100 Best Albums of the Decade

via GIPHY


This list has been 10 years in the making. Here are my picks for the 100 best albums of the decade.

1	To Pimp A Butterfly	Kendrick Lamar	2015
2	DAMN.	Kendrick Lamar	2017
3	Run The Jewels 2	Run The Jewels	2014
4	Transgender Dysphoria Blues	Against Me!	2014
5	Black Star	David Bowie	2017
6	Body Talk	Robyn	2010
7	James Blake	James Blake	2010
8	Plastic Beach	Gorillaz	2010
9	The Epic	Kamasi Washington	2015
10	We Got it From Here…	A Tribe Called Quest	2016
11	Suck It and See	Arctic Monkeys	2011
12	Overgrown	James Blake	2013
13	21	Adele	2011
14	Ceremonials	Florence & The Machine	2011
15	In Spades	The Afghan Whigs	2016
16	Until the Quiet Comes	Flying Lotus	2012
17	The Suburbs	Arcade Fire	2010
18	Beyonce	Beyonce	2013
19	Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City	Kendrick Lamar	2013
20	The Far Field	Future Islands	2017
21	Recovery	Eminem	2010
22	4:44	Jay Z	2017
23	High Violet	The National	2010
24	A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings	Beach Slang	2016
25	The Magic Whip	Blur	2015
26	Post Pop Depression	Iggy Pop	2016
27	Adore Life	Savages	2016
28	Channel Orange	Frank Ocean	2012
29	Wasting Light	Foo Fighters	2011
30	AM	Arctic Monkeys	2013
31	Everything is Love	The Carters	2018
32	Everything is Recorded	Richard Russell	2018
33	LP1	FKA Twigs	2014
34	Dogrel	Fontaines D.C.	2019
35	Remind Me Tomorrow	Sharon Van Etten	2019
36	Songs of Innocence	U2	2014
37	DAYTONA	Pusha-T	2018
38	The King of Limbs	Radiohead	2011
39	Koi No Yokan	Deftones	2012
40	Biophilia	Bjork	2011
41	Well Done	Action Bronson	2011
42	Life Is Good	Nas	2012
43	Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds	Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds	2011
44	My Beatiful Dark Twisted Fantasy	Kanye West	2010
45	Reflektor	Arcade Fire	2013
46	Ghosteen	Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds	2019
47	III	BADBADNOTGOOD	2014
48	MASSEDUCATION	St. Vincent	2017
49	The Skeleton Tree	Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds	2016
50	Do to the Beast	The Afghan Whigs	2013
51	Vulnicura	Bjork	2015
52	Cuz I Love You	Lizzo	2019
53	Hamilton	The Cast of Hamilton	2015
54	This Is Happening	LCD Soundsystem	2010
55	El Pintor	Interpol	2014
56	Cocoa Beware	Young Fathers	2018
57	Run The Jewels	Run The Jewels	2013
58	Nightmare Logic	Power Trip	2017
59	Everybody	Logic	2017
60	Kill For Love	Chromatics	2012
61	Sweet Heart, Sweet Light	Spiritualized	2012
62	Otta	Solstafir	2014
63	The Monitor	Titus Andronicus	2011
64	CTRL	SZA	2017
65	Awaken, My Love	Childish Gambino	2016
66	House of Balloons	The Weeknd	2011
67	St. Vincent	St. Vincent	2014
68	Chasing Yesterday	Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds	2016
69	IV	BADBADNOTGOOD	2016
70	Skying	The Horrors	2011
71	In Colour	Jamie xx	2015
72	David Comes to Life	Fucked Up	2011
73	Royal Blood	Royal Blood	2014
74	El Camino	The Black Keys	2011
75	Infest the Rats Nest	King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard	2019
76	… Like Clockwork	Queens of the Stone Age	2012
77	What Did You Expect From the Vaccines?	The Vaccines	2011
78	American Ghetto	Portual. The Man	2010
79	Apocalypse	Thundercat	2013
80	We're New Here	Jamie xx & Gil Scot Heron	2011
81	Czarface	Czarface	2013
82	Black Messiah	D'Angelo	2014
83	2014 Forest Hills Drive	J. Cole	2014
84	Diamond Eyes	Deftones	2010
85	Coloring Book	Chance the Rapper	2016
86	Go	Jonsi	2010
87	Hurry Up, We're Dreaming	M83	2011
88	Handwritten	The Gaslight Anthem	2012
89	Coexist	The xx	2012
90	Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2	Beastie Boys	2011
91	Gang Signs and Prayer	Stormzy	2017
92	12 Reasons to Die	Ghostface Killah	2013
93	Bloodsports	Suede	2013
94	The Hunter	Mastodon	2011
95	Everyday Robots	Damon Albarn	2014
96	You're Dead	Flying Lotus	2014
97	Ukulele Songs	Eddie Vedder	2011
98	The Last Days of Oakland	Fantastic Negrito	2016
99	R.A.P. Music	Killer Mike	2012
100	The 1975	The 1975	2013

Noel Gallagher on 'Kimmel'

Watch Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds perform "Holy Mountain" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Live Review: Noel Gallagher at Radio City

The day after his brother was crowned a "Godlike Genius" from NME, Noel Gallagher played his largest solo show to date in New York City as the former Oasis musician sold out Radio City Music Hall.

On Thursday night, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds brought their latest album, Who Built The Moon? to life at one of the city's most beloved and treasured venues and the veteran performer had a few tricks up his sleeve for this tour.

Listen To Our Essential Noel Gallagher Playlist on Spotify

Performing in front of a moon-shaped screen which projected various psychedelic images, the band, which also included former Oasis drummer Chris Sharrock and Gem Archer as well as his now-infamous French scissor player, took New York City on a journey through sound and graphics. Starkly lit for nearly the first hour of the set, it was almost as if the megalomaniac that is Noel Gallagher did not want you to pay attention to him on stage but rather hear the music the band was projecting and it fit perfectly with new songs like "Holy Mountain," "Keep On Reaching," and "It's a Beautiful World."



Eventually the lights began to shine on the star and his group which exposed a Manchester City flag over one of the speakers and as he ripped through his massive back catalogue, fans inside the amphitheater began to get on their feet.

Songs like "Ballad of Mighty I," "If I Had a Gun," and the Oasis covers of "Little By Little," "The Importance of Being Idle," and "Wonderwall," turned into a massive singalong like a City match where the fans chant "Blue Moon" after a victory. After 90 minutes on stage, he and the band retreated to the wings for a brief break and the encore was something that will be etched in memory.

After a brief break, Gallagher returned and played the somber but brilliant ballad "Dead in the Water," the closing track to his latest record. He then was joined by the rest of his ensemble as they delivered a one-two punch of tunes like the rarely performed Oasis single, "Go Let It Out," and the classic, "Don't Look Back in Anger."

Prior to the last song, he addressed the crowd how John Lennon was "one of ours and was one of yours," before going into The Beatles classic, "All You Need is Love," which felt rather poignant after the mass shooting in Florida the day before.

As Gallagher's presence as a solo artist continues to grow, it might be no surprise that he starts performing inside arenas on his next tour.

Quick News

via GIPHY


Taking to Twitter, Maynard James Keenan gave an encouraging update on the long-awaited new Tool album Friday. “Started getting music files from the boys w the word FINAL in the title a few months ago after 11 years of begging,” he wrote. “Words & Melodies 100% DONE on all but 1. Someday we’ll track them. Long way from the finish line, but at least we’re closer.” The band's last album, 10,000 Days, came out in 2006.

Handsome Boy Modeling School, the DJ duo consisting of Dan the Automator and Prince Paul, have reunited after 14 years. The duo performed at a Fashion Week event for Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City this week and Prince Paul spoke to HipHopDX about the reunion and teased a new album from the duo. “It was a very handsome experience,” Prince Paul said of the performance. “The thing about when we had time apart, we now get to talk about our exotic travels, and random helicopters and planes we both bought, and you know, like secret beauty tips. So, nothing has really changed. It becomes a very handsome experience. It’s like we never left. So far, the album is already recorded in our heads. Now, it’s just a matter of physically recording it. We’re trying to determine where we’re going to do it. We’re kind of thinking of going far away to record it, maybe fly to Europe. It has to be a handsome experience. You can’t get more handsome than that. If all goes well — I can’t put a date on it — but if you’ve been waiting the last 13, 14 years, within a 12-month span shouldn’t be too much of a wait. It’s just a matter of the ambience. There is not a time and space for greatness.” The duo's last album was 2003's brilliant, White People.

Noel Gallagher, who is currently on the road supporting his latest album, Who Built The Moon?, spoke to NME this week and said he is already at work on his follow-up record. "I don’t have a guitar in my house for the first time since I was 13, so I’ve been writing songs on the bass. It’s unbelievable. It takes all the emotion out of it and you get more of a groove but I’m loving it so that’s what I’m doing at the moment," he said. "So everything I’m writing at the minute sounds like The Police, The Cure or if The Police and The Cure were in a band together.”

Janelle Monae has announced her new album, her first in five years, called Dirty Computer. She didn't give a release date but issued a trailer, take a look:

Noel Gallagher on 'Fallon'

Watch Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds perform "It's A Beautiful World" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Playlist

Our 27-song December playlist is here. Take a listen to our random musical musings for the month on Spotify.

QUICK SPINS

Glassjaw – Material Control

In their first release in 15 years, the Long Island vets come back with a bang. With nearly a new lineup, Glassjaw deliver a one-two punch that not only pulverizes the listener, it also pushes them into new territory. This is the type of record where longtime fans will appreciate and new fans will love.

FINAL GRADE: A

Four Tet – New Energy

The brilliance of Four Tet should never be questioned and this surprise release album is certainly one that creates a musical landscape for the listeners to travel to without leaving their home.

FINAL GRADE: A

Dirty Orange – XXX EP

Dirty Orange have released brand new EP from one of London’s most uncanny and ruthless new bands. The trio brings forth more of the rawness of underground garage rock and continues to not only be one of the more exciting rock and roll bands around but also the most real.

FINAL GRADE: A

Converge – The Dusk In Us

Five years since their last release, Converge return and like a jackhammer just slam the listener deeper into levels of darkness, chaos, and brutality. Even as they get older, Converge still know how to get a listeners attention.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Mastodon – Cold Dark Place EP

The Georgia metal monster return with their second release of the year and while Cold Dark Place is an EP, it picks up where their latest record, Emperor of Sand, left off.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Listen to Our Essential Mastodon Playlist on Spotify

Robert Plant – Carry Fire

The former Led Zeppelin singer does not get enough credit for his magnificent solo work and Carry Fire is a prime example of that. At his age, Plant can just retire and also stick to what works, but Carry Fire is a musical soundscape filled with experimental sounds and magic.

FINAL GRADE: A-

King Krule – The Ooz

The British beatmaker and producer is back with his new album, The Ooz, and while the sounds go forth in very interesting and intricate directions, it tends to get a bit redundant. Yet, even in his repetition, he remains a fascinating figure with boundary-pushing releases.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Marilyn Manson – Heaven Upside Down

The self-proclaimed “God of Fuck” returned with one of his best records in years. Heaven Upside Down came after numerous delays and may have been worth the wait. The shock rocker bares his soul and political feelings and while he has never held anything back, on Heaven Upside Down, he has fully unleashed a new beast.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Mavis Staples – If All I Was Was Black

The iconic soul singer raises the bar on not just protest music but also doesn’t hold back on how the system has wronged her and African-Americans in this country. It is one of the most heartbreaking and raw albums of the year and her career.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Stars – There is No Love in Fluorescent Light

Stars have always been a band that celebrates life and their latest is a testament to that. In our turbulent times, it is nice to let your hair down once in a while and be thankful you are alive and this record reminds us to do just that.

FINAL GRADE: B+

U2 – Songs of Experience

After a series of setbacks, delays and massive tours, U2 finally released Songs of Experience. The album is one that takes multiple listens to fully digest as Bono looks for hope and pleasure in his life and finds it in his loved ones. While its predecessor, Songs of Innocence, was about U2 growing up, this record is how they stayed together and how their influences like family, America, politics, and rock and roll, kept them going for so long.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Listen to Our Essential U2 Playlist on Spotify

Talib Kweli – Radio Silence

The iconic Brooklyn emcee returned with one his best albums. Radio Silence is a look at today while paying homage to the 90s hip-hop era where Kweli cut his teeth. For those in the new school, this is a record about how you maintain longevity.

FINAL GRADE: B

Cool Kids – Special Edition Grandmaster Deluxe

The Chicago hip-hop duo return after nearly a decade away from the scene and while hip-hop has changed, they stay true to themselves.

FINAL GRADE: B

Bjork – Utopia

Following her break-up record, Vulnicura, Bjork returns with a record about trying to find new love at her age and in a new era. Utopia is part pop record, part experimental, part celebratory but it is all pure Bjork.

FINAL GRADE: B

Listen to Our Essential Bjork Playlist on Spotify

 

N.E.R.D. – No One Ever Really Dies

The iconic alternative hip-hop group returns and as Pharrell and Chad Hugo give a series of fun and party starting beats, the record does take serious turns with guest appearances from Kendrick Lamar, Andre 3000, and Frank Ocean.

FINAL GRADE: B

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Who Built The Moon?

On his third solo record, Gallagher tries to become more experimental than ever before and there are moments where it works and other times it sounds like someone who is doing it just for the sake of being strange. The records best moments are when Gallagher sticks to the guns that helped skyrocket his career.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Listen to Our Essential Noel Gallagher Playlist on Spotify

Squeeze – The Knowledge

The rock vets return and while they are still going at a steadfast pace at their age they are not bringing anything new to the table and sticking with what works, which is why in 2017, a Squeeze record is more for longtime fans rather than new ones.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Stereophonics – Scream Above the Sounds

The Welsh band, who were once on top of the world, sound bored and dull on their latest. Scream Above the Sounds feels like a record putting out new music because they feel as if they have to and not want to.

FINAL GRADE: C

Eminem – Revival

The iconic rapper returns to take on the Trump administration and while his effort is valiant, it doesn’t require a full record. Revival sounds like a pop record infused with rap trying its hardest to be a protest album. While the bars and intensity is there, the cramming of too many styles makes the message sound forced.

FINAL GRADE: C-

Morrissey – Low in High School

The former Smiths singer returned with a cheeky new record but as the years have gone one, the caliber of his records has withered. Morrissey has not sounded inspired, excited, and interesting in nearly a decade and Low in High School is just more songs about self loathing and frustration. Yet, maybe after a series of headline making problems, cancelled shows, and controversies, Morrissey’s biggest problem is himself.

FINAL GRADE: D

2017 The Albums: Top 10

via GIPHY

It is that time of the year again, our favorite time actually, as well look back on the year in music and let you know our choices for the 10 best albums of the year.

See Our Picks for 2017's Honorable Album Mentions  

In the year we lost voices like Chris Cornell, Tom Petty, Chester Benington, Gord Downie, we were still recovering from last year with the losses of Prince and David Bowie.  

2017 came on right away with great music as artists like The xx, Joey Bada$$, Loyle Carner, and one of the first of many solid releases from King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, saturated it with great sounds. Some of the heavy hitters and Officially A Yuppie favorites released solid albums that didn't make the cut like U2, Bjork, Noel Gallagher, Depeche Mode, Mastodon, Lorde, Ride, Royal Blood, and Lana Del Rey among others. There were some major disappointments from heavy hitters like Gorillaz, At the Drive-In, Snoop Dogg, and TLC among others. 

Yet, then there was Kendrick Lamar, whose album, DAMN., we put in a League of its Own, as it was the most important record of the year.  

Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. Named Our 2017 'League of Their Own' Winner

While looking behind, 10 albums stood out for us and in our third and final list, we present the best of the year. These records not only made an impact to our ears but also have a welcomed longevity where we will be listening to them for years to come.

Here are our picks for the 10 Best Albums of the Year: 

10. Liam Gallagher - As You Were

9. Logic - Everybody

8. SZA - ctrl

7. JAY-Z - 4:44

6. Ryan Adams - Prisoner

5. Power Trip - Nightmare Logic

4. Thundercat - Drunk

3. St. Vincent - MASSEDUCATION

2. Future Islands - The Far Field

1. The Afghan Whigs - In Spades

Now in Long Form, With Explanations:

10. Liam Gallagher - As You Were

Generally it is Noel Gallagher in one of our Top 10 lists, but 2017 belonged to his younger brother and the voice of Oasis and Beady Eye. The anticipated solo debut from the former Oasis frontman is finally here and does not disappoint. The underrated Beady Eye released two solid records but now, on his own, the younger and more caustic Gallagher brother can bust out and prove his chops. With some of his best ballads, he brings forth a whole new dimension to a man you thought you knew.

 9. Logic - Everybody

Logic has developed a cult following thanks to Millennials but the Maryland rapper showcases his best work on his third studio album – Everybody. From the beats to the autobiographical lyrics to the in-your-face look at society, Logic proves he is just as much of a wordsmith as his contemporaries and not just some sensation for the young kids. With appearances by Neil deGrasse Tyson, Killer Mike, No I.D. and more, Logic is showing off he is for everybody.

8. SZA - ctrl

Our 2017 "Best New Artist" didn't pull any punches. Arriving with one of the best debuts in recent memory, the rapper blends R&B, soul, funk, into her autobiographical LP. Featuring Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Isaiah Rashad, among others, she pulls her influences from Tupac to the Fugees to Odd Future to give the new school a taste of the old in an artistic manner. If this is her first step towards stardom, we are strapped in for the ride forever. 

SZA Named 2017's Best New Artist

7. JAY-Z - 4:44

On his 13^th studio album, Jay-Z returns with what his best work since 2003’s The Black Album as well as his most personal record to date. What has plagued Jay Z for over a decade, including on Watch the Throne, is that he has nothing to talk about. He has seen and done it all and has Beyonce to call his wife to prove it. Yet, on 4:44, he opens up about his mistakes, setbacks, personal problems, and trying to sustain a legacy outside of being Queen Bey’s husband. 4:44 is easily one of the year’s best and one of his best records of his illustrious career. The minimal production from No I.D. is also a gem because HOVA is forcing the listener to pay attention to what he has to say and what needs to be said. This isn’t a record to blast in the car but one to indulge in on a good pair of headphones and shut the world away.  

6. Ryan Adams - Prisoner

Ryan Adams has always been an artist who wears his heart on his sleeve and on his latest record, his lets it beat in full force. Taking inspiration from his recent divorce, his struggle to find himself and the solace of being alone, Adams creates his best record in years. Touching on almost all of the different sub genres of rock and roll he has written and recorded in, Prisoner is him coming undone and back together again.

5. Power Trip - Nightmare Logic

Take the early thrash sound and production of Slayer, mix it with the technical metal of Megadeath and give it a storyline like early Protest the Hero and you have Power Trip’s fantastic new album. Nightmare Logic is a whiplash of force, power, and brutality rolled into one. More than just one of the best albums of the year, it is without a doubt, the best metal album this century. 

4. Thundercat - Drunk

If Key and Peele wrote songs for Prince it would sound like Thundercat's Drunk. The jazz, funk, psych bassist's third album is a concept record about getting drunk and figuring out life. While the record takes the listener on a musical journey and trip through some very strange places, it is an experience. The music gives the listener a visual idea of what they can play in their head when listening to it. Thundercat and the rest of the Brainfeeder label are the only artists pushing music in new directions and with the help of the label's master Flying Lotus as well as Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa, Pharrell, and others, Drunk is a trip and one you want to go back to.

Listen To Our Essential St. Vincent Playlist on Spotify

3. St. Vincent - MASSEDUCATION

In 2017, we named St. Vincent an icon simply because of her shape-shifting, never stop, never cease creating attitude. The androgynous singer and songwriter is more than just a musician, she has become a cultural phenom much like David Bowie and Bjork before her. MASSEDUCATION is what you make of it -- a tongue in cheek look at society, a heartbreak record, a recovery album, it raises questions and also makes you want more. It is essential art for this day and age and we should be thrilled we are living in a world where St. Vincent has the paintbrush.

St. Vincent is 2017's Officially A Icon  

2. Future Islands - The Far Field

On their fifth record, Baltimore experimental outfit Future Islands delivers their thunderous best. The Far Field is a record about obsession, love, passion, and captivation. It is a record that also captures the rawness and intensity of their live shows and even gets applause from heavy hitters like Debbie Harry from Blondie who appears on the album to led her voice.  

1. The Afghan Whigs - In Spades

In their second record since reuniting in 2012, the Afghan Whigs prove they are without a doubt America’s most underrated rock and roll band. On their latest record, In Spades, a contender for Album of the Year, the Whigs show off their funk, rock, goth rock, R&B, and alternative swagger like never before. Like a fine wine not only do they get better with age, singer Greg Dulli is writing some of the best work of his career – and this is a career that spans over 30 years. As the band tour behind the record and seem to be in good spirits, be thankful we are living in a time when they are consistently giving us brilliant music.  

Listen to Our Essential Afghan Whigs Playlist on Spotify

Noel Gallagher on 'Jools Holland'

Watch Noel Gallagher perform "She Taught Me How to Fly" on Later... with Jools Holland.

Quick News

Legendary rock and roll pioneer and icon, Fats Domino, passed away Wednesday in New Orleans at 89. The musician, who was one of the first to ever be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, is credited for helping to usher in rock and roll to mainstream audiences in the early 1950s. His family has not released a cause of death but did put out a statement on Facebook:

A medical scare for U2's Bono is said to be a big crux of their upcoming album, Songs of Experience. In an interview with Q magazine, Bono said: "I don’t want to get too into the details of it, for fear of the melodramatic reality-TV kerfuffle. A lot of people have these moments. I’ve had a few. Not quite at this level." He continued to say how the scare helped shape the new batch of songs: "It’s just one of those moments when nothing else matters. So what do you have to say for yourself? And what do you want to say to the people that you love?" The Edge added: "It was serious enough that he genuinely had a major fright. But where that brought him to as a writer was an amazing place."

Also speaking to Q magazine was Noel Gallagher, who was asked again about a possible Oasis reunion. "I’ve been very consistent about it,” he said. “I don’t need the money, I don’t need the glory, I don’t need to relive the memories. If I was to get Oasis back together tomorrow and then do a tour, I’d have a hundred million dollars in the bank but I’d have learnt fuck all. I’d have actually wasted a year of being in the studio with a person like David Holmes. It would be the death of me as a person. I could understand if we were a band who’d been going for five years and were just at out peak, but Oasis have got no unfinished business. We did it. We fucking did it, and then some. It’s done.”

Thurston Moore is teaming up with This Heat drummer Charles Hayward, to release a collaborative album titled Improvisations, which will be out December. The record will be a vinyl-only release.

Noel Gallagher Announces Third Solo Record

Just a month after his brother Liam releases his solo debut, former Oasis guitarist and songwriter, Noel Gallagher will release his third record with his High Flying Birds in November. The record, Who Built the Moon? is said to be a psychedelic rock record and will feature Paul Weller and Johnny Marr. 

Listen to Our Essential Noel Gallagher Playlist on Spotify

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and watch the album trailer. 

01 Fort Knox
02 Holy Mountain
03 Keep On Reaching
04 It's A Beautiful World
05 She Taught Me How To Fly
06 Be Careful What You Wish For
07 Black & White Sunshine
08 Interlude (Wednesday Part 1)
09 If Love Is The Law
10 The Man Who Built The Moon
11 End Credits (Wednesday Part 2)

Quick News

Soul singer Charles Bradley passed away over the weekend at 68. The singer, who found fame later in life, was said to be surrounded by loved ones in New York City when he passed. Earlier this month, he cancelled the remainder of his 2017 tour after it was announced that cancer returned to his body following a bout with stomach cancer last year, which he had beat. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

The Darkness have announced that they will release their new album, Pinewood Smile, next month.

El-P of Run the Jewels was asked to score the trailer for the upcoming Blade Runner 2049 and took to Instagram this weekend to announce that his music was rejected. He did share a snippet and was happy he was at once in consideration for the role.

here is a snippet of my rejected (or ignored) blade runner 2049 trailer score. honestly even being asked to demo it up was an honor. all synths done on the yamaha cs80, which as you may know is the same synth vangelis used for the original.

A post shared by thereallyrealelp (@thereallyrealelp) on Sep 22, 2017 at 8:31pm PDT

Robyn has taken to Instagram to tease that she is working on some new music after the success of 2010's Body Talk series.

I know its been a while since i released something that connected to where the last album left off. Thank you for all the love and care im recieving here and in other various places on the internets. Lucky for me that you're sticking around even though Im taking my time. Working on something, trying to make it worth the wait. 🤞🏻

A post shared by robynkonichiwa (@robynkonichiwa) on Sep 25, 2017 at 4:42pm PDT

Noel Gallagher is selling off loads of vintage Oasis gear and equipment. If you got the cash, take a look at Reverb for what he is selling.

U-God of Wu-Tang Clan has announced that he will release his memoir, RAW: My Journey Into the Wu-Tang Clan, which will follow his days as a child in Staten Island to joining one of the most influential groups of all time.

Quick News

Sad news to report, Husker Du drummer and co-founder Grant Hart passed away at 56, according to the band's social media accounts and Bob Mould's Facebook page. While the cause of death is unknown, Hart was battling cancer. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and band.

The Damned will record their 11th album next month with producer Tony Visconti, it will be their first in over a decade and will be released sometime next years.

Speaking to BBC, Blondie said that they approached Noel Gallagher to write a song for them. “That one’s a shocker for a lot of people,” drummer Clem Burke said. "I approached Noel Gallagher for a song a couple of years back and the first thing he said was, ‘I’ll trade you for ‘Hanging on the Telephone” and I said, ‘Guess what? We didn’t write that one.'”

Four Tet's new album, New Energy, will arrive at the end of the month and the beat maker has released the tracklisting. Take a look:
01. Alap
02. Two Thousand And Seventeen
03. LA Trance
04. Tremper
05. Lush
06. Scientists
07. Falls 2
08. You Are Loved
09. SW9 9SL
10. 10 Midi
11. Memories
12. Daughter
13. Gentle Soul
14. Planet

Kendrick Lamar spoke to Billboard magazine and revealed that his breakthrough album, 2013's Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, has multiple versions aside from what was released. “We did good kid about three, four times before the world got to it,” he said. “New songs, new everything. I wanted to tell that story, but I had to execute it. My whole thing is about execution. The songs can be great, the hooks can be great, but if it’s not executed well, then it’s not a great album.” No word if those versions will ever see the light of day.

Noel Gallagher Gets Tearful at Manchester Arena Opening

Manchester native, Noel Gallagher helped reopen Manchester Arena Saturday night after May's terrorist attack after an Ariana Grande concert. The former Oasis guitarist and songwriter closed his show with his former band's classic "Don't Look Back in Anger," which brought him to tears. Take a look.

Listen to Our Essential Noel Gallagher Playlist on Spotify

Quick News

#fuckthatsdelicious THE BOOK HAS ARRIVED AND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE WORLD ON SEPTEMBER 12th. TMRE I WILL UNLEASH A *CHICKEN PARM* RECIPE THAT WILL WOW DINERS FROM HERE TO KATMANDU. PRE ORDER THIS FUCKING THING PLEASE. @munchies PRE ORDER IN BIO.

A post shared by Action Bronson (@bambambaklava) on Aug 16, 2017 at 3:21pm PDT

Next month, Action Bronson will release his first cookbook, Fuck, That's Delicious. Take a look at the trailer, above.

Noel Gallagher is set to reopen the Manchester Arena is Manchester, England, following the May bombings at the venue after an Ariana Grande concert. Gallagher, who will be supported by Blossoms and The Courteeners, for the September gig will donate all of the profits from the show to the Manchester Relief Fund.

According to reports, U2's long awaited Songs of Experience album, will be out in December to mark World AIDS Day. The band have not confirmed the news but a new single is expected arrive next month as they kick off the third and fourth legs of their massively successful Joshua Tree 30th anniversary tour.

St Vincent is set to make her directorial debut as she will helm an all-female cast in the adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s 1890 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray for Lionsgate.

DOOM will release a new album from his former hip-hop outfit KMD, which he formed in 1988 when he was known as Zev Love X. The record, Crack in Time, the first KMD album in 25 years.

Playlist

As summer winds down, here is August's Playlist which features 27 random musical musings of what we are listening to.

Quick News

A post shared by Björk (@bjork) on Aug 2, 2017 at 7:48am PDT

Bjork took to social media Wednesday to announce that she will be releasing a new album this year and it is near completion. The Icelandic icon spoke to Dazed magazine and said that the record is about her finding herself after her bitter breakup with her husband a few years ago. She said her new album is “about being in love. Spending time with a person you enjoy on every level is obviously utopia. I mean, it’s real. It’s when the dream becomes real.” She added that the untitled LP is her "Tinder record," saying: "I set myself up with the last album being a heartbreak album, so everyone’s gonna be like, ‘Are you married?’ with this one. But... it’s too fragile still. I think, if I could, I’d just say this is my dating album. Let’s just leave it there.”

The Verve's classic, Urban Hymns turns 20 this year and singer Richard Ashcroft has revealed that Liam Gallagher had a secret cameo on the album. He spoke to BBC 6 Music recently, saying: "I mean there’s lots of jokes within the album. Liam Gallagher is on the last track ‘Come On’. I don’t think anyone knows this, but if you concentrate you can hear some demented guy screaming ‘come on’. I imagine everyone thinks that’s me, but I remember him doing it. He arrived at the studio with the tape of a song he’d just done with [Stone Roses’ guitarist] John Squire. He proceeded, as he does, to play it 15 times in a row in the studio. I played him ‘Bittersweet [Symphony]’, then I said ‘we’re doing ‘Come On’ now, you gotta be on it. He went into this booth with someone else, and he was going ballistic at the end of it – smashing the tambourine against the side of the vocal booth, screaming.”

Gallagher, who cut his Lollapalooza set short Thursday citing issues with his vocal chords, recently spoke out to Howard Stern that he would do an Oasis reunion in a heartbeat. “Without a doubt,” Gallagher replied. “That’s my band, you know what I mean? When we start liking each other, inevitably, I think the next step would be to take the band out for a little spin around the block. I love Oasis. It’s the best thing ever." Oasis split in 2009 and Liam and Noel Gallagher have not spoken since. He later added: "“I love my brother. We’re just going through a little dodgy patch at the moment.”

Motorhead will release a covers album called Undercover in September. The album features covers of David Bowie, The Ramones, Metallica, Sex Pistols, and others.

A basketball court in the Bed-Stuy section of Brooklyn has been renamed "Christopher 'Biggie' Wallace Courts" in honor of the late Notorious BIG who grew up near the area.

Andre 3000 spoke to Complex and said he calls rap a hobby and probably won't do another Outkast record with Big Boi. He said: "I kind of like not being a part of [rap], now that I’ve done it. As I get older, I start to see myself move more back from it—the hustle and bustle of putting out an album, the pressure of being in the studio trying to come up with something. Now it’s more like a hobby for me, so I don’t think about it in that way.” He added: "At this stage I’m really more focused on what I am going to be doing 10 years from now. And I hope to God it won’t be rapping."

Foo Fighters have confirmed that Paul McCartney will be on their upcoming album, Concrete and Gold, not as a singer, guitarist, or bassist but as a drummer.