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09 August 2009
Bonfire night may be over, but, at TMF, we don't mind stretching metaphors. Which of this week's singles are juicy bangers and which are burnt tatties? Read on to find out.
Brakes - 'Why Tell The Truth'
This energetic yet heartfelt new single from the Brakes showcases all the reasons why they are one of the UK’s most exciting bands. If they can continue this quality of song-writing, 2010 may well be the year they break through and get the success they richly deserve. (AM)
Cosmo Jarvis - 'You Got Your Head'/'Problems'
Cosmo is one of the brightest sparks to have crossed our path this year and his album is an absolute joy and nightmare in equal parts. Odd that he’s chosen to release the weakest track in ‘You’ve got your head’ as a single but the spiteful rant of ‘Problems’ more than makes up for that. The A side is a mere Babyshambles pastiche but the flip side is wholly unique. (SB)
The Ghost of A Thousand - 'Knees, Toes, Teeth'
Man, these guys really hate fucking New Romantics. They must have been seething away since 1982. This is the result of 25 years of pent up rage and rock n roll decadence. Think Dog’s D’amour meets Napalm Death. Awesome. (SB)
Girls - 'Laura'
Elvis Costello meets Motown, recorded in a phone box. The very essence of perfect pop music from one of the bands of 2009. If you haven’t already done so then just go and buy the album. (SB)
The 'A' Train - 'Don't Have Far To Go'
The second single from The 'A' Train takes a while to get going, but once it does, it's an extremely impressive effort. Drawing on gospel and soul influences, the track is effortlessly sublime and uplifting, especially when the full band kicks in during the chorus. A beautiful listen. (IS)
N-Dubz - 'I Need You'
The government really needs to step in at this point. If we don't act now to stop the infection we'll end up with a whole generation of braindead chumps in silly hats, bad tracksuits and...whoops, too late. (MJ)
Beverly Knight - 'In Your Shoes'
To its credit, Beverly Knight's latest is brief. Other than that, the soul chanteuse fails to capture the imagination with a bland, disjointed, nondescript and anonymous R&B track. Her voice is pretty good but entirely wasted here. (CP)
Ben TD - 'Leaves'
Merely average guitar pop. Lo-fi and angsty, it's not likely to appeal to the masses. (CP)
Soft Toy Emergency - 'Critical'
Soft Toy Emergency are yet another latecomer to the increasingly crowded electro-pop world - although, unlike most, they actually succeed in hitting the target with a great song that sits just on the right side of the catchy/irritating divide. Whether they have enough individuality to build up a big enough following is the big question, but for now 'Critical' has given them a great place to start. (CP)
Oddyssey - 'Black America'
Look! Over there in the bushes! It's Bill Oddie's daughter robin the chorus from LCD Soundsystem's 'North American Scum'. (JD)
The Moons - 'Torn Between Two'
The Moons, we're reminded, are fronted by Paul Weller's keyboard player. 'Torn Between Two' sounds like one of The Coral's more forgettable moments. (JD)
Single of the Week
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - 'Higher Than The Stars'
From the moment the hyperactive synth and drum patterns skip merrily from the speakers you are transported back to those carefree summer evenings of the early eighties when John Peel would accidentally put on a New Order album track at 45rpm. Despite that frenetic beginning, it is impossible to reference this EP without recourse to words like ethereal and dreamy; imagine early Primal Scream chasing Strawberry Switchblade through a field of buttercups and you are on the money. Hey, Loo – The Pastels have brought along a picnic! Break out the flasks of ginger beer and fill your face with sticky sweet coconut macaroons. It may be winter but this is the soundtrack to the best summer you ever had; the bonus Saint Etienne remix should, naturally, be considered an extra tasty cherry atop that last macaroon. (SB)
Brakes - 'Why Tell The Truth'
This energetic yet heartfelt new single from the Brakes showcases all the reasons why they are one of the UK’s most exciting bands. If they can continue this quality of song-writing, 2010 may well be the year they break through and get the success they richly deserve. (AM)
Cosmo Jarvis - 'You Got Your Head'/'Problems'
Cosmo is one of the brightest sparks to have crossed our path this year and his album is an absolute joy and nightmare in equal parts. Odd that he’s chosen to release the weakest track in ‘You’ve got your head’ as a single but the spiteful rant of ‘Problems’ more than makes up for that. The A side is a mere Babyshambles pastiche but the flip side is wholly unique. (SB)
The Ghost of A Thousand - 'Knees, Toes, Teeth'
Man, these guys really hate fucking New Romantics. They must have been seething away since 1982. This is the result of 25 years of pent up rage and rock n roll decadence. Think Dog’s D’amour meets Napalm Death. Awesome. (SB)
Girls - 'Laura'
Elvis Costello meets Motown, recorded in a phone box. The very essence of perfect pop music from one of the bands of 2009. If you haven’t already done so then just go and buy the album. (SB)
The 'A' Train - 'Don't Have Far To Go'
The second single from The 'A' Train takes a while to get going, but once it does, it's an extremely impressive effort. Drawing on gospel and soul influences, the track is effortlessly sublime and uplifting, especially when the full band kicks in during the chorus. A beautiful listen. (IS)
N-Dubz - 'I Need You'
The government really needs to step in at this point. If we don't act now to stop the infection we'll end up with a whole generation of braindead chumps in silly hats, bad tracksuits and...whoops, too late. (MJ)
Beverly Knight - 'In Your Shoes'
To its credit, Beverly Knight's latest is brief. Other than that, the soul chanteuse fails to capture the imagination with a bland, disjointed, nondescript and anonymous R&B track. Her voice is pretty good but entirely wasted here. (CP)
Ben TD - 'Leaves'
Merely average guitar pop. Lo-fi and angsty, it's not likely to appeal to the masses. (CP)
Soft Toy Emergency - 'Critical'
Soft Toy Emergency are yet another latecomer to the increasingly crowded electro-pop world - although, unlike most, they actually succeed in hitting the target with a great song that sits just on the right side of the catchy/irritating divide. Whether they have enough individuality to build up a big enough following is the big question, but for now 'Critical' has given them a great place to start. (CP)
Oddyssey - 'Black America'
Look! Over there in the bushes! It's Bill Oddie's daughter robin the chorus from LCD Soundsystem's 'North American Scum'. (JD)
The Moons - 'Torn Between Two'
The Moons, we're reminded, are fronted by Paul Weller's keyboard player. 'Torn Between Two' sounds like one of The Coral's more forgettable moments. (JD)
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - 'Higher Than The Stars'
From the moment the hyperactive synth and drum patterns skip merrily from the speakers you are transported back to those carefree summer evenings of the early eighties when John Peel would accidentally put on a New Order album track at 45rpm. Despite that frenetic beginning, it is impossible to reference this EP without recourse to words like ethereal and dreamy; imagine early Primal Scream chasing Strawberry Switchblade through a field of buttercups and you are on the money. Hey, Loo – The Pastels have brought along a picnic! Break out the flasks of ginger beer and fill your face with sticky sweet coconut macaroons. It may be winter but this is the soundtrack to the best summer you ever had; the bonus Saint Etienne remix should, naturally, be considered an extra tasty cherry atop that last macaroon. (SB)
