THE
BEST:
‘This is America’ – Childish Gambino
It’s
an early call to make, but this has got to be music video of the year surely? Rapper/actor
Donald Glover AKA Childish Gambino is making a clear statement on how we’re so focused
on being entertained that we turn a blind eye to the chaos around us – his wacky
dancing distracts us from the rioting going on in the background. The shocking scenes
of gun violence also show how we’ve become numbed to it thanks to the other
Donald’s refusal to bring in gun laws. It’s as if Gambino is trying rip away
the veil disguising America’s ugly self, symbolised musically by the abrupt
transition from happy-clappy gospel-infused pop to sinister bass-heavy trap. I’m
personally not too keen on Gambino settling for mumble rap, but I guess the
biggest statements sometimes require the fewest words.
‘Stammering Bill’ – LICE
Bristol
rock band LICE have a sound that is deliciously dishevelled. The detuned bluesy
guitars and erratic yelped vocals threaten to fall apart at any moment like
some crudely assembled vehicle out of Mad Max, and yet the song continues to
power along riding head-bobbing grooves. LICE happen to be signed to Balley Records
– the label owned by IDLES frontman Joe Talbot. Could this label be the UK’s
answer to Exploding In Sound?
‘Boyfriend’
– Ex Void
‘Boyfriend’
is the perfect anthem for anyone sick of their partner’s lack of attention. The
instrumentation is a perfect mix of happy apathy and anger, switching between
bouncy pop-rock and angry punk. It’s the sound of wanting to not give a damn,
when really you can’t help but feel a little pissed off beneath it all.
‘Genius’ – LSD
LSD
is a pop supergroup containing Labrinth, Sia and Diplo – three artists that I’ve
never really cared for. Together however they seem to have unlocked something
quite cool. ‘Genius’ sound like a mix of urban pop and Broadway theatre. Both
Labrinth and Sia let loose their theatrical side, whilst Diplo refrains from
dropping his usual annoying loopy synths for more epic sounding
instrumentation. I can tell lots of people are going to be hooked on LSD.
THE WORST:
‘Priice Tag’ – Desiigner
Desiigner
is only popular because he had Kanye as his PR man. There are already enough
rappers making this kind of music. Desiigner hasn’t even got multi-coloured
dreads. There’s literally nothing interesting about him.
‘Hunger’ – Florence + The Machine
Sorry,
but I couldn’t listen to the end. Florence’s wa-a-a-arbling only seems to have got
more warbly.