I'm not sure how you lot feel about him, or how ubiquitous he is on your airwaves, or whether there's much in the way of cultural cringe when it comes to UK Hip Hop, but I am mightily impressed with Plan B's new album. About half way through and it's utterly bleak, pretty darn angry and has some absolutely killer beats. It's quite heavy on the mini drama interludes, but they actually work really well. they're very well acted, tbh. And I just finished the track Pity the Plight, which is, frankly, fucking harrowing.
First track is a particular highlight, but it's been all great so far. Strangely, it's lyrically a bit of a throwback to early 90s US stuff, tbh.
Thing is, lots of artists have tried that, with limited success. Prince, Ani DiFranco and Martin Carr, to name but three. I think Marillion did a kickstarter type thing, where fans paid in advance for the music.
Direct selling to fans will only work for established artists, meaning the distributors have no cash cows left which would let them take a chance on newer artists.
That said, I'm too stuck in my ways now, but I do find Deezer (a streaming service like Spotify) an absolute god send. All the music I want, whenever I want it, instantly.
Tomorrow I will be trying out the new Plan B, as recommended, via Deezer.
That Plan B soul album is pretty tasty as well, bar a couple of tracks. his voice is a touch weak, and can get very thin when he's getting a little high with the falsetto, but it's mostly very good.
I've now listened to the new album 3-4 times through. It really is great. he has some funny ideas about morality and ethics and such, and seems to fall into the same trap that every other male MC in the world falls into when they do tracks about women who've fallen on hard times, but it's still, overall, fantastic.
Never really liked Defamation but then that was a reinvention from dirty necro spouting rapper to smooth soul heir do it seemed a little clinical to me. Ill Manors is supposed to be good, I remember a lot of papers over here raving about the title track. I nearly listened to it a few days ago but Skelethon and Undersea EP are still dominating my headspace.
Apparently East London grime act Roll Deep are filming a music video in the office across the corridor from me today. Never heard of them, googling now.
Edit: Apparently Dizzee Rascal and Tinchy Styder used to be with them. Never heard of them, googling now.
Gamertag: Mal0wner 3DS Friend Code: MalO 0645-5742-2145 Wii U: MalOwner
Forgot to mention what a cracking show Eddie Vedder put on the other day. I've seen Pearl Jam three times and Vedder solo once, and each time his voice surprises me, he still nails it live. Love him or hate him (or indeed them), there would be few voices more suited to all the "oooh-OOOOH AAAH MmmHmmms". He got Roger Daltery up for a couple of Who numbers too. The Into The Wild stuff was especially good, and his Masters of War cover was a showstopper.
That's... actually not awful Hollis. I have some issues with the easyretromode arrangement (and the blatant Fix Up Look Sharp drums), but then don't I always.
Not going to write 'em off 'til I've heard a few more numbers, at least.