We’ve got a Mother’s Day Special this week. Well, not really, but it’s getting posted on Mother’s Day and the first tune on the playlist does mention Yo Mama. So keep up to date with 35 minutes of the best new(ish) releases. We’re flowing from rap into more soul/R&B territory, a couple of rock bangers, and some psychy/folk stuff to round things off.
The album of the week review is the new one from Sleaford Mods, plus there’s quick write ups on all the tunes in this week’s playlist below. There’s some social links and the like mixed in there as well if you want to find out some more about any of the artists.
Album of the week
Sleaford Mods – UK GRIM
If you know Sleaford Mods, then you know the drill by now. When reviewing the UK GRIM single back in January, I mentioned that they’ve kind of reached that stage like The Fall where they’ve almost become a bit of an underground institution and have such a defined style that they always sound unmistakably like themselves. Yet there’s always something just a little bit different to keep you interested.
But as someone who thinks pretty much every album ever is too long, I wasn’t overly enthused when I saw this had a 48 minute run-time, I thought they may have ended up stretching themselves thin. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find this is the most varied Mods’ album yet, and is a brisk listen despite its length.
All the usual hallmarks are still there; the minimalist hip-hop meets post-punk beats from Andrew Fearn. And the angry dad rap-rants from Jason Williamson on the latest political targets (or just some fucker who’s annoyed him on the socials). But since opening up to collaborations on their previous album (there’s a couple more here as well), it seems they’re getting a bit more adventurous. A lot of the beats just feel BIGGER; there was often a bit of a deliberate crap-ness to some of their beats, which acted as a kind of pre-emptive strike against current trends and also worked in allowing the lyrics to really shine. But there’s some straight-up, unapologetic bangers on here. Williamson is also showing a wider range of moods and allowing himself to try out his singing voice a bit more frequently.
And it works for the most part. UK GRIM and On the Ground are two of my favourite things they’ve done and maybe some of the best beats Fearn has produced. There’s a paranoia creeping into numerous songs and Williamson switches things up to play a relatively chilled narrator, which isn’t a million miles off Mike Skinner in The Streets excellent early work. As always there’s humour to be found in a kind of surrealist mundanity that underpins a lot of the writing.
The anger certainly isn’t gone, but this feels like their least angry album to date. They even slip into outright melancholia on the likes of Don. But on a few of the tunes, it feels like the anger has been replaced by a sort of weary resignation. Which is understandable, when you’ve been telling everyone how shit things have been for ten years, I’m sure it can become exhausting. And actually, for many, that probably captures the UK political mood of the moment, we’re just fed up.
There’s a couple of moments that don’t quite work for me. It feels like Williamson let’s out the most vitriol on DIWhy. Ranting about holier-than-thou hipsters is all well and good, but it just feels slightly mis-directed when it’s one of the angriest things on here. The collab with Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction on So Trendy is also a bit of a miss. It feels extremely un-Sleaford Mods and a bit too much like an old-school rockstar play-acting and borrowing a bit of indie credibility. Unless there’s a self-aware irony there which has went over my head.
Generally though it’s maybe their best album yet. And, with them really starting to test their creative range, there may be better still to come.
Best tunes: UK GRIM, On the Ground, Right Wing Beast
Tunes of the week
Lebra Jolie – Meet Yo Mama
Houston’s Lebra Jolie has been around for a few years already, but this is my first time hearing her. And this probably works as a perfect introduction. With a Cardi B-esque flow where every line is an exclamation mark, she sets out her stall that she’s NOT the kind of girl to take home to meet your parents.
KNEECAP – ITS BEEN AGES
This is the first new single from Irish rappers, Kneecap, in a couple of years and they announce their return by playing up their controversial credentials. It’s the kind of self-mythologising that hip-hop does best.
Wesley Joseph – COLD SUMMER
Wesley Joseph’s latest album, GLOW, has been out for about a month now. It didn’t immediately hit for me, but I’ve kept returning to it. It’s a mix of slightly experimental R&B and hip-hop. At under 25 minutes it’s one of those albums that just works as a whole, without having any obvious standouts. It’s a chill out album but with an air of paranoia. Like a post night-out layabout, with that hangover fear lurking beneath the surface. I’d recommend listening to the whole album, but COLD SUMMER is probably the most immediate tune on there as a taster.
Lady Wray – Piece Of Me .feat. Ghostface Killah
This is a classic soul sounding tune, with a Ghostface verse to boot. Even when he shows a softer side, Ghostface still goes hard.
Temps – partygatorresurrection
Temps is the musical project of comedian, James Acaster, with a cast of supporting musicians. There’s too many featured artists on here for me to bother typing out, but it’s rapper, Open Mike Eagle, who is the star of the show. Like Acaster’s comedy, this is slightly experimental, quirky and goes off in all sorts of unexpected directions, but ultimately there’s a load of high points and fun to be had.
TV Death – Crank Bugs
OK, this is actually two years old. But it’s my blog so I can make the rules. They’re an unsigned (I think) band from Newcastle so I’m counting this as new. And this is a 2 minute blast of pounding garage punk that was too good not to include.
The Family Rain – Gasoline
The Family Rain are pretty unashamedly retro. Like The Black Keys, they mine the best of blues rock history. And as long as the tunes are as good as this Stones-y stomper, then they can get away with it.
The Dream Machine – Lola, In The Morning
I’ve talked about The Dream Machine on the blog before as one of my favourite new bands. Ahead of their upcoming debut album, they’ve delivered another lovely little slice of psych-pop with this one.
Joanna Sternberg – I’ve Got Me
This could almost be ripped straight from the early 60’s Greenwich village folk scene, with a hint of the lo-fi indie pop of the likes of The Moldy Peaches.
Juan Wauters – Milanesa Al Pan .feat. Zoe Gotusso
This is in Spanish (I think; Wauters is from Paraguay), so I’ve got no idea on the lyrical content here. But this is a great little summery folk pop tune that will get stuck in your head regardless. And is reminiscent of Brazilian Tropicalia legends, Os Mutantes.
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