Music - Singles of the Week - Monday, September 1
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: GYM CLASS HEROES – COOKIE JAR: Gym Class Heroes look to build on the success of their brilliant sophomore album As Cruel As Schoolchildren with the release of Cookie Jar, the debut release from third album, The Quilt (out September 8). Produced by and featuring The Dream, who has worked with Rihanna and Chris Brown recently, it’s a slick collection of pop-driven hip-hop that demonstrates Gym Class Heroes’ ability to appeal to several genres at once. They exist to have fun, so while the backbeat is kick-ass cool and capable of appealing to ardent hip-hoppers, there’s a genuine sense of fun in the lyrics that even could be said to be poking fun at Madonna’s recent attempts to open her own musical Candy Store. Arguably, this is more effortlessly hip than the opening track on the Queen of Pop’s album. It’s really good to have Travis McCoy and company back – and we can’t wait to hear the rest of the album. Just indulge! The track is available to download from August 25, and out physically in stores on September 1.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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ROYWORLD – BRAKES: A moonlit ebb and flow of star guitar and dazzling vocals ushers listeners into Royworld’s epic new single Brakes, one of the true highlights from the debut album, Man In The Machine. Less euphoric than past hits Dust and Elasticity, this finds them in more slow-building form and, arguably, all the better for it. The song does eventually come to life, but it’s a much more measured effort that hints at a really bright future for them. The melodic rushes are assured, the vocals stronger and with extra added gravitas, thereby ensuring that this is the type of sweeping power-ballad (of sorts) that could draw favourable comparisons with acts like Coldplay and Snow Patrol (if we were really getting carried away!). Recommended.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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DUFFY – STEPPING STONE: Duffy’s distinct vocals help to create another memorable record in the form of Stepping Stone, the latest track to emerge from her phenomenally successful LP Rockferry. A sultry, defiant song that finds the Welsh singer promising “I will never be your stepping stone”, it’s a classic slow-burner that’s delivered with genuine passion by this very talented singer – you can pretty much taste the determination not to become a throwaway object of affection for the person she’s singing to. The well-lit, sexy video is another cracker to further emphasise that Duffy is one of the most talented artists to have broken through this year and in a long time. She’s definitely here to stay as everything about her screams quality at the moment.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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BRYN CHRISTOPHER – SMILIN?: Smilin’ is the latest release from Birmingham-born soul boy Bryn Christopher. The follow-up to his massive airplay hit The Quest, it’s a smooth, catchy effort that provides a cracking showcase for Christopher’s soul-charged vocals. Arriving complete with a thumping bassline, this song centred around the theme of addiction is a groovy follow-up that really does mark Christopher out as an artist to watch. He seems to combine some classic soulful values with a funky contemporary edge that’s reminiscent of a certain Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo. Smilin? ought to leave you doing just that after a couple of listens. It’s taken from the album, My World.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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METRONOMY – HEARTBREAKER: From its hallmark opening bassline, to the synth-heavy powerchords of the whistle-along chorus, there’s no straying from the fact that Metronomy’s new single Heartbreaker is catchy as hell – and arguably their best offering to date. It’s an electronic ode to male heartbreak that’ll both cut you to the quick and have you dancing all the way to the therapist’s chair. Says founder member Joe Mount: “My lyrics are pretty basic, but the gist of Heartbreaker is having a friend who’s in some awful relationship, and keeps hassling you and talking to you about it. So it ends up ruining your friendship. So, do us both a favour: ditch her. It’s not so much that friends have done this to me, but I’ve definitely done it to friends of mine. It’s a love song between two men, but it’s kind of hidden that that’s what it is.” Despite dripping in melancholy, it’s a seriously catchy soon capable of leaving your feet tapping along, or getting you up on the dancefloor. Remixes come from the likes of Kris Menace (recommended), Faze Action, Diskjokke and Genuine Guy.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
CONOR OBERST – SOULED OUT!!!: Best known for his work under the guise of Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst is now poised to release his fourth solo LP (and first since 1995’s hard-to-find Soundtrack To MyMovie) in the form of Conor Oberst. Lead single Souled Out!!! is evidence of why you should check it out, emerging as a fiery slice of country-inflicted alt-rock that’s rife with emotive lyrics and some fine guitar work (which keeps getting better the longer it lasts). Vocally, it’s very assured, nicely layered and worth really listening to (going some way to explain the Dylan comparisons), but musically is where it really delivers and you’ll probably be singing along as it reaches its emphatic conclusion. Excellent stuff from an artist that deserves to be much, much bigger.
Rating: 4 out of 5
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK – SUMMERTIME: It’s been 14 years since we’ve heard anything from New Kids On The Block and the big question is, was the wait worth it? Yes and no. While the comeback – shorn of a key member – is an event in itself, the first song Summertime, is actually quite disappointing. A touchy-feely ode to summertime love that features cute, radio-friendly beats and blips, and a catchy, sing-along chorus, it’s a play-it-safe return that’s tailored towards recruiting as many new tweenie fans as it is appealing to old ones. There’s a breezy summertime vibe, for sure, that’s heightened by the slick video – featuring a couple of lovely babes in slender bikinis – but we had every right to expect – and perhaps demand – so much more from this outfit. Let’s get some grit, guys, for crying out loud! Strikes me, they’re just content to play to formula and do a lot of the same things as countless other boy bands of the moment.
Rating: 2 out of 5
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NEIMO – POISON THE CHALICE: The new wave sound of the Parisian underground reaches these shores in the form of Neimo. A four-piece with influences ranging from The Smiths to The Strokes bring us an infusion of quirky pop and rock intertwined with a sly, lushness of hooky guitar riffs, Neimo’s four-track EP Poison The Chalice is a generally catchy offering that bodes well for future offerings. Lead track Poison The Chalice is arguably the pick of the selections, containing an infectious energy and a catchy chorus that leaves you suitably charged afterwards. But also worth listening out for is the much more low-key slow-builder Peter And The Wolves, which benefits from some sombre synth stabs and some striking lyrical imagery (Alan Moulder’s mixing is great), and the manic The Story Of Your Favourite Song, which throws about jangling guitar riffs and a kick-arse back-beat to re-ignite the feel-good vibe. Clearly, Neimo are an act to watch.
Rating: 3 out of 5
MARIAH CAREY – I’LL BE LOVIN U LONG TIME: Mariah Carey releases I’ll Be Lovin U Long Time, one of the highlights from her latest LP, E=MC2. Boasting a familiar sounding disco bounce and an easygoing vibe, it’s the sort of cheesy summer record that’s capable of getting everyone on the dancefloor once they’ve had a few beers to drink. Mariah keeps her vocals nicely in check, more in keeping with the classic feel of the melodies, while the layering late on is effectively delivered. It’s a rare Mariah cut that’s capable of wider appeal than just her loyal fanbase. The singer produced it herself, while the accompanying video is set in the stunning surroundings of Hawaii and features an appearance by rapper, T.I.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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SAM BEETON – WHAT YOU LOOK FOR: Nineteen-year-old singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sam Beeton releases the single What You Look For from his debut album No Definite Answer (out September 8). Co-written with Eg White, who is known for his work with Adele and James Morrison, the song is a breezy pop song that contains a deeper, more poignant message. The song is essentially a love song where Sam sings about his affection for an old flame, but with an underlying theme of vanity: when you split up with someone and they get a new partner, comparing yourself with that person and thinking you’re better. Just occasionally, the vocals give away the singer’s tender age – but in most respects this is an assured record that signals the arrival of another promising talent.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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JOHNNY FLYNN – BROWN TROUT BLUES: 2007 was a hell of a year for Johnny Flynn having released a bunch of critically acclaimed singles (both on Young & Lost and his new home Vertigo), wowing crowds from Buffalo Bar to Bestival, from the End Of The Road festival to the Royal Albert Hall and recording his debut album in the Autumn made for a busy year. But if 2007 was the year when word began to spread about this talented 24-year-old, then 2008 could well be the year that those whispers become a chorus. Drawing on diverse influences – such as The Pixies, Vaughn Williams and anti-folk pioneer Dianne Cluck – Flynn now releases the country blues effort that is Brown Trout Blues. A measured effort, that’s dripping in classic songwriting qualities, it’s a heartfelt lament that features some nicely understated bluesy guitar riffs, some late stabs of brass that lend it a jazzy vibe, and a dusky set of vocals that are perfectly in keeping with the overall tone. It might take a few listens, but this will grow on you.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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