Music - Singles of the Week - Monday, August 18
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 1: TOKYO POLICE CLUB – GRAVES: Ontario’s Tokyo Police Club present the third single to be taken from their highly-acclaimed debut album Elephant Shell – and it’s another little gem. Propelled by the same rapid-fire angular guitar riffs and keen sense of melody that helped to make the likes of former hits Tessellate so endearing, it’s an instantly addictive listen that refuses to outstay its welcome – clocking in at a little under three minutes (as do most songs on the excellent LP). Lyrically, it’s a little dark and edgy (just as we like), while the central “woo hoo” style backing melody is guaranteed to worm its way into your brain and stay there for the rest of the day. Tokyo Police Club are one of the breakthrough acts of the year and Graves is evidence of why you should rush to check out their album.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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SINGLE OF THE WEEK 2: MASON JENNINGS – FIGHTER GIRL: Singer/songwriter Mason Jennings has long been one of the best-kept secrets in American music…. but not for much longer. In his adopted home of Minneapolis his shows have recently drawn as many as 3,000 fans, and he was hand-picked last year to perform two Bob Dylan songs, in the recent movie I’m Not There, as lip-synched by Christian Bale in the movie. Now, he’s releasing his sixth (yes, sixth!) full-length album, In the Ever, on Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records, after the chart-topping performer personally recruited him for the label. It’s easy to see why off the strength of lead single, Fighter Girl, a laidback slice of American acoustic rock that fits the Brushfire ethos while simultaneously evoking memories of the folk-rock period of a certain Mr Dylan. It’s expertly delivered and embraces many classic values – both of which ensure it should have a fairly broad appeal. We’d urge you to check it out.
Rating: 4 out of 5
THE AUTOMATIC – STEVE MCQUEEN: Following a re-shuffle in the band’s ranks since their double gold-certified debut album, The Automatic return with the powerhouse new single, Steve McQueen (great name!). The lead track from sophomore album This Is A Fix (out, August 25), it’s a thundering anthem that should easily appeal to Automatic fans who first dug them after their Monster breakthrough smash. The sing-along chorus – “I was a teenage Steve McQueen” – is tailor-made for chanting to, while the grittier guitars are said to be indicative of the heavier and possibly more mature sound of the second LP. Produced by Butch Walker (Hot Hot Heat and Pink), Steve McQueen also features three new tracks across CD and two 7”s, while the digital download will also feature live and acoustic versions of the single. The video was shot by Paul Minor in the Mojave Desert.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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THE FRATELLIS – LOOK OUT SUNSHINE: Glaswegian rockers The Fratellis conjure up a sunshine anthem for the summer in the form of the lively indie-rocker Look Out Sunshine. Trouble is, while it contains the right sort of hooks and easygoing appeal capable of securing its place on countless future compilation albums that celebrate indie rock and/or summer driving, it’s not really a stretch for them. The song is delivered with the same sort of brash swagger as early Oasis, with a little Dodgy and countless other indie bands thrown in, and generally lacks the freshness that made the previous single, Mistress Mabel, such out-and-out fun. You’ll probably dig it when the sun is shining and there’s a pint in your hand – but it’ll doubtless fade from the memory a little too quickly and really feels like the sound of a band taking it easy, almost on auto-pilot. It’s taken from the album, Here We Stand.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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CUT OFF YOUR HANDS – EXPECTATIONS: Expectations is the first single to be taken from Cut Off Your Hands’ highly-anticipated debut album, You And I – and needless to say, expectations are high. Described as “heartfelt, urgent indie pop” that “full of cleverly composed melodies, sparkling guitars, harmonic bass lines and a backbone of creative drum rhythms stampeding like a heard of wild horses”, it only goes some way to matching that description. Indeed, reading the PR my own expectations were a lot higher. Rather, propelled by the Robert Smith-like vocals of lead singer Nick, it’s a distinctly average indie-pop offering that’s fine while it lasts, but hardly the trailblazing arrival that we’d been anticipating. True, they do have a keen ear for a melody, and their urgent guitar work shows promise, but that same urgency also makes them a little too similar to too many guitar bands that are doing the same sort of thing right now. There’s plenty of room for improvement as we prepare to hear the remainder of the album.
Rating: 3 out of 5
LAGUNA METH – SUGAR SHACK/STUD BOY: Laguna Meth’s new single, Sugar Shack/Stud Boy is released as a double A-side on August 18 – and perfectly embodies the spirit of his songwriting: namely, to showcase what classic ego-free rock ‘n’ roll sounds like. Suger Shack is a supremely laidback slice of acoustic-based rock that’s practically whispered in delivery. But it’s also layered enough to showcase just how much thought goes into Laguna’s songwriting. It’s a blissful listen, perfectly suited to watching the sun set over a festival music crowd, or the sea at the end of a perfect summer’s day. Stud Boy is even better – a breezy, upbeat listen that drops a genuinely feel-good vibe over some lush riffs and an almost falsetto style vocal. You’ll be hopelessly drawn to finding out more about Laguna Meth and his current album, Laguna The Puma, which has deservedly attracted some very positive reviews.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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WILL.I.AM – ONE MORE CHANCE: Fresh from his latest chart-busting collaboration with Cheryl Cole on Heartbreaker, Will.I.Am now releases the catchy One More Chance from his solo album, Songs About Girls. The song marks a significant change for Will.I.Am who, for the first time, takes on singing duties on the track, having been inspired by his peers Common and India Arie. The ensuing summer pop song is an inoffensive blend of smooth groove vocals, “la, la, la”’s and chilled out guitar grooves. It’s not really a stretch and people won’t gasp at the uniqueness of it – but it could have been a lot worse and actually comes and goes like a guilty pleasure. Says Will.I.Am himself of the song: “A couple of years ago, I was doing a show in Atlanta, just free styling on the mic, and some of what I was doing was half-rapping, half-singing. India Aria told me: “You know how to sing”, but I didn’t really believe her. Then Common told me I had a good ear for tune and tone. And it just gave me the confidence to do a song like this.” To be fair, he should gain a lot more confidence from the results, although the Dave Aude mix is best avoided!
Rating: 3 out of 5
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TEDDY THOMPSON – IN MY ARMS: In My Arms is the new single from acclaimed singer-songwriter Teddy Thompson, and the first to emerge from his new album, A Piece Of What You Need. Written by Thompson and produced by Marius De Vries (Bjork, David Gray), it’s an upbeat pop song that deliberately encapsulates the spirit of Americana. There’s some “woo-hooing” midway through that’s reminiscent of Sound-era James, but in most other respects it boasts a crooner-style sensibility and a catchiness that makes it a perfectly enjoyable listen. The Radio 2 listening brigade will probably be the demographic it most appeals to. The new album is released on August 25.
Rating: 3 out of 5
GABRIELLA CILMI – SAVE THE LIES: If nothing else, Gabriella Cilmi’s follow-up single to the infectious Sweet About Me underlines the fact that she won’t be easy to pigeon-hole. While the breakthrough hit offered an endearing blend of retro melodies and mischievous lyrics, follow-up single Save The Lies is an altogether different prospect – a full-on, pumped-up disco-rock stomper that’s been given extra electro charge by producer Brian Higgins. Packed with feisty lyrics and a grittier set of vocals, you might even be forgiven for thinking you weren’t listening to the same singer. Alas, Save The Lies is a little more generic than her debut offering, recalling the likes of Girls Aloud and even Sugababes rather than the breakthrough sound that made everyone first take notice. So, while mixing things up is to be admired, the disco-rock sound doesn’t do her quite so many favours. It’s taken from the album, Lessons To Be Learned.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
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TAIO CRUZ – SHE’S LIKE A STAR: One of the highlights to emerge from Taio Cruz’s massive album, Departure, is this hopelessly catchy (not to mention cheesy) new single, She’s Like A Star. Featuring a young girl’s vocal over the top of another decent back-beat, it also makes good use of Taio’s smooth groove vocal delivery. True, there’s a sense that this kind of thing feels a little over-familiar in a Timbaland kind of way, but Taio delivers the lyrics with genuine emotion and there’s a likeability about his music that helps to explain why he’s currently one of the hottest singer-producers on the UK circuit right now. Call it a guilty pleasure, or a dropping of the guard, but we’re kind of fans. Departure is also a far better album than we’d initially anticipated. The raunchy video is worth a look too, even though there’s a nagging sense that Taio is beginning to love himself a little too much!
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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JON REDFERN – PLAY OF FEAR: Jon Redfern describes his latest single Play of Fear as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”. Wrapped in melody and harmonies, the lyrics actually deal with Jon’s fears for mainstream culture, the death of loved ones and his own mortality. Yet in spite of its darker elements, this very much remains a song with a summery, uplifting folk-pop hook. Jon’s laidback vocals also help to ensure that it doesn’t ever become ponderous. It’s the first track to emerge from Redfern’s new album, What Else But Love?, which could be worth checking out. Bonus track I Love The Sun, as remixed by Atjazz, is similarly impressive in a low-key, sun-setter kind of way.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
OFFICER KICKS – PICTURES OF ME: Officer Kicks are credited as currently living their rock n roll dream 24/7. They’re touring, writing new songs, landing on the BBC6 Music and Xfm playlists, and trying to live up to their “ones to watch” billing ay the beginning of the year. A support slot alongside The Hoosiers also helped to raise their profile. Unfortunately, their music could do with a little more ingenuity. Pictures Of Me, which preludes the release of their debut album, The Six Grand Plot, is billed as a tale of obsession that drops some catchy hooks and heartfelt vocals. But it’s pretty formulaic stuff, driven by a throbbing bassline, some routine drums and a pretty simple style. Even the guitars could do with a little more freshness (and theyy’re arguably the best thing in it). The bonus track, On And On, is a little better, showcasing a more tender side to the band that could just be the version that delivers them bigger hits. We’ll see…
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
IAMX – PRESIDENT: It begins promisingly, with a lone piano chord followed by a nice back beat, but once Chris Corner starts singing in his Radiohead/Matt Hales kind of style, the song begins to lose its way. There’s an androgynous sound surrounding much of what follows that tends to bog the track down and prevent it from making the impression that it’s opening suggested. Indeed, the striking piano chords are replaced by a more onerous synth-backed sound, while the drums also conform to something a little more electronic, while Corner himself declares over and over that he will be president. It’s probably designed to stir the emotions, and could even be a rallying call for self-empowerment, but it’s just not strong enough to muster anything other than a feeling of underwhelment. It’s taken from the album, The Alternative.
Rating: 2 out of 5
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SEVERE ZERO – SILENCE ON THE RADIO: Devon’s Severe Zero deliver powerful rock/punk tracks that are infused with meaty guitar riffs and some fairly incendiary lyrics. Ahead of the launch of the debut album, they drop the single Silence On The Radio via iTunes and all major download sites – but one suspects they need to improve their act if they’re going to get much attention. It’s all very well thrashing about the place and acting as though you have something important to say, but there’s nothing really to endear their music and it quickly becomes stale. Fortunately, it’s over pretty quickly, clocking in at a mere two and a half minutes, but even then you feel like you’ve already heard too much.
Rating: 2 out of 5
LES VALENTINE – NERVOUS: After meeting during a weekly acoustic Open Mic Night at the University of Sussex, John Fitzpatrick and Steve Boniface began playing and writing together soon after, specialising in self-penned, upbeat songs and offbeat covers. The pair were part of indie rock band Johnny Fitz Promotion, playing gigs along the South Coast and in London, but after a year or so missed their acoustic roots and split from the group. After playing as a duo for eight months, the band expanded to include Jo Walters on piano and Pete ‘Panache’ McFarlane on drums. The result of that new sound is the breezy new single Nervous, a breezy pop-rock number that benefits from its keen sense of melody, nice sense of humility and assured composition. You suspect that Les Valentine might need something a little stronger and more memorable to properly breakthrough but as a starting point and introduction, you won’t mind hearing it on the radio.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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