29 August 2010
22 August 2010
15 August 2010
08 August 2010
01 August 2010
25 July 2010
18 July 2010
11 July 2010
04 July 2010
27 June 2010
20 June 2010
13 June 2010
06 June 2010
30 May 2010
23 May 2010
16 May 2010
09 May 2010
02 May 2010
25 April 2010
18 April 2010
11 April 2010
03 April 2010
28 March 2010
21 March 2010
14 March 2010
07 March 2010
28 February 2010
21 February 2010
14 February 2010
07 February 2010
22 August 2010
15 August 2010
08 August 2010
01 August 2010
25 July 2010
18 July 2010
11 July 2010
04 July 2010
27 June 2010
20 June 2010
13 June 2010
06 June 2010
30 May 2010
23 May 2010
16 May 2010
09 May 2010
02 May 2010
25 April 2010
18 April 2010
11 April 2010
03 April 2010
28 March 2010
21 March 2010
14 March 2010
07 March 2010
28 February 2010
21 February 2010
14 February 2010
07 February 2010
Hey kids, what's gonna be toppermost of the poppermost this week? None of these I'd wager...
Holly Rose - Down To One Kiss
Remember Sophie B Hawkins? What do you mean 'no'? She is the closest comparison that springs to mind. Is there still a market for this kind of 'adult' pop? (JD)
The Heavy - Sixteen
We're still waiting for The Heavy to write a decent follow up to their cracking, indeed phat, debut single, That Kind Of Man. This latest slab of dirty soul sounds like it could turn into My Delilah at any moment. (JD)
Ech A Skech - Future Sex EP
More robot sex-themed electro, although one unlikely to do the same chart business as Benny Benassi's Satisfaction. The wd40 remains sealed. The hoover is safe. For now. (JD)
Fink - Sort Of Revolution
Just when you thought we didn't need another earnest guitar-picker, the lead single from the album of the same name makes you want to sit up and listen rather than fall into a coma. (JD)
Bears From Labrador - El Cantar De Mio Cid EP
Chop It Down could be easily mistaken for Queens of the Stone Age (no bad thing, obviously), but the three remaining tracks are less striking. (JD)
White Light Parade - We Start Fires / Rebellion Call
Typical indie/punk which could surely only appeal to those too young to have heard The Jam or The Clash. No? (JD)
Maximo Park - Questing, not Coasting
Quite the opposite, I'd say. 'Quicken the Heart' is a daring, fiery and intelligent album, the kind that makes you split the whole crowd into two and put bands like Maximo Park firmly into the 'Not Generic NME Fodder' category so that they don't have to get their hands dirty with those Wombats or those silly Kooks. As word of mouth expands their fanbase, a hit single is probably the least of their concerns. Which is a good job because this is just ...okay. (GK)
The Hours - Come On
Again, good album, far from arresting single. I do like The Hours; they have soul, character and a hatful of smart anthems. Look up the album instead, though. (GK)
Wolf Gang - Pieces of You
Wolf Gang is Max McElligott. No shit ! And you thought Reg Dwight had it bad. 'Pieces of You' is, essentially, a cover of Talking Heads' 'Psycho Killer'. It's a good job the press blurb offers them up as an influence but just because you've managed to shorten your sentence with a guilty plea, doesn't mean you shouldn't be locked up. (GK)
Argon 40 - Free Fallin'
New Yorkers Argon 40 are electro duo Heather Greene and and Adam Williams. Despite coming from the sexiest, scariest city in the world outside of North Staffordshire, they've chosen to declare the extent of their artistic endeavour, communicate what pulses around their young bodies, by covering Tom Petty's 'Free Fallin'. I know. With its less than wispy backing and use of vocoder that last saw light of day on Mike Oldfield's 1980s output, it's ghastly beyond words. Authorities of some kind should be alerted. (GK)
JLS - Beat Again
Awful, mawkish attempt at giving the X Factor rejects a electro sound that just doesn't work due to weak voices and bad lyrics. Avoid, even if you are a teenage girl or bored housewife with no taste. (CP)
The Domino State - Firefly
Dreary sub-Radiohead crossed with Idlewild MOR indie/pop/rock. No hook and little to say makes this a very dull three and a half minutes. Is there an audience for this kind of thing? (CP)
Scott Matthews - Into the Firing Line / Is This Love
There is no denying that Matthews has a talent, but these two tracks just don't do him justice. Yes, they're soulful and perfectly listenable but they lack any kind of catch to make them him stand out from the rest of the indie crowd. Any chance you could return to the slightly rougher sound Scott? (CP)
The Twang - Barney Rubble
Certainly the most fun of the singles to hit my desk this week, The Twang's Barney Rubble is a good taster of what is to come on their second album. Up beat instrumentals and Britpop sound remininscent of the mid-nineties make this both a retro treat and something to actually enjoy this week. Will I be listening to it this time next week, month or year? Doubtful. (CP)
Marc Carroll: Always
Tom Petty meets David Gray in a Basingstoke Travelodge in this chiming guitar led ditty about how cold and lonely the world is. He must be a Torchwood fan. Fans of the Traveling Wilburys take note. (SB)
Honey Ryder: "Love in Time"
Talking of the Wilburys, and this is a genuine coincedence, Honey Ryder pop up with an unexpected cover of an obscure Roy Orbison (Lefty Wilbury) number. It is a gentle journey with showcases Lindsay's voice perfectly. Recorded as a tribute to Roy it is to Honey Ryder's credit that they didn't go for the jugular and pick one of his chart friendly greatest hits. Worth checking out for whether you are a Wilburys fan or not. (SB)
Hey, kids, you still there? Well check out The Music Fix Single of the Week
Hearts!Attack: "If You Were Dead EP"
Lo-Fi transatlantic indie racket reminiscent of mid period Fall which also brings to mind the whimsical humour and delivery of Art Brut and the pop sass of Los Campesinos. Well worth the pocket money price - get it here (http://www.myspace.com/heartspowattack) (SB)
Holly Rose - Down To One Kiss
Remember Sophie B Hawkins? What do you mean 'no'? She is the closest comparison that springs to mind. Is there still a market for this kind of 'adult' pop? (JD)
The Heavy - Sixteen
We're still waiting for The Heavy to write a decent follow up to their cracking, indeed phat, debut single, That Kind Of Man. This latest slab of dirty soul sounds like it could turn into My Delilah at any moment. (JD)
Ech A Skech - Future Sex EP
More robot sex-themed electro, although one unlikely to do the same chart business as Benny Benassi's Satisfaction. The wd40 remains sealed. The hoover is safe. For now. (JD)
Fink - Sort Of Revolution
Just when you thought we didn't need another earnest guitar-picker, the lead single from the album of the same name makes you want to sit up and listen rather than fall into a coma. (JD)
Bears From Labrador - El Cantar De Mio Cid EP
Chop It Down could be easily mistaken for Queens of the Stone Age (no bad thing, obviously), but the three remaining tracks are less striking. (JD)
White Light Parade - We Start Fires / Rebellion Call
Typical indie/punk which could surely only appeal to those too young to have heard The Jam or The Clash. No? (JD)
Maximo Park - Questing, not Coasting
Quite the opposite, I'd say. 'Quicken the Heart' is a daring, fiery and intelligent album, the kind that makes you split the whole crowd into two and put bands like Maximo Park firmly into the 'Not Generic NME Fodder' category so that they don't have to get their hands dirty with those Wombats or those silly Kooks. As word of mouth expands their fanbase, a hit single is probably the least of their concerns. Which is a good job because this is just ...okay. (GK)
The Hours - Come On
Again, good album, far from arresting single. I do like The Hours; they have soul, character and a hatful of smart anthems. Look up the album instead, though. (GK)
Wolf Gang - Pieces of You
Wolf Gang is Max McElligott. No shit ! And you thought Reg Dwight had it bad. 'Pieces of You' is, essentially, a cover of Talking Heads' 'Psycho Killer'. It's a good job the press blurb offers them up as an influence but just because you've managed to shorten your sentence with a guilty plea, doesn't mean you shouldn't be locked up. (GK)
Argon 40 - Free Fallin'
New Yorkers Argon 40 are electro duo Heather Greene and and Adam Williams. Despite coming from the sexiest, scariest city in the world outside of North Staffordshire, they've chosen to declare the extent of their artistic endeavour, communicate what pulses around their young bodies, by covering Tom Petty's 'Free Fallin'. I know. With its less than wispy backing and use of vocoder that last saw light of day on Mike Oldfield's 1980s output, it's ghastly beyond words. Authorities of some kind should be alerted. (GK)
JLS - Beat Again
Awful, mawkish attempt at giving the X Factor rejects a electro sound that just doesn't work due to weak voices and bad lyrics. Avoid, even if you are a teenage girl or bored housewife with no taste. (CP)
The Domino State - Firefly
Dreary sub-Radiohead crossed with Idlewild MOR indie/pop/rock. No hook and little to say makes this a very dull three and a half minutes. Is there an audience for this kind of thing? (CP)
Scott Matthews - Into the Firing Line / Is This Love
There is no denying that Matthews has a talent, but these two tracks just don't do him justice. Yes, they're soulful and perfectly listenable but they lack any kind of catch to make them him stand out from the rest of the indie crowd. Any chance you could return to the slightly rougher sound Scott? (CP)
The Twang - Barney Rubble
Certainly the most fun of the singles to hit my desk this week, The Twang's Barney Rubble is a good taster of what is to come on their second album. Up beat instrumentals and Britpop sound remininscent of the mid-nineties make this both a retro treat and something to actually enjoy this week. Will I be listening to it this time next week, month or year? Doubtful. (CP)
Marc Carroll: Always
Tom Petty meets David Gray in a Basingstoke Travelodge in this chiming guitar led ditty about how cold and lonely the world is. He must be a Torchwood fan. Fans of the Traveling Wilburys take note. (SB)
Honey Ryder: "Love in Time"
Talking of the Wilburys, and this is a genuine coincedence, Honey Ryder pop up with an unexpected cover of an obscure Roy Orbison (Lefty Wilbury) number. It is a gentle journey with showcases Lindsay's voice perfectly. Recorded as a tribute to Roy it is to Honey Ryder's credit that they didn't go for the jugular and pick one of his chart friendly greatest hits. Worth checking out for whether you are a Wilburys fan or not. (SB)
Hey, kids, you still there? Well check out The Music Fix Single of the Week
Hearts!Attack: "If You Were Dead EP"
Lo-Fi transatlantic indie racket reminiscent of mid period Fall which also brings to mind the whimsical humour and delivery of Art Brut and the pop sass of Los Campesinos. Well worth the pocket money price - get it here (http://www.myspace.com/heartspowattack) (SB)
