Sunday, 26 April 2015
Music For The Soul: To Pimp A Butterfly...FUNK MASTERPIECE
Music For The Soul: To Pimp A Butterfly...FUNK MASTERPIECE: Good morning followers,disciples and deviants.....it's been a while but The Soul Guru is about QUALITY not quantity...one post from me ...
Friday, 24 April 2015
To Pimp A Butterfly...FUNK MASTERPIECE
Good morning followers,disciples and deviants.....it's been a while but The Soul Guru is about QUALITY not quantity...one post from me is worth 100 others .
When I am silent it is because I am observing ,thinking, contemplating...empty vessels make the most noise...I know because I once was the emptiest of vessels
In today's Social Media-driven music business where bloggers -sad lonely guys who never go out and still live with their parents - have become the arbiters of taste by a business so unsure of itself it no longer has the courage to say " Fuck you...this is a GREAT album no matter what you think " the ALBUM has become almost obsolete....if your second single doesn't get more Youtube views than your first your ALBUM will never see the light of day....sad but true....
The Soul Guru is a GREAT A&R man...I am brilliant at Artist DEVELOPMENT - hence the 20 million albums my artists sold....I feel sorry for today's A&R's because they're judged by " views " " tweets " " clicks " " farts " etc etc......and they're nowhere as good as me
So in a world where major labels judge their artists single by single the " Difficult Second Album " syndrome has been replaced by the " Difficult Second Single " syndrome.....how can any artist possibly be judged on the performance of two singles ? ? By treating artists with contempt and showing no belief and faith the labels are hoist by their own petard....the public aren't as stupid as the label marketing people think....if it walks like duck,looks like a duck and quacks like a duck it's a fucking DUCK....ergo if it walks like a stiff......
However emerging from the Primordial soup of shit that passes for music released by major labels once in a lifetime you get a genuine game-changer.......a LEVIATHAN....a MONSTER...something so strong that it devours everything in it's path and renders the rest pitiful..redundant...obsolete...EXTINCT
On January 1st 2015 such a GIANT emerged....." To Pimp A Butterfly " by Kendrick Lamar is an album of such intelligence,quality,ambition and sheer genius that it has reawakened The Soul Guru's dormant LOVE of FUNK FUNK FUNK FUNK FUNK
The Soul Guru has LOVED FUNK since I first heard Parliament " Mothership Connection " then saw them live at Hammersmith Apollo
The highest compliment I can pay Kendrick Lamar is that he DESERVES to be up in the FUNK Hall Of Fame
Difficult Second Album ? ? ? Don't make me laugh
The Soul Guru Loves YOU
Follow me on twitter@TheSoulGuru
Spread FUNK
When I am silent it is because I am observing ,thinking, contemplating...empty vessels make the most noise...I know because I once was the emptiest of vessels
In today's Social Media-driven music business where bloggers -sad lonely guys who never go out and still live with their parents - have become the arbiters of taste by a business so unsure of itself it no longer has the courage to say " Fuck you...this is a GREAT album no matter what you think " the ALBUM has become almost obsolete....if your second single doesn't get more Youtube views than your first your ALBUM will never see the light of day....sad but true....
The Soul Guru is a GREAT A&R man...I am brilliant at Artist DEVELOPMENT - hence the 20 million albums my artists sold....I feel sorry for today's A&R's because they're judged by " views " " tweets " " clicks " " farts " etc etc......and they're nowhere as good as me
So in a world where major labels judge their artists single by single the " Difficult Second Album " syndrome has been replaced by the " Difficult Second Single " syndrome.....how can any artist possibly be judged on the performance of two singles ? ? By treating artists with contempt and showing no belief and faith the labels are hoist by their own petard....the public aren't as stupid as the label marketing people think....if it walks like duck,looks like a duck and quacks like a duck it's a fucking DUCK....ergo if it walks like a stiff......
However emerging from the Primordial soup of shit that passes for music released by major labels once in a lifetime you get a genuine game-changer.......a LEVIATHAN....a MONSTER...something so strong that it devours everything in it's path and renders the rest pitiful..redundant...obsolete...EXTINCT
On January 1st 2015 such a GIANT emerged....." To Pimp A Butterfly " by Kendrick Lamar is an album of such intelligence,quality,ambition and sheer genius that it has reawakened The Soul Guru's dormant LOVE of FUNK FUNK FUNK FUNK FUNK
The Soul Guru has LOVED FUNK since I first heard Parliament " Mothership Connection " then saw them live at Hammersmith Apollo
The highest compliment I can pay Kendrick Lamar is that he DESERVES to be up in the FUNK Hall Of Fame
Difficult Second Album ? ? ? Don't make me laugh
The Soul Guru Loves YOU
Follow me on twitter@TheSoulGuru
Spread FUNK
Monday, 19 January 2015
I'm a SOUL man
Happy New year friends,disciples and music-lovers......may 2015 bring you health and happiness .
Last Sunday,January 11th,I was 59 years old...that means I've been a SOUL man for 50 years ...and I'm so grateful I am ...SOUL is one of the most important things in my life..
The most important people : my beautiful sons, Jamie 23 and Callum 21..a Dad could not have finer sons.
A lifelong love-affair : Southampton Football Club
A Love Supreme : SOUL music.....words can't express what SOUL music means to me.....
So I'm in my 60th year and tho I despair at a lot of the new " music " I hear I have not given up hope that SOUL will thrive and grow stronger
I worked in major labels for over 20 years signing innovative,influential artists ...Soul II Soul,Inner City,LeftField,Maxi Priest,Loose Ends,Mantronix,Working Week, Pressure Drop,DJ Rap etc......
SOUL is an ATTITUDE..it means creating music from the heart..music that moves,inspires and improves our lives.......
SOUL is not just SOUL music...I'm a big fan of a lot of the new folk/SOUL I'm hearing....NOT that crap from Mumford & Sons etc but First Aid Kit,Louise Connell, Steve Mason.....if you could introduce me to new artists I'm not aware of please do via twitter @TheSoulGuru or via my Facebook page......
I write thisblog because ever since I started working for SOUL legend Tony Monson in 1975 SOUL has been a constant in my life and I hope that my enthusiasm and passion will inspire you to seek out and enjoy SOUL....not just the music but the attitude
I'm reluctant to come across as sad old guy looking backwards.....I'm not at all...I'm an enthusiastic,passionate,knowledgeable guy looking FORWARD.....I've got lots of silver,gold and platinum discs as I signed so many great artists...they're nice to look at but it was a long time ago.....I live in the present NOT the past....
Next week I'm going to post 6 new artists that you may not have heard that I hope you'll enjoy....meanwhile enjoy Rag "N"Bone Man....he epitomises SOUL
The Soul Guru loves YOU
X
Last Sunday,January 11th,I was 59 years old...that means I've been a SOUL man for 50 years ...and I'm so grateful I am ...SOUL is one of the most important things in my life..
The most important people : my beautiful sons, Jamie 23 and Callum 21..a Dad could not have finer sons.
A lifelong love-affair : Southampton Football Club
A Love Supreme : SOUL music.....words can't express what SOUL music means to me.....
So I'm in my 60th year and tho I despair at a lot of the new " music " I hear I have not given up hope that SOUL will thrive and grow stronger
I worked in major labels for over 20 years signing innovative,influential artists ...Soul II Soul,Inner City,LeftField,Maxi Priest,Loose Ends,Mantronix,Working Week, Pressure Drop,DJ Rap etc......
SOUL is an ATTITUDE..it means creating music from the heart..music that moves,inspires and improves our lives.......
SOUL is not just SOUL music...I'm a big fan of a lot of the new folk/SOUL I'm hearing....NOT that crap from Mumford & Sons etc but First Aid Kit,Louise Connell, Steve Mason.....if you could introduce me to new artists I'm not aware of please do via twitter @TheSoulGuru or via my Facebook page......
I write thisblog because ever since I started working for SOUL legend Tony Monson in 1975 SOUL has been a constant in my life and I hope that my enthusiasm and passion will inspire you to seek out and enjoy SOUL....not just the music but the attitude
I'm reluctant to come across as sad old guy looking backwards.....I'm not at all...I'm an enthusiastic,passionate,knowledgeable guy looking FORWARD.....I've got lots of silver,gold and platinum discs as I signed so many great artists...they're nice to look at but it was a long time ago.....I live in the present NOT the past....
Next week I'm going to post 6 new artists that you may not have heard that I hope you'll enjoy....meanwhile enjoy Rag "N"Bone Man....he epitomises SOUL
The Soul Guru loves YOU
X
Saturday, 3 January 2015
The Soul Guru's vision for 2015
Happy New Year friends,followers,disciples and non-believers...I trust by now you can see and in a day or two you may even be able to walk and talk......
At this time of year The Soul Guru likes to peer into the future and see what is in store for us ...and contrary to most expectations I see great things....but that's enough about Southampton Football Club ;-)
This year I can see a further polarization between major labels and their continuous attempts to persuade people that X-Factor winners are genuinely talented and the cool independent labels whose commitment and belief in music as art grows stronger .
Believe it or not but The Soul Guru has an Honours degree in Biochemistry from the University of Sussex...genuinely TRUE....so when someone famous ( Einstein ? ) said " to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction " I see the future .
In 1976 the music scene was dominated by anodyne bland " pop "....mindless rubbish for the masses.....then PUNK happened...a reaction to the blandness of " pop ".......I truly believe that in 2015 we will start to see a genuine reaction to Cowell,Syco and the shit they think the public are too stupid too ignore.....I can't imagine how fucking awful it must be to work for Syco....
So the reaction is already happening...but instead of Punk it's street music of all genres,,,.rap,indie , Soul,metal...music created BY the people FOR the people
My friend Alan McGee is BACK....a great A&R and a true maverick...just like me
The future is in our hands....it's up to all the great,talented artists out there to keep us excited,engaged,energised......EXCITED
I still remember the feeling when I heard " Anarchy In The UK " for the first time....I didn't understand it but the feelings were visceral, raw , EXCITING.....
Let's do it !
The Soul Guru Loves YOU
X
At this time of year The Soul Guru likes to peer into the future and see what is in store for us ...and contrary to most expectations I see great things....but that's enough about Southampton Football Club ;-)
This year I can see a further polarization between major labels and their continuous attempts to persuade people that X-Factor winners are genuinely talented and the cool independent labels whose commitment and belief in music as art grows stronger .
Believe it or not but The Soul Guru has an Honours degree in Biochemistry from the University of Sussex...genuinely TRUE....so when someone famous ( Einstein ? ) said " to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction " I see the future .
In 1976 the music scene was dominated by anodyne bland " pop "....mindless rubbish for the masses.....then PUNK happened...a reaction to the blandness of " pop ".......I truly believe that in 2015 we will start to see a genuine reaction to Cowell,Syco and the shit they think the public are too stupid too ignore.....I can't imagine how fucking awful it must be to work for Syco....
So the reaction is already happening...but instead of Punk it's street music of all genres,,,.rap,indie , Soul,metal...music created BY the people FOR the people
My friend Alan McGee is BACK....a great A&R and a true maverick...just like me
The future is in our hands....it's up to all the great,talented artists out there to keep us excited,engaged,energised......EXCITED
I still remember the feeling when I heard " Anarchy In The UK " for the first time....I didn't understand it but the feelings were visceral, raw , EXCITING.....
Let's do it !
The Soul Guru Loves YOU
X
Music For The Soul: 2014 Guru Awards
Music For The Soul: 2014 Guru Awards: Happy New Year friends......I wish you a happy,healthy and musical 2015 After several days of excessive eating,drinking and shouting for ...
Thursday, 1 January 2015
2014 Guru Awards
Happy New Year friends......I wish you a happy,healthy and musical 2015
After several days of excessive eating,drinking and shouting for my beloved Southampton Football Club I am finally ready to reveal the winners of 2014' " Gurus "...forget the BRITS ,MTV Awards etc...these are the awards that real artists want to win.......
The decisions are taken by an experienced,intelligent panel with impeccable taste......ME
Thre only criterion is that these artists and albums improved my life and made me feel good to be alive and grateful for my love of music
The SOUL Guru loves music with SOUL...not just SOUL Music.....
OK ..here we go with the Top 10 artists whose music has really made my life better...to all the artists I thank you for creating such great music...without you we're nothing
Another thing is that artists don't have to have released full albums...the EP has become an increasingly important part of breaking new artists so I include them too ...
1) Clark " Clark " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XisOVzJ32_g......
Clark's eponymous album shows that electronic music does have SOUL...the album is beautiful....by the way we're not related !
2 ) Colour The Atlas...one of my great discoveries of 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtwYgjX22jA
Next year's London Grammar ? I think so...beats,songs,production combining to great effect...listen...enjoy their EP " Opaline "...
3) Woman's Hour " conversations "...I LOVE this album so much...hard to describe...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGitM0sAmoU
I urge you to listen....an album that I really love...GREAT songs.....
4) Rokysopp & Robyn " Monument " EP...I LOVE Rokysopp and LOVE Robyn even more so when I heard that they had combined to record the " Monument " EP I was so excited...and it lived up to my highest expectations...I listen to it all the time...Robyn is a GENIUS...one of the greatest female artists in the world...I hope and pray she will release and album this year..I could listen to her all day...and night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c-RbGZBnBI
5 ) Beck " Morning Phase ".....Quite simply one of the best albums I've heard in years....just listen...we're in the presence of greatness here...we are lucky to be around to hear music of this quality...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtmKItCEZp4
6) First Aid Kit " Stay Gold "......Country & Western meets modern pop....Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Soderburg make music that elevates my SOUL..lifts my spirits and brings JOY into my heart....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKL4X0PZz7M
They're playing Brighton on January 24th...I can't wait
7 ) FKATwigs " LP 1 " truly original and unique....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yDP9MKVhZc
Tahliah Debrett Barnett...." FKA "...Formerly Known As...from Gloucestershire where I gre up...incredible....no one I new in Gloucestershire was capable of making such incredible,haunting music...comparisons are horrible...but if you like Kate Bush I think you'll like this....
8) 2 Bears " The Night Is Young " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiAPXiplhlw
Just the BEST dance album of the year....no one comes close to 2 Bears in my book
OK...now we come to the famous " Ones to watch in 2015 " category
1) Bloom Twins...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHJwGWv3C8k
Twins Anna and Sonia Kuprienko are from Kiev in the Ukraine but have recorded in London and will be based here from this year.....think Bjork with Pop songs and you'll get the picture....I think they have the potential to be huge......
2) Louise Connell....I must admit a personal interest in this as I'm involved in the project with Producer Stuart McLeod.....Louise is a singer-songwriter from Airdie.....I'm a massive Joni Mitchell fan so when I say Louise reminds me of Joni I don't say it lightly...look out for her debut EP around April
And now the most prestigious award of 2014....The Guru for BEST ARTIST....
There can only be 1 winner in my book.....his album " Wolves " is far and away the best album I heard last year...I saw him live last month and he was absolutly incredible...a giant of a man with a beautiful voice,great songs and true humility...it was one of the best gigs I've ever seen.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI1-E6Bm-70
Ladies and Gentlemen.....the winner of The Guru for BEST ARTIST of 2014 is.........
Rag ' N ' Bone Man......he is going to be absolutely massive...signed by my great friend Julian Palmer at Columbia Records...." Wolves " is available as a free download when you watch this video on Youtube or visiut his website.....you'd be INSANE not to...
I hope you enjoy the music I recommend
The Soul Guru loves YOU
XX
After several days of excessive eating,drinking and shouting for my beloved Southampton Football Club I am finally ready to reveal the winners of 2014' " Gurus "...forget the BRITS ,MTV Awards etc...these are the awards that real artists want to win.......
The decisions are taken by an experienced,intelligent panel with impeccable taste......ME
Thre only criterion is that these artists and albums improved my life and made me feel good to be alive and grateful for my love of music
The SOUL Guru loves music with SOUL...not just SOUL Music.....
OK ..here we go with the Top 10 artists whose music has really made my life better...to all the artists I thank you for creating such great music...without you we're nothing
Another thing is that artists don't have to have released full albums...the EP has become an increasingly important part of breaking new artists so I include them too ...
1) Clark " Clark " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XisOVzJ32_g......
Clark's eponymous album shows that electronic music does have SOUL...the album is beautiful....by the way we're not related !
2 ) Colour The Atlas...one of my great discoveries of 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtwYgjX22jA
Next year's London Grammar ? I think so...beats,songs,production combining to great effect...listen...enjoy their EP " Opaline "...
3) Woman's Hour " conversations "...I LOVE this album so much...hard to describe...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGitM0sAmoU
I urge you to listen....an album that I really love...GREAT songs.....
4) Rokysopp & Robyn " Monument " EP...I LOVE Rokysopp and LOVE Robyn even more so when I heard that they had combined to record the " Monument " EP I was so excited...and it lived up to my highest expectations...I listen to it all the time...Robyn is a GENIUS...one of the greatest female artists in the world...I hope and pray she will release and album this year..I could listen to her all day...and night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c-RbGZBnBI
5 ) Beck " Morning Phase ".....Quite simply one of the best albums I've heard in years....just listen...we're in the presence of greatness here...we are lucky to be around to hear music of this quality...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtmKItCEZp4
6) First Aid Kit " Stay Gold "......Country & Western meets modern pop....Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Soderburg make music that elevates my SOUL..lifts my spirits and brings JOY into my heart....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKL4X0PZz7M
They're playing Brighton on January 24th...I can't wait
7 ) FKATwigs " LP 1 " truly original and unique....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yDP9MKVhZc
Tahliah Debrett Barnett...." FKA "...Formerly Known As...from Gloucestershire where I gre up...incredible....no one I new in Gloucestershire was capable of making such incredible,haunting music...comparisons are horrible...but if you like Kate Bush I think you'll like this....
8) 2 Bears " The Night Is Young " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiAPXiplhlw
Just the BEST dance album of the year....no one comes close to 2 Bears in my book
OK...now we come to the famous " Ones to watch in 2015 " category
1) Bloom Twins...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHJwGWv3C8k
Twins Anna and Sonia Kuprienko are from Kiev in the Ukraine but have recorded in London and will be based here from this year.....think Bjork with Pop songs and you'll get the picture....I think they have the potential to be huge......
2) Louise Connell....I must admit a personal interest in this as I'm involved in the project with Producer Stuart McLeod.....Louise is a singer-songwriter from Airdie.....I'm a massive Joni Mitchell fan so when I say Louise reminds me of Joni I don't say it lightly...look out for her debut EP around April
And now the most prestigious award of 2014....The Guru for BEST ARTIST....
There can only be 1 winner in my book.....his album " Wolves " is far and away the best album I heard last year...I saw him live last month and he was absolutly incredible...a giant of a man with a beautiful voice,great songs and true humility...it was one of the best gigs I've ever seen.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI1-E6Bm-70
Ladies and Gentlemen.....the winner of The Guru for BEST ARTIST of 2014 is.........
Rag ' N ' Bone Man......he is going to be absolutely massive...signed by my great friend Julian Palmer at Columbia Records...." Wolves " is available as a free download when you watch this video on Youtube or visiut his website.....you'd be INSANE not to...
I hope you enjoy the music I recommend
The Soul Guru loves YOU
XX
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
10 of my favourite FUNK tracks........the Soundtrack to my life
Good afternoon disciples....it's that time again.....time for The Soul Guru to share his experience,strength and knowledge of his favourite subject......FUNK !
So what is Funk ?
Funk is a feel....a vibe...a lifestyle...a reason to believe....but mostly it's a GROOVE that makes us MOVE ! !
FUNK ....James Brown,The JB's, Kool & The Gang ......the best party music ever...but much more importantly an evocation of the 70's.....a decade when Black Music came to symbolise and represent the rise of Black People in the US of A where racism was still rife and segregation still in effect South of the Macon - Dixie line
Funk and Soul were the music of social protest ....from James Brown's " King Heroin " to Gil Scott-Heron's " The Bottle " ......then rappers came along and took over.....
Funk has soundtracked my life..I couldn't comprehend a life without it...I've listened to FUNK,danced to FUNK,laughed to FUNK and made love to FUNK.....FUNK is part of my SOUL...and my SOUL is ME
So here,in no particular order , are 10 of my favourite FUNK tunes.....
James Brown....Sex Machine...THE definitive FUNK track...no question
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajzpd-ONOdo
Kool & The Gang........" Funky Stuff "...the title says it all
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umVRh0Rpi14
James Brown... Payback.....what can I say that James can't say better ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=istJXUJ
Lyn Collins...Rock Me Again and Again and Again and Again....one of the greatest records ever made
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB5KgOXHcxc
Maceo Parker ...Soul Power '74....the best sax solo you will ever hear....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V1Pg8JfZs8
BT Express....Do It Til You're Satisfied........GENIUS......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FViY4--5nY
The JBs.....Giving Up food For Funk......the title says it all....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW7Qz59PX8w
Fred Wesley ....House Party.....Tuuuuuuuuuuuuuune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZlYzMehohQ
Lyn Collins...Think....this is FUNK ! ! !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTdOcumz0wY
Tom Browne.....Funkin For Jamaica
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuUy2ShGLyo
These are just some my favourites but there are so many more......
Thank God for FUNK...
The Soul Guru Loves YOU
X
So what is Funk ?
Funk is a feel....a vibe...a lifestyle...a reason to believe....but mostly it's a GROOVE that makes us MOVE ! !
FUNK ....James Brown,The JB's, Kool & The Gang ......the best party music ever...but much more importantly an evocation of the 70's.....a decade when Black Music came to symbolise and represent the rise of Black People in the US of A where racism was still rife and segregation still in effect South of the Macon - Dixie line
Funk and Soul were the music of social protest ....from James Brown's " King Heroin " to Gil Scott-Heron's " The Bottle " ......then rappers came along and took over.....
Funk has soundtracked my life..I couldn't comprehend a life without it...I've listened to FUNK,danced to FUNK,laughed to FUNK and made love to FUNK.....FUNK is part of my SOUL...and my SOUL is ME
So here,in no particular order , are 10 of my favourite FUNK tunes.....
James Brown....Sex Machine...THE definitive FUNK track...no question
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajzpd-ONOdo
Kool & The Gang........" Funky Stuff "...the title says it all
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umVRh0Rpi14
James Brown... Payback.....what can I say that James can't say better ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=istJXUJ
Lyn Collins...Rock Me Again and Again and Again and Again....one of the greatest records ever made
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB5KgOXHcxc
Maceo Parker ...Soul Power '74....the best sax solo you will ever hear....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V1Pg8JfZs8
BT Express....Do It Til You're Satisfied........GENIUS......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FViY4--5nY
The JBs.....Giving Up food For Funk......the title says it all....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW7Qz59PX8w
Fred Wesley ....House Party.....Tuuuuuuuuuuuuuune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZlYzMehohQ
Lyn Collins...Think....this is FUNK ! ! !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTdOcumz0wY
Tom Browne.....Funkin For Jamaica
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuUy2ShGLyo
These are just some my favourites but there are so many more......
Thank God for FUNK...
The Soul Guru Loves YOU
X
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