Big Moon, Frozen Tundra

Well the Big Moon was out tonight, meaning it was freakishly big and freakishly yellow. It was pretty much the best thing to hit the skies since, well the last time the Big Moon was out. Being a fan of all things lunar, I took the opportunity to sit out by the pool with a glass of whiskey and the Fleet Foxes album and moongaze.

I was a bit wary of Fleet Foxes at first. The comparisons to early-Jacket and Band of Horses left me a bit unsure, since I love/like both of these bands, I'd rather they not be endlessly re-hashed. I downloaded the album when it initially leaked, but never got around to listening to it until a few weeks ago. The 9!! rating that Pitchfork gave the album pushed me to actually getting around to it to see what the fuss was all about.

Well Fleet Foxes certainly passed the whiskey test. Being endlessly compared to My Morning Horses, I felt it necessary to indulge in grainy drinks while kicking it. My immediate reaction was, yes, this does remind me of MMJ/BOH. But while early Jacket reminds me of silent, southern fields at night, and Band of Horses reminds me of late-night autumn strolls, Fleet Foxes evoke a setting wholly unfamiliar to me. This is because I have never lived outside of Louisiana, and while it snowed once in New Orleans when I was 2, and it snowed one Christmas in the suburbs, it is safe to say that "winter" is a pretty alien concept.

Listening to Fleet Foxes, I get the feeling that I am huddled up by a campfire in the middle of some God-forsaken Siberian tundra. This would be an uninviting prospect, but Fleet Foxes are really fucking good. The fact that it reminds me of well, 40 degree weather, rather than Louisiana's stifling summer heat is an added bonus.

Their songs seem to take two shapes: A) Majestic winter snow-flurry spiral ("White Winter Hymnal" and "Quiet Houses") or B) Caterpillar-butterfly snow-flurry metamorphosis ("Blue Ridge Mountains" and "He Doesn't Know Why"). Each is wonderfully enchanting. The vocals and constant ringing of the guitars and piano match evenly to paint a picture of, you guessed it, winter out on the frozen tundra.

This is a phenomenal album, certainly one of my favorites of the year. And until I embark on a pilgrimage to Nepal or get exiled to Siberia, this will probably be as close as I will get to that curious season they call winter.

50 vs. Kanye vs. The Go! Team

September 11th is shaping up to be a big day for the music industry. 50 Cent and Kanye West are both set to release their latest efforts. The two have been chest thumping in the press lately, each vowing to hold steady on their release dates, and both vowing they will top the charts. Also releasing a new album on the 11th is Brighton, England's The Go! Team.

50, while mostly being completely shitty, isn't completely devoid of talent. One day last spring when I was bored out of my mind I actually watched Get Rich Or Die Trying, and... it wasn't terrible. The soundtrack isn't terrible either actually. I mean, there are times when "Window Shopper" is an enjoyable song. I don't have very high hopes for 50's Curtis.

Kanye West is in the unfortunate position of being the least likeable person in the music industry currently. However, as much as I hate to say it, the man can drop some beats. College Dropout was mostly overbearing and annoying, just like Kanye, but did contain the outstanding "Slow Jamz." The song itself isn't that great, but the line "I'm gonna play this Vandross, you gon take your pants off" alone makes College Dropout a decent album. Due to the fact that Kanye is pretty good at beats, Graduation won't be terrible.

The Go! Team's Proof of Youth will be one of the best albums of 2007. I haven't heard any of it except for "Grip Like A Vice," but knowing Ian Parton and co., this one will at least be exciting. Fuck 50 and Kanye, if you want to have fun, throw on some Go! Team.

50 Cent- Window Shopper
Kanye West- Slow Jamz
The Go! Team- Ladyflash
**

Bonus 1: Lily Allen- Nan, You're A Window Shopper
Bonus 2: The Go! Team short documentary: