Art & Culture
Sound Bytes
Golden Oldies versus the New Kids
By Alex George
Spring is about to be sprung onto us and accompanying the beautiful weather I’m hoping shall be beautiful music. This year has already given us some great new artists, but it seems the old hands are set to pull out a few stops and treat us to their vision of what’s “on trend”.
First to do so is Madonna, with her new record Rebel Heart set for release on 6 March. With collaborations from Swedish producer Avicii and American DJ Diplo I’m guessing Madge will be sticking with her housey-pop mix of music we’ve heard from her for the last 15 years or so now.
With a look of 50 Shades of Grey about the album cover, I for one really hope it has a little more substance to it than just another façade of what record execs think will sell by the truck load.
Brian Wilson has assembled an all-star supporting cast for his new album, No Pier Pressure, which is scheduled to arrive on 7 April via Capitol Records. Along with performances from a number of long-time musical peers, including several of his former Beach Boys band-mates, Wilson’s new LP boasts Kacey Musgraves, fun.’s Nate Ruess and She & Him’s Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward.
Wilson began working on his 11th solo LP with long-time collaborator Joe Thomas in 2012 as the Beach Boys reunited for their 50th anniversary, touring the country and releasing a new album, That’s Why God Made the Radio. Initially, Wilson intended to record his new songs with the Beach Boys, but when the songwriter and group parted ways once again he sought out guest singers to help finish the job.
Still to be announced for 2015 album releases are the likes of Def Leppard, Duran Duran, Fleetwood Mac, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Van Morrison. Can the old (and I say old in the best way possible) favourites of the music industry beat the new kids this year? If they can all get along in the studio long enough, I say yes!
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