song reviews
Frank Ocean
"Pyramids"
It begins in an Ancient Egypt straight out of a doofy prog-rock epic, complete with cheetahs, serpents, "Samson and his full head of hair" – Samson? In Egypt? – and "black queen Cleopatra." It ends up in a titty bar called "The Pyramid" where a stripper named, you guessed it, Cleopatra stalks the stage. In between there are groaning club beats, psychedelic guitar noodling, and lots of vague new-R&B angst. It's never boring – a feat for a song that clocks in at just ... | More »
Beck
"I Just Started Hating Some People Today"
Is Jack White hiding a time machine at Third Man Records HQ? That's the only logical explanation for this White-produced one-off, in which Beck is transformed into a zooted prankster. The A side is a smirking Nashville pastiche ("I just started wanting to punch your face/You might want to wear a helmet just in case"); "Blue Randy" finds Beck sighing sad tales of laser tag over burnt-caramel steel guitar. If the jokes made more sense, they wouldn't be half as funny. Related• Be... | More »
Beck
"Blue Randy"
Is Jack White hiding a time machine at Third Man Records HQ? That's the only logical explanation for this White-produced one-off, in which Beck is transformed into a zooted prankster. The A side is a smirking Nashville pastiche ("I just started wanting to punch your face/You might want to wear a helmet just in case"); "Blue Randy" finds Beck sighing sad tales of laser tag over burnt-caramel steel guitar. If the jokes made more sense, they wouldn't be half as funny. Related• Be... | More »
The National
"The Rains of Castamere"
As fantasy fan wish-fulfillment goes, the morose Brooklyn rockers' spare, deadly dull go at a Game of Thrones battle ballad ranks somewhere south of spotting Peter Dinklage walking the dog. Related• The Best and Worst Characters From Season Two of 'Game of Thrones' | More »
Big Boi and Theophilus London, feat. Tre Luce
"She Said OK"
A slow, smeary funk ode to things that get blown – such as pot and Big Boi. Not new territory, but his pimpadelic cool sucks you in. Listen to "She Said OK": Related• Video: Big Boi on Hoping to Collaborate with Kate Bush | More »
Freddie Gibbs feat. Young Jeezy and T.I.
"Pull Up"
The mixtape-slinging Indiana MC's speedy, almost jittery, rhymes about road head and pricey paint jobs couldn't be sharper, inspiring similarly hot runs from his bigger-name pals. Related• Photos: Random Notes | More »
Dave Matthews Band
"Gaucho"
This mankind-will-self-destruct lament (from DMB's upcoming, still-untitled album) offers a distinctly Dave-like blend of tension and uplift. Over a moody and elegant shuffle, Matthews sketches out the arc of civilization, from the invention of religion to the moon landing, and hints that the next leap won't derive from torching kind bud on Earth Day. And the inevitable children's choir? It works against a bridge that starts darkly atmospheric and crashes into jammy skronk. Let... | More »
Justin Bieber
"Die in Your Arms"
Released just days after he allegedly up and decked a pesky paparazzi, the second single from Justin Bieber's forthcoming Believe follows the self-described "swag" of "Boyfriend" with a more subtle moonwalk down the fault line between teddy bear and Timberlake. Over bubblegum-sweet hip-hop bounce, neosoul piano flourish and a flower-bearing snatch of organ, Bieber tries on a Young Michael plea as he begs, "Teach me to behave" and "Promise you won't keep me waiting," with butterfly g... | More »
Aerosmith
"Legendary Child"
For the past two decades, Steven Tyler has pushed Aerosmith toward power ballads while Joe Perry has lobbied for hard rock. It seems Perry won the argument for this comeback single. "Legendary Child" – from the band's first studio album in eight years, due this fall – is built on stacks of guitars, though it sounds like the band was too busy blasting away to bother with much of a melody. Instead, you get a so–so tune and Tyler–esque wisdom, like "Sticks and stones... | More »
Music Reviews
-
star ratingTriple F Life: Friends, Fans & Family -
star ratingLooking 4 Myself -
star ratingThe Bravest Man in the Universe
-
star ratingIn Our Heads -
star ratingSynthetica -
star ratingDirty Bass
Photos & Videos
Random Notes: Hottest Rock Pictures
