Sway has unveiled what’s hoped to be the first cut from his forthcoming (greatly-anticipated) third studio LP, The Deliverance.
Joining forces with Ed Sheeran, Back Someday is a fantastic soulful-inspired jam that wouldn’t have gone out of place in Sheeran’s No. 5 Collaborations EP from yesteryear.
The track was premiered on Mistajam’s 1Xtra show on Tuesday; take a listen below:
British soul / R&B singer-songwriter Lemar has returned from his hiatus to bring us a fresh dose of new music.
Moving away from his initial soulful roots, the singer has funked up his stance on Don’t Run Away, overlaying his fresh vocals over an almost electro-dance beat (though not quite). In fact, we’re not actually sure where the track actually sits, nor how it passed Lemar’s usually-strict quality-control.
Anyhow, take a listen to Don’t Run Away below and let us know your thoughts.
Further to the teaser trailer on Thursday, Leona Lewis has unveiled the full official video to her new single One More Sleep, taken from the singer’s new Yuletide album Christmas, with Love.
Check out the video below; it’s bound to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside with the hope of snow this Christmas, and hit the iTunes button to buy Christmas, with Love, now.
Arcade Fire took to BBC’s The Graham Norton Show earlier this this evening, performing latest release Afterlife, taken from the group’s latest LP Reflektor.
According to various sources, the band had to redo the performance three times to fit it into the show, after the first take lead singer Win joked: “We’re Mumford & Sons, buy our album”.
Anyhow, check the full performance below and hit the iTunes link to buy Reflektor, now:
Justin Timberlake has premiered the star-studded remix to latest single TKO, bringing J. Cole, A$AP Rocky and Pusha T along with the ride.
The track, taken from Timberlake’s hugely successful The 20/20 Experience volume 2, keeps Timberlake’s initial chorus’, whilst the rappers take things up a notch for their own take of the track with one verse each.
Take a listen below:
William Orbit has premiered a new remix of Madonna’s I’m A Sinner.
The track, originally produced by Orbit for the singer’s 2011 album MDNA, adds only a few new features to the original track (you’ll need to listen hard), but works well to remind us that there was at least one or two decent tracks from that LP.
Take a listen below:
Young Def Jam rapper YG Hootie has premiered his collaboration with Kendrick Lamar, Two Presidents.
Taken from Hootie’s forthcoming album Destroy and Rebuild, set to drop 4th February, Two Presidents is available as a free download.
Take a listen below:
Lauryn Hill, one of the most controversial (yet some may say necessary) figureheads in modern-day hip-hop took to New York’s Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday night for her first live show since her three-month stint in prison due to tax evasion.
Appearing on-stage late, something we’ve come to expect from Hill over the years, the ex-Fugee member belted her heart out across hits old and new, namely from her acclaimed first (and only) solo album, 1998’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, along with some new joints including recently-unveiled Consumerism. Fortunately for us non-attendees, YouTube subscriber Mayumi Yoshino was there to capture the full gig in its entirety.
Watch the full 75-minute show below, along with some fantastic shots from the performance, courtesy of The Fader:
Words by:
Dan Bull
Follow @DanBull7609
Almost fifteen years after the release of her breakthrough debut …Baby One More Time, and following six more studio records, all of which provided chart-bothering hits of some degree, Britney Jean delivers what pop princess Britney Spears describes as her ‘most personal record to date’. A quick glance at the credits shows that there is certainly something different about this collection, with Spears credited as a songwriter on every track (on previous releases she’d appear once or twice). Whilst it makes her a more prominent part of the personnel, it’s difficult to pick out one personality from the 29 songwriters and 24 producers on board. Even 2001’s Britney (featuring singles Overprotected and I’m Not A Girl…, neither of which were credited to Spears) felt more like Britney’s story.
Although 2011’s Femme Fetale made a strong surge towards a more dance-orientated sound, the melodies of long time songwriter Max Martin (…Baby One More Time, Oops!… I Did It Again) and pop-friendly influence of Circus producer Dr. Luke were evident. Without them, and despite the fact that will.i.am, David Guetta and Swedish House Maffia’s Sebastian Ingrosso are among the many collaborators, it feels less like an album and more like a collection of demos for Britney album #8. Even Blackout, recorded and released at the height of her public breakdown, had more of a sense of direction.
It’s not to say there aren’t moments that give a hint of the influence Britney can have. Work B***ch’s designed-for-the-dancefloor drop sees will.i.am and Ingrosso building beats like blocks before breaking them down, and somehow still finding space for Spears’ chants in-between. Second single Perfume (penned by Sia) is the closest thing we’ve had to a classic Britney ballad for some time; think Born To Make You Happy’s long-overdue sequel.
Of the many (many) producers, will.i.am’s name appears more than most, clearly fuelled from the unprecedented success of Scream And Shout. When he collides with Guetta the beat is unquestionably infectious, but it’s often the case regardless of who they work with. Unfortunately, while each provides a dance-friendly backing track, they’re as deep lyrically as a paddling pool. Her legacy is strong, but ‘nothing’ tracks like these (It Should Be Easy, Body Ache) mean that she will soon be overshadowed by the more media-savvy, creative forces of Gaga, Miley and Perry; leaving Spears to continue with the Las Vegas residency she’s just signed up for. (Even a Katy Perry co-write on Passenger can’t help.)
A moment which could have begun a new chapter – a country influenced duet with Spears’ sister Jamie-Lynee, complimented with understated electronics – is trampled over by a will.i.am chorus that is beyond unnecessary. Frustratingly, the album’s best track is the opener, leading the listener into a false sense of security. Had William Orbit been the sole producer of the album, this could have been to Britney what Ray Of Light was to Madonna, with Alien the first of many hypnotic yet simple, subtley-trance influenced tracks. Instead it’s peaking-too-soon personified.
Britney Jean is due out on Monday (2nd December); hit the iTunes link below to preorder now:
Tom Odell has unveiled the official video to new single I Know.
The track, the fifth single from Odell’s No 1 debut album Long Way Down, follows previous releases Another Love and Grow Old With Me.
Earlier in the year, Odell’s family created some humorous controversy when his father called NME to rant at their ‘0 out of 10’ review of Long Way Down.
Watch the full video to I Know, below: