So I have a new method of reviewing albums starting with this one. I will just go track by track giving a rating out of 5 and giving a brief reason why.
1. The Prelude-3.5/5- Just about every Jay-z CD begins the same way; A guy talking about running New York. This is no different although it leads into a song with a slow introspective like beat where he raps about his inability to really leave the game.
2. Oh my god-3.5/5- The familiar horns of Just Blaze lead off this mid tempo track. Nothing special about it pretty standard Jay fare. Luckily standard Jay still laces the beat with good one-liners.
3. Kingdom Come-4/5- A Great Rick James sample will have you forgetting all about Can't touch this. The song reaffirms why Jay is at the top of the rap ladder. The flow, the arrogance and everything finally come together on this track. With lines like "call me peter parker, all I do is climb the charts" Jay is back for the crown.
4. Show me what you got-3.5/5- Again, nothing special but he does the club track better than anyone else and the horn samples from Wrex-n-effect make any rap fan from the 90's laugh just a bit.
5. Lost ones-4.5/5- This is the kind of Jay-z I have come to love. A real introspective song. Not a diss song, a real song. The first verse addresses those who say they made Jay. The second verse appears to be about Beyonce and why they aren't married and in a touching 3rd verse he addresses the death of his nephew. Also the first song on he album featuring the complex rhyme schemes he has been building on his whole career.
6. U wanna ride-4/5- It is hard to go wrong with a dope Kanye West beat and the amazing vocalist, John Legend, on the hook. The song is about the come up and the struggle of a young black man trying to do it big legally. Then the last 2 verses let us know he is doing it major now. It doesn't come off as bragging as much as it comes off as a guy blessed due to his hard work. Also has the sick line "the kingpin of the ink pen."
7. Something-4/5- Dr. Dre gives us the now familiar bass line, piano keys and strings as Jay shows us Grown up Jay, admitting he is playing in young man's game but that he is smarter than the young man. "I don't buy out the bar, I own the night spot" and saying things like "30 is the new 20" let us know that a mature Jay is not a boring Jay.
8.I made it-3/5- This is probably my least favorite track on the CD. Nothing stands out, just more bragging about making it and it sounds like a 3 year old throw off from his last album.
9.Anything-4/5- I typically don't enjoy the stripper anthem anymore, but again Jay is just better than anyone at it. Add the funky Neptunes beat and Usher's vocals on the hook, it just equals a ot of fun. Jay also possesses a nice sing songy flow over the funk that works.
10. Hollywood-4/5- Beyonce on the hook makes sense over a song about being famous. Jay likens the fame and riches to a drug. Again switching his flow to show why he is the most versatile rapper in the game. The song isn't bragging and it is almost a cautionary tale about what happens when you are in the public eye. The only problem with the song is that the beat sounds like a bad Neptunes beat and it sounds a few years old.
11. Trouble-4/5- Dr. Dre on the boards again, but it has a different sound and it works for the song. Jay is a bit angry on the track hitting back at everyone who said he couldn't run a record Label and in the last first spews venom at all of the lower level rappers currently taking shots at the God-MC
12. Dig a Hole-3.5/5- Some have complained about the beat on this song, but I love it. It doesn't sound at all like the typical Swizz Beats track. Obviously the 3 years of not recording have been eating at Jay because he is back at the haters or non-believers. He gives us his credentials. I admit at this point some of it sounds repetitive and the comparing himself to Christ is sure to annoy some people. I find it amusing though.
13. Minority report-5/5- This is probably the most important song Jay has ever recorded. Jay recounts the Katrina incident. The song starts with a bunch of audio news clips from pundits and victims of the catastrophe and then Jay comes in over an intense but slow piano driven beat. He is almost whispering sounding the verge of tears as he ends his rap with this: "Sure I ponied up a mill, but I didn't give my time/ So in reality I didn't give a dime/, or a damn I just put my monies in the hands/ of the same people that left my people stranded/ Nothin' but a bandit/ Left them folks abandoned Damn/, that money that we gave was just a band-aid/ Can't say we better off than we was before/ In synopsis this is my minority report/ Can't say we better off than we was before/ In synopsis this is my minority report" Also Ne-yo comes in at the end and actually works on this song.
14. Beach Chair-5/5- Jay-z and Chris Martin from Coldplay? It seems impossible to behold but after listening to it you understand that it is pure genius. Martin could have a great career as a rap producer if he wants. Jay gets very introspective here and lets the listener into how he does what he does. When I listen to this song I get inspired and wish my mantra in life was like this: "I'm not afraid of dyin' I'm afraid of not tryin" or "Some said "Hov how you get so fly" I said from not being afraid to fall out the sky My physicals a shell so when I say farewell My soul will find an even higher plane to dwell "
The album is not perfect, but that is what makes it perfect. Jay took three years off and went into the studio and just let loose. It sounds as if he wasn't trying to please everyone. This was an album for him. The imperfections make this album a new classic for me. Plus, anytime Jay touches a mic he spits amazing lyrics with great flows and killer one-liners. Thank god the king is back!!
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Deja Vu
If you need movies to make sense I would stay away from this one, but you will be missing out on one exciting ride because this movie has all of the fixings for one thrilling adventure. For those who don't know, the movie is about a secret government project that can see 4 days in the past so they can try and locate the man responsible for blowing up a boat full of navy families. To be honest, getting through the opening scene is tough because you see a lot of children on the boat, but after that you just turn your brain off and enjoy the chase against time.
Denzel Washington seems to have found a comfort zone with Tony Scott films because this the third collaboration for them. The other two being Crimson tide and Man on fire. Also it seems he has perfected the role of a cop/federal agent, but he is such an engaging actor that it doesn't matter much if we have seen him do this same thing in Out of time and Inside man. Val Kilmer is also here, playing second fiddle for some unknown reason. I guess everyone needs a check, but I admit it hurts watching the guy who brilliantly portrayed Jim Morrison demoted to standard jargon spewing cop.
The movie begins with a bang and doesn't let up much. It is a bit low on the explosions but does feature a one of a kind car chase. A chase that is utterly unbelievable yet very interesting and fun. Denzel brings a quiet intensity that really draws you in even when you can't figure out the science of it all. Perhaps science oriented people will be able to followed the moments of exposition but for me, I just wanted to watch Denzel against the clock. Also, I wanted to watch the very pretty Paula Patton be on screen in a series of flashbacks, or are they flashbacks? She is an average actress but looks good in the shower, which is all that really matters. coming in at about 2 hrs, it wraps up before anyone gets bored and it moves at such a quick pace that you don't really have time to question the plot or the plot holes. The quick camera cuts and angles really add to the excitement, even as we are just watching a girl decide what clothes to wear for a date. The last thing I wan tot mention is Adam Goldberg. Adam is an actor most people will recognize by face but not name. He steals the movie with a lot of throw away lines and is enjoyable to watch. Overall this is the kind of film that is a perfect escapism film during the Oscar season when a lot of heavy hitting movies will be flooding our theaters!
Denzel Washington seems to have found a comfort zone with Tony Scott films because this the third collaboration for them. The other two being Crimson tide and Man on fire. Also it seems he has perfected the role of a cop/federal agent, but he is such an engaging actor that it doesn't matter much if we have seen him do this same thing in Out of time and Inside man. Val Kilmer is also here, playing second fiddle for some unknown reason. I guess everyone needs a check, but I admit it hurts watching the guy who brilliantly portrayed Jim Morrison demoted to standard jargon spewing cop.
The movie begins with a bang and doesn't let up much. It is a bit low on the explosions but does feature a one of a kind car chase. A chase that is utterly unbelievable yet very interesting and fun. Denzel brings a quiet intensity that really draws you in even when you can't figure out the science of it all. Perhaps science oriented people will be able to followed the moments of exposition but for me, I just wanted to watch Denzel against the clock. Also, I wanted to watch the very pretty Paula Patton be on screen in a series of flashbacks, or are they flashbacks? She is an average actress but looks good in the shower, which is all that really matters. coming in at about 2 hrs, it wraps up before anyone gets bored and it moves at such a quick pace that you don't really have time to question the plot or the plot holes. The quick camera cuts and angles really add to the excitement, even as we are just watching a girl decide what clothes to wear for a date. The last thing I wan tot mention is Adam Goldberg. Adam is an actor most people will recognize by face but not name. He steals the movie with a lot of throw away lines and is enjoyable to watch. Overall this is the kind of film that is a perfect escapism film during the Oscar season when a lot of heavy hitting movies will be flooding our theaters!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Casino Royale
Gritty. Dirty. Grimy. Bloody. Dark. None of those words have ever been used to describe James Bond before, but then again this is not you typical James Bond. In addition to getting a new Bond, the franchise has gone in a whole direction and man is it something to behold. Right off the bat we know we are not watching the usual Bond flick because James is getting physical by killing someone up close and in a full out beatdown. From that moment on, just about everything is brand new.
Daniel Craig is blonde haired and blue eyed. Very blue eyed. He is smug without being overly pretty. He is cold, calculating but still oozing all of that James Bond charm. He has that Bond swagger but gives his Bond an edge. He is hiding his soul behind those baby blues. The series had become mired in gadgetry, bad writing and even worse acting and this movie is a pimp slap to every Peirce Brosnon Bond film. Don't worry though, the cars and the girls are gorgeous as ever. In fact, an argument could be made that the cars are actually more gorgeous than the girls and that is not a knock on the girls because Eva Green is a straight up knock out!
This new Bond gets hurt, a lot. The new Bond is not afraid to throw punches and run down crazy bad guys through elaborate set pieces. There is an on foot chase towards the beginning that is almost as exhausting for us as it is for the characters, but you never wanted it to end. Bond does not care how you make his martini and he desperately wants to fall in love. So it stands to reason as the franchise gets a makeover that the movie focuses less on the big bangs and more on the character of Bond. So, if you are looking for hi-tech tricks and big explosions, I suggest you just stay home because you won't find those here. You will be missing out though because, in my opinion, this is the very best Bond, ever.
Daniel Craig is blonde haired and blue eyed. Very blue eyed. He is smug without being overly pretty. He is cold, calculating but still oozing all of that James Bond charm. He has that Bond swagger but gives his Bond an edge. He is hiding his soul behind those baby blues. The series had become mired in gadgetry, bad writing and even worse acting and this movie is a pimp slap to every Peirce Brosnon Bond film. Don't worry though, the cars and the girls are gorgeous as ever. In fact, an argument could be made that the cars are actually more gorgeous than the girls and that is not a knock on the girls because Eva Green is a straight up knock out!
This new Bond gets hurt, a lot. The new Bond is not afraid to throw punches and run down crazy bad guys through elaborate set pieces. There is an on foot chase towards the beginning that is almost as exhausting for us as it is for the characters, but you never wanted it to end. Bond does not care how you make his martini and he desperately wants to fall in love. So it stands to reason as the franchise gets a makeover that the movie focuses less on the big bangs and more on the character of Bond. So, if you are looking for hi-tech tricks and big explosions, I suggest you just stay home because you won't find those here. You will be missing out though because, in my opinion, this is the very best Bond, ever.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Stranger than Fiction
In a very Jim Carrey like move, will Farrell went and got serious, well sort of. In an unexpected twist, it actually works. It works very well. Also, the movie itself has some very Truman show like qualities. Luckily, Will surrounded himself with Emma Thompson, a hilarious Dustin Hoffman and an incredibly likeable Maggie Gyllenhaal. And they are all wonderfully directed by Marc Forster, who takes a very different turn from Monster's Ball and finding Neverland, to direct a far out there comedy.
Harold Crick (Farrell) hears a voice and it is narrating his life. The premise is silly and to be honest the first 45 minutes are very silly. However, it is a smart, subtle silly and it is laugh out loud funny. A subdued Farrell is a very funny and likeable Farrell. Dustin Hoffman chimes in as a literary professor trying to help Crick figure out what kind of story he is involved in and in every scene Hoffman is in he soars with a funny demeanor and a great character choice. Gyllenhaal enters the picture as a potential love interest for Farrell and her first scene is hilarious and she provides a great catalyst for Farrell's character to start living his life.
About half way through the movie it stops being silly and starts to get very interesting. Aside from the concept, its a very good movie with a great underlying message: Live the life you want! See, Crick is boring and mundane. He is unhappy, but it is the only life he knows. Then he finds out he is going to die soon and BAM, he starts playing guitar and stops working. He finds an interesting life. I found a lot of it really interesting because ethere are days when I feel trapped in that ritualistic clock watching life and this movie was a nice reminder to break free of that.
I am not going to lie, as Thompson the author struggles with the ending of her book, the movie also suffers from a meandering ending and honestly perhaps the original ending of the book would have given us a better ending to the movie. Then again, perhaps that is the point of the movie anyway. I mean, we know we are watching a comedy from the beginning, so what were we, the audience expecting?
Harold Crick (Farrell) hears a voice and it is narrating his life. The premise is silly and to be honest the first 45 minutes are very silly. However, it is a smart, subtle silly and it is laugh out loud funny. A subdued Farrell is a very funny and likeable Farrell. Dustin Hoffman chimes in as a literary professor trying to help Crick figure out what kind of story he is involved in and in every scene Hoffman is in he soars with a funny demeanor and a great character choice. Gyllenhaal enters the picture as a potential love interest for Farrell and her first scene is hilarious and she provides a great catalyst for Farrell's character to start living his life.
About half way through the movie it stops being silly and starts to get very interesting. Aside from the concept, its a very good movie with a great underlying message: Live the life you want! See, Crick is boring and mundane. He is unhappy, but it is the only life he knows. Then he finds out he is going to die soon and BAM, he starts playing guitar and stops working. He finds an interesting life. I found a lot of it really interesting because ethere are days when I feel trapped in that ritualistic clock watching life and this movie was a nice reminder to break free of that.
I am not going to lie, as Thompson the author struggles with the ending of her book, the movie also suffers from a meandering ending and honestly perhaps the original ending of the book would have given us a better ending to the movie. Then again, perhaps that is the point of the movie anyway. I mean, we know we are watching a comedy from the beginning, so what were we, the audience expecting?
Babel
Taking the title of the film from biblical roots, I expected this movie is be completely about the language barrier the world at large faces, but it really wasn't. In act, this movie is almost nothing like I would have imagined it being. Brad Pitt and Kate Blanchett are the "stars" but in reality they only make up a fourth of this loosely assembled ensemble piece.
Coming in at around 2hrs and 30 minutes, the film starts to lose its grasp with about 45 minutes to go, not because the material gets old or boring, but just because it all starts to look a bit repetitive and one of the four stories slowly unravels into near absurdity. Luckily, there are 3 other story lines that remain realistic and gripping. The movie uses a shooting as the thing that ties the 4 stories together and it also serves as the central theme of violence only begets more violence. The movie is not nearly as much about the problem of language as it is about the entire cultural difference problem.
We have 2 Americans stranded in a foreign country, a family in that same country going through issues of violence, a Hispanic woman attending her son's wedding in Mexico and in the most gripping and interesting story, we have a Japanese girl who is hindered by being a deaf mute. It takes a long time for the director to connect the story dots for us, but honestly they don't matter much. The Japanese girl is beyond stunning in her performance. She captures the turmoil of someone brought up with a language not understood by people in her own country and she captures the immaturity that often comes with those issues. Honestly she makes this movie for me. Also, Brad Pitt has a phenomenal scene towards the end of the flick that really captures a crumbling man.
The movie moves slowly and loses focus at parts. It has a lot of interesting things to say about culture, violence and even family and the director has a great eye for good visuals, I only wish he had done it in just a shorter amount of time. This was not the movie I was expecting or hoping for, but still a very solid film that I would recommend for anyone looking for something to make them think.
Coming in at around 2hrs and 30 minutes, the film starts to lose its grasp with about 45 minutes to go, not because the material gets old or boring, but just because it all starts to look a bit repetitive and one of the four stories slowly unravels into near absurdity. Luckily, there are 3 other story lines that remain realistic and gripping. The movie uses a shooting as the thing that ties the 4 stories together and it also serves as the central theme of violence only begets more violence. The movie is not nearly as much about the problem of language as it is about the entire cultural difference problem.
We have 2 Americans stranded in a foreign country, a family in that same country going through issues of violence, a Hispanic woman attending her son's wedding in Mexico and in the most gripping and interesting story, we have a Japanese girl who is hindered by being a deaf mute. It takes a long time for the director to connect the story dots for us, but honestly they don't matter much. The Japanese girl is beyond stunning in her performance. She captures the turmoil of someone brought up with a language not understood by people in her own country and she captures the immaturity that often comes with those issues. Honestly she makes this movie for me. Also, Brad Pitt has a phenomenal scene towards the end of the flick that really captures a crumbling man.
The movie moves slowly and loses focus at parts. It has a lot of interesting things to say about culture, violence and even family and the director has a great eye for good visuals, I only wish he had done it in just a shorter amount of time. This was not the movie I was expecting or hoping for, but still a very solid film that I would recommend for anyone looking for something to make them think.
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