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Music

Noisey Tidbits Roundup

Late Of The Pier are potentially reforming! (And other stuff that is of non comparable importance.)
Ryan Bassil
London, GB

A weekly roundup of anything music-related that's made us excited about being able to hear things.

Hey Naysayers, The Music Industry Is Alive And Growing!

Yep, that’s right, for the first time since 1999, the music industry's profit turnover has grown. For years now, people have bemoaned internet culture as the final stab into the heart of the music business, failing to see past the voraciousness of CD generation executives of the past. Thankfully, though, it seems we’re out of the lull as music industry trade group IFPI reported this week that worldwide music sales saw a 0.3 percent bump in 2012. Oh, sure, that’s a pretty small percentage, but, let’s not be greedy now. Anything is better than nothing. Thanks to iTunes expanding into new territories (Hiya India!) we’re on the up and over the hump. Yay!

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KimYe Went Nude For A French Magazine

Damn, KimYe. This shot is beautiful, but I can’t get past thinking about how awkward it must have been for the photographer. Do you reckon they were fully naked? Hey, remember when Kanye sent pictures of his dick to some chicks on the internet? Until about five seconds ago, I’d completely forgot about that (despite the fact "Runaway" insists on reminding us on every listen). Anyway, all awkward accusations aside, this cover is great. A truly great black and white portrait that I’d buy with my own money and be proud to read on a beach holiday. Well done, France.

Some All Girl Glee Club Covered "Bitches Ain't Shit"

Have you ever found yourself late at night, stuck in the dark depths of YouTube? It can be a terrifiying place frequented by the sort of HD videos that feature real life people having their heads cut off. It seems as though the YouTube messiahs are on my side though, as the other night I found this heartwarming video of cardiganed girls covering a hip-hop classic. Props to these women for standing up against the tirades of misogyny and turning it flipside by performing their own accapella version of Dre's track "Bitches Ain't Shit".

Late Of The Pier Are Reforming

Well, potentially. They posted the following to their Facebook page:

“friends… It’s been a long time. Very soon you will hear news of what we’ve been up to and where all our hands have been hiding. promise. some of you may be aware we look after bands… one of those bands release their very first single on wonderful splurged vinyl today. It’s a very special day for a teenage band releasing your first bit of wax so please take a moment of your time to turn up your speakers to full volume, break your necks and fist your wallets into your computer screens. Much love, LOTP. xx”

Sure, they’ve got an obligatory plug in there for one of their recording artists, but the fact that they’re using their own Facebook page (which they’ve also updated) seems to suggest that they’re set to return to warping our heads around the space and the woods.

Azealia Banks “Covered” The Strokes

Over ten years ago now, Julian Casablancas suggested that we wear our new trench coats. The year was 2001. The monolith of guitar music breathed a new found eternal life as bands like The Libertines, Kings of Leon et al stormed both the charts and critics alike. Now, a decade on, Twitter beef Queen, Azealia Banks, has offered up her own take on The Strokes early noughties classic "Barely Legal". Initially I was filled with frustration. I wanted to rage against the decision to propagate yet another track as her own over releasing original material in support of a seemingly fictional debut album. But, it looks like her debut record is edging slightly closer to release. In fact speaking on Twitter last night, she announced a new single Yung Rapunxel, set for release March 26. Take your sweet time, Ms Banks.