Tag: music

audio review : Move ( song ) … Beyoncé ( featuring Grace Jones + Tems )

This song doesn’t really vibe until the chords drop halfway in. That’s when it goes from just a bassy party anthem; the scene is the ballroom of a five-star hotel; to something special. It’s an example of how effective the addition of one music instrument can be, but it should’ve sounded that way from the start.

The queen is faultless though as she struts a path thru the crowd. The title is literally her telling them to get out of the way, though it also serves as a command to dance. She’s headed to the VIP section, but not before grabbing a glass of Champagne and sharing a kiss with some guy who doesn’t look like Jay-Z.

my rating : 4 of 5

2022

audio review : Renaissance ( album ) ... Beyoncé

audio review : More News At 11 ( song ) … Flavor Flav ( featuring Harry Allen )

It’s the beat, specifically that little piano riff, that leads here. Flavor Flav is more or less a backdrop. The first verse barely makes sense, though it does contain his best line about a man whose “turkey ain’t got no stuffing.” This is a rare example of a good song with a weak hook. Harry Allen, with his corny News reporter voice, adds authenticity to the concept.

my rating : 4 of 5

1991

audio review : More News At 11 ( song ) ... Flavor Flav ( featuring Harry Allen )

audio review : I Admit ( song ) … R Kelly

Why R Kelly would put out a song entitled I Admit while being publicly accused of, and potentially investigated for, real-life sex crimes; a song at least partially about said allegations; is beyond me. He stops short of confessing to an actual crime; in fact he strongly implies his innocence; and a song, even a long-ass rambling one, is just a song, but it’s not a good look.

“I admit it,” the ill-advised hook goes, “I did it.” His detractors (“haters”) will isolate those words and use them as weapons, but his sentiments aren’t lost on me. This is, from the prolific R&B artist whose album titles include Love Letter and Write Me Back, an open diary entry in which the singer; a famous one on the verge of becoming infamous; laments his life struggles.

You can say he’s playing the victim, but, in some ways, he is one. A lot of celebrities are. They’re often taken advantage of for the sake of fame and fortune and Kells is no exception. I think that’s him in “the tape”. I saw it before deepfakes. I also think he’s being falsely accused by lying-ass groupies. Don’t get me started on Jim DeRogatis and the biased news media.

my rating : 3 of 5

2018

audio review : Play It Again Shan ( album ) … MC Shan

audio review : Play It Again Shan ( album ) ... MC Shan

MC Shan must’ve been on that Rock Stuff when he decided to include on his third solo album a song by M And M. Their “groove”; a chorusless demo; is easily the worst here. The best, which, true to the liner pictures, ends the set on a romantic note, is How I Feel About You; the heartbreak beat of which is quite beguiling. Ain’t It Good To You? Yeah, it is. I also like Ran The Game and Funkin.

Shan, with his sneakily clever rhymes and charismatic vocal inflections, is fun to listen to. It’s when nothing interesting’s happening during the breaks that the album falters. The vocal samples on Time For Us To Defend Ourselves, which protests police brutality, are quite effective, but the Richard Pryor bits on Death Was Quite A Surprise and Music You Can Dance To won’t induce any encores.

my rating : 3 of 5

1990