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Music

Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter IV" Goes Platinum

Music | 19 September 2011

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Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV sold 964,000 in its first week, the second largest opening sales week of the year. By now, it has already sold more than a million copies and set a record for the most iTunes digital albums sold in its first four days! With a music career already spanning two decades, Wayne has already scored a reputation as one of the biggest moguls of our time. Featured on the album are his two smash-hit singles “6 Foot 7 Foot” and “How to Love.”
 
I couldn’t wait to purchase Tha Carter III‘s proper follow-up, Tha Carter IV, but the album surprised me by being one of my least favorite Weezy albums. Don’t get me wrong; there are a couple amazing songs, like “John” featuring Rick Ross, and “She Will” featuring Drake. What turned me off, however, was that at least two-thirds of the songs on the album were slow, including “How to Love,” “How to Hate” featuring T-Pain, “Nightmares of the Bottom,” and “So Slow” featuring John Legend. The album isn’t bad – I just prefer a more fast-paced Lil Wayne sound to dance to.
 
 
There are a lot of great features from artists like Rick Ross, André 3000, Drake, John Legend, and T-Pain; and even if you’re not keen on the pace (like me), these guest appearances make the album worth listening to.
 
“Thanks for giving us a whole ‘nother classic with Tha Carter IV,” huffs Busta Rhymes. “It’s important that you are more than welcome to Tha Carter IV, and y’all enjoy it,” advises André 3000. 
 
 
Shockingly, the 28-year-old artist has hinted at retirement and that this “may be the last album Wayne releases.” If this is true, then I had higher hopes for this album. Regardless, nothing will make this girl stop loving Lil Wayne, and I look forward to see how the rest of his musical career will evolve. 

Hear it for yourself! You can listen to the entire album here. 
 
(photos courtesy of rollingstone.com) 
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New Artist to Watch: Lana Del Rey

Music | 15 September 2011

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In this modern age of Pandora, YouTube, and an unforunate amount of same-sounding pop/rap, the arrival of twenty-four year old Lana Del Rey on the music scene is a refreshing change. With a voice so soulful it came straight of the fifites and lyrics so deep you’d think you wrote them yourself, this stunning siren sold out a London club half an hour after posting just one video on YouTube. That’s it – one. But don’t take my word for it – see for yourself.
 
First, check out her pictures; note the intriguing pout, the poofy hair, and the old Hollywood retro-starlet style (swoon):
 
 
Now, listen to her music:
 
 
 
Convinced yet? A self-taught guitarist who grew up in Lake Placid, New York, Lizzy Grant (Lana’s real name) has been singing since seventeen to the inspiration of artists like Eminem, Biggie Smalls, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Nirvana. Stranger Records reports that she claims her music to be a “mixture of her love of David Lynch, Black and White ’50s movies, Coney Island hip-hop, and heartbreak.” A little bit mysterious and a lot a bit a child at heart, she is definitely a legend on the rise. 
 
 
Want more Lana Del Rey? Read her interview with pitchfork.com, then check out her YouTube Channel and her Facebook page. Download “Video Games” and “Blue Jeans” when they’re released on October 9, or buy them on vinyl October 10.
 
(Info and pics courtesy of  guardian.co.uk, pitchfork.com, and pastemagazine.com.)
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Haus of Gaga: Who's Behind it All?

Music | 06 September 2011

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We all know that Lady Gaga is more than just a singer/songwriter; she’s a performer. Plucking her favorite elements from the realms of dance, electronics, fashion, performance art, and the media, her over-the-top image has been built from her collaborations in all of these areas. 
 
In 2008 Gaga put together a round table of artists and designers to weld together her ideas into everything that is Gaga today. This she calls her Haus of Gaga!
 
Who are they and what part do they play? Well let’s see!
 
This gorgeous orb headpiece was designed by Nasir Mazhar, but was given to Gaga by her Fashion Director, Nicola Formichetti. Chief stylist, director (whatever you want to call him) Formichetti is the man who was integral in gettting pieces from big-time designers when Gaga was still on the incline.
 
 
Gaga’s infamous Disco Stick has been re-created in several formats, and is a manifestation by haus member Matthew Williams. As well as one of Gaga’s ex-lovers, Williams was the Creative Director for Haus of Gaga from it’s beginnings in 2008 until 2010 (they call him Dada).
 
 
 Laurieann Gibson is the gorgeous choreographer that’s been stomping together moves for Lady Gaga since 2008. She currently serves as the Creative Director for the Haus of Gaga and even moved up to full-fledged Director for Gaga’s newest video ”Yoü and I”. If you haven’t seen the video yet, see it here!
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New Music: Who is Bon Iver?

Music | 24 August 2011

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Have you heard of Bon Iver yet?

If you are at all interested in Indie, Folk or just plain good mellow music, than you might want to read on.  

 
Pronounced “bone ee-vare,” this play on the French saying for “have a good winter” was chosen by the band’s frontman and founder Justin Vernon. Vernon created the entire first album For Emma, Forever Ago, while spending a winter in northern Wisconsin alone.

By layering tracks and using words that paired with the melodies he was able to create a rich ethereal effect that simply did not carry through alone in concert. Hence; Bon Iver the band! Their second, self-titled album (first together) debuted June 21st and has been sweeping across the globe ever since.  The music is soft and subtle, yet insanely rich. It’s American Beauty for 2011. 

Take a little taste with this brand new video of Holocene shot in Iceland this summer!

 
 Are you a fan of Bon Iver, now?
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New Album to Love: Arctic Monkeys

Music | 28 July 2011

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 I don’t know what planet I’ve been orbiting around to not swoop down on this one the second it came out, but that’s why I have Pandora in my life to keep me in check. The Arctic Monkeys, one of my very favorite bands, dropped a new album on June 7th, titled Suck It and See.
 
 
 The English indie rock band’s fourth studio album does not disappoint, just about living up to their quick success from albums past (their first album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, became the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history, according to these guys). The critics have been pretty darn positive, though it is hard to impress everybody after achieving such huge and immediate success, while still in their teen years, I might add. I’ll just say, I’ve been listening all week, and I won’t be stopping any time soon.
 
 Their most recent video release, “The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala”, from their YouTube channel.
 
Arctic Monkeys is: Alex Turner (lead vocals, guitar/lead songwriter), Jamie Cook (lead guitar), Nick O’Malley (bass), and Matt Helders (drums, percussion).
 
If you aren’t yet familiar with these guys (or don’t think you are) check out two of the oldies that made me fall for them in the first place: Fake Tales of San Francisco and I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor. (You’ll notice that they have a pretty fabulous YouTube channel… check it out!)

(All images courtesy of facebook)
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