Talk About… Pop Music!
[MP3 / In Memorium] Roger ‘Ranking Roger’ Charlery: 21 February 1963 – 26 March 2019
(Gallery, click to scroll through)
All my childhood heroes are leaving us too soon!
I was gutted at the news of English Beat and General Public star, Roger ‘Ranking Roger’ Charlery‘s passing three weeks ago.
I’ve loved all three of The (English) Beat‘s first classic album releases since I heard them in my (ahem) youth and they still sound as good today as when I first discovered them. Hearing Roger’s last album, Public Confidential (YouTube album stream link), released in January of this year, made me realize how integral he really was to their sound. The album is AMAZING! It’s everything you loved about The Beat but still sounding fresh and vital, not like a tired nostalgia trip. And here’s something I totally missed that a friend pointed out: album track, “Who’s Dat Looking” is basically a response record to “Mirror in the Bathroom”… in the voice of the mirror. Mind blown! Talk about ending on a high note!
As I said on Twitter, I wish they would get Stormzy, Giggs, Skepta, Dizzee Rascal, Stefflon Don and anyone else who’s relevent right now on a UK hip-hop remix of his track, “Skank Away.” What an amazing thing that would be #fortheculture and way to honor and pay tribute to this Black Aglo-Caribbean musical legend. Even if that never happens, thanks for all the great music, Roger and for being such a positive spirit. R.I.P.
[MP3] Beck – Saw Lightning (Produced by Pharrell Williams)
New #YeehawAgenda vibes Beck produced by Pharrell Williams! Whaaat??!!!
[MP3 + Music Video] BLACKPINK – Kill This Love
We commented last week in a FB music group we’re in how this track really stood out in the New Music Friday Spotify playlist we were playing in the background that particular day. Guess our A&R ears still have some gas in the tank.
[MP3] LSD Feat. Sia, Diplo, and Labrinth – No New Friends
Diplo contniues to bully the pop charts with an assist by Sia, LSD and Labrinth. We feel like K’naan should make a record with Diplo. Are we crazy for saying that?
[MP3 + Music Video] Listen to Recent Tracks by Grandtheft
A throwback track we missed from last year that just came on our radar as we do our veiwing for our Prism Prize prize ballot plus two more recent tracks from Toronto’s Grandtheft, “Bags” and “Jackson Pollock” featuring Cadence Weapon.