V V Brown – Leave!
The world’s still in love with a strong female vocal. Forget the decline of Winehouse, and look to Duffy’s storming of the Brits, Adele’s U.S. success and the on-going love for the only slightly irritating Ting Tings. Is there room for any more?
Well, hopefully. Certainly when someone as good as V V Brown crops up, I’m sure everyone else wouldn’t mind squashing up a bit to let her through the door. She came to out attention on Jools Holland, and ‘Leave!’ is as bright and purposeful Motown influenced pop as you could hope for in this day and age. That’s one Grammy for 2010 in the bag.
Release Date: 02 Mar
8.9/10
Sneaky Sound System – I Love It
It’s a single that broke all records in their native Australia, spending a terrifying 73 weeks on the Australian chart. And from a country that can boast Sleepy Jackson and Avalanches to its name, they know a good thing about dance pop.
A familiar fuzz bass and tight drum loop pattern sets the rhythm for Connie Mitchell’s elegant, pure-pop vocals that would easily win X Factor if Mitchell ever wanted to throw away all credibility for a shot at fame and money.
On the evidence of this though, they’ll both come her way anyway. Yes, I do love it. TM
Release Date: 02 Mar
7.4/10
Who Made Who – The Plot
Denmark’s latest musical impact on the world, Alphabeat, excited all who listened with infectious, unashamed pop that sought smiles regardless of any care for cool or respect. Their compatriots, Who Made Who, are less of a fascination though. (more…)
The Bishops – For Now
Sadly not Harold from Neighbours finally unleashing his masterful tuba skills on a wonderfully welcoming world, The Bishops are instead three of your usual indie sorts from London, now on their second album since their 2002 formation. (more…)
Butcher Boy – A Better Ghost
Buoyed in America by the fleeting fame that comes from having a song played over the ending montage of emotion and contemplation of a high-budget drama drama, as each character suffers the realisation that life in such a show may be pretty but it blows, Butcher Boy returns with a single of similar subtle brooding.
Taking tips form Lloyd Cole, this is sweet acoustic Glasgow, flecked with sprinklings of clean electric guitar for melodic affect. The violas are no surprise too, but are no less welcome assuring a class already offered by the claming lilt of a refined Scot. Next stop, Grey’s.
Release Date: 23 Mar
7.6/10
Funeral For a Friend – Rules and Games
Oh my. Every teens favourite Welsh emo sorts are back. And who could ignore a band with such loud pop metal (petal?) aspirations. Well, the lucky. And the smart. And the deaf. I wish I was at least one of those.
Rules and Games follows all the rules of their unfortunate genre. Thrashing guitar forces out a verse of such banality that the sudden uploift of the standard pop chorus seems up there with the primal joy of the refrain from Hey Jude.
It isn’t of course. It’s vibrant burst is a simple ploy to expnad a fan scene beyond tedious metal heads, yet doesn’t save a song mired in uniformity, with market meaning more than, well, meaning.
Funeral For a Friend are the shading in a ven diagram of mediocre metal and The Jonas Brothers. This well never be a good thing.
Release Date: 23 Mar
2.3/10
The Kills – Black Balloon
With The Thrills now thankfully defunct, The Kills have settled into being the best band around ending in ‘ills’ rather comfortably.
A world away from the uninteresting, wispy whimsy of their former challengers, Black Balloon is a menacing song of naked darkness, stripped to a song’s essentials forcing every not and every beat and every ‘aah’ to be noticed. Not that this is anything approaching catchy indie though.
There may be handclaps, but they’re not the joyous celebrations of The Shins, this is the ominous beat of the playground as the kids call for a fight. Something bad is about to happen.
With Alison Mosshart bringing the angels to hell with her vocals, this is a record free of positivity, but simmering in beauty.
Release Date: 23 Mar
7.8/10
Video Nasties– Jellybean
The high pitched distortion of raw guitar and that inevitable kick of the drums can only mean one thing! Another Strokes copycat. All that’s missing is the same addled ‘huh!’ and swaggering hoarse tones that can only come come from a mouth with a cigarette hung effortlessly from once corner.
Instead of Julian Casablancas and his smoky tales of the New York, Video Nasties offer the raw dissonance of a north London megaphone that certainly wouldn’t sound unusual coming from the crumbling shed of their early practice sessions.
One single can never say much, but it’s hard to even hear the merest hint of the likes of Sonic Youth and Sebadoh they claim as influences. Instead, this is simple, stripped down garage (well, shed) rock, bristling with an unfounded, never resolved aggression that you just know shall never be addressed or progressed no matter how many albums they may have. Straight to video.
Release Date: 23 Mar
5.5/10
Sharing is nice
Share – Exposure
Yet more Canadian indie types with intelligence and imagination? Share have their home in Halifax, Novia Scotia though, rather than the saturated Montreal of The Dears, Arcade Fire and A Silver Mt. Zion. Unlike their Quebecois cousins though, Share disregard the bellowing triumph of violin, viola and whatever else makes those bands so magnificent, instead opting for a sound more akin to their freezing coastal home, stripped down, with rough guitar and pacey tempos. And not a French lyric in sight. Lead man, Andrew Sisk shares all. (more…)
