Review: Twenty One Pilots, "Vessel"

Twenty One Pilots' music uniquely
combines elements of rap, rock and
dance music.

            It’s not hip-hop and it’s not rap. It’s not indie rock, and it’s not exactly dance music. It’s a little bit of everything- it’s Twenty One Pilots (stylized as twenty l one l pilots) and they’re doing something right. Vessel, the band’s latest album, was released at the beginning of the year, but I recently purchased the physical copy and had to write about their music. The Columbus, Ohio duo consisting of Tyler Joseph, on keys and vocals and Joshua Dun, drums, has been getting ample radio-time on local alternative-rock radio station Radio 104.5 with their single “Holding on to You”, but the entire album deserves a thorough listen. It has been consistently difficult to classify these gents into one genre- and I think that’s how they’d like to keep things. Tyler Joseph has the rap flow and a dexterity with words to keep up with today’s rappers, but holds his own on vocal parts as well. Elements of modern dance music, hard rock, indie rock, and even strummy soft rock are incorporated into the band’s sound, proving to hold the listener’s attention and constantly introduce new sounds throughout the twelve song set.

          TOP’s third full-length album kicks off with “Ode to Sleep”, a track that travels effortlessly from Joseph’s frenetic rapping over dubstep beats to straight forward piano-rock, and back again. Beneath the jittery changes are honest, insightful lyrics that lead listeners into the singer’s troubled mind, an issue that is at the center of many songs. “Holding on to You” finds the front man at a vulnerable point, questioning his mental stability and his importance to others. The song serves as the duo’s minor alternative radio hit, and features Tyler’s most prominent rap verses.

          “Migraine” a personal favorite, is, arguably, Joseph’s most direct plea to listeners. He references his troubled thoughts in a creative matter, “Am I the only one I know? / Waging my wars behind my face and above my throat” and questions death over a severe migraine. “House of Gold” demonstrates the band’s ability to strip away the theatrical components of their music and feature a song filled with ukulele and sparse percussion. “Car Radio” is the album’s emotional climax, with Joseph realizing that a car without a radio forces him to face his personal demons. The track surges to an energetic peak, and quickly recedes to Tyler and Joshua’s piano and drums. The second half of the album features more Matt and Kim- esque dance-pop, working synths and drum machines into the typical TOP beats.

          The exciting thing about Twenty One Pilots’ music is the diversity of sounds and styles featured on the album. Joseph and Dun could explore various genres- strictly rap, ukulele rock, or up-tempo dance - on their next album, and it would still fit the band’s unique sound.

             Honestly, as a new fan to Twenty One Pilots’ music, the combination of vocals and raps, and the layers of beats and production featured on Vessel speaks to the originality of the group. Tyler Joseph and Josua Dun have created an extremely memorable collection of songs sure to make a lasting impression on the music industry. Check the band out as they tour the major festival circuit, and later in the fall, when they open for Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco. 

~TJM

Review: Justin Timberlake's 'The 20/20 Experience"

Timberlake's latest album finds the singer
experimenting with song-lengths and
instrumental arrangements.

          I’m aware that “The 20/20 Experience” is not exactly a recently released album, but I was able to get my hands on a copy a few weeks ago, wrote the review, and am able to publish it today.

          Following in the footsteps of many re-emerging artists today, Justin Timberlake did not stage his comeback quietly. Fans were treated to a set of perfectly-timed Television appearances during the Grammy Awards and Super Bowl weekend, and a much-hyped comeback single in the form of “Suit and Tie.” The song was an obvious choice- it’s catchy memorable and features a guest spot from Jay Z (hold the hyphen, please), yet by no means is the strongest effort on JT’s first album since 2006’s FutureSex/Lovesounds. Timberlake is also the latest superstar to embrace retro aesthetics- the physical disc’s design is based on that of a 45 RPM record, the artwork is largely black-and-white, and the ten songs on the album feature prominent Sinatra-era strings.

          Fortunately for listeners, “20/20” does not play as a collection of radio-ready hits. The average run-time for a track clocks in at seven (!) minutes, giving fans a true seventy minute “experience.” At times, the tunes feel unnecessarily long (“Spaceship Coupe” and, at times, “Don’t Hold the Wall.”) Yet most songs are journeys unto themselves- exploring sonic territories and grooves largely absent in much of today’s popular music. Infectious tunes, “Pusher Love Girl” and “Mirrors” ( the choice is somewhat obligatory-considering it’s often overplayed on Top 40 radio) highlight the set, while introspective tracks- “Blue Ocean Floor” and “Strawberry Bubblegum”-add some needed diversity.

          The instrumentation and production of “The 20/20 Experience” makes the work truly shine. Timbaland displays his craft through production and layers a lush foundation of strings, guitars, percussion and some unique beatboxing. While the backing musicians provide some excellent support for Timberlake’s smooth falsetto (honestly, he seems to overuse his abilities throughout some of the songs), some of the most important lyrics of the album can get “lost in the shuffle.”

          Accounting for the few, minor pitfalls of “The 20/20 Experience”, the album is an impressive feat for the 32-year-old. The lyrics tell stories, the beats are innovative, and the length alone is admirable. With a second installment coming September 30^th, Justin Timberlake’s music is a breath of fresh air.

~TJM

Review: Old Crow Medicine Show rocks Penn's Peak

Old Crow Medicine Show performs live in Central Park,
New York City.

          A road trip of sorts led a couple of friends and I up to scenic Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania to catch an Old Crow Medicine Show at Penn’s Peak. It was my first Old Crow Medicine Show (and first show at Penn’s Peak) and hopefully, it will not be my last. The amazing venue is modeled after a spacious barn, featuring tall, vaulted ceilings and beautiful wood paneling. After a delicious meal at Roadies, the restaurant attached to the venue (a legitimately pleasant surprise- tasty cheesesteaks and French fries), we made our way into the venue an hour before show-time and were able to grab a front row spot in the mostly general admission area. The show started promptly at 8:00 PM, with Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys fulfilling the opening band duties. The group is a talented quartet of musicians, and proved to keep the concert-goer’s attention until their allotted time came to a close. (On a side-note: I met Mead after the show and he is a really nice guy.) OCMS came out to raucous cheers an hour after Chuck Mead took the stage- who knew a bluegrass concert could be so high energy? The band is in top form, and it showed on Thursday night. Front man Ketch Secor and his six-man band seemed to be right in their element, playing natural string band tunes in a rural, mountain town setting. Old Crow- Ketch Secor, Critter Fuqua, Kevin Hayes, Morgan Jahnig, Gill Landry, Chance McCoy and Cory Younts, all multi-instrumentalists and vocalists, traded lead duties throughout the night, and swapped out various instruments between members and technical workers. The band kept an incredible level of energy throughout the night, jamming between songs and giving mini-history lessons on Pennsylvania during the two-hour set, which impressed many fans who screamed/ sung every lyric to the band’s 26-song performance. Secor and company made sure to fit their signature song “Wagon Wheel” into their set, which prompted the largest sing-a-long of the night, as well as an extremely faithful cover of Dire Straits’ “The Walk of Life” in the five song encore, performed with Chuck Mead and his band. Each musician displayed their endurance and talent to make a truly memorable experience. The venue was clean and welcoming, and a couple of us were able to meet Gill Landry, the dobro player for OCMS, after the concert, who was extremely approachable and down to earth. A full setlist is below.

Carry Me Back

Alabama High Test

Take ‘Em Away

Caroline

Bootlegger’s Boy/ White Face

New Virginia Creeper

Mississippi Saturday Night

Mary’s Kitchen

Humdinger

Big Sciota/ Gonna Raise a Ruckus Tonight

See See Rider

Mean Enough

Country Gal

Methamphetamine

James River Blues

River of Jordan

Fall on My Knees/ Tear It Down

I Hear Them All

We’re All in This Together

Wagon Wheel

Cocaine Habit

Encore:

Hard to Love

Brave Boys

Cherokee Boogie

Walk of Live

The Mighty Quinn

~TJM

Style: Exclusive brand Been Trill now available at Pacific Sunwear

trill (adj): An adjective used in hip-hop culture to describe someone who is considered to be well respected. A combination of the words "true" and "real."

The selection of shirts available
through Pacific Sunwear.

          Some exciting news to report: famed streetwear brand Been Trill has just announced a surprising new collaboration with surf and skate mall retailer PacSun (formally known as Pacific Sunwear.) The chain will now be stocking a select number of the company's tee-shirts at a fraction of the price of the originals. It's a shocking announcement that delighted many Been Trill and PacSun fans.
          For those unaware, and frankly, I was as well until a few days ago, Been Trill is Virgil Abloh, style adviser to Kanye West, and Matthew Williams' brand that has built a following around the extreme rarity of its products, as well as the steep price tag associated with the clothing. Been Trill's online store does not stock many products ( I cannot imagine they have lots of inventory, either), tee-shirts will cost you upwards of $100.00, and hoodies start at $200.00.
          Perhaps in an effort to make their clothing more accessible- and cheaper- the brand is now stocking tees in PacSun's webstore, though I am unable to confirm the availability of these products in physical mall locations. The best news for fan's of the brand? The tees fall right around $30.00, a far cry from the original asking price.
           Personally, I am not a fan of the shirt designs, but if someone is out there looking for streetwear on a budget, this is your lucky break. Is this a compassionate move by the company? Have they sold out? Even worse, is Been Trill no longer "trill'? Sound off in the comments below.

~TJM

The Roots set to rock the Parkway for Wawa's Welcome America celebration

Featured performers at this year's
July 4th Jam. From l-r, John Mayer
Ne-Yo, and Demi Lovato.

          The 4th Annual Wawa Welcome America celebration is set to take place on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway commemorating our nation's birthday this Thursday, July 4th. The festivities kicked off yesterday and continues through the end of the week, with free film screenings, concerts, exhibits, food festivals and more happening in and around the Philadelphia area. The week is highlighted, but does not conclude, with the Party on the Parkway and the 4th of July Jam and fireworks display.
          The Ben Franklin Parkway plays host to live entertainment, interactive activities, games, and food vendors from 12-7 P.M on Thursday, making way for the "Largest Free Concert In America"- the 4th of July Jam that night. Headlined by the Roots and hosted by comedian and Philly-native Kevin Hart, the band is joined by a stellar lineup of special guests including John Mayer, Demi Lovato, Jill Scott, Ne-Yo, Grace Potter, and J. Cole. The event is expected to draw close to 500,000 spectators, who will be treated to a fireworks display at the close of the concert. The week of free fun, activities and music is sure to be memorable- it will be my first time down at the Parkway for the holiday, and I hope to post a recap of the day's events by the end of the week. For more information on the events click here.

~TJM

       

Style: Profound Aesthetic introduces the Mastermind and Libertas Capsule Collections

          One of my favorite streetwear companies, Profound Aesthetic, recently released the stunning "Mastermind Capsule Collection." The collection relies exclusively on a black-and-white color scheme, with the exception of a few colorful accents on accessories. Tanks, tees, hats and accessories (largely bracelets) are featured in the Mastermind collection- a perfect collection for the hot summer months ahead. Each piece in the Mastermind Capsule emphasizes minimalism in the designs featured: many of the hats, beanies and tee-shirts simply state the word "mastermind" in bold print, and a few of the tanks and tees in the collection showcase the recognizable bear logo.
         Just in time for the long holiday weekend, Profound has introduced their "Libertas Capsule Collection." The small collection features a pair of tanks and tee-shirts, each following a similar "jersey" design, shown at the bottom right. The Mastermind and Libertas collections are reasonably priced, and can be found on the company's revamped website here.
                       
                                                                                          ~TJM

                                                                                                                      A tank featured in Profound Aesthetic's
                                                                                                                patriotic-themed Libertas collection.

A revamped Postal Service touring in support of 10th anniversary of "Give Up"

From l-r, Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello, who are
playing the Mann Center on Monday, June 17th.

               Nearly ten years after releasing The Postal Service’s only album, 2003’s Give Up, the band is back, complete with a 10^th Anniversary edition of the album, new members, and a world tour.  The tour includes shows at Coachella and Lollapalooza Music Festivals, and Brooklyn’s brand new Barclays Center, among other stops. The founding duo of Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie) and Jimmy Tamborello (Dntel, Headset) has expanded to include Laura Burhenn (Mynabirds) and vocalist Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley), who contributed vocals and back-up instrumentation on many of Give Up’s tracks.

                The Postal Service formed as a collaboration between lead singer Ben Gibbard, and instrumentalist Jimmy Tamborello on the track “(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan” by Tamborello’s band, Dntel. The team would send recordings and instrumentals through the U.S Postal Service, thus naming the project after the real mail-carrying service.

                Give Up has sold 1.07 million copies since its release (receiving a platinum certification), proving to be Sub Pop Records’ best-selling album since Nirvana’s Bleach. Released in February of 2013, the 10^th Anniversary e

dition features fifteen previously-unreleased bonus tracks, including two new songs, covers, and remixes of tracks on the album.

                The group has played high-profile “reunion shows” at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the Barclays Center and the Sasquatch! Music Festival, delighting fans who have waited eagerly to hear the band’s recognizable brand of electronic pop-rock.

                The tour makes a stop in Philadelphia at the Mann Center Monday, July 17^th with support from Ra Ra Riot. The doors open at 6:00 PM, and tickets are $29.50-$44.50.

                                                                              ~TJM