Vampire Life – Jim Jones – The great Cam’ron’s former partner in crime returns with an old fashioned drugs and hustle epic. Part III it says here. It is that widescreen scarface shoot em up and dramatic stuff. Very old fashioned, very brutal not broody. Rapping is pretty great on stuff like “Kill Or Be Killed”. If I was 40 years younger, this would be my jam – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – B+
Made In America – The Beach Boys – Why bother? 60 previously unreleased songs none of which you need. I dunno, if you are somewhere between a casual fan and a serious fan, maybe this is an easy way to get a grasp on the post-Pet Sounds stuff. Grade: B
The Third Eye Centre – Belle And Sebastian – Odds and sods by the folkie 90s phenom from Scotland. “Suicide Girl” is pretty good” – C+
Can’t Get Enough – Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Steve Stills and Barry Goldberg (the Electric Flag keyboardist from way back) got together to form a supergroup and play blues and hard rockers. Nothing special but former band mate Neil’s “Rocking In The Free World” ain’t bad – C
Alabama And Friends – Various Artists – I’ve never liked this huge country band and see no reason in the slightest to change my mind for this famous current country stars cover Alabama, who sometimes join in, plus two new songs. With the exception of Jamey Johnson, everything here is the worst – D+
Age Against The Machine – Goodie Mob – Cee Lo’s first band and are back and they are the most irritating mob imaginable. Everything here, except for the track with Janelle Monae, will make you wanna punch em out eventually – D+
Stay Trippy – Juicy J – Southern crunk survives with the Three 6 Mafia star back again on Wiz Khlaifa’s label. Which means loads of boasting and rhymin, and grinding with stars aplenty – B-
Hall Of Fame – Big Sean – Mainstream hip hop, bad hip hop, and its biggest album, you know the Kendrick Lemar track, isn’t even here. It has its moments, “10 2 10” is funny, but not enough – C-
Right Thoughts Right Words Right Actions – Franz Ferdinand – This adds nothing much to what they do, but what it does do is continue the hard rocking smart rocking UK band brand of modern pop – B+