Just A Quick Note...

I've just written a piece about why Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip are important to the modern music industry over at the far-more-brilliant-than-here Sweeping The Nation.

Check it out, and then read some proper music blogging as opposed to my semi-intelligible ramblings.

Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip - Tommy C

Well Good God Damn And Other Such Phrases...

Dan Le Sac and Scroobius Pip are fast becoming my most blogged about artists on this here journal, but where's the shame in that? They're absolutely incredible, I don't think I'll ever tire of Angles, and their latest news is just icing on the cake.

Having recently supported De La Soul (my friend saw them, the bastard), the legendary Posdnuos has contributed and helped edit a new version of the awesome "Thou Shalt Always Kill". How freaking awesome is that? Already the Xfm track of the week and slated for release on the 15th January, it's currently available to listen to on the duo's Myspace.

Just to refresh your collective memories, here's the original version:

Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip - Thou Shalt Always Kill

The MFAGW Top 10

It's the end of the year, and sure as eggs is eggs there are music lists, polls and debates galore. I'm a sucker for a good end-of-year list, so I'm sure as hell gonna contribute my own. So without further ado, here are my top ten albums of the year:

10. Does It Offend You, Yeah? - You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into

A triumph of genre crossovers, from Daft Punk to '80s pop, there was hardly a dud track on here.

Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Weird Science

9. Ida Maria - Fortress Around My Heart

Explosive, effervescent pop-punk from the amazing Miss Maria, her live show is just as good.

Ida Maria - Stella

8. Lightspeed Champion - Falling Off The Lavender Bridge

Dev Hynes truly manages to shake off the Test Icicles tag to mould himself as a brilliant, twisted folk troubador.

Lightspeed Champion - Galaxy Of The Lost

7. Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords

I know comedy records shouldn't count, but this is such a well-formed album, the fact that it's funny doesn't even matter that much.

Flight of the Conchords - The Most Beautiful Girl (In The Room)

6. Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires

The perfect blend of house, indie, funk and any other genre you want to name, this album manages the seemingly impossible task of making a hugely coherent album without ever becoming samey.

Friendly Fires - Photobooth

5. Mumford and Sons - Lend Me Your Eyes EP

Alright, it's an EP not an album, but all four tracks are just so beautiful, so unbelievably heart-wrenching and glorious that I can't not include it.

Mumford and Sons - Awake My Soul

4. Laura Marling - Alas, I Cannot Swim

New-folk's true pioneer, this album delivered exactly what everyone wanted, the old demos produced beautifully, as well as some wonderful new tracks.

Laura Marling - Night Terror

3. Johnny Flynn - A Larum

Three new-folk albums in a row eh? I'd been waiting for an album from Johnny Flynn since his first demo of Tickle Me Pink, and the album was everything I'd wanted and more.

Johnny Flynn - Leftovers

2. Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip - Angles

Hip-hop doesn't have to be corporate, gangstafied shite, it can be poetry, it can be dance music, it can be funny or tragically sad. In short, this album's brilliant.

Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip - The Beat That My Heart Skipped

1. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

To be honest, I don't think there was ever a doubt in my mind that this would be first place. When it came out it was just so different. Totally summery, totally African and totally incredible.

Vampire Weekend - Bryn

Time For Some Rhymes

Inspired by my little diatribe earlier, I felt like listening to some hip-hop. Sure, there's a whole heap of crap around at the moment but the genre also includes some of the best lyricists around. Here are some of my favourite tracks. Disclaimer - I'm White, Middle Class and English. I will sound like an idiot when talking about this. I probably already have done. I'm sorry.

Outkast - Roses
Now go on the raw sex, my AIDS test is flawless
Regardless, we don't want to get involved with no lawyers
And judges just to hold grudges in a courtroom
I wanna see your support bra not support you!

They're not inspired but they sure sound catchy in context.

CRS - Us Placers
Lifestyles of the broke and famous
Let you know how crazy this game is
Look at all the new beautiful faces
At home supermodel, Myspaces
Long for their shot on the TV screens
American Idol never seen these dreams
Just last week they want to see ID
Now they got you in VIP, huh?
How many people almost famous
You almost remember what they name is
Like “Hey, didn’t you play in..? No it couldn’t be, quit playin”
I try to keep that balance
After MTV that’s a Real World Challenge Back on that train
Never to be heard from again…

Now here's Kanye on form, along with Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell, this song from the Can't Tell Me Nothing mixtape is just awesome, not least because the background sample is from Thom Yorke's, "The Eraser".

N.W.A. - Express Yourself
I'm expressin' with my full capabilities,
And now I'm livin' in correctional facilities,
Cause some don't agree with how I do this.
I get straight, meditate like a Buddhist
I'm droppin' flavour, my behaviour is heriditary,
But my technique is very necessary.
Blame it on Ice Cube... because he says it gets funky
When you got a subject and a predacit.

My favourite opening lyrics from any hip-hop song, it's just all so well put together - the flow of the rhythm carries you thoughout, and every verse has another part to enjoy.

Dan Le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip - Development
I remember hearing Mos Def rhyme the alphabet
I just sat there in silence
As a sign of respect
I knew what I had to do
And that’s what happened next
I rhymed the periodic table
To stay one step ahead
Hydrogen is number one
'Cause hydrogen is what puts the shine in the sun
Through nuclear fusion and when it’s done
It leaves element number two Helium…
Helium is the second lightest gas that there is
So we use it in balloons we give to little kids
Then there’s lithium often used to treat mental problems
Beryllium don’t conduct electric currents, it stops them
Boron can be used to make things harden
And that smoke that’s coming out of your exhaust, carbon
Carbon is arguably the most important element
And nitrogen in the air is almost eighty percent
The rest of the air is mainly oxygen
And fluorine is the lightest of the halogens
OK that’s enough teaching I ain’t trying to bore ya
I’m just trying to be a positive role model for ya

I'm sorry, I know that's a lot of words, but I just couldn't cut Mr. Pip's awesome lyrics. Nor could I resist putting more of his work up, I just love it, it's the best kind of hip-hop, intelligent music, lyrics with something to say and an altogether good feeling about it all.

Why?

This is only a little thing, but I want to get it off my chest. As much as I enjoyed the older music of Mr. West, I can't for the life of me understand how anyone can like "Love Lockdown". It's repetitive, his lyrics aren't up to their usual standard, and frankly his singing voice isn't a patch on his usual drawl. I'm not going to post it, but if you must listen, go on The Hype Machine, there are several thousand links, you won't miss it. Here's some proper hip-hop from a brilliant producer and a bearded poet. Maybe Kanye could follow suit. Please?

Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip - Fixed (Demo)