Music - Singles of the Week - Monday, September 15
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: IGLU & HARTLY – IN THIS CITY: Los Angeles based five-piece Iglu & Hartly release their debut single on Mercury Records in the form of the catchy In This City. The band have spent the past few months holed up in the house they share in Echo Park, Los Angeles, recording the 11 songs that make up their debut album, And Then Boom (released September 29). And on the evidence of this single, it promises to drip killer pop hooks, mixed with their signature synths and raps. It takes a little getting used to, but once you’ve properly heard that killer chorus (which is designed for singing and “whoo-whooing” along to), it’s a cracking introduction to a band that we look set to hear a lot more from in the coming weeks. Radio 1’s Zane Lowe and Jo Whiley started championing it nine weeks ahead of its official release and it’s easy to see why. They’re as exciting as MGMT, and look destined to be a large part of popular culture (adverts, movie soundtracks, etc) if the remainder of the album matches the quality of this first single offering. We promise you’ll be impressed.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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SINGLE OF THE WEEK 2: WE ARE SCIENTISTS – IMPATIENCE: We Are Scientists release the third single from the criminally under-rated Brain Thrust Mastery, in the form of Impatience. The song deftly combines a driving, four-on-the-floor beat with huge three-part harmonies, call-and-response verses à la Roxy Music, and a sweet summertime melody served up by the dork-hot New York two-piece-plus just in time for Autumn. It’s a foot-stomper of rousing proportions and the type of track that could well appeal to Idlewild fans, and plenty more indie-rockers besides. Needless to say, it’s one of the highlights from the current long-player and a really blast of rock-pop energy. Keenly aware that with the clip for Impatience their reputations as principal providers of meaningful, light hearted, life-affirming video content would again be tested, We Are Scienists have also cooked up a monstrously entertaining, wolfishly ambitious, transformatively redemptive music video that truly ratchets their recent dog obsession one notch up the food chain.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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TRAVIS – SOMETHING ANYTHING: A welcome and really rocking return from Travis, who belt out Something Anything as the first single proper from their long-awaited new album Ode To J Smith. By their own admission, the song lands somewhere between the breakthrough stomp of Good Feeling and garage band overdrive of All I Want To Do Is Rock, complete with a rousing guitar solo that’s emphasised in the clever, but fun, video. Interestingly, Ode To J Smith is the first Travis album to be written on electric guitar since their debut, and will be released on the band’s own label Red Telephone Box. If this is the quality of what to expect, then we’re in for a thrilling re-discovery of a still formidable band. Talking of the video, Travis have teamed up once more with Michael Baldwin – who directed all the videos for The Boy With No Name – to take Andy Dunlop’s driving guitar riff as the centre piece for the footage that eventually sees a 10ft tall Andy tearing into a solo that leaves the rest of the band suitably awestruck. Something Anything is available on 7”, CD single and as a download, while additional tracks include Travis’s cover of The Kinks classic Lola and two new songs all unavailable elsewhere.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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KINGS OF LEON – SEX ON FIRE: Kings of Leon continue to grow in stature with each new album release. Previous album Because Of The Times gave rise to the cracking single On Call and now their fourth album Only By The Night has yielded this belter of a lead single. Sex On Fire is, like its name suggests, a heated affair that arrives amid wailing guitar riffs, anguished vocals and plenty of rock-infused passion. It delivers an adrenaline-shot to the senses and is a firm statement of intent from Kings of Leon that suggests they’re back and better than ever. Fans have already been hailing this as another classic from the outfit who just seem to be getting progressively better – and more diverse – with each new long-player they put out. We strongly advise allowing yourself to be swept along in their musical journey.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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MR SCRUFF feat ALICE RUSSELL – MUSIC TAKES ME UP: DJ Mr Scruff unites with all-singing chum Alice Russell for a smooth, snappy and expertly snazzy ode to the music they both love. An effortless blend of soul, funk, and jazz, complete with ghostly backing vocals, it’s a knee-trembling combo of Mr Scruff’s production skills and Russell’s sultry, soulful vocals. Thesong has been disrupting and destroying dancefloors across the country for some time, prompting Scruff’s label Ninja Tunes to finally prise it away from the DJ momentarily in order that a vinyl version could be pressed. And while they were at it, they added some extra value. Firstly, there’s the extended album version of the single, followed by The Clock, a fairground organ for the 21st Century that drops synths, brass and bass in a scratchy, mashed up kind of way. Fix That Speaker, meanwhile, is described as the sound of a bassist attempting to fight his way out of a paper bag while being pummelled by the other members of the band. It evokes the memory of Lalo Schifrin, contains a sprinkling of Hammond organ to work alongside the bass, and wears its jazz sensibility shamelessly on its sleeve. Did we mention it was downright funky as well?
Rating: 4 out of 5
ESTELLE feat CEE-LO – PRETTY PLEASE (LOVE ME): Estelle releases her sassy new single, Pretty Please (Love Me) via Atlantic Records/Homeschool as a follow-up to the Wyclef Jean produced, No Substitute Love and the No.1 smash American Boy. Co-written by Estelle and Jack Splash (Alicia Keys, Missy Elliott, Jamie Foxx), who also takes credit for the track’s production, Pretty Please (Love Me) is a classic retro ode to love that features a distinctly Motown vibe (dare we mention Aretha Franklin?). It sees the west-London born, New York-based singer showcasing smouldering, soul-smoked vocals to breathtaking effect alongside the mellifluous tones of Gnarls Barkley front man, Cee-Lo, who delivers his customary touch of smooth soulful class. And while it may be so polished it hurts, there’s an easy pleasure and distinctly feel-good vibe surrounding the release that’s difficult not to be won over by. If anything, it’s the best release from the Shine album so far.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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THE DODOS – FOOLS: You’d be mistaken when listening to The Dodos’ latest offering, Fools that the band consists of many more members than they actually do, considering what a layered single it is. The San Franciscan duo have managed to create a beautifully orchestrated piece of music, ranging from soft chanting and wistful lyrics, to escalating primal screams and frantic strumming. Fools really highlights how with just two instruments, it is possible to produce such a rhythmic, dramatic and empowering song. It’s taken from their current album, Visiter and it’s a real grower of a single that, if anything, should win over more fans to the LP, which is really rather excellent.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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THE ACADEMY IS – SUMMER HAIR = FOREVER YOUNG: The Academy Is return with their eagerly-anticipated third album Fast Times At Barrington High, on September 15 through Fueled By Ramen Records. New single Summer Hair = Forever Young is released on the same day. Recorded and produced in New York, the album finds the band delivering more of their pop punk-driven rock ‘n’ roll. Lead single Summer Hair = Forever Young is described as a fitting example of the band’s signature melodies, anthemic guitars and indelible hooks. If anything, though, it’s a lively but formulaic foot-stomp through frat-boy rock – the type of which has been delivered by countless bands, past and present. We’re talking Blink 182, Simple Plan and, most recently, The All American Rejects and Fall Out Boy. Still, if that’s your scene and you’re feeling forever young, then you’ll probably dig its simplistic charm.
Rating: 3 out of 5
THE CHEMISTS – SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND: The Chemists release their explosive new single, Something For The Weekend, having worked with Kevin Bacon and Jonathan Quarmby (Richard Hawley/Primal Scream), as well as Adrian Bushby (Foo Fighters/Doves) to get it right. The Bristol-based five-piece clearly have an ear for a punchy guitar riff and some intertwining melodies, as they deliver a rock track that’s both loud and catchy. You can well imagine fans chanting along the anthemic chorus, which is designed to be played loud and invoke that weekend spirit. As if to underline their hard-rocking credentials, B-side Tazmanian Devil is an even grittier rock monster that crashes into your sub-conscious and refuses to budge. Expect a loud debut album when they eventually deliver it next year – although there’s enough to suggest that Chemists could yet balance the heaviness of Foo Fighters with the more indie appeal of bands like Hard-Fi and Editors as well. They’re definitely an act to look out for.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
EXIT TEN – WARRIORS: “We’re the warriors and breakers of hearts” declare Exit Ten during the chorus of their new single, Warriors. The second single to emerge from the album Remember The Day, it’s a typically loud and crashing effort that plays well to the Download crowd, but will struggle to find a footing in the mainstream. If anything, it’s biggest downfall is the fact that it’s just so average – not bad, necessarily, merely over familiar in the way that a lot of early in the day Download acts are. The lead singer delivers his vocals as passionately as you’d expect, but there’s nothing rousing about the rallying call mentioned above, and the guitars don’t really go anywhere special. For all their hype, the song itself is a little disappointing.
Rating: 2 out of 5
MOBY VS FREEMASONS – DISCO LIES: When reviewing Moby’s latest long-player we noted that album track Disco Lies contained “way too much electronica” and “seems more in step with the Miami/Ibiza superclub scene rather than New York” – which was one of the influences behind the concept album. It’s little wonder, then, to find that Moby has teamed up with Freemasons for the single version of the track, which takes an already bland disco-stomper and turns it into something even more forgettable. The wretched female vocals are pretty formulaic for this kind of thing, the beats generic and the whole ‘80s synth-based backing pretty darn excruciating. It’s a disappointing release from an album that also promises more than it ultimately delivers.
Rating: 2 out of 5
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SWAY feat LEMAR – SATURDAY NIGHT HUSTLE: Sway demonstrates why he’s one of a rare breed of urban artists not to become too constricted by his signature sound with the release of new single, Saturday Night Hustle. A cool, even hip, disco floor-filler, this combines his urban-orientated flow and lyricism with the honey-coated vocals of fellow North Londoner Lemar, as well as various female backing vocals over the smooth chorus. It’s a fresh slice of pop-friendly rap/R’n’B that bodes very well for Sway’s forthcoming album. Produced by Shux – a long-running Sway collaborator who’s also worked with Lupe Fiasco and Lily Allen – Saturday Night Hustle also samples, rewires and revamps Alexander O’Neil and Charelle’s classic ‘80s duet Saturday Love into a highly-polished piece of 2008 hip-pop. Cheesy, yes, but it’s also a proper guilty pleasure to get up and dance to.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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THE FEELING – JOIN WITH US: More impossibly bouncy pop ditties from The Feeling, in the form of Join With Us, the title track from their sophomore album which is being released as a download from September 8 and physically into stores from the 15th. Channelling the energy and poppiness of classic ‘70s acts such as Supertramp and ELO, this is epic, sweeping and oh-so euphoric. It’s nowhere near as good as the artists it’s clearly emulating, but it’s slightly more bearable (in limited doses) to some of the other tracks on the LP thanks to its keen sense of vocal harmonising and open breeziness. That’s not a recommendation, though. The promo video for the track was shot on July 16 as part of a 24-hour challenge set by Johnny Vaughn and Denise Van Outen on their Capital Radio breakfast show – creating a music video from the drawing board to the small screen in just 24 hours.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
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MCFLY – LIES: When will McFly grow up? The latest single from the tweenie rockers once again pretends to be about mature issues (in this case, lies), but is delivered in that same self-styled pop-rock style that’s indicative of the band’s inability to take a risk with their songwriting. It’s processed, over produced and pretty darn bland. On this occasion, a supposedly sleazy funk bassline and some blasts of brass are supposed to showcase the band’s layered songwriting, but the swirling strings are hugely derivative of acts such as Robbie Williams, while the vocals simply don’t cut the mustard – they pretend to sing about man’s issues, but still sound very much like boys. Ah well… maybe the next album will mark something more out of the ordinary. On the evidence of the releases from this forthcoming LP so far, it’s still much of the same.
Rating: 2 out of 5
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DOWNLOAD SELECTIONS
THE LUCKY FACE – UNDERNEATH THE CITY LIGHTS: The debut single from The Lucky Face is one of those impossibly catchy offerings that channels both the breezy simplicity of The Beautiful South and the melody-making of The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson. After fronting and sometimes behinding numerous bands to varying degrees of excess, singer/songwriter Tim Mullineaux began The Lucky Face in 2003 as a monicker under which to produce music without the usual ‘band’ format. Hence, while people may come and go, the name stays the same. The fact that most of the live shows are solo affairs adds nicely to the confusion. But Tim wouldn’t have it any other way. Underneath The City Lights is a pleasant, strum-along affair, complete with mid-song whistling, that’s designed to put a smile on your face and keep it there. It’s the kind of song that gets into your head and refuses to budge after you’ve heard it – but in a good way. And we’re already looking forward to hearing future songs that the charming Lucky Face have to offer. For those that want to discover more, you can download the track from iTunes and all good online music stores.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
THE BLACK KEYS – OCEANS AND STREAMS: The Black Keys deliver the latest gem from their fifth full-length EP in the form of Oceans And Streams, produced with the help of Dangermouse. It’s a moody, bluesy offering that combines a trademark snappy DM back-beat with some gruff, lived-in vocals and some excellent blues guitar work. The sense of moodiness and old-school rock values is palpable. The collaboration between The Black Keys and Dangermouse came about after he approached the band to write songs for an album he was developing with the late R&B legend Ike Turner. It’s classy stuff and another compelling reason why it’s well worth adding the album, Attack And Release to your record collection.
Rating: 4 out of 5
SUGARUSH BEAT COMPANY – THEY SAID I SAID: A firm live favourite among fans of Sugarush Beat Company, They Said I Said is the new single that precedes the release of the eponymous debut album by a couple of weeks. Combining the sassy pop sensibility of Sugababes with an infectious chorus and a ‘60s influenced pop hook, the song is driven by Ida Corr’s suga-coated soul vocals and is another of the week’s guilty pleasure listens. It’s distinctly throwaway, but the retro leaning and snappy style mean that you’ll probably be up and bopping along on the dancefloor despite any misgivings you may have about its overall quality. So, why not just indulge.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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