The Cord Weekly WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 A&E 27 A Soundclash revival Kingston’s return to the Turret to open the !rst o"cial day of classes

KARI PRITCHARD “It [ music] is a part of who STAFF WRITER we are as individuals, and songs that did gain popularity that are Laurier’s 2007 school year started based in Reggae means that we are o" with a bang as one of Laurier’s able to stick to our roots’ described favourite bands returned to a sea Eon. of sweaty smiling faces, none other #roughout the set Bedouin then Canadian reggae rockers Bed- played a good mix of new songs and ouin Soundclash. old favourites like “National Water,” #e school year could not have “Santa Monica,” “Hush” and “12:59 had a more perfect start as they Lullaby.” Members of the audience rocked out to a nearly sold out had no trouble singing along and crowd in the Turret. Luckily their dancing to the mixed set. style of music promotes a chillin’, With the release of their new lovin’ vibe, as opposed to having the band is elbows and knees in your face not ushering in a di"erent sound then uncommon to more rowdy shows what is heard on previous . at the Turret. #e new album was “more deter- mined, more ma- T%&'()%'(* *%+ ,-)%* J./ ture and spiritu- ally based” said Jay +,0'(&.)+1 *%+ 0&'21 *' 3-,) who wrote all the .,1 1.,0+ *' *%+-& *(,+3, .,1 songs before bring- ing them to the 4/ *%+ (,-*+1 5'-0+3 .,1 6'5-,) band. #e emotion was visibly present Paul Alviz 7++* L.(&-+& 3%'2+1 *%+-& 8'5+. MAKE LOVE TO THE MICROPHONE - serenades WLU students in the Turret Monday night. as Jay crooned his hearts contents on Bedouin kicked o" their Reggae- stage. showing how important reggae/ hasn’t faded in the least. If any- them into veritable rollercoaster licious set with “Until we Burn Into On Street Gospels, check out the is to the band. thing, it’s grown stronger. of success, “When the Night Feels the Sun (#e Kids Just Want a Love track “Jealousy and the Get Free” In the last three years, Bedouin #roughout the night, Jay encour- my Song”, before playing their en- Song),” the opening track of their where Bedouin has collaborated has played at Laurier three times to aged the crowd to sing and dance to core. #e last song of the night was new album Street Gospels to an with Rude Boy Vernon Buckley, very enthusiastic crowds (even bat- their tunes, and by the united voic- “Nothing to Say” which ironically anxious crowd after enduring rap adding to the “spiritual vibe” Jay tling frostbite at the ice-cold event es and moving feet Laurier showed says a lot on how Jay feels about duo Zaki as the opening act. hoped to achieve on the album. Polar Jam last year). their love. “Tomorrow’s Tuesday? public dignitaries. Bassist Eon and singer/guitarist Buckley is no stranger to Bedou- “Laurier’s always had really good What do you have to do anyway?” A successful campus show in the Jay are both very in touch with their in, as he has also collaborated with shows for us and has always been Jay mused with the audience on bag, Bedouin heads o" West where reggae roots which are present the band on his hit song “Money supportive” said Jay. the peculiarity of a Monday night they’ll play Saskatchewan, followed more than ever on Street Gospels, Worries” which can be heard on It is obvious from the sold-out show. by an extensive U.S. tour well into and shine even brighter when per- Sounding a Mosaic. #e band also crowd that Laurier’s love of Bed- Bedouin wrapped up their set October. formed on staege. did a tour with Buckley in the U.K., ouin and their high energy shows with the hit song that launched makes it to graduation day With his education !nally coming to a close, will his degree be worth anything in the marketplace?

has an ego that rivals, if not sur- !rst two albums, the soul- maximizes them, o"ering a com- apart from most of the other main- passes, that of any other musician vibe that has endeared him to mil- plex sonic landscape. stream rappers that have emerged this side of Bono, but the Chi-town lions has not disappeared entirely. If Graduation falters, and it most in the 21st century, but on Gradua- M.C. has always provided a strong “I Wonder” is a classic West track, certainly does, it’s in Kanye’s lyrical tion this trait becomes almost non- enough soundtrack to back up his as it samples Labi Si"re’s “My Life” abilities. While Mr. West is undeni- existent. Perhaps Kanye West has braggadocio; and his third album, to delicious e"ect. #e song !nds ably one of the best producers in adjusted to his newfound celebrity Graduation, is no di"erent. Kanye seamlessly rapping about music, his talents as an M.C. often status and has let his ego run ram- To think that Graduation has the complications of romance over leave one wanting more. #e master pant. However, the DJ Premiere been locked in a massive public- a drum-enhanced 70’s style soul- of one-liners, such as the brilliant aided “Everything I am” and album ity and sales battle with the other groove. If the incredibly inventive quip in “Flashing Light”, “she don’t closing “Big Brother” show that much-anticipated September 11th “Stronger”, which features a super- believe in shooting stars/she only Kanye’s insecurity has not disap- hip-hop release, 50 Cent’s Curtis, sized Daft Punk snippet, had scared believes in shoes and cars/wood peared completely. Kanye West seems almost comical. Whereas 50 o" any of Mr. West’s longtime fans, $oors in a new apartment/cou- It is “Big Brother”, which chroni- Graduation has never been much more than then “I Wonder” should assure ture from the store’s department”, cles West’s often rocky relationship a hardcore hip-hop act that’s pro- them that the reigning king of hip- Kanye often seems as though he is with Def Jam and Roc-a-Fella Re- Original Release Date: moted to the mainstream, Kanye hop soul remains upon his throne. stumbling to stretch a word to !t his cords President and C.E.O. Jay-Z, Sept 11, 2007 has always seemed to transcend the But by not limiting himself to rhyme scheme. On the far too slow that allows West’s lyrical and nar- genres that are all too often restrict- one certain sound, Kanye West has and underdeveloped “Barry Bonds” rative abilities to shine through. Rating: 8.1/10 ing. Demonstrating that growth is thrust open the doors of opportuni- this blemish becomes apparent as On this track West makes himself Check out: “Stronger”, “Big essential for an artist, Mr. West’s ty, and may be rede!ning how the the line “I done played the under- completely open, and therefore music has always sounded as if it world views hip-hop in the process. dog my whole career/I been a very extremely vulnerable, helping to Brother”, “Homecoming” is pushing the boundaries of what #ough it’s been a passtime for hip- good sport, haven’t I this year?” add another level of appeal to an a hip-hop album can be, while 50 hop acts to sample rock music ever sounds forced and unnecessary. already impressive persona. As has always seemed interested in since Rick Rubin and Run DMC in Despite his tendency to try too an artist and creative force Kanye JOE TURCOTTE merely pushing the boundaries of the 1980s, Kanye’s use of Steeley hard when reaching for a clever line West has few competitive peers in SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR good taste. Dan’s “Kid Charlemagne” on the or pun, West has always been able the hip-hop landscape, and with a It is with the passion for pro- song “Champion” comes across to fall back on his socially conscious few more progressive albums like In a genre that is often de!ned by gression that Graduation makes as especially innovative. #e song and often self-e"acing subject mat- Graduation his hyperbolic state- one-dimensional posers and cook- its mark. While the techno, synth plays like a pop-rock-hip-hop- ter. In the past he has seemed un- ments about being the best thing in ie-cutter singles, Kanye West has and house samples that dominate dance track, and it works. Rather certain of himself and, ironically, a music in general won’t sound far- always been a refreshing breath of the album are a stark departure then being weighed down by too little self-conscious. #is human- fetched at all. uncontaminated air. Sure, Mr. West from Kanye’s critically acclaimed many musical forms, the track izing tendency has helped set him