With Recovery, Eminem proved that even the world’s most celebrated emcee can add to his game. Long known for his anger-fuelled rhymes, Em seemed to find a new gear when it came to the snarl behind his delivery. While most people clamoured towards “Love The Way You Lie” or “No Love” as popular singles, I found myself gravitating to “Space Bound.” To me, this track is a throwback to the Eminem of years gone by. He’s still effective here without going full bore as he so frequently does in his newer material. Not that Eminem has been one for subtlety, but it’s still appreciated when he gives it a shot. I like the direction of the song: a rap ballad of sorts.
Some people just don’t get Arcade Fire. You either understand and love them, or you don’t understand them and despise them for ruining your Grammy predictions. While I can admit I’m not a die-hard fan, I can certainly admire the heights they’ve achieved in the last year or so. With the critically-acclaimed The Suburbs, the Montreal alt-indie rockers continued to do things their way. “Sprawl II” is easily right up there with any of their best work.
Even though 2010 came and went without a major release from Fab, the Brooklyn rapper worked tirelessly to keep his music bumpin’ in his fans’ speakers. In conjunction with the slew of freestyles and street singles put out during the course of the year, Fabolous also treated his loyal listeners to There Is No Competition 2, a preview of sorts for his next album (due out this year). “You Be Killin ‘Em” again demonstrates Loso’s wordplay mastery over a very catchy Ryan Leslie beat. It’s an interesting partnership the two have formed; Loso’s Way 2 could be a monster if this is what it’ll sound like.
I’ve concluded that there simply isn’t much info on Chi Duly, the genius behind the Drake/Coldplay mashup album, October’s Very Cold. He’s from somewhere in the States (Phoenix? NYC?) and is currently not signed to any major or independent label. In any case, he really should be getting more love for putting together this underground treasure. “Ever Lost” is the intro track, and probably my favourite, but the whole album is pretty tight. Definitely worth the free download @ www.octobersverycold.com.
Sky Ferreira is one of the most interesting faces to pop up in 2010. The 18-year old got her first big break when she was noticed by Swedish production team Bloodshy & Avant (of Miike Snow) via MySpace almost 3 years ago. 2011 should be the year we see Sky’s first album, which will feature collaborations with several notable up-and-coming songwriters and producers. “One” was the first single released in Europe this past June. Maybe I’m a sucker for the production, but I just like the way everything is put together. This is definitely a cleaner look for Ferreira, whom we normally see and hear a little messier than this.
Rapper/singer Stromae has been making rounds in the European circuit for a few years now, but 2010 saw his popularity explode thanks to the insanely addictive “Alors on Danse.” The trance-like saxophone-laden track is perhaps one of the best electro/hip-hop tracks to cross the Atlantic in recent memory. The international #1 later caught the attention of Kanye West, who jumped on a remix and made it a certified banger on North American soil. Newcomer Gilbere Forte rounds out the extended mix and adds his own flare. All in all, an impossible track to miss and a no-brainer for any party mix.
Sara Bareilles is probably one of the most impressive live shows I’ve ever seen. Her tunes are big and showy, and she certainly has the vocal chops to knock the show out of the park. That said, I’ve always found her ballads to be her strongest suit. In “Breathe Again” the heartbeat kicks pulse away as Bareilles agonizes over love lost. At her dramatic best, Bareilles soars and executes truly hair-raising dynamics between the 3:35 – 4:00 marks of the song. Not in the league of “Gravity,” but still a terrific track.
At this point, not much is known about the New York-based band. “Go Outside” was quietly released via Cults’ Bandcamp page. I’d normally attempt digging for more information, but the consensus from respected music guru sites is that no other info of note exists at this time. In this context, then, “Go Outside” is kind of weird and spooky. Is this what we’ll expect from Cults or is this juvenile, chanty music considered out of the band’s norm? Questions aside, the song is definitely interesting and easy enough to get into. Everyone loves a little xylophone now and again, right?
NYC producers The Knocks are better known for their mixes of established stars’ material, but they’ve proven to be well on their way in crafting their own hits. Whether releasing work under their own names or producing for others, the duo have a bright future with Neon Gold backing them. “Make It Better” is perfect summer fare. Driven by a perky whistle loop and catchy hook, the song is light on lyrics but will still rock any party. Not much else to say here.
It’s fair to say no one has had to eat more shit in the last 2 years than Chris Brown. Condemned by several industry titans and abandoned by his fair-weather fans, Breezy seemed to be without a friend in the world for quite some time. Last year saw his phoenix rise once again, as his joint mixtape with Tyga, Fan of a Fan, brought the embattled R&B star back to the charts. Powered by the success of “Deuces,” phone calls from would-be collaborators looking to hop back on the Chris Brown’s dick poured in. Even after putting out the “Deuces” mega-mix, Brown openly criticized the sincerity of his peers. We still don’t like the domestic violence thing, but the guy has since paid his dues and it’s hard not to like how hard he's fought to get that respectability back. I give him props for being honest about his industry "friends," but it put a bit of a damper on this utterly stacked remix.
49-40 coming asap!
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