[AlbumOTD] Scroobius Pip - DISTRACTION PIECES

Artist: Scroobius Pip

Genre: A'cappella/Hip Hop
Location: Stanford-le-Hope, Essex. UK.
Label Type: Indie
Record Label: Speech Development/Strange Famous 

Website: http://scroobiuspip.co.uk/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Scroobiuspipyo

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scroobiuspip

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/scroobiuspip

Today is the day that the wonderful Scroobius Pip begins his assault on the UK album chart with the release of ‘Distraction Pieces’. Though he has been releasing albums with fellow accomplice dan le sac, this is his first solo album since debut release ‘No Commercial Breaks’ in 2006. Yes, this album misses le sac’s beats and his ability to make the tracks that little bit more catchy, but I guess that’s what the collaboration is there for. This individual album however, has a different agenda with no real concern for traditional song structure. Scroob offers spoken-word, social and political commentary as an alternative to straight-up rap in the hip-hop scene.

The 9-track offering is short and sharp but still manages to incorporate a host of highly regarded individuals within the music industry. Take the introduction single, ‘Introdiction’, culminating a splendid mix of diction and a crafty beat, with Blink-182’s legendary Travis Barker stamping his mark on the track with some expert drumming.

Next up comes the stand-out track ‘Let em Come’ featuring P.O.S and long-time influence Sage Francis. This tune is somewhat influenced by Pip’s love in the football (soccer) world, Millwall FC. Firstly, the title is the same as the one associated with the football club. Secondly, the track includes the line ‘No one likes us but we don’t care’, a claim also chanted from the terraces at the Den (the Lion’s Den), where Millwall FC ply their trade. Furthermore, comparisons between the two also come from the inclusion in both Sage and P.O.S’s verses of the term 'lions'. This is a coincidence as it also the nickname for Millwall FC, however, Pip has admitted that this was not planned, and in fact was simply a canny coincidence.

The lyrical genius offers something different to anything or anyone else in the music industry today. The incomparable Pip looks at sentences in alternative angles to anyone else around. Though with too many examples to cite, I will simply just use the title of track three to demonstrate this: ‘Domestic Silence’. This is a dark, progressively heavy tune centred around loneliness. This is subsequently followed by a great portrayal of drums and guitars on the track ‘Try Dying’, produced by Worgie and Yila, who also have a major influence on the production of the album as a whole.

Another name-drop to include is Radio 1’s Zane Lowe, who has done a magnificent job of producing the track ‘Death Of The Journalist’. This song is a chronological portrayal of the demise of journalism beginning with a description of the 1930’s outlook in which they reported exactly how it is, not exaggerating news that isn’t there, just for the sake of it. This continues right the way through to his frank and honest rant of the present day development of internet bloggers. Yes, that includes the likes of us.

One other person to makes an appearance on the album is close friend, B Dolan. He performs on the track ‘Soulja Boy (kill em)’ with his fast rapping, complementing Pip’s wonderful exhibition of political poetry, and the title a piss-take of US rapper Soulja Boy. This is followed by ‘The Struggle’ which certainly a grower, and is rumoured to be the next track for which a video will be shot.

But the man with two watches knows the time to drop the heartfelt tracks, as ‘Broken Promise’ and the cover of Kate Bush’s ‘Feel It’ finish off the album with Natasha Fox providing her own soulful delivery over that of Pip’s recital on the latter of the two. Whilst the former is based around the wonderfully reflective line ‘Is a lie really a lie, if you mean it at the time?’.

Distraction Pieces is produced by Renholder (AKA Danny Lohner) of Nine Inch Nails and is released today in the UK via Pip's very own Speech Development records, and in the US on Sage Francis’ Strange Famous records. To serve purely as a teaser, here are the characteristically innovative videos for 'Introdiciton' and ‘Let ‘Em Come’:

Matthew Evans

[TuneOTD] Blink-182 - AFTER MIDNIGHT

Artist: Blink-182

Genre: Punk/Rock/Progressive
Location: San Diego, CA.
Label Type: Major/Indie
Record Label: Geffen/Interscope Records 

Website: http://www.blink182.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/blink182

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/blink182

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/blink182

Blink-182 are back having recently released their third single since their much publicised comeback into the music industry. Their new single, ‘After Midnight’ follows recent releases ‘Up All Night’ and ‘Heart’s All Gone’. The latter of the three, (and possibly the pick of the three) will only be on the 13-track expanded edition of the eagerly anticipated new album, ‘Neighborhoods’, whereas the other two will make an appearance along with 8 others on the standard edition scheduled for release on September 27^th. It will be the first alubm since the self-titled album in 2003. Furthermore, the track-listing has already been pencilled in for the band’s sixth full-length studio album, which you can see here. The album was originally expected to be released in the summer of 2010 but they failed to meet the deadlines in order for this to happen, which subsequently resulted in a postponement of the 2011 European Tour. In fact it was revealed by Mark Hoppus that this postponement was what sparked the inspiration for writing today’s ‘Tune of the Day’.

So, on to the single itself. Well, on ‘After Midnight’ you can clearly identify the influences that each member has taken from previous bands Angels & Airwaves, +44 and Box Car Racer. The song is a far cry away from the fast-paced ferocious punk rock that one would associate with the name, Blink-182. Rather it is slower, more mellow, and in all honesty, a bit bland. Perhaps age is catching up with the trio, or maybe this is signs of maturity. It is now more an exhibition of progressive rock incorporating traits of an anthemic tune, one not too dissimilar to the likes of 2004’s ‘Always’. The track integrates the romantic verses of Tom DeLonge and the carefree chorus of Mark Hoppus, whilst Travis Barker is faultless on the drums as ever. However, with the chorus being so carefree it spills over into being lazy and lackadaisical at times, resulting in quite a weak effort. 

The meaning behind the track is difficult to distinguish given the timing of the writing of the track and the lyrics for it. However, one thing you can conclude is that there has been no passion lost in their song-writing over the last 8 years. With each song they release, they illustrate alternate angles and different versions of each of their lives, as well as an additional perspective of their lives as a single unit. 

In terms of distribution for this track, the band have decided to make a game of it offering a free download of the song as a reward for completion of the mini-game. This is a nice creative touch of innovation which you can see for yourself here.

Below is the official video for the song. Enjoy!

Matthew Evans