EOIN BUTLER's guide to downloads, singles and free audiostreams
THE SUBZTITUTES
Bring It On! Bring It On! **
My journey to the Euro 2012 fan anthem heart of darkness is almost over. I'll spare you Ronnie Drew's trad-singing cousin. I'll spare you the songwriter who claims he went to school with Robbie Keane. The Subztitutes are Paul Brady and Micky Joe Harte. That's right, a singer- songwriter lauded by Bob Dylan and, well, Micky Joe Harte. Bizarre. Inexplicable. Unlistenable. Next week: Van Morrison and The Carter Twins do Give It a Lash Jack. Presumably. itunes.com
R KELLY
Share My LoveJive **
“I just want to share my love,” warbles R Kelly, shattering the assumptions of absolutely no one in the process. Keep it in your trousers for once, R., then write a song about that. Zzzzzzz . . .
FRIENDS
Mind Control Lucky Number **
The One Where They Record an Underwhelming Disco Follow-up to I’m His Girl.
JUSTIN BIEBER
Die In Your ArmsIsland ****
This isn’t a cover of the old Cutting Crew 1980s power ballad. Instead it’s an original, freakishly catchy retro number in the Jackson 5/Motown vein. Bieber’s third studio album, Believe, is out June 18th.
TENACIOUS D
Rock Is DeadEpic **
“Bottle of Jack, Mercury Fred/ Muscle Car, Grateful Dead.” Jack Black and Kyle Gass are back with a third album, Rize of the Fenix. To be honest, they’ve been beating this dead horse for so long now, I’ve forgotten what the joke was.
NAS
Daughters Def Jam ***
Woah – how long was I asleep? As recently as Remember the Times, Nas was boasting about his own sexual exploits with women named Brenda, Chelsea, Toya, Sheila and Eiserea. Now the rapper has done a 180 on the issue of female sexuality. Why? Because his 17-year-old daughter Instagrammed a photo of some condoms on her dresser. Well, at least she’s responsible.
