Friday, June 24, 2011

adult education

In these media saturated, overpopulated web based days, it's a lot more difficult to promote "the next big thing" than it was before the interwebs crept into everyday living. That has led to a more grass roots approach to getting music being found. People share their latest fave raves via social media.

Strong word of mouth still builds a base like it did in the "golden days" of the 60s, 70s and 80s. However, when there is little to no airplay for an artist, it's up to the chain link effect to come into play between music fans. Also, live gigs still manage to get the point across best.

Last week, when I was in London on another songwriting sojourn, I went to a multi-artist gig which included some unknowns, almost knowns, nearly knowns and well knowns. It was an eclectic mix, but one artist stood out. She is CocknBullKid and her debut longplayer, "Adulthood", which I was aware of but had not heard, was purchased immediately after her acoustic performance. Such was the power of her songs and understated performance.

Anita Blay, for she is CocknBullKid, has released several singles from "Adulthood" and there is no sign of stopping. Fourth single, "Yellow", has just been unleashed and a video was lensed for it. Let's take a gander.



Well, that continues the low-fi, DIY nature of all the videos for each single plucked from her elpee. "Yellow", like much of "Adulthood", has Motown overtones while sporting a mid-90s indie feel to it and a big, gospel tinged chorus. It smart pop with heart, mind and soul.

Here are the vids for previous singles, "One Eye Closed" and "Hold On To Your Misery".





My favorite track from the album has to be "Asthma Attack". It speaks to my heart right now, particularly that my love affair with London has grown stronger over the last couple of years.



Fantastic lyrics! A brilliant pop song which deserves to be heard by a wider audience. I love the Morrissey influenced la la lines.

"Adulthood" will surely place inside my top five albums of the year. Highly recommended!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

hurricane Grace

Sweet baby cheeses! Does this woman ever take a bad photo? She is a timeless, epic figure. It's probably best Grace Jones never broke through to the mainstream. She's always been about the slightly edgy, darkened corners of our minds.

Now, nearly three years after she released "Hurricane", her first new longplayer in nineteen years, Grace is about to reissue it with a bonus disc featuring dub versions of all nine tracks from the album. The collection includes "Sunset Sunrise" which will be given away as a free mp3 download.

If you got 'em, smoke 'em. Here's Grace!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

she's on the phone

I'm a few days late on this one, but Robyn continues to write rules on how to be a proper pop star. Great song. The lyrics are direct and easily relatable. Simple yet effective video. Love the pink, high heeled trainers. Score another one for the Swedish pixie.



It seems like forever since this single was plucked from the third installment of Robyn's "Body Talk" series. How long before she delivers some new music?

taboo you

Time to get back on top of things, kittens. Much has been happening around So Hip It Hurts HQ. Apologies for the short respite from the blogosphere. I assure you it wasn't intended.

Now that I've been spending loadsatime in London, I have had the good fortune to hang out with many of my friends there. Many of them are as music obsessed as I am. This makes me endlessly happy. Of course, we turn each other on to lots of music.

So, I decided to post this lovely slice of springtime. Swedish swizzlers, Drop Out Orchestra, have taken Sade's 1985 snare drum serenade, "The Sweetest Taboo", and turned it into a blissed out, dubbed up groover. Mostly instrumental, they've added some soulful flute interludes and electronic noodling. Heady stuff, ladies and gents.



This will forever remind me of London in the spring, enjoying delicious meals with good friends, sipping a hearty glass of vino - merlot, if you must know - staring out over a lush, green park and thinking endless possibilities about life, love and the pursuit of happiness.

Yes, this little reworking, creatively titled "The Swedish Taboo", sets my romantic mood in motion. Kisses to you, my lovelies!