Paper Trail - T.I.

So, if you didn't know this already, T.I. has been sentenced to a year and a day for weapons and possession charges. But, ever since the trial began, things couldn't be better for the self-proclaimed "King of the South."

First, T.I. has become MTV's favorite criminal defendant since Snoop Dogg showed up to present at the '93 Video Music Awards. Remeber when the entire LAPD was looking for him ... in New York? By the way, MTV just stood by and let that happen. Either the most irresponsible or action in the network's history. But, how Jim? "T.I.'s Road to Redemption," or "T.I's Attempt to Moralize His Felony" allowed him to get more face time and to play new songs off of the new album.

Second, Paper Trail achieved platinum status, garnered a Best Rap Album nom at the Grammys, and received a favorable critical response. But this is not the T.I. that I knew in high school. I remember hearing the opening for "What You Know" and thought this dude was legitimate. Oh, if things could be the same. Some of the songs on this album gave me that familiar feeling of nostalgic awe, but the others weren't even worth the listen.

Paper Trail is a work of manic depression. It sometimes hits high points, but often sinks into mopey, macabre songs lacking luster. The high points are the when T.I. is rapping like the persona that made him famous. "Swagga Like Us" is a Tour de Force of collaboration. How could a T.I. song featuring Kanye, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne over an M.I.A. loop NOT be anything but the best rap track of '08? But, you may be more familiar with two other songs in particular. How could you not? They have been playing nonstop on every pop and hip-hop radio station for the past six months!

I think I heard both "Whatever You Like" and "Live Your Life" 47 times in a row back-to-back in the White Building's Weight Room. Seriously, ease off with those two songs, B109 State College, or I will have to rip off my ears. First, I don't really think "Whatever You Like" is a bad song. Is it great? Not really, but it's OK. The beat is kind of insipid and T.I. almost sounds like a pedophile, but it's OK. Seriously, though: Did he call himself "Sugar daddy"? Honestly, Mr. Harris, you are how old? Like 28? Come on! You're still a young bul in my book. Now 30 is old, but I digress. But, I like "Live Your Life." Who would have thought a song that samples "Numa Numa" would become a No. 1 single? Once more, T.I. gives a shout out to the troops in his introduction. I don't know what a song with lyrics about making it and trashing your critics has to do with American soldiers, but it was a nice touch.

But, now I'm going to give T.I.P. a reason to hate me: I'm going to hate on him. Sorry, but there is nothing more dull than tracks like "Slideshow" and "My Life Your Entertainment." Even the industry's golden boy, Justin Timberlake, cannot save "Dead and Gone." I understand that T.I. must have been wistful and reflective during house arrest when writing lyrics for the album (T.I. usually does not write his lyrics at all), but you cannot listen to all of these songs without getting bored. I hope T.I. does the changes he's been preaching to himself and to others (including me: the white, suburban college student who has never even held a gun). If not, all that hot air will contribute to melting glaciers.

This album would have been so much better if T.I. would have kept only one or two of the half-dozen songs that talk about prison or past mistakes. It's not that the content wasn't of value, it's just that T.I. doesn't convey the same sincere emotions as someone like Eminem does. When Em talks about Hailie, I believe. When T.I. does it, I don't. I actually hope he doesn't change too much after he gets out. I would rather have Rubber Band Man that's wild like the Taliban than a straight-edge, ex-con who's just not that fun to listen to anymore.

2/5

No Line on the Horizon - U2

Let's start off by saying I was really looking forward to this album dropping. But after the success of 2004's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, U2 really had to do everything just right to make the next album be just as successful. I must say I was let down.

I don't want you to think this is the band's fault. This album had so much potential. I find that the blame rests with the super producing team of Daniel Lanois and, specifically, Brian Eno. Don't get me wrong; I think Eno took Coldplay, a band whose songs previously sounded like the same, dull song, and turned them into U2's successors for the "Biggest Band in the World" title though their experimentation with new and exciting tones. The otherworldly sounds helped that album, but Eno let out all the air in U2's balloon by doing the same thing. Coldplay needed that kind of production; U2 did not. Every track on this album has the atrociously misplaced Eno diddling with his keyboard, ruining perfectly good songs with Bon-Jovi- and Pink-Floyd-esque synth riffs. Once again, this is U2. Synth Pop and Acid Rock are not U2.

Eno aside, the album has a lot of qualities that redeem this faulty production team. Guitarist extraordinaire, The Edge, and the most underrated bassist on the planet, Adam Clayton, do their best to make the keyboard presence as minimal as possible. On "Magnificent," Edge does what he does best on guitar: magnificently interweave a great rhythm and and a catchy lead that is reminiscent of "Where the Streets Have No Name." Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. create a beat that clicks, allowing Bono to make his voice soar.

Next, the album's first single, "Get on Your Boots" would make any rocker happy with its fuzzy bass and a guitar line that cuts like a chainsaw in a song about (what else) a really sexy girl with some even sexier footwear. Even Bono, Mr. Peacemaker, croons to get into the hot pants of this imaginary, boot-bearing vixen: "I don't want to talk about wars between nations / Not right now." It must be hard for the guy to have to be Superman all the time.

After that, though, Bono comes right back to his sagacious, Irish mystique in "Cedars of Lebanon," in which Bono recites some of the best poetry he has ever written. Bono knows he's either loved or hated. Challenging critics, Bono, in Keith Richards' singing-but-not-quite-singing fashion, hums, "Choose your enemies carefully because they will define you / Make them interesting cause in some ways they will mind you / They're not there in the beginning but when your story ends / Gonna last longer than your friends."

But "Breathe" is the best track on No Line by far. On "Breathe," Bono channels his inner Bob Dylan a-la "Subterranean Homesick Blues" with Edge providing the pitch-perfect, syncopated triads on guitar. Unfortunately, this also succumbs to the unwanted melodies of the production team.

So, let's get back to bashing the production. I have to come back to the keyboards. They really were out of place. All I can think of is that line from Billy Madison when Billy's friend who pissed his pants is trying to get him a date with Ms. Vaughn. We all remember what Billy says ... "YOU BLEW IT!" Did U2 hired the guy who plays the keytar in Franky Goes to Hollywood? I think the band's resident badass Mullen, Jr. would have knocked Eno out if he pulled this back in the 80's. Stick to what you are. The intro to "Fez - Being Born" sounds like Danny Elfman during his Tim Burton phase got into the wrestling ring with the Iron Sheik. "White as Snow" sounds like they spliced some keyboard outtakes from The Wall and threw it in there. Whatever Eno and Lanois added to the album, it was awful. I can't wait until the Rick Rubin produced stuff comes off the shelf. That weirdo with the beardo is pretty much the only lock in the industry now.

2.5/5

1-Bad 2-Poor 3-Ok 4-Good 5-Excellent

My First Post

I have been thinking recently about what I want to do for the rest of my life. As a journalism major, I've been looking at the job market today, and it truly scares me. Our nation's newspapers have been the cornerstone of democracy. If journalist John Peter Zenger's was not brought up on charges of seditious libel in 1735, the First Amendment would not carry the power it has now. I have worked at Penn State's Daily Collegian for nearly two years, spending both of these semesters as the local business reporter. With the economy the way it is and the sluggishness of downtown State College's businesses every year during the second semester, I am becoming frustrated. Before this, I have always had a passion for music. I have played guitar for over 10 years, and I dabble in bass and piano. In high school, my friends and I always talked about music. I want to use this blog to put my knowledge and my writing ability to work to begin to review music that I am interested in. Unfortunately, there is a lot of ground to cover. I have thoughts on many albums that came out last year, and I would like to give my thoughts on at least some of them before I move on to the more recent material. Here's a list of what you can expect in the future.

In Rainbows - Radiohead
LAX - The Game
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends - Coldplay
Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne
Death Magnetic - Metallica
Only by the Night - Kings of Leon
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
The Recession - Young Jeezy
808s and Heartbreak - Kanye West
Paper Trail - T.I.
No Line on the Horizon - U2

I don't know how I'm going to review these albums yet. I need to decide whether I need to go in ascending or descending order, or to pick and choose as I go. Expect to see an album review or two tonight or tomorrow. I hope to take your requests and hear opinions, too. Either way, I'm going to tell it like it is.
- Jim