Yuna - Thinkin Bout You

This is a post I started approximately 20 seconds into the song. Perhaps this a selfish, indirect attempt to shove Frank down a few more people's throats with the early of release of Channel Orange, but there you go. If we are being honest, Thinkin Bout You is a song that has been rinsed, despite only being released 4 months ago. There has been quite a buzz surrounding this 25 year olf Malaysian who coincidentally also had Pharrell doing production on her music (see: Live Your Life). Yuna's sample-fuelled cover is a surge of emotions helped along by the sweet, layered harmonies. Despite the afore-mentioned rinsing, it sounds remarkably fresh and endearing.

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Channel Orange Stream - Frank Ocean

If you reside under a rock you may be one of the 5 people on this earth who haven't already listened to Channel Orange by Frank Ocean. If you are one of those 5 poor souls deprived of his story tales, weaved of rich melodies and knowing words listen here.

Taking my bias into consideration highlights are Pyramids, Bad Religion, Sweet Life and Pink Matter.

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Frank Ocean - Pyramids

The moment we've all been waiting for... Frank Ocean is releasing his album Channel Orange on the 16th July (17th US). The first taste of this is Pyramids which has already had 144723 plays on Soundcloud in 16 hours. Insane. Pyramids is a 10 minute offering of stories of Pharoahs and Cleopatra which morphs into a electro funk track somewhere inbetween, deserving of the Drive soundtrack. Ocean goes even further and descends into the Pyramids chorus. If this is what we have to look forward to so far, it can only get better.

  Pyramids by Frank Ocean

The track is available for free download.

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Frank Ocean - Summer Remains

This song is very rough around the edges as you can tell by the restarts but this is definitely a return to the feeling that Nostalgia, ultra gave everyone: a mixture of nonchalance and yet inescapable doom. Happy Tuesday!

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Frank Ocean live at Coachella 2012

Just in case you missed it on the live stream, here is the whole thing for your viewing pleasure. 

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Odd Future - Oldie

No matter what your opinion on them, eventually you will like Odd Future; it's not an option. After all the hype surrounding Earl, his verse is only a confirmation that he really is pretty damn good. "So instead critiquing and bitching and being mad as fuck, just admit not only are we talented we're rad as fuck.' Go on, admit it."

Go buy OF TAPE Vol. II here.

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Albums that deserve a listen

Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Bon Iver is that band that makes you want to wear checkered shirts, become a lumberjack and move to a cabin in a secluded Alaskan wood. You may not want to feel this way in summer, but somehow it fits in perfectly well with traipsing around London, sightseeing in Paris and the flights that come in between. This album has been out for approximately two months and it's one of the best albums of the year.

Watch The Throne - Jay Z & Kanye West
I'm a hip hop fan. Far from obsessive but close enough to appreciate. I wrote an article on how I wasn't sure it was revolutionary (I post it up soon) but I think I've changed my mind. Hip hop has grown stale and boring. It may be because it's such a hyped up project and it features 4 amazing artists, but Watch The Throne makes me excited to listen to hip hop again. If that isn't revolutionary, I don't know what is.

SBTRKT - SBTRKT
He could have easily done an album that would be popular and continued to rinse the ever popular sounds of European dance and dubstep. Instead he stuck with the two-step and house that those at Plastic People know him for. It features Sampha, Little Dragon, Roses Gabor and Jessie Ware; three of whom are homegrown London artists who may or may not become incredibly famous but have masses of talent and even more credibility. He hasn't changed, whether he's playing with Drake for OVO or in an underground party in East London.

Frank Ocean - Nostlagia, Ultra
I've played this album an excessive amount to the point where the line between love and hate is becoming blurred. He's just different. He samples every genre under the sun and he has forever returned r'n'b to a place that doesn't just have to talk about clubs and sex.

Metronomy - The English Riviera
A gig or festival is sometimes the kick in the backside you need to listen to the album of a band you love but are too lazy to bother with. Unfortunately, it took Wireless to remind me that they are what I love about British electro/pop. They unashamedly make you feel like you've been transported to the place where all the unwanted musical ideas from the 80s are, only this time they're acceptable. Expect saxophone solos. Then they have this whole different game with their lyrics. It's poetry Tennyson would be proud of. Well not quite...

Of course I know from my own experience that someone telling you to listen to an album may send you in the opposite direction. If that's true for you, DON'T listen to these albums.

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Acura Intergirl

Fully quotable lyrics right there.

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Frank Ocean

Odd Future is generally a little bit much for me. They're pretty damn creative and they're just having fun, but the rape/murder talk is a little much. So a little less Tyler and a little more Frank Ocean. I barely noticed listening to Swim Good, but sometimes listening to music takes no effort because it's just good.

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