The week in music

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 single and album releases from the week ahead, as well as a guide to the hottest tickets in town for live music.

Gigs

The week kicks off with more musical energy than three people should be legally permitted to muster over at Stereo tonight with Johnny Foreigner. The indie rock trio from Birmingham renowned for their explosive records have recently finished a stint supporting Los Campesinos! and are now touring in promotion of their first release with Alcopop! Records, an EP with a title so extravagantly fantastic that it deserves some attention: You thought you saw a shooting star but yr eyes were blurred with tears and that lighthouse can be pretty deceiving with the sky so clear and sea so calm.

Have you taken a moment to admire that? Great, now go see them tonight. But first, let us draw your attention to just a few more of the live music highlights in store for the rest of the week.

This Friday (3rd December) presents a difficult but rewarding choice in the shape of three worthwhile gigs; at Fibbers Mancunian punk-rockers Twisted Wheel will perform ahead of the release of their new album next year that looks set to propel them further on their way up the ladder to musical stardom. Meanwhile, at The Duchess a special evening should be expected with American singer-songwriter Dar Williams as she calls in as part of her mammoth European tour. Having been recording and performing for over two decades, this is a rare chance to catch an iconic artist on one of her rare visits to these shores. Finally, if you don't fancy venturing out into the snow, the Sir Jack Lyons Concert hall hosts the baroque ensemble Florilegium, as they join with other artists including soprano Emma Kirkby to perform a programme of Vivaldi and Pergolesi.

If that doesn't fulfil your early music desires, then you can also pay a visit to the Concert Hall on Wednesday (1st December) for the University Baroque Ensemble as they perform a programme of Haydn and Mozart, including the latter's ever popular Requiem.

However, if the next few days are just too jam packed with course work then why not finish the week on a high note by heading over to The Duchess to hear iconic indie band The Wedding Present. Formed in 1985, the group are currently touring to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the release of their highly influential album Bizzaro and will be performing the record in its entirety. See them perform here:

Albums

The Black Eyed Peas demonstrate their recent burst of creativity today with the launch of The Beginning, a sequel to last year's The E.N.D., breaking their tradition of leaving longer gaps between releases. While current reviews are mixed, it would appear that little will prevent the group truly becoming one of the truly great hip hop acts in the world today; they are currently planning to cement their status further by embarking on their first world stadium tour next year, inspired after recently playing a number of stadium dates in South America.

Remaining in the realm of the unashamedly mainstream for a moment, today the world finally gets to clamp its ears on the results of Welsh songstress Duffy tackling the difficult second album. Endlessly (a title that might inspire joy or fear, depending on your taste) marks the beginning of Duffy's signing with label A&M following the end of her relationship with Rough Trade earlier this year, and the album's material is the result of a collaboration with singer-songwriter and producer Albert Hammond.

But if it's edgier pop you're after then look no further than Swedish singer-songwriter Robyn and the culmination of her Body Talk project. The 15-track album, produced as a whole but released in three five-track EPs over the course of 2010, marks the end of a dry spell since 2005's acclaimed Robyn. Part 3, released seperately today, includes 'Time Machine', the product of a collaboration between Robin Miriam Carlsson (to drop her stage persona for a moment) and producer, and fellow Swede, Max Martin who helped out with her breakthrough singles 'Show Me Love' and 'Do You Know (What It Takes)' over a decade ago. Listen to 'Time Machine' here:

Singles

Nicki Minaj - 'Right Thru Me'

After much teasing by the way of mixtape collaborations with the likes of Lil Wayne and T.I., Nicki Minaj has her own legacy in the form of her debut album, Pink Friday. ‘Right Thru Me’ is far removed from the brash and provocative styling of previous releases ‘Check It Out’ and ‘Your Love’, ditching the artist’s trademark screams and use of alter egos for a more laidback, transparent feel. A rare moment of reflection and romanticism on the rapper’s debut, the single holds its head high amongst her more fierce offerings.

Jai Jethwa

Beady Eye - 'Bring The Light'

So here it is, the first move from either one of the Gallagher brothers in this post-Oasis era; it's Liam who's finally bolted away over a year after the split but on this evidence he should have mulled things over a while longer before flexing his trademark grit-toned vocal cords. 'Bring The Light' attempts to emulate the fast-paced, hard-hitting rock of 'Shock Of The Lightning' with a soulful edge in the shape of gospel backing singers. Unfortunately, the end result is a bland, poorly mixed reinterpretation of The Beatles' 'Back In The USSR' with half the chords, embarrassing lyrics and a piano line so unforgivably naff it'd make Elton John blush. Although the membership of Beady Eye essentially comprises Oasis-without-Noel, all this release will ultimately do is cement in the public's mind the perception of the elder Gallagher brother as the creative one. They'll have to do better with the forthcoming album if they want to retain their reputations.

Rich Powell

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