Soundtrack To Your Weekend Drive
This feature has been one of the more sporadic ones on Blokesincars and now I no longer have the access to the latest and greatest music (moved jobs, boo hoo) it’s even harder. But like a needy sad case in a failing relationship, I’m determined to make this work. So here’s a list of new albums that perfectly accompany a weekend blast along the B-roads
Nas- Life is Good
The hip-hop world has been longing for Nas to end his four-year hiatus and return to the studios. Now the wait is over and… drumroll please… it has been very much worth it. This is purist hip-hop, no Vocoder in sight and no collaboration with some up-and-coming grime sensation, either. Loco-Motive is the most head-bopping track we’ve heard in years, while Summer on Smash takes a pinch of Kanye and turns it into a huge club banger. Borrow a blacked-out Merc C-Class, turn this up and cruise through town wit ya homiez.
Lawrence Arabia- The Sparrow
Load this album into the CD changer (or play it from your iTunes if you’re lucky enough to own a modern car) and turn every journey into an epic, sweeping road trip. Lawrence Arabia fuse big string sections with melancholic lyrics and intricate piano keys. Lick Your Wounds has a brilliant, film soundtrack feel to it and many tracks on the album have the ability to turn most normal situations into a scene from a French art-house movie. This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but coupled with a vintage Citroen DS and a Parisian beauty in the passenger seat, it may just tickle a few taste buds.
Lemonade – Diver
The San Francisco alternative dance troupe may not be on many music radars but they chuffing well deserve to be. Picture Friendly Fires on a slight comedown, a mellower approach to the dance/indie crossover that fuses synths with guitars. The lyrics sound pained but quirky, Ibiza-inspired tracks like Ice Water perk things up a bit. It’s awesomely summery in a weird, depressing sort of way.
The View- Cheeky For a Reason
The scampish Scottish four-piece return with yet another album of tongue-in-cheek song writing and furious guitar riffs. So much more polished than previous offering Which Bitch?, the latest release features catchy pop ditties such as How Long and Hold On Now, interspersed with the grungier Hole In The Head. Pop it on and put your foot down!
