Review: Sum 41 – Underclass Hero

Sum 41’s new album, Underclass Hero, hasn’t come without its hardships on the band. They were nearly killed during a 2004 documentary shoot in the Congo. The band also split with their management. Most recently, it was announced that long-time member and guitarist Dave “Brownsound” Baksh was leaving the band. Underclass Hero is their sixth studio release and first effort since 2005’s Chuck.

The record starts off with the title track and first single that quite frankly, sounds like every other Sum 41 song. Listen to it a few times. Doesn’t this song sound distinctly familiar? Anyway, the rest of the album sounds like someone else’s, not Sum 41’s. “With Me” could easily be mistaken for Yellowcard and “March of the Dogs” might as well be a Green Day song.
So, did they just decide to jock everyone else’s style or what? Here’s a prime example on the album: “So Long, Goodbye.” Green Day anyone? “Good Riddance?” Anyone?
Now, I’m not necessarily saying that these songs are so awful. What I am saying, or asking, is what happened? Sum 41 used to have their own sound. Now, they just sound like everyone else.
There are a few upsides. “Count Your Last Blessing” ends up a nice track with some palm-muting and piano. But again, it just sounds a little bit too much like Linkin Park. On “King of Contradiction” they get pretty heavy and return to a little bit of their punk side. I’ll get back to you on the rest of the upsides.
“Ma Poubelle” is a little diddy sang in French (I don’t speak French, so if someone wants to get back to me on that, it would be great). “Best of Me” turns out pretty weak. The album is also littered with several anti-Bush references (Confusion and Frustration In Modern Times, March of the Dogs, The Jester).
There is one huge factor in all this that can turn the tables for this album: the lyrics. Underclass Hero is lyrically far better than anything Sum has ever done. Several times, I found myself not liking the songs as they first began, but liking them by the end.
However, it just doesn’t sound like the old Sum 41. You can say it’s because they’re “growing up.” You can say it’s because they switched their style up. You can say it’s because they lost a piece of the puzzle when their guitarist left. You can say that when frontman Deryck Whibley married Avril Lavigne, it softened him up (See: “Best of Me”).
Maybe you will say that Whibley thinks this album is way deeper than it actually is. Maybe you will say the album isn’t all that bad because, hey, change is good. I happen to think that different is good… and I think it is time to start listening to something different.
Album Grade: C

Also read this review @ http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/07/24/124455.php

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State of the Tigers

I’m here with you tonight to discuss the state of the Major League Baseball team the Detroit Tigers.

In the following paragraphs I will give you my brief synopsis of the Tigers run thus far, halfway through the season.

As the All-Star Weekend is over and the Tigers start the second half of the season tonight against the Seattle Mariners, this overview of mine should be right on time.

However, if you feel that I missed some points or feel the need to correct me or add something, please, do so.

Here’s what I’ve got:

- The number one problem: the bullpen (obviously).
- The number one surprise: the hitting!
- The starting pitching has been good, but not as good as last year.
   - Look for that to change with Kenny Rogers back. He’s 3-0 and has a 1.04 ERA since his return and looks like he will have a huge impact on the second half.
- Todd Jones is shaky at best for closing. He’s had four blown saves already.
   - However, he has some of the most saves in the American League (22). Tough call for Tigers fans.
- Did I mention the bullpen is struggling?
- VERLANDER’S NO HITTER!
- Craig Monroe’s job is on the line. A .223 batting average and mistakes in the outfield will not stand on this team.
- It’s looking like Zumaya might not be back this season. The team can’t count on it…or at least they shouldn’t.
- Trades the Tigers made have been terrible. They got rid of Maroth and Ledezma and what do they have to show for it?
- Granderson’s amazing catch.
- Oh yeah, and the bullpen is TERRIBLE.

Overall, they ended the first half in first place of their division with a 52-34, one game ahead of Cleveland. Not too shabby.

My prediction: the Tigers will win the American League Central, making up for several blunders at the end of last season. There will be another trip to the World Series…hopefully, there won’t be another disappointment.

And that’s my word.

~ Mike D

The Breaks

Why is it that every single time I think I have something good going, something in my favor, something that has potential, something that just might work out…
 

I GET COMPLETELY SHIT ON!

I mean, what the hell? Really.

It really sucks, let me tell ya.

And I feel that it happens to me far too often.

I then ask myself, “Mike, why do you suck at life?”

I never know the answer.

But, I’m not giving up.

Gotta keep the faith…

YA FEEL ME?!?

~ Mike D

Review: T.I. – T.I. vs. T.I.P.

The battle within continues for rapper T.I. or should I say rapper T.I.P.? Either way, they’re both on the fifth studio release for the rapper(s) entitled… you guessed it, T.I. vs. T.I.P.

Most T.I. fans thought the dispute between the two was settled back on the rapper’s second album with a song of the same title. But the feud has resurfaced and is now an album itself. The album is a concept record divided into three parts: T.I., T.I.P. and T.I. vs. T.I.P.

“It’s the struggle of power between two personalities within one self,” T.I. explained. And with each segment “separated by a narrative explaining who each personality is.” There are three interludes/songs on the album: Act I, II and III. Part one is about T.I.P. coming to power and making wild demands of his record label. Part two is about T.I. waking up and hearing people saying he did things that he doesn’t even remember. On the final segment, T.I. and T.I.P. collaborate.

For those who don’t know or might have a hard time telling the two apart, T.I. is a laid back business type. His flow is smooth and somewhat lazy. T.I.P. is a self described loose cannon. His flow is aggressive, fast and has an “I don’t give a fuck” attitude.

“Big Things Poppin” is the first single off of the album, the beat provided by Manny Fresh. It’s been a hot song since it’s release and shows T.I.P.’s hard-hitting raps. The second single, “You Know What It Is” was produced by Wyclef and has a club-like feel to it. The two singles show the contrast of the rapper’s personas.

On “Watch What You Say To Me,” T.I. teams up with rap great Jay-Z to send a message to the fake rap busters out there in the game. As expected, Jay steals the spotlight with his verse: “I hear you baitin’ me lately/I’ve been doin’ my best to stay hater-free/Still, watch what you say to me/Sooner or later I’ll take you up on your offer and put you all in your place like I’m replacing your father/You talking to the author/The architect of The Blueprint/My DNA in your music/Mothafucka’ you stupid?”

The track “Hurt” features Alpha Mega and Busta Rhymes on the guest spots. The double bass makes for a fast-paced track. Producer Just Blaze laced the beat for “Help Is Coming,” a track where T.I. says, “Say hello to the man who can save hip-hop.”

Undoubtedly, the song everyone will be talking about will be the collabo with rapper Eminem. Known for having split personalities of his own, Em teams with T.I. for a laid back track called “Touchdown.”

While it’s really cool to hear the two on the same track, the song is flat out boring. Em’s verse is disappointing with his fake southern drawl and rapping about things that don’t even seem relevant to him.

“Tell ‘Em I Said That” and “Respect This Hustle” are both hard songs with a beats provided by Timbaland protégé Danja (pronounced ‘Danger’). The song “We Do This” also adds a nice track to the album.

However, songs like “Raw,” “Show It To Me” featuring Nelly and “Don’t You Wanna Be High” are decent, making you say “Ehh” when you hear them. It makes you wonder why songs with Lil Wayne, Akon, and Ciara were left off of the album.

While the album T.I. vs. T.I.P. is a great concept, the record doesn’t meet the standards of what hip-hop fans might expect. And even though T.I. is a very skilled rapper, he is not skillful enough, nor creative enough, to pull of the dual personality battle on wax. It is often hard to tell which songs are T.I. and which are T.I.P. What we are left with is another average-at-best album from self-proclaimed King.

Album grade: C/B-

Standout Tracks:

- Big Things Poppin

- Watch What You Say To Me feat. Jay-Z

- Hurt feat. Alpha Mega and Busta Rhymes

- Tell ‘Em I Said That

You can also read this review @ http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/07/09/095324.php

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