Under the Scalpel 09.25.09: Bad Lieutenant, Matisyahu, Endless Hallway, Tech N9ne, Dolores O'Riordan

Posted by Mark Ingoldsby on 09.25.2009

Bad Lieutenant is not 'Electronic', Matisyahu combines Judaism, Rastafarianism and rap, Endless Hallway screeches, Tech N9ne growls, and ex-Cranberry Dolores O'Riordan gets carried away on the beach. Brought to you by the sometimes humorous, always heartless guitarist from the hard rock band A Simple Complex.

Bad Lieutenant – Sink Or Swim
New New Order Project Not Electronic



"Sink Or Swim" is a fitting title for Bad Lieutenant's first single. "It'll either work – people will like it – or I'll stop making music," frontman Bernard Sumner confessed.

He and two other members of the now-defunct new wave band New Order formed Bad Lieutenant after months of being ridiculed in the press by their former band's bass player Peter Hook.

For a while after Hook called it quits, the remaining members insisted that the band would continue under the same name without him. But after months of being hazed in the press by Hook, who made statements about the members of New Order being "fat," "confused," and driving him "bonkers", Sumner relented, comparing the band's break-up to a divorce.

"We've all been shouting at each other," Sumner quipped. "Now we're just arguing about who has custody of the children." In a separate interview, Hook made a similar comparison, "It's been the messiest divorce I've ever had, let's put it that way."

Sumner has moved on to greener pastures, bringing along Steve Morris (New Order's long-time drummer) and Phil Cunningham (New Order's latecomer keyboardist). "I don't want to make music as part of New Order," Sumner told Mojo Magazine, "When I make music these days I want it to be fun, nice, enjoyable – and I find those conditions with this new band."

"Sink" is a catchy pop-rock number that leads Sumner and crew another step away from their synthpop origins. Those expecting New Order-style electronics may be disappointed, as keyboards are completely absent from "Sink." Instead, jangly pop guitars are strummed over very basic percussion. Simple guitar leads help to establish a pleasant melody.

Lyrically, Sumner tells the story of a man who, in the midst of a mid-life crisis, is gallivanting about with a young hussy. A friend attempts to steer him back to his soulmate.

Whatcha doing with that stupid little girl?
Stop your fooling, don't you know it's gonna hurt?
When she leaves you, and you gave all you could give,
You'll be hurting for the one you should be with.

The track reminds me a lot of my favorite New Order song, "Regret," which is also their biggest US hit. It's so similar, in fact, that "Sink" feels like an anachronism from the early 1990's. But, that's okay. It's a solid pop tune worthy of adding to any modern rock mix.

Even Hook was able to put aside the bad blood and gave "Sink" a thumbs-up. "It's good," he shared. "It's like New Order but without the bass."

Naturally.

Rating: **** (4 out of 5)
If You Like: Adam Ant (1995), Morrissey, New Order (more organic tracks)

Matisyahu – One Day
Ragga MC Is No Nudnik



The lead single from Matisyahu's latest album, "One Day," is a contemporary anthem for the grassroots efforts of change taking place around the country and world. How fitting that it was recently selected as the theme song for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Matisyahu is a deadhead-turned-Hasidic Jewish rapper who stagedives while beatboxing over a reggae band. Combining Judaism with Rastafarian music may seem a bit like mixing milk with orange juice. But as Matisyahu once pointed out in an NPR interview, "I don't think you could pull one Bob Marley song that doesn't have quotes from the Torah or the Old Testament."

Born Matthew Miller, a young Matisyahu originally rebelled against his strict Jewish upbringing, dropping out of high school to follow the band Phish on a national tour (and take drugs). However, a trip to a school in Israel that boasts "academic exposure to the history, culture and civilization of Israel" put him back on the path to religious enlightenment.

A longtime fan of reggae music, Matisyahu followed his dream of spreading the message of hope using the styles of music he enjoys, without fear of ridicule or stigma. He is a certifiably kosher rapper who performs in a black suit, black hat, and yarmulke, and sports a full beard. He has never performed on a Friday night – with the exception of one gig he did in Alaska, because the sun did not set until after midnight. His stage name is the Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation of the Biblical name Matthew.

"One Day" is very different from the rapper's first hit "King Without A Crown." Instead of rapidly rapping over reggae-rock, he sings like the leader of a freedom rally chant over a slow "hip-pop" beat. This tune feels like a sister to K'naan's recent hit "Wavin' Flag." And it turns out that this is not a coincidence, seeing as this guy claims to have co-written and produced both.

In the poetry of "One Day," Matisyahu shares his simple, yet deep, message of hope in the face of sorrow that will surely get the cell-phones waving at every performance.

Sometimes in my tears I drown,
But I never let it get me down,
So when negativity surrounds,
I know someday it'll all turn around,
Because all my life I've been waiting for,
I've been praying for,
For the people to say,
That we don't wanna fight no more,
There'll be no more war,
And our children will play one day.

Although the lyrics do feel a tad cliché in spots, this song is a moving number that speaks from the heart and warms the soul like a steamy cup of cocoa on a snowy February morning.

"'One Day' is the song I've been wanting to make since I started my career," Matisyahu told Spinner. "It is an anthem of hope with a big beat – the kind of song that makes you bob your head and open your heart at the same time."

Originally, I was skeptical when looking into the odd amalgamation that is this Hasidic-reggae-rapper, fearing it would turn out to simply be shtick. But I have since learned this Jew has a big heart, mad skills, and a lot of chutzpah.

Irie.

Rating: **** (4 out of 5)
If You Like: 311, K'naan, Shaggy

Hat Trick: Three quickies for the man on the go!

Endless Hallway – Cell
Endless Hallway is another full-tilt hard rock band from Los Angeles that has cranked amps, screaming vocals and balls-out adrenaline. The band's single "Cell" is fairly standard rock song that isn't out to break new ground. It does, however, have enough adrenaline and switch-ups to keep it interesting and set it apart from the 4-chord yawn-rock that infests mainstream radio. The band smartly combines bar-band rock with an indie feel and an alternative edge. With its dynamic guitar licks, frequent tempo changes, and powerful drumming, "Cell" is a solid track worth adding to any hard rock collection.

Rating: **** (4 out of 5)
If You Like: Buck Cherry, Jet, Seemless, Shinedown, Stereomud

Tech N9ne – Red Nose
Whether the music industry wants to recognize it or not, Sickology 101 will be remembered as one of the best rap albums of 2009. Tech N9ne never expected any recognition, and he expresses his frustration over this in "Red Nose." Comparing himself to a certain reindeer, he stews over being ostracized.

People act a different way with me,
I feel don't nobody wanna play with me,
And that's ill, 'cause they treat me like a stain on their clothes,
The industry are my foes, they treat me like I got a red nose.

The music is dark and gloomy. Tech's rapping is introspective and cantankerous. His seething adds to the song intensity and makes this moody hip-hop gem a winner. I particularly enjoy when he interrupts his brooding flow briefly to growl like a caged tiger in the middle of each verse.

Rating: ***** (5 out of 5)
If You Like: Geto Boys, KRS-One, Tupac

Dolores O'Riordan – The Journey
The latest single from Dolores O'Riordan combines the classic feel of The Cranberries with a more modern pop rock sound. The largest difference between this track and her well-known hits of the past is the brightness of the track. Crisp percussion and a pronounced bass line are at the forefront of the song while electric guitar licks take a back seat, playing subtly in the background to add a pinch of flavor. The message behind "Journey" was likely inspired by the classic footprints in the sand poster.

When I was weak, we both went walking on the sand,
When we were walking hand in hand, it appeared,
One set of footprints when you carried me along,
It was then that I abandoned my fears.

If you enjoy pop songs that sing of Christian faith, without knocking you over the head with it, such as 10,000 Maniacs' "These Are The Days" and Natalie Merchant's solo single "Wonder," you will definitely like this song. However, it can also be enjoyed simply on its musical merits alone as well.

Rating: **** (4 out of 5)
If You Like: 10,000 Maniacs, Cranberries, Dido, Natalie Merchant, Sheryl Crow, Tori Amos (singles 2000-)