24 NOVEMBER 2017 / FREE EVERy FRiday
BEST THE YEAR OF BEST ALBUM OUR LORDE TRACK
Hello... I SAY THIS EvERY YEAR, and I always mean it, but this year I really, really mean it – 2017 was a great year for music. So many excellent albums, so many excellent tracks. As ever, we’ve Oh boy, Charli XCX has compiled them controversial done well, very well, lists that will make some in NME’s Tracks of you happy and some of Of The Year p31 you mad. Something that we can hopefully all agree on is that much of the rest of 2017 has been monumentally awful. Donald Trump is exactly the kind of wand we imagined he would be when he became President of America, and our own leader, Theresa May, is a turd that needs flushing down the golden pan of Downing Street. Sadly, chief s**t-kicker Jeremy Corbyn didn’t become PM in June, but don’t think there wasn’t a revolution – it happened, and you were all part of it. One day you’ll be in charge, and the world will be a better place for it. 22 Back to music, and this Review of the year issue week’s cover star basically owned the year. Lorde Albums. Tracks. Films. TV shows. And plenty, released the best album and plenty, plenty more on NME.com. the best track, and in our world exclusive interview she tells us exactly how she did it. The full conversation is on our website, as are the full lists. Have a read, have a listen, 5 37 39 have a debate…
MikE WilliAMs 19 Things We Like 21 What’s On Your Headphones? Editor-in-Chief 40 Soundtrack Of My Life @itsmikelike
editoriaL Editor-in-Chief Mike Williams PA To Editor-in-Chief Lauren Cunningham (Ext 6650) Deputy Editor Tom Howard (Ext 6866) Digital Editor Charlotte Gunn (Ext 6108) Commissioning Editor Dan Stubbs (Ext 6858) Senior News Reporter Andrew Trendell (Ext 6877) News reporters Luke Morgan Britton, Nick Levine, Nick Reilly Senior Staff Writer Leonie Cooper Staff Writers Larry Bartleet, Alex Flood New Music Writer Thomas Smith Creative Director Simon Freeborough Photo Editor Caroline Jeffrey Chief Sub-Editor Melissa Harteam Smith Intern Hannah Mylrea Hemmings With help from Heather Blagden, Morgan Hislop, John Mahood Illustrations Studio Moross 110 Southwark St advertiSing Managing Director Romano Sidoli Head Of Music Andrew Minnis (Ext 4252) Agency Investment Director Rob Freeman (Ext 86708) London Client Investment Director Sian Roberts (Ext 6778) Brand Manager Matthew Chalkley (Ext 6722) Creative Media Manager Tessa Webb (Ext 2566) Se1 0Su Live & Creative Media Manager Steve Woollett (Ext 2670) Ad Production Manager Barry Skinner (Ext 2538) Head Of Project Management Yasamin Asrari (Ext 3662) TEL 020 3148 + Ext PubLiShing Production Operations Director Richard Hill (Ext 5422) Production Manager Sue Balch Content Licensing & Brand Partnerships Director Lisa Fenner-Leitão (Ext 5491) Group Managing Director Paul Cheal Time Inc CEO Marcus Rich
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The Kills Black Rooster EP Uncompromising duo The Kills first blew minds in 2002 Gorillaz with this brilliant debut EP, Humanz (picture disc) a serious sign of intent. First-ever picture disc release Why so special? The already of Gorillaz’s latest album. ferocious release is getting As if their vivid, guest-packed fiercer, as it’s pressed on pop wasn’t interactive enough, hot-red vinyl. now you can witness Noodle spinning on a turntable. Why so special? It’s one of the year’s best albums, and this is the most eye-catching format it’s been released on. aT The Drive in Diamanté EP ATDI fans waited 17 years for new material. Then came this The s**t-hottest year’s comeback album ‘in•ter a•li•a’, and now there are three more fresh tracks. ‘Point Of Black Friday Demarkation’, ‘Amid Ethics’ and ‘Despondent At High Noon’ were all recorded in Hamburg records earlier this year. Why so special? All. New. on november 24, the Material. good people at record store Day will be getting Tori aMos stuck into the Black Native Invader Russia DanGer Mouse Friday celebrations and Four-track snapshot of Amos’ feaT. run The putting out these drool- album ‘Native Invader’. The Jewels anD worthy vinyl rarities labels are in Russian, and it’s BiG Boi pressed on orange vinyl. Chase Me head to recordstoreday.co. Why so special? It’s a unique Standout from the killer Baby uk/home to find a shop collector’s item for Amosheads. Driver soundtrack. Producer
Words: Jamie milton Jamie Words: near you Danger Mouse teams up with firebreathing rap duo Run The Jewels, and ex-Outkast star Big Boi gets involved for good measure. There are explicit, clean and a cappella versions. Why so special? It’s limited to iGGy PoP 2,000 copies, so your best New Values chance of nabbing one is via The punk pioneer’s 1979 fourth a high-speed chase. album, released in blue-black swirl vinyl, with a gatefold cover. Why so special? It comes with a 24cm x 24cm poster, so you can have a giant topless Iggy on your wall. And it’s part of Friday Music’s ‘audiophile’ series, so it’ll sound suuuper good. 5 Dua Lipa won Best New Artist at the VO5 NMe Awards 2017
Sharon oSbourne Dropped an F-bomb on The X Factor #VO5NMEAWARDS2018 . The show’s best moment for years. Vote
Will Ferrell vote Belatedly found out about Mark Wahlberg’s third nipple. Kinda like an early vote Christmas present. And do it now now now, for the VO5 NME Awards 2018
MorriSSey These are the categories Defended Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein, became the least beSt britiSh band beSt FilM beSt FeStival acceptable he’s ever been. SuppOrTeD By SuppOrTeD By headliner
beSt SMall beSt international beSt international FeStival band Solo artiSt SuppOrTeD By villain oF beSt neW artiSt the year
beSt britiSh beSt albuM hero oF PlaStic Solo artiSt the year Outed on Blue Planet II as SuppOrTeDOrT D By beSt live band a destroyer of oceans and WorSt band the stuff in them. It’s bad beSt video s**t and you don’t need it. beSt collaboration beSt reiSSue SuppOrTeDOrT D By beSt FeStival beSt MuSic FilM beSt tv SerieS beSt track beSt book SuppOrTeD By MuSic MoMent oF the year beSt MixtaPe
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RIP Lil Peep The rapper died, aged 21, on November 15
WHEN HE DIED ON V Magazine. “They all say the November 15 at the age of 21, same,” he told The Times. “That Lil Peep’s potential and I’m edgy.” popularity were in the “Of course it’s as much ascendant – as they had been about image as music,” he for years. Just prior to the continued, “but you could say release of his debut album the same about rock stars of ‘Come Over When You’re the past. They were characters. Sober, Pt. 1’, the rapper said David Bowie is my biggest David Bowie was his “biggest inspiration. Pretty much the inspiration”, Frank Ocean his only thing that stayed the same “musical idol” and divisive with Bowie was his eyes. rapper RiFF RAFF “a role Everything else constantly model”. He added, “I’d love to changed, from his sexuality to be the new Kurt Cobain.” his songs.” Peep nonchalantly Peep was born Gustav Åhr in came out as bisexual in August. Pennsylvania and grew up in A member of the Schema Long Island, New York. His Posse and GothBoiClique parents were both Harvard crews, Lil Peep released his first graduates turned teachers. He mixtape in 2015: ‘LiL PEEP told The Times: “I always got PART ONE’. He followed this good grades, I just didn’t go to with a flurry of EPs and school much. I didn’t like it. mixtapes that preceded the They let me do my diploma from release of his debut album home, but I always knew I was proper in August 2017. His destined to do something videos for hits such as ‘White creative, so I didn’t care.” Wine’, ‘Awful Things’ and ‘Benz Alongside his blossoming Truck’ each had millions of music career he became an views on YouTube. immediately recognisable Peep’s music came to him Instagram star thanks to his easily – “It takes me, like, five face tattoos, which included minutes to make a whole f**king “Get cake, die young” and the song,” he told The Fader this title of one of his songs, year – and this music blended ‘Crybaby’. Thanks to his unique collaged elements of trap, emo, look he was invited to walk the grunge and Southern rock. He runways in Paris and Milan and sampled artists such as was recently shot by renowned Radiohead and Brand New, and photographer Mario Testino for wrote frank lyrics that centred on drug use and mental illness. His 2016 track ‘OMFG’ Lil tributes contains the line, “I used to wanna kill myself / Came up, to Lil Peep still wanna kill myself / My life is goin’ nowhere / I want everyone “PeeP had so much to know that I don’t care”. more to do… he Asked about the song in was constantly a Pitchfork interview, he insPiring me.” Diplo commented, “Yeah, it is serious. I suffer from depression and “ your music some days I wake up and I’m changed the like, ‘F**k, I wish I didn’t wake world and it’ll up’… I realised it was just never be the myself – it’s a chemical same.” Post Malone imbalance in my brain. Some days I’ll be very down and out, “ lil PeeP forever.” but you won’t be able to tell, Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz really, because I don’t express that side of myself on social “he had such a media. That’s the side of myself bright future… he that I express through music. was fearless and That’s my channel for letting all
photo: Jonathan Weiner Jonathan photo: unfazed.” RiFF RAFF that s**t out.” Larry Bartleet 9 Ian McKellen as Gandalf in The Two Towers
Tolkien heads Amazon is working with JRR Sauron in The Tolkien’s estate to bring Lord Of Fellowship Of The Rings to TV. An anthology The Ring series like Fargo, perhaps? Hope so. Here are three Tolkien stories the new show could – or should – focus on. Let’s get geeky
Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn in The Two Towers 2 SAURON VS cELEBRIMBOR AND THE ELVES In the red corner: Sauron, long before he was publicly known as the big baddie of Middle-earth – at this time he went by the name of Annatar or ‘Lord of Gifts’, and he 1 YOUNG ARAGORN was ‘friends’ with elves, dwarves and men. When we meet Aragorn in Lord Of The In the blue corner: elf-lord Celebrimbor, 3 THE cHILDREN Rings, he’s already 87. As a member of grandson of Fëanor and friend of the OF HURIN a dwindling race of Men called the dwarves in Khazad-dûm. When Sauron A recently published Tolkien book. It’s far Dúnedain, he grows taller, is better at arrives in Eregion (west of Moria), he feigns darker than other Tolkien material, with fighting and lives far longer than the Men of benevolence and teaches Celebrimbor to something like the tone of Beowulf, and it Gondor or Rohan. Anyway: in his 87 years craft rings of power – seven for the dwarf takes place in Tolkien’s First Age. before Lord Of The Rings, he’d done plenty lords and nine for the kings of men. In This epic tale follows the children of a of stuff. He grew up in Rivendell with Elrond secret, Celebrimbor also crafts three for powerful hero called Húrin, but particularly under a pseudonym, Estel; he was only told the elves, which are kept separate from the exploits of his son Túrin. When Húrin is about his royal ancestry aged 20, which is Sauron’s corrupting influence. Sauron captured by the most evil being in when he also met his future wife, Arwen. He crafts the One Ring and tries to dominate existence, Morgoth, Túrin is sent by his soon went into the wilds to live with the the owners of all the Rings of Power, but is mother to be fostered by the elves of Dúnedain, and aged 25 became friends furious to discover both the existence of the Doriath. Unbeknown to him, his mother with the wizard Gandalf. He began keeping elvish rings and his inability to control them. gives birth to a daughter months later. Túrin an eye on the Shire under the moniker With the elves now aware of Sauron’s true has plenty of adventures – living in exile ‘Strider’ but for decades he served the King evil self, a bitter war begins that results in with outlaws, serving kings as a general of Rohan, Thengel, using the pseudonym the death of Celebrimbor. During this time and counsel-giver. He accidentally kills his Thorongil, during which time he led a fleet Sauron manages to gain control of the nine friend and goes a bit mad; he gains a of ships to assault the Sauron-friendly rings of men, but thanks to the intervention nemesis in a dragon called Glaurung; he Corsairs of Umbar, and killed their lord. of the kingdom of Númenor, he ultimately sleeps with his sister without realising who It’s this period that fans reckon the series fails, and is later forced to retreat to Mordor. she is, and when they find out they might focus on. Would it make good TV, though? both kill themselves. It’s really cheery. Would it make good TV, though? Quintessential LOTR vibes with a villain we Would it make good TV, though?
Sure, people love a bit of Aragorn. already love to hate, so yeah. It’d be a curveball choice, but it’d be epic. Words: Larry BartLeet. photos: rex Features, aLamy 10 RIZE PRESENTS
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L-r: Ronsel (Jason Mitchell) and Jamie (Garrett Hedlund)
clear as mud allow the cast and Mary J Blige director of netflix’s had to “shatter unflinching new drama Business Mary” some challenges in my life as Mudbound to unravel to play florence well, I’m in the middle of a officer] Ted Sarandos to watch. its intricacies Mary J Blige (former midwife, divorce – ‘I’m gonna give you all If it weren’t for Netflix, this film florence): “‘Mary J Blige’ of this sadness and insecurity wouldn’t be seen right now. The it’s aBout two is manufactured, material, and feeling inferior. But I’m also studios were afraid of this film. very different vain. Once I saw Florence’s gonna give you Mary’s strength, They had reduced it and made faMilies wardrobe, I found that I couldn’t so you can have all these it very small. They focused it dee rees (director): “It’s wear any lace fronts, I couldn’t different things.’ Once just on race, but this is a film an interesting black story told get a perm, and I couldn’t wear I committed to Florence, about family. This is a film about from different points of view. lashes or wear nails. I had to Florence actually started citizenship, about country. And That’s what I was drawn to shatter the manufactured saving Mary’s life.” I think Netflix is forcing people – specifically the inner ‘business Mary’. Once I to think more expansively about monologues versus the shattered her it was easy for me adaM sandler the material.” dialogue between characters. to say, ‘You know what, I’m helped get the It’s a dark, symbiotic gonna give every piece of filM picked up Jonathan Banks relationship between two darkness that I’m dealing with dee rees: “He saw the film and struggled families showing how they’re right now’ – because I have got [Netflix’s chief content p l ay ing t he connected because of trauma, racist pappy disinheritance, feelings of Florence (Mary J Blige), Jason Mitchell (racially economic disparity, Hap (Rob Morgan) and abused veteran, ronsel): motherhood – and also, they’re their family “[Jonathan is] just the sweetest rooted to the land. They’re all guy. He takes the craft so stuck in the muck.” seriously, but at the same time it breaks him to have to do things, it’ll teach you like the day that he has to drop aBout aMerican the N-bomb on me, right to my history face as I’m trying to walk out of carey Mulligan (stifled that door – oh, so tough for him. housewife, laura): “I hadn’t He was like, ‘I’ve got a few of thought about the fact that these in me and then… I can’t there – of course – were black keep doing this.” soldiers fighting for America in garrett hedlund (ptsd- the war, risking their lives… and struck veteran, Jamie): “At the the survivors coming home and end of that scene, I walked into being treated the way they Pappy the hotel and he was just sitting were. I hadn’t imagined it – I’ve (Jonathan there, and nobody was in the never seen a picture of a black Banks) hotel bar. I just walked up, and solider in the war. To learn that he goes, ‘You guys just did when they returned from war something that you’re gonna they returned into segregation be proud of for the rest of and were treated differently to your life.’” their white counterparts was L-r: Florence (Mary J Blige)
Words: Larry BartLeet. PHotos: NetFLIX PHotos: BartLeet. Larry Words: really shocking.” and Laura (Carey Mulligan) Mudbound is on netflix now 13
Murder ballads Notorious cult killer Charles Manson, who died last week, has been a figure of morbid fascination for bands for years Ja mes B ay No longer has a hat Last sunday, after an unrepentant life What’s the latest with behind bars, Charles you, James Bay? Manson died aged 83. “I’ve been making the new the tate murders of 1969 album, which I’m very – a symbol of the hippy happy to say is nearly dream gone bad, and the ready. the thing that really soul-corrupting power of caught me by surprise is music when fed through that I sat down to write the mind of a madman this album towards the – were despicable. yet end of last year and it just bands have long been Manson being came flooding out. It’s fascinated with Manson, escorted to court a time ago that I put songs either through perverse in 1969 out, so I’m very close admiration or a desire to to that.” borrow his evil allure. these, then, are some What’s the vibe with songs that reference his your new album? murderous ways. “It takes my sound to a new place. I’ve got soNic youtH a new look, a new sound. Death Valley ’69 (1984) I fancied a new chapter. Inspired by the hiding place the best way I could put it Manson planned for him and is that I’ve been listening his followers to retreat to when to other stuff. I got deep the race war he was predicting into frank Ocean, LCd broke out. the “Sadie” soundsystem, Chance mentioned in the lyrics is the rapper, a load of tHe BeacH susan atkins who, when part marilyN david Bowie, Lorde. all of Boys of the Manson family, was maNsoN these sounds that don’t Never Learn Not To Love known as ‘sexy sadie’. The Beautiful People really relate to the first (1969) (1996) album but hugely relate to drummer dennis Wilson 10050 Cielo several bands have taken this album. I’m really loved a song Manson had drive their names from references excited for people to hear written (‘Cease to exist’) to Manson and his family that and some familiar so much he convinced the – Kasabian, for instance, are moments too.” Beach Boys to record it, named after Linda Kasabian, albeit as the renamed a family member and witness Have you ditched your ‘never Learn not to Love’ for the prosecution at the guitar then? and with the original title NiNe iNcH Manson family trials. But “Weirdly, because it’s my lyric changed to “cease Nails most famously, Marilyn thing, I’ve managed to get to resist”. the song is Gave Up (1992) Manson stole his stage name guitar in there somehow credited to Wilson, who Hoping to capture a little of the from the cult leader. ‘the – but maybe it isn’t as convinced Manson to give murderous atmosphere of the Beautiful People’ refers to easy to tell. It’s been up his writing credit since place, trent reznor recorded ‘How does it feel to be one of exciting to deliver that, but he owed dennis money for much of nIn’s 1994 album ‘the the beautiful people?’ being I’ll still be up there with trashing his mansion when downward spiral’ at 10050 written, in blood, on one of a guitar in hand.” Manson and his family Cielo drive. He recorded the the doors at the scene
words: Mark BeauMont. interview: andrew trendell andrew interview: BeauMont. Mark words: took up residence there. video for ‘Gave up’ there too. of the tate murders. 15
Big opinions. no FiLTER.
THIS WEEK L7, stars of new doc L7: When they’re Pretend That We’re Dead amazing, music docs are the most powerful now it’s usually for the time art form vocalist Donita Sparks chucked her used tampon into the crowd HAve You ever GoT ouT at reading Festival in retaliation of the cinema and wanted to for the audience pelting them The film was screened as form a band, dye your hair with mud. Though an iconic part of the Doc’n roll Festival bright pink and time-travel to moment in itself, L7: Pretend which shows mostly crowd- a scuzzy, cider-soaked festival That We’re Dead shows there funded music films, passion and brother almost a quarter of field at some point in 1992 (not was so much more to the projects by fans and first-time a century after his death, necessarily in that order)? Well four-piece than competitive filmmakers. This year I got to showed a broken family trying if you haven’t, you might just Tampax-slinging, not least the indulge my inner movie geek as to repair itself after the loss of after watching L7: Pretend That tunes, which were heavy, well as my music nerd, acting a brother and a son. Tender, We’re Dead. A fun, funny and sludgy and powerfully political. as a jury member and sifting tragic and sometimes quite endlessly entertaining rock “Got so much clit / She don’t through hours of films to pick hilarious, it’s one of those films doc full of vintage camcorder need no balls,” went 1990’s my fave. of the movies that that’ll make you feel all warm footage shot by the band, it tells anthemic ‘Fast And Frightening’, were eligible, my own personal inside, while you simultaneously the story of one of the most a female-led kick in the winner was The Allins, which reach for the hand sanitiser. important guitar groups of the testosterone-heavy scrotum of tells the very strange tale of the Like all the best music 1990s. Now, 25 years after their rock and metal, genres which family of original shock rocker documentaries, such as peak, L7 might not be spoken were as macho then as they GG Allin – the punk frontman Searching For Sugar Man, about in such reverential tones remain in 2017. who guzzled drugs like they Anvil!, Kurt & Courtney, as the likes of Nirvana, but their were Haribo, got fully naked Supersonic and 20,000 Days hard-riffing sounds and “ L7’s sounds onstage and regularly smeared On Earth, it’s the focus on the hard-living lifestyle were himself with his own s**te human story behind the music as crucial to the story of were as crucial during gigs. Michael Bublé he that makes these films not just rock’n’roll as anything Kurt as anything Kurt was most certainly not. extended pop videos but Cobain ever did. The film, though, which seriously powerful works of art. When L7 are remembered Cobain ever did” looks at the lives of his mother @leoniemaycooper
1 $523,033,675 44 2 Number of oil paintings Dosh Coldplay’s Number of shout-outs to Gritters named ‘David of a naked Justin Bieber last world tour pulled a certain ‘Ding-A-Ling’ Plowie’ and ‘Gritsy Bitsy that Macklemore looks in, making it the third on Stefflon Don and Teeny Weeny Yellow at to ‘control his highest grossing of Skepta’s quite rude new Anti-Slip Machiney’ in orgasm’. TMI. all time. single of the same name. a Doncaster poll.
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Listening to: aNDra DaY THIS WEEK Rise Up “She keeps things real. This song means so much Salisbury to me.” Wearing: Primark jacket, top and jeans, bag from TK Maxx. Best thing about “ Its music Salisbury: “There’s loads of museums and it’s even scene is well close to Stonehenge.” renowned”
‹ ENocH oNNEN 24, music producer
Listening to: PoST MaLoNE Mask Off “It’s such a banger.”
Wearing: ASOS jacket, Palace hoodie, Topman jeans, Gucci sunglasses. Best thing about Salisbury: “Qudos is the perfect place to go if you’re into music and friendly vibes.” photos: kimberley edwards kimberley photos: ‹ VIcTorIa BuENo 18, telemarketing DaN HoLBEcHE › Listening to: 29, events manager BEYoNcé If I Were A Boy Listening to: “She’s so powerful and KuNGS VS cooKIN’ helps women be strong oN 3 BurNErS and independent.” This Girl “I heard it on a night out Wearing: Urban Outfitters and it’s been my gym tune jacket, Pretty Little Thing ever since.” top, Primark jeans, Nike trainers, Hawkins hat. Wearing: Crosshatch Best thing about jacket, hoodie and Salisbury: “I go to jeans from TK Maxx, the Carnival every year. Hobo Jack T-shirt, It’s great.” Ray-Ban sunglasses. Best thing about Salisbury: “Its music scene is well renowned.”
21 19 T yler, The CreaTor fLower Boy Odd Future’s former ringleader a lBums oF used to love stirring controversy, but he finally softens up on this fourth album. ‘Flower Boy’ was originally called ‘Scum F**k Flower The year Boy’, only for Tyler to ditch the first two words – a move demonstrative 2017 has been a bad year for silly things like of his transition from trolling, crass international relations, basic human decency and not rapper to a more human, relatable being a massive racist. it’s been a good year, though, Boredom figure. When released back in July, for really important things like albums. Grime, rock, feat. Rex Orange County the song ‘Garden Shed’ was taken singer-songwriters with great facial hair – it’s all here. and Anna Of The North as a ‘coming out’ announcement. Tyler turns screen-glued, persistent malaise into Testament to its strength, however, something beautiful. the record goes way beyond its media-baiting talking points. 20 18
Gorillaz humAnZ A hypothetical question informed ‘Humanz’ during its 2016 recording sessions. For the animated band’s fifth album, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett asked contributors from Vince Grace Jones spent four hours Staples to Grace Jones to imagine a night ad-libbing her lines for where “everything you believed in was turned ‘Charger’. To choose the right order for her lines, Damon on its head”. The unsurprisingly nightmarish Albarn covered the studio result is this strangely prophetic soundtrack for floor with pieces of paper Trump’s America – but the buoyant optimism of containing the lyrics, and put closer ‘We Got The Power’ suggests there’s them into order using the fragments. reason to hope even amid the darkness. Paramore After LAughter Pop went the emos on their fifth album, a deceptively perky release that showcases frontwoman Hayley Williams’ struggles with mental health. Sure, tracks like ‘Hard Times’, ‘Fake Happy’ and ‘Told You So’ might sound like an explosion in a 1980s power-pop and new-wave hit factory, but lyrically they deal candidly with anxiety, depression and the s**ttier side of life. The Tennessee band’s first release since the return of drummer Zac Farro 17 alvvays (who left in 2010), and the departure of bass AntisociALites player Jeremy Davis, meant it was all change in Honing the crystalline melodies and lyrical bite the house of Paramore – yet the result is a band of their debut, the Canadian janglers returned not only refreshed, but refreshingly honest. with this “fantasy breakup arc”. On ‘Your Type’, singer Molly Rankin draws blood – “You’re an O and I’m AB” – while ‘Plimsoll Punks’ finds her raging, “You’re the seashell in my sandal that’s Hayley Williams has her own slicing up my heel”. Closer ‘Forget About Life’ is hair colour brand called the highlight, though, pitting dark thoughts goodDYEyoung.
against the warmth of basic human connection. Words: Leonie Cooper, Jordan Bassett, Jamie miLton, Larry BartLeet 22 nme review oF The year 15
vinCe sTaPles Big fish theory “This is my Afrofuturism,” Vince KinG Krule Staples said of ‘Big Fish Theory’ the ooZ before its release. The vocally Only Archy Marshall can combine straight-edge 24-year-old’s second 16 ska, rock’n’roll, sentimental ballads album is a hulking, paranoid beast and mystical poems into the same featuring experimental producers magic potion. The 23-year-old’s Flume and Sophie as well as Bon second album ‘The Ooz’ finds Iver’s Justin Vernon, and its guest Marshall just about keeping a lid on stars include Damon Albarn and his ferocious imagination. Inspired Kendrick Lamar. Dense and avant by a break-up and spanning 19 garde, ‘Big Fish Theory’ is full of tracks, it’s an often miserable good questions, such as “How I’m record that threatens to outstay its supposed to have a good time welcome, but there’s a magnetic when death and destruction’s all appeal to his tormented tales. I see?” and “Where the fuck is my Grammy?”
Last year Staples reviewed a Kentucky chicken shop called Royals Hot Chicken. “If you love your life and you love freedom,” he wrote, “then you must visit.”
The naTional 13 sLeeP weLL BeAst This year The National stuck with what they know – grand, swelling, 14 glorious doom – ramping up the sTormzy atmos to almost boastful levels on gAng signs & PrAyer their seventh, wondrous album. Stormzy is a mercurial, complex Never knowingly shying away from figure and nowhere is that more ennui, frontman Matt Berninger apparent than on his acclaimed plunges himself headfirst into and commercially massive debut. middle-aged misery, with the It’s half massive grime bangers hushed ‘Nobody Else Will Be – see the Imperial Death March of There’ beginning the mournful, ‘Cold’ and the barbed clapbacks 12-song procession that includes that comprise ‘Mr Skeng’ – and the equally chirpy ‘Day I Die’ and LeonArd half woozy gospel-influenced cohen electronica-dabbling ‘Guilty Party’. tracks such as ‘Blinded By Your Songs Of ‘Sleep Well Beast’ sees the band Grace, Pt. 1’, on which he delivers Leonard Cohen experimenting more than usual, Stormzy got stuck in the a sincere dedication to God or The Canadian miserablist with the thrashing ‘Turtleneck’ women’s toilets at the MTV a lover. No wonder the album went set out his stall in his 1967 owing a debt to Pixies rather than debut, a majestically morose EMA Awards earlier gold in just two weeks; in Stormzy the usual Leonard this month. record that’s half a century we got us a man who can do both. old but still feels fresh. Cohen-shaped suspects. 23 12 11
LoyLe caRneR yesterday’s Gone St Vincent Ben Coyle-Larner kicked off 2017 masseduction with as much grace and aplomb as Gyrating well away from the his hero Eric Cantona with the angularity of her fourth album, this release of his devastating debut. glam-pop confection’s title track ‘Yesterday’s Gone’ is a beautiful, has St Vincent yelling, “I can’t turn emotional record, but it’s also off what turns me on”. Annie home to high-end bangers such as Clark’s raw look at the high life the thumping ‘No CD’ and smoky – fame, pills, surgery, heartbreak ‘Ain’t Nothing Changed’. A poem – sees her tearing at old ground the isLe oF arran written and read by his mum on with a career-peak vocal (‘Young The album’s opening track is ‘Sun Of Jean’ makes for a highlight Lover’) and moments of stunning as powerful as it is beautiful, with a twist on this Mercury- clout: “How can anybody have you featuring a sweet soul sample from the 1969 gospel track nominated gem. British hip-hop and lose you,” she demands, “and ‘The Lord Will Make A Way’. is in very safe hands indeed. not lose their minds too?”
LiaM GaLLaGheR as you Were We all expected Liam’s debut solo ‘As You Were’ had the highest album is do well, but not this well. first week vinyl sales in Outselling the rest of the UK’s Top the UK for 20 years. 10 Twenty! Madness. 10 albums combined on its release in October, ‘As You Were’ proves that Liam still has just as much clout as he did when Oasis were at the peak of their powers. He wasn’t just coasting by on reputation either: this is a thoroughly decent record, featuring anthems with massive singalong choruses such as ‘Bold’, set-starting big ’uns with gospel choirs (‘Wall Of Glass’) and gentle weepies such as ‘Paper Crown’. Nice one, brother.
9 Lana DeL Rey 8 Lust For LiFe Opening with ‘Love’, her most grandiose song yet, Lana Del Rey’s fourth major-label album sees her WiLey practising her usual trick of mixing the GodFather doo-wop and girl-group sounds Wiley returned to reclaim the with hip-hop and trap influences. genre he helped to create with Yet this time her usual furrows into a swaggering, self-mythologising darkness are infused with a certain 11th album. Jam-packed with light. The swooning ‘Coachella knock-out punchlines (“’Nuff of – Woodstock In My Mind’ and the dem are spring leg just like frogs / gusty ‘In My Feelings’ skitter along But man ah man are old-school like with a devout sassiness while she Joe Bloggs”) and dazzling beats, proves herself part of the most this is a classic grime album powerful coven in pop by bringing full-stop. What makes it even more Love high priestess Stevie Nicks in for thrilling is that it’s a classic from This is peak Lana, with a guest spot on ‘Beautiful People the man who was there from the chords as sweeping as Beautiful Problems’. A$AP Rocky the hem of a ballgown and start. With ‘Godfather’, he makes giddily romantic lyrics. shows up for two tunes too. Solid us an offer we can’t refuse. Swoon-o-rama. crew – solid album. 24 nMe ReVieW oF the yeaR 7 6
J huS common sense 5 In 2015, J Hus was hospitalised following a gang-related incident. SZa In 2016, he found himself behind ctrL bars for a weapons charge. SZA’s long-awaited debut was well Fortunately, ‘Common Sense’ LcD worth the wait. After songwriting manages to channel the east SounDSySteM stints for Beyoncé and Rihanna, Londoner’s recent struggles into american dream the Top Dawg signee released a positive, vibrant statement of It’s the classic story: band breaks an R&B record that is soulful, intent. The looming shadow of life aveLino up, gets back together five years sex-positive and so intimate it often on the streets is never far, but on No Bulls**t later and releases a seminal, A bold and feels like SZA is baring her soul to colourful and fully charged singles uncompromising career-defining album rather than you on a girls’ night in. The languid, ‘Bouff Daddy’ and ‘Spirit’, J Hus mixtape from London’s some cash-cow dross… Oh, wait lush ‘Drew Barrymore’ is pure sounds like he’s fled the past. fastest-rising grime talent. – that never happens. Unless relationship goals, as she coos, you’re LCD Soundsystem, who this “Somebody get the tacos / summer put out their sublime Somebody spark the blunt / Let’s fourth album, a grown-up club start the Narcos off at episode record with the heart and soul of one”, while ‘Prom’ shows a deep an indie band behind it, as well as understanding of millennial pop. a whole lot of love for David Bowie. Don’t take your eyes off her in 2018. From meditative opener ‘Oh Baby’ through to the squelchy techno-lite of ‘Tonite’, these aren’t just songs 3 for dancing – they are songs for living and songs for loving. 4 2
WoLF aLice KenDRicK visions oF a LiFe LaMaR The London band took a massive damn. humbLe. step up on their follow-up to 2015’s When someone puts On this lyrical ‘come and excellent ‘My Love Is Cool’. These every track title on their have a go if you think you’re 12 tracks flit between grunge hard enough’, Kendrick throws FatheR album in caps, you know down the gauntlet and comes revival and hazy dreampop – yet John MiSty they mean business. up tops. Of course he does. even on the most ethereal songs, Pure comedy Kendrick Lamar was the band bears teeth, with singer Joshua Tillman’s third album under certainly not d**king around when Ellie Rowsell alternating between the Father John Misty name takes he released ‘DAMN.’ in April. With a snarl and wistful sigh. On the the temperature of 2017 with grace, his fourth studio album, he rightfully pulsating, insidious punk anthem humour and the elegance of the retains his crown as the greatest ‘Yuk Foo’ she takes aim and 1970s singer-songwriter greats. rapper of his generation. Socially spits, “You bore me to death”. “Ladies, I hope we don’t end up conscious, politically aware and A response that no one could have regretting this,” he sings on the a straight-up master of wordplay, to this compelling, coolly album’s epic title track, a cradle- Kendrick pushes things forward assured record. to-the-grave showtune that both while still paying his dues to rap’s treasures and laments the endless original heavyweights, from the oddness of human life. There is heady ‘HUMBLE.’ to the more little to regret about ‘Pure Comedy’ laid-back – but just as powerful however, an album that manages – ‘YAH.’ Rihanna and U2 even stop to be clever-clever as well as by for guest appearances. King tender and touching. Kendrick indeed. 25 BECOME UNSTOPPABLE nme review OF THe YeAr
sentences, or a pre-chorus, or a drum sound in a day. But did I ever think that I didn’t want to be honest on it? No! And I didn’t even think of it until I played it in front of a couple of the parties concerned, and I was like, “Ah yeah, that’s right, I really snipped that memory from out between us and stapled it 1 into the song” – which I think is nice. It’s something that I’m now going to do forever, and will probably only get more incisive and more authentic.”
did making a cathartic album change the way you see the world? “That whole period of time between 19 and 20 changed the way I saw the world. I think what I really experienced was a sort of breakdown of the black-and-white, good-and-bad way of thinking. I am not very good at seeing when people are lying to me, or things lOrde like that, and I felt the grief of being MelodraMa deceived for the first time, or being The New Zealand star sums up let down for the first time, in this the raison d’être of her stunning very adult way. And I did really second album with the understated grieve saying goodbye to being chorus of fourth track ‘The Louvre’: a kid, but I feel quite calm coming “Broadcast the boom-boom- out of it, I feel good. Everything is boom-boom and make ’em all complicated and interesting, and dance to it”. This is a regret- those are good things.” drenched break-up album that waves a magic wand at pain and did you know you’d written the transforms it into pure pop magic. best song of 2017 when you From house-influenced lead single finished ‘Green light’? ‘Green Light’ to the deliciously “I am glad that someone thinks it is overwrought ‘Supercut’, the best song of the year. I’m really ‘Melodrama’ gives you pause proud of that song, I worked so to reflect on the past even as it hard on it, harder than I’ve worked takes your hand and leads you to on anything. There are just so the dancefloor. many parts to it, and the production had to be this perfect What’s your favourite lyric journey. And it’s not really a linear on ‘Melodrama’? flow – it starts moving, and then it “I’m really proud of the little pulls back, and then it really goes, moment in ‘Liability’: “I know that and then it pulls back. So it’s it’s exciting / Running through the a delicate thing to get right, but night, but / Every perfect summer’s god I was proud of it. I’ll never / Eating me alive until you’re gone”. forget how proud I was, and am, of That little “every perfect summer’s that song when we finished it. We eating me alive” was really one of had it mixed, we had it mixed the pillars of the record, and I was again. If you knew how many super-stoked with it. It’s got a lot to pianos we tried to get the eventual it for six words.” piano and all the while I was like, ‘We need to be in a town hall in ‘Melodrama’ talks about your rural France, and someone’s first major heartbreak. Was it broken in and they’re banging away hard to write? on the piano,’ and Jack [Antonoff, “Extremely hard! It was difficult in producer] would try another Los that the nature of the material, and Angeles-based piano, we’d do all how difficult a lot of the emotional the stuff to it, and it wouldn’t be stuff was, made it come very right. If only a handful of people FOr THe TOp 50, gO TO slowly. I’d be putting in the hours hear it with the same intensity that nme.cOm/Albums2018 and just bleeding, like, a couple of I hear it, that’s enough.” 27 best of 2017
courtney barnett & album of the year kurt vile lotta sea lice lcd soundsystem american dream
st. vincent masseduction
london grammar truth is a beautiful thing lorde melodrama
alt-j relaxer
jane weaver modern kosmology
sampha process
the big moon love in the 4th dimension
run the jewels run the jewels 3 arcade fire everything now
the the fopp list fopp 100 see our complete top 100 albums of the year in this month’s edition of the fopp list or online at fopp.com while stocks last wolf alice idles visions of a life brutalism
the horrors v
the xx i see you
public service broadcasting every valley
the national sleep well beast
bonobo migration waxahatchee out in the storm
beck colors
future islands the far field
mogwai fopp stores every alvvays country’s sun antisocialites bristol college green cambridge sidneyst edinburgh rose st glasgow union st & byres rd london covent garden manchester brown st nottingham broadmarsh shopping centre oxford gloucester green TUE DEC 12TH @ BAND ON THE WALL
SCREENING OF 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE
PERFORMANCES FROM EVERYTHING EVERYTHING & FALSE ADVERTISING
DOORS 6PM FOR TICKETS: NME.COM/ WIN 24 3 Paramore Hard Times If any song made the NME 5 office start dancing when it came on the stereo in 2017, traCKS of it was this. From the brisk Stormzy chorus straight out of Big For Your Boots a John Hughes movie to The south London don the synthtastic finale, it’s the year harks back to grime’s a near-perfect pop garage roots with this triumph. Even the morose frenetic, confrontational, lyrics (“Walking around 10 tightly coiled attack on all with a little rain cloud”) dissenters. When ‘Big For couldn’t dampen our Your Boots’ was first spirits. If only sadness SeLena Gomez released, one person was always this fun. Bad Liar wrote on Twitter, “F**k me This genius pop song 7 Stormzy’s new tune makes – based around a Talking me wanna boot my f**king 2 Heads sample – is all grandma into next week,” about playing down a CaLvin harriS which might be the crush, a fact mirrored by Slide (feat. Frank Ocean greatest piece of music Gomez’s near-whispered and Migos) writing of all time. delivery and the breezy ‘Slide’ is the standout on pat-a-cake handclaps. the Scot’s boldly titled Simple, but sophisticated. ‘Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1’ CharLi XCX album. Not just because Boys of Frank Ocean’s lucid, The kawaii catnip of ‘Boys’ free-flowing verses, or has Charli XCX pouring Offset and Quavo’s smart dreamy vocals over a interchange: Harris’ candyfloss wonderland timeless production holds populated by Super Mario everything together. plinks, and singing savage 9 Released in February, it lines such as, “I’m sorry set 2017’s ‘song of the that I missed your party… summer’ bar high. I was busy thinking about the KiLLerS 4 boys”. Surely the best The Man 6 excuse since “the dog ate There are at least 16 my homework”. choruses on this delirious, KendriCK stardust-flecked blast of Lamar pop brilliance. Brandon HUMBLE. 1 Flowers mocks his younger Both a statement of intent
words: Leonie Cooper, Jordan Bassett, Jamie miLton, Larry BartLeet self with this peacock strut and an epic boast, through shimmering disco, ‘Humble’ is anything but. promising, “I got gas in the As the man himself says, tank / I got money in the “If I quit this season / I still bank”. He really is the man. be the greatest”. If you thought the mighty lead Lorde WoLf aLiCe single from ‘DAMN.’ was Green Light 8 Don’t Delete The Kisses good, then the epic video Ella Yelich-O’Connor If you’ve not yet fallen in ups the ante even further champions the redemptive love and wonder what it with its high-end religious quality of music on this might feel like, allow us to imagery. Scrap the ‘King’ stone-cold banger that’s direct you to this giddy stuff; Kendrick Lamar so vibetastic, hearing it is head rush of a track. might just be God. like being pumped full of Cardi B With yearning lyrics and helium. ‘Green Light’ is Bodak Yellow throbbing swathes of synth, instantly familiar yet is This masterclass in its whirling dreampop idiosyncratically structured braggadocio hit Number builds to a heady (hitmaker Max Martin One in the US, making crescendo: “I’m electric / A called it “incorrect Cardi B the first female romantic cliché / And yeah, songwriting”), pointing to for the toP 50, Go to rapper to achieve the feat they really are all true”. I’m nme.Com/traCKS2018 her supernatural since Lauryn Hill in 1998. not crying, you’re crying. talent. 31 nMe ProMotion
Secure your Get yourself down to ticketS now You can see The Disaster Artist first and for free at a screening of hilarious one of our special preview screenings on November 29. Screenings will take film The Disaster Artist place at 6.30pm at ODEON Birmingham James Franco stars in this critically acclaimed Broadway Plaza, Glasgow comedy about one of the worst films ever made Braehead, Greenwich, Holloway, Liverpool One, The DisAsTer ArTisT iS – who accidentally turned his writing and acting in his own Manchester Great the hilarious true story of how bizarre vision into a cult hit. movie, and doing all very Northern, Milton Keynes The room became one of the James Franco plays Wiseau, badly, makes for a comedy Stadium, Newcastle great cinematic success stories an unemployed actor studying so shocking you’ll have to Metrocentre, Southampton of recent years – despite being his craft in San Francisco. He keep reminding yourself it all and Wimbledon, and at one of the worst movies ever befriends a 19-year-old fellow happened. Franco, who also VUE Bristol Cribbs, made. The 2003 film is the work student (Dave Franco) and the directs, has assembled Cardiff, Edinburgh Omni, Warner Bros.© 2017 entertainment inc. all rights reserved. of one Tommy Wiseau – a pair move to LA to make their a superb supporting cast, Cheshire Oaks, Leeds mysterious actor-director with Hollywood dreams come true. including Seth Rogen, Alison Light, Norwich, Piccadilly the flowing hair of an ’80s rock Unable to find work, they decide Brie, Zac Efron, Josh Circus, Thurrock, god, an accent that seems to be to make their own film. And so Hutcherson and Megan Portsmouth and Watford. from all over the world, a The room, a baffling story of Mullally. We can promise you limitless bank account and love and betrayal, is born. The you’ve never seen anything Go to seeitfirst.com a dream of being a movie star account of Wiseau directing, quite like this film. and enter the code UNMF79
in SeLecteD cineMAS Dec 1, nAtionwiDe FroM Dec 6 nMe revieW OF the year
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BlaDe runner 2049 Ryan Gosling, Harrison FilMS OF Ford, Robin Wright 5 To make a sequel 35 years after the original is a bold move. Blade Runner 2049 the year Call Me By is more than worthy of its yOur naMe predecessor because it 10 Armie Hammer, has kept its spirit and built Timothée Chalamet on it, echoing the first film This one might just sneak but in deeper, more mind- the Best Picture Oscar expanding ways. It’s so it from some far bigger films. gorgeous you could watch Bill Skarsgård, 7 All the passion, lust, fear it with the sound off and Finn Wolfhard and joy of first love are told have a lovely time. Not much was expected of with overwhelming feeling this take on Stephen King’s Dunkirk by Luca Guadagnino. horror. Could anything Mark Rylance, Tom Once you’ve seen it, you’ll beat the 1990 miniseries? Hardy, Cillian Murphy never look at a peach the The answer is a screamed Dunkirk is Christopher same way again. yes. The child actors are Nolan’s best movie, and superb, and as for Bill also his simplest. The 2 Skarsgård’s Pennywise, drama of the Dunkirk well, we were too scared to evacuation is told in what think of Tim Curry once. is effectively one long BaBy Driver action sequence that Ansel Elgort, Jon Hamm, punches you right in the Lily James feels. There is no let-up Edgar Wright’s crime caper and by the end you’ll likely is an instant cult classic. be weeping, and in need of The action sequences are a long lie-down. dazzling, and the whole film drips with a very 9 American kind of cool. 6 4 A showy performance from t2 the now-disgraced Kevin trainSpOttinG Spacey is the only blemish Ewan McGregor, Robert MOOnliGht on this cinematic thrill Carlyle, Ewen Bremner Mahershala Ali, ride’s flawless chassis. How do you make a sequel Alex R Hibbert to a youth-culture film and Moonlight is a quietly not have it look crusty? If devastating film about you’re Danny Boyle, you discovering who you are,
WORDS: OLLY RICHARDS, NICK LEVINE NICK RICHARDS, OLLY WORDS: embrace ageing. The now making sense of the world 40-somethings are still and how you fit in it. It’s disastrous people, but told with lyrical simplicity they’re a helluva good time. by relative newcomer 1 la la lanD Barry Jenkins, with very WOnDer Ryan Gosling, little dialogue. It doesn’t WOMan Emma Stone need words to deliver its Get Out Gal Gadot, Chris Pine If you’re not won over by message loud and clear. Daniel Kaluuya, Wonder Woman is funnier the opening number that Allison Williams and more action-packed turns a motorway into Get Out takes on the topic than the DC films before it. a massive dancefloor, it of race relations in America Bats and Supes are now won’t be for you. If you are, and turns it into a riot of playing catch-up. though, what delights a horror movie, full of 8 await. It’s a time-old story creeping scares and big told in a way that combines laughs. It makes its the colourful dazzle of audience ask themselves old-school musicals with tricky questions in a way
just a sprinkle of modern FOr the tOp 20, GO tO no other film has indie grit. nMe.COM/FilMS2018 this year. 33 tV ShoWS oF the year 5 cataStrophe: 8 SeaSon three the handMaid’S The most unflinchingly real taLe: SeaSon one comedy show on telly once again There’s close to the bone, and then struck the perfect balance there’s The Handmaid’s Tale. between relatability and hilarity. Hulu’s masterful adaptation of With Rob and Sharon careening Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel towards booze-fuelled disaster, about a totalitarian takeover of the 10 you find yourself rooting for US by a violent hyper-patriarchy them while also revelling in the makes for genuinely scary viewing LOLsome carnage arising from in the era of Trump. It’s utterly MaSter oF none: their piss-poor life choices. The impossible to look away from, SeaSon tWo third season also doubled as thanks in no small part to career- For the second season of his a moving tribute to Carrie Fisher defining performances from loosely autobiographical comedy, – who guest-starred as Rob’s Elisabeth Moss as Offred and Ann Aziz Ansari – along with co-writer mother – and her peerless way Dowd as the fearsome Aunt Lydia. Alan Yang – could’ve simply with a withering one-liner. The show bagged eight well- revisited the themes that made the deserved Emmys, including first such a hit. After all, there’s Big LittLe LieS Outstanding Drama Series – the plenty of mileage in watching a 7 The ‘prestige television’ concept first-ever production by a hipster half-assedly navigate love taken to another level. Centred streaming platform to do so. and friendship in NYC. Instead, around a murder that shakes up an Master Of None opts to throw in affluent community,Big Little Lies overseas locations, a complicated was created by screenwriting romance and an abundance of legend David E Kelley and boasts twists – some hilarious, some a gold-plated ensemble cast that heartbreaking. The levelled-up includes Reese Witherspoon and effort and ambition really show Nicole Kidman. Pooling all that – and have paid off in spades. pricey talent paid off handsomely for HBO: the show generated huge The Sinner word-of-mouth buzz and garnered 4 If you found Big widespread critical acclaim. Little Lies’ Luxury telly. whodunnit gripping, the whydunnit riddle gaMe oF throneS: at the heart of Netflix hitThe SeaSon SeVen Sinner will have you gnawing The planet’s biggest show your knuckles off. continued to dominate TV ratings, BitTorrent charts, spoiler warnings, 9 meme culture and next-day water Fargo: cooler convos. With the end now in inSecure: 6 SeaSon sight and with no more George RR SeaSon tWo three Nikki Swango’s (Mary Martin books left to adapt, some Issa Rae’s comedy-drama is one Every bit as stylish, twist-filled and Elizabeth Winstead) arrest fans felt that the storytelling was of the most acclaimed shows of darkly hilarious as the seasons that in episode seven, as she being over-condensed in order to attempts to flee through recent years, having achieved preceded it, the third helping of a bathroom window, is a get unresolved plot threads and 100 per cent ratings on Rotten Fargo takes the show’s central near-exact recreation of Jerry character arcs across the finish Tomatoes. It mines laffs and schtick – a single crime setting Lundegaard’s arrest from the line. Quibbles aside, though, drama from the everyday lives of a domino effect in motion – and original 1996 Fargo movie. the relentless twists, turns and 30-something black women as runs with it. Grade-A scripting, backstabbings – real and figurative they struggle with relationships, direction and performances all – once again had us OMFGing careers and good ol’ racism. (Fun round as usual, with special props right ’til the end. Hurry up,
fact: Rae snuck numerous Frank going to David Thewlis for his season eight. Madden Joe words: Ocean lyrics into her scripts.) portrayal of villain VM Varga. 34 3
Bojack horSeMan: 2 SeaSon Four 2014: “Haha, have you seen Stranger that weird Netflix show about thingS 2 a washed-up ’90s star with a rick and Morty: OK, so the feverishly awaited horse’s head? It’s properly mad, SeaSon three 1 second season wasn’t without its really hilarious!” 2017: “BoJack 2017 was the year that profane flaws; the less said about the Horseman has allowed me to sci-fi-comRick And Morty made infamous seventh episode, with its work through a lot of my issues the leap from cult hit to mainstream toe-curling depiction of Eleven’s relating to self-destruction and low phenomenon. Unfortunately, much descent into cheeseball punkdom, self-esteem. It really gets to the of the show’s visibility arose from the better. Overall, though, heart of the 21st-century human the debacle that unfolded when, It was Gaten Matarazzo who Stranger Things 2 delivered exactly experience.” BoJack Horseman cashing in on an obsession of suggested that Dustin – who what we wanted: lashings of continues to be deeper, sadder Rick’s, McDonald’s briefly reissued he portrays – should adopt a Spielbergian sci-fi twinned with trademark lascivious purr for and more life-affirming than any its Szechuan sauce, resulting in season two. The ridiculous guileless, heart-on-sleeve emoting. other show out there, while still tantrums from manchild superfans love-growl was borne of his There’s only one show that could serving up the occasional clown- who didn’t manage to get hold of Chewbacca impression. make us “aaw” at an eyeless, dentist joke to keep things rollin’. any. But hey, don’t let the entitled nightmare-faced demon hound as A true original. fandom of a few 4channers ruin the For the top 20, go it snaffles down a chocolate bar, most hilarious, ingenious cartoon to nMe.coM/tV2018 and Stranger Things is since golden-era Simpsons. that show.
nme promoTion S’all good! SeaSon Three feaTureS Four reasons why a familiar Supervillain Better Call Saul is Breaking Bad fans will be happy really rather good to see an iconic character from the original show make an Spin-offS rule iT’ll have you gueSSing appearance in season three of Frasier. Mork & Mindy. The show might be about Saul Better Call Saul. If you’ve The Great British Bake Off: An Goodman (yes, that is an ‘it’s all missed the evil ways of Extra Slice. Some of the good, man!’ pun), but its star a certain big old baddie, then greatest shows of all time have (played by Bob Odenkirk) hasn’t iT’S goT SeriouS cred grab the latest series to find been spin-offs. Better Call yet metamorphosed into the Not only is Better Call Saul well out who we’re Saul is no exception. Its Breaking Bad character we jokes, it’s also quality telly, with banging on about. TV daddy is the equally know and love. Instead, we see more critical acclaim than you ace Breaking Bad and it what leads him there – and it’s can shake a stick at. We’ll let its Better Call Saul acts a prequel to the totally compelling. 97 per cent rating on Rotten season three is drugs’n’desert classic. Tomatoes speak for itself. out on dVd now
One giant leap Noely G’s best work twist of cosmic irony, finally since ‘(What’s The starting to live up to all those Story) Morning Glory?’ frigging Beatles comparisons. For Noel, NGhFB’s third album ‘Who Built the Moon?’ NOEL marks a grand sonic expansion. GALLAGHER’S First single ‘holy Mountain’ set HIGH FLYING the retro-revisionist tone – the BIRDS sound of glam-era Bowie, the Who Built The Moon? Vaccines, Showaddywaddy and Ricky Martin all marching to ★★★★ Jona Lewie’s tin whistle – and EXPERIMENTAL ROCK FRENCH its spirit infects Noel’s best album since space gospel while ‘It’s a ALBUM ‘…Morning Beautiful World’ could be early What a Glory?’. Elbow remixed by Underworld, OF THE difference two Enshrouded in and includes a middle eight in decades make. In a kind of sepia French that surprisingly reveals WEEK the ’90s we nailed rock dream-haze a greater grasp of the Gallic our colours to Blur or and one big tongue than “Je m’appelle Noël, Oasis; now we’re lyrical air-punch, cinq bières s’il vous plaît”. it. But, bar the turgid swamp forced to choose ‘…Moon?’ beams Producer David holmes blues of ‘Be Careful What between Oasis Oasis with surprises. comes into his own in You Wish For’, it’s Noel’s and Blur Oasis. team Liam Opener ‘Fort Knox’ is a far more constructing the galloping freewheeling solo freedom and prefer things as they were – one exotic ‘F**kin’ In the Bushes’, orchestral Western ‘If Love Is return-to-form songwriting that massive, lairy love-in. team full of afrobeat choirs, a fire the Law’ and a bombastic puts this among the albums of Noel, meanwhile, are embracing alarm and backing vocals like finale in ‘the Man Who Built the the year. Noel shoots for ‘…the a more experimental mindset Florence Welch atop a minaret. Moon’ that practically demands Moon’, and strikes bullseye. and thereby, by some immense ‘Keep On Reaching’ is pounding they write a Bond film to go with Mark Beaumont
Most evocative of all though, is however, as crunchy electronics Wonder woman the sound produced by a and scattershot beats gallop 12-piece Icelandic female flute under her cooing lyrics about Björk’s magical ninth sees her on more upbeat form, orchestra, the lushness of the “sins of the father”, likely mixes up female flute coming on like New age titan which lifts every track with a reference to her ex – the artist choirs and sounds of Enya if she signed to hyperdub. a lightness that is at once Matthew Barney – suing for the natural world Björk has smirkingly hopeful and haunting. custody of their daughter. described her ninth record as ‘Sue Me’ gets more murky ‘Utopia’ is where art, real life her “tinder album”, dealing with and deep experimentation BjÖRK the process of falling in love intersect, and it’s utterly Utopia again after monumental compelling. Leonie Cooper heartbreak. this is most evident ★★★★ on the twinkling harp-swathed FLUTES BIRDSONG ELECTRONIC ‘Blissing Me’, where she dreamily sings of “two music nerds, thE LaSt obsessing” and Björk spent “50 or 60” days material we heard “sending each rehearsing with the album’s from Björk was a bit other MP3s / flute orchestra in her of a downer, wasn’t Falling in love Icelandic cabin. it? 2015’s ‘Vulnicura’ to a song”. In was a sweeping, keeping with the majestic break-up ‘Utopia’ of its title, album that saw her Björk has created creating a raw, emotive a paradise-like sonic rainforest, narrative within her otherworldly with tracks like ‘Saint’ having soundscapes. It was incredible, more in common with a David but damn it was gloomy. attenborough documentary
photos: santiago photos: happily, the febrile ‘Utopia’ soundtrack than a pop song. 37 Get your GiG in
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photos: getty images, alamy Fri 24 Fred Paton Birmingham. Mon 29 Arts Club, 29 Waterfront, Tue 28 De La Warr Glasgow. Sat 25 Queen’s Hall, Belfast. 39 Edgar Wright Baby Driver director, king of the cornetto trilogy THE fIrST THE fIrST gIg Song I I WEnT To rEmEmbEr davId boWIE HEarIng Milton Keynes Bowl mUd “It was the Sound+Vision Tiger Feet tour. I was a big Bowie “I have dim memories of fan. I was 16, and I was this on Top Of The Pops, working in a supermarket which is weird because it in Somerset. An older kid THE Song came out in January that was in my brother’s I do aT 1974, and I wasn’t born year, Julian Thorne KaraoKE until April 1974. I have – shout-out to Julian – he THE KnaCK THE Song memories of them doing was driving to Milton My Sharona THaT their silly dance.” Keynes to see Bowie and “‘My Sharona’ is quite an CHangEd he said, ‘Do you want me easy one to do because mY lIfE THE fIrST to get you a ticket?’ It the lyrics are quite QUEEn albUm was a lot of money at the repetitive and you can Don’t Stop Me Now I boUgHT time – it was £20. The put a lot of energy into it. “It was a song I always bbC radIoPHonIC gig was extraordinary.” The one I would like to loved and so it made me WorKSHoP do is ‘Love Is The Drug’ very happy that I was Doctor Who by Roxy Music because able to include it in Sound Effects the lyrics in that are just Shaun Of The Dead, “I wish I had a cooler too good. And while and the success of the answer than this but doing a Bryan Ferry movie changed my life.” maybe this is so dorky impersonation the lyrics that it’s cool. It has 30 are particularly great. THE Song tracks including ‘The Me and Jon Hamm are I WanT Dalek Control Room’, davId boWIE both obsessed by that P l aY Ed aT The wisdom ‘Distillation Chamber’ song and we both sing mY fUnEral of the NME and, crucially, ‘TARDIS parts of it. It’s a PaUl WIllIamS archives Interior (Stationary)’. THE Song phenomenal song.” Give A Little Love I highly recommend it. I Can’T gET “This is from Bugsy THIS WEEK I’m sure at one point oUT of THE fIlm Malone – it’s the song gErI HallIWEll we tried to use it for mY HEad SoUndTraCK that ends the film after Spice Girl something in Spaced.” andrEa TrUE I’m moST they’ve had a pie fight November 24, 1996 ConnECTIon ProUd of and they all come THE Song More, More, More babY drIvEr together. It’s about “I respect Malcolm X. THaT madE “Whenever I’m on a film “I’m extremely proud of it making up. Maybe if it But on the other hand, mE WanT To shoot, I find myself because it’s such an was played at my funeral someone I wanted to WorK In fIlm singing this. It always ambitious and expansive everybody would have shag might just be any THE marCElS makes the director of effort – it’s got 35 songs. a pie fight and I would bloke with a six-pack.” Blue Moon photography laugh I’m also quite proud of really like people to have “This is the closing track because at any point I’ll the Scott Pilgrim a pie fight at my wake.” to An American Werewolf start going, ‘More, more, soundtrack because on in London. That movie more…’ Also – fun fact that one we had a load of Baby Driver is out knocked me for six when – the lead singer was a original songs – we had now on dVd I saw it as a kid. I was porn star and the middle such a dream list of completely wowed and eight of it is sampled in collaborators, all of Go To NME.coM for intent on working in the ‘Steal My Sunshine’ by whom I would work with MorE SouNdTrackS
movies after that.” Len. It’s an earworm.” again in a heartbeat.” IntervIew: LArrY BArtLeet. photos: GettY ImAGes, rex FeAtures 40