Eoin Butler's guide to downloads, singles and free audiostreams
EMINEM ft LIL WAYNE
No Love Interscope **
Mathers has been stagnating artistically for years, we know that. But when he releases a single with a Haddaway sample where the chorus should be – that’s when we realise how far he’s fallen. (Still harping on about the guys who picked on you in school, Em? You’re 38 years old, get a grip!) Not even a guest spot by Lil Wayne can shake him out of his stupor here. “Where the [bleep] is Kanye when you need him?” he asks eventually. To whit . . .
KANYE WEST ft BON IVER
Lost in the World
Roc-a-Fella
*****
Crossover collaborations between artists from diverse genres are often little more than crass, cynical marketing exercises. (Think rapper Nelly’s unlikely “friendship” with country singer Tim McGraw.) But whatever you say about Kanye West, the man is not a cynic. In his head, and his head only, the formula “rapper + folk singer + Gil Scott Heron sample = pop gold” seemed like a good ideas. And by processing each of those strands through the prism of his unique musical brain, he actually pulls it off. In some style too.
SWEET JANE
Close Your Eyes Reekus Records ***
Sweet Jane play rock music the way it used to be played. That’s not necessarily a compliment, but there’s no denying their talent. They’ll be at Dublin’s Button Factory this evening as part of Hard Working Class Heroes’ 2FM v Today FM night.
KATY PERRY
Milk Milk Lemonade *
"Milk, milk, lemonade," goes the chorus. "Round the back's where chocolate's made." If the none-too-subtle innuendo escapes you (and if it does, good for you) there's plenty more puerile nonsense about cucumbers, bananas and Perry being "open 24-hours". (Urgh!) Wisely purged from her Teenage Dream album, Milk Milk Lemonadecontinues to pop up online, only to be squelched Whack- a-Mole style by her record company. Awe-inspiringly terrible. youtube.com