Tom Bower Vs Desmond

This was a really interesting Libel trial that finished last week and exposed a lot about the way Express/ Star owner Richard Desmond works. Tom Bower is a journalist who has worked for Panorama and written books about Robert Maxwell, Conrad Black and, er, Richard Desmond.

Read Tom Bower's account in this excellent article- written for The Observer.

EXTRACT: On my left, fiercely clasping his wife's hand, sat the permatanned and constantly smiling Desmond. Over the past 30 years, the former advertising salesman's outrageous behaviour while becoming a billionaire has been concealed from public scrutiny by Britain's draconian defamation laws. To prevent the publication of Rough Trader, my unauthorised biography of Desmond which was completed and printed in 2006, Desmond devised a libel complaint gleaned from a passage about himself in my biography of Conrad Black published in 2007.

When You're Rolling In Cash

Major Lazer feat. Jahdan Blakkamoore- Cash Flow
This is my current favourite track on the Major Lazer album. Go buy it.

"I'm a vegetarian/ Read like a librarian/ Catch me rolling with mad Rastafrians."

One of these things is true about me. Obviously the Rasta bit.

Amy, Amy, Amy

I've been listening to this song (track one on Frank) a lot since seeing pics of Amy in court last week. I don't wanna speak too soon but she almost looked healthy.

I don't think i've written about Wino here before but despite the tabloid dramas (a lot of which i've written up myself) I think she's one of the most important artists of the decade and her music has been a credit to both the UK and London. She won four Grammys in one night! I really hope she makes more music of the same quailty.

'I don't wanna meet your mother, any time/ I just wanna grip your body, over mine.'

Beasties & Nas

Really sad to hear MCA has cancer, but definitely glad that it won't affect his voice and that it should be treatable. The Beasties' new disc Hot Sauce Committee (which i've been lucky enough to hear) has now been delayed and dates cancelled.

However their collabo with Nas from the album Too Many Rappers has leaked and as I said before it's a really solid track with smart rhymes from all four hip hop legends. And if you like this just wait till you hear their ska flavoured track with Santi(o)gold.

Get the track here (Via Different Kitchen)

See MCA's cancer statement here

Paris Remix

Above- Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers' Pomipou Centre completed 1977

This was one of the tunes of my trip to Croatia. It was played by Giles Peterson and brought about a similar moment to hearing this tune in Berlin back in January.

I'm later than a lot of bloggers on this song but if you haven't got it please do download it now.

Friendly Fires- Paris (Aeroplanes & Au Revoir Simone remix) HYPEM

Mercurys

Here are my two cents on the longlist announced today. I think Speech Debelle or Bat For Lashes should win. Those are definitely two of my favourite albums of 2009. I told you about Speech back in May and talked about my love for Bat For in March. Plus I think Natasha Khan stands a good chance of winning it too after missing out for her debut.

Elsewhere La Roux is good but not as good as Lily Allen's It's Not Me, It's You. The Mercury judges could have been braver and put her up for the prize. Metronomy should be there too.

Glasvegas' debut is gloomy but grew on me and Friendly Fires definitely deserves to be on there. I must confess I haven't heard the full Horrors, Kasabian or Florence records. But I do need to.

Kid Cudi ft Common and Kanye- Make Her Say

Video: 8/10
Beat: 8/10
Cudi's verse: 5/10
Kanye's verse: 5/10
Common's verse: 6/10

Jus' A Rascal?

Didn't get to post this before my holiday. But I think Jude Rogers' excellent article about Dizzee Rascal (from the Guardian) is spot on. As the most talented UK rapper of the last decade he should have been a household name long ago. But thank god it's happened now.

EXTRACT: "Dizzee is human to a fault. He raps about pulling his socks up, sirens, and - pardon me - "pussyoles". Next to (Michael) Jackson's ghostly chalk, he is very much a cheese of the kind stocked in your corner shop.

But that isn't a handicap for Dizzee at all. On the contrary, his ability to make ordinary things sound fabulous has made him, finally, Britain's first black male superstar."

I've loved all three of his albums- his next one Tongue N Cheek is due in September. I hope Diz' keeps some of those faults and it's not all Calvin Harris style dance pop. He's hinted that The Prodigy will produce a track for the record and if he gets a beat out of Liam Howlett (succeeding where many others including Madonna have failed) it should be special.

Summertime

Okay so i've been away on holiday and the weather hasn't been great in the UK. In croatia I enjoyed 35 degrees most days. When I say 'enjoyed' I mean I sat in the shade drinking beer.

Anyway this was one of the tunes of my holiday. A DJ played in at the Garden Festival an hour or so before the sunset- and not long after Stevie Wonder's incredible As. Hopefully I have brought some good weather back with me. DRUMS PLEASE...

On Holiday

I'm away for a couple of weeks now (in Croatia since you asked) so won't be updating Get Straight. Here's some things to do though:

Go to Lovebox and watch N*E*R*D, Mr Hudson, Friendly Fires, Joakim, Norman Jay, MPHO and Duran Duran. Find out more here and watch Rio here


Watch the new print of Hitchcock's North By Northwest at the BFI and other cinemas around the country. If anyone has made a wittier, sexier or more compelling film I have yet to see it. And of course it looks great from the opening scenes of 50s New York to the climax at Mt. Rushmore. Not forgetting the scene where Cary Grant is attacked by a crop duster plane. Oh and don't bother with Public Enemies it looks good but that's about it.

Buy, beg or download the Major Lazer album. Switch, Diplo and loads of vocallists have created a monster dancehall electro mash up record perfect for summer parties.



Finally watch and listen to this. One of my favourite summer tunes from the Avalanches really rather classic album- plus it appropriately samples Holiday by Madonna. Laters.

Blur In Hyde Park

Going to this on Friday and I'm way too excited. They are definitely one of my favourite bands ever and i'd argue Damon Albarn is the most influential British musician of the last 15 years.

Here are possibly my Top 10 Blur tracks some of which they are highly likely to play at Hyde Park (Coffee, Tender) and others they almost certainly won't (You're So Great).

You’re So Great
Tracy Jacks
Clover Over Dover
Tender
The Universal
Out Of Time
Coffee & TV
Country Sad Ballad Man
London Loves
Charmless Man

As you can see i'm all about Blur and Parklife.

UPDATE- IT WAS FUCKING INCREDIBLE. Straight into my top few gigs ever with Daft Punk @ Wireless, White Stripes @ Astoria and Radiohead @ Glasto. Nearly cried my eyes out during both End Of A Century and The Universal.