Turkey Shoot 2008 & Opinions on Kanye West, The Killers, & Rivers Cuomo

Sound Opinions celebrates Thanksgiving with the annual Turkey Shoot. The most disappointing albums of the year will finally be put out of their misery, and yours. Plus, Jim and Greg will review rapper Kanye West's new album.

Turkey Shoot 2008
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A few months ago Jim and Greg reported that the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals had tossed out the FCC's indecency claim against CBS. We thought that might be the end of "Nipplegate," but now the FCC has announced it will take its case to the Supreme Court. Jim and Greg never thought they'd find themselves agreeing with CBS, but it agrees with the network's argument that sometimes there are just some slips you can't control.

808s and Heartbreak Kanye West

808s & Heartbreak (Exclusive Edition)

One of the albums making news this week is from rapper  Kanye West. The Chicago native had planned to release a new album in his college series, but after the death of his mother and a bad breakup, he created an intensely personal album called 808s and Heartbreak. The 808 drum machine is used heavily, as is the Auto-Tune device. Those effects take some getting used to, but according to Jim and Greg, they are integral to creating the sense of introspection and loneliness. Jim appreciates the rapper's attempt to make an existential record, especially one inspired by Phil Collins. He wishes there was more acoustic musicianship, but Jim finds 808s and Heartbreak to be fascinating and gives it a Buy It. Greg agrees, calling the album one of the most personal released this year. He also gives it a Buy It.

Turkey Shoot 2008

On Thanksgiving most Americans give thanks for things like their loved ones and their health. But at Sound Opinions we like to take this opportunity to give thanks of a different variety. During this Turkey Shoot segment Jim, Greg and some listeners give thanks that they'll never have to hear the year's most disappointing albums again. These are records that had great potential, but fell flat. Say farewell to the following Turkeys:

  • R.E.M., Accelerate
  • My Morning Jacket, Evil Urges
  • Brian Wilson, That Lucky Old Sun
  • The Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely

Our listeners "shoot" the following:

  • Weezer, S/T (The Red Album)
  • John Legend, Evolver
  • Beck, Modern Guilt

For more Turkeys, check out the Sound Opinions Message Board.

Day & Age The Killers

Day & Age (Deluxe Version)

On their 3rd album Day & Age, The Killers have teamed up with Madonna  producer  Stuart Price, further confusing their identity. Are they Nu-New Wave? Are they Nu-Springsteen? Or Nu-Dance Pop? Greg's answer is that they are merely a great singles band. Brandon Flowers is not a great lyricist, but there are a handful of great, glam rock pop songs on this new album, and together with the handful of other tracks from their previous albums, he predicts they'll have a hell of a compilation one day. But for now he gives Day & Age a Try It. Jim is less kind. He finds the album over-produced and packed with the worst steel drums and saxophones he's heard in a long time. He gives it a Trash It.

Alone Vol. 2 - The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo Rivers Cuomo

Alone, Vol. 2 - The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo

The Weezer album might have gotten a Turkey vote from one of our listeners, but how does frontman  Rivers Cuomo fare on his own? The singer just released Alone Vol. 2 - The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, and according to Jim and Greg it's full of the heartfelt, intimate songs that fans of the Blue Album expect from Cuomo. Greg sees Weezer's recent songs as being written for the masses, while these are written from the heart. Whatever your take on Weezer is, both Jim and Greg give a Buy It to The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo.

Dear Listeners,

For more than 15 years, Sound Opinions was a production of WBEZ, Chicago's public radio station. Now that the show is independent, we're inviting you to join the band and lend a hand! We need your support more than ever because now we have to do all the behind-the-scenes work that WBEZ handled before (like buying insurance and paying for podcast hosting, ugh). Plus, we have some exciting ideas we'd like to try now that there's no one to tell us no!