MOVIE REVIEW: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN-WESTERN STARS

4/5

Springsteen On Highway.

80 Mins. Starring: Bruce Springsteen. Director: Bruce Springsteen & Thom Zimny. 

Look up with weary revelry from the highways of your drive all night in your top down American muscle on this 66 like hustle and the road map you've been searching for on all these long and windings may just lead you up to the endless heavens. That's where in the middle of this desert deserted Kerouac beat road were you were born to run you can see all the stars that shine like the neon skyscrapers that half awake blink a million miles away. Thats where in the middle of this concrete paved path you'll see these 'Western Stars' and the friend serving as driver and narrator you're riding shotgun with, The Boss, Bruce Springsteen. And boy does the man from New Jersey still have a story to tell on this Springsteen to the American dream. Off from his billion dollar Broadway run in association with the Netflix streaming service that can even turn De Niro into a young 'Irishman', Springsteen leaves New York like R.E.M. said was never easy and hits the open road like Jack for what might be his most personal project since deep in depression and divorce he drove through a 'Tunnel Of Love' with a 'Brilliant Disguise' on 'Valentine's Day'. Navigating the twists and turns of love and life with no more J. Blige drama, but the soul of Dylan introspection trading electric for going acoustic, The Boss of all bosses (sorry, not so much, Rick Ross) Summertime 'Western Stars' set was one of Bruce's best. As nostalgic majestic as the nag that galloped on the amazing artwork. But if you though that was a perfect picture than you key in the ignition ain't seen nothing yet. As revving this project back up to close out with a fork in the road left turn the year and decade he's redefined with his own personal redefinition, Springsteen alongside frequent collaborator Thom Zimny ('Springsteen On Broadway') has made his directorial debut with the 'Western Stars' concert movie. One which going against the mystifying INXS 'Live Baby Live' 1991, Wembley, London stadium show from the amazing Aussie ruling rockers to accompany the 'Mystify' Michael Hutchence lovers tell all documentary film shown on limited screens all around the world, showstopping show these 'Stars' are much more than just gigs on the big screen in concert with anniversary cash grab opportunity. Although the boot strapped, blue workman dream may be denim wearing thin, Bruce reveals his true self in a way we've never seen or heard before from the living legend with the other great American songbook.

Roadside walk into any accompanying, vintage Americana bar on your road and you just may barstool see him just sitting there breaking complimentary nuts like he does the backs and spirits of the demons in his rearview in these ghosts of Christmas past. The 'Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town' singer who has three verses and a chorus in his back pocket for any season or reason, gives you one for the Autumn of your life between the Spring in your 'steen step and the fall were more than you first thought or dreaded just slips through your fingers like the sinks water, as you wash your hands and the face that stares black to you in this bar bathroom's mirror wallpaper bordered by the graffiti of former lovers and Kings who once held a throne here for so long they thought it fitting to carve this proclamation into the foundation forever (did we just romanticise the longest date with the porcelain? Hey, some nights are just like that). All before you offer him another round for one last drink and toast to all he left behind as he hits the stage of an amazing acoustic and beautiful barn befitting for the perfect wedding if you and yours make it that far down the road in Colts Neck, Jersey. But the track by track songs on concert aren't the biggest draw to all this great American worlds stage via the old familiar lane of E Street. It's what inspiringly interlude weaves like a highway in between. Wise words have never been so retrospectively spoken in this nuanced narration, not for his classic catalogue, but the shape of his heart and life that wrote the pages. This may ponder more than you and your lover over what you're having for dinner (who cares...just be with each other), but what's so good about motoring forward without rearview retrospect looking back? The idea that you have no idea where you're heading if you can't remember where you came from is only a cliche because it's as true as the lines in your hands or the shadows that circle around the souls of your eyes. And this one is two coins away from your rights of passage in this life. There's nothing wrong with looking inward to better ourselves see what we can give out to others. Even a million selling, all American hero like Springsteen can confront his corruptions and wrestle with his demons, because no one's perfect. The only perfection is over your former self, not your fellow man and like a saying as golden as that this true testament would only be the self indulgence of a narcissist if it was just for him. But hasn't Bruce offered us a workman's helping hand and seat in his pooled car all his long and winding life as America's Lennon? From the Jersey boy boardwalk to his first love that he's still singing about...his car. What would he or we (even this writer that still shamefully doesn't drive) on our individual journeys be without it and its romantic metaphors together through this life like the black and white backseat of some late Bob Dylan classics, gunning like a McQueen 'Bullit' away from those suicide machines?

'Hitch Hikin'' like a 'Wayferer' and riding a 'Tuscon Train' to these 'Western Stars' with only the 'Stones' you gave me. Driving fast like 'The Stuntman', 'Chasin' Wild Horses' all the way to 'Sleepy Joe's Cafe' at 'Sundown', before saying 'Hello Sunshine' to a 'Moonlight Motel', 'Somewhere North of Nashville'. 'There Goes My Miracle' with a rhinestone Glen Campbell encore cover. Shot after shot, Springsteen raises it up encore after encore as he barn dances through every track of his new, instant vintage classic with the horse power of a 30 piece strong orchestra and his wife Patti, just a calender after it was just him and his guitar (and of course one more from his baby on the road) like my rifle, pony and me on the stage of stages in the bright lights of the big city. Singing from the same songsheet of the guy who goes three hours night after night (like you only wish you could), giving his all like LeBron James, no load management because (and I'm paraphrasing more than somewhat here), "there could be some kid sitting in the audience, coming to see me for the first time after saving up all their hard earned money, so I can't take a night off." But bordered between these pieces of profound prose from the road is some personal portraits for the perfect photo album to accompany this musical accompaniments journey journal. And from stetson to steed and all that highway lassoing horse power, some classic cinematography imagery that is so moviemaking canon you could tone it sepia, as this roadmap takes us from classic California dreams to U2's Joshua Tree. After the brilliant British, 'Blinded By The Light' love essay to Springsteen's music made for a Elton John, 'Rocketman', Beatles, 'Yesterday' and George Michael 'Last Christmas' tribute year of Britpop blockbusters, Springsteen adds a second cinematic adventure to his legend and the legacy making of a potential second career as a different type of auteur as director. The American West hasn't been this iconic since John Wayne shot the same stuntman Springsteen sings about for a thousand drinks of his liquid supper. And off that one story this book is as open as the road. As this road resonates like your own one heart and soul, pedal to the metal. Even for this writer feeling so good to be home for the holidays in between his travelling tour of the Far East, lost in Tokyo's Translation. Jet-lag waking up hours before everyone else with the morning, putting this film on with the Christmas lights. Illuminating all that's past with nostalgia and the road ahead with a pilgrims hope. In the end this is Springsteen's story and his journey, but like sticking out our thumb down the road it's for us too as he opens the door and with a welcoming hand offers us a seat. At least for the "where you headed", next couple of states of Grace. In the land of hope and dreams the man who once told us, "you'll need a good companion for this part of the ride" is exactly that with his hand firmly on the wheel of the poetry of his runaway American dream. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Springsteen On Broadway', 'Blinded By The Light', 'Rolling Thunder Revue'. 

REVIEW: BECK-HYPERSPACE

4/5

Hypermusic.

Beck is back! Riding on a hyperdrive highway to Neptune with Pharrell Williams in the 'Star Wars' of this 'Hyperspace'. Illuminating the airwaves like a light saber. Or the neon of Japan. In the 80's Tokyo typography for your yellow Tower Records that graces this albums artwork with that era automobile for the people. Now as the headlights of this lipstick red classic open like Bill Murray's weary to in Shinjuku awe eyes, as his jet lag fever dream Shibuya crosses over to the electric opening of 'Lost In Translation', many music geeks are calling this Beck's best bet in years. As he takes "two turntables and a microphone" for some N.E.R.D. production from urban legend Pharrell (hey the Grammy guys still got it...he discovered this year's best new artist and album, Maggie Rogers in a past life somewhere between New York University and 'Alaska'), getting as hip-hop as a 'Devils Haircut' mop of a shaggy dog jumping cruft hurdles...'Odelay'. Although we bum rushing the stage like Kanye think two years ago his classic 'Colors' was the most "luminous moose", 'WOW' vibrant, album of the year. Just like Mr. West did when Beck took home the Grammy for the 'Sea Change' spiritual sequel of the 'Morning View' break-up ballad awakening iconic piece of art. As a matter of fact in this 'Modern Guilt', Beck has been on his epic experimental, lo-fi high standard like the rest of his career for the best part of a decade now. And now on the eve year of his, "I Keanu believe he's a half century" 50th birthday he's about to be awarded another. Sit down Yeezus! 'Jesus' may be 'King', but 'Hyperspace' takes the crown at warp speed...sorry wrong Trek.

Cool as a Casio with even more backlight in this digital age. 'ハイパースペース'  begins with the immersive, ignition intro 'Hyperlife' , before beautiful beats bring atmosphere to 'Uneventful Days'. Which is classic Beck from the outset, like you've just now heard it for years when he sings, "Uneventful days, uneventful nights/Living in that dark, waiting for the light." But there's fondness in that familiarity. And there's even more in the country twang road stop of some 90's era Bek David Campbell on the 'Saw Lightning' surefire hit single that is still hip to Pharrell's hop. With the man from Virigina's background raps attesting. What began as rock star Beck working on the new N*E*R*D album (oh yes!) ended up being a as Williams tweets "highway music", Crockett and Tubbs partnership in this vintage ride. As Beck blesses this album with a speedometer discs avant garde artwork. Picture perfect for the return of the vinyl age in some white on red 'Miami Vice', South Beach suit, sleeves rolled up like an 80's classic that will feel like it's dust jacket been in the crates for cycles. The time to be alive in Japan and that age of American they still soak up like classic candy, John Hughes, throwbacks or thrift shop Tommy Hilfiger. Just like another sure to be single on 'Die Trying', were Beck lays it all down in wait. 'I don't care what I have to do" he yearns and burns. Or on 'Chemical' that is auditory 'Acid For The Children' like Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea's audiobook that alongside 'Me' by Elton John and Prince's unfinished last word of 'The Beautiful Ones' in a big three of books that is dominating the festive buying period this Christmas for music memoirs. We'd love one from the mind of Beck, a musical scientist...whose no Scientologist. But we get these pop art albums are exactly that, as right now he's the only artist this year to inhabit the same space as Maggie Rogers or King Princess, who are really doing something with the sound instead of just talking (or tweeting) about it. That's for the birds. Cheep, cheep.

We can look straight past all that transparency like 'See Through' that 'Sea Change' sounds underwater as you drown in the depths of sleep for this midnite hour city music that takes you higher than any substance in fading neon. On the 'Hyperspace' title track with Pharrell's production sounding halfway between Common's 'Universal Mind Control', or the Neptune planetary sign he reached with Kelis' 'Kaleidoscope', Beck sings about his life that shares the same name, "Faster / Farther / Longer / Harder / I just wanna grow and grow / Beauty, light and crushing life / Wanna feel more and more", taking it all the way to NASA, no problem Houston like Harden. Rocketing, electric life is his brain. Bowie beauty is reached for like the stars in this Ad Astra age, scraping the 'Stratosphere' in the playlists most epic and evoking track. "Turn me around/Collision course with the sun/Far above the ground/Halfway to oblivion", he sings at peace, "high as the moon," "somewhere (he) can disappear". Away from the 'Dark Places' which is another strong single that will be observatory played from the Big Smoke of London's Greenwich to the La La Land of Hollywood's Griffith in the hills park, dancing like Stone and Gosling to its vivid beauty. But nothing shoots for the moon like 'Star'...and nothing sounds quite like it, for the freshest cut on this set of classics. Before the 'Everlasting Nothing' of this LCD like soundsystem (oh baby) takes us all the way back home. "You threw the keys to the kingdom/Over a skyscraper wall/Sowing seeds somewhere obsolete/In the everlasting nothing/It's been a long night in the slipstream/I thought I'd crash and burn if I came down/When I did, I found a friend to take me home." All the way back down to the earth's atmosphere after a good half hour of your head being out of this world, in the clouds like Mercury, Venus, Mars. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'Saw Lightning', 'Chemical', 'Stratosphere'.

REVIEW: PUSS N BOOTS-DEAR SANTA E.P.

4/5

Santa's Boots.

Writing their Christmas cards early this year with 'Dear Santa', Puss N Boots wrap up a Christmas album like John Legend or She & Him tis season. As Antonio Banderas paws some baubles with those cats got the cream big eyes of his...oh wait, wrong Puss N Boots Christmas special. Not Shrek! We're talking about the American alternative, country blues act from Brooklyn, New York, formed by Norah Jones, Catherine Popper and Sasha Dobson in 2008. In 2014 they released their definitive debut, 'No Fools, No Fun' to rave reviews and a new career stage for Miss Jones. Who along with The Little Willie's and a new way of releasing music with this year's classic 'Begin Again' sessions is always looking to push the 'Come Away With Me' diamond envelope of her smoky, smouldering sound. On her 'Duets' album lifted from 'Genius Loves Company', Norah collaborated on the Christmas classic 'Cold Outside' with the late, great Ray Charles. But over the last year everyone from Miley Cyrus on SNL, to John Legend cornering the cave dwelling Bublé under the tree market has reworked the traditional and tired lyrics to sound less "why don't you put some records on whilst I pour" creepy, or "say what's in this drink" predatory. And now with everyone from Tank to Gwen Stefani releasing their Christmas standards like the good Nat King Cole or Sinatra lead Rat Pack, the artist who has covered everyone from Dolly ('Jolene') to Cash ('Cry, Cry, Cry') and the group she's part of release an extended play of their own, original Christmas songs to move your 'Christmas Butt' rocking like Robin right around the tree.

"And when it seems too much and you want to set fire to your tree/Just stop and forget all the noise and do this one thing with me/Shake your Christmas butt until your cranky goes away/Shake your Christmas butt for Christmas Day," they say in a light hearted riff and romp that will have you moving around the tree with honest Abe Lincoln and the G.O.A.T. Michael Jordan in cardboard cut-out 'Home Alone' Culkin cheek slapping form. Stopping you from going full Lois in 'Family Guy' when you've done everything. Wrapped the presents, hung the decorations on the tree, pit the turkey in the oven, dressed the kids, played peacemaker to all the family drama, saved some egg nog for your neighbours and pulled all the crackers...only for there to be no paper towels. Add it to the playlist under the mistletoe, because this is going to be one of your new Christmas favourites like 'Candy, Candy Lane' by Sia, or 'Christmas In Harlem' by Kanye. But still there's nothing like the classics and just like Tank's E.P., Boots brave the Winter, warming up a live, alive version of 'Silent Night' like all is bright. That is as beautifully welcome and evoking in its embrace like sleeping in heavenly peace this time of year with the one you love and want to see first on Christmas morning as your kids leap into bed for their presents.

Feeling like 'Christmas All Over Again' being around again already, that's not necessarily a bad thing as Puss pokes fire, sticking the boot in under the chimney with their signature guitar as they lament the lonely loss, but warm solitude of never being alone this Christmas when you can count on yourself. Empowering, "I'm gonna hold myself instead of someone else this Christmas/I'm gonna take my hand and be my own best friend". And on 'The Great Romancer' after tooting their own horn as a one man band, the trio get back to love, "all I want for Christmas is an answer" they sing sounding like "man sir", or the anti-Mariah in this brilliant blues record full of a heart of "needles and pine" which would exist outside this time of year without the word "Christmas". As this group since 2014, long awaiting a follow-up haven't lost a step together. But it's the driving home for Christmas, windscreen wipers over frosty snow tuning in, 'It's Not Christmas 'Till You Come Home' (complete with vocal trumpeting) that is the FM for your NPR of these Christmas chronicles. Staying "up all night waiting" like a kid who believes in Dear Santa as Bing Crosby sings, who can't relate to the feeling of, "I won't believe it's Christmas until you make it home to me/The snow isn't white/The stars aren't bright/And lights don't belong on the tree", as we are waiting on the ones we love. Well like jumping up and down like 'Elf'...or watching that very film in August, counting down the days and weeks with months worth of Facebook memes, it won't be long now. A very 'Murray Christmas' to you. No that's no typo. Like his hilarious follow-up post credits cameo in the 'Zombieland: Double Tap' sequel, Bill became a new pair of boots for Puss when he cameoed alongside them in song last year akin to the 'Scrooged' stars own Netflix special featuring Jenny Lewis, Miley Cyrus and the Rat Pack like George Clooney. Now THAT would be your Christmas album as we can't wait for these boots to keep walkin' and writing on that Tom Hanks typewriter from the candy cane artwork. Studio session (this year's 'Angel Dream' single points hope to that), or seasonal one. Because this Puss N Boots Christmas really is an extravaganza to you and yours. Good tidings we bring...and a Happy New Year. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'Christmas Butt', 'Silent Night', 'It's Not Christmas 'Till You Come Home'.

BOOK REVIEW: FLEA-ACID FOR THE CHILDREN

4/5

Acid Trip.

Children, Eddie Murphy's Netflix comeback to America, 'Dolemite Is My Name' isn't your only glimpse of 1970's Los Angeles. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea's pre-RHCP memoir 'Acid For The Children' (a 'Scar Tissue' autobiography this is not) is ridden with it. In this 'Acid' reflect of just kids, percussed by a perfect, poetic prologue from the one and only Patti Smith herself. A beautiful book, with the off-key rhythm and blues from a man that always held the bassline like the Lakers he coveted courtside (from Showtime's Magic and Kareem, to LeBron and this new Anthony Davis Hollywood dream (you catch his fellow superfan Ice Cube like season promo?)), but was never afraid to go the Miles of a trumpet solo himself ahead. May we suggest blaring this out in audiobook form? Sure we've been touting that recently like a 30 day free trial. From Kareem himself accompanying this writer vocally whilst alone in Tokyo, to 'Rocketman' Taron Egerton filling in for the prelude and epilogue of the man he played like 'Me' for Elton John's epic life story (and now I have a Flea in my room). But with Flea's legendary and unmistakable cadence you get to hear and feel the impression of every inflection. There's just something about a writer narrating their own work. Just like biographies are so horses mouth better when you put an 'auto' in front like L.A. gridlock at rush hour. Choking up about childhood stories as he tells testimony of the loss of his dear Grandmama making us all all wish he could call up there to our own. This is as real as it gets for the raw life of a man next to his frontman who could make the acid twins of Aerosmith look alkaline. Sweet child of mine this acid test burns with nostalgia and forever memory...for you.

"That man just signed your C.D.", my radio D.J. friend text me (thanks Jon) as I was nosebleed watching Flea walk off stage after the Red Hot Chili Peppers encore on his hands during their 'Stadium Arcadium' tour. I've always felt ink linked like a tattoo or band t-shirt temporary one to Flea's Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Maybe it's because the real best time of your life-my college years-were scored by the undeniable back-to-back like Magic ("yeah...YEAH") soundtrack of the Chili's Autumn like return to Frusciante and form with 'Californication' (1999) and 'By The Way' (2002) when Sony, Discman and rocking one CD all day portably instead of an iPod (or what is it now? Spotify?) was still a thing like MTV and their music videos like the ones for these two titans title tracks where as Hollywood groundbreaking as they were L.A. cool. Or maybe it's just because like me Flea and his itching Peppers are red hot Laker fans for life (we are probably watching the Oklahoma game right now at the same time as I type in Tokyo. Him somewhere in California or wherever in the world tour he's rim rocking like a Globetrotter). From Showtime salad day salutes to Kareem to being kings today like LeBron on rocks throne next to the Foo Fighters...their Boston Celtics...who they can't help but love. Hearing (yep I'm still on that listening tip...despite all that rock in my earbuds) Flea talk about the silk smoothness of a Jamaal Wilkes jumper is as poetic as this sportswriter wishes he could Jim Murray get, as beautifully nostalgic as the memory itself. The game as one. One that Flea describes like the bass or jazzman's trumpet that could still take him higher than any narcotics influence. Yeah drugs are abused through this narrative. Friendships are lost and life comes at a cost. But sobering up to find the real substance in life away from the drugs, Flea shows you what really works (the only thing this man doesn't know is shirts). And because of it takes us all to a higher ground.

'Me' personal like Elton John's moving memoir. As beautiful as 'The Beautiful One's' for Prince's unfinished symphony of an autobiography the man behind the man in the Red Hot Chili Peppers completes a banded together big-three of musical books for your festive feeling wish list this Christmas with the best foreword of the trinity and on a whole just as Springsteen tough as the rest for a man who has had arguably just as important and indelible mark on music for almost as many decades of the 'Crocodile Rock' and 'Purple Rain', from Dodger Stadium to the fabulous Western Forum. And in its audible form Flea shows just why he got the gig acting in films like 'My Private Idaho' with Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix or 'The Big Lebowski' with The Dude and Jesus for a hot minute (and be sure to check him out in his brutally most recent 'Boy Erased' and that unmistakable vocal announcement in 'Toy Story 4' baby driver). Scripting his own life stories, scene and wrap, even hinting at a chronicles sequel and getting the legendary likes of Tony Curtis in the studio and just delivering all his "BOOM, BAP" beat poet, Kiedis rap with his one of a kind energy that can't be spoken by anyone else...as you'll end up reading it off the page as him anyway. You really would want him reading you a bedtime story children. But back to the future like another film this guy starred in before it all began, the Hollywood kid, by way of Melbourne, Victoria revisits his Australian roots down under as this book is all about family and the enduring legacy of the friends who in turn become that too. So even if we don't get Chili...at least until the epilogues genesis, we still get to see some of the Ant man himself. As Flea springs on his decades upon decades making friendship with Kiedis. You man fondly recognise some of the stories from Anthony Kiedis 'Scar Tissue' book...retold with Flea's own signature style. From the hilarious (like the time Anthony got them both skis at a lodge by overcoat and sunglasses dressing up as a woman and putting on his best mother's milk impression...whilst high), to the heartbreaking (like the time he hightailed off apartment rooftops into swimming pools and missed the water by...this...much). What is this? One of the best books you'll read all year and rock anthologies ever. Get dosed with this because after one tote this bohemian behemoth beauty is bliss. Michael Peter Balzary's corrosive for the young punks. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

SONG FOR THE MOMENT: MAGGIE ROGERS-LOVE YOU FOR A LONG TIME

4/5

Love Of Your Life.

Grammy family how do you go about celebrating your first nomination? Do you start practicing martial arts, to ward off a stage bum rushing Kanye West ('Jesus IS King' by the way)? Or do you look to protest like 'The College Dropout', "HEY 'Lover' by Taylor Swift was one of the best albums of 2019"! She should be up here. Well if you're Maggie Rogers-who in what has been HER year alongside King Princess, receiving her very first nomination for 'Best New Artist' (which she should easily win as she also should have the overall 'Best Artist of the Year' nomination and album award for her January, already best of '19 classic 'Heard It In A Past Life' (the second I heard the atmospheric intro on 'Say It' on Spotify I was hooked like I already knew she would be my favourite artist))-you celebrate with champagne and Domino's after dancing around your living room, hand microphone singing, according to her Instagram. Is there a better combination Papa John? Oh...and you also gift your fans with a new song, you lyric notepad Twitter teased on tour for days. All to say 'Love You For A Long Time' like the Stan's writing their own fan letters. Dear Maggie.

But who is this song that sounds like a combination of almost each element of every track off this years album, the falsettos of the top 'Dog Years' off the 'Now That The Light Is Fading' E.P., a beautiful B-side, or even the lead single of a new album (we can only hope), for an artist who has more gems on the cutting room floor already (see 'James') than most have in a greatest hits collection about? Romantic love. Friendship and family love. Band love and fan love. "It's about love in all forms," Maggie says on this infectious and instantly catchy track like the common cold this Autumn, that light fading still captures that summer evening feeling. "I want it to sound like the last days of summer" she adds with this release for what like a fountain of youth twenties firework we wish could be a forever feeling. Ledger Joker hanging out the car that looks like it's 66 road trippin' like the Red Hot Chili Peppers "two favourite allies" in a red 'Dog Years' video sweater. Complete for the artwork of a Joni sixties feeling photograph with Maggie Rogers handwritten logo script almost in instantly recognisable Springsteen signature across like an 'American Beauty' E.P.

Sounding "as wild and alive as new love feels". This fond folky Americana that sounds like something your Mamas and Papas used to listen to in California. "Came in like a vision from the old west wind/Like a bright new dream that I was stepping in/I saw your face and I knew it was a sign/And I still think about that moment all of the time", she sings. Singing about "getting lost in your diamond eyes" and finding what is her own signature sound that is as timeless as it will now be traditional to her, Maggie makes us all relate to our first loves when she talks about, "And in the morning when I'm waking up/I swear you're the first thing that I'm thinking of/I feel it in my body, know it in my mind/Oh, I, I'm gonna love you for a long time." We all know that loving feeling being brought back. It's kind of like 'Alaska'. Kind of like the first time we heard her sing. Knowing it was going to last forever. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

BOOK REVIEW: ELTON JOHN-ME

4/5

His Majesty.

Regaling us with story after story, don't say the glam queen bitch is back. He's been here for years. Taking his farewell tour after decades and decades of star spangled music from the Great British national treasure-from 'The Lion King', to Princess Diana tributes-around the world and Phileas Fogg back again. And this crowning glory has been the 'Rocketman's' year of coronation with his bags packed, zero hour, nine AM. With his 'Kingsman' sequel co-star Taron Egerton taking the throne as him in a beautiful and bohemian biopic from Queen, 'Rhapsody', Rami rivalling director Dexter Fletcher. And now after all this behind the same star sunglasses Arnold Schwarzenegger donned for 'Terminator 3', Elton John gets really personal and diamond sequin and feather boa stripped down and away in 'Me', his long awaited autobiography. Not his first book, his AIDS awareness mission statement, 'Love Is The Cure' demands everyone's attention. But this in the same year as an unsanitized, coke and all biopic-as blow brutal as it is big and beautiful-is his most personal project yet. And probably the best book and most musical, amazing autobiography since Steven Tyler of Aerosmith's 'Noise In My Head', the Red Hot Chilli Peppers' Anthony Kiedis' 'Scar Tissue', or Rolling Stone Keith Richards' 'Life' (we're yet to get to Prince's unfinished 'The Beautiful Ones' out now too. But can hardly wait). "Sea turtles mate". The last one was audiobook read by 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' son Johnny Depp. Even more fittingly here after a perfect prologue read by Sir Elton-before he supposedly goes off to shop-the perfectly named 'Me' is read by none other than, you guessed it, Taron Egerton himself. And this audiobook version of the autobiography (the voice keeping me company so I'm not lost in translation, trying to teach in Tokyo, Japan like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's audiobooks when I was travelling Hong Kong during a depression) needs a lent ear as the relationship between actor and star muse is much more than music, or even acting. Egerton's epic and energetic reading of 'Me' (or him) like his portrayal of the pop star is an incredible dedication to the man. With just as much charismatic character as the words wrote. Dare I say the best one/two, dynamic duo since Bernie and the 'Benny and the Jets' singer? Cue the piano introduction.

You'll laugh at the fact that 'Stan' Grammy collaborator that Elton sobriety sponsors, Eminem calls him a "C U Next Tuesday' everytime he calls. You'll shed a tear at the last story about dear John Lennon. He talks about 'Heartbreaker' Ryan Adams inspiring him despite the cancelling controversy. He tells us while he still plays Russia and would rather "build a bridge" with Putin than "a wall" (take that you know who). He also speaks candidly and fairly about the queen Madonna without backing out of the corner in defending the Godmother of his first child Lady Gaga from Madge's slights. The born star is this way, his way and the highway only. From taking a truck full of bandmates across the country, backing up soul acts who told him to kill Reg Dwight as he ended up taking his bandmates names, to wanting to die on stage like a Last Vegas residency until he started a family that was worth more than all the Troubadour and trouble that got him to this point. A true lion never flickering like a candle in the wind. From Pinner to Disney. Hollywood and Buckingham Palace. A friend of the royals by decree and our king of queens by knighted appointment. The crown is his like Claire Foy or Olivia Coleman and he takes his throne in this entertainment game with a tilt and tip to everyone who helped build his musical castle. And even those who threw rocks at one of rock and rolls greatest like a Rolling Stone. There's even a hilarious story about being "high as a kite by then" and thinking the great American songbook of Bob Dylan was homeless. But much like how John has found a residence in those classic Sinatra standards at his live shows, his own epic, eclectic catalogue of a collection now belongs in the Great British rock and roll songwriting hall of fame with Bernie Taupin like the crown jewels that they are. And you get plenty of words behind the lyrics to go here for a man who has worked with everyone from Fall Out Boy to A Tribe Called Quest.

But this is his song. And none rings truer that the ode to family and matrimony to that. For better or worse, cradle to hearse. It's a little bit funny (as a matter of fact it's f###### hilarious. The amount of times I've bust out laughing in public from him telling someone to take something and shove it up their proverbial arse). But there's so much more feeling inside. Especially when it comes to the Dwight family circle of life. From the 'Tiny Dancer' days of playing in pubs were 'Saturday Night Was Alright For Fighting', to the 'Crocodile Rock', 'I'm Still Standing' and swinging days atop the piano of baseball bat knocking it out the Dodger Stadium park in a jazzled, diamond encrusted uniform, Reg has always kept his family close and the enemies he's made because of that closer. Life wasn't easy for Elton growing up with his parents and that didn't elude him when fame came his way. Coming out to the world and being a LGBT pioneer for being true to who you are before we even put those letters together with us as a society. Not to mention a groundbreaking, life changing advocate for AIDS research, in search for a cure as strong as love. But in a world were were  seems to be the hardest word, Elton still gives his everyone candidly and in hindsight, honestly and reflectively in hope that we will learn from his mistakes aswell as be boldly inspired with the many things he did beautifully right. Overcoming drink and drugs was one of John's greatest struggles and challenges he overcame down the yellow brick road, but some of the people in his circle throughout his life became his true sacrifice. But it's all come back round to a love you can feel tonight like his family with David Furnish. As the man who was once lip synced by 'Iron Man' Robert Downey Jr. (the amazing anthem 'I Want Love') and pop superstar Justin Timberlake (the dressed up 'This Train Don't Stop Here Anymore' which showed J.T. was almost capable of playing Sir Elton like Tom Hardy) in magnificent musical videos now has his own movie and book to take on the road as the show goes on. Heartfelt and hilarious, with so much tongue for your cheek. This is the perfect program for his Farewell Tour like 'Rocketman' is the movie, musical soundtrack that scores like Watford for the chairman of this board, sure there's a lot of me in 'Me'. But what else would you expect from Elton? And I personally wouldn't have it any other way than his way. Me oh my! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

REVIEW: KING PRINCESS-CHEAP QUEEN

4/5

Rich King.

"Hey my love. I buried you a month or two ago. I keep thinking that you're standing on my floor. That you're waiting there for me." I was caught as soon as the atmospheric synth of the brooding, beautiful ballad electronica, 'Talia' by King Princess off the 'Make My Bed' E.P.-that featured the instant classic hits 'Upper West Side' and '1950' too-seeped through my headphones. Playing at random on Spotify following my overplaying of Maggie Rogers' classic album 'Heard It In A Past Life' (it was until this point literally all I listened to on constant repeat this year (can an album of the year come out the first week in January? Of course it can and has)), I was hooked. Not only because I had a new song to match the way I was feeling on repeat for the rest of the hour, day, week, month, remainder of the year I would wile away under its influence, following the previous, similar atmospheric 'Say It' by Maggie Rogers coming into random Spotify play the same way. But because I realized that this year would be dominated by two of the youngest and best women in the industry who both began their mainstream careers with legendary E.P.'s that have now segued into classic albums. And now we've heard it in a past life, we're about to hear from a 'Cheap Queen' who for all the riches is going for the crown like Olivia Colman. Meet your new favourite singer and arguably most important one as the next gay icon whose going to make everyone feel comfortable about their throbbing sexuality. Just like straddling...no cuddling a sex doll for the same 'Talia' video directed by another former flame in 'The Hate U Give' actress Amandla Stenberg, as good as gay legend St. Vincent's 'Pills' video featuring the vocal of her ex Cara Delevingne. And it's still all love like "four drinks I'm wasted", tasting lipstick, "lay(ing) down next to you".

Her majesty's throne awaits in this Sophie Turner game. As this self-titled 'Cheap Queen' on her stellar single makes "grown men cry." "I can be good sometimes" she sings on one of the songs a year...but what's so good about that? "I can be bad sometimes," she counters...and that's more like it. She can be what you like, but she's her own woman. Matching the make-up and lipstick of the iconic, game changing cover for the Brooklyn, New York native who is a drag, at just 20 years of 12 months out her teen age already signed to legendary producer Mark Ronson's Colombia records imprint. She isn't just alt-pop's next big star, but music's biggest this year right now, like Rogers that. This perfect prophecy continues on 'Prophet' a single that sees her take on American Footballers and whistling construction workers like she does sexual stereotypes in media as she 'Hits The Back'. "Cause I can only think about you/And what it's like to walk around you/And why they like to talk about you/’Cause I can only think about you," she sings in epic elision seamlessly before flirting up a storm on 'Back', "I need you to search my clothing/Pat me down and feel the molding/'Cause underneath this table feels so good to me/And I need you to be my motor/And run me 'til I can't go further/'Cause every turn you take is just exciting me." But for all the singles it's the break-up lament 'Aint Together' that fits the pieces between '1950' and 'Upper West Side'. "We say "I love you," but we ain't together/Do you think labels make it taste much better?/Darlin', do you think that if I talk enough/I will make you wanna be mine?/We ain't together," she sings hook, line and sinker on an album of acclaimed LGBT angst ridden anthems with so much more vivid vision and heart in the soul of matters for mainstream modern music of crass chorus recitals today. This bridges the gap. The King, the Queen, the princess...everything.

'Pussy Is God' (the type of song you don't want playing off your playlist whilst using your phone for the music in the coffee shop you work at...but who can deny a classic?), this Princess to Queen once proclaimed. Making this anthem about anatomy, or as Al Pacino in 'Scent Of Woman' wonderfully puts it, "passport to paradise" wholly holy and wholesome. Anything but crude and "I love it" from the 'Holy' singer. And it's this artists heart that canvases this collection set to a new generation of gestures. On the open opener 'Tough On Myself', tougher than the rest, make it the next single, Mikaela keeps it as real as she gets. Admitting, "You want that young love/Like passing me notes, hon'/That shit that you dream of/I'm just sitting at home/Smoking joints like it's my job/'Cause that's what my dream was." 'Useless Phrases' keeps the classics rolling with something that's only above a minute, but is just as classic like this her moment. Give her the Rolling Stone cover now, because this girl is an icon for her generation. But forget a magazine, Instagram tag or billboard, because nothing evokes more eyes are the soul substance in a world constantly changing and swiping for a new style than 'Do You Wanna See Me Crying', for another song that lasts a minute, but lives forever in this infamy, "I think it's cuter when I dance now/I think I'm nicer to my friends now/(Do you wanna see me cry for you?)/I think I'm working through the stress now/I wanna put a million songs out." Then 'Homegirl' brings it all home and Tobias Jessi Jr. joins her for the piano perfect 'Isabel's Moment'. As the terrific 'Trust Nobody' sounds like another ready made single, just like the anthem for a Tinder time, following everyone else's life on Facebook, 'Watching My Phone'. As the Princess sings unfiltered, "And I know I/Can't be the million girls you're gonna meet/And I think that's alright/I apologize/For holding you so tight you couldn't breathe/And thinking you'd be fine", getting vulnerable and honest in a time and trend of medium where you aren't allowed to be either, unless you want to be trolled into obscurity. We need more women that look and talk exactly like this. 'You Destroyed My Heart' cuts even deeper like a dagger to the chambers as she sings, "I could get you back (That's cute)/And we could probably re-enact/But I'm a better fag, and you're an amateur (She seems so lost)/And it's cute you wanna be my friend/It would never work, baby." All before hitting the back and the album closer 'If You Think It's Love' that sounds like it could be produced by 'Yeezus' era West brings the electro beat back one last time. Kanye, being shown that King Princess has the better album out of two classics in the same week as the 'Watch The Throne' rapper tells us that 'Jesus Is King'. But right here, right now it's all about knighting princess. Kneel as she takes the crown dressed like a f###### queen. 'Cheap Queen' is the drag term for a resourceful queen making something out of not very much. But this is really something. Something that affords so much more. Just like the dynamite deluxe edition in Warhol pop cover art canvas, which all queen killer, no cheap filler makes one of last years best even more of a classic record. She gets her Prince on in the 'Back Of A Cab' like a Streep sample and even goes Crazy Horse, Neil Young electric in 'Ohio'. And as she sings "you think you want me, its a no from me/you want to f### me, it's a no from me"- with the banana boat toffee assist from Banoffee-she even gets her American Idol judge on for this anti reality T.V. selection process music. But it's the instant classic on repeat for the next half hour, forget about your evening blusey, remember the one that got away 'All Dressed In White' and the 'Best Friend' that are really special edition, always should have been there, just glad they are now. As this King sings, "now you wanna be my best friend again/call me after two years", followed closely by "I wish I could hate that you've called", we've all been there. And that's so real about this Princess come queen's music  as she says at the end of 'Ohio' to all the players, "that was a good one". Talk is cheap, lyrics sing. And this queer queen is everything. Timeless. Like she's really been around since 1950, yet putting those dated notions aside in this neon age. Play it by royal appointment. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'Prophet', 'Useless Phrases', 'Trust Nobody'.

REVIEW: KANYE WEST-JESUS IS KING

4/5

Jesus Reigns.

Kardashian. Trump. Has Kanye truly gone West? Do we need to make him great again, whilst he keeps up with the real world? God show him the way, because the devil's been breaking him down. I miss the old Kanye. But praise the lord it looks like he's back. Jesus walks again as Pastor West wakes up and gives us Sunday service, hammering the Yamaha like he was trying to start the collection plate going off that organ piano playing. This man may have diabolically said that "slavery is a choice". Repent. Repent. Repent. But even though this is no excuse, this is a man who has been saying the wrong thing amongst some truth ever since he was a 'College Dropout' (see, "I'm like a fly Malcolm X. Buy any jeans necessary"...nope! Just no). And I don't mean to sound like Scarlett Johansson's (fitting) Black Widow before she made that leap of faith in 'Avengers: Endgame', but in the face of cancel culture, "I don't judge people by their worst mistakes", I have too many of my own for that. Besides these days he's walking it all back whilst saying, "if they're still throwing out slave nets, why are we still standing in the same place," whilst we all react like his bass player in said video to that. Right now go West like a Pet Shop Boy and you'll see a Kanye concert every week. But this isn't on a live Saturday night, but the repent of a Sunday morning for the former Maroon 5 collaborator from the club to the church...and not the way Snoop Dogg spells it. Yet from the "about three Kim's, LaToya and Tina" resurgence of DMX and 'Once Upon A Time In... Hollywood' and 'Ad Astra' actor Brad Pitt, everyone has been in attendance for one of this pastors practiced preach. As the revolutionary rapper and powerhouse producer of this generations new millennium takes it to the pulpit and rises like a Phoenix for a real graduation.

It's a good a## job Yeezus has. 'The Life Of Pablo' goes on following 'Ye' and the following seven track classic albums he produced for Kid Cudi ('Kids See Ghosts') and Nas ('Nasir') last year. And it's no longer a beautiful, dark, twisted fantasy for the man whose music has always kept it 110, even if his manner has not. But with his most epic, experimental album (and the most recent have pushed the envelope like his behaviour people's patience) since the brooding beauty of the mother mourn, '808s and Heartbreak' (that inspired the name of this blog. Yeezy taught me!), Kanye has some competition with 'King'. From King Princess the new 'Cheap Queen' of Maggie Rogers' world of pop and the real King of R&B Tank with the infantry of his fifth classic of the every other year decade and his own spiritual 'Elevation'. And the icon (like it or not) who has forgot better singles (there somewhere on Spotify and we aren't talking about poopity scoop...or are we?) than the rest of the game ever thought of...or put on wax. Once going 'Four, Five Seconds' wildin' with Rihanna and a Beatle knows that nothing is bigger than Jesus as Christ the King walks with him again like two pairs of footprints in the sand, when Kanye was sinking in quick. This is the return. Dare we say the resurrection? But some still seem to want to throw stones at the throne after waiting "all" morning for his album (sometimes it doesn't have to be the midnight hour people) after Twitter turned into a trolling meme and GIF hemisphere once again (isn't Christianity all about patience and faith?). The funniest belonging to the often waiting around used John Travolta in 'Pulp Fiction' famous confused GIF of Vincent Vega over the 'Yeezus' like (we wonder what will become of the minidisc cover, eight wonder 'Yandhi') iconic blue vinyl cover of 'Jesus', which even this writer had to retweet. Yet some want to troll take it to 'Ye like he hasn't been proving them with definitive catalogues for decades. As this new post millennial, Post Malone generation don't even know what it's like to wait months and a morning to pick up a new album in your local record store (remember those?), Instead of them to B.I.G. drop in an unexpectedly like bird s### instant, ready to Spotify stream right away, no matter the Apple Music or Tidal wave. Some say because of the wait that this is weak...are these non believers jesting? The ever experiential Daft Punk collaborator before Pharrell has barely been 'Stronger'. Hate him now for siding with the wrong Donald, but this is America and in this case you can separate the man from the music unlike fellow Windy City, Chi-town artist R. Kelly and even the man in his mirror, Michael Jackson. Hooray for 'Ye because this is his best in years from the moment the classic choir of 'Every Hour' leads an inspired introduction chorus and then West rejoices and rips into the big bass beats of 'Selah' like a 'Black Skinhead', but like LL with the 'Power' of God instead. "JOHN 8:33" he cries, like he used to statement rap about money, how's and clothes again with apologies to Mos and Kweli. Oh and John 8:33? That be as follows in the passage, "They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?" Go get your Bible!

'The College Dropout', 'Late Registration' (and it's live, religious like 'Orchestration' experience, crossing London's Abbey Road with the dropout bear like McCartney), '808s and Heartbreak', 'Graduation', 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy', 'Yeezus', 'The Life Of Pablo' and 'Ye', they've all been game changing...world changing classics. But number nine, or tenth if you watched the throne with Rocafella Jay-Z is the one we got down on our knees and out our hands together for as the spirit of the holy ghost runs through us like the water of a reborn baptism out the fire. This is art. With or without the acclaim. As on Kanye West's God, gospel album like a live 'Amazing Grace' of Aretha Franklin every seventh day (every legendary rapper has an experimental album like Mos Def's 'The New Danger' rock or Common's 'Electric Circus' (that Kanye 'Be' awoke him from with God) and like this they are usually the best, no matter what they say), he features everyone like the Clipse recurring constant collaborator of Pusha T (over 'Runaway' perfect piano again) and even the sax of Kenny G (Ross from 'Friends' taking a bath is listening like 'Frasier') at (let's say it like Rahzel doing the beat and hook of the late, great Queen Aaliyah's 'One In A Million' beatbox) the same time, on the same song like 2Pac going Digital Underground. Although Kanye has missed a trick not getting DMX to come back through here like he did on any given Sunday with his lyrical touchdown, barking the word from the good book. But this is more than a concept, or pair of jeans. Like true religion this is sacrifice. Blood, sweat and years of joy. And now the man who wrote "I have being bipolar...it's awesome" on the cover of his last release has kicked the meds and found the word. And believe me that is easier to tap into than Kanye's iPhone passcode. We just hope Trump's listening in his ivory tower...he might just learn something. Yeah right! Praise be and all that testament. As Kanye implores in preach for all of us to 'Follow God', declaring any other musical recital to his church, 'Closed On Sunday' he really brings the best out of himself and in your ourselves in these readings of the perfect passages. Using himself as a vessel, 'On God' shines through a 'Yeezus' era beat that's only missing Bon Iver lost in the woods before Ty Dolla $ign and Ant Clemons join in chorus for the beautiful 'Everything We Need' ode to the grace of joy, giving thanks to the creator. But it's the holy 'Water' that gets even deeper again with Clemons as Ant sings, "Clean us like the rain in spring/Take the chlorine out our conversation/Let Your light reflect on me/I promise I'm not hiding anything/It's water/We are water/Pure as water/Like a newborn daughter." Then Kanye tells us who 'God Is', singing too, before getting 'Hands On' with Fred Hammond. But as we now our heads one last time and join hands it's the closer, 'Jesus Is Lord' on 'Jesus Is King' that really leaves us with an indelible, inspirational, everlasting message for everyone. For the verse, "Every knee shall bow/Every tongue confess/Jesus is Lord/Jesus is Lord." Now it's hasn't been so long since they spoke, the day Kanye was dreaming about in college came true like flying away from the grave-shift in a spaceship. As everyone in the club is screaming out 'Jesus Walks' and is king and what a time for this notion to be alive. We need this one because we are still at war. Still at war with terrorism. Still at war with racism. But most of all still at war with ourselves. Yet feet won't fail you now 'Ye. It turns out Jesus does save. Once again Yeezus is King. Even wearing a crown of thorns for the throne. Now if he would just take off that damn hat. Take 'em to church. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'Every Hour', 'Selah', 'Closed On Sunday'.

REVIEW: TANK-ELEVATION

4/5

The Elevation Of Man.

'Jesus Is King' may have finally walked into our Spotify playlist for Kanye West's resurrection, but today Tank has already elevated himself to a higher power and level with his new epic 'Elevation' set of sex, love and pain too and his best going hard since 'SLP2'. It's a given now like Adele that the Grammy winning producer and TGT supergroup Kings man with originator Ginuwine and 'Fast and Furious' and 'Black and Blue' Hollywood star Tyrese Gibson releases an album to fall every other year, sometimes going back-to-back like Magic and Kareem's 80's Lakers. It's Showtime baby! Ever since 2010's 'Now Or Never', hard to believe on the eve of being a decade ago in anniversary, this 'One Man', 'Force Of Nature' has acted upon that very notion. From the fresh Summer heat rock energy of 'This Is How I Feel', to the Motown two step of 'You're My Star' off the atmospheric 'Stronger' from the soul soldier with another classic ballad for his battalion ('I Hope That Makes You Love Me'). And the superior 'Sex, Love and Pain II' sequel and sexual 'Savage' which may aswell have come with protection and a parental advisory sticker to begin his explicit era. Not to mention some epic valentine and Christmas seasonal E.P.'s and the 'Diary Of A Madman' mixtape that could body most rappers like Babbs does bench pressing weight rooms. There's so much protein being mixed in the studio that Tank can even shoot hot singles he doesn't even put on albums like the frequent collaborator Chris Brown assisted classic club banger 'Shots Fired'. But with 'Elevation' as he artwork iconic rapture rises to a purer place like a Nike swoosh, just wait and hear what Tank has in his absolutely amazing, album armoury now.

Opening with some outstanding Omari Hardwick poetic justice in an inspired, interlude intro like how Chicago's Malik Yusef used to set G.O.O.D. music off, the great and grand self-titled 'Elevation' evokes the epic feeling of this big, blockbuster album from the gate. As Tank flexes "I can hear 'em talkin' 'bout the king (Ooh yeah)/The game without me ain't the fuckin' same (Oh)/Got this shit up on a higher plane (Pick it up)/It's private and the pilot know my name," lyrical muscle to Carvena Jones beautiful backing vocal. Before the big beat of 'WWJD' may need to go to the boom recital of one of Kanye's 'Jesus Is King' Sunday services, as the gospel ready singer Babbs delivers his own sermon for what would Jesus do. For the offering, reaching out his hand and singing "you don't have to be alone" over and over with Dylan, 'I Want You' urgency. He may be alone on the throne though, even though there is no solitude in the studio with the classic 'Champion'. Big like King James for the 'More Than A Game' soundtrack 'If You Dream' singer, taking the crown in this game of thorns, where Babbs survives any barbs. "Drip so crazy you know I'm an animal" he growls going to war like "Rambo", feeling like "Tyson, Jordan", singing about a love that feels like taking the belt with a K.O. or M.J. slam for all the rings. It's not just a boast, it's a beautiful toast to the heart for a soulful R&B man who Prince king knows how to take the base urges of sex to a higher level closer to God. The three D's of Danté, Dontäy and Dunteá also musketeer assist on the swashbuckling 'No Cap' with the beat to match. Before Tank ("let me go down and change your mind") gets deep, down and dirty on 'I Don't Think Your Ready'. Backing it up with his big, lead, lead strong single 'Dirty' and it's different vibe, but just as vibrant, Chris Brown, Rahky and Feather dusting remix.  For something again that like the whole album, literally embodies every word of the slapped parental advisory sticker. Bridge singing, "It seem nice and slow/It's so physical/It's two hundred on the dash/Bust that open, know/I want all the smoke/You ain't even gotta ask", for the tamest take off this track.

Leave! Get out! Because you ain't going to believe this. The 'Too Little, Too Late' former teen idol, JoJo assists on one of the albums most acclaimed tracks that is truly, 'Somebody Else'. As the artillery sings, "I be swimming deep like the ocean/Got you praying for it like devotion/we be making waves with the motion". Amen to that. Following the same atmospheric studio sound that cuts through this whole set, Tank takes it back with Candice Boyd and the supergroup legend Keith Sweat on 'Do You', like he brought Boyz II Men back. Just like we wish he would Ginuwine and Tank for another song like the time they Soul Train covered a Commodore 'Zoom', or came back with the Christmas closer 'Be My Holiday' under the tree tis forthcoming season. But on 'I Promise' the 'I Need' singer gets 'Please Don't Go' classic, almost ten top albums deep. "Girl, you precious, girl, you a blessin'/Got an obsession, don't wanna finesse ya/I just wanna take ya somewhere you ain't been/Ever been to the Caymans? It's so amazin'" he vows. But the deepest devotion is saved for the best of the album in the Luke James and Major featuring electronic 'You Mean More' on a 'You Mean That Much To Me' classic scale as he professes, "Whatever you want, I'll never question it/Whatever you need, I'm willing to provide/I'll give you love with a little lust in it/Show you the universe when you look in my eye/And you gotta feel like you're the world to me/And you gotta know I'm down for the ride." Before finishing strong like Mister Cee with 'This', with that help from Hardwick again and Shawn Stockman back too from the 'End Of The Road'. Doubling up or everything with 'Our Song' and that single remix for an amazing album that if Tank was the TGT, T of Tyrese would be his 'Alter-Ego', or 'The Senior' if he was the G in Ginuwine. His signature style piano playing of 'Our Song' says it all. "Life without you ain't never been right/So I don't plan to be without you anymore/Feels like I've been waiting my whole life, yeah/And now it's real to see you walkin' through the door", this is the real Tank and this is your new 'Wedding Song' to walk down the aisle and first dance to from the "dum, dum, da dum" singer. And that's that in matrimony with music again, it's time to leave your phone engaged and call up the one you love tonight for one you won't forget. Because you're about to get higher. 'Elevation' is the evolution of Tank. Get lifted. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'Elevation', 'Champion', 'You Mean More'.

GALLERY REVIEW: ASSEMBLAGE-DomPérignonxLennyKravitz @ Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan

4/5

Let Life Rule.

Assembling Hollywood's finest and popping bottles of Dom Pérignon, rock God Lenny Kravitz gets behind the lens that's had a focus on him for decades and generations, offering us his most intimate portrayal yet. And no reservations are required for this event where you'll have none. All for a party we just wish we were on the list for.

The man himself Harvey Keitel in designer frames and a suit even Winston Wolf would be jealous of, hanging on every word of Lenny's daughter Zoe Kravitz and she he over a couple of glasses. As she to the nines laughs, modelled next to fashions finest and the great Susan Sarandon looking just as beautiful and just as beautiful as she did when she six shooter shot onto our screens and drove us off a cliff with Geena Davis for the iconic, way before its woke time, 80's baby, 'Thelma and Louise'. Captured perfectly in a shadowed moment of privacy as she takes in the eclectic and creative crowd around her for the afterparty. And then there's Lenny himself, hidden behind the capturing camera as on reflection his daughter, his muse Zoe as beautiful as Eluthera gets ready in a lightbulb bordered vanity mirror for the party of parties in this flashbulb moment. Showing that throughout this curated collection of prestige never giving in to pretentiousness, the soulful rocker even surrounded by the finer things knows what's most important in life and to his himself.

New York, London, Milan and now Tokyo's fashion future forward Harajuku district of Shibuya. Crossing over in the same week Basketball champions, Canada's own Toronto Raptors and the James Harden and Russell Westbrook dynamite duo of the Houston Rockets came to town for two NBA Japan games for the land of the rising sun, this black box dropped in the middle of neon, temples and a 1964 stadium being refurbished for next years Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is full of beautiful black and white photos for the perfect portrait. All culminating in a serious tag all selfie that could even give the Academy Award one of Ellen's taken by Bradley Cooper featuring the likes of Brad Pitt and Meryl Streep a run for its Oscar gold. As concrete strong as the industrial pillars that support it and drunk off a feeling you might find in the bottom of the same Perignon bottles you can sip and clink on if you can run the tab. The 'American Woman' singer flying away to the Far East shows he doesn't just have an artists eye for writing moving music like his latest, greatest 'Raise Vibration' album, or making a drumming kid on The Ellen Show's dreams come true. Are you going to go his way?

Letting love rule like it aint over 'till it's over this brief but brilliant, epic exhibition will leave you with photographic memories long after your red room time there has developed. "If you think this is just a party, then you are mistaken", Lenny says in a welcoming video to this night of your life. "If you think this is just a place, then you are misinformed," he says about this non descript location that looks like something off the Hollywood Hills. "In places like this a guest list becomes a list of ingredients", he continues in that smooth as Dom unmistakable delivery. "An uplifting assemblage of individuals who have a connection, an attraction, and a common spark ready to ignite". Fizzing in a tonic of the "blindingly famous" and "profoundly obscure". Not to mention the "shamelessly original", the "quiet genius" and all kinds of "crazy" and "smart" and vice versa. Lenny has mixed a blend of "inspiration so alive you can practically touch it...taste it" in this ensemble 'Assemblage' all the way down to the last sip of Perignon as the ice in the bottles bucket begins to melt along with the strength of the heavy eyelids of everyone in black and white attendance. It's quite the prolific portfolio from the eclectic artist in this electric city of creation. Raise a glass, because here's to him. Lenny Kravitz, raising vibrations all over again. How about another round? The world is waiting at the end of the bar. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

REVIEW: COMMON-LET LOVE

4/5

Let Love Rule.

'Love Is'...the name of quite possibly rapper/actor and now as of this year author Common's greatest song off his signature set and hip-hop classic, the beautiful 'Be' album. "How beautiful love can be/On the streets love is hard to see/It's a place I got to be/Loving you is loving me", Lonnie Rashid Lynn sings and raps on this evoking, epic track that soul samples Motown's greatest of all time, Marvin Gaye's 'God Is Love' and with all his heart reaches for a higher power. All fists held high before he started 'Finding Forvever' with timeless in tribute G.O.O.D. Music alongside the best of Kanye West. Love is also more than a verb. But it's this doing word that inspired Common to release his first memoir this year with the autobiographical and all the world reaching, 'Let Love Have The Last Word'. Which really is a read that should grace more than your Kindle's and coffee tables, but your bedside every night and following morning as you take his great word of wisdom as gospel. Now naming the same (makes sense for all this interconnected correlation after the 'Like Water For Chocolate' rapper Common's first book was named after his album 'One Day It Will All Make Sense'), hot off the Summer heels of owning all your Barnes and Noble in a different game like legendary Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar writing Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes sribes, Common is scoring again with a musical accompaniment that might just be his best album since the 'Be' and 'Finding Forvever', back-to-back classics. Certainly Com's most consistent and cohesive. And it's not like 'The Dreamer...The Believer', 'Nobody's Smiling' and 'Black America Again' weren't rap greats from the God themselves. Even the 'Universal Mind Control' like the critically underrated, experimental, 'Electric Circus'. But 'Let Love' that literally had 'The Last Word' cut out of it before it was pressed is no soundtrack to his storybook. Even if it's moving themes and inspirations run through its influence and taught message. More it's the next chapter in the classic career of Common. Sense made for all the people. As the greatest, most mature hip-hop head and star of this generation like a rocking Lenny Kravitz acting too let's love rule.

Love is...Oscar winning like Gaga 'Star Is Born', Best Original Song 'Glory' with John Legend for 'Selma' from the man who kicked 'John Wick's' ass. And that's the boogeyman people. Pencil this is. And you thought the 'Chapter 3', 'Always Be My Maybe' meta classic cameo, 'Toy Story 4' Kaboom, 'Cyberpunk' CGI breathtaking moment, 'Bill and Ted' excellent adventure and bogus journey reunion filming and 'Matrix 4' announcement made this the year of Keanu. But Cassian has wrote another album and inked his own book in kind. And if he didn't take that knife out his aorta in the NYC Subway then he's still out there somewhere. 'Let Love' is allowed to begin with the 'Good Morning Love' atmospheric awakening with Samora Pinderhughes as Common raps, "Walking with the Lord, I see footprints/My mama always told me use my good sense/Common always looking for the good sense/Since we all got good in our essence/In the hood sense, we all good anyway/That's why you always hear another dollar, 'nother day/I see the day as a new beginning" and Samora sings along about washing away the pain and making it to the another day, God is love willing. Then on the Daniel Caesar assisted 'HER Love' Common finally gives us his trilogy concluding sequel love song to hip-hop. Rapping and referencing 'Moment Of Clarity', "When I'm in you, I feel home/We in the house of love, no lie/Appreciate you more as time goes by/When it's truly true, it don't die/I see you in L.A., I see you in N.Y/I see you in the A, I see you in the Chi/I hear you when JAY still make the song cry/Truthfully, I wanna rhyme like common sense." Showing he still loves her, no 'used to' about it in his best beat rap ballad to the heart since there was 'The Light'. 'Dwele's Interlude' let's 'The People' singer rip those vocal chords in this inspired intermission that is instrumental in its influence. But it's BJ The Chicago Kid appearing on two tracks like A$AP Rocky did back-to-back with the 'Lust For Life' of Lana Del Rey (her new 'NFR album goes up against C's 'L, L' this week, the most beautiful release since 'I, I' by Bon Iver), who sounds like the new Dwele. And finding 'Forever Your Love' and the 'Memories Of Home' has us hoping for a collaborative album from the two brothers from the city of wind.

Love is...being stronger than 'Hercules' as Mr. Keys on the keys Swizz Beats gives Common a new banger with his big beat muscling up in the studio weight room as Com gets into a corner store tussle, botching an armed robbery as the video cameras record it all for one of his best music videos in years and the same week an attack of a 50ft Lana Del Rey 'Doin' Time' comes through and Snoop crushes the buildings in L.A. But Chicago's finest isn't die bringing change to the Windy City like Barack. The Obama of rap still has out vote like our President is still black. On the halftime of 'Fifth Story' the fifth track sees Leikeli47 turn spoken word into rapping, into singing for a great hook bridged to a chorus we can all sing along too. Then Common shows 'Crib Love' with the legendary A-Track for the def jam 'Leaders' as Common shows just how much of a hip-hop head he is as this leader of the old and new school like still asking if he can borrow a dollar with Common Sense rides this classic rap beat like a parallel park. "I'm from the City of Wind, that's another win/Take the L, green line, red line, get your paper, headlines/Tryna feed your fam, get fed time/It happens, trappin' and rappin' got us backed in/To a corner, it's normal for black men/The Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley reenactment/Savion with a beard, yo, I'm tapped in." Did you have your seatbelt on? Common continues this streak tough streak going it alone on, the kinetic in title and track, 'My Fancy Free Future Love'. But real heart like family and the late, great pops raps are shown on the Jill Scott beautifully assisted seven minute seal of a father's love to his daughter, birth to graduation on 'Show Me That You Love'. "Embedded in emotion, I'm open, hopin' whoever's/Calling's all in for the low-key, it was O-M-O-Y-E/I read my daughter's name slowly, I'm asleep, sleepin'", Lynn raps in testament tribute as Scott signs "show me that you love/show me that you care". In Common's most personal song and writing since his chapter about his baby girl the "daughter who is now (his) teacher" in the 'Let Love Have The Last Word' memoir. But the last word in this neo rapper who knows Keanu, a week after the release of the neo soul of legend Raphael Saadiq's 'Jimmy Lee' and another hip hop legend and rap icon in Missy Elliott's 'Iconology' EP, belongs to brining back Marvin Gaye's 'God Is Love' with soul man of the moment and a young man who belongs in the age of Motown in Mr. Leon Bridges. And fittingly in an album where love is in the title of almost every track the words, ""Love is love" became the mantra/The montage for creation, we need it in relation/When two ships pass, one love is the flotation/It's what God used to put the planet in rotation/It's what the culture used to build a hip hop nation/From the basement to the attic, where cookie show for magic/It's what we told the world when we said our lives matter/Turn the student to a master, hustler to a pastor/That's why I'm a rapper, it's all that I'm after." As taking us to the river Bridges sings out, "cause you are the light". And THAT is the last word. Because love is...this. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'HER Love', 'Show Me That You Love', 'God Is Love'.

REVIEW: LANA DEL REY-NORMAN F###### ROCKWELL

4/5

Lizzy F###### Grant.

Attack of the 50ft Lana Del Rey. 'Doin' Time', sandal stomping around the City of Angels, Los Angeles. Singing about the LBC, "ever since Snoop came through and crushed the buildings" for her brand new music video of the year. New York's been lost, but from a 'Brooklyn Baby' who sings along to Lou Reed, to a 'Venice Bitch', the former IT girl who was 'Born To Die' like Springsteen was 'Born To Run' is really it now too like Jessica Chastain. The self dubbed, "gangster Nancy Sinatra" is still so bang, bang, "callin' kiss, kiss," 'Young and Beautiful', a year away from us all being in the roaring twenties once more (how crazy is that?) like 'The Great Gatsby' all over again F Scott, Luhrmann or DiCaprio. But these boots were made for walking all over you if you think that's all that matters to the power of a woman in this Haim, 'Summer Girl', Maggie Rogers, King Princess and Billie Eilish (who this queen Stan's) time to be alive against all the bad guys...duh! 'Looking For America' and a way out of all the ultraviolence the 'Love' singers 'Honeymoon' is over, but there is still a 'Lust For Life', freedom from want, freedom from fear, freedom of worship and freedom of speech on the new album named after the American author and artist, 'Norman F###### Rockwell'. Get around the table for turkey like it was Thanksgiving already. Some 'NFR' for your NPR from LDR. Tune in from your car radio as the 50 feet high and rising Del Rey climbs out the cinema screen of a vintage drive-in movie theatre that Brad Pitt's character from Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood' probably lives behind with his dog. As she can shakes the 'Happy Days' out of a classic American muscle car of a man doing the tragic romance dirty on her life and pint size in comparison blonde bob, Lizzy Grant like alter-ego for something so B-movie brilliant from the cinematic singer. Aaaay! Sit on that! In-between making 'Season Of The Witch' songs for Guillermo del Toro's 'Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark' movies like when her big eyes went 'Once Upon A Dream' hauntingly with that voice for 'Maleficent' for this 50's feel. Now playing music video games-releasing two back to back like recording two knockout songs together for 'Lust' with A$AP Rocky and three in the same week-she's on a yacht with a model friend, hand held out reaching for you to come onboard too.

Cue 'The Simpsons' Ralph Wiggum jumping through the living room window meme. "Oh, take this veil from off my eyes/My burning sun will, some day, rise/So, what am I gonna be doin' for a while?/Said, I'm gonna play with myself/Show them, now, we've come off the shelf", she smoke sings behind the mirrors, 'Doin' Time' on her huge new hot hit across the California sun. All as she checks her reflection in a high-rise window, cools off by drinking from a water tower like it was just another cup of coffee, whilst fanning herself with a palm tree and kicks sand at a moviegoing watching crowd at her truly getting 'High By The Beach' at the drive in. The Fonz like jukebox of the surfing muscle beach life of 'F### It I Love You' also segues into the shipping container docks look of 'The Greatest' for the dual music video release just last week too. The longest clip since her almost ten minute home video of the Titanic track 'Venice Bitch' off of Santa Monica. "I like to see everything in neon/Drink  lime green, stay up 'til dawn", she sings on the expletive single of her expletive album, inviting us to, "Dream a little dream of me/Make  me into something sweet", and f### it we love her too. We're there. As on 'Venice Bitch' she tells us, "you're beautiful and I'm insane/we're American made." With the perfect hook and "Fear fun, fear love/Fresh out of fucks, forever/Tryin' to be stronger for you/Ice cream, ice queen/I dream in jeans and leather/Life's dream I'm sweet for you" opening. The beautifully bleak 'Born To Die' and 'Ultraviolence' pairing was this Lake Placid born song sirens New York 1980's, Andy Warhol and Keith Haring like downtown art scene. Whilst her Hollywood 'Honeymoon' and smily happy people 'Lust For Life' young and in 'Love' albums birth became a new 'West Coast', Parliaments on fire, hands up direction which is furthered by 'Norman Rockwell's' 'California' cool like the classic track of that same state of play name. F###### cool. So after the two, coast to coast, Knicks to Lakers (or these days Nets to Clippers) like halves to her career, her fifth album (or sixth or seventh if you count the truest Lizzy Grant and the perfect 'Paradise' EP, 'Born To Die' re-release) shows that this is no L.A. phase but the next stage of her screenplay certified, cinematic career for her movie like music canvas of poetic artistry. Even if she, "moved to California, but it's just a state of mind". We feel right there with her atmospheric sound in kind.

Dylan's legend permeates through New York's Greenwich Village like the coffee shops Lana probably used to write in as Del Rey now has a dominant and definitive, dynamic discography as she chases her own great American songbook for a social media generation in need of swiping towards something real. This is her freewheelin' one. She says it herself on 'The Next Great American Record'. Hotel California, playing The Eagles in Malibu as she sings, "And we were so obsessed with writin' the next best American record/That we give all we had 'til the time we got to bed/'Cause we knew we could." And she may just have harmonizing, "My baby used to dance underneath my architecture/To the Houses of the Holy, smokin' on them cigarettes". Or on the tribute title track, "Goddamn, man-child/You f##### me so good that I almost said, "I love you"/You're fun and you’re wild/But you don't know the half of the s### that you put me through". Lana hasn't got anytime for that s### anymore. Times up and this is the new Dua Lips generations national anthem. F### Norman F###### Rockwell if he thinks his arts more important than his muse. Del Rey will be no one's femme fatale, but her own Hollywood throwback scarlet starlet. "You took my sadness out of context/At the Mariners Apartment Complex/I ain't no candle in the wind/I'm the board, the lightning, the thunder/Kind of girl who's gonna make you wonder/Who you are and who you've been" she stands on her own two like the 'Mariners Apartment Complex' in the same song, before this 'Cinnamon Girl' gives us another cool song that will make the radio more friendly to her signature song that greats like Neil Young would be proud of as 'Quiet Place' couples share headphones and slow dance together in the middle of the night. It gets deep and dark however on 'How To Disappear' as Lana laments, "John met me down on the boulevard/Cried on his shoulder 'cause life is hard/The waves came in over my head/What you been up to, my baby?" But then with wine flowing with Bacardi and Crosby, Stills and Nash playing Lana's poetry (that isn't bad like a former lovers on 'NFR') is warm inside as she falls in love with a 'Bartender' on the roadside E Street Springsteen, singing under the Western Stars, "I bought me a truck in the middle of the night/60 MPH on PCH drive/Here to Long Beach to Newport by your side/As they don't yet know where I reside/60 miles from the last place I hide/With my bar-t-t-tender, hold me all night." Spreading her sonic wings on 'Happiness Is A Butterfly' everything looks all good until 'Hope Is A Dangerous Thing For A Woman...But I Have It'. The classic closer at her most, "I've been tearing around in my fucking nightgown
24/7 Sylvia Plath/Writing in blood on the walls/'Cause the ink in my pen don't work in my notepad" personal. Still there is hope with the trademark tone of Del Rey's sound. A week after Taylor Swift's pure pop 'Lover' classic, you'll love this more punctuated pop even more. We may know what to expect these days with the dark paradise of a Lana Del Rey record as it fever dream plays into our stream of consciousness, but that's not just a good thing. It's a beautiful one my princes and king princesses. Melancholy beauty, with 'Violet Bent Backwards Over The Grass', Lana is about to book of rhymes independently release some pure poetry this year like she previewed in her iconic cover shoot for Vogue Italia. But as of right now there's nothing more poetic than 'Norman Fucking Rockwell'. Pardon my French. And if that wasn't enough she's already writing her next album, remaining 'White Hot Forever'. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'Venice Bitch', 'The Next Great American Record', 'Doin' Time'.