Music - Singles of the Week - Monday, June 8, 2009
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: THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT – HAPPINESS IS OVERRATED EP: From its acapella start to its full-on finale, The Airborne Toxic Event’s Happiness Is Overrated is a rousing reminder of why they’re considered one of 2009’s brightest breakthrough acts – and that’s in spite of the gloominess inherent in the song’s title and subsequent lyrics. Vocally, Mikel Jollett is vaguely reminiscent of Razorlight’s Johnny Borrell, while the guitars possess Strokesian qualities. But combined, they make quite a formidable force and Happiness Is Overrated is a real grower of a record that just keeps getting better and better with each listen. The opening may wrong-foot you, given its acapella delivery, but once the band hook it up, get it together and start infusing the song with their excellent guitarwork, this is a powerhouse indie-rock offering that only looks set to win this Californian outfit even more friends.
Available on all formats
Rating: 4 out of 5
Order the album l Caught live at the 100 Club
SINGLE OF THE WEEK 2: VAGABOND – SWEAT (UNTIL THE MORNING): Fronted by the irrepressible Alex Vargas (from Mexico), Vagabond have recently returned from the Mojave desert where they shot the video for their debut single Sweat (Until The Morning), directed by Paul Minor (Glasvegas, Editors, Muse) and the first single to be released on the newly revived Geffen label. Produced by Brian Higgins, the tracks flit between earthy, soulful pop and synth-tinged rock. It’s got an extremely smooth vibe, courtesy of the slick beats, soulful synths and husky yet commanding vocals of its charismatic lead singer. It’s tailor-made for kicking back and nodding along with over the warm summer months and possesses a genuinely feel-good quality that should help to get them noticed. Release dates have fluctuated from May to June, but there’s no denying the quality of this particular offering or the album it’s taken from. Vagabond are here to stay.
Available as a download
Rating: 4 out of 5
THE LEMONHEADS – I JUST CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE: The Lemonheads release the single I Just Can’t Take It Anymore from their forthcoming covers LP Varshons. The track was originally recorded by Gram Parsons and wears its country sensibilities on its sleeve, but is also distinctly Lemonheads in style and delivery too. Evan Dando’s vocals are as fresh as they’ve sounded in some time, and there’s a warm sense of familiarity attached to the cool guitar riffs that provide a nice accompaniment. It’s not as good as hearing original Lemonheads material at its best, of course, but it does suggest that fans will be in for a treat when Varshons hits record stores on June 15. In the meantime, there’s also a cover of Green Fuzz to keep them satisfied – a lively slice of classic American rock delivered by a surprise vocalist. By turns, warm, fuzzy and good ‘ol rock n’ rolly.
Available as a 7” and download
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Order the album l Find out more about Varshons
LET’S TEA PARTY – HOT CHIP/EMMANUELLA: Odd name, interesting music. Let’s Tea Party are one of Xfm’s selections to break it big in 2009. The Bristol-based newcomers first popped onto the radar when they sold out of their debut physical release, the Walter Benjamin EP, and held their No. 1 slot in the RawRip download chart for three consecutive weeks. This got them into BBC 6’s Music studios on the Tom Robinson show. They infuse quirky pop with a vast array of instruments and deliver it all in riotous fashion (both on record and live, where they’ve supported Mystery Jets and La Roux among others). This latest release, the double-A sided Hop Chip and Emmanuella showcases their particular brand of quirky pop in endearing fashion. Of the two tracks, Hot Chip is definitely the pick, starting with a stop-start beats, some horny sounding electronics and a snappy, catchy vocal that demonstrates their confidence. It then layers in the guitars, constantly shifts the melodies to keep you on your toes, and eventually opens up into a cracking little tune. They’re definitely an act to keep an eye on.
Available on all formats
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
KATY PERRY – WAKING UP IN VEGAS: Never mind the fact that Katy Perry is still trading on singles recorded for her breakthrough album, One For The Boys, her latest offering from it – Waking Up In Vegas – is actually quite a fun pop record. It owes plenty in style and delivery to the edgier, more sassy and playful nature of Pink and demonstrates the way that Perry has successfully combined easygoing pop sensibilities with a little more risqué, rock-focused edge. The song is one of the album highlights and even encourages listeners to put their money where their mouths are. But it’s perhaps time for Perry to move on after this and start delivering some tasters of her sophomore material.
Available on all formats
Rating: 3 out of 5
Order the album l Album review
SOUND OF GUNS – ARCHITECTS: Liverpool’s Sound of Guns came together with a common goal and love for good passionate music, and forge a sound that’s designed to reflect influences as diverse as The Verve, Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, Led Zeppelin, The Walkmen, The Rolling Stones and The Doors. Casting off the sound more commonly associated with their hometown, they’ve chosen stadium filling power riffs over jangly, jingly guitars and riotous vocals over harmonising. They are a self-proclaimed musical juggernaut and new single Architects aims to build on that claim. It’s not bad – more Foo Fighters than Rolling Stones or Verve, but big, loud, brash and designed to get them noticed nonetheless. The guitars offer a rousing wall of sound, while the chorus is suitably big and chant-along if you’re so persuaded. Better still, however, is the B-side Magnesium Seas, which takes things down a notch, demonstrates a keener ear for melody, some pure indie-rock sensibilities and something a little more Verve-orientated. They have the makings of something worth shouting about.
Available on all formats
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
VV BROWN – SHARK IN THE WATER: Fast rising singer/songwriter/producer V V Brown releases her new single Shark In The Water through Island Records and continues to demonstrate why she made the Top 10 of the prestigious BBC Sounds ‘Poll’ of new artists to watch out for in 2009. It’s a lively, breezy pop song that’s built around her strong vocals, a solid acoustic loop and some hand-clappingly good beats. The chorus, too, is emphatic and strong enough to encourage a good sing-along. As a taster of what to expect from her debut album Travelling Like The Light (out June 22) it suggests that VV Brown is well placed to become one of the more appealing go-to pop acts of the summer.
Available on all formats
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
AGNES – RELEASE ME: Swedish superstar Agnes may be only 21-years-old, but she’s already enjoyed six top 10 singles and three hit albums in Sweden. But while the majority of recent Scandinavian imports (Robyn, Kleerup, Lykke Li) have given us reason to celebrate, Agnes won’t be joining our playlist anytime soon. Release Me is the kind of cheesy, below par ‘80s tinged anthem that used to make European music so laughable. It has an early Stock, Aitken and Waterman vibe that’s actually quite painful on the ear-drums. Agnes herself has some halfway decent vocals on her side that suggest she could yet come good if she matures and gets out of the bland pop rut. But in all other respects, this is a bit of a torrid introduction.
Available on all formats
Rating: 2 out of 5
PIXIE LOTT – MAMA DO: Recently described by the Sunday Times Culture as “the most authentic pop voice in years”, Pixie Lott releases her debut UK single in the form of Mama Do and only halfway impresses. The song itself offers an archetypal teenage tale of sneaking out on mischievous dates under the cover of night and demonstrates a sassy quality that’s befitting the sultry vocals. But the production values are a little too poppy and don’t quite sit comfortably alongside Lott’s unquestionably appealing voice. It’s therefore a curious listen. There’s hints of the power and popularity of Amy Winehouse or Joss Stone in her delivery, but the beats and melodies are a little too safe and commercially fixated. As an introduction, it’s not bad – but a few more risks and a little more edginess might really elevate Lott above most other pop princesses.
Available on all formats
Rating: 3 out of 5
Order the album l Order the single
BOY CRISIS – DRESSED TO DIGRESS: Armed with the same combination of hedonism and surreality that saw their heroes George Clinton and David Bowie through the ‘70s and ‘80s, Brooklyn five-piece Boy Crisis are on a mission to make you party your way out of the credit crunch – or so they hope. According to their PR, they specialise in papercut-sharp lyrics delivered in a pleading Prince-like falsetto over sinuous electro p-funk grooves. Their debut single L’Homme offered a slice of sexed-up electro disco (and featured additional vocals from Chairlift’s Caroline Polachek) and now, having just finished recording with Mark Saunders, they unleash the new single Dressed To Digress with a little mix help from Mark ‘Spike’ Stent. The song channels the angular arthouse discoid post punk of Talking Heads and the nonsense cartoon funk of Funkadelic and the Tom Tom Club and definitely sounds like it could have come from New York. It combines funk, disco and soul and has a certain snappy appeal – but while hip to some of the trends of the moment, there’s a nagging suspicion that they’re also not going to turn out as special as the predictions suggest. Dressed To Digress is only ever good; it’s never great and the whole ‘80s New York scene is beginning to wear thin right now.
Available on all formats
Rating: 3 out of 5
THIS IS RADIO FREEDOM – FAMILY MAN: This Is Radio Freedom return with new single Family Man, a song about the pull of a woman that you know you shouldn’t chase, but can’t help yourself… Billed as “an ‘80s style kaleidoscope of indie guitar riffs and electro samples”, it’s produced by Junk Scientist and attempts to encompass the swagger of The Stone Roses and the menace of Joy Division. It’s not as good as either of those comparisons suggest, of course, and the ‘80s thing – once again – does it very few favours. But a remix from Dan Le Sac, which came about following a chance meeting through mutual friends at a gig in Cardiff, does add an extra point for the way it transforms it from indie guitar track to dark electronic track. It’s the one to opt for and the one to dance to… thanks Dan, you saved this one!
Available as a download
Rating: 3 out of 5
TAYLOR SWIFT – TEARDROPS ON MY GUITAR: American country music sensation Taylor Swift delivers her second UK single in the form of Teardrops On My Guitar and it’s pretty average stuff. If you’ve warmed to the likes of Shania Twain or, more recently, Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana or The Jonas Brothers, then you’re sure to fall for her charms. But there’s a certain wishy-washy nature to the guitars, jingles and sincere vocals that prevents us from warming to it entirely, even though the song talks about the heartbreak of liking someone who is so close but is out of one’s reach [she’s even named names in one interview!]. Musically, she’s accomplished; vocally even more so. But Swift needs to do something surprising to really standout from the crowded country crowd. Fans have been spoilt recently, though, given that she’s toured the UK, delivered an album and featured in both the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana movies that have recently come our way.
Available on all formats
Rating: 3 out of 5
SILENT FILM PROJECT – TWO DAYS: Sheffield-based Silent Film Project release their debut single in the form of Two Days through the KIDs label. Described as an indie pop summer anthem, it bounces along amid a flurry of mildly catchy melodies, some chiming guitars and the interplaying vocals of Paul Musgrave and Lisa O’Hara. B-side Alligator maintains the jolly vibe, suggesting that this band could well have enough positivity about them to keep festival-goers, sun-seekers and park-dwellers tapping their toes along throughout the warmer months. Silent Film Project formed in Scunthorpe as a side project of Paul, Tom Dakin and Phil Vernon’s previous band. But the new incarnation quickly became their main focus and Lisa and James Keown were added. The KIDs label quickly realised their potential and signed them up – and they now seem perfectly poised for a promising career given tahat KIDS have also launched the careers of The Wombats, Band of Horses and Kyte. Keep an ear and an eye out for them.
Available digitally and on numbered 7” single
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
naRa – RHYTHM: naRa (meaning “a fire” in her native Arabic tongue) offers house infused, club friendly Middle-Eastern pop. Based between Geneva, Switzerland, and Beirut, Lebanon, naRa’s approach to music has been organically created by her rich experiences while jetsetting around the world. Rhythm is the first single to be taken from her album Serenity and mixes dance with Arabic addled soul. Unfortunately, it’s a bland, cheesy and completely forgettable offering that’s over-laden with equally uninspired sentiments such as “rhythm is what makes it all OK”, “let your feet do all of the walking, let your hips do all of the talking”. Please!
Available on all formats
Rating: 1 out of 5
Heard a great single, but yet to buy it? Well, we may have reviewed it. Previous reviews:
Right Content
Related Links
- Music Home
- Music Archives
- A/V Room
- IndieLondon Gig Guide
- Singles of the Week
- Music Gallery