Katy Perry Fan?

Here's a track by track of her decent new album Teenage Dream I did for the day job.

Below are three of the best tracks to hear..
E.T
Hummingbird Heartbeat
Last Friday Night

Nicki Minaj Outshines Jay & Kanye

Well the big news of the day should be that Jay-Z and Kanye are releasing a 5 track mini album Watch The Throne together. And West has released Monster- the decent first track from it.


HEAR/ DOWNLOAD MONSTER HERE

If this song is anything to go by the mini-album is more likely to sound like Kanye tracks with Jay features. But actually i'm over all that after hearing Nicki Minaj on the track.

Her lyrics are biting, satirical, filthy and just plain crazy. While her flow is twisted, it's thrilling when she affects different voices for each line- like Biggie and Slick Rick did back in the day. As she raps about getting $50k for a guest verse and shows "ten times your pay" it just makes me very excited for the album.

And the whole 'is she selling herself on her looks/ body/ sexuality debate?' is redundant when her rapping is this good.*

*She is also clearly very sexy.

Cee-Lo Says Fuck You

This has gotta be one of the tracks of 2010 so far right? Production is apparently from Salaam Remi- the man behind half of Amy's Frank and Back To Black albums and various tracks for Nas. Can't wait for Cee-Lo's Ladykiller album later this year.

**New Music Alert** Cee Lo - F**K You from PJ Davis on Vimeo.

For The Dubstep Heads

25 Tracks: A Dubstep Chronology by Eighteen on Mixcloud

FULL TRACKLISTING RUNDOWN AT DiS HERE

Picasso: The Mediterranean Years

I've been living in London for four years but have only recently realised that there are loads of hidden away private galleries with great shows- besides the major NPG, Tate, Barbican etc.



Seeing this vast free exhibition at the Gagosian (in Kings Cross) and last year's Gilbert and George White Cube shows has really made me realise that its not just about the big public institutions.

Picasso: The Mediterranean Years shows off the artist's versatility with a wide range of statues, paintings, pottery and sketches. You really should see it before it ends on August 28.

LOADS MORE INFO HERE

XXXO VID

I love this. It's apparently directed by hip hop music vid hero Hype Williams.

M.I.A - XXXO [OFFICIAL VIDEO] from Jameson Pierre on Vimeo.

New Roots Manuva

Two things... There is a bubbley new track from the UK MC called It's On with a beachey video. It has a nice two step kinda beat and is featured on Ninja Tune's rather amazing 4CD 20th anniversary XX album.

WATCH THAT VID HERE

And then below is Roots doing his classic Witness with the Fun Lovin' Criminals! Presumably it's taken from Huey's always great 6 Music radio show.

Roots Manuva & Fun Lovin' Criminals - Witness (1 Hope) from Somethin' Else on Vimeo.

Aeroplane's July Mix

This mix below by dance music man of the moment Aeroplane has kept me going at work this week. If you're short on time skip the halfway mark for amazing remixes of The Chemical Brothers, Omar and Chromeo.

Aeroplane Late July Mix by Aeroplane (Official)

1. Sweet G - Games People Play ( Instrumental )
2. Sarah Dash - Low Down Dirty Rhythm
3.Koto - Chinese Revenge ( Maxi Version )
4.Everything Everything - My Kz, Ur Bf ( Grum Remix )
5.Sheharzad - Yalla Yalla ( Kid Who Remix )
6.Chromeo - Don't Turn the Lights On ( Aeroplane Remix )
7.Omar - Feeling You ( Henrik Schwarz Remix )
8.The Chemical Brothers - Swoon ( Lindstrom & Prins Thomas Remix )
9.Goldfrapp - Believer ( Joris Voorn Remix )
10. Yoko Ono - Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him

Get Cape's Back

Wow. This is a turn up for the books. I dont think Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. was ever that bad I just think he became over-exposed.

This is the way to comeback- with a sick breakbeat by Shy FX and a cool video by my fellow Bournemouth grad Luke Snellin (through 2AM films).

GET CAPE. WEAR CAPE. FLY - 'COLLAPSING CITIES' from Luke Snellin on Vimeo.

When I Say 'B' You Say 'anger'

This is the biggest tune i've heard in some time. I know i'm a month late in posting but still thought I should get it up. With production from Benga it sounds very very South London.

THIS TRACK Louder is also worth a listen. The beat on that is by Zinc.

Yeezy

Say what you want about Kanye West, and there is a lot to say, but he picks some great collaborators.

On Late Registration he brought in Jon Brion to co-produce and orchestrate the record, adding depth to the rapper's own beats. According to rumours he's brought DJ Premier and Q Tip in to work on his new album- which is possibly called Dark Twisted Fantasy. Of course he's also championed Kid Cudi, Common and Lupe Fiasco and worked with Daft Punk, Mos Def, Talib, Nas and Jay-Z.

West's Graduation cover was by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, while his recent Power sleeve is by respected painter George Condo.

On music vids he's worked with Spike Jonze (Flashing Lights and a still unreleased short film), Hype Williams (Stronger & others) and Michel Gondry (Heard Em Say). His spectacular new 90 second promo for single Power is artist Marco Brambilla- who has exhibited at the New York Guggenheim and also directed Stallone/ Snipes action movie Demolition Man back in 1993! Plus you gotta respect Kanye for sampling King Crimson.

WATCH THE POWER PROMO HERE

Some links

that I should have posted ages ago.

Why did the Government scrap the UK film council? Two words- DANNY DYER

I liked Inception but I wasn't in love with it like some people. This sums up a lot of my feelings.

A Lauryn Hill track that could be new. I dont think it is to be honest. I would love it to be but she crazy.

Daft Punk/ Tron tracks- which I think are real this time.

Hurts

Manc duo Hurts are really nice guys, i've interviewed them twice in two months and they are well sound, articulate, decent blokes.

Their new re-released single Wonderful Life is really, definitely worth 4 mins of your time too. Watch the rather nice video here.

Serpentine Pavillion

Each year the Serpentine gallery next to Hyde Park commisions a star architect to design a temporary structure on its front lawn. I saw this last week and its quite spectacular. When viewed from the right spot Jean Nouvel's fluid red building dominates your vision and contrasts pretty nicely with the green park around it.

Inside the main building the Wolfgang Tillmans photography exhibition is also worth a half hour browse. MORE INFO ON ALL HERE