It’s kind of odd that a couple of days after their Tough Love label hypes the free-share of their studio-recorded cover of Daft Punk’s “Digital Love”, Sheffield indie pop band the Situationists announce their break up, but hey, there’s nothing like going out on a high we guess, which is precisely what this remake is.
Trading the original‘s smiley dance glow for an infectious punk-ish rambunctiousness, the Situationists provide some impressive instrumental intricacies here that catch hold of a great pop feel on more than one occasion (Of particular note is that brilliant breakdown section).
It’s definitely the better of the decent, but not fully satisfying, “Digital Love” covers we’ve already heard from otherbands (and don’t tell anyone, but we might even like it a little more over the original), which only makes it sadder that we probably won’t be hearing anything more from this band.
Taking a cue from Daft Punk, Kanye dares to go “harder, better, faster, stronger” on his futuro mind-meld of a new single, but for all it’s over-blown theatrics, “Stronger” proves that with each new album, Kanye seems more annoying than amazing.
It was felt with Late Registration too, a bold(er) second album that found West turning to rock producer Jon Brion for a bigger sound. Registration bulged with production genius and fantastic one-liners but compared to his flawless debut, the cracks of his amateur mic skills were a bit more obvious and the strength of his internal diatribe wasn’t as potent. This left his out-sized ego vulnerable and therefore him as a person much less irritating.
“Stronger” continues that concerning downward spiral, all the while pushing the man’s producer alter ego to new levels. Timbaland is miles better at Y3K digital funk, but Kanye does an okay job playing with samples that aren’t necessarily part of the oldies bin yet. Like “Diamonds of Sierra Leone”, “Stronger” won’t hit you initially as a bona fide hip hop jam, but as it goes on (and that repeated vocal loop has fully marinated into your brain cells), the clashing of ominous strings and Star Trek-sleekness can provoke a subtle head nod or two by the third chorus.
Where “Stronger” ultimately fails at falls on Kanye’s penmanship. The occasional rewind-worthy line pops up (“Heard they’d do anything for a Klondike/ Well I’d do anything for a blonde dyke”), but for the most part “the Christian in Christian Dior” seems like he’s meandering around aimlessly. The expensive-looking Hype Williams-directed clip (an anime-influenced question mark with Cassie striking poses and Kanye doing…something) gives off the same energy. All pizazz with no heart. If West’s previous albums couldn’t snag the Album of The Year Grammy when they deserved it, I doubt Graduation will finally get him that trophy if this is what we have to look forward to from it.
As nice as it is to get free music, think of how much better your soul would feel if you purchased it the old-fashioned way.
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(MP3 posts are for promotional and/ or previewing purposes only; if any artist or their representation wish to have the links removed, contact me and I will happily comply!)
It’s kind of odd that a couple of days after their Tough Love label hypes the free-share of their studio-recorded cover of Daft Punk’s “Digital Love”, Sheffield indie pop band the Situationists announce their break up, but hey, there’s nothing like going out on a high we guess, which is precisely what this remake is.
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