Music - Singles of the Week - Monday, September 8
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: MARTINA TOPLEY BIRD – BABY BLUE (DOWNLOAD ONLY): Fresh from her scene-stealing performances at Glastonbury, Martina Topley Bird releases new single Baby Blue from her excellent new LP, The Blue God. A tale of heartbreak and loneliness masked by exotic and celestrial melodies, this is heart-melting stuff indeed, buoyed by Martina’s blissfully chilled out vocals. Described as “ethereal yet eerie”, it sets Martina’s beautifully seductive vocals against an oriental-influenced percussion, some twinkling piano keys and plenty of swirling melodies to create an utterly enthralling, even enchanting track. The lyrics, too, are as intelligent and thought-provoking as ever, based around the teasing chorus “baby blue, I never really knew I belonged to you”. It’s a compelling reason why you should rush out and buy this excellent album if you haven’t got around to it already!
Rating: 5 out of 5
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SINGLE OF THE WEEK 2: MOGWAI – BATCAT EP: Sonic masters Mogwai return to the earwaves with the release of their keenly anticipated Batcat, pre-empting the release of their forthcoming album, The Hawk Is Howling later the same month. The title track of the EP is lifted from the long-player and is a typically brooding, majestic number that boasts pulsating guitars, moody drumming and all kinds of atmospherics. Mogwai’s cinematic style of tune writing enabled them to appear twice on the soundtrack to Michael Mann’s Miami Vice update a couple of years ago, thanks to the evocative nature of their music, and Batcat is no exception – emerging like some brooding, emotive soundtrack to a set piece that has yet to be written. It’s dark, muscular, even angry stuff that somehow still manages to sound both exciting and invigorating. Welcome back, Mogwai – what took you so long? Of the other tracks on the EP, both are previously unavailable – the amusingly titled Stupid Prick Gets Chased By The Police And Loses His Slut Girlfriend and Devil Rides, featuring vocals from 13th Floor Elevator, Roky Erickson. We’ve not heard either of them, although the first one sounds the most intriguing.
Rating: 5 out of 5
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SINGLE OF THE WEEK 3: SONNY J – CAN’T STOP MOVING: Yep, we’ve gone single of the week crazy this week but justifiably so. If Martina Topley Bird screamed sophistication, and Mogwai oozed broody atmospherics, then Sonny J is the feel-good anthem of the week (if not the month). Arguably the best song the Jackson 5 never wrote, it’s a lively slice of old-skool Motown that brings back memories of the golden songs from that era, such as ABC and I Want You Back. Incredibly, it’s a new song written and laid down by hip new DJ Sonny J, whose feel-good debut album Disastro, has to rate as one of the better party albums of the year. He’s already impressed with Handsfree (If You Hold My Hand) and, if anything, this is better – with a completely cheeky Jackson 5 compilation video to match. Like its title suggests, you won’t stop moving for the duration of its running time!
Rating: 5 out of 5
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THE CORAL – BEING SOMEBODY ELSE: The Coral release the breezy new single Being Somebody Else ahead of their new Singles Collection (on September 15). As ever, the keen ear for melody, the beautifully swirling strings and the typically laidback vocals demonstrate the strength of their songwriting and their ability to make even the simple things sound upbeat and positive. It’s a lovely little record that could well even add some musical sunshine into everyone’s life that this wet English summer has so far failed to provide. It should brighten anyone’s spirits. The 12 tracks that make up the Singles Collection promise to surprise and reward both newcomers and long-term fans when they’re released – although for value-for-money, buy the 2-disc version which comes with all sorts of extras. It’s fun, effervescent modern pop that wears its heart on its sleeve and we’ll deliver our verdict next week.
Rating: 4 out of 5
LITTLE MAN TATE – HEY LITTLE SWEETIE: Following Little Man Tate’s belting return with What Your Boyfriend Said in June, Sheffield’s Little Man Tate unleash second single Hey Little Sweetie – and succeed in maintaining their momentum. In typically explosive, even cheeky style, the song is a bruising, jaunty guitar-punch in which vocalist Jon Windle’s assured tales of a female student’s deviant extra curricular activities give rise to lyrics such as “you’ve been a naughty, naughty, naughty, naughty little girl, in this dirty, dirty, dirty, dirty little world”. The guitar-work, as ever, is a compelling extra factor that adds plenty of zip, even if Windle’s vocals continue to struggle to stand apart from those of his Sheffield counterparts, The Arctic Monkeys. Hey Little Sweetie precedes the release of Little Man Tate’s sophomore album, Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy, a record made under trying conditions, but one that the band continue to have every confidence in. On the strength of the singles so far, it’s not misplaced.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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THE ZUTONS – WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM?: The Zutons release yet another trademark single in the form of What’s Your Problem?, from the latest album, You Can Do Anything. As ever, David McCabe’s vocals are pronounced, while the horns provide a suitably rousing backdrop. There’s also an upbeat vibe that’s difficult not to get swept along by in some way – although the suspicion does linger that this is the sound of a band that has grown into their sound without really seeking to take it in too many different directions. Hence, the overall verdict is that while it’ll please a Saturday night party crowd, and is certain to have become a live favourite, it’s also pretty formulaic for The Zutons kind of thing.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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ROSIE AND THE GOLDBUG – LOVER: Lover is reportedly the essence of new band Rosie And The Goldbug. Following on from their well received EP War Of The Roses and already picked up and heavily endorsed by the likes of Xfm and 6 Music, it’s a feisty slice of guitar pop that channels both the mainstream appeal of artists like Gwen Stefani and Siouxsie Sioux with the slightly more discerning appeal of classic artists such as Kate Bush and Tori Amos. It’s a real grower of a track, too, featuring some driving basslines, a strong, punchy chorus and a fine set of vocals from lead vocalist Rosie. The band themselves formed in Cornwall in 2007 and have been counting the days to the release of their debut album, which was completed with the help of producer Jim Eliot (one half of Kish Mauve) and co-songwriter Marcella Detroit (of Shakespeare’s Sister fame). Look out for the album, which follows into stores on September 15, as well as their cover version of Duran Duran’s Planet Earth, which is a firm live favourite. We’re already looking forward to hearing more.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
JOHNNY FOREIGNER – SALT, PEPPA AND SPINDERELLA: Johnny Foreigner’s new single Salt, Peppa and Spinderella is the first since the release of their album, which was released in June. A turbo-charged mix of boy-girl vocals, synth stabs and smart guitar riffs, it’s a heady brew that just keeps growing on you the more you hear it. There’s also a keen sense of melody that’s not immediately apparent, but which reveals itself via the sing-along “do, do, do, do, do” bit in the middle, just before the track explodes into a rousing guitar frenzy guaranteed to catch anyone napping off-guard. The song has already been hailed by Johnny Foreigner’s PR as one of the highlights of the album, and it’s easy to hear why. It’s a blistering reminder of why the LP attracted so many encouraging reviews. The 10” vinyl, meanwhile, features remixes from Bloc Party, Dolby Anol featuring Acrnym and Nibiru. The Bloc Party version, in particular, is as good as the original and well worth making an effort to hear.
Rating: 4 out of 5
QUEEN – C-LEBRITY: Perhaps I’m being churlish… but Queen aren’t sounding really like Queen anymore. Paul Rodgers is Paul Rodgers – not Freddie Mercury and you can’t help but feeling there’s something missing. Yes, Brian May’s guitars are as pronounced and emphatic as ever, but the vocals simply don’t get you as excited anymore. Hence, Queen’s first new single in ages, C-lebrity, is something of an underwhelming affair. It’s a decent enough rock track, with some fine sentiment behind it (about our nation’s current fixation with celebrity and reality TV), but coming under the Queen moniker is just doesn’t cut it. Maybe it’s because I’m over-protective of the memory of Queen in their prime, but listening to this band in current form is rather like hearing INXS without Michael Hutchence, or The Rolling Stones without Mick Jagger. Perhaps Queen should re-name themselves and they might not come with so many pre-conceptions attached.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS – WHEN I GROW UP: The Pussycat Dolls are all about sexy, sassy and vivacious high-energy pop. New single When I Grow Up is no exception – although it lacks the immediacy and widespread appeal of former hits such as Don’t Cha and Buttons. That said, it retains a funky stomp courtesy of the Timbaland-style backbeats and production values, while the girls sound as sexy as ever – if not more like Destiny’s Child than ever! The song itself is an infectious grower… the sort of offering that you end up tapping your toes, or swaying your sides, along to no matter how uneasy your first impression is of it. Or, in other words, slick pop that ticks all the right boxes without really ever feeling as though it’s trying too hard to break from the current climate. It’s taken from the forthcoming album Doll Domination.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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FLO RIDA feat WILL.I.AM – IN THE AYER: Another pumped up slice of grammatically incorrect, mis-spelt hip-hop arrives in the form of Flo Rida’s In The Ayer. Produced by and featuring Will.I.Am (who is tireless at the moment), it’s a catchy enough offering that’s built around some grinding synth stabs, a low-key backbeat and boy-girl vocal trade-offs. It’s also a party anthem, all about putting hands in the air, and swaying those hips to the undeniable vibe the track sets. As such, it probably owes more to Will.I.Am’s style of songwriting than Flo Rida’s, and seems destined for a similarly babe-laden film soundtrack, but at least it’s more fun than the 50 Cent brand of songwriting, and shows a carefree side to this rapidly emerging new hip-hopper.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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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 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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LANA – DON’T CALL ME BABY: Lana claims to be making jazz sexy again – and on the evidence of Don’t Call Me Baby she’s doing just that! Shrouded in a Latin vibrancy, it’s a fresh, exciting and horn-heavy blast of jazz-pop that really ought to find a mainstream following. Vocally, Lana is both seductive and feisty (“I’m not your sweetheart… I’m not your number one or two”), as well as playful in the extreme. The Latin influence lends it a charge that’s utterly addictive and easily capable of filling any dancefloor. In contrast, but no less impressive, is the double A-side Liar Liar, which cuts a deeply sultry Deep South groove that hints at gospel, whilst unfolding against a virtually a capella backdrop. It’s difficult to know which song works best! If you dig the sounds of Amy Winehouse, but have tired of her unreliability, then Lana could offer a perfect alternative. Keep an ear out, too, for the Dean James remix of Don’t Call Me Baby, which adds extra funkiness to the Latin element of the song and sounds ripe for a killing on the club scene. You’ll be demanding to know more about this emerging new artist by the time you’ve given it a few listens.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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GRACE SOLERO – TROOPS: Troops is the new offering from London-based female-fronted rockers Grace Solero – and it’s pretty rousing stuff. Driven by some rousing guitars and a haunting set of vocals that effectively bear favourable comparison to the likes of Skunk Anansie and Alanis Morissette, it’s a lively, multi-layered rock track that benefits from the male vocals underpinning proceedings at several points. Grace Solero are a rapidly emerging outfit having impressed many with their debut album New Moon, and successfully toured around Europe. With songs like Troops, their image and appeal only looks set to reach new heights.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
JASON MRAZ – MAKE IT MINE: One of the highlights to emerge from Jason Mraz’s latest album, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things, Make It Mine is the sound of the artist at his most commercial and approachable. The opening track on the long-player, it’s an incredibly laidback start that’s propelled by a horn section and a snappy beat. It’s unashamedly ‘7os in its use of organs, while Mraz’s vocals assume a smooth vibe akin to Smokey Robinson. The inclusion of some hand-clap propelled “la la la“s and a trombone solo adds a couple of nice touches and ensures the album gets off on the right foot. Please note, however, the single was actually released into stores on September 1, 2008.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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DEUS – ETERNAL WOMAN: Belgian outfit dEUS release Eternal Woman as the latest single to be taken from their strong new album, Vantage Point. A love song that marks something of a change of pace for them, Eternal Woman is an assured mid-tempo ballad that’s not ashamed to pander to radio-friendly values, complete with soothing female backing vocals and the odd “oooh oooh”. The guitar melodies and ethereal style of the backing vocals combine well to create an utterly enriching listen that should bring more and more fans to the current long-player. It’s well worthy of anyone’s consideration.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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BLACK KIDS – LOOK AT ME (WHEN I ROCK WICHOO): The follow-up to Black Kids’ Hurricane Jane is Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo), a giddy bybrid of Human League-style vocals and Go! Team-inspired shouty backing rap/vocals. If that sounds like an odd mix, don’t be put off as the energy that it generates is actually quite addictive and easily capable of filling the dancefloor. Unfortunately, it’s only available as a download when it really should have been made more widely available, as it’s one of the highlights from the album Partie Traumatic, which successfully entered the UK charts at No.5 upon its release. Tracks such as this are compelling evidence of why.
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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