Tag: Music

‘I had a vision.’ For God’s sake, everyone: Ye is the opposite of Hitler, and here is why

‘Everybody’s beholden to somebody.’ Ye, Clubhouse Interview, 2022 ‘What I just said is far past anything anybody in my position has ever said publicly. We ridin’ on God … I ain’t got no security, you know exactly where I’m at … Come and get me.’ Ye ‘We got China, heading — if it’s not for … Continue reading ‘I had a vision.’ For God’s sake, everyone: Ye is the opposite of Hitler, and here is why →

‘Expérgo’ (EP) by NMIXX: Ingenious, exhilarating pop — with signs of something new

I have reviewed NMIXX’s music before. Contrasting with (G)-ILDE’s dark themes and BLACKPINK’s balanced approach to the musical world and its palette of human emotions, NMIXX is unflinchingly positive. The opening song samples the folk tune ‘Frère Jacques’, with both cheek and respect for the original. The whole approach of K-Pop these days feels like … Continue reading ‘Expérgo’ (EP) by NMIXX: Ingenious, exhilarating pop — with signs of something new →

Against the destruction of free thought: Why only Ye can avert a Third World War and prevent a new Holocaust — some lessons from Hilberg, Arendt, Mearsheimer, et al.

‘Men have been found to resist the most powerful monarchs and to refuse to bow down before them, but few indeed have been found to resist the crowd, to stand up alone before misguided masses, to face their implacable frenzy without weapons and with folded arms to dare a no when a yes is demanded. … Continue reading Against the destruction of free thought: Why only Ye can avert a Third World War and prevent a new Holocaust — some lessons from Hilberg, Arendt, Mearsheimer, et al. →

Donda, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, and the sonic revolution of the 2020s

Music since the year 2000 has gone through three phases, which can be bracketed by the most prominent popular song at the turn of each decade. 1. … Baby One More Time by Britney Spears (1999) 2. Bad Romance by Lady Gaga (2009) 3. bad guy by Billie Eilish (2019) While the first and second … Continue reading Donda, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, and the sonic revolution of the 2020s →

Donda: A track-by-track review

See also: my review of Kendrick Lamar’s latest album. I’ve decided to write up a complete review of Donda, the tenth studio album by Ye, the musical artist/producer/rapper formerly known as Kanye West. I’m going to open with my basic claim: this album is enormously influential but also extremely competent and creative on its own … Continue reading Donda: A track-by-track review →

Evangelion, Ye, and the tragedy of true artistry in modernity

After watching the Japanese manga Evangelion TV series ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’, the End of Evangelion film and the Rebuild saga of remake films — directed by the visionary Hideaki Anno — I perused YouTube videos blending Evangelion snippets with the music of Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West. One comment struck me as … Continue reading Evangelion, Ye, and the tragedy of true artistry in modernity →

‘First Time’ and the albums

You were swift with your blade You lacked hesitation Your eyes were like oceans I fell till I drowned - First Time by Edmund Wilson As you may know, dear reader, my views on history and politics as expressed on this blog converge in a strange location or destination: music. And it is music that … Continue reading ‘First Time’ and the albums →

A message for 2023: Stop imitating past greats, I want something new

I am getting tired. I hear the same music again and again and again. The charts are driving me crazy. Because I like this kind of music. In the shadow of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and The Fame Monster, the 2010s saw the reinvention of music through R&B (Anti) and alternative pop music (WHEN … Continue reading A message for 2023: Stop imitating past greats, I want something new →