Saturday 30 June 2018

June 2018 Recap


#ALBUMS

THE CARTERS / FATHER JOHN MISTY / LYKKE LI / MORMOR / SOPHIE

#SONGS

GEORGIA ANNE MULDROW / GORILLAZ X SNOOP DOGG X JAMIE PRINCIPLE / INTERPOL / KANYE WEST X PARTYNEXTDOOR / MOGWAI / MR. TWIN SISTER / NICKI MINAJ X ARIANA GRANDE / NILE RODGERS AND CHIC X MURA MASA X COSBA X VIC MENSA / SPIRITUALIZED / WILD NOTHING

#VIDEOS

ARCADE FIRE / BEACH HOUSE / CHARLI XCX / CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG / CHROMATICS / DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE / DRAKE / FLORENCE + THE MACHINE / KAMASI WASHINGTON / LIZZO / MITSKI / NAO / SPIRITUALIZED / ST. VINCENT





Here you go. These are Wet Thud's favourite new albums, songs, and videos of June 2018. Enjoy...

#ALBUMS

ALBUM OF THE MONTH:
SOPHIE Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-Insides (MSMSMSM)
Standouts: "It's Okay To Cry", "Ponyboy", "Faceshopping", "Is It Cold In The Water?"



The Carters Everything Is Love (Parkwood/S.C./Columbia/Roc Nation)
Standouts: "APESHIT", "SALUD!"



Father John Misty God's Favorite Customer (Sub Pop)
Standouts: "Mr. Tillman", "Just Dumb Enough To Try", "Disappointing Diamonds Are The Rarest Of Them All", "Please Don't Die", "God's Favorite Customer"



Lykke Li so sad so sexy (LL/RCA)
Standouts: "utopia", "deep end", "hard rain"



MorMor Heaven's Only Wishful EP (Don't Guess)
Standouts: "Heaven's Only Wishful", "Whatever Comes To Mind", "Waiting On The Warmth"





#SONGS

Georgia Anne Muldrow "Overload" (Brainfeeder)


Gorillaz x Snoop Dogg x Jamie Principle "Hollywood" (Parlophone)


Interpol "The Rover" (Matador)


Kanye West x PARTYNEXTDOOR "Ghost Town" (G.O.O.D./Def Jam)


Mogwai "We're Not Done" (Temporary Residence)


Mr. Twin Sister "Jaipur" (Twin Group)


Nicki Minaj x Ariana Grande "Bed" (Young Money/Cash Money)


Nile Rodgers and Chic x Mura Masa x Cosba x Vic Mensa "Till The World Falls" (Nile Rodgers/Virgin)


Spiritualized "A Perfect Miracle" (Bella Union)


Wild Nothing "Letting Go" (Captured Tracks)






#VIDEOS

Arcade Fire "Chemistry" (Columbia)
Director: Ray Tintori

Beach House "Black Car" (Sub Pop)
Director: Alistair Legrand

Charli XCX "5 In The Morning" (Atlantic)
Director: Bradley & Pablo

Charlotte Gainsbourg "Sylvia Says" (Because)
Director: Charlotte Gainsbourg

Chromatics "Blue Girl" (Italians Do It Better)
Director: Rene Hallen

Death Cab For Cutie "Gold Rush" (Atlantic)
Director: Alex Southam

Drake "I'm Upset" (Young Money/Cash Money)
Director: Karena Evans

Florence + The Machine "Big God" (Virgin)
Director: Autumn de Wilde

Kamasi Washington "Street Fighter Mas" (Young Turks)
Director: AG Rojas

Lizzo "Boys" (Nice Life/Atlantic)
Director: Quinn Wilson & Andy Madeleine

Mitski "Nobody" (Dead Oceans)
Director: Christopher Good

NAO "Another Lifetime" (Little Tokyo)
Director: Zhang + Knight

Spiritualized "I'm Your Man" (Bella Union)
Director: Juliette Larthe

St. Vincent "Fast Slow Disco" (Loma Vista)
Director: Zev Deans



Tuesday 5 June 2018

Artist Top 40: Duran Duran


Next up in Wet Thud's series of countdowns devoted to the greatest acts of the past forty years is Duran Duran. Coming out of the New Romantic scene of late-1970s England, the group combined disparate influences ranging from punk to ambient electronica to disco, creating a unique sound that helped define the first half of the following decade. Over the course of their first trio of studio albums, the original five-piece lineup of Duran Duran became one of the biggest bands in the world, making the newly-popularized format of music videos their plaything in the process.

A wave of fan hysteria surrounding the group only subsided when they announced a hiatus in late 1985, to allow members time to work on side projects. Though they regrouped just a year later, it would be as a threesome, with original guitarist Andy Taylor and original drummer Roger Taylor (no relation) leaving the fold. During this period, there were still hit songs, but each of the next three Duran Duran albums sold progressively less.

By the time of 1993's self-titled album (not their first), the group had regrown to a quartet, with Warren Cuccurullo, formerly of Missing Persons and Frank Zappa's band, having officially joined. This became one of the most successful albums in Duran Duran's career, despite arriving fifteen years after their formation. The group was again playing venues the size they'd grown accustomed to filling on their early tours.

This second coming was short-lived though, with the band releasing in 1995, a much-maligned album of cover versions that sold relatively poorly and was ravaged by critics. Original bassist John Taylor (again, no relation) parted ways with the group during sessions for the follow-up, an album for which the label had such low expectations, it didn't even garner a release in the band's native England. Finally, in 1997, Duran Duran was dropped by EMI, their home since their 1981 debut.

Though it had its highlights, an album in the year 2000 generated little buzz, and singer Simon LeBon and keyboardist Nick Rhodes made the decision to part ways with Cuccurullo and attempt a reformation of the group's original lineup. The resultant album, 2004's Astronaut, was the band's best-selling in years, proving that the requisite ingredient in Duran Duran is more Taylors.

Andy Taylor may have jumped the Duran ship again a few years later, but the remaining original members, LeBon, Rhodes, Taylor and Taylor, have continued on, releasing a further three albums together since 2007. They continue to headline international tours and play to festival crowds today, a full forty years after they first formed at the Rum Runner in Birmingham.

Did your favourites make the list? These are Wet Thud's Top 40 Duran Duran Songs. Find a Spotify playlist of the entire countdown following number one.

040. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement" (album cut from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)



039. "Electric Barbarella" (single from Medazzaland, 1997)



038. "Too Much Information" (single from Duran Duran, 1993)



037. "Burning The Ground" (single from Decade, 1989)



036. "Careless Memories" (single from Duran Duran, 1981)



035. "Tiger Tiger" (album cut from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)



034. "Perfect Day" (single from Thank You, 1995)



033. "American Science" (album cut from Notorious, 1986)



032. "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) [live]" (b-side from "The Reflex" single, 1984)



031. "Night Boat" (album cut from Duran Duran, 1981)



030. "Skin Trade" (single from Notorious, 1986)



029. "What Happens Tomorrow" (single from Astronaut, 2004)



028. "Someone Else Not Me" (single from Pop Trash, 2000)



027. "Lonely In Your Nightmare" (album cut from Rio, 1982)



026. "Serious" (single from Liberty, 1990)



025. "Do You Believe In Shame?" (single from Big Thing, 1988)



024. "My Own Way" (single from Rio, 1981)



023. "A View To A Kill" (single from the 'A View To A Kill' soundtrack, 1985)



022. "Girl Panic!" (single from All You Need Is Now, 2010)



021. "Pressure Off" [with Janelle Monáe and Nile Rodgers] (single from Paper Gods, 2015)



020. "All She Wants Is" (single from Big Thing, 1988)



019. "Rio" (single from Rio, 1982)



018. "Is There Something I Should Know?" (single, 1983)



017. "Violence Of Summer (Love's Taking Over)" (single from Liberty, 1990)



016. "I Don't Want Your Love" (single from Big Thing, 1988)



015. "Friends Of Mine" (album cut from Duran Duran, 1981)



014. "The Seventh Stranger" (album cut from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)



013. "Girls On Film" (single from Duran Duran, 1981)



012. "The Wild Boys" (single from Arena, 1984)



011. "Union Of The Snake" (single from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)



010. "Hold Back The Rain" (album cut from Rio, 1982)



009. "Notorious" (single from Notorious, 1986)



008. "Come Undone" (single from Duran Duran, 1993)



007. "New Moon On Monday" (single from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)



006. "Hungry Like The Wolf" (single from Rio, 1982)



005. "The Reflex" (single from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)



004. "Planet Earth" (single from Duran Duran, 1981)



003. "Save A Prayer" (single from Rio, 1982)



002. "Ordinary World" (single from Duran Duran, 1992)



001. "The Chauffeur" (album cut from Rio, 1982)









***** text-only version of the list *****

###. "Song Title" (release format from Album Title, Year)

040. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement" (album cut from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
039. "Electric Barbarella" (single from Medazzaland, 1997)
038. "Too Much Information" (single from Duran Duran, 1993)
037. "Burning The Ground" (single from Decade, 1989)
036. "Careless Memories" (single from Duran Duran, 1981)
035. "Tiger Tiger" (album cut from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
034. "Perfect Day" (single from Thank You, 1995)
033. "American Science" (album cut from Notorious, 1986)
032. "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) [live]" (b-side from "The Reflex" single, 1984)
031. "Night Boat" (album cut from Duran Duran, 1981)
030. "Skin Trade" (single from Notorious, 1986)
029. "What Happens Tomorrow" (single from Astronaut, 2004)
028. "Someone Else Not Me" (single from Pop Trash, 2000)
027. "Lonely In Your Nightmare" (album cut from Rio, 1982)
026. "Serious" (single from Liberty, 1990)
025. "Do You Believe In Shame?" (single from Big Thing, 1988)
024. "My Own Way" (single from Rio, 1981)
023. "A View To A Kill" (single from the 'A View To A Kill' soundtrack, 1985)
022. "Girl Panic!" (single from All You Need Is Now, 2010)
021. "Pressure Off" [with Janelle Monáe and Nile Rodgers] (single from Paper Gods, 2015)
020. "All She Wants Is" (single from Big Thing, 1988)
019. "Rio" (single from Rio, 1982)
018. "Is There Something I Should Know?" (single, 1983)
017. "Violence Of Summer (Love's Taking Over)" (single from Liberty, 1990)
016. "I Don't Want Your Love" (single from Big Thing, 1988)
015. "Friends Of Mine" (album cut from Duran Duran, 1981)
014. "The Seventh Stranger" (album cut from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
013. "Girls On Film" (single from Duran Duran, 1981)
012. "The Wild Boys" (single from Arena, 1984)
011. "Union Of The Snake" (single from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
010. "Hold Back The Rain" (album cut from Rio, 1982)
009. "Notorious" (single from Notorious, 1986)
008. "Come Undone" (single from Duran Duran, 1993)
007. "New Moon On Monday" (single from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
006. "Hungry Like The Wolf" (single from Rio, 1982)
005. "The Reflex" (single from Seven And The Ragged Tiger, 1983)
004. "Planet Earth" (single from Duran Duran, 1981)
003. "Save A Prayer" (single from Rio, 1982)
002. "Ordinary World" (single from Duran Duran, 1992)
001. "The Chauffeur" (album cut from Rio, 1982)



001--020, 023--027, 030--040 EMI Records
021 Warner Bros. Records
022 Tapemodern Records
028 Hollywood Records
029 Epic Records





Friday 1 June 2018

May 2018 Recap


#ALBUMS

AMBER MARK / ARCTIC MONKEYS / BEACH HOUSE / COURTNEY BARNETT / DJ KOZE

#SONGS

DISCLOSURE X FATOUMATA DIAWARA / DJDS X THE-DREAM / KAMASI WASHINGTON / PHARRELL X CAMILA CABELLO / PROFESSOR RHYTHM / SINK YA TEETH / SW:SVN / TROYE SIVAN / WESTERMAN

#VIDEOS

ANDERSON .PAAK / AZEALIA BANKS / CARDI B / CHILDISH GAMBINO / CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS X DÂM-FUNK / CHROMATICS / EBHONI / FATHER JOHN MISTY / FLORENCE + THE MACHINE / FRANKIE COSMOS / GORILLAZ / HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF / JAY ROCK X KENDRICK LAMAR / KACEY MUSGRAVES / LAURA JEAN / LYKKE LI / MAGGIE ROGERS / MITSKI / ORBITAL / RÓISÍN MURPHY / SZA





Another month is upon us, and so it's time to recap the last one. These are the new albums, standalone tracks, and music videos that booped Wet Thud on the nose during May. Enjoy...

#ALBUMS

ALBUM OF THE MONTH:
Courtney Barnett Tell Me How You Really Feel (Milk/Marathon)
Standouts: "Nameless, Faceless", "Need A Little Time", "City Looks Pretty", "Sunday Roast"




Amber Mark Conexao EP (PMR/Virgin EMI)
Standouts: "Love Me Right", "Love Is Stronger Than Pride"




Arctic Monkeys Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (Domino)
Standouts: "Four Out Of Five"




Beach House 7 (Sub Pop)
Standouts: "Lemon Glow", "Dive", "Dark Spring", "Black Car"




DJ Koze Knock Knock (Pampa)
Standouts: "Illumination" [f. Róisín Murphy], "Seeing Aliens", "Pick Up"






#SONGS

Disclosure x Fatoumata Diawara "Ultimatum" (Island)


DJDS x The-Dream "I Heard" (Loma Vista)


Kamasi Washington "Street Fighter Mas" (Young Turks)


Pharrell x Camila Cabello "Sangria Wine" (Columbia)


Professor Rhythm "Professor 3" (Awesome Tapes From Africa)


Sink Ya Teeth "Substitutes" (Hey Buffalo)


SW:SVN "la-400x" (Apollo)


Troye Sivan "Bloom" (EMI Australia)


Westerman "Edison" (Blue Flowers)





#VIDEOS

Anderson .Paak "Bubblin'" (Aftermath/12 Tone)
Director: Calmatic

Azealia Banks "Anna Wintour" (self-released)
Director: Matt Sukkar

Cardi B "Be Careful" (Atlantic)
Director: Jora Frantzis

Childish Gambino "This Is America" (Liberation)
Director: Hiro Murai

Christine and the Queens x Dâm-Funk "Girlfriend" (Because)
Director: Jordan Bahat

Chromatics "Black Walls" (Italians Do It better)
Director: Rene Hellen

Ebhoni "Opps" (self-released)
Director: Christine Boachie

Father John Misty "Please Don't Die" (Sub Pop)
Director: Chris Hopewell

Florence + the Machine "Hunger" (Virgin EMI)
Director: AG Rojas

Frankie Cosmos "Apathy" (Sub Pop)
Director: Tom Scharpling

Gorillaz "Humility" (Parlophone)
Director: Jamie Hewlett

Hurray For The Riff Raff "Pa'lante" (ATO)
Director: Kristian Mercado Figueroa

Jay Rock x Kendrick Lamar "WIN" (Top Dawg Ent.)
Directors: Dave Meyers & Dave Free

Kacey Musgraves "Space Cowboy" (MCA Nashville)
Director: Chris Hicky

Laura Jean "Girls On The TV" (Chapter)
Director: Warwick Baker

Lykke Li "hard rain" (LL)
Director: Anton Tammi

Maggie Rogers "Fallingwater" (Debay)
Director: Zia Anger

Mitski "Geyser" (Dead Oceans)
Director: Zia Anger

Orbital "Tiny Foldable Cities" (ACP)
Director: Felix Geen

Róisín Murphy "All My Dreams" (The Vinyl Factory)
Director: Róisín Murphy

SZA "Garden (Say It Like Dat)" (Top Dawg Ent.)
Director: Karena Evans