Things that make me happy today... Amy Winehouse - Lioness: Hidden Treasures

Things that make me happy today... Amy Winehouse - Lioness: Hidden Treasures

Amy Winehouse was 27 years old when she passed on July 23rd 2011.  To be fully honest, I did not know Amy Winehouse music well. I liked her Back to Black album and loved the runaway hit Rehab, but I can't say she was on the top of my playlist much.  I think I might have been turned off by her public struggles with drugs and her image. Maybe I couldn't get around her being a "gimmick" a over produced misunderstood artist.  But, like I have often learned in life, sometimes people really aren't appreciated until they are no longer with us. So with that in mind... I found this new release - Lioness: Hidden Treasures and gave it a try.

This album is is filled with various recordings of new and old songs that were packaged and released to the public after her death.  This is not  polished long lost hits album really, but it still showcases Amy's talent and voice when she was just messing around in the studio. I like this album, and it made me stop and recognized that she was a unique talent of this generation.  Like Harry Connick Jr. was in the 80s/90s, but better than that Buble guy of today (not hating, just not a fan).

Track rundown...
1. Our Day Will Come: Reggae infused ska beat with great vocals. Great start!
2. Between the Cheats: Doo-wop style ballad.. different but nice song
3. Tears Dry: I really like this song. Won't be a hit really but classic.
4. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow: Signature song of this album probably. She works it!
5. Like Smoke (Featuring Nas): Yes. That Nas makes appearance. And I like the collaboration. Different but it works.
6. Valerie: I think this could be a radio hit also. Catchy tune. Decent track.
7. The Girl from Ipanema: I like this take. Playful but more soulful. A possible radio hit... A little scatting. Nice.
8. Halftime: Wowser... She got a Eryka Badu sound going on this one. One of my favorites. Contemporary R&B slipped in on this album.
9. Wake Up Alone: Another okay track.
10. Best Friends, Right?: Okay track. Not my favorite.
11. Body & Soul (Duet with Tony Bennett): Already a radio hit. A really beautiful song. She completely matches (ahem...exceeds) Tony note for note.
12. A Song for You: Another decent track. Some may like the bluesy feel.

Pros
1. Amy's Voice is classic... soulful, powerful in a little frame. Impressive.
2. The music is classic. A good album for a drive or just relaxing on beach somewhere. 
3. Favorites: Halftime, Like Smoke, Girl from Ipanema, Our time Will Come


Cons
1. Amy got some crazy in her... and it made her a bit special. There is no real crazy on this album. Felt it was missing.
2. Other than the Nas track, it would be interesting to see other artist of different styles working with her.

Body & Soul - Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse

Our Day Will Come - Amy Winehouse

Like Smoke (ft. Nas)

Lioness: Hidden Treasure Tribute Interview

One more thing... I found this touching tribute by Russell Brand that worth a read...

http://www.russellbrand.tv/2011/07/for-amy/


What other young artist passed near the peak of the career you wish could have created more art?

S.F. Guru

Things that make me happy this week... Matisyahu @ Festivals of Lights

Things that make me happy this week... Matisyahu @ Festivals of Lights

What do you get when when you mix reggae, rock, hip hop and traditional Judaism? The beautifully soulful musical artistry of Matisyahu.

Matisyahu is a musician that defies classification.  He is simply an artist that shows music really has no bounds.  My first introduction to this artist was on a NYC TV show where I saw this reggae artist diving into a crowd and he was dressed in a traditional hassidic outfit. First I thought this was a gimmick, but after listening to his album, Light, I realize his skills were legit.  He is known for his hits "King without a Crown' and "One Day" both making it to the top of rock and reggae charts.  But he has many influences in  his music style. Matisyahu musical range include beatboxing, rapping, Jazz styled scat singing, and Judaism Hazzan style of prayer singing.

This past week he played four concerts in NYC for the Festival of Lights at the Williamsburg Music and Webster Halls.  On Thursday night, Webster Hall was packed with adoring fans singing many of his hits and crowd diving from the stage.  As a giant disco driedel hangs from the ceiling, Matisyahu dances, beatbox, and sing most of his hits from his various albums.

Webster Hall - Festival of Light - Youth

One Day

Time of your song

King without a crown

Concert Pros

1. Great band and performance by Matisyahu

2. Disco Driedel... pretty cool actually.

3. Yiddish Lil Wayne guy that came to rap.

Cons

1. No beard on Matisyahu which is a signature look for him. Good music anyways.

2. Venue was okay. Good for this type of concert but a bit warm.

Check out Matisyahu music if you want something a little different this holiday season.

Albums - Light, Live at Stubbs I & II, Youth, Shake of the dust 

Or catch a live show... he is always touring all around the world.

S.F Guru

Things that make me happy - A Midnight in Paris

Things that make me happy - A Midnight in Paris, a movie out on video this month.

Earlier this year A Midnight in Paris was in theaters and was one of the best  independent films of the year. Directed by Woody Allen and starring Owen Wilson and host of celebrities in guest roles, this movies highlights Paris in its hey day in a artistically beautiful and fantastical way.

The premise is a modern day writer played cleverly by Wilson, finds a way to go back to Paris in the early twenty century and meets many of this century most famous and noted artists, writers, and creative talents.  Each of these historical figures are played by a different celebrity actor and they give Wilson advice on life and his writing.  Back in the present, Wilson tries to patch together his life with his girlfriend Inez (played by Rachel McAdams) while vacationing in Paris with her family.

I would have to say the star of this movie really is Paris. Or at least what it represents in the mind of many  people -- A place for creative inspiration and romance.  Woody Allen has a gift for featuring cities in his movies. In the early days it was mostly New York, but more recently his focus is spanning an array of global cities. Most notably, Barcelona in Vicky Christina Barcelona or London in Match Point, and now A Midnight in Paris.  The movie is witty, a bit pretentious, and some may call it intellectually snobbish.  But it also just might spark an intellectual curiosity about some of the great artist and thinkers of this past decade (Josephine Baker, Cole Porter, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein to name a few.) I know I picked up a few more books and took a few more trips to museums after seeing this movie (Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas). But for Woody Allen fans, you will love this movie.... great dialogue, witty humor, and great performances from the actors.  For all others. Depends on your taste, but I think those with and open mind and don't mind a little fantasy mixed with your history lesson, give it a shot. This movie will probably get some Oscar buzz.

Pros
1. Woody Allen movie. There is a reason people keeps giving him money to make more. They are usually pretty good.
2. He is not in this movie. For those that are not fan of his neurotic acting.
3. Owen Wilson. Perfect casting. So innocently funny.
4. The guest actors. So many and they certainly seem to be trying to out do each other... in a good way.
5. The city. Paris. Makes me want to take a trip back there... in time.


Cons
1. Woody Allen movies have its own pace. Dialogue is king in his movies and this one is no different.
2. He is not in this movie. For those that ARE fans of his neurotic acting.

So what's your favorite Woody Allen movie?

S.F. Guru

Things that make me happy... Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

Things that make me happy... The documentary called Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

It was 1985. Four young men (QTip, Phife, Ali Shaheed, and Jarobi) helped to create a pivot point in the history of hip hop.  Hip hop music morphed into a sound that move past the "battle" or "intellectually immature" rap of that time into music that extended a long history of story telling by incorporating truly improvisational artistry.  The documentary, Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe called Quest, produced by filmmaker Michael Rapaport, is now available on video. It chronicles the the history of one of the best rap groups of all time and takes you behind the scenes of the members of the group as they discuss their music, relationships, and the influences that help them create their unique and original sound copied by many of the best producers and beat makers today.

I look at any documentary film in three ways, quality, subject, and impact. The first is the quality of the work. As a person who watches many documentaries, I think this one is one of the best of the year. In a previous blog, I mentioned several others that came out in 2011 both in theaters and on cable. This one tops them all. The interviews are not "soft" where people appear to have an agenda and are telling you what they think you want to hear. The discussion are honest, real, and sometime a bit awkward as they talk about the good and bad times over their 25+ year relationship.  You almost get the feeling that they need to tell this story just to get it off of their chest. Post production there are stories on the internet and twitter about conflicts Q-tip and others have about the portrayal in the film.  This is kinda a good sign that they really got to some real truths in the documentary.

The second way a film stands out is the subject matter.  Look. If you are a true fan of hip hop and more specifically a dedicated fan of the "Native Tongues" then the music alone will please you (if you don't know about Native Tongues... treat yourself to a great Christmas gift and check out the artists). But if you take into account the all the artist featured in this film and the history lesson, then this film will definitely surpass your expectations.

The last way I judge a film is the feelings that it invokes.  For documentaries sometimes they just help increase a person knowledge on a subject. Maybe a few Aha!! moments about a subject that you are not familiar with or perhaps some deeply hidden insights from expert in a field. But best triggers an emotion. And this one... for me... brings out nostalgia. I remember putting on my dashiki even when I didn't quite know what the hell it was just because I saw artist like Tribe and Dela Soul wearing one.  It also fused my love for jazz (yes even at a early age I knew I loved me some Jazz music) with the music of my generation, hip hop.  A Tribe Called Quest produced music that was fun yet insightful, discussing afro-centric topics that until that time was not covered in most type of popular music.  And more importantly Tribe is part of the soundtrack of my and many of my generation lives. For this truly makes me happy.

Pros:
1. Well done documentary... not a propaganda vehicle and they certainly were pitching anything in this video. Real Talk... the way it should be.
2. The music. The soundtrack speaks for its self.
3. Features lots of artist talking about the impact of the music.

Cons:
1. Not enough performance footage although filmed during a tour. Lots of musical documentaries, like Madonna's truth or dare manages to feature lots of performance videos.
2. The group still has lots of tension. Not much of the group chatting together... Its a little sad that you can see the Beastie Boys still doing interviews together and Tribe struggling to work through their issues. At time is painful to watch. Can't we all just get along?
3. Jealousy, hurt, miscommunication and health issues.  Lots of love between the group and they just can't figure out how manage the relationship over the years.

Beats, Rhymes & Life Trailer

The Scenario

Bonita Applebum

What's your favorite A Tribe Called Quest song?

S.F. Guru

Things that make me happy today... The Descendants

Things that make me happy today... The Descendants

The Descendants stars George Clooney as a older father of a two daughters dealing with a family crisis. In this role George Clooney plays it as straight as he can as a everyday man.  I can see why there will be some Oscar buzz for this movie. Lots of good performances and it deals with touching yet difficult situations in a very human way.  This drama has funny moments and dramatic moments that will make you think about what is really important in life. The movie is set in Hawaii and shows off the island and its life in interesting and unique way. It makes you want to visit Hawaii if you haven't before.  I can't describe the movie any more without spoiling for many, but I know that it is a good film and the story is about reconnecting with family.

The Pros
1. Great performances and great cast. Especially the older daughter (Shailene Woodley) and the father (Robert Forster).  Clooney is definitely grown into a good character actor much like his role in Up in the Air.
2. Love the scenery of Hawaii
3. Love the fact the movie makes you think about how valuable life is and what is important.

The Cons
1. This movie has slow moments but the story is strong enough that you don't notice
2. This movie may not be classic but its a good story but will not be a movie that people remember for years to come.
3. The story line about the descendants is not that strong but it does anchor the movie in a weird way.

S.F. Guru

Things that make me happy... Eric Roberson - Mr. Nice Guy

Things that make me happy... Eric Roberson - Mr. Nice Guy

Eric Roberson's new album Mr. Nice Guy might be quietly one of best albums of the year. Featuring a range of R&B sounds, Mr. Nice Guy has something for all R&B lovers, from urban hiphop fans to classic soul lovers.  There really are no bad songs on this album so you can play the whole thing and don't worry about having to skipping any songs. For those that don't know, Roberson has been around for a while and this is his sixth album. If you like this album go and find some of his early work and might have another favorite artist to add to your favorite playlists.

So... what is so good about this album? Start with the track Summertime Anthem. Listen to this song and you will nod your head and remember those summertime block party anthems where you roller skated around on the hot asphalt. This song literally will put a smile on your face. And wait!! Chubb Rock rocks out on this joint for you old school hip hop heads. The whole album is a joy. Eric Roberson is one of those artists that may not be on everyone minds, but I dare you to listen and see if this album doesn't find a place in your heart as things that make you happy in 2011.

1. Mister Nice Guy - Fun upbeat tune that will has catchy hook that will definitely make you smile.
2. Strangers - Great beat
3. Summertime Anthem - One of my favorite tracks
4. Come with Me - Another strong song. Catch
5. Picture Perfect - This song is a minor hit already. Some airplay. Smooth neosoul sound.
6. Fall - Ballad.. Jazzy, good dinner type music.
7. Shake her Hand - Classic R&B tune again. Old school style
8. The Magician - Another favorite... Weaves in the sound of magic show in an soulful sound. Artistry at work.
9. Love's Withdrawal - Jazzy ballet with some spoken word weaved in.
10. How Would I Feel? - More Jazzy feel with good vocals
11. Talking Reckless - Okay track... but still fun to listen
12. At The Same Time - Another favorite..  Great slow jam.
13. Male Ego - A little more hip hop flavor on this jam
14. Try Love - A fun that brings back memories. Reminds me of Do The Right Thing actually.
15. All for Me - Another big ballad. Decent song.

Pros
1. Lots of styles of R&B on this album
2. No weak songs really. Strong album overall
3. Great album for a car ride, background dinner music, or even getting people moving on a dance floor.

Cons
1. The fact that I haven't been following Roberson closer all these years.
2. This is a grown people album... children just won't understand.

Favorite tracks
Summer Anthem
Mister Nice Guy
The Magician
At the same time

Picture Perfect

Summertime Anthem

Hope you give Roberson a listen... And yes. I do love the album cover featuring a smiley face. How cool is that.

S.F. Guru

Things that make me happy this week... Drake - Take Care

Things that make me happy this week... Drake - Take Care

Drake newest album "Take Care", the follow up album from his wildly successful debut album "Thank Me Later", is filled with several hit tracks, some duds, and a bunch of other tunes that are pretty decent if you are a fan of Drake.  Welcome to Drake therapy!! I hope this talented guy is saving on therapist bills.

Aubrey Drake Graham with his huge fan base (over 20 million friends on Facebook) went platinum in the first week.  Based on this I am pretty sure every Drake fan knows about and have heard this new album. But for those that have kept there musical heads in the sands here goes...

I like this album overall maybe in time it might be better than Thank Me Later which I liked a lot too. This could be easily 5 hit album (maybe even 7) which matches his last album and is at Kanye, Beyonce levels. It is consistent with his past musical style and his production team's sound. But be warned this is not a upbeat album. I might describe it as melancholy and a bit emo. But that is what makes Drake different.  Drake's mellow sound is very distinct from most rappers now a days and he has a knack for singing that is not common for a rapper.  He uses his gifts in this album effectively to mix up hard hitting rap and soft moody ballads. This is a good listening album for a car drive.  It has lots of artistry with the mix of songs and mood throughout the album. Just don't drive off the road listening to a moody self absorbed lyrics.  For a guy on the top of the rap world he seems pretty sad and down. Count your blessing Drake... but keep making good music.

1. Over my Dead Body - Not the most uplifting song but good beat and decent song. Don't know if this is a hit song, but with Drake you never know what will pop.
2. Shot for Me - This starts with Drake the singer. A okay ballad. Not a hit though.
3. Headlines - A hit already. If you haven't heard this... get a life. Good jam.
4. Crew Love - A soft ballad again. Okay song. Nothing special but above average still
5. Take Care - One of my favorite tunes. Rihanna helps out with some nice vocals and the the beat is catchy. But my favorite thing is Drake does a decent job singing and rapping on this song. This will be a big hit.
6. Marvin's Room - Another early hit. Love this Drake baseline in this song. More singer/rapper mix on this one.
7. Buried Alive Interlude - Not sure what he was trying to do here. A throw in track... a good beat again.
8. Underground Kings - Okay track to me, but will be a favorite to many.
9. We'll be fine - Not my favorite. A bit of dud. A hardcore edgy attempt
10. Make me Proud - Nikki is on this one. Not bad collaboration. A minor hit already...
11. Lord Knows - Clear your throat on this one, ahem, Rick Ross. But a decent listening track. Could be a hit.
12. Camera / Good ones go interlude - I don't get this long 7+ min track. The first song Camera is awful, the 2nd part is decent song. Nice and slow joint. But why combine? Argh
13. Doing it Wrong - More singing Drake... Okay track might be a hit on the radio. Slow haunting sound.. very emo.
14. The Real Her - Another slow jam. This one Drake does an interesting thing using his the singing as the melody in the song over a strong beat. Pretty cool I think.
15. Look what you've done - This song reminds me of an uptown Harlem poetry slam. Melody in the back with poet dropping his words.  This is a favorite for overall musical composition.
16. Hyfr (Hell Yeah Fucking Right) - Okay track. Don't think it will be a hit, but with Lil Wayne on this track you never know.
17. Practice - Okay track. More singing only okay this time for me.
18. The Ride - Not a fan of this track. But a bit of a throw back sound.

Pros
-The music on this album is great. Lots of memorable beats. Has emo feel over a hip hop beat.
-Lots of lyrical content - Drake the story teller at work.
-Decent collaborations with Nikki, Weezy, and Rihanna, Rick Ross, and

Cons
-A bit melancholy
-Not sure how many club hits are on this album
-No really surprise "Wow" tunes. all are decent, but I can't find one that I think will become a classic

Favorite tracks
Headlines
Marvin's Room
Make Me Proud
Take Care
Over My Dead Body

On this album you get your money's worth. 18 tracks!! Multiple hit songs and another huge success or Drake.

What's your favorite song on the album? Why?

SF Guru