Kelis - Food

It seemed Kelis' career as a singer had gone past its use-by date back in 2010. Her last album Flesh Tone, as great a listen as it was, didn't make waves on the charts and when she announced her departure from music to pursue a career as a chef we just thought, 'well that's that then'. Now, 4 years on, the timer has sounded on her musical oven and out of the stur we have Food, a contemporary soul album that reminds you of why you loved Kelis in the first place but also reveals a new found authenticity in her sound. Kelis has never sounded so comfortable and those famous smoky tones shine throughout the album. Food opens with Kelis' son Knight making a cameo and playfully welcoming us with 'Hey guys! You hungry? My mom made food...' 

The album's lead single Jerk Ribs is one of 2014s best songs, backed by an incredible horn arrangement and lead by vocals that soar through to the final chorus. It's the strongest track on Food, the most instantly likeable and the best song to cook to (I've tried and it just works so well). This tempo is continued in the latter stage of the album with Friday Fish Fry, an infectious rhythm and blues number with a rock guitar riff. The only other uptempo track is Cobbler, a song that sees Kelis sing about a new man in her life, comparing being with him him to a holiday. It's unsurprising, given the song titles, that she came up with song concepts whilst cooking dinner and producer Dave Sitek jammed on his lounge piano. 

Little Mix - Salute (Single)

Sugababes 'Freak Like Me' 2

Little Mix unveiled the artwork for their upcoming single Salute last week. It's quite raunchy, for them at least. It's the 3rd single to be lifted from their album of the same name and that album is amazing, fact. Following on from their 'meh' cover of Word Up for charity (got to justify it somehow) last month, they really needed to release something strong to recuperate some credibility. I was quietly hoping for Nothing Feels Like You or Towers, alas what does what I want matter? The title track screams Destiny's Child, from the sirens in the intro to feminist fist pumping chorus about representing all women yada yada.  It's a great intro track to a (surprisingly) superb album but whether it was the best choice for the next single, I'm not so sure. Standing on its own its no Move.

4/5

Katy Perry - Birthday

Every now and then, Katy Perry releases a song and its brilliance is only surpassed by actual, admirable feats of humanity like saving lives etc. Roar and California Gurls are prime examples of said 'brilliance'. Her new single from Prism is Birthday, which follows on from hip-hop number Dark Horse and big ballad Unconditionally. It's a disco pop extravaganza, with cheeky lyrics like "I know you like it sweet/ so you can have your cake/ give you something good to celebrate" on top of an infectious poppy arrangement. It's the 2nd strongest track from Prism and potentially one of Katy's best songs to date. Huge fun.

5/5 

Kelis - Jerk Ribs & Rumble

Kelis is one of the most underrated popstars around. She's moved through from hip-hop to r&b, from pop to dance and electronica. Now she's about to release her 6th studio album FOOD, and it's set to be a substantial helping of old school soul. The two promotional cuts, Jerk Ribs and Rumble are retro flavoured soul records that transport you back to an era where record players were the height of musical technology. 

Jerk Ribs is a wonderful uptempo track, with a soft soul bassline and an exhilarating chorus. Kelis' vocals have never sounded so affective, authentic and distinct. The lyrics are strong and the story is helped by Kelis' flawless delivery. When the muted brass backed chorus kicks in things bubble up to a whole new level of perfection. If this song was edible I'd be salivating by the end of the first chorus. Rumble is mid-tempo piano lead soul and like Jerk Ribs it sends you back in time and suddenly you're in a beautiful piano bar with a gin in one hand, cigarette in the other, foot tapping to the infectious beat. The cracks in Kelis' voice make this whole affair feel like a live performance. If these songs are anything to go by, Food is going to be the highlight of Kelis' career so far and potentially one of 2014's most accomplished albums.

Jerk Ribs - 5/5

Rumble - 4/5

Food is out on 21 April

Iggy Azalea - Fancy (Feat Charli XCX)

Neither of these artists have had the success they deserve, but all that could be about to change with Fancy. A hip-hop pop party anthem with a ratchet beat that serves as an ode to the glamorous lifestyle of the rich and famous. It's packed with sassy lyrics about drinking all your alcohol straight, flying from L.A to Tokyo, and being so swag you couldn't possibly shop in a department store. Basically, she would die before setting foot in Buchanan Galleries. The collaboration works well, the biting rap by Iggy supported by the Charli chants on the chorus and middle section where she sings "Trash the hotel/Let's get drunk on the minibar... Chandelier swinging/We don't give a fuck". It all comes together to form one of 2014's most distinct and entertaining commercial hip-hop moments. 

4/5

Lady Gaga - G.U.Y (Girl Under You)

We never got a visual to support the release of Do What U Want. That was a pretty careless move considering how brilliant the song is, just as careless as the original plan to release Venus with its dodgy pound shop production. ARTPOP was always going to polarise its audience, featuring some brilliant moments that are amongst some truly confusing, ridiculous songs that sound unfinished. Thankfully, Lady Gaga has made a good move at last and decided to release G.U.Y (Girl Under You) as the next single from her oddball collection electronic insanity. 

Produced by Zedd, this is similar to Venus but better, obviously. It starts off with sci-fi synths before erupting into a rough electro riff. The lyrics are a bit mad and the song is packed with entendres, but the chorus is memorable and the "G.U.Y" hook is killer.  It's got a solid middle 8 and Gaga's vocals (although spliced with some vocoder) soar into the stratosphere when she belts out "I don't need to be on top to know I'm wanted/Cos I'm strong enough to know the truth...". It's not original, nor is it as awesome as its predecessor, but it's one of ARTPOP's strongest tracks and when you cast aside a critique of originality, you remember this is simply another good pop song by an often brilliant pop artist.

Note: The music video is fun.

3.5/5

Lana Del Rey - West Coast

It's been two years since Lana (Banana) Del Rey released Born To Die, her 5 million+ selling sophomore album. It was great then and it's even better now. Once you get your head around the cinematic sound of her music you can't help but fall in love with this unique, odd-ball starlet. With her new album Ultraviolence not far away at all and a bunch of teaser tracks being released onto the internet by the lady herself (all of which won't be on the final record) it is fitting that a single be released. All hail West Coast, the song that threatens to burst into reggae at the very start but turns out to be a hypnotic, very Lana type affair, with soft guitar riffs and echoing synths and some staple Lana lyricism about Saigon, icons and being a lush. This song is beautiful.

4.5/5

Paloma Faith - A Perfect Contradiction

Can't Rely On You sounded a lot like Blurred Lines, right? It was a welcome similarity and in some ways an improvement on the misogynistic (yet extremely enjoyable) piece of contemporary r&b from Pharrell and Robin Thicke. Faith's song suffered from the bug of repetition though and at points it didn't feel entirely genuine or as authentically soulful as she may have intended. Her third album A Perfect Contradiction is more upbeat than her past endeavours, but does it show that she's mastering her craft?

It's not only Pharrell she has passing hands over her studio knobs. Faith has also roped in Raphael Saadiq, an incredible soul artist in his own right. Mouth to Mouth is a solid track with a great chorus backed by a brilliant arrangement of soulful harmonies, piano keys and horns. Mr Hudson track Take Me amps up the sass, with Faith demanding her lover to "take me, take me, only you can stimulate me". Discounting the lead single, this is the strongest and most memorable of the uptempo portion of the album. However the spoken lines in the middle are let down by some dodgy lyricism about frequent flyer points. It certainly a track you'd want to dance to in a Jazz/Soul bar though. 

Faith is no stranger to a ballad. They kick off with Only Love Can Hurt Like This, a Diane Warren penned track which serves as single number two. It's a decent piece of balladry, with memorable production and a simple yet effective chorus. There's something lacking in Faith's performance though which results in the high notes in the finale being more grating than emotional. This unpleasantry is repeated on 60s cover The Bigger You Love (The Harder You Fall). The nostalgic Taste My Own Tears contains echoes of classic soul & motown (think The Supremes). It's instantly likeable for this very reason and Faith's vocals are stellar. 

The Saturdays - Greatest Hits?

The Saturdays, a 'girl band' whose future is constantly coming into question. Will they or won't they split? I never thought so until the announcement of their first Greatest Hits LP. A 5 year career now warrants a GH album? Apart from being tres confused by the decision, particularly since they only had one mediocre quality number 1 single, I have a suspicion that the bells of death ringeth on the group's pop future. To commemorate the potential loss of this girl band let's take a look at what, I think, are their best singles in order from best to worst:

All Fired Up
Disco Love
Up
Ego
Notorious
30 Days
My Heart Takes Over
Higher
Work
Not Giving Up
If This Is Love
What About Us?
Gentleman
Just Can't Get Enough

Forever Is Over

Missing You
Issues

Of the 17 singles they've released I don't think there have been any real turds. Maybe Issues, that's a bit pish, but aside from that even the subpar songs are enjoyable. There one and only number 1 thus far, What About Us? is there least impressive song but it's so bloody catchy I couldn't stick it down at the arse end of the list (I just couldn't!).

MKS - Untitled Album Delay

WHERE IS THIS ALBUM?!

Rita Ora - I Will Never Let You Down

You'd be forgiven for forgetting about Rita Ora considering it's been nearly 2 years since she released her debut album Ora. It's not a bad thing though. Her most compared peer, Rihanna, releases a new album every other day so a decent break between collections gives hope that a lot of thought has gone into upcoming album O. Lead single I Will Never Let You Down is a more poppy affair than her past singles, sounding closest to her mega hit How We Do (Party). The thing I like about this song is it's a pop song, pure and simple, and tries to be nothing other than that. Here's the lowdown:

+ It's got a really fun, infectious yet simple chorus.
+ It's quite summery.
+ Vocals are on point.
+ There's a full Moschino ensemble in the video.

- It's not as instantly memorable as her past hits.

4/5