Wale's "Attention Deficit" and Julian Casablancas "Phrazes for the Young"

WALE "ATTENTION DEFICIT"

7.5/10

After hearing Wale's mixtape "Back to the Feature" I was really excited to hear what this D.C. rapper had to offer on a major release. The album starts out strong with the horn heavy "Triumph" which really captures Wale's unique voice and flow. The thing I really like about this album is a can really hear it coming across great live with a full band. As much as I like rappers that rap about things other than drugs, cash, and hoes some of the tracks on Wale's debut album come across as weak. The bulimia inspired "90210" seems like we should feel sorry for a girl that has it all but still suffers, I don't buy it. It sounds like any other ring-tone rap out there and is probably my least favorite track on the album. Wale needs to keep appealing to the alternative rap crowd like he does with "TV in the Radio" which features K'Naan. Thats really where he shines, I really hope he doesn't fall prey to the over produced synth heavy tracks that are already on the radio. All in all you should for sure pick up this album, minus a couple of radio/pop friendly tracks Wale really shines and I can't wait to hear more from him.

JULIAN CASABLANCAS "PHRAZES FOR THE YOUNG"

6/10

The Strokes have always been one of my favorite bands, minus the fact they suck live, but they still write good songs. After hearing other Stroke's members side projects such as Little Joy, which I recommend checking out, I was interested to hear what front man Julian Casablancas could bring to the table. This 8 track synth heavy album sounds like a futuristic 80's version of The Strokes. Casablancas still keeps his talk-sing style like he does with the Strokes through out the album. For only being 8 tracks long you would figure they would all be solid, not so much. My favorite tracks off the album would be: "11th Dimension", "Out of the Blue", and "Tourist". Other than that you can really over look the other tracks which sound like b-sides from an 80's disco. Not saying they are all bad they just lack re-listening ability and sound almost half assed. Maybe Casablacas felt like he needed to keep up with the other Strokes members that were doing their own thing but he should have waited till he had something really solid together. I hope The Strokes put out another album before Casablancas does.

Welcome to this groove

Well since the last time i kept this blog a got a positive response from people about the adventure and about my writing. Don't worry this blog isn't going to be about what I had for breakfast and my favorite colors. Everything I post hope you will find relevant and entertaining. I will also be posting videos I'm working on, any music that gets created, ideas for future productions, anything I find relevant. I hope you all enjoy it and keep up with it. As for now I have just finished up a production called "Great Moments in Hazing History". Its part of the improv group I work with on campus. The idea sprung from a conversation we were having about fucked up things we heard frats/sororities making their pledges do. So our idea was to do an exlax mile challenge and thats all I can say for now. I hope to have it edited by the end of the week and i promise you it will not disappoint. I'm also taking suggestions for future great hazing moments so if you have any really good ones feel free to send them my way. Thanks for reading!