Check out MyDJSpace staff member DJ Antomattei of Tokyo featured in the June 2008 edition of (UK) Street Cred Magazine. Read it at www.streetcredmagazine.com for free! Club events and radio shows coming soon to Birmingham, England by DJ Antomattei, check it!
Let’s start from the beginning. When I heard N.E.R.D’s debut album In Search Of… I thought it sounded like spaced out stoner music that would make a good companion to a stoner flick. I am thinking these guys are very like 60’s/70’s British rock rejects. The music is a throwback to the likes of The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, just not as serious. They sing about lurid subject matter that would disgust any teenagers’ parents who actually listened to the two prior artists’ music. Oh how I love that album so much! Classic Neptunes/N.E.R.D music at it’s finest.
Then two years following in 2004, the sophomore album Fly Or Die was released. Equally as successful as the debut album [Both went Gold] but a critical disappointment to some fans and myself. It didn’t retain enough of the magic that made the original album popular. It was mediocre at best.
Four years on, 2008. It is the revenge of the nerds. After a long wait, the third release from N.E.R.D is finally here. The concept of the album is of course seeing sounds. Band member Shae explains the title is inspired by the neurological phenomenon synesthesia that combines two senses together. “It’s a mixture of senses that may cause a person to experience colorful hearing, auditory smell,” [Continuing] “For example, you might see something, and it might trigger a song. You might hear something, and it might trigger a taste in your mouth. When we created this album, it was the music we envisioned while creating it. We decided it would be the appropriate title for the album.”
Rolling Stone’s review was critical of the piece and made me feel skeptical about picking it up. But when I had ventured out earlier today on June 7th to an HMV in Yokohama city, Japan, I was surprised to see the album for sale. Mind you it’s a few days before the US & UK release, so naturally I was excited about being able to sample it early, and purchase it if I found it necessary to.
Let me tell you N.E.R.D is back in a big way. I was blown away by the sheer brilliance in sound. This is a fan pleaser. Going back to the style that made them popular at the beginning of this decade, N.E.R.D hits their mark by returning to their roots. You can hear the band’s much well known psychedelic rock style on the tracks “Windows”, “Sooner or Later”, “Happy”, “Kill Joy”, and “Love Bomb”. They also have a few songs in between that either feature some hip hop elements, contemporary hard rock, and loud but harmonizing vocals. This music is sure to rattle your speakers. A rich sound that beckons to be heard.
Copyright 2008 MyDJSpace and Marc Antomattei Productions.
All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Harry Gregson-Williams has been doing work for the Metal Gear Solid video game series since Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty. In my opinion the Metal Gear Solid series has been the movie composer’s greatest work to date, surpassing that of all his theatrical compositions and probably also bringing more recognition to his own name. So how does his latest outting in the final of the series fair up against his prior work.
This seems to work in complimenting the game better as a all around presentation package, but when you put it in the stand alone category of just music it is not as listenable as Harry’s prior work. MGS 2 was the best and most listenable, as the tracks resonant more in my mind and I remember the music easier. The same no doubt for everyone, you are sure to remember a great song as opposed to a not so great one. Think about how long your favorite song has been with you, how many times you listened to it and still love it. Now think about music that faired up okay but fell somewhat short of the goal. That is how this album is.
The music has changed dramatically, it appears to have broken the series continuity in sound as it doesn’t reprise or rearrange any pieces of music from the first three Metal Gear Solid titles. That doesn’t necessarily make it a bad thing. If the work however is trying to push all new original music, it forces the work into a make or break position. It either has to be better than the original or it is going to fall flat. This fell flat to an extent, but it is still listenable. Who knows, in time it may be able to grow on me but as of the release date it didn’t. The only song that was reprised is none other than the Metal Gear Solid main theme, but even that doesn’t sound quite as good as it did on either the MGS 2 or 3 OSTs.
Also making tracks for this album is Nobuko Toda, the composer for the PSP games “Metal Gear Acid” 1 & 2. In my own opinion I think his work on this album has beat out that of Harry’s! Harry’s work sounds too theatrical just a few tracks, theatrical in a campy way. I feel like I am listening to music that would fit better on a stylized superhero flick like “Spider-Man 4″ rather then on a serious toned MGS 4. For the most part however, the synthesized orchestration still has a military feel to it overall, but it’s themed much more darker and grittier sounding. Like I said before this really compliments the game. The end in the series has reached a much more serious and pivitol point in theme and plot. The music reflects that greatly with it’s heavy atmospheric endulging sound. It is so much more harder now. This is the kind of material that will raise your tension level quite a few notches I bet when you are actually playing the game. I get that feeling just by listening and not playing the game.
I am the most die hard Metal Gear Solid fan in the world. Having a FOXHOUND tattoo on your shoulder is no joke, and owning all the original soundtracks from all the series releases let me tell you… If you got the other soundtracks then you might as well pick this one up too. If you don’t have the others, then go back and try those first.
This is a Japanese made and released product, meaning those located not in the asia region are going to have to pay a high price for importing. I bought my double disc soundtrack album for a retailers price of 3,045 Japanese yen (about $30 US). If you buy from Amazon.com it will set you back $47 US. Quite expensive isn’t it. To those of you anticipating the release of the last Metal Gear Solid video game on June 12, 2008, take it from me, that game’s presentation, story and gameplay will knock you right on your ass. It is already being considered a tour de force in video games pre-release. It will answer all unanswered questions and surpass your expectations. You just wait and see.
Rating:
Copyright 2008 MyDJSpace and Marc Antomattei Productions. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
This new track from the one and only Fergie, has been lifed straight from the official soundtrack of the new “Sex & The City” movie.
When I heard this one out for preview, I was not sure what to expect, not being a fan of the series (not saying I dislike the show, just never had the desire to watch the show).
Straight away after heading the first few bars, I was reminded of the theme tune to the Sex & The City TV show. It now has an electronic feel added to it giving it a much needed upbeat sound quality.
Overall, I can see this track hitting the pop scene and getting a requested my the ladies in the clubs, so its definitely one you will have to add the record bag for the requests.
The track is also set to be featured on the re-release of Fergie’s album “The Dutchess”. Not quite sure where I stand on re-releases only after being just a few years since the first release.
Rating:
One for the record bag when on the club nights.
Copyright 2008 MyDJSpace. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Headed by Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick, the original UK acid jazz band Incognito has been performing since 1980. The band is still going strong with twelve albums already under their belt. Yesterday on April 22, 2008 they released their thirteenth studio album Tales From The Beach. Released in Japan first, the album is due for release in the rest of the world on May 5th in the UK and June 24th in the USA respectively. The band currently spends most of their time on almost a never ending worldwide tour. Bluey and company always find the time to attend to their fans with live music offerings, something I am certain we are all grateful for.
Copyright 2008 MyDJSpace and Marc Antomattei Productions. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
DJ Antomattei of Tokyo - Hip Hop/Rap Set from “The Pole @ The Green Sheep” Event March 28, 2008 in Yokohama, Japan.
01) Three 6 Mafia - Fuck That Shit 02) Three 6 Mafia - It’s A Fight
03) Three 6 Mafia feat. Lil’ Wyte - Mosh Pit
04) Young Buck - Shorty Wanna Ride
05) Three 6 Mafia - You Scared Part II
06) Young Buck - Stomp
07) Three 6 Mafia - Dangerous Posse
08) Outkast - Ghetto Musick
09) Mobb Deep - Have A Party
10) Consequence feat. GLC and Really Doe - Disperse
11) A Tribe Called Quest - Like It Like That
MYDJSPACE SESSIONS JAPAN @ THE ROOM in SHIBUYA TOKYO, JAPAN (2008.03.19)
TIME SCHEDULE
DJ CLINTON LOPEZ 3HR SET 10:00PM ~ 01:00AM Clinton’s Reggae Classics
DJ ANTOMATTEI OF TOKYO 4HR SET 01:00AM ~ 02:30AM DJ Antomattei’s House 02:30AM ~ 03:00AM Latin Vibes 03:00AM ~ 04:00AM DJ Antomattei of Tokyo’s Tribute to Dimitri From Paris 04:00AM ~ 04:30AM Especial Records x Extra Freedom Mix 04:30AM ~ 05:00AM Smooth R&B Grooves
CHARTS
Coming Soon!
This night was for my dear friend Yuko Komori, for which March 19, 2008 was her 30th birthday. I dedicated my mix set for this event to you. Happy Birthday friend, I wish for you to always be happy and keep smiling. I hope you had a great night.
