You Are Only as Good as Your Current Negative Complaint

I once saw an interview with John Legend where he stated quite matter of factly that, "You are only as good as your current album." It doesn't take a genius to understand that he has pretty much hit the nail right on the head. This was surrounding the release of his second album "Once Again," which I assume garnered criticism for being a fraction as enjoyable as his first one (although still quite enjoyable). It should go without saying that he, as a musician was then equally as good, if not better than he was on his first major recording. The point being, in the eyes of the general public, your standing as a musician and artist is solidified by your most recent work.

For some reason people will not accept a similar album from an artist, as that would make them bland, recycling their own material. But the "music fans" also don't want anything vastly different, because...well, I don't know the because.

The most appropriate current example would be the new release of Kanye West's album "808s and Heartbreaks." Although I'm sure this will become a great success, there is substantial negative buzz about his use of Autotune, and his non willingness to rap.

I'm just going to say this for Mr. West; if there was ever a time for him to make a wacky Autotune-non-rap-pop-art album, it is now. Besides, in my humble and irrelevant opinion, Kanye's rapping is not his strong point. Not to mention that I personally have always been a subscriber to the world of synthesized voice; be it Zapp & Roger, Peter Frampton, ELO, Chromeo, T Pain, Lil Wayne. Less is more. It's true, admit it. And anyone who pretends to not enjoy robot voices is either lying or crazy.

Truth be told, I got the idea for this post after I started listening to the new Killers album, "Day & Age". I'm not gonna review it, cause I'm not done listening to it. But so far it's surprised me with its' new waveish, discoish sound.

It's times like these that I must remind myself that this album is not part 4 of a Killers rock opera, it is an entity on its own. For whatever reason they made it, and now it's available for us to enjoy. Not to slam it on the internet or dis it to our friends. It's necessary to give it more than one chance, and to listen to it for what it is, not for what it isn't.



Now, for your enjoyment. Here is Kanye on Conan O' Brian on Tuesday, Nov 25/2008. Towards the end of this video you will be rewarded with the gift of seeing Conan sing through autotune. You're welcome.

Nothing's due...this should tide us over

In the spirit of sharing awesome stuff that most people may unfortunately not be hip to, here is a gift from the ever inspiring and talented Toronto based MC by the name of Shaun Boothe. He is known for his incredibly original and sometimes famously bitten ideas. This is segement 2 of 12 in his "Unauthorized Biography" series, and as he has informed me, number 3 will be available very very soon. Enjoy or shut up. Or keep talking, it's cool.




I encourage you to follow Mr. Boothe and become a fan, because he my friends, is super dope.

Introduction to Silver Lining for Negative Jerks

The purpose of this blog is simple, everyone (myself included) are constantly focused on what is wrong with everything. Not only is this an absurd and counterproductive viewpoint but it also keeps us from enjoying the little things.

Therefore I will focus on the positive aspects of things that I encounter on a daily basis, with an emphasis on the small things that, for lack of a better phrase 'make life grand.'

Topics and areas of discussion may include interesting bus rides, healthy snacks, concerts with random teams of friends, movies with Curtis Jackson, walking the dogs, wondering what Rob Lowe is up to these days, unusually large draft beers, learning for free, people watching, reviving the art of conversation, the Popples, the old cartoon Cops and trying to name its characters, David Shrigley, waiting for the bus in the rain listening to the National, free hot dogs, why eating mush has a bad reputation even though there are several delicious flavours of mush, the word 'notion', solo travel, getting haircuts, Rescue Me, local cuisine, local celebrities, art shows, wax museums, mix tapes, Booka Shade, Stones Throw podcasts, jerk chicken, pedestrianism, Diplo remixes, coffee breaks, not punching people, using words like opportunist and perplexing, the town of Medecine Hat, sleeping in, waking up early, 20 dollar pants, dessert pizza vs. treatsa pizza, blackberry messnger, chicken wings, funk breaks, ex girlfriends, Greyhound bus missions, bad facial hair, celebrity gossip, Johnny Drama, Call the Office, hungover exercising, graffiti, Victoria Park, people who aren't really vegetarians but say the are, the Wu Tang Clan, french dance music, Upper Thames conservation authority, Chad Kroeger, childhood heroes, that Camp Grenada song, The Wire, glass blowing, claymation, the almighty vinyl, supporting locally owned business, water parks, the art of Jeremy Fish and David Choe, collecting art, t shirt art, the saying of nice things, honesty, cool ranch doritos, the dead frog on a string joke, beatbox battles, breakdance battles,Principal Skinner, weddings, babies, playing frisbee, marijuana cafes, too much tv, lying down, Ben Affleck's single line of dialogue in Clerks 2, making new friends, lovin the old ones, collab pieces, keeping regular, Jagermeister and Tequila, the high diving board at the Aquatic Centre, tacos, getting what you pay for, tight pants, finding money on the ground, arts and crafts for Christmas presents, puppies, kittens, lemmings, sarcasm, tasteful nudity, grandparents, the song Where I'm From by Digable Planets, Sundays to relax, puppets, soundtracks, meatloaf (arguably the greatest of all loafs), Boston and Journey, new era hats, holding doors for people and having them say thank you, scooters, vacation, fall, and adventures and kickin it with my peeps. Oh, and wondering about when that Common and Q Tip album is coming out.