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Albums of the week (released 5th May 2003) - Tiscali Music News
Albums of the week (released 5th May 2003)
2003-05-05
For this week's albums, read on, but for this week's singles, please click here
Blur - Thinktank
"It's an album about love and politics", says Damon Albarn of Blur's seventh studio album, 'Think Tank'.
Recorded in Marrakech and London, it's the band's first as a three-piece following the departure of guitarist Graham Coxon, and the first since Albarn's massive success with his Gorillaz project.
Produced by Blur and Ben Hillier, with additional production by Fatboy Slim and William Orbit, 'Think Tank' doesn't so much depart from, as further develop, the sound defined on their last outing, 1999's critically acclaimed '13'. Opening trio 'Ambulance', 'Out Of Time' and 'Crazy Beat' cover more ground than many bands manage in a lifetime, mixing electronic and acoustic elements in sleek but heartfelt harmony; elsewhere standout tracks include the gospel tinged 'Brothers And Sisters', the mournful 'Battery In Your Leg' ("This is a ballad for the good times/So put a battery in your leg"), and 'We've Got A File On You', a 60 second punk thrash with Albarn himself picking up the guitar-playing slack
"There was nobody else to do it, so I had to. It was really difficult, but with that massive change came a new vitality" - Damon Albarn.
READ OUR FULL SPECIAL FEATURE HERE, where you can listen to the album
Buy this album here
Lil Mo - Meet The Girl Next Door
Having taken second billing to the likes of Misy Elliott and jay-Z , Lil Mo's 2001 'Based On A True Story' debut underlined her importance as a solo artist and spawned the massive 'Superwoman Pt. II' hit.
'Meet The Girl Next Door' is Mo back in fine shape with a sensitive and adventurous selection of new hip-hop grooves and R'n'B styles.
All but one of the tracks on the album has been written by Mo herself and there is production input from Missy Elliott, Chucky Thompson, Mega Hertz and Warren Campbell.
The album includes the US single '4Ever' featuring Fabolous whilst Lil Kim guests on '10 Commandments'.
Buy this album here
Download Lil Mo here
Matrix Reloaded - Soundtrack
'The Matrix - Reloaded' one of the most highly anticipated movie sequels of recent years, and fittingly the soundtrack is a high octane, kick ass affair that rocks just like the film.
A 2CD set that features major rock and nu-metal acts such as Linkin Park, Marilyn Manson and Rage Against The Machine, as well as the score from Don Davis.
Chances are you couldn't get enough of the first soundtrack, well 'Reloaded' will have you drooling in anticipation of a truly jaw-dropping cinematic event.
Buy this album here
Dana Glover - Testimony
'Testimony' is the beautiful debut album from one of the most talented new artists to hit our shores in years.
Recorded in Los Angeles with producer Matthew Wilder (No Doubt, Christina Aguilera, Natalie Imbruglia), 'Testimony' features 11 stunning tracks - including Dana's first single 'Thinking Over', 'Rain', and a host of other songs that come straight from the heart.
This UK edition also contains two bonus tracks - 'Sing To Me' and 'It Is You (I Have Loved)' - from the multi-platinum 'Shrek' soundtrack. "Testimony truly comes from the heart and I wanted to make sure it sounded that way, like the records I loved when I was growing up", says Dana.
"I wanted people to see who I am, the strength, but also the vulnerability. All I wanted was to get to the things that were true".
Listen to more Dana Glover content this way
Buy this album here
Grand Popo Football Club - Shampoo Victims
GPFC aka Ariel Wizman and Nicolas Errera are the nouveau mavericks of electronic fusion, and wherever you drop the needle, the levels of eccentric, post-ennui de dance, freestyle genius are astounding.
Ariel is a deejay and Nicolas a producer but the former is also a book-loving famous French TV presenter and talk show host, and the latter is a cat loving classically trained pianist who studied at the National Conservatory in Paris.
They took the name Grand Popo FC after Ariel went to film a TV programmein the village of Grand Popo in Benin, West Africa and decided that the tiny community was missing a football club.
'Shampoo Victims' inhabits a schizoid world of pop the Giorgio Moroder sampling elasticated house stomp of 'Each Finger Has An Attitude' to the mighty 'Arab Skank' which would melt dancefloors anywhere on earth.
They deftly cut into the first Sparks collaboration, 'La Nuit Est La' where Russell and Ron Mael supply lyrics and vocals on a poignant balladlocated somewhere between 10CC and Serge Gainsbourg.
These three songs cover more ground than most artists manage to traverse in a lifetime.
'Yo Quinero Mas Dinero', the second collaboration with Sparks, is delicious pop esperanto for any continent.
Unique, bizarre and utterly inspired, the Grand Popo Football Club have winners stamped all over them.
Buy this album here
Jean Michel Jaree - Les Granges Brulee
The soundtrack to the 1973 French film, 'Les Granges Brûlées' (The Burning Barns) is released on CD for the first time.
Jean Michel Jarre composed the album for the film which features Alain Delon and Simone Signoret, an experience in which he expressed to be very enjoyable due to extreme time pressure in composing the music.
Buy this album here
Panjabi MC - Album
Although Panjabi MC has released a whole clutch of albums thus far, this set is his first since the massive crossover success of the 'Mundian To Bach Ke' single.
Newly signed to the Instant Karma imprint, 'The Album' sees PMC really kick off, giving full throat to his urban crossover style as well as staying close to the Desi roots that took him to where he is today.
The single is, of course here, as are a selection of traditional songs given the PMC treatment.
The real jewel in the crown, through, is the Jay-Z mix of 'Mundian...' – real confirmation (if such a thing is needed) that PMC has arrived, big time.
Buy this album here
Puretone - Stuck In A Groove
Back in the late eighties, Josh Abrahams could be spotted headed up the Aussie rave scene. Fast forward to the new century and the man has re-invented himself as a dance fusionist par excellence. His 'Totally Addicted To Bass' track – as Puretone – was a genuinely innovative piece of culture clash that caught the imagination of ravers across the globe. And, on top of that, he was behind the musical collages for the 'Moulin Rouge' film.
'Stuck In A Groove' is Puretone's debut full-length album, and fully underscores Abrahams' ability to meld together notions, beats and ideas. From the classic boom-tastic breakbeat of 'Thrillseeker' to the nod to good time 80s hip-hop of 'Lift Me Up' Josh shows a respect for the history of hip-hop, whilst tracks like the title track and 'Hypersensitive' show him at his most purely Puretone.
"(The album) really covers the life span of my career," he says.
"I have a pretty short attention span musically and a really broadspectrum of styles that I'm into."
Buy this album here
Saves The Day - Stay What You Are
Saves The Day have already established themselves in the States with a few solid years of prominent national touring, two previous albums and an ever-expanding fan base.
A quick internet search will reveal just how much of a phenomenon New Jersey natives Saves The Day have become in their short yet wildly popular career.
Search engines yield scores of glowing album and live show reviews from both raving fans and the media and yet contrary to their new album's title 'Stay What You Are', don'texpect this quintets' third album (and Vagrant debut) to be a stagnant continuation of their previous efforts.
It's anything but the same... Producer Rob Schnapf (Foo Fighters, Beck, Elliot Smith) was brought on board to oversee the making of the album.
Known for their direct-hitting, pop-fueled stylings, the eleven tracks of 'Stay What You Are' also introduces a new angle with song arrangements, thanks in part to the bands' willingness to let Schnapf bring his ideas to the table.
Although known for performing with pop punk and hardcore acts, it's apparent that the band have been able to carve out a musical niche all their own, fusing their wide array of influences into one finite unit.
Includes the single 'Your Funeral'.
Buy this album here
Northern State - Dying In Stereo
Straight outta New York, Hesta Prynn, DJ Sprout and Guinea Love have known each other forever. By 2001 the threesome had pooled their love of old school hip-hop, taken the name Northern State and started recording.
'Dying In Stereo' is their debut album and it's a set that resonates with a considerbale understanding of the noble art of rap.
'Northern State is just what rap music needs right now: young, female-centric insight and intellect that amuses as it amazes.' - Village Voice
'Northern State are everything you want underground hip-hop to be, everything you want white hip-hop to be and everything you want female hip-hop to be'. - Rolling Stone
Buy this album here
Ziggy Marley - Dragonfly
Grammy award-winning vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Ziggy Marley releases DRAGONFLY, his first-ever solo album.
Written in his native Jamaica, and recorded over the past year in Los Angeles and Miami, DRAGONFLY features eleven new Ziggy Marley originals and was produced by Marley and Ross Hogarth (Metallica, Jewel, Keb Mo, etc).
Marley also co-produced five tracks with Scott Litt (R.E.M., Incubus, etc.).
Special guest musicians include famed guitarist David Lindley, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ John Frusciante and Flea, as well as Incubus’ DJ Chris Kilmore.
Building on his reggae roots to create an eclectic and intriguing musical exploration, Marley also addresses a wide range of topics and concerns on DRAGONFLY.
The album features songs ranging from the animal’s-eye-worldview of the title track, to a passionate plea for Middle East peace in "Shalom Saalam," to the highly personal insights of "Melancholy Mood."
Marley's early immersion in music came at age ten when he sat in on recording sessions with his father’s group The Wailers.
He would later join with his siblings to found and front The Melody Makers, whose eight best selling albums encompassed a broad spectrum of musical styles ranging from blues and R&B to rock and hip-hop, while consistently remaining true to its reggae lineage.
"Working on my own gave me a chance to put forth my individuality," Marley remarks on the impetus and inspiration for DRAGONFLY.
"It’s just me and what's in my head. This record has strong messages that come directly from being true to myself and what I feel."
Buy this album here
Venus Hum - Big Beautiful Sky
Buy this album here
For this week's albums, read on, but for this week's singles, please click here
Blur - Thinktank
"It's an album about love and politics", says Damon Albarn of Blur's seventh studio album, 'Think Tank'.
Recorded in Marrakech and London, it's the band's first as a three-piece following the departure of guitarist Graham Coxon, and the first since Albarn's massive success with his Gorillaz project.
Produced by Blur and Ben Hillier, with additional production by Fatboy Slim and William Orbit, 'Think Tank' doesn't so much depart from, as further develop, the sound defined on their last outing, 1999's critically acclaimed '13'. Opening trio 'Ambulance', 'Out Of Time' and 'Crazy Beat' cover more ground than many bands manage in a lifetime, mixing electronic and acoustic elements in sleek but heartfelt harmony; elsewhere standout tracks include the gospel tinged 'Brothers And Sisters', the mournful 'Battery In Your Leg' ("This is a ballad for the good times/So put a battery in your leg"), and 'We've Got A File On You', a 60 second punk thrash with Albarn himself picking up the guitar-playing slack
"There was nobody else to do it, so I had to. It was really difficult, but with that massive change came a new vitality" - Damon Albarn.
Lil Mo - Meet The Girl Next Door
Having taken second billing to the likes of Misy Elliott and jay-Z , Lil Mo's 2001 'Based On A True Story' debut underlined her importance as a solo artist and spawned the massive 'Superwoman Pt. II' hit.
'Meet The Girl Next Door' is Mo back in fine shape with a sensitive and adventurous selection of new hip-hop grooves and R'n'B styles.
All but one of the tracks on the album has been written by Mo herself and there is production input from Missy Elliott, Chucky Thompson, Mega Hertz and Warren Campbell.
The album includes the US single '4Ever' featuring Fabolous whilst Lil Kim guests on '10 Commandments'.
Matrix Reloaded - Soundtrack
'The Matrix - Reloaded' one of the most highly anticipated movie sequels of recent years, and fittingly the soundtrack is a high octane, kick ass affair that rocks just like the film.
A 2CD set that features major rock and nu-metal acts such as Linkin Park, Marilyn Manson and Rage Against The Machine, as well as the score from Don Davis.
Chances are you couldn't get enough of the first soundtrack, well 'Reloaded' will have you drooling in anticipation of a truly jaw-dropping cinematic event.
Dana Glover - Testimony
'Testimony' is the beautiful debut album from one of the most talented new artists to hit our shores in years.
Recorded in Los Angeles with producer Matthew Wilder (No Doubt, Christina Aguilera, Natalie Imbruglia), 'Testimony' features 11 stunning tracks - including Dana's first single 'Thinking Over', 'Rain', and a host of other songs that come straight from the heart.
This UK edition also contains two bonus tracks - 'Sing To Me' and 'It Is You (I Have Loved)' - from the multi-platinum 'Shrek' soundtrack. "Testimony truly comes from the heart and I wanted to make sure it sounded that way, like the records I loved when I was growing up", says Dana.
"I wanted people to see who I am, the strength, but also the vulnerability. All I wanted was to get to the things that were true".
Listen to more Dana Glover content this wayGrand Popo Football Club - Shampoo Victims
GPFC aka Ariel Wizman and Nicolas Errera are the nouveau mavericks of electronic fusion, and wherever you drop the needle, the levels of eccentric, post-ennui de dance, freestyle genius are astounding.
Ariel is a deejay and Nicolas a producer but the former is also a book-loving famous French TV presenter and talk show host, and the latter is a cat loving classically trained pianist who studied at the National Conservatory in Paris.
They took the name Grand Popo FC after Ariel went to film a TV programmein the village of Grand Popo in Benin, West Africa and decided that the tiny community was missing a football club.
'Shampoo Victims' inhabits a schizoid world of pop the Giorgio Moroder sampling elasticated house stomp of 'Each Finger Has An Attitude' to the mighty 'Arab Skank' which would melt dancefloors anywhere on earth.
They deftly cut into the first Sparks collaboration, 'La Nuit Est La' where Russell and Ron Mael supply lyrics and vocals on a poignant balladlocated somewhere between 10CC and Serge Gainsbourg.
These three songs cover more ground than most artists manage to traverse in a lifetime.
'Yo Quinero Mas Dinero', the second collaboration with Sparks, is delicious pop esperanto for any continent.
Unique, bizarre and utterly inspired, the Grand Popo Football Club have winners stamped all over them.
Jean Michel Jaree - Les Granges Brulee
The soundtrack to the 1973 French film, 'Les Granges Brûlées' (The Burning Barns) is released on CD for the first time.
Jean Michel Jarre composed the album for the film which features Alain Delon and Simone Signoret, an experience in which he expressed to be very enjoyable due to extreme time pressure in composing the music.
Panjabi MC - Album
Although Panjabi MC has released a whole clutch of albums thus far, this set is his first since the massive crossover success of the 'Mundian To Bach Ke' single.
Newly signed to the Instant Karma imprint, 'The Album' sees PMC really kick off, giving full throat to his urban crossover style as well as staying close to the Desi roots that took him to where he is today.
The single is, of course here, as are a selection of traditional songs given the PMC treatment.
The real jewel in the crown, through, is the Jay-Z mix of 'Mundian...' – real confirmation (if such a thing is needed) that PMC has arrived, big time.
Puretone - Stuck In A Groove
Back in the late eighties, Josh Abrahams could be spotted headed up the Aussie rave scene. Fast forward to the new century and the man has re-invented himself as a dance fusionist par excellence. His 'Totally Addicted To Bass' track – as Puretone – was a genuinely innovative piece of culture clash that caught the imagination of ravers across the globe. And, on top of that, he was behind the musical collages for the 'Moulin Rouge' film.
'Stuck In A Groove' is Puretone's debut full-length album, and fully underscores Abrahams' ability to meld together notions, beats and ideas. From the classic boom-tastic breakbeat of 'Thrillseeker' to the nod to good time 80s hip-hop of 'Lift Me Up' Josh shows a respect for the history of hip-hop, whilst tracks like the title track and 'Hypersensitive' show him at his most purely Puretone.
"(The album) really covers the life span of my career," he says.
"I have a pretty short attention span musically and a really broadspectrum of styles that I'm into."
Saves The Day - Stay What You Are
Saves The Day have already established themselves in the States with a few solid years of prominent national touring, two previous albums and an ever-expanding fan base.
A quick internet search will reveal just how much of a phenomenon New Jersey natives Saves The Day have become in their short yet wildly popular career.
Search engines yield scores of glowing album and live show reviews from both raving fans and the media and yet contrary to their new album's title 'Stay What You Are', don'texpect this quintets' third album (and Vagrant debut) to be a stagnant continuation of their previous efforts.
It's anything but the same... Producer Rob Schnapf (Foo Fighters, Beck, Elliot Smith) was brought on board to oversee the making of the album.
Known for their direct-hitting, pop-fueled stylings, the eleven tracks of 'Stay What You Are' also introduces a new angle with song arrangements, thanks in part to the bands' willingness to let Schnapf bring his ideas to the table.
Although known for performing with pop punk and hardcore acts, it's apparent that the band have been able to carve out a musical niche all their own, fusing their wide array of influences into one finite unit.
Includes the single 'Your Funeral'.
Northern State - Dying In Stereo
Straight outta New York, Hesta Prynn, DJ Sprout and Guinea Love have known each other forever. By 2001 the threesome had pooled their love of old school hip-hop, taken the name Northern State and started recording.
'Dying In Stereo' is their debut album and it's a set that resonates with a considerbale understanding of the noble art of rap.
'Northern State is just what rap music needs right now: young, female-centric insight and intellect that amuses as it amazes.' - Village Voice
'Northern State are everything you want underground hip-hop to be, everything you want white hip-hop to be and everything you want female hip-hop to be'. - Rolling Stone
Ziggy Marley - Dragonfly
Grammy award-winning vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Ziggy Marley releases DRAGONFLY, his first-ever solo album.
Written in his native Jamaica, and recorded over the past year in Los Angeles and Miami, DRAGONFLY features eleven new Ziggy Marley originals and was produced by Marley and Ross Hogarth (Metallica, Jewel, Keb Mo, etc).
Marley also co-produced five tracks with Scott Litt (R.E.M., Incubus, etc.).
Special guest musicians include famed guitarist David Lindley, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ John Frusciante and Flea, as well as Incubus’ DJ Chris Kilmore.
Building on his reggae roots to create an eclectic and intriguing musical exploration, Marley also addresses a wide range of topics and concerns on DRAGONFLY.
The album features songs ranging from the animal’s-eye-worldview of the title track, to a passionate plea for Middle East peace in "Shalom Saalam," to the highly personal insights of "Melancholy Mood."
Marley's early immersion in music came at age ten when he sat in on recording sessions with his father’s group The Wailers.
He would later join with his siblings to found and front The Melody Makers, whose eight best selling albums encompassed a broad spectrum of musical styles ranging from blues and R&B to rock and hip-hop, while consistently remaining true to its reggae lineage.
"Working on my own gave me a chance to put forth my individuality," Marley remarks on the impetus and inspiration for DRAGONFLY.
"It’s just me and what's in my head. This record has strong messages that come directly from being true to myself and what I feel."
Venus Hum - Big Beautiful Sky
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