Defamation of Strickland Banks [Import]

Plan B | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 20, 2010)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Phantasm Imports
• ASIN: B00352MEYU
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,754 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Accessible, polished and brimming with verve."
"The emphasis here is on (Plan B's) sweet soul voice and a thumping Motown groove, an intriguing change of direction that's both passionate and populist." --The Telegraph

Product Description

'The defamation of strickland banks' from plan b is the sound of motown, stax and obscure northern soul, filtered through the grit of contemporary east london. It is smokey robinson miraculously fused with eminem. It's an urban fairytale, the story of a man who finds success hard to handle and then hits rock bottom. A sweet soul morsel with a razor-sharp edge. Plan b's second single 'she said' currently b list on the uk's radio 1 & radio 2 playlist. 'the defamation of strickland banks' are songs that tell the story of strickland banks, a sharp-suited british soul singer who finds fame with bitter-sweet love songs like 'love goes down' and 'writing's on the wall' but loses everything when he ends up in prison for a crime he didn't commit. It's as if marvin gaye went from his early motown love songs to 'what's goin' on' in just one album, then had it all remixed by london grime artists. Produced by paul epworth, the studio genius behind recent hits by florence & the machine, the big pink and friendly fires, plan b's latest is a ferocious collision of retro soul, funk, rock and rap that sounds smokey robinson fronting rage against the machine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Filling the Winehouse-shaped hole in Pop..., April 20, 2010

By 

Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Defamation of Strickland Banks (Audio CD)

Ben Drew is Plan B and his sophomore CD "The defamation of Strickland Banks" comprises Motown/Northern Soul-inflected music, in sharp contrast to his Hip Hop/Rap debut.

Making him stand out just that more from a scene already awash with the likes of Daniel Merriweather, Duffy, Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson and the rest, is his interspersing of verses spoken/rapped in his pronounced British accent, much like fellow Brit The Streets.

The album is a concept album, with each track telling different parts of the tail of some Strickland Banks character who gets locked up for a crime he didn't commit. Drew sings in a throaty falsetto, sort of a cross between Terence Trent D'Arby and Smokey Robinson.

"Love goes down" is an incredibly beautiful ballad with sweeping strings, fleeting horns, and lovely harmonies and it's a deadringer for a Motown classic. Upping the tempo are the organ/horn-drenched "Writing's on the wall" and "Stay too long" (with a Rocky Hendrix feel and rapped bridge).

The lovely "She said" is lilting with parping horns and a rapped section, while the ballad "Welcome to hell" (chronicling Banks arrival at prison) sounds rather heavenly, complete with a choir. "The recluse" is upbeat with a dizzying string section, while "Prayin'" and the horn-driven "What you gonna do" (with rapped verses and euphoric sung chorus) are both retro Soul delights, the latter closest in sound to his debut.

Drew handles his translation with much better aplomb than Lil Wayne did, and the album has already topped the UK charts. This is a delightful change in musical direction that is both passionate and beautiful, and which find Drew a major name at the end of the year.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant storytelling at its best!!, February 22, 2011

By 

LizzieMorri - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Defamation of Strickland Banks (Audio CD)

The sheer talent and vision of Plan B for his Defamation of Strickland Banks is awe inspiring! Each song plays as a chapter in the story of the life of Strickland and what all he goes through. But the best part is that each chapter evolves into the next creating an entire musical (and soon to be released motion picture in the UK) phenomenon!!! It is the best musical journey done by an artist in ages. This is not just a cd of music, this is a work of art and vision with great beat, excellent vocals and the all encompassing talent of Plan B. A very energetic and enlightening listen!! Enjoy!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh Fusion, April 28, 2011

By 

Albert R. Hartley (CHESAPEAKE, VA, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Defamation of Strickland Banks (Audio CD)

I never heard of Plan B so after a NPR interview I was fascinated to check it out. The album has not disappointed. Concept albums go back to the days when music singles could not be cut out of a larger plan. Start to finish you feel the story and appreciate the stew created from hip hop, rap, soul, R&B and techno. Musical stew like this is even better the second time. For me, it is tracking up on the number of time played on my ipod. Unique music from the UK has opened up a new world for me and when an artist can do that I start sending to my friends.