Potholes In My Blog: Kanye Closed 2014 With One of 2014’s Best Songs

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Kanye Closed 2014 With One of 2014’s Best Songs Posted: 01 Jan 2015 08:04 PM PST And we thought A$AP Rocky was going to make the most noise New Year’s Eve. As 2014’s last hurrah approached, so did something equally powerful: Yeezy Season. Rumors swirled all day about a new track from West. With 25 minutes left to bid farewell to the ghastly year, our collective prayers were answered. First a leak and later an official release through West’s website, “Only One” floated down from hip-hop’s heavens and graced us mortals here on earth. I am absolutely reaching for low-hanging fruit right now. Guilty. But the biased response by way of religious imagery is called for because the track is (1) fantastic and (2) at long last bridges two icons from disparate eras. Yes, that is living legend Paul McCartney stroking those organ keys in yet another victory for minimalism. Ty Dolla $ign apparently contributed here (the raw backing vocals that pop up now and again), which is a plus I guess. This might be the most timeless piece of music to feature autotune since Kanye’s very own “Street Lights,” which fittingly lives on an album also inspired by West’s late mother, Donda. “Only One” harbors West’s most poignant songwriting to date, and we couldn’t be more excited to hear what he has in store. Below is a picture of West and McCartney together, as well as the handwritten lyrics to “Only One,” shared on kanyewest.com. You can stream it there, or dish out $1.29 and buy it on iTunes.

Matt Champion & Jon Waltz Strike Gold (And Stir Tears) With “Burn” Posted: 01 Jan 2015 03:54 PM PST Before making an honest attempt with words to capture the verve of “Burn,” Matt Champion’s latest — and best — record, which features Jon Waltz, I must run off on a tangential ramble: This track makes me wish we (Potholes) created an “Honorable Mentions” section for Best Albums and Best Songs of 2014. We forget some things. For instance, we forgot Mr. Champion released “Die With Me.” Our mindlessness, though innocent, ignored one of the finest indie drops of the past 12 months. “Burn” clocks in at just under nine minutes. Would you believe me if I said every second was worth it? Would you take my word for it if I told you this could appear on the Best of 2015 lists? (Though the track was shared on SoundCloud yesterday, Dec. 31, it’s best to give any song more than one day of life for consideration.) Sensationalism aside, “Burn” spits on easy descriptors — “ambitious” — and demands more. Here’s why. Waltz and Champion, two of the top rapper-crooner hybrids out there, spin espionage jargon into a hazy mesh of smoke, paranoia and jealousy that leaves the protagonist alone and lost. The hook will have you singing while side-eyeing your lover, either out of compassion or suspicion. Waltz’s verse stings of infidelity, regrettable texts, intoxication. I’m hoping these two find themselves on another track together. Romil, Albert Gordon and Russell Boring match the vocalists’ vital collaboration, compiling production talent to yield the kind of beat that would have you (or me, anyway) wandering through New York City streets in the morning’s early hours. You should be accompanied, but it’s just you and your shadow. Stream “Burn” below. Shouts to HK for yet another piece of impeccable artwork.