The sunshine has eclipsed sitting indoors listening to music, yet i've still found plenty of time to listen during breaks at work and journeying to and fro work. You'll rarely find me without music, at any rate. I did take a break of a whole 24 hours last week and didn't listen to a single thing. I came back to my MP3 player hugely refreshed, so I may well perform such an action again.
What's been happening in the music world, then? Well, not a lot, actually. A lot of the big albums are coming up in a few weeks time, so I thought this month i'd dedicate some time to them. The album that's been mostly on my playlist the past four weeks however has been 'Don't Sweat The Technique', by Eric B and Rakim. Watching CSI last night, the title track from this excellent Eric B And Rakim album came on in the background during the show and just fitted so well. For an 'old-skool' act, they've not dated one jot and I love the jazzy settings Eric B lays down. This duo released four stunning albums and I can't immediately think of a finer rap duo in the history of all time. If you've been dubious about Rap before, start with the best, Eric B And Rakim.
New Releases In May 2008
Something for everyone there, hum? Personally, i'm massively looking forward to the albums by Sparks, The Wedding Present, Spires and Boden and finally, Ting Tings. Ting Tings are a duo that sound excitable and manic - female vocals, noisy stomps of squealing guitars and electronics - yet firmly in a pop mode. Apparently, they're going to be featured on an itunes/ipod advertisment, so fame surely beckons for Ting Tings. Spires and Boden may be better known to you as Bellowhead, this time without the big band and just stripped to a core duo. Don't worry though music lovers - this is just another way they release their music - i'm assured Bellowhead will be back with us on record sometime later this year, or early next.
Sparks last two studio releases ( Lil Beethoven and Hello Young Lovers ) were possibly the finest two Sparks albums since 'Kimono My House' and 'Propaganda'. A lot rides therefore on 'Exotic Creatures Of The Deep', will it be a let-down? Huge respect goes out to Sparks in any event, for playing each one of their albums in full over a series of concerts, one night per album, finishing of course with their 'Exotic Creatures Of The Deep'. Finally, in this little roundup of the albums that will be on my stereo, The Wedding Present return with their latest, Steve Albini produced long-player.
What Else?
What else have I been listening to apart from Eric B And Rakim? Well, the new Fall album is still whirling around my CD Player, earning its keep. The magnificent packaging and contents of the Gerry And The Pacemakers box set is keeping me warm and Tindersticks 'The Hungry Saw' is pleasing me. Tindersticks always remind me of cold and dark Autumn nights - which is refreshing in this time of early Summer and turning red in the sun. Doesn't suit the gothic atmosphere us unsociable people like to cultivate, does the summer.
ALL NEW! Adrian's Least Favourite Album Of The Month Award ( ALF for short )
Yes, this inaugurable ALF award goes to..... DRUMROLL.....
Labour Of Love by UB40. Quite topical this as well, as UB40 have split with their longterm singer Ali Campbell and replaced him with Ali Campbell's brother. They've released a new studio set in the last few weeks, distributing it via Mail On Sunday as a free giveaway.
Anyhoo, 'Labour Of Love' was the album that took the band to the next level commercially yet also, for me, permanently ruined the artistic reputation of a once fine band. Early albums and singles such as 'One In Ten' were proper tunes with lyrics actually about something. For 'Labour Of Love', they saw fit to cover a bakers dozen of reggae tunes, arranged and set in some anemic, insipid arrangements that made it seem as if King Tubby, Augustus Pablo or Big Youth had never existed. UB40 reduced their sound to pure, commercial components - a song such as 'Cherry O Baby' revealing the Ali Campbell whine to horrifying effect. Don't remember that one? How about 'Red Red Wine'? Enough said.
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