But I found it staring back at me from the New Release section.
Griderman 2 - imo - trumps the last 13 years worth of Bad Seed albums, and I love the Bad Seeds. This album, for me, is everything that was missing from Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! channelled through a Garage Rock Tannoy.
The Roots - How I Got Over (Album) (2010)
It's like they took a collection of Curtis Mayfields songs, stripped the vocals out, replaced them with well executed poignant-rhymes, some assorted indie rock and neo-soul guest vocalists and subsequently blew my mind....
Why was 1am, last Wednesday, in a friends house, the first time I heard this apparently quasi-successful band? I've was blind but now I'm much better.
Following the commercial, if not critical, success of 2008's Only by the Night, the brothers Followill return with their latest offering in the guise of their latest single.
"Radioactive", which appears on their new album, Come Around Sundown, has been described by the band themselves as a reaffirmation of the "spirituality" of the group as they grew up in Tennessee. Brace yourself.
Radioactive heralds another, and perhaps the last, step towards the abyss that is the dreaded tag of 'stadium rock'. It is so hard to associate the band who brought us the gritty Youth and Young Manhood and Aha Shake Heartbreak with this current group who have 'progressed' to highly-polished pop music in order to secure success in their native United States.
The commercial success of the platinum selling Only by the Night looked to have encouraged the Followills to further diverge from their early career, which saw them attract fans and plaudits alike with energetic rock and roll.
As a long time fan of the pre Only by the Night Kings of Leon, I was wary of this new offering at first. Having spent a day with it, my opinion of Radioactive has flip-flopped several times.
It IS mainstream. It IS a highly produced and mixed single. Crucially, however, it is rather good. The chorus, which had sounded 'cheesy' (for want of a less oft-levelled critical term) on first listen is infectious, rabble-rousing enough for the Sex on Fire brigade but also sufficiently soulful for many fans of earlier releases.
Recent recruits to the Kings of Leon bandwagon will love this song. Older fans who may have wished the Kings of Leon into exile may want to give this one a try. They might find themselves surprised.
Probably the most underrated song ever. Slick video, slick chorus, Lykke Li, Santogold, Kanye West and Nasa. Seriously, check out Nasa, check out the Spirit of Apollo and be free. One of the most original videos I've ever seen. Seriously. Enjoy.
I’ve stumbled into the general direction of some great music this week.
Gaslamp Killer - When I'm In Awe (feat. Gonjasufi)2010
I’ve been shouting various words of praise into the ears of many regarding Gonjasufi’s “A Sufi and a Killer”. The bulk of that album was produced the Gaslamp Killer who’s set to release an EP this October. Pitchfork are hosting a “teaser” from the EP which features vocals from Gonjasufi. Sidewinder-Charming, in the Mojave Desert. I’ll go with that description.
I’ve already got a Roots Manuva Dub album, but this one is better, I know little about producer “Wrong Tom” but he knows Dub.
Tony McDermott’s cover art alone is worth the price of admission.
Dudley Perkins – Expression (Album) 2007
I found this for €5 lying, collecting dust, in a record store Hip-Hop section this weekend, the Madlib production credit and Stones Throw label sticker formed a collective mouth that demanded I fork over my hard earned Ark, I’m glad I did. If I had a Soul, I’d feed it this.
Inspired Flight - We All Want to Fly (Album)2010
Sounds, and probably smells a bit like something from anticon. I found this via aimless link-clicking. Trippy, electronic music littered with guest MC’s.
This particular track is approaching territory occupied by The Books and is a free download on the bands website http://www.inspiredflightmusic.com
Sooooo no big surprise that I'm tipping my hat in the way of suggesting Mr Tempah should be near if not at the heady heights of the chart with his next upcoming number "written in the stars" featuring the vovcals talants of Eric Turner (who? - if you know please enlighten me with a comment!) anyways Tinie's album is scheduled to drop in October and although is being kept heavily under wraps the very rare snippets released have been promosing, Swedish House Mafia featured "Miami 2 Ibiza" featureson the final track listing and having been put out by SHM is easily searchable on youtube ;)
Anyways standard video link below of Written in the Stars
Nick Cave's Bad Sleaze..... and The Roots
