STACK #143 Sept 2016

MUSIC REVIEWS

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PARTYNEXTDOOR PARTYNEXTDOOR 3 Welcome to the New Toronto. Fresh off of delivering the biggest hit of the year (he wrote Rihanna’s Work ), Drake’s OVO stable mate, Canadian PARTYNEXTDOOR, has found his lane between Drizzy and The Weeknd; he drops tropical dance floor bangers and piano-driven, baby’s-bum-smooth RnB on his new album PARTYNEXTDOOR 3 . For the Jamaican-inspired beats that are trending through hip hop at the moment, we have this guy to thank. The long- time Drake collaborator had a huge hand in Views this year, and P3 plays out like a sequel to it. Album opener High Hopes has a distinct ‘90s RnB feel with a sinister twist. Not Nice is Work ’s jaded little brother and Only U continues the dancehall vibes, followed by the ultra-minimalist treats in Problems & Selfless. The same way the freedom he has in his own work creates some moments of brilliance ( Come & See Me featuring Drake), there are times when the record dips into self-indulgence, showing there’s still plenty of room to hone his skills in time for P4.

GROUPLOVE Big Mess The American indie-rock

conglomerate comprised of Hannah Hooper, Christian Zucconi, Daniel Gleason, Andrew Wessen, and Ryan Rabin is better known as Grouplove. Most easily recognised by their long, carrying verses, and quickly identifiable ‘movie trailer soundtrack’ sound, the group are jumping straight back in with their latest release Big Mess . The 11-track disc is a classic Grouplove throwback from start to finish, with standouts like  Spinning  and Welcome To Your Life  the best way to ease into their third studio album. Once again, this is a release laden with tracks perfect for throwing on shuffle in the background of your aunty’s birthday BBQ. They’re back in business. ( Big Mess is out September 9 via Warner) Alesha Kolbe

( PARTYNEXTDOOR 3 is out now via OVO Sound/Warner) Tim Lambert

RAE SREMMURD Sremmlife 2 From the kick-your-door-down beginnings of Start A Party , Rae Sremmurd’s infectious over-exuberance cannot be mistaken; brothers Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmy sure know how to write a club banger, although legendary producer Mike Will might also have something to do with it. Real Chill (feat. Kodak Black) and Black Beatles (feat. Gucci Mane) show a more lyrically verbose side to the Swae’s songwriting, while the latter parts of the album play out like the morning after – a fitting comedown to the uber-highs of the album’s first half – giving the brothers a chance to experiment with their darker side. While their debut album Sremmlife may have been a No Flex Zone, the Mississippi brothers are certainly brandishing their musical muscles on this effort.

TWIN ATLANTIC GLA You’re not going to find any bagpipes or highland dances here. GLA , the new record from Glaswegians Twin Atlantic, is set to propel the group to face-melting new heights. The Scottish rockers are back with a bang; the inevitable stadium rock transition that most punk rock bands attempt resulted in the hot polished mess that the was third album Great Divide . Thankfully, Twin Atlantic have taken a step back to their roots and have produced GLA , an honest, gritty, balls-to-the-wall punk rock album.

( Sremmlife 2 is out now via EarDrummers/ Interscope) Tim Lambert

Most reviews are going to compare Twin Atlantic to their compatriots Biffy Clyro, but that’s too easy. GLA is more reminiscent of an early Jane’s Addiction, with lead single No Sleep the biggest piece of evidence. Frontman Sam McTrusty’s signature squall sets this group alone in their own sphere of rock ‘n’ roll, highlighted perfectly in opening track Gold Elephant: Cherry Alligator which is boosted by Barry McKenna’s menacing, boisterous bass line. Valhalla provides a slinkier and more obscure moment, Ross McNae’s riffs run riot in You Are The Devil , and Ex El provides a quieter space… well, as quiet as a punk rock band can sound, right?

( GLA is out September 9 via Red Bull/Sony) Tim Lambert

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