Track of the Week
Today I thought I’d share an indie pop/folk track from the latest Regina Spektor album Begin To Hope. I actually heard the track Samson absolutely ages ago, and I love it, but… I only recently checked out this album. It’s like falling in love all over again. First Samson and now Fidelity - although it is worth mentioning that the whole album is strong and another fav of mine is On The Radio - but for you today…
Regina Spektor - Fidelity
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 13th October.
Check out the video too…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NBArHgZntE]
Tomorrow I am off to the Parklife festival in Brisbane. I will see Cut Chemist, Mixmaster Mike, and Coldcut, to name a few, and… I’m really excited! Expect a thorough write-up either tomorrow or Monday, personal condition depending, but actually it might be early next week as I’ll need to get photos developed - no digital love here! Be great to hear from any readers that are going to the festival, please don’t stalk and/or stab me though, it’s just not nice… but you can buy me things, that would be good. Ta-ra for now!
Useful links:
- Regina Spektor website
- Regina Spektor MySpace page
- Download - Regina Spektor - Fidelity
- Video @ YouTube - Regina Spektor - Fidelity
- Parklife website
Nothing’s Gonna Change Your Mind
The first single from Badly Drawn Boy’s soon to be released album Born In The U.K. is due out on 9th October. It’s called Nothing’s Gonna Change Your Mind, and it sounds more like the BDB of old than the track Born In The U.K. does. First off, check out this video to the new single…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtNkcfWpRf0]
It’s a cool video and I love the idea that you could control a car by the power of keys! I think most of Badly Drawn Boy’s videos are cool, I even own the DVD that contains them all, what a geek! The release of the album is getting ever nearer, October 16th, and I cant bloody wait. Did you enjoy that video, yet as ever dismay at the audio quality? Well quit your moaning…
Badly Drawn Boy - Nothing’s Gonna Change Your Mind
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 12th October.
I like this track quite a lot. It took a few listens for me to appreciate Born In The U.K., but this one sounded pretty damn good at first go. Badly Drawn Boy is often an acquired taste though, and to be fair it took me a few listens to get into One Plus One Is One, but I’m a massive fan and I cant wait for this album to drop. If any of you pop pickers out there have heard other tracks from the forth-coming album, gimme a shout and let me know what they’re like, cheers.
Useful links:
- Badly Drawn Boy website
- Badly Drawn Boy MySpace page
- Video @ YouTube - Badly Drawn Boy - Nothing’s Gonna Change Your Mind
- Download - Badly Drawn Boy - Nothing’s Gonna Change Your Mind
New Winehouse tracks
The impending release of the new Amy Winehouse album Back To Black is getting ever nearer - 30th October, to be precise - and what better way to tease the hell out of you, than by sharing a few tracks! First off though, check out this video to Rehab, the first single off the new album. It is due out on 23rd October and was produced by Mark Ronson. Pretty strong first single, good job on the brass and the 60s soul style drums, the Ronson done good. I guess you want to get your grubby mitts on some mp3s now, so I shan’t delay any further.
So, first mp3, and I must first say thanks to homo eclectic for the heads up on these, is I’m No Good. This badboy starts with killer drums, then in comes some eerie strings and Amy’s (strong as ever) vocals. This has retro written all over it, but then from what I’ve heard so far (and read), the whole album has a 60s soul female group feel to it. Like Amy has kept the jazz connections, but gone for a retro pop stance on things. Anyway…
Amy Winehouse - I’m No Good
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 11th October.
Next up is the title track to the album Back To Black. This one leaves the whole upbeat swing feel to one side, and is actually more of a tragic soul ballad, if there is such a thing. It’s at this point you realise that we are dealing with a totally different animal to Frank (Amy’s debut album). Where others have failed to evolve their previously distinctive sound, Amy seems to have managed it fully, solid stuff indeed…
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 11th October.
I actually do have an mp3 of another track from the album Addicted, but the quality is poor and I don’t want to spoil you either! Just know that it’s quite an airy soul jazz number with a lighter outlook on things. Essentially this new material, or what I’ve heard of it, is pop music - the sort anyone could listen to without many complaints, it has this whole 60s female soul thing going on, and it’s quite charming. It will be interesting to hear how the whole album sounds, specially since Frank was such a great (and underrated) album. Still, not long to wait now.
Useful links:
- Amy Winehouse website
- Amy Winehouse MySpace page
- Video @ YouTube - Amy Winehouse - Rehab
- Download - Amy Winehouse - I’m No Good
- Download - Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
Closer
Usually when I receive an album for reviewing, I listen to it bout three times then review it - so I’ve normally posted up my review within 48 hours of receiving the album. This time, for one reason or another, it didn’t happen like that. As such, I’ve had Ty’s new album Closer for near on 6 weeks and listened to it a whole load of times. Not entirely sure if this will have an effect on how this review pans out, just know that I am far from tired of this brand new UK hip-hop masterpiece.
Closer is actually due out, on Big Dada, 16th October and the first single What You Want / Don’t Watch That (double a-side) was released last week. Ty’s 2003 album Upwards caused a few waves with it’s fresh approach to the UK hip-hop sound, but I’m quite confident Closer will cause a tsunami, read on to understand why…
A nice twelve track offering kicks off with Don’t Watch That (Knickers, Y-Fronts and Jockstraps), a track that is one half of the first single release. I did actually review the single a while back and said something along the lines of “…is a funky old skool kinda tune, but with a typical fresh Ty sound. The lyrics are humorous to the max - the story being that you shouldn’t believe internet rumours about artists.” I stand by those comments. The arrangement of this track is interesting, simple yet sublime, good drum roll and catchy guitar stabs - plus Ty’s spitting is catchy as hell - strong opening track. Everybody is the second track, “everybody wants to be the best in the world, I just really wanna have sex with my girl” - something quite apparent about Ty’s tracks are A) his obvious and excellent flow, and B) this seemingly simple construction that is put together as such that it is both simple and also seriously intricate. This isn’t intricate in the way you’d expect from The Cinematic Orchestra or Sigur Ros, but more so in the execution of solid beats coupled with catchy sounds and clever flowing rhymes.
This Here Music feat. Speech of Arrested Development is the third track and takes the album into a more relaxed atmosphere. Some real nice bass notes and spacey organ samples going on, plus the claps are a nice touch. The chorus is simple yet the combination of the group style singing, backed with the soulful female backing, works very well. This one will get your foot tapping, then *boom* the rhymes switch over to Speech, and he does a fresh job. Ty is fantastic himself, but it was good to hear someone else join him, and Speech more than steps up to the plate on this one. The Idea feat. De La Soul is up next, and it has real bashment undertones. This is another one that wont let you sit still for a moment, most of the album is like that really - The Idea maintains chants throughout and combines Ty with De La Soul, what a combination.
The fifth track is What You Want (Taylormade) feat. Taylor McFerrin, Joy Jones and Jason Yarde, this is the other track from the already released (and reviewed) single, I previously said “This track is in a similar vein to those two classic Ty tracks; Groovement and Wait A Minute - real shimmying rhythm accompanied by brass and intelligent lyrics. The beats were originally beatboxed by Taylor McFerrin (who is in fact the son of Bobby “Don’t Worry Be Happy” McFerrin), Ty and his associate producer Drew then created the tune around the original beatbox.” - fans of Upwards will love this! Closer feat. Maceo is my favourite track on this album at the moment. It’s different to a lot of the tracks on the album as it is not as focused on the fierce beats. The beats are still there, but the emphasis is on melody and partnered with Ty and Maceo it is just class…
Ty - Closer feat. Maceo
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 10th October.
Oh! feat. Bahamadia and Zion I greets us at the second half of the album. I really appreciate the sentiment of this track, the main narrative about genocide and the woes of the world, but musically I feel it is perhaps one of the less appealing tracks on the album. It’s catchy enough with it’s deep and dirty electronic stab samples and neat rhymes, but for me personally, it doesn’t hold too much replay value. Aim For Your Goals feat. Eska is positioned wisely on the album as it feels like an extended interlude of sorts. I love the unique stance on arrangement and sounds, plus Ty’s words are clever, but not quite up there with Closer or Don’t Watch that.
Sweating For Your Salary feat. Wumni and Dele Sosimi has an infectious bassline and rhythm. It follows a different sound set than most the tracks on the album, but keeps some of those killer base beats. Feels like a real tribal ditty, focusing on African style chants. Sophisticated and Coarse feat. Eska is brilliant. Eska works so well to compliment Ty - “these are just everyday folks” - I couldn’t stay still during this one. The high xylophone style keys create a fantastic melody to match the steady but firm beats. The words carry a strong moral and social message, take heed.
Penultimate track is L.O.V.E. (No Matter What) feat. Vula - this is just excellent. Like Closer, this takes a different angle to the majority of tracks, and that is definitely not to say those others aren’t as good, but I’m really feeling this track. The shimmying beats are present, but the backing vocals - “L O V E” - help to maintain the chilled atmosphere amongst the intense beat pattern and rhyme structure, also the female vocal backing is key to the mood. Last up is Hustle (That’s Why We) feat. Rich Medina, currently my second favourite track after Closer. It starts with a steady beat and a narrative by Rich Medina, talking bout things like being prepared and motivated, then 1:40 or so in and Ty drops his first rhyme. This is actually really beautiful. “Hustle, hustle, hustle, hustle, hustle, hustle, hustle, hustle, hustle, hustle, that’s why we… hustle” - you really have to hear this for yourself.
This is a very good album. Fans of Upwards will love it for sure, but all fans of hip-hop should give this a go. Ty has clearly matured his sound from Upwards and despite his seemingly unique style, this new album does deliver a diverse array of sounds. The guest appearances are great and Ty’s flow is as good as it’s ever been. I genuinely hope Closer does well for Ty, cos he deserves it. It is clear that a lot of effort has gone into Closer and anyone remotely into hip-hop, that has an open mind, should check this out as a priority.
Useful links:
- Ty MySpace page
- Big Dada website
- Download - Ty - Closer feat. Maceo
Unearthing MySpace Gems
Time waits for no-one, ain’t that the truth? It’s Sunday once more, so once more I have gems. A quick reminder on how this weekly feature works; all pages featured have had less than 10,000 page-views. If you know of any artists on MySpace, with less than that many page-views, that you think I should feature, please let me know. You can either email me to the address at the left, or send me a message and/or friends request (if you are an artist or band) at my personal MySpace page or the >>just like music MySpace page.
Azevedo Silva - http://www.myspace.com/projectoparalelo
Not much I can really tell you here. This is beautiful acoustic music from the land of the Portuguese. There are three tracks available for you to listen to, and I would really urge you to listen to them all the way through to truly appreciate the immense beauty. I’m so glad that one way or another I found this page, I could listen forever. O Inicio is one of the most fantastic cinematic and emotive acoustic pieces I have heard in a while.
johnny longmind - http://www.myspace.com/johnnylongmind
Paul Stanek is johnny longmind, an experimental electronica artist playing out of California. His experimental downtempo sound is both captivating and compelling - just check out tracks like ruound and ism for perfect examples. This is truly fantastic stuff and needs to be heard by all electronica fans. This dude needs to be snapped up quick sharp, he’s ripe for the picking!
Aaron The Cutter - http://www.myspace.com/aaronthecutter
Some trip-hop from France. Emeline, Damien, Pascal, and Yves are Aaron The Cutter. This is some hot stuff indeed - I’m a sucker for storm samples and their track AIR starts with just that, a real head nodder of an electronica track. Emeline’s vocals are in a similar vein to Lou Rhodes and they compliment the diverse array of electronica on the Aaron The Cutter page extremely well.
Frank Filth’s Drive In System - http://www.myspace.com/frankfilth
Frank Filth’s big beat electronica sound is something to marvel at. At a time when many people strive to emulate the tried and tested, the Frank Filth’s Drive In System hits us with some crazy, but funky, electronica sounds. The track Naked is on a Daft Punk tip (before they turned shit), whilst Stand Up is on more of a neo-soul electro-funk tip. Check out this Dutch funky electronica as soon as you can!
abb-d - http://www.myspace.com/abbd
Looking for something a bit more on the ambient side? Then you’re in luck. abb-d is based in Brighton, England and certainly has the knack for making atmospheric electronic pieces. Just the two tracks on his page at the moment, but if you’d care to follow the links on his page to his website, you will find many more goodies. Anyone yearning for the more ambient side of electronica should definitely give abb-d a go, fella’s got skills.
That’s your five. If you like them, add them to your friends list and say ‘hi’. I’ve just this past week added three new tracks to the >>just like music MySpace page, naturally they are all fantastic tracks, but be sure to check them out. Until next Sunday, enjoy your gems!
Useful links:
- Azevedo Silva MySpace page
- johnny longmind MySpace page
- Aaron The Cutter MySpace page
- Frank Filth’s Drive In System MySpace page
- abb-d MySpace page
