Album of the Week: Blak and Blu by Gary Clark Jr.
In the age of auto tune and music sampling it is rare to find anything truly original… just as it is rare in a time of electro pop to find a modern blues album. Gary Clark Jr. has created a wonderful album that has a timeless sound and yet remains relevant to today. This is his first major label album and you can feel his roots through the polishing. Each track holds the truth of his style in the blues backbone and it is served to the masses with modern R&B and hip-hop trimmings. He is working with producers of big names like Dr. Dre, Prince, Green Day and Fiona Apple. Despite the professional help, this Austin native somehow manages to make the listener feel as though they are in a blues bar listening to an amazing garage band. See my review and listen to the full album after the jump. Read More…
Frightful Friday: Halloween Playlist!
It is the witching hour and I am slaving away to conjure up an especially killer mix for you. I have mixed up my favorite Halloween-ish songs and I think the mix has turned out amazing. Well… it depends on your tolerance for Pop/Dance music…. You have some Psycho-billy, Pop, 70’s R&B, Kids classics, Indie Rock… I mean this hits all tastes! As is typical here at Call Yourself A Nerd, we like variety and here for your audible pleasure are both a classic halloween mix and a halloween party/dance mix. Enjoy!
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Monster Mash-up Dance Till You’re Dead
P.S. What are you dressing up as for halloween?
New Music Video: Bruno Mars
This song has really grown on me as his new album Unorthodox Jukebox approaches. The video is not his usual throw him in a warehouse with some instruments video, though it is not a lyrical parallel either. I really enjoyed the effect and it made each scene feel like a memory that he will keep for years to come, yet empty because he has been Locked Out of Heaven. Such a fitting choice. This is his first single from the new album and I am sure we will hear more this weekend as he is both the host and musical guest on SNL. What do you think of the video? Will you be buying his new album on 12/11/12?
Fun Friday Playlist
So this morning I awoke to a murky grey sky,which isn’t a huge surprise in the bay area, I was bummed nonetheless. So I went to my iTunes and got this sweet high energy genius mix going. I used Head Automatica’s “Beating Heart Baby” to generate and from what I have in my library it gave me this.I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have. Click to Embiggen!
Coldplay’s Hurts Like Heaven Mylo Xyloto Music Video
Coldplay just released an illustrated music video for their song Hurts Like Heaven. It follows a band of rebels who are running from soldiers of the silencer army. Everything they touch is splashed with color and music, which makes this monochromatic environment much more interesting. The song is definitely overpowered by the story which is making this music nerd excited for a comic book! The first issue is set to be released in February of 2013. Watch and let me know what you think in the new forums page. Enjoy!
New Music – Bruno Mars’ Locked Out of Heaven
You have heard the tease… now enjoy the full song!
Your Friday Anarchist Playlist
This week has been pretty busy work wise for me and when I need to get s**t done I prefer to do it with three or less chords. It is efficient and keeps me on my toes. So as a special treat I have decided to share my Punk playlist with you and I have ever so thoughtfully divided it into two flavors : Punk Roots and Evolution of… Enjoy!
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New Music: Ladies of Hump Day
Bringing you hump day treats with two new singles from ladies who know how to top the music charts: Rihanna and Ke$ha.
Rihanna new single – Diamonds ( Click to listen)
Well this barbados beauty is really working hard. This is her newest single from what will be her seventh album in eight years. Diamonds is a song we probably will be hearing on the radio non stop for the next couple weeks, and not because it is good, but because it is Rihanna. I have only listened through once, but I feel like it is missing something. The lyrics are unimaginative and full of cliche similies and the beat is kind of a let down. I am sure that after a few more listens it will grow on me, but there are only so many ways we are like diamonds… Read More…
Feel Good Friday Playlist
Oh my god! I know it is cheesy to say outside of an office environment, but T-G-I-F! This week has pretty much sucked and I have decided that I will not let the little things bring down my Friday. I have kept my head down and busied myself with tedious paper pushing and somehow willed the weekend to arrive.
So as a necessary therapeutic measure, and in celebration, I made a Feel Good Friday Playlist. These playlists have my favorite feel good songs and I hope you check them out and boost your mood.
As with my Flashback Friday Playlist a few weeks back, this playlist comes in two flavors. On your left we have the old school feel and on your right we have the new school feel. Enjoy!
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What’s in my Library Bag?
I practically live at my local library, I mean it is perfect for people who possess insatiable media-based appetites. I can find that book I have been wanting to read, listen to the new album by <insert band name here>, flip through magazines that I don’t want cluttering up my coffee table, and even rent a movie to take home.
This week my haul is pretty amazing. Here is my week of figurative consumption:
BOOKS
I have been on a quest to understand the comic book world and since Batman is such a big part of 2012 I thought I would start from the beginning. First page and I feel so comfortable because an old friend from my Archie Comics days is there. Commissioner Gordon is a dead ringer for Hiram Lodge (Veronica’s father) in my humble opinion. Sorry, I am partial to tangents. The dialogue in this volume is amazingly bad! I mean he sees a light in a window and says, “A light! I should go there!” don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t take much away from “The Batman”. It is fun to see where this character we all grew up with came from and appreciate the evolution in art and writing.
What stuck out?:
The violence in this book is different than what I see in modern day heroes. Batman has no qualms about killing in the early issues and he is injured quite a few times. He gets shot and because he is human, he needs to make tactical retreats and lick his wounds. Oh and of course the Joker! He is not some lame mobster like the other villains in this volume. He is smart and has a game in place while also being insane. I immediately thought of The Dark Knight when i read it because this Joker calls his plays. Another touch I loved was the use of nerve chemicals to leave his victims with a gruesome smile. Very dark, I enjoyed it.
Please Click to see my advanced review of the new Bloc Party album and the rest of what’s in my library bag.
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