Plan B
The Defamation of Strickland Banks
(Deluxe Edition)
The original release, reviewed in May, is a five-star album. So you can't expect too much more from this deluxe edition, which includes a second disc with seven tracks.
Side A is a modern classic, a perfect blend of soul and hip-hop in a concept
album about a singer jailed for something he didn't do.
Its best track is the single Stay Too Long, an exciting, old-time, stage-stomping, soul number with a rock/rap edge, but really there's no weak point throughout.
Side B delivers a little more of what we see on Side A opener Love Goes Down - the artist at work.
There are two new tracks: Verses, which should appeal to fans of the retro styles of Amy Winehouse and Duffy, and Spend My Money, which ups the soul power ante that little bit more and promises to be great live - let's hope Plan B performs it at this month's Big Day Out.
The rest of the tracks are demos, live and remix tracks - the best of which is Pendulum's take on Stay Too Long (and you can check out its video on YouTube).
A++ for Plan B.
