The Very Good Agency

Common New Album

Common is reportedly heading in a new direction with his soon to be released ”Invincible Summer”. Common hooked up with Neptunes and one-time OutKast contributor Mr. DJ for his new album, which is said to have a heavy electro-tinged feel to it. The lead single (which can be heard on Common’s official site www.common-music.com is certainly evidence that favours such an opinion; this high energy track is a deviation from the norm for Common, but he pulls it off nicely. With thumping techno-inspired drums and a catchy hook, this track is sure to get some serious attention.

Overdue as it may be (was supposedly due out in May, now slated for August) Common is sure to come correct once again, However, he is this time without long-time friend and collaborator Kanye West, who was too busy with his extravagant “Glow in the dark” tour to be able to contribute towards the album. Features on the album include Cee-Lo and singer-MC Santogold, who Common states is “one of my favorite artists right now.
Common is also set to appear alongside James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman in “Wanted”, his latest film effort, being released in America late June. Check out the official trailer below…

Common in Wanted

You can check out more of Common at:

www.common-music.com

…crack

Tags: hip hop

Paris Wells

Thursday nights in Melbourne just got interesting thanks to Jam Packed Entertainment and Paris Wells.

In a city filled with artists and musicians it is unusual to stumble across one that stands out in the way Paris does, it seems however, that this kind of discovery is nothing new to her. Plucked from obscurity while working full time, Paris was chosen by Justin Timberlake in a public audition for his FutureSex/LoveSounds tour of Australasia towards the end of 2007, having previously played underground clubs in Melbourne to hundreds rather than thousands.

Paris Wells Dat Du Dat

Mashing up such an array of genres makes pigeon holing an artist like Paris Wells extremely difficult, especially when you consider the explanations of 1st single Dat Du Dat thus far “It’s very raw, an infectious collision of funk, soul and primal pop. It’s the musical equivalent of walking into a late night party just firing up for a second wind – sly funk grooves with clanging percussion and a squelching, ferocious bassline with Paris’ voice dragging through the seedy scenario.”

Paris plays at Roxanne in July on Thursdays with alternating special guests, integrating styles as if she were a walking, breathing best of compilation. If your lucky enough to be around in July it is sure to be an enjoyable evening, if your not, go to www.virginblue.com.au

You can check out more of Paris at:

www.myspace.com/pariswells

“Roxannes” 2 Coverlid Place, Melbourne Thursday nights in July.

…bs

Tags: Australian Artists, Funk, Jazz, Soul

Gnarls Barkley – ‘The Odd Couple’

I will tell you the truth from the start, I can’t get enough of the latest Gnarls Barkley Album ‘The Odd Couple’, the thoughtful lyrics, the eclectic mix of musical styles and the dependable yet playful way the whole project is put together. This CD was always destined for high rotatation for weeks in my car, I even went as far as to download the backwards version from the official website www.gnarlsbarkley.com So now that I have confessed my bias I will impartially review this modern masterpiece.

Gnarls Barkley – Run

When the name ‘Danger Mouse’ is involved in a musical venture, it is a guarantee of quality. His past efforts include the sublime “Ghetto Pop Life” collaboration with Jemini, the ‘Danger Doom’ project with MF Doom and ‘The Grey Album’ (which mashed up Jay-Z and the Beatles). Cee-Lo has also established his reputation in his work with the ‘Goodie Mob‘, “Dungeon Family” and solo tracks like “Closet Freak” and “I’ll Be Around”. The combination of these two accomplished artists works so well, and won’t disappoint any long time fans. Not since ‘Dan the Automator’ and ‘Del’ combined to bring us Deltron 3030 has such a brilliant marriage of talent used an off-beat theme given each artist the room to explore and experiment their already perfected skills. (FYI: Deltron Event 2 coming soon)

Cee-Lo likes to play around with words and write from the perspective of other persona’s, creating songs like “Whatever” that explores loneliness through the eyes of a social outcast. The type of character that seems to be highlighted by media after every American high school shooting. Not afraid to get a bit deep and meaningful, all types of human emotions are explored and analysed. Even if you don’t really care what the songs are about, you will still love the sound.

Favourite tracks include: “Blind Mary” a fable of vision-impaired love and the depths of beauty set to the sounds of hand claps and retro keyboard tones. “Surprise” a surf rock influenced lesson warning of assumptions and misconceptions. Also special mention to “Going On” a catchy but intense song that combines church organ and killer beats, in a tale of departure and separation, and “Run” a fast and furious challenge to inertia in all its laziness.

Dangermouse and Jemini – collaborate to create a masterpiece “Ghetto Pop Life”

For more on Gnarls Barkley check out:

www.gnarlsbarkley.com

www.myspace.com/gnarlsbarkley

…Yosarian

Atmosphere’s new album – Definitely not a lemon

There are few artists who gain my highest honour; the ‘buy before try’ scenario. Minneapolis based duo Atmosphere is one such example and their latest offering ‘When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold,’ easily returns my faith.

Since ‘You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having,’ Slug and Ant have been consistently drip-feeding fans with a string of 5-song EP’s and the awesome ‘Strictly Leakage.’ Such releases have been hit and miss for me and it is great to have another full-length album that feels cohesive and obviously benefits from greater time spent on writing and production. If you are expecting the jump around beats of classics such as ‘Get Fly’ and ‘Pour Me Another’ beware, ‘Lemons’ moves into darker territory both lyrically and sonically. Ant’s flawless production has moved away from hooky grooves to a more acoustic sound with live instruments; flutes, piano and guitar, these compliment Slug’s sometimes preachy, but always poetic flow. That’s not to say the album doesn’t retain that top-down, cadillac-country feel, especially on tracks such as ‘You’ and ‘Can’t Break.’

It never fails to amaze me that Slug can deliver a poignant and I think, ultimately optimistic message (just look at the title), using such grimy subject matter as pimps, cigarettes and dry heaves, all layered above Ants swelling, hand-clapping beats. Sure he shows moments of despair, for example ‘The Skinny,’ about the hold cigarettes can have over someones life, but this is off-set by glimpses of hope such as my favourite track ‘Wild, Wild Horses,’ ‘go ahead and chase your dreams and your freedom, run run wild wild horses, you can’t tame these horses.’ Apparently god loves a trier. It is his realistic never afraid to call a dick a dick, attitude that tears Slug and his brand of introspective hip hop away from the diamond encrusted wannabes of mainstream hip hop, so much so they barely deserve to be categorised in the same genre. “All of us cut from the same damn cloth, some of us never cut the price tags off.”

Atmosphere
Trying to find a balance

If you were in any doubt that Slug is a bonafide wordsmith, the deluxe edition comes with a 40 page childrens story written and illustrated by the pair, a nice touch for big kid fans like myself. Ultimately, this album is a step-up from previous releases and I’ll definitely part with my cash with the same reckless abandon next time around. Surprise, surprise, another lady loves Slug (and Ant.)
Alesha

You can check out more from Atmosphere at:
www.rhymesayers.com
www.myspace.com/atmosphere

Tags: hip hop, Music video

Flight of the Conchords

New Zealand is known around the world for a few things, Lord of the Rings, Team New Zealand , Sir Edmund Hillary, and now… Flight of the Conchords.

From their humble beginnings in the NZ television and music industries, New Zealand’s fourth most popular folk parody duo, Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, now have their own American HBO comedy series. Scoring their American contract after doing an HBO comedy special, they are now moving on to a second series making them the first New Zealand comedians to do so.

‘Part time model’ from Flight of the Conchords HBO series

Receiving a string of highly celebrated awards around the world for their performances, television show, and albums, the 2008 Grammy award for ‘best comedy album’ means Jemaine and Bret have now become New Zealands ambassadors to the world. Not many people realise that Bret a.k.a. Video Kid is also a member of New Zealand dub reggae group The Black Seeds

The Black Seeds – So True

It’s really no surprises that Jemaine also has his own side projects, recently releasing Eagle VS Shark, a downbeat comedy portraying the blossoming relationship of two nerds while Jemaine’s character ‘Jarrodd’ returns to his hometown to seek revenge on his old high school bully…

Jemaine Clement in Eagle Vs Shark

You can check out more from Flight of the Conchords at:

www.conchords.co.nz

…bs

Tags: Comedy, New Zealand Artists