Video: The xx “As I Am”
Back in 2009, we were treated to simplistic, dark thought provoking pop from a band of teenagers hailing form London. A foursome at the time, their simple guitar and drum beats underneath masterful back and forth vocals inspired an album that would come to be, and still is, an all time favorite of mine. From “VCR” to “Basic Space” to “Heart Skipped A Beat”, every song was a masterpiece in it’s own right. Then, four became three, and we were left to try and figure out what was next. Sure, the band lived on and toured these fantastic songs, but a new sound had to emerge at some point.
And thankfully, that time is sooner than later. The xx have been playing new material at their live shows recently for an album that is expected to drop later this year. Below, you can watch a video for “As I Am” caught from a recent gig at the Battersea Arts Centre. An natural extension from the first album, the same simple musical charm emerges forth with those same heartbreaking lyrics. Hopefully, the rest that is still to come is as good as this. Happy Monday.
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Written by Greg Dahman
Fresh Track + Video: Illogic & Blockhead “Matter of Minutes”
Illogic has been one of my favorite MC’s ever since I first heard him on the Aesop Rock song “One Brick” back in 2001. Aesop’s primary producer at the time, Blockhead (who just released the excellent instrumental album Interludes After Midnight), has found himself with a lot more free time recently since Aesop has decided to fully produce his upcoming solo album Skelethon. Thankfully, Blockhead has stayed busy and has been working with several of my favorite MC’s these days, including billy woods, Open Mike Eagle, & MarQ Spekt. Illogic is the first MC that he’s worked with extensively since Aesop though, and their Preparing for Capture EP is set to be released on June 5th. The EP is the first in a line of several releases the duo have lined up for 2012, and if this new song/video is any indication, we have a lot to look forward too from Illogic and Blockhead. Illogic’s primary appeal as a rapper is a combination of his extensive vocabulary and the use of that same vocabulary to convey primal, introspective messages and ideas in abstract ways. “Matter of Minutes” is a perfect example of that style, peep the video and grab the mp3.
Written by John Bugbee
Thought on Tracks 
Album Preview: Bobby Womack ‘The Bravest Man in the Universe’
I am as excited for Bobby Womack‘s June 12 release of The Bravest Man in the Universe as any album of the summer. The release is Womack’s first album of original material in 18 years. The album was co-produced by Damon Albarn (Blur/Gorillaz) and Richard Russell. It will be released on XL Recordings.
Earlier this spring, legendary funk bassist and longtime friend Bootsy Collins broke the news that the soul singer is in the initial stages of a fight with colon cancer, saying via Facebook: “JUST SPOKE TO OUR FRIEND BOBBY WOMACK. He Wanted You All to Know That He Loves You & Thxs for the Prayers. Docs Says He Is In 1st Stage of Colon Cancer, He is Very Up Beat About His Future, we laughed & joked before we hung up. Thxs Funkateers, we will get him Back on the One!”
It’s hard to believe that the man responsible for classics like “Across 110th Street”, “Woman’s Gotta Have It” and “Lookin’ For a Love” considered himself forgotten and inconsequential just a few short years ago. His return to relevance began in 2009, when Womack was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Around the same time, Albarn and Womack connected to collaborate on a track called “Stylo” for Gorillaz’s third album Plastic Beach. The song also features a guest appearance from Mos Def.
In a trailer for the album featured below, Womack explains “When Damon called me, I had lost that desire. I had lost my confidence. And when people sayin’, ‘Oh man, it’d be just amazing to cut with you.’ I said, how do you know that? You listenin’ to that record. That record is old man. You ain’t even seen me.”
Call it swagger. Call it confidence. Call it drive. Call it what you will, but after the release of the title track and first single “Please Forgive My Heart” we can be sure of one thing – Womack has his groove back. Don’t sleep on The Bravest Man in the Universe. Pre-order your copy via XL Recordings. Celebrate the resurgence of one of soul’s strongest voices.
Track Listing
1. The Bravest Man In The Universe
2. Please Forgive My Heart
3. Deep River
4. Dayglo Reflection
5. Sweet Baby Mine
6. Stupid
7. If There Wasn’t Something There
8. Love Is Gonna Lift You Up
9. Nothin’ Can Save Ya
10. Jubilee
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Written by Rob Peoni