Quick Hits, Vol. 14 (Rae Sremmurd, Alvvays, Body Count, Radiator Hospital)

Rae Sremmurd -  SremmLife.  I could provide a detailed accounting of who these dudes are, but others on the web have already done a fine job of just that.  In case you don't go read that article, know that these are two young brothers from Mississippi who have used the terrible naming convention of using their new label's name, backwards, to create their group moniker.  I fully expect them to realize how dumb that is by their next album and to come out with a new name.  Either way, this is some strong Mike.Will.Made.It action right here, with bass-heavy, skittering, trappy beats and these two little dudes talking smack all over them.  This is fun rap - absolutely idiotic stuff: "Unlock the Swag" is like a stream-of-consciousness meandering through being pimp and high, over the top of some video game bleep/bloop and hi-hat coated bass bounce.  "No Flex Zone" was their big hit from 2014:

Wow.  Weird Science called and they want their graphics back.  And I see why these dudes are compared to Kriss Kross in the article above - they look and act like they are 15.  Still, this is a fun tune.  The album as a whole is uneven.  "Safe Sex Pay Checks" has a lame beat to go along with lame lyrics, and the majority of these songs are the type that just repeat a phrase over and over (and over), but there are a few on here that combine a sweet beat along with care-free rhymes.

Alvvays - Alvvays.  I just spent a whole day listening to this album over and over again.  I wish I had listened to it before the end of last year, because it deserves a spot in my best of 2014 list.  I've always liked Best Coast, and this has a similar feel - sunshine music and lovely singing.  "Archie, Marry Me" is so great - fuzzy Cali sunshine, verses about her man who isn't in to marriage and is too worried about the consequences, but she just wants to throw away the worries and get hitched, and a simple sing-along chorus.

Yes!  Fine love song, and its beautiful to boot.  The bright, pretty sound can sometimes obscure darker lyrics, like in "Next of Kin," which (I think) is a song about killing her lover.  Or it could be about quietly getting it on.  Not sure, but her repeating that his skin had no color seems like she killed him and tossed him in the river (so Warrant's Uncle Tom's Cabin!).  "Party Police" is another favorite, so much longing in there for him not to leave and just stay with her.  I wish I could take that song back to Junior High and throw it on all the mix tapes.

Body Count - Manslaughter.  Seriously, I laughed out loud when the first song came on. Remember P.O.D.?  This is P.O.D.'s straight-forward chug of cock-rock with Ice T yelping stupid things over the top.  "Talk shit, get shot!  Pop off, get shot!" etc.  In another tune, T goes back to rip off what Jay-Z ripped off from him, by re-doing his original "99 Problems," but stealing the crunchy guitar riff from Jay's "99 Problems."  For the record, Jay's reinterpretation is the best of the three.  They also re-do Suicidal Tendency's "Institutionalized" for modern times, which is actually pretty good.  Here's the thing, I will give Body Count respect for the absolutely real alt-metal crush they put together on this thing.  It's too bad that I still think of this as a joke project, because the music underneath Ice T's dumb growling is actually kind of awesome.

Radiator Hospital - Torch Song.  Super lo-fi, rock out with wild abandon.  I have no recollection of where I heard of these dudes, but this album is a fun spin of short rockers (longest song is 3:03, but no other song breaks 3:00 and I bet the average is 2:20).

This one slows their roll a little bit from the heady speed jams of "Leather & Lace" or "Blue Gown," but still a good tune.  Reminds me of the sunny, love pop of Alvvays up above.