The Fall Gorillaz, Parlaphone
Damon Albarn’s prolific imaginary band is back again with an album recorded on an iPad during their world tour. Originally released as a download album from the bands website it is now available on CD. In comparison to the first three proper Gorillaz albums it’s a bit disappointing, but if you take as what it is – some additional noodling on tour – then it’s quite interesting. The highlight is a track featuring Bobby Womack called Bobby in Phoenix and Detroit is an interesting combination of the electronic and the acoustic. But to be honest if you’re not a Gorillaz or Damon Albarn enthusiast you can probably live without this collection.
Graeme Watson
The Ultimate Collection Sade, Sony
If you already own Sade’s albums then skip this one, there’s only the obligatory one new track and a couple of extra remixes added. But if you’ve never had a listen to Sade then this is one awesome collection. Spread over two discs it’s a comprehensive collection of the best tracks from the bands six studio albums. From the beginning of the bands career there are the 80’s hits Smooth Operator and Hang On To Your Love that provided the soundtrack to every yuppie dinner party. Later tracks like By Your Side and King of Sorrow from 2000’s Lover’s Rock and Babyfather from last year’s Soldier of Love release are first rate.
Graeme Watson
Come and Get It Eli Paperboy Reid, Capitol
Eli Paperboy Reid is back with his third album, following two earlier independent releases that gained him some attention. Full of sixties soul sounds, trumpets and catchy beats this is a Cd you can file next to your Amy Winehouse, Duffy and CD’s. Almost every track is an upbeat party tune from the opening track Young Girl through to I Found You Out and Come and Get It. Pick Your Battles is a little more chilled and the closing track Explosion is a freak out jam. This is the CD to drop on a Friday night when you need some energy before hitting the town.
Graeme Watson
Catching a Tiger Lissie, Sony
US folk rock singer Lissie would probably be best described as this year’s Alanis Morrissette. Her debut album is a collection of pop rock tunes that have a suitable level of grit and angst. Recently some cover version tracks from a European EP have been incredibly popular downloads and both are included here as bonus tracks, listen as Lissie takes on Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance and Kid Cudi’s Pursuit of Happiness – and while these tracks are fun, their novelty value will probably overshadow the rest of the album that is a decent collection of tunes.
Graeme Watson
On A Mission Katy B, Sony
British singer Katy B is backed by some underground dance heavy weights like Benga, Geeneus and Zinc on her debut album .Vocal pop dubstep is a contentious genre; it’s a movement that makes dub-step enthusiasts proclaim aim the death of an underground genre. This is way better than the Britney dub loving album though. Katy B’s recent singles Katy on a Mission, Broken Record and Lights On are all quality dance fodder and the rest of the album maintains the standard. Across the 13 tracks on the album a combination of dub, ragga and drum and base sounds are incorporated into the mix.
Graeme Watson
King Creosote & Jon Hopkins Diamond Mine, EMI
Diamond Mine is the clever collaboration between acoustic artist Kenny Anderson aka King Creosote and electronica maestro Jon Hopkins. The contrast between the artists and their styles is magical – some tracks err towards Anderson’s soft acoustics while Hopkins’ ambient influence is ever present yet more obvious at times. There is no tug-of-war between genres here but a raw amalgamation. Death Cab for Cutie fans will get a kick out of this record; soft and simple tunes matched to delicate melodies. Anderson has called this project a ‘soundtrack to a romanticised version of a life lived in a Scottish coastal village’. What else could you want for this winter?
Benn Dorrington
Panic! at the Disco Vices & Virtues, Warner
P!ATD fans can rejoice! Panic has returned to its sinister brand of pop for their latest record, Vices & Virtues. Heart-throb Brendan Urie and his counterpart Spencer Smith have weaved some tremendous pop-rock tunes and recaptured their vaudevillian cheekiness which was lost on the previous record, Pretty. Odd. The record chops between genres like heavy bass lines in The Ballad of Mona Lisa against acoustic melodies in Always or perhaps the toe-tapping dance beats in Let’s Kill Tonight. The only risk Vices & Virtues runs is that it may be too similar to A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, but I’ll leave that to the haters. Enjoy.
Benn Dorrington
