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.