Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

Pearl Jam release ‘Live on Ten Legs’, a classic-packed new live compilation album, January 17th on Island Records . Kicking off the band’s twentieth anniversary year and ensuing celebrations in style, the album features 18 captivating versions of Pearl Jam’s landmark tracks. ‘Live on Ten Legs’ was recorded over the course of the band’s 2003-2010 world tours by engineer John Burton. Newly remixed by longtime Pearl Jam engineer Brett Eliason and remastered, the material on the record spans Pearl Jam’s 60 million selling career. The release follows Pearl Jam's victorious Hyde Park show this summer, which cemented the band’s status as one of the best live acts in the world. Included on the album are live versions of classic songs ‘Jeremy’, ‘Alive’ and ‘Spin The Black Circle’ as well as ‘Just Breathe’ and ‘The Fixer’ from their most recent album, the acclaimed ‘Backspacer’. ‘Live on Ten Legs’ will be available in CD, digital and deluxe versions. The deluxe box set version will include a...

‘Body Talk’ is the third and final album in Robyn’s unique trilogy for 2010. Released on November 29 it will feature 5 of the best tracks from Pt 1 & 2 plus 5 extra brand-spanking new songs from the ridiculously prolific pop star. Releasing music in this way has been an almighty success for Robyn, as she explains: "I’m going to keep mixing up my tours with studio time and am hoping to stick to this new way of releasing music next year. This is the third, last part and completion of the Body Talk album. It was never my goal to break some kind of a world record in how many songs I could release in a year. Although I think it would count as a pretty good attempt, it’s been about the process for me. It’s been very interesting to try and figure out a more organic way of making music. A way that is unbiased and has it’s starting point in what feels logical to me, but also to the listeners. Even though it was never a conceptual idea, but a practical solution to the problem of getting...

Last year The Prince of Grime scored two number one singles, (‘Number 1’and ‘Never Leave You’), released a critically acclaimed chart topping album, (‘Catch 22’), and notched up enough sales to make him the biggest selling British solo male artist of 2009 . He also performed at all the major festivals of the summer, supported Akon on tour, embarked on his own 18 date sold out nationwide headline tour, developed his Star in The Hood merchandise from T-shirts sold on eBay to a fully developed clothing range, and graduate with a degree in Digital Arts and Moving Imagery from The University of East London. This year has seen Tinchy Stryder complete a second sold out headline tour in the UK, open the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury, expand his clothing range from online to in store (it is now stocked in over 60 stores nationwide) and start up a Joint Venture 360 music entertainment company with Jay Z (Takeover Roc Nation). All while writing and recording his third album ‘Third Strike’. Followi...

Fresh from a show stopping performance and fourth award win at the recent MOBOS, urban pop super-group N-Dubz triumphantly return with their new single ‘ Girls ’, released via their new musical home, All Around The World & Island Records on 13th December 2010. ‘Girls’ is the second single from their highly anticipated new album ‘ Love, Live, Life ’ (released November 29th) quickly following their recent Top 10 smash ‘Best Behaviour’. Written by the band and Jim Jonson (Beyonce, Usher. Lil Wayne), ‘Girls’ is a slick celebration of the female form, showcasing edgy beats and tough lyrics reminiscent of early N-Dubz hits. Representing a universal love for women, ‘ Girls ’ features a contagious hook that flows over the band’s trademark electronic synths and gritty urban beats. The N-Dubz furore continues this winter with the release of their third album, ‘Love, Live, Life’. In May 2010, N-Dubz signed a five-album deal with Island Def Jam records in the U.S. Recorded in LA and Miami an...

Jonathan Jeremiah, whose timeless songs and soulful voice have marked him out as a songwriter with a rare talent, previews his highly anticipated 2011 debut album “Solitary Man” with the release on December 13th of his new single “See”. In addition Jonathan was one of the guests, alongside Kings of Leon, M.I.A. and Eric Clapton, on this week’s Later With Jools, which transmitted on BBC2 at 11.50 on Friday November 5th. (performance available on BBC iPlayer). The public will have a chance to hear Jonathan perform this beautiful string-drenched song and other tracks from the new album during his forthcoming residency at London's Borderline. The shows kicked off on October 27th, with further appearances on November 10th, 23rd and December 6th. Jeremiah recently guested with Rumer at her sell-out Bloomsbury Theatre show. Jeremiah was born and raised in London to an Anglo-Indian father and a Tipperary born Irish Catholic mother. From an early age he listened to songs from his parent’s ...

Nicki Minaj, the first lady of Young Money/Cash Money Records and one of the hottest artists on the planet right now, has her new single “Right Thru Me” released on November 22nd. The track is taken from the 25 year old rap phenomenon’s feverishly anticipated debut album which is also released on November 22nd.  Nicki Minaj’s star has been on the rise since she released her first mixtape, Playtime Is Over, in 2007. The mixtape featured Lil Wayne and the cover showed Nicki posing as a Barbie Doll. A second mixtape “Sucka Free” released a year later, increased the heat around Minaj and was followed in 2009 by mixtape number three “Beam Me Up Scotty”. Shortly thereafter Nicki, aka Harajuku Barbie, aka Nicki Lewinsky, aka Roman Zolanski, aka Ms Step Your Cookies Up, signed to Lil Wayne’s new label Young Money Entertainment and featured heavily on Young Money’s debut album “We Are Young Money” which spawned the massive hit single “Bedrock”. Minaj has also made her name from her many fea...

To round off yet another exceptional year, Florence will be releasing the mighty single ‘Heavy In Your Arms’ single alongside ‘Between Two Lungs’ – a two disc special edition version of her 4 x platinum selling Brit Award winning debut album ‘Lungs’. ‘Between Two Lungs’ features new cover art, sleeve notes by Florence and exclusive images. Plus a 10 track second disc which as aswell as Heavy In Your Arms, also includes among others, a live recording of brand new song ‘Strangeness & Charm’. The massive collaboration with Dizzee Rascal ‘You Got The Dirtee Love’ and a previously unreleased Yeasayer remix of ‘Dog Days Are Over’ and will also be available on November 15. Florence recently wowed worldwide audiences with her live performance (and victory) at this year’s MTV VMA Awards which saw her album explode in the U.S. Firing up to #2 in the I tunes chart and breaking the top #15 in the Billboard album chart. Back home Florence has just won two Q Awards for Best Female and Best Trac...

Global superstar Akon, whose three previous albums have each sold more than half a million copies in the UK, yielding an unbroken string of massive worldwide hit singles, returns with the release on November 22nd of his brand new single “Angel”. Taken from his eagerly awaited dance music inspired album “AKONIC”, “Angel” was produced by Akon & fellow master hit maker David Guetta. Akon is without question one of the greatest hit making forces of all time and is the first solo artist to hold the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 - twice. Over the years he has worked with, produced and featured on a slew of international hits, including those for Michael Jackson, Sir Elton John, Eminem, Gwen Stefani, Whitney Houston, as well as Lady Gaga, who was one of the first signings to Akon’s Kon-live label. Akon has also established himself as a serious business man and entrepreneur who has quickly built an empire that includes a record label, fashion line and ch...

At long last it feels like UK rap music is well and truly erupting. Every way you look - from the summit of the charts to the breaking waves of the underground - the UK rap fraternity is seizing control. In between the ricocheting lyrical crossfire one face is emerging as one of 2010's most notorious breaking artists, and that's the angular bone-structure of Dagenham, Essex's very own Devlin. ‘bud, sweat & beers’ is a step change for grime. Socially aware. Spiritually conflicted with a sacred heart and profane mouth. Dark, accurate and artful lyrical sketches of life at social margins. Capacious enough to make reference to Hollywood’s Wesley Snipes, super-bug C-Difficile, Pengi, Nostradamus, Picasso, Tectonic plates and Elvis. It’s an imaginative feast. Lyrical meaning unfolds on meaning. Metaphors come as quickly as the mind can process. The album opens with the thunderous cavalcade of ‘1989’ where heavy-metal guitar stabs provide an urgent, heart-in-mouth backdrop for...

In thrall to uplifting 1970s Disco as much as it is to intricate 1980s electro, ‘In Spirit Golden’ is a shimmering, soaring anthem full of giddy nods to computer game soundtracks and Killers style stadium pop riffs. ‘In Spirit Golden’ will be released one week before I Blame Coco’s debut album, ‘The Constant’ (November 8th). The single will be accompanied by remixes from Arthur Baker,, RacknRuin, Soul Avengerz and DC Breaks, the latter of which has already worked its way onto Radio 1. After a summer packed with festival shows, I Blame Coco will be embarking on her first nationwide headline tour this autumn, during which ‘In Spirit Golden’ will be released. Read More I Blame Coco posts

As arguably the most original, genre-redefining, prodigiously talented and best-selling hip-hop artist of the past decade, Lil Wayne returns with the hugely anticipated release on October 4th of his brand new album “I Am Not A Human Being”. The album has just gone straight in at number 1 on the US iTunes chart and features ten brand new tracks including lead single (US iTunes # 1) “Right Above” which features Wayne’s protégé and hip hop superstar in his own right Drake. Speaking about the new release on his birthday September 27th, Wayne commented “ I want to give a gift on my birthday to my loyal fans who have continued to support me ”. “I Am Not A Human Being” will be released digitally on October 4th in the UK and physically two weeks later on October 18th. The physical release will feature the same ten tracks plus three additional cuts: “YM Banger” feat. Jae Millz, Gudda Gudda, Tyga, “YM Salute” feat. Lil Twist, Lil Chuckee, Gudda Gudda, Jae Millz, Nicki Minaj and “I Don't Lik...

Twice Grammy Award-nominated Plain White T’s return with a new single, “Rhythm of Love,” out on October 17th, taken from their forthcoming release, “Wonders of the Younger”, released on October 18th. Penned and sung by the Chicago band’s guitarist Tim Lopez, the summery romantic pop single, “Rhythm of Love,” picks up where previous No.2 charting hit “Hey There Delilah” left us swooning two summers ago – #1 song on UK radio for 3 weeks, #1 on iTunes for 2 weeks, UK singles chart Top 10 for 12 weeks. The track, inspired by a bittersweet romance, is in its third week at radio in the US, and has already hit the top 30 on the Hot AC chart – and it looks likely to dominate the airwaves here too. Though the band is leading off with a romantic pop song, Higgenson points out that the group is in a different place than the one that prompted “Hey There Delilah.” An example of the five-piece’s darker, more expansive songs is album track “Welcome to Mystery,” which fans will have already heard as p...

The dust has barely had time to settle since the arrival of Body Talk Pt 1, the first instalment of Robyn's ambitious three-part album release plan for this year. Lead single Dancing On My Own, the heartbreaking heir to With Every Heartbeat, went top ten in the UK, while everyone from Pitchfork to the BBC, the Guardian to Stereogum, bestowed effusive praise (and numerous stars) on the album. It's fair to say many are waiting eagerly for part two, and they will not be disappointed. Body Talk Pt 2 offers the clearest example yet of Robyn's pop prowess; 8 songs that crystallize her preoccupation with hypnotic repetition, propulsive beats and infectious hooks, and lyrics which display the kind of unabashed emotional vulnerability that only comes with true self-confidence. Body Talk 2 is further proof that Robyn's understanding and love of pop music is as intrinsic as it is accomplished. Body Talk 2 will be released Sept 13 on Island Records

Multi-talented vocalist, musician and songwriter Tinashé released his new single ‘Saved’ on August 15th. Taken from his self-titled debut album - released on August 23rd – ‘ Saved ’ is a joyous blast of guitar pop so perky it belies its rather weightier subject matter. Written after being accosted by a particularly forthright tramp on London's Oxford Street, its underlying message of defiance and self-belief ("I'll be here until your faith is won!") is deeply personal. " It's a song about trying, and trying, and trying ," explains Tinashé. "This bum tapped me on the shoulder, and said, 'I'm an angel, mate, but don't worry, you'll be saved. You know what thy did to me? They chucked me in the bin!' ” CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER ALBUM "SAVED " (CD )

Little Fish singer, writer and guitarist Juju says that the band’s recent single ‘Am I Crazy?’ is about “the pain you go through when falling in love” but the title could equally refer to the crazy ride the band have experienced in the last year or so since legendary songwriter/producer Linda Perry heard their demos, flew to the UK to see them play at a pub in Oxford, signed them on the spot and took them out to LA to produce their first album. This has been followed by a hectic touring schedule supporting a who’s who of rock bands including Placebo,Them Crooked Vultures, Hole, Juliette Lewis and, most recently, Blondie. This, plus having three songs on the Rock Band game, a song in the new Hilary Swank movie ‘The Resident’ and a host of great reviews for their live show, as well as Radio 1 play and playlisting on XFM and Kerrang! TV have brought the band to the public’s attention even before the release of this, their first album. The addition of a Hammond player to the Oxford-based...

One of the most eagerly anticipated artists of 2010 is 21-year-old James Devlin. Having released an uncompromisingly gritty opening salvo with Giggs in April (‘Shot Music) the Dagenham MC of Irish extraction returns with a statement of intent for the rest of the year. ‘ Brainwashed ’ is a rain-swept gothic backdrop for Devlin’s wordplay and imagery, like a darkly inked page out of V for Vendetta. A lyrical prodigy that started on pirate radio at age 13, he is unrivalled in the grime scene for the cinematic power of his bars. ‘ My names lodged up in your brain like a blade in an operation’ goes one typically grimey metaphor. Famed for having ‘the biggest vocabulary in grime’, Devlin’s forthcoming album, will bring to mind the richest, most imaginatively detailed storyteller’s albums. Nas is one seminal influence. Bruce Springsteen is another. But that’s to come. This single has the modest intent of brainwashing a nation like a dystopian despot; ‘neurological science will leave your bra...

Nicki Minaj, the first lady of Young Money/Cash Money Records and one of the hottest artists on the planet right now, has her debut official single “Your Love” released on September 20th. The song, which samples Annie Lennox’s “ No More ‘I Love You’s’ ”, is taken from the 25 year old rap phenomenon’s feverishly anticipated debut album which is scheduled for release on November 22nd. Nicki Minaj’s star has been on the rise since she released her first mixtape, Playtime Is Over , in 2007. The mixtape featured Lil Wayne and the cover showed Nicki posing as a Barbie Doll. A second mixtape “ Sucka Free ” released a year later, increased the heat around Minaj and was followed in 2009 by mixtape number three “ Beam Me Up Scotty ”. Shortly thereafter Nicki, aka Harajuku Barbie, aka Nicki Lewinsky, aka Roman Zolanski, aka Ms Step Your Cookies Up , signed to Lil Wayne’s new label Young Money Entertainment and featured heavily on Young Money’s debut album “We Are Young Money” which spawned the...

“G.R.I.N.D.”, the brand new track that’s been lighting up the blogs, (no 2 on Hype Machine) from Asher Roth, is released on July 26th through SRC/ Island Records. “G.R.I.N.D”, which stands for “Get Ready It’s a New Day”, was produced by a team called 1500 or Nothin, and is taken from Asher’s forthcoming as yet untitled second album which features production from the likes of Pharrell Williams, Swizz Beats, Ryan Leslie and Q-Tip. For further info on Asher’s movements and to see the cool viral video for “Muddy Swim Trunks”, and to download the tasty new mixtape “Seared Fois Gras with Quince and Cranberry”, visit http://asherrothmusic.com/ . Asher Roth’s debut hit single “ I Love College ” and acclaimed album “ Asleep In The Bread Aisle ” announced him as one of the most exciting new artists in hip hop. Heavily tipped at the beginning of 2009, alongside Kid Cudi and B.O.B, as one of the freshest new artists taking hip hop in an exciting new direction, Asher charted with his first single ...

Multi-platinum-selling, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter-actress ERYKAH BADU, one of the best loved, most constantly challenging and uniquely creative artists currently working in popular music, releases her new single ”Turn Me Away (Get Munny)” on August 2nd . The release of the single, taken from her universally acclaimed new album New Amerykah, Part II: Return of the Ankh, comes the week after Badu blesses the Brixton Academy with a sold-out one-off UK date on Saturday July 24. The new album is the Dallas native’s follow-up to her equally critically acclaimed 2008 album, New Amerykah, Part I: 4th World War. In contrast to New Amerykah, Part I: 4th World War, which was digitally produced and political in tone, New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh features lush live instrumentation and taps into Badu’s emotional side by thematically focusing on romance and relationships. “ With Part I, I was standing at an apex, looking at what was going on around me politically, socially, and ec...

Named as one of Rolling Stone’s Best New Bands of 2010,  release their racy bedroom blues single ‘Paris (Ooh La La)’ on August 15th. Doing a much better job of hotting up the summer than the UK’s reliably unreliable weather, this sultry, saucy song is Grace and the gang’s strutting tribute to getting down and dirty. A classic rock shakedown packed with guttural grunts and shrieks, it’s probably best that we hand over to Grace for a more detailed description of the tracks’s subject matter…“ When I wrote ‘Paris’, I was listening to the Kinks non-stop, and I was going for something with a big primal riff, like ‘You Really Got Me’. It was the first time I ever really just said ‘I’m not going to try to tell a story, and I’m not going to try to communicate an emotion. I’m just going to say, basically, ‘I want to have sex right now. ’ Produced by Mark Batson (Dr. Dre, Eminem, Jay-Z), this Vermont five-piece have more than earned their chops at home in the USA, gaining a reputation as one...