How Do You Do

by Mayer Hawthorne

Having listened to Mayer Hawthorne's first album, A Strange Arrangement, I wouldn't have thought that the artist could get much slicker, but then he gives us How Do You Do, and I have to rethink that position.

For this album, Hawthorne left Stones Throw Records (I'm not going to pretend to care about the particulars of label allegiances; I just know that his first album was with Stones Throw, and this one is on Universal), so there is probably a little more money being tossed at this project.  I don't see how else Snoop Dogg would show up for one track, 'Can't Stop', with his signature smooth voice.

Anyway, aside from potential budgetary excess, this is very similar to the first album.  Hawthorne works with smooth songs that evoke a simpler time where boy bands sounded like women as often as not, and songs were about simple themes.  Except, when listening carefully, it's clear that Hawthorne is not living in the past.  His thoughts on relationships and economic hardship are modern and often critical, but ultimately very sing-a-longable, and quite lovely.

Authenticity

by The Foreign Exchange

There is no need to listen to any kind of pop music other than The Foreign Exchange.  They construct these perfect little songs, which are on one hand completely effervescent and forgettable, and on the other all the more wonderful for that same reason.

I've been listening to Authenticity, their third album, for some months now, and could not, off the top of my head, name a single song, but at the same time, when it's on, I find myself singing along quite easily, which was how I found myself reacting to their last album as well.

It's interesting that the two men at the core of this project, Little Brother's Phonte Coleman and producer Nicolay, are best known for their contributions to the world of hip-hop, because they come across as having such delicate sensibilities here.

The eleven tracks on this album mostly have Phonte singing; he only raps on a couple of occasions.  Nicolay is joined by Zo! on a couple of tracks, and Phonte is backed by Chantae Cann and Yahzarah, who actually finishes the album with a mostly solo track, 'This City Ain't The Same Without You', which is my favourite of the album.

I highly recommend checking this out if you are looking for some lovely, light-hearted music.

Legend Recognize Legend

by Lazerbeak

Before this album was released, Lazerbeak, best known as the producer par excellence of the Doomtree collective, warned his fans that it wasn't going to be what they were expecting.  I appreciated the warning, as I was originally anticipating a strong instrumental album with some dirty beats and chirpy sped-up vocal samples.  Instead, he gifted us with Legend Recognize Legend.

The first time I listened to it, I kind of hated it.  I thought he was doing the same thing that RJD2 did with his Third Hand album, which I couldn't stand (although maybe I should give it another try).  The second time, I started to get it a little better.  Now, it's become one of my favourite albums of 2010.

See, Lazer has bucked all expectations and put out a pop album which is heavy on the synthesizers, and which features his own singing.  It's a pretty weird concoction.  The songs are airy and light, although they occasionally feel a little emo.  There are plenty of guest performers playing live instruments, and the lovely Dessa appears on one track.

The album is short - 10 songs in 34 minutes - and is really meant to be listened to as a single piece.  The songs match up with each other perfectly, and the album just floats along on its good intentions.

I bought this on cd, and it came with a dvd which features a video for each song.  Some are straight up trippy (the video for Dream Team just shows multi-coloured jellyfish floating around), while others are more conventional in their approach.

This is a very cool project.  Congratulations to Lazerbeak for doing his own thing, no matter how non-commercial it may seem.