Headphones: Kanye Hospitalized
In our last Headphones column of the year, we find Kanye West hospitalized.
Just before Thanksgiving, West cancelled the rest of his Saint Pablo tour in light of some controversy. The shows in the days leading up to his breakdown were marred with rants on Donald Trump, Drake and Jay-Z. After nearly being booed off stage, Kanye cut the show after only a few songs, sparking backlash from even his most loyal fans. The day after announcing the cancellation, the news broke of Kanye's hospitalization for sleep deprivation. It was later announced that he was under psychiatric observation.
While details have been leaked from sources, Kanye's health status has remained largely a mystery. A week later, he remains under observation in a LA Hospital. Rumors are that the anniversary of his mothers death and the recent robbery of his wife Kim Kardashian-West are the reasons for his spiral downhill. At this point, we can only hope for a swift recovery for one of music's titans.
Album of the Week:
The Black Keys – Turn Blue
This week’s Album of the Week is a bit of a throwback, to 2014’s instant classic, Grammy-winning album Turn Blue. The Black Keys have long been champions of the garage rock genre, but their 8th studio album finds them branching off into a new realm of music. With long time collaborator/producer Danger Mouse, frontman Dan Auerbach crafts a new sound that feels its way into psychedelic-rock. The opening track Weight of Love showcases the band at their absolute best, a full on jam that reaches a new level for the group. With more resources than ever before (the band used to record in Drummer Patrick Carney’s basement), they opt for a 5-piece band as opposed to their normal two-piece set up. The result is a more comprehensive and atmospheric sound, lending to the hypnotic aesthetic the duo try to draw up here. Track after track The Black Keys are able to draw you in more with their music, just like the hypnotic swirl album cover. In an era where rock music plays second fiddle to both pop and hip hop, The Black Keys still find a way to breathe life into the rock genre. Their new west coast style is reminiscent of groups like Tame Impala and The Artic Monkeys, but with an album as crafty as this, they prove to be their superiors.
Music Videos
Pop: Katy Perry – Rise
Hip/Hop: Rihanna feat. Drake – Work
EDM: Major Lazer– Cold Water
Rock: The Black Keys – Fever
International: Chris Stapleton – Fire Away
Noteworthy: In this weeks Noteworthy, we congratulate the top earners in the music industry. Assuming the #1 spot again was Taylor Swift with $170 million. This includes the massive 1989 World Tour as well as her numerous sponsorships such as Apple and Diet Coke. At the #2 spot was Brit stars One Direction, who brought in $110 million. Swift’s ex boyfriend Calvin Harris came in high on the list, again becoming the highest paid DJ in the fiscal year with $63 million earned. Close behind him, pop star Justin Bieber, who is currently finishing up his Purpose World Tour, raked in $56 million. You may recall that while he released his 4th studio album last November, he also was the face of Calvin Klein’s new men’s underwear line.