Zach Joseph - EP

New review of this awesome folk artist, Zach Joseph. A real treasure that is unappreciated. Let me know what you think!

Changing Things Up!

Hello readers! I've been away for awhile now and am glad to be back. After much thought and consideration, I have decided that I'll be posting simple, straightforward videos for my reviews instead of lengthy written reviews. I'll be posting the videos here and let me know what you all think!
Here are my first two video reviews:

Kesha - Rainbow

Arcade Fire - Everything Now

4:44 (Album) - JAY-Z

Back To Basics

When listening to JAY-Z, the hip-hop and rap master, you expect powerful beats and a huge amount of production value. This album takes us to a time and style of simplicity in rap. Relaxed beats on repeat as the artist raps and sings over the beat. Nothing crazy fancy or over produced, only the sublime beats and voice of JAY-Z on each track.

Each track isn't terribly repetitive, I'm just saying that they are simple and straightforward. Some of the songs are pretty mediocre, they sound alright, but the instruments used aren't that innovative and lyrics are just alright. However, there are a few songs that are more fun, more creative and I genuinely will listen to in the future. Overall, I wouldn't say the most impressive thing about the album is the music, it is the idea in general, the concept and the daring move to do relaxing, chill music instead of the modern popular radio hits. 

The message of the lyrics is raw and real, it is in your face and the language is something that we should all listen to, even if it makes us a little uncomfortable or awkward, see "The Story of O.J." as an example. My favorite song is "Caught Their Eyes" with Frank Ocean, its sound is the album's best use of simple and well made, repetitive sounds and I'll be listening to it for a while.  

JAY-Z could have written a bunch of garbage with electronic tropes to be played all the time, but this record shows how much he is in the music business to make new and innovative music. This album isn't his best and that's okay, it is the experimentation and strength in creativity that really stick out. I am excited to see what JAY-Z does down the line, and I would want to hear more music like this from him.

Kill Jay Z: 6 --- The Story of O.J.: 7

Smile (feat. Gloria Carter): 6 --- Caught Their Eyes (feat. Frank Ocean): 8

4:44: 6 --- Family Feud (feat. Beyoncé): 6

Bam (feat. Damian Marley): 7 ---  Moonlight: 5

Marcy Me: 6 --- Legacy: 5

Track Average: 6.2

Originality: 7

Longevity: 6

Flow: 8

Red Score: 6.8
(This video does have some inappropriate visuals, warning)

Saturn Barz (feat. Popcaan) - Gorillaz

Those Musical Animals Are Back

If you haven't listened to the new Gorillaz album, Humanz, you need to finish reading this review quick and listen to the whole album because the animated music kings are back. I have really enjoyed a number of songs from Humanz, but "Saturn Barz" really stuck out to me for its more relaxed and reggae influenced sound.

"Saturn Barz," like most Gorillaz' songs, takes some time to really appreciate. The first time I listen to this song, I only enjoyed it more or less. I was happy to hear new music from one of my favorite bands, but this song seemed to be good only because it was something new. However, after a few more tries, I could see the immense power and creative depth of each second of the song.

When I listened the first time to the drums starting with the bass and Popcaan with a small distortion with heavy electronics sounds, it sounded a little too far from the Gorillaz we are all used too. But then I realized that the beauty of Gorillaz is that their songs define them as a entity, not the other way around. Their experimentation and journey into wild and unique sounds and beats is what makes a song a Gorillaz song. The Fall, parts of their D and G Sides and parts of Plastic Beach all show that electro hip-hop is no where near the limit of Gorillaz, they defy genre limitations and create amazing songs that go beyond expectation.

"Saturn Barz" is a song you need to hear to love, the chorus back and forth, the choral voices mixed with chill beats create this ambiance that is a symbol of the unbelievable power of Gorillaz. Also! Check out this super amazing remix (it might actually be better than the original).

Originality: 8

Instruments: 8

Vocals: 7

Longevity: 7

Red Score: 7.5

Evolve (Album) - Imagine Dragons

A Step Forward and Backward

Ooooh Imagine Dragons, how you confuse me. What you could be if only you did what you should. A new Imagine Dragons album is like seeing mystery meat, it probably won't kill you, but don't expect much. I wanted to be able to like Evolve, I enjoyed their first album, but their second was pretty bad and this album is both good and bad in many ways which leaves it mediocre in the end.

Most songs on this album sound just like classic Imagine Dragons, the voice and instruments are totally recognizable. This is good because the style is unique and iconic for them, but it also becomes a little lazy because only in a few songs do they take style risks and challenge themselves. The album in general is better than Smoke and Mirrors, which is progress, and yet, it still lack the creativity and risk to live up or surpass to their first album, Night Visions. 

In their last song "Dancing in the Dark" and "Thunder" were both a little more experimental, I was happy to see some change to their normal sound, however it is pretty similar to most modern alternative and indie music. I want to be able to enjoy their electo-infused rock, but I want more from them, more intensity, more risks and elements to make a real new album. We'll see in a few years, as for now, we have a few "alright" songs from them that get lost in the garble of the rest of their album.

 (a new way to review albums for Red Media Reviews)

I Don't Know Why: 5 ---- Whatever It Takes: 4

Believer: 7 --- Walking the Wire: 5

Rise Up: 6 --- I'll Make It Up to You: 4

Yesterday: 5 --- Mouth of the River: 5

Thunder: 6 --- Start Over: 5

Dancing It the Dark: 6

Track Average: 5.3

Originality: 6

Longevity: 5

Flow: 6

Red Score: 5.6

  

Dig Down - Muse

Getting a New and Familiar Grove

Muse is my favorite band, always has been and will be. Every new album and song so far has made me enjoy them in new ways. "Dig Down" is their newest single leading up to an album down the road. A fun and powerful anthem song that is what I've been wanting all year.

The song starts with the same style bass from the song "Madness" from two albums ago, The 2nd Law. The electronic bass that plays like a synth pad is strong and infectious, and a welcome sound with the EDM influences in most modern music. "Dig Down" is a simple song, not too many different instruments, and even the music is not all that complicated. The drums, the guitar and bass for the most part play the same notes again and again throughout. Eben though this is normally annoying in song, Muse again just makes music that I can't help but enjoy.

Matthew's singing is great as always, the lyrics are a little cheesy to honest, but that would be my only real criticism of the song. I am super cised for the new album in the coming months and am happy to see Muse back in my new music section. 

Originality: 7

Instruments: 8

Vocals: 7

Longevity: 8

Red Score: 7.5

The Man - The Killers

One That Needs Multiple Listens

The Killers are back! YAY! I know they came out with a song last year, but I wasn't much of a fan of it. This song, however, is a refreshing energy that is much needed to bring back The Killers. Day and Age was fantastic, Battle Born was okay, and last years song was meh, but "The Man" is great.

So the title needs a little explaining. The song wasn't that great the first time I listened to it, parts were really good but the pauses and cuts in the song threw me off a lot. It honestly sounded like the song skipped or just end in the middle of a chorus. After listening a few times, I saw the good in the songs somewhat sudden stops and cuts. ANYWAYS! The rest of the song.

The upbeat electronic ambiance mixed with continuous guitar mixed with the fun and funky bass is really entertaining to the ears. The drums are solid, but a little less creative than what we are used to from the Killers. Honestly though, the electronic samples, the bass line and guitar are so good that the drums can be mediocre with no qualms. Brandon Flowers is great here, a lot of fun like usual, easy to sing to, but not annoying. I would recommend listening to this multiple times if you didn't like it the first time, it does take some getting used to, lyrically and the general sound/organization.   

The album Wonderful Wonderful was announced to come out this year, but this is the only single so far released this year for it. I am super excited for it. New Killers, Gorillaz and Muse album this year? 2017 might be the best year in music this decade.

Originality: 7

Instruments: 7

Vocals: 7

Longevity: 7

Red Score: 7

Wolves (Album) - Rise Against

A Formula That Works

Rise Against has been one of my favorite bands for years, their first albums shaped my teenage angst and I have many stories of intense energy involving their music. However, lately I've found their music to be less impressive and just more of the same songs over and over again.

This isn't so bad though, it is nice to here the same power throughout their newest album as previous years. This is the double edged sword that most bands have to face, do they stay the same, producing good music that follows the same sound and design? Or do they change things up? Rise Against chose to keep things the same, the guitar, bass, drums and vocals are all good for sure, although it is basically what we have heard before (except the last song).

Rise Against's Wolves is a good album, every time I listen to it, I am enjoying it more and more. Song like "House on Fire," "Politics of Love," and "Miracle" stand out as my favorites so far on the album. "The Violence" and "Welcome to The Breakdown" are also great, but the rest of the album more or less fades into the largely similar library of Rise Against music.

My verdict for Wolves would be as follows, it's good, but not nearly as good as their other albums. Pick it up if you want some new lyrics to learn and love this genre with an undying passion, otherwise just check out their earlier albums The Sufferer and The Witness, Appeal To Reason or The Black Market. 

Originality: 6

Instruments: 7

Vocals: 8

Longevity: 5

Red Score: 6.5

Live or Let Die - Paul McCartney

007's Favorite British Singer

One of the most legendary songwriters of all time, Paul McCartney, is coming out with an enormous, 4-disc compilation album called Pure McCartney later this week. Paul has been writing music for many many years and this week I’m gonna look at his music, why it’s amazing and listen in awe his versatility and creativity over the last 40 years. To be specific, it will be music that is primarily performed and written by him in his personal career and or with the Wings. I’m going to skip anything Beatles related, because I’m bound to have a week about them later. Now onto the song! Live or Let Die was written as a James Bond song for the movie also titled Live or Let Die. The song is fast paced and has that strong orchestral edge that most Bond songs do, but the song is split up into call and response sections with very McCartney sounding parts. When listening to the song, the difference in the parts are blatantly obvious and almost little jarring, but refreshing for sure, especially for Bond music. I am pleasantly surprised at how well Paul was able to integrate his signature style into the Bond format of heroic, spy music. This is one of the best examples of McCartney’s abilities in composing full arrangements of powerful music, that he is not just limited to just rock anthems. Come back tomorrow to see one of Paul’s newest song that was made for one of the most popular video games of last year, Destiny.

Originality: 8.5

Instruments: 8.7

Vocals: 8.5

Longevity: 9.3

Red Score: 8.7