Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet

This is a Miles Davis Quintet album. This features John Coltrane on it. I like Ole' Johnny, I happen to own Ballads on vinyl. I eventually want more (like one of the other top notch Impulse! albums) but that's all I got right now. Something that should be noted also is that this was recorded in 1956 three years before it's December 1959 release. I also like some of Red Garland's stuff, Paul Chamber has a solid solo album with Coltrane I heard and Philly Joe shows up on various albums I have heard or want to hear. This entire album, with the exception of Half Nelson, was recorded May 11th, 1956. The other track was recorded October 26th of the same year. There are also some other albums that exist that contain this same quintet and sessions. Cookin' (Oct. 26th), Relaxin' (May 11/Oct. 26th mostly) and finally Steamin' (both sessions, mostly May 11th). So, unless you absolutely love these tracks, chances are there will be duds since they spread it over four albums.

1. It Never Entered My Mind: This is a cover of the Rodgers & Hart tune that originates from the Higher and Higher musical. There has been many versions of this song, one of which was on Frank Sinatra's 1955 classic In the Wee Small Hours. I just reviewed not that long ago. This opens with gorgeous piano arpeggios. Giving it a sort of classical, Fur Elise type feeling or Moonlight Sonata vibe. It's kind of dark a bit. There is a grit to the trumpet that I really like, that I'm sure would sound great on vinyl. By the time the drums have their brushes and the arpeggiations end, I feel as thought I want to light a cigarette. Walk down a cold street and think. This song very much fits the tone of the album cover. I like it a lot. There are also bits of New York State of Mind I hear in Red's playing. And the ending is quite fun, and has a bit of a happy feeling rather than melancholy. Kind of like while he was walking he saw something and it reminded him of something good and he was happy. Maybe he went to a friends apartment, before going to the head and having a quite phenomenal tune.
2. Four: This is one of only three tunes credited to Davis that are featured on the record. The reason I say credited is because, up until 1983 no on claimed it was by anyone other than Miles. But I guess some blues singer, Eddie Vinton, said he wrote it and gave it to Miles because he had no use for it. The story was maybe confirmed when someone wrote a book and said, there was no problem with the false credit until now. So whatever, this has a bop feeling to it and is pretty standard in my opinion. There isn't anything here that is bad, but there isn't anything that is mind blowing. At the start it feels not as urgent as some other tracks in the style I like. Everything comes together well, and there is a nice little drum that trades 4 with the other intruments, but this track doesn't do much outside of just being standard. Probably like a 7/10.
3. In Your Own Sweet Way: This is a cover of the Dave Brubeck tune, who sadly couldn't be there to play. That would have been fucking awesome, to be honest. Sadly I don't think Miles and Dave ever played together on the same song. But this track is just okay, it isn't blowing my mind or anything. In fact to make sure I wasn't just spacing out or not that it's just a tune I don't like, I even re listened to three other versions of the tune. The versions from Brubeck Plays Brubeck, The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery and Bradenburg Gate: Revisited. And surprisingly there exists no version of the four I have heard that I like that much. Yeah Wes is the most pleasant to hear, the 1956 BPB version is very boring because it's solo piano, this version is just okay, nothing special, and the BG:R version is actually really good but I feel like I am unsure as if I'll revisit the easy listening string section, but it probably will warm my heart a bit....... I don't know. But that's my favorite I've heard, it just needed more going on I guess.
4. The Theme (Take 1): Here is another Miles tune. This is another chill tune, that works and is pretty solid. I can't say I'm loving it, but it is only 2 minutes long. It is weird though, there is nothing thematic or even like theme feeling about it that I'm getting. Given it could just be the name, but I don't feel like this would be a memorable tune, outside of that quote at the ending.
5. Trane's Blues: This may come as a shocker but this track was written by Johnny. Again we get another tune that works well and is quite enjoyable, but I get nothing out of it. Honestly it just feels like a long track that comes and won't end. Johnny is great, but he isn't God and is capable of doing wrong.
6. Ahmad's Blues: Here's another shocking writer credit, guess who this one was written by..... Ahmad Jamal. Jamal is a piano player, so I do think there are some tasty piano playin' in this introduction and it did perk my ears up after that last track. Honestly this feels much more interesting and I like the bass line and how the drums and piano play in syncopation at parts. This is fun and has a different taste to those other tracks in between the opener and this. Also I like the addition a cello, I looked it up and the instrument is clearly bowed. Plus I don't hear the bass playing while the string solo is happening.  Now my ears could be retarded but it also sound vaguely reminiscent of a quite bass clarinet. Like a muddled not as pronounced. I don't know, but I know that the piano trading with the drums works very well on this track where it was just okay on Four and I am feeling the track. It's much more inspired and lively than the other one. Philly Joe is really making me smile with all those drum rolls and the having fun. There is a nice good feeling to this.
7. Half Nelson: This is the third and final, thought the next track is just a different take of the song of the same name, song by Miles. I know its I'm because of the wrestling move, but I always picture Willie Nelson when I hear this name :'D. Seriously. Maybe it was the shot that I needed but this drum introduction really gave me hope. Then the urgency of the the track reminds me of a straight Ornette Coleman and other good tracks that are in this fast hard bop style such as Giant Steps. This track isn't phenomenal, but is definitely was filling a void much needed on this album. It works quite well thought it's more of a 7 again.
8. The Theme (Take 2): This is just take two of The Theme, which was by Davis. It kind of comes and goes, I don't really have much that I retained from it.

Overall I have to give this album a 6/10. Don't get me wrong, I love jazz. While I'm not as nuts about cool jazz or hard bop I do still enjoy albums like Time Out!, Heartplants, Dakar, Jazz by Sun Ra, Pre-Bird, Carnival, The Blues and Abstract Truth, Something Else! and Outward Bound. The stinger is that most of these are like a lot of rock records to me, they have an idea and record songs but don't really spend time pushing themselves. Now I am very aware rock records used to be put out yearly, but if you look at the sessions for any jazz musician and how many hours, songs, and takes were in thoses sessions and how much of the material was released. I'd be exhausting my creativity if I was using it too.  But that doesn't mean that this album or that album is equal, some happen to have better performances and songs and solos. This has good moments but I just don't jive with all the noise. I mean I also am not that smitten with a full front to back listen to Kind of Blue, but that's for a different reason than this which I will explain in detail in that review. Miles is great, don't get me wrong, it's just never base your opinion off praise for music.

Also I'm figuring on doing a review of Atomic Bomb in honor the the passing of WIlliam Onyeabor.

The Unknown - Dillon

So over this winter break I heard a shit ton of albums, 93 to be exact. Majority were albums I have been putting off or have not been in the mood for playing. While very few were favorite album material (The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, In the Nightside Eclipse, Eric Dolphy in Europe Vol. 2, Unknown Pleasure, Outward Bound) some were very bad/bland (Charles Mingus with Orchestra, Live at Brixton, Significant Other, Red Hot from Alex) and most others were just okay (Greg Howe, Reasonable Doubt, Strictly Personal, The Chronic). Since school has started I will have significantly less time to being listen to records, though I do listen to each album and look for things that stick out to revisit. This is one of the albums I heard during the month long binge. This is also the sophomore effort by Dillon. I found out about her a few years ago with her first album. I think she's kind of cute and I kind of sat on this review. By the time I got to listening to the album I was just hoping she isn't another Lea Michelle or any other cute girl devoid of anything interesting in her music. Well see what my findings were directly below. 

1. The Unknown: This opens with a piano ballad introduction. So far her vocals aren't half band and I like the chords. I don't love them, but I do like what I'm hearing. Then a bass line comes in and this sort of gets a bit trippy with the electronics. I don't hate this song, but this doesn't really do a ton for me you know.
2. A Matter of Time: This opens in a similar fashion of the last song, except the vocals and electronics come in at the same time. This is very piano led though also. The beat kind of reminds me of a heartbeat a bit. I mean this is again okay, but it isn't blowing my mind at all.
3. You Cover Me: Three for three, this sounds very similar to the other songs. Like there isn't much substance here. I do like the patch that is used at the ending of this song, but it isn't really doing much for me outside of that specific detail.
4. Forward: Is what I wish women would be with me... hahahahahahahahaha. That terrible joke was more entertaining to me than this song happens to be. This also feels a lot like the last songs structure. Listen to the repetition of the chorus.
5. In Silence: This is just getting harder for me to take serious isn't it. Honestly, so far this is just warranting of an EP. Really I am kind of lost for words, I guess subconsciously I was supposed to put this off.
6. 4ever: This is more of the same, and again I don't hate it but I'm not getting anything really out of it.
7. Evergreen: So at this point I left the album and came back hours later, only to be as bored and uninterested if not more. Like why not make something more interesting, you can make ambient music and keep in interesting. Eno has done it, I liked The Solitude of Prime Numbers, Ambient 3 is solid, Delirium Cordia is phenomenal. There are people who have made spare albums and made them great. Possibly bad example, but The Residents have made multiple. A better example would be Klaus Schulze and company have all done minimal stuff and made it great. Like even if there was more variety this could be better but the songs are such copy paste repetition. Piano, Vocals, Bland electronics. Repeat the chorus multiple times. Verse chorus verse.
8. Into the Deep: Refer to the last track. I think her voice is okay, but it's kind of reminds me of one of the singers on the radio, Alissa Cara?
9. Don't Go: It sounds like a sample is being played backwards, but sadly nothing really happens with this.Add to it, make it go somewhere. I mean, yes if does grow, but please do it different than the rest of the album. There is potential I hear in this song if they added strings. At the one part that would sound great with it. Around the last 2 minutes or so.
10. Lightning Sparked: So I realized what I needed to enjoy this album, either start smoking pot or get drunk.
11. Nowhere: I guess this seems a bit darker, but it's just kind of bland and annoying and has over stayed it's welcome at this point. The ending though is kind of good, I wonder if Laurie Anderson inspired this track.
12. Current Change: I like some of the textures but not enought to say I'm a fan, but I guess I can appreciate it.

Overall I have to give this album a 4/10. This album was very bland. I like some of the sounds and the ambience, but I feel that you could combine theses into longer songs with different sections. In fact some felt like the same song. Honestly this isn't terrible, and I think this could be fleshed out into something great, but I feel there isn't really anything here. Hell Blonde did something like this but much better. Also Floating into the Night is a freaking solid records in this Ambient Pop style. I know this was a very bland review but sadly I had very little to say and I figured I would clean out the draft folder.

"Awaken, My Love!" - Childish Gambino

I was hoping to do this for the second review of the new year, and I pulled it off. This is the new album by Childish Gambino. He is a writer/comedian/rapper and I guess now singer known as Donald Glover. I loved Community while it was on TV and I did see some Derrick Comedy while it was on the Internet. But I do know over the summer I actually saw his stand up special the day I broke up with my ex. I feel really dumb bringing it up but it has to do with this. I thought the stand up special was good but I also didn't expect to even think this was good. It wasn't until after this dropped and I heard Redbone I was like.... Let's peep this out.

1. Me and Your Mama: The track opens with a sort of feeling of uncertainty. I was unsure if I would like this as much as I liked Redbone when the song started. There is a sort of waiting for something to happen. Once it does happen its sort of worth the wait, but I still wonder if the wait was shorter would the pay off be the same I guess. There are chimes and kind of a music box playing before this beat comes in and vocals and it's building up the song until the lead vocals come in. The beginning has some interesting textures and cool sounds and I think it sounds pretty damn good. I mean I don't think this is the highlight of the song, but it's still solid. My only complaint is the song takes a whole 2 minutes to start. If this introduction was an intro track I could just skip it, but I love that guitar and the fucking fuzz on it. The choir makes this feel so big and gives it that punch I need it to have. Then that scream, it reminds me so much of the scream in the beginning of (Don't Worry) If There Is a Hell Below, Were All Gonna Go. Which also happens to be one of my favorite songs off all times, so positive points there. I fucking love the keyboards that play towards the ending, the rhodes and the moog and Hammond organ all sound so good. I'm fucking jealous that he got to get his hands on those, really, the lucky bastard.
2. Have Some Love: This track's choir has a very overy Parliment/Sly & The Family Stone vibe. The group vocal thing is something George Clinton would do all over a later record from the group. I like the way he's kind of rap singing. That organ sound is also great. I don't really know what to call it but I like it. I also like the acoustic guitar that comes in the second chorus, gives it a nice twang. I appreciate how it sort of goes into a different section after the second chrous that could be like a solo but it's got a lot of weird sort of psychedelic sounds going one. There are what sounds like hits on triangles and electronics and then it has this sort of spacy vibe. After that it goes to a group vocal of before going back to the intro and ending the song off. This is a very well put together songs. And the message is great
3. Boogieman: The intro has a sort of Jimi Hendrix feeling and the first vocal part remind me of Parliment again. The thing though is I can kind of picture Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey when I hear that intro. It's a bit of a stretch, but I can kind of almost say it as it was said in the original song. I don't know, maybe I just has Sly on the mind. I like the sort of weird vocals on this and I trippin' feeling of the song. The best part is the chorus, the rest of the song is just kind of okay. I like the rhythm guitar that comes in during that also, adds a nice texture. It's not as good as the last two, but I do still jive with it.
4. Zombies: This opens with some effects before giving us the guitar and the funky track. There is a weird perverted sort of Isley Brothers vibe I'm getting from this track. I really dig the harpsichord and the backing vocals the most on the track. I also really like that second where he holds the note and they use auto tune. Nice little details like that, that also happen to work, are what makes an album so much better. I also appreciate that organ part that plays before the song changes and quiets down. That woman on this track, fuck she is something else. I'm really jiving with what she's doing. I mean it's kinda sexy, but it also adds to this song. I also love that now there is a piano and then it gets a Rhodes. This is a very well constructed song that takes a number of listens to even pick everything out.
5. Riot: This track is based on Good to Your Earhole by Funkadelic, and it isn't that bad. To be honest I think that was a good basis to use for the track. This is a very fun track but the deatils I love are because of the direct sample. I love that clavinet though, but it is more of a rocker to shake things up from the last and the next track.
6. Redbone: I'ma be honest, I love this track.
   I know this is an interpolation of I'd Rather Be With You by Bootsy, but I'm be honest.... he fucking out does Bootsy. It is such a good track and kind of transforms it into something different and the vocals work so fucking good. This is a much more memorable and fun and sexy song that the original. In my opinion at least. I would bone to this, I think. I am also aware of the similarities to the one Isaac Hayes song too, but this songs trumps both of them. This kind of takes the best of both worlds and makes them better. I love the details and the little chimes and just how this works so fucking well. I am actually kind of wordless to describe the song, I just love this song much. I like how there isn't a solo at the ending of the song to the outro. I think it might work better that way, though I guess there kind of is.... in the lower guitar that could almost pass as a bass. It could also be a keyboard. I don't know this thing is so layered, it's fucking great.
7. California: This is honestly a great tune. Its weird and fun and kind of a great diddy to be had. I love weird little things like this, Masoko Tango, Wild Honey Pie, EXP, New York Telephone Conversation, Tomorrow Never Knows, The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet and I kind of guess the intro to Pena. There are tons more but just weird things that kind of don't exactly fit or seem odd you know. They add some personality you know, rather than being a one trick pony, and can kind of show a sense of humor a bit. And the more I hear this the more I hear how much time was actually spent on this. There are these bottles and these voice pops and it's got a lot more work put into the track then you might initially think. I was so glad when I heard he did stuff with his voice on this to make the percussion, I knew it when I heard it :). I also love that soul jazz organ, and the vocals that soul like woodwinds. And that guitar on the track too. The amount of effort spent on this alone should make people happy.
8. Terrified: This is another solid tune that kind of reminds me of The Weeknd. Like his early stuff, but maybe a bit more clear and not so drowned in reverb or the effects. I like the space on this though, and when the track starts I go this is a solid ass song. I also like those chimes, and the la las. The guitar again has a great tone, and I like all these section changes thought the album. The vocals at the end though kind of make me think of Great Gig in the Sky. And it also make me think of the potential. Like I guess it could be copying, but imagine if the next song was a sort of extended version of that chill ending and it just gets bigger and the vocals fucking orgasm as they do on that track.
9. Baby Boy: If you know me, it's hard to hate a clavinet. It sounds so fucking good, and the rhythm section works very well and I love Gambino's vocals here. The lead to the chorus has some nice textures added and then it goes into a soulful group vocal vibe in the chorus. The only complaint is during the verses it could almost be a copy and past of the last one. This is still a solid tune though. The keyboards solo in pretty solid, but I wish it was better. The organ coming in makes the solo much better but it still doesn't really fix it you know.
10. The Night Me and Your Mama Met: Now I gotta be honest, outside of tracks and the first two records I'm not a Funkadelic fan. In fact they tighter and more together the songs got, the less I like them. But this kind of has a sort of Maggot Brain feeling that isn't so loose, but it's chill and funky and has a well enough wah/phased guitar and solo. I don't know if its better or worse that the solo isn't like a fucking mind blow. The reason being there's no way this guy can compete with Eddie Hazel so if he tried he might fall flat. But then again if he tried it might just be a "rip off". But I guess since he didn't go nuts it keeps the chill vibe rather than the emotional breakout vibe. I still dig this, don't get me wrong, just a nugget that popped in my head while listening. I love the choir in this and it adds a nice tough. I can very easily see myself making love, or see in a movie people making love, to this song. 
11. Stand Tall: This is honestly a very strong way to end the album. I love the track and think its a touching message. It makes me hope I can pull something like this, something touching, off if I ever have a son.I really like the Rhodes and the guitar in the beginning and he does a solid job of singing. I also love the sort of use of Strawberry Letter 23 for the refrain and I love how it seems very sincere. It's not like Picasso Baby, if memory serves correctly on the title. I also think this is a solid ending to the album, because it ends on a soft note where the album opens with a fucking bang. The woodwinds, and clarinet/flute sound great and I like the autotune he uses. I'm not sure how I feel about the synth patch that plays over the backing vocals, I like it but I'm not sure it's necessary. Though it does transition into the next section of the song, but it's comes up kind of abrupt. I do think that last section of the song where he's just singing and it feels like a party, I feel like could use a clean lead guitar soloing and going crazy you know. But the ending of the song is fine the way it is.

Overall I have to give this a 8/10. The more time I spend with this the more i appreciate it and like it. While it can never be a 9 or a 10, it was originally a high 7. This is one of the contemporary albums in pop music where I would totally want to jam along with, or play a session on. Given I need to be better, but you know what I mean. I recently listened to that Bruno Mars album, and I was like.... "it's okay and kind of fun. But I have heard things that sound like this and can get more out of those albums than this". While this emulates those older styles of music quite a bit, I think it's more in line with RAM than it is with say just a rehash. Like the more I revisit these songs the more I find that I like and find this is a pretty damn good record. Probably one of my favorites of the year, if I'm being completely honest. Needless to say I'll eventually pick up a Cd and maybe vinyl of this album.

Sail Away - Randy Newman

So I am using this month to finish up some albums that can be finished either fast, or are in various stages of completion and are..... Basically I'm cleaning out my draft folder on the site. That doesn't mean I'm shitting out reviews, I am just doing ones I know I don't need to spend as much time on or i have spent the time and just need to type it out. The album I picked first is this. This is the only, besides possibly Trouble in Paradise, Randy Newman record I'll ever review. The reason being I like the title track and Political Science.  That's really the only reason, I guess that and to give this maybe another chance, considering how much I love PS. And honestly, that the only reason to do this review. Oh yeah this is album number 4th studio album.

1. Sail Away: For this record, I feel this to be a great tone setter and terrific open to the record. It's got that wit, and the cynic inside me loves the tone. So basically this song's story is a slave trader talks to the slaves, on the boat, about how great America will be and all the great things that lie ahead. The one thing he decided to leave out, is the fact they won't get any of those opportunities because they are slaves. Kinda dark, he doesn't have an aside or anything, he just withholds that part. It makes you think a bit, I wonder if they actually did that to make the slaves less irritable or more willing to submit. I don't know, and you probably don't either (we weren't there). But still, if a song can make you think, and not about something stupid, Damn! Man I wish I came up with that. The strings on this thing are great and it just feels American, it feels like it could fit in as a Nationalist type song, though it's not really. I don't know, I just know I love it. Also Ray Charles actually did a solid more gospel inspired cover of this tune, which I'm not sure if I prefer to this version, off his 1975 record Renaissance. If I do a review of that I'll go into more detail about the song, on the Ray side of things. 
2. Lonely at the Top: Hahaha, this was written for Sinatra. I do quite like the creeping feeling of this song. There is also a cabaret feeling to the song, if I'm not mistaken. I think this works, unlike that one song... *cough* Who Needs the Young *cough*. I wish I had more to say, but I do quite like this track and think it works for what it is. Plus this is some what smarter than some of the other songs Sinatra would sing. And it doesn't seem that pityful. I mean I like No One Cares and other tracks like that, but look at that cover.
3. He Gives Us All His Love: Originally written for a movie, and I don't think the joke works unless you have the back story. Unlike God's Song or Sail Away this is not as clear what its about. In the movie they were saying this and it was kind of point out the foolishness of believing. I don't really know how to explain it without you looking it up or making it sound like I don't believe in God. I do, but I love this song. It has a very strong standard feeling and I think it should be. While the lyrics are simple its kind of supposed to be. 
4. Last Night I Had a Dream: There is a slide guitar, played by Ry Cooder, present. This is a solid song, but his vocals remind me of what I think he's funny to laugh at. But this is an odd enough rocker that I think if someone else did it it'd be fucking phenomenal. Maybe someone with a larger range of vocals. Really everything else works here. I love the guitar ton, the building feeling and the anticipation I feel in my blood when the song builds to the chorus. This is also a rocker.
5. Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear: This song is about a guy who, by use of dancing bear. There's more to the story, but I feel like this has a sort of fun feeling to the song. The piano playing is very impressive and I like the changes in rhythm. While its not as grand as I could picture it, or rearrange it in my head, it is solid. I'm not completely sold on the track, but I do enjoy it. I really think the worst part of the song is the vocals, there's a part at the end that hurts my ears. Also I guess its a bit of a let down that there aren't other instruments like horns or woodwinds and strings. That would certainly add to the track. 
6. Old Man: I assume this is about an old man or his old man. I think ths song is a pretty sad song, and I has to have some personal meaning to it. There is something in the inflection if his voice where it sounds like a child singing to his father who is on his death bed. Honestly I could see this being a Sinatra, the string arrangement is beautiful enough to be on In the Wee Small Hours or another of his best records/ballads. There is something's very touching about this and the sole piano and vocals for one verse then the next having strings makes it more effective. I read somewhere he said after his father passed, years later, he revisited this song and pictured his father. Its funny because I hvemmave written songs where they either came true or they were more insightful of my ownself than I could have imagined. 
7. Political Science: Quick, straightforward and to the point, possibly Newman's best song. Really, another hit to Americas ego. This is how good Rednecks should be, but it isn't. This song makes me laugh more and more with each listen. There is a sort of Toy Story feeling tie this track, but I like this a lot. I cove the brushes and the horns that are in the background. A favorite part of mine is the Australia part. This really is a phenomenal track and the ending gets big and just works so fucking well. Great, funny, and on point.
8. Burn On: and on and on and on and on and on. This is a very piano oriented in the beginning and it has this weird cabaret feeling to it. Then the other instruments come in and I really like the um pa feeling I'm getting form the arrangement. The string/woodwind/brass arrangement on this is spectacular. Honestly I can't find flaw in it. It really is a fucking great track and I think his vocals even work well for this track. This is a pretty silly feeling song but I am pretty sure there is a son what deeper meaning. Maybe it was a topical song about Cleveland like Baltimore. 
9. Memo to My Son: I am surprised that I would love this thing, but I do. There is a sort of country vibe to this track. I can't exactly point my finger on what to call it but I do quite like it. It has a sort of honky tank piano and a rocking back and forth feeling. Like I could see this being in a movie from the 70s, maybe in a sort of flashback sequence. Or it could be the theme to a TV show about a single dad who has a son. It has a sort of sentimental feeling too it. I don't have a really reason why but I just can. There is also for whatever reason, Eagles pop in my head.
10. Dayton, Ohio - 1903: You know, this title pisses me off. It's not a bad song, it's actually quite sad, but it's also a sort of predecessor to Baltimore. This is a very mellow song and it kind of reminds me of Short People if it was depressed. I don think its that great, but it aint half bad. I could see it being in a movie or something when its someone pondering something maybe. He isn't the greatest player but he is far better than I. 
11. You Can Leave Your Hat On: I never liked this title, that's not saying the sing it self is bad. Just my feelings of the title. There is a sleezy feeling to this song, but I kind of like that. I like guitar in this and the sort of bar band feeling with the piano. Like a sort of piano blues feeling to it. Though I woukdnt say its exactly like Eddie Boyd or someone like that. Its nice and it is not half bad. I like guitar on the track or whatever is playing that sort of motif in the verses. The bass? I don't know for certain but the only real complaint is it goes a bit long for what actually happens in the song and looking at the length of the other tracks. 
12. God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind): Funny idea, but I guess I feel like this is pretty dark. Its kind of like God does these horrific things to us, but we still love him. I understand that its probably pointing out people are foolish but I think its worth pondering. I also think the music is perfect for this and its a great opposition to the opening. The opening was much more cheerful and hopeful, in feeling not message. This is just a dreary and kind of straight forward song. Like it is kind of fucked to imagine like God just doing stuff to fuck with us because he doesn't actually care. I mean I myself don't think people should find value in themselves to the point if them being above someone else, but there is a part of me that makes me feel like yeah. I don't really think God owes us anything. That's a bit of a way off front the song. But the music is phenominal and his singing works very well. A great track that grows with each listen. 

Overall I have to give this album a 8/10. I don't care for Randy, his albums are structured in a similar way and his music is very samey. There are some songs here that are okay, but most are average or boring elsewhere in his discography. But the upon meditation, and the cynicisizing (?) of my heart I kind of grew to love this. It's far from the greatest thing ever, but I laugh at it and contemplate what it talks about. It's funny, it's satire, it good. The only negative is these aren't really the definitive versions of some of these songs for me. But the template here is great, and the songs are all solid and have high potential to be re-imagined. I know most of these have been redone or covered in the last 40-50 odd years, but still. This album is great and its got solid song writing, but there are other versions of the songs far more realized. I hope that nukes sense, but ill say this. If I can make something as good as this ill be happy you know. So, yeah, as we all know, Randy Newman's the best. Also as a side note, I think I might do a De La Soul review. I mean I was disappointed by The Chronic and Reasonable Doubt, so maybe their debut will fill that void. But hopefully up next was a surprise favorite of mine from last year. I was not expecting to dig it as much as I did and continue to.