The Future Of Nostalgia

WITH HALLOWEEN APPROACHING, SO TOO DO VIEWINGS OF ‘THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW,’ WHICH GOT US THINKING: WHAT, FROM OUR GENERATION, WILL BE THE CULT CLASSICS OF THE FUTURE?

“Chimpanzee Ridin' On A Segway" YouTube Video

Thanks to a particularly quirky friend, this YouTube video fell into our hands. Yes, the video features a chimpanzee outside in a grassy field, riding on a Segway. There’s even a catchy song that details the monkey’s adventure on this transportation device, also emphasizing the fact that, in case the viewers missed it, he is wearing overalls and a helmet. The video’s origins are unknown, however, it seems to be a dubbed over home movie from someone who wanted to share this mobile monkey with the world. And we’re forever thankful.

“Gucci GuccI”  By Kreayshawn

“One big room, full of bad b—ches …” is a mantra of sorts for girls who know this song by Oakland, Calif. rapper Kreayshawn. While the rapper has recently released a new, poppy album titled Somethin’ ‘Bout Kreay, sales on the album, and therefore her attempt at the mainstream, have proved disappointing. “Gucci, Gucci” highlights her Oakland-diva flavor, her sick rhymes and her unique sense of style. The song is undeniably catchy, and knowledge of it seems to be reserved to certain groups of people—it is not widely known at all. The music video (which appears to be made by an amateur) is definitely worth a peek, as Kreayshawn’s style is not only unmatched, but also highly enviable.

Kanye West’s 808’s and Heartbreaks

Although “Love Lockdown” and especially “Heartless” got a lot of radio play, it’s obvious that critics and fans alike hated this album with a burning passion. Kanye, coming straight from his achingly perfect Graduation, had a lot to live up to in Heartbreaks, but instead of rapping, chose to focus on his … singing. People were confused, to be certain, but the album stands strong as an esoteric and entirely enjoyable pet project almost four years after its extremely quiet reception. It introduced the world to Kid Cudi on “Welcome to Heartbreak,” kept Lil Wayne’s Carter III wave crashing on “See You In My Nightmares,” and mined the depths of his emotions on “Street Lights.” People often refer to it as “that time Kanye sang off-key,” but isn’t that kind of what rap’s all about? It’s brilliant in its own right, shedding any labels or classifications. One question remains: what ever happened to Mr. Hudson?

Bored To Death

HBO has the reputation of consistently churning out quality television programs. Despite being on the air for three short seasons, Bored To Death is no exception to this trend. Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis, and Ted Danson star in Jonathan Ames’ comedy series about a quirky Brooklyn writer who moonlights as an amateur private eye. Schwartzman is the writer, Galifianakis plays his troubled cartoonist friend, and Danson plays the classy pot-smoking boss. Ames keeps the humor fresh and off-beat, poking fun at serious issues such as self-loathing and soul searching. With a strong cast and creative writing, Bored To Death will without a doubt be locked in the cult classic vault for future comedians to embrace.

"Let's Get Faded" by Gucci Mane and V Nasty

This song is admittedly lacking in many musical areas: good lyrics, catchy verses, and a general enthusiasm from the singer. While “Let’s Get Faded” doesn’t stand up to the “Clique” and “Pop That” collaborative rap songs of today, its somewhat hypnotic beat and (for better or worse) its entertaining music video (go watch it) make this song stand out. V-Nasty’s shrill voice on her verse adds an interesting twist to Gucci Mane’s monotony. While it certainly makes one laugh (out loud, I might add), it might be ridiculous enough to work. And who knows? Gucci Mane wearing a furry snow hat in the middle of a club might catch on one day.

Little Dragon's Ritual Union

The Swedish electro-pop group has been having a topsy-turvy 2012, complete with an Absolut partnership (which yielded a better-than-it-has-any-right-to-be single), a successful stateside tour, and some serious studio time with Atlanta rapper and Outkast impresario Big Boi. Why, then, was nobody talking about the absolutely fantastic, earth-stomping 2011 album Ritual Union? It’s that rare album that manages to do everything right, from stellar vocals (provided by Yukimi Nagano) to imaginative beats and head-turning harmonies. It’s an interstellar work that evades any hate because it truly offers something for every listener. It’s impossible not to bob one’s head while listening to tracks like “Please Turn” and “Shuffle a Dream.” One can only hope that somewhere down the line, some intuitive music listener will stumble upon this short but sprightly EP.