It’s unfortunate that the birth of this new year has already
been memorialised with the death of a musical icon. Does this spell out doom and gloom
for the music industry? I’d like to think not. Continuing my ‘Tracks of the Week’ segment I bring you this first annual instalment, kicking 2016 off with
some big names to prove that all is not lost. Big names like globally-renowned New York rockers,
Washer. Everyone knows them. I can’t say I’m all that familiar with this Kanye West fellow though…
THE BEST:
'Lazarus' – David Bowie
Everything Bowie did was an artistic statement, even in his
death. Watching this video at first, I assumed it all to be surrealist nonsense.
But that was three days before he passed away, three days before I or anyone
else knew he was terminally ill. Now it’s all disturbingly and vividly clear –
Bowie writhing around on his deathbed, frantically writing material down at his
desk before the end takes him, the evil cancer waiting for him in the guise of
some ugly creature under the bed - it’s like some geniusly awful surprise plot
twist has just been unveiled. As for the lyrics, they're not quite as easy to read into: 'I was looking for your ass'.
'Untitled 2' – Kendrick
Lamar
Previewed in a live performance on The Tonight Show, ‘Untitled
2’ may just be a leftover from last
year’s To Pimp A Butterfly but it’s a
tasty leftover regardless. A velvety funk instrumental offers the backdrop to
some fiery bars from Kendrick about how wealth doesn’t bring happiness. I doubt
we’ll see a studio version, but it’s something to keep us ravenous K-dot fans
satiated in the mean time.
'Got Drunk And Ate The
Sun' – Washer
Getting drunk and eating a kebab is boring. These unhinged Brooklyn rockers prefer to cure their alcohol munchies by eating giant balls of thermonuclear plasma. Most of this duo’s songs are a little demented in sound and given the subject matter it’s only logical that this track should follow suit. The way the singer breaks into screaming without warning midway through the track is beautifully volatile (if I tried to eat the sun I'd probably scream too).
'Real Friends' – Kanye West
There’s not much to the beat, but it’s a relief to hear Ye rapping with soul and being humble for once, reflecting on how he hasn’t always been a great friend: ‘I guess I got what I deserved’. A snippet of another song ‘No More Parties in LA’ meanwhile appears at the end of the track feauturing, of all people, Kendrick Lamar.
THE WORST:
'Facts' – Kanye West
Yes, it’s him again. Sadly this second-rate trap rap single
appears to be nothing more than a laughable diss track aimed at sportwear giants,
Nike. ‘Nike treat employees just like
slaves.’ Just because you sponsor Adidas, Kanye. As if they’re any better. Listen here.
'You Are Killing Me' –
The Dandy Warhols
Give these aging Britpoppers a pillow. They sound tired. Are they trying to sound like they’re not trying? Or are they simply not trying?