Musical Taste: Happy Holidays
Well, it’s been a while since the last Musical Taste, so I thought I’d focus on some stuff that you should be picking up for the holidays as well as some of the more interesting recent musical happenings.
What should be checked off your holiday gift list for others:
- Daft Punk – Tron: Legacy OST: For the person who likes dark classical music, this slightly electronic soundtrack album hits pretty well. The movie’s theme carries the record, so make no mistake it is a soundtrack work, but there are electronic touches. It is not a Daft Punk record per se, despite the fact that they wrote all the music. Try before you buy, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
- Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy: Not just one of the best rap albums in recent memory, but a flat out great album, period. West is back and making his intelligent (and arrogant) voice heard. Lyrically, the songs are diverse and he brings in guests as disparate as Elton John and Bon Iver. I’d say the deluxe edition is even worth it, as you get a dvd of the breathtaking short film Runaway. Overall, a pretty great album with some small misses and moments you won’t want your mom listening to (the track “Blame Game” which ends with a long Chris Rock riff is both of these.)
- Robyn – Body Talk: This is the same Robyn of late 90s pop, but she’s grown up and started making fantastic dance music. Probably the most underrated woman making pop songs in a world dominated by mediocre Lady Gaga knock-offs (not to disparage Gaga; talented woman).
- Matt & Kim – Sidewalks: A fun third record, the Brooklyn married couple got a little more polished on this album than on 2009’s Grand. There are hip-hop beats and smoother, less fuzzy vocals. Those worried that they won’t get another “Daylight” have nothing to worry about: first single “Cameras” is just as catchy. Too sweet and kitschy for some, this is still a great, fun album.
These are just a few of the recent albums that I myself have had the pleasure of listening to, but there is a lot of new stuff out there. As for new Christmas albums, I’m probably not the best person to ask.
- Glee – The Holiday Album: Honestly? I didn’t care for it. But I’m not a “Glee” fan. If you like the show or know someone who does, they’ll love it. However, if you ask me, the cover of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” is just blasphemy.
- Jackie Evancho – O Holy Night: I had to ask a friend who sings on this one, as this child prodigy sounds pretty alright to me. Quoth my vocal performance major friend: “I don’t know who her coach is. She is damaging her voice permanently singing like that at a young age.” Anyway, it’s a short album (four tracks and a bonus DVD), and like I said, to my untrained ear, was pretty nice to listen to.
- Susan Boyle – The Gift: It’s a Susan Boyle Holiday album. Not much to be said beyond that. There is the requisite cover of “Hallelujah” and some nice standards. She has a good voice.
Beyond those releases, there are some fun videos to be found. My personal favorite is this video of Andrew WK and a mailman performing “Silent Night” as part of the Onion A.V. Club’s Holiday Undercover series.
You can check out more of the videos over at the A.V. Club’s website, including Shearwater, The Dresden Dolls and The Walkmen.
So that’s really it for this edition of Musical Taste. Have a good Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa/Wintereenmas/Solstice/Holiday Break/any other holiday I forgot and have a Happy New Year.
In: Music · Tagged with: Andrew WK, Daft Punk, Kanye West, Matt & Kim, Musical Taste, Robyn