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Reviews by Paul White, Jack Foley & Simon Pinion
INDIELONDON is proud to present its rundown of the singles we have been listening to over recent weeks, complete with release dates, our verdict, and a link to buy them (just click on the record cover).
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25:
LIAM
LYNCH - UNITED STATES OF WHATEVER:
Everyone seems to be raving about the genius of musician, actor, songwriter
Liam Lynch at the moment, as his debut single, United States of Whatever,
finally gets a release. And while there is certainly a novelty value to the
record, the praise may be a little premature. Fun at first, and oh-so-quick
to listen to (it comes in at a mere 1min 26secs), this comic slice of garage-rock
soon becomes tiresome and forgettable. Oh, and the track is actually two years
old. So maybe the time was right, given that there is very little to choose
from in the charts at the moment. Best described as 'yeah, like, whatever...'
THE
THRILLS - SANTA CRUZ:
Given that this week's new releases are dominated by the putrid likes of Darius,
Celine Dion, Ronan Keating and Atomic Kitten, we have had to go back a few
weeks to an overlooked little gem to find our single of the week. Hailing
from Dublin, The Thrills debut single, the joyously catchy Santa Cruz, has
been described as a Ben Folds Five for a new generation, while being hailed
by the NME as the debut single of the year. Featuring a classic bar-room piano,
Santa Cruz gives way to a really feelgood chorus and some terrific lyrics.
They have already been tipped as a band to watch by Morrissey, so remember
the name. These guys look set to Thrill for some time yet!
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18:
CRAZY
TOWN - DROWNING:
The current fascination for all-things US rock shows no sign of abating, if
this week's releases are anything to go by. Following on from their phenomenal
success with Butterfly, Crazy Town return with the first track to be taken
from their new album, Drowning. It is a typically in-yer-face combination
of gutsy rap-rock, produced by Howard Benson, of POD, and mixed by Chris Lord-Alge
(Sugar Ray, Hole), which fuses the trademark heavy guitar rifts with the hip-hop
inspired background beats and lyrical styles. It may sound just like any other
Linkin Park/Sum 41 wannabe, but its catchy chorus and aggressive style just
about serve to help it stand out from the pack. For that reason, it just about
cuts it as Indielondon's single of the week.
SUM
41 - STILL WAITING:
Back by pop culture demand, Sum 41 get all angst-ridden for Still Waiting,
a pop-punk rant against the state of the world and all things bad, which still
manages to maintain the band's capacity for producing upbeat rockers. It remains
to be seen whether the darker, more volatile tone of the single marks a change
of direction from the youthful naivety of their earlier stuff, but it certainly
delivers the goods in terms of what fans are looking for. Both CDs include
bonus and live tracks, while CD1 features the hilarious video featuring the
band baiting the likes of White Stripes, Strokes and Hives. Click here
to access the exclusive Sum 41 tool, courtest of Indielondon and Outside Line.
A
- SOMETHING'S GOING ON:
Yet more rock and, yes, it is beginning to sound the same. A have had a great
year, however, and there's no denying that. Hot off the back of hit singles
Nothing and Starbucks, a critically-acclaimed album, sell-out tours and a
Kerrang! award (for Britain's Best Band), A round off proceedings for 2002
with another fiery rock anthem, which still manages to sound catchy no matter
how many times you think you've heard it before (no doubt played by one of
the bands mentioned above!). Rock fans will be in heaven, but the rest may
be tiring of all the head-banging right now. With that in mind, however, anything's
got to be better than Will and Gareth, hasn't it?! Click here
to listen to the single...
MUSIC
- GETAWAY:
Formed in Leeds, The Music are Robert Harvey (vocals, guitar), Adam Nutter
(guitar), Stuart Coleman (bass) and Phil Jordan (drums), and - just four singles
in - are already generating the type of buzz associated for only the most
exciting new acts. However, opinion is firmly split between those that love
them, and those that think their sound resembles nothing more than noise (or
worse, a mere copycat of other, better, acts such as Zeppelin!). Getaway,
which has been produced by Jim Abbiss (who has worked with the likes of DJ
Shadow and Bjork) is a typically rocky affair, which manages to sound both
indie and dance-orientated. It is undoubtedly one of their better efforts
and a good listen. The jury remains out, however, on whether the band is worth
its hype. The single is deleted on the day of release, but is still available
to order...
JENNIFER
LOPEZ - JENNY FROM THE BLOCK:
J-Lo bids to return to her roots with this catchy slice of R'n'B/hip-hop featuring
that video, with a certain Mr Affleck and next to no clothes!
Built around samples from KRS-One, Beatnuts and Herbie Mann, and featuring
L.O.X. rappers Jadakiss and Styles, Jenny From The Block is a typically tenacious
reminder that Lopez is currently one of the hottest acts doing the rounds
at the moment, even if her attempts at trying to recapture her past (with
lyrics such as 'no matter what I do, I'll always be Jenny from the Bronx')
feel a little false. A surefire dancefloor filler and another massive hit,
this remains harmless fun, thanks in no small part to its hip samples.
LADYTRON
- SEVENTEEN:
Ladytron return with another catchy slice of electronica-driven pop which
should help to re-establish their reputation in the genre. Seventeen is a
simplistic, throwaway track which is okay while it lasts, but instantly forgettable
to the more discerning ear. Its lyrics are equally tame, featuring lines such
as 'they only want you when you're 17, when you're 21 you're no fun'. The
CD includes remixes from the Droyds and, more interestingly, Soulwax. Click
here to find out more about the band...
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11:
COLDPLAY
- THE SCIENTIST:
The Scientist, Coldplay's latest release from their critically-acclaimed album,
Rush Of Blood To The Head, is yet
another example of truly extraordinary song writing. The piano is favoured
once again, in comparison with the heavier, guitar-based sound of Parachutes,
and there is a feeling of space and light created with the delicate use of
strings. The momentum is built carefully by the gentle addition of more instruments,
but is never pushed so far as to lose the quiet sadness of the song. It's
not a surprise to hear that the lyrics are another tale of lost love from
the eternally broken-hearted Chris Martin, but their simple honesty can't
fail to be touching. This is simply another beautiful song, from a band that
can seem to do no wrong. Indielondon's single of the week. (Heather Metherell)
SANTANA
(FEATURING MICHELLE BRANCH) - GAME OF LOVE:
The Carlos Santana success story shows no sign of letting up. Following
the success of his 1999 album, Supernatural, many thought he had reached a
career pinnacle. Yet, three years on, he has blasted back on to the scene
with another star-studded and critically-acclaimed long-player, Shaman.
The first single to be taken from it, Game Of Love, features a guest vocal
appearance by multi-award winner, Michelle Branch, and is a sultry, extremely
satisfying mix of Latin-rock and chart-friendly pop, which represents an easy
on the ear fusion of hitherto contrasting styles. Other collaborations on
Shaman include tracks with the diverse likes of Seal, Macy Gray, Dido, P.O.D,
Chad Kroeger (from Nickelback) and Placido Domingo. (Jack Foley).
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4:
QUEENS
OF THE STONE AGE - NO ONE KNOWS:
It has taken a while, but Queens of the Stone Age finally release the first
single from their acclaimed Songs For
The Deaf album, which has had rock critics drooling and proclaiming that
this band could well be the 'saviours of rock'. No One Knows is a typically
tenacious track, which combines all of the elements that have helped to make
the band the success it is today, while also drawing on a couple of external
influences. First and foremost is the presence of former Nirvana-turned-Foo
Fighters frontman, Dave Grohl, on the drums, while the second harks back to
the early days of ZZ Top and their distinctive guitar rifts. The chorus, though,
is typically catchy and an excellent taster of what to expect from Songs For
The Deaf. Expect this to be massive among rock fans. Indielondon's single
of the week. CD1 includes the Spanish version of Gonna Leave You and Tension
Head, recorded live at the Mean Fiddler. Click here
for our review of Songs For The Deaf, or click here
to listen to and view the video in our A/V room...
APHRODITE,
FEATURING WILDFLOWER - SEE THROUGH IT:
A typically energetic slice of drum and bass/jungle crossover, Aphrodite's
latest is notable for featuring the vocal talents of rising hip-hop star,
Wildflower, and for the fact that it has been given a giddy, unrelenting make-over
by Indielondon favourites, Frou Frou. Their refix of the track, currently
being played on XfM (among others), is a sweaty, adrenalin-fuelled dancefloor
filler guaranteed to have you sweating buckets by the end of it. The CD also
features remixes from the likes of Peshay and the Aphro Fear Of A Dub Mix,
as well as the 12" album version. Click here
for an exclusive interview with Frou Frou...
MOBY
- IN THIS WORLD:
After his last single, Extreme Ways, curiously flopped in the charts, Moby
releases In This World to coincide with his first UK tour in around two years.
It is another typically inspired composition, capturing the sound which has
become the benchmark of his success, while also showcasing the vocal talents
of another confident performer. On this occasion, gospel singer Jennifer Price
gets to lament about loneliness ('Oh lordy'), against a backdrop of laidback
beats and uplifting piano samples. Many would argue that Moby hasn't really
moved on from the sound of Play, but then (in certain cases) if it aint broke,
why fix it? This is well worth adding to any record collection.
(Reviews compiled by Jack Foley)
HEARD A GREAT SINGLE, BUT YET TO BUY IT? WELL, WE MAY HAVE REVIEWED IT...
Click here to see October's
singles of the month...
Click here to see September's
singles of the month...
Click here to see August's
singles of the month...
Click here to see July's
singles of the month...
Click here to see June's
singles of the month...
Click here to see May's
singles of the month...
Click here to see April's
singles of the month...