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08 August 2010
01 August 2010
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18 July 2010
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27 June 2010
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06 June 2010
30 May 2010
23 May 2010
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09 May 2010
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11 April 2010
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14 February 2010
07 February 2010
Here we are pop-pickers, it's mid-autumn and every band in the known world is out on tour and that means a Tsunami sized promotional push which threatens to rock The Music Fix off of its axis. Yes, the weight of all these single has knackered the axle on our Carnaby Crown static caravan. Don't let our crises spoil your indulgence in this week's collection of perky pop perfection though, get your dancing shoes on and move on up....
Little Boots - Earthquake
'Earthquake' is fabulous, glittering electro-pop, of that have no doubt, but Victoria's 'people' demonstrate continuing ignorance of the shining star on her tremendous album and it's that barmy ignorance that beggars belief. Release 'Stuck on Repeat', you dolts, and you won't have to embarrass yourselves by asking her to go on f***ing 'TMI'. Jeez, anyone would think selling albums was difficult or something. (GK)
Florence and the Machine - You Got the Love
It's easy enough for Florence, whose 'Lungs' outsold 'Hands' by a factor of a gazillion with a draft of vaguely pagan indie-folk and a pair of pins that would have put Betty Grable to shame. I do like Flo - that whole harps/Into-the-Woods/hair/legs thing does it for me every time - but the album throws in a clunker to punctuate every gem and it's in her impeccable choice of covers where Victoria shows her how it's done. (GK)
Alesha Dixon - To Love Again
Talking of legs ... We were out at Gail and Graham's last week trying out their new turntable and pawing through a few hundred 7" singles we'd recovered from our lofts. Gail on Alesha : "I think she's really nice, I really like her. I'm just not sure she's a very good pop star." I really should invite her on board. And I was gonna. But then Graham spoilt it all by sticking The Blue Nile's 'Tinseltown in the Rain' on and saying "You'll never get this one. I bet you don't know what this is. No-one ever knows what this." Silly, silly boy ...(GK)
Ghosts On Tape - Predator Mode
This unfeasibly catchy piece of electronica mixes chunky-yet-funky beats and some messed up samples to create something pretty out of this world. Get your camo-gear on and track this down in your local record ship or Central American jungle! (AM)
Manchester Orchestra: Shake It Out
One of the more immediate tracks from Mean Everything To Nothing this will surely go down well with the Biffy Clyro crowd as they head out together on a UK tour. Nagging guitar lines underpin a fraught, insistent vocal performance from Andy Hull. Definitely a band to reckon with.(SB)
Shake It Out (Music Video)
Manchester Orchestra | MySpace Video
Fighting Fiction: A Lesser of Two Evils
Clumsy, crusty-punk by numbers which is like everything on the Red Wedge tour condensed into one bitter pill. Think Billy Bragg meets the Levellers if you need a final nail to hammer in. (SB)
Boxer Rebellion - Evacuate
Would you like to “go-large” on your rock? Anthemic Londoners The Boxer Rebellion certainly have by pushing everything into spiralling stadium friendly epics. Evacuate continues the formula with a convincing argument that they are ready for the big time. It won’t be long before they are the sound-track for the football results. (AM)
Ingrid Michaelson - Maybe
With the quality of female singers releasing great songs this year it feels that Ingrid is just too late to the party. This is a pedestrian and wholly inoffensive song suitable for coffee shop chains, but I can’t see anyone actually hearing this and wanting to track it down. (AM)
Two Door Cinema Club: I Can Talk
Energetic but ultimately directionless synth pop from Bangor. Could have been a passable ‘b’ side.(SB)
Passion Pit: Little Secrets
Irresistible, dirty, phat groove which should slay them on the student union dancefloor.
Frightened Rabbit - Swim Until You Can't See Land
Gorgeous single from this Glaswegian four piece who are currently ascending a roller-coaster of potential. It loops and dips in all the right places leaving hair dishevelled and packed lunches scattered far and wide. Their magnificent folk might take your breath away but Scott Hutchinson’s elegant vocals ensure you remain securely fastened in your seat. (AM)
Ikonika - Sahara Michael / Fish
The first lady of dubstep returns with this immense double-a side of electronic joy that could be straight from R2D2’s 8-track. Tight drum programming and sweeping sci-fi sounds propel the listener into black holes of wonky ecstasy. (AM)
Polly Scattergood - Bunny Club EP
This is a varied collection of five songs that share a common thread of Polly’s immeasurably delightful voice. She could read the phone book and it would be essential listening, so close your eyes and fill the space between your ears with fluffy joy. (AM)
Wolf Gang: The King And All Of His Men
Impossibly camp pop fabulousness which takes place at the intersection of ABC Avenue and Mika Boulevard. (SB)
Frank Turner: Poetry Of The Deed
The second single of the week which takes Billy Bragg as a prime reference point. Some people must have been taking some very odd drugs in the 80s as there’s a generation of people growing up who are under the impression that a pale imitation of a pale imitation of the Clash Mk II is something to celebrate. (SB)
The Phantom Band - Throwing Bones
The best track from their Checkmate Savage mixes all the ingredients that make The Phantom Band great and bakes them into a splendid cake. It all goes a bit Flying Pickets at the three-minute mark but instead of being crigeworthy it’s actually the cherry-on-top! (AM)
Marina & the Diamonds: Mowgli’s Road
It all seems a bit too calculated and kooky but you can’t deny that this is a gold standard pop song from a girl with the charisma to carry it off. Hopefully she’ll be able to bear the weight of unnecessary hype surrounding her. It’s good, but let’s not start planning ticker tape parades just yet. (SB)
The Northwestern: Ghostrock EP
Straightforward jangly indie rising from the ashes of the much lamented Hope of the States, which invokes the ghost rock of Echo & The BunnyMen. What it lacks in respect of the scope and ambition of Simon and Sam’s previous outfit it more than makes up of in immediacy and hooks. (SB)
Laura Catlow - Skin And Bone
Despite the seemingly endless flow of female singer-songwriters, there aren't many about who ply their trade with an acoustic guitar meaning that Laura Catlow manages to stand out from the electro-led field. 'Skin And Bone' shows that she has the talent to make it as well with the gentle acoustics masking the darker, mature lyrics. Comparisons of her as being a female solo version of the Arctic Monkeys are misleading though; this is altogether a more mellow affair. One to watch. (IS)
Moby: One Time We Lived
Uplifting, epic electropop which rallies against the aching gloom of Wait For Me and demonstrates the versatility of the grand old man of techno. Like a long lost Human League classic this would be a chart topper if anyone gave a toss about the charts anymore. (SB)
The X Why - Flight In Sight
Normally you expect songs with whistling in them to be catchy, even if gratingly so. This, however, is like the flight you could sleep through. I can't work out what they're aiming for, but MySpace says 'electro/ pop punk/ disco house'. (JD)
Izzi Dunn - Tits & Ass
Good voice (well, Izzi has worked with everyone from George Harrison to Roots Manuva), but the funk-soul backing track won't stand out on the radio. (JD)
Mew: Repeater Beater
A wonky, arrhythmic track which favours a wholly random approach to blending harmony, chorus and structure and is over almost before it has begun. The result being an academically interesting simulation of a pop song but not one which is likely to capture many hearts. (SB)
Micky P Kerr: The Joke
A wistful, jingle jangle pop song which recalls the halcyon days of C86. Nothing we haven’t heard before but it has a certain charm which suggests that there could be more interesting things to come from Mr Kerr. Gotta love that video too...(SB)
Leave that caravan alone and tell us about the Single Of The Week I hear you cry. Well, it was a close run thing and Moby was leading right until the final furlong before a 100-1 outsider nipped through on the rails to take the prize. Ladies and gentlemen I give you...
Performance: Reptile
A huge sounding pop classic from a bunch of newcomers who take the drama of Soft Cell and the indiepop suss of the Psychedelic Furs and combine it to forge something truly special. Investigate before everyone else catches on - grab a free copy from here. (SB)
Little Boots - Earthquake
'Earthquake' is fabulous, glittering electro-pop, of that have no doubt, but Victoria's 'people' demonstrate continuing ignorance of the shining star on her tremendous album and it's that barmy ignorance that beggars belief. Release 'Stuck on Repeat', you dolts, and you won't have to embarrass yourselves by asking her to go on f***ing 'TMI'. Jeez, anyone would think selling albums was difficult or something. (GK)
Florence and the Machine - You Got the Love
It's easy enough for Florence, whose 'Lungs' outsold 'Hands' by a factor of a gazillion with a draft of vaguely pagan indie-folk and a pair of pins that would have put Betty Grable to shame. I do like Flo - that whole harps/Into-the-Woods/hair/legs thing does it for me every time - but the album throws in a clunker to punctuate every gem and it's in her impeccable choice of covers where Victoria shows her how it's done. (GK)
Alesha Dixon - To Love Again
Talking of legs ... We were out at Gail and Graham's last week trying out their new turntable and pawing through a few hundred 7" singles we'd recovered from our lofts. Gail on Alesha : "I think she's really nice, I really like her. I'm just not sure she's a very good pop star." I really should invite her on board. And I was gonna. But then Graham spoilt it all by sticking The Blue Nile's 'Tinseltown in the Rain' on and saying "You'll never get this one. I bet you don't know what this is. No-one ever knows what this." Silly, silly boy ...(GK)
Ghosts On Tape - Predator Mode
This unfeasibly catchy piece of electronica mixes chunky-yet-funky beats and some messed up samples to create something pretty out of this world. Get your camo-gear on and track this down in your local record ship or Central American jungle! (AM)
Manchester Orchestra: Shake It Out
One of the more immediate tracks from Mean Everything To Nothing this will surely go down well with the Biffy Clyro crowd as they head out together on a UK tour. Nagging guitar lines underpin a fraught, insistent vocal performance from Andy Hull. Definitely a band to reckon with.(SB)
Shake It Out (Music Video)
Manchester Orchestra | MySpace Video
Fighting Fiction: A Lesser of Two Evils
Clumsy, crusty-punk by numbers which is like everything on the Red Wedge tour condensed into one bitter pill. Think Billy Bragg meets the Levellers if you need a final nail to hammer in. (SB)
Boxer Rebellion - Evacuate
Would you like to “go-large” on your rock? Anthemic Londoners The Boxer Rebellion certainly have by pushing everything into spiralling stadium friendly epics. Evacuate continues the formula with a convincing argument that they are ready for the big time. It won’t be long before they are the sound-track for the football results. (AM)
Ingrid Michaelson - Maybe
With the quality of female singers releasing great songs this year it feels that Ingrid is just too late to the party. This is a pedestrian and wholly inoffensive song suitable for coffee shop chains, but I can’t see anyone actually hearing this and wanting to track it down. (AM)
Two Door Cinema Club: I Can Talk
Energetic but ultimately directionless synth pop from Bangor. Could have been a passable ‘b’ side.(SB)
Passion Pit: Little Secrets
Irresistible, dirty, phat groove which should slay them on the student union dancefloor.
Frightened Rabbit - Swim Until You Can't See Land
Gorgeous single from this Glaswegian four piece who are currently ascending a roller-coaster of potential. It loops and dips in all the right places leaving hair dishevelled and packed lunches scattered far and wide. Their magnificent folk might take your breath away but Scott Hutchinson’s elegant vocals ensure you remain securely fastened in your seat. (AM)
Ikonika - Sahara Michael / Fish
The first lady of dubstep returns with this immense double-a side of electronic joy that could be straight from R2D2’s 8-track. Tight drum programming and sweeping sci-fi sounds propel the listener into black holes of wonky ecstasy. (AM)
Polly Scattergood - Bunny Club EP
This is a varied collection of five songs that share a common thread of Polly’s immeasurably delightful voice. She could read the phone book and it would be essential listening, so close your eyes and fill the space between your ears with fluffy joy. (AM)
Wolf Gang: The King And All Of His Men
Impossibly camp pop fabulousness which takes place at the intersection of ABC Avenue and Mika Boulevard. (SB)
Frank Turner: Poetry Of The Deed
The second single of the week which takes Billy Bragg as a prime reference point. Some people must have been taking some very odd drugs in the 80s as there’s a generation of people growing up who are under the impression that a pale imitation of a pale imitation of the Clash Mk II is something to celebrate. (SB)
The Phantom Band - Throwing Bones
The best track from their Checkmate Savage mixes all the ingredients that make The Phantom Band great and bakes them into a splendid cake. It all goes a bit Flying Pickets at the three-minute mark but instead of being crigeworthy it’s actually the cherry-on-top! (AM)
Marina & the Diamonds: Mowgli’s Road
It all seems a bit too calculated and kooky but you can’t deny that this is a gold standard pop song from a girl with the charisma to carry it off. Hopefully she’ll be able to bear the weight of unnecessary hype surrounding her. It’s good, but let’s not start planning ticker tape parades just yet. (SB)
The Northwestern: Ghostrock EP
Straightforward jangly indie rising from the ashes of the much lamented Hope of the States, which invokes the ghost rock of Echo & The BunnyMen. What it lacks in respect of the scope and ambition of Simon and Sam’s previous outfit it more than makes up of in immediacy and hooks. (SB)
Laura Catlow - Skin And Bone
Despite the seemingly endless flow of female singer-songwriters, there aren't many about who ply their trade with an acoustic guitar meaning that Laura Catlow manages to stand out from the electro-led field. 'Skin And Bone' shows that she has the talent to make it as well with the gentle acoustics masking the darker, mature lyrics. Comparisons of her as being a female solo version of the Arctic Monkeys are misleading though; this is altogether a more mellow affair. One to watch. (IS)
Moby: One Time We Lived
Uplifting, epic electropop which rallies against the aching gloom of Wait For Me and demonstrates the versatility of the grand old man of techno. Like a long lost Human League classic this would be a chart topper if anyone gave a toss about the charts anymore. (SB)
The X Why - Flight In Sight
Normally you expect songs with whistling in them to be catchy, even if gratingly so. This, however, is like the flight you could sleep through. I can't work out what they're aiming for, but MySpace says 'electro/ pop punk/ disco house'. (JD)
Izzi Dunn - Tits & Ass
Good voice (well, Izzi has worked with everyone from George Harrison to Roots Manuva), but the funk-soul backing track won't stand out on the radio. (JD)
Mew: Repeater Beater
A wonky, arrhythmic track which favours a wholly random approach to blending harmony, chorus and structure and is over almost before it has begun. The result being an academically interesting simulation of a pop song but not one which is likely to capture many hearts. (SB)
Micky P Kerr: The Joke
A wistful, jingle jangle pop song which recalls the halcyon days of C86. Nothing we haven’t heard before but it has a certain charm which suggests that there could be more interesting things to come from Mr Kerr. Gotta love that video too...(SB)
Leave that caravan alone and tell us about the Single Of The Week I hear you cry. Well, it was a close run thing and Moby was leading right until the final furlong before a 100-1 outsider nipped through on the rails to take the prize. Ladies and gentlemen I give you...
Performance: Reptile
A huge sounding pop classic from a bunch of newcomers who take the drama of Soft Cell and the indiepop suss of the Psychedelic Furs and combine it to forge something truly special. Investigate before everyone else catches on - grab a free copy from here. (SB)
"Reptile" by Performance from EQ Video on Vimeo.
