I’m back from my holiday to the moon. I know you've been longingly waiting for my return, staring out the window and crying yourself to sleep at night. There, there. It's all okay now that Music Related Junk is back. Your life is whole again.
THE BEST:
‘The N_Wrd’ –
Earth2Tom & Frshrz
To this day, a certain word beginning with ‘n’ continues to
spark controversy. Whilst many modern rappers use it more liberally than ever
before, London hip hop collective Frshrz show that you can write a song just as
well without it (even going so far as to load the rest of the track with other
n words). It’s neat, novel and nimbly enunciated (I did think about writing
this whole description out of n words but it knackered my noggin).
‘Feels’ – Calvin
Harris ft. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean
EDM mogul Calvin Harris bored me with his last album of cookie-cut
bangers, so much so that my review was just a video of paint drying (my most detailed
review to date). Calvin clearly read my review and has now decided to return to
his disco roots much to my delight. I guess it’s just as formulaic, but I’m a
sucker for funky guitars, plus there are no big-ass predictable drops, plus
Katy Perry isn’t trying to be political, plus Big Sean isn't trying to be Drake.
‘Space’ – Dizzee
Rascal’
Dizzee’s flows on this new single are some of his most
dizzying yet. In fact, these bars are so phenomenally acrobatic that I’m
willing to forgive the weak hook. In fact, hearing this track, I’m almost
willing to forgive that awful Robbie Williams collaboration back in 2013. Dizzee
has completely redeemed himself. Balance has been restored to the universe.
‘16 Psyche’ – Chelsea
Wolfe
With roots in gloomy folk, Chelsea Wolfe has gradually
drifted into the world of heavy metal. Her ethereal voice pairs well with some sludgy
swampland riffage, which in this instance comes courtesy of guitarist Troy Van
Leewun of Queens of the Stone Age (more on these dudes later). The chorus is also
impressively loud, although it doesn’t help that when adjusting the volume I
accidentally revved it up to 100% during this section of the song. Still, aside
from nearly rupturing my eardrums, I found this to be an enjoyable listen.
‘Can’t Do’ – Everything Everything
‘I’m loving the bass/
I’m loving the drums’. This line pretty much sums up my feelings. Also, this
Manc band has to be one of the few rock groups that genuinely gets better the
poppier they become.
THE WORST:
‘The Way You Used To
Do’ - Queens of the Stone Age
Mark Ronson was called upon to handle the production on this
single. Did they ask him to completely muffle out the cymbals? Why do the
guitars feel so lifeless too? Rock clearly isn’t Ronson’s forte.