Music - Singles of the Week - Monday, April 14
IndieLondon gleefully checks out the cream of the week’s singles. All you have to do is click on the pictures to order them…
SINGLE OF THE WEEK: JACK JOHNSON – HOPE: Hope, the new single from Jack Johnson, is another expert piece of acoustic composition that marries some of the darker lyrics and feelings behind the album with a typically sunshine vibe and sing-along chorus. The riffs, in particular, take on a calypso vibe that’s clearly inspired by Bob Marley, while the lyrics contain musings on loneliness and insecurity that neatly offset the chirpier melodies. It’s a cleverly constructed record that provides fitting evidence of Johnson’s brilliance as a songwriter and musician – that he can raise some serious issues and yet continue to make you feel happy about his music. Expect it to emerge as one of the highlights of his live sets when he tours the UK this summer, including dates in London’s Hyde Park and at Newquay’s Watergate Bay (the perfect location to see him?). Worth checking out, too, is the Nightmares on Wax remix, which puts an extremely classy and interesting spin on things.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single l Album review l Jack Johnson photos l Watch live footage
THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS – THE AGE OF THE UNDERSTATEMENT: Arctic Monkey Alex Turner and The Rascals frontman Miles Kane unite for fashionable side project The Last Shadow Puppets. The first single, The Age Of The Understatement is a typically rousing effort that’s shares plenty in common with the style of both bands, as well as a slightly more epic edge. Some of the guitar riffs could easily make their way into a Spaghetti western movie, while the chorus of foreboding Russian soldiers lends it an epic, almost cinematic sweep that’s evidence of the duo’s burgeoning ambition. The video has been directed by Romain Gavras, and it’s almost as big as Mother Russia, following our intrepid heroes’ adventures in Moscow and including a young ice skater, an Orthodox priest, Soviet tanks and a that chorus of soldiers. It’s a heady track but suggestive that The Last Shadow Puppets could be every bit as effective as bands like The Racounteurs in stretching the artistic talents of two very promising band members in their own right. The Last Shadow Puppets’ debut album is due for a UK release on April 21 and will be available in the US from May 6.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single
GOLDFRAPP – HAPPINESS: Like its name suggests, Happiness continues the upbeat vibe surrounding Goldfrapp’s new album, Seventh Tree which eschews disco electronics and glam in favour of ethereal ambiance and Gallic-tinged folk. The result is an utterly delightful record that’s all about celebrating the better things in life, such as “love, love, love”. Alison’s vocals are as lovely and dream-like as ever, while the woozy electronics combine with an orchestral element that’s evocative of ‘70s-era Serge Gainsbourg – but deliberately so. It’s a perfect track for sitting back and relaxing with and, just for the few moments it lasts, forgetting about the stresses and strains of modern day life.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single
THE RUSHES – CORNERS EP: The Rushes are a four-piece band from South London – via Leeds and Birmingham – who exist to make surging melodic rock, with hooks so catchy they border on pop. The songs on the Corners EP seek to combine the musical attack of Muse with the melodic grace of The Police and a little of the complexity of Elbow on occasion. And, to be fair, it’s a pretty decent introduction to what they have to offer. Corners, for instance, is melodic and catchy without really blowing you away. But it does make you want to hear more. There’s a little more grit in the punchy stop-start guitar riffs of former single What You Waiting For?, when Gerard O’Connell’s vocals show real diversity, and Will You Won’t You? poses plenty of questions along the way to its expansive pop-rock chorus. They kind of save the best til last, though, with Stop It emerging as the EP highlight and an indicator of the band at their most Police-influenced. The pianos, the haunted vocals, and the catchy bassline all working extremely well in helping to endear The Rushes for future listens. The band have just finished recording their debut album for Island Records with producer Victor Van Vugt (Athlete, Nick Cave, PJ Harvey). It’s sure to be worth keeping an eye on.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Order the album l Watch the video
CLOCKS – OLD VALVE RADIO: Clocks signed to Island Records in 2007 and have since been writing and recording their debut album with Elliot James (Bloc Party, Little Man Tate). Old Valve Radio is the first fruits of their labour and it’s a driving, stomping indie-pop record that comes complete with big hooks and a big chorus. The influences are clear – whether it’s 60s pop and cheeky Britpop reminiscent of The Bluetones back when they were in their prime. You can well imagine the song becoming a mainstay of the summer festival sing-alongs because it’s certainly bright, breezy and infectious without ever quite blowing you away. That said, it’s a fine listen whenever it comes on the radio. Clocks, it seems, are seconds away from super-stardom.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
KANYE WEST – FLASHING LIGHTS: Flashing Lights marks the fourth single to be taken from Kanye West’s Graduation LP, the No.1 album that has already sold a massive 3 million copies world-wide to date and spawned the singles Stronger, Good Life and Homecoming. Featuring the vocals of Dwele, it’s a slower effort than normal, featuring synths, strings, robotic vocals and a futuristic sound that’s occasionally comparable to the work of The Neptunes and company. West’s distinct flow doesn’t work quite so well alongside it, but there’s a smoothness that’s totally in keeping with the Kanye West style and it’s impossible to completely dislike. That said, it’s not one of the stronger tracks on the LP and proof that, perhaps, he’s come to the end of the road for releases for this record. Roll on the next one, Kanye.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single
INFADELS – MAKE MISTAKES: After a whirlwind couple of years that has seen them release a debut album to widespread acclaim – namely, We Are The Infadels – and a busy touring schedule, Infadels return with the first single from their sophomore effort, Universe In Reverse. Make Mistakes is a typically effervescent, fizzy scherbert of a track that continues the template set down by Can’t Get Enough and Love Like Semtex. It’s fast and fun and, if anything, contains a deeper sense of melody. Fans will probably lap it up. The new album has been produced by Mr Youth, Tim Bran and Clive Goddard and is, according to the band’s MySpace site: “An album about triumph in the face of overwhelming adversity, about carrying on when they try to take you down.” Sounds promising.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Supplied image id is invalid; it must be a numeric value.
HAYSEED DIXIE – WHEN WASHINGTON COMES AROUND: American rockgrass raconteurs Hayseed Dixie release When Washington Comes Around from their seventh album, No Covers – and it’s a marked improvement from a lot of their previous material. No Covers marks the first time they wrote all the songs themselves and it’s an oddball collection of songs – some fun, others bonkers – that mostly win you over to their charms. In this case, it takes a more measured, radio-friendly approach by adopting some fine banjo licks, a rousing chorus and some intelligent lyricism. It deserves to be a lot bigger than it probably will become – as it gets better and better the more you give it a spin.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Order the album l Album review
BRITNEY SPEARS – BREAK THE ICE: It seems incredible that a person with as many personal difficulties as Britney Spears can, nevertheless, manage to generate an album’s worth of new material. And you’ve got to hand it to her, it aint terrible either. Break The Ice is a pumped-up Britney classic that drops some urgent, urban beats and a sassy set of vocals to create one of the better tracks in her career. It’s energetic, it’s passionate and full of breathy/cheesy lyrics such as “let me break the ice, allow me to get you right, but you warm up to me, baby I can make you feel… hot”. Obviously, not much went into the actual lyric writing, but the back beats and synths are infectious in a “been there, I’m emulating Justin Timberlake and Timabaland” kind of way. A guilty pleasure, then , that comes complete with an oddly surreal anime video.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single
DUELS – REGENERATION: Duels make a muscular return with new album The Barbarians Move In (due for release later this spring) and the new single Regeneration. The first thing fans of the band will notice is the very definite shift away from the angular-pop of their debut, to a grander, darker and more euphoric sound. It’s layered vocals (some of which sound deliberately operatic), crashing drums and foreboding guitar riffs working well to create a generally rousing anthem in waiting for them that offers plenty of potential from the remainder of the album. Haunting bonus track When The Sea Comes is a melancholy slow-burner that’s built around fragile, whispered vocals and a sombre piano chord that gets better with each listen. A TV or film soundtrack must surely beckon.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
SEPTEMBER – CRY FOR YOU: The tears are all mine, sadly, from having to listen to this limp Kylie rip-off, that shamelessly samples Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, albeit with a Euro club-land emphasis. It’s actually been almost three years since Swedish popsters September originally released Cry For You in 2005 – but time hasn’t really improved it, even though September’s lead vocals are stronger than the material suggests. Like last week’s Fragma update, though, this continues the trend for lazily recycling old material with a 2008 spin. Please don’t encourage this kind of thing by going out and buying it.
Rating: 1 out of 5
DOWNLOAD SELECTIONS
THE WOMBATS – BACKFIRE AT THE DISCO: Backfire At The Disco finds The Wombats at their scuzzy, hi-octane pop best, as it recalls the disastrous date in which our lead singer’s misdemeanours land him with a slap in the face. The track buries its heartache and humiliation beneath a bouncing bassline and a chorus of “whoo, whoo”’s that will probably leave you giddy. And it’s not even the best track on their album, the excellent A Guide To Love, Loss & Desperation. The single is released via 14th Floor Records on 7” picture disc, CD and all major download sites. A coloured 7” vinyl, meanwhile, comes with a particularly special performance of the track with Peter Hook on bass. B-sides include the band’s version of Take That’s Patience recorded live in Jo Whiley’s Radio 1 Live Lounge, and a reworking by remixers South Central, that adds a lot of blips, electronic loops and a pretty hard-hitting vibe. A KGB remix is also worth checking out in an overall package that continues to endear The Wombats to us.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single l Album review
THE FEELING – WITHOUT YOU: More hopelessly hopeful cheesiness from The Feeling, who continue on their upbeat quest to put a smile on every face. Without You combines Beach Boy vocal melodies with ELO-style strings and a sentimental glow that sometimes feels cloying. It’s packed with soppy lyrics such as “it’s raining hard in North Virginia, just like London town” and “winters come and summers go, last time round for all we know, wonder what the time is in London”. Hopeless romantics will probably warm to its appeal, but The Feeling’s bubble appears to have burst with this album, as very few tracks on the long-player pass by without making you want to reach for the sick bag. Without You is just another example of that.
Rating: 2 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single l Album review
Heard a great single, but yet to buy it? Well, we may have reviewed it. Previous reviews: