Category: Reviews
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Janelle Monae In London, July 1st | Review + Photos
On Thursday 1st July Janelle Monae brought Metropolis to a small venue in East London. Before Thursday night’s show could be officially announced, it was already sold out – and by the end of the show, it was obvious why. Through the crowd there was a current of energy derived from an unspoken notion that…
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U’mau & Friends @ The Troubadour Club, London | Live Review
Live showcases come two a penny in London and are often a hit-and-miss affair. Thus it’s always a relief to stumble across up and coming acts who set such high standards that they leave the rest lagging behind. These discoveries are motivation enough to keep going to such events. Last Wednesday at the Troubadour Club,…
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Meshell Ndegeocello at Jazz Café, London (14/06/10) | Live Review
Despite how effortless and intrepid a musician at their best might be on a stage, don’t you sometimes just get the impression that they’re not quite being themselves? The short answer is yes, obviously – that is [for most] what makes a live performance worth watching. A parallel opposite, when it comes to Meshell Ndegeocello…
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Brooklyn’s Finest | Film Review
The director of Training Day trades L.A.’s warmth and light for the cold darkness of New York City. Photography adjusts aptly as Brooklyn’s Finest is shot with absolute honesty and no artificial gloss. The rawness only strengthens the plot – much like The Dark Knight did, but with a much bigger budget. Antoine Fuqua is…
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Drake – Thank Me Later | Album Review
As a complete body of work, the highly anticipated Thank Me Later is undoubtedly effective and coherent. What it lacks in flair and punch, it makes up for in musical intelligence. Despite numerous (hopefully unintentional) album fillers there are many strong moments. Tracks such as ‘Miss Me’, ‘Thank Me Now’, ‘9am In Dallas’, ‘Light Up’…
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Supafine at The Smugglers Tavern, London (May 29) | Event Review
Supafine – the monthly showcase night held every last Saturday at the Smuggler’s Tavern, central London – has had some of the capital’s finest live acts grace its stage. The idea behind the gigs, according to promoter DJ Speedy, is for artists to bring their diamond-in-the-rough, unfinished pieces to the attention of an audience who…
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Rick Ross – The Albert Anastasia EP | EP Review
In the long line of artists who have attempted to master the brand of ‘mafioso rap’ Rick Ross has been one of the few to do it with such conviction. Even after a beef with 50 Cent (which led to much dirty laundry being aired), the Boss/Baws has still stood tall in the rap kingdom,…
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K-Os – Yes | Album Review
I always consider it a promising sign when a rap artist can win over a non-fan of the genre like me. Hip Hop is usually a style of music I like in small doses; short, sharp sporadic bursts do just fine. However, Yes the latest offering from Canadian/Trinidadian singer-songwriter and wordsmith K-Os – née Kevin…
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Alicia Keys in London | Live Review
Alicia Keys rocked London’s 02 Arena with a career-spanning performance laden with political and self-uplifting messages that at left audiences feeling like they’d drank a cup of ‘feel good juice’. Twenty minutes after the audience had been warmed up deliciously by Melanie Fiona, Alicia Keys descended onto the stage in a cage and ’emancipated’ herself…