Tracks of the Week 3: 22/2 - 28/2

Three for three! Back again with some selections of my favourite music from the past week. Even though this is a new series for the blog, I was blown away with the quality of great music this week, definitely give these tracks a listen if you haven't already. As always, let me know of any other new songs from the past week which I might have missed.

Iggy Pop – “Sunday”

Post Pop Depression, the collaborative project between Iggy Pop & Josh Homme (from Queens of the Stone Age) isn’t out until March but the album leaked online a few weeks ago, and Iggy’s official youtube channel dropped this track from the album yesterday. Apart from the already released “Gardenia”, I think this is the strongest offering from the album – I love the backing vocal harmonies, driving guitars and thumping rhythm sections. (I’m always a sucker for good handclaps too) The sickly-sweet string outro is a bit strange, but it’s not an unpleasant aftertaste. 4/5

Joey Bada$$ - “Ready”

When I picked Joey’s debut LP B4.DA.$$ as one of my favourites from 2015, I mused about the need for him to demonstrate a bit of versatility for whatever he channels himself into next – don’t get me wrong, I love old-school sounding hip hop, jazz rap in particular, but staying fresh in the game is paramount! That freshness is exactly the vibe I’m getting from his latest offering, produced by Statik Selektah. He seems to be leaning more towards a tougher, harder style of delivery, and clever wordplay like this “And if you really break a leg, I hope they still will cheer you” is dynamite. 4/5

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Chance The Rapper – “Need to Know”

Chalk up another slam dunk for Chance, the hype is definitely getting substantial towards his third mixtape project. A recurring theme in This Unruly Mess I’ve Made is reflection and self-evaluation, focusing on Macklemore in particular in the years following his controversial Grammy win for Best Rap Album in 2014. I think the two play around the subject matter brilliantly, Chance even looks back on when he used to open shows for Macklemore, and how things have changed since then. The piano, horn & flute segments make for a great beat too. 3.5/5

Miguel – “Waves (Tame Impala Remix)”

Kevin Parker can literally do no wrong – everything he touches turns to spectacular, lush psychedelic goodness. This is one of several remixes featured in Miguel’s Rogue Waves EP, and stands miles apart from the rest – even eclipsing Miguel’s original. The additional backing vocal, “Gonna riiiiiiiide that waaaaaaaaave” is glorious, sung by Parker himself (I’m assuming?) and the extra instrumentation provided by Tame Impala that we all know and love transforms this into an addictive, trippy, R&B doozy. 4.5/5

Santigold – “Rendezvous Girl”

During my listen of Santigold’s new album 99¢ I had to double-check that I hadn’t accidentally swapped over to an 80s playlist when this came on. “Rendezvous Girl” is a straight mesh of new wave & electropop aesthetics, something I’d expect to hear from Duran Duran or New Gold Dream-era Simple Minds. The terrific driving beat, pulsating synth melodies and Santigold’s airy vocals all combine perfectly. It’s impossible to sit still while listening to this – I challenge anyone to do so. This is the banger of the week, right here. 4.5/5

- Karl

Podcast Episode #2 "David Bowie Tribute"

In this episode of our monthly podcast series we pay tribute to the late David Bowie by going through his remarkable and transformative life and career as artist and musician. We also reflect on his influence across art and culture, briefly review his final album Blackstar and present our 5 favourite Bowie albums.

Songs featured:

• "Uncle Arthur" (David Bowie)
• "The Man Who Sold the World" (The Man Who Sold the World)
• "Quicksand" (Hunky Dory)
• "Ziggy Stardust", "Moonage Daydream", "Rock & Roll Suicide" (Ziggy Stardust)
• "Watch that Man" (Aladdin Sane)
• "Young Americans" (Young Americans)
• "Stay" (Station to Station)
• "Sound & Vision", "Subterraneans" (Low)
• "Heroes" ("Heroes")
• "Ashes to Ashes" (Scary Monsters)
• "China Girl" (Let's Dance)
• "Magic Dance" (Labyrinth Soundtrack)
• "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday" (Black Tie White Noise)
• "Strangers When We Meet" (1. Outside)
• "Thursday's Child" ('Hours...')
• "Slow Burn" (Heathen)
• "Where Are We Now?" (The Next Day)
• "Blackstar", "Lazarus", "I Can't Give Everything Away" (Blackstar)

Thanks for listening! Stay tuned for Episode 3 coming next month.

- Karl

Anniversary Albums: Edition Three - Gang Starr "Step In the Arena"

This weeks Anniversary Album is Step In the Arena by East Coast hip hop duo Gang Starr.

Celebrating 25 years this year, Step In the Arena was released in 1991 and was the duo's second studio album.

Gang Starr of course is made up of MC Guru and the influential DJ Premier.

The nineteen track album was influenced by jazz, while there is also quite a strong emphasis on the beats. On this record, Guru's delivery in his raps was quite deadpan, something which in itself was unique compared with a lot of the other aggressive rapping of the period.

The album also contains a lot of samples during a period where sampling was in full swing in hip hop. Over 40 samples appear on the record including samples from LL Cool J, The Meters and Curtis Mayfield.

Step Into the Arena made it into the top 20 on the Billboard rap charts and is generally considered to be Gang Starr's first critically acclaimed album, receiving a 4.5 star rating from Rolling Stone magazine.

It would also help launch the duo as one of the leading hip hop acts of the underground scene at the time.

In 1998 The Source selected Step In the Arena in their list of the top 100 greatest hip hop albums.

A true early-90's underground classic.

- Sam 

Anniversary Albums: Edition Two - Janis Joplin "Pearl"

In our second installment of Anniversary Albums we are celebrating 45 years since the release of the Queen of Psychedelic Soul Janis Joplin's last studio album "Pearl". 

Released on January 11, 1971, this was unfortunately a posthumous release. Janis was recording "Pearl" when she died from a suspected heroin overdose on October 4, 1970.

"Pearl" was more gospel and soul inspired compared with the blues rock work that Janis produced with Big Brother and the Holding Company.

This was largely thanks to Janis working with Doors producer Paul A. Rothchild who wanted to make an album that showcased Janis's amazing vocals more.

They certainly achieved this and there is a big emphasis on soul balladry throughout "Pearl" as witnessed on this scorching track "Trust Me". 

"Pearl" was both critically and commercially successful upon it's release. It is just a shame Janis was not around to see that recognition.

It reached number one on the Billboard 200 charts. While famed rock critic Robert Christgau who is very hard to please gave it an A- rating.

Rolling Stone Magazine ranked "Pearl" 122 in their list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

- Sam 

Tracks of the Week 2: 14/2 - 21/2

Back again for the second instalment of Tracks of the Week. Let me know if there were any tracks you enjoyed over the past seven days which I might have missed. These are just five selections that I dig.

Aesop Rock – “Rings”

I find that hip hop lends itself particularly well to personal narratives & reflection upon past experiences, which is what this new track by Aesop Rock provides. It’s a recollection of the New York rapper’s failed ventures as a visual artist, lyrically very solid and an appreciable flow that doesn’t leave the listener reeling. I just wish there was bit more spice with the production. But I’ll be checking out Aesop’s new project regardless. 3.5/5

Kanye West – “Ultralight Beam”

Since last week’s post, The Life of Pablo (Mk I) has been & gone. Amongst its 18 tracks are a handful of songs I’d rank alongside Kanye’s best material, one of the standouts being the rousing, gospeltastic opener “Ultralight Beam” featuring Kelly Price, The-Dream, Kirk Franklin and a verse from Chance The Rapper which has been touted as the best set of rhymes on the album – I’d be reluctant to disagree. 4.5/5

J Dilla – “The Introduction”

Those familiar with Jay Dee a.k.a. J Dilla know that his place as a legendary producer & beatmaker is indisputable. But the upcoming release The Diary is a collection of Dilla’s vocal work, something which I'm not too familiar with. But based on this opening track from the album, he certainly could handle himself as an MC. I’m definitely curious to hear what this collection of previously unheard material will be like. 3.5/5

Tim Hecker – “Castrati Stack”

I saw this was getting a fair amount of buzz online, as a newcomer to Tim Hecker’s work I did not expect to hear a minimalistic, atmospheric electronic piece accompanied by a haunting vocal section from the Icelandic Choir Ensemble. It reminds me of the abstract, musique concrète electronic material that Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark dabbled with in the early 1980s, as well as Brian Eno’s famous ambient pieces. 4/5

Weezer – “L.A. Girlz”

It’s 2016 and Rivers Cuomo is still making music lamenting the nature of his relationships, in this instance the women that reside in Los Angeles who have seemingly wronged him! Again! Musically speaking it’s a welcome return to form, reminiscent of the band’s best output between Weezer (Blue Album) and Pinkerton. Rivers can still belt out a decent vocal performance, too. 3.5/5

- Karl