Thursday 20 Jun
 
 

Superior sound

Em and the MotherSuperiors with Honeylark and Feathered Rabbit
10 p.m. Friday
Kamps 1310 Lounge
1310 N.W. 25th
kamps1310lounge.com
819-6004
$7

06/19/2013 | Comments 0

It might get loud

Okie Noise Fest 2 with Psychotic Reaction, Copperheads, Fire Bad! and more
3 p.m.-midnight Saturday
Bad Granny’s Bazaar
1759 N.W. 16th
free
06/19/2013 | Comments 0

Fox news

Foxtrot Uniform with Them Hounds
9 p.m. Friday
Blue Note Lounge
2408 N. Robinson
thebluenotelounge.com
600-1166
$5

Foxtrot Uniform with Quaker City Night Hawks
9 p.m. Saturday
Grady’s 66 Pub
444 W. Main, Yukon
gradys66.com
364-8789
$7
06/19/2013 | Comments 0

Sweet slumber

The technology boom of the last two decades has made life easier in a variety of ways. In the music world, widespread computer use has spawned a modern-day compositional renaissance.
06/19/2013 | Comments 0

Beau bridges

Beau Mansfield Trio
10 p.m. Saturday
The Bluebonnet Bar
321 E. Main, Norman
447-2480
06/19/2013 | Comments 0
Home · Articles · CDs · Hip Hop/Rap · Theophilus London — Timez...
Hip Hop/Rap

Theophilus London — Timez Are Weird These Days


He’s a long way from the next Kanye.

Matt Carney July 27th, 2011

Judging by the ads Warner Bros. Records is running on Pitchfork, the lack of coverage in more conventional rap and hip-hop media outlets, and hired-gun producer Dan Carey’s résumé (Hot Chip, M.I.A., La Roux), the juggernaut label is marketing Theophilus London’s debut LP, “Timez Are Weird These Days,” toward hipsters instead of a more conventional hip-hop audience.

theophiluslondontimezareweirdthesedays

Nothing out of the ordinary with that, but it oughta tell you that if you’re looking for a true spitter, then look elsewhere. From get-go track “Last Name London,” the Brooklyn rapper(ish) makes it clear that he’s aiming for modern pop-star status. I offer the following as evidence:


• the Kanye West “Lost in the World” low-end sample that drives “Last Name London” along;

• the airy, vocal arrangements (again, inspired by Kanye) that follow it; and

• his use of worn-out pop tropes such as the introduction song (“Last Name London”), road tune (“All Around The World,”), mid-track phone call (“Stop It”) and use of the phrase “speed of light” (“Wine and Chocolates”).

Midway through the third track, “Wine and Chocolates,” I realized Mr. London’s voice bears great resemblance to that of TV on the Radio frontman Tunde Adebimpe (he doesn’t do nearly as much with tone or timbre, though), shortly before realizing that the song itself is really just a few verses’ worth of interesting lyrics short of a TVOTR song. In fact, with some twitchier synths, a fully developed funk-guitar riff and a kick drum that hit with full force, “Wine and Chocolates” might actually just be “Crying,” the second track on “Dear Science.” Turns out TVOTR’s Dave Sitek worked with London on his “Lovers Holiday” EP. At least he’s borrowing from talented musicians, I guess.

The album really loses its steam midway through single “Why Even Try,” which cartoonishly inflates the bassline and R&B female-sung hook from Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy,” inverting the original song’s tale of aspiration to cries of “If you think you’re special, you’re probably not.” How’s that for depressing?

Timez Are Weird These Days” is a whole lot of slick, digital production, but light on soul. When he’s at his swagging-est (“Girls Girls $”), London’s only a fraction of what Kanye’s built. At least he’s got his sights set high. —Matt Carney

 
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07.27.2011 at 04:17 Reply

Little harsh.  People like TL.  Just listened Juicy and Why Even Try back to back, and I really don't know where you get that comparison. 

There are other ways to write music criticism - it mostly comes down to avoiding the muscians in your audience from wanting to say "can't wait for the next Matt Carney album."

 

 

 
 
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