A Perfect Circle and J. Cole - A Union of Contrary Genres...

      Two of the more MAJOR releases this year in my opinion based on anticipation and hype were A Perfect Circle's - "Eat The Elephant" and J. Cole's - "KOD". After about a month of listening to both, I found myself thinking (and over-thinking) where music is currently in relation to our socio-political climate. I often ponder these topics in my head and decided it would be better to get it down on "paper" so I decided to start this blog. If you like it EVEN BETTER! Also I felt it better to spend more than one listen and give some time for each album to "germinate" before making a review, and avoid publishing this at the same time as the thousands of other album reviews of both albums.

                                     

     For APC, this is the first album of new material in 14 YEARS; the last one being eMotive, which was mostly a collection of political and anti-war cover songs, and although great, not the same as new material. It is important to note that this is the first album by the band on a different label (BMG vs. the previous Virgin) and the first album that utilized an outside producer (Dave Sardy). APC isn't the only group to release new music in over a decade, but that's a topic for another post.

                                                              

     J. Cole's new album is the successor to the 2016 release "4 Your Eyes Only" which went platinum with over 1 million album sales. The reason for the anticipation here for KOD partly stems back to before 4YEO was released; a feature on the DJ Khaled song "Jermaine's Interlude", where Cole says "Said all I can say, now I play with thoughts of retirement". Shorty after, 4YEO was released, but fans still wondered if there would be anymore future music from Cole. This is in addition to clever marketing and social media prowess, utilizing Instagram and Twitter to grab the attention of his followers regarding a surprise listening party of the new album KOD on 4/16.

     Both albums deal with SEVERAL of the same issues, and I feel like they are good reflection of hopefully a more popular future trend in new music; being honest about what's going on (since these releases Childish Gambino released "This Is America") regarding suicide/depression, gun control/mental health, social/wealth inequality, and duality, not to mention what Trump becoming president has done for the resurgence and influx of creativity; having a common "enemy" has definitely galvanized like minded artists of multiple mediums. Additionally both releases make religious associations and mention end times, something that is increasingly more common in music nowadays (regarding the rise and popularity of doom-blues rock, sludge, doom-metal etc.) and political "quips" (no surprise for either topics from APC). Because this is a blog and not a Thesis, I'm only going to touch on the idea of addiction and substance abuse in both albums, but potentially expand upon it further at a future date.

     In a ironic twist to their release date (4/20), both deal with themes of addiction. Whether it be technology, money, drugs and these interweave with other themes present in both releases. First with the APC track "Disillusioned", Maynard chants "Time to put the silicon obsession down, Take a look around, Find a way in the silence... Dis- and re-connect to the resonance now". He says it almost as a mother would tell her children "That's enough TV, go outside and play", and warns of our "re-wiring" to need instant gratification constantly.  The music mirrors the lyrics here quite well, opening up a good amount of space, as well as slowing down the tempo, creating a melancholic but heartfelt vulnerability. This is in contrast with the verses that carry a steady rhythmic pulse, almost hypnotic at times as the word "dopamine" is uttered in repetition in the background. Although the idea of being addicted to technology isn't a new thing, I feel it's an ever-pressing matter to be aware of. Technological advances happen exponentially, and it's important not to succumb to the constant need for data consumption. Additionally the meaning behind the album's title "Eat The Elephant" comes from a quote by theologian Desmond Tutu, but you can go down the potential rabbit holes/history lesson (or even contradictions?) yourself there.

      In J. Cole's track "ATM" he rhymes "Big bills, big bills, I fell in love with big wheels and quick thrills" along with the repetition of "Count it up" for a majority of the track; you get the idea. There's also a nice juxtaposition here between the increase in intensity from Cole vs. the music keeping with that mellow jazz club piano vibe (something prevalent throughout the album). Not to mention the double meanings of ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) and (Addicted To Money). This ties well into J. Cole's track regarding tax brackets, and opening the conversation up to social and wealth inequality. As a matter of fact the entire KOD album focuses (although a little heavy-handed) on substance abuse. You could honestly write a whole paper just about the cover and album artwork.

     Aside from the hasty reviews of both albums at face-value, people are going to continue to hate on each release because they don't want a sermon from their music, they want something to "get silly to" that can be played in the background, and although that has it's place, the lack of substance and meaning in most music today is rampant, and we sometimes forget how great of an influence music has on the youth in particular, and the inherent power it can potentially have on shaping history, bad and good ("Bootylicious" is now recognized as an actual word in the Oxford English dictionary...). The topics covered in both albums have been discussed before, but maybe a reminder is needed? There is a problem with how the majority of this nation especially deals with the issues, but maybe instead of trying to escape into our technology, or through the use of "mind-altering" substances, we could as Maynard says "Just take the step, Just take the swing, Just take the bite, Go all in" and start to slowly face the problems.

-Dane

www.DANEgerousDRUMS.com

                    What are your thoughts on music
                        and this crazy world of ours?

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