J.C.I.T.Y bring us "Back to the Future"

There are few unsigned rappers gaining a bigger buzz in 2009 the Boston's own J.C.I.T.Y. Since the release of J's fourth independent album he has been tirelessly on his grind through radio interviews and distribution. When I first heard J.C.I.T.Y in 2008 and I knew there was a star like quality to his music and an intense drive to make that known. Rescue Music has been promoting J since that point, which now equals a year and a half. Aside from his strong flow, intricate word play and all around catchy sound J.C.I.T.Y has an element that few rappers have. This would be his all around strength as a writer, and I mean a real writer, a real artist. Not only is his word play clever but he also manages to bring the idea of concept albums to the hip-hop game. He first implemented this on his third album "From the Bottom to the Top" and has one upped it with the release of "Back to the Future". J starts off with the sounds of the old East Coast soulful hip-hop and then takes us back to the future where he shows us where the game is headed. This not only makes for a bold concept album but also shows the bravery and creativity to venture into new sounds. Even in the corporate hip-hop game few acts attempt this like Lil Wayne and Kanye. The album is mixed with poetic tracks and club hits and songs that are so atmospheric you transcend to an imaginary world while listening to it. This creativity is almost non-existent in todays music scene and is a refreshing change. J.C.I.T.Y should not only be commended for attempting such a daring artistic move but for also accomplishing it so perfectly. "Back to the Future" is an album that stays true to the underground but could easily cross into the mainstream. To sum up what I'm saying J.C.I.T.Y is way past yall. Check out J at myspace.com/jcitymusic

Crash Love- AFI sheds the shell of everything they were to write a classic album

When artists create an album or a song it is a reflection of what the writer is feeling and often influenced by their own current musical tastes. AFI's eigth full length album "Crash love" is no exception to this. The band has not hidden their current love of pop music and on "Crash Love" it shines through. AFI has always been a band centered on the idea of constantly evolving, this is evident from every album to the next. However, now that AFI has been releasing full length albums for 14 years the broader picture is one of a complete musical change. The four founding members came from the bay area punk scene, though you'd never know now. In fact lead singer Davey havok is more likely to listen to Imogen Heap now instead of The Misfits. Image and music wise AFI resembles almost nothing of who they were in 1995. Through all the years though, there is two common threads through out their long careers; their ability to deliver great music, no matter what genre you call it, and the support of their devoted fanbase.
The new album is a surprising change and almost stunning to hear at first take. Although it seemed innevitable, I for one never thought Davey Havok would completely abandon his scream that has been adorned by AFI fans throughout all the years. Though Davey still keeps some of his classic rasp on some of the tracks like, for instance "sacrilege", it certainly isnt the Davey of old. All in all "sacrilege" is the most classic AFI song on the album and one of my favorites. You will be hard pressed to find a more biased AFI fan than myself but to be honest after my first listen to "Crash love" I told friends that I liked 2 or 3 tracks at most. But being the die hard fan I am, and understanding that this happens with every new release from this band I decided to listen again and find what I liked. And, as bold as this seems, I say that Crash Love is by far the best AFI album to come out. It's definantly a pop record for rock kids, but they haven't lost their edge completely. Many fans were upset when Jade gave up his crunchy, full sounding riffs on 2006's December Underground, but Crash Love is Jade's triumphant return. While a few tracks still rely on an atmospheric sound ie. "Okay I feel better Now" and "Darling I want to Destroy you", the album as a whole bridges together the sound of Sing the Sorrow and December Underground. Jade returns with heavy riffs and dominant lead parts evident in the first single "medicate".When talking about "Crash Love" Davey said in interviews that they did not set out to write a timeless record but he feels they truly did, and I could not agree more.

Stand Out Tracks

1. Beautiful Theives
2. Medicate (first Single)
3. Okay I feel better now (Softer but a great slow song)
4. I am trying to be here (Daveys Dictator voice, with march beats, a Manson-esque song from the Anti-Christ Superstar Days)
5. Sacrilege (A sure favorite of old AFI Fans)
6. It was mine (One of the softest songs in AFI history, almost sounds like Chris Issack's Wicked Game, but the best pop song AFI has ever written.

Should've been left on the cutting floor

1. Veronica Sawyer Smokes (Almost unlistenable)