New Jam

While I'm typically loath to say anything good about modern music from Los Angeles, Snoop Dogg's new video for "Sensual Seduction" ("Sexual Eruption") is really quite good.

As you may have noticed, there seems to be a large number of pop artists using the talk box these days. Much of the usage, I suspect, is meant to cover up lacking vocal abilities (remember - it's essentially impossible to sing off-key when correctly using a talk box). Nonetheless, I have grown accustomed to hearing robotic voices from car stereos outside my apartment at all hours of the day.

What's refreshing about Snoop's use of the device, however, is that it actually makes sense within the context of his track. This is not simply another modern pop song with cyborg vocals haphazardly added to the final mix. Snoop's talk box sits exactly where it's meant to sit - between the cheesy synths and jaunty beat of the late disco era.

Visually speaking, the video furthers the musical themes perfectly. Nicest touch of all: the "play" and "stop" cues coupled with static at the beginning and end. Who knew we'd be nostalgic for VHS this quickly?