411 Music Fact or Fiction 09.07.12: Let Yourself Go Kill The DJ
Posted by Joseph Lee on 09.14.2012
Did we enjoy Kanye West's new track "Climax" with Jay-Z and Big Sean? Are Green Day's new songs any good? Is it disappointing that Gwen Stefani will not make any more solo music? 411's Jeremy Wilson and Mark Radulich debate these topics and more!
Welcome to another edition of Fact or Fiction: Music. I'm your host, Joseph Lee.
This week we have Mark Radulich against Jeremy Wilson
It is somewhat ironic that the single biggest player in the music industry for the last decade has been unable to successfully integrate either streaming services or social network capabilities into what is inarguably the #1 online music store in the world. That's a long-winded way of saying I have no idea. I never underestimate the Apple fanbase and their ability to latch on to whatever the new hot Apple thing is at the time. However, as Ping proved, Apple isn't perfect and iTunes hasn't really experienced much change in years. I don't know if Spotify is in trouble just yet, but it and Pandora should be concerned.
Mark Radulich: FACT.
It is definitely bad news for Pandora, though I'm not sure about Spotify. With Spotify I can control the play list and have nearly unlimited access to albums like the new Hellyeah for a mere 10 dollars a month. However, a streaming radio service like Pandora will probably have a tougher time due to Apple's scope and market dominance. One of the common threads I've seen in articles about this is that the likely outcome will be Apple buying Pandora outright as its stock proceeds to plummet. Much like merger of Sirius and XM, it will probably benefit Pandora in the long run to become part of the Apple family rather than exist as an entity unto itself, throwing away capital competing for market share when it is hopelessly outgunned.
I prefer my Gwen Stefani in No Doubt as opposed to a solo act. The only thing I can remotely remember from her solo run was "Hollaback Girl." I did not appreciate that.
Mark Radulich: FICTION.
In her own words, "I never need to do that or want to do it again. I'm happy being in No Doubt." Obviously while one's personal taste in her music is an important element in this question, I think her wants and desires play a role as well. I find that when the artist is happy the music is better so ultimately whether she plays as part of No Doubt or she creates more solo work, as fans we should just be happy she is in a place where she can make the best music she is capable of. If the music rocks, does it matter what package (solo or part of a band) it comes in? I think not.
It's funny how things can turn on a dime. I was dumbstruck with "Fuck You" when Cee Lo released it online and loved the simple video that went along with it. And then it all went downhill. Flashier, more proper music video that wasn't as good as the initial one; changing it to "Forget You" when the song took off and needed to clean it up for radio play; and then releasing a decent, if not great, follow-up album. Then he signed on to The Voice and I officially lost interest in anything Cee Lo was doing. The worst moment though, the point where I gave up on him completely was his rendition of "Imagine" on New Year's Eve in Times Square – which remains one of the single worst, most offensive covers I've ever heard. John Lennon was rolling in his grave during that. So no, I have no interest in a sitcom.
Mark Radulich: FACT.
What's a Cee Lo Green?
No seriously, I have no idea who this person is other than I think he was in an episode of American Dad Once. Yep, that was him and I still don't give a hoot about his life or his family.
As you may know if you've read me in this space before, I'm not a huge fan of R&B or rap music. I'm a metal guy for the most part. However, if a song has a pleasant enough beat to it and I'm being totally non-biased/open-minded I can appreciate just about anything. That being said, I did actually dig this song. I found myself bopping my head and could picture myself dancing to it. What more could you ask of a song?
Jeremy Wilson: FACT.
Absolutely. This song is genuinely hilarious and had me busting up. Among other things, it features: Big Sean not sleeping for 9 days, then taking a spa day and shouting out 2 Chainz for no reason; Jay-Z destroying Kelis and Too $hort, while comparing their clique to this year's Dream Team and The Supreme Team, a notorious NYC '80's crack cocaine gang; and finally, Kanye bragging about Kim K's sex tape and about hanging out with former CIA director George Tenet comparing Maybachs. Just the idea of Kanye and George Tenet talking about tinted Maybachs is fascinating enough. I approve.
Based solely on "Kill the DJ" I was all set to say to Fiction but "Let Yourself Go," was good enough to make me tolerate the former song. "Let Yourself Go," feels like the Green Day of old. You know, I don't ask much of my punk rock bands except that they play fast and simple. That's it! A little anger would nice too. "Let Yourself Go," is not Mozart but it doesn't have to be. It's everything a punk rock should be and I was happy to listen to it. "Kill the DJ," strays a bit too far from what I love about Green Day but not so much that I can't appreciate what they were trying to accomplish. By itself it is simply, "meh" but in conjunction with, "Let Yourself Go," I'm a perfectly satisfied Green Day music consumer.
Jeremy Wilson: FACT.
I'm not really impartial about Green Day. I grew up with them, have listened to them for twenty years and I just have liked nearly everything they've done. I liked early Green Day and I liked American Idiot-era Green Day. So this sounds like more Green Day, albeit a bit of a throwback to the early days. Doesn't matter. I like Green Day. So two thumbs up.
If an autobiography written by Motley Crue was worth the read I don't see why one about Pete Townshend wouldn't be. The guy was a member of The Who for Pete's sake! Why wouldn't any serious fan of music be interested in Pete's take on the history of the band along with his other walks of life. Plus, if nothing else, I would be curious to see what his state of mind was during the whole Operation Ore investigation. I'd read it on Kindle for sure!
Jeremy Wilson: FACT.
Sure why not? Rock stars are usually interesting dudes (or dudettes) who lead interesting, entertaining and dramatic lives. Plus, it's been 15 years in the making so it's got to have something interesting in it, right? I'm intrigued to see what he writes about that little incident back in 2003, since this memoir and the necessity of research was his rationale. Although to be honest, it'll be awhile before I get to it. Townshend's memoir will have to get in line – I have been meaning to read both Keith Richards' Life and Patti Smith's Just Kids for some time now. So many books. So little time.
Score Card: 6 for 6
Anything you agree with? Disagree with? Sound off in the comment section.
