Thursday, August 30

Common Finds Forever ...  



If you are not familiar with Common, you probably have poor taste in music. It’s not your fault, but that doesn’t mean you should sit idly twiddling your thumbs. Acquaint yourself with this eclectic lyricist. His newest album aptly titled “Finding Forever” is an earnest effort that showcases his trademark blend of smooth hip-hop/soul/spoken word/ g.o.o.d. music.

“Intro” is a whimsical delight that captures, soothes, and relaxes a perfect prelude to “Let’s Start the Show”, a head bobbing hip-hop anthem with sharp lyrics.
“The People” is the first single from this album, the production and Common’s flow is well blended—not to mention the video is simple and genuine and about, well— the people.

At this point there is a transition in the album, Lily Allen joins Common for the song “Drivin Me Wild”. This collabo is a smash. The song chronicles the demise of two typical types. The 20-something-female-obsessed with finding a man with money looking in all the wrong places and always coming up a day late and a dollar short & and a 20-something male who uses material nonsense to stunt. The harmonious and cherubic sounds of Lily Allen’s voice complement the tone of this track, I will call this one my favorite collabo on the album.
Hitting us with another smash collabo, this time Will.I.Am lends his sound to the track “I Want You” it’s infectious beat, this seductive song is a expression of Common’s monster macking skills. Not mushy at all, it’s raw and romantic and has an organic live sound.

“U, Black Maybe” is a reminder of his sincere & conscious lyrics—this one doesn’t disappoint. It’s message is as stated at the end of the track :“When we talk about Black maybe, we talking about situations of people of color, and because you are that color you endure obstacles and opposition, not all the time from other nationalities, sometime it come from your own kind or maybe even your own kind.” This is the best track on this album—I think, therefore it is.

From this point on the album transitions seamlessly with smooth grooves featuring D’Angelo and on through the finale “Forever Begins” a hauntingly inspirational track, that leaves the listener feeling rejuvenated and full of food for thought.

This album is worth a purchase, and a few hundred rotations.

Tuesday, August 28

Coming Soon...  

A review of Common's "Finding Forever", Lily Allen's current album "Alright, Still", Maroon 5's sophomore release "Won't Be Long Before Soon", & predictions about the forthcoming albums from Kanye West, Alicia Keys, & others.

Monday, August 27

Suggestion Box  

This new "abnormally large belt wrapped
around your stomach/ mid section/ etc style"
was taken from Peg Bundy off of the 90's
television show "Married With Children".
(see photo A)

Photo A:
as you can see televison actress
Katy Segall perfected this look.
The rest of yall are simply imitators.

Here's a suggestion in 2007 take a page
from the 80's and set the plaza ablaze
with a fresh pair of Nordstrom Stirrup Pants.
(see photo B)

Photo B:
they are sleek, comfty and you don't even have to iron them...
simply put them on and stretch the wrinkles out.


just a thought.

Saturday, August 25

Metropolis | Suite 1 (of4) : The Chase  

I'm going to honestly admit to myself and to all of you that I am not a patient man. In this new age of high speed internet, instant messaging, 30 minute meals, SMS text, and red eye jets, I figure time is valuable and I don't like to feel like my time is being wasted. Last night while sitting in the dimly lit Apache cafe, I went through a full spectrum of intense emotions. My anticipation for this performance had sustained me for most of the week. We found some seating, I observed the diverse crowd of hipster, trendy off brand-tall-white-mocha-latte-20 somethings intermingling with a cavalier attitude about the evening, just there to be there and to soak in the soul.

I suffered (harsh word huh) through a total (approx.) seven opening acts...I remember the first and the last, everything in between seemed to be a boggling blur of loud obnoxious sounds and cacophonous clamor that made me feel like an old fart, because I honestly wanted to ask them to turn the music down. The first opening act was a tapper.....he was cool. I like tap, he kilt I will say that....The Jaspects I'll admit were good...but since they were one of the last few before Janelle came out....I wasn't feeling like "throwing up my J's".....I wanted to throw my drink on stage (if I could afford one)....I was dead tired of jazz and it seemed like they played an entire anthology. I wanted Janelle, no substitutions. We got there @ 8, got inside the place @ 9:30 Janelle came out at 1:37 am....I was beyond pissed.

But then....in an instant all of that changed, the fog machines pulsed cool blasts of smoke, the room fell silent as her intro blared. No one knew where to look, some were looking in the back of the cafe, while others focused on the stage dead set on the idea that she would just appear out of thin air...A stage hand/ princess carried a box on stage and out pops Janelle, a petite powerhouse...the drum kicked and she burst into "Violet Stars Happy Hunting". The thumping beat, & her "signature dance moves" brought the crowd to their feet. She was jazzy, energetic, and provocative. My rage disappeared by the first utterance of the phrase "I'm a cyber girl without a face, a heart or a mind". She sang with the grace, eloquence, & precision of Lena Horne and Anita Baker, and her sound was beyond outstanding. "Smile" was the song that brought me into her light. She's incredibly humble, thankful, and energetic. Her androgynous look wasn't too flashy, it was authentic and fit her persona. I'm in aw! I Love HER!









I'm hooked, like a trout.

Basic Concept:  

I'm connoisseur of music, I'm in love with the live performance, and I'm on a constant quest for hot new artist, or golden oldies. Thus the inception of this blog.

Chaseology is a venture to which I , CHASE , will scour the city of Atlanta, the internet, local cafes, and music stores, wherever.

The goal is two fold, I want to implore others to explore the nether regions of the radio and television and seek the sound of those who aren't connected to the corporate mechanism & I want to have a venue to express my thoughts, opinions, and display my own work to the world.

this is day one.

the first official entry will be about the wonderfully splendid Ms. Janelle Monae...

give a minute.

New Venture  

In an attempt to try something different this year, I've created this...Don't know why? But it exists.

the movement.