By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of Them Crooked Vultures.  They are a rank-and-file supergroup, featuring Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters/Nirvana) on drums, Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) on guitar and vocals, and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) on bass/keys.  As such, they occasionally fall into the trappings of overindulgence.  But when they get it right, they really get it right.  “Nobody Loves Me and Neither Do I” is one of my favorite tracks of the year.  The chemistry between the three players from a musical standpoint is top-notch.  The full impact of this track conjures Led Zeppelin, Queens of the Stone Age and Foo Fighters together in a way that makes you suddenly realize what a great idea this was.

Nobody Loves Me and Neither Do I


Gunman


DNA: Outkast, The Roots, The Flaming Lips, Herbie Hancock

Producer/soundscaper Kyle Murdock’s work is intricate and really well-thought out.  He brings sounds together like few others in music today.  Emcee Raw Poetic’s conversational flow and storytelling fit perfectly with Murdock’s soulful and sometimes spacey compositions.  Their chemistry favors such accomplished duos as Gangstarr and Pete Rock & CL Smooth.  But this is no throwback jersey of a band.  Panacea is the future- from their musical choices to the way they communicate with fans, to the attention they put into the little things like opening up their albums for remixing and delivering breathtaking album art.  Check the upbeat “Vandalism”, an ode to one of the classic elements of hip-hop and the album’s title track.  Murdock is also a co-host of the Subsoniq show on Sirius XM Satellite Radio, which focuses on playing and promoting progressive hip-hop music.  If you like what you hear with Panacea, you should check Subsoniq out.

Tracks You Should Know:
Vandalism

A Mind On A Ship Through Time

Kasabian, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

DNA: Primal Scream, Stone Roses, Oasis, Beatles

For this album, Kasabian recruited American hip hop and electronica producer Dan The Automator, who is best known for his work on the first Gorillaz album.  West Ryder is a concept album, a “soundtrack from an imaginary movie”.  There are experiments with Bollywood strings, Krautrock rhythms and Ennio Morricone spaghetti-western soundtracks.  Now if we were to judge it as a concept album with, say, The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band at the top and Bret Michaels’ Letters From Death Row at the bottom, West Ryder would fall somewhere in the middle.  It’s hard to perceive any unified theme that spreads across the whole album and some of the tracks are like half-finished thoughts.  Yet there are some strong and creative tracks on this album that should definitely be heard.  “Underdog” places Kasabian’s Oasis and Beatlesque roots on equal footing with The Automator’s richly layered backdrops.  “Fast Fuse” is a 1960’s style rocker, featuring a range of signature guitar riffs from that era.

Tracks You Should Know:
Underdog

Fast Fuse

Jay-Z, Blueprint III

DNA: Jay-Z

Yeah, we all know Jay-Z’s big.  But did you know that when Blueprint III debuted at #1, it became Jay-Z’s 11^th #1 album, breaking the record he shared with Elvis Presley.  In my line of work, when you have a big success, someone always wants you to do the same thing for them, “just a little different”.  Imagine that pressure times 10.  This is why I wanted to hear this album.  I wanted to see what Jay-Z would do next.  Blueprint III does not disappoint.  It features the usual Jay-Z mix of superstar producers and up-and-comers with interesting creative choices.  Insightful, clever lyrics fluidly change perspectives from businessman and media mogul to husband, best friend and street hustler.  “Thank You”, produced by Kanye West, finds Jay-Z calling out motivational figures from his past over an upbeat 1970 Brazil-pop sample.  Swizz Beatz weighs in with “On To The Next One”, a heavy track with bombastic synths and samples where Jay-Z explains that he’s got a legacy in mind, and it’s more about pushing forward than remaking Reasonable Doubt.  It’s executing on this ideal that keeps Jay-Z, now 40, still visibly at the top of his craft.

Tracks You Should Know:
Thank You

On To The Next One

Silversun Pickups, Swoon

DNA: Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine

Silversun Pickups generated many Smashing Pumpkins comparisons with their 2006 debut Carnavas, and whether or not it was justifiable, it was certainly understandable.  Regardless, tracks like “Rusted Wheel” and “Lazy Eye” were among the strongest songs of the year.  With Swoon, Silversun Pickups continued to explore their 90s rock sound, building their identity around Brian Aubert’s androgynous vocals, heavily treated melodies and textured, multi-tracked guitar work.  “There’s No Secrets This Year” delivers snarling guitars and lyrics about lies and betrayal, setting the course for an emotional, wild ride of an album.  The opposite end of the spectrum is represented by soft and melodic “Draining”.  Also check out “Panic Switch”, one of my favorite individual tracks of 2009.

Tracks You Should Know:
There’s No Secrets This Year

Draining

Bonus Coverage: Panic Switch Live

~ Rick Oppedisano