Mark Ronson wears a lot of hats. Celebrity DJ. Producer. Musician. Style icon. All around nice guy.
On Record Collection he adds one more: artist.
On second album Version Ronson showcased his talents by reworking other artist's hits (Kaiser Chiefs' "Oh My God" and The Zutons' "Valerie" amongst others) and placing the focus back on those voicing the covers (Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, et al). Record Collection signals a change in Ronson's approach to his own music.
Record Collection offers Ronson's first real crack at producing and constructing his own original album, and he passes the test with flying colours.
Ronson still rallies the A-list -- Duran Duran's Simon LeBon, Wiley, Q-Tip, Boy George and Ghostface Killah are just a few faces popping up here -- but this time Ronson holds focus, and deservedly so.
VIDEO: watch the music video for "Bang Bang Bang"
Boy George isn't the focus on "Somebody to Love Me" as he guests alongside Miike Snow's Andrew Wyatt, and it works.
Spank Rock and The View's Kyle Falconer team up for "The Bike Song." With rolling melodies and catchy choruses, "The Bike Song" provides a perfect soundtrack for the upcoming summer season.
Stepping out of his comfort zone, for the first time Ronson shares his vocal talents on title track "Record Collection," alongside rising star Wiley an Duran Duran's Simon LeBon.
VIDEO: watch the music video for "The Bike Song"
"Bang Bang Bang," Record Collection's lead single, is an unashamed throwback to the '80s executed in spectacular fashion. It also spawned one of the music videos of the year, so double props to Ronson on this one.
Record Collection sounds more like a mix-tape than an album, but in this day and age it's an approach that's bound to work.
Offering a collection of hip-hop and Britpop fusions, alongside tunes that wouldn't be out of place on one of your old NES games, Ronson's produced one of 2010's most original albums.
"I only want to be in your record collection and I'll do anything it takes just to get there," Ronson sings on the album's title track. You can't help but think Record Collection is his sure-fire invitation in.
Record Collection is out now.