Welcome to online-astoria.com

By Keir Bristol

Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under by Amanda Palmer

Amanda Palmer’s new album, Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under, came out on January 21. Her first solo album since Who Killed Amanda Palmer? in 2008, the album was recorded and written about the continent of Australia (and New Zealand). Many of the tracks on the album were recorded live in the Sydney Opera House, while others transpired in the studio.

For those who aren’t familiar with Amanda Palmer, she is a punk-caberet musician whose first claim to fame was being the better half of duo The Dresden Dolls. Since then she has branched out on a solo career and is one half of the duo Evelyn-Evelyn. She is known for being an extremely controversial figure and has a large cult following.

Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under is a hilarious record with a range of topics from the smell and taste of vegemite to her imaginary funeral to Palmer’s menstruation cycle. In addition to Palmer’s piano playing, she also takes on the ukelele for a more authentic feel. The album also features The Young Punx, The Jane Austen Argument, and Mikelangelo. The best duet on the album is definitely “Bad Wine and Lemon Cake”, but “Map of Tasmania” featuring the Young Punx is the catchiest tune on the album. But Palmer holds her own as well, especially with “Vegemite (The Black Death)” in which she condemns a potential romantic partner for their love of the native food.

Watch the video for \”Map of Tasmania\” feat. the Young Punx

The album reveals Palmer as an excellent story-teller with a dark sense of humor, but listeners can’t deny she has a softer, deeper side. At least they can’t after they hear “In My Mind,” in which Palmer questions the purpose of life and becoming the person she wants to be. “On an Unknown Beach” proves her ability of writing beautiful piano ballads with or without humor (in this case, without).

Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under can be listened to in full here. It is highly recommended, old fans and new alike.

By Keir Bristol

This isn’t just a review of Diddy’s new album with Dirty Money, Last Train To Paris. It is also a comment on Diddy and his evolution over the years…

What you need to know: Diddy has been around since the 90’s. He is associated with the success of the Notorious B.I.G. and the East Coast rap scene. He has been rapping and producing from then up to now. He recently signed Dirty Money, made up of Dawn Richard (previously from Danity Kane) and Kalenna Harper, known mononymously as Kalenna.

Things Diddy did right: Include an all-star guest list, including T.I., Chris Brown, Lil’ Wayne, Drake, Swizz Beatz, Trey Songz, Justin Timberlake, Skylar Grey and Grace Jones.

It’s also a good look having Dirty Money on every track. Fans become more familiar with their voices this way, since they are new.

On Last Train To Paris, Diddy added a touch of European influence to his music. There are notes of house and disco in this album, which certainly makes the beats more interesting. Examples include “Someone To Love Me,” “I Hate That You Love Me,” and “Strobe Lights.”

Other tracks worth mentioning include the single, “Hello, Good Morning” featuring T.I., “Azz On The Floor” featuring Swizz Beatz, and the single “Angels” featuring Rick Ross and the late Biggie Smalls (b.k.a. Notorious B.I.G.).

Last Train To Paris Album Cover

Things Diddy… could have done better: What he didn’t do, was step his rap game up. These days, when you have such theatrical, performance-obsessed entertainers like Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj, you need a little something extra, and that’s not what Diddy has done here. In fact, even though the beat production is a nice change, the songs on the album harken to late 90’s hip-hop meets Jagged Edge-esque R&B, with a slight touch of autotune.

Therefore, don’t expect this album to produce any of your favorite songs. It’s an adequate album at best. Nice beats, all-star features and average lyrics do not an amazing album make.

I would also like to say that vocally, Dirty Money sounds a lot like Brandy. Take that as you will.

—————–

• Click here to see the tracklist for Last Train To Paris.
• The album can be listened to in its entirety on Diddy’s Myspace page.
• Click here to watch the video for Diddy / Dirty Money’s video for the non-album single “Love Come Down.”
• Photos of Diddy and Last Train To Paris album cover provided by Wikipedia.com

——————

Check AndThenKeirSaid on Friday, December 17th to read a blog with a feminist bent about Nicki Minaj and why she sometimes seems to be known more for her ass than her music.

By Keir Bristol

As much as I love Nicki Minaj, I wasn’t sure if I was going to write about her debut this week. Think about it- Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday came out on Monday (Nov. 22) but this month alone Jay-Z’s Greatest Hits Volume 1, Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Ke$ha’s Cannibal, Kid Cudi’s Man on the Moon II- The Legend of Mr. Rager and My Chemical Romance’s Danger Days hit the market. That is not including Rihanna’s new album from last week’s column either. And there are plenty more!

But it’s her debut. The debut of the first female rapper in years!

Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday

The album includes the already released “Your Love,” “Right Thru Me,” “Check It Out” featuring Will.I.Am and the latest Minaj diss-track “Roman’s Revenge” featuring Eminem. “Massive Attack,” her first official single was not included- probably because it flopped. Click on each song to see the music video.

The remaining songs feature guest appearances from fellow Young Money rapper Drake (Moment Fo’ Lyfe), Rihanna (Fly), Kanye West (Blazin), and Natasha Bedingfield (Last Chance).

Extra songs include “Girls Fall Like Dominoes,” “Muny,” “Blow Ya Mind” sampling Prince’s “Darling Nikki” and “Super Bass” featuring Ester Dean.

Minaj features a little more singing on her debut (see: “Save Me”). Plenty of auto-tune on those tracks, but not so much so that you can’t tell whether she can sing or not. (Spoiler alert: she can). For those who are more a fan of Nicki’s rapping, check out “Did It On ‘Em,” a track dedicated to how great she is (because every rapper has a couple of these songs on each of their albums), or “Blazin” with Kanye West. For those who miss mixtape-era Minaj, check out “Dear Old Nicki.”

The best track? “Fly” featuring Rihanna, in which Minaj raps inspiring lyrics like “I am not a word, I am not a line / I am not a girl that can ever be defined / I am not fly, I am levitation / I represent an entire generation,” in between Rihanna’s delicate and melodic chorus. And “Moment Fo Lyfe,” with Drake features a music box beat with some hard drums and an echoing Nicki singing a layered chorus, not to mention Drake’s ever-frequent reference to a future marriage with Minaj.

The bonus songs only add more levels of greatness! Check out “Muny,” if you want to understand why she is sometimes called “Nicki the Ninja.” “Super Bass” is Nicki’s ode to the boys, and of course “Girls Fall Like Dominoes,” which samples Big Pink’s “Dominoes,” is dedicated to the ladies. In fact, Minaj uses the song to outline her “bad b*tches.” The list includes Kristin Cavallari, The Kardashian sisters, Ciara, Keri Hilson, Mariah Carey, M.I.A., Mo’Nique, Angeline Jolie, Madonna and Rihanna.

Check www.andthenkeirsaid.com later on this week for a review of Kanye West’s new album!

Click here to watch Nicki’s interview with Wendy Williams concerning Pink Friday, Lil Kim, her family’s past, and her fans.

Click here to listen to Nicki’s interview on HOT97 with Angie Martinez.

Album cover courtesy of Wikipedia.org.