Sunday, 20 January 2013

RFT News: This Week In Music (20/01/13)


















Report by MrReesh - Get at me on Twitter - @MrReesh


Though some good stuff has happened this week, the main stories have been a bit sad sadly.

This week HMV entered administration with Deloitte appointed as administrators, and have officially closed all 16 of their Ireland based shops. Crap. Now while administration isn’t liquidation, what it does mean is that the future of HMV, a wonderful land where you could frolic between shelves upon shelves of music and films with the excitement of not knowing what magic you will find, is completely up in the air. Apparently Hilco, the company who now owns HMV Canada, is very much interested in buying a “slimmed down” version of the company and was in talks with Deloitte about their bid on Friday. Personally I’d like to see the chain continue, especially as it’s the only real entertainment store out there anymore though I’m concerned about just what “slimmed down” means exactly. Nowhere else has the vast selection, quality and quantity of music, films and games that HMV does and that was one of the things that made the store so great. HMV is an experience; you walk the store minding your own business then BAM! Amazing movie appears – POW! Great album turns up – ZAP! Unbelievable video game, um, materialises. I just hope that experience remains available to future generations, especially for the sake of lesser known amazing artists, directors and game companies.

Also shaving king Andre 3000 stated that the remixes of Frank Ocean’s Pink Matter and T.I.’s Sorry both featuring Big Boi were sadly not real OutKast reunion tracks. He essentially said that on each song he did his bit, then Big Boi just came up (like he’s some sideman) – there was no real collaboration, and it’s highly possible the two of them weren’t even in the studio at the same time. Now in my view what I think he’s doing here is just protecting the brand of OutKast, sort of saying “this is Andre 3000 and Big Boi, not OutKast” and that OutKast tracks will be even better than this. I especially think that as Big Boi gave me serious hope of another possible legitimately Grammy worthy double album in late 2012, saying if the two of them weren’t busy and Mr Andre (6000/3)+1000 was up for it it would happen, and I refuse to let go of that just yet.

In more happy news JT announced the name of his new album, The 20/20 Experience, and dropped a new song by the name of Suit & Tie, which is easily the best of the comeback songs that have been popping up all over the place recently. The intro can come off a bit dark and to be frank, ugly, at first but it’s definitely worth sitting through and becomes kinda nice once you understand what’s going on. On top of that A$AP’s album was released again this week, this time by the people who legally have the right to release it. Despite RCA failing to deliver A$AP well... ASAP (insert joke about that being a f**kin’ problem), sales projections remain highly decent at 140K units and the album reaching number 1 on Billboard.

But what perhaps is the best piece of news I randomly came across this week is that Westwood – that lame 50 year old whose parties occasionally feature yardies who go on stage and take off their wigs – released footage of an interview and “freestyle”with none other but The Fresh Prince himself. Wow. The freestyle is amazing - not lyrically or flow-wise, but amazing because it’s freakin’ Will Smith rapping in the 1980’s! And I can’t help but lol when Westwood says in the most English voice ever “show us some of your rap”. It’s just quality television.

But anyway guys take care while travelling in the snow and don’t read and drive, unless it’s this blog, then who could blame you really.


Photo credits:
HMV dog "Dog Looking at and Listening to a Phonograph, "His Master's Voice", The Original RCA Music Puppy Dog Logo Symbol for Advertising" by Beverly & Pack

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