryn Hill. I have gone back and rewatched Blind Melon and Jay Z do their acoustic stuff. Hell, another band I don't like, Linkin Park, has some dope acoustic stuff. This all led me back to "MTV's Unplugged".

"MTV's Unplugged" one of the better shows that has ever existed. I used to live for this show. I would scout the TV Guide or the channel to see when the next "Unplugged" was coming. This was the best it got, especially after Nirvana showed how great this could be.  This begs the question, why did they stop doing this show? I know that MTV does not show videos anymore. Hell, they don't even show music anymore. Neither does MTV 2 or VH1 or any other "music channel". All these channels are all about reality shows. That is where they get their viewers. There is not a moment when I turn on MTV now and Rob Drydek's goofy internet show is on. VH1 seems to only feature shows about artists or athletes' wives. I don't even know what MTV2 shows anymore. So why not bring back "Unplugged" now? I would have to imagine it would be a humongous hit. When they did Jay Z unplugged it was a massive hit. And they sold a ton of records. They could pounce on the streaming numbers and make vinyls out of these shows featuring some big time artists. Taylor Swift could make a killing doing her new record acoustically. She already has the chops and millions of people would tune in. There are plenty of popular country artists that my wife listens to, and she loves acoustic music, so why not get some of them to do it? I would watch the hell out of someone like The Black Keys or Kendrick Lamar doing an unplugged set. That would be rad. You could even bring some older other artists to do it. I would love to see Talking Heads, or David Byrne, do one of these shows. Get David Gilmour an acoustic and let him rock some Pink Floyd. Foo Fighters would be a massive get, and Dave Grohl already knows how to deal with the whole unplugged thing. Get someone like Tobe Nwigwe to go out there and perform. He would crush. The opportunities are endless. I bet they could also get a bunch of artists to do it for charities they support. That would be cool and helpful. There is no shortage of options to book people to do it. Add on the fact that retro stuff is back in now, people, especially people from my generation, would eat this up. I mentioned making vinyls of these performances, I know all three of my brothers would buy the vinyl of the bands they like doing unplugged shows. I would be interested in the art work involved. The production of the show would be even better now due to advancements in technology. I cannot find a reason not to pursue this.

Bring "Unplugged" back. It would crush and be one of the coolest things MTV has ever done. It would also force them to revert back to music. The timing is perfect. Make it happen. It would be rad. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches Tenacious D Live

Last night I saw Tenacious D at The Factory here in Saint Louis. I'll do a proper review of the venue tomorrow. Today I want to talk about the show last night.

I have not seen The D live since 2002. Back then I saw them open for Weezer and it was pretty awesome. Last night they were the headliner and I am also older and more mature. This was a different experience. The opener was Steel Beans. This was an interesting and decent opener. Steel Beans is one dude who plays guitar, drums and sings. It was fascinating to see him do all this. But I felt like he had to be exhausted after his set. He played for 45 minutes, and it was solid. But some of his songs were a bit long. And he used a ton of distortion, which is smart on his part because it masks mistakes. But the use of distortion made it hard to hear him sing at times. All in all though he was a solid opener. I was never bored during his set. He did a good enough job.

Tenacious D came on stage after about a 30 minute intermission. Again, my expectations were high and different from 21 years before. They absolutely delivered. The set was fast and furious. They must have played something close to 20 songs. Jack Black is a true showman and he controlled the crowd and the stage for their entire 90 minute set. I am endlessly floored by Black. I was saying to my buddy after the show that he is a legit movie star who does music for fun, and he is extremely talented at it. His voice and playing is very good. He can hit some very high octaves. At one point he sang the beginning of "War Pigs" and it was amazing. He showed off his range on "Master Exploder". From song to song, all night long, he was on point. It was so enjoyable. Kyle Gass is the perfect sidekick to Black, and his guitar playing is exceptional. He is so proficient and technical, but he can also have fun with it. When he plays some of his wild solos on his acoustic guitar I am blown away. He is so good at his craft. He is also the perfect foil for all the bits The D do during their live shows. He plays off of Black so well. He performs like a true professional. I loved every second of their time together on stage. The backing band is truly wonderful. The lead guitar player shreds and has some pipes. He played the Devil during "Beelzeboss" and he hit a grand slam, both with his playing and singing. He is no Dave Grohl, but he is a damn good compliment. The bassist kept the rhythm going all night and when he got his chance to solo for the crowd, he was amazing. He was sliding up and down that bass and having the time of his life. It was dope. The drummer was pretty rad as well. He kept the tempo up and the band going strong. He also exploded during his solo. It reminded me of the playing in "Whiplash", except he was having fun playing. His solo was the best of the night in my opinion. He was pounding away on his kit. I was pleasantly surprised at all the love given to the crew throughout the night too.

This was a fun show through and through. It was also fantastic to hear all these songs again. It brought me back to my 20's when I really got into them. But I felt I appreciated it more last night. I got it all right away. I knew the words and was humming along. I was laughing at the jokes within the songs. To hear a song like "Double Team" as a 40 year old, it is so much more funny because I get every single joke within the song. It was great. The fact that The D is famous enough to headline a tour makes me very happy as an adult. I think it is rad that Jack Black and Kyle Gass still like doing this and are willing and able to tour. Neither of them have to do this, they want to do this. That much was apparent watching them perform last night.

I loved this show, the venue was cool, the band was great and I got to see an actual movie star in person. I had a blast. It was more than worth the price of admission and the exhaustion I have today. Good times. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Listens to Codefendants

I mentioned that I was going to write about two new musical artists I have been listening to recently. The second one I will talk about is happening today.

My buddy Kirk, sometimes a contributor to the site and podcast, go running together pretty much every weekend. I look forward to these runs for a myriad of reasons. It is one of the best times of the week for me when we meet up and go outside. We talk about a bunch of stuff when we are out there. It is a great space to vent, catch up and talk about new stuff, or even old stuff, that we are into at the time. One subject that comes up a ton is music. Kirk and I are both music lovers, and the genres we listen to, we are very passionate about. We have some similar interests, but he is more of a punk rock fan and I am more of a hip hop fan. Last weekend when we were out he told me about a new group that he was listening to who he thought I might dig. When I asked him why he thought I'd enjoy it he told me that it was hip hop adjacent. I was intrigued.

Kirk is a NOFX fan. We have talked about the band a good amount. I knew of them when I was younger, but I've grown to know more due to these conversations we have had. He mentioned to me that Fat Mike, a NOFX member, had started a new genre of music called "crime wave". The genre name is rad, and after some research I found out that Fat Mike came up with the term. Kirk also let me know that there was a hip hop artist involved with the new band, and that the other members were pretty good instrumentalists. My family went downtown to watch my son sing the anthem with his school choir and on the way I decided I was going to listen to the band Codefendants.

I was instantly struck by the music. The first song I listened to is called "Fast Ones". It does not start as a punk or hip hop song. Someone is reading poetry over a drum beat. Then it gets more hip hop. A bass comes in and the drum beat gets more rap like. Then the whole group comes in and the song sounds full. It worked. I was hooked. I found myself nodding along like I had heard the song a million times. I was ready for whatever Codefendants had for me.

What I have found that I like most about this band is how different each song sounds. "Fast Ones" is pretty much straight forward hip hop, with a few distinct changes. But the other songs I have heard fluctuate. They have strings in their music. They have a song that has an orchestra playing behind them. They play acoustic music. There is punk. There is rock. They expand genres and that makes them great. The mere fact that they are not handcuffing themselves to one genre is what makes them so intriguing to me. Most artists I listen to stick to their genre. The Black Keys are rock. Kendrick Lamar is hip hop. Gary Clark Jr is blues/rock. But Codefendants can do all of that, and more. This is a talented group of vocalists and musicians. I have been endlessly fascinated by how different each song sounds with each listen. It almost feels like I am hearing new music each time. It amazes me how I can find something new and different I like each time.

These new artists I have been introduced to have been great for me personally. It is getting me out of this music rut I am in. I am forever grateful for advice on new artists to listen to. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go listen to Tobe Nwigwe and The Codefendants for a while longer. You should do the same. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty Listens to Tobe Nwigwe

At the start of the year I made it a point to find new music to listen to. I have been stuck in a rut and I want to get out of it. So far it has been kind of at an impasse, but the past week there has been a change. Thanks to a friend of mine and watching Instagram reels, I have been listening to two new artists that I am really into and I will be spending the next two days talking about each of them. The first one is Tobe Nwigwe.

I was watching Instagram reels the other night, my wife is on a work trip and I have trouble sleeping and watching videos helps me doze off, and I stumbled upon Tobe Nwigwe. The song I heard was called "BRAVO" and it struck me immediately. The video was a tight closeup of his face and he was rapping. I was struck by his voice and the way he flowed. It hit me right off the bat. I dug it right away. I followed him right away and started listening to his catalog on Spotify the very next day. I have been primarily listening to his music, and the artist I will talk about tomorrow, exclusively.

I am really into Nwigwe. He is a Houston born rapper and he has that Houston style, but sped up. You can tell he has the drawl, but the way he raps is really good. His lyrics are packed with words and the words mean something. He isn't rapping about money and chains and cars. Nwigwe is really talking about something. He is putting himself out there and he is nailing it. I took to doing some internet research on him and was very pleased to find out he seems like a very good dude. He was a former football player who had to stop playing after college due to an injury. Instead of letting this sidetrack him he started a non-profit. He worked at that for a long while and then met and started dating his now wife. They decided to do music and they kind of blew up during the height of the pandemic. Now that I know who he is I can remember people sharing a video of him early on in the pandemic that struck me but I never followed up on it. I regret that now. I have since listened to almost his entire catalog and I cannot get enough of it. I mentioned his rap style and that is what makes it so easy to listen to. He is a master at what he does. The beats are an added bonus. The beats are awesome. They are easy to vibe to. They make you want to nod along. I have found myself exclaiming how dope the beats are when I am listening alone in my car. And that is a big deal to me. When I can talk to no one about how great the music I am listening to, that is the best compliment I can give an artist I have just discovered. I find myself, when listening to Nwigwe, having the same feelings as I did when I first heard Run the Jewels. I find myself craving it. I find myself humming the music during the day. My son and I were driving home from his baseball game last night and he was vibing along with me. I love that. I want him to listen to better hip hop and him vibing to Tobe Nwigwe is a good sign. I also read that Michelle Obama is a big fan, which is a humongous feather in his hat.

Go check out Tobe Nwigwe. He is doing something really cool that is also pretty important. I am going to go listen to some more of his music now. I suggest you do the same. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.