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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, JANUARY 27:
GOLDRUSH
- EXTENDED PLAY EP:
Oxford-based Goldrush follow up the single, Same Picture, with this
delightful EP, containing seven tracks, the pick of which is the melancholic
Let You Down, an elegaic lament that really screams out with quality.
Other tracks include Out Of Reach, What I Thought, and Counting
Song, but it is the former that is generating all the attention if you
listen to the radio closely enough. Goldrush are certainly now establishing
themselves as one of the band's to watch. The EP is our single of the week.
SUPERGRASS
- SEEN THE LIGHT:
Supergrass go Seventies and come out sounding like T-Rex with Seen The
Light, an energetic, catchy record that looks set to continue to win the
band more fans. The second track to be taken from the trio's latest album,
Life On Other Planets, this is a current radio favourite on XfM and
Radio One and backs up a successful UK tour, which took in Wembley on Saturday.
Both the CD and 7" come with exclusive new tracks, while the DVD includes
live audio tracks from the last tour, a photo gallery and live footage of
them performing their limited edition 7", Never Done Nothing Like
That Before and the video for Seen The Light.
LONGVIEW
- NOWHERE:
Along with Goldrush, Longview are rapidly emerging as one of the UK rock foursomes
to watch in 2003 and Nowhere picks up where the excellent When You
Sleep left off. Hailing from Manchester (as all good indie bands seem
to nowadays), Longview have quickly made a distinctive sound for themselves
which makes the arrival of any new material worth listening out for. Nowhere
is slightly rockier than their previous efforts, but remains a quality listen
and one which deserves much greater air play than it is currently getting.
Surely a mainstream breakthrough is on the way...
MARTIN
GRECH - PUSH:
In what is proving to be a good week for emerging UK talent, Martin Grech
releases the third single from his highly-acclaimed debut album, Open Heart
Zoo. But whereas the former title track (and single) was operatic at times,
Push is a far more rockier number, brilliantly capturing the best in Grech's
distinct vocal style, while also displaying a hitherto untapped grasping of
the dynamics of rock. I actually think this is better than the Lexus TV track
which shot him into the spotlight, even if it is a little more mainstream
in composition. Bear in mind that Grech is drawing comparisons with the likes
of Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and the Smashing Pumpkins and you might get an
insight into what to expect. Click here
for more info on Grech...
MONDAY, JANUARY 20:
LEMON
JELLY - NICE WEATHER FOR DUCKS:
The second track to be taken from Lemon Jelly's sublime Lost
Horizons LP, Nice Weather for Ducks is an utterly compelling, upbeat
collection of funky beats, folk guitar and Fred Deakin scratching that is
effortlessly wrapped around a children's nursery rhyme. Not only is this tremendously
feelgood (and unlike anything else currently flirting with the mainstream),
but it is also one of the busiest tracks you are likely to hear in a long
time, constantly changing direction and adding new rifts and backdrops. While
certainly an acquired taste, this is undoubtedly Indielondon's single of the
week and (given that it has quickly become a live favourite) we can't wait
to hear it when the Jelly play the Forum in March. Bonus track, Soft, which
contains a lengthy sample of Chicago's cheesy classic, If You Leave Me
Now, is also an exemplary bonus. Click here
for our review of Lost Horizons, or click here
to find out where it figured in our Top 40 albums of 2002...
JAY
Z - BONNIE AND CLYDE:
Yet another high-profile rap/r 'n' b collaboration, this time featuring Jay
Z (aka The Jigga Man) and Destiny's Child star, Beyonce Knowles (she of Austin
Powers: Goldmember fame), but one which works surprisingly well. Featuring
a near-perfect union of Jay Z's rapping style and Knowles' distinctive, laidback
vocals, this also benefits from some brilliant Spanish guitar running throughout
the track, which helps to keep things fresher than most. If Christina Aguilera
and Redman, followed by Nelly and Kelly, laid down the gauntlet with last
year's chart-topping successes, then this should easily enjoy a long outing
in the charts. Highly recommended.
AUDIOSLAVE
- COCHISE:
Audioslave is the name on every rock fans' lips at the moment, featuring the
combined talents of former Soundgarden frontman, Chris Cornell, on vocals,
and ex-Rage Against The Machine members Tim Commerford, Tom Morello and Brad
Wilk on instruments. But don't expect anything quiet! Cochise marks the band's
first UK single and has been produced by Rick Rubin, so it is little wonder
to find the guitars heavily to the fore, as this sleazy slice of modern-day
Zeppelin prepares to rock our worlds. The CD features bonus tracks We Got
The Whip (album version) and Gasoline (Live From Letterman).
JJ72
- ALWAYS AND FOREVER:
The guitar-fuelled, angst-ridden threesome from Ireland return to the singles
arena with the John Leckie version of one of their live favourites. Suitably
rocky and given a bit of a makeover, this is one for the purists only. Each
format of the single also comes with exclusive live/demo tracks (including
Dog (Demo 2000 Version) and City (Live At POD Dublin), while CD one adds the
video.
MONDAY, JANUARY 13:
THE
FREE ASSOCIATION - I WISH I HAD A WOODEN HEART:
David Holmes' band, The Free Association, kick start 2003 in fine style with
this blistering single, taken from the highly-acclaimed album, David Holmes
Presents The Free Association. Combining the trademark Holmes' beats with
Petra Jean Philipson's smoking vocals, this is a laidback, sultry and dirty
record that epitomises all that is good about the album. Philipson's vocal
style has been described as a modern-day Billie Holiday and it is easy to
see why. This smoulders with intent. It is our single of the week. Click here
for the album review, or click here to
see where the album featured in our top 40 of 2002...
THE
FLAMING LIPS - YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOTS:
The second single (and title track) to be taken from the Flaming Lips' critically-acclaimed
album, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is quite unlike any other single you
are likely to hear this year. Enchanting, beguiling and provocatively beautiful,
this is all about a Japanese heroine who trains herself to fight 'evil robots'
by night, in order to protect mankind. As with the equally enticing first
single, Do You Realise? (which is remixed here), The Flaming Lips continue
to push musical boundaries without ever losing sight of the mainstream. Innovative,
fun and a downright classic. Click here
to find out where the album came in our Top 40 of 2002...
FEEDER
- JUST THE WAY I'M FEELING:
After a year of complete turmoil (when Feeder lost a band member and close
friend), the two remaining members have bounced back in typically determined
style to earn the respect of everyone working in (or associated with) the
music industry. If their 'comeback' single, Come Back Around, was a gutsy
declaration of intent, then Just The Way I'm Feeling is a laidback, almost
lamentful, piece of feelgood 'slow rock', featuring a blistering chorus and
some brilliant guitar work. Uplifting and tremendously catchy throughout,
this should (if there is any musical justice!) ensure that Feeder get the
widespread acclaim they have long-deserved.
LIBERTINES
- TIME FOR HEROES:
Currently the record of choice on XfM, the Libertines' third single (after
Up The Bracket and What A Waster) is probably their best to date. It is an
undeniably catchy retro-rocker, which harks back to the likes of The Jam,
while still managing to sound contemporary amid the current punk revival being
spearheaded by the likes of The Strokes and The White Stripes. If this single
is anything to go by, however, expect the Libertines to be massive come the
end of the year. The CD features demo versions of General Smuts and Bangkok.
PANJABI
Mc - MUNDIAN TO BACH KE:
Part-Bhangra, part hip-hop, part urban and part garage, Panjabi Mc finally
releases his Mundian To Bach Ke as a single after months of playing it to
the club circuit, where it has become affectionately dubbed 'that Knightrider
tune'. Featuring a sample from that cult TV series, the single is one which
is likely to find quite a crossover listening base, even though it sounds
like a bit of a mess to me. As a way of bringing Indian music to the mainstream,
however, it is to be applauded; but it won't be finding it's way into our
record collection.
MONDAY, JANUARY 6:
FOO
FIGHTERS - TIMES LIKE THESE:
After the relative disappointment of previous single, All My Life (in
my opinion!), the Foo Fighters return to form with this upbeat rock track,
featuring some blistering guitar work and Dave Grohl's lyrics at their finest.
On a par with the likes of Learning To Fly, Times Like These begins
with the lyrics 'I'm a one-way motorway' and builds effortlessly towards
its catchy chorus. Expect this to be another massive hit for the band who
look to have started 2003 the same way they finished '02 - on a high. CD includes
Life Of Illusion (Joe Walsh cover), Planet Claire (B-52s cover
recorded live at NYC; previously unreleased) and the video to the single.
Indielondon's single of the week.
BADLY
DRAWN BOY - BORN AGAIN:
A slightly rockier direction for Damon Gough (aka Badly Drawn Boy), which
marks an interesting change of pace. Far more edgier than the artist's usual
fare, this is one of the better tracks to be taken from his latest album,
Have You Fed The Fish? Indielondon's Heather Metherell commented in
her review of the album that Born Again is one of the highlights, describing
it as 'irrepressibly chirpy' and one which 'shows Badly Drawn Boy at his best;
as the writer of great toe-tapping, sing-along tunes'. It's hard not to agree.
Click here to read her verdict on the
rest of the album, or click here to listen to
Born Again in our AV Room.
ELECTRIC
SIX - DANGER! HIGH VOLTAGE:
Another of those head-scratching tracks that DJs everywhere seem to be raving
about - but why? Comprised of Dick Valentine (vocals), Disco (bass), Surge
Joebot (guitar), M (drums) and the Rock n' Roll Indian (another guitarist),
and, according to rumours, Jack White, of The White Stripes fame, Electric
Six have combined quirky electronica, wailing guitars and White's distinctive,
high-pitched vocals to produce a dance/rock crossover that really is nothing
special. Okay in small doses, but currently being played to death, this will
no doubt herald the arrival of 2003's first 'next big thing'. For us, though,
the jury remains out.
(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 December's
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