Photo: Press
Oof, what a week that was. Now then everyone has well and truly got over the post-Glastonbury blues, the music industry kicked back into action and dropped some awesome new releases as well as re-working some old favourites.
The rock world came back in full force with new tracks from Placebo, Manic Street Preachers and Pearl Jam, while Jay-Z and wife Beyonce fed the world's hunger for more material in the wake of Magna Carter Holy Grail.
Elsewhere, the fresh material did new talent proud with AlunaGeorge giving yet another taster from their hotly-anticipated Body Music and the hype machine went into overdrive and imploded when CHVRCHES covered Haim.
Kick off the weekend in style and wrap your ears around our favourite tracks from this week.
AlunaGeorge 'Bad Idea'
Continuing in the same vein as previous smash singles 'Attracting Flies' and 'You Know You Like It', 'Bad Idea' is glitchy and infectious of sweet and simple disco fun from the dance duo and Disclosure collaborators. Good weekend fun. Body Music could be one helluva debut album.
Beyonce 'Part II (On The Run) [Solo Version]'
Taken from Jay-Z's opinion-dividing latest LP, Magna Carta Holy Grail', the follow-up to 'Bonnie and Clyde' is robbed of its power as a duet but replaced by a tender intimacy in Bey's love letter to The Hov. Mawww.
The 1975 'Sex'
You know this one, don't you? Everybody loves 'Sex'. Already a fan favourite, those magnificent Mancs have re-recorded 'Sex' for a 2013 re-release. Zane Lowe made it his Hottest Record In The World on his Radio One show and we can't help but agree. Their debut album can't come soon enough.
Manic Street Preachers 'Rewind The Film' featuring Richard Hawley
True national treasures and the last icons standing, The Manics returned in with typical style this week with the announcement of their new album, Rewind The Film. The title track features the band's trademark gut-wrenching poetry met with an elegiac but tender and stately grace, while Richard Hawley's nostalgaic drawl bathes the whole track in sepia tones. Lovely stuff. Welcome back boys.
Placebo 'Too Many Friends'
The first full taster of the band's upcoming album, Loud Like Love, 'Too Many Friends' leans on the three-piece's poppier elements - harking back to some of the more mid-tempo and mellow moments from Sleeping Wtih Ghosts. The song opens with a light piano refrain and the oh-so-typically Brian Molko line: "My computer thinks I'm gay / I threw that piece of junk away." The track then drives with the energised drumming of more recent recruit Steve Forrest before a gradual rocky crescendo. Watch live get loud when they hit the road in December.
Listen to 'Too Many Friends' by Placebo below:
CHVRCHES 'Falling'
CHVRCHES are wonderful. Haim are wonderful. What's not to love? Nothing - that's what. Removing the Fleetwood Mac rush and the r&b leanings of the Haim sisters, the Scottish pop-rockers drive the song in their own sweet, bubbling, synth-pop flavour. Love love love. Love? Right.
Holy Ghost 'Teenagers In Heat'
Produced by LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy, this is truly a match made in heaven. Holy Ghost = good. James Murphy = good. How can this possibly go wrong? It can't, so shut up and play this hit. Charged with a 1980s synthpop energy, the track is an ode to youthful exuberance. Lifted by Murphy's trademark disco-friendly rhythms and genre-crossing charms, the song makes for perfect summer day listening.
Miguel 'Adorn' featuring Jessie Ware
UK soul sensation Jessie Ware has recorded vocals for a new version of Miguel's single 'Adorn'. The new version remains largely unchanged, but the new vocals add an extra dimension to the song making it a must hear both for fans of Ware and Miguel. It's like a kick in the head - the only way Miguel knows how to do things.
Pearl Jam 'Mind Your Manners'
The grunge icons delighted hard rock fans around the world this week with the announcement of their upcoming tenth album, Lightning Bolt. Adding the fist-pumping pleasure was the release of new single 'Mind Your Manners' - a brilliant slab of noise featuring many of the band's hallmarks, but leans more in the direction of punk and post-hardcore.
Listen to 'Mind Your Manners' below:
Jay-Z 'Dead Presidents III'
The rarity was posted online following a fan Q&A on Twitter with The Hov himseself. The original version of the track marked Jay-Z's breakthrough in 1996, before he recorded a new interpretation during sessions for his American Gangster album. That version was never released but a rough version of the song appeared online in 2007. This was more than worth the weight.
