Despite not releasing a proper album throughout 2008 Jay-Z kept himself in the limelight through some carefully selected appearances. Be it the leak of the Kanye produced ‘Jocking Jay-Z‘, his appearance on Coldplay‘s Prospekt’s March EP or the legendary Noel Gallagher baiting Glasto performance the man proved he was all about quality over quantity. His Blueprint III release is eagerly awaited in 2009:
‘”That bloke from Oasis said I couldn’t play guitar, Somebody shoulda told him I’m a fucking rockstar”
——————–
Back in July I reviewed Death Cab For Cutie’s live show at Camden’s Koko remarking that tracks from their new album Narrow Stairs “blended in effortlessly with their back catalogue and sound like classics in the making”. I have since listened to the entire album on repeat and still stand by that statement. After all the band could have been forgiven for rehashing Transatlanticism in an effort to repeat their known success. Instead they experimented with their sound juxtaposing sunny arrangements with dark lyrics and vast atmospherics in what has been nothing but an organic evolution. In the midst of all that Ben Gibbard’s unique wordings provide a familiar buoy to latch onto when everything around turns stormy
