The more I hear the new Professor Green single "Just Be Good To Green"...

   ...The more I wish it was actually a new Lily Allen single. If only someone would make an edit that takes out all of Green's parts, his douchey rapping really grates on me. Her involvement is the sole reason I found this enjoyable. Lily looks great as always in the video, but her styling seems rather self-consciously off, as if to conceal pregnancy or undesired chubbiness! I love that this track turned me on to Beats International's '90s jam "Dub Be Good To Me", the one it "sampled", much like how Estelle's "Freak" and Big Boi's "Shutterbug" introduced me to Soul II Soul's "Back To Life".

The single's out July 11 in the UK.



   Last year when Lily was on Live Lounge, she performed an Oasis track. It surprised me that the song was: 1) recent, and 2) actually quite good (or Lily had made it so)! I know she's supposedly retiring from the music biz, but I just know she's gonna take back her words soon enough. Any year that has Ms. Lily release new materials is a good year for me.


Lily Allen - I'm Outta Time (Oasis Cover)

Jimmy Jimmy Aaja!

I've been spinning this album a lot lately.

It's far from perfect, and I don't think that's the best M.I.A. can offer, but as a whole, it's one of the few truly exciting releases that I enjoy. Some of my favorite tracks are Paper Planes, XR2, Pickle Mango Down River, and the best of them all, Jimmy - my song of the month.

"Jimmy" is a rework of "Jimmy Jimmy Aaja", which she used to dance to as a child. It's originally from a 1982 Bollywood musical movie called "Disco Dancer". She co-produced it with Switch. If M.I.A. ever needs a mainstream breakthrough, this will be it.
"Jimmy" is just a very addictive, bombastic track. The Bollywood string sample is...just larger than life, I've been trying to get it off my head but it just won't let go, even when I go to sleep. I also love the synths, and the arcade game sound effects. What I like about M.I.A. is her music can be bouncy, and the lyrics may seem silly at first glimpse, but when you take the time to fully examine it, it turns out to be quite boldly political and thought-provoking. Even a fun dance-along song like Jimmy is no exception, with the opening lines: "
When you go Rwanda Congo/ Take me on a genocide tour." But after that, it's pure Indian-outer-space-disco heaven.

The video is also amazing, too, achieving that cheap '80s look. It's an improvement after that seizure-inducing video for 'Boyz'. Lovin' it.

"Jimmy" will be released as the second UK single off "Kala", and here's hoping it gets to the position it deserves, a number one! Robyn pulled it off, why can't M.I.A.? She must be doing so well in Japan.


M.I.A. - Jimmy

The music video:


And for your interest, here's the original song from the Bollywood '80s movie Disco Dancer, along with a video clip.

Disco Dancer - Jimmy Jimmy Aaja




Pre-order "Kala".
Her MySpace.

PS: If you happen to be my 200,000th visitor, give me a shout out, won't you? Also, I've got something special planned for tomorrow.

Go Urban...

I think one of the most significant progressions in my ways of listening to music over the years is that I've come to realize that chart positions and sales figures don't matter that much. They just indicate what is on high rotation at the moment, which is not necessarily all good. If I think a song is crap, its topping the chart doesn't change a thing. Of all of the hip-hop/rap/r&b stuff that currently reigns the single/album charts, most of which I'd never listen to again, or be bothered. That's not to say I'm ignorant of the genre, because there are still nicely-produced urban music out there pushing boundaries while still being respectably listenable. Here are some of the urban gems I've favored lately.

Amerie
Poor Amerie. '1 Thing' will always come back to haunt her. Her new album 'Because I Love It' is full of instantly inescapable funk stompers (if you can look pass the balladry clunkers stuck at the end of the record). One of the best r&b albums that I do care for this year. She also showed big improvement on her vocal skills. But you know things won't turn out well when your album is released in the UK & Japan months before its US official release date. So if you like the tracks below, then the album should be a proud purchase. 'Gotta Work' is her next UK single, a track I can't get enough of and is alarmingly amazing to bits. 'Crazy Wonderful' is a '80s-influenced track that just oozes sexiness.

Amerie - Crazy Wonderful
Amerie - Gotta Work

M.I.A.
I can't seem to find the words whenever I make an attempt at describing her music. It just makes people go...um, wild. I really like the new single Boyz, which she had shot a music video for (and in it she looked like a glammed-up Midwestern Gwen Stefani. Oh wait, she already opened tours for her). So far, little is known about her upcoming album 'Kala' except that her ex Diplo and Timbaland lent a hand with some tracks. Whatever, I would still anticipate it nonetheless.

M.I.A. - Boyz (Radio Edit)
M.I.A. - Sunshowers (from 'Arular')
M.I.A. - Everyday I Love You Less And Less (Kaiser Chiefs Cover)

Lil' Mama
Young talent. Spitting the rhymes with such ease at the age of 17, over little more than drums and two locker thumps. 'Lip Gloss' may be novelty, but it's fresh and powerful and carry a positive message. She already scored a spot on a remix of Avril's 'Girlfriend' (and she did it good). Let's hope she's not just another one hit wonder.

Lil' Mama - Lip Gloss
Avril Lavigne feat. Lil' Mama - Girlfriend (Remix)

Rihanna
I never thought I'd see this day. When Rihanna actually has a decent album where every song is good. That's the shocker of the year right there. So third time's a charm, they say. Second single 'Shut Up And Drive' borrows the verses from now-defunct New Order's 'Blue Monday', and it's a slice of mighty banging, metaphor-ridden electro r&b/pop.

Rihanna - Shut Up And Drive

Lauryn Hill
Apparently, for Lauryn, it's okay to have an enormous career-defining album and disappear into the night for ten years, only to come back with a soundtrack single for a kiddie CGI movie called 'Surf's Up'. Not that I'm complaining, 'Lose Myself' is a sweet upbeat summery song and you don't get soundtrack singles this good these days anymore (take note, Snow Patrol...)

Lauryn Hill - Lose Myself

Kanye West
First, Busta Rhymes ripped off Daft Punk. Now Kanye West sampled Daft Punk. What the hell is going on? Everybody thinks it's cool to go 'electro'. Anyway, the sample is taken from 'Harder, Faster, Better, Stronger' and he actually managed to make inventive use of it. Certainly not the best thing he's ever done, but good, and refreshing.

Kanye West - Stronger

And we don't care about the young folks...

Just when I thought I had had enough of it.
Peter Bjorn And John's 'Young Folks' has proved to be something more than an underground hit. You know it when Kanye West sampled your song for his one of his lame egofests (think about it, Kanye listening to indie!). Don't be deceived, though, because nothing in the album sounds like it. It's all actually quite low-key, but it has its moments.

Beside the Kanye West new mixtape track, here's a bluegrass (bluegrass!) cover by Dawn Landes that somehow put a smile on my face. And a instrumental sitar version of the song (sitar!), without whistles. I think Peter Bjorn And John are inching to the dangerous Cardigans territory (in which most people regard you as a one-hit-wonder when in fact you make good music before and after your breakthrough hit etc.)

Dawn Landes - Young Folks
Kanye West - Young Folks
Peter Bjorn And John - Sitar Folks

Just give it to me give it to me...

It's official, this song has finally won me over. Like I didn't expect it to. It's only after listening to the instrumental version of 'Give It To Me' that I found out how hypnotic it still can be sans vocals. Those banging, in-your-face beats. That groovy sample on loop. Some fab, layered details that you wouldn't really notice in the vocal version. All those elements mashed up together, and we've got a unmistakably surefire hit even as a standalone instrumental. Advice: it sounds best when you crank it up on the stereo with the loudest volume as long as your eardrums don't explode. It's meant to be listened to that way.

Now I'm all excited for 'Shock Value'. And those collabs with Bjork, Fall Out Boy, The Hives...It's good to be powerful, isn't it?

Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake - Give It To Me (Instrumental)
Timbaland's MySpace

Ghostface Killah feat. Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good

I knew she was up to something when this track is evidently more hip-hop-oriented than the rest on her sophomore effort. So a few days ago, the new version, which is a collab with Ghostface Killah, surfaced. Practically, it's just the same brassy, jazzy instrumental with new rap verses. Now I don't know if this is a planned one, or Ghostface Killah decided to weigh in his rhymes after being convinced by the finished track probably through Mark Ronson (since he's also a renowned hip-hop producer). Whatever happened, I think this new version is quite good, and Amy's voice blended naturally and refreshingly with the beats and the rap verses. Now this is an innovative hip-hop collaboration for artistic values.
Personally, I prefer 'You Know I'm No Good' to 'Rehab', and the whole album sounds astonishingly ace after a second listen. This boozy trainwreck woman really is a talent. Well done, indeed. You just secured a place in my top 20 albums of 2006. Now you can celebrate by boozing out in some winehouse...(that was easy)

Ghostface Killah feat. Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good


Buy 'Back To Black'

Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake - Give It To Me

Okay, so I'm aware that this track has floated around the blogosphere for a few days now. It's obviously everywhere. Everybody has probably heard of it anyway. I just want to throw in my two cents on the song.
Putting aside all the negative vibes, I actually think it's pretty good. I like the beats and the synth line, and it's possibly gonna get stuck in my head after several playbacks though. (like what just happened with 'Wind It Up', I even found myself rapping a few lines unconsciously a few days ago...) Of course, being produced by performed by the man himself, it's star-studded with guest vocals from Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake, two of his recent 'customers'. All of that, and somehow there's something not right about it. It could have been better. Nelly and Justin's vocals somehow seemed forced. I don't know why but producers seem to get writer's block when it comes to their own records (see Pharrell).
So it's a fun, club-banging track, but it just doesn't possess the magnetism that 'Maneater' or 'My Love' has. In fact, it's more like a 'featuring Timbaland' track. I hope his collaborations with Chris Martin will be better than this first single paving the way for his new solo album. He's been booked by Bjork and Duran Duran too, so let's hope he's still got plenty of tricks in his beatbag.
By the way, do you find Justin's ambiguous dissing of Janet & Prince in his verse offensive? Because I don't, since I'm not the hugest fan of Prince and actually think it's somewhat okay to make fun of Janet these days. Anyway, in my opinion, it's just a whiny thing to do. Always find him a tad too whiny. Whiny's back!

Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake - Give It To Me



Irrelevant Chantings:
It's funny, but I dreamed up an entire episode of Lost yesterday. Weird. My brain wrote its all twists and turns that are not relevant to any current plots of the show. The details faded away now, but it's...just weird. Too weird.
Speaking of weird, I just took a break for a few days and the traffic's already sinking real low. How come? (rhetorical question)
Coming up: indie overloaded. I'll finally get to talk about all these exciting new artists I've been loving, so look out for that.

Bonus Songs From Amerie, Lady Sovereign & My Chemical Romance!

Some alternate versions of songs I posted on the blog before.

To begin with, I just got my hands on the instrumental version of Amerie's 'Take Control' and it's hot! Necessary for your butt-shaking need! Proof that the song's still hella good without the vocals. Check it out, maybe you can do some karaoke on top of it too.
Amerie - Take Control (Instrumental)

Hot new Missy Elliott Remix of 'Love Me Or Hate Me'. It's featuring Missy Elliott, nuff said. Grab it!
Lady Sovereign - Love Me Or Hate Me (Missy Eliiott Remix) (via Pitchfork Media)

And last of the bunch, here's a new unreleased song from the emo kings My Chemical Romance. It's called 'Mama'! There you go...
My Chemical Romance - Mama (Unreleased) (via Idolator)

Heads Up, Urban Kids: New Stuff From Amerie, Mario, Jay Z, Jibbs & Lady Sovereign!

Amerie - Take Control
Wow. Didn't expect it. I mean, '1 Thing' is right there with 'Crazy In Love' as one of the brassiest, most bombastic r&b/hip-hop song ever of the 00s, mainly due to Rich Harrison's production skills. But then, it's the only hit she's got. Her album 'Touch' wasn't so good, but I did expect something similar from this supposedly new single from her new album 'Because I Love It'. Fact is, it's excellent! It's a gem in these days of r&b/hip-hop mediocrity. Groovy bass lines, funky '80s beats and a tuneless tune to go with. Just everything we need to get shaky. Produced by Cee-Lo of Gnarls Barkley and Amerie herself, you can hear him sing backup vocals in the song. Now I'm really loving it and looking forward to the third album of this Korean American songstress.
Mario - How Do I Breathe
Uhmmm...he's back. If you like 'Let Me Love You', you'll like this. Smooth vocals and melodies, all sweet and sugary. Just nothing new. Plain commercial Usher-type r&b. His new album is called 'Mario Barrett - Effortless'.
Jay Z - Show Me What You Got
Jay Z - Kingdom Come
We all know this day will come. Jay Z just won't give up easily. He keeps lurking behind collaborations and now officially returns with new album 'Kingdom Come'. Show Me What You Got is the new single. To be honest, the beats and the sample are quite good, but the rapping, I don't know. It's just not worthwhile, how we've been waiting so long and this is all he can give. Also inlcuded is a promo rip of the title track. Now let's pray that the Chris Martin collaboration be good.
Jibbs feat. Melody Thornton of The Pussycat Dolls - Go Too Far
This guy's one year younger than me and he's already got a top 10 rap debut hit? I must admit that even though I don't care much for the guy, 'Chains Hang Low' is actually very catchy and refreshing for its singsong, fun vibe, after all the thug hood stuff we've been flooding with. This song is no different, he's not even trying to be badass, as this is a quite lovely, tinkling r&b/hip-hop track with vocal 'talents' from Melofy Thornton of the PCD (you know, the girl who sings all the oohs). It's kinda cute. Gonna be a hit, I bet.
Lady Sovereign - Love Me Or Hate Me (F*** You)
Wow, what's with me and cheeky, bad-mouthed English girls? I didn't give a damn then when the hype started spreading around and then recently, I decided to check out this new song from her, and found out and that she's actually surprisingly good. This song's instantly catchy right from the get go with the poly-beats and the raspy, weird, funny rap flow of her. Have to say I'm impressed. And the Teris-themed music video is ultra cool also. Now since she's just got signed by Def Jam, big things are waiting for her! Better jump on the love train! She's like the Lily Allen of rap. Somebody'd better confirm that she's not a reinvented Melanie C, and everything's cool. New album 'Public Warning' will drop at the end of this year, I guess. Recommended.

*Note to the frequent readers:

• I'm still looking for a hotlinking-allowed upload host. Thanks to those who help me with the list. In the meantime, my FileDen's bandwidth is renewed for the month, so practically, all the old FileDen links are available again. I also upload stuff back to this host site. don't overdownload, though. When the bandwidth exceeds, just ring the alarm and I'll reuploading them somewhere else.
• As usual, there are tons to post for this weekend. Come back tomorrow for these goodies, there's something for everyone: JoJo covers Foo Fighters, Camera Obscura covers ABBA (which is brilliant), a couple of great overlooked Liz Phair tracks, and two fantastic new indie pop bands! And Picks Of The Week is dunzo. I just don't have time for that anymore.
• Finally, huge thanks to those constructive comments for my mixtape. There will be a Christmas themed mixtape, and and it will get posted sometime in December. So look out for that.

Eminem - You Don't Know (feat. 50 Cent, Ca$his & Lloyd Banks)

Supposedly, this is the new single off the new Eminem compilation album entitled 'Eminem Presents: The Re-Up'. The song's okay, I guess, not much of a headbanging club hit but no thinking-man materials either. Personally, I think that Eminem has sold out, this song's got the attitude that is 'See, I'm not retiring, I'm still making hot sh!t and still hot in the game' written all over it. I'm just never that big of a fan. I still do have respect for him as an artist though (hell, he mainstreamified Dido for the world). So no hate mails, okay?
Check it out.

Eminem - You Don't Know (feat. 50 Cent, Ca$his & Lloyd Banks)