Photo:
This week has seen some seriously big names drop some rather large tracks - with Eminem making his long awaited comeback (following his Reading & Leeds shows) and Paul McCartney premiering a new track from his upcoming 24th studio album.
If you expected the music world to take it easy in the week following Reading & Leeds - you were wrong. The past seven days have been as busy as ever - if not more so. Check out the essential tracks of the week below...
Arctic Monkeys - Stop The World I Wanna Get Off With You
The b-side to new single 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High', our main thought here is: if the b-sides are this good, what on earth do they have in store for us on new album AM? A rolling, r&b-esque bassline mixes with dark guitar solos and heavy drumbeats. This would be a lead single for any other band.
Angel Haze - Echelon
We have a lot of love for Iggy Azalea and Azealia Banks, but with her new single 'Echelon', we think Angel Haze might have secured herself the top spot among the new crowd of female rappers. A brilliant balance between dark, electronic beats and bright, uplifting choruses, not only is this a credible slice of 20th century rap, it's got 'hit' written all over it.
Eminem - Berzerk
Eminem has titled his new album The Marshall Mathers LP 2 - a direct sequel to the most successful album of his career. On the strength of the lead single, the album might come close to its predecessor. It's nothing like 'Stan', but 'Berzerk' is a no-holds barred dancefloor smash, packed with aggression and venom - but still suitable for the mainstream. Welcome back Slim Shady, it's been too long.
Foals - Bad Habit (Alex Metric remix)
As if Foals 'Bad Habit' single wasn't already big enough, Alex Metric has taken the track and given it a huge dance reworking - and done so without losing the indie brilliant that made 2013 album Holy Fire, such a pivotal career moment. Listen. Dance. Repeat.
Paul McCartney - New
The first track from Macca's 24th (!!) solo album, 'New' swings with a classic Beatles-esque pop sweetness, laden with hooks and the playful melodies of their Sgt Pepper's era. Production from Mark Ronson naturally brings a whole lot of horns of charming layered vocals.
Listen to New below:
Alt-J - Warm Foothills
Absolutely bloody lovely, of course, Alt-J performed a brand new track during their Reading & Leeds shows in August, and 'Warm Foothills' is every bit as wonderful as everything on their breakthough album, An Awesome Wave.
Lady Gaga - Manicure
The thing is with Lady Gaga is that you have to let her get on with it and believe she has it all planned. 'Applause' may be a bit all over the place, and previewed tracks 'Swine' and this are noisy, wannabe rock anthems, but if anyone can pull a pop classic out of the bag (with new album ARTPOP), it's Gaga. 'Manicure' sets expectations high for her iTunes festival gig.
Moby - The Perfect Life
Not the full version of the track, but this video performance by Moby and Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne is still very special indeed. Performed on an LA rooftop with extras from the video shoot, 'The Perfect Life' is the first official single from Moby's new album, Innocents.
