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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, FEBRUARY 24:
ZWAN
- HONESTLY:
The moment Smashing Pumpkins fans may have been waiting for. Not a reunion,
but the return of frontman, Billy Corgan, with a single that could, almost,
mark a reforming. Aside from Corgan, Zwan is comprised of ex-Slint guitarist
David Pajo, former Chavez/Skunk guitarist Matt Sweeney, A Perfect Circle's
Paz Lenchantin on bass and Corgan's former Smashing Pumpkins bandmate Jimmy
Chamberlin on drums, so it is little wonder that the Pumpkins vibe is never
far away. Honestly bears all the hallmarks of late Pumpkins, while
also appealing to a slightly more mainstream listener core. It is a glorious
rock track which demands repeat listening. Whether it will help Zwan to achieve
the same level of success as Pumpkins remains to be seen, however, but as
a taster of what to expect from the forthcoming album, Mary Star of the
Sea, this is extremely appetising. Featuring a great intro, a catchy chorus
and some great drum loops - this is effortlessly classy. It is our single
of the week (and yes, we have already featured it - we got our dates wrong,
ed). Click here
to order the album...
MASSIVE
ATTACK - SPECIAL CASES:
It's been a long time in coming, but Massive Attack finally release the first
track from their moody (but excellent) new album, 100th Window. The
typically atmospheric Special Cases features a blistering vocal turn
from Sinead O'Connor (sounding moodier and sultrier than ever before), as
well as some excellent beats and decidely dark moodswings. In terms of providing
an insight of what to expect from the album, this pretty much hits the nail
on the head. 100th Window is probably Massive Attack's darkest outing
yet - but that's no bad thing! The single features remixes from Akufen and
Luomo, while the CD adds I Against I, featuring Mos Def, which has
previously only been available on the internet. Click here
to order the album...
JUNIOR
SENIOR - MOVE YOUR FEET:
Discovered by Fatboy Slim (who tried to sign them to his Southern Fried label),
Junior Senior hail from Scandinavia and look set to do for that region, what
The Avalanches did for Down Under dance. A hopelessly upbeat and fun combination
of rock, pop and soul, Move Your Feet screams hit from start to finish,
with its enticing blend of uptempo rap and sampled soul. Remixes come from
Kurtis Mantronik and King Size's Chicken Lips, but it's the original which
counts and could mark the sound of one of the breakthrough dance acts of the
year.
Fc
KAHUNA - HAYLING:
The track that is being described by everyone as Fc Kahuna's long-awaited
return to form (and a firm Xfm favourite to boot!), Hayling is a moody,
downbeat slice of chillout, featuring a heady vocal from Hafdis Huld (formerly
of Gus Gus fame). Originally released as a strictly limited 10" at the
close of 2001, it has now been picked up and put out on the Skint label, a
move which looks set to widen its appeal even more. Remixes come from the
Super Furry Animals, Ils and Chicken Lips, while the original is taken from
the acclaimed album, Machine Says Yes, which you can order by clicking here...
ROYKSOPP
- EPLE:
Everyone's favourite new dance act, Royksopp, re-release one of the best tracks
to be taken from their acclaimed album, Melody A.M., to the delight
of all concerned. Featuring a busy collection of whistles, beats and enchanting
melodies, Eple is one of the best chillout tracks to be released in
years. What's more, it has been given the remix treatment by the likes of
Fatboy Slim, Borsi D'Lugosch and Shakedown on its various CD releases. We
would urge you to rush out and buy it, regardless of whether you have the
original. Click here
to order the second CD (featuring Boris and Michi's eplistic-scratch-attack
and the Black Strobe Remix), or click here
to order Melody A.M. Alternatively, click here
to read our review of the album, or here
to see where it featured in our Top 40 of 2002...
MOONY
- ACROBATS:
Moony, the voice of DB Boulevard's dance hit Point Of View, follows
up her own debut offering, Dove, with this distinctly average second
single, which sounds like it has been manufactured purely for chart success.
Indicative of all that's bad about the Top 40, Acrobats is a bland,
unadventurous and lazy effort from an artist who could, if given the right
material (ie, no crappy electronic background music, or ditsy lyrics) show
signs of promise. Pop-dance crossover fans will no doubt lap it up. We couldn't
wait to turn it off!
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17:
MULL
HISTORICAL SOCIETY - THE FINAL ARREARS:
Singer/songwriter, Colin MacIntyre, better known as Mull Historical Society,
returns with an absolute gem of a single - the first to be taken from his
forthcoming new album, Us.
The Final Arrears is a beautifully constructed, lovingly composed ballad,
the type of which gets into your head from the first time you hear it and
refuses to let go. MacIntyre's vocal style has seldom seemed so accomplished,
while the background music is truly sublime. In short, it is a terrific first
track from a very good second album and it is our single of the week. Click
here to find out more about
Mull Historical Society, or click here to listen
to the single in our AV Room...
TURIN
BRAKES - PAIN KILLER:
Only just beaten to the single of the week spot by Mull Historical Society,
Turin Brakes' second single to be taken from their upcoming second album,
Ether
Song, is a similarly classy slice of breezy songwriting, the type of which
feels perfect for a long drive down a glistening Californian highway (roof
down, cruise control on, etc, etc). Described as a bitter sweet tale of love
and loss, this manages to combine the trademark acoustic sound of the Balham-based
duo, with a more polished feel, making the prospect of the album itself all
the more mouthwatering. A must for fans of the duo, which looks certain to
win them more listeners.
JAKATTA
- ONE FINE DAY:
Jakatta (aka Joey Negro) follows up his dream-like Seal collaboration, My
Vision, with another slice of dancefloor chillout, this time featuring
the soothing vocals of Beth Hirsch (also the voice of Air's seminal 'All I
Need'). One Fine Day is a laidback slice of mellow madness, which effortlessly
creeps up on you amid the current crop of chart crap like a breath of fresh
air. The remixes may spice things up a little, with the club scene in mind,
but for anyone wanting to find the perfect hangover cure for the morning after
the night before, then this is great just to kick back to and nurse those
worries away.
THE
MUSIC - TRUTH IS NO WORDS:
Sounding more like Led Zeppelin than ever before, The Music continue to impress
their indie-rock and dancefloor fans with yet another bout of aggressive guitar
and distinctive vocal wailing, once again taken from their acclaimed first
album. But while Xfm seem to love it, and another hit is all but guaranteed,
I can't help thinking that this is one of the weaker efforts from the band
so far, with very little progression achieved from when we first heard them.
The jury remains out on whether The Music will become one album wonders...
Click here to listen to the track in our AV Room...
JUST
JACK - SNOWFLAKES:
Probably better known as the tune which samples that Cure song, Lullaby, Just
Jack's Snowflakes has been generating a fair bit of buzz among music insiders,
most notably at Xfm, where DJ, Eddie Temple Morris, gave it the bootleg treatment
(a version of which appears as a bonus track on the CD single). Dark, melancholic
and strangely sweeping, there is undoubtedly something entrancing about Snowflakes,
even though, stripped bare, this is nothing more than a brilliant Cure instrumental
offset by a darker-than-average rap record (think Tricky, even darker). Nevertheless,
it is a welcome addition to the current singles scene and worth keeping on
whenever it is heard on the radio. Click here
to watch the video and hear the single in our AV Room...
IDLEWILD
- A MODERN WAY OF LETTING GO:
After the restrained brilliance of past single, American English, Idlewild
do exactly what it says on the label; let go. This one really rocks, which
is no bad thing, as Idlewild in full flow are as exciting and accomplished
as any all-out rock band we can think of doing the rounds today. A Modern
Way of Letting Go is yet more proof, if any were needed, of why Idlewild's
latest album, The Remote Part, was rated among last year's finest and a real
progression for the artists' themselves. Great to listen to with the volume
cranked up after a stressful day. Click here to see where the album featured
in our Top 40 of 2002...
NADA
SURF - HI-SPEED SOUL:
Little known, but critically-acclaimed, Nada Surf produce what should be their
breakthrough single, Hi-Speed Soul, an energetic and upbeat second
single from their well-received third album, Let
Go. Fuelled by some gritty guitars and strong drum rolls, especially during
its middle section, Hi-Speed Soul is just a really great record and
one which really ought to broaden their fanbase. Third track, 80 Windows,
is further evidence of a band to keep an ear out for if you haven't already.
Apparently, this track is a live favourite - it's easy to see why.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10:
RED
HOT CHILI PEPPERS - CAN'T STOP:
The third single to be taken from the excellent By The Way LP, Can't
Stop is a suitably manic example of the Chili Peppers at their best -
a funky, upbeat slice of Californian sun-drenched rock with a suitably laidback
chorus. From its drum roll, guitar-laced build up, through to its high-brow
finale (a song that comes to a sudden, complete stop, rather than the easy
fade out route taken by so many bands nowadays), this oozes class, right down
to the backing vocals which permeate throughout. Guaranteed to put a smile
on your face, this is effortlessly fun to listen to and another great reason
why the album belongs in your collection - if it isn't there already! Great
video, too. Indielondon's single of the week. Click here
for our review of the album, or click here
to see where it fared in our top 40 of 2002...
PALOALTO
- FADE OUT/IN:
Another slice of angst-driven, guitar-fuelled rock from America, Fade Out/In
marks the debut single from emerging US band, Paloalto, and it shows signs
of promise. Touted by the likes of Stone Temple Pilots' Scott Weiland, Sugar
Ray's Mark McGrath and Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst, Paloalto are produced by
Rick Rubin and look set to make big waves both here and in the States. Fade
Out/In is a gutsy, lamentful, power-surge of a single, fuelled by some
Smashing Pumpkins-inspired guitars; the type of which grows on you with each
listen. But the real find is second track, Throwing Stones, a slow-building,
string-laden ballad, which brings out the best in lead singer, James Grundler's
breezy falsetto. Evoking memories of a happier, breezier, Radiohead, this
is the type of track which lingers in the memory, even as the Turin Brakes-inspired
third track, Pick Yourself Off The Beach, kicks in. The album, Heroes
and Villains, is out on February 24 and all three tracks will feature.
On the strength of this, it may well be worth purchasing. Click here
to find out more about the band...
SUM
41 - THE HELL SONG:
Indicative of the harder direction Canada's Sum 41 have decided to take,
this is, nevertheless, one of the better efforts to emerge from the Does
This Look Infected? album which was released last year. A fiery, upbeat
throwback to the goofy likes of In Too Deep and Fat Lip, this
still boasts a harder chorus and heavier, more extended guitars than the aforementioned
two. Likely to appeal to the hardcore fanbase rather than winning them any
new fans, this is still proof of why Sum 41 are currently at the forefront
of the angst-driven, US teen rock revolution which is continuing to sweep
the charts. With opening lyrics such as 'Everybody's got their problems,
everybody says the same thing to you, it's just a matter of how you solve
them', you should know what to expect. Click here
for our review of Does This Look Infected?
PAUL
OAKENFOLD - THE HARDER THEY COME:
A darker, hard direction for Paul Oakenfold, following the ridiculously breezy
Starry-Eyed Surprise, this features the vocal talents of Tricky and
16-year-old newcomer, Keisha White, and is another indication of how diverse
his album, Bunkka, is. Haunting, powerful and entrancing, this features
a funeral-sounding piano rift, as well as some really dirty beats and a string
finale which lends it an almost epic feel, making it one of the album's highlights.
Curiously, however, the album version features Nelly Furtado rather than White,
and sounds all the better for it. The youngster's vocals feel somewhat lacklustre
in comparison. But don't let that put you off, for the bonus tracks should
also appeal to Oakenfold fans. Click here
for our review of the album, or click here
to see where it featured in our Top 40 of 2002...
THE
POLYPHONIC SPREE - LIGHT AND DAY:
The Polyphonic Spree continue to sweep all before them with their retro-inspired
slice of psychedelia which comes across as a breath of fresh air amid the
rock versus pap battle taking place in the charts at the moment (we vote rock,
by the way!). Light and Day is another epic, orchestrally-led moment
of musical happiness; an effortlessly chirpy reminder of why the Sixties and
Seventies are still remembered so fondly, musically. It is, once again, taken
from the critically-acclaimed debut album, The Beginning Stages of... and
you can click here to find out where that
featured in our top 40 albums of 2002... Alternatively, click here
to watch the video in our AV room...
APPLETON
- DON'T WORRY:
The Appletons' continue to prove there is life after the All Saints, with
another promising single which seems to owe a lot to the Oasis style of song-writing
(boyfriend, Liam, must have been an influence!). Slower and more laidback
than Fantasy, the duo's debut, Don't Worry attempts to highlight
the Appletons' vocals at their sultry best, but falls some way short of really
proving to be a classic vocal performance. What does rate highly, is the guitar
backing, while the chorus is as catchy as anything we could have come to expect
from the All Saints. Compared with much of the mainstream fodder, this is
far superior and worthy of anyone's attention if you happen to chance upon
it on the radio.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3:
OASIS
- SONGBIRD:
This is probably the least like Oasis the Gallaghers have ever sounded and
comes across as a refreshing break from the norm as a result. Penned as an
ode to his girlfriend, Nicole Appleton, by Liam Gallagher, Songbird
is a tantalisingly simple track which manages to evoke those ever-present
memories of Lennon and co, while also offering a glimpse of what Liam could
do if he ever decided to go single. Uplifting, light, breezy and shamelessly
short, this is another example of why their latest album, Heathen
Chemistry, is so highly regarded as a return to form. It is our single
of the week. Click here for a review
of that album, or click here to find out
where it figured in our top 40 of 2002...
MINT
ROYALE - BLUE SONG
Actually released last week, but overlooked by us (sorry!!!), Mint Royale
follow up The Sexiest Man In Jamaica with another classic dancefloor
filler that provides an excellent example of why the album, Dancehall Places,
was among last year's essentials. The idea of wrapping a blues sample around
a disco beat may not be original nowadays, but by choosing their material
carefully, Mint Royale have delivered the goods again. The single features
remixes from the likes of ATFC, Kompis, Ewan Pearson and the Beginerz depending
on which version you buy. Click here to
find out where Dancehall Places featured in our Top 40 albums of 2002...
GOOD
CHARLOTTE - LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS:
The latest slice of teenage angst-driven rock comes in the catchy form of
Good Charlotte's Lifestyles of the rich and famous, a fun, cheeky look
at the misdemeanours of the famous which seldom pulls any punches lyrically.
Catchy, but trashy, and instantly forgettable, this bears all the hallmarks
of another Sum 41-inspired bunch of wannabes, albeit with some pretty impressive
backing. Good Charlotte producer, Eric Valentine, has also worked with the
likes of Third Eye Blind, Smashmouth
and Queens of the Stone Age, and
if they're early hype is to be believed, then this is a band to watch in 2003.
COUNTING
CROWS feat VANESSA CARLTON - BIG YELLOW TAXI:
And finally, the week's dud. Counting Crows have, in the past, produced some
very catchy material, but this is a specatcular misfire and a good example
of why cover versions seldom work. Lifted from the soundtrack to the film,
Two Weeks Notice, this is a
formulaic, winesome soundtrack filler, the type of which has rom-com cheese
stamped all over it. The presence of Vanessa Carlton on backing vocals does
little to broaden its appeal. Stick with the breezy original and give this
just as wide a berth as you should the movie from which it is taken.
(Reviews compiled by Jack Foley and Heather Metherell)
HEARD A GREAT SINGLE, BUT YET TO BUY IT? WELL, WE MAY HAVE REVIEWED IT...
Click here for January's
singles of the month...
Click here for the start
of the 2002 round-up of singles...