So, I caught the BET Awards last weekend, and personally, I thought they did a commendable job considering what they had to throw together. I mean, by the time they got the news of Michael Jackson’s death they’d probably already done a full run-though of the show that they had originally intended to broadcast.

The BET network did a good job of offering up hastily thrown-together tributes featuring (most likely) the only artists who had MJ songs in their repertoire and could perform them with minimal rehearsal needed. They also made cuts where they could—nominees were deemed unnecessary, while presenters gave out multiple awards. But I’ve got no beef with how the cuts were made.

That said, the two performances that I paid the most attention to that night were by Jay-Z and Drake.

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This volume of Blaps, Rhymes & Life is dedicated to Eli Matthew Ibanga R.I.P.: Sunrise – 05.27.08 | Sunset – 06.23.09

The Blaps, Rhymes & Life compilation series continues, as the blapmaster Illmind, and Dub MD bring you volume 3, as yet another EXCLUSIVE free download. Blaps, Rhymes & Life Vol. 3 is jam-packed, full of more classic Illmind production, as he showcases his music with a mix of mainstream and underground artists. In this volume, he collaborates with mainstream artists like 50 Cent, Scarface, Masta Ace, Young Buck, and Marsha from Floetry, and keeps the balance with underground artists and rising stars Termanology, Wale, D-Black, Skyzoo and Torae, to name a few. Also included is an official remake of 88 Keys‘ single “Stay Up!”, featuring Alchemist, Evidence and 88 Keys himself on the rhymes. Master Shake from Adult Swim’s hit TV show Aqua Teen Hunger Force also makes an appearance!

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I’m not going to lie to you; when I heard that Michael Jackson was dead, my initial thought was, “I’m glad.”

In 2009, Michael Jackson’s name was more likely going to be found as a punch line than on the top of any music chart. He was equally regarded as an iconic genius and a deranged madman, and possibly both, depending on who you asked. Time had not been kind to Michael, so that’s why his death came as a relief to me.

I was going to say, “I’m old enough to fully appreciate the importance of Michael Jackson,” but that’s not completely true. I’m not old enough to remember the Jackson 5. I’ve barely got memories of AM radio, so I can almost make out a time before Michael was a solo star. But I can definitely remember before Michael was a full-blown megastar.

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Big Star – #1 Record / Radio City (Remaster)
Ardent / Fantasy (6/16/09)
Rock / Power pop

Hangin’ out, down the street / The same ol’ thing, we did last week”

Recognize these lyrics? If you’re a fan of That ’70s Show, then they probably ring a bell. Taken from Big Star’s “In the Street”, the originally-recorded version was the hit show’s theme song in the first season until it was re-worked by Cheap Trick.

This is the most recent remaster of a collection that was first released in 1992, comprising Big Star’s first two albums, #1 Record (1972) and Radio City, (1974) on one disc, with twenty-six songs that have been out of print in every format for some time now. Featuring killer, dual-guitar riffage and R&B-inspired rhythms, this Memphis band’s most standout quality is their Beatles/Monkees-esque harmony vocals. Chris Bell’s throaty gravel and Alex Chilton’s calming falsetto combine beautifully to create some of their generation’s best power pop.

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Elvis Costello – Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
Hear Music (6/2/09)
Bluegrass / Folk-Rock

If you’re not a fan of old-school bluegrass or country & western music, then Elvis Costello’s newest album, Secret, Profane & Sugarcane, probably won’t be accepted in your CD collection’s neighborhood. Recorded by Mike Piersante at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studio, the album was produced by T-Bone Burnett during a short, three-day session. Ya hear that Metallica? Three days… not three years.

This new collection of songs is most definitely an acquired taste due to it not really being a “true” Costello record. Stripped-down and mostly acoustic, you’ll find it’s the “southern” sound that takes the most time getting used to. There is a lot of fiddle, double-bass, dobro and mandolin to be heard (or dealt with, so to speak) on these tracks, but also some pretty decent electric-guitar passages played by T-Bone. However, Costello still delivers vocally. And one thing for sure is that lyrically, he keeps the common silliness of country music’s wordplay out of the mix, as you’ll hear vintage Elvis Costello in every chorus and verse.

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B.B. King – Live at Montreux 1993 [DVD]
Eagle Rock Entertainment (6/2/09)
Unrated
99 minutes

I’m not the biggest fan of big-band blues (or tongue-twisters, for that matter), but it’s hard not be a fan of B.B. King’s unmistakable lead-guitar sound and larger-than-life stage presence.

Live at Montreux 1993, the latest in a series of CDs and DVDs showcasing performances at Switzerland’s annual Montreux Jazz Festival, features a 17-song set. A special Blu-Ray edition features three bonus tracks from a subsequent 2006 Montreux appearance: “Why I Sing The Blues”, “When Love Comes to Town” and “Guess Who”.

At the time of the 1993 performance, King was a spry 68 years of age, and had no problem pulling out all the stops with his highly talented big band right there to back up every note. Rounding out the full sound besides the always-present drums and bass are a three-piece horn section, rhythm guitar, keyboards and percussion. Currently, the “King of the Blues” has played the Montreux Jazz Festival a record nineteen times and has recorded over fifty albums, all after having played 342 one-night stands in 1956. (Amazing.)

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Pete Yorn – Back & Fourth
Columbia (6/23/09)
Rock / Alternative

Pete Yorn’s latest offering, Back & Fourth opens with the somber line, “Don’t wanna cry for you.” It’s the opening line off of the lead single “Don’t Wanna Cry” and it sets the tone for the entire album. It’s the type of lyric that is indicative of a serious album full of emotionally wrought lyrics.

It is an album full of troubled relationships, vulnerable narrators and longing. Not surprisingly it’s also a relatively downtempo album. Sadly, there’s no earnest cover of Aaliyah’s “Back & Forth”.

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Since I was off on Tuesday, and there was no way in hell I was going to go all the way down to Fells Point for just one disc, I planned on picking up Mos Def’s latest offering on Wednesday.

Little did I know that this modest plan would completely derail my night.

Initially I was going to grab the album before I went to work. I didn’t have to be in until 3pm and since I’m usually early, I figured I’d just take an even earlier bus, cop the disc from The Sound Garden and get to work on time.

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Priscilla Renea – Hello My Apple [EP]
Capitol Records (3/31/09)
Pop

The story goes like this: Navy kid travels around the country from school to school, usually joins the choir and theatre groups, develops her own identity, gets a guitar for Christmas one year and ends up writing fantastic, original songs, all before her 18th birthday.

After writing a collection of soulful and interesting tunes, Priscilla Renea started self-promoting on YouTube, where her songs gained over 1.6 million views and over 30,000 channel subscribers. Priscilla then joined the Atlanta-based production company Power Entertainment, where she honed her skills and worked with various collaborators to produce the Hello My Apple EP.

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Jeff Buckley – Grace Around the World [CD/DVD]
Sony Legacy (6/2/09)
Rock / Folk

It’s been a couple years since I’ve listened to Jeff Buckley, and after just hearing his voice again, it’s amazing how unique and intense it still comes across. Grace Around the World is the name of the new Buckley DVD/CD package executive-produced by the late singer’s mother, Mary Guibert, chronicling the Grace world tour (1994-95). Featured performances take place in U.S., U.K., Germany, Japan and France with coverage of both concert and television locales.

Out just in time for this summer’s fifteenth anniversary of the release of Grace—Buckley’s only LP released while he was still alive—the first disc is a DVD with ten songs and seven more listed under “bonus features”. Everything adds up to just under two hours of running time. The second disc is the audio counterpart of the first, matching tunes one through twelve. All of the footage except for one song is previously unreleased, and a fifteen-page full-color booklet is also included to help navigate through the material. There is also a special, limited edition of Grace Around the World, including the one-hour documentary, Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley.

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