Drake A La Mode (The Take Care Review)

So I only found out Take Care was already in stores a few days ago. I had completely forgotten when it was coming out, but I thought it would be much later. I was so excited I went straight online and checked it out for myself. After listening to every song all the way through, I can conclude that this album is worth buying at the music store. 

A definite 8/10 star rating. Even the cover is bad like Michael.

Yes, I know, you've never gone near a real store since 2005, but in this case I suggest you do. I may not, but that doesn't mean you can't. To cap off the week before Thanksgiving, I leave you with my impression of the overall album.

If you remember listening to his early works, like "Room For Improvement" and "Comeback Season," you'll notice his style and production was constantly being sharpened and improved to fit his own vision. By "Thank me Later," he had come full into himself, and enough people liked his individual style for that album to skyrocket. "Take Care" is to his debut album as "Bad" is to "Thriller:" like MJ, Drake has found the right formula for him, and he continued to use it here. In my opinion, it was pulled off tastefully. 

Judging by the music alone, I don't think Drake is looking to please the strictly pop trend crowd. Compared to what I've heard from mainstream hip-hop today, his work is on a different, but no so distant, street from most rappers. Of course, he has the commercial-friendly jams tucked in there; "Shot For Me," "HYFR," "Make Me Proud," and "Practice" are the humorous club anthems you'd expect from Drake to keep the hip-pop masses drawn in.

Then there are the tracks that straddle the line between commercialism and self-expression, my favorite of which are "Marvin's Room," "We'll Be Fine," and "Cameras/Good ones Go." On "Lord Knows," which features Rick Ross and sounds like it should have been on Ross's album, Drake shows his flexibility when he can rap on any kind of track and make it his own.

My personal favorites on this album are, "Over My Dead Body," "Marvin's Room," "Lord Knows," "Doing It Wrong," which features an eerie yet marvelous harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder, " "Look What You've Done," a touching tribute to his mother and I believe his uncle as well, and finally, "The Ride," the finishing touch to an album reflecting on Drake's own personal growth; whereas his first album showed him trying to adjust to his new lifestyle, this album was an acceptance coupled with happiness and disappointment.  

Overall, it's a brooding, rich album with basically the same structure as his debut album, which I respect, because that structure ends up making the album a smooth ride, no matter what.  And I think you'll giggle at his last line. "My Sophomore they was all for it, they all saw it/ My Juniors and senior will only get meaner." Given his steadily rising career coupled with his constantly improved craft, this may turn out to be true.

But, hey, you don't have to take my word for it. Check it out yourself, come back here, and tell me your opinions.

I wish you all a wonderful and productive Thanksgiving! Take Care!

*pun intended*

- CDM

Keira With Cream

Morning all! I was just looking through this week upcoming movies and I found one concerning one of my favorite actresses, Keira Knightley.  I've been a fan of hers since the "Bend It Like Beckham" days, and who would have dreamed she would become such an icon in her own right?
Anyway, this movie is called "A Dangerous Method." I saw the trailer, and it looks superb. See for yourself!

It's something, isn't it? I couldn't' believe it was Viggo Mortensen playing Sigmund Freud. Do you remember him from the Lord of the Rings?

You can't help but hand it to these actors who can completely fall into character so you can't even recognize them. 

"A Dangerous Method" comes out THIS wednesday, and I promise you, I will be taking the first ticket to go see it.

Other great movies with Keria Knightley are:

• Pride And Prejudice
• Atonement
• The Duchess
• Last Night
• Never Let Me Go

For those most interested in period pieces, "The Duchess" was particularly spectacular; I gushed over the beautiful flowing dresses and striking hairstyles in every scene, like this.

And this.

What's your favorite Keira Kngihtley look?

Gotta run! have a good Sunday!

-CDM

Introduction: It's A Saturday Night, Does That Make It All Right?

Bon Jour! Or Bon Soir, seeing as it's nighttime right now.

I'm Cookie Manson, and I'm so excited to be starting off a blog. But I didn't start this for the sake of just spewing every bit of my day. How boring would that be?

        "Uh, hey guys, so I woke up and brushed my teeth and my breath still smelled bad....then I went downstairs and took he granola out of the cabinet and poured my milk in a bowl and THEN put in the granola..."

No.

No, here, I want to share subjects related to my favorite aspects of the arts: music, movies, TV shows and books. Maybe I'll even throw a little painting in there for variety. So, if you're interested in reading reviews and recommendations from a Chocolate-loving music-movie-book geek, by all means either follow me and read, or just read!
So, without further ado, let me just dive into this week's interests, and see if maybe y'all can relate.

It's a little late, but I've been obsessing over this movie ever since I saw its Radiohead-laden trailer a month before its release.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this controversial film, still in theaters (mine at least) has been driving me nuts. And it's not just because of the argument against Shakespeare. 

The whole idea is that an Edward De Vere is really the author of all those Shakespeare plays, and that he asked a playwright named Ben Johnson to present them to the public as "Anonymous." Unfortunately, Johnson tells his actor friend, William Shakespeare, who passes the plays off as his own and demands more money for his silence. Other issues include De Vere's two younger Earl friends trying to diplomatically secure the throne after Queen Elizabeth dies, and the Queen's advisor, William Cecil, and his son trying to outlaw plays and secure the throne for another man. Flashbacks are given to explain the complicated life of Edward De Vere and the people around him as we are taken through this alternate explanation as to who really wrote our beloved plays.

Now, whether you agree with this idea or not, the movie itself--when taken as just that, a MOVIE--is phenomenal. I swear, you would have never been aware that Rhys Ifans (Edward De Vere) is the same man who played Hugh Grant's roommate in Notting Hill! The joint efforts of Joely Richardson and Vanessa Redgrave as both young and old Queen Elizabeth result in a believable look into the Queen's somewhat peculiar character. And I haven't even gotten into the younger actors, like Jamie Campbell-Bower, who blew my mind in Sweeney Todd, and Xavier Samuel, the curly haired blond who stole my heart until the credits. Don't sleep on Rafe Spall or Sebastien Armestro either, the talented rascals. David Thewlis is chillingly convincing in his role as the sinister William Cecil.

And even if all the actors were horrendous, the cinematography would have saved it for me. I'm a real fan of good shots and angles and effects and tints and quality lenses, so when I watch a movie, I'm judging by  that aspect as well. And I have to tell you, the way it was filmed brought an instant chill and mystery to the setting. I truly did shiver whenever scenes of snow appeared. Also the movement of the camera made my heart race; swooping coverage of the ground? Eerie closeups of characters and seamless transitions from past to present--ugh, I could go on all day about it, but not without giving away everything that happens. If you can't see it in theaters near you anymore, try for it on Netflix, but it SO worth buying on DVD to keep forever and ever and ever.....tee-hee!

For music, I would also recommend Radiohead's album, The King Of Limbs. 

Out of all their albums, this one really brought my mind to another world. The Afro-beat inspired percussion, the warm and lush guitar, the hip and moving bass, and the almost opera-like voice of Thome Yorke has helped earn this album a place in my heart forever. It is both a summer and a winter album, a happy and a sad album; it's a happy medium. My mom and I are always bumpin' to it in the car; I mean, it's GREAT car music in any scenery! And if you're one for car music like me, this is the perfect album--EVERY SONG--to add to your "Road Trip" playlist. 

But, hey, you don't have to take my word for it. Go check it out yourself.

Some other great albums, from all periods and genres, are listed in images below. See what you make of them! And have a great weekend!

-CDM