Michael Kiwanuka - Black Man In A White World (Single Review)

Now I have been meaning to review this track for quite a while, because it happens to be one of my favourite songs to come out of 2016. As a music journalist; sometimes it's nice to listen to new music out of your comfort zone that you don't have to review - and that is how I bumped into Michael Kiwanuka. I literally don't understand how I have not heard a huge hit of his come on to the radio or on the TV - but then again, I guess the song title speaks for itself, doesn't it? Michael Kiwanuka came about in 2011 when he supported Adele on her '21' tour, and then he supported her again at her iTunes gig. Kiwanuka also won BBC's sound of 2012 poll, which must have been a big achievement for him. Ever since then, he has sort of stayed quiet - and then I bumped into THIS.

Michael Kiwanuka is a Ugandan refugee who was brought up in London, and he is a solo soul singer-songwriter. I think I bumped into Kiwanuka on spotifys acoustic sessions and I was like what the fuck is this holy grail of a track, and then I saved it. The chorus caught my attention immediately; it is a repeat of the song title. The track bursts with soul, passion, and acceptance. He accepts the fact that no matter what he does, he will probably be wrong because he is a black man in a white world. This doesn't deter the fact that he shouldn't feel like he should have to accept that as he goes on to state;

"I'm in love but I'm still sad, I found peace but I'm not glad."

He's found peace within himself and accepted the fact that perhaps things will never change, but it isn't enough - he wants to find peace within the world, not just within himself. He also says how; 

"I don't mind who I am (im a black man in a white world), I don't mind who you are (im a black man in a white world)"

His voice reminds me very much of the likes of Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye, however his lyrics are much more deeper and focused. Racial discrimination is the obvious main focus within this track, and it is good to see that someone is still trying to sing about it, because you don't hear about it very often in songs anymore - however it still goes on.

A conclusion isn't very necessary within this review as it is short and sweet; however I will still write one... Michael Kiwanuka reveals the passion and pure soul within this track about racial discrimination and how he's not angry and he's not mad even though he's lost everything due to being falsely accused of a crime he didn't commit; due to being of a different ethnicity. He captures the essence of soul like you are back in the 60's and 70's with influences of iconic artists such as Marvin Gaye, Otis Reading, Curtis Mayfield and Bill Withers within his voice. He is Britain's very own Leon Bridges! It's good to see that soul is coming back and expanding on to the modern day music scene! Please give him a listen, he's bloody brilliant! Here is the link to the track, I can't fault it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TYlcVNI2AM

10/10

Jamie T - Power Over Men (Single Review)

Jamie Treay, or otherwise known as Jamie T is an alternative solo artist from London and even though he has only produced 3 albums within his 9 year music career; all three have been absolutely brilliant. However throughout the years he has also produced some amazing EP's alongside his albums, his EP's are definitely the most underrated work he's ever done - I prefer them over his albums. The lyrics throughout his work dont deterioate and his effort never mellows; he never fails to please his fans. I reviewed his last album - 'Carry On The a Grudge' last year and it was full of very dark, yet meaningful tracks and he also showed a versatile range of genres throughout the album to prove that the Jamie T we all love is back, and is back for good. The review is here if you would like to have a read - 

http://musicblog89.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/jamie-t-carry-on-grudge-album-review.html 

The contrast ranged from 'Peter' which is a song about a schizophrenic; who's mind is telling him to do things and manipulating him into hating himself and thinking that everyone else hates him to the next track being 'Love Is Only A Heartbeak Away' which is a typical love ballad. These two tracks are polar opposites to eachother and even though I'm not to keen on 'Peter' the track list was very cleverly put together within his last album. 

Treays new single is called 'Power Over Men' and it was released on the 30th of September 2016 it was the second preceded track of his new album called 'Trick' which is to be released later on in the year. During the meantime fans are having to do with his two new teaser tracks; 'Power Over Men' and then 'Tinfoil Boy' which was the first track off his new album to be released and 'Tinfoil Boy' was released on the 29th of June 2016. After seeing Jamie T's facebook page publish the music video to 'Power Over Men' I thought that it would be a good idea to listen to the song first; write down how I interpretated it - and then watch the video. My interpretation from the song was a beautiful young woman who is so stunning she can make men do whatever she wants and she basically holds their hearts. But NO! It's about a middle-aged sadistic dominatrix who practices BDSM on a rather large man and due to him wearing a suit at the end of the video whilst handling a suitcase indicated that he has a well respected job. Therefore he must pay for her to humiliate and abuse him as he's a masochist and gets off on it ! The moral of the song is; due to him being a submissive he will do anything she demands and she is probably also getting paid by several other men to do the same thing, hence how the song repeatedly expressed how - "She's got power over men".

In conclusion; I've got to be honest with you - I wasn't expecting it. I never really expected that off Jamie T, to be writing songs about BDSM... However it is a cracking track, very catchy and it is a lot less serious compared to his previous work which can appear very dark and meaningful. Yes, the track is very repetitive but you always find that the preceded tracks from a new album are , as they try to make the tracks catchy in order to entise new listeners. I look forward to listening to his new album as according to some other reviewers who have listened to the album before its release, they have credited the new album as very versatile and it shows a huge range of genres that Treay is capable of apparently. 'Tricks' will be a very interesting listen as Jamie T's work never gets boring. I wonder what his next track will be about...! Well if there's one thing we've all found out after 9 years is that good'ol Jamie T likes a bit of domination in the bedroom! 'Power Over Men' is definitely a grower and a tune that you should be listening to! (If you're under 18, dont watch the video...)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEQXJQn8LZg

9/10

Natural Emotions - Ask Me Why (Single Review)

Now I reviewed these lads back in March, and their EP was bloody brilliant. So if you would like to read their previous review or listen to the EP click on this link and it will send you directly to the review. - http://musicblog89.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/natural-emotions-ep-review.html
Natural Emotions are a post-modernist inspired 3-piece from Birmingham. The trio consists of; Tom Gilpen on guitar and lead vocals, his brother - Jack Gilpen on bass and Dan Tweedie on the drums. Their most recently released track is called 'Ask Me Why' and it was released on the 1st of April 2016.

Immediately the track sounded very heavily influenced by The Libertines/Babyshambles. As the song began to progress the rhythm and guitar riffs are almost identical to the notorious Libertines track - 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun'. You can almost here the line -

'All my friends you haven't changed, you're looking rough and living strange.'

However Natural Emotions rendition goes as follows...

'Don't come and ask me why, all the water in the sky's gone dry. When you're sitting under the setting sun.'

The guitar riffs are very catchy and help to hold the song together as it keeps the rhythm and helps the drums to keep the beat. The lyrics are also very well thought out just like their previous tracks. The song is about someone who is completely and utterly in love with someone and they are just too blind to see and they just continue to play mind games by pretending that they want them; and then the next moment making out as though they don't want them anymore. They pick them up then drop them right back down in the split of a second.

In conclusion this track is more of a stepping stone into a new genre in contrast from their EP last June. Last June they were a mix of the 60's through to the late 80's, a combination which I thought worked well due to the variation of genres through the track.  Moving forward in their career they have progressed into a modern day indie rock band, however it could just be a one-off instead of a stepping stone? I suppose you and I will have to ask the band themselves... Taking influences from the Arctic Monkeys and The Libertines which are incredibly well-known within the early-late 2000's indie rock. Admittedly I am not a big fan of The Libertines; however I do like the track 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun' which I claimed this track has been heavily influenced by. Well done lads, it has been a pleasure seeing your progression as a band. Keep up the hard work and good luck with your future endeavours.

https://m.soundcloud.com/the-natural-emotions-1/ask-me-why-natural-emotions

Shambolics - Scarlett Harlett (Single Review)

Shambolics are a four-piece Scottish indie rock band from Kirkaldy. They released their new track 'Scarlett Harlett' on the 31st of May 2016. Now as I watched the music video I just couldn't believe how professional it was, it was like a video that Catfish and the Bottlemen would make! If they used that video for one of their songs everyone would think it was ace! Simple, yet effective - rather enigmatic to be honest. The quartet consists of; Lewis McDonald and Darren Forbes both on vocals and guitar, Jordan Mchatton on the bass and Andrew 'Pandy' Finlay on the drums.

The intro is very Arctic Monkeys/ The Last Shadow Puppets Inspired. The lead singer for this track; McDonalds voice reminds me very much of Miles Kane. The upbeat guitars and powerful drums work well to increase the intensity of the track; however they aren't too powerful, they don't draw the attention away from the lyrics at all.

The intro is very long, in fact it is 1 minute and 13 seconds long on the music video. On the other hand, the long awaited intro builds the suspense up. McDonalds voice is full of indignation as he sings a song about a nymphomaniac who can't be monogamous to one man even though she has a ring on her finger. Perhaps its a retaliation towards all women saying how 'all men are the same' and how they can't keep their dick in their pants resulting in them always ending up being a cheat? The band are trying to open your eyes and broaden your horizons by saying that woman can in fact be just as bad as men in some cases. Which is true. As McDonald goes on to sing the powerful opening verse of...

'Ooh what a mistake, sayin' - 'hello' to a different man every week and wake. And its a quickest goodbye as you face the morning light, way back to your husband who's been worried sick all night.'

The whole track is very full on and very intense but it is brilliant because it flows so easily even though the whole song should be shouted because there's that much anger and frustration to the lyrics. The chorus is also brilliantly written, about that lady sleeping around - I think it is one of those situations where the whole town knows about her 'dirty little secret' and so does her husband but he just doesn't want to accept the fact that his wife is like that and therefore denies it to himself. Her husband must know as he is 'worried sick all night'.

'Cus when the sun goes down and the stars comes out, there's a side to you that I've never really known. Sleeping round this town is only gonna bring you down, in the morning when they tell you where to go.'

In conclusion I must say this track is absolutely spot on, they've managed to achieve the perfect balance between the instruments and the vocals as neither overpower one another. You can appreciate the instrumental simultaneously to being able to appreciate and hear the lyrics. After nearly 18 months of running my blog, I must admit that this is one of the best unsigned tracks that I ever heard. You really do have a bright future ahead of you, lets get some more famous Scottish indie bands out there! You can do it lads, this is a brilliant track and I'm glad that you have asked me to review it for you. You should be incredibly proud of yourselves. That is all. I would definitely recommend that you give their track below a listen; you won't regret it (unless you dislike the arctic monkeys or the the last shadow puppets) - it is an absolutely fantastic track. Well done lads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNW0gd_ox9w