The FTMMTB 2K7 Round One: Cut-Chemist vs. Jay-Z

Jay-Z - Kingdom Come


I like: I like it when does that thing where he says "woo."
Do not want: Well, Jay-Z, I guess.
Standouts: Hollywood, Oh My God, Show Me What You Got
Conclusion:Even Jigga is subject to my internal bpm standards, and all but two of his songs fail here. My theory is that everyone has an internal beat-per-minute, and our musical tastes are driven to find a match for that pacing. Isn't hip-hop supposed to make you want to move? All but two songs on this album do nothing for my usual propensity for rhythmless head nodding.

Cut Chemist - The Audience's Listening

I like: The tracks I like are heavy on drum & bass and light on extended scratching solos or samples from popular songs from the past.
Do not want: DJ albums altogether? I thought an album like this would be great for just putting on at a party and ignoring 1 through 12. The problem is that there's a couple really annoying tracks in between the ones I do like. Furthermore, I haven't hosted a party. Ever. In addition, speaking from a completely uneducated perspective, I kind of get the feeling CC's sound is a little dated.
Standouts: (My 1st) Big Break, The Garden, What's the Altitude, Metrorail Thru Space
Conclusion: Worth keeping for the singles I like and it gets the nod in the first round, but it probably won't advance far.

The FTMMTB 2K7 Round One: Panda Bear vs. The Appleseed Cast

Panda Bear - Person Pitch

I like: The name of the band.
Do not want: Music that lacks percussive instruments, like this music.
Standouts: Good Girl / Carrots
Conclusion: This album sounds to me like someone is singing in the bathroom, kind of tinny. Or maybe as if a ghost were singing songs that sound like long introductions to a song that never starts. I'd say this album is a good background soundtrack for ascending into heaven.


The Appleseed Cast - Peregrine

I like: Use of noise, acoustic melodies.
Do not want: The instrumental tracks are boring. Also, this may be thinly veiled emo.
Standouts: Here We Are (Family in the Hallways), February, Woodland Hunter Part 2
Conclusion: Vocals are kind of forgettable, and some of the tracks go nowhere, but it does seem like there's some potential here. Overall, an album that will advance, but I could live without.