FACT | Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
(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)
FACT | Madonna - MDNA
Still got love for the title, but I wish she’d used it on a better album.
Perhaps the most unexpected character to pop up in Khodorkovsky, even more than the surprise hippo, was Nina Kraviz (billed as a “DJ and dentist”, lol). Her new album is just OK, but I have v fond memories of this 2009 classic. The bass drop at three-and-a-half minutes GETS ME.
FACT | Estelle - All Of Me
I’ve hardly seen anyone talk about Estelle’s new album and I wasn’t expecting it to be excellent, given the tortuous gestation, failed singles and so on. So to hear a work of this quality was a bit of a surprise.
FACT | Robert Glasper Experiment - Black Radio
Erykah Badu, Meshell Ndegéocello, Mos Def, Bilal, Musiq Soulchild and Chrisette Michele on the mic + Robert Glasper on the keys = an excellent album.
FACT | Kalenna - Chamber of Diaries
This mixtape has been ruling my life for a fortnight, and “Matte Black Truck” might be my single of the year so far (“keep my heart in your dashboard, I don’t give a fuck if you speed”). Crucial listening.
I was thinking about my favourite Madonna songs, as I do every few days, and realised that it’s a real testament to her greatness that my favourite three of her singles come from separate decades (FYI: “Deeper And Deeper”, “Die Another Day”, “Burning Up”). This is probably my favourite Madonna remix though, that IMMENSE synth riff grinding itself into your face forever. You never want it to end. MDNA for real.
Mirel Wagner, “No Death”. This song is spellbinding and terrifying.
The National | Two disparate albums all part of Kuwaiti artist's quest for knowledge
Fatima Al Qadiri’s music has blown my mind more than any other artist’s over the past couple of months (“Vatican Vibes”, “WARN-U”), and she’s an amazing interviewee too - whip-smart, articulate, funny. A ton of stuff that had to be [redacted] because of regional sensitivities…
FACT | Lady Leshurr - 2000andL
Reviewed Lady Leshurr’s sixth mixtape in three years. Will someone make this girl a massive star already?
