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Category: People

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New Video: The Streets “The Escapist”

It’s my hope that if American audiences managed to “get” Amy Winehouse, then they’ll eventually “get” Mike Skinner who is better known as The Streets. The British rapper has released three excellent albums over the past six years, but has yet to really catch on with audiences Stateside, although in his homeland, he’s a megastar. His albums reveal a much more complex personality than the average 2008-era rap artist (which is probably why he hasn’t been successful here-complex personalities are a little too far-reaching for most Americans), and if you can make it through the thick accent, you’ll be rewarded with music that’s occasionally laugh out loud funny, and occasionally heart-rending.

His new single, “The Escapist” finds Skinner lowering the tempo and adopting a reflective tone. The video is amazing. Not only is it a concept video in an age where it’s very easy to just show a bunch of chicks dancing half-naked and call it art, but the scenery is breathtaking. Besides, everyone needs to escape every once in a while, right? Boy, have I been feeling that something awful lately.

Anyway, the YouTube video pauses frequently on my computer…I don’t know that it will do the same on yours. So I’ve also included a link to Skinner’s site, where you can not only watch the video without it stopping every 10 seconds, but you can also download the song for free. Enjoy.

http://www.the-streets.co.uk

July 31, 2008
Alicia Keys & Jack White Perform For 007: This Could Be Interesting

I like Alicia Keys. She’s made progressively better albums. She’s certainly good looking. I give her props just for being a contemporary R&B singer who plays an instrument.

I love Jack White. The White Stripes have one of the most consistent catalogs in rock currently. If you were to pick any band to come of age in the 21st century so far that’s a lock for the rock & roll hall of fame, The White Stripes and Coldplay would probably be it. And I’m willing to forgive that shitty first Raconteurs record (I didn’t even bother with the second one).

Alicia Keys (photo by Jusez)

But together? For the theme to the new James Bond movie? Doesn’t that just seem a little…weird?? Well, you’ll get to hear the results of their team-up soon enough. “Another Way To Die”, the theme to the upcoming 007 feature “Quantum of Solace” will hit stores as part of the movie’s soundtrack in late October. Not to say both artists haven’t exercised their collaborative juices before. Keys has worked with everyone from Nas to Christina Aguilera to John Mayer, while White produced Loretta Lynn’s comeback album “Van Lear Rose” and was behind the boards (and behind the guitar) for “Go It Alone”, one of the best songs on Beck’s “Guero” album. I guess soon we’ll see if these two great tastes wind up tasting (sounding) great together.

OK, Alicia got the pic. Jack, you get the video. Fair?

July 29, 2008
“Like I Never Left”-Whitney’s Back!

I’ll admit that I’ve never been the world’s biggest Whitney Houston fan. She’s held my interest for 2 or 3 songs per album, though, and I certainly won’t deny that she’s in possession of an amazing voice. A voice that, to my ears, has gotten better as she’s aged. Her last two studio albums, “My Love is Your Love” and “Just Whitney” found her tackling material that was a bit more mature and substantial than the likes of “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and those God-awful Michael Masser ballads that she started her career singing.

Whitney Houston in concert, 2007 (Photo: JKevin01)

As anyone on the planet Earth knows, Whitney’s career has been derailed by all sorts of drama: the tempestuous marriage to Bobby Brown and subsequent divorce, problems with various substances that left the former model looking like the sister of Pookie as played by Chris Rock in “New Jack City”, the fact that her daughter Bobbi Kristina is already going to need YEARS if not decades of extensive therapy. However, over the past year or so, Whitney has made several public appearances (usually in the company of her label owner/Svengali Clive Davis) and has looked damn good. While rumors of a new album have been floating for quite a while, we finally get our first taste of the scheduled-for-November release with “Like I Never Left”.

And the verdict? It’s a pretty good song, with a mellow, summery vibe. It’s not a blow-the-doors-open huge single, but Whitney’s in fine voice, the song doesn’t try too hard to align itself with current trends, and Akon (by some strange act of God) turns out to be a pretty decent duet partner. If he can do do this for Whitney, there might be hope for that Akon/MJ collaboration after all.

Take a listen for yourself. What do you think?

July 28, 2008