HERE COMES EVERYONE POST: Album of the Year 2010 - The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monae

I know I keep banging on about Janelle Monae, but in my opinion she is the most talented performer, and this the best album of 2010. Part of a three piece suite, The ArchAndroid is a hugely diverse, eighteen track album, which seeks to resurrect R&B from its sorry modern state, and remind us that the genre can be full of fantastically accomplished and dynamic rhythm, and truly soul-felt, understated blues. Drawing on hugely wide spread musical influences, from Romantic era classical music to musicals, sci-fi movies to field recordings, Monae’s debut full-length album twists and turns all over the place. When listened to in its entirety, its is actually quite staggering how varied her influences are; one minute its Thin White Duke era Bowie, the next its Carlos Santana style guitars, poppier Misfits tracks or Cher circa “Believe” jumping out from your speakers. That is not to say however, that her work is a simple montage of influences; Monae certainly has her own voice – and a cracking one at that. She has a powerful set of pipes – clear and rounded, with perfectly developed tone, grain and most importantly – faultless delivery. The content that she delivers is also solid. Her lyrics are slick, clever, and actually mean something, and are not simply some kind of fake narrative based around disappointingly shallow concepts of sexual politics/polemics.

Conceptually this album is also strong, both as a whole body of work and within specific songs and sections. There are cute little idiosyncrasies, like the proper, classical style Overture for the first and second parts of the album. The whole concept of the album is its strongest point, however, which is based around the themes of androids, science fiction and most significantly, the film Metropolis. Monae doesn’t simply use these as the basis of her concept album but develops it in an incredibly astute and philosophical fashion, extending the “Other” nature of machines and cyborgs to the Other-ness, the feeling of being different, of being an outsider, which is very universal. Clearly, Monae is incredibly intelligent, wise and savvy. This album has no self-indulgent introspection; there are no dirges or self-pity. The album is upbeat, young and positive throughout, with tunes that have good credentials for boogie-ing on down.

What more need I say? A phenomenally good album, and if you haven’t heard it yet – bloody well shame on you! Do it now. I promise you will find it a composed, futuristic, positive and diverse album. Promise.


See this at HCE: http://t.co/aPi2wKM

MORE THAN THE MUSIC POST: Ones to Watch 2011 - Midi Midis

The Midi Midis have been around for a couple of years now as a significant and vibrant part of the Reading scene, gigging both as a two piece and separately doing DJ sets at cool South East venues. Rumours have it the band are on the cusp of being signed by label giant Sony BMG, and if so, 2011 should be the year Midi Midis finally release a full length album, and when we see the band generally ascend towards true indie greatness.

The band have a fresh, cool, dispassionate exterior, with hip taste, bang-on aesthetics, and most importantly an exciting new sound. Interpreting sonically the current renaissance of early video game appreciation (think Scott Pilgrim), Midi Midis combine chip-tune style 8-bit sounds with thrashing garage rock guitars, to create innovative, lo-fi collage effects. If you are in anyway familiar with the game sounds of original Zelda, Final Fantasy and the like, Midi Midis’ music should have a lot of nostalgic resonance. The 8-bit samples supply most of the bass and drum sounds heard, which is interesting in itself, and leaves the duo free to mash their guitars during live performances, which are themselves electric and contain much furious guitar playing.

Their music is not just a gimmick though – it works. The mixture of 8-bit samples and guitars just reeks coolness, but the vocals actually have some genuinely deep content as well, such as April’s single There’s Just Far too Much Going on Upstairs for Me to Feel Truly Comfortable with Myself, which deals accurately with the topic of depression. Coupled with the melody that accompanies the lyrics, which are often delicate and friendly in nature, this band really do offer an awful lot, presenting clever, sharp, and overall pleasing ideas.
See this at MTTM: http://www.morethanthemusic.co.uk/features/2011-ones-to-watch-midi-midis/

HERE COMES EVERYONE POST: Playlist of the Week - Christmas Tracks

It’s Christmas time, but there’s no need to be afraid – for I have complied a simply spectacular playlist of awesome X-mas tunes for your perusal. There is a mixture of Christmas classics that we all know and love, and some alternative tracks as well. Hopefully there is something for everyone to enjoy. Unless you don’t like Christmas, in which case, why are you reading this? Weirdo.


“Driving Home for Christmas” – Chris Rea
Anyone who has had to travel home for Christmas should understand the lovely sentiment of this song. It’s mellow, yet very evocative of an important journey that many people take every Christmas.
“Christmas is Awesome” – Reuben
This track is brilliant – so funny, with a really English approach to humour and indeed Christmas generally. Check it out below:

“Let it Snow” – Dean Martin
This song has a lovely melody, warmed by Dean Martin’s rich voice. The sentiment too is wonderful – because snow is absolutely fantastic – providing you have no place to go.
“Happy Holidays, You Bastard” – Blink 182
I love short pop-punk songs, and Blink 182 do them very, very well. The rapidity of the song, coupled with the mass of swear words within made this a favourite for my fifteen-year-old self.
“Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)” – The Darkness
Ah, remember The Darkness? I do – they were lush! This track was a really nice change from the usual X-mas chart stuff at the time, and a welcome return to a more jovial, cheery, 70s style of Christmas song.
“All I Want for Christmas is You” – Mariah Carey
Yes, this track is beyond cheesy, but a bit of cheese and sentimentality can be lovely at Christmas. It is also a genuine sentiment I feel towards my beau – that the best present is to have him to myself all day. Ahh.
“Christmas Wrapping” – The Waitresses
I’ve always liked this Christmas song ever since I was little, possibly because two sassy, independent ladies sang it. As I’ve gotten older though it has remained high on my favourite Christmas songs list as it well represents the busy rush of buying presents, wrapping presents, getting and preparing food, etc. and the desire surely everyone has in December at least once – that it might just be easier and more enjoyable to spend Christmas by oneself.
“Fallen Snow” – Au Revoir Simone
Not technically a Christmas song, but more relating to winter, this is a beautiful and lyrically brilliant song discussing the importance of love when its very, very cold, (FYI, the video is depressingly summery).

“Fairytale of New York” – The Pogues and Kirsty Macoll
If you ask people what their favourite Christmas song is, many will suggest this Pogues masterpiece. It sounds wonderfully merry and Christmassy, but well captures the fraught tensions that many of us feel when spending so much time with our families.
“Do They Know its Christmas (1984)” – Band Aid
Of all the incarnations of band aid there have been, the first was clearly the best. David Bowie, Sting, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, Boy George – what a line-up that has endured through to today. And of course the message behind Band Aid is forever important, monumentally so at the time.
“White Christmas” – Bing Crosby
To me this is the perfect Christmas song. It is gentle, peaceful and warm-hearted, as well as simple and elegant in its execution.
“Its Christmas So We’ll Stop” – Frightened Rabbit
Simultaneously covering the disappointment and heartache Christmas can bring with the romantic nature of the Christmas season, this is lyrically detailed, painstakingly gentle and very new folk song is subtle and beautiful.

See this playlist at HCE: http://t.co/OKhPUm0

HERE COMES EVERYONE POST: Playlist of the Week - Happy Memories

It is nice to have a happy playlist - one that can cheer you up when you are sad, or enhance a good mood when you feel great. I have a very large happy playlist, which has over 80 songs in it, so I have broken down the highlights into two parts; tracks, which have happy music, and tracks that have happy memories. This week, the second week, I am covering the more memory-based side – tracks that both have a happy feel and have a happy memory linked to it from my life and that. So here is a nice little insight into what makes me happy, and I invite you to think of, and perhaps make a playlist of all the songs that remind you of happy times.

1.    “Crashed the Wedding” – Busted
Ah Busted. Hated by many a music connoisseur. Not me though, I bloody loved them! This song takes me back to being in 6th form, when I was very young, and very free, and my biggest problem was that my boyfriend hated Busted and I loved them. Bliss!
2.    ‘Dreaming of You” – The Coral
I adored this song when it came out, and it did become a general favourite with my contemporaries too. As everyone liked it, it became a happy, zeitgeist-capturing track.
3.    “Growing on Me” - The Darkness
This track came out when I first started to fall in love with my boyfriend Ricky, and it captured our feeling towards each other precisely. I later found out it was actually about genital warts, but the humour has only added to its genius in my eyes.
4.    “Dammit” – Blink 182
This track just makes me happy. It was around a lot during a very happy time of my life, and automatically takes me back there.
5.    “Make a Choice” – Thirst
This was Ricky’s favourite track when we first started going out, and our band also tried to learn it at one point. It will forever remind me of Ricky, and of being very young.
6.    “The Road” – Tenacious D
This track reminds me of my first year at uni, singing in the kitchen, desperately badly, to this track, in my dorm room, top floor kitchen, looking out over rainy London town.
7.    “The Middle” – Jimmy Eat World
This track has a great message, stating that although everything can feel like a big mess sometimes, everything should work out in time. It has given me solis during the stagnant 18 month I have been having, but in a positive way.
8.    “Novocain” – Strung Out
This track came to me on a Fat Wreck compilation just as I was leaving school. Throughout 6th form I was besotted with pop punk, especially stuff from Fat Wreck, and this song just encapsulated all my favourite music from a really happy time in my life, and also rounded it off succinctly.
9.    “Hey Ya!” – Andre 3000
Yes, this song was done to death when it was release, but it is a great, positive track, which seemed to have been played a lot in great situations – house parties, birthday parties, road trip, etc.
10.    “Ready for the Weekend” – Calvin Harris
This track came out last year around the time I first left Uni and started to work again. Whilst this was quite depressing, it was very elating to finish work at the end of the week and have this blasting out of my car stereo on my way home for the weekend.
See this at Here Comes Everyone: http://t.co/lqUERuk

MORE THAN THE MUSIC POST (EP REVIEW): To Bury A Ghost - The Hurt Kingdom

The Hurt Kingdom is the primary release by as yet unsigned band To Bury A Ghost. Producing self-determined “Art-Rock”, TBAG have here produced a complex, layered and deep release using numerous instruments and effects. There is a definite collage feel to the music; each of the parts on each song sound separate, isolated and developed. However, throughout this EP there is a cohesive and well-honed feel, with a mixture of cool indie synths and guitars, classical instruments (with classical parts as opposed to pop parts on classical instruments), and dreary, surly vocals. 

Whilst TBAG’s music can certainly be defined as art-rock, to me there is a definite progressive vibe. Although there are little prog-rock pretentions within The Hurt Kingdom, there are obvious influences from the likes of Muse and Mogwai, as well as true prog-rockers like Mike Oldfield and even Genesis. The track "Beginning is the End" especially falls into this genre, being over six minutes in length, and having no discernable vocals to speak of. An interesting EP though, which certainly prophesises great things to come. 
See this review at More Than The Music: http://www.morethanthemusic.co.uk/album-reviews/to-bury-a-ghost-%E2%80%93-the-hurt-kingdom-ep/

MORE THAN THE MUSIC POST: Best New Artists of 2010

All these artists released their debut albums this year and have enjoyed growing success throughout 2010. These are my stand-out new artists of 2010.

There have been so many burgeoning female solo acts over the past couple of years; it could be easy to over-look Marina and the Diamonds as just another quirky female pop act. To do this though would be a huge mistake. Marina has been one of my stand out acts of the year because she really does offer a perfect pop package, but with an awful lot of substance. Marina looks the absolute figure of beauty, and she packages herself in the most gorgeous wardrobe of cute, individual and interesting clothes. Aestheticism is clearly an important aspect of Marina’s act – not only does she look fabulous, but her videos, music sleeves and general promotional material are presented in a way that is fresh, cool and intriguing.

Most importantly, Marina delivers music that is accomplished, heart-felt and captivating. She has a truly magnificent, powerful voice, with a huge range and a very rich tone. Marina really uses her voice – musically it is her biggest attraction and focal point – with curious techniques that enrich her wry, idiosyncratic lyrics. The lyrical content of her work is very personal, yet it speaks of universal feelings, situations, worries and triumphs. Combined with her fantastically on-trend new-new-wave instrumentation of perfectly chosen synth timbres and traditional band instruments, Marina really has been one of this year’s gems (pardon the pun).  Here’s to 2011 and hopefully a new album!

Janelle Monae has not become quite as big as Marina this year, here in the UK, but she is currently enjoying a lot of success in her native America. She has been touring and performing in the US for the past five years, but with some helpful input from industry mentors Big Boi and Sean Combs, she has now released her first LP in May this year, which has subsequently been nominated for a Grammy for best R&B album.

The Archandroid is a stupendous debut release, demonstrating good old school R&B as it should be – bouncing, hip and soulful. Most exciting though, there’s not a “slow-jam” in sight! Janelle’s work is upbeat, fun, cool and most importantly not centred purely around the topic of sex and relationships. Indeed, the lyrical content is much more about Janelle as an individual, and individuality in general.
Musically, Janelle’s work is fantastically accomplished and diverse, taking influences from genres and acts as varied as James Brown, David Bowie, OutKast, Debussy, indie-pop, afro-punk, soul, funk, dance-punk, electro, turntablism and jazz.

Even with all these influences though, Janelle still has her own sound and personality, with a delightfully androgynous look and an impulsive, marionette style of dancing. Janelle Monae is pure talent and ingenuity through and through, an added breath of fresh air in the world of R&B.

Pretentious, preppy and very, very cool, The Drums are my favourite new band of 2010. They emerged from the current creative hub that is Brooklyn, NY last year, and have since blossomed into the awkward, lanky and talented band that we know today. Signed to hip UK independent label Moshi Moshi, and with perfect indie influences including The Smiths, Joy Division and The Wake, The Drums both look and sound perfectly aloof and clever, and create a good mixture of old world new-wave and new indie pop.  Lyrically, their music is typically a mixture of either cautious optimism or matter of fact melancholy – which is very fitting for what has been a continuingly tough year for a lot of people – young people especially. Their music has the perfectly measured mixture of US surf and baroque pop and cold UK post punk which creates a quirky take on the usually indie post-punk revival scene, sounding fresh, modern and now. With their spot on fusion of jangly guitar and poppy synth, they are the best version of a burgeoning new area of indie talent.

See this article at More Than The Music: http://www.morethanthemusic.co.uk/features/new-artists-of-2010/

HERE COMES EVERYONE POST: Playlist of the Week - Happy Music

Playlist of the Week: Happy (Music)
It’s nice to have a happy playlist - one that can cheer you up when you are sad, or enhance a good mood when you feel great. I have a very large happy playlist, which has over 80 songs in it, so I have broken down the highlights into two part; tracks, which have happy music, and tracks, which have happy memories. One for this week, one for next week. This week, I am covering the music-y side – tracks that a really happy feel, positive message and/or upbeat vibe. So here, take a sonic happy pill:

1.    “El Scorcho” – Weezer
This is just a nice, happy song. The rhythm has a lot of emphasis on the 3rd beat of the bar, which makes its quite physical – good to walk and dance and drive to. The singing is also just so unashamedly chirpy, and it has a very sweet, crushed up vibe.
2.    “On Mercury” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
A truly upbeat track off what was essentially quite a sombre album (By The Way), this track is fast and funky, but with an accessible pop-like feel.  Foot-tapping fun, with ace archetypal RHCP vocal harmonies.
3.    “Next to You” – The Police
The reggae-ska-punk feel of early Police is just the epitome of upbeat. The sweet youthful message of it being enough to just be with someone when you miss them is also quite heart warming.
4.    “Free” – Estelle
Again, a lovely message of positivity is present in this track, but also, for an R&B track, this is really light, comfortable and warm in its production and delivery. It also has a polyphonic, collective musical approach, with lots of parts and lots of percussion.
5.    “Let’s Go Surfing” – The Drums
Is there any action more happy and carefree than whistling? Of course not – as this great song by The Drums demonstrates. With cool surf style meets Brooklyn cool guitar parts and a joyously nonchalant positivity, this track is just great.
6.    “Little Secrets” – Passion Pit
This track is so filled with upbeat, layered licks, riffs, samples and vocals that it just encourages positive physicality. It has a transcending quality through its complexity, where the track becomes greater than its parts, turning itself into a positive ball of energy.
7.    “Go Wild in the Country” – Bow Wow Wow
Again, the polyphonic percussion and complex rhythm section in this track provide a good platform for mad, happy dancing. …’s singing is also so obviously excitable and happy it cannot help but be infectious.
8.    “Bang Bang Bang” Mark Ronson & The Business Intl.
Possibly the best thing Mark Ronson has done. The staccato rhythm of the lyrics adds to its cool bounciness, it has a lot of pleasing musical events like pauses and repetition. I also personally cannot help but smile at this much synth. Gotta love synth.
9.    “The Way My Heart Beats” – Good Shoes
Yummy, complex and well put together guitar parts really make this song sing. A good degree of build up and release of punchier parts and softer parts is also very pleasing.
10.    “A-Punk” – Vampire Weekend
Ah – happiness personified. Such an upbeat song with a wonderfully excitable guitar part and a cute flute part. This track always reminds me of summer, which is never a bad thing.
11.    “Tightrope” – Janelle Monae
This track has such cool, whipped rhythms and percussion parts, which just fills you with a jangly positivity. Janelle’s perfect, fast-paced rap-scat with word spilling over word never fails to bring a smile to my face. Foot tapping, finger clicking, this is the funkiest R&B.

See this post at Here Comes Everyone: http://t.co/TJ2xPIa