Review Thursday: P.O.S., M.I.A. and the Bitter End!

P.O.S.
Never Better
Rhymesayers

It takes an outsider looking in to notice the problems and rectify the issue. Minnesota’s P.O.S. is the outsider and Never Better is the answer. P.O.S. (alias Pissed Off Stef, a name he received while playing in a high school punk band) grew up with a dire opposition towards hip-hop. Eventually he embraced it as an artistic outlet, one that can be done alone. His punk background is pummelled throughout the album with raw drum beats that smash through the album like an AK-47 in a freight train. The absolute hostility of P.O.S. is undeniable, but the direction he sends it is not the common course for Hip-Hop. P.O.S. sends his anger towards multinational companies like Wal-Mart and the capitalist ideologies of other hip-hop acts. This album is new, in every sense of the word. A progress of sound for a new time, we just need to keep up with him.

(Mat "Runt" Barrot)

Bitter End
Guilty as Charged
Deathwish Inc.

Years ago someone asked me when I chose to be punk rather than metal. I was absolutely insulted, as if there was a point in my life I wondered if I wanted to follow Sex Pistols or Guns n Roses. Later when I got to thinking about the question I realized that many of the bands I listened to crossed those boundaries. The skate punk of the 80’s was definitely metal tinged, bands like D.R.I., Suicidal Tendencies, Corrosion of Conformity (who are now pure metal) were all bands that I listened to on a regular basis, but I was just under the impression that they were punk. Bitter End’s newest album is not from the '80s and does not make me want to put on spandex pants. What is does do is evoke the killer riffs of those great thrash metal/punk bands that I used to ride my Powell Peralta to. This is no frills rock “n” roll done right.

(Mat "Runt" Barrot)

M.I.A.
/\/\ /\ Y /\
Interscope

Maya Arulpragasam, better known as M.I.A., released her highly-anticipated album, Maya (phonetically spelled out /\/\ /\ Y /\) on July 13th. After much controversy surrounding her "Born Free" music video, with it being dubbed too violent and graphic for YouTube and MTV, many were excited to see what other provocative tales of governmnent corruption she would push through her songs on the upcoming album. M.I.A. has always been known for making political statements, and pushing boundaries. And did not fail to deliver this time around, as she came through with songs like "the message", that sheds light on the links between the Internet and government control. And "XXXO", where she makes clear that she refuses to be anyone she's not. Her songs are hardly musical and far from pleasant to the ears; Some call it "experimental dance music", as she blends hip hop, punk, pop, some type of pitched mumble, and video game effects, to come up with her own signature "sound", which plays into the internet-computer theme of the album, including the title /\/\ /\ Y /\. With release of this album, the 32 year-old rapper/singer doesn't fail to keep her reputation as the "most innovative and dynamic pop star of her generation". Sending strong and evocative messages through her music, M.I.A. targets her mass audience and utilizes her outlet constructively, once again.

(Sarah El Fangary)