Music - The Singles Collection

IndieLondon gleefully checks out the cream of the week's singles. All you have to do is click on the pictures to order them...

MONDAY, JUNE 30

SINGLE OF THE WEEK: BENT - STAY THE SAME: The first single to be lifted from Bent's acclaimed The Everlasting Blink long-player, Stay The Same is a seriously funky dance number, which arrives in a number of formats. Showcasing a vocal sample from Seventies heart-throb, David Essex, wrapped around some haunting electro-beats and a timely guitar riff, Stay The Same is one of those tracks that grabs your attention from the moment you listen to it - and refuses to let go. Bonus tracks, Lupin Grade, and the piano-based, Different Hill, chill things out somewhat, making this an ideal Summer dance track. Of the remixes, the Tony Senghore Horehaus vocal refit is a suitably massive dancefloor filler, geared towards the Ibiza dance-crowd, while the Themroc version brings out the 80s-based electronica. None get close to the Planet Funk Radio version, though. Click here for more details on Bent, click here to listen to the single, or click here to win it.

50 CENT - 21 QUESTIONS: Hot off the heels of the huge dancefloor favourite, In Da Club, 50 Cent takes things down a notch with this smooth hip-hop love in, which should bring more of the same success to the Eminem protege. 21 Questions also features another of 50 Cent's compatriots, Nate Dogg, and is designed to show the rapper's more sensitive side, as he tries to woo and win a girl. Yet with lines such as 'do you trust me enough to tell me your dreams?, I'm staring at you tryin to figure how you got in those jeans', you really do have to wonder what the real intent is. Fun, but ultimately throwaway. Taken from the album, Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

BEYONCE (feat JAY-Z) - CRAZY IN LOVE: The Destiny's Child diva makes a fully-fledged solo break with this, the first single to be taken from the critically-acclaimed debut album, Dangerously In Love long player. Crazy In Love is a gloriously funky, feelgood slice of hip-hop r'n'b, which also features a rap midway through from former collaborator, Jay-Z. Driven by a terrific horn sample (courtesy of Kool & The Gang), and some really funky rhythms and beats, this looks set to become a classic urban anthem, complete with a retro-Motown vibe attached to it. Expect it to be massive. The single features the album version of Summertime (featuring P Diddy) and the Maurice nu-soul remix of Krazy in Luv.

CRACATILLA - YOU'VE GOT IT ALL/EVERYMAN: Cracatilla, aka James Lewis (on vocals and guitar), Dave Penswick (bass/vocals) and Louis Fitzpatrick (drums/vocals), hail from the Liverpool area and their musical sound harks back to a bygone era inhabited by the likes of Eric Clapton and Paul Weller. You've Got It All, in particular, begins with a slow, plodding intro (which owes much to Clapton's lyrical style), before breaking out into an uplifting slice of indie-pop (which sounds a little bit like latter-day Weller). Similarly, Everyman features some terrific guitar solos, which serve to enhance, and not detract from, the lyrics - which possess an almost dream-like quality. It is more muted than the first track, but no less effective, marking Cracatilla out as a band to watch for the future. Sadly, there is no link available to buy the CD as yet, but this is well worth seeking out, so click here for more details on the band.

LADYTRON - EVIL: Having been busy remixing other people's work of late, Ladytron return with another dark slice of 80s-based electronica-pop, which implores people to 'use your evil when you want'. One for the gothic dancefloor crowd, this continues to evoke memories of a darker sounding version of Dubstar, while also cementing the band's reputation as a female version of the Pet Shop Boys. Simple, effective, but quickly forgettable, this is not as good as former single, Blue Jean, but remains a telling example of what to expect from the album it is taken from, Light and Magic. Click here for our review, or click here for more details on Ladytron. By the way, the CD features a new studio version of live encore favourite, Oops (Oh My…), which should appeal to the fans.

MICHELLE BRANCH - ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?: Having burst on to the music scene with her debut album, The Spirit Room (which sold over a million copies in the US alone) and her glorious collaboration with Santana (for Game of Love), Michelle Branch finally delivers the first single to be taken from her follow-up album, Hotel Paper. Are You Happy Now? is trademark Branch - sultry, fed-up vocals, wrapped around some pumped-up guitars and a decent beat. Far better than most young rock-poppers doing the rounds at the moment, thanks to the power of its vocals and grittier outlook, this is probably going to appeal to the Avril Lavigne crowd and is certainly on a par, if not better, than that particular artist. The album's not bad, either. Click here for more details, or click here to listen to the single...

SINEAD QUINN - WHAT YOU NEED IS: Yet another in that seemingly endless line of rock-pop crossovers, inspired by the likes of Alanis Morissette and, more recently, Avril Lavigne. Quinn, however, hails from the UK (she is the Irish Fame Academy contestant), and her brand of rock-pop is far more breezier, and much less aggressive than the aforementioned duo, yet it's uneasy mix of the two styles renders it something of a failure. Too soft for Virgin, and perhaps too rocky for the Capital crowd, this pales when put alongside the likes of Natalie Imbruglia or, more recently, Siobhan Donaghy, and ends up sounding like nothing really special at all. The vocals are good, though, which suggests the arrival of someone to look out for in the future.

HAR MAR SUPERSTAR - Ez PASS: Surely the most fun, hip act of the moment (better, even, than the over-hyped Electric Six), Har Mar Superstar releases album favourite, Ez Pass, complete with a Mint Royale makeover and the video featuring a cameo from The Strokes. Hailing from New York (where everyone who's anyone seems to be based at the moment), Har Mar Superstar is a tongue-in-cheek electro-groover and this truly funky slice of NYC nightlife is really infectious stuff.

MONDAY, JUNE 23

DJ FORMAT - HIT SONG: Another typically hip slice of hip-hop, which should continue to win DJ Format new fans, this features the vocal talents of Canadian MC, Abdominal, backed by the type of smooth grooves that any movie gangsters would love to pull a heist to (we're talking David Holmes/Ocean's Eleven cool here, man). The record itself is a step by step hip-hop guide on how to turn out a hit record - although, sadly, it probably won't even register in the charts. All formats include bonus material, including two remixes of the album track, Here Comes The Fuzz (which sounds really dirty, man). Taken from the album, Music for the Mature B-Boy. Click here for a review...

FLAMING LIPS - FIGHT TEST: Yet another truly mesmerising track to emerge from the Flaming Lips' divine Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots LP, Fight Test comes packed with dreamy lyrics, soft, subdued vocals, lush guitars and really feelgood beats to conjure another piece of musical magic. With this and Grandaddy's Now It's On currently on release, space-rock has seldom sounded so exciting. This encapsulates all that is great about the sound of the Summer.

DJ SHADOW - MASHIN' ON THE MOTORWAY/WALKIE TALKIE: Another excellent reason why last year's DJ Shadow album, The Private Press, was so highly-acclaimed, this double A-side is actually only available on DVD CD and double-vinyl (hence the high retail price). Mashin' features some motorway mayhem and is actually one of the weaker efforts on the long-player, but the dirty beats and scratches of Walkie Talkie, which were actually merged into the Mos Def remix of the Six Days single, still sound as fresh and exciting as ever. The real reason for buying the package, however, are the remixes - an Unkle uncensored cut of GDMFSOB, featuring Roots Manuva, the Soulwax remix of Six Days and the Z-Trip 'Set The Party Off Mix' In Three Parts of Right Thing. And to ensure that you get your money's worth, the DVD comes with both videos of the double A-sides. Wow!

AVRIL - THE DATE/FRENCH KISS: The first single to emerge from Avril's award-winning album, That Horse Must Be Starving, is a double A-side, featuring The Date and French Kiss. As an insight into what to expect, for anyone who hasn't heard of Avril thus far, it's a suitably enticing bit of pop-electronica. The Date features the vocal talents of Avril-ette, Ana Ago, and a hopelessly lazy, sexy beat, while French Kiss covers the classic Lil Louis acid house anthem in Avril's own unique style - a slow start gives way to a really smooth groove, featuring a great seductive beat and some distinctly Euro-pop sounding synths. A class act. Click here for more details on Avril.

BLACK CAR - ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL*: The three songs which make up the Asleep at the Wheel EP were originally written by Dan Glendinning (aka Black Car) at his East London home for his own personal pleasure. Thank God he decided to release them. Asleep at the Wheel marks the arrival of another hugely talented UK songwriter, with the title track, in particular, a mesmerising, sit up and take notice affair. Beginning with a simple guitar riff, and Glendinning's fragile, soft vocals, the track slowly builds towards a quite beautiful rock-out without ever becoming too loud or waily. The tracks 100% Proof and Road Trip are equally measured affairs, and worthy of a much wider listener base than they currently yield. Don't miss out, click here for more Black Car details...
* Amazon link now installed!!!

ATHLETE - WEST SIDE: A welcome re-release from one of the rapidly emerging UK bands of the moment, West Side actually marked Athlete's arrival on the music scene, after being picked up and play-listed by XFM. Sadly, it was unable to enjoy the success of later efforts, so gets another airing - and still sounds as fresh and as lively as ever. Starting off really slowly, this ecectic track eventually gives way into a typically catchy chorus that is almost guaranteed to have you singing along with it. No wonder it has emerged as a live favourite from the band's recent tour. If you liked earlier Athlete material, then you'll love this.

METALLICA - ST ANGER: Metallica finally unleash the debut single, St Anger, from the latest album of the same name. And unleash is the word, as the single gets back to basics for the band, a powerhouse record that should help to re-establish the band as the metal kings. Everyone else, including me, should run for cover - because this really takes no prisoners. Heck, the video was even filmed surrounded by them - in the notorious San Quentin prison. Click here for a sneak peek, or click here for our verdict on the long-player.

FOO FIGHTERS - LOW: Yet another single from the Foo Fighters' acclaimed One By One album, this is one of those totally average affairs, that could easily pass as an album filler. Charting slightly darker areas, Low is a heavier track than most Foo Fighters material of late and sounds less remarkable for it. Dave Grohl's vocals seem to be drowned in the wailing guitars and thrashing drums, making this one to avoid - unless a diehard fan, of course!

ONE MINUTE SILENCE - I WEAR MY SKIN: In what is proving to be a good week for the metallers and heavy rock fans, One Minute Silence weigh in with another uncompromising record, which comes wrapped in the high-profile packaging of producers John Leckie and John Cornfield. Notable for being a UK bunch of metallers, but nothing else, I Wear My Skin, is a head-slammer - fast, furious, and ultimately forgettable. Second track, A-Z Revolution, is no better, although the third offering, Bob Hope, marks some kind of restraint and sounds all the better for it.

SIOBHAN DONAGHY - OVERRATED: Former Sugababe, Siobhan Donaghy, who departed the girl-band following the release of their debut album, finally releases her debut solo effort, the catchy Overrated. It's a guitar driven pop song, more in the Natalie Imbruglia style than the Sugababes, and marks the more grown-up direction Donaghy is seeking to take with her songwriting. As a taster of what to expect, it offers plenty of potential and should help to ensure that the artist has a long career ahead of her. Needless to say, Capital Radio loves it - although, in this case, that's not an indictment. Click here to listen.

IMA ROBOT - PUBLIC ACCESS EP: Merging an 80's synth-pop sound with the nu-wave punk coming out of New York at the moment, this has so many influences it's hard to know where to start. Think 60 Foot Dolls, or Talking Heads, with the vocal style of, say, early Robert Smith, or John Lydon, and the guitar influence of The Smiths and you'll get some idea of what to expect. It's fast, heady, raw and retro - and occasionally fun; as in Black Jettas, a song about being stalked by ex-girlfriends in identical cars. One to watch, for sure. And the NME thinks so too. The top trackm 12=3 is also good value. Click here for the Ima Robot website.

MONDAY, JUNE 16

MASSIVE ATTACK - BUTTERFLY CAUGHT: Another typically haunting slice of beat-laden music from Massive Attack, this time featuring the vocal talents of 3-D, Butterfly Caught comes complete with an equally memorable video, featuring a man's metamorphosis into a butterfly. The second track to emerge from the 100th Window album, this possesses all the emotive strings, dirty beats, and deeply haunting vocals you could possibly wish for. Click here to view the video...

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS - UNIVERSALLY SPEAKING: Yet another reason why the Peppers' latest album, By The Way, remains so highly-regarded, Universally Speaking is the fourth single to be taken from it and marks another brilliant slice of funk-rock-pop. From its opening guitar riffs, through to its gloriously feelgood chorus, this is a hopelessly catchy and totally addictive record, which finds the band in far more chilled territory than some of their previous material. As an accompaniment to the Summer sun, it has few peers. CD1 also features an acoustic version of By The Way, which marks a must-own for Peppers afficionados.

PLACEBO - THIS PICTURE: I've never really been a fan of Placebo, yet this latest single, This Picture, marks one of their better efforts, featuring Brian Molko's vocals somewhat less whiny than usual, and some brilliant guitar riffs to liven things up. The single apparently dwells on the doomy side of sado-masochism and has been described by Amazon as the type of 'trash-glam pop stomp' that Suede used to excel at. Bonus track, Soulmates, is another decent record, likely to appeal to fans, but the real reason for venturing out to buy this is their cover of The Pixies' Where Is My Mind (recorded live at XFM) which is, quite simply, stunning. The single is taken from the Sleeping With Ghosts LP.

GROWING ON ME - THE DARKNESS: Current XFM favourites, The Darkness - described by HMV as 'camp-metal rockers' - release another rock stomp that critics are hailing as one of the best records of the moment. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find the appeal, as the guitars belong in the 80s, probably wrapped around some one-hit wonders such as Europe, while the vocals don't sound anything special. And despite repeated listens, I can't say that this single is 'Growing On Me' in the slightest.

UN-CUT - FALLIN': Hailed by many as the UK's answer to The Fugees, Un-Cut's Fallin' is a hugely sexy, tremendously feelgood Motown/Fugees-inspired crossover, featuring a blistering vocal turn from lead singer, Jenna G. Her soulful vocals add a touch of class to a supremely lazy beat, making Fallin' an excellent foretaste of what to expect from the forthcoming long-player, Un-calculated Some. Click here for an exclusive IndieLondon interview with Un-Cut, or here to listen to the track...

KINESIS - FOREVER REELING: Another of those UK bands that seem headed for big things, Kinesis follow-up their acclaimed And They Obey with another fiery slice of rock, which must have gone down a storm during support slots alongside the likes of 100 Reasons, In Me and the Manic Street Preachers - to whom they have all been compared. Featuring a distinctive guitar intro and some kick-arse vocals, this screams out to be played loud... and to be heard. It may be time for people to sit up and take notice of Kinesis. Click here for more details on Kinesis, or here to listen to the single....

MOCO - MISS MANTARAY: Described as 'Wigan's finest purveyors of 'stupid cool', Moco return with Miss Mantaray, the third single to be produced by John Kettle and their follow-up to last year's well received Where She Goes. A neat cross between The Psychadelic Furs and Soft Cell, with a distinctly Strokes-sounding vocal, Miss Mantaray is a pleasant enough listen - although nothing special. Steve Mobile Jones' vocals owe a lot to the re-emerging punk sound that seems to be taking off, but fail to be as strong, or memorable, as, say, the aforementioned Strokes or StellaStarr*. Bonus track, She's Fine, repeats the formula without doing much different. Stupid fun, more than stupid cool, best described by Kerrang! as 'shit-kicking rock'.

MONDAY, JUNE 9

LINKIN PARK - FAINT: The second track to be taken from the hugely successful Meteora album, Faint arrives like a shot in the arm for nu-metal fans, packed with the trademark mix of beats, scratching and heavy metal thrash that has become the band's hallmark. Fast, furious, yet undeniably catchy, this is a terrific follow-up to Somewhere I Belong and features the band at their most accessible. A guilty pleasure.

THE THRILLS - BIG SUR: Having made new friends with their Top 20 hit, One Horse Town, and then impressing as the support for Turin Brakes, the much-hyped The Thrills return with another hopelessly upbeat record, Big Sur, which is sure to build on a growing reputation. Featuring a nice Monkees throwback during one of its verses, Big Sur is best described as uplifting breezy rock and it certainly proves that One Horse Town was no fluke. It remains to be seen what delights are in store on the long-player.

VIOLENT DELIGHT - ALL YOU EVER DO: Another slice of new-age punk-metal, this time from London, in the form of the fresh-faced Violent Delight. All You Ever Do is a typically bouncy Linkin Park/Sum 41 wannabe that is sure to delight fans of the musical movement, without winning any new friends. It's much heavier than a lot of the US bands, and less fun with it, but All You Ever Do manages to keep one eye on the charts as well, despite the guitar-solo rock-out midway through. The track comes with some quite high-profile production values, courtesy of Steve Jones (Sex Pistols) and Dave Cavari (Ill Nino). Notable for proving that the nu-metal sound doesn't solely belong to the Americans.

THE BLUESKINS - USER FRIENDLY: A blues-based quartet from the Wakefield area, The Blueskins finally release their debut single, User Friendly, and show signs of potential without ever really impressing. User Friendly is described in the publicity material as a 120-second voodoo boogie with a twist of harp, which combines a lot of woo-hooing with some rapid guitars and raw drums. The vocals aint bad, but as far as the Blues vibe goes, this sounds much too cheerful. Ones to watch, rather than rushing out to buy.

MONDAY, JUNE 2

GRANDADDY - NOW IT'S ON: Critics' favourites, Grandaddy, release their first new material for almost two years, and it's good to have them back. Arriving at the same time as the hot weather, Now It's On is an effortlessly melodic, breezy slice of Californian rock, which evokes memories of The Flaming Lips and The Fountains of Wayne, while remaining unmistakably Grandaddy. Backed by some terrific guitars, Jason Lytle's dreamy vocals sound as laidback as ever, and boast a renewed optimism, spouting forth lyrics such as 'I got not reason to be, weathered and withery, like in the season of the old me'. Hip, breezy and downright essential for the long Summer months, make sure you have this to wake up to on a Sunday morning, or for those long, hot drives. Click here to have a listen...

SIMIAN - LA BREEZE: A former XFM breakfast show record of the week, Simian's La Breeze is cited by many as the best track on the band's acclaimed latest album, We Are Your Friends. A strangely charming, often beguiling Beatles-based throwback, La Breeze will appeal to the die-hard indie fans out there, while probably providing the band with an anthem for years to come. The chorus, in particular, is a memorable one, building to a crescendo of la, la, las, while balancing a pop/electroclash/retro-laden sound all the way through. Fun, different and guaranteed to have you singing along. Click here to listen to the track, or here for the chance to win La Breeze merchandise...

ZWAN - LYRIC: Another guitar-heavy slice of upbeat rock from Billy Corgan's latest rock venture, Zwan, this is yet another track to confirm that while the Smashing Pumpkins may be gone, the sound remains as strong as ever. Lyric is Pumpkins in a different, happier guise, punctuated by some thrilling vocal layers, some typically boisterous drums and those chiming, excitable guitars. The single also provides another reason, if any were needed, to make you go out and buy the band's album, Mary Star of the Sea. A truly great Summer single which sticks two fingers up to the sceptics. The doubters have been answered - Corgan remains as commanding a rock persona as ever.

MULL HISTORICAL SOCIETY - AM I WRONG: The second track to be taken from Mull Historical Society's acclaimed album, Us, the piano-based, sweeping style of Am I Wrong is another example of the more mature sound that Colin McIntyre has developed of late. Less eccentric than some of the album's tracks, this comes as a terrific follow-up to the Final Arrears, and is a folk-pop crossover that showcases one of the UK's more exciting singer/songwriters. The track comes complete with a madcap and completely surreal version of Ms Dynamite's It Takes More, which fuses an orchestral sound with some pacy guitars and a rockier chorus. That it remains one of the better cover versions I have heard of late (on a par with The Vines' Miss Jackson) surely confirms the Mull Historical Society as one of the hipper, more interesting bands of the moment. Worth owning for the cover version alone. Click here to listen to the single, or here to read our verdict on the album...

NYLON PYLON - FOOT IN MOUTH: Manchester-based Nylon Pylon continue to quietly go about becoming popular with their catchiest single to date. Foot In Mouth is a typically oddball slice of indie-based electronica that could well be the track to bring them the fanbase they have been threatening to acquire since 2001's Sister Siam. Richard Stubbs' and Bruce Carter's distinctive vocal style should mark them out as a band to watch in the future, while the diverse mix of sounds that can be heard throughout most of their records is always a welcome relief from those bands which appear content to play to formula. It is little wonder that XFM are touting them. Click here to listen to the track...

EVANESCENCE - BRING ME TO LIFE: Another hotly-tipped American slice of nu-metal, which sounds like a crossover between Linkin Park and Tori Amos, this first began to generate quite a bit of buzz after featuring during the Elektra training sequence in the movie, Daredevil. In fact, the Linkin Park comparisons are a little unfair, for while the digital beats, clean metal-guitar riffs, scattered piano lines and familiar mix of rapping and singing do owe their inspiration to that band, the difference lies in Amy Lee's creepy, but inspired vocals, which lend the track an altogether grander feel, bringing out some much-needed emotion in between the heavier moments. A heady mix, indeed, but an exciting new track from another of America's exciting new bands. The album is called Fallen - it may be worth a listen.

MARILYN MANSON - MOBSCENE: Apparently inspired by 'the glamour of 1930's Hollywood, the grotesque of vaudeville and the cabaret decadence and 'degenerate' art of Weimar Berlin', mOBSCENE is another typically obscene slice of glam-metal from the king of the grotesque, Marilyn Manson. This one offsets the typically heavy guitar sound with a chorus of girls to break up Manson's gothic, whiny vocals. The best that can be said for it is that it's nowhere near as bad as most Manson fodder, and far more commercially accessible, but that's hardly a recommendation. One for the stompers and Manson die-hards only. Taken from the 'eagerly-anticipated' album, The Golden Age of the Grotesque.

ELECTRIC SIX - GAY BAR: Beginning with a guitar sample that wouldn't sound out of place on the soundtrack of a Quentin Tarantino movie, Electric Six's Gay Bar is another completely off-the-wall, kitsch track from one of the most over-rated bands of the moment. I thought High Voltage was a terrible single, but this one takes the biscuit - taking the Detroit-based outfit's campness to new levels, with suggestive lyrics such as 'I've got something to put in you, at the Gay Bar'. The novelty probably lies in the band's willingness to be different and court controversy (just check out the wild video as an example), but when the dust settles and the excitement fades, I'm sure that Electric Six will be remembered about as fondly as Stiltskin in years to come. Here's hoping, anyway!