LEX IS MORE

I assume the reason I haven’t seen anyone talk about how...

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:45:03 +0100

I assume the reason I haven’t seen anyone talk about how this song is Summer Jam No 1 of 2012 (afrobeats in the top 10!) is because we all take for granted how great it is, right? And I’ll be sure to see it in all your EOY lists as and when, yes?

maura: themorningnews: TMN’s Sarah Hepola believes she is the...

Mon, 07 May 2012 18:20:15 +0100

maura:

themorningnews:

TMN’s Sarah Hepola believes she is the only person who likes talking on the phone anymore.

Putting this here for later because I have a lot to say on this topic and the idea of channels of communication and distracted friendship and The Way We Whatever Now (thanks, required courses for my Comm Studies major). But I will say that even though I tend to be phone-avoidant, I had a lovely chat with a friend on Saturday evening that, despite at the outset being marred by technical difficulties that were so bad I eventually had to switch over to Skype, helped yank me out of a lousy, hung-over mood.

Also—and this might be something I’ve picked up because I’ve edited a lot of Q&As in the past year—if you look at the ways that email interviews read as opposed to phone ones, there’s a WORLD of difference as far as flow and places that the conversation goes (I doubt, for example, that I would have been recommended a live version of O’Spada’s “Pay Off” in an email interview, and yet a phoner I conducted last week ended with just that). Although I should probably put IM correspondence against phoners too for a more one-to-one comparison.

I’m paraphrasing here because IIRC the original article is under the Times paywall, but UK journalist Caitlin Moran had a great line about the brutality of the phone call - something about how it’s the equivalent of barging into someone’s room unannounced and yelling “ME! TALK TO ME! NOW!”, and that the fact the telephone was invented in an era when one could readily purchase cocaine from any high street pharmacist is surely not coincidental.

(I never pick up to unknown numbers, rarely pick up to recognised numbers - my phone is permanently on silent so I usually don’t even notice - and only make calls myself if it’s unavoidable, and resent it throughout. A few months ago I worked how to disable voicemail and the feeling of liberation that swept over me was just beautiful. Sometimes I’ll just stare at my phone as it rings, with no intention of answering, and knowing there’ll be no voicemail beep, and I feel so…free. There are about 100 ways of communicating with me if you need me and voicemail does not need to be one of them.)

Zinnnngggg.

Mon, 07 May 2012 09:37:24 +0100

Zinnnngggg.

FACT | Not sorted for Es and wizz: why a sensible debate about drugs and club music is still a long way off

Wed, 02 May 2012 18:14:18 +0100

FACT | Not sorted for Es and wizz: why a sensible debate about drugs and club music is still a long way off:

I wrote about DRUGS and MADONNA and DEADMAU5 and HYPOCRISY for Fact. I did not write the headline, you think I’d ever make a Pulp reference of my own volition?

FACT | Melanie Fiona - The MF Life

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:54:09 +0100

FACT | Melanie Fiona - The MF Life:

This a “solid” rather than “great” album but that doesn’t do justice to how great its high points are.

FACT | Voices From The Lake - Voices From The Lake

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:50:00 +0100

FACT | Voices From The Lake - Voices From The Lake:

The best techno LP I’ve heard this year. A gorgeous, deeply immersive experience.

Guardian | Death Grips - The Money Store

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:49:09 +0100

Guardian | Death Grips - The Money Store:

My judgment on this record is probably quite predictable. Campaign to recast “punk rock” as a pejorative, possibly synonymous with “pointless”, continues apace.

[Fifa and the International Olympic Committee] are less sporting administrators than moveable states which descend on host nations, and begin by establishing their own proxy apparatus for enforcing their will for the duration of their stay (witness, for instance, the "Fifa World Cup Court" instituted in South Africa in 2010). Once these quasi-federal structures are up and running, the organisation then gets down to the business of siphoning cash out of the country, before withdrawing its parasitic corporate proboscis and leaving the host organism to cope with the aftermath of the raid.

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 08:20:47 +0100

[Fifa and the International Olympic Committee] are less sporting administrators than moveable states which descend on host nations, and begin by establishing their own proxy apparatus for enforcing their will for the duration of their stay (witness, for instance, the "Fifa World Cup Court" instituted in South Africa in 2010). Once these quasi-federal structures are up and running, the organisation then gets down to the business of siphoning cash out of the country, before withdrawing its parasitic corporate proboscis and leaving the host organism to cope with the aftermath of the raid.:

Penultimate paragraph of Marina Hyde’s column today is the best thing I’ve read this week.

Guardian | Dawn Richard - Armor On

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:14:07 +0100

Guardian | Dawn Richard - Armor On:

Gonna bang on and on about Dawn Richard until everyone recognises that she and Kalenna are making the best music around right now and they get the hype and attention they deserve (instead of, for example, The Weeknd; the disparity in hype is extremely irritating to me).

Guardian Music Weekly podcast, 20/4/12

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:12:17 +0100

Guardian Music Weekly podcast, 20/4/12:

Guesting on the Guardian music podcast this week talking about Hologram Tupac and singles from Brianna Perry (my choice, obviously amazing), Hot Chip (less amazing, not least because of dude’s horrible quavery indievoice) and Major Lazer/Amber Coffman (bloody awful because Dirty Projectors are the WORST, Coffman’s voice is nails-on-blackboard intolerable and Diplo needs to go away forever).

unbornwhiskey: bobbyfinger: speriod: UM HOW DID EX-DANITY...

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:21:09 +0100

unbornwhiskey:

bobbyfinger:

speriod:

UM HOW DID EX-DANITY KANE MEMBER DAWN RICHARD DROP AN EP THIS FEROCIOUS

Start with “Bombs,” then go from the beginning.

There’s no reason for this album to be as A++ as it is.

Oh, so this whole chain of reblogs slept on Last Train to Paris? There is a clear narrative of ferocity.

“No reason”, as long as you’d ignored Dawn’s A Tell Tale Heart mixtape last year, the astoundingly good output of Diddy Dirty Money before that (both the Last Train To Paris album proper and the subsequent LoveLove vs. HateLove remixes mixtape), the last Danity Kane album (a good two-thirds pure Danja-produced popthrills) before that, and P Diddy’s Press Play from 2005 which is probably where you can trace all of this back to.

While you’re at it, there should be no sleeping on fellow ex-Dirty Money singer-songwriter Kalenna’s Chamber Of Diaries mixtape.

Guardian | Tupac's hologram reflects another milestone in his mythology

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:07:51 +0100

Guardian | Tupac's hologram reflects another milestone in his mythology:

Did a quick Guardian piece on Hologram Tupac and also I can’t stop listening to “Can’t C Me” now.

Guardian | Lauryn Hill, Indigo2, London, 14/4/2012

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:31:00 +0100

Guardian | Lauryn Hill, Indigo2, London, 14/4/2012:

Went to see Ms Lauryn Hill live yesterday, reviewed it for the Guardian. Somehow managed to get in the photo pit for the first few songs which was quite something.

Village Voice | Nicolas Jaar and Gwilym Gold Play with Their Packaging Strategies

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:29:03 +0100

Village Voice | Nicolas Jaar and Gwilym Gold Play with Their Packaging Strategies:

My first ever piece for the Village Voice. On Nicolas Jaar, Gwilym Gold and how their new inventions could change the way we listen.

SUN GODDESS, 6/4/12

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:33:00 +0100

Honoured to DJ at Mr Beatnick’s Sun Goddess EP launch last night. This was what I played. (Afterwards, Marcus from Hyperdub played the most amazing disco set, pure vibes.)

Diddy Dirty Money - Sade
Dawn Richard - Black Lipstick
Kalenna - Matte Black Truck
Teairra Marí - Make Her Feel Good
SWV ft. Missy Elliott - Can We
Big K.R.I.T. ft. 8Ball, MJG & 2 Chainz - Money On The Floor
Brianna - Marilyn Monroe
Mystikal ft. Nivea - Danger (Been So Long)
Lil’ Mo ft. Fabolous - Superwoman Part II
Jay-Z ft. Twista & Missy Elliott - Is That Yo Bitch
Aaliyah - If Your Girl Only Knew
Nelly - (Hot Shit) Country Grammar
Jay-Z & Kanye West ft. T.I. - Niggas In Paris (Remix)*
Nicki Minaj - Come On A Cone
Lil’ Kim ft. Sisqó - How Many Licks?
Beyoncé - Schoolin’ Life
Janet Jackson - If
Shawnna ft. Twista & Ludacris - RPM
T.I. - What You Know
DMX - X Gon Give It To Ya
Jazmine Sullivan - Luv Back
Nicki Minaj ft. Beenie Man - Gun Shot
Fantasia ft. Polow Da Don & Young Jeezy - When I See U (Remix)

*obviously faded out before the Kanye verse

Q1 2012 report

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:09:00 +0100

I hadn’t been planning to do a Q1 report (on account of being busy and lazy, which are not conditions that co-exist easily with each other), but too much of what’s dominated my listening this year is being overlooked. So here it is. Links to free downloads where appropriate. Youtube playlist: no Spotify as, even though there are a few missing from Youtube, Spotify just has way too little on it to be worthwhile.

ALBUMS

1. DAWN RICHARD - Armor On
2. JOHN TALABOT - ƒin
3. NICKI MINAJ - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
4. KALENNA - Chamber Of Diaries
5. MIREL WAGNER - Mirel Wagner
6. SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS - Ghostory
7. SCHOOLBOY Q - Habits & Contradictions
8. VOICES FROM THE LAKE - Voices From The Lake
9. BLONDES - Blondes
10. LEONARD COHEN - Old Ideas
11. ESTELLE - All Of Me
12. MR. BEATNICK - Sun Goddess EP
13. GUCCI MANE - Trap Back
14. JADE ALSTON - Single On A Saturday Night
15. ROBERT GLASPER EXPERIMENT - Black Radio
16. GANG COLOURS - The Keychain Collection
17. LOVELOCK - Burning Feeling

Yeah I know I gave Nicki three stars but that high placing is illustrative of how high the highs are, and how much I’m caning them. Go ahead and suggest stuff you think I’d like; bear in mind I think most of this year’s hyped albums suck (especially Grimes) and I have no interest in hearing anything more by Odd Future, possibly ever.

TRACKS

1. KALENNA - Matte Black Truck
2. NICKI MINAJ - Stupid Hoe
3. DAWN RICHARD - Black Lipstick
4. JUSTIN BIEBER - Boyfriend
5. JME - 96 Fuckries
6. TODD TERJE - Inspector Norse
7. USHER - Climax
8. TAYLOR SWIFT ft. THE CIVIL WARS - Safe & Sound
9. PACHANGA BOYS - Time
10. ZEBRA KATZ ft. NJENA REDDD FOXXX - Ima Read
11. NJENA REDDD FOXXX - Silly Bitch
12. KENDRICK LAMAR ft. GUNPLAY - Cartoon & Cereal
13. REDLIGHT ft. NICOLE JACKSON - Get Out My Head
14. MIRANDA LAMBERT ft. PISTOL ANNIES - Run Daddy Run
13. PLAN B - Ill Manors
13. RUDIMENTAL ft. MNEK & SYRON - Spoons
14. TODD EDWARDS - Shall Go
15. LAROO & TURF TALK - Money 2 Blow
16. FUNKYSTEPZ - Warrior
17. TIMBERLEE - Prescription Make-Up
18. MANUFACTURED SUPERSTARS ft. PARIS HILTON - Drunk Text
19. BIG K.R.I.T. - I Got This
20. MADONNA - Gang Bang
21. JACKIE CHAIN ft. FREDDIE GIBBS & MAGGIE HORN - Night Is Young
22. I-OCTANE - Money Me Want
23. F3 - Lonely Land (John Talabot’s Midnight Club Revision)
24. MIGUEL - …All
25. NIKKIYA - Hold On Me
26. SHLOHMO - Rained the Whole Time (Nicolas Jaar Remix)
27. B. TRAITS ft. ELISABETH TROY - Fever
28. GREMINO - Lush
29. N’TO - The Sand Dealer
30. LANA DEL REY - Summertime Sadness

FACT | Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:13:00 +0100

FACT | Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded: I reviewed the new Nicki Minaj album. Now, back to obsessively looping “Gun Shot”, with which I am head over fucking heels. So so beautiful.

(As this is an album that basically begs you to make your own alternative track listing - surely no one will ever listen to all 22 tracks straight through more than once - mine, for the record, is: Roman In Moscow / Roman Holiday / Come On A Cone / I Am Your Leader / Beez In The Trap / Stupid Hoe / Pound The Alarm / Va Va Voom / Roman Reloaded / Hov Lane / Champion / Gun Shot. Everything else can suck a big dick)

"The preferred term online amongst… whoever for black people is People of Color, or POC. I hate it, because yo, first, everyone has color, and second, how about you don’t define me in opposition to somebody else?"

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:30:05 +0100

"The preferred term online amongst… whoever for black people is People of Color, or POC. I hate it, because yo, first, everyone has color, and second, how about you don’t define me in opposition to somebody else?":

This is a terrific blog about racism and Trayvon Martin, so it’s worth reading for those reasons, but this bit I’ve quoted has been a bugbear of mine for a while. As, um, a “person of colour” myself, I flinch whenever I see the term, and if anything I find the “POC” abbreviation even worse. For the above reason, but also because it’s prissy, it’s jargony and it’s mealy-mouthed. I often feel that in its attempt to be inclusive or non-offensive, activist language ends up extremely patronising in its assumption that minorities will feel excluded or offended if you use anything but the blandest, most meaningless term.

FACT | Madonna - MDNA

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:48:53 +0100

FACT | Madonna - MDNA:

Still got love for the title, but I wish she’d used it on a better album.

Guardian Music Weekly podcast, 23/3/12

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 10:39:00 +0000

Guardian Music Weekly podcast, 23/3/12:

I did a little bit for this week’s podcast on the (recent) history of the hip-hop mixtape, ft. Lil’ Wayne, Gucci Mane, Nicki Minaj, Big KRIT and Kalenna. LOL/sigh @ how I try to flag up interesting new mixtapes by artists who don’t get much shine and then everyone just goes “SO, Odd Future then…”