Kid Cudi, Man On The Moon: A Positve Look and Listen Into The Future





Just about two weeks ago, the hyped about rapper, Kid Cudi, released his much anticipated first album, "Man on the Moon: The End of Day". Despite this being his first officially released album, fans of the "indie"/"new school" rapper had already tasted a bit of his style, flow, and skill through his various TV appearances, Album collaborations, Live performances, and free Mixtapes.

This Kanye West protégé (don't worry he only possess a few of Mr. West's character traits, hubris NOT being one of them) first caught the underground's (and Kanye's) attention with the July 2008 release of his mixtape entitled "A Kid Named Cudi", which combined elements of hiphop, jazz, rock and soul. A few months later Cudi made one of his first major musical appearance where he performed with Travis Barker and the late DJ AM on a side stage at the MTV Video Music Awards. Later in the year he also made his first album appearance on Kanye West's 808s and Heartbreak and then followed the (official) release of Cudi's highly popular single "Day 'n' Night".

Well enough background information, let's get into the "meat and potatoes" (mmmm) of this whole thing: the actual album itself....Actually, before I get into the album, let me make note of why exactly I'm writing about this. Besides the fact that I happen to really enjoy it, I feel as though the meager, barely over 100 word review by Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone does not do the album justice. It's pretty clear that the writer didn't really even give it a chance. Despite stating " the music is engrossing and Cudi's angst genuine" he mentions "his raps get pedestrian". If Rosen is looking for Eminem or JayZ like rhym prowess, he should probably look elsewhere (not saying Cudi's rhymes and lyrics are juvenile or terribly lacking). Additionally Rosen's comments that Cudi's assertion "ad nauseam that he is a 'lonely stoner' is just annoying" and "a hipster boast masquerading as a confession" is (in my opinion) way off. To my knowledge, the "lonely stoner" reference is only used on ONE of the album's songs (Day 'n' Night) and I feel it is not boastful but a true self-reflective statement. Anyway, maybe I have my own biases, but nonetheless..let's get into my own opinion.

On "Man on the Moon: The End of Day" Kid Cudi combines futuristic-new age-electro-spacerap with the singing, melody, and theatrics of Broadway show tunes (think Q-tip meets the Flaming Lips meets Kanye West meets Daft Punk). This isn't exactly a full on "rap" album to say the least, but that doesn't matter because it's new and it's different and (I think) it works. The production, which combines driving robotic-like drums, synths, melodic strings, and an array of other sounds is extremely ear pleasing and complements Cudi's unique on and off rap/croon style extremely well.

In a way, this is a "concept" album, consisting of 15 songs broken up into 5 separate acts (In order from 1-5 the acts are titled The End of Day, Rise of the Night Terrors, Taking a Trip, Stuck, and A New Beginning). Throughout the different acts on the album, in a sort of dream sequence, Kid Cudi deals with very real human emotions, struggles, and experiences such as: dreams, death, hopelessness, depression, and trying to rise above it all.

Surprisingly (or maybe not?), some of these very same elements make up much of the content of the Pink Floyd album, "Dark Side of the Moon" (which happens to be one of my favorite albums of all time). Because of the emotion expressed at the heart of much of this album (as well as Dark Side), which mirrors the emotions that all humans experience, it also evokes emotion from its listeners as well (especially on tracks like "Soundtrack 2 My Life", "Sky Might Fall", and "Pursuit Of Happiness").

As I said before, these themes are relatable to listeners because they all suggest different elements of the "human experience". Chris Thomas, the mix supervisor for "Dark Side of the Moon", once said, "what makes a great album is that you respond to it on an emotional level”. If this is true, then simply by default, Man on the Moon: The End of Day really is a great album and I'm not the only one who thinks so. Apart from a few less than stellar reviews from Slant, Rolling Stone (which i mentioned earlier), and the New York Times, most other reviews have been highly positive. Check the rest out HERE and if you're so inclined, give the album a listen and see (and hear) for yourself.

Kid Cudi's music not only sounds like the future, but it and he seem to both have a very "stellar" prospect ahead, because right now, where the Man on The Moon is standing, there is no Dark Side (ohhh no I didn't...yes I did).

Thanks for reading.
-b Funk

Monotonix = Absolutely Insane (Band of the Week)



I recently heard about this band and decided to check them out. I don't know very much about them, other than they are from Tel Aviv, Israel and their live shows are absolutely ridicules. I would consider their sound a cross between Rage Against the Machine, Black Sabbath, and Wolfmother.

When they can, the band sets up (a minimal drum kit, and a guitar) on the ground floor of wherever they are playing and proceed to go completely ballistic, I'm talking ape-shit here. The singer runs,jumps, crashes, and climbs whatever structure or thing (human or not) in site.

John Lomax of the Houston Press had this to say about them:

"If there was a spectrum on which every shade of chaos was ranked hierarchically, you would have to peg a Monotonix show somewhere to the left of total, complete and utter mayhem. Maybe you could call it demented pandemonium."

"They have to be simultaneously the most physically fit and mentally deranged band I have ever seen, and already I have seen them three times. these shows are something beyond chaos. In fact, they are the perfect band for our time, the soundtrack and visual representation of a world that seems to be slipping out of control"


These guys are on tour now and I feel like it would be quite an experience to check them out. DO IT (and if you come back alive, let me know how it was).




Madness


Turn Your Volume Down



"That Guy" Of The Day



Look at that guy. What guy? That guy, the fake-ass wannabe Robert Di Nero lookin' guy. Ohhhhhhhh him.

1,2 Freddy's Commin' For You



Watch the trailer for the remake of the horror classic "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (April 30th, 2010 release date). Man I love the classic horror flicks, hope they don't ruin this one by remaking it (does anyone have any ORIGINAL ideas anymore?)Anyway, it's pretty cool that the guy who played Rorschach from The Watchmen is Freddy Krueger. Also here's a fun fact about the original 1984 film, did you know it was Johnny Depp's (insert screaming girl's voice here) feature film debut?

What up Smalls?



Eyo

Kid Cudi on David Letterman



Cudder performs "Pursuit of Happiness" on Letterman ,with a little help from Ratatat (album review of Man on the Moon is coming soon)

R5 Concert Productions Update




Here are a few upcoming shows in Philadelphia that (in my opinion) might be worth checking out. Brought to you by R5 Productions (thanks guys)

Wednesday September 30th 9:00pm
At Johnny Brendas

MAYER HAWTHORNE
(awesome, amazing 50s/60s era soul from a white weirdo hiphop dude. stones throw)
BUFF 1 (hiphop mc from detroit. formely of athletic mic league)
14 KT (hiphop mc from detroit. formely of athletic mic league)


Monday October 5th 8:00pm
At The First Unitarian Church

PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART (80s indie emo-like pop from nyc -Think The Cure)
DEPRECIATION GUILD (secretly amazing. 8 bit noises with heavy 80s shoegaze parts. nyc)
CYMBALS EAT GUITARS (best new music. built to spill like jams from nyc)


Tuesday October 6th 9:00pm
At Johnny Brendas

WAX TAILOR (producer/dj ala dj shadow with a full live band and visuals. from france. great live show)
ASTRONAUTALIS (adventurous rock / hip-hop. kind of like older anticon. from seattle. eyeball recs)


For the rest of R5's upcoming shows check out their website. They get a ton of good or at least interesting acts that you probably haven't heard of (or I haven't at least). Check em out.

"That Guy" Of The Day



What guy? That guy. The one with the wiener on his head. Ohhhhh him

Monsters of Folk



What happens when you take Yim Yames ( Jim James of My Morning Jacket fame), Conor Oberst (also known by his work as Bright Eyes), indie rocker M. Ward, and Mike Mogis? Well...you get the indie/folk supergroup Monsters of Folk ! Separately all of these guys make some really solid music, so putting them together can only mean great things.

Their album is out now, pick it up HERE

Also they are currently on Tour , with their last US stop being in Philadelphia at the Academy of Music. This building is the oldest grand opera house in the United States still in use today. It's extremely rare for "newer" type groups to have the opportunity to play at the Academy so this is certainly a show not to miss.

Video

Undertaker vs Mankind HELL IN A CELL Part 1



One of the greatest moments in WWF history with two of the true legends of the business.

Basketball Jones



Tryna shoot some...wait a second?

Happy Birthday Bill Murray




Today, September 21st, is the great/hilarious Bill Murray's 59th birthday. Happy Birthday Bill !

Caddy Shack1


Caddy Shack2



Ghostbusters



Groundhog's Day



What about Bob?

"Dave?"




Yo brah, you goin to see Dave?

Dave? Do you know him personally? So is he just playing by himself? Aren't there about 6 other people on stage? Don't they count?

Flaming Lips on the Colbert Report




Watch the Flaming Lips perform a new song off their upcoming album Embryonic . The album will be out on October 13th and if the rest of it sounds like this song, I CAN'T WAIT. Actually, you can stream the whole album right now until Monday on ColbertNation.com. Give it a listen!



Check out a little interview with Wayne as well.

Kid Cudi - Tim Westwood




The Kid spittin' off the dome. Get em!

Ghostface Gets Soulful





Check out this new Ghostface (Killah) song off his upcoming album titled something to the extent of " Ghostface Killah presents: Ghostdini, The Wizard of Poetry of Emerald City". This is a sort of soulful track due to the contributing vocals of Raheem DeVaughn as well as Ghostface's lyrics. (click the link to watch the performance with The Roots or click this to see the music video. YouTube won't let me embed the shit because of Universal)



Not a bad song but it doesn't compare to his older stuff, such as this joint off his classic album Supreme Clientele.

September to October Philadelphia Concert Schedule



09/15/09 :: Tuesday
Ourafter
Doc Watson's

Grimace Federation
The Fire

09/16/09 :: Wednesday
Busdriver
Kung Fu Necktie

09/17/09 :: Thursday
Talib Kweli
Jay Electronica
Mos Def
Black Landlord
Electric Factory

09/18/09 :: Friday

The Gabe Dixon Band
Keswick Theatrer

Papadosio
Draught Horse

Rusted Root
The Kin
Electric Factory

Jedi Mind Tricks
Immortal Technique
Reef the Lost Cauze
The Trocadero

09/19/09: Saturday
Dave Matthews Band
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Susquehanna Bank Center

09/20/09: Sunday
Dave Matthews Band
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Susquehanna Bank Center
Moby
Kelli Scarr
Theatre of Living Arts (TLA)

09/21/09 :: Monday
Sufjan Stevens
Cryptacize
Johnny Brenda's

09/25/09 :: Friday
The Indobox
Sonic Spank
Draught Horse

09/28/09 :: Monday

Phoenix
Chairlift
Electric Factory

09/30/09 :: Wednesday
Arctic Monkeys
The Like
Electric Factory

10/02/09 :: Friday
Swift Technique
Draught Horse

10/03/09 :: Saturday
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
Liacouras Center
Ghostface Killah
The Trocadero

10/06/09 :: Tuesday
Anti-Pop Consortium
Silk City

10/07/09 :: Wednesday
Los Lonely Boys
Alejandro Escovedo
Hacienda
Keswick Theatre

Grizzly Bear
Beach House
Electric Factory

10/08/09 :: Thursday
Yonder Mountain String Band
Danny Barnes
Keswick Theatre

10/09/09 :: Friday
Downtown Harvest
World Cafe Live

Richie Havens
World Cafe Live


10/10/09 :: Saturday

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
Jason Fraticelli
Tim Conley
Tritone Bar

The Mars Volta
Electric Factory

10/12/09 :: Monday
Grimace Federation
Kung Fu Necktie

10/13/09 :: Tuesday
Ourafter
Doc Watson's

Bruce Springsteen
Wachovia Spectrum

10/14/09 :: Wednesday
Tiesto
Electric Factory

Bruce Springsteen
Wachovia Spectrum

10/15/09 :: Thursday
Insane Clown Posse
Electric Factory

Barefoot Truth
World Cafe Live


10/16/09 :: Friday
Ian Anderson plays Jethro Tull
Keswick Theatre

The Avett Brothers
Jessica Lea Mayfield
Electric Factory

Three Legged Fox
U-Melt
North Star

Christian McBride
Bruce Hornsby
The Kimmel Center for Performing Arts

Built to Spill
Disco Doom
The Trocadero

Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers
Carbon Leaf
World Cafe Live

Dib Dow
Downtown Harvest
The New Familiars
World Cafe Live

Bob Weir & RatDog
Tower Theater

10/17/09 :: Saturday
Juggling Suns
Triumph Brewing Company of New Hope

Igor's Egg
Draught Horse

Sea Wolf
Port O'Brien
North Star

Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers
Carbon Leaf
Dawn Landes
World Cafe Live

Bob Weir & RatDog
Tower Theater

10/19/09 :: Monday

Bruce Springsteen
Wachovia Spectrum

10/20/09 :: Tuesday

Bruce Springsteen
Wachovia Spectrum

10/21/09 :: Wednesday

Dirty Projectors
The Trocadero

AC/DC
Anvil
Wachovia Spectrum

10/22/09 :: Thursday

Rodrigo y Gabriela
Electric Factory

Mum
First Unitarian Church

10/23/09 :: Friday

Rain Machine
Johnny Brenda's

Dr. Dog
Theatre of Living Arts (TLA)

Jay-Z
Day26
Jadakiss
Jeremih
Keri Hilson
Mario
Pleasure Pause
Trey Songz
Wachovia Spectrum

EOTO
World Cafe Live

The Australian Pink Floyd Show
Tower Theater

10/24/09 :: Saturday

Marco Benevento
Mill Hill Saloon (NJ)

STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9)
Eskmo
Electric Factory

Dr. Dog
Theatre of Living Arts (TLA)

10/25/09 :: Sunday
Andrew Bird
St. Vincent
Electric Factory

10/27/09 :: Tuesday
Pearl Jam
Wachovia Spectrum

David Gray
Lisa Hannigan
Tower Theater

10/28/09 :: Wednesday
Pearl Jam
Wachovia Spectrum

10/29/09 :: Thursday

Brian Wilson
Keswick Theatre

10/30/09 :: Friday
The Egg
Basshound
941 Theatre

Thievery Corporation
Ocote Soul Sounds
Electric Factory

Pearl Jam
Wachovia Spectrum

Downtown Harvest
World Cafe Live

10/31/09 :: Saturday
Pearl Jam
Wachovia Spectrum

Think Pink Floyd
CORAL REEF (Southampton, PA)

Gov't Mule
Tower Theater

Hey

EOTO TOUR



Go see them, dance around, have fun. Also, if you didn't notice they are playing EVERY SINGLE DAY in October.

09/18/09 Fri Camp Zoe Salem, MO
09/19/09 Sat Camp Zoe Salem, MO
09/20/09 Sun Cirquinox Festival Selma, OR
09/26/09 Sat Earthdance (Black Oak Ranch) Laytonville, CA
09/29/09 Tue Moe's Alley Santa Cruz, CA
09/30/09 Wed Mission Rock Cafe San Francisco, CA
10/01/09 Thu The Red Fox Tavern Eureka, CA
10/02/09 Fri McDonald Theatre Eugene, OR
10/03/09 Sat Berbati's Pan Portland, OR
10/04/09 Sun Nightlight Bellingham, WA
10/05/09 Mon The Palace Missoula, MT
10/06/09 Tue The Filling Station Bozeman, MT
10/07/09 Wed Aquarium Fargo, ND
10/08/09 Thu Cabooze Minneapolis, MN
10/09/09 Fri High Noon Saloon Madison, WI
10/10/09 Sat Abbey Pub Chicago, IL
10/11/09 Sun Papa Pete's Kalamazoo, MI
10/12/09 Mon Scarlet and Grey Cafe Columbus, OH
10/14/09 Wed Mohawk Place Buffalo, NY
10/15/09 Thu The Westcott Theater Syracuse, NY
10/16/09 Fri Club Metronome Burlington, VT
10/17/09 Sat Harpers Ferry Allston, MA
10/18/09 Sun Port City Music Hall Portland, ME
10/19/09 Mon The Hi Hat Providence, RI
10/21/09 Wed Red Square Albany, NY
10/22/09 Thu Sullivan Hall New York, NY
10/23/09 Fri World Cafe Live Philadelphia, PA
10/24/09 Sat The 8X10 Baltimore, MD
10/25/09 Sun Canal Club Richmond, VA
10/26/09 Mon Attitudes Blacksburg, VA
10/28/09 Wed Old Rock House St. Louis, MO
10/29/09 Thu Bourbon Theatre Lincoln, NE
10/30/09 Fri Gothic Theatre Englewood, CO
10/31/09 Sat Granada Theater Lawrence, KS
11/27/09 Fri Granada Theater Dallas, TX
12/01/09 Tue George's Majestic Fayetteville, AR
12/05/09 Sat Canopy Club Urbana, IL

I'm not commenting on the VMAs...



But, what the hell is wrong with people?

Also look at this Illuminati theory

Tom Green Raps

Tom Green and Xhibit Freestyle. Anybody who's never seen this check it out.



Somebody also put together a mixtape of a bunch of his songs. Pretty decent, he's got pretty funny lines and there are also a few songs from his show you might remember.

Jay-Z Concert 9/11/09 at MSG



Check out Jay Z's entire 9/11/09 concert from Madison Square Garden in New York. Pretty awesome, Jay sure knows how to put on a concert.

Set List:

01. "Pledge of Allegiance"
02. "Star Spangled Banner"
03. "Empire State of Mind"
04. "Where I'm From"
05. "Brooklyn Go Hard"
06. "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)"
07. "Already Home"
08. "Run This Town"
09. "Can't Tell Me Nothing"
10. "Good Life"
11. "Diamonds"
12. "Jigga My"
13. "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"
14. "Jigga What, Jigga Who"
15. "U Don't Know"
16. "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"
17. "99 Problems"
18. "Venus Vs. Mars"
19. "Show Me What You Got"
20. "Give It to Me"
21. "On To The Next One"
22. "I Know"
23."Dirt Off Your Shoulder"
24. "Can't Knock the Hustle"
25. "Playback"
26. "Big Pimpin'"
27. "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"
28. "Young Forever"
29. "Encore"

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.


(from Nah right)

Beatles Remastered (mono vs stereo)



I'm a few days late BUT, nonetheless....The Beatles catalog has been re-issued and remastered in both Mono and Stereo formats. (oh yeah, and Beatles Rock Band is out too) Pretty amazing, but the question is...which one to get? Well, after some searching and a bit personal listening, I came up with my own opinion as well as some reviews about both sets from: Amazon customers, Bob Lefsetz, the New York Times, and various other forums.

Here is a little sampling of what I have found (most reviews saying the same things)

Bob Lefsetz on the Mono recordings

This is the way you remember them. Not scrubbed clean, but emanating from one speaker in the dash, one speaker underneath the spinning wheel of your all-in-one record player. It’s not about revelation, but basking in the joy of the music itself. These are the CDs you want to buy to listen to while you’re having a party, while you’re cleaning the house. They’re more MUSICAL!

Listening to the stereo CDs is being an archaeologist, digging in deep, studying the nuances that have been revealed by the cleansing of tender-loving brushstrokes, which have revealed all the parts, flaws and all. Listening to the mono CDs is just like being in the sixties, albeit a sprightlier, cleaner version.

Let’s put it this way. When you go to the show do you need to sit up front or a healthy distance back, where the sound blends properly, near the soundboard, where the engineer mixes the sound. If you want to see the performer spit, if you want the adrenaline of proximity to a star, you pay extra to sit in the front row. But if you want the best sound, you’ll be disappointed, the vocal will be unhearable, the balance will be tweaked, you won’t be happy.

Not that you want to sit in the rafters.

We all want a good seat, it’s just a question of your definition.

Ultimately, concerts are about the sound. Fifteen or twenty rows back is usually best.

The mono "Sgt. Pepper" coheres in a way the stereo version does not. You tap your toe as opposed to utilizing your aural bifocals to see the music’s components. A great mechanic wants to raise the hood, see exactly what engine is employed, how it’s tuned. A driver wants to leave the garage, let the wind blow through his hair and have an experience. The mono CDs are a better experience.

But you might be disappointed. If you’re sleuthing, if you want to be blown away, you need the stereo mixes. When you hear Paul McCartney sing "Till There Was You", with his unique accent, singing "at TALL", your jaw will drop. You never dreamed of getting this close. Whereas when you hear the same song in mono, without Paul’s vocal isolated, you won’t get the same effect.

In other words, if you want to sit next to George Martin at the console, DEFINITELY get the stereo CDs. But, if you want to remember what it was like in your bedroom, at parties, driving in the car, you’ll enjoy the mono CDs better.

But that’s not the end of the story.

Actually, the booklet in the mono box set delineates the truth concisely and authoritatively. You see, in the eyes of the Beatles, all the way through the White Album, the mono mixes were the definitive ones. Furthermore, the same tracks were not always mixed, and mixing vagaries ended up in tracks containing different parts, even having different speeds. You’ll notice these differences, especially when pointed out, but on an overall basis, they’re far from dramatic.

The stereo CDs breathe. But it’s kind of like those people in the magazines. Seeing their photos in two dimensions, you imbue them with your own feelings and interpretations, whereas if you met them in real life they might not fit your fantasy whatsoever. The stereo CDs reveal almost more than you need to know. But that’s why most people are going to rush out and buy these remasters, they want to know more. Sure, in time these remasters will become the definitive statement, we’ll be listening to these mixes for years, newbies will only know them. But Beatle fanatics are looking for more than the eighties CDs. You’ll get more with the stereo albums.

Having said that, know that cognoscenti are going to salivate over the mono box. The packaging is staggering. Japanese TLC on steroids.

Yes, each CD comes individually wrapped in plastic, that seals with stickum, so these plastic cases can be retained, keeping your original covers in pristine condition.

And not only are they the original covers, they’re the original inner sleeves! Each CD comes in a plastic bag, of the kind the major labels in America finally went to in the eighties, but also included in the slip cover is the appropriate paper inner sleeve. Telling you to take good care of your "Microgroove Records".

Furthermore, "Sgt. Pepper" contains the jigsaw, fade from red to white inner sleeve, and the cutouts, not printed in a booklet, but on a separate page, just like the original, back in 1967.

And the CDs have replicas of the original Parlophone labels. Yet the White Album has Apple labels (remember how cool it was to slip the record out of its sleeve and see this for the very first time?) Since "Magical Mystery Tour" was an American release, it wears the Capitol logo. And Disc 1 of "Past Masters" uses Parlophone and Disc 2 Apple.

If you’re into collecting, you need the mono box.

Then again, if you’re collecting, you’re probably going to buy both.


So, Lefsetz argues a bit on both mixes but ultimately goes with the Mono. One argument against his reasoning is he keeps talking about, "remember when this" and "it's just like so and so" "back in the day"....what about people who don't know how the originals sound? This mono experience isn't going to make them reminisce about the good old days because they have no reference point for it. Although, he does make note of my argument for the Stereo mixes, which is that they reveal the nuances of the music. Personally, when I'm listening t music I like hearing all that little "extra" stuff going on in the background. Anyway, I'll continue on...

The New York times article (here) also argues mostly for the Mono version. Mentioned in the article is the fact that "The Beatles and their producer, George Martin, considered the mono mixes (to be) definitive". Well, if that's not enough to convince people of buying the Mono set then I don't know what is.

Okay, one more review to go.

A fellow by the name of James N. Perlman, an Amazon customer, listened to both mixes on a audiophile (high quality) system with Quad 988's as the speakers and reviewed each individual remastered album in both Mono and Stereo sound respectively.

Here is what he came up with:


Please Please Me:
The sound on the mono is just amazing. You can hear the echo in the room as John sings Anna. The vocals just soar. Ringo was just so good, even at this early stage and so was Paul. They supported and framed the songs so perfectly. And just think, in twenty-one minutes, or so, Twist And Shout! Stereo can't hold a candle to this, if for no other reason than the left/right "stereo" found later in With The Beatles, Rubber Soul and Revolver.


With The Beatles:
As with Please Please Me, the mono sounds so, so, nice. As the stereo has that annoying left/right "stereo," no contest: mono hands down.


A Hard Day's Night:
Seems better and more enjoyable in stereo. I think the reason is that they now had four tracks so George Martin could do proper stereo mixes and still have a mostly fresh first generationish sound. Remember, there were only two track available for Please Please Me. However, when they got to Rubber Soul and Revolver, four tracks weren't enough, which required, in some instances, numerous dubs of the four tracks to another four track tape, merging the four tracks to one track, thereby opening up three new tracks. While this degraded the sound somewhat it also made it difficult to back-track and do the after-thought stereo mixes, which is why we have the atrocious "stereo" of Rubber Soul and Revolver. Consequently, the reason the monos of these albums rule has mostly to do with technical limitations. While the mixes on A Hard Day's Night are true stereo mixes, they carry George Martin's idiosyncratic, but really right, decision to put the vocals in the center, the rhythm section to the left and the other instruments to the right. I always have loved how Martin took care to isolate the brilliant work of Ringo and Paul so many times instead of just following the convention of placing the drums in the center. This is why one of Martin's memoirs is entitled: "All You Need Is Ears."

The Beatles For Sale: Comments, preference and reasons for preference similar to A Hard Day's Night.

Help: Well, thank God we have three different versions to compare to make life ever so easy. First, mono is the definitive mix, that's a plus. As a minus, while it sounds richer, it is also a bit muddy compared to the stereo mixes. As for the stereo mixes, the remaster of George Martin's '87 remix does show some limiting in this new incarnation. A bit a hard to dial in the right volume. Sounds fuller, but that's the limiting. Not sure I care for this version too much. As for the `65 stereo version, that comes on the same disc as the mono version, as this album is somewhat acoustic, the absence of the limiting that was done to the new stereo remix/remaster is a plus. The delicacy is there in I Need You. Overall, the "old" stereo is prettier than the "new" stereo. One can argue over whether the "new" stereo or the ""old" stereo is better, I come down on the side of the "old" stereo, I like pretty. But as you get both the mono and the "old" stereo on the single mono disc, the cheapskate in me screams if you had a pistol to your head and only had to purchase one version of Help, it would be the "mono" disc.

Rubber Soul: Mono over stereo, if for no other reason than the left/rt channel mix that plagued Please, Please Me, With The Beatles and Revolver.

Revolver: There is a section of Run For You Life where Ringo is just so muscular and explosive in the mono that is missing in stereo and this is before we get to the issue of the left/right "stereo" of the stereo mix. Plus, there is just this overall richness of sound to the mono that is missing in the stereo. That said, it is a bit cooler to hear Tomorrow Never Knows in stereo. But, overall, mono.


Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band:
The things you have heard are correct about the mono mix, the clarity and control over the notes, instruments and vocals is all there. Overall, it just sounds better, fuller and richer than the stereo, plus it is what the boys intended. Oddly, the thing that was most breathtaking was She's Leaving Home; just a full, gorgeous, sound. In stereo, it just sounds relatively wrong; thin compared to the mono. That said, because Day In The Life is such a mind-f the stereo is the definitive version of this song.


Magical Mystery Tour:
While Pepper's sounded better in Mono, MMT sounds better in stereo.


The Beatles (The White Album):
Both versions have their merits, you need both. If you can only go for one, it's the stereo.

Abbey Road: The defining moment of these reissues, and why it took four years, may be found on AR's I Want You (She's So Heavy). Because they couldn't take the tape hiss out without compromising the sound, they didn't. But when it came to John's final "she's so heavy" which was over saturated and clipped previously, they were able to take the clipping out, and for the first time, you can hear all of John's vocal. Second side now, Here Comes the Sun and now Because. Wonderful sound throughout. Can't wait for Ringo at the end.

Let It Be: It is what it is. I prefer the Naked in vinyl.

Mono Past Masters: Right now, listening to the The Inner Light, which I hate, but it sounds so, so, so good in mono that I may actually like it. And, look out, Paul's bass piano notes in Hey Jude are right there as is Ringo's tambourine. Can't wait for Revolution plus the mono songs from Yellow Submarine. The mono Past Masters would have been perfection if they had added a stereo Let It Be and The Ballad Of John and Yoko. After all, the "stereo" Past Masters is actually a mixture of stereo and mono.

So kids, here's where we end. Your core, oddly enough, should be the mono box set. Augment this with the stereo Hard Day's Night, The Beatles For Sale, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour, The Beatles, Abbey Road, Let It Be and stereo Past Masters.


(The comments about Abbey Road and Let It Be are a bit unclear but according to the last comments I'm pretty sure he suggested the stereo versions of both.)

Okay so after all that. What is the final conclusion?
Well, if it's one or the other...get the Mono.
If you've got some extra money, get the Mono and pick up the individual album Stereo mixes of Hard Day's Night, The Beatles For Sale, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour, The Beatles, Abbey Road, and Let It Be.
If you've got a lot of extra money, hell just get them BOTH.
If you're cheap...download them (shhhh DONT DO THAT!).
If you don't even care well, don't do anything at all.

Hope this helped someone out there. Happy Listening!

-b Funk

PANTyRAiD



BUMP THIS


PANTyRAiD is MartyParty and Ooah.

Sick Wit It



What I've been doing with most of my time as of late.

Happy Birthday Adam Sandler



Today, September 9th, is the great Adam Sandler's birthday. Adam was the man back in the 90s on SNL and in his famous roles as Billy Madison, The Wedding Singer, Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, and others. Some of his later movies were pretty decent as well (Little Nicky was hilarious as was Big Daddy). While his newest movies don't live up to his classics, he still makes some pretty entertaining movies.

So Happy birthday Mr Sandler, enjoy it.

Hanukkah Song



Happy Gilmore




Billy Madison



Billy Madison


The Waterboy


Best of

Kicks

Sweet Kicks










Sweet Kicks...?

It's Almost Sundae!



Looks like a fun time. Also Questlove will be spinning at Fluid Nightclub TONIGHT 10-2 as well as Silk City on Sunday night after the Sundae festivities.

Get out and enjoy the weekend.

Things You Never Knew Existed


When I was a kid I used to LOVE getting this catalog in the mail every month or so. This place has everything from gag gifts, Halloween masks, random electronics, novelty items, t-shirts, and more. It's great, check out their website HERE. You can even request a free catalog

Imogen Again

Seriously, she is good. Just watch THIS performance from the Late Show with David Letterman.

Frog Shoes



I dunno, I drew this earlier today.

WHAT?!



You have got to be kidding me...
(that's Fergie by the way...with the Dave Matthews Band)

Wendy Wednesday



I now dub thee, Wendy Carlos Wednesday. Wendy Carlos was a pioneer of the Moog synthesizer and created one of (if not THE) very first albums to feature the use of a synthesizer. The album was titled "Switched-On Bach" and contains Carlos' variations on a number of pieces by, you guessed it!, Bach. She also created the soundtracks for both Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange and The Shining. Pretty cool stuff.


Two-Part Invention No. 14 in B major, BWV 785 - Wendy Carlos

The album cover is pretty funny as well.

How Do You Meaure A Man's Worth?



I normally don't do this sort of thing. This "thing" being: writing, (or blogging if you will) about my thoughts, ideas, or ideals BUT this is something that has been on my mind for quite a while. What the hell am i talking about exactly? All right, here's the setup:

Ever since a friend of mine and I had a pretty extensive conversation about life, our futures, aspirations, success, and failure I have been unable to shake this one question, "How do you measure a man's (or woman's or anyone for that matter) worth?" but the question is more than just that, it also encompass the question "what is truly living life?" and "what is happiness?"

In America ('merika!!!) most people measure their worth by success, the money they make, and the stuff they have. Now sure, you need money to survive (for the most part) that's just the way the world is set up, which in my opinion kind of sucks, but I'm not trying to go off on another totally different tangent here. So a person needs money to live, and when you have a lot of money life is easier, you don't have to struggle, you are able to buy shit (not literal shit but i guess you could buy whatever the hell you want), and you are able to go and essentially do things you enjoy. Well, that's all in good if you are able to get vacation time but what about those people who just constantly work and save up money and are rarely able to even enjoy them selves? Are they happy? Are they living life? Are they successful simply because they have money?

Many times I have heard the phrase "Americans live to work while people in other countries work to live". Is it just in our country that people live this way...? Constantly working and striving to move up the ladder...for what? To make more money and save up so you can retire and THEN live and do what you want? Why do we have to wait until we are 60(?)+ years old to actually live? Anyway, ideally isn't a job supposed to be your livelihood in that it's something you actually enjoy?

How about a different aspect to this whole "measure of worth question"? What about people who have tight knit families that have gatherings and come together and laugh and talk and tell stories? Maybe they aren't wealthy monetarily but are they rich and worth something because they have family and people who care about them? Is their worth measured by the number of lives they have effected and people that love them?

What about someone who has very little belongings and little to no long-lasting relationships with anyone. Instead he spends his life traveling the world, and gaining a wealth of vast and rich experiences? Is he wealthy because of his personal experiences or does all he see and experience mean nothing if he has no one to share those experiences with? Certainly he has lived and experienced the world and that could be all he needs in life to be content, but nobody else will ever know that. But then again, does that even matter?

Everyone lives differently, makes different life choices, and has different opinions, ideals, values, and morals. For how similar we all are in our humanity, we all have separate ideas about the true "human experience". The truth is, as hard as it may be, we can't impose our personal ideas about living life onto other people because everyone lives their individual lives differently. My ideas about happiness and worth as well as a host of other topics could be completely different than yours, but well...that's okay. As much as we would all like other people to see things our way, it certainly doesn't always work out like that.

I'd like to think that humans are social beings, but sure who doesn't want to be left alone some times? (some more than others) And sure everyone (most) likes having nice things, gadgets, toys, fancy clothes, whatever...but we don't really NEED them all. Additionally, it would be nice if we could all go out and accomplish what we truly want to with our lives, but the sad reality is that many people never get that opportunity. We all have different ideas about what we want to accomplish in life, not matter how old you are, I say GO DO IT! You want to amass the world's most comprehensive collection of mid to late 1970s KISS memorabilia? Fuck, go ahead. You want to travel the 7(right?) continents searching for love? Do it. You want to work in a hospital caring for the elderly? You want to gentrify the urban projects creating clean,safe living conditions for inner city families? Sounds fantastic to me.(I truly mean that) You want to run a business, screw people over and become filthy rich? AWESOME (now that was sarcastic).

But before you do anything, ask yourself this question:

Is a person's life measured not by money, but by the richness of their experiences and the number of lives they have touched? I say it is, but you decide. Work to live, don't live to work.

Thanks for listening.

Jay Z on Real Time with Bill Maher


Jay is the man. Check out his interview with Bill Maher HERE. If you can't watch the whole thing at least check out some of it (it's all pretty great though).



Also, it's been out for a bit but if you haven't seen the video for Jay's new song "Run This Town" featuring Rihanna & Kanye West, check that out HERE. Awesome song, awesome video. Get em!

Ridiculous NES Collection


I'm a big fan of old school (retro) stuff; whether it's records, shoes, TV shows, video game systems, or whatever else you can think of. THIS is a pretty awesome NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) collection owned by the Angy Video Game Nerd. He has a ton of other videos up on YouTube that are pretty entertaining. Check it out.