With Some Place Simple, trip-hop icon Martina Topley-Bird revisits her solo material in stripped-down arrangements that spotlight the versatility of her inimitable voice.
The album is her first for Damon Albarn’s Honest Jon’s label, recorded at the Blur and Gorillaz leader’s studio at his own request. Combining reinterpretations of tracks from Topley-Bird’s two solo albums — Quixotic and the Danger Mouse produced The Blue God — with a handful of new songs, the record shows why Tricky’s former muse has been the voice to call on for everyone from Massive Attack to Common for well over a decade now.
For those of us who love music and film in equal measure, it’s a rare treat to watch a beloved band’s music video and realize the group has been watching the same movies we have. While song clips can take inspiration from all manner of media, some of our favorites are based on or inspired by films. From R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts” to the Smashing Pumpkins “Tonight, Tonight,” the aesthetics of distinctive movies can complement songs in beautiful, unexpected ways. After the jump, watch 10 more fantastic music videos that take their cues from classic or cult films.
It’s before noon on a Wednesday. There’s a good chance you’re not far from your next cup of coffee. Or from your last one. We’ve all become addicted to the delicious goodness and the caffeine high it generates with each delectable sip. It’s no surprise then that musicians have found a love of the deep black drink as well. Maybe it’s not as high on the songwriting subject list as sex or love or breakups or drugs, but some musicians have such passion for the drink that it has made for some tremendous tunes. Here, what we think are the best ones.
1. Blur‘s first single since 2003 is about recording their first single since 2003. It’s also available for free download. [via Vulture]
2. CBS is developing a hidden-camera show starring Drew Carey that is tentatively titled WTF!. As in, Wow That’s Funny! [via THR]
3. Shepard Fairey swears that the new Banksy movie, Exit Through the Gift Shop, is not a hoax. [via Vanity Fair]
4. Does the final Lost cast photo contain more clues about where the show’s characters end up? [via THR]
5. M.I.A.’s new album has a release date: June 29, 2010. [via 24Bit]
Another reason we’ll never be as cool as the Brits: The UK’s Royal Mail just unveiled a series of 10 new stamps that honors the most iconic album covers of the past 40 years. And get this, the Queen herself actually approved the final design for each.
So which albums made the cut? The Rolling Stones’ Let It Bleed, Led Zeppelin’s IV, David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells, The Clash’s London Calling, New Order’s Power, Corruption and Lies, Primal Scream’s Screamadelica, Pink Floyd’s The Division Bell, Blur’s Parklife, and Coldplay’s A Rush of Blood to the Head. Do you think QE2′s got any of these tunes on her Obama-gifted iPod?
As a refresher, we’ve rounded up the classic covers in order after the jump. Which one is your favorite?
After finding fame in both Joy Division and New Order, Bernard Sumner returns with a new band, named after Harvey Keitel’s most controversial film.
The frontman is joined by fellow vocalist Jake Evans for the project, which sees them sharing lead vocal duties. The result is a combination of classic New Order sounds and more modern English mood-rock, most notably that of fellow Northerners Doves. Contributors to the band’s debut album, Never Cry Another Tear, also include New Order’s Stephen Morris and Blur’s Alex James. Read More »
The topic of file sharing has sparked a heated internet debate between two seemingly disparate music forces. On one side of the battle, we have Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), Ed O’Brien (Radiohead), Dave Rowntree (Blur), and Billy Bragg supporting illegal downloading. Opposite of this pirating posse is Lily Allen, Patrick Wolf, Matt Bellamy (Muse), and Bjorn Ulvaeus (ABBA), who are calling for the end of file sharing. Which side are you on? Each artist’s arguments after the jump. Read More »
While the Flavorpill crew is dangerously divided on the weight to give anything uttered by NME (“OMG, this random, garage-y Brit band is like totally bigger than the Beatles… but I still like Blur better!”), we have to give them credit for ironic self-awareness. In a recent piece entitled “It’s Time to let Brit-Pop Die With Dignity,” writer Mark Beaumont argues that Brit Pop has “become such a dirty word.” I couldn’t agree more: Brit-Pop is annoying, and it’s because of NME.
Damon Albarn isn’t one to indulge in much downtime. While he’s made big news lately with the announcement of a Blur reunion, he’s been making more waves this decade with his animated band Gorillaz. Director Ceri Levy was in on the ground floor when Albarn and co-creator Jamie Hewlett (of Tank Girl fame) came up with the band, and spent six years documenting it’s progress. The result is Bananaz, a 90-minute film following the cartoon group’s rapid rise to fame. Online video purveyor Babelgum has the exclusive full-length premiere up now, free to watch ahead of the June 1st DVD release. To help celebrate, we’ve got a full Gorillaz CD/DVD discography to give away. After the jump, check the details to enter, and watch preview clips from the film.
Week Two. First the captain sped ahead without any sense of steering. Then when the pirates approached, he refused to turn around. When they tried to talk, he said he’d rather let them ransack. When they threw a life raft, he sucked out all the air. Now, wallowing in shark-infested waters, there’s nothing left to do but watch the dumbass drown. Very, very slowly.
For those keeping score at home, find out what went down this week after the jump.
