Where the food sounds good, and the music is pretty tasty too.
Years and Years erupt in an explosion of Skittle flavored confetti as a result of their track Shine getting the Danny L. Harle Remix treatment. This is a revved up play on the original and I think I like it, dare I say, better. Continue reading “years and years | shine | danny l harle remix”
Forgive me. When I first heard the London-based duo Alpines I thought Kate Bush and Siouxsie Sioux had somehow cloned themselves into one supremely gifted entity, but alas ’twas not the case. What was the case? Well, I had chanced upon none other than the lovely Catherine Pockson and the musically stalwart Robert Matthews all up in my ear space! And the more I heard, I more I grew curious for more. What nerve! I’ve no idea how such groove splashed sounds could have escaped me, but I’ve reconciled my shortcomings with this posting. By the way, I’m enamored to the gills with the Pop/Operatic vocals of Ms. Pockson. So much so, I find myself constantly clicking repeat as I raptly listen again and again. The song Cocoon is an August 2011 release, for which the Hope directed video appears below. And the track Why was released this past November with a little help from the dynamic Mary Jane Coles. Enjoy and as always. Peace. Continue reading “alpines // cocoon + video) + why + maya jane coles + carly simon cover”
(Photo courtesy of thisisfakediy.co.uk)
Every other day or so it seems someone is writing something about Lana Del Rey. And from what I’ve read most reviewers are divided. The big bad press on this demure songstress are equally torn, not really knowing what to make of this new studio Gangsta Boo. Love her or hate her, the woman with the bee-stung lips has got it going on. I’m in the camp of those who adore the whole package, whether or not her’s is a contrived image or not doesn’t really matter to me. I’m sold. Maybe even a bit obsessed.
However, what does matter is her output, which is continuously getting better each time out. Her initial buzz starters, “Video Games” and “Blue Jeans” were catchy enough, and in the “Video Games” collide offereing she played the coy, slightly tempestuous card for all it was worth. Can you blame her? And then “Born To Die” came along and furthered, not only our collective curiosity, but it was a well timed release after her so-so performance at Manhattan’s Bowery Ballroom. So far, we’ve been privy to 7 out of the 12 songs listed on LDR’s soon to drop LP, which also includes “Diet Mountain Dew” “Disco, “Yayo”, “This Is What makes Us Girls,” and “Off To The Races,” in no particular order. All of these tracks sound better than average to me.
Now, we have “National Anthem,” to chew on and it’s more than just fat and gristle, it’s rack of lamb marinated in all the aromatics available to ensure lots of flavor, and again the presentation is very agreeable. It works because we’re all carnivores at heart. And who can resist the raw sexualized lamb Ms. Del Rey is offering up? Not I. Now, “National Anthem,” with it’s gutsy guitar and a fist full of dollars hook, is not only catchy, but it also possesses a bit of spot-on social commentary. Consider the lyrics ” Money is the anthem of success? Money is the reason we exist? Everybody knows it, it’s a fact, kiss kiss? No hollow lyrics here. Whatever your thoughts are regarding Lana Del Rey, her star isn’t likely to fade anytime soon. In 2012 her ascension to the venerable ‘Court of Pop Ladies’ is pretty much a sure bet.
Haters, go bark up another more deserving tree, because this Quercus coccinea is growing deep roots in the fertile soil of our pop culture, for days. And Lana, you can be our China doll, and this reviewer, most assuredly doesn’t want to see you fall. Peace. Continue reading “lana del rey // national anthem”