Music - Singles of the Week - Monday, February 15, 2010
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: AARON CAREY – 6 STRINGS: Aaron Carey arrives on UK shorts via New Zealand, Bangor and Switzerland to deliver his new single, 6 Strings and to hopefully follow the success of his debut solo single, The Scene. A strange concoction of folk-pop and rap, it’s an endearing and catchy track that has to be admired for its sheer audacity alone. The song starts out with a 6-string acoustic strum and some breezy vocals that hint at the style of acts like OPM (who Carey has played sax for on Heaven Is A Halfpipe), Just Jack and Sugar Ray, before suddenly dropping in an unexpected rap section and some electronic breakdowns. It means the track keeps you on your toes throughout… and makes sure Aaron Carey is a name you’ll want to find out more about and hear more from!
Released as a download
Rating: 4 out of 5
KASABIAN – VLAD THE IMPALER: Kasabian launch into 2010 with the release of the explosive, highly charged new single, Vlad The Impaler, taken from their No.1 album West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum. Serge, from the band, describes it as “a total chaos tune” that serves as “a call out to all our people, the ones who are tuned into our radio station”. It’s a full on rant from start to finish that trades a thumping bassline with Ian Matthews’ galloping drum beats and a pulsing, chant-style vocal from Tom Meighan that owes a lot in style to acts like The Happy Mondays. Ironically, it’s one of the weaker tracks to emerge from the LP… more dance orientated, strangely, than the rock thing we particularly like from them. But it’s still miles better than a lot of pop records flying about the mainstream and a breath of fresh air whenever it comes on the radio – such are the high standards Kasabian continue to set themselves!
Released across all formats
Rating: 3 out of 5
TIMBALAND feat KATY PERRY – IF WE EVER MEET AGAIN: It’s hardly groundbreaking but Timbaland’s collaboration with Katy Perry is pure guilty pop pleasure. Featuring the big back beat Timabaland is now synonymous with, as well as a typically feisty rock-chick vocal from Perry, it’s a lively, brash anthem that straddles the worlds of pop, rock and R’n’B in comfortable and endearing fashion. Incredibly, Timabaland’s sophomore session, Shock Value II, has so far struggled to make as big an impression on the record buying public as his smash hit debut. Maybe this is because the formula is a little too rigid and he’s content to stay in his comfort zone. But given that zone is more enjoyable than most mainstream acts out there at the moment, we’re prepared to indulge him a little longer.
Released across all formats
Rating: 3 out of 5
CREED – RAIN: Generic alt-rock from Creed, new single Rain is the second track to emerge from their Full Circle LP (following Overcome) and an apt reminder of the bad weather that seems to be blighting the UK at the moment. That said, it’s one of those big American rock anthems that also serves as a guilty pleasure, much in the same way that Nickelback tracks often are. Ironically, there’s also a touch of the Pearl Jam about the track, which is aptly dripping in sing-along choruses, a keen sense of melody and some powerhouse vocals to match the rousing guitar work. It’s well worth splashing around in the air guitar work this prompts you to want to jam along with!
Released across all formats
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Order the album l Album review
THE COURTEENERS – YOU OVERDID IT DOLL: The Courteeners have drawn a lot of comparisons to Franz Ferdinand for their latest single, You Overdid It Doll and it’s kind of easy to see why. The guitar riffs might not be as pronounced or as angular, while there’s a greater reliance on an electronic backdrop, and the vocals are softer…. BUT the style and composition is very reminiscent of FF’s Take Me Out, especially during the latter stages of the chorus. That’s no bad thing, of course… and, if anything, The Courteeners track is better. It’s less harsh and more poppy. There’s also a heightened sense of melody at times, which makes this all the more radio friendly and catchy. But it also prevents us from getting too carried away as well!
Released across all formats
Rating: 3 out of 5
LEMAR – THE WAY LOVE GOES: Soul purveyor Lemar isn’t one to miss a trick, dropping new single The Way Love Goes on Valentine’s Day to cash in on all those hopeless romantics seeking some musical inspiration out there. A euphoric, upbeat ode to romance that seeks to empower anyone in search of Cupid’s arrow (“and then you came along… got to keep strong keep moving on… somebody’s coming to save me”), it’s as cheesy as hell but not totally terrible. Lemar has a knack for creating soul-pop that appeals to the mainstream consciousness, thanks to some catchy melodies and a smooth set of vocals. And evidence of what I mean by that will follow with the release of Lemar’s The Hits compilation, which lands in stores on March 1. Average… but shamefully manipulative and catchy.
Released across all formats
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
COBRA STARSHIP – HOT MESS: Cobra Starship drop the title track from their new album Hot Mess on the same day as the album itself in a bid to raise their UK profile even higher. The track follows their recent top 20 hit single, Good Girls Go Bad and is another sexy, synthed up slice of electronic rock that epitomises the new, hipper direction the band is taking with its latest material. There’s an energy about the track, and its funky chorus, that does make it quite appealing and catchy, especially when played loud – but there’s also something that prevents me from raving too loud and too much. It’s almost as though Cobra Starship are trying to re-invent themselves as Fueled By Ramen’s answer to Lady Gaga.. and that’s not necessarily a good thing. The jury’s out…
Released as a download
Rating: 3 out of 5
Website l Order the album l Album review
EIGHT LEGS – BEST OF ME: Eight Legs’ new single Best Of Me is described as a tale of paranoia, isolation and the sense of something lurking around the corners of life that’s out to get us all. A creeping sense of anxiety and urgency is fuelled by thunderous drums, angular, ragged guitar riffs and a chorus that aims to drive to the pit of your stomach – but which ends up just getting on your nerves. The vocals are pretty uninspiring, the guitars pretty over-familiar and the raw, jagged energy something that’s been laid down by countless bands on Xfm. The results are pretty depressing and ultimately forgettable. The track doesn’t bode particularly well for the release of their album, The Electric Kool-Aid Cuckoo Nest, which drops a week later. That said, I Understand, the B-side, contains more melody and a sharper sense of catchiness… even if the vocals continue to be the weak link.
Released as a download
Rating: 4 out of 5
Heard a great single, but yet to buy it? Well, we may have reviewed it. Previous reviews:
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