1) Solange – Bad Girls
Solange’s EP True has been incredibly well received by critics and genuine music lovers alike, no doubt due in some part to the involvement of uber-producer Blood Orange. I think the release of such a credible, enjoyable, unpretentious album has definitely come as something of a sneak attack to most people; it turns out, she is actually just very good.
I was surprised at the effect this song had on me the first time I heard it. Bad Girls lays down the kind of gorgeous and sad overtone that makes you lose your breath for just long enough to let you tease yourself with those thankfully patchy memories that you don’t usually like to revisit, unless you’re holding a massive glass of red and you’re ready to get your sob on! This is a lament to her own misspent youth; breaking hearts, telling lies, feeling lost, wearing old make-up and getting into trouble with boys. I, for one, felt oddly comforted and I’m sure my 15 year old self would too!
My main memory of Solange up until recently has been as a preggo cameo in the Destiny’s Child video for Soldier! Yeah, she’s come a little way since then but it’s really nice to see she'll be playing the smaller festivals around Britain this summer; she just seems to have her head on straight when it comes to how she’s putting her music out there. She dresses amazingly, her video for Losing You was just perfection and it’s good to see her standing as an interesting artist in her own right; feet firmly planted in nobody else's shadow.
2) Parquet Courts - Master Of My Craft
Super sunny, a bit funny but still pumped-up and heavy enough to keep you on board; the entire, recently reissued, album Light Up Gold has summer 2013 written all over it. It's indie punk rock with a sense of humour; think early Strokes with a bit of Pavement, covered in cheap beer, cigarette ash and mud dust. I don’t know if my word counts for anything, but I’d say they are definitely one to watch and I am loving the whole album, head to toe, right now.
Keep a look out for the Brooklyn five piece on the festival circuit this year; can you think of anything better than mashing around to this in a field with a cider in hand? Nope, didn’t think so!
3) Ashanti - Never Should Have
OK, this might not be the “cool” choice or whatever but I could not be happier that this is a genuinely good track (if you want to hear people who take themselves seriously talk about music: it’s called NME.com, sorry ‘bout it).
I’ve always had a huge soft spot for Ashanti, ever since the Murder Inc days and not just because she had one of the sweetest voices around. She's always been a really well rounded R&B artist, writer and actor and has never received the acclaim she deserves. As a songwriter, she has produced some of the best selling tracks for some of world's biggest artists; such as Jennifer Lopez's Number one hit, Ain’t It Funny. Oh, and also, she's an LGBT activist working in the Hip Hop genre: ballsy!
I'm loving that her upcoming release Braveheart, the first in five years, looks as if it's going to be well received and seeing her so grown up, so capable, so polished, with a more mature womanly tone makes a refreshing change. It doesn’t always go so well for an R&B princess, 10 years on.
4) Laura Marling – Master Hunter
The only word to describe this woman as an artist is impressive; just more and more impressive. It is an increasingly rare occurrence for a musician, especially one whose career begins at such a young age, to continuously give theirself to their art form in a way that ensures each album grows and evolves into a meatier, more personal, more deeply enjoyable listen than the last.
The delivery of the vocals on this track are so expressive and so full of subtext, at times it feels more like you’re listening to a dramatic monologue, but the escalation of the quintessentially Marling guitar secures Master Hunter as the strong female alt anthem for 2013; get your ears around it and feel strong!
5) Kelis – Jerk Ribs
This is just so damn sexy, smooth and easy on the ears whilst still keeping you wanting to move, or more precisely grind. This song actually makes me hungry, which I think is a good thing as apparently Kelis is now writing a cookbook (?!).
Here’s another artist who has never quite been given her dues but it hasn’t ever stopped her from making well put together, often commercially viable music, which always carries her own distinctive edge and style. I’m a little disappointed that she hasn’t run with the same techno-soul-glamazon vibe which exploded all over 2010’s Flesh Tone (that album was just EVERYTHING) but she’s definitely still doing what she does best!
Oh and also, THIS is happening…..obviously….
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