Classified: No Mistakes (Official Video)

Okay, so this is my third Classified post in a row. That’s alright though – I’m excited to see him live tomorrow night, gonna be a good show. Hopefully if you’ve never heard of him.. and you’ve been checking out this blog, it’ll make you wanna check him out. He’s worth a listen to in my opinion.

Alright for the song today.. this is the official video for the song “No Mistakes” from the 2005 album Boy-Cott-In the Industry. It was a single from the album and is probably one of Class’ more recognizable songs (behind “All About You” and “Maritimes”). For any Canadians reading this – he won the award for MuchVibe’s “Best Rap Video” at the MuchMusic Video Awards that year.

This is also one of my favourite Classified songs ever – I’m still considering how/where I could get the phrase “Made some mistakes probably make more/Just how it happens when you’re tryin’ to go forward” tattoo’d. Haha. Anyways, check out the song and the video and let me know what you think, Cheers!

Classified: No Mistakes (Official Video)

Classified: Oh Canada (Official Video)

Hey everyone,

I’m on a bit of a Classified fix right now – as I’m going to see him next week live. Anyways, my friend just passed along the link to the brand new, official video for the song “Oh Canada”.

The song is on Classified’s 2009 album Self-Explanatory.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Classified: Oh Canada (Official Video)

Classified: Union Dues

I’ve already done a Classified review recently, but I’m going to do another one tonight because I’m going to see him live at my University in a week or so. Maybe I’ll get some pictures and throw them up on the blog at some point. Anyways, prior to a few months ago, I had not heard of any of Classified’s music pre-2004 pretty much. “Union Dues” is Classified’s eight studio album and was released in 2001. This album and “Unpredictable” (from 2000) are the earliest albums I’ve heard from Class but he has albums dating back to 1995. He’s just finally hitting his mainstream success now.

Anyways, I’m going to get right to the music. One of the things I love about this album is some of the old school beats. They aren’t the best, but they have an old school feel – with the drumline as center and not all the synths and shit going on with the melodies. Up to this point I’m pretty sure Class made all the beats, raps and produced all of his own shit.. I don’t know if he still does, but I know for most of his work – the beats and production is all done by himself.

Billy Talent: I

“Milk carton mug-shot baby missing since 1983… 20 years of dirty needles, rain drops running through my veins!” – “Standing in the Rain”

Billy Talent is a post-hardcore, punk-rockish band from Mississauga, Ontario Canada. They started in the early 90′s as the group Pezz but got into legal trouble and changed their name to Billy Talent in 2001.. when they had their breakthrough mainstream success (in Canada at least). Their second album and first with the new band name is self-titled (or sometimes considered ’1 or ‘I’ as they have a trilogy of self-titled albums). I’ve seen these guys live in concert twice and they sound awesome in concert. I saw them in a smaller club venue for their first Billy Talent tour and I saw them at the Air Canada Center in Toronto for their third album’s (Billy Talent ‘II’) tour. Both times were amazing!

The second time I saw them live they started with a white sheet over the stage and the silhouettes of them playing this album’s first track, “This Is How it Goes”. The play the intro chords and then the sheet dropped when the song gets heavy.. it was pretty sweet. This song was actually written about the band’s drummer, Aaron Solowoniuk, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis.

Kanye West: The College Dropout

“I’ve been workin’ this grave shift and I ain’t made shit / Wish I could buy a spaceship and fly.. past the sky.” – Spaceship ft. GLC & Consequence

College Dropout is the debut album of rapper Kanye West. It was released it 2004 but was recorded / created over a period of like 4 or 5 years or something like that. Kanye started as a producer/beat maker and he saved a ton of beats for himself (instead of selling them), which appear on this album. If you are at all interested in Kanye’s start in the music industry – check out the last track on the album, “Last Call”. Kanye pretty much goes through the last few years prior to this album being released and talks about his car accident, how he met Jay-Z (and produced music for his Blueprint album) and how he was never really given a shot as a rapper, etc. It’s interesting to listen to. Also interesting to note, Kanye produced every song on this track except for co-production on the last song “Last Call” with artist Evidence.

The Game: Doctor’s Advocate

“  It’s the home of America’s gangster rap, the place of danger.. Where the cops are crooked and them bitches is killers, and them n****s hold it down like black guerillas ” – “Compton” feat. Will.i.am

I’m a huge rap fan but I’m definitely selective with what kinds of rap and what artists I listen to. I’ve always been kinda into West Coast gangster rap.. NWA and Dr. Dre, Tupac, Snoop Doog, etc. On the contrary, my favourite rapper is Jay-Z. haha. Anyways, I’m into the Game right now, specifically his second album and first since his departure from Aftermath/Interscope. “Doctor’s Advocate” debuted at number one on the Billboard charts, his second number one album. Although Game’s departure meant no Dr. Dre production on this album, he still had an all-star lineup of artists he worked with.

Big D and the Kids Table: How It Goes

“Big D and the fuckin’ Kids Table!” – from the end of “Little Bitch”.

Okay so hey, I have a new review for everyone today, new style of music for this blog I believe too! I’m going to be reviewing the 2004 release and third studio album “How It Goes” by Boston ska-punk band Big D and the Kids Table. I had heard a couple of their songs over the last year or so but I got to see them live on Warped Tour this past summer.. they were great live, lots of energy! The band has 6 studio albums, 4 EPs, a few split records and even a gangster rap CD! I’ve only heard a couple of their albums, “How It Goes” is the longest of them from what I know. It has 20 tracks.. almost enough for two albums. It takes a bit longer to get through, but I love the album and if you’re at all mildly interested in punk or ska, then you should definitely check this album out.

The Arkells: Jackson Square

Hey everyone, back with a new review today. Also, look out for my guest post on Decibel Blog! I’ll post a link as soon as the review is put up over on that blog! Today I’m listening to a hometown band, the Arkells. They’re a Canadian rock band formed at McMaster University and I actually have met Max, the lead singer in my first year of University here. Cool.

Anyways, “Jackson Square” named after a downtown shopping mall in Hamilton, is their debut full-length album. It’s also their debut release on Dine Alone Records (label for other Canadian bands such as City and Colour, Bedouin Soundclash, etc.) “Deadlines”, released in 2007 was their first official EP.