Ty Will Not Watch American Idol

I was scrolling through Twitter and Facebook the other morning and I saw that the show "American Idol" was coming back to TV. I believe that it is coming back this summer on NBC. I have a few thoughts about this news.

First and foremost, why? Why is this show coming back on TV? Who is clamoring for this? Shows get cancelled for a reason, and "American Idol" was cancelled because no one was watching it or talking about it anymore. I am not a fan of any singing competition show. I personally think they are all garbage. Why do people like Paula Abdul, Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Bruno Mars and the dude that used to be a bassist that always told people they were "a little pitchy dog", hold clout over others, and get to judge people? Simon Cowell, I get. He is a producer. He is a star maker. That is what he does for a living, and he has made a great life for himself doing this. But, the other "judges", we have many failed pop stars, a crappy country musician, a wannabe and a guy who's name I cannot even remember, just to name a few. So, I ask again, why are you bringing this show back?

Maybe I am just the wrong audience for this show. But, people who I think this may appeal to, kids in their early teens, or maybe 10, 11 and 12 year olds, they are all watching other shows, or constantly on their phones. I know my nieces personally like "The Voice", and when they found out about "American Idol" returning, their response was akin to, "why are they copying "The Voice"". They have never really known a world with "American Idol", and contrary to what they think, my nieces and their friends will not leave a show like "The Voice" to watch "American Idol". They have their one singing competition show, and they won't abandon it. That is one thing I like about the younger generation. They have so many options, maybe too much, on TV, but when they find something they like, they stick to it. Hell, my nieces still prefer "Impractical Jokers" to "America's Funniest Home Videos", no matter how many times myself and their parents show it to them. So, if the new people behind "American Idol" think they might appeal to a new generation of viewer, forget about it.

As far as who may be clamoring for this show, I cannot think of anyone outside of people that once loved the show and stuck it out through the end of the first run. To me, that is a problem. I remember when "American Idol" first premiered, I was still living at home with my folks, fairly fresh out of high school. That was over 15 years ago. If the producers behind this new "American Idol" show are clamoring for that 18-34 prime viewing audience, they have missed out by a year.

After seeing that this show was coming back, I did a little further research and I remembered that it was first on Fox. So, a show that the Fox Network cancelled is coming back on TV, and ABC is putting it on. What the hell? Why ABC? You used to have, and still do, some quality TV. I mean you had a show like "Lost", and you know have a great show like "Blackish"  So, why are you bringing back a crappy singing competition show? You don't need this, literally. You guys can find ratings with your own original programming. You do not need to take on an old singing show for the nostalgic audience. That is a complete waste of your time. This show will do nothing but cause you a headache. You should never have taken it on. 

Another thought, and maybe what made me most upset, I saw who the new judges were. Of course Ryan Seacrest is back because he has nothing better to do. He is never, ever going to be a famous host of any show. He had his chance, he blew it, and now, he is an afterthought. I had forgotten about him, and when I told my wife that "American Idol" was coming back, we both thought of Brian Dunkleman before Ryan Seacrest. Hell, I'd rather see Dunkleman hosting this show in its new format. Seacrest is a has been. And then we have the judges. First off, why are you doing this Lionel Ritchie? You were once a sought after musician. The song "Easy Like Sunday Morning" is a classic, and you sang the hell out of that song. Your solo stuff, while I'm not a fan, was pretty big. You are a well known, famous musician. You, much like ABC, do not need to do this. I wish you had said no. Katy Perry is like a lesser version of Paula Abdul. She is just about as good a singer, which is not a compliment, and I would be willing to bet a ton of money that she won't be nearly as funny without knowing it as Abdul was. Paula Abdul was a train wreck on TV, but it was a compelling train wreck to watch. You literally never knew what she was going to do next. It was, at times, exhilarating. Katy Perry is milquetoast. She is going to be boring and dull. I have no desire to watch a mediocre pop singer judge worse singers. The third new judge, some dude named Luke Bryan, I have no idea who he is. Doing some internet research revealed to me that he is a country singer. I cannot name one single song of his, and that makes me proud of myself.

Looking at these judges further made me realize that the new "American Idol" is kind of doing a "The Voice" rip off with the judges. Now, there is no one that has ever been on "the Voice" that will reach Lionel Ritchie fame. But, you have the female judge, a la Aguilera and Gwen Stefani from "The Voice", and "American Idol" has Perry. And both have mild to mediocre country musicians as judges. Like I said, they are stealing ideas from other singing competition shows. It is lazy.

One final thought about all of this. For all the "fame" that previous "American Idol" winners have achieved, are any of them really, truly famous besides Kelly Clarkson? You may throw out names like Carrie Underwood, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino and that annoying dude that always yelled "soul patrol!". I say back, Underwood isn't as famous as you might think. She is actually kind of grating. My son, who is 6, heard her singing before the Super Bowl, and he asked why "this terrible song is on right now". So, I don't buy the hype around Underwood. While Studdard has made his name known on Gospel charts, more people know him as the guy that beat Clay Aiken. That is it. Fantasia has been on "The Simpsons", and she too has a kind of cult following, but again, people always seem to say, "oh yeah, I kind of remember her". The "soul patrol" guy, he is nowhere. The only person, outside of Clarkson, who is a bona fide star, that has achieved any success from "American Idol" is Jennifer Hudson. And, she came in 6th place on her season. She didn't even get to the finale. Also, she is more known for her acting than her signing.

This is a terrible, horrible idea and I wish that ABC had rejected it instead of bringing it back on. This is so stupid.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is known to hum a few bars, and rock out to, "Pants on the Ground".  

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Ty Watches "May it Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers"

Yesterday I watched "May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers". This was a very good documentary. Now, it needs to be said, if you are not an Avett Brothers fan, this movie may not be for you. Luckily for me, I love the Avett Bros. I own all their music. I've paid to see them multiple times in concert. I enjoy their entire catalog. I love how they have turned the folk/bluegrass/alternative/country genre on its head. They are a band that cannot be put into one genre. They expand them all. They are an awesome band.

The main premise of "May It Last" focused on their time recording their last record, "True Sadness". But, it was about so much more. That is what I loved about this movie. It takes us to personal and deep places that I had no idea about with this band that I adore. I have always had enormous respect for this band because of their exceptional writing. I just figured that they were deep dudes that had a great talent. To hear the stories that they tell when writing specific songs, it was amazing. It was touching. It was, at times, heartbreaking. Just thinking back at the movie, hearing Seth Avett talk about writing "Divorce Separation Blues", it almost made me cry. To hear him and his brother talk about all the things they went through sounded very, very rough. I loved how open and honest Scott Avett, the older brother, was about the divorce. He talked about telling his brother to just get over it, and that he has broken up with girls before. But when Seth told him all that he was going through, he completely flipped the script. That was astonishing to see brothers be so open about a very horrible situation.

Another song writing and recording scene that will always stick with me is when they do "No Hard Feelings". Man, that was brutal and beautiful at the same time. To hear Seth Avett sing his heart out, and then watch him be so drained was spectacular. To see Scott just kind of paralyzed afterward, phenomenal. Then, to watch them talk about what they were going through while writing and recording, it was a beautiful piece of film making. Judd Apatow did a great, great job directing that scene, and this whole movie for that matter.

Some other things I really enjoyed about this movie was the closeness that, not only the brothers, but the band has with each other. Their bass player, Bob Crawford, is a great human being. Hearing his story of meeting the brothers and joining the band was awesome. The fact that they just had him play with them in a parking lot was so cool. Then, to hear all the stuff he has gone through with his daughter, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of 2, she is okay now, made me cry. To hear all of the members talk about their feelings while going through this just further hammered home their closeness and how much they like playing music and just generally being with each other. Hearing Joe Kwon's story, their cellist, was awesome. Again, he was a guy they called based on a recommendation from a buddy, he joins the band, then does all this other stuff just so he can continue to play music with them was great. He literally does a ton of stuff for the band. He is their chef, computer guy, friend and cellist. Kwon is a cool dude, and he brings an added element to a band that already is hard to box in.

I absolutely loved hearing about the brothers as kids. Being a little brother myself, it was easy to relate. I have 3 older brothers where Seth Avett just has Scott. But, the stories are the same. As brothers you dislike one another as kids, then the older brother becomes the protector, then when you are adults, it is all respect. Again, it was so easy for me to understand and relate to. The fact that they have remained this close and played in a band together for so long is so cool. They have a crazy amount of respect for each other, and that is great. To see them as a young hard rock band was pretty cool. I had no idea that they did that, but it makes sense when you hear some of their early stuff. I'm glad they changed to acoustic guitars and banjos, but again, it was neat to see their path. The stuff with Rick Rubin was great. He is, without a doubt, the greatest producer that has ever lived. All the things he has done in music, the people he has worked with and the gold he has made with those people and bands is truly amazing. He is a genius and I will argue anyone that disagrees with me on this point. Rick Rubin is a legend. Seeing their families, their kids, their wives and girlfriends, it was all wonderful and so great to see them be so open with everything. They literally let HBO and Apatow film whatever they wanted. And never once did I think that they came off as pretentious or off putting.

The Avett Brothers seem to be down to earth, cool dudes that just happen to be wonderful musicians. I cannot recommend this movie enough, especially for Avett Bros fans. "May It Last" is well worth your time.

"May it Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers" is currently available on HBO Go and HBO Now

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Ty tried to start a band with his brothers. He wanted to play blues, the head editor wanted to play thrash metal, the other two brothers were advocating for jam band type music. The band never took off.

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Run the Jewels is the Best Band in World Right Now

The older I get the more I enjoy hip hop. I do not know why, I just do. It is always good to dance, workout, run and play basketball to. When hip hop is buzzing in my ear, it just makes me want to move. I also enjoy listening to it in my car because I can vibe out when I go on long or short trips. Hip hop, at least good hip hop, is the best music out there.

The short preamble leads me to my point of my piece today. I was cleaning my home yesterday and listening to Run the Jewels on my Amazon Alexa. It made the cleaning go by so much faster. It seemed easier. I wasn't as stressed as normal. I was grooving to the music as I cleaned. And when I finished cleaning, I just let the music keep going. As I sat there and listened to more and more RTJ I came upon a realization that I thought was impossible. But, I can now say with a clear conscious that RTJ has supplanted The Black Keys as my favorite band. Now, this isn't to say that I don't like The Black Keys anymore. It is the opposite. I still love and adore their music. I will always listen to them. I will always be excited when new Black Keys music comes out. I'm hopeful that they will put out a new record this year. I like Auerbach's solo stuff, but he is so much better as one half of The Black Keys. So yes, I still love their music. They are just my second favorite band now. There are just so many special things about Run the Jewels.

First off, El-P is the best producer in hip hop, no ifs ands or buts about it. He makes the best beats. He is far and away better than anyone else doing it right now. I'm sure younger people will bash me with their favorites, and old hip hop heads will throw out people they think are better, but El-P is a genius. Hell, even Killer Mike says in a song of RTJ's that, "a producer gave me a beat, said it is the beat of the year, I said El-P didn't produce it, so get the fuck outta here". That is poetry, and the truth. He is a genius. Oh, and by the way, he happens to be an incredible rapper. He is amazing. He is smooth and his flow is stupendous. His lyrics are amazing. He is the perfect sidekick to Killer Mike.

And Killer Mike, my god is that dude a beast. He is fast climbing my list as favorite rappers. Biggie is still one, Jay Z two and Kendrick Lamar three, but Killer Mike is at fourth, right behind Lamar, and he may surpass him soon. He is so awesome. He is so fierce and fast and spits some of the best verses ever written in rap music. He is also a political leader. While not a politician, I believe and follow pretty much every word he says when it comes to politics. When he goes off on trolls on Twitter it is a thing of beauty. He is amazing.

Put these two geniuses together and it is bliss. Every single RTJ song is perfect hip hop. It is the right blend of both of their talents. They know how to bounce off one another perfectly. They compliment each other the exact right way. They have fun while performing their songs. They work together better than any other hip hop duo that I have ever listened to. It was clear how much they like each other, and like working with each other when I saw them live last year. It is amazing to see two guys in the music industry that legitimately enjoy one another's company. They are wonderful.

Then their records. RTJ 1, 2 and 3 are the best hip hop records that I have ever listened to. RTJ 1 was like a bolt of lighting. It comes hard and it comes fast. It is like they each took one big breath and just busted out 10 phenomenal rap songs. RTJ 2 was when they started to get more political and attack corrupt politicians and it was awesome. The song with Zack de la Rocha on that record is, maybe, the best hip hop song ever. Then, as RTJ would say, on Christmas morning at midnight, like a "Christmas fucking miracle", they released RTJ 3. I cannot stop listening to this record to this day. I will listen to it all the way through at least once a week. It is a great blend of their first 2 records. Lately I have been blasting "Message to the Shareholders/Kill Your Masters" a ton. This is the perfect song, and RTJ 3 is the perfect protest record right now.

While I used to feel this same way about all Black Keys music, it just isn't the same anymore. As I said, I still love, and look forward to, new and old Black Keys stuff. But, I crave new RTJ music. It is an addiction for me now. Hell, even my daughter, who is 2, knows how much her father loves RTJ. She asked me the other day, "daddy, are we listening to RTJ?", and I couldn't have been happier. She has never said that about The Black Keys, and she has heard them just as much. My son is the same, although I try not to listen to them as much with him in the car because he is just about to turn 6 and I don't need him to get in trouble for quoting RTJ in school, even though that would be amazing. But, the rare times he does hear them he likes it. He told me he likes the beats. He also told me that, outside of the kids music we listen to, RTJ is his favorite. I still love The Black Keys, but Run the Jewels is now my favorite band.

It doesn't matter what genre, what people, what era, RTJ is the best of the best for me. Maybe this will change, when I was a teenager no one was better than Bob Marley until I heard The Black Keys, but I doubt it. I'm at an age now where when I put my hooks into something I stick with it. Run the Jewels is the best band making music and I will not hear otherwise. If you doubt this statement, go listen to them, preferably "Message to the Shareholders/Kill Your Masters", and let your mind be blown away by their awesomeness. RTJ rules.

P.S., sorry for the curse words mom and dad.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. When Ty was 10 years old, he made a detailed flow chart on how Puff Daddy passed up MC Hammer as the greatest rapper ever. The innocence of youth.

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Do Yourself a Favor and Listen to Some RL Burnside

Earlier today, while driving in my car, I decided that I wanted to hear some grimy, gritty and dirty blues music. I had just recently listened to some old Black Keys, so they weren't an option. Same with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. I thought about Led Zeppelin, but I wasn't in the mood for 14 minute long blues jams. I then dug deep into my iPod and I found some RL Burnside. It had been a long while since I listened to him, so I decided that was what I going to go with for the day.

Boy was that the perfect choice for the music I was craving. RL Burnside does the gritty stuff great. He does the grimy stuff even better. But when you want dirty, muddy and greasy blues music, there is no better option. RL was ahead of his time even though he was in his late 60's and early 70's before he even recorded an album. 

The record I chose was "A Ass Pocket of Whiskey", and it was better than anything that Jon Spencer, The White Stripes and, and dare I even say it, early Black Keys have ever done. His voice is so perfect for this style of music. He has that old man growl that I adore when it comes to the blues. It is stupendous. You can feel his pain when he sings, but you can also tell that he is having a blast recording. When he is singing, you can tell he feels that he is doing what he is supposed to be doing. It is like he was put on Earth to sing grimy blues music. His version of the classic blues tune "Stop Breaking Down" is the best of any cover of that song. Bands like The White Stripes, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears and The Black Keys have all covered this. They don't come close to Burnside's version. The growl and the groans are wonderful. The pain is awesome. The smoothness that his voice brings to this song is perfection. I love it so very much. This goes for all his songs, originals or covers. He knew exactly what he was doing when he was in the studio. One thing that will haunt me is the fact that I never got to see him live. I bet his shows were a blast. I bet he had so much fun on stage and I bet it showed. Man I wish I could have seen him live.

But, it isn't just himself that rules. His band, and his guitar was some of the best gritty and muddy blues ever recorded. The way he used reverb and distortion on every song, stupendous. When I play the blues I like to use the same stuff, but I am not 1/10 the player he was. And it wasn't like he was playing intricate or super hard music. He was playing standard 12 bar blues on his guitar, but the way he used the 2 main effects that he chose, it was masterful. I can see why he was such a big influence on Dan Auerbach. He uses reverb and distortion, especially in the early days, almost as good as Burnside used to. His backing band was great too. The drummer was awesome. I'm not a big fan of drums when it comes to the blues. When you use it like RL's backing band did, it works. To keep the beat for the band, but also use fills, make it sound just as dirty and to have fun with the drums, it was great. The bassist used reverb and distortion just like RL, and, again, it was perfectly simpatico. The way the bass bounced off the guitar was kismet. Again, I love it. Even the backing vocals were perfection. The guys that yell sing with RL, it just works so god damn well. On the song "Snake Drive", when the backup singer yells the words at the end, I don't want it to stop. They have another song where the backup singer is just straight up talking to RL and it is awesome. He is just asking RL random questions, RL answers him in his gruff voice, and it is oddly perfect.

RL lived a fast and hard life and it comes across in his music. He has a famous quote that sums up his music perfectly. When he was younger he spent some time in jail for shooting a guy. He was asked in court why he killed that man, and he said, "I didn't kill that man, the bullet from the gun I shot did". I know, that is crazy. But, when you listen to his music, it weirdly makes sense. Also, he shot and killed a guy, was released from jail and became a folk hero in the blues music scene. How crazy is that?!

RL Burnside died over a decade ago, but his music still lives on. If you like the grimy stuff, the gritty, the muddy and the dirty blues, filled with reverb and distortion, go listen to anything that RL Burnside recorded. He was an awesome blues musician, and I will forever listen to his music any time I want to get down and dirty with the blues. 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. He is only 1/10th the blues player that RL Burnside was, but Ty is 6/7 of acoustic guitar player of the random weirdo strumming at your local coffee shop.

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Ty Listens to "Goin' Platinum!"

After the holidays is when I like to catch up on some music that I haven't heard yet, but have been looking forward to. I usually get some iTunes gift cards and use them on all the stuff I have wanted to hear, but just haven't gotten around to yet. This year I got some good stuff, but the cream of the crop was Robert Finley's newest record, "Goin' Platinum!".

Truth be told, I hadn't heard anything of Finley's until I saw that Dan Auerbach, of The Black Keys, was producing this new record. He did his own solo record, the very good "Waiting on a Song", with a new label, Easy Eye Sound. This piqued my interest because I am an unabashed fan of Auerbach. I mean, he has The Black Keys and everything else he has done on is own and has produced is awesome. So, I checked out some of Finley's stuff on YouTube, and what I heard and saw, I was on board with. Finley is an older gentleman, and he has that sound to his music. His voice is so perfect for what he does. He has that blues-y growl to his voice, but he can do ballads and standard, old school R&B when it is called for. Needless to say, I wanted to hear his new record when it came out.

I waited, but it was the first thing I bought the day after Christmas. I have not stopped listening to it ever since. I adore this record. It has everything that I enjoy about modern artists doing old school music. It also totally helps that the backing band, The Easy Eye Review, has a very Black Keys-ish sound to their music. The Easy Eye Review sounds like a mixture of "Brothers" Black Keys and Auerbach's first solo record. Then, when Finley drops in his guitar and vocals, it all blends perfectly.

From start to finish this record is solid. The opener, "Get it While You Can", has a great guitar riff at the top, then it is all brought home by Finley's vocals. He uses that blues growl and tears through this song. It is a perfect way to set up the rest of this record. From here on out the record trades genres with ease. The songs, "If You Forget My Love" and "Honey Let Me Stay the Night" blend rock and R&B excellently. "Honey Let Me Stay the Night" has some great backing vocals by the Easy Eye Review's singers. They add the extra pop that this song needs. "Medicine Woman" is a trippy, throw back blues song that rules. Great lyrics, vocals and music throughout. "Real Love is Like a Hard Crime" should be a single played on radio. Finley howls through this song in all the right ways. I find myself openly humming this song, or outright singing it, as I walk through the house while I'm cleaning, changing diapers or running on the treadmill. It is such a great song. This song also has the backing vocals that permeate the record. "Complications" is a great straight forward blues song. Finley's vocals on this are the icing on the cake that is this record. When he scream sings "Complications", I cannot get enough of it. The closer, "Holy Wine", is a perfect ending to this great record. It is sweet and nice and just a gem. I love this song very, very much. In fact, I love this entire record.

I know Finley is an older gentleman, but he is doing throwback music perfectly. I'm sure it helps that he grew up with this kind of music, but he didn't get any real notoriety until now for playing this kind of music. This record is so in my alley. It has everything that I like about music, minus any hip hop. But, Finley is not a hip hop musician. He is a rock/blues/R&B musician. I also love that Auerbach worked on this album with him. I am also stoked that he is currently on tour with Auerbach, opening the shows for him. I'm very much considering going to see them both in Kansas City, that is the closest they are coming to Saint Louis, and it is not just to hear Auerbach's new stuff live. I want to hear Finley perform just as much.

If you like old school music with a modern twist, check out "Goin' Platinum!". It is so good, and it fills that need of no new Leon Bridges music yet for me. It is an awesome record.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He needs some good bluesy tunes to help with the diaper changes.

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The Best of Everything in 2017

Welcome to the final day of 2017. The year has featured a lot of good stuff, and a whole lot of stuff we want to forget, COUGH Trump COUGH. In order to celebrate we are going to focus mostly on the good stuff. Check out all of our best of the year articles, and enjoy the X Millennial Man 2017 Year in Review podcast. 

Oh, and have a Happy New Year.

The Best Films

The Best Television

The Best Music

The Best Podcasts

The Best Sports Moments

The X Millennial Man Year in Review

The Staff at SeedSing

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The Best Albums of 2017

On to day 2 of my best of 2017 lists. Today we will focus on my top 5 albums of the year. My list has many different genres, but the main theme is rap/hip hop. It was a decent year for music, not as good as movies, but still pretty good. For example, Beck's new album is not on my list, Khalid's "Teenage Dream" was close, but not quite there, I love Big K.R.I.T., but his new record didn't make my list. I did not have as much trouble pairing my list down, but it still took awhile. Anyway, here we go.

At number 5 I have "Humanz" by the Gorillaz. First off, I was shocked that other publications left this record off their best of lists. "Humanz" was a long time coming, and I thought it was totally worth the wait. Damon Albarn has created something truly special with the Gorillaz. There will never be another band like this. Anyone that tries to do what he did will be called imitators. Albarn was way ahead of the curve as far as creativeness comes. With "Humanz", he took those creative juices and let them flow. It was like there was never a break from their last record. The record is so good and it flows perfectly. The guest list is second to none. You have people ranging from Vince Staples to Grace Jones to Danny Brown, and of course, De La Soul. The Gorillaz have taken on this EDM/rock/rap genre to a whole new level, and "Humanz" is a prime example of that. From start to finish this record is awesome. I love "Charger" featuring Grace Jones and their collaboration with Danny Brown, but the best song is "Moments", featuring De La Soul. That is the perfect Gorillaz song. "Humanz" is a delight.

At number 4, speaking of Vince Stales, I have his newest record, "Big Fish Theory". I was hesitant at first with this record. I was lukewarm on his early stuff, but after hearing him on "Humanz", I decided to give "Big Fish Theory" a shot. Boy am I glad I did. Staples is doing something unique as well. He blends electronic beats with politically conscious lyrics, all the while making it fun. Staples rapping is awesome on this record. He truly knocks his vocals out of the park. He seamlessly moves from party music to straight forward rap to conscious rap. With this record I feel like he has started to hit his stride. He has found his niche as a rapper. "Big Fish Theory" is fun, but also a much needed album in our current political climate. If he continues on this path, I do not see why he won't be as big as Chance the Rapper in the next year or two.

At number 3, going completely away from rap and electronic and cartoon bands, I have the return of LCD Soundsystem with their new record, "American Dream". As you all know by now I am a big, big fan of this group. I love how they blend pop, punk, funk, electronic and rock all into one. I love how they can do a slower song, then follow it up with a 3 minute punk song, then blend electronic with rock and play a 7 minute epic tune. James Murphy is one of a kind. While he may come off a bit pretentious, the dude can sing and write music. "American Dream" has all of this and so much more. From start to finish this album is a homerun. They are the modern day Talking Heads. In fact, thee first time I listened to this record, I was with my father and he asked if it was the Talking Heads. LCD Soundsystem has that same sound, just modernized. This record, another one that we all had to wait for, was totally worth it. You could tell they spent a ton of time in the studio trying to perfect the record. I believe they achieved that goal. "American Dream" also has some great songs about how rough our country is nowadays. We need more and more artists to address the current problems in our country. LCD Soundsysten does that on this record. "American Dream" is awesome and worth the wait. It is nice to have them back.

At number 2, and I had a very rough time with which one of these 2 albums I was going to put at 1, I chose Kendrick Lamar's "DAMN". "DAMN" is amazing. It is basically 1B compared to the record I will talk about next. Kendrick Lamar is the best solo rapper out there right now, and "DAMN" more than proves this. On his other records he can be more of a poet, channeling his inner Tupac, and a bit more obtuse, which I like, but on "DAMN", he makes a straight forward rap album, but with how exceptional he is, he makes it so much better than anything Drake or anyone else of that ilk, can do. This record bumps from start to finish. "DNA" has to be the song of the year. The beat and the intro to that song are amazing. He then tackles so many different themes throughout the 11 songs on the record. He calls out Fox News, Geraldo Rivera and the "president" all within 1 song. The track featuring U2, a band that I do not like at all, is awesome. If you can make me like U2, that is an accomplishment in and of itself. Even a song like "Humble", the chart topping hit from this record, is the bomb. Usually chart toppers get stale after a few listens,  but not "Humble". Kendrick Lamar continues to amaze me, and I cannot wait to hear his next record. Until then, I have "DAMN" to listen to.

And finally for my number one. There is no record better in 2017 than Lorde's "Melodrama". What a piece of art this record is. Lorde shines so bright on this album. She bounces from many different genres, sometime in the same song, so effortlessly. She is one of the best pop singers on the planet, but she can also do ballads as good as Adele, and she is light years ahead of someone like Taylor Swift when it comes to straight forward pop music. From the opener, "Green Light" to songs like "Writer in the Dark" and "Homemade Dynamite" and "Liability", she takes on many different genres. I know she is well known, but I am shocked that she isn't on the same level as some other pop stars. I don't hear her songs on the radio as much as Taylor Swift or Ed Sheerhan or anyone else who doesn't have 1/10 her talent. Lorde rules. I am so psyched that I get to see her live in March. It is also pretty dope that Run the Jewels is opening for her. "Melodrama" is a masterpiece. Lorde achieved legendary status on this record to me. If she never makes another album, I will be happy with what we got from her. I hope she makes more music, I'm sure she will, but she totally crushed it on "Melodrama". It is the best record of the year. I have no doubt about that now.

That is it for my top 5 records of the year. 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. He was struggling about what to do with Taylor Swift's new record. He has never heard it, never will hear it, but thought she deserved a mention. There, we mentioned her.

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The "Monster Mash" is a Bright Spot in the Halloween Season

Even the Fremont Troll is in for the "Monster Mash"

Happy Halloween. Please enjoy this post from holidays past. The article was originally posted on October 31st, 2016.

I'm not the biggest fan of Halloween. I think that I've made that pretty clear on this website and podcast. Halloween died for me the day my parents told me, at 13, that I was too old to go trick or treating anymore. I couldn't argue with them, they were right. Who was I fooling by going out there with my football jersey on, that's right, it was my jersey, not some NFL or college players jersey, and trying to get free candy from strangers. It felt weird doing that, as a teenager. I've also never been one for dressing up, be it in costume, for a party, a funeral, a wedding, basically any fancy occasion. I like to wear t shirts and jeans, cargo shorts or athletic shorts. That is what is most comfortable, so that is what I feel like I should wear. So, the idea of putting on a costume or makeup or both, that is unappealing to me. Since 13, I have not been a fan of this "holiday". I also don't like being spooked, I hate scary movies, I don't like haunted houses and the puns made around this time of year are atrocious. Even with 2 small children, I still do not get into the spirit. Call me a curmudgeon, an old man, an angry old man, whatever, I just do not get excited for Halloween. I do go out and trick or treat with my children, I'm not a monster, but I'm always happy when it is over.

But, there is one thing, and probably the only thing, that I do like about Halloween. I like, neigh, I LOVE the song "Monster Mash" by Bobby Pickett. First off, I love the 50's/60's music sound. I love how genuine and nice and kind of dirty that it can get. I'm a big Buddy Holly fan. I love all the old time blues guys, think Robert Johnson. I'm just a big fan of that older sound of music. "Monster Mash" is the perfect representation of the goofy, yet extremely catchy sound of the 50's/60's rock/pop music.

The song is hilarious first off. The singer sings the song in a very deep, trying to sound scary but not pulling it off, voice that is unforgettable. The song also has background singers doing some of the best background work in spoof music history. The "ooh ah ooh"'s that sprinkle that song and the hushed vocals during the chorus are glorious. The music is trying to be spooky, but it comes off kooky, in the best possible way. The instruments and sounds are great. The bubbling cauldron at the beginning is great. Then, it's your typical 4/4 groove with 3 chords. The "Monster Mash", in its simplicity, is so much better than any Ramones song ever, and I will debate anyone for the length of time why I'm right about this.

Then there are the lyrics, my goodness, what a hilariously ridiculous song. Pickett sets the table beautifully from the start. He paints a very real depiction of a goofy Halloween story. The first line, "I was working in the lab, late one night/when my eyes beheld an eerie sight/for my monster from my slab began to rise/and suddenly to my surprise". Perfect. He is a mad scientist that had a late night, and Frankenstein I'm going to assume, awakes from his slumber. But, instead of attacking this scientist, the chorus lets us know that Frankenstein just wants to do the monster mash. They never tell us how to do the monster mash, but we do know that it is a graveyard smash, so I guess all the monsters at the graveyard can really boogie, but they can only do the monster mash. In the second verse, Pickett talks about how all the ghouls and monsters and vampires and the like come to him to get a jolt so they too can do the monster mash. It is so silly, yet so damn catchy. I'm humming it in my head as I type this. Then, after all the monsters get their jolt, they all proceed, along with Frankenstein, to do the monster mash, and we are led to believe that it is still a graveyard smash. In the third verse, we hear that every monster is there, including, the Wolfman, zombies, Dracula, and even Dracula's son. This dance has turned this graveyard into party central. And now, not only are they dancing the monster mash, they are singing it as well. These monsters are having the time of their lives, thanks to the monster mash. But, in a stunning twist during the fourth verse, Dracula wants to know why no one is doing the Translyvania Twist? Well Dracula, I'd like to know as well, and Pickett explains why in the next verse. The other monsters let him know that this is a strictly monster mash party, and at the next party they have, they will all gladly do the Translyvania Twist. Instead of getting angry and biting necks, Dracula is cool with this arrangement and goes back to the party. The "Monster Mash" ends with it's unforgettable chorus, and the song is over.

I really do truly love this song. I love the goofiness, the music, the vocals, everything. I think this song is great. It is an undeniable classic as well. Everyone spoofs it to. From the "Comedy Bang! Bang!" podcast to "The Simpsons", someone somewhere has a "Monster Mash" spoof that they are waiting to unleash. So, while Halloween may not be for me, at least I'll always have the "Monster Mash" to get me through it. Thanks Bobby Pickett.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is not quite as high on the sequel to "The Monster Mash", the unfortunate "Monster Swim". Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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Ty Listens to Beck's New Album "Colors"

Time to take a little break from sports and get back to other pop culture things for awhile. Today I want to review Beck's new album, "Colors". I have been waiting for this record since I saw Beck live over a year ago. He played a few of the songs live, teased the crowd that the record was coming soon, but much to mine and my brother's surprise, nothing came out for weeks. Weeks turned into months. Then Beck finally announced that the record was on hold due to some mixing and song choice stuff. So the wait continued. Finally, Beck announced that his record was going to come out on October 13th. I was still leery because this was a "Friday the 13th" day, but thankfully the record was released. I listened to it immediately, of course.

At first listen I was very happy with what I heard, but a tinge of disappointment hit me for some reason. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I had heard some people say that "Colors" was his funkiest record since "Midnite Vultures", but that was false praise. Maybe it is my unconditional love for "Midnite Vultures", and it will be nearly impossible for any Beck record to reach the love I have for that album, but I definitely do not think "Colors" is anywhere near "Midnite Vultures". So, the record was at an unfair disadvantage right off the bat. But, I kept listening. It is Beck, so I am not going to write it off after one listen. The more I listen to it, the more I begin to really enjoy it.

I think "Colors", while not "Midnite Vultures", is a nice change of pace from his last record, "Morning Phase". This is what Beck does. He changes the style/genre on every other album. He is incredibly versatile as a musician, and that is what I love about him. So, after getting over my comparison to "Midnite Vultures", and just taking "Colors" for what it is, a pop record, I have grown to like it more and more, as I said before. The record is fun. The songs blend seamlessly. Each song is more fun than the next. Beck and his band sound like they had a blast recording this record. With "Morning Phase" he went straight folk, and the songs were pretty sad, but with "Colors", it is all fun.

I love the first track, the title track, "Colors". It opens with a bang. It is a poppy blast of a song. I love to listen to it while I walk home from taking my son to school, or when I work out. In fact, this whole record is great for working out. The next four songs are very solid pop songs. "Seventh Heaven" is fun, with a great chorus. "I'm So Free" is one of the "slower" songs, but still pretty poppy and pretty good. I love the song "Dear Life". I love the piano. It is awesome. It ranks right up there with the all time great piano stuff Beck does. The song is the perfect running song too. "No Distraction" is a good change of pace. It is a bit more up tempo pop song. The next 2 songs are the "hits" from the record that he played live when I saw him. "Dreams" is a whimsical song that is so awesomely produced. The sounds and the instruments and the lyrics are just perfect. "Wow" is a hit. This is classic Beck. This is the funkiest, coolest and most like rap music song on the record. When he says, "jujitsu, coming at girl with a Lamborghini shitzu", I love it every time. We blast this song in my car. My son loves to sing the chorus. My daughter tells me, "it's our song daddy". Even my wife, who is a Beck skeptic, thinks "Wow" is great. This song is awesome. It is the best song on the record. The last 3 songs are a great way to close out a very good album. "Up All Night" is another fun, fast paced pop song. "Square One" is about as straight forward a song as one will ever get from Beck. It is actually kind of nice to hear him do a paint by the numbers pop song. The closer, "Fix Me" is truly wonderful. This song sounds like it could have been on "Morning Phase", but it is such a perfect fit to close out "Colors". Beck sings the song beautifully, and it is just a nice ending to a solid record.

Look, the wait made my anticipation go through the roof. That is unfair to a musician that constantly comes through no matter what. Beck has never put out a record that isn't well thought out and one that he hasn't worked incredibly hard on. You cannot say that about a lot of musicians that have reached his level of stardom. It was also unfair of whatever reviewer called it a modern day "Midnite Vultures". Nothing will ever be as good as that record. But, for what "Colors" is, a pop record, it is one of the better ones out there right now. This record proves how versatile Beck is, and how he still is making great music 20 plus years into an extraordinary career from one of the best/weirdest/most influential musicians of the 20th century. "Colors" only gets better the more you listen to it. That is the sign of a very good album. I highly recommend it to everyone that loves good music.  

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is just part of "silver foxes looking for romance in the chain-smoke Kansas flash dance ass pants."

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Ty Listens to "American Dream"

After a 6 year layoff, and having one of the greatest close out concerts in recent memory, LCD Soundsystem released their newest "comeback" album, "American Dream". I have already listened to it twice and I have to say, this record is amazing. It is oddly comforting for me. They sound like a better version of themselves from the past. They sound so much tighter. They sound like they are having the most fun of their professional careers. James Murphy has never sounded better, at least in my opinion. The music and the writing is absolutely top notch. I am so very impressed by this record.

I got an email from Ticketmaster this morning that was a message from Murphy. He stated that the new record was out, how hard they had worked on it, and he said that he felt like this is the best work they have ever done. This made me a teeny tiny bit worried. I always get cold feet when someone says, "this is the best work we have ever done". Especially when it is a band that I love. Their earlier stuff is already amazing, and I already stated that their final concert, which was made into a tremendous movie, "Shut Up and Play the Hits", was fantastic. So I didn't know how much better they could truly get.

I bought the record, because of course I was going to buy it. I turned it on, and I was so very, very impressed by what I was listening to. You can tell that they really poured their heart and souls into this new record. The 6 year layoff almost seems worth it because "American Dream" is so wonderful. Like I said, I have never heard James Murphy sound this great. He sounds like modern day David Bryne. In fact, I was listening to the record with my dad and he asked me if The Talking Heads put out a new record. He didn't think it was LCD Soundsystem. And, it is not like he doesn't know the band. He listens to them with me all the time. The more I thought about that comment from my dad, I thought that was the best way to describe this new record. On "American Dream", LCD Soundsystem sounds like a 21st century Talking Heads. That is a tremendous compliment for those that know me. I became a big Talking Heads fan after college, and to hear a modern band that I am a big fan of sound like them is just phenomenal. Every song has that Talking Heads sound, but put into the 21st century. It is like a mix of Talking Heads and Daft Punk, in all the best possible ways. LCD Soundsystem brings that excellent electronic sound combined with their rock and roll roots. The band, especially the keys player, plays synth music so perfectly. Then, the guitarist, bassist and drummer add that rock to the mix and it is such a wonderful combination of great musicians. Then throw in Murphy's vocals and it is a perfect collection of great musicians coming together at the best possible time.

Every song on the record is tremendous. It is hard to just point out one or 2. I wrote and talked about the 2 songs they released early as singles, and the rest of the record is just as good as those songs were the first time I heard them. Every song has that classic LCD Soundsystem slow burn and then explosion that just makes you want to dance. I was grooving very hard in my car, and so was my daughter. She was having a blast in her car seat. The record only has 10 songs, but it runs a shade over an hour long. That is about 6 minutes per song, but none of the songs seem that long. In fact, I wish all the songs were pushing 10 minutes. This isn't a jam band, all these songs have proper progressions and the 6 minute plus run time per song is perfect. I could listen to this band play a 20 minute long song and never feel bored. They are so much more fun than jam bands.

I love LCD Soundsystem and "American Dream" is a tremendous return. I hope they continue to play live shows and they continue to make more and more new music. I'm so glad that they are back and they are still making some of the best music out there right now. Welcome back LCD Soundsystem, and please stick around for another decade making great, great music.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is quite happy when he and his daughter can dance to the same music. There is only so much "Yo Gabba Gabba" one grown ass man can take. 

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Ty Listens to New Music from Jay Z, Vince Staples, and Tyler the Creator

I have recently purchased or been given 3 pretty awesome hip hop records over the past 2 weeks, and I want to write a little something about all of them. I'm doing it this way because they're fresh on my mind, and starting next week, and the week after that, I'm going to be very football heavy. So, let's get to it.

The first one I bought, and that is the newest Jay Z record, "4:44". I waited until it was off Tidal, I don't have the service, and I got it on iTunes. I have to say, it is a good, straight down the middle Jay Z record. Kendrick Lamar has usurped him as the heir apparent to Biggie as the best solo rapper in my opinion, but Jay Z can still bring it, and "4:44" proves that. He still has that wonderful, effortless flow, and his lyrics are just as profound. From talking about his problems, that he caused, with Beyoncé, to the coming out of his mother to talking about his kids, it all works. Jay Z is one of the best rappers alive for a reason. No album will be as good as "The Black Album" was for me. But, I really enjoy "4:44". I like it more than his last record, which I loved, and if he continues to put our great rap music like this, I will always be happy.

The next album was a gift via an iTunes gift card. That record is Vince Staples "Big Fish Theory". This record bumps. I listened to it fully for the first time this past Tuesday and I was blown away. I am a fan of Staples, but it was more so for his guest spots. His song with the Gorillaz on "Humanz" is one of the highlights. But, I have his other stuff, and while it is good, it's no where near as good as "Big Fish Theory". The way he blends electronic beats with introspective lyrics is amazing. He is one of the better modern rappers too. He has great flow and a sense of confidence when he rhymes. He knocks his verses on this record absolutely out of the park. The track with him and Kendrick Lamar is one of the better singles I've heard all year. I don't know why Staples isn't more widely known, but if he keeps doing new and innovative things like he does on "Big Fish Theory", he's going to be as big, if not bigger, than Chance the Rapper. He's that good.

Finally we have Tyler the Creator's new record, which was given to me by a friend, "Scum Fuck Flower Boy".(sorry for the language mom and dad, but that is the title) I'm a big fan of Odd Future, and Tyler the Creator is the reason why. Even though he can get very dark and dirty, I love the way he raps. He's got a newer voice, but with an old school delivery. His other solo stuff has been good, but like I said, it gets very dark. On "SFFB", it's dark, but not as dark. It's more accessible for rap fans. His lyrics and rhyming are the best I've ever heard from him. I just got this record yesterday and I've already listened to it twice, with a third about to come when I mow my lawn in a minute. This record is amazing. Of the three, this one is my favorite, and I also think it is genuinely the best. The songs are great. The beats are dope. His rapping is on point. It's all around wonderful. I love love love this album.

It is a great time to be a hip hop fan. I highly recommend getting all three of these, but if you can only get one, get Tyler the Creator's "SFFB". Don't listen to it around kids, in fact, don't listen to any of these around kids, but find time on your own to listen. "SFFB" is a masterpiece, and so is "Big Fish Theory". And don't forget about "4:44", it's classic Jay Z, which means it too is awesome.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He does not like the fact that some artist use a swear word in the titles of their albums. He wants the entire album title to be filled with swears. Damn hell ass swears.

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The Greatest American Music: Beck's "Debra"

The Greatest American Music is a companion to our Greatest American Band Debate.

SeedSing is filled with music lovers. We can not agree on who is the best band from the States. The Greatest American Band Debate will be a regular feature where we discuss and compare bands who started in the good old USA. If you have any suggestions of bands we should debate Contact us seedsing.rdk@gmail.com

Last Friday I wrote about how the greatness that is "Baby Driver". That movie is a classic. I also wrote in my spoiler free review about the excellent music in the movie. I bought the soundtrack, naturally, and I have been listening to it pretty much everyday since it was purchased. This is not a review of the album. The album is great, and I highly recommend it, especially for 50's and 60's soul and R&B music fans, but one song on it has rekindled my love for a musician I'm a big fan of.

The song "Debra", from Beck's best album, "Midnite Vultures", is on the soundtrack. "Midnite Vultures" is a tremendous record, and "Debra" is the highlight of the whole record. It is Beck's masterpiece, in my opinion. That is what I want to talk about today, the greatness that is the song "Debra". This is also my way of getting Beck into the Greatest American Band debate, but I just want to talk about this one song. It is enough to put him in the debate. Beck has so much other great music, but "Debra" is a step above everything else he has done, and will do.

In "Baby Driver", Baby and his girlfriend, Debora, talk about all the songs that have their names in them. Obviously Baby has a ton of songs. Debora, not so much. They mention 2 in the movie. One is T Rex's "Debora", and the other is Beck's "Debra". Lily James sings the first part of the first verse, and then immediately after she does that, I was brought back into how much I love this song. Then after listening to it on repeat for awhile, both on the soundtrack and "Midnite Vultures", I fell even further back in love with the song.

Everything about this song is perfection. First off, I heard, I think RD told me in fact, that Beck has said that this song is his own personal tribute to Prince, and it sounds like classic Prince. The song is very funky and Beck sings his heart out, hitting notes I didn't think he could ever get to. He sings some of the highest notes I've ever heard.

I started to dig deeper into the song because Debora explains to Baby that the song isn't even really about a girl named Debra, it is about her sister Jenny. I had forgotten about that. I just assumed the song was about a girl named Debra because that is the name of the song. But no, it is about a girl named Jenny, and her sister Debra. The first lyrics, the ones that Debora sings, go like this, "I met you at JC Penny/I think your name tag said Jenny". Bam! Right off the bat Beck establishes that the song is not about Debra, but it is about Jenny.

Beck goes on to say, "I cold step to you with a fresh pack of gum/And somehow I knew, you were looking for some oh no!/Like a fruit, that's ripe for the picking/ I wouldn't do you like that Zankou Chicken". That is some Barry White esque game that Beck is spitting to Jenny.

It also has classic Beck nonsense like him calling out a chicken restaurant in California. For years my brothers and I would debate what he was saying. We thought he was saying things like "cold chicken", "microwave chicken", anything but "Zankou Chicken".

He then finishes up the first verse, "Cause only you got the thing that I just got to get with? I just got to get with you and you know what we're gonna do". Again, funky as hell. This lyrics are classic throwback R&B lyrics and Beck sings them like a boss.

The chorus is tremendous. The lyrics are, "I wanna get with you/ And your sister/ I think her name is Debra". That is the first mention of Debra in the song. That chorus though, it is top notch and the guitar and drums and especially the bass, are second to none. It is classic, and extremely well played funk/R&B music coming from the weirdest dude in music. He crushes the chorus and the guitar work. I love it.

The song only gets better from there.

In the second verse, Beck explains, "I'll pick you up late at night after work/ I said, lady, step inside my Hyundai/ I'm gonna take you up to Glendale, I'm gonna take you for a real good meal/ Cause when our eyes did meet/ Girl you know I was packing heat/ Ain't no use in wasting no time getting to know each other, you never do". He then rehashes the "Cause only you got the thing" verse.

Lets unpack most of the second verse real quick. Again, super duper funky. It has all the elements of funk music. He is letting Jenny know all his plans, and what he wants to do with her. He is a gentleman obviously, by telling her he is going to take her up to Glendale for a "real good meal". He also isn't boasting when telling her to "Step inside his Hyundai". I have a Hyundai, so I know that all Hyundai's aren't fancy. He is confident, but not cocky. Then telling Jenny that they don't need to waste time getting to know each other is some of the coolest shit ever written. Beck is the man. He lets Jenny know what he wants, and if she is down, he will be having a great night. The second verse is my favorite. It is so cool and shows some of the best bravado that I have ever heard. This is where the song really hooks you.

He then goes on to the chorus again. Only the second mention of Debra in the second verse as well. It just gets funkier from there.

He goes on to close the song with, "ooh lovely lady/ girl you drive me crazy". He then repeats that a few times and finishes it off with, "I got a little bit of sympathy for you girl/ Yeah, cause I'm a grown ass man". He could not sound any cooler than he does at the end of this song. He is truly "the man". He throws down so epically on "Debra". The song closes out with some of the grooviest, funkiest guitar and bass in any funk song ever.

"Debra" is a classic. "Midnite Vultures" is a classic as well. It is songs like these that make me realize why I love not only music, but Beck specifically. He makes so much different and unique stuff, and for the most part, it is successful. Go out and listen to "Debra" right away. This song is so great, and I guarantee that you will gain a whole new level of respect for how great of a singer and song writer Beck truly is. He is like no one else that makes music nowadays, and "Debra" is what opened my mind to his genius.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He owns a Hyundai because Beck planted subliminal message's in Ty's head that said the Sonata is a car for the smoothest of dudes. Come step inside to see for yourself.

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Ty Listens to Lorde's "Melodrama"

Today I purchased Lorde's new album, "Melodrama". I have to say, this was well worth the 4 year wait. This record is excellent. I am blown away that someone this young is this good a writer and singer. She seems so much older than her years on this album. Her lyrics are insightful, fun at times, smart and beautifully sung. Her band is great as well. This is a great all around record.

The first four songs of "Melodrama" sound like they come from the 80's synth movement, but not fueled by cocaine, looking at you Flock of Seagulls. Lorde and her band uses the best parts of what made that music palatable, but they make it modern age and they make it good. Songs like "Green Light" and "Homemade Dynamite" would have easily been hits in the mid to late 80's. Those songs are so synth heavy, but they are also fun as hell to listen and dance to. Lorde's lyrics and voice are phenomenal, and I love the keyboards, synthesizers and whatever else they use to make the music. "Green Light" is a tremendous single, and if I remember it correctly, this was the first single that she released to the public months before this album came out. This was the perfect song to show people that she has grown up, and that this album was going to go in a different direction than her first album, the excellent "Pure Heroine", did 4 years ago.

I love the new sound. I was on board right away, but I was also a bit confused how different it sounded. I am very glad that she chose a different approach, but I thought she would do more of the same from her first record because it was such a hit. But I'll say it again, I love when artists try something different when they make new music. That shows me growth. That shows me that these people are willing to take a chance. And, when they hit, it is amazing to hear. That is how I felt about "Melodrama" after the first 4 songs.

Then the fifth song, "Liability", played next. This song absolutely blew me away. She completely strips everything away, and it is just her voice and a piano, and the song is a thing of beauty. To me, a song like "Liability" is better than any ballad that Taylor Swift or Adele has put out in the past 6 or 7 years. I absolutely love this song so much. It is so god damn good.

Now, I was totally hooked. I needed to hear the rest of the record. She follows "Liability" up with "Hard Feelings/Loveless". This is a bizarre, yet awesome double song. The first part of the song, the "Hard Feelings" part, has an almost hip hop vibe to it. The beat is very good and the lyrics are even better. This is the one song on this record that reminds me of something that would have been on "Pure Heroine". She then shifts into a song that is even more hip hop esque on the second part of this song, "Loveless". Lorde does he style of "rapping" while mixing in singing, and for the very first time I've ever heard from her, she uses the F word a couple times in this song. I loved it. I thought it was a great surprise. I very much love this song as well. I like that she does stuff like this, turning a 5 minute plus song into 2 separate things. She is so good at switching time signatures right in the middle of a song, and that takes a lot of talent to do something like that, while still making it easy to listen to. I really like the song "Sober 2 (Melodrama)". It is sad and heartbreaking and so well performed by Lorde. She really sings her heart out and I wouldn't be surprised if this song gets massive radio play in the near future. It is a hit. Her reprise of "Liability" brought me back to that stripped down version I loved from earlier, and brought me back down to just listening to her, as opposed to what the other songs do, which is make me listen, but also dance and want to know the lyrics so I can belt it out in the car soon. "Perfect Places", the final track on the record, is a great blend of everything we got from this entire record. She sings loudly, the band is on fire, the lyrics are tremendous and it is such a glorious end to a wonderful album.

I truly do love "Melodrama". This is one of the best sophomore records I've heard from anyone that I have ever listened to. I know some people kind of slump on the second record, especially when they have an enormous surprise hit like Lorde had with "Pure Heroine", but that is not the case on "Melodrama". If anything, this record proves to me that she is only to get better and better. She is so young, but so talented, and this is such a great album.

Lorde needs to be even more known than she already is. I've already mentioned the Taylor Swift's and Adele's of the pop music world, but Lorde is better than not only them, but people that get major radio play like Bruno Mars or 21 Pilots or Ed Sheerhan, basically anyone that gets played on pop radio. Lorde is a star, and she should be the face of pop music in the 21st century. I'm a very, very big fan, and I cannot wait to see what she does next. Lorde is incredible and so is "Melodrama".

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is thinking of asking his preteen neices if he can chaperone them when Lorde comes to St. Louis. He does not want to go alone and be the weirdo old guy around a bunch young girls. Bad look.

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Ty Listens to "Waiting on a Song"

Dan Auerbach's second solo record, "Waiting on a Song" was released today. Of course I bought it first thing this morning, and I've already listened to it 3 full times. It's a short record. There are 10 songs and the record runs about 33 minutes long. As I've gotten older, I love when albums are put together like this. Short and to the point. There are no pointless jams and songs that go on just for the sake of going on.

"Waiting on a Song" is also a complete departure from what Auerbach has done on every other record. It's not heavy rock like he does with the Black Keys. It's not psychedelic like when he fronts The Arcs. It's not a blend of hip hop and rock like they did with Blakroc. It's not even like his first solo record, which was basically a Black Keys record, but with a full band. This album is completely stripped down. It is very acoustic driven and sounds almost like a Bluegrass record at times. Auerbach is trying something he's never tried before and I've got to say, I am really starting to dig it. At first listen I didn't really know how I felt, but the more I hear, the more I find myself enjoying the songs, and the record as a whole. It kind of sounds like a modern day version of CCR, a band I adore, but better. I personally think Auerbach is a better singer, and his band on this record sounds tighter.

I heard the single "Shine on Me" awhile ago, and I really liked it. Then, as I got deeper into this album, I think I enjoy 7 or 8 of the songs more than "Shine on Me". "King of a One Horse Town" is a very groove, slowed down folk song. I love the lyrics and I adore the music. "Malibu Man" is a very cool, fun song. "Undertow" is a darker song, yet I still really like it. "Cherry Bomb" is about as rock and roll as it gets, and it is a good, good song.

I am a Dan Auerbach apologist. I will say, I will give him more chances than anyone else I listen to. But, when he and his bands continue to make great music, I feel he's earned his chance to take his music in a bunch of different directions. I knew I'd love this album, I just didn't know how much. I was curious with the new direction, but I've always like folk music, and I went through a big Bluegrass phase, so what's not to like. "Waiting on a Song" is a must have for Auerbach and Black Keys fans, but I feel like fans of folk and Bluegrass would enjoy it too. Check it out.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He one time confused CCR with CCW. Boy was he confused when he showed up to that class. 

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"Bob's Burgers" is a Great Show, and Now it is Also a Great Album

The best companion to a great tv show

About a week ago the television show "Bob's Burgers" put out an album of original music from the show. This has been done before. Most shows release scores and some original stuff from their series. I remember when "Lost" was on TV, they had a very memorable theme song, and a great song called "The Walking Song" that they released to the public. "The Simpsons" have released a ton of music. Like I said, it happens a lot.

What makes the "Bob's Burgers" record special is how many tracks are on it, and how well it is made. The album I bought off iTunes has 112 songs on it. That is a whole lot. Sure, most of the songs are less than 45 seconds long, but that doesn't make me like them any less. When I can hear stuff like "Burgers and Fries", "The Theme From Banjo", "Fracas Foam", "Da Ding Ding", "Weekend at Mort's", and so on and so forth, that makes me very happy. When they do go over a minute, the songs are still great. The extended theme to the show is wonderful. "Derek Dematopolis" is tremendous. "Bad Things are Bad" and "Good Things are Good" are both awesome. The little Fred Armisen run, when he played the health code guy, is great. "Sex, Sex, Sex", "Daddy" and the "Itsy Bitsy Stripper" are all very good, and very funny songs.

The standout for me, my family, and probably a lot of other people is the song, "Electric Love". This was in one of "Bob's Burger's" best episodes, and the song is dynamite. The song is about Thomas Edison's love for an elephant named Topsy. Gene writes the song, and while it seems that he and Tina are performing it, it is actually Gayle and Mr. Fischoeder. The song is so great. It is goofy and weird and just flat out bizarre. My wife and I have been singing and humming this tune since we first saw it. We hoped that one day it would be released to purchase. We sang it so much, our son, who was 2 or 3 at the time, would sing along with us. He still loves it to this day as well.

Another thing that makes this record great is that all the actors came on and sang the songs themselves. The whole cast, Jon Benjamin, Kristin Schaal, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, John Roberts, a real standout as Linda, Larry Murphy, Sarah Silverman, Kevin Kline, Megan Mullaly, Aziz Ansari, Zach Galifinakis, Bill Hader, Rob Heubel, I mean, I could go on and on and on. They're all on this record on one song, or many. It's pretty cool that they did all this for this newly beloved show. What makes it even better with all these people, they might not be the best singers in the world, but if they brought on different people, singers and musicians, it wouldn't hold the same weight with me as it does with the actual cast. I love that Jon Benjamin sings monotone as Bob the whole time. I adore John Roberts over the top Linda voice that he uses, not only when talking, but especially when singing. I like Mirman's voice as young Gene. Gene knows he's not a good singer, but man does he try, and Mirman is exceptional at this. Mintz as Tina is more monotone than Bob because that is who she is. Schaal yell singing lyrics as Louise is just what I want from her on a record. It is so wonderful that they all stay in character and sing these songs.

On the record I bought, they do bring on some pros. There are a couple of guys from the band The National, St. Vincent is on a song, Stephen Merritt and Kenny Mellman do their own version of "Electric Love" and Lapsley shows up on the final track. And, while they do their own spin on previous tracks, they are not taking it seriously, and that makes it even better. Everyone is having a good time on this album, and you can definitely hear how much fun they're having when you listen to it.

So no, this isn't the first time a show has made an album, but to this point, I think this may be the best TV album that I have ever heard, and that includes anything from may favorite show, "The Simpsons". "Bob's Burgers" is an awesome, well written and incredibly well voice acted show, and music plays a big, big part on the show. I love this record and I highly recommend that any fan of the show go out and purchase it immediately, if you haven't already. Hopefully they make another one of these after they do a few more seasons. I'm sure it will be just as fantastic as this first record.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. In a freak coincidence, Ty talks about this album, and LeBron, and Trump on today's mini X Millennial Man Podcast. Download it for free today.

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RIP Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell was found dead this morning at 52 years old.

It took me awhile to process this. Awhile back I wrote about Soundgarden as one of America's greatest bands. I was a fan of Soundgarden before most other grunge groups. Soundgarden was the psychedelic grunge group. I loved Nirvana and Pearl Jam, but for some reason, I enjoyed Soundgarden the most. They were bizarre and weird and like nothing I had ever heard before. They also made some of the most innovative and inventive music videos I have ever watched. "Black Hole Sun" to this day still scares me a teeny tiny bit.

What attracted me to their music was their guitarist, Kim Thayil, but there was always something about Cornell's voice that I really liked. He was great at grunge music, but he could also do rock and psychedelic vocals with relative ease. His voice was one of the first things that made me realize how great music with instruments can be. I love hip hop, I always will, it has probably surpassed blues music as my favorite genre, but back when Soundgarden came about, I was listening to some really crappy hip hop. Soundgarden kind of shifted my taste in music as a teenager. And while it was Thayil's crazy guitar that I loved, Cornell's voice had just as much to do with it as anything else.

Chris Cornell was different from guys like Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder, who he will be forever compared and mentioned in the same breath as. Kurt Cobain was pretty much the John Lennon of the grunge scene. He was the moody genius that left us way too early. Eddie Vedder is the Paul McCartney of the grunge era. He has done so much great stuff, both with and without Pearl Jam, but his best stuff is his Pearl Jam stuff. Just like McCartney's best is with the Beatles. To me, Chris Cornell was the George Harrison of the grunge genre. Now, for those of you that do not know me, that is incredibly high praise. George Harrison is not only my favorite Beatle, but he is one of my all time favorite musicians. What I loved about Harrison, I find myself liking the same things about Cornell. They were both different. They both tried weird and crazy shit that other contemporaries didn't have the guts to try. As I have already mentioned, look at the music video for "Black Hole Sun". Sure, maybe a video like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" might have meant more to the generation, or "Jeremy" may have had a better message, but I remember "Black Hole Sun" more than both of those videos, or any other video from that era. It was cool and crazy. The stretchy faces and the wild stuff that was going on, I was scared, but I could not look away.

As far as his music stylings, he was a lot like Harrison as well, just with different genres. Harrison was able to straddle the lines of pop, rock and Indian music. He loved his sitar and that sound of music. Cornell was a rock legend and could do some of the best psychedelic stuff since the 60's. He made psychedelic music accessible to kids like me that didn't discover the greats until later in life. And, the best thing about this, we didn't even know we were listening to psychedelic rock. We just thought it was rock music, but looking back at it now, Soundgarden, and Cornell more so, were presenting us with some of the wildest psychedelic music since Jefferson Airplane, not Starship, or Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band. I will be forever grateful to him for this. He was my gateway to psychedelic rock. I have found other, older artists, but Cornell and Soundgarden were my stepping stone.

Cornell even ventured out himself and formed the band Audioslave. For the record, I think this was a failed project, but it did give us the chance to hear Cornell sing with the greatest guitar player of my generation, Tom Morello. In his band, Soundgarden, he got to play with the most underrated guitar players, Thayil, and in Audioslave, he got to jam with Morello. That kicks ass. These 2 guys respected him so much that they asked and enlisted his vocals when forming their bands. That should speak volumes to Cornell's talent and pull with people in his field.

I'm still kind of in shock that he is gone. When I saw the headline this morning I said out loud, "NO WAY". I just couldn't believe it. I mean, he was only 52. That is way, way too young. He had so much more that he could have given the world with his music. The early reports are saying that it is a possible suicide as well. That makes it even more unfortunate and upsetting. Things seemed good for Chris Cornell, Soundgarden was back touring, and he seemed in good spirits at their last show according to all reports. I had even contemplated going to see them here in Saint Louis this Saturday. They were doing a show here in 3 days. Now, no one will ever get to see the original Soundgarden ever again. That is a sad statement. I can't peer into someone's soul or mind, but if it was suicide, that would be heartbreaking.

Go out, especially if you are in your mid 30's like me, and listen to as much Soundgarden as possible today and remember their greatness and Cornell's incredible voice. Rest In Peace Chris Cornell. My idols and people that shaped the person I am today need to stop dying.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8255. 

Ty

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

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Chance the Rapper was Great. Everything Else at his St. Louis Show was Terrible.

Last night I had the pleasure to see Chance the Rapper in concert here in Saint Louis. The show was great, but there was some not so fun stuff I, and a lot of other people, had to deal with last night.

I want to get the bad out of the way first, then give the review of the Chance show. First off, I think the Scottrade Center oversold the show. There were enormous lines just to get in. They seemed to have every door to get in open, but when you got in, there were only 2 security people and 2 metal detectors. So, they had four or five doors open only to let all the people in those four or five lines regroup and get into 2 lines. It was a cluster from the start. After we finally got in, we found our seats fairly easily, but since the show seemed to be oversold, there were multiple people with the same seats as my friend and I. This was frustrating, but we made it work because everyone stood the whole time. Still, it was annoying.

Chance had 2 openers, and neither were that good, in my opinion. I already forgot the rapper's name that was the first opener. His stuff was your typical bass heavy, gun shot sounds and air horns over and over again. It was very forgettable. Then there was DJ Oreo. This guy did have a ton of energy, and was a great hype guy for the show, but all he was doing was taking requests from the crowd. I'm serious. He had his Twitter and Instagram handle on the big screen and was playing parts of songs that people in the crowd had tweeted at him. I can listen to the radio in my car or at home. Like I said, he was full of energy, but we were basically listening to a very, very loud radio. This was made even worse by all the clearly drunk teens that were rapping very loudly with every single song. These were all white teens as well. It was embarrassing. This was one of the first times in my 30's when I actually felt old. I was getting irritated by all this. I don't do dance clubs and I hate when non singers sing. It was very upsetting.

DJ Oreo, after what seemed like an hour, finally said that Chance was ready to come on the stage. I got excited, but then there was another 30 minute wait. So, this DJ gets the crowd ready, then we sit there for 30 minutes. I was very close to getting ready to leave, especially when 2 of the WASPY-est people I have ever seen said that we were in the wrong seats, finally got it all figured out, and then the male of the group was dropping unspeakable words along with every rap song.

What kept me and my buddy there was, the lights went down, and finally, after 2 plus hours of listening to a very subpar rapper and a DJ playing today's hits, Chance the Rapper finally hit the stage. He rode out on a scooter and immediately went into the song "Mixtape" from "Coloring Book". All my anger disappeared. I was happy to be seeing this great artist live. For the next 90 minutes, it was great. Chance played a ton of songs, not just stuff from "Coloring Book". He played a lot of singles that he has performed on with guys like DJ Khaled. He did one of his lesser known tunes on a project he did some surfer guy when they were both broke. He played a ton of stuff off my favorite record, "Acid Rap", highlighted by my favorite Chance song, "Favorite Song", ironically. I was pumped to hear so much from "Acid Rap". I was also thrilled to hear that his mother, who was in attendance, loves "Acid Rap" as much as I do. The show was on Mother's Day, so it was nice to see his mom in the crowd. I love stuff like that at live shows. It was great.

Midway through his set, he introduced a special guest, Maxwell. I remembered the name, but I couldn't figure out who he was. Then, it dawned on me, he was a big R&B guy in the mid to late 90's. I remember a bunch of girls in high school loved his songs. It all came flowing back when he said to the audience, "I want to take you all back to 96 with this song", and he played one of his hits. It was an odd change of pace, but I've got to say, it was nice. All his songs were specifically for the mothers in the audience, and like I said, it was very nice and sweet.

After this little interlude, Chance came back on stage and crushed for another 40 minutes plus. This was when he did a bunch off of "Coloring Book", and all the songs sounded great. I loved when he did "Same Drugs" specifically. He was sitting on a stool and singing, then all of the sudden a big stage rig dropped down over the audience and he walked across singing the song to all the people there. It was cool as hell. There were a lot of fireworks, smoke, fires and a great light show. He clearly put a lot into the production of this tour. He was great as far as his performance, and at times, he seemed like a conductor, imploring the audience to sing along. This didn't make me as mad as usual because Chance is so god damn charming. He is also a very deep individual, giving a lot of deep talks and philosophizing on life and love and faith.

So, while I was frustrated at the start, Chance the Rapper came out and played one hell of a live show. He is a very good, very giving performer. Know that when you are going to his show that you will have to wait for awhile, almost to the point of wanting to leave, but when he hits the stage, the wait will be worth it. I cannot wait to see what he does next, and I recommend going to see him live if he comes near, or to, your town.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is also a white kid who loves rap, he just forgets to be a douchebag like so many others. 

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Ty Listens to New Music From LCD Soundsystem and Big Boi

Three song were recently released to the public, and I want to take my time today to talk about how much I personally enjoy all 3.

First off, LCD Soundsystem, a band that I love, released 2 of them. They were supposed to be released at midnight last Friday, but they got leaked early Thursday afternoon. I waited until this weekend before buying the 2 song EP on iTunes. I've got to tell you, both "Call the Police" and "American Dream" have me very, very anxious and excited to hear what their full length record will sound like when they finally finish it. These 2 songs are tremendous throwbacks to what I love most about this band. It was refreshing and comforting to hear them sound so tight and together as a full band. James Murphy's voice is still perfect for their sound, and the band, my gosh do they sound terrific.

"Call the Police" is a 7 minute synth/pop song that is just about perfect. It could have easily been on "Sounds of Silver". It has that feel. There are some great instrumentals to start out the song, and when Murphy comes in with the vocals, it is like I'm transported back to 7 and 8 years ago when I first discovered the band. It is a great, great tune. I wish it were 14 minutes long. I love the flow, the verses, the chorus and the bridge. Basically, I love the whole damn thing. I was so happy when I heard it the first time, I listened to it about 100 times more since because I cannot get enough of it.

As far as "American Dream" goes, it is a bit of a departure form their normal sound, but not by much. I also say that in a good way. Everyone knows that I like it when bands I listen to take newer and different chances on their particular style of music. LCD Soundsystem has always been a synth/punk/dance band. Those are genres I'm not that into, but for some reason, I like how they blend it all together. On "American Dream", it sounds about as poppy as they will ever get. This is a good thing. Sometimes it is nice to have a song that you can sing and dance along to. It is fun. I really enjoy the direction they took on this particular song. Yes, it is different, but if it is always the same, there is no growth. "American Dream" shows me that this band, during their time off, grew up, and now, they sound like they are having more fun than ever making music.

These 2 tracks have me fully ready to devour the new record when it comes out. I hope it gets released sooner than later. But, I will say that it is nice to kind of get a preview of what to expect on the new record with these 2 new, early released songs.

The other song I want to talk about is a totally different genre, rap, but it also comes from someone that hasn't put out new music in a long time. The person in question is Big Boi, of Outkast fame, and the song is called "Kill Jill", and it features Jeezy, and the always exceptional Killer Mike.

This song is dope as hell. I had seen a lot of stuff on social media about the song, but it wasn't until yesterday that I finally heard the song. I was driving home from a race, and I had my Run the Jewels station playing on Pandora. They played some RTJ, a few El-P and Killer Mike solo songs, and then this new Big Boi track came on. I was totally floored by how awesome it was. I'm an Andre 3000 fan when it comes to all things Outkast. I like Big Boi too, but I prefer the sound and style of Andre 3000. "The Love Below" is a million times better than "Speakerboxxx". But, Big Boi does have his moments as a solo artist. "The Son of Chico Dusty" is a really good record that doesn't get the credit it deserves. But, I'm always a little wary when Big Boi ventures out on his own. Well, not anymore after hearing "Kill Jill".

The song has a very quiet and slow beginning with an Asian lady singing something in her native tongue for about 20 seconds. After that, the beat sounds like an old Asian tune you'd hear in a Kung Fu movie, but really slowed down, and Killer Mike comes in with the first verse and absolutely crushes it. From there on out, Big Boi sounds incredible, Jeezy is awesome and Killer Mike is doing his thing. I think it is perfect for Big Boi to feature Killer Mike on a track since he pretty much gave him his start in music and help guide him in the beginning. And Jeezy, who I am not all that familiar with, sounds amazing on this song. It makes me want to check out his music to see if I would be into it.

Big Boi has done something magical with this song, and, just like with LCD Soundsystem, I'm excited to see if this one song brings about a new Big Boi solo record. I usually do not buy singles, but these are the exception. These 3 songs are tremendous and they run a wide variety of genres of music. I highly recommend people go and check these songs out. I'm glad I did, and I think you'd all enjoy them very much.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He missed out on the gold old days when the head editor would go to his local Streetside Records and get a maxi-single cassette tape. 

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Ty Listens to "Humanz"

The Gorillaz finally released their newest record last Friday, April 28th. This has been a much anticipated album by many, myself included, and it does not disappoint. It feels so good to hear Damon Albarn's voice again hidden behind his cartoon counterparts.

I've been on the Gorillaz bandwagon since they released their first record back in 2001. I've always bought their new records the day they came out, and "Humanz" was no different. I woke up on Friday, got myself prepared for the day, and when I had a moment to sit down, I got on iTunes and bought and downloaded the record immediately. I then listened to it immediately. I waited until today to review it because I wanted an entire weekend to let myself really get a thorough listen. The wait seemed like forever, so I needed at least three days to really access my feelings on this record. I needed the time to really let the new music sink in.

I loved, as I have already said that the record does not disappoint, what I heard. It is classic Gorillaz music. It is very synth-y, with elements of hip hop, pop, rock and roll, electronic and, to round it all out, some great R&B. I'm not a big fan of interludes on albums, but for "Humanz", the interludes feel needed. This is as close to a concept album, a title given to records that I have stated on this site that I loathe, as it gets nowadays. The interludes are your segues from song to song. They're perfect.

Then, the songs are just tremendous. First off, their is a guest on every song on this record, but that is what the Gorillaz do. They're notorious for their guest lists on all of their records. It is needed since this is a band created by Albarn and a friend of his, so he needs the help from other artists. The names that pepper this record are phenomenal. We get people like Mavis Staples, Grace Jones, Popcaan, Vince Staples, De La Soul, Danny Brown, Anthony Hamilton and Pusha T, to name a few. That is quite the guest list if you ask me. Then, to hear them with the Gorillaz, it was icing on the cake.

The first track of the record, "Ascension" features Vince Staples, and it is a great rap song. It is 99 percent Vince Staples vocals, with the Gorillaz doing the instruments, and it works tremendously. Staples is a great, young rapper, and he is on fire right now. This was a great way to start off the record. The song is bouncy, fun and very dance worthy. Staples is great, as are the Gorillaz. Then, 2 songs later, we get the song "Saturnz Barz" featuring Popcaan. I hadn't heard much from Popcaan, but this song is a great, almost disco type pop/electronic song. Again, it is very dance worthy and this song makes me want to go out and find some more Popcaan to listen to. The very next song, "Momentz" features one of Gorillaz main collaborators, De La Soul, and it is just as great as "Feel Good Inc", or "Superfast Jellyfish". De La Soul and Damon Albarn clearly have a great partnership, and any time Gorillaz releases a record, I want to first hear the song that will feature them. "Momentz" is awesome. It is a wonderful rap song, and it is great for working out. I expected greatness from both De La Soul and Gorillaz, and they, of course, delivered. When I did not think it could get much better, we get "Submission". This song features Keela, and one of my new favorite rappers, even though he's been around forever, I just recently discovered him, Danny Brown. This song is incredible, and it all comes to a glorious end with Danny Brown rapping for 90 seconds straight. Keela and the Gorillaz carry the song, and then Danny Brown comes in and finishes it off with an absolute bang. This was, after one listen, my favorite song.

But, as I dug deeper and listened more and more, I think my favorite track is "Let Me Out". This song has Pusha T just crushing it as the emcee, great vocals from the Gorillaz, and then we get the great Mavis Staples singing the chorus, as well as adding her own verses. This is the perfect Gorillaz song. It blends all their styles into one 4 minute masterpiece. This song is flat out stupendous. To get someone like Mavis Staples is a feat in and of itself, and her singing on this song is a true delight.

The rest of the record I really enjoy as well. I love the hard rocking "Charger" featuring Grace Jones. I enjoy the very odd "Sex Murder Party". "Hallelujah Money" featuring Benjamin Clementine is so sad and depressing, but it is a great song. And the final track, for those of you that did not buy the deluxe edition, "We've Got the Power" featuring Jhenny Beth is a great ending. 

"Humanz" is like a great meal. It starts out wonderful, you digest the first half, you want more, the middle of the record is great, and then the dessert that is the last 1/3 of the record that kind of slows down a bit and lets you stew in the great music. I am a fan of Gorillaz, and in my mind, they can do no wrong. The 6 year wait seemed like 60, but the work they did, and the people they got to be on this record, was worth the wait. "Humanz" is a great record, and it makes me that much more excited to see them in September in Kansas City. The Gorillaz are great, and "Humanz" is too. I highly recommend this record.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. With the Gorillaz having released new music, how long before Timmy and the Lords of the Underworld get back in the game.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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Let Me Respectfully Explain Why Musical Festivals are the Worst

Behold the natural beauty of the modern music festival

Today I'm going to put on my old man hat, pants, short shorts, whatever you want to call it, and complain about music festivals, mainly, Coachella. First off, I love, love, love music. I have made that abundantly clear on the site. Next to my family and sports, music is the biggest thing in my life. It has shaped my style, my thoughts and how I perceive the world today. The music is not the problem with Coachella and all other music festivals in general. The music is most definitely great at most of these festivals. The fact that people and bands I love like Kendrick Lamar, Radiohead and Run the Jewels headline these fests are great. The problems I have are the people, the attire and how commercial all of this stuff has gotten.

The bad stuff started a long time ago when some morons decided we needed a Woodstock 2. First off, the original Woodstock was a free event held at some family's farm. Woodstock was meant to bring people together, in a trying time, through music. Sure, there were some wildly dressed people and many of the memories and pictures we all know and see now have to do with the mudslide. But, for the most part, the original Woodstock is remembered for Jimi Hendrix and the like that played some of the best music of their careers. Then, Woodstock 2 came along. You know what most people remember about this crummy festival? Well, I remember the horrific lineup, the fights and the fires that were started, and people complaining how expensive everything was, including bottled water. That is where the biggest problem with festivals nowadays lies. The prices for merchandise, food and drink is utterly ridiculous, and it all started with Woodstock 2.

Of course that was a tremendous failure, and festivals were very sparse afterward. People just didn't want to deal with the headache anymore. Sure, there were still one or 2 day things. We had situations where there were 3 stages and the whole thing would start at noon and end after midnight, but nothing too big.

Then, in the early 2000's, Bonnaroo came along. I remember first hearing about this fest. This was during my jam band phase, and Bonnaroo had them all. I remember wanting to go to it so, so bad. But, I couldn't afford the tickets, and I do not like camping, so it was out of the question. I bought the compilation CD that came out, and listened to it a bunch. I figured I'd go in the future, but not at the current time.

As the years passed, I got less and less interested because it started to become this over crowded, pop obsessed, image driven festival. What started as a much better predecessor to Woodstock than Woodstock 2, was becoming just as commercialized and stupid, for lack of a better word, in my opinion. When bands like U2, who were great in the 80's, but not in the 21st century, are your main headliners, no thank you. They have tried to do other things, like add a comedy event, but I still have no interest. First off, it is in the dead of summer, and I have no interest in hanging out with a bunch of smelly, sleep deprived and drug infused music fans. I'm a nightmare when I'm sleep deprived. Put me with a million other sleep deprived people and I would go nuts. It doesn't help my case that I'm not a "partier". I have no problem with people doing drugs and drinking, as long as they aren't hurting anyone. But, I do not want to hang with people for 3 or 4 days that are just straight up binging. That is the worst. Bonnaroo is so off my radar now, when someone says that they are going, I always think to myself, I can't believe that it is still a thing.

I did try the whole festival thing about 12 years ago though. I found a festival called Wakarusa being held in Lawrence, Kansas. It had a good lineup, and I thought that I could handle the camping. I even went with my oldest brother, his wife, some of their friends and my niece, when she was a tiny baby. I thought this was the ideal situation. I was wrong. I was miserable. I was constantly harassed by hippies and stoners all weekend long. I was made fun of because I was not drinking and or doing drugs. I thought it was going to be like going to a Widespread show, where everyone is welcome, but I was wrong. I felt secluded. I could not believe how mean these supposed all loving people could be. To make matters worse, there was no time to see the bands I wanted to see because schedules always conflicted. I would catch 15 minutes of Robert Randolph, sprint over to the second stage to catch 15 minutes of Keller Williams, then run again to see North Mississippi All Stars encore. This was incredibly frustrating. Add the fact that I was getting little to no sleep, I was ready to go home by the second morning. Luckily for me, so were my brother and his wife. We left early. All the excitement I felt a month before Wakarusa was demolished within an hour of being there. I have never even thought about Wakarusa again, until I decided to write this piece today.

Here in Saint Louis we now have LouFest, and I have absolutely no desire to go to this. The prices are outrageous, there is usually only one, maybe 2 bands worth seeing, and it is so commercialized that it is disgusting. LouFest is utterly ridiculous.

They also have the Roots N Blues BBQ/Music Fest in Columbia. I have been to this twice, and both times, I was ready to leave the moment I entered the park. I immediately regretted my decision to go. This has gotten way out of hand too. They sell way too many tickets, and for a smaller college town like Columbia, they cannot handle the amount of people. I vividly remember going to see Buddy Guy, and leaving after his first song because there were too many people, I felt like I was in a sardine can, and I couldn't even see or hear Buddy Guy. Never again for Roots N Blues. There is other stuff like Lollapalooza, the Gathering, and I'm sure other things I can't think of now that I will never go to because festivals are the worst. 

Finally, what sparked this whole idea today, we just had Coachella this past weekend. I will never, ever ever ever go to Coachella. I stated at the top that the lineup is second to none. But, no matter who plays, even if Bob Marley and Robert Johnson were to rise up from their grave, I will not attend. First off, it is in the desert at, or near the beginning of summer. No thank you. Second, this festival over sells every year. There are so many people there. Third, it is straight debauchery. My brother has been to Coachella once, and from what he told me, it was absolutely intense and insane. Not for me.

But, what I find most appalling about Coachella though is the fact that it has become some kind of crappy second hand fashion show. All the pictures you see are of celebrities, or faux celebrities, and what they are wearing. I could care less what Vanessa Hudgens, Cam Newton or any of the god damn Jonas Brothers are wearing at Coachella. I had to scroll through 4 or 5 different stories that talked about the "fashion" or the "famous faces in the crowd" before I got a small review of Radiohead's problems with sound, or how great of a set Kendrick Lamar did. That is a big, big problem. Coachella is the definition of image. People care more about what the bands, performers, or even worse, the crowd is wearing, or what they look like. Coachella should be about the music first, the art second, then everything else last. I do not care about anything from Coachella, except the music. How long until Coachella is just as much a laughingstock for outsiders, such as myself, as Burning Man is? Not too far away I'd guess.

Festivals have gotten a well deserved bad rap. They are wastes of time, in my opinion, and they are just a big cluster. I'd much rather just see the bands or performers when they come to, or near, my hometown. The fact that I got to see Run the Jewels in Kansas City, or that I'm seeing the Chance the Rapper here in Saint Louis, at their own headlining shows, sounds so much more appealing than fighting with thousands upon thousands of sleep deprived, smelly music fans. I LOVE live music. I LOATHE festivals. Simple as that.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He used to be with it, then it changed, now what is it is confusing and strange. It did not take Ty long to morph into Grandpa Simpson.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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