The Chemical Brothers, The XX, and Blackalicious have this week’s must-hear tracks
We get a lot of records sent to us here at The A.V. Club. Fortunately, we end up liking some of them. That’s why we launched Playlisted, to share our latest recommendations of tracks music fans have to hear.
The Chemical Brothers, “Theme For Velodrome”
The Olympics are just a week away, and the host city, London, is doing its part to remind the world that British music is pretty good. Games organizers have brought in acts like Paul McCartney and Blur to play the opening and closing ceremonies and have commissioned songs by acts like Muse. Block-rockin’ duo The Chemical Brothers have done their part with “Theme For Velodrome,” a song about indoor bike racing that might seem kind of stupid in theory, but is most excellent in practice, harkening back to Kraftwerk’s Autobahn with its speedy, rubber-burning pace and repetitive movements.
Blackalicious, “Changes”
With the group’s first EP, 1994’s Melodica, finally getting a digital release July 31, Blackalicious is celebrating its history. Comprising rapper Gift Of Gab and DJ Chief Xcel, the duo has three very good records under its belt—1999’s Nia, 2002’s Blazing Arrow, and 2005’s The Craft—but like so many alternative hip-hop acts, never really found a place in the mainstream. “Changes,” a track from deep in the Blackalicious archives, is a bonus cut off Melodica’s digital release, and was produced in part by DJ Shadow, a friend and fan of the group.