Strangelove and Sizzla Reviews

I did two reviews this week, while my kid was napping.

First up is a quickie of Strangelove's "Purple" EP. You can listen to it or download it here.


Then I reviewed Sizzla's seventieth LP, The Messiah.  I have issues with some of Sizzla's political and religious views, but I enjoyed this album nonetheless. Sizzla nicely mixes hard dancehall with roots reggae, without trying to be R&B or smooth jazz.

In other news, I've been listening to the new Daft Punk, which I am having a hard time getting into. It's sort of easy listening disco. It's interesting, but I can't decide if I like it.

Snoop Lion Review

I reviewed Snoop Lion's new reggae album Reincarnated at RapReviews this week. The good news is that some of the production and guest spots aren't half bad. The bad news is that Snoop is not very good as a reggae singer. "Here Comes the King" is a good track, and there are a few others, but for the most part Snoop sounds like a high school stoner who just heard Bob Marley and now thinks he's a reggae star.

Acid Rap

I reviewed Chance the Rapper's Acid Rap this week on RapReviews. Really good stuff.

That's all I got.

Incidentally, I heard on Shots Fired that Jeff Weiss spent three days reviewing this album. I spent two hours. Read his review at Pitchfork and tell me who did a better job.  (Hint: it's Weiss. I guess taking time to write actually produces better writing. Huh.)

Kreayshawn Review

I reviewed Kreayshawn's Something 'Bout Kreay for RapReviews this week. It's less a review of the album as an examination of why it did so poorly.

I've been listening to a lot of music. The new Deerhunter came out, which is noisy as hell. I also got the new Savages album, which sounds like early Souixsie and the Banshees. The new Killer Mike and El-P album is coming out soon, as is Danny Brown's new album. What do all four of these albums have in common? I can't really listen to them around my daughter. Hm.

Homeboy Sandman, TeeFlii, and Ratchet R&B

I reviewed Homeboy Sandman's Kool Herc: Fertile Crescent EP this week for Rapreviews. It's a collaboration with producer EL RTNC that is a throwback to early hip-hop. I'm constantly on the fence about Homeboy Sandman: I like him in theory, but in practice I sometimes have issues with his delivery, but this EP is solid.

He did a video for "Peace and Love":


I also reviewed TeeFlii's AnnieRUO'Tay mixtape. It's a concept album about drinking, popping molly, and having sex with groupies in the VIP area. In other words, it has about as much to do with my life as "Game of Thrones," and yet I love it. It's totally ridiculous, but kind of amazing. Sort of like a younger, more ratchet R. Kelly.



Which got me listening to R. Kelly's 2007 album "Double Up," which is amazing. R. Kelly is sort of like Lonely Island or Flight of the Conchords, only serious and he can sing. The title track is a tasteless ode to threesomes with Snoop Dogg that is so awful I love it.