Cajun Tomato’s Favorite Songs of 2011 (Better Late Edition)

January 25, 2012 By 3 Comments

Charles Bradley

The calendar has turned, snow has fallen in Portland, and it is time for a belated list.

I am referring to my Favorite Songs of 2011 (Better Late Edition). Let’s pretend it’s December, and this list is being released at the same time everyone else in the world is releasing theirs. OK. Nevermind. It is too cold for pretend.

Below are the 40 songs I enjoyed the most in 2011, with one minor caveat. I limited myself to one song per artist. This kept the list from being 200 songs. It also forced me to make some tough choices with regards to several artists.

Enjoy!

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Filed Under: Dig This Tomato, Yo!, Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Music Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Lupe Fiasco's Obama "Terrorist" Comments Misguided, Silly

June 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I am glad hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco speaks out about issues he feels are important. He has a large audience. Some would shy away from making controversial statements about the U.S.’s ongoing wars or the president for fear of alienating fans and losing money.

It took courage to say “I really think the War on Terror is a bunch of bullshit,” as he did on “Words I Never Said”. Or to call out President Obama for looking the other way when Israel bombed the Gaza Strip. Right or wrong, Fiasco takes a side. I appreciate that.

However, I believe Fiasco (born Wasalu Muhammed Jaco) crossed the line this week when he called Obama “the biggest terrorist in America,” during an interview with broadcast network CBS. That’s not the type of statement to flippantly throw out during a five-minute interview.

Just because you can say something, and people will listen, does not mean you should say it. Fiasco should have refrained from sticking his foot in his mouth.

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Filed Under: Lupe Fiasco, Music, World Affairs Tagged With: , , , ,

Cajun Tomato's Favorite Songs Of 2011 (Mid-Year Edition Pt. 1)

June 9, 2011 By 2 Comments

The calendar might say we are halfway through 2011, but, dammit, it feels like we are past the mid-point. We’ve seen the rapture come and go, Osama bin Laden get merked and hit the snooze button on the Royal Wedding. Oh, and there’s been a little something called Weinergate. Mother Nature has gone batshit insane. I </3 U, Global Warming!

It’s been a newsy year, no doubt. It’s also been quite a year in music. Some bands’ new records have delivered on the hype (i.e., Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, etc.) while others have disappointed (i.e., Lupe Fiasco, the Strokes, etc.). There have been no shortage of great songs to emerge this year … even on the aforementioned disappointing albums.

You might recall earlier this year I made a favorite songs list consisting of tunes that caught my ear in the first two months of 2011. I did not rank the songs at the time, citing my lack of time spent with them.

Today, I am unveiling Part One of my favorite songs of 2011 (mid-year edition). Part Two will be posted Friday. Per this list: I am going out on a limb and ranking the songs. Just because a song ranks high on this list does not mean it will receive favorable treatment at the end of the year, and vice versa. As always, this is a favorites list NOT a best of list.

Let’s end the wait, shall we? Here are my favorite songs of 2011 (so far).

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Filed Under: Dig This Tomato, Yo!, Lupe Fiasco, Music Tagged With: , , , , ,

NOLA Jazzfest's Schedule Is A Head-Scratcher

April 1, 2011 By 2 Comments

In January, I wrote a glowing post titled “Don’t Even Think About Skipping This Jazzfest” after the New Orleans festival released its lineup.

The presence of music luminaries, such as Arcade Fire, Lupe Fiasco, the Strokes, Lauryn Hill, and many others, piqued my interest. But alas I could not attend because I live in Portland, and did not have the money to make such a trip a reality.

After the release of Jazzfest’s schedule this week, I am significantly less bummed. The lineup is still great, but the schedule is atrocious. There is an important distinction to be made here.

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Filed Under: Live Music, Lupe Fiasco, Music Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

My Favorite Albums of 2011 (1st Quarter Edition)

March 20, 2011 By 1 Comment

The ultra nostalgic Frank Ocean

I’ve been slow to warm up to 2011′s crop of albums. Maybe it’s because the two that I anticipated the most — Lupe Fiasco’s LASERS and the Strokes’ Angles — turned out to be disappointments. Or maybe it’s because I haven’t spent much time with albums from artists whose work I’ve previously enjoyed (i.e., Toro Y Moi, Lykke Li, Cut Copy, Destroyer, etc.)

Whatever the reason for this year’s slow start, I am hoping 2011 picks up steam in the next few months with the release of Tv On The Radio’s new album, Nine Types of Light, Fleet Foxes’ second album, Helplessness Blues, and Kanye West and Jay-Z’s collaboration Watch The Throne. I’m also intrigued by the new Pains Of Being Pure At Heart album.

Here, listed below, are the albums that grabbed me the most during the first three months of 2011. They are my favorite albums of the year so far. That does not mean they will definitely be on my year end list.

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Filed Under: Dig This Tomato, Yo!, Lupe Fiasco, Music Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Album Review: Lasers by Lupe Fiasco

March 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Lupe's Lasers drops Tuesday, March 8.

I have written ad nauseum on this blog that I considered Lupe Fiasco’s Lasers my most anticipated musical release of 2011, based largely off his previous material and the long wait associated with this album.

The initial tracks released  – “Words I Never Said”, “The Show Goes On”, “All Black Everything” – only heightened my expectations. But listening to the final product, and its puzzling, revolving door of guest singers, I can’t help but feel slightly disappointed.

It’s hard to listen to Lasers without being reminded of Lupe’s lengthy fight with his record company, Atlantic Records, to release his third album. It is evident from the first spin through this disc that he had to make serious concessions.

Atlantic apparently wanted Lupe to make a record similar to B.O.B.’s latest — one recognized more for guest’s hooks than B.O.B.’s raps. That is insanity. Lupe’s music should never be watered down like that, even if it means selling a few more albums.

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Filed Under: Album Reviews, Lupe Fiasco, Music Tagged With: , , ,

My Favorite Songs of 2011 (1st Quarter Edition)

February 25, 2011 By 2 Comments

Ed. Note: You can view my mid-year favorite songs list here and here.

It is snowing today in northwest Portland. Meanwhile in south Louisiana my friends there are enjoying temperatures in the 80′s just in time for Mardi Gras. Go figure.

I am attempting to avoid Snowpocalypse 2011. As such, I am sitting inside the warm confines of Coffee Time, my friendly, neighborhood coffeeshop. I’m sipping an organic green tea and listening to new tunes by Tv On The Radio, Lupe Fiasco, and Tyler, the Creator, among others.

Each month I collect songs I’ve enjoyed immensely into a playlist. These songs are a mix of new and old, hip-hop and rock, mainstream and indie.

This month I decided to do something a bit different. Here are my 13 favorite songs of the year so far. I placed them in alphabetical order. It’s way too early to rank these songs. I haven’t had enough time with them, and I am probably leaving out a few songs.

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Filed Under: Dig This Tomato, Yo!, Lupe Fiasco, Music Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Track Review: “Words I Never Said” by Lupe Fiasco

February 13, 2011 By 7 Comments

Much of the buzz surrounding Lupe Fiasco’s latest single, “Words I Never Said,” centers around his brief criticism of President Obama in the first verse.

How does a rapper, particularly a “conscious rapper,” criticize a black president? Isn’t there a rule against that? No. That’s precisely the point of this song. Fight the inclination to remain silent when the truth you aim to speak is unpopular.

“Gaza Strip was getting bombed Obama didn’t say shit. That’s why I didn’t vote for him,” Lupe declares over producer Alex da Kid’s booming bass’n'drums rumble, reasoning that he (Lupe) is “part of the problem” and “the problem is he’s peaceful.”

I recently read a review of “Words I Never Said,” the second single off Lupe’s third album, Lasers, that called it one of the most controversial songs of the year. That type of tagline might generate page views, but it does not show a desire to seriously review this song.

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Filed Under: Lupe Fiasco, Music, Track Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Don’t Even Think About Skipping This Jazzfest

January 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Lupe Fiasco is among the performers at this year's loaded Jazzfest. Photo Credit: Cajun Tomato

I attended my first Jazzfest last year. I bought a ticket specifically to see indie rock group Band of Horses, not any of the dozens of jazz and local artists that played that day. I am not a jazz fan so Jazzfest has never appealed to me much.

This year’s Jazzfest is a different animal. The lineup is less devoted to jazz and more devoted to drawing spectators from across the musical map. Is this a sign Jazzfest is becoming a national festival rather than one for New Orleans music lovers? Maybe so. Either way, this lineup has me salivating (and a tad bit sad).

Let me explain: My best friend is flying to Portland May 4 and staying until May 8. Thus, it seems there will be no Arcade Fire, Lupe Fiasco, or the Strokes in my future. C’est la vie.

For those of you lucky enough to attend Jazzfest this year, here are my thoughts about each day’s lineup. Bravo to whoever put this lineup together. There are few days I would skip, which is saying something considering this festival is set across seven (!) days.

Click the link to see my recommendations for each day of Jazzfest. Check it!

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Filed Under: Live Music, Lupe Fiasco, Music Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Cajun Tomato’s 2011 New Year’s Resolutions

January 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Hello friend,

Here just hours before 2011 arrives is that noblest of pursuits: a list of resolutions I will brush aside during the first week of the new year. Anyone can brush aside one resolution, two resolution, three resolutions … but here I have listed 26 resolutions. I can’t possibly brush all of them aside, can I? Just watch. I’ve already said, “Thanks but no thanks”, to five of them while typing this intro. No, I’m not going to tell you which. You’ll just have to guess. You’ll probably guess wrong, though. The mind of the Cajun Tomato is a whirlwind, a friendly whirlwind, but a whirlwind all the same. Well, it’s time to post this baby. May you have a wonderful evening and may 2011 bring you all the health and wealth your megachurch pastor promises.

Cheers,

Ray

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Filed Under: Dig This Tomato, Yo!, Food, Job Search, Kanye West, Live Music, Lupe Fiasco, Music, Musings, Portland Tagged With: , , , , ,
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