What we're listening to this week? Kendrick Lamar, 'To pimp a Butterfly'

Well we had to because it seems the whole world is listening too. 
So we were starting to feel left out.....

This will take a bit of getting used to but it IS worth it. 

His third album just released in March, with Dr. Dre and Pharrell Williams all playing a Production part. It's become/becoming a huge album (Billboard number one) with lavish, superb production values that need (like all good records) many listenings. Many are calling it 'a masterpiece'. We are, sorta, kinda.

It's a real mixture of jazz, hip hop, funk, pop....everything. 

The hip hop vinyl scratching on the track 'Wesley's Theory' is very 2 Pac (as is 'Momma'). 'For Free' is straight out of the Frank Zappa handbook (yes, Frank Zappa). 'King Kunta' is the single, pure rap, with the Michael Jackson 'Eddie are you okay?' reference. 'Hood Politics' starts as a Steely Dan tune. 

But go straight to the last few tracks and you'll know if it's for you. 'You Ain't Gotta Lie' which is very Erykah Badu and excellent as is 'i' (video below). 

But it's all a lot mixed up which makes it a lot...well, interesting. Beautiful even in parts and magnificently produced.

Nice for a change but you need to keep with it and it will reward you.

Facebook Q1 Revenues disappoint. Why?

You don't often see Facebook struggling at bit, but after their Q1 numbers, they are. A tiny bit.

3.54 Billion usd in revenue was slightly below expectations; mobile ad revenue represented a staggering 73% of ad revenue; 1.44 billion active monthly users with 1.25 billion on mobile, that's up +24% year on year; but margin dropping to 26% from 43% and that's a huge drop.

So the stock has slipped (-2%) largely because of a slow down in revenue coupled with a drop in margin.

Still, 3.54 Billion Dollars a quarter can hardly be called anything else other than a massive success.

Bobbi Brown Product Demonstration. This is how you do it.

One of the oldest (and most effective) tricks in the Advertising handbook, is product demonstration.

You might tell us how good your product is, but showing us has real proof.

So top marks to Bobbi Brown Cosmetics for its 'Long Wear' eye cosmetics in picking extreme sports serious renowned athletes and show them using it. But using go pro cameras, it works and what's more it's product demonstration in a real lifestyle way.

And it's fun.

The only way this story could be told? Online Digital Video. streamabout.com