He’s been consistently one of my favorite artists over the past six years and I still can’t believe more people aren’t talking about Jack Peñate. Download the pained and stripped down effort “No One Lied” below.
Jack Penate – No One Lied (.mp3 via XL Recordings)
photo via Spin/Alexandro Auler/Latincontent/Getty
One of the first acts I was enamored with when I decided to seek out music beyond the realm of hip-hop. Of course, the first track I heard Ms. Winehouse on was the “You Know I’m No Good” remix featuring Ghostface Killah. Mark Ronson and Winehouse essentially jump started the retro-pop/soul movement and paved the way for a number of acts (Duffy, Adele, Kate Nash, etc). Ronson had a particularly touching tweet yesterday that said:
she was my musical soulmate & like a sister to me. this is one of the saddest days of my life
Truly a talented woman who had some demons she just couldn’t shake. R.I.P. Amy Winehouse.
Stream a funky Organized Noize remix of “Tears Dry On Their Own” and M.I.A.’s tribute track “27″. Its truly insane when you look at the list of artists who passed at 27.
Amy Winehouse – “Tears Dry on their Own” (Organized Noize Dungeon Family Remix) by Big Boi
27 by _M_I_A_
Its been a minute (roughly three years to be exact) since we’ve heard anything new from brit pop act The Kooks. The first single off the band’s third album, Junk of the Heart, comes in the form of “The Saboteur” a 1960′s trippy piano/organ driven cut. Somewhat of a departure of the band’s typical brit pop/rock sound and much of an Arctic Monkeys/Cold War Kids hybrid than I expected. Tell me more good sirs.
Junk of the Heart drops on September 13th.
The Kooks – The Saboteur by chwigui via CoS
Last time we heard from Frankmusik, he had an addictive little piece of brit pop with “Confusion Girl” Now he comes out of nowhere with free EP, Long Live Frankmusik, featuring 4 new tracks, including a Daft Punk tribute. A “Snowpacalypse” can’t keep the internetz down.
Get Frankmusik – Long Live Frankmusic EP here
As we continue on with my favorite tracks of 2010…..#27-#16
27. The Black Keys – Everlasting Light
Man likes woman. Man tells her why he should be with woman. Nothing mind blowing lyrically, but Dan Auerbach and Pat Carney don’t need to be. The opening track from Brothers expands on their drum and guitar blues rock with even more well rounded pop appeal than many people thought they could.
26. Cee Lo Green – Fuck You
Yes, you are probably sick of this track by now, but its a work of genius. The retro sound mixed with Cee Lo’s charisma, unique voice and potty mouth is the perfect combination. Its pretty easy to imagine Cee Lo smiling as he croons every f-bomb.
25. The Morning Benders – Excuses
A track that has enough grandeur to get indie kids excited and enough sway and rhythm to make for an ideal beach song. Take me back to the beach in Caseville on Lake Huron please.
24. Janelle Monae – Tightrope ft Big Boi
I’ve yet to see anyone else attempt the “Tightrope” dance in public, but I’d like to. Just another piece of Janelle Monae’s eclectic piece of art, The ArchAndroid.
23. yOya – Fireworks
One of those folky/indie guitar tracks I consistently get addicted to. Alex Pfender’s glides pretty nicely over this summery beat.
yOya – Fireworks (free mp3)
22. Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Partially because “Sprawl II” showcases Regine’ so well. Partially because a song about an urban geography issue has never sounded so upbeat. Mostly because my geographer gf taught me about urban sprawl often in 2010.
21. Broken Bells – The Ghost Inside
Anyone Brian Burton aka Danger Mouse collaborates with these days doesn’t surprise me anymore. When I saw he was crafting an album with James Mercer, I could totally imagine a hit. “The Ghost Inside” is a highlight that expertly melded Mercer’s falsetto and Burton’s knack for nostalgic instruments (synth organ on the hook, I think) about a woman in an unfulfilled relationship.
20. LCD Soundsystem – Home
James Murphy and co don’t really care if you can’t hang around for an 8 minute song, but if you do leave early, you’ll miss something. “Home” has disco flavor that The Rapture utilized so well on their last album, with a dabble of Talking Heads mixed in.
19. The Hold Steady – The Weekenders
Remember “Chips Ahoy”? This is the sequel and I love it. Craig Finn is the man. “She said the theme of this party’s the Industrial Age/And you came in dressed like a train wreck”
18. Restless People – Days of Our Lives
Frenetic pace, stuttering synth, and hopeful lyrics made “Days Of Our Lives” and Restless People a constant listen.
17. Band of Horses – Neighbor
I like Band of Horses as a whole, but there is no doubt lead singer Ben Bridwell’s vocals are the star of the show. “Neighbor” is a bare-bones track that showcases Bridwell’s chilling vocals over some reverb and grand piano work before a thunderous grand finale.
16. Ellie Goulding – Under the Sheets
British songstress Ellie Goulding was quite enchanting on her debut album Lights (and later on re-issued Bright Lights). “Under the Sheets” is simply about heartbreak, but Goulding’s charming vocals coincide so nicely with the synth-filled backing.
I’ve never considered Rihanna much of a singer, but more of an entertainer who makes irresistible pop songs. “Only Girl (In The World)” is about as inescapable as pop hits go, so its only right that someone would cover it. Good thing the first cover (that I’ve heard anyways) comes from Ellie Goulding‘s angelic pipes.
Ellie Goulding “Only Girl” (BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge) by arjanwrites
His debut album, Matinee, didn’t blow up in the U.S. like I thought it would, but Jack Penate certainly did well across the pond. His lead single, “Tonight’s Today”, already started the jangly, guitar rock buzz train for his next opus, Everything Is New.
The lastest offering from Mr. Penate, “Be The One” is more brit-pop fun. Many of Penate’s songs stroll through familiar territory of heartbreak and love, but no matter the topic, he always seems to craft hooks that stick with you (whether you like it or not) . On “Be The One” he simply croons “I knew you could” and “I knew you should” amid echoic chants of “be the one”, subtle horns and paced electro-blips. It makes for a catchy track that reeled me in immediately.
Jack Penate – Be The One
Pre-order Jack Penate – Everything Is New here.
Thanks to Play It As It Lays.
Last month marked the return of the UK’s Jack Penate with the lead single, “Tonight Today”. When I last wrote about him, he was making waves with his debut album, Matinee. I listened to the album constantly and almost every track made it onto mixtapes I gave out. From “Spit At Stars” to “Have I Been A Fool”, Penate’s sound varied from Brit Pop to Rockabilly in ways that crossed over into modest success on the UK album charts.
“Tonight’s Today” again finds Penate experimenting with other musical genres, while still utilizing his jangly guitar work. Using vocal distortion, chanting back-up singers and organ-effects (?), the track as a ’60′s pop feel to it. Describing monotonous days and nights, while striving for something more is more than fitting.
Pick up Jack Penate – Matinee here
Jack Penate is an up and coming musician from Blackheath, London and is gaining steam as he moves up the British music charts. His first single, “Second, Minute or Hour” lead the charge as an introduction to Penate’s ska-inspired riffs, intertwined with tales of young love. His latest release, the exceptional Spit At Stars EP, and lively tour across England, continues to ensnare fans and followers (including BBC Radio One DJ Zane Lowe) along the way. The lead track, “Spit At Stars” frantically brings Penate’s flair for rockabilly tunes to the mainstream. A jolly keyboard and kinetic guitar strums characterize this catchy ode/warning to pessimists.
London based rockers, Larrikin Love exploded into the indie realm in 2005 and quickly gained recognition for great live performances and strong singles (“Happy As Annie”, “Six Queens”). It wasn’t long before Larrikin Love was snatched up by Warner Bros. and released the debut album “The Freedom Spark” in September 2006. Their blend of rock, punk, and bluegrass is refreshing and easily keeps the attention of listeners with music ADD. Unfortunately, after a splattering the British music charts throughout last year, the band “amicably” has decided to call it quits.
“Happy As Annie” is quite memorable, as a story turned melancholy warning about a child rape victim. Lead singer, Edward Larrikin spouts off his disturbing findings while on a seemingly meaningless journey turned sour. The violinist (special guest Rob Skipper of the Holloways) steals the show, as this “gypsy-punk” tale echos “Children please beware!/I’m choked with fear/Oh children please beware! /I’m choked with fear.” After only one listen, its hard to dissect the social commentary in this jolly tune, infused with bluegrass and punk rock, but well worth it.
Larrikin Love will be missed.
