Iman Lababedi

London based Daughter have only one EP to their name, last year’s His Young Heart. Just three tracks butm this, according to the Guardian, musical progeny of Enya and Eno, is a doozy.

Now this is better and well done Meat Loaf. The album isn’t the worst thing I’ve ever, ever, ever heard. Though i thought he sucked on stage. the last coupla times I’ve seen.

1. Breakfast – Chiddy Bang – Title track off the best hip hop album of the year is all about a horns riddled sample that the two kids rap around, between and over,

Not bad I guees. Bruce, the Shins, the Ting Tings. The Hunger Games soundtrack -what I’ve heard hasn’t been all that… Magnetic Fields? I haven’t much dug them since 69 Love Songs, I have a friend who swears by Margot And The So And Sos and is going to DC to see em. One other? KAISER CHIEFS!!!

I don’t particulalrly like where Frankie came from, the drone pop of bands like Vivian and Dum Dum Girls, and I haven’t much cared for where she’s gone. But that’s as much a boredom inthe relentless amorphous melodies. It’s like trying to hang on to butterfly wings, the songs are crushed out of your memory the harder you listen. Grade: B

Ruby, Are You Mad At your Man – Carolina Chocolate Drops – The album is very good, but not this good. It puts the blue into bluegrass and slaps about every instrument in the room.

Ladies Night – Kool And The Gang – This isn’t funk, it is disco and the difference is the bass Funk would be much heavier than this light and moving bass, leaving all the heavy lifting for the drums to handle.

With his Bright Eyes tour over and no word of a new solo album of his other numerous permutations anywhere on search, we should probably just shut up and spin his newly re-released on vinyl first six (!) and leave him to wedded bliss.

IRON MAIDEN
Very Special Guest Alice Cooper, July 2, 7:00 PM, Prudential Center
Newark, NJ

Around mid 2009 to late 2010, there was a seismatic shift in the pop charts, with DJs taking over the airwaves with perfectly crafted beats attached to pure pop and rap songs. It was awesome, probably reached its height with Black Eyed Peas strong of singles

Wait a second… are you telling me half of this chart is Whitney and Adele? Cmon… you’re joking me. Plus two compiliations. So that leaves two new hip hop kids and fun.

Everybody sees “Thriller as being the start of 21st century pop. And it was -or at least it was half of the start of 21st century pop. Here is the other half. Michael added metal to pop, Van halen added pop to metal. Between the two, the after shocks are still being felt.

A California hedonist who took the Byrds, and more specifically Gram Parsons, invention of country rock and neutered it for the masses. Don Henley is the Pat Boone of country rock. What he is so pleased with himself over, besides his money I mean, is beyond me.

Not simple a great testament to the Christian faith, a rock and roll classic filled with razor sharp rhymes.

Whitney was the catalyst for Aretha finding the place where art and life are so closely connected they are one and the same. A masterpiece and a profound spiritual experience

Yes, it is early in the process and if he sucks when I see him live (tonight as I write) I may change my mind. But as we speak, this album feels like a fleshy masterpiece and an eternal struggle. Olus? Some of the music and all of the words are killer.

there is something bone dry about Lovett, he always seems to be waving goodbye to some lovely in his review mirror. And here, taking on a song that I at least know mainly as a fullblown MOR ballad, he downplays it, adds some violins, and as a final act of liquidying the song, adds KD Lang on back up.

It runs its course with a terrific set piece in a PR nightclub, a good freak out on acid (“We’ve got to get more” mutters Depp -who, by the way, sounds a lot like Popeye) and the chick is a little knockout. But as daydreams go, this one ain’t that hot.

Dreaming of New England? Country gal from the East Coast goes in search of the perfect guy and finds a modern day John Travelota who looks just like Keith richards or something. Pretty smart song.

Everything i’ve heard off the new Estelle is first rate and the new Regina places her firmly at the top of the heap, again. She may never be cute and quirky again, but the slightness of her depth is a wonder…

There appears to be a world of indie folk bands hovering in the netherlands of the public consciousness. They sell out a night at MHOW while I’m trying to figure out who they hell they are. White hinterland are one of the many and I like em fine, this is a beautiful mood piece and worth a listen. From 2010 so they should be back round soon.

Lead off song “Following” just made my best of 2012 list and while the rest of this 80s style disco album by a coupla DJs isn’t as good, it is plenty good enough. The second song, “The Right One” takes off from that perfect pre-teen Vampire movie “Let The Right One In” and, amazingly, does it justice. The album sags a little after, but never too far. Grade: B+

Six Grammys later, the surprise is that there is any one left in England who doesn’t own the blasted record

The first singles chart in years continues to be staggerringly bad. Gottye is the most boring fellow on the charts, a drear makle Adele who I am sure will be very big with the modern equivalent Adult Oriented Rock.

Off the Vespertine Live album, but much much better Saturday night, where a devastating vocal made it the one to beat. Bjork seems to sound better the starker she gets. She overestimates what she is getting from technology

$500 for these guys to play? I tell you what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna pay em the bucks and have em serenade me in the office!!! They can be like Cyndi Lauper in the that Lotterry commercial. How cool would that be? Like a pocketsize Fleetwood Mac!!!!

My fave song of the year right this second, is the story of our fearless leader taking a girl to a party, going out to buy cigs from the deli, and seeing her on the balcony with another guy. Only it is better than it sounds.

Without a doubt this is a much better fit than Paul Ridgers and the news that Lambert will be taking the Mercury role to lead the band this year at Knebworth is a thrilling one. Any chance of a tour?