JAY-Z
The Blueprint 3

Sean “Jay-Z” Carter has always been a man of innovation.

When he speaks, people listen – and often follow. Only a few are able to match his apt ability with words, even at his past-prime age of 39.

Yet it’s not just Carter’s positioning of words that separates him from his counterparts; it’s also his progressive attitude in a genre that woefully seems to be “stuck on stupid.”

His latest release “The Blueprint 3″ is the mogul’s passionate reach for a much-needed progression in hip hop music.

The album opens with the laid-back “What We Talkin’ About.” Here, Jay touches on everything from the false portrayals hip hop artists tend to make of their lives to the foolishness of revenge and wanting to be tough.

He quips: “Ain’t nothing cool bout carryin’ a strap/ ‘Bout worryin’ your moms and buryin’ your best cat/ Talkin’ ’bout revenge while carryin’ his casket/ All teary-eyed, ’bout to take it to a mattress.”

The album’s first single “D.O.A.: Death of Autotune” opens with Carter singing out of tune as twilight-like horns play in the background.

It’s a call for hip-hop artists to stop sounding like everyone else – to be creative and to stop jumping on every trend that’s hot, such as the voice-altering musical device the song’s title addresses.

“Empire State of Mind,” featuring Alicia Keys, is a knockout. A break from the album’s theme, it’s an homage to Carter’s home state of New York. It also happens to be one of the album’s best tunes.

The progressive theme of “The Blueprint 3″ picks back up on “Real as It Gets,” featuring Atlanta native Young Jeezy.

In his raspy overtone, Jeezy raps “This is big boy music, this should make you wanna grow up.”

As Jeezy’s appearance would suggest, the song has a Southern feel. It’s an anthem – something to relax to, more or less.

Another highlight of the album is the spacy and upbeat “On to the Next One.”

Growth and maturity is its focus: “It’s all about progression, loiterers should be arrested.”

Those who make music which holds Carter’s people back are depicted as irrelevant.

“A Star Is Born,” “Venus Vs. Mars,” and “So Ambitious” are additional standout cuts. Several tracks addressing his naysayers, including “Hate” featuring Kanye West, are also worthy of mention.

Jay-Z is an extremely gifted artist with staggering power in pop culture. That can’t be argued.

The only real drawback to “The Blueprint 3″ is that Carter knows these facts – i.e., he’s still very egotistical.

If his concern wasn’t so much how he’s perceived by others and “controlling” hip hop, and removing the focus off himself and “changing” hip-hop, the album could have been that much more fruitful and avant-garde.

Jay-Z also embraces the nation’s first black president and what it means for black culture – that things should no longer be about black vs. white or glorifying violence, drugs and the like. All of that negative stuff should be left behind.

Progression is possible. Dreams can be realized.

Concerning current thought, “it’s on to the next one.”

VERDICT: “The Blueprint 3″ is sonically pleasing and timelessly conscious.

- Tyrone Rivers

ROMANENKO
Squid Record

This is one debut record that’s hard to overlook.

It’s catchy, it’s consistent, it’s tight, and it flows like a punk-heavy, folk-infused, alt-pop rollercoaster straight out of the ’90s.

Romanenko’s style is tough to pinpoint, but think The Pixies meets Elliott Smith meets heavily punk-inspired bass lines.

Pair that with an infectious hook and the witticisms of a bold and clever lyricist, and the record proves to make quite the statement for the relatively new local band.

The album kicks off with attention-grabber “Salvation” and maintains the pace for just about 45 minutes.

It’s a dance-worthy, infectious alt-rock gem, but it’s equally deep and thoughtful.

What’s most interesting about “Squid Record” is that each song is as catchy as it is compelling. You’ll want to nod your head and tap your toes, but you’ll also appreciate the confident, witty lyrics that complement the music and lend it extra muscle.

Perhaps the most striking quality of the record is its ability to showcase the musical chemistry of the band while still highlighting the individual talents of each member.

Erika Rickson’s drums are loud, tight and fast, whereas Machado’s bass bounces along though each song, perfectly capturing its rhythm with an unmistakable punk flare.

And although frontman Jessie Marston’s fiery, haunting vocals almost fade beneath her rapid, lightly distorted guitar lines, they manage to penetrate the record and lend it added focus.

More than anything, this record establishes a sound so varied and so richly influenced that it almost defies genre.

Almost.

At the core, this is definitely a pop record, but it has a rich background that diffuses throughout the record.

VERDICT: With “Squid Record,” Romanenko establishes itself as a band capable of delivering confident, catchy and an all-around enjoyable songs that both excite and stimulate thought.

You’ll be humming the hooks for days.

- Brittany Forrestal