Music Monday [28/09/15]

More female vocals, debatably 'sicker' beats. If these won't get you through a tough week, I suggest narcotics.

Mabel Know Me Better

Sometimes I listen to Huw Stephens on BBC Radio One, partly because I like his accent, partly because I'm weirdly attracted to it, and mostly because I really, really like his taste in music. I absolutely have no idea where he found this track, but since last week, I must have easily boosted its overall internet plays by a good 10% on my own.



It's got those echoey piano chords that ripple through my soul. And the lyrics are beautiful, hopeful and fearlessly vulnerable. When she sings that "there is so much more to love" I desperately hope she's referring to her yet-to-be-released music.

Currently, she only has 36 more followers than me on Twitter, but 1,051 more on SoundCloud – which I will dutifully rinse when the time comes.

Diplo & Sleepy Tom Be Right There

By now you must recognise my affinity for female vocals, feel-good lyrics, and a decent clap. Priscilla Renea's vocals have an early naughties feel about them which might make you wish you were old enough to club when the likes of BootyLuv were about.

Ultimately, I love how flexible this song is, and it's not too hardcore for first thing on a Monday morning – unlike his other recent release which is far better suited to Friday night. Set Me Free was released at the same time as Be Right There, was given a far bigger video budget* and features Liz. Who I seriously hope isn't Her Majesty HRH.

*It was sponsored by Bud Light. No I am not kidding.

Music Monday

Getting some thoughts off my chest about a couple of badass power-women's songs. What are you doing?

Rita Ora (feat. Chris Brown) 'Body on me'

Has everyone forgotten what Chris Brown did? I can't help but wince at lyrics like "Put you up against the wall". Rita, darling, you can do better.

Demi Lovato 'Cool for the Summer'

Can we please talk about the lesbian undertones in this song. Trialling sexuality because the weather's better? Why not. You go for it girl. Men sweat a lot in the summer anyway.

Ellie Goulding 'On My Mind'

EG ticks a lot of my girl crush boxes so to say I was buzzed about her new music is an understatement of ridonkulous proportions.

Let me break it down for you. When it first launched on BBC Radio 1 last week, I kept rewinding Grimmy to repeat the track. I listened to the pre-track interview enough times to mouth their inflections. Not once did I read anything into the Ed Sheeran comparison. Okay, there are some similarities about a hotel, but to condense two artist's songs down to a spat or "shade" (ugh) is detrimental to their art.

And anyway, if it is true all publicity is great publicity. Rumour fuels attention, airplay, views, ticket sales, and sales. For business reasons, they're completely inclined to keep quiet, and even play along.

Goulding's video masterpiece launched today. After her humble recording-in-a-backyard roots, she's come a long way. Horses, Las Vegas and an old Western serif typeface? Budget am I right.
 

FYI, screw copying her beauty look, this is how I'll be rocking up to work from now on:

Days Are Gone, but girl power is here to stay

Yes, I'm talking about an album that's two years old. There's a reason for it. Let me get to that.

"The Haim sisters are those fabulous wispy girls who hang round with Taylor Swift on a speedboat right? They look gorgeous, but their music isn't for me."

Nobody had ever asked me why it wasn't for me. I didn't know. Aside from the radio I hadn't given it a real chance.

Then I saw their music videos. They have choreographed dancing - circa the Spice Girls. Now I'm converted.



Haim are like Lena Dunham's Girls for the ears. Their music is blunt, emotional and there's a shit load of swearing.

The truth is I was thrown by their image. They remind me of this girl I went to school with who is so gorgeous she could be the princess of a fictional Middle Eastern country. So I thought they were a bit out of my reach.

What would three long haired brunettes have in common with a bobbed blonde anyway? Apparently a lot.

Take My Song 5 for example. These girls are pissed - they experience everything us normal people do. I thought their songs were about beautiful goddess-esque things I couldn't understand, but no. Listen to their lyrics, 'Days Are Gone' is about being in love, breaking up, and all at the wrong moments. It's about wanting to go back or to run away or to do things you shouldn't when faced with desires vs reality. See Go Slow, Running When You Call My Name, The Wire, etc - actually, see tracks 1-11.

Let's also appreciate that, like girl bands before them, they're moving us forward. Predecessors like The Bangles, Destiny's Child and the Spice Girls have paved the way for this girl band. Haim are following in their footsteps with impeccable style, cultural awareness and an undeniable femininity.

I feel like they are the evolution of the girl band in my lifetime. We've come a long way from the tight sequin Union Jack dresses. It's like we're in the hipster years, where alternative style meets pop culture to create a refreshing sound, with enough teenage-moodiness, dance beats and relatable lyrics to appeal to a twenty-something looking for a female community to get her through the trials and tribulations of becoming a grown up.

And Haim have the longest combined hair of any band right now - and play all their own instruments. Bad. Ass.

Paramore more more

I have a pretty poor taste in life experiences. If I had a bucket list there would only be one thing on it: "To see Paramore perform 'That's What You Get'" and I could cross that off. Don't say you weren't warned. Despite this obviously dumb love for something trivial I was underwhelmed by their first release from their 2013 self titled album, 'Now'. It wasn't until  BBCR1's Live Lounge version of Still Into You that I decided to sit up and listen.

'Growing Up' is the punchy introduction into the "you're on your own; grow up and deal with it" theme. A message both for the band's ageing audience as well as themselves. There's a lot of speculation on how they'll do post the issues of 2011 but I'm a New Critic and dealing with autobiography is for the smaller minded. 'Ain't it Fun' is a bittersweet, gospel choir included, reiteration of this theme. The really good one.

'[One of Those] Crazy Girls' doesn't do much in feminist agenda but who am I to judge when it's been in my head since last Tuesday. Appropriate when mixed with Silver Linings Playbook.

The passive aggressive rub-it-in-your-face-I'm-so-happy (slightly Hawaiian?) interludes 'Moving On'/'Holiday'/'I'm Not Angry Anymore' break up the volumes with a vindictive smirk I am 100% on board with.

'Fast In My Car' is also very appropriate when bought on CD and rocking in a ten year old/battered Skoda Fabia. Who says you need a good stereo-system or anything that can go over 70mph anyway.

I was asked if Paramore is "better than their old stuff" and I don't really have an answer for that. I recognise that saying "it's different" is about as helpful as covering doorhandles in mashed potato but it's just that. Different. I guess any woman who can fearlessly wear her fringe like this will have my admiration no matter what. 

Look at how badass that is. I believe it's this haircut which inspired the lyrics to 'Proof': "If I'm a woman with no fear just like I claim I am" - obviously you are Williams, obviously you are.

Save Rock and Roll: Track 12 'Imitation and Gender Insubordination'

Judith Butler wrote in Imitation and Gender Insubordination that when an identity is reiterated the new assertion of identity displaces the identity asserted before.

I am desperately trying to not let Save Rock and Roll displace From Under the Cork Tree or Infinity on High or Take This To Your Grave because the new identity is the lasting one.

It's not that I didn't enjoy the singles from the album but they were boring. They lacked all the punk gusto of their 2004 album. Perhaps it was unrealistic of me to expect even a hint of that but Stump's weight wasn't the only thing the band lost.

My suspicions should have been raised when my pop-loving housemate told me she loved 'My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)' instead of subjecting me to the usual chastisement I was so used to receiving for enjoying Fall Out Boy.

It's a mediocre/good pop album with a nice range of collaborative singers. 'Alone Together' and 'Young Volcanoes' are my favourites so far but I guess it's going to take more than two listens to convince me that this identity is one I can get on board with.

So with that in mind, Fall Out Boy, hopefully your next identity will be at least a little more influenced by some of your older ones: