Whatever's Left

WL likes...Later With Jools Holland

2006-05-06T16:27:00.000+01:00

So, this weekend we've finally passed 40,000 hits, even if it is a weekend during which we've received some slightly more negative attention. The WL team would just like to state the post in question has been removed, simply because the comments were getting completely out of control and becoming rapidly more accusatory and personal, and that's not the point of WL. It's all about your opinion on the music, not what you think of the writer's opinion. Taken from a statement our Fish wrote:

'Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're in a band, you tend to want to play on the good reviews and ignore the not-so-good ones, not flame the bad ones and encourage your fans to do similarly. It's completely understandable that you're an up-and-coming band, and maybe criticism isn't what you want to hear. It's not easy to make it in a band, we appreciate that. But if you're going to react in this fashion over a review from a relatively small-scale music blog, how are you going to get anywhere in the musical world?'

Can I please note Fish wrote that, and not me. Just so we've got our facts straight this time. Thanks. Otherwise...yeah - 40,000 hits. We never expected to get this far, so thanks to all our regular readers. Keep reading, keep commenting, and most importantly - everyone play nice.

*****

New series. New column. New sense of sticking at it? Possibly not, but here are my thoughts on this week's show. Comments (of the non-abusive kind) very welcome.

Pearl Jam
I never 'got' Pearl Jam. I was once told my a friend that if you missed grunge at the height of its fame then you sort of missed the point. To be honest, this lack of interest for Pearl Jam or any of their contemporaries (excluding the odd Nirvana song) meant I didn't really pay much attention and so was a bit guilty of channel flicking onto E4 where I saw The Pipettes dancing about, singing fun pop songs and looking like they were having the time of their lives. Such a dedicated music journalist am I.

Corinne Bailey Rae
Hailed as the new female solo star of 2006 by many, Corinne's album failed to make any sort of impression on me. Her voice is truly gorgeous - there's no doubting that - but the music just doesn't live up to it, often sounding dull and lifeless in comparison. 'Like A Star' was beautiful when she made her TV debut last year with just a voice and an acoustic guitar, but not even her hit single, 'Put Your Records On', managed to live up to that captivating performance.

Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins
My performance of the night easily belonged to these lovely ladies. Jenny is easily one of my favourite singers of all time, and she proved this last night, with her vocals (along with the beautiful harmonies provided by The Watson Twins) being absolutely flawless. 'Run Devil Run' is one of those a cappella intros that leaves you with a lump in your throat and a feeling of 'wow!' in your head. 'Big Guns', was the first of Jenny's solo material I really fell in love with and was an excellent choice of performance, even if it wasn't quite as good here as on record, due to the lack of percussion - the bit halfway through when the bass drum kicks in is sublime. Still, as Jenny was limited to one performance and no interview time (the least featured artist on the show) we felt a little bit...snubbed. Hopefully, like Corinne last year, this will provide some recognition and hype for her own work. And, for those who watched this performance and loved it, or those who missed it and want to experience the magic for themselves, here is a similar session recording from KCRW.
mp3 - Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins - Run Devil Run/Big Guns (Live on KCRW)

Jamie Foxx
Mr Foxx has that intolerably smug near-arrogance that is typical of a few sorts of people when they're interviewed on a British TV show. These people are notably males, americans and R&B stars. Jamie is all three. It rendered his performance completely unappealing to me. Why not have Jenny Lewis at the piano instead? Far more interesting.

The Spinto Band
I was really interested in the Spinto Band because I've heard more about them than I have of the band themselves. I have (and really like) their single 'Direct To Helmet', but unfortunately they didn't opt for this, instead opting for two weaker tracks, the first of which involved kazoos. Now, I'm a big fan of the kazoo. I believe it has its place in music, and can sound good in some select situations. Unfortunately this was not one of these situations. The sound that came out of the band (which had more members than I could count) was surprising limp and minimalist considering their number. They're not living up to the hype for me, I'm afraid.

The Zutons
I really wanted to say The Zutons were fantastic. Well, 'Valerie' was great (and is the band's brilliant next single) and the mesmerising bass playing (as Jools noted, twice) was fascinating to watch and listen to. However, 'Why Won't You Give me Your Love?' showed up even more cracks than its fundamentally flawed chorus by descending into a badly mixed bit (more the soundman than the band's fault, maybe?) featuring odd atonal notes, the rest of the band's backing vocals low in the mix and David McCabe's straining vocals nearly making my throat sore.

Next week features Richard Ashcroft and We Are Scientists.

Hannah's Single of the Week (01/05/06)

2006-05-04T19:51:00.000+01:00

Apart from being something of a monumental re-release week (Kubb, Sigur Ros, We Are Scientists) it's also a fairly good week for singles from emerging bands. Captain release 'Broke', Forward Russia! release 'Nine' and Panic! At The Disco follow-up their hit single 'I Write Sins Not Tragedies' with another long-titled tune - 'But It's Better If You Do'. Also, for the sheer sake of it (and if I featured it in a videowatch you'd think I'd gone mad) please go and watch the hilariously awful video for 'Somebody's Watching Me' by Beatfreakz. It's a cheesy dance video/Thriller rip-off being taken to a whole new tragically corny level. Great for a laugh.

Special Mentions:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California (official site and video)
There isn't much of a point in reviewing this, is there? If you've got radio or digital TV it's been pretty much impossible to avoid 'Dani California' by Red Hot Chili Peppers. The band's huge crossover appeal lets them get everywhere, and get everywhere they most certainly do. Hey, and you know what happens when I song is practically unavoidable? You get sick of it pretty quickly. As catchy and radio-friendly as it is, there's nothing particularly special about it and, as Lewis said, it sounds like an amalgamation of several of their previous hits.
3/5

Jenny Lewis - You Are What You Love (official site)
So...from major overexposure to very little exposure at all. You have to be looking pretty hard to catch Jenny Lewis. After a small tour of the UK and cropping up on the odd late night radio show, the Rilo Kiley vocalist doesn't even appear to have made a video for this second single from 'Rabbit Fur Coat'. She is, however, cropping up on Later With Jools Holland this Friday, so keep a look out for that. Hopefully she'll be performing this gorgeous single, showcasing her marvellous country-tinged vocals and the lush harmonies provided by The Watson Twins.
4/5

Re-release extreme appreciation mania:
Sigur Ros - Hoppipolla (official site and video)
Now better known as the music (and a perfect choice, if I do say so myself) for the BBC's highly successful 'Planet Earth' series, 'Hoppipolla' has gained more exposure in those few weeks than prior to its original release. In fact, the song (originally charting at 35) re-entered the chart 17 weeks later on download sales alone and lingered around the lower reaches of the chart for nearly a month. It will be very interesting to see just how well the re-release of this beautiful song does. Oh, and I'm loving the gorgeous artwork, too.
4/5

We Are Scientists - Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt (official site- includes video and very funny band blog)
Charting at 56 in the summer of 2005, 'Nobody Move...' was followed by two top 40 hits. It was pretty inevitable that the record company were going to attempt to release it again and, from what I've seen, things are looking up. Despite the album never making much of a chart impact, it's been getting a discounted price and a lot of advertising on TV (in a similar fashion to Editors earlier in the year) and the video's been lodged in the top 10 of mtv2's NME chart for some time, even making the summit. I guess it's the appeal of seeing a skinny indie band being chased down the street by a man in a bear costume, eh?
4.5/5

Single of the Week:
Feeder - Lost And Found (official site - includes video)
It's by no means the best single Feeder have ever done. In fact, it's far from it. However, the fact Feeder have released 'Lost And Found' to coincide with their singles collection is something to be celebrated, simply because it's a wonderful change and shows there's life in them yet. Consider this - so many recent Feeder singles (in fact, nearly every single from 2003 onwards) have been slow indie ballads sounding even more like Coldplay with every release. This isn't necessarily always a bad thing, but Feeder are capable of rocking, powerchord-heavy, rifftastic songs like 'Lost and Found', and it's nice to hear one of them on the Radio 1 playlist. I certainly won't be confusing this with the latest Athlete release!
4/5

All Releases: (ones I've heard in bold)
Adam Green – Nat King Cole, Beatfreakz – Somebody’s Watching Me, Big Brovaz – Hangin’ Around, Brigade – Magneto, Captain – Broke, Feeder – Lost And Found, Forward Russia – Nine, Gentleman – Superior, Ghostly Man – Capital / Advice From Strangers, Goldfrapp – Fly Me Away, Grasp – Breaking Down The Walls, Hot Puppies - The Girl Who Was Too Beautiful, Howling Bells - Blessed Night, Hugh Trowsers Band – Living The Dream, Ivories – Heartstrings, Jenny Lewis – You Are What You Love, Jessica Moon – Eyes On You, Jim Noir – My Patch, Joseph Arthur – Can’t Exist, Junkbox – Guru (EP), Justice – Waters Of Nazareth, Kubb – Remain, Laura Michelle Kelly - There Was A Time, Michael Jackson – Remember The Time, Mocky – Fightin’ Away The Tears, Panic! At The Disco - But It's Better If You Do, Rattlesnake Remedy – Drag You Down, Red Hot Chili Peppers – Dani California, Shack – Tie Me Down (7”), Shane – The Weight Of This / I Am The Man, Sigur Ros – Hoppipolla, Soul Avengerz – Sing (EP), Southside Hustlers – Right Before My Eyes, T Pain – I’m Sprung, This Is Seb Clarke – Fall, Tim McGraw – When The Stars Go Blue, We Are Scientists – Nobody Move Nobody Gets Hurt

Lewis's Single to Avoid (01/05/06)

2006-05-02T09:49:00.000+01:00

Red Hot Chili Peppers - 'Dani California'
It was always going to happen one day. After 22 years and 8 albums, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have finally become a parody of themselves. This sounds like everything they've ever done mixed into one pedestrian, radio-friendly release. There's even an obligatory reference to California - within the dreadful title, as I'm sure you've noticed by now. The rest of the lyrics trawl the tale of this tawdry hooker around the rest of the states, with Anthony Kiedis grunting 'California, rest in peace / Simultaneous release' in the distinctly unassuming chorus. The boys really should realise that they're not sex gods anymore. They're old men. And, after those long 22 years, it might finally be time for the Red Hot Chili Peppers to indeed rest in peace.
1/5

WL Live - Kaiser Chiefs/Graham Coxon/Polysics - NIA, Birmingham

2006-05-01T10:41:00.000+01:00

Kaiser Chiefs are a band that probably need no introduction, but I'll do one anyway. After the top 30 success of 'I Predict A Riot' in late 2004 they dominated all the 'bands to watch' lists at the start of 2005. And, soon enough, they were easily one of the biggest bands of the year selling shedloads of albums and having several hit singles. However, for everyone that likes the Kaiser Chiefs, there's probably another person that doesn't. It's true - they're hardly the most original band on the planet, play fairly simple music that's been ridiculously overplayed on TV and radio and base most of their songs around 'ohohohoh' or 'na na na na'. Mind you, as I found on Wednesday night, this sort of stuff can translate really well to a live performance and with that and frontman Ricky's relentless energy the Chiefs' biggest tour yet generates a great crowd response.

Opening for the Kaiser Chiefs were a band from Japan. Polysics fuse punk, J-pop, new wave and noise music. They also wear red jumpsuits and did a rather nice remix of Bloc Party's 'Luno'. That was pretty much all I knew of them before I saw them for myself. My verdict? Scary. Not scary in a creepy, horror movies way but more out of disbelief for something so completely and utterly bizarre! Being the Britpop devotee that I am, I'd never experienced anything remotely like J-Pop first hand...before now. The Polysics set came across like a twisted Japanese electro version of one of the stage shows at Disneyland. In fact, it summed up my idea of Japanese music - very cartoon-like, zany high-pitched vocals and music being an aural equivalent of an epileptic fit. I couldn't deny their energy (starjumps across the stage, anybody?) or their performance, but I found it all a little too much.

I sense some irony here. Kaiser Chiefs have oftened been dubbed a Blur rip-off, and yet here is Blur's ex-guitarist, Graham Coxon, writer of my favourite Blur song of all time ('Coffee and TV') being the band's main support. Stuck in the seating of the arena I wondered just how many of the audience realised just how many iconic riffs ('Parklife', 'Song 2' et al) had been performed by the awkward, unlikely frontman now gracing the stage. I say 'awkward' not because Graham doesn't know what he's doing (he does, and he's a fantastic guitarist) but because of the fact he's a shy-looking bespecled man looking and sounding like a teenager despite being in his mid-thirties. Performing a set largely comprised of blistering, snarling punk there was no time to showcase Graham's softer side as he picked out the fastest, brattiest songs from his new album, as well as the singles from 'Happiness In Magazines'. The highlights of the set were 'Bittersweet Bundle Of Misery' and forthcoming single 'You and I'. It was clear from the way they came across live that both songs are easily the best things he's done in his solo career. Even my brother (who rarely likes anything I do) said of the latter: 'What's the song called? It was pretty good!' As for Graham - he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself, leaping around like a lunatic, kicking his legs, rolling on the floor and generally enjoying playing his music to a large audience. He reckoned we were 'one of the best' he'd had, although I wasn't so sure. He was great, but I'd definitely opt to see him as a headliner in a smaller venue next time!

Now for the stars of the night. They opened with 'Everyday I Love You Less and Less' partly whilst concealed behind a giant red curtain, accompanied flashes of bright light co-ordinated with the pulsating intro. Curtain down - cue big cheers all round. Then seconds later - cue disappointment from me - there were no video screens, at all. In fact, for an arena gig, there wasn't much of an elaborate set-up, just a multi-tiered stage so you could see all the band.

However, as the gig progressed it became obvious that even though the band seemed to be blurry figures in the distance, it wasn't going to have any detrimental effect on the gig itself. Just like when they went down a storm at the festivals, the Kaiser Chiefs dominate an arena setting with ease.

All the hits (and album tracks) present and correct, the set is consistent with many of the songs sounding far better live than they do on record. Sure, the musical cliches are still there, but when performed live, complete with audience participation, there is a whole new dimension to songs that previously didn't move me and, um...weren't the kind of thing that I liked. Heh.

So it's not exactly surprising when only a few songs in, and frontman Ricky Wilson claims to be 'throwing a spanner in the works' by performing a new song, it doesn't turn out like that. In fact, this new one was just as good as the rest of the set even on the first time of listening. I'm looking forward to hearing it on the next album.

Alongside the relentlessly energetic Mr Wilson (who was constantly moving, covering the entire stage several times over - why isn't he stick thin?) are the rest of the band. On the lower right, with legs like springs, is bassist Simon who proceeded to bounce around for most of the night. On the lower left is Whitey, the band's guitarist who remained static for most of the night while somebody conveniently forgot to light him up. Insanely popular drummer (and chief songwriter) Nick and hat-wearing keyboardist Peanut are both on platforms towards the centre of the stage.
My main reason to praise the Chiefs for giving me such a great evening was that in a live setting they turn what are merely good tunes into proper anthems - the biggest anthem of all being, of course, 'I Predict A Riot'. An anthem we enjoyed so much that, when it came to the end of the song we didn't notice Ricky was, um...missing.

Of course, he re-emerged...standing on a platform next to the mixing desk right in the middle of the crowd. Very, very exciting, especially for our friend Hannah (yes, another one, not myself), who managed to find herself right in front of the Chief Kaiser himself. From his central position Ricky led the crowd in a wonderful rendition of one of my favourite album tracks - 'Caroline, Yes' - and engaged everybody in a lot of mexican waving, saying how much he'd loved it when we'd been doing it in the interval to keep ourselves amused.

Finishing, in typical Kaiser Chiefs fashion, with a very much extended version of their no. 6 hit 'Oh My God' the band left me feeling utterly fantastic and, well...something of a fan. Pretty good for a band I'm largely indifferent about, eh?

Hannah's Single of the Week (24/04/06)

2006-04-27T12:24:00.000+01:00

I completely apologise for the lack of regular posts last week. I also hope Lewis's rant made up for it! We were both VERY busy, and, if you're curious, my pick of the week was easily 'Yeah Yeah Yeah Song' by The Flaming Lips. Anyway, it's all back to normal this week, and what an exciting week it is. The Arctic Monkeys release an EP which might not be (well, at the last time of checking it wasn't) chart eligible, and NME favourites The Raconteurs and Dirty Pretty Things finally give their music a full release after months and months of hype. What's slightly less exciting is the fact there seems to be a recurring colour when it comes to cover artwork - muddy grey. Lovely.

Special Mentions:
Snow Patrol – You’re All I Have (official site - includes videolink)
Ah, Snow Patrol. An example of a band who show that one song can change everything. 'Run' appeared almost out of nowhere to become a stadium anthem. The band's third album, 'Final Straw', went platinum, multiple times. But 'Run', bizarrely, is still the band's only top 20 single. So now we have 'You're All I Have' the lead single from 'Eyes Open', ready to cement Snow Patrol's reputation as one of the leading indie bands in the UK. Now, our Lewis may not like them, but I do. The problem here is that while the song begins promisingly with a jingly intro and surges into addictive 'ooohs' and Gary's vocals ring out over the guitars there is one things that annoys me about Snow Patrol. It's not the lyrics (I don't mind them at all) and the melody (that's all good) or the lead guitar line - it's the rhythm guitar chugging away in the background. It's a straight quaver rhythm, the same as 'Chocolate' and also the same as too many other songs by the Patrol. It's there all the way through. For me it sticks out like a sore thumb and puts a dampener on what could be a truly excellent track.
3.5/5
(Also, guys? If your video description says you filmed it whilst performing on a platform 120ft in the air - why not show this in the video itself?)

Dirty Pretty Things – Bang Bang You’re Dead (official site)
So, as the Pete Doherty saga gets a little tired (Pete found with drugs/Pete arrested/Pete standing trial and is let off - the story never really changes, does it?) the lesser-spotted Libertine steps into the spotlight with his 'new' band. This introductory single, 'Bang Bang You're Dead' certainly sounds like The Libertines. Lyrically, the chorus ends up sounding a little childish (the main lyric being 'bang bang, you're dead - it's hard not to) but fortunately it doesn't fall down where many of Babyshambles' singles did. The music is punchy, catchy and exhibits a charming singsong quality and chord progression that allows it to sound suspiciously like Brendan Benson's 'What I'm Lookin' For'. Speaking of Brendan Benson...
3.5/5

Singles of the Week:
The Raconteurs – Steady As She Goes (the band's fantastic official site - includes video)
Right from when the idea was first announced, I was very excited about 'Jack White's side-project', The Raconteurs. I'm a big Brendan Benson fan (and also quite like the White Stripes) so it was something of a dream collaboration for me. Thankfully, the music lives up to the hype. However, this track has been on heavy rotation of Xfm (my radio station of choice when it comes to waking up in the morning) since what feels like the dawn of time. In truth it's only since the inital 7" pressing was put out as a very limited release back at the end of January, but when a song has been played so often (take Kaiser Chiefs' 'I Predict A Riot', for example) something that you initially love can quickly become the most irritating thing in the universe. However, I've found it impossible to get sick of 'Steady As She Goes'. Whether it's Jack and Brendan's duelling vocals, the choppy stabs of rhythm guitar or the psychotic cows in the song's video - there's still something that gets me every time.
4.5/5

The Boy Least Likely To - Be Gentle With Me (official site - video in 'videos' section)
The first I heard of The Boy Least Likely To was the high praise they got from our very own Lewis as he named their album one of his favourites of 2005. The second? The fact they were James Blunt's support act as he took on the States. Still, considering he's the hottest British name out there right now, it was an excellent move on their part. It also delayed this single's release by a couple of months, but hey - it's completely worth the wait. Coupled with an excellent video (reviewed on my last videowatch) this brilliant xylophone-led piece of indiepop is delightfully cute and summery. It's one of those tracks that's perfect to listen to while sitting on a grassy field, basking in the sunlight. The lyrics are adorable, the guitars jangly and the vocals sweet and vulnerable. Gorgeous.
4.5/5

All Releases:
General singles:
The Boy Least Likely To - Be Gentle With Me, Brian Kennedy – Every Song Is A Song For Love, Chicane feat Tom Jones – Stoned In Love, Chris Brown - Yo (Excuse Me Miss), Copyright feat Song Williamson – He Is, Demeter – Addict, Director – Reconnect, Dirty Pretty Things – Bang Bang You’re Dead, Druw & Perez feat Don E – Bonafide, Elin Ruth – When It Comes To You, Flies - Temptress, Giant Drag – This Isn’t It, HIM - Killing Loneliness, Killa Kela – Secrets, King Biscuit Time – Kwang Chow, Lynden David Hall – Day Off / Stay Faithful, Matt Costa – Cold December, Michael Jackson – Black Or White, NFD - Light My Way, Nina Simone vs Groovefinder – Ain’t Got No/I Got Life, Notorious BIG – Spit Your Game / Hold Ya Head, Primrose Hill – Shearers Magnificent 11, Raconteurs – Steady As She Goes, Ralfe Band – Women Of Japan, Silver Jews - Tennessee, Snow Patrol – You’re All I Have, Terri Walker – Alright With Me, Tiga – (Far From) Home, Ultrabeat vs Scott Brown – Elysium (I Go Crazy), Warren G feat Snoop Dogg & Ice Cube – Get U Down, Will Young – Who Am I, Wire Jesus – Intruder / Another Day

EPs/7" Only/12" only/Limited Release:
Arctic Monkeys – Who The F**k Are the Arctic Monkeys? (EP), Crazy Girl – The Rebel (12”) , Czar Creek – Get Gone, Euros Childs – Costa Rica (7”), Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan – Honey Child (7”), Jackson Analogue – West Of Here (EP) [Limited], Lily Allen – Knock ‘Em Out (limited 7”), Polysics – I My Me Mine (7”), Sol Seppy – Slo Fuzz (7”), Test Icicles – Pull The Lever (EP on 2x7”)

Hannah's Videowatch (Volume 3)

2006-04-25T17:17:00.000+01:00

Welcome to Volume 3 (what's this? a feature that's actually lasted more than two posts!?) of my videowatch, the feature where I pick out great videos, regardless of whether the music's any good or not. There are some really cracking videos doing the rounds at the moment. Here are a few of the best.

1) Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California (video)
The Red Hot Chilis are no strangers to making a great music video or indeed prancing around like idiots in order to make one. For the video for new single 'Dani California' they're doing it again, making a performance vid into something a little more by playing dress-up and imitating various bands. What's more is they do it to great comic effect. If you've ever wondered what the RHCPs would look like if they were an bespecled rock n roll band, goths, glam-rockers, camp 80s popsters or even Nirvana then this video is an absolute joy. Well, apart from Mr Kiedis in lipstick. That's just wrong.

2) Arctic Monkeys - View From The Afternoon (video)
I'm not sure if it's the intention, but this video does one thing, if nothing else. For the first time in a long while I really listened to, and appreciated, what a drummer can put into a song. A really great music video is one that makes you appreciate the music more because of it, and despite the simplicity of the Monkeys' latest output it really is astonishingly effective. That is all.

3) Jim Noir - My Patch (video - go to 'listen/watch')
Imagine you've stepped off the bus, flowers in hand, ready to meet your sweetheart, and you find the neighbourhood deserted, windows broken, and eggshells all over the pavement. Surely there's been some sort of riot? Oh, except they're giant eggshells and suddenly giant eggs are pelting you from all sides. What on earth is going on? Well, I don't want to spoil it for you but there are ever-so-slightly dodgy special effects, a fight sequence (of sorts), and a rather predictable-but-funny twist right at the end. Watch this. It's BRILLIANT.

4) Delays - Hideaway (video)
Considering their last video was the crazily trip-like accompaniment for 'Valentine', Delays have decided to do something a little more real but um...equally nonsensical with follow-up 'Hideaway'. Essentially it's some sort of modern day re-telling of Spartacus. Well, there are some secret agent types attempting to track (well, they're rather rubbish at it) a teenage lad named Spartacus, so I presume that's what it's about. There's no slave revolt or anything. However, there's lots of cruising in convertibles and standing around looking pretty with sunglasses on. Oh, and there's a random sportsbag with a mysterious glow inside. The band keep cropping up - they're clearly related to the plot in some way, but it's not entirely clear how. However, the video itself really brings across the joyously summery feel of the band's new single. Lovely.

5) Hot Chip - Boy From School (video)
This is an Art Attack. This is an Art Attack. This is...ART ATTACK!

Okay...I couldn't resist. Such a potent memory of my childhood being resurrected through the medium of music vid is just too brilliant for me not to! Kudos to Hot Chip for churning out two great, innovative videos on the trot. This latest one is essentially one marvellous big Art Attack (remember - when Neil used to cover the ground with all sorts of sand, fabrics and objects to create a huge - and often very clever - picture) with the band dressed up as caveman with buttons for nipples. Giant inflatable bananas, lots of sand and painted umbrellas are also used. The final result is rather fantastic. Of course, the joy is in working out what it's going to be!

Lewis's Single(s) to Avoid (24/04/06)

2006-04-24T18:58:00.000+01:00

Snow Patrol - 'You're All I Have'
More standard fare from the melodic indie rock practitioners - chiming chords, slowburning vocals, lovelorn lyrics, faceless band members and so on and so forth. It sounds remarkably like the last Snow Patrol single, and the one before that, and the one before that; stretching back into the eternal mists of time. They seem incapable of writing about anything else other than relationships, an immeasurably tedious subject matter if ever there was one. I can't imagine Snow Patrol aim to categorize themselves as dull, but after four albums worth of this stuff the noose seems to be tightening.
1/5

Arctic Monkeys - 'Who The Fuck Are The Arctic Monkeys?'
I haven't heard anything from this superfluous EP - a visit to the Arctic Monkeys' "legendary" MySpace page yielded nothing, as the songs couldn't be found. Useful! They get a zero anyway, on the basis of being dreadful. Feeble tales of binge-drinking and other asinine antics are just a waste of my time, I'm afraid.
0/5

Overwhelm thyself in poesy: the 100 greatest lyrics

2006-04-20T20:50:00.000+01:00

It has come to my attention that the esteemed television channel VH1 has just completed a survey to decide (drumroll please) The Greatest Lyric Of All Time. I first found out about this on Saturday, as graced the front cover of The Times' weekend supplement. The premise seemed typically interesting, but that was before I spotted the ominous caveat at the bottom of the page. It said "voted on by you".

You, the viewers. What's happened is that VH1 have selected 100 lyrics, leaving the massed ranks of the electorate to vote on them as they see fit. At the culmination of this laborious process, the original 100 have been whittled down to a definitive top 20. And true to form, all the old favourites are there.

The least surprising inclusion is probably John Lennon's 'Imagine'. It's the quintessential, intellectually lazy vox pop choice - a horrible playschool poem masquerading as enlightened philosophy, rather like a line of Eastenders dialogue. The fact that it was written by a fully-grown adult highlights what patronising, self-righteous crap it really is.

Some might argue that it showcases his more tender side, as opposed to the scathing wit that characterised many of his Beatles songs. It doesn't. It's more sanctimonious than one of Cromwell's speeches. Listen to it too much, and you'll soon find yourself offending dinner party guests with statements like "I always thought that Mark Chapman was a very pleasant boy".

The second most obvious choice is 'Bohemian (C)Rhapsody', which, along with Kurt Cobain's deeply asinine 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', provides the inevitable stream of bloated gibberish that is considered "poetry" these days. The majority of the population are fairly bright; in possession of an O-level or two, that sort of thing - so why is the collective mindset so staggeringly inane?

When you unpick the threads of everyone's eternal favourites, ABBA, the depth of our fixation with the vapid becomes more apparent. The general public will extract detritus from anything. And this is why ABBA are best appreciated as a shiny package. Because once you start to deconstruct them, you realise that the fragments of the songs are just twaddle that somehow synthesises into a well-written unit. That in itself is an impressive skill, but if we're taking down particulars, officer, the lyrics fall flat on their arse.

It's a bit like ABBA's native Scandinavia. On the whole it seems quite a prepossessing kind of place; all glaciers and wilderness and mystery and Santa Claus. But when you examine its characteristics, you begin to realise how torrid the place is - three hours of light a day, suicide rates that go through the ceiling, rampant alcoholism amongst the populace, and reindeer.

The common reindeer is not an attractive beast; it's quite capable of ambushing you somewhere outside Norrköping and then goring you until your intestines fall out. Rudolf may have charmed you all with his red nose and low self-esteem, but there were also eight other bastards that gave him one hell of a hard time. Thus endeth the allure of Scandinavia and all its lifeforms.

This little analogy relates perfectly to ABBA. It is best to concentrate on the glossy veneer, and not the aforementioned particulars. Because when you do, endless rhyming couplets like "Seeing me so tense / No self-confidence" become faintly embarrassing. And sooner or later you begin to wonder what the point of ABBA actually was. They deserve better, and therefore should be remembered under the safe, translucent heading of Great Pop Music. Not as exalted wordsmiths from the heavens, as the public prefer to think of them.

With heavy eyelids, I wonder whatever's left. There's songs by Coldplay and U2, two bands which appear to have merged into one another over recent years. Chris Martin's infectious immaturity combining with Bono's delusional pomposity is the production of a modern rock nightmare. As such, their lyrics have about as much edge as a vegetarian.

So, are there any worthy lyrics in VH1's top 20? Perhaps. Bob Dylan's 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' deserves automatic selection in any poll of this nature, and could almost win the thing on its own. "Johnny's in the basement, mixing up the medicine / I'm on the pavement, thinking about the government" is a line that distils the energy and excitement of Sixties society down into twenty-six frenetic syllables. The same era also produced 'Waterloo Sunset' by The Kinks, a bittersweet tale of love in the capital that is as fine a narrative as you're ever likely to find in modern pop music.

At the same time, there are below-par entries from some otherwise decent lyricists - Lennon, of course, as well as Morrissey, Bowie, and Thom Yorke. All of them are underpinned, in this case, by boring, self-regarding songs. Further proof that polls such as these have an uncanny knack of filtering a lorryload of crud from one diamond.

There are a number of difficulties present when deciding what constitutes a great lyric. When words are set to music, a good melody can do half the work, thereby compensating for any shortfalls in the quality of verse. As a result, the realm of song is frequently deceptive in terms of the literature it produces. It is necessary to study the lyrics in isolation, whilst maintaining an awareness of their context.

A good lyric reconciles a unique means of expression with the spirit in which it was produced. If it lacks either an original language pattern or an inspired context, it just doesn't work. Chris Martin might have bucketloads of white male angst, but his writing style is wholly adolescent. So his lyrics serve little purpose. Whereas Dylan, Lennon, Morrissey, Reed, Yorke, Cocker, Edwards et al were in tune with both their own capabilities and the society (read: drugs) that fired them.

But the general consensus fails to take this into account. The public will vote for whatever they like to dance to on a Friday night, or songs that exemplify nebulous concepts such as 'love' or 'happy' or 'sad'. Perhaps this is the easiest way for them to celebrate their own love of popular culture, as a simple means of cataloguing their own lives. So it looks like I'm the awkward sod, with my over-complicated, ABBA-inspired misanthropy. But don't forsake me. I'm loving angels instead.

WL Open Blog (10/04/06)

2006-04-12T18:00:00.000+01:00

So, here we are again. It's another WL open blog, because otherwise I'm going to struggle in finding anything particularly positive in this week's bunch of releases. Just a quick release commentary from me, first:

Coldplay have another half-decent single out, making me realise X&Y probably wasn't that bad an album after all. Piano-driven and with more music than effects, it's a reminder of the Coldplay of old. However, this means it isn't particularly exciting or new, but the video's definitely worth a watch.

Gorillaz, meanwhile, are releasing a double a-side. Neither song is particularly radio-friendly ('El Manana', in particular is an odd choice) and both challenge the public's idea of what a Gorillaz single should sound like. They're great songs in their own right, but singles? Not really.

Hard-Fi have also squeezed a fifth single from their debut. 'Better Do Better' is actually quite likeable. Slower-paced and actually sounding slightly different from the identical sounding batch of singles they've produced before - it's a welcome change, even if the song really shows up the weakness in Richard Archer's vocals.

The Crimea's brilliant 'White Russian Galaxy' is out this week, instead of last, so that's my SOTW.

And onto our open blog...
Lorraine - I Feel It (official site)
Though technically a re-release (I bought it off iTunes quite sometime ago), this song is the first most people will have heard from Lorraine. They've ditched the slightly rockier sound from their first album, The Perfect Cure, and replaced it with an exhilirating electro-pop soundscape and catchy melody that has had people comparing them to the Pet Shop Boys, amongst others. To get the most out of the song, turn it up loud and throw your arms about like in the video. If you can arrange a helicopter to fly over your head too, so much the better.
4/5
Review by Julia.

Lady Sovereign - Blah, Blah (official site and video)
With the UK urban scene currently subdivided into genres with names that suggest they were made up by Chris Morris, it has yet to produce an international star. Judging by the video, it looks like her record company are expecting big things from Lady Sovereign despite the fact her previous singles have barely made a dent on the Top 40. However, their hopes are not entirely unjustified as she has been collecting high profile admirers from the other side of the Atlantic. As well as working with the Beastie Boys and receiving support from Missy Elliott she has become the first UK act signed to Def Jam Records.

Despite this Blah Blah's lyrics are unapologetically provincial (not surprising since this is one of the first songs she wrote). It will, no doubt, further cement her role as Queen of the Chavs (as if it needed cementing after she turned up to her sister’s wedding in a white tracksuit). Since its early demo version the track has been much cleaned up by Basement Jaxx who also add a superb guitar riff to the mix.However, it’s hard to believe that it will win many converts from those who remained unimpressed by the joys of Cha Ching and Random.
3.5/5
Review by Woodshed, writer on our sister site We Love 1997

José González - Crosses (official site)
Just a few months ago José González was hardly known of in the UK. However, since his song ‘Heartbeats’ was re-released after being used in the Sony Bravia bouncing balls advert, he’s become one of the most popular artists of the moment.
‘Crosses’ is not as much of an immediate love as ‘Heartbeats’ was, but José’s guitar playing is as intricate and beautiful as ever, and is still without a doubt a very good song. The beauty of the song is added to with the lyrics (although they may be few) including the lines “Don't you know that I'll be around to guide you, through your weakest moments to leave them behind you”.
In a world where the charts are (usually) filled with boring, repetitive clones, José is definitely the shining star amongst them all. This song deserves to equal the success he had with ‘Heartbeats’.
4.5/5
Review by Kaytee.

All Releases: (ones Hannah's heard are in bold)
Akala – The Edge, Bearsuit – Stephen Fucking Spielberg, Bif Naked – Let Down, Brian Kennedy - Every Song Is A Cry For Love, Coldplay - The Hardest Part [Download Only], The Crimea - White Russian Galaxy, Death Cab For Cutie – Crooked Teeth, Discharge - Beginning Of The End, Duels – Animal, The Egg – Walking Away, The Energies – Beyond The End, Field Music – You’re Not Supposed To, Filterfunk - S.O.S. (Message In A Bottle), Frank – I’m Not Shy On Mondays, Ghostly Man - Capital/Advice From Strangers, Gorillaz – El Manana/Kids With Guns, Hard-Fi – Better Do Better, Ian Van Dahl - Movin’ On, Islands – Rough Gem, Jakokoyak - Flatyre EP, Jamie Foxx feat. Ludacris – Unpredictable, Jesse James – Everything, José González – Crosses, Lady Sovereign – Blah Blah, The Legends - Play It For Today, Leya – In Our Hands, Lorraine – I Feel It, The Maccabees – Latchmere, Mark Morrison feat. DMX - Innocent Man, Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal, Mohair - Life, Natasha Thomas – Skin Deep, Paperlung - Days That God Sold You/A Cautionary Vision Of The Future, Radio Dept - The Worst Taste In Music, Randoms - Two Stripes Trainers, Shayne Ward – No Promises, Studio B - C’Mon Get It On, Trina feat. Kelly Rowland – Here We Go Again, Urban Myth Club – I Feel It, Whirlwind Heat - Reagan

Lewis's Single(s) to avoid (10/04/06)

2006-04-10T23:45:00.000+01:00

God, there's some rubbish out this week. I've filtered through the dustbins of pop, but sadly I'm unable to find one particular dead dog to gorge myself on. So I present a most delightful melange of feebleness and frippery that you may consume at will. We kick off with Coldplay's 'The Hardest Part', a fairly mundane R.E.M. pastiche that rhymes 'part' with 'part' in the very first line, before dropping in 'start', 'heart' and 'apart'. Nice going, Chris. And now you've got a kid called Moses. But let us move on. Lady Sovereign's 'Blah Blah' is illiterate, style-infested spasticity, but it will probably be adored by metropolitan types who think that text-talk is the forefront of 'cutting-edge'. Then we have The Crimea's single, which isn't terrible, but is somewhat static and could have done with a little more energy. So, whatever's left? There's Gorillaz, whose 'El Mañana' drifts by without ever calling attention to itself, and Hard-Fi, who are just a deeply unpleasant band. The crowning glory of this miserable week? Shayne Ward and 'No Promises'. Dear oh dear. I think I'll go live on the moon until next Monday.

WL Open Blog, anybody?

2006-04-07T12:27:00.000+01:00

Next week, because I'm a little stuck for inspiration, and we haven't done one of these for while, WL is hosting an open blog. Our readers are free to review any single they like that's out on April 10th and communicate their love (or hate!) for whichever song they choose. Interested?

Simply check out the release listings for next week (a good place to look is here) and email us your review, complete with a rating out of five and any other singles you recommend. Also, if you have your own music blog, feel free to provide us with a link so we can credit you accordingly! The deadline for the reviews is Monday April 10th.

Hannah's Single of the Week (03/04/06) PART TWO

2006-04-05T21:30:00.000+01:00

Part two of this week's mammoth sotw post...

Special Mentions:
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy (official site - with audio stream)
Everything DJ Dangermouse touches turns to gold. No, really. It does. Considering this single (appreciated by the indie kids, radio 1 and 2 listeners, and hip-hop lovers alike) is the first to become a UK singles chart number one solely on download sales (yes, you probably know that already, and we don't understand the fuss, either) the charts have become something of a hot topic once more. To be honest, what's more impressive than the whole 'downloads-only' feat is the fact the resulting publicity has given 'Crazy' some amazing combined sales. The single, only one day into the sales week, had managed to shift some 50,000 copies, which is more than the total most of the number ones of this year have sold in a whole week. So, what does WL make of the latest collaboration from the producer of Gorillaz's hit album 'Demon Days'? Okay, I can't speak for Lewis, but I love it, despite the fact it's not the type of thing I'd usually go for. There's something extremely subtle and soulful about it, the background strings really add something to it without dominating the song and the vocals are truly mesmerising.
4.5/5

Larrikin Love – Edwould (official site)
If it wasn't for the fact they've got some association with WL favourite Patrick Wolf, I wouldn't have given Larrikin Love a second look. On first look, you see, they're another NME indie band that sound suspiciously like the Libertines. And yes, it's true, they do sound a bit like the Libertines, but they're a Libertines with worse hair, better guitarwork and a fiddle solo. It may be a piece of fast-paced, almost generic, indie, but the fiddle (and a few other nice, original touches) make it stand out from the rest.
4/5

White Rose Movement – Girls In The Back (official site - includes video)
Oooh...pretty electropop from some more mates of The Mighty Boosh. Well, no, it's dirty, edgy electropop, as opposed to the mega-glossy stuff I tend to favour, but so much the better. The follow-up to last year's top 75 hit, 'Alsatian' , 'Girls In The Back' actually sounds rather different in comparison to its predecessor. It's far more danceable, and even comes off sounding a little like a novelty record.
3.5/5

The Zutons – Why Won’t You Give Me Your Love? (official site and e-card)
The verse promises so, so much, and the over-repetitive, two-note chorus (guys - what do you think you're doing?!) doesn't quite deliver...but that's the only problem, though a big one it may be, with the song. Mind you, this lead single from the Zutons' second effort, 'Tired of Hanging Around' has so much going for it, I'm going to overlook the chorus and concentrate on what really makes it great. The verse, the stop-chorus, the video, the outro...basically everything except the chorus, is verging on sublime.
4/5

Box Five - fen EP (official site - download fen for free!)
I make a lot of fuss about Box Five, I know, but I wouldn't if I didn't think that Mary Bichner and her every changing band of musicians didn't deserve every little bit of it. Box Five may be unsigned, they may be based in Philidephia, USA, but the music they've produced has made a real impact on me. This is Box Five's second studio EP, following on from 2005's 'Exercises In Modern Pop' and is, by all accounts, far darker, less bouncy, but ultimately more eerily beautiful than ever. Don't get me wrong, I do miss the bounce, and some stamina is required to last out listening to five-minute-long tracks first time round but it's still good. Different, but good.
Mary's lyrics (with intelligent references, and interesting subject matter) really shine through here, as do her stunning vocals and the melodies she writes that really show them off.
My favourite track on the EP is currently 'Ceasefire', but each song has something to love from the sheer beauty of the piano on 'Doctrines' to the entire lot of the bizarre 'On Dying (For Attention)'. I still, unlike many of the fans, prefer 'Exercises In Modern Pop', but this EP is a fine successor, showing both Mary's development in confidence and ability to write very different sorts of tunes.
4/5

All Releases: (ones I've heard in bold)
3 More Swallows - Monkey VS Shark, ~~Babyshambles – 32nd Of December~~, Belle & Sebastian – The Blues Are Still Blue, The Charlatans – Blackened Blue Eyes, Cord - Go Either Way, The Crimea – White Russian Galaxy, D4L - Laffy Taffy, Enya – It’s In The Rain, The Fratellis - Creepin' Up The Backstairs: The Fratellis EP, Franz Ferdinand – The Fallen/L.Wells, Gnarls Barkley – Crazy, Hypo Psycho - Somebody, Someday, Ichinchilla – Record Player, The Immediate – Make Our Devils Flow EP [Ltd], Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan – Honey Child, Jaheim - Everytime I Think About Her, Keyshia Cole – I Should Have Cheated/I Changed My Mind, Larrikin Love – Edwould, Lethal Bizzle - Mind Your Head, Lost Alone - Blood Is Sharp, Lucia Evans - Bruised But Not Broken, Make Good Your Escape - Beautiful Ruin, Mark Morrison feat. DMX – Innocent Man, Mary J Blige & U2 – One, Michael Jackson – Dirty Diana, Mick Karn - Of & About, Mish Mash feat. Lois – Speechless, Mocky – Fighting Away The Tears, The Motorettes – I Am Blisters I Am, Mrs Robinson - I'm A Little Obsessed, Mujaji - On A Bridge Between Clouds, Nada Surf - Always Love, Nizlopi – Girls, OK Go – Do What You Want, Plan B – Missing Links / Breakdown [7" Only] [Ltd], Richard James – My Heart’s On Fire, Scape feat. D Empress - Be My Friend, Stu Allen – A Feeling, ~~Subways – Rock & Roll Queen~~, This Is Seb Clarke - Fall, Tiga – Far From Home, The Victorian English Gentlemens Club - Amateur Man/Ban The Gin [Ltd], White Rose Movement – Girls In The Back, Wigwam – Wigwam, Wills & The Willing - 21st Century Love Song, The Zutons – Why Won’t You Give Me Your Love?

Hannah's Single of the Week (03/04/06) PART ONE

2006-04-04T21:15:00.000+01:00

According to my mate Jonny at Dogs Can't Look Up, last week was the last week of great music before weeks of rubbish. Apparently. I beg to disagree. This week is an absolute stunner. Well, another X Factor act are apparently releasing a single, but other than that there are so many singles I want to review that I'm having to split my Single of the Week post in two for what is probably the first time ever. So, yeah, here we go...

More-Than Special Mentions:
Belle & Sebastian – The Blues Are Still Blue (official site and video)
I've already mentioned the brilliance of the accompanying video, but the simple fact is this song is just as good, if not better. Better than preceding single, 'Funny Little Frog', it's one of the highlights from the band's latest album 'The Life Pursuit' (an absolute stunner of an album, by the way). Everything from its funky bassline to the singalong chorus is PERFECT. Whether you admire the wit of the lyrics, the retro flavour of the music, the glossy production, the perfectly timed musical interlude or the charming backing vocals - there's something for everyone here. Oh, and did I mention the video? I did? Well, I'll say it again, it rounds off a perfect package.
5/5

The Crimea – White Russian Galaxy (official site and video)
Following their no. 31 single 'Lottery Winners On Acid' London-based band The Crimea release another single from their album 'Tragedy Rocks'. The interesting thing here being that 'White Russian Galaxy' has been here before. In June 2003, in fact. Thank goodness it's been released again. It'd be easy to proclaim the Crimea as 'yet another indie-sounding indie band' (Coldplay, Athlete, etc) but they're not. They don't fit into the Franz Ferdinand/Maximo Park/Bloc Party group, either. There's definitely something different here, something refreshing, and the best thing about it is I can't quite put my finger on it. It makes me want to buy the album, despite only having heard one song from it, and that's something special. There's a quirky transition from distorted guitars to cleaner, more twinkly sounds that somehow becomes interesting and doesn't manage to sound cliched. Oh, just a warning though - the sing-song nature of the chorus ('who knows what goes on in her pretty little head') is catchy to the point of it swirling round your head for several days.
4.5/5

Single of the Week:
Franz Ferdinand – The Fallen/L.Wells (the-fallen.com - contains all three videos)
My, my, the Franz have been busy boys. New songs, new videos and non-stop touring. Allow me to introduce the best 'single' so far from the boys' second album. Essentially, it's two great songs for the price of one. A proper double a-side, and you don't get those too often. You can't fault the band on effort, really. 'The Fallen' is the opening track from current album 'You Could Have It So Much Better' and even the NME proclaiming it the best thing the band's ever done hasn't put me off. For some reason it's required a radio edit, cutting it down from a sensible 3.42 to a meagre 2.47, but thankfully it doesn't take anything away from the song, making it even snappier, hectic, crazy and enjoyable than ever. Quintessential Franz, one might say. 'L. Wells', on the other hand, shows the band exploring a new sound. It is, if I'm honest, the closest Franz are ever going to come to sounding like a rock 'n' roll marching band. It's multi-layered structure and feel-good vibe gives an illusion of parades, carnivals and suchlike. It's not a sound I'd like to see them turning to permanently, but 'L. Wells' is definitely a fantastic one-off.
5/5
NB: Also worth a look are all three videos. 'L. Wells' and 'Jeremy Fraser' don't actually feature the band (a bonus if, like Lewis, you find them aesthetically repulsive) but the latter seems to feature (we're probably wrong, but...) a bizarre homage to cult-movie 'The Wicker Man' set in a school playground.

MP3 time:
While both of the true A sides of the single are great, I'm afraid I just don't agree with the statement from Franz frontman Alex Kapranos that says it should be a 'quintuple a side'. For me, the b-sides just aren't up to scratch. It's a shame really, because I've always thought the Franz boys have produced b-sides of the highest standard. So, because 'Jeremy Fraser' and 'Brown Onions' are something of disappointment, I've decided to post one of the band's better b-sides for your listening pleasure.
Franz Ferdinand - Missing You [mp3 link]

Lewis's Single to Avoid (03/04/06)

2006-04-03T14:35:00.000+01:00

The Charlatans - 'Blackened Blue Eyes'
Franz Ferdinand, you are spared! They were poised for a ritual disembowelling this week (the pen is mightier than the sword, after all), but the return of the most aptly-named band in the world just clinches it, I'm afraid. The Charlatans have been knocking around for years now, and they're still releasing records that assume that 'Madchester' is as big as ever. Allow me to shatter their illusions. 'Madchester' was the most asinine scene in the history of pop music, and attempts to prolong it should be seen as a violation of basic human rights. Might I suggest Article 31: 'No-one should be subjected to a tuneless, hissing song with a strutting, chauvinistic rhythm that features the vocals of a shaggy-haired prole with simian features'. Not only would it rid the world of crap like this, but it would also outlaw the likes of Kasabian, the Happy Mondays and Ian Brown. And it would put paid to those awful rumours of a Stone Roses reunion. We'd be living in a modern utopia.
1/5

Albums Round-Up 2006: Tilly and the Wall - Wild Like Children

2006-03-31T16:01:00.000+01:00

Tilly and the Wall - Wild Like Children
Technically, this was released in 2004 - but that was in the States, so we don't care. Here, Tilly and the Wall present their first UK offering, with a second to follow soon. Hailing from the fair old state of Nebraska, this girl-boy group specialise in bittersweet jangle-pop with a folky edge, whilst retaining one distinctive quality: they have no drummer. Instead, they rely on the clattering feet of tap dancer Jamie Williams to provide rhythm, and believe it or not, it actually works. So Tilly and the Wall's stomping tunes are quite literally that - stomping. But the band aren't one-trick ponies. The presence of Williams might seem like a gimmick, but when it's patched together with sweet-tooth melodies and a slightly dissonant tone, the end result is a most delightful racket. Songs like 'Reckless' and 'The Ice Storm, Big Gust and You' are both plaintive and blithe, calling to mind groups such as The Pipettes, a lo-fi Rilo Kiley, or nineties Britpop protagonists Bis. The vocals of Neely Jenkins and Kianna Alarid are particular highlights, replete with a soulful, old-country sweetness that comes fresh from the Great Plains themselves. They're properly homespun, this lot. They still need to hone their sound - it doesn't always work at times, and comes across as hashed - but with their follow-up album (Bottoms of Barrels) due in May, they certainly have the chance.
7/10

MP3: 'The Ice Storm, Big Gust and You'.

Hannah's Videowatch (Volume 2)

2006-03-30T05:06:00.000+01:00

I like nothing better than to sit in front of the TV, flick through the music channels, and severely annoy anyone else who happens to be sat on the sofa at the time. Here's what I've been watching and enjoying recently:

1) Boy Least Likely To - Be Gentle With Me (see the video)
Originally due for release a few weeks ago, it's now been put back for some time in April. I'm not complaining - it means we get to see this fabulously twee and wonderfully colourful video. So, imagine you're trying to impress a girl. You've just got one problem - you're a marionette and all your movement is caused by your bandmate, who appears to be hanging from the nearest tree. Thus, you've got severely impaired dance moves and you end up thrusting a bunch of flowers into your date's face. Meanwhile, a group of brightly coloured animal puppets are playing your song. It's inevitable the girl's going to go off with the bunny rabbit, isn't it?
(It's one of the most fantastic videos of this year so far - go watch!)

2) Snow Patrol - You're All That I Have (see the video)
The best thing about Snow Patrol videos is charting the growth of frontman Gary Lightbody's hair. Throughout the 'Final Straw' era it grew from being short-n-sensible and expanded into a long curly mass coming dangerously close to Brian May territory. So, you'll be happy to know it's still curly, but at least Gary's hair looks somewhat tamed in this new Snow Patrol video. And, oddly enough, it's a Snow Patrol video with what appears to be a sizeable budget, because this time we have special effects (let's hear it now - oooooh!). The band's performance is electrifying. Literally. Confident, well-dressed and putting on an exciting show - I'm so glad Snow Patrol are back.

3) The Raconteurs - Steady As She Goes (see video - go to media section)
You're off to a great start when you open a music video with footage of cows, aren't you? Fabulous. Can't go wrong with a few cows. This slightly grainy and simplistic video from Jack White and Brendan Benson's side-project is a nice change from the usual eccentrically arty and highly polished videos we've come to expect from the White Stripes. Even Brendan's usually have some clever little element to them. But no, this is The Raconteurs. They're playing in a tiny room with Jack White pretending he's not a rock megastar, but a member of a new (but - let's admit it - hyped up to the eyeballs) indie band with their first video. Things to watch out for include Jack's hair (virtually like the straightened style he had a few years ago) and Brendan's hat. I like Brendan's hat, not that it's going to give him any extra status and prove his position as joint-frontman. It's quite sad that all the fuss is about Jack, when this is just as much Brendan's (and the other boys' - let's not forget them!) baby as it is his.

4) Coldplay - The Hardest Part (see the video)
Considering the doom and gloom of recent Coldplay videos (let's face it - the last three have been shot pretty much in the dark) it's wonderful to see the band clad in sunglasses and performing in the bright sunlight of Tampa, Florida. They look very much the confident rock band, and it makes you realise just how much they've moved on since 'Shiver'. Chris Martin's mass of hair may be back, but this time it looks strangely cool. However, don't despair thinking 'The Hardest Part' is just another Coldplay performance vid (yawn, yawn - we've seen this a gazillion times before) because this time there's another element that leaves you wondering 'is this for real?'. I won't tell you what it is, because it'll spoil the surprise, but it's the most delightfully odd and beautifully shot video they've produced in a long time. What I want to know though - is the 'additional element' new footage made to look old, or old footage with the band added in?

5) Charlotte Church - Moodswings (see the video)
It's already out as a single, and the video's been around for nearly a couple of months now, but it's still incredibly watchable, and everytime you can spot something new. I feel sorry for Charlotte, because it looks like one of the most repetitive and boring videos to shoot. Most bands/singers have to shoot their performance bits many, many times, but imagine doing that not just in one costume, but loads of them. Fortunately for us, it makes for great watching, seeing Charlotte and her co-star's costumes changing every beat, often with hilarious results. Brilliant.

Hannah's Single of the Week (27/03/06)

2006-03-28T20:10:00.000+01:00

Special Mentions:
Editors - 'All Sparks' (official site - includes video - click 'music')
I like this week's single from Editors, despite the fact it's a bit lacking in originality (let's face it - despite being kings of icy-cool 'gothic-indie' - they're not the best at variety) and like the others it's very much a grower. With every listen you can definitely pick out more of the subtleties that aren't apparent first time round. If you're a fan of the band, you'll like it, but if you haven't been captivated thus far, this single isn't going to change your mind. They should have released 'Fingers In The Factories', shouldn't they?
3.5/5

The Kooks - 'Naive' (official site and video)
Curly-haired indieboys, The Kooks, are back with a new single - 'Naïve'. Tom Baker is doing the voiceover for the ad (he gets about a bit, doesn't he?) which you can't really escape at the minute, making me think the record company are really giving this band a push. Deservedly so - they've produced a series of solid, catchy singles and apparently the album's pretty good too. It's actually already in the chart at 28 on download sales alone - impressive considering that equals the first week placing of 'Sofa Song' (combined singles and downloads) back in October.
3.5/5

Other stuff:
I used to really dislike Morrissey (I know, I know, don't shoot me), but this new single of his is good stuff, with a truly fabulous chorus. Secret Machines' 'Lightning Blue Eyes' also made an impression on me, even though I've only heard it once. That's always the sign of a good single. The Streets' new one - 'When You Wasn't Famous' has a catchy sample, and a few amusing and clever lines, but I still think Mike Skinner is tremendously overrated. If he was the modern equivalent of Shakespeare that the press claim him to be he would just not use the phrase 'big, wide smile'. It just sounds so rushed and childish.

Single of the Week:
The Pipettes - Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me (official site - includes video)
Last year, The Pipettes released their first top 75 single, and what a fine single it was. 'Dirty Mind' packed wit, intelligence, melody and a dance routine into one three-minute-long package. So while this 'new' single (a re-recorded live favourite) from the three girls fond of polka-dot attire doesn't have the same lyrical bite as its predecessor, it still manages to be amazing. It doesn't actually matter that the song isn't as smart, the 'and you might cry...' bit is adorable and it's still incredibly catchy. I've actually gone out and bought the CD this week and was pleasantly surprised to learn the tracklisting on the sleeve is a misprint. As well as the single itself, and the promised acoustic version of 'Dirty Mind', you also get an acoustic version of 'Judy' (an earlier limited edition single) which happens to be one of my favourite Pipettes songs. The CD's worth it for that alone. The vinyl's also a fabulous shade of green - just thought you should know.
4.5/5

MP3 time:
Heaps of Pipettes mp3-shaped goodies are floating around on the net. We recommend using The Hype Machine to have a broader look, but if you're after one great song in particular - it's this one. There's an acoustic version of it on the b-side of one of the formats of 'Your Kisses...' but this is the original. It's about tagging along with that girl who keeps getting all the boys. I think I knew (and tagged along with) that girl, too, but her name wasn't Judy. ;)
The Pipettes - Judy (Wotcha Gonna Do?) [mp3 link expired]

All Releases:
Andy Abraham – Hang Up, Arthur Baker feat. Tim Wheeler - Glow, The Automatic – Raoul, Big Strides – Let's Get Nice, Broken Social Scene – 7/4 Shoreline, Cagedbaby – Hello There, The Cinematics – Break, Clearlake – Neon, Copyright feat. Imaani – Bring Me Love, David Gray – Alibi, David Morales – How Would U Feel, Deepgroove - Fascinated, Depeche Mode – Suffer Well, Editors – All Sparks, Guillemots – We’re Here, Imperial Vipers – Jewels, Jimmy Johnstone, Jim Kerr, Simple Minds & Laura McGhee - Tribute To Jinky EP, Keith Urban – You’ll Be Thinking Of Me, The Kooks – Naïve, KoRn – Coming Undone, Ludes – Never Had A Chance, Michael Jackson – The Way You Make Me Feel, Milburn - Send In The Boys, Morrissey – You Have Killed Me, Muthafunkaz feat. Marc Evans - I Don't Want You Anymore, Neils Children – Another Day, Newton Faulkner – Full Fat EP, Nine Horses – Wonderful World, Open Air feat. Gran'ma Funk - Hi Roller, Peven Everett – Stuck, Pipettes – Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me, Prince/Tamar feat. Prince – Black Sweat/Beautiful, Loved & Blessed, Royal Ballet Sinfonia – Radio 4 UK Theme, Rogers Sisters – Never Learn To Cry, Seal Cub Clubbing Club – Celine EP, Secret Machines - Lightning Blue Eyes, Semifinalists – You Said [7" Only], Smoosh – La Pump, Soulshaker – Hypnotic Erotic Games, The Streets – When You Wasn’t Famous, Suffrajets - Going Nowhere, T Pain - I'm Sprung, Two Gallants – Steady Rollin’, Veldt – Walking In Silence, Walker Brothers - Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore

Lewis's single to avoid (27/03/06)

2006-03-27T18:52:00.000+01:00

Royal Ballet Sinfonia - Radio 4 UK Theme
Recently there were plans afoot to do away with this muddle of trad. arr. tunes that greets anyone insane enough to be listening to Radio 4 at 5.30am. However, the decision was met with harrumphings all round: Outrageous! Just not cricket! Destroys what it means to be British! Despite the fact that the bloody thing was put together by an Austrian; just like cups of tea came from India and potatoes came from South America. We're not much good at doing things for ourselves. This is a jaunt through some of the most tedious classical pieces known to man - 'Rule Britannia' calls to mind hideous toff-pogoing on Proms Night; 'Scotland The Brave' is about as appealing as a wet weekend in Pitlochry; 'Men of Harlech' has the charisma of a leek, etc. etc. The segue into 'Londonderry Air' is a nice touch, as is the use of 'Greensleeves', but the latter is undone by transposing a piss-poor piccolo version of 'What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor' over the top of it. And perhaps the most damning criticism of this lies in its horrible, horrible connotations of having to get up at 5.30am. It should never have to be heard by human ears.
2/5

Albums Round-Up 2006 - Delays - You See Colours

2006-03-24T16:16:00.000Z

Delays - You See Colours
The Delays' first album, 'Faded Seaside Glamour', a record recommended by my English teacher, of all people, became one of my favourite albums of 2004. This eagerly anticipated followup takes a sharp turn away from the wistful dreaminess on the band's debut and instead reaches for the dizzying heights of disco friendly electropop. The joys of indie and pop merge into one, and God, it's good. Right from the stirring emotional storm of opening track 'You And Me' you know you're in for something special. Aside from the opener, standout tracks include disco-stomper and former WL single of the week/month/year so far, 'Valentine', the incredibly bouncy next single 'Hideaway' and the critics' favourite 'Lillian' but the album's consistantly strong throughout.

Many critics have dismissed the Delays as being too 'saccharine' - maybe true, but I think that's the whole point. 'You See Colours' is the musical equivalent of a handful of Haribo and hey - I like Haribo! The only catch, really, is a few of the tracks have so much going on they can become somewhat overwhelming on first listen and the stunning falsetto of frontman Greg Gilbert can sometimes get a little lost in the mix. Still, it's a perfect excuse to listen again, isn't it? This is a proper pop album - one of those records that could bring both the pop and the indie kids together and whaddya know? It's my favourite record of the year so far.
9/10

MP3 Time:
Lost In The Melody have a gig bootleg and some acoustic session tracks in their downloads section. My favourite of the session tracks is 'Out Of Nowhere'. While 'Hideaway' doesn't sound quite right, 'Out Of Nowhere' translates really well to acoustic. (Thanks Michael.)

Hannah's Single of the Week (20/03/06)

2006-03-23T10:11:00.000Z

Before I begin - listen up G4. This is how you cover 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. Not by blandifying the whole thing and getting rid of most of the guitars. Thank you Flaming Lips. (And thanks to the ever fabulous Take Your Medicine)

***

It's a slow time of year. Big releases are few and far-between, and Sunday was a day of record breaking sales. Well, lack of sales, really. Orson's 'No Tomorrow' finally hit the top spot after a three week climb (each week - it's interesting to note - still experiencing a decline in sales) and is now the record to sell the least copies whilst holding the number one spot. With just less than 18,000 copies sold, it's even a couple of thousand under the record set by Elvis Presley last year.

There was also only one 'new' entry in the top 10, courtesy of Girls Aloud, thanks to 'download only' singles. So, what about this week? One of the dreariest singles in a band's career is heading for the top spot, Michael Jackson is still re-releasing his back-catalogue Presley-style to increasingly positive effect and...there's not much else out, really. Damn.

Special Mentions:
The Strokes - Heart In A Cage (official site and video)
Once before I was won over by Nick Valensi's intricate guitarwork. That was when The Strokes released 'Reptilia'. Instantly impressed with the lead riff, the solo, and the song itself, I dashed out to buy 'Room On Fire'. What a disappointment, eh? This is another Strokes song where the lead guitar IS the lead guitar, rather than masked by the sometimes-muddy rhythm. Julian's vocals are still as mumbly as ever, so it's up to the guitar to bring some real clarity to the song. However, while there's essentially nothing wrong with 'Heart In A Cage' it's pretty much the American equivalent of anything the Stereophonics released after 'Dakota'. It's good, sure, but it's completely dwarfed by the album's lead single.
3.5/5

Single of the Week:
Pink - Stupid Girls (official site and video)
I've already made comment on the video accompanying this track, but this isn't all about the video, oh no. After the majority of the single releases from her third album 'Try This' failed to make much of an impact and the album sales, in comparison with 'Misundaztood', were pitiful, it was vital that Pink re-invented herself once again. Scrapping the odd combo of punk-pop and power ballads Pink has almost returned to her R&B roots with one of her catchiest and most talked about single releases to date. With a tongue-in-cheek attack on the celeb culture that allows you to be famous just for being ditzy, cute and blonde 'Stupid Girls' is a lyrically witty song with a bit of a message behind it too. And, ignoring the little girl in the video favouring an american football to make-up and dolls, it doesn't come across as particularly corny. Of course, with a song that manages to simultaneously mock Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson et al I'm hardly going to complain, but this is more that that. It's genuinely funny and also great fun.
4/5

All Releases:
Amadou & Mariam – Coulibaly, Amy Wadge – A Design For Life / Keep On Ticking, Arthur Baker feat. Tim Wheeler – Glow, Crosbi – Sonny, Embrace – Nature’s Law, Erasure – Boy, Fields - Song For The Fields [7" Only], Fizzgig - Sympathy EP, Flaws – No Room, Four Story - Hand On My Heart/Tracks Of My Tears [Full Release], G4 & Lesley Garrett – Barcelona: Mothers Day EP [Download], Good Shoes – We Are Not The Same, Killing Joke - Hosannas From The Basement Of Hell, Lacuna Coil – Our Truth, Ladyfuzz - Bouncy Ball, The Low Frequency In Stereo – Astro Kopp, Lupen Crook – Love 80, Massari – Be Easy, Mattafix – To & Fro, Michael Jackson – Bad, Muthafunkaz feat. Marc Evans – I Don’t Want You Anymore, M.V.P. – Bounce, Shake, Move, Stop, Nelly feat. Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp – Grillz, Ne*Yo – So Sick, New Young Pony Club – Get Lucky, Nouvelle Vague – I Melt With You/Teenage Kicks, Oceansize – New Pin, The Organ – Brother, Pink – Stupid Girls, Rammstein – Mann Gegen Mann, Richard Hawley – Born Under A Bad Sign, Satomi feat. Doc Brown – Oh, Sean Paul – Temperature, Shania Twain - Shoes, The Strokes – Heart In A Cage, Suffrajets – Going Nowhere, Tahiti 80 – Big Day, Trivium – Dying In Your Arms, Vanlustbader – Rock N Roll Part 3, The Vines - Gross Out [Download Only: 21/03/06], The Vineyards – Good Rock For Good People, Winter Roberts – Head In Your Clouds/A Hundred Miles A Minute, Winterville – Breathe [7" Only], Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Gold Lion

Albums Round-Up 2006 - Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

2006-03-22T18:02:00.000Z

Since we're well into 2006, I'm starting a recap of some of my favourite albums of the year so far. Lewis may also join in, but I reckon I'll have to ask him very nicely. Anyway, we're starting off with one of the most talked about acts of the year...

Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Hideous artwork aside, chances are you'll either have bought this and loved it (me, countless other people), or avoided it like the plague and glared at anyone who dares like it (Elz, Lewis, quite a few other people). My stance on the album itself has always been it's good, yes, but nowhere near as good as your average critic appears to think it is. While lyrically it's brilliant, it falls down a little on the musical front. Sure, it's rifftastic and bouncy, but it provides little in the way of innovation and is often largely based around power chords and pentatonic noodling. The Arctic Monkeys are not the saviours of modern music, even if they are a welcome and refreshing change to the average Coldplay-esque output of the UK mainstream.

However this does not mean the album isn't incredibly enjoyable. There's no doubting the fact that the boys have a knack of creating some of the catchiest melodies around and can get the audience singing along more easily than to your average stadium anthem. Album highlights include both UK number one singles (which if you don't know already - where have you been?) alongside the bass-led 'Dancing Shoes' and, surprisingly, the Monkeys' quieter moments as showcased on 'Riot Van' and the wonderful 'Mardy Bum'.

8/10

Lewis's single to avoid (20/03/06)

2006-03-21T15:29:00.000Z

The Vines - 'Gross Out'
Aren't we lucky? The Vines have decided that we simply cannot cope without them, and have decided to reform. Hearing this will leave you wondering exactly why they bothered. It's a mess by all accounts; an idle cacophony of thrashing guitars and Craig Nicholls' blathering vocal. The Vines sound like a lobotomised version of the White Stripes, and what they've produced here ain't pretty. I don't know where they got the idea from that we need to hear them again. Hopefully this will be a decidedly ephemeral comeback, and they'll be permanently defunct before long - withered on the vine, if you will.
0.5/5

New Box Five live mp3s...

2006-03-17T21:08:00.000Z

4 great tracks - two new, one old, one Beatles cover - all live.

Actually, forget that - the entire gig (almost!) is here.

Need I say anymore? They're as fabulous as can be expected.

Of course, if you know nothing of Box Five already (which is understandable - they're a well-kept secret) they are perpetrators of quirky piano-led pop led by the simply gorgeous vocal of Mary Bichner. Actually, that's a half-truth - Mary writes and arranges the songs and the band line-up rotates around her. Everything from guitar and strings to woodwind and percussion have joined Mary and her trusty keyboard. Plenty of free mp3s are also available on the Box Five jukebox or if you search back through the news archives. Our favourites are Killjoy, Snow Hymn and Nice Boy/Blow My Cover, but every single track on there is worth checking out.

Hannah's Single of the Week (13/03/06)

2006-03-15T19:37:00.000Z

Special Mentions:
Girls Aloud - Whole Lotta History (official site - includes video)
Somebody really needs to tell the person responsible for the singles released by Girls Aloud that while ballads are all well and good, when you have such incredible pop songs as 'Models' and 'Racy Lacey' at your disposal you really should release them instead. This is the girls' second ballad on the trot and while it's not a bad ballad (see: Westlife) by any means, it's not one of those that really takes your breath away, either. Still, it's an original song, for once, as opposed to a cover which you're instantly expected to compare to the original. It's an enjoyable listen, with a slightly-more-classy-than-usual video and a CD cover that's just as dodgy and predictable as any of their others. It just doesn't quite soar.
3.5/5

Bell X1 - Flame (official site and video)
Believe it or not, I only heard of Bell X1 this week. Such a poor amateur music journalist am I. They're one of those bands that are very popular in their home country of Ireland, but have made little of an impact so far over here. It's a shame really, because, as The Torture Garden has shown this fortnight, there's a LOT of good Irish music out there that hasn't broken into the mainstream on these shores. Music that's far better than U2 and Westlife, anyway. Formerly known as Juniper (before the departure of now-successful solo star Damien Rice), Bell X1 appear to have created that kind of tune that has the melody and motion of a great pop song while still carrying that indie vibe. With the pounding beat, rich harmonies, singalong chorus and lyrics about marshmallows (mmm...marshmallows) it's infectious and irresistable.
4/5

Mark Ronson feat. Alex Greenwald - Just (video stream)
Radiohead's 'Just' is easily one of my favourite tracks from the band's highly successful second album. It proved they weren't just a one hit wonder, they could make one of the greatest videos of all time and that Jonny Greenwood's guitar style was something all his own. So, how exactly do you set about covering 'Just', hip-hop style? More importantly, how do you do it well? Here's how. Replace the wild guitars with trumpets, introduce a killer beat and rope in that bloke who sings on the theme tune for the OC. By all means, it's not as good as the original (how could it be?) but it is a brilliant cover - not just a lazy copy. We're talking the Futureheads' 'Hounds Of Love' standard here. Mark Ronson has put his own stamp on it and Alex Greenwald's vocals are definitely worthy. And guess what? Radiohead have given it the thumbs up, too.
4/5

Single of the Week:
KT Tunstall - Another Place To Fall (official site and video)
After the disappointing lack of chart success of 'Under The Weather' (which I think was probably down to trying - unsuccesfully - to turn a perfect, wistful little number into another 'Suddenly I See') I was quite surprised to see Brit award winner KT releasing another single. After all, it's single-number-five, even single-number-six, if you include the early release of the 'False Alarm' EP. Still it's another great single, and this time it's another genuinely upbeat one. No daft re-recordings here, thank you very much. It also showcases the darker side of KT Tunstall. Not that KT could ever be that dark, bless her, but that guilt-inducing, voices-in-your-head feel that you can find in 'Another Place To Fall' gets quite creepy at points. Ignoring that, it's your typical piece of Tunstall-produced magic - syncopated acoustic guitar strums, a catchy chorus and a middle-eight that's almost too good to be true.
4.5/5

MP3 time:
So, in the spirit of releasing Radiohead covers, one of the b-sides to KT's current single is a cover of 'Fake Plastic Trees', yet another classic track from The Bends. Unfortunately we're not posting that, because it's an incentive for you lovely people to go out and buy the single (or order/download it off the internet). Instead, here's KT covering a slightly different song, namely Missy Elliot's 'Get Your Freak On', for the Live Lounge. So, we've had hip-hop covering indie - now here's indie (well, indie-ish) covering hiphop. Fantastic stuff.
[a week has passed - no more mp3!]

All Releases:
Alexis Strum - It Could Be You, Angela Lawriw feat. Skinnyman - Another Day, Armand Van Helden - Sugar, Battle - Tendency, Be Your Own Pet - Adventure, Bell X1 - Flame, Beverley Knight - (Take A Little) Piece Of My Heart, Black Eyed Peas - Pump It, Bones - It's My Life, Chalets - Theme From Chalets [7" Only], Claire Sproule - Wondering, The Crimea - White Russian Gallery, Dem Franchize Boyz - I Think They Like Me, The Disco Boys - For You 2006 Fixit Kid - Whiskey Pit [7" Only], Foo Fighters - No Way Back/Cold Day In The Sun, Fun*dmental ’03 - Jump/Playground, Girls Aloud - Whole Lotta History, Groovenut vs Kim Wilde - Love You More, Help She Can't Swim - Midnight Garden, Hilary Duff - Fly, Hipslinky - Taking It Back, James Blunt - Wisemen, Joey Negro - Make A Move On Me, Jont - You Can Be The Stars, Juelz Santana - There It Go! (The Whistle Song), Kano - Brown Eyes/Signs In Life, KT Tunstall - Another Place To Fall, Lashawn Collins - What You Gonna Do Now? [7" Only], Life Like & Kris Menace - Discopolis, Mark Ronson feat. Alex Greenwald - Just, Massive Attack feat. Terry Callier - Live With Me, Matisyahu - King Without A Crown, Michael Jackson - Beat It, Morning After Girls - Hi Skies, Mstrkrft - Easy Love, Murmur - Understand, The Open - La Lumiere, Paradise - Wanna Be Free, Pearl Jam - World Web Suicide, Ray-J - One Wish, Rythme Fatal Ft Redd Angel - Man In The Mirror, Samandtheplants - EP 1: Malimoo Moves [7" Only], Sara Jorge - Beautiful World, Shy Child - Technicrats/Summertime [7" Only], Soul Seekerz - Party For The Weekend, Soundcode - Mystery, Spida Lee - Verbal Assassin, Stain'd - Right Here, Stasi - Dystopia, Waking Eyes - But I Already Have It [7" Only], Zero 7 - Futures

Lewis's single to avoid (13/03/06)

2006-03-13T11:46:00.000Z

Staind - 'Right Here'
If ever you find yourself tempted to listen to Staind, please take heed of the following unsavoury omens:

1. According to Wikipedia, the cover art for their first album Tormented 'depicted a stabbed Bible, a crucified barbie doll, and the words "there's nothing left for me" scrawled in blood across the wall'.

2. They were discovered by Fred Durst.

3. They once released an album entitled 14 Shades of Grey. Sounds fascinating, doesn't it?

4. They come up with lyrics that trill: 'Take your wordly advice / and shove it straight up your ass / Thanks for coming around / to fuck up my day'. Imagine the parents. "He's been suffering from behavioural difficulties, and we really believe that he could benefit from some counselling..."

It's not looking good. Staind are the very nadir of emo metal, and that's saying something. This release will please anyone who's salivating in anticipation of the next Nickelback single. Actually, it might not even please them. It's immeasurably dull, the lyrics are an atrocity in themselves, and you get the feeling that they've done it a thousand times before. Steer clear.
0.5/5

Hannah's Videowatch

2006-03-11T12:01:00.000Z

Our lovely Elz is taking a break away from the 'net for a while, so to liven WL up a bit I'm going to tell you a little bit about some great music videos from some equally promising forthcoming singles...

1) The Zutons - Why Don't You Give Me Your Love? (video here)
The vid for this lead single from the band's second album is a fantastic West Side Story style dance vid starring frontman David McCabe and saxophonist Abi Harding as leaders of opposing gangs. There's dancing down the street, choreographed headturns, a fight between the two band members and several shots of David looking a little uncomfortable with the requirement of movement. Bless him. This is why I'm adamant he has a body double when the camera takes a bird's eye view. Ahem.

2) Protocol - Love Is My Drug (video here)
The 80s electropop revivalists follow up their fantastic single 'Where's The Pleasure?' with a bizarre, slightly cheap-n-sleazy looking video where you can also actually see the hideous haircuts in the light of day. Scary stuff. It is, to be truthful, the band's worst video to date, especially since they seem to be playing the 'let's use sexy nurses' card, but then again, some people like that sort of thing.

3) Pink - Stupid Girls (video here)
If you haven't seen this already - where have you been? Pink's latest single is one of those songs that was just MADE for video. There's mocking of Jessica Simpson (you can see why we like it!), Lindsay Lohan and several other 'stupid girls'. Comical, tongue-in-cheek and incredibly silly, but with a bit of a message - it's nice to see Pink returning to her pop roots.

4) Franz Ferdinand - The Fallen (video here)
Franz Ferdinand, always a band to make full, proper use of the video medium, have relaxed the creativity a bit for their new single. However, that doesn't mean that their latest vid isn't up to scratch. Incorporating live footage, scowling and a lot of marching around with guitars, it certainly isn't as arty as 'Walk Away' or all-out crazy as 'Do You Want To?' but it's far better than your average performance vid.

5) Belle And Sebastian - The Blues Are Still Blue (video here)
Oh Belle & Sebastian, how I love thee. The video for 'Funny Little Frog' was fantastic, but you're just about topped that here, haven't you? The new single 'The Blues Are Still Blue' has one of those extremely satisfying videos you can watch again and again and again, because there's so much going on. Themed around the happenings in a launderette, this video is essentially the guide to 20 (at a rough guess) silly things you can do with a washing machine. Y'know, wash a dog, grow a tomato plant, get married, make candyfloss - that sort of thing. One of the most incredibly well-thought-out vids I've seen so far this year.

Hannah's Single of the Week (06/03/06)

2006-03-08T20:26:00.000Z

This week the charts are supposedly incorporating a new rule - downloaded songs will now also count in the main chart one week before their physical release, rather than only counting the week the CD/vinyl single is out (as they do currently). Confused yet? Essentially this means the charts are going to get more interesting, with many singles climbing on their second week in the chart. Otherwise their influence on the chart itself should be pretty minimal - after all, it's only one day after they actually chart that you can find the single on the shelves of your local record store. For example, this Sunday you might expect to see the Black Eyed Peas' 'Pump It' somewhere in the top 40.

As for how this change will affect WL, we'll still be reviewing singles to coincide with their physical releases, and our general release listings should hopefully still reflect this. Support the physical formats, people!

Special Mentions:
Jenny Lewis - Rise Up With Fists (official site - includes video)
The Rilo Kiley frontwoman and my voice of 2005 is back with the first single from her debut solo effort 'Rabbit Fur Coat'. The album's good, but it doesn't quite measure up to her band's recent album 'More Adventurous' due to the noticeable absence of guitarist and musical influence Blake Sennett. Still, 'Rise Up With Fists' is one of the stronger tracks on the album and makes a fine single. The country influences really shine through here, accentuated by Jenny's gorgeous vocal, the lush harmonies provided by The Watson Twins and the acoustic guitar-driven nature of the piece. Next time, though, I'd like something with a little more motion. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for 'Big Guns'.
4/5

Placebo - Because I Want You (official site and video)
Brian Molko and co. are back. This lead single from their new album, 'Meds' is, to put it simply, Placebo-by-numbers. This is good if you like the odd bit of Placebo, as I do, but there's nothing particularly original or inspiring here to convert the non-fan - see this week's review from Lewis for a prime example. It's true - the lyrics are cliched, tired and repetitive and after over a decade of making music, you'd expect something a little more innovative from this band. The song's a good listen - I certainly wouldn't turn it off if it came on the TV or radio - but it just doesn't provide any incentive to buy the single or the forthcoming album. Sorry boys - something a little more inventive next time?
3.5/5

Single of the Week:
The Rifles - Repeated Offender (official site and video)
I was first drawn to this song by the simple fact that the band have a left-handed frontman. It's something a little different. Mind you, the Rifles aren't that different, really. They're yet another new band utilising the ska-but-not-quite vibe preferred by hit-makers Hard-Fi, The Dead 60s and The Ordinary Boys. However, like the aforementioned bands, they are also capable of producing a decent single somewhere along the way. 'Repeated Offender' is a speedy, pogotastic indie-anthem-in-the-making with a catchy chorus and lead riff. It's brief, too, running to only just over two and a half minutes. Adrenalin-rush pop for the indie discos - I like it.
4/5

Attack of the girlbands:
Sugababes - Red Dress (official site and video)
The 'babes deserve a mention this week, purely due to the fact that their line-up has changed for the second time since they first made an appearance on the charts. Mutya has left, and in her place is a young lady named Amelle, and it is on this single that she makes her debut. And that is quite possibly the most exciting thing about this release. It's nowhere near as catchy or infectious as 'Push The Button' or 'Ugly' and lacks a certain spark they both possessed, even if the latter's lyrics weren't exactly up to scratch. So, it is now we look to the b-side, as the girls cover the breakthrough track of one of the most talked about bands of the moment - the Arctic Monkeys' 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor'. They haven't changed it radically, but with a good song as a base, you can't go far wrong.
3/5

The Like - June Gloom (official site includes video)
Very rarely does an all-girl rock group get taken seriously. It's even more rare that an all-girl rock group has much success. The Faders and Love Bites (the latter limping in at 48 last week) have fallen at the first hurdle, so are The Like, the girl group from across the pond, likely to do any better? Possibly. They've got the critical backing from Q magazine (**** for their debut album) and 'June Gloom', their current single, hints at a less 'pop' sound than their contemporaries. Do I like them? I'm not sure. You see, looking at several of their promo photos they seem to have a large focus on image and look almost as if they've been let loose with several hundred pounds in Topshop. As for the music itself, 'June Gloom' has a bouncy Strokes-esque verse which jarrs a little uncomfortably with the general doom-and-gloom chorus. A chorus that sounds suspiciously like a blatent rip-off of Radiohead's classic 'Creep'. However, it does posess a sophistication and moodiness that stands the band above the rest of its kind. They're alright, really.
3/5

All Releases: (ones I've heard in bold)
8 Wonders - 8th Wonder Of The World, Above & Beyond - Alone Tonight , Absentee - Something To Bang, Avenged Sevenfold - Beast & The Harlot, BC Camplight - Blood & Peanut Butter, Beauty Shop - Monster, Bob Schneider - Captain Kirk, Bow Wow feat. Ciara - Like You, Camera - Out Of The Water [7" Only], The Concretes - Chosen One, Craig David - Unbelievable, David Gilmour - On An Island, Delilahs - This Is It [7" Only], Diamond Nights - Girls Attractive, Disturbed - Just Stop, Engerica - Smell, Fightstar - Waste A Moment, Flying Matchstick Men - All Yr Secrets, Gemma Hayes - Undercover, Hundred Reasons - Kill Your Own, Jaed - My Way, Jamie Cullum - Photograph, Jamie T - Betty & The Selfish Sons EP, Jane Weaver feat. Meadows - Is Everyone Happy? [7" Only], Jason Mraz - Geek In The Pink, Jenny Lewis - Rise Up With Fists, Julian Jabre - Swimming Places, Kanye West feat. Lupe Fiasco - Touch The Sky, Karmakops - Creatures/Come Back To Me, Koufax - Why Bother At All?, The Like - June Gloom, Living Things - Bom Bom Bom, Louie - Curves & The Bends, Marshals - Make Her Cry, Michael Jackson - Billie Jean, The Modern - Industry, My Robot Friend - 23 Minutes In Brussels/Dial 0 [12" & 7" Only], Neck - Everybodys Welcome To The Hooley, Nightmare Of You - Days Go By Oh So Slow [7" Only], Pendulum - Hold Your Colour (Remix)/Streamline, Pharcyde - Otha Fish [7" Only], Placebo - Because I Want You, Presets - Are You The One? [7" Only], Ray-J - One Wish, Reel People - In The Sun, Rifles - Repeated Offender, Rodrigo Y Gabriela - Tamacun [7" Only], Sarah Harvey Smart - Blinding, Shapeshifters - Incredible, Shimm 1 - Party, Skin - Just Let The Sun, Skyy - Easy/Slow Motion [7" Only], Spinto Band - Direct To Helmet, Stereolab - Whisper Pitch/Excursions Into Oh-Ah-Oh/Eye Of The Volcano [7" Only], Sugababes - Red Dress, Test Icicles - Totally Re-F*cked [7" Only], Ultrabeat Vs Scott Brown - Elysium, Unsound - Devote Your Life To A Lost Cause [7" Only], Yellowcard - Lights And Sounds

What's your single of the week?

Lewis's single to avoid (06/03/06)

2006-03-06T21:40:00.000Z

Placebo - 'Because I Want You'
Does anyone still like Placemo? These perpetual adolescents have been trotting out the same old tired crap for the last ten years, and the Great British Record-Buying Public still sees fit to prolong their career. Brian Molko is well into his thirties, so surely he should have outgrown lyrics like 'When I hit the bottle, 'cos I'm afraid to be alone...' by now? Not so; this pointless song is ripe with generic angst that will no doubt be appreciated by sad, insincere semi-goths. Continuously catering to this tedious market is never going to produce anything of worth. Come in Placemo, your time is up.
1/5

Hannah's Single of the Week (27/02/06)

2006-03-01T14:37:00.000Z

I've heard an uncharacteristically HUGE number of this week's releases, making just picking a few really tricky. So I've picked a few more than usual. Marathon post time. Sorry about that. Oh, and as for the self-indulgent and disturbingly badly written Chico record and it's godawful video - the less said, the better. Oh, other than it's heading to number one. People, are you mad?

Special Mentions:
Graham Coxon - Standing On My Own Again (official site and video)
All things considered, most of the members of Blur are doing pretty well for themselves. One's an influential songwriter hiding behind a few cartoons and selling millions and the other has joined forces with Betty Boo. Graham, meanwhile, is a rising solo megastar supporting Kaiser Chiefs, the band that cleaned up at the Brits and also happen to be a bit of a Blur rip-off. After the triumph that was 'Happiness In Magazines', I'm expecting big things for his followup album, 'Love Travels At Illegal Speeds'. 'Standing On My Own Again', this lead single, is a promising sign of what is yet to come, even if it's just basically Graham doing what he does best, and that hasn't really changed that much for the past ten years. Then again, I'm not complaining - this is great.
4/5

MP3 time:
The fantastic Mr Red Penguin has this single, plus another track, from Graham's recent Xfm session.

The Feeling - Sewn (official site)
For fans of Athlete's altogether chirpier first album who thought their second release was a sleep-inducing cheap Coldplay imitation, this is for you. Despite being your average slice of MOR indie, tailor-made for excessive radioplay, 'Sewn' has a certain charm. Maybe this is because it was recorded in a shed...or maybe not. Maybe it's because the phrase 'shake that ass' sounds as much out of place as certain four letter words in Belle and Sebastian songs, but it's there anyway. Yep, it's possibly that. The song's your typical mid-tempo affair, complete with obligatory Kasabian/Kaiser Chiefs style 'nananana' element so even the most forgetful among us can sing along. The video's also one to watch, especially for those of you who might get some sadistic thrill out of seeing mainstream indie rock sewn up into silence. Literally.
4/5

Hot Chip - Over and Over (official site includes video - scroll down!)
The first great alt-dance record of 2006 comes in the shape of 'Over and Over' by Hot Chip. Accompanied by a truly excellent and rather daft-but-clever video based around just what you can do with a green screen, this is a catchy piece of electro by a band who prove you never can have too many synths and sound effects. The chorus is bizarrely hypnotic, the middle-8 is something of a distorted intrumental freak out and the video really does add a whole new dimension to the song, so make sure you watch it. It's fantastic, it really is. In fact, this is soooo good, it should probably should be single of the week, but I'm just too lazy to move the review down a bit.
4.5/5

The Rakes - All Too Human (official site - includes video)
So here comes the stopgap single. In a similar style to The Zutons, Razorlight and Bloc Party before them, The Rakes are releasing a song previously not included on their debut record. This is until next week, of course, when the albums on the shelves will have it tacked on the end, delighting all those jumping on the bandwagon and irritating all those who have had to fork out again for the single because they bought the album AGES ago - including me. Not that I mind buying the single, of course. It's a good single and the b-sides look promising, too. Mind you, for those expecting another shouty 'Strasbourg' or claptastic '22 Grand Job', think again. This is an altogether quieter and more sophisticated affair, showing a definite development in the Rakes' musical style, steering away from their punkier roots and sounding even more like Pulp. Hopefully it'll allow the band to be recognised as yet another of Britpop's new-wave.
4/5

The Young Knives - Here Comes The Rumour Mill (official site)
I got very confused when I originally saw the video for this song, because my image of the Young Knives came from this promo photo. Amazing what you can do with a bit of airbrushing and a strategically placed bush, eh? So what if The Young Knives are potentially the least-rockstar-looking-rockstars since Tom Chaplin of Keane - they happen to be bloody good. With lead singer Henry's erratic vocals and angular guitar riffs, vocal harmonies and driving bass provided by pretentiously named bassist 'House of Lords' and drummer Oliver's frantic beats, 'Here Comes The Rumour Mill' is a maddening musical jaunt about gossip and paranoia. Everything about it is completely and utterly perfect...apart from the very end where the song just crashes weakly into oblivion. That's the only reason why it's not Single of the Week.
4.5/5

Single of the Week:
Orson - No Tomorrow (official site)
Okay, so hear me out. Very, very rarely do I lay praise on a single that's been bigged up by Jo Whiley/ridiculously overplayed on Radio 1/is likely to reach the top 5. I have a good explanation for this - I loved this song long before Radio 1. In fact, I loved this song back in August when the track was available on Life Of A Spuckle. Admittedly I'm a little more sick of it now it's everywhere (and am on a semi-boycott of Radio 1 as a result) but it's still one of the most fun party-anthem songs I've heard in the last 12 months. It's like Maroon 5 (but less wet), like Jamiroquai (but with a less extravagant taste in hats) and essentially the best bits of several different genres all mishmashed in a tasty musical smoothie. Oh, and its as catchy as hell, complete with a-cappella section...and hold on, Steve from TOTP has pinched our entire review, again! :P
4.5/5

And even with all of that I've still not mentioned the latest single from the wonderful Charlotte Church, the song from the On Offs that sounds like it's a nineties indie anthem, and the song from myspace favourites Panic! At The Disco that I really shouldn't like, but I do. Oh, and Jim Noir. And White Rose Movement. It's just one of those weeks...

All Releases: (ones I've heard in bold)
65 Days Of Static - Radio Revolution, Above & Beyond - Alone Tonight, Addison Industries - On The Moon, All-American Rejects - Move Along, Archie Bronson Outfit - Dart For My Sweetheart [7" Only], Babyshambles - 32nd Of December, Blind Guardian - Fly [Digipack], The Boy Least Likely To - Be Gentle With Me, Brian Jacket Letdown - Piratas/A Light Array [7" Only], Charlotte Church - Moodswings (To Come At Me Like That), Chico - It’s Chico Time, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - In This Home On Ice, Composers - A Way Of Being Free, Dan Sartain - Walk Among The Cobras (Part 1), Dios Malos - I Want It All [7" Only], Far Cries - Stepping [7" Only], The Favours - One Up On You, The Feeling - Sewn, Flip & Fill - 6 Days (On The Run), Freelance Hellraiser - Want You To Know/Pound For Pound [7" Only] , Freemasons Ft Amanda Wilson - Watchin’, Gliss - Rugby Road, Gogol Bordello - Start Wearing Purple/Sally, Graham Coxon - Standing On My Own Again, Hot Chip - Over And Over, Howling Bells - Wishing Stone, Jack Johnson - Better Together, Jim Noir - Key Of C , Jono McCleery feat. Hijera - Bet She Does/Ten Thousand Eyes [7" Only] , Keisha White - The Weakness In Me, Last Stop China Town - Just Ashes, Little Man Tate - Agent [7" Only], Loungs - I'm Gonna Take Your Girl [7" Only], Love Bites - He’s Fit, Martha Redbone - Future Street, Matchbox Romance - Monsters, McQueen - Running Out Of Things To Say, Michael Jackson - Rock With You, Mitchell Brothers - Alone With The TV, Mystery Jets - The Boy Who Ran Away, Neon Plastix - Prick Tease/Neon Invasion, On Offs - This Town/Grow Your Own [7" Only], Orasio Garcia feat. Young Musicians Aware - Outer Space [7" Only], Orson - No Tomorrow, Panic! At The Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies, Peven Everett - Stuck, Pussycat Dolls feat. Will-I-Am - Beep, Rakes - All Too Human, Sarah Harvey Smart - Blinding, Scary Kids Scaring Kids - Only Medicine [7" Only] , Shakira - Don't Bother, Stellastarr* - Sweet Troubled Soul, Teddy Thompson - Everybody Move It, Toreros After Ole - After Ole [7" Only], Trabant - Loving Me/Galdur [7" Only], Upper Room - All Over This Town, White Rose Movement - Girls In The Back, The Wrens - Faster Gun,Young Knives - Here Comes The Rumour Mill, Zounds - Go All The Way

What's your single of the week?

Lewis's single to avoid (27/02/06)

2006-02-28T11:00:00.000Z

Chico - 'It's Chico Time'
I'm going to stick my neck out here, and predict that there won't be many objections to this week's 'Single to avoid'. Indeed, this is the quintessential Anti-Single - it's throwaway pop of the absolute lowest order, delivered by the X-Factor's cloven-hoofed goon, the inimitable Chico himself. Apparently, said goon used to herd goats for a living. He might have said that these hircine companions were his main musical influence, before forcing this inane concoction upon us. Watching you cavort like a substandard Ricky Martin serves me no pleasure, Chico. Vaffanculo!
0/5

WL last.fm community

2006-02-24T11:42:00.000Z

The majority of us here at WL are a little bit addicted to Audioscrobbler/last.fm. So, it made a lot of sense that I created a WL last.fm community. Our readers are all welcome (and advised!) to join. It'll be fun. :)

http://www.last.fm/group/Whatever%2527s%2BLeft

I got tagged by The Ranting Human, so...

2006-02-23T12:50:00.000Z

Seven Songs I'm Loving Right Now:
'List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they are any good, but they must be songs you are really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they are listening to.'

Delays - Valentine (official site)
Obviously! It's fantastic, it really is, and it might miss out on the top 40 (I guess it's just not had enough radio and videoplay, although I can't understand why) if you don't purchase it, somewhere. Even Popjustice agree with us, which is such a rarity it MUST be good! Why not visit the band's official site and become enveloped in the electropop wonderfulness? :D

The Raconteurs - Steady As She Goes (official site)
Largely identified as 'Jack White's side-project' it's 'Jack White's mate' Brendan Benson whose influence and talent really shines through here. I can't wait till it gets a full release and in the meantime the official site is pretty cool, too.

The Young Knives - The Decision (official site)
Not their current single (out on Monday - expect a review) but last year's limited release. Catchy and incredibly erratic indie-rock-with-a-punk-ethic.

Belle and Sebastian - Another Sunny Day (official site)
Buy 'The Life Pursuit', if you haven't already. It was hard to choose just one track I LOVE from the album because there are so many, but this is one of the sticks-in-your-head-and-has-you-singing-it-for-weeks variety. It's my favourite record of the year so far. An mp3 can be found here.

Arctic Monkeys - Dancing Shoes (official site)
The rough demo of this was sent to me last summer as part of a mystery mix CD for listening to whilst stuck in a caravan in (very rainy) France. I loved it then, and I love it even more now it's been done properly.

Rachel Stevens - Nothing Good About This Goodbye (official site)
Rachel, please do not abandon the electropop in favour of a style resembling a female James Blunt. This is another ace little tune (and the original Alexis Strum version is rather fab, too) although not as incredible as last year's 'I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)'.

Johnny Boy - 15 Minutes (official site)
Hardly a new track, but I only discovered it very recently whilst on my blog run. I heard, and liked, 'You Are The Generation...' but this is even better.

I tag anyone who wants to do it. Why not post your 7 songs in the comments box?

Fish does the Singles (20/02/06)

2006-02-22T20:26:00.000Z

Gosh, it has been a while...

Alkaline Trio – Burn
Well, I for one must say I wasn’t expecting this, in more than one way. 'Burn' struck me as a rather odd choice for a single, at first, and I wasn’t actually sure if the Trio were doing well enough to permit another single from the wonderful 'Crimson'. But I have been proven wrong, on both accounts! This is a favourite of mine from the album, a stunner of an apocalypse/global warming siren in a song. In fact, with its jittery beat and semi-electro undercurrent it's almost danceable. The chorus is unquestionably catchy while containing lyrics like ‘everyone learns faster on fire’. This is a tune with a gun in its hand, and damnit, it’s taking you with it. Alkaline Trio’s hell is your home.
4/5

We Are Scientists - It’s A Hit
As a recent We Are Scientists convertee, this will be a bit of a raging ‘OMG THEY’RE SOOOO GOOD’ affair, but hopefully said a little more articulately. So. This song is fantastic. It had damn well better be a hit, or there is something wrong with most of the music-buying public. Well, that could’ve been left unsaid, I suppose. But anyway. There is just the right amount of everything – dance, indie, rock, pop – all mixed up with a splenderific riff, fun lyrics and a catchy-as-bird-flu-amongst-pigeons chorus. On the front of my copy of 'With Love And Squalor', it declares something like they’re 'going to steal the dance-floor from under the feet of their contemporaries’. I wholeheartedly agree. We Are Scientists have found something different to do amidst the sea of sameish dross out there, and they are snarling and biting to protect it. S’alright boys, it’s all yours.
5/5

Single of the Week
Funeral For A Friend - Roses For The Dead [7” only]
I saw Funeral For A Friend on the 2nd February (yes, they were very fabulous), and as this song was announced there was a roar of excited appreciation. Y’know why? Because it’s an absolute stormer. Turn it up loud and let that riff infect your ears. Let Matt Davies’ raw, painfully passionate vocals batter your mind. Wow. A lot deeper than it appears both on listening to it and watching the video, the lyrics stab deep and leave you bleeding interpretations. Juvenile lyrics? No way. Simplicity doesn’t mean idiocy. ‘We’re all suckers for tragedies… and this story will sell a few hundred papers.’ Ouch. This is a multi-faceted reflection of glorified false depression, genuine misunderstood struggles, peer pressure, lack of freedom, abundance of creative smothering, parental ignorance, snowballing dehumanisation, and the twisted world preoccupation with, and celebration of, the obscene. The fourth single from the phenomenal 'Hours' doesn’t just pack a punch; it's a blackbelt in some kind of complicated and respected martial art and is about to give you what for. Four minutes of brutal, sinisterly beautiful emotional uproar that will wreck you if you let it. Sure, you can listen to it and think ‘emo drivel’ all you want, but if you can’t see any further into Funeral For A Friend than that, then I pity you. One of the very best bands we have with an incessantly brilliant repertoire of modestly profound songs. Hats off to you, gentlemen.
5/5

I also recommend the singles by Maximo Park and Delays.

Hannah's Single of the Week (20/02/06)

2006-02-21T10:42:00.000Z

Fish is back in full force (her post to be published tomorrow!), and so am I. It's a big release week this week, with promising singles from plenty of the pop players, as well as many of my indie favourites and it would seem the teen/emo rock lot are serving up a few CDs for the shelves as well. Good, good. The chart needs a nice little shakeup post all that Valentine's day mush. Liz McClarnon the only top 10 entry? Oh puh-lease.

Special mentions:
Maximo Park - I Want You To Stay (official site with video)
It feels like the Park have had a lot more than three singles, but indeed, this is only their fourth, and while it wouldn't be my first choice for another single, I'm certainly not complaining. The song is, in a similar way to 'Going Missing', one of their slightly more subtle efforts, even if it still drifts from hook to hook with tremendous ease and the more understated start allows a remarkable crescendo to a fabulous finish. 'I Want You To Stay' is a perfect way to show the sheer sophistication of the Park - having multiple layers and just being musically interesting. You can listen to it several times (as I did for this review) and not be at all bored. You keep picking out new and exciting bits that you didn't notice before. The synths, the guitars, the bass, the percussion and the vocals all play a key and complex part, rather than just one instrument taking the foreground. In modern indie rock this just doesn't happen enough. Oh, and this is probably why their latest tour sold out in a matter of hours. Thank goodness I managed to nab a ticket... ;)
4.5/5

We Are Scientists - It’s A Hit (official site and video)
One of my highlights of the Brits 2006 was Keith, the rather cute (American) frontman of W.A.S., accepting the Arctic Monkeys' Brit award for British Breakthrough...and nobody really noticing. Cheeky monkeys, the lot of them. Anyway, the band themselves have been marked as the 'cool geeks' sporting dodgy should-have-gone-to-specsavers glasses, facial hair and appearing in slightly surreal and rather daft videos. They're an interesting bunch, to say the least. While not as strong as their previous hit 'The Great Escape', 'It's A Hit' still packs a punch with its intense guitar riffs and a magnificent chorus. However, it is a grower. I found it completely and utterly unlistenable the first time round, purely because of the intensity of the whole thing. For the uninitiated, this can give your eardrums a right pounding. Anyway, let's just hope the title's prophetic, shall we?
4.5/5

Single of the Week:
Delays - Valentine (Valentine promo site with video and relevant links)
Something tells me the Delays record company folks have missed a marketing trick here - why release a song entitled 'Valentine' nearly a week after the day itself? Hey - I can answer my own question here - because it's so damn good it does not matter one little bit. After the delay in the release of album-number-two, 'You See Colours', this lead single has definitely been worth the wait. It was even being showcased on the band's April 2005 tour supporting my favourites - Manic Street Preachers - nearly a whole year ago! 'Valentine' shows the band's departure from their dreamy soundscapes on their debut and instead moving in the direction of 'euphoric electropop' in a similar manner to 'Lost In A Melody'. Oh, except it makes 'Lost In A Melody' look a little bit average. It's an indie floorfiller and is definitely my favourite single of the week, and possibly the year so far. Incredibly addictive - a perfect showcase of beats, hooks, basslines, synths, guitar and Greg Gilbert's trademark falsetto...who cares if it's been a 'long time coming'? Finally, it's here. Buy it.
5/5

MP3 time:
As well as being masters of the dreamy soundscape and the indie floorfiller, Delays also do a nice line in jaunty acoustic numbers. Oooh. Versatile. Just what I love in a band. This tune, not available on their debut, is one of those. 'Safety In Numbers' is one of my favourite songs by the band, starting off simply and gradually adding layer by layer of music and vocal. Lovely. [mp3]
(Thanks to Michael. Oh, and apologies for the terrible Delays puns. I could not resist.)

The Rest: (because it's a big week, folks!)
Corinne Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On (official site)
Currently the okay-to-like alternative to Norah Jones and co, Corinne does have a rather attractive quality about her that I can't quite place. This summery little number is destined to be a huge hit.
3.5/5

The Darkness - Is It Just Me? (official site)
Who would have imagined this time two years ago that The Darkness, saviours of British rock, heroes of The Brits, and spandex revivalists would experience such a backlash. Well, maybe not a backlash, exactly. It depends entirely who you talk to, which magazine you read and whether or not you're a fan. My little brother thinks they're better than ever. Bless. This follow-up to the dire 'One Way Ticket' is significantly better, even if the video seems like some desperate plea for attention.
3/5

Madonna - Sorry (official site)
If anyone else had come out with this song, it would be dismissed as yet another piece of generic dance that's okay to like, but hardly criticially acclaimed. Oh, but this is Madonna, so clearly it has to be acer than ace and extremely innovative, apparently. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but I fail to see what the fuss is about. And she should cover up. Really, she should.
3/5

U2 - Original Of The Species [Download Only] (official site)
U2 squeeze yet ANOTHER single from 2004's 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb'. It's even more dull than the others. 'Vertigo' was great. Anything since has left me less than impressed. Thank goodness it's just a download-only single. For more information, see this week's post from Lewis!
1/5

All Releases: (ones I've heard in bold)
Alkaline Trio - Burn, Alps - Last Dance, Arab Strap - Speed Date [7” only], Barefoot - It’s Like That, Blondie Vs The Doors - Rapture Riders [12” only], Boogie Pimps - Music In Me, Buzzcocks - Wish I Never Loved You, Celebration - War, Corinne Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On, The Darkness - Is It Just Me?, David Ford - I Don’t Care What You Call Me, Delays - Valentine, Funeral For A Friend - Roses For The Dead, Hardkandy Ft Terry Callier - Advice, Helen Boulding - I Don't Know What I Want (But I Know What I Need), Hollies - So Damn Beautiful, Hush - If You Go Breaking My Heart, Keisha White - The Weakness In Me, Knife - Silent Shout, Madonna - Sorry, Mario Rosenstock - Jose & His Amazing Techincolor Overcoat, Maximo Park - I Want You To Stay, Michael Jackson - Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough, Michael Jackson - Thriller [Boxset Only - NCQ], Morning Runner - Burning Benches, My Latest Novel - Reputation Of Ross Francis, Nicki French - Total Eclipse Of The Heart 2006, Shaggy - Ultimatum, Shout Out Louds - Please, Please, Please, Simon Webbe - After All This Time, Simple Plan - Crazy, Sine Star Project - Strange Girl, Skye - Love Show, Soft Priest - Done It EP, Soledad Brothers - Good Feeling, Spank Rock - Rick Rubin, T.O.K. - Footprints, This Is Seb Clarke - Fall, U2 - Original Of The Species [Download Only], Vogue - Missing You, We Are Scientists - It’s A Hit, Westlife - Amazing, Wills & The Willing - It's Easy

Lewis's single to avoid (20/02/06)

2006-02-20T09:20:00.000Z

U2 - 'Original Of The Species'
Why do we bother with U2? This band, lest we forget, features both the sanctimonious Bono and a man who still calls himself 'The Edge', despite being well into his forties. As if this wasn't enough, these glorified teenagers are responsible for records like 'Original Of The Species'. Not only does it have a dreadful title; it is also overblown, garish and lyrically incompetent all in the same breath. 'I'll give you everything you want / Except the thing that you want' Bono groans, over some dull AOR instrumentation that could almost have been written by Simply Red. If U2 are evidence of organic evolution and the survival of the fittest - dare I say it, Darwin was wrong.
0/5

Hannah's Single of the Week...or not.

2006-02-17T16:05:00.000Z

It's all too easy for me to pick Friday Hill this week and moan about the 'second draft of Blazin Squad', so I won't. I also can't write a coherent argument for why I can't stand the Humanzi single. I just can't listen to it. For all it's jerkiness and agressiveness it's even more dull and boring than your average James Blunt output. So, rather fittingly, this is going to be a short, rather dull post, I'm afraid as I've been busy...and now I'm ill, which is just fabulous, really.

Hannah instead recommends:
Goldfrapp - Ride On A White Horse
There appears to be a recurring horse theme when it comes to Goldfrapp. This means Lewis can get away with terrible equine puns on a regular basis. This single, the third from 'Supernature' certainly isn't as drab as its predecessor, 'Number One'. In fact, it's not bad at all, but the video is.
3.5/5

Boy Kill Boy - Back Again
Packed with melodic oomph, and channeling the same electro-indie vibes and dodgy haircuts as Protocol, it's pretty obvious I'm going to like Boy Kill Boy.
4/5

Regina Spektor - Us
Staccato piano, a soaring strings-filled crescendo and a charming vocal performance. Lovely.
4.5/5

PS. God, weren't the Brits such a farce? The best thing about the whole event was probably Tamsin Greig (Black Books star and general amazing lady) presenting an award or perhaps the fact that the frontman from We Are Scientists gave the acceptance speech for the Arctic Monkeys' award and NOBODY SEEMED TO NOTICE! Mind you, my lovely mother messed up the taping so I missed everything after halfway through the performance 'Dirty Harry'...

Lewis's Single of the Week (13/02/06)

2006-02-13T23:57:00.000Z

Yes, the job of educating the hoi polloi has fallen to yours truly this week, as the lovely Hannah takes a backseat temporarily. So I have the benefit of being able to sprinkle your little minds with the fairydust of worldly knowledge. If music be the food of love, play on...

Single of the Week:
The Liars - 'The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack' (Official site and video)

First things first. The Liars' titles are a curious business, infused, as they so often are, with a bizarre blend of pomposity and silliness. But get beyond the rather unwieldy appellation of this effort (a precursor for the forthcoming Drum's Not Dead album), and you'll find a rather picturesque, melodic piece of drone rock. It drifts along like a daydream in which all is right with the world; an episode of calmness, safety and intimacy, swathed with quietly elegant lyrics that promise 'if you need me / I can always be found...' We never find out where, but it's rewarding to know that it's in a place like that envisioned by this strangely compelling and beautiful song.

4.5/5

Also recommended:
The Magic Numbers - 'I See You, You See Me' (Official site and video)

'I See You, You See Me' is a much better offering from the Numbers this time around, in comparison to their last release, the dismal 'Love's A Game'. This is mainly due to the fact that it gives more prominence to Angela Gannon's gorgeous voice, thereby aiding its transformation from a generic white soul slowie into something a bit more, well, soulful. The lyrics veer on the wrong side of self-absorption, despite the rather nebulous definition of twin personalities, and the inescapable references to love still remain. But the sweet melody and harmonious vocals ensure that The Magic Numbers pull it off, whilst proving that they can be broody as well as they can be breezy.

3/5

Rhymefest - 'Brand New' (Official site - includes video)

Che Smith, aka Rhymefest, is a long-time friend of hip-hop impresario Kanye West - he co-wrote West's 2004 hit 'Jesus Walks', and has roped him in here on his debut single, by means of a collaboration. As you'd expect, there are bitches, niggaz and muthafuckers aplenty, all set against a cornucopia of tumbling loops and beats. West and 'Fest's dual works well, and occasionally throws up some lyrical gems ('Excuse me - I'm whacktose intolerant') that are most definitely bling, as the ghetto hordes have it. Ultimately, this is a solid, if fairly unspectacular debut effort. It's not as good as the stuff that West's putting out at the moment, but it serves its purpose.

2.5/5

Don't bother:
Goldfrapp - 'Ride A White Horse' (Official site and video)

Goldfrapp continue to ride their one-trick pony (see what I did there?) into the murky depths of the knacker's yard. You know what this means - more spasmodic electro-synth riffs that sound like they've been pilfered from 'Spirit In The Sky', and more breathy vocals from Our Alison. I fear that one day she might get too breathy and expire completely. They're hardly the picture of originality, Goldfrapp, and I'm convinced that their popularity is solely built on the lurid fantasies of drippy indie types with repressed Oedipus complexes. They're your usual Alison-worshippers. Without them, the Goldfrapp aesthetic would be seen for what it really is: sterile and boring.

1.5/5

Nickelback - 'Far Away' (Official site and video)

According to the video, this song is all about the perils of being in love with a fireman, which is surely an impressively original choice of subject material. Sadly, it's all downhill from there - this is Nickelback through and through; Chad Kroeger's bucket-of-gravel voice rupturing a hard rock ballad that's complete with acoustic guitar twangery and ostentatious drumbeats. It's all highly radio-friendly and highly unadventurous. Indeed, the whole thing is so slowburning, there's no need for the fireman. Just stamp it out.

0.5/5

All releases:

Aphrodite Ft Beverley Knight - Sometimes [12” only], Beulah - Stay, Boy Kill Boy - Back Again, Boyfriends – I Love You, Cherubs - Paper Cut Moon, Dilated Peoples - Back Again, DJ Friction – Play The Game [12” Only], Eighteenth Day Of May – Cold Early Morning [7” Only], Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel, Emmanuel - Flirtin’, Envelopes - Freejazz, Fallout Trust - Washout, Four Day Hombre - First Word Is The Hardest, Four Story - Hand On My Heart/Tracks Of My Tears, Fresh BC - Immortal / Living Daylights: Volume 2, Friday Hill - One More Night Alone, Goldfrapp - Ride A White Horse, Harrisons - Blue Note, Hush - If You Go Breaking My Heart, Humanzi - Long Time Coming, Joff Winks Band - Share My Blues, Joseph Arthur - Devil’s Broom, Levy - On The Dancefloor, The Liars - The Other Side Of Mt. Heart Attack, Liz McClarnon - Woman In Love, The Magic Numbers - I See You, You See Me, Marcos Hernandez - If You Were Mine, Marshals - Make Her Cry, Mazarin - Another One Goes By, Neal Casal - You Don’t See My Crying, Nickelback - Far Away, Oceanlab - Sirens Of The Sea, OK Go - A Million Ways, Pistolas - Listen Listen, Pretty Ricky - Your Body, Reel People - In The Sun, Regina Spektor - Us, Research - Lonely Hearts Still Beat The Same, Rhymefest - Brand New, Robin S - Show Me Love [12” only], Saucy Monky - I Touch Myself, Scary Kids Scaring Kids - Only Medicine [7” only], Sine Star Project - Strange Girl, Sparks - Perfume, Stevie Wonder - From The Bottom Of My Heart, Tool - Parabola [DVD only], Tool - Schism [DVD only], Tru Menace feat. Lee Henry - Y Did You Leave?, Wills & The Willing - It's Easy.

Lewis's single to avoid (06/02/06)

2006-02-07T09:30:00.000Z

The Source ft. Candi Staton - 'You Got The Love'
Every few years, someone somewhere sees fit to re-release this terrible song, for reasons unbeknown to us all. Talk about flogging a dead horse. This old nag was never alive to begin with, so why we need to hear it yet again, I'll never know. Everything about it is completely insipid - the rhythm, the vocals, the lyrics - showing how this was nothing but a spiritless attempt to bring gospel into the mainstream. Gospel is a pretty mundane form of music, and it's something of a crime that Candi's shriekings about the Lord were ever inflicted on our ears. A compelling argument for atheism.
0/5

Hannah's Single of the Week (06/02/06)

2006-02-06T10:56:00.000Z

We're into February - hurrah! The charts are back in full swing, having sufficient numbers of new entries, but still prone to the odd twist - a humungous climb from The Ordinary Boys, and the oddity of a single climbing to take the top spot, for example. In more personal news, we've surpassed 30,000 hits on WL! Thanks to everyone who's ever visited, commented, linked us or told their friends. It's probably less than Fluxblog get in a week, but hey - we're only a little blog!

Special Mention:
Fall Out Boy - Sugar We're Going Down (official site and video)
Roughly 18 months ago, a few of my teenage college buddies reckoned they’d discovered the next greatest thing in the world of music – Fall Out Boy. My usual reaction to this sort of thing is to nod and smile. More pop punk beloved of the semi-emo kids? Rrrright. However, in the last few months, this re-release (currently in the top 40 on download sales alone) has been unavoidable. On the radio, on the music channels, on CD:UK… Oh dear. The emo kids don’t like it when their favourite music goes mainstream. But hey – I can understand that. It would irritate me too to see all and sundry claiming they love a band when they’ve only heard one song. So what about the song itself? Well, it’s incredibly catchy (I’ve found myself singing it at random moments) but for all the hype it’s getting, it’s just a generic piece of pop punk with largely indiscernible vocals. Enjoyable, but ultimately meaningless.
3.5/5

Single of the Week:
Kubb - Grow (official site)
The British press have been telling us for MONTHS now that Kubb will be the next big thing. So far they haven’t really lived up to the promise. Their singles ‘Remain’ and ‘Wicked Soul’ charted at 45 and 25 respectively. Respectable positions, sure, but hardly 'the next big thing'. However, with the immense mainstream appeal of ‘Grow’ they’ve made the A list on several radio stations and their album’s been steadily climbing up the top 75. Deserved? Maybe. While ‘Grow’ is nothing original, and the band themselves have been labeled as a sub-standard Keane (or in my opinion, Keane with less plonky-piano-type-oomph) it’s one of those irresistable lighter waving stadium anthems reminiscent of Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’. It’s all in the chorus, the backing choir and the strings. Trust me.
4/5

MP3 Time: Kubb covered 'Mother' as part of a series of covers of tracks penned by John Lennon. It was available with Q Magazine in the latter part of last year and also as the b-side of their 'Wicked Soul' single. 'Mother' may be the title of their debut LP, but oddly this song doesn't feature on there. However, it does feature all three singles, and is available from HMV - a snip at £6.99. [mp3]

Give it a miss:
El Presidente - Turn This Thing Around (official site - includes video)
The general consensus on this one appears to be ‘shit band – great song’. I beg to disagree. I originally had high hopes for El Presidente and I’m usually a fan of glam-pop, but while the verse of this song shows great promise, the chorus is not only uninventive, but repetitive to the point of annoyance. ‘Without You’ was a good single, and this isn’t even as half as good as that.
2/5

Mew - Why Are You Looking Grave? (official site - includes video)
These Danes have yet to break into the UK top 40, even if they came close with last year’s fabulous single, ‘Special’, charting at 46. This song looks unlikely to do any better, considering that with the sheer amount of material crammed onto their maxi CD, there’s a good chance it won’t be chart eligble. This song’s a weaker single, but the video’s still worth a watch. They’ve got a cool creepy surrealist vibe going on. Animal faces and explosions - great stuff. Great cover, too.
3/5

All Releases:
Absent Kids - Shame On Us All/Quiet Playground, Alarm MMVI - Superchannel, Allure - Hate 2 Love U/Uh Oh, Antony Costa - Do You Ever Think Of Me?, Bullet For My Valentine - All These Things I Hate (Resolve Around Me), Claude McLin - Jambo, Colder - To The Music, Cornershop Ft Rowetta - Wop The Groove, David Banner - Play, El Presidente - Turn This Thing Around, Fall Out Boy - Sugar We’re Going Down, Jimi Jameson - I’m Always Here, Joey Negro - Make A Move On Me, Kbc - Price Before The Fall, Kubb - Grow, Liam Frost - She Painted Pictures, Lost Witness Ft Tiff Lacey - Love Again, Meck - Thunder In My Heart Again, Meet.John.Doe - Meet.John.Doe, Mew - Why Are You Looking Grave, Michael Stipe Ft Chris Martin & Joseph Arthur - In The Sun [Download only], Ron Hall & The Mutherfunkerz - The Way You Love Me, Sebastian Tellier - Broadway, Skindred - Pressure, Soundcode - Mystery, The Source Ft Candi Staton - You Got The Love, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Last Goodbye, Take That - Relight My Fire, tATu - Friend Or Foe, Television Personalities - All The Young Children On Crack [7” only], Three 6 Mafia - Stay Fly, West End Girls - West End Girls/Domino Dancing, Ying Yang Twins Ft Pitbull - Shake

What's your single of the week?

The ones to watch...Matt Costa

2006-02-03T10:37:00.000Z

'You've found new friends and tied all the ends, it's freezing in the loneliest winter'

Nope, he's no relative of Antony's, thankfully. Well, as far as I know - just don't take my word on it!

Instead, Matt Costa is proof that a male singer-songwriter with an acoustic guitar doesn't have to come out with something resembling 'You're Beautiful'. Goodness knows we really need his summery, strumalong songs with the weather we're having at the moment.

Anyway, he likes Scottish indiepopsters Belle & Sebastian, his look in this promo photo is v. Dave Gorman and he has some free mp3 downloads and streams on his official website. I like him already. My favourite song up for sampling is 'Cold December' - an upbeat folky number with plenty of percussion. It might currently be more of a Freezing February than a Cold December but that's not to say the song's sentiment means any the less.

His album comes out later this month. On the 20th February, to be exact, and you can pre-order it on Amazon.

He's also due to open for Jack Johnson on his upcoming UK arena tour. Dates are here.

British Group 2006

2006-02-02T12:30:00.000Z

The Nominees:
Coldplay
Franz Ferdinand
Gorillaz
Hard-Fi
Kaiser Chiefs

What I think of each:
Coldplay - Ah, Coldplay. I 'starred' in your video. I love to play your music on my piano. My friend loves to take that one step further. Ahem. However, there's one thing that really shows through when playing the music for 'X&Y' - in comparison to some of what came before, it's a bit boring, a bit lacklustre. 'Fix You' and 'Talk' definitely weren't bad singles and the live experience was fantastic, but I just don't believe you're as good as you were for the first two albums.

Franz Ferdinand - Somehow, I still think this 'scottish' foursome are tremendously underrated, and underappreciated. For how incredible they are live, for the strength and consistancy of the songs they write...they just don't sell enough records. 'You Could Have It So Much Better...' was my favourite British album of 2005. Franz were my favourite British band. Enough said.

Gorillaz - Okay, so we know Gorillaz are far from your conventional 'group' line-up. They're four cartoon characters and it's all really Damon Albarn (and friends) in disguise. Still, they are a group - when it comes to the Brits you can't classify them as anything else. Their singles last year were all fantastic, yet overplayed. I've only heard the album through once or twice so I can't comment there, but what I can say is I'm really looking forward to their Brits performance.

Hard-Fi - Hard-Fi are likeable enough, tolerable, radio-fodder with a clever video ('Cash Machine'). I won't turn over if they're on, but I won't buy their album, either.

Kaiser Chiefs - At the tail end of 2004, I couldn't wait for the Kaiser Chiefs to make it big. 'I Predict A Riot' was a top 30 hit, and the future looked bright. Then the critics started hyping them up, almost to an Arctic Monkeys level, and that really put me off. I enjoyed their singles, but part of me didn't want to give in and become one of the masses. I didn't want to like them just because everyone else did, if you see what I mean. Gradually I've warmed to the band. There's something really endearing to me about the fact that they have a left-handed guitarist, a keyboard player with a hat, a ginger frontman and a drummer that (let's face it) does all the work. Anyone who knows me well will know why. My brother is the diehard fan, but I'm still off to see them live.

Who should win:
Franz Ferdinand. They made the best album, are stunning live, and have a great group dynamic. Their new DVD is rather bonza, too!

Who probably will win:

Coldplay or Kaiser Chiefs, in a world of awards where sales figures appear to count. However, if the public are voting for this one, it could be a case of 'who has the largest online fanbase'? It'd also be interesting to see Gorillaz win just for the speech.

Who, in an ideal world, should also have been nominated:

Do Me Bad Things, Maximo Park, Manic Street Preachers, The Rakes...the list goes on and on.

Comments, anyone?

Lewis's single to avoid (30/01/06)

2006-02-01T19:24:00.000Z

Jesse McCartney - 'Beautiful Soul'
It's all in the name, really. Jesse McCartney - it conjures up images of the quintessential boy band member; a transparent jock with floppy blonde hair and puppy dog eyes, who has been assured by some snivelling A&R exec that he is destined to follow in the hallowed footsteps of his namesake Paul. Except for that last bit, Jesse is true to form here. This sounds like some godawful synthesis of the Backstreet Boys and Westlife - it's yer average pop-rock with a vague West Coast tint, and is thus completely characterless. The empty references to 'souls' and suchlike are a typically brazen, jock-like attempt to give Jesse's sunshine sound some lyrical depth that it could never attain. This record is like jumping blind into a swimming pool, only to find that there's no water.
1/5

Hannah's Single of the Week (30/01/06)

2006-01-30T18:02:00.000Z

It's a bit of a barren week this week, explaining the choice of re-releases and reality TV popstars. Or maybe that's just a really bad excuse?

Special Mentions:
Ashlee Simpson - Boyfriend (official site - includes video)
Ashlee's still something of an undesirable character. The incident involving a silly jig on Saturday Night Live (the joke never grows old) and the various excuses she made after being caught miming will stay imprinted on my mind for many years to come. However, even if she has returned to her blonde locks (as demonstrated on the cover) she's still trying to do that 'punk' and 'I'm so 4Real' thing, and doing it badly. Like Avril Lavigne, but worse. However, and as much as I HATE to say this, I found myself desperate to know who this song was by when I heard it on Radio 1. Namely because, for some godawful reason, I liked it. I feel dirty. Maybe it's down to the Franz-esque guitars, or the fact that the formula's a little bit like Kelly Clarkson's...but hey, a Simpson's made a half-decent pop record.
3.5/5

Dead Or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) (official site and videos)
Inevitably this single was going to get a re-release. That's what Celebrity Big Brother's all about, right? An booster injection of fame? Not that 'You Spin Me Round' hasn't already had a second airing after originally becoming an eventual number one hit (it took four months!) back in 1985. It's 2003 release only made number 23, so it'll be interesting to see how well this does after Pete placed 5th in the final of Celebrity Big Brother. 4th place 'celeb' Preston has certainly done well out of it - a top 10 single and 'Brassbound' sitting comfortably at 22 in the album chart. Needless to say, you'll know all about this song already. It's a classic pop record, and that's all I'm going to say.
4/5

Single of the Week:
The Go! Team - Ladyflash (official site -includes video)
So, now they're property of a major label this top 75 hit from the tail end of 2004 is getting a re-release. Rightly so. Hopefully it'll go top 40, especially considering it's B-listed at Radio 1. The greatest thing about The Go! Team is they produce credible, creative music, and yet still manage to make it incredibly fun and accessible. 'Ladyflash' is the musical equivalent of eating Smarties...and its visuals are pretty multicoloured, too! As with every truly great piece of pop, I can't quite pinpoint what it is that makes it so good. It just is.
4.5/5

MP3: The Go! Team - The Ice Storm (live in Toronto)
Available as a freebie over the Christmas period, this live version of 'The Ice Storm' is just another example of The Go! Team's brilliance. It's an instrumental, but don't let that put you off.

All Releases:
50 Cent - Hustler’s Ambition, Angela Lawriw Ft Skinnyman - Another Day, Ashlee Simpson - Boyfriend, Ben Lee - Gamble Everything For Love, Beth Orton - Conceived, Bon Jovi - Welcome To Wherever You Are, Chris Brown Ft Juelz Santana - Run It, Choong Family - Memory Lane, Claude McLin - Jambo, Colder - To The Music, Dead Or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like A Record), Dirty Perfect - Quaterback Hairdo [7” only], The Go! Team - Ladyflash, Hazey Janes - Your Enemy, Idiot Pilot - A Day In The Life Of Poolshock, Instant Funk - Wide World Of Sports/It’s Cool [7” only], Jesse McCartney - Beautiful Soul, Layo & Bushwacka! - Life2Live, Lee Ryan - When I Think Of You, Martin Solveig - Jealousy, Micah P Hinson - Yard Of Blonde Girls, Midnight Juggernauts Ft Coronation - Raised By Wolves/Heartbleeder [7” only], Mogwai - Friend Of The Night, The Noisettes - IWE, Shady Baird - Treeology, Spida Lee - Verbal Assassin, Tiesto Ft Allure - Love We Lost, Tool - Parabola/Schism [DVD Only], Tunng - Pioneers EP, Upper Room - All Over This Town, Young People - Five Sunsets In Four Days

What's your single of the week?

Freelance Videowatch...with Elz

2006-01-28T22:43:00.000Z

Freelance Videowatch:
Delays - Valentine (official site, video on Yahoo)

In the words of the illustrious Hannah, this video is "f*cking trippy". And I'm inclined to agree with her. It's so trippy, in fact, that I can't show you screenshots. Your computer wouldn't be able to handle it. Delays are back, and they're here with the force of an asteroid or something else equally forceful and explosive. Either way, the style they began with "Lost In A Melody" has grown into something new and unique for their second album. You won't be able to stop yourself from liking it.

It's a very surreal video, really. There's a tornado made of light, masked acrobats, neon skyscrapers, dancing people who are on fire and insanely kaleidoscopic effects. Light shows, swirling funfair rides... I even think I saw someone dressed as a giant rabbit, but I can't verify that as I was too busy having my mind blown. Imagine, if you will, the TARDIS wormhole with buildings, dancing ghosts, men with guitars and a disco-beat soundtrack. That's "Valentine". Band members are being spun around on enormous flowers or inside rainbows and are finally swept away at the end of the video by that darn light tornado (I hear they can be real pests). It's probably their best video to date - no, it's probably the best video ever to date.

I can't choose between the words "dream" and "nightmare" to describe this video. I suspect "drug high" would come closest, along with "weird", "creepy" and "fascinatingly bizarre". However you choose to describe it, though, you'll probably end up back with Hannah's choice. F*cking trippy.

Maybe this is what it's like in Pete Doherty's mind.
5/5

British Female Solo Artist 2006

2006-01-26T20:12:00.000Z

The Nominees:
Charlotte Church
Kate Bush
Katie Melua
KT Tunstall
Natasha Bedingfield

What I think of each:
Charlotte Church - I like Charlotte. I love her interviews, I love the way she changed her mind away from the Eva Cassidy-like act she showcased this time last year and most of all I love 'Crazy Chick'. It was a fantastic single. One of the best of 2005. Sadly, the followup singles...weren't. One truly great single does not a award-winner make. Unless it's the 'British Single' award, obviously.

Kate Bush - I get told off every time I admit I've never properly heard a Kate Bush album. However, I know a large percentage of my readership are Kate fans and they will tell me nobody deserves this award more than her.

Katie Melua - The female equivalent of James Blunt. She pleases the masses and writes rather bland 'pop' with slightly questionable lyrics. She certainly shouldn't win awards for it.

KT Tunstall - We've had Kate and Katie, and now KT. And KT, singer-songwriter beloved of the majority of the WL staff, ROCKS. She's released a great album, some fantastic singles and has been one of these artists who has creeped so slowly and gradually into the public conscience that it's hard to imagine a time when she wasn't around. This time last year, the promotional campaign for 'Black Horse And The Cherry Tree' hadn't even begun. Four singles later, she has one of the best-selling albums of the year, and she's still so modest about it all. Her infectious, cheeky personality, combined with her tunes with a strong mainstream appeal mean she definitely deserves this award.

Natasha Bedingfield - Has Natasha actually done anything this year? Is her nomination still feeding on the success of 'These Words', a single released in summer 2004? Most of her year (according to the Brits' site) has been spent in the US and her single 'I Bruise Easily' wasn't a hit that left that much of an impact, surely?

Who should win:
KT Tunstall.

Who probably will win:
I actually have no idea, but I'm guessing their name begins with 'K'.

Who, in an ideal world, should also have been nominated:

Rachel Stevens.

Comments, anyone?

Hannah's Single of the Week (23/01/06)

2006-01-24T13:48:00.000Z

After the hectic musical buzz of last week and the frenzy of top 10 entires it would appear the dormancy of the winter chart is over. The musical year of 2006 has well and truly begun, and it would seem the Arctic Monkeys are the stars. Needless to say, that doesn't mean the supporting cast aren't better, especially considering this week heralds the release of my first 5/5 single of 2006. Although it's not mentioned on the main post, I strongly recommend the re-release of 'Boys Will Be Boys' by The Ordinary Boys. Preston's still in the Big Brother house, so presumably that's the only form of promotion it's getting, but with the single rising to 30 this week on download sales alone it'll be interesting to see how it charts. As for Big Brother itself, I'm supporting Maggot. :)

Single of the Week:
Protocol - Where’s The Pleasure? (official site (includes video) and myspace)
Protocol's critics say that the band are a little too late in catching the wave of electro-indie. Apparently electro-indie (or is it indie-electro?) is so over. Oh really? With the due return of both The Killers and Delays, I reckon it's going to be as big as ever. Last year The Bravery flopped, miserably. So what? That was simply because they didn't have enough good tunes. Protocol are completely the opposite. They have heaps of them. Heaps and heaps and heaps. 'Where's The Pleasure?' is just one of them. Like 'She Waits For Me' (one of my favourites of 2005) it's packed with pure adrenalin rush-inducing energy, an epic chorus, an eighties flavour, glossy production, a fab bassline and an irressistable singalong melody. Like Maximo Park, my only point of criticism is when it comes to the subject of the lead singer's hair.
5/5

Special Mention:
Alex Parks - Honesty (official site and video)
Prepare yourselves for a surprise. This is a jaunty little acoustic number and, as far as Alex is concerned, you could even consider it 'lively'. It's catchy too, and is probably the last thing you'd expect from Miss Parks, aside from the identically named album's 'hidden' track, 'Tail And All'. Sadly for the fans of the upbeat, it isn't indicative of the album as a whole. 'Honesty' (the single) is a bouncy singalong with a distinctive country vibe and while it doesn't showcase Alex's vocal talents as well as her ballads, it's still clear she's one of the more interesting voices to emerge from reality TV.
4/5

Things that aren't that great:
Be Your Own Pet - Let’s Get Sandy
There's a lot of hype about Be Your Own Pet. Apparently, they're 'a great new band' and 'one of the most promising new acts for 2006'. Whatever. I watched them on the TV at some festival and thought 'this is a load of thrashy nonsense'. I heard them on record...and they're exactly the same. What is so great about them, exactly?
1/5

LMC Ft Rachel McFarlane - Get What You Give
After making number one last year with 'Take Me To The Clouds Above', LMC are back with this rather limp dance version of one of my favourite nineties indie anthems. It takes away all the charm, excitement and fun of the New Radicals original and McFarlane's vocals just don't suit the song.
2/5

Starsailor - This Time
I know Starsailor are a band hardly blessed with any sense of originality, but 'This Time' wins the award for the sheer amount of previous Starsailor material crammed into one song. There are at least THREE points where this sounds exactly the same as something they've released before. The video also has the most terrible and predictable plotline, ever. After the majesty 'In The Crossfire', I'm decidedly unimpressed.
2.5/5

All Releases: (ones I've heard in bold)
A-Ha - Analogue (All I Want), Alex Parks - Honesty, Be Your Own Pet - Let’s Get Sandy, Beck - Hell Yes [7” only], Blondie Vs The Doors - Rapture Riders [12” only], Children Of Bodom - In Your Face, Circlesquare - Fight Sounds EP, Cut Copy - Going Nowhere, Deep Elem - Lost In The Woods [7” only], Don Fardon - Belfast Boy, Ferry Corsten - Fire, Fickle Public - Just Like I Got Used To Saying Courtney Cox Arquette, Infadels - Can’t Get Enough, Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Ramblin’ Man, Joan As Police Woman - My Gurl Sweet Thing [7” only], Kris Drever - Beads & Feathers [7” only], LMC Ft Rachel McFarlane - You Get What You Give, The Maybes - Stop, Look & Listen [7” only], Merz - Postcard From A Dark Star [7” only], Moby - Slipping Away, Motorettes - Super Heartbeats, Nightwish - Sleeping Sun, The Ordinary Boys - Boys Will Be Boys, Pharrell - Angel, Playgroup - Front 2 Back, Porno - Music Power, Protocol - Where’s The Pleasure, Quantic Soul Orchestra - End Of The Road/San Sebastien Strut [7” only], Richard Hawley - Just Like The Rain, Rogue Wave - Publish My Love, Sam Brown - Ukulele & Voice EP, Seamus Haji Ft Emanuel - Take Me Away, Shortwave Set - Repeat To Fade, Starsailor - This Time, Steve Harvey Ft Cockney Rebel - Last Goodbye, Sugarmonkey - So Far Too Late, Young Jeezy Ft Akon - Soul Survivor, Your Vegas - Flybuzz

What's your single of the week?

Lewis's single to avoid (23/01/06)

2006-01-23T11:18:00.000Z

Starsailor - 'This Time'
I'm concerned for Starsailor. They've always struck me as fairly inoffensive types; thus, I have something of a soft spot for them. Even though they are from Wigan. You could do a lot worse than Starsailor - after all, they've released three moderately good singles in the shape of 'Fever', 'Alcoholic' and 'Silence Is Easy'. My main gripe with this is that it displays absolutely no sense of progression. Five years on from 'Fever', and they're still treading water like they always were, with billowing indie anthems that are good for opening Hollyoaks with, but not much use for anything else. The Starsailor template is now too worn and too throwaway to be of any merit. If this was a school report, it would read: 'could do better'.
2/5

Hannah's Single of the Week (16/01/05)

2006-01-19T16:40:00.000Z

Arctic Monkeys - When The Sun Goes Down (official site and video)
So, here it is. The week where the Arctic Monkeys prove they're not a flash-in-the-pan one hit wonder. There must be a huge amount of albums pre-ordered due to the sheer success of 'I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor', but the hype and promotion for this followup seem to have completely passed me by. That said, I only heard 'That's My Goal' for the first (and, I may safely say, last) time over the weekend and this single (from the midweeks) looks like it's about to knock that one off the top spot.
Expectations are high for the album, and the hype is justified. Apparently. Anything that's hyped up, I tend to stay well clear of, and neither love nor hate it, for fear of my own judgement being influenced by other people. It's a nasty thing, is hype.
The thing is...I think I'm starting to like the Arctic Monkeys. 'When The Sun Goes Down' is incredibly catchy, filled with chaotic guitars, a change of pace and even has a confusing 'story' video. While, as yet, I don't think they're Britain's best new band and completely deserving of the hype bestowed upon them, this is still a good song.
4/5

Belle and Sebastian - Funny Little Frog (official site and video)
I think it's impossible not to like Belle & Sebastian. There's something about their music that's so incredibly...likeable. There's also something about their attitude to their album being leaked online that makes them likeable, too. They're not kicking up a fuss. They're aware that maybe it could even be a great form of promotion. Thank goodness somebody's got their head screwed on correctly, eh? Elz reviewed the video earlier this week, and I can safely say the music that accompanies it is just as fabulous as the visuals. I could take it and plunge into a lengthy lyrical and instrumental analysis, but that's just silly. Great music speaks for itself, so I'll just say the intrumentation is great, the melody is catchy and if the album is all as good as this, everyone should be buying it and breaking B&S into the mainstream. Speaking of mainstream - it's heading for the top 10. Marvellous!
4.5/5

All Releases: (ones I've heard in bold)
Belle & Sebastian - Funny Little Frog, Beyonce Ft Slim Thug - Check On It, Cat Power - Greatest [7” only], Clearlake - Good Clean Fun [7” only], Don Fardon - Belfast Boy, Early Years - All Ones And Zeroes, Hi Tack - Say Say Say, Nostalgia 77 Octet - Freedom [7” only], Notorious BIG - Nasty Girl, Scary Kids Scaring Kids - Only Medicine [7” only], Secret Machines - Alone, Jealous & Stoned [12” only], Sol Seppy - Move [7” only], Son Of Dork - Eddie’s Song, South - A Place In Displacement, Sunshine Underground - Commercial Breakdown, Sway - Little Derek, Test-Icicles - What’s Your Damage?, Thee Unstrung - Who Runs The Show, Tiga - Good As Gold [12” only], Tina Dico - Warm Sand, Will Young - All Time Love

What's your single of the week?

British Male Solo Artist 2006

2006-01-17T09:57:00.000Z

The Nominees:
Antony and the Johnsons
Ian Brown
James Blunt
Robbie Williams
Will Young

What I think of each:
Antony and the Johnsons - The inclusion of the 'and the Johnsons' bit makes me worry about the 'solo' bit, the fact he's lived almost all his life in America makes me worry about the 'British' bit and as for the 'male' bit...I'm sure a few people would take the opportunity to deliberate that one too. There's no doubt, however, that Antony has created some incredibly lush and gorgeous music. I just can't stand his voice.

Ian Brown - Last year Robbie Williams was apparently not eligible for nomination in this category due to him only releasing a Greatest Hits, and not a whole album-worth of new material. Now, unless I'm missing a trick here, the only new 'album' release that has come from Ian Brown in the last 12 months is his own Greatest Hits effort. Unfair?

James Blunt - Regular readers will know exactly what I (along with Lewis) think of James Blunt. Next please.

Robbie Williams - He's Brits eligible again, thankfully, and no matter what the majority of the critics say, I'm far too much of a fan to pretend to be snobbish about him. I did absolutely LOATHE 'Tripping' at first, but I've come to like it, along with the rest of the 'Intensive Care' album. I'm also off to see him as an 18th birthday present (thanks Mum!) .

Will Young - Here's one of those nominations that seems to crop up every year, and rightfully so. While I'm not one to go purchasing Will's records, I thought both 'Leave Right Now' and the Brit-award-winning 'Your Game' were marvellous singles, and his latest release 'Switch It On' was a worthy followup. He's probably not going to win, considering who else is nominated, but it'd be nice to see him win the prize, just for a change.

Who should win:
Robbie Williams.

Who probably will win:

Usually, if Robbie is nominated, he's practically guaranteed to win it, but the mass backing of James Blunt means that this award could go either way.

Who, in an ideal world, should also have been nominated:

EDIT: Patrick Wolf! My humblest apologies, but I forgot because Patrick elevates himself to something resembling God status. In my head, anyway.

Comments, anyone?

Lewis's single to avoid (16/01/06)

2006-01-16T16:23:00.000Z

Test-Icicles - 'What's Your Damage?'
The band with the worst name in history return, with a single that befits their juvenile nom de plume. This is one of the most asinine things you're likely to hear this year - terrible, tuneless cod-metal providing a backdrop for lyrics that are spectacularly dreadful; lyrics written by graduates of the rhyming dictionary sixth form college (around/ground/try/why/say/way). Or possibly by monkeys. 'Did you ever think / That all the things you say / Sound so naive?' whine the Testicles. They might be wise to answer that question themselves, for this whole sorry mess is so illiterate it'll make your brain bleed. What's my damage? This song is.
0.5/5

Freelance Videowatch...with Elz

2006-01-14T19:25:00.000Z

Freelance Videowatch
Belle & Sebastian - Funny Little Frog (official site, video at NME.com)

I'll admit, I've been looking forwards to this video immensely, being a massive Belle & Sebastian fan. The first single from the band's epic seventh album (The Life Pursuit), "Funny Little Frog" is classic B&S, and thoroughly enjoyable for all.

The video consists of a couple performing a complex dance routine around a fairly normal flat, and indeed part of it involves spinning around a comfortable-looking sofa, flopping over it and a bed. They also roll around on the floor, throw each other around and are genuinely violently loving. The one thing that is clear in this video is the obvious affection the characters (if that's the right word) have for each other. She even dresses him up in a hat so he can go out and have a fight with some men, again in the dancing style where you can clearly see about a foot of space between the fist and the face. Still, at least no one got hurt.

Like most Belle & Sebastian songs, this has a theme of bittersweet love. In fact, I think the girl is either dead or has been sucked into a photograph by the end of the video. However, due to the lack of a "schloop!" sound effect, I think it's safe to say she's dead. Thank you for ruining the giggle I was having at the dancing by killing off the pretty lady, Belle & Sebastian. I still love you.
4.5/5

WL Does The Brits 2006

2006-01-13T13:28:00.000Z

There's a large part of me that doesn't want to take the Brit Awards seriously. The fact that James Blunt is leading the nominations count (he's up for five) bothers me..lots. Let's hope he does a Craig David and goes home with none, shall we? As ever, I'm also bothered by the sheer lack of variety in the list of acts nominated. It's as if the panel compiled a list of the most talked-about bands of 2005 (missing out a few obvious candidates along the way) and tried to see how many categories they could fit each one into.

Surely a few lesser-known souls are equally deserving of some of the awards, especially considering the nominees for some of them (moreorless) seem to be the same year after year after year. What about Patrick Wolf? Rufus Wainwright? Maximo Park? Bright Eyes? The Rakes? I'm rather surprised, too, that Bloc Party didn't crop up ANYWHERE. It pains me to see nominations based on quantity sold than quality of songs, even though I know that's the way it's always going to be.

That's the thing though - the Brits is Britain's biggest music awards show. The public, in general, care about it more than most others, so why not give the masses what they want? If a bunch of unknowns were nominated every time, who, except the indie kids, would be watching?

So, as we near to the awards ceremony itself, and even with my disgust at some of the nominations, I do care, and I'll be running a commentary on who's up for what, who I'd like to win, who I think will, who should have been nominated and who definitely shouldn't.

Should be fun.

Hannah's Single of the Week (09/01/06)

2006-01-11T20:02:00.000Z

Since the integration of mp3 download sales into the singles charts just under a year ago, nothing particularly spectacular has happened. The longevity of certain singles may have increased, but that's about it. Until now. As Christmas came, music lovers all over the UK unwrapped their iPods and searched for tracks to load on, it was inevitable that the biggest hits of the last 12 months would come to dominate the charts once again. So, while having multiple entries from Kelly Clarkson, Kaiser Chiefs and several others in the top 75 isn't necessarily a bad thing, part of me wants a bit of movement, a bit of change and some new music.

So, is there anything exciting on offer this week? Sadly, the answer has to be 'not really'. Or, alternatively, 'there is, but managing to hear it in the first place in a task in itself'. There are several acts so indie I haven't even heard of them, let alone heard them, and then a few more coming to the end of their promotional campaign for their current album so the singles haven't been given as much of a push. Those acts aside, heere's what has made it to my eardrums:

Jose Gonzalez - 'Heartbeats' (official site and the Sony Bravia ad)
Gentle, soothing, acoustic...and probably set to be huge. The general public should lap this up, especially considering it's the soundtrack to that Sony Bravia advert. Y'know, the one with the bouncy balls. It's just one of those songs that has 'lovely' written all over it. Those who adore anything remotely delicate and dreamy will no doubt adore this.
3.5/5

The Kooks - 'If You Don't Love Me' (official site - includes video)
The TOTP website has The Kooks down as the new Supergrass. I'm not quite so sure. They're missing that 'something' that makes me love anything and everything Gaz and the boys churn out. That said, I can see where they're coming from - those punctuated chord stabs, two-part harmonies, lively stage presence, the amount of hair...and you know what? I do like this song!
3.5/5

Mark Owen - 'Hail Mary' (official site and video clip)
'From the Albert Hall to the Uni Ball - how the mighty fall', 'what was once before again may be' and 'everything will come around' - it would seem when Mark Owen wrote one of my favourite pop singles of last year ('Believe In The Boogie') he knew something we didn't. With Take That reforming for a tour and once again re-establishing themselves in the world of music (the release listings hint at a single being on the way) it'll be interesting to see just how well this single performs. Now, I've only heard a clip, but it's similar fare to 'Believe In The Boogie' - bouncy, major-chord pop. The only drawback, as ever, is Mark's voice. He's just not a natural singer. Part of me wonders if he'd be better doing a Gary Barlow and writing for other artists. His songs are good enough, after all.
3/5

Richard Ashcroft - 'Break The Night With Colour' (official site - includes video)
After his triumphant Live8 performance, he's back. Lewis has slammed the single. Me? I don't think that badly of it, just the man himself. If the music truly lived up to the ego, then yes, it's worth praise. However, I fail to find anything exciting, moving, new or special about it.
3/5

Texas - 'Sleep' (official site - includes video)
The involvement of Peter Kay undoubtedly makes a good video, but it can't do that much for the song itself, surely? I've never been the biggest fan of Texas - they've been going since the tail-end of the eighties and while many of their singles are memorable, the only one I can recall ever liking was the commercial failure (and, if I remember rightly, Guy Chambers collaboration) 'I'll See It Through'. That said, 'Sleep' certainly has more of a hook than its predecessor, 'Getaway' and that fact that it's a duet adds an extra dimension to the song. Nothing that impressive, though.
3/5

New releases:
Al Haca - Mindgames/Day Break [7” only], Coldcut - Man In A Garage, Crimea - Lottery Winners On Acid, Discharge Ft MG15 - Split [7” only], Hoboken - Beauty Queen, House Headz - Stella, Jose Gonzales - Heartbeats, The Kooks - If You Don’t Love Me, Mark Owen - Hail Mary, Mylo - Muscle Cars, Queens Of The Stone Age - Burn The Witch, Rammstein - Rosenrot, Red Carpet - Alright, Richard Ashcroft - Break The Night With Colour, Shy FX Ft T Power - Everyday [12” only], Soul Central - Need You Now Stunt - Raindrops, Sunblock - I’ll Be Ready, Texas - Sleep, Thievery Corporation - Time We Lost Our Way [7” only], Trinity - Like The Sun, Wolfmother - Minds Eye [7” only]

Lewis's single to avoid (09/01/06)

2006-01-09T09:50:00.000Z

Richard Ashcroft - Break The Night With Colour
Lest we forget, Richard Ashcroft had a couple of hits in the nineties. So he is possibly most famous for strutting down a street, clattering into pedestrians, whilst backed by a song that tea-leaved a sample from the Rolling Stones' 'The Last Time'. As a result of this, that fairly mundane elegy, Bittersweet Symphony, is now owned by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. I'm led to suspect that they acquired Ashcroft's muse in that acrimonious legal battle. Like Richards and Jagger, Ashcroft is now older and sadly insignificant, left to plod-plod-plod away on efforts like this. Occasionally he'll writhe out an "Ooh!" that calls to mind the elder statesman of the Stones, albeit in a slowed-down, plod-plod-plodding fashion. Middle age doesn't suit Ashcroft. He should know that we tired of this crap years ago.
1/5

Elz's Albums of 2005

2006-01-07T17:44:00.000Z

Elz's Albums of 2005

Goldfrapp - Supernature (Mute) (official site)
Goldfrapp's third album, and Alison and Will are back with more bizarre tunes to annoy or enthrall you (and sometimes both). It's possible that this is the album which really crystallises the Goldfrapp sound, particularly in songs such as "Ooh La La" (the first single) and "Satin Chic". While there are some disappointing tracks on the album ("Slide In" and "Koko", in my opinion), this is probably the album you should buy if you're a new Goldfrapp fan. If you're already a fan, Supernature might disappoint you a little, but there are enough redeeming features to make it worth your while.
Download: Ride A White Horse, Satin Chic

Sons and Daughters - The Repulsion Box (Domino) (official site)
Foot-tapping beats and barely comprehensible lyrics, Sons and Daughters have brought their own brand of indie-rock down to the lowlands with their second album, The Repulsion Box. Adele Bethel and Scott Paterson's chemistry makes the dark tone of their music positively jump out and grab you by the throat with every snarling lyric, and they're well-complimented by David Gow and Ailidh Lennon, whose musical talents seem to stop at nothing. As I mentioned before, this band play dark music, with dark vocals, dark lyrics, and a mandolin. Yep, we've got evil-sounding folk music, and you'd never believe it could sound so good.
Download: Red Receiver, Taste The Last Girl

KT Tunstall - Eye To The Telescope (Relentless) (official site)
I don't understand people who say that KT Tunstall is just another of those bland singer-songwriters, because ever since I first heard of her, it was undoubtedly clear that she wasn't. The media pick of her first album always seems to include the upbeat "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree", but many people don't look past this one song to the rest of the album which carried itself quite well before Black Horse was even included on it. Every single track on Eye To The Telescope is clearly directly from KT's heart, and she's fortunate enough to have the talent to show what she has to the world.
Download: Under The Weather (album version), Universe & U

Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better (Domino) (official site)
It's almost unbelievable that Franz Ferdinand can release a second album of equal quality to the first within eighteen months, but they've done it. Written primarily whilst touring, recorded at Alex Kapranos' Scottish farmhouse and mixed in New York, this is their international album. It's more emotional, too, with songs about significant others ("Eleanor Put Your Boots On", "Fade Together"), but retaining the sharpness of their debut in other tracks ("Do You Want To", "This Boy"). My personal favourite is the new electronic sound they're developing, as seen in "Outsiders" - an updated version of "The Only Difference", a solo project by Kapranos.
Download: You're The Reason I'm Leaving, Outsiders

Ladytron - Witching Hour (Island) (official site)
Without a doubt, Ladytron have reached their peak with this fantastic third offering from the Liverpool-based, Kraftwerk-inspired band. The album is haunting and perfect, from the eerie tones of "Beauty*2" to the hypnotic break up of "International Dateline" and then on to the stalkerish "Destroy Everything You Touch", Witching Hour is wild, untamed and chills you to the bone in the best possible way. I've only got one problem with this record, and that's the lack of vocals from Bulgarian Mira Aroyo; while Helen Marnie's voice is fine alone, together they make Ladytron something even more special. You need this album.
Download: The Last One Standing, Beauty*2

Hannah's Singles of the Year - The Shortlist (Part E)

2006-01-05T20:14:00.000Z

This is the final (and slightly abbreviated, since 2005 is well and truly over!) installment of my Singles of the Year 'shortlist'. After constructing it all, and writing about each single it made me realise - I just cannot pick a top 5! So, simply consider them all my favourites, especially the ones that got 5/5. I'm looking forward to some even better music to be on offer in 2006.

Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want To?
UK Chart Peak: 4
What I rate it now: 5/5
- official site -

Tony Christie (ft. Peter Kay) - (Is This The Way To) Amarillo?
UK Chart Peak: 1
What I rate it now: 5/5
- official site -

My Chemical Romance - I'm Not Okay (I Promise)
UK Chart Peak: 19
What I rate it now: 5/5
- official site -

Idlewild - I Understand It
UK Chart Peak: 32
What I rate it now: 4.5/5
- official site -

The Kills - No Wow
UK Chart Peak: 53
What I rate it now: 4.5/5
- official site -

The Decemberists - 16 Military Wives
UK Chart Peak: Did not chart :(
What I rate it now: 5/5
- official site -

Josh Rouse - Winter In The Hamptons
UK Chart Peak: Did not chart :(
What I rate it now: 5/5
- official site -

The Strokes - Juicebox
UK Chart Peak: 5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- official site -

Hannah's Single of the Week (02/01/06)

2006-01-02T22:07:00.000Z

Happy New Year, everybody! Sadly it's another slow week this week (although next week the singles releases are back in full force - hurrah!) but thankfully there are a couple of promising singles to buy along with whatever albums in the sales that may be draining cash from your pocket!

Single of the Week:
Editors - Munich (official site - contains video)
Having successfully re-released 'Bullets', it's the turn of the band's second top 75 (and breakthrough) hit, 'Munich', to get a second shot at the upper reaches of the charts, Kaiser Chiefs syle. The fact that chart sales are slow and not much else is on offer may even cause the band to break into the top 20, as they did with 'Blood', although it's still sad that another song hasn't had the chance to make it as a single. They've squeezed five releases out of three songs, for goodness sake! That said, this 'British Interpol' are one of those acts that have grown on me over the past year, especially after seeing them live supporting Franz Ferdinand. If you've heard 'Blood' and 'Bullets', 'Munich' is essentially more of the same. That's the thing with Editors - if you like what you've heard already, you'll like this. If you don't, you won't. There's not a lot of originality here, but to my ears it's a pretty good tune.
4/5

Special Mention:
Supergrass - Fin (official site - VIDEO ADDED THIS WEEK!!!)
You'll only be finding 'Fin' on a 7" single, this week. It's a shame really, because while I adore the new, 're-invented' Supergrass, and 'Road To Rouen' is a fabulous album...the public haven't exactly lapped it up. Part of me wants to blame the slightly strange singles choices, and there has been nothing more of a strange single choice than 'Fin'. It's the closing track on the album and is good enough as an album track. It's poignant, pretty and unusually delicate, but it just doesn't make an impact in the same way as other potential singles, 'Roxy', 'Road To Rouen' and 'Kick In The Teeth' - all of which are truly STUNNING. I've said it before and I'll say it again - Supergrass really need to release something that's a little more upbeat, or a little more epic, or the British public will forget about them completely. As much as I love Supergrass, slow lullabies with echoing vocals and not much else going on just won't cut it in the long term.
3/5

All Major Releases:
Aaron Smith Ft Luvli - Dancin’, Editors - Munich, Louis XIV - Pledge Of Allegiance [7” only], Naughty Boy - Phatbeach (I’ll Be Ready), Simply Red - Something Got Me Started/A Song For You, Supergrass - Fin [7” only]

What's your single of the week?

Hannah's Singles of the Year - The Shortlist (Part D)

2005-12-30T17:07:00.000Z

Doves - Black and White Town
UK Chart Peak: 6
What I said at the time: " Accompanied by a video that seems to be a cross between Christina Aguilera's 'Beautiful' and The Libertines' 'Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads' it's not just powerful musically, but visually, too. Conclusion? I could happily listen to it all day."
What I say now: "Only occasionally does Jonny start insisting I listen to music because he thinks it's great. I have to mention here that he's nearly always right. This was one of the first tracks of 2005 he insisted I listened to and reviewed. It's the best single from 'Some Cities', and the high point of the band's live set when I saw them in July."
What I rated it then: 4/5
What I rate it now: 4.5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Razorlight - Somewhere Else
UK Chart Peak: 2
What I said at the time: "Borrell and the boys are back with possibly their catchiest hook yet, a stunning track that manages to worm its way into your head before refusing to budge. I love it, I really do, and I've actually bothered to go out and buy it too."
What I say now: "Borrell can be an idiot. However, aside from the odd scrap with Doherty, he writes some fantastic songs. This one, 'Keep The Right Profile' and the sublime 'Kirby's House' were his offerings for 2005. This was the big hit single, narrowly missing out on the band's first number one. It was well deserved, too."
What I rated it then: 5/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

KT Tunstall - Suddenly I See
UK Chart Peak: 12
What I said at the time: "It's a catchy little thing and contrasts nicely with the gentler paced ballad that preceded it. In comparison, this is a stomping energetic number with more of an edge, and two vocal lines, illustrated cleverly by the video. Twice the amount of Tunstall. What a great concept."
What I say now: "Eee! Look at her cheeky, happy, smiley face! Marvellous. KT Tunstall - woman of 2005. Like Dido and Katie Melua, but infinitely less bland, with a bit more pace and a killer middle eight."
What I rated it then: 4/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

British Sea Power - Please Stand Up
UK Chart Peak: 34
What I said at the time: "It's the only song of theirs I've heard and I adore it, and I'm desperate to hear the album, because this track is (apparently) not their best. There's better yet to come? I can't wait."
What I say now: "Yes, it's another epic indie track with strings, guitars, etc. I might express a lack of variation and originality with my single picks, but anyone who has heard this will know it's an amazing adrenalin rush and a fantastic song."
What I rated it then: ?/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Patrick Wolf - The Libertine
UK Chart Peak: 67
What I said at the time: "Patrick has created some beautiful, true music, with an introduction full of suspense, escalating into a sweeping, complex, fully-formed cult classic, with a chorus almost as grandiose as something by Muse, except without the thrashy guitars."
What I say now: "My first experience of Patrick Wolf made me admit that Michael Bush has good taste in music. And that doesn't happen very often. :P Everything, from the mystical piano, to Patrick's bewitching voice, to the sweeping strings, the sound samples is PERFECT and makes you want to hear the track again and again and again. Just to make sure it really was that unbelievably incredible. Just to check."
What I rated it then: 5/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Missy Higgins - Scar
UK Chart Peak: Did not chart
What I said at the time: "'Scar' is a delightful slice of piano driven pop that is so ridiculously catchy that one listen will have it stuck in your head for a matter of days. Think Daniel Powter's 'Bad Day' in female form, just more intelligent, avec Aussie accent and sans stupid beanie hat."
What I say now: "Australia's shining star flopped spectactularly here. Maybe this is because the British public only buy from Aussies they've seen on Neighbours? I'm not sure. However, Missy definitely deserved more attention than she got. This single is a prime example of that. All praise be to The Amp for being the only channel on TV to play her video."
What I rated it then: 5/5
What I rate it now: 4.5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Robert Post - Got None
UK Chart Peak: 42
What I said at the time: "Q Magazine compared his epic style to that of the Manic Street Preachers. I’m not so sure, but it certainly packs in the acoustic guitar, great basslines, sweeping strings and subtle keyboards that make what is, in my eyes, an incredible song."
What I say now: "I still think he looks a bit like a chubbier Craig-from-Big-Brother. I still think in some of his other songs he doesn't have the best grasp of the english language. I still don't quite understand the baseball cap. However, this song, and its video are completely and utterly fantastic. Nuff said."
What I rated it then: 5/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Hannah's Single of the Week (26/12/05)

2005-12-29T20:20:00.000Z

Single of the Week:
Hard-Fi - Cash Machine
As is traditional with music singles, there's not a lot out this week. So, of what there is out, this is my favourite. It's probably my favourite Hard-Fi single, but I'm hardly their biggest fan, considering their songs seems to have an ability to meld into one, and I'm never completely sure, when listening to instrumental bits, which one I am actually listening to. It's also a re-release. That said, this one does have a nifty little video (one of those 'ooh, that's clever!' ones) and is worth a watch for the visual concept alone.
3.5/5

All Releases:
Brian Kennedy Ft Peter Corry - George Best: A Tribute, Hard-Fi - Cash Machine, Kylie Minogue - Somewhere Over The Rainbow [Download Only], Nathan - Round And Round, Simply Red - Something Got Me Started/A Song For You

Lewis's Albums of 2005

2005-12-27T17:23:00.000Z

5. M.I.A. - Arular (XL Recordings)
She panders to the 'It's Grim Up North London' types slightly too much, 'tis true, but Maya Arulpragasam's debut is ultimately a bold assertion and definition of its own exciting, trenchant sound. Fused together with indelible cut 'n' paste variety, this trips through scattergun rhythms, dancehall-style toasting, strident skits, tidy, catchy choruses ('Galang') and text message-inspired bitchiness ('URAQT'). What more could you ask for? This album's freeform style means that it also benefits from further exploration and reinvention - thus, there are many worthy remixes and mash-ups available across the internet.
Official site
Download: 'Pull Up The People'.
Also recommended: Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner.

4. The Boy Least Likely To - The Best Party Ever (Absolute)
Charming toybox pop, incorporating recorders, triangles, washboards and various other elements of a school percussion section, as well as the more folky banjos, fiddles and violins. Rest assured, however - this lot aren't a bunch of loathsome gypsies. Rather, The Best Party Ever is a fantastic instance of new-age twee, all barndance rhythms and kaleidoscopic vocals. It glides effortlessly between the summery synthesized wash of 'Paper Cuts', and the all-out hoedown of the delightful 'I'm Glad I Hitched My Apple Wagon To Your Star'. It also trades a nice line in plaintive love songs, and displays a liberated sense of childlike exploration, with clever, witty lyrics. A most pleasurable listen.
Official site
Download: 'Paper Cuts'.
Also recommended: Belle and Sebastian - Dear Catastrophe Waitress.

3. Antony and the Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now (Rough Trade)
Antony Hegarty and Co took the Mercury Music Prize this year and outraged brazen charlatans like the Kaiser Chiefs in the process. Good. I Am A Bird Now has a beautiful, hopeful sound, and thoroughly deserves its recognition. The album opens with the almost lachrymose 'Hope There's Someone' and swoons with sweet, sexually ambiguous cabaret ballads before culminating with the divine 'Bird Girl'. It is superbly arranged, and features guest spots from such luminaries as Boy George (on the Ink Spots-esque 'You Are My Sister'), Rufus Wainwright (on 'What Can I Do?'), and Lou Reed (on 'Fistful of Love'). This album is a haunting, transcendent work, with sublime, black melodies and vocals like oceans.
Official site
Download: 'Hope There's Someone'.
Also recommended: The Ink Spots - Whispering Grass.

2. Arcade Fire - Funeral (Rough Trade)
Riotous, melancholic and darkly beautiful all at once, the Arcade Fire's semi-conceptual debut tells of snowstorms, lost childhoods, warfare and strength through adversity. Patched together with a thrilling lo-fi edge and brilliant instrumental work, this album contains several sensual eclipses that collapse in on themselves in the most frenetic, exciting way. At other times it tiptoes with quaint ballads that give it a slower, mournful dimension. Funeral is strangely life-affirming, as evidenced by the climactic opener (and standout track) 'Neighbourhood #1: Tunnels', the all-powerful 'Wake Up' and the towering 'Rebellion/Lies'. It is a glorious cyclical emblem of its title, with an uplifting representation of rebirth.
Official site
Download: 'Neighbourhood #1: Tunnels'.
Also recommended: Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous.

1. Electrelane - Axes (Too Pure)
Electrelane's third full-length is a joyful whirlwind of a record. Presided over by current producer du jour Steve Albini, it takes in flighty, breathless-but-effortless indie girl pop on 'Bells' and 'Two For Joy', before twisting to control itself on a tour de force through drone rock, fractured instrumentals, a wired cover of Leonard Cohen's 'The Partisan', and guttural choral arrangements (particularly on 'I Keep Losing Heart') that are somehow redolent of those used on Björk's Medulla. These styles collide and slowly burn out on the closing track, the epic 'Suitcase', after which this album remains scratched across your consciousness - its skilful experimentalism and abrasive tension is so perfectly tinted it is guaranteed to draw you back.
Official site
Download: 'Bells'.
Also recommended: Sleater-Kinney - The Woods.

Happy Christmas!

2005-12-25T11:53:00.000Z

Happy Christmas!

from all at WL xxx

Hannah's Albums of 2005

2005-12-23T12:03:00.000Z

So, after kindly asking the entire WL team of writers to recommend their top 5 albums of 2005 (which are undoubtedly on their way) here are my own. The following records have all grabbed me in some way, have been (almost) flawless and I would, without hesitation, recommend them to all of you. As is the tradition, I have included a few sample tracks, in case you need any more convincing. And, as I've said before, these really are for sampling purposes only, and I do recommend you buy the titles concerned. As ever, downloads are limited, so get 'em while they're hot!

5. Do Me Bad Things - Yes
DMBT are something of a guilty pleasure for me. But that's okay, right? If some say it's okay to like The Darkness, then why shouldn't I adore their similarly extravagant and OTT labelmates? The band who have been dubbed the Scissor Sisters rockier cousins have turned out a collection of 10 stunning tracks. The sheer number of vocalists in the band (five on the album, but now three) allows an entertaining variety of songs, and DMBT tackle hard rockers, soulful ballads and energetic singalong poprock and make all of them sound great. They've also had a great little promotional campaign - any band that produce rainbow coloured rock candy to match the album cover are heroes in my eyes. Perhaps the only let down is that some of the tracks are too long. I've included the shortest one - a non-charting single from last year (I blame the terrible video) and one of the standout tracks from 'Yes!'.
Track to sample: The Song Rides

4. Patrick Wolf - Wind In The Wires
It was in the early months of 2005 that I was advised to purchase this album ~~on pain of death~~ by a good friend. He knows who he is. The genre 'electrofolk' seemed somewhat dubious, but I bought the album anyway and was pleasantly surprised by the fact I now owned and could listen to something so different to everything else that was around. While everything else could be pieced together by references to 'this band', or 'that singer', or 'that song', this just seemed unique. It's incomparable to the popular simpering singer-songwriter dross that surrounded it. 'Wind In The Wires' has scored two WL single of the weeks, as well as one special mention. Let me just say that since the time of reviewing my mind hasn't changed - I still think they're marvellous. So what is it that is so captivating about Patrick Wolf? I still can't put it into words. Buy it. Find out for yourself.
Track to sample: Souvenirs (a b-side from the Wind In The Wires single)

3. Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger
Apart from lead singer Paul Smith's hair, I find it incredibly difficult to fault these northern newcomers to the British indie scene. Their energetic, vibrant pop tunes stand out from the rest of the indie crowd. Their debut album, 'A Certain Trigger' is near-faultless, and is jam-packed with catchy hooks, cool riffs and beats that make you want to leap around like a madwoman. Believe me, I'd know. From the opening track to the closing one it's an exhibition of everything that is great about the British indie scene.
Track to sample: The Coast Is Always Changing

2. Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better
Franz Ferdinand? Not number one? What the...? Admittedly, it was a close call. The Franz's second effort easily surpasses their eponymous debut (although 'Take Me Out', 'Michael' and 'Matinee' have yet to be bettered) and is more experimental, more 'rock' and is even more lyrically bizarre than the first. It's packed with the catchiest of guitar riffs, and like their musical equivalent of younger brothers, Maximo Park, it's full of verve and energy, too. It's mellower moments provide a much needed contrast and 'Fade Together' (with vocals by Nick, as opposed to Alex) is particularly beautiful. The only thing that lets it down is the painful tempo-changing 'Well That Was Easy'.
Track to sample: Walk Away (acoustic)

1. Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous
Albums these days just aren't consistent enough. In an interview earlier this year, WL hero Nicky Wire said it was the first album he'd played back-to-back in a long time, so obviously I felt a need to have a listen myself. Strictly speaking, it's from 2004. However, since it was only let loose in the UK this year, and its had such an impact on me it seemed criminal to leave it out of my chart. And look - it's number one! Fronted by the gorgeous Jenny Lewis, Rilo Kiley present some gorgeous indiepop with a country tinge, and while it's possible just to bask in the glory of the music, the lyrical content here is also a triumph. Obscure in places, irresistably clever in others and all sung with such emotional conviction - it truly is breathtaking. Every track has something different to offer, but the track I've chosen to share with you all is a prime example of all that is great about 'More Adventurous' and is also my personal favourite.
Track to sample: Does He Love You?

Some other favourites from this year:
Brendan Benson - The Alternative To Love, KT Tunstall - Eye To The Telescope, Supergrass - Road To Rouen, The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan, Hal - Hal, Coldplay - X&Y, Missy Higgins - The Sound Of White, Elbow - Leaders of the Free World, Bright Eyes - Digital Ash In A Digital Urn, NightOnlyVisual - Skylines

Thank you for reading and commenting on WL this year. Hopefully 2006 will bring yet more great music!

Hannah's Singles of the Year - The Shortlist (Part C)

2005-12-22T21:15:00.000Z

This is the third part of my 'shortlist' for my single of the year. There are past singles of the week, as well as a few surprises! Some of the listed singles are accompanied by mp3s. These are for sampling purposes only, and I really recommend you go and buy the CD or one of those fancy legal downloads. I prefer CDs though. Or vinyl. Vinyl is good. Downloads will be up for a week and/or a limited number of downloads. Enjoy!

Stereophonics - Dakota
UK Chart Peak: 1
What I said at the time: "This week my single of the week just has to be 'Dakota' from the Stereophonics (I'm a fan...so shoot me)"
What I say now: "Possibly the least Stereophonics-like Stereophonics single of all time, which is probably why even the anti-Stereophonics brigade guiltily sat up and took notice. For the fans it was something amazing and easily the highlight of their set on their UK tour. It's just a real shame the later singles didn't even come close to this piece of absolute brilliance."
What I rated it then: ?/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Maximo Park - Apply Some Pressure
UK Chart Peak: 17
What I said at the time: "It's upbeat, with energetic angular guitar riffs, is full of pizazz and sparkle and has a definite sense of I'm-not-quite-sure-what-the-chorus-is...and the most impressive thing is it's not even their best."
What I say now: "Well, it's been out twice this year and frankly I expected to be sick of it by now, but I'm not! There's something magic about it, as there is with the whole album. But I've said it once, and I'll say it again - I really do not like Paul's hair!"
What I rated it then: 4.5/5
What I rate it now: 4.5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Elbow - Forget Myself
UK Chart Peak: 22
What I said at the time: "worms its way into your brain and superglues itself to the inside of your skull"
What I say now: "While Elbow don't have the same sort of catchiness as their supposed musical cousins Coldplay, there's something incredibly addictive about this single. I reckon it's the layered nature of the song - there's always something new to hear, even several months on."
What I rated it then: 4/5
What I rate it now: 4.5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Bright Eyes- First Day Of My Life
UK Chart Peak: 37
What I said at the time: "The song itself is nothing that will change the world, but its beauty lies in its simplicity and its tenderness."
What I say now: "It's the most gorgeous, heartstring-tugging, musical expression of love that's been released this year. Why 'You're Beautiful' gets all the success, god knows..."
What I rated it then: 3.5/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Mark Owen - Believe In The Boogie
UK Chart Peak: 57
What I said at the time: "I don’t care if it’s tragically uncool – I really do love this song and I’m definitely off to buy it this week."
What I say now: "Yes it's cheesy. Yes I will be the first to admit Mark isn't the world's best singer. But I LOVE this song. And surely the fact I'm confessing this proves exactly how much. How the mighty fall...and rise up again. Welcome back Take That!"
What I rated it then: 4.5/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

The Frames - Fake
UK Chart Peak: Did not chart :(
What I said at the time: "I can't find what I said!"
What I say now: "Having first heard this so long ago, it's done nothing but grow on me and grow on me. It's one of those genuine indie epics. There's such beautiful use of vocals, dynamics, guitars, strings - everything! I recommend it to Snow Patrol fans, actually."
What I rated it then: ?/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

The Go! Team - Bottle Rocket
UK Chart Peak: 64
What I said at the time: "It's a re-release, I think, but it's still the most innovative, interesting and, most importantly, good single out this week. It's funky, quirky, danceable, and irritatingly unclassifiable, but still brilliant."
What I say now: "What is this? Pop? Dance? Hiphop? Who cares? It's eccentric, colourful, fabulous and, most importantly, a lot of fun. It's able to melt the stubborn heart of any devout 'alternative/indie kid' any day."
What I rated it then: 5/5
What I rate it now: 4.5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Hannah's Single of the Week (19/12/05)

2005-12-22T08:54:00.000Z

While I'll give a special mention for the re-release of 'Fairytale of New York', the fact that it's the race for Christmas number one undoubtedly makes this release list a bit rubbish (for want of a stronger word). James Blunt, The Choirboys, G4 and...Santa - the future doesn't look bright. Even Girls Aloud have come out with a ballad that doesn't quite hit the spot. So, is there anything to like? Yes, yes there is.

Single of the Week:
Coldplay - 'Talk'
While 'X&Y', overall, was something of a disappointment, Coldplay have thankfully released one of the better songs on the album as a single. The Kraftwerk-sampling 'Talk' has a bit more pace than your average Coldplay song, is surprisingly catchy, and even has what could be the band's most entertaining video to date due to some of the most amusing overracting of the year. The video ('hurrah it's not a performance video'/'ooh, they're trying to be Radiohead' etc) is arguably the best thing about the release. That said, and despite the fact it's a stronger single than 'Speed Of Sound', it probably won't even make the top 10.

4/5

More Releases:
Barbra Streisand - Come Tomorrow, Battle - Wicked Owl [Download Only], Cantamus Girls Choir - Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime, The Choirboys - Tears In Heaven, Coldplay - Talk, Dusted - Always Remember, Eminem - When I’m Gone, G4 Ft Robin Gibb - First Of May/When A Child Is Born, Girls Aloud - See The Day, Hound Dogs - I Like Girls, James Blunt - Goodbye My Lover, Joseph & Mary Chain - 12 Days Of Christmas [7” only], Lisa Brown - What’s That Sound?, Lucie Silvas - Forget Me Not, Mary J Blige - Be Without You, Plan B - No Good/Sick To Death [7” only], Pogues and Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale In New York, Quireboys - Tears In Heaven, Santa - Is This The Way To Santa’s Grotto?, X Factor Winner (Shane) - That’s My Goal (December 21st)

What's your single of the week?

And who is your tip for Christmas number one?

Freelance Videowatch...with Elz

2005-12-20T15:58:00.000Z

Freelance Videowatch:
Pussycat Dolls - Stick Wit U (official site - the video is there, but I don't recommend you watch it)

I tried to sit through this video in its entirety and write a proper review, I honestly did. However, it hurt my brain far too much, so you'll have to cope with a review of the first minute or so that I actually managed to watch.

...they're just a bunch of strippers with a record contract! Come on! (No offence to any strippers who may be reading this; I find the Pussycat Dolls to be far less reputable than you.) I understand the song is meant to be a rousing tale of friendship and loyalty, but I can't get over the lack of grammar and clothing. The members of the "band" are all friends and love each other very much, so they wander around in hot-pants and miniscule skirts, signing things for impressionable children. Please, think of the children.

Maybe someone should think of the poor dog that they keep on their bus, which I think is a chihuahua dressed in an ugly sweater. I think it's safe to blame Paris Hilton for the tiny dog trend, and I hope for the sake of dogs everywhere that this video doesn't resurrect it.

Don't watch this if you value your mental health.
0/5

Lewis's single to avoid (19/12/05)

2005-12-19T15:12:00.000Z

James Blunt - 'Goodbye My Lover'
Apparently 'James Blunt' has entered the realms of Cockney rhyming slang, as a term for the female genital organs. Whatever could that be? Rarely has any form of language stemming from London retained such a sense of overarching perspective. Fresh from hauling the Queen Mother's corpse up to Westminster, the loathsome toff returns with this painfully tuneless piano dirge, presumably under the impression that it's Christmas, and that at Christmas people like this kind of dross. I urge you to resist. 'Did I disappoint you, or let you down?', he squeaks, by means of an opening line. No, James. We've never expected you to be anything but the amoebic twerp you've always been. In fact you're fulfilling that role as richly as ever. As a refrain he mumbles 'I'm so hollow, baby, I'm so hollow'. Is this James Blunt's great song of self-realization? Afraid not. The rest of the lyrics are too staggeringly bland for this to mean anything at all, really. It sounds like it should be used in a US teen drama, to soundtrack a scene in which one of the androgynously-named characters has recently snuffed it. That's all it's worth. Have you ever considered joining the Marines, James?
0/5

Freelance Videowatch...with Elz

2005-12-15T20:00:00.000Z

Freelance Videowatch:
KT Tunstall - Under The Weather (official site - with video and music clips)

Anyone who knows me knows of my almost fanatical love for KT Tunstall, and it just increased when she decided to release my favourite song from her debut album, Eye to the Telescope. "Under The Weather" is the first song I heard in full by KT, and in my opinion, should have been released long before now. The important thing to note is that the single is not the same as the album track, losing some of the more mournful tones in favour of the rocking rhythms seen in "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree".

But we're here to discuss the video. While I feel it could have done with more rain, the setting and idea really suits the song. I'd quite like to move into that caravan with KT myself - it looks cosy, and, although prone to random indoor hurricanes, is probably really quite comfortable. The most striking thing about this video is the simplicity. There are no special effects, no enormously fancy performance scenes. This video is about the music, and it's refreshing to see that. At the climax of the video we move on from shots of KT riding her bicycle, reading, sitting in her car and walking around in a field with a rainbow in the background to the aforementioned internal hurricane. She must have had an interesting childhood if that's what feels like home.

After racking my brains to try and work out exactly how many performance shots there are, I can only think of two, both of which are wonderfully understated. I can't actually fault this video, and it thrills me. Shame the song only got to number 39 in the charts.
5/5

Hannah's Singles of the Year - The Shortlist (Part B)

2005-12-15T10:31:00.000Z

This is the second part of my shortlist for WL Single of the Year 2005. For your listening pleasure I've included some mp3s. These mp3s are intended for sampling purposes only, and are being left up for a week, maximum. I also urge you, if you enjoy them, to buy the album/single they come from, because we definitely recommend them! If anyone owns the copyright and would like the tracks removed, please email us. Enjoy!

Charlotte Church - Crazy Chick
UK Chart Peak: 2
What I said at the time: "I was particularly impressed with Charlotte Church’s ‘Crazy Chick’, being won over by its brass section and distinct lack of obvious chorus."
What I say now: "At the time it was beaten by Beck's delightfully quirky 'Girl' but this funky little number has definitely grown on me since. I must say I was quite surprised to hear it in the first place, seeing as Charlotte appeared to be taking an Eva Cassidy direction as late as January this year. Personally I'm glad she came out with this instead - the second best 'pop' pop record of the year."
What I rated it then: 3.5/5
What I rate it now: 4.5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

The Futureheads - Hounds of Love
UK Chart Peak: 8
What I said at the time: "The Futureheads manage to successfully incorporate their signature style into an existing classic. It has 'hit' written all over it, and may be what really drags them into the mainstream."
What I say now: "Well, they didn't really get dragged into the mainstream, but for The Futureheads this song was a huge hit, and deservedly so. It's easily the best cover version of the year, possibly even of the decade so far. If you don't love it, there is something wrong with you."
What I rated it then: 3.5/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

The Magic Numbers - Forever Lost
UK Chart Peak: 15
What I said at the time: "If you haven't heard this song, you are seriously missing out. It's mellow, summery pop at its best, with some gorgeous harmonies...and lots of facial hair."
What I say now: "I love it now just as much as I did when it was released. Everything about it is so completely and utterly perfect - from the instrumentation, to the harmonies, and especially to that bit where they go a cappella. Leaves me with a warm fuzzy feeling inside."
What I rated it then: 5/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

KT Tunstall - Black Horse and The Cherry Tree
UK Chart Peak: 28
What I said at the time: I didn't!
What I say now: "Funnily enough, I didn't take too much notice of this song when it came out, considering it's release date was shared with two other singles that have made this shortlist, along with Kaiser Chiefs, who didn't. I think I do prefer KT when she's a little more upbeat, like this. Acoustic guitars, great beat, surging chorus - what's not to like?"
What I rated it then: ?/5
What I rate it now: 4.5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Charlotte Hatherley - Bastardo
UK Chart Peak: 31
What I said at the time: "Very seldom do you see credible guitar-pop perfection. It's not often you see a star-studded video, either. So, it's even more of a shock to the system when you see a remarkable song coupled with what is easily the best video of the year so far."
What I say now: "This is girl power-pop how it should be done. Take note, all you Faders and Love Bites types."
What I rated it then: 5/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Brendan Benson - Spit It Out
UK Chart Peak: 75
What I said at the time: "it's great, lively, fun pop - just homemade (Brendan plays almost all the instruments himself) and free of anything artificial"
What I say now: "The first great single from a great album. Yes, it's more singalong power pop (and there's a lot of it on this shortlist) but Mr Benson is one of these people who genuinely deserves to be bigger than he is, considering this song only just became his first top 75 UK hit. Hopefully soon that's going to change..."
What I rated it then: 4/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Rilo Kiley - Portions For Foxes
UK Chart Peak: Did not chart :(
What I said at the time: "Jonny sent it to me, and it's very good. That is all. Please buy."
What I say now: "This year Rilo Kiley have pretty much been my only solution for everybody's musical dilemmas. At every opportunity I've said 'listen to Rilo Kiley!' and hopefully there have been a few RK converts on the way. The thing is, I can't quite articulate how incredibly ACE this band is. Poptext (one of my favourite mp3 blogs) does a better job of that."
What I rated it then: 4/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Hannah's Single of the Week (12/12/05)

2005-12-14T10:00:00.000Z

Allow me to be brief. And possibly blunt. Having removed download-only singles and 12" singles from the chart...there's a heck of a lot of crap. Being totally honest, I haven't heard much of this week's selection, but what I have heard grades from 'not bad' to 'hilariously rubbish' and what I haven't heard generally inspires me to invest in some earplugs.

There are Christmas novelty releases hitting you left, right and centre. The Crazy Frog is trying yet again for another absurdly annoying chart smash, there's a dubiously named pop band manage to incorporate textspeak AND pointless brackets into ONE release, and those great musical pioneers 'The England Cricket Team' are even having a crack at the charts, helped by a lady who thought it was OK to sing with a member of Blue. Rrrrright.

Out of the 'real' releases of the week there is little to inspire anything resembling a creative review. McFly's 'Ultraviolet' has an intro which appears to mimic Starsailor, before charging in to 'textbook McFly' and not really introducing anything particularly new. Robbie Williams releases his typical piece of Christmas balladry - 'Advertising Space' - which I do like, but again, it seems suspiciously like every similar song he's done before. The good news? It's better than last year's 'Misunderstood'.

So, possibly by default, my Single of the Week reluctantly goes to The Subways, for their chirpy strumalong entitled 'No Goodbyes'. It's a nice contrast to previous singles 'Oh Yeah' and 'Rock And Roll Queen' exhibiting the band's mellower side. However, it's really only the best of a bad bunch.

All Releases:
Al Haca - Mindgames/Day Break [7” only], At The Lake - These Days, Crazy Frog - Jingle Bells/Can’t Touch This, Dave McCullen - B Tch, Dean Park - McElvis Presley’s Scottish Medley, Depeche Mode - A Pain That I Am Used To, Euros Childs - Donkey Island [7” only], Hell - Tragic Picture Show [7” only], Help, She Can’t Swim - Committing Social Suicide EP [7” only], Hot Pantz - (I’d Like To Give U) One 4 Christmas, Keedie Ft England Cricket Team - Jerusalem, Kubichek - Taxi [7” only], Levellers - Last Man Alive, Leya - On All My Sundays, Lisa Brown - What’s That Sound?, Long Blondes - Separated By Motorways [7” only], Mariah Carey - Don’t Forget About Us, McFly - The Ballad Of Paul K/Ultraviolet, New Emotion - 9 To 5, Nizlopi - JCB, Objects - Fifi Brown, Ozzy Osbourne - In My Life, Patrolman Pete - Ready To Roll, Performance - Surrender [7” only], Redshed - Boundaries, Robbie Williams - Advertising Space, Robert Pollard - I’m A Strong Lion, Ruff Ryders - Stay Down, Snipereyes - Ballet Machine, Southern Electrics - Save You, The Subways - No Goodbyes, T Raumschmiere - A Very Loud Lullaby [7” only], Temposhark - It’s Better To Have Loved, Trashcan Sinatras - Wild Mountainside, Water Babies - Under The Tree, Westlife & Diana Ross - When You Tell Me That You Love Me, The White Stripes - Walking With A Ghost EP

Lewis's single to avoid (12/12/05)

2005-12-12T12:42:00.000Z

Nizlopi - 'JCB'
That's right! I haven't got a heart, merely a swinging brick. This saccharine little tale is, on the surface, somewhat inoffensive; indeed, the music is quaint and melodic, almost bordering on pretty. What really lets this down, though, is the content. For a start, it sounds like it's being sung by a reader of Loaded magazine, evident in grating lines such as: "Me an' my dad 'avin' a top larf". It's awash with maudlin escapism, and the author's appreciation of his father is somewhat betrayed by the refrain of: "My dad's Bruce Lee". This displaces his father's role as the hero of the story - the adulation seems to be for someone like Bruce Lee, a true hero, rather than the diluted version that exists in reality. By making the comparison, he detracts from his father's own, personal qualities, instead projecting his desire for daddy to be someone he isn't, which makes his professed appreciation seems trite. Ultimately, this song is mass-produced sentimentality for a mawkish generation that is uncomfortable in its own skin; hence its aura of passive-aggressive masculinity. Many consider this kind of stuff heartfelt and heartwarming. To my mind, its cutesiness seems like a witless sales ploy.
1.5/5

Hannah's Singles of the Year - The Shortlist (Part A)

2005-12-08T19:21:00.000Z

So, as we enter December, I see it fit to round off the year with a shortlist of my favourite singles of this year before concluding by announcing my top 5 on New Year's Eve. Let's face it - you cannot place nearly 40 singles in an chart-like order without immediately regretting it, changing things round and confusing everybody.

Admittedly for a shortlist, it's not actually that short. Oh dear. However, amongst this lovely selection of the year's best singles there are some mp3s. These mp3s are intended for sampling purposes only, and we urge you to buy the album/single they come from, because they're so great! Downloads will be up for one week or 25 downloads - whatever happens first! If anyone owns the copyright and would like the tracks removed, please email us. Enjoy!

The WL Shortlist - Part A:

Manic Street Preachers - Empty Souls
UK Chart Peak: 2
What I said at the time: "Empty Souls' captured my heart straight off, leading to a Manic Street Preachers musical revival"
What I say now: "It got to number 2, but alas it didn't do much for the sales of Lifeblood. I still love it now, possibly more than before. Its multilayered chorus is sublime and while lyrically it's not the best the music easily overrides that. And they scrapped the 'twin towers' lyric for the single version - hurrah!"
What I rated it then: 4/5
What I rate it now: 4.5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Rachel Stevens - I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)
UK Chart Peak: 12
What I said at the time: "Nobody could front this other than Stevens. I'm not a pop lover, normally, but this is FANTASTIC."
What I say now: "It's probably the best pop song of its sort this year. I want to buy her album, and I'm not normally a pop fan! Rachel is a poptastic goddess."
What I rated it then: 4.5/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Foo Fighters - DOA
UK Chart Peak: 25
What I said at the time: "addictive 360 degree rock from the unlikely Supergrass fans."
What I say now: "Obviously then I was going through my 'minimalist' blogger period when this was released, but this definitely deserves more attention than it got. The chorus is simple, and probably a bit cheesy, but insanely good, and the video combines stunning visual ideas with the Foo's quirkiness. Love it."
What I rated it then: 3.5/5
What I rate it now: 4.5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Hal - Play The Hits
UK Chart Peak: 38
What I said at the time: I didn't. The focus was all on Razorlight.
What I say now: "They do summery sixties-esque pop better than the Thrills or anyone else Ireland wants to send over and this is possibly the best and hookiest track from their debut album. Deliciously upbeat and has more 'choruses' than you can count"
What I rated it then: I didn't.
What I rate it now: 4.5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Protocol - She Waits For Me
UK Chart Peak: 65
What I said at the time: " The lead singer may have the most offputting hair since the time Alex Kapranos rid himself of his trademark 'do, but that's about the only critical thing I can say here."
What I say now: "He still has that hair in the new video, but generally things are looking promising for Protocol. Their followup single is still pretty good and they put the life back into the genre that The Bravery took so much out of. I still adore the energy of this song, and the singer has an unusually nice voice."
What I rated it then: 5/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Patrick Wolf - Tristan
UK Chart Peak: Did not chart
What I said at the time: "[This] features Patrick growling and wailing to great effect, alongside some stunning instrumentation so unlike the contents of your average chart single. Oh Patrick - we are not worthy!"
What I say now: "The main appeal for me about Patrick Wolf is there really is nobody else quite like him. He's a genuine talent, a genuine eccentric and a writer's nightmare as his stunning music defies description."
What I rated it then: 5/5
What I rate it now: 5/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Coldplay - Fix You
UK Chart Peak: 4
What I said at the time: "As the stand out track from X&Y (which doesn't really live up to the hype) it allows forgiveness for the pretty average 'Speed of Sound' and is an instant fan favourite, capturing the essence of everything that is Coldplay."
What I say now: "It's suffered somewhat from tragic overplaying on radio and TV, and I now prefer 'Talk', but 'Fix You' still has something magical about it, especially when you're singing along as part of a choir of thousands. And yes, my 'presence' in the video does cause me to be a bit biased. ;)"
What I rated it then: 5/5
What I rate it now: 4/5
- original post -//- official site -//- video -//- mp3 -

Hannah's Single of the Week (05/12/05)

2005-12-06T15:03:00.000Z

Argh - Christmas novelty singles! Tony Christie! Tony Christie doing a Christmas novelty single! Hide! And so on, and so forth...Peter Kay's too busy trying to make Texas interesting by directing and starring in their new video. A tough job (making Texas interesting) but somebody's got to do it. However, there is a pocketful of releases I really like this week, which I've somewhat struggled to pick from. Gwen Stefani's brand of glossy electropop is still in my good books, and 'Luxurious' is a great fifth single, but is still a fifth single - not always a good thing. Royksopp have also released the marvellous 'What Else Is There?' which I also recommend. 'Ugly' by the Sugababes has a frustratingly catchy melody. Frustrating because the 'poignant' (according to one journalist) lyrics are a load of rubbish. For further information, see this week's post from Lewis.

Special Mentions:
Franz Ferdinand - 'Walk Away' (official site)
On Monday last week I went to see Franz Ferdinand. It was a bad gig for all the wrong reasons (and I'm not telling that story again) but the boys themselves were marvellous. I'm very much regretting missing this song from their set (and Paul the drummer picking up the guitar!) although when 'YCHISMB' first came out I never thought I would. Upon first listen, 'Walk Away' seems a weak Franz track. It's certainly the most sedate thing they've released as a single and certainly it's no 'Matinee'. It is, however, a grower, and definitely has less potential to get on your nerves in comparison with 'Do You Want To?'. Essentially, I love it, but I think that's because I'm a dedicated fan of Kapranos and co. If it wasn't them, I'd still like it, but I certainly wouldn't be raving about it.
4/5

KT Tunstall - 'Under The Weather' (official site)
Back in July of this year, I requested tracks from my various blogger buddies for a 'mystery mix cd' with their artist/title details removed. Our own dear Elz sent me this track, which was my immediate favourite on the CD and I listened to it repeatedly while lying in a caravan in northern France, feeling ill, while it pissed it down outside for a whole week. How incredibly fitting it is, then, that KT filmed the video for this in a strikingly similar setting. It certainly sums up the feeling of British weather and British melancholy (see Bill Bailey - Part Troll) though. The song itself is a gathering storm from the gentle acoustic sway of the verse to the passionate, driven middle-eight. However, the single sounds suspiciously like a re-recording and, having heard it first on 'Eye To The Telescope', I prefer the album version.
4.5/5

Single of the Week:
The Strokes - 'Juicebox' (official site)
Ah, The Strokes. A definite change in direction was needed after the disappointment that was 'Room On Fire' (ignoring 'Reptilia') and this down-and-dirty, rough-and-ready rocker definitely fits the bill. I would say more, but Fish has said it all. Breathtaking.
5/5

More Releases (ones I've heard in bold)
Adrian Munsey - A Wider Sky, Akon - Pot Of Gold, Alfa 9 - For You Bones [7” only], Bled - My Assassin [7” only], Bob Marley & The Wailers - Stand Up Jamrock, Braund Reynolds - Rocket, Brian Wilson - What I Really Want For Christmas, Captain - Frontline, Charlotte Church - Even God Can’t Change The Past, Colder - To The Music, Computerman - No More Broken Hearts, The Cribs - You’re Gonna Lose Us/Wrong Way To Be, DHT Ft Edmee - Listen To Your Heart, Enya - Amarantine, Flash Brothers - Faith In Love [12” only], Franz Ferdinand - Walk Away, Gwen Stefani - Luxurious, Hell - Tragic Picture Show [7” only], Herd & Fitz Ft Abigail Bailey - I Just Can't Get Enough, Il Divo - O Holy Night/Christmas Card, Imperial Vipers - Promised Land [7” only], John Legend - So High, Kanye West - Heard ‘Em Say, Katie Melua - I Cried For You/Just Like Heaven, KT Tunstall - Under The Weather, Lenny Fontana Ft Octah Via - The Way, Leya - On All My Sundays, Magnet - Fall At Your Feet, Milk Kan - Bling Bling Baby, Mystery Jets - Alas Agnes, Objects - Fifi Brown, Paul Weller - Here’s The Good News, Pink Mountaintops - Ones I Love [7” only], Rolling Stones - Rain Fall Down, Royksopp - What Else Is There?, Story One - Beggars Belief EP, The Strokes - Juicebox, Sugababes - Ugly, Tom Stephan Ft Katherine Ellis - Here I Come [12” only], Tony Christie - Merry Christmas Everybody

What's your single of the week?

Fish does the singles (05/12/05)

2005-12-05T18:08:00.000Z

You should all go out and buy 'For Your Bones' by Alfa 9, because I said so. I haven’t actually heard it. But wait! I've seen them live, and I swear they're wonderful. Born and bred Stokies trying to do something with more of an indie/alternative edge within the local rock/punk scene, this could be their shot at getting a niche in the wider musical world. Please, support a good cause - Stoke should not be renowned for Robbie Williams!
3/5

I enjoy 'Walk Away' by the right honourable Franz Ferdinand rather a lot. It’s not classic Franz in my opinion, but still mighty enjoyable. I’m not going to say anything else, because I’m sure Hannah will.
3/5

The fourth and presumably final single from 'Eye to the Telescope', 'Under the Weather', is yet another faultlessly beautiful song from the wonderful Miss KT Tunstall. The song itself seems to grow and bloom – from a blissful acoustic intro and chorus to a full-blown, passionate ‘yes it feels like home!’ bridge and then back again. KT is without a doubt the best of the singer/songwriters out there if you ask me. Not only that, but I want to steal half the clothes she wears in the video, because her dress sense is just that good.
5/5

Any other time KT would own my Single of the Week, but unfortunately for her this is the week which hails the release of an snarling rabid beast of a new single from The Strokes in the form of 'Juicebox'. They’ve gone heavy! They’ve got the storming bass line that they should have given Nikolai years ago! They’re got omgz hott boy-on-boy, girl-on-girl, grandma-on-floor action in the video! They’ve got Julian shouting rather than mumbling! They’ve got slightly less jangly guitars! They’ve gone absolutely mental, and it’s fantastic! Oh my God, lemme sit down. This DOES excite me.
I’ve had a hell of a soft spot for The Strokes for years, but I’ve been waiting for them to bring out this sort of song and show me exactly what they’re capable of – because they can raise the bar a thousand feet above the drippy indie-schmindie drivel of 'Last Nite', and I know it.
'Reptilia' was pushing it, but this one packs the full punch. Fast-paced, bass-heavy, super-sexy, in-your-face indie rock. I was dreading 'First Impressions Of Earth' because I thought it’d be the album that killed them. Now, however, I think it’s going to be their rebirth, if this song is anything to go by. The Strokes' proverbial room is very much on fire, folks.
5/5

Lewis's Single to Avoid (05/12/05)

2005-12-05T09:25:00.000Z

Sugababes - 'Ugly'
If you ever see fit to observe a few episodes of Eastenders, that staunch bastion of the BBC schedules, you will notice a rather irritating trend. As Peggy Mitchell does her "Ya can only rely on yer fahmily" bit for the eightieth time in half an hour, you realise that Eastenders is a morass of cod philosophy that patronises the viewer to death, in a bid to make it sound sage and meaningful. For their latest release, the Sugatrouts and their management have decided to employ such tactics, whilst cashing in on the BBC's latest cause célèbre, bullying. How ironic then, that certain allegations seem to hang around Keisha and Mutya (le mot juste!) like a bad smell - allegations of, er, bullying. The lyrics are, as you might expect, sod-awful: 'Everybody talks bad about somebody / And never realises how it affects somebody...'. This is sub-GCSE level stuff. And let us not forget the vomit-inducing refrain: 'People are all the same / we only get judged by what we do...'. So, let us judge. By these standards, Sugababes, you are dreary, and 'Ugly' is sanctimonious, asinine and aggressive. In short, you are bullying us.
1/5

Freelance Videowatch...with Elz

2005-12-03T11:03:00.000Z

Freelance Videowatch:
The Futureheads - Area (official site - videos and much more)

You can't get much better than the Futureheads. Punk-indie-rock stuff that can be beaten by very little, and you have no idea how pleased I was when I heard about "Area", the stand-alone EP with some lovely new tracks (which, as Hannah mentioned, probably won't be on the second album).

My first observation about the video is that it's no "Hounds of Love". My second observation is "scrolly-scrolly-scrolly", and while I could go on about that for a while, it wouldn't make for an interesting read. So we'll get some details. The video is primarily in black and white, although there are also bits of muted colours and yellow. Bright, bright yellow with mirrors. We also have bright lights, and I'm seeing a theme: the Futureheads want their fans blind for reasons I can't work out. Answers on a postcard or in a comment! In more video-related issues, there are a few moments vaguely reminiscent of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" video, when the four 'Heads are standing back to back and rotating.

The action barely stops at all, bar a few instances where the scrolling frames pause, which allows you to see Barry Hyde's face! Also included are some of the brilliant performance shots that we've come to know, love and expect from the Futureheads, and also when they're behind chain-link fencing. Got to keep those boys in their area.

Okay, I'll admit it. I have no idea what's going on in the video, but aesthetically, it's fantastic, not that I'd expect anything less. The only suggestion I can make to improve the video is giving out free sunglasses with each copy, but if their nefarious plan is to blind us, I suppose that's why they don't. Clever boys.
4.5/5

Hannah's Single of the Week (28/11/05)

2005-12-01T14:00:00.000Z

Sorry this has taken so long! Lewis is having a week off and there is so little music of interest this week. Tsk. The Pussycat Dolls are doing a Mariah Carey (oh dear) and both Sean Paul and David Gray have singles out. Doesn't look promising, does it? To be honest, I'm far too busy putting together my 'Singles of 2005' - guaranteed to contain less trash than the ridiculous 'Single of the Year' thing on ITV and far more likely to generate a worthy winner. Anyway, onto the remotely decent stuff that's out this week...

Single of the Week:
Futureheads - 'Area' (official site - includes video)
And they're back. Can 'Area' match the fleeting top 10 success of the northern lads' Kate Bush cover? Unlikely, but that doesn't matter. 'Area' takes everything that is good about Futureheads songs to create what could be seen as the ultimate Futureheads track. There are four-part harmonies galore, a frantic, unconventional structure, catchy, energetic guitar riffs and a performance video that actually manages to look vaguely exciting, even if it is unfortunately puppy-free. It also has an irresistable vocals-only ending. And, just to warn you, this is a stand-alone release, so if you don't buy the single it's unlikely to pop up on their second album!
4/5

Special Mention:
Sigur Ros - 'Hoppipolla' (official site - includes video)
Have I typed that right? I think I've typed that right. My friend is a huuuuge Sigur Ros fan, so I jolly well better have typed that right! Usually, I tread rather carefully around foreign language songs, purely because I have no idea what they're singing about. However, the sheer musical magic of Sigur Ros means that here the lyrics do not matter. A tremendous amount of emotion and feeling is conveyed in the music alone. In that aspect it's very similar to a segment of a film soundtrack. The piano, in particularly, is beautiful, but so is the entire instrumentation. It's one of those tracks that is so rich in musical flavour you could listen for days and still be discovering new things about it. Absolutely gorgeous.
4/5

Avoid at ALL costs:
Oasis - 'Let There Be Love' (official site)
Branded as 'classic Oasis' by one music video channel, 'Let There Be Love' is something of a disappointing follow-up to the wonderful 'The Importance Of Being Idle'. 'Classic Oasis' is simply a phrase I do not understand, unless it's a polite way to say 'flaccid rehash of stuff they've done before' because essentially this is what this single is. It goes nowhere. It doesn't develop. You simply sit there waiting for it to end as it plods along hopelessly. Oh, and the Radio 1 chart show monkeys think it's the best thing they've ever done. A bad sign if ever there was one.
1.5/5

All Releases (ones I've heard in bold):
Babyshambles - Albion, Blink 182 - Not Now, Bob Marley & The Wailers - Africa Unite, Celebration - Diamonds [7” only], Conner Reeves - Welcome To The Future EP, David Gray - Hospital Food, Dogs - Tarred And Feathered, Early Year - Backlight EP, The Futureheads - Area, Jamie Cullum - Mind Trick, Kalev - Undoing [7” only], Kelly Clarkson - Because Of You, King Creosote - Bootprints, Kings Of Tomorrow - 6 PM, Lucky Pierre & The Notes - I Hate T Shirts That Say 1977, Maccabees - X Ray [7” only], Multi Purpose Chemical - Cult EP, Oasis - Let There Be Love, October All Over - 2005 BC, Oversol - Speed, Pussycat Dolls - Stickwithu, Rex The Dog - Prototype [7” only], Richard Grey Pts United State Of House - Phat Bass/Albatross [12” only], Rihanna - If It’s Lovin That You Want, Sean Paul - Ever Blazin’, Shimm 1 - You Get Me, Shy Child - Noise Won’t Stop [7” only], Sigur Ros - Hoppipolla, Smother - A New Formation Of The Truth, Sound Explosion - Apollo, Spinto Band - Mountains/Brown Boxes [7” only], Spit Like This - Dragged Kicking And Screaming EP, Stevie Wonder - Positivity, Tina Cousins - Wonderful Life, Two Gallants - Las Cruces Jail [7” only], Viva Voce - Wrecking Ball [7” only], Waking Eyes - Watch Your Money [7” only], Weapons Of Mass Belief - Death Of A Nation, Wolf & Cub - Steal Their Gold/Thousand Cuts

What's your single of the week?

Freelance Videowatch...with Elz

2005-11-26T13:13:00.000Z

Freelance Videowatch:
Gorillaz - Dirty Harry (official site, video at NME.com)

I'm a fan of Gorillaz. I don't own either of their albums, nor have I bought any of their singles, but I like them nonetheless. And "Dirty Harry" is another above-par single from their second album, "Demon Days", with the video combining the brilliance of deserts, tanks, snot-covered children and keyboards. Oh, and a small lizard of some sort in a fez. Marvellous.

As everyone knows, Gorillaz are four cartoon people in a band, and their videos reflect this. They blend live-action rapping blokes with (cartoon) Noodle in a (real) tank. The desert is real too, and, if you can suspend your belief for just a wee while, the characters could actually be there. The chorus is sung by the snotty, fighting children - although hopefully not in reality - and in this video, we actually get something that reflects the lyrics! Brilliant! If you haven't spotted it for yourself, the desert and bright sunlight is quite obviously a reference to the lyric "The poor people are burning in the sun". I'm still not sure what this has to do with needing a gun, though.

Although the video threatens to get boring at times, the hypnotic beat manages to keep your attention firmly fixed on the screen. Also, there's a lizard in a fez. I feel sort of awful recommending you watch a video because there's a lizard in a fez, but... he's so cute! He makes the entire video worthwhile.

A small sidenote: I still can't remember who the rapping bloke is.
4/5

Hannah's Single of the Week (21/11/05)

2005-11-25T12:53:00.000Z

Single of the Week:
The Decemberists - 16 Military Wives (official site)
I think something a little eccentric is necessary, this week. Yep. Let's have a little eccentricity to combat the dulling tedium of the majority of this week's releases, and let it come in the form of The Decemberists. This instantly enjoyable little number is a witty tongue-in-cheek statement about America, celebrity culture and the war in Iraq, amongst other things. Quite unlike many of their Bush-bashing contemporaries, The Decemberists have treated their subject matter in an almost amusing way, resulting in a piece of music you can enjoy even if you don't care too much about the politics. There's a jaunty offbeat rhythm, a singalong melody, plenty of brass and it's better than all the stuff below put together. It's a sad thing that it won't even break into the top 75.
4.5/5

Worth a mention:
Stereophonics - Rewind (official site includes video)
Dear Stereophonics,
You rocked it live when I saw you earlier this year, played a great set and I had a really good time, but for every 'Dakota' there is unfortunately a 'Rewind'. I take back what I said earlier in the year. 'Superman' and 'Devil' are growers, but they're still not up to the standard of the first single from your current album. For every earth-shaking, amazing, rocker of a track that you release, there are at least two that plod along and don't really do an awful lot. The video is clever, concluding and reflecting on the story told by the previous three, and the song definitely has that 'reflective' feel to it. It's pleasant. It's verging on sweet. But it's no 'Dakota' and I definitely feel like it's all been done before.
3/5

Goldie Lookin' Chain - R'n'B (official site)
The moment came just over 10 months ago. In a packed stadium with an audience that was approximately 75% Welsh (we were in Cardiff, after all) the GLC stormed the stage with an entrance that received more enthusiasm than most of the earlier billed acts put together. At the time, I couldn't comprehended exactly why it seemed the entire crowd was shouting and bouncing along to a gang of bizarrely named, overweight, chavvish types rapping in Welsh accents. But hell - it was fun. Since then, I've not really taken GLC particularly seriously, and simply took the opportunity to laugh at the odd gem of a line in their songs. The thing is, 'R'n'B' doesn't carry the same humour as their earlier efforts, and as a listen it comes across as cliched, cheesy and boring. That's probably the ironic intention, but this song isn't up to scratch.
2.5/5

Gorillaz - 'Dirty Harry' (official site includes video)
There is a peculiar musical phenomenon known as the 'Gorillaz-threshold'. Well, in my head there is, anyway. Let's face it - the idea of Gorillaz is a result of pure genius, the songwriting, production and artistic talent behind the 'band' are some of the best around, and they have definitely been one of the most innovative acts of the decade so far. However, with their second album 'Demon Days' this indie/hip-hop/pop (what are they?!) group have had each and every single endure a fate worse than death (possibly.) - being ridiculously overplayed, whether on radio or TV. 'Dare' was unavoidable on the lead-up to its release and for some time afterwards, 'Feel Good Inc' stuck around for several months and 'Dirty Harry', complete with a similar repetitive nature has exhausted its appeal by being used as the soundtrack for the latest Radio 1 ad campaign. It's not a bad song, but it's reached the 'Gorillaz-threshold' far more quickly than the singles before it and now has a tendency to get on my nerves.
3/5

Singles out (ones I've heard in bold):
50 Cent - Window Shopper, Akira The Don - Clones, Alkaline Trio - Mercy Me, Anastacia - Pieces Of A Dream, Andrew Thompson - There Must Be Some Kind Of Misunderstanding, Antony & The Johnsons - You Are My Sister, Automatic - Recover, Biz - Stand By You, Bob Marley & The Wailers - Slogans, Buck 65 - Kennedy Killed The Hat, Calla - It Dawned On Me, The Dead 60s - Ghostfaced Killer, The Decemberists - 16 Military Wives, Deep Dish - Sacramento, Devendra Banhart - Heard Somebody Say, Field Music - If Only The Moon Were Up, Foo Fighters - Resolve, Freefaller - She’s My Everything/Basket Case, Goldie Lookin’ Chain - R’n’B, Gorillaz - Dirty Harry, Hot Puppies - Terry/Love In Practice (Not In Theory), I Am Kloot - Maybe I Should, John Peel Tribute - Ever Fallen In Love?, Korn - Twisted Transistor, Lady Sovereign Ft Basement Jaxx - Hoodie, Linus Loves - Victoria’s Principle EP, Mara Carlyle - Baby Bloodheart, Marvin Gaye - The Lord’s Prayer, Michael Buble - Home/Song For You, Mint Royale - Effect On Me, Paul McCartney - Jenny Wren, Playgroup - Front To Back, Reel People - Rain, Schwab - DJs In A Row, Shitdisco - Discoblood, Silver Sun - Immediate, Snow White - EP, Space Brothers - Everywhere I Go [12” only], Stereophonics - Rewind, System Of A Down - Hypnotize [7” only], Tom Novy - Your Body, Tricky Nixon - Kick

What's your single of the week?

Hannah's Single of Last Week (14/11/05)

2005-11-24T09:45:00.000Z

Only a few precious weeks left until the general public are plagued by novelty Christmas releases (although I may have spoken too soon - check the listings!), rubbish pop, and chart shake-ups. Let's enjoy a normal week of big releases while it lasts, eh? This is a week late because I've been rather pre-occupied with other things, but I'd written a good proportion already, so it was a waste not to include it. This week's reviews will be published by the weekend - enjoy!

Single of the Week:
The White Stripes - The Denial Twist
Last week it was Jack White's mate. This week it's Jack White himself. With Meg, obviously. So Detroit does have a decent popular alternative to Eminem? Hurrah! 'The Denial Twist' isn't as instant as previous (and just as impressive) singles from 'Get Behind Me Satan' - 'Blue Orchid' and 'My Doorbell' - but after a few listens its funky piano-driven verse complete with Meg's trademark clashing cymbals seems near-perfectly constructed and it's impossible to ever imagine you didn't love it. The accompanying video, directed by Michel Gondry is suitably 'twisted' and verging on headache inducing, seeing Jack and Meg stretched and squashed to ridiculous proportions throughout. I won't say any more, because it'll spoil the surprise, but I urge you to watch it!
4/5

Special Mentions:
Girls Aloud- Biology
Both of my special mentions this week are girl bands of the pop variety, and, aside from that and the ability to serve a purpose as eye candy, that's where the similarity ends. Oh, apart from the fact that they render almost every other girl band on the planet completely uninteresting and uninspiring. Of course, in this case, the credit goes to the songwriters as Girls Aloud present one of the most bizarrely structured pieces of pop I have ever heard. Referring to Julia's review on the open blog, it does sound, at first listen, shambolic, in a similar way to 'Love Machine' but it's a grower, even if I still don't think it all fits together quite right. It seems I'm not the only blogger to have a soft spot for these babes of reality-tv-pop - they've topped a recent poll of the 'UK's Hottest 47 Acts' here. Nice.
3.5/5

The Pipettes - Dirty Mind
Clad in polka-dot dresses, looking and sounding like their time machine crashed in the wrong decade are The Pipettes. Not that this, in any way, is a bad thing. I asked their biggest fan, Jonny, to review them for the open blog, but refused, saying you simply have to watch the video. He's got a point, I think. Great, fun, pop music that defies 2005's girl-pop conventions, cheeky presentation, lyrics that make you smile...and it's made the top 75 - hurrah!
3.5/5

Other Releases:
Green Day finally unleash their massive rock opera, 'Jesus Of Suburbia', this week. It's the fifth (and hopefully the last) single from their huge album, American Idiot. I only heard it once, on the radio, months ago, but apparently it's very good.

Of course, it being Children In Need on Friday (gosh, that crept up on me fast) there's the usual charity cover version on the shelves. Past releases have come from S Club, Westlife, and even Shane Ritchie, but this year, the now-triumphant losers of pop reality TV, Liberty X, are back with a double A side - 'A Night To Remember/Everybody Dance'. Needless to say the former track is so like the original it's got me wondering whether they've even covered it at all, and it's just a re-release with their faces on the front!

Will Young, who has so far had the most success out of reality TV pop is back with the lead single from his new album. This electro-sounding creation is called 'Switch It On' and whaddya know? It isn't half bad. Not great, but not bad, either.

Avoid at ALL costs:
The Darkness - One Way Ticket
Lewis has had his say, and unlike last week I completely agree. I don't get it - the critics (albeit from Total Guitar and Q Magazine) appear to love it - bad sign. My brother appears to love it - extremely bad sign. The phrase 'it's ridiculous, but it's still great' is starting to wear on me when it applies to Justin Hawkins and co. The song is lyrically rubbish, musically cliched (a part sounds exactly like 'I Believe In A Thing Called Love') and the unsubtle coke references (especially when watching the video) are cringeworthy. Oh, and the video in general is terrible, too. Most people disliked British Whale, but at least in that case Justin started out with a half-decent song.
1/5

Major Releases: (ones I've heard in bold)
3rd Dan - Fall From Grace, Answer - Never Too Late, Athlete - Twenty Four Hours, Black Eyed Peas - My Humps, Blackbud - Heartbeat EP, Bob Marley & The Wailers - Sun Is Shining, Coldcut - Everything Is Under Control, Conway Story - Photogenic, Cream v The Hoxtons - Sunshine Of Your Love, Daniel Agust - If You Leave Me Now, The Darkness - One Way Ticket, David Bowie & Bing Crosby - Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy, Dirty Perfect - Lines, Opiates & The Demented, Enya - Amarantine, Film School - Alwaysnever, Fort Minor - Believe Me, Frank Popp Ensemble - Love Is On Our Side, Freedom Angels - Tease Me, Funeral For A Friend - History, Gemma Hayes - Happy Sad, Girls Aloud - Biology, Gledhill - Remain, Gliss - Blue Sky, Green Day - Jesus Of Suburbia, Hoboken - Beauty Queen, Jack Johnson - Sitting, Waiting, Wishing, Jaguar Wright - Free, Jay J - With Him, John Butler Trio - Zebra, Keren Ann - Chelsea Burns, Kid 606 - Done With Scene, Liberty X - A Night To Remember/Everybody Dance, The Like - What I Say And What I Mean, Louie - Trees/One Big Repeat, Love To Infinity Ft Charlotte Day - Finally, Lupen Crook - Halloween, Modern - Jane Falls Down, The Pipettes - Dirty Mind, The Rasmus - Sail Away, The Sessions - Troubled Life Of No One Else, The Sirens - Love Hurts, System Of A Down - Hypnotize, Tommy Lee - Good Times, Towers Of London - How Rude She Was, TV OD - Z List Pop Stars, Twista Ft Trey Songz - Girl Tonite, The Used - I Caught Fire, The White Stripes - The Denial Twist, Will Young - Switch It On

Single to avoid (21/11/05)

2005-11-21T11:36:00.000Z

Devendra Banhart - 'Heard Somebody Say'
The first time I heard of Devendra Banhart, I thought he was a woman. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that he was no etiolated indie songstress, mewing like a Victorian orphan selling oranges - but a ludicrously bearded folkie. Well well well. He seems rather like a caricature of yer average earthy minstrel, all wispy hirsuteness and limp-wristed simperings. Designed to appear small, well crafted and delicately profound, this effort is actually somewhat plodding and fatuous. The wailing drones in the background do nothing for it, and the lyrics aren't much better: 'Here's what we believe / It's simple / We don't want to kill'. Spoken like a true folkie. Songs like this often hang on a knife edge - when done properly they retain a quiet, wholesome charm; when done like this they are utterly mundane. Stick to the cheese adverts, Dev.
1.5/5

Fish Does The Singles (14/11/05)

2005-11-16T14:26:00.000Z

Fish's Single of the Week
Funeral For A Friend – History

This gorgeous ballad from the screamo 'It'-band of the moment really is quite astonishingly good. It's also incredibly tender for a band so very fond of YELLING AT THE MICROPHONE LIKE IT JUST KILLED THEIR PUPPY, but loses no power for this. In fact, I think it gains force and poignancy, and I'd love to see more of this breed of song from FFAF.
I have to admit I didn't think much of it on first listen, or second, for that matter, but it's a complete grower. In fact, I'm nearly prepared to say it betters previous single 'Streetcar' from second album 'Hours', and sheesh, did I LOVE that song. Whereas 'Streetcar' was an immediate hit, 'History' is much more subtle, creeping into your mind rather than hammering it's way in. You know what they say - the best songs don't grab you straight off. A gentle guitar riff, melodic vocals, heartfelt chants, simple yet perfectly effective lyrics. Ask me to review it again in another few weeks and I'm sure I'd have a lot more to say about it because it's still working its magic on me.
The video and inspiration behind the song deserve special mentions too.
While at times said video is a little… well, odd (the band playing in the midst of rioting miners), it has the same quiet strength as the song itself, with actors who are extremely convincing. Some may watch and think 'blah, emotional over-the-top twaddlery' which eh, I did a bit at first, but if you allow yourself to really get into it, it complements the song wonderfully.
The miner's strike, subsequent decline in industry, and collossal lasting effect it has had, and is still having, on the area and its people is something that's all too easy to see and feel around my home town (Stoke-On-Trent). 'Raise your fingers for one last salute… bleed this skyline dry, your history is mine.' Amen.
This is a subject that definitely hits a nerve for me, and the song aptly serves as a soundtrack. Beautiful.
5/5

Other not-quite recommendations:

The Used - I Caught Fire:
O The Used, I do love thee. One of the standout tracks from 'In Love And Death'. I'll be the first to admit they've definitely lost the spark they had on their first album, but there's still a little ember burning in The Used. Kindly introduce it to a forest and let's have the old you back, boys.

Green Day - Jesus Of Suburbia:
Green Day have become so up themselves it makes me want to cry. This song is a melodramatic self-pitiful slice of crap. I do not recognise this band as the same people who came up with 'Hitchin' A Ride' or 'Good Riddance'. For shame.

The Darkness - One Way Ticket:
Dear The Darkness. I hate you. You are not funny. You are not inventive. You are not 'the saviours of rock'. You are not anything but a viable shotgun target. Please relocate yourself from the charts to a shooting lane. Thank you. P.S. - IT'S CALLED A RETURN TICKET, RETARDS.