James Arden checks out the garage rockers latest album.
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Recipe for modern R'n'B album: liberal helpings of guest rappers and an overdose of sexual euphemisms.
The Yorker presents this week's succinct guide to goings-on of the musical variety, both locally and nationally. Here you'll find previews of a selection of album and single releases from the week ahead, as well as a guide to the hottest tickets in town for live music.
There's live music to be found on your doorstep all day, every day this week in the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall as the degrees of many music department undergraduates culminate in half-hour final recitals. These short bursts of music make them a perfect interlude to your day, allowing you a well earned break from all that revision you must be doing right now... or not... either way, we at The Yorker don't judge. Entry is also free which is always a bonus.
Beyond the safety of the campus, the live music week gets a kick start at The Duchess tonight with the visit of Mancunian supergroup Freebass, their line-up boasting Peter Hook (Joy Division/New Order), Mani (Stone Roses/Primal Scream), Andy Rourke (The Smiths), Gary Briggs (Haven) and Paul Kehow on drums. Phew...
The week also closes in style at Fibbers thanks to fast-rising five-piece Young Guns. The London-based band are touring ahead of the release of their debut album All Our Kings Are Dead in July.
This week sees the release of the sixth studio album from the king of mainstream soft rock, Jack Johnson; the Hawaii-based surfing singer-songwriter recorded To The Sea in his two very own solar-powered recording studios in Hawaii and Los Angeles and will be releasing the album on his very own label, Brushfire Records. Each to their own…
However, the album to watch out for this week hails from Northern Ireland (far more exotic in my opinion) in the shape of the tenth studio record from The Divine Comedy, Bang Goes The Knighthood. Following hot on the heels of 2009’s The Duckworth Lewis Method, a collaboration with Thomas Walsh of Pugwash fame, Neil Hannon returns to the mercurial chamber pop setup with which he forged his rich song-writing career.
Shakira feat. Freshlyground – Waka Waka
OK, it’s the World Cup song. Cue clichéd inspirational lyrics and a cheesey melody, right? Well, though it’s not something I would choose to listen to ordinarily, for what it’s been written for this is pretty good. As a nod to the host country, it features part of a Cameroonian 80s hit that is apparently known throughout the continent. It’s upbeat and optimistic, capturing the atmosphere of an event that is eagerly viewed all over the world.
Lucie Vincer
Justin Bieber – Somebody to Love
Justin Bieber's new single actually starts off as a relatively well produced dance track... that is, until he opens his mouth; what your ears keep telling you is a small girl actually turns out to be a white boy desperate for a black identity. The overuse of autotune doesn't improve things much, although the repeated lyric 'I need somebody to love' will no doubt mobilise the tween masses to scream "I'll be that somebody, Justin!"
Natalija Sasic
Primary 1 – Princess
Strutting his funky stuff through the desert fronting a parade of headless trumpet players, Primary 1’s (who looks like a young Suggs) new single ‘Princess’ is exactly the sort of catchy pop song we’ve needed this year. In the same vein as Sam Sparro’s ‘Black & Gold’ this song is one that, given the right promotion, will remain in the Top 10 all summer.
Peter Searle
Woohoo! Neil Hannon is back 
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