This Week’s Singles Reviewed – 31 January 2011

Our guide to the singles released in the UK today, featuring The Streets, Jessie J and Hercules And Love Affair

The Streets – Going Through Hell
Mike Skinner seems to be very fond of those little philosophical sayings people use to cast a wise light on bad experiences – the one about a cloud, for example, or the one about sewing. He’s lined a few up, and then twisted them a bit, to illustrate his song, about defiance (and possibly fights in pub car parks). To assist him, he has brought along slabs of monolithic prog-hop, with matey from The Music and his rubberised lungs. It’s a powerful, rowdy brew, scattering sense and nonsense around like well-sprinkled croutons in a broth. A broth made by just the right amount of cooks, obv.


Jessie J feat. B.o.B – Price Tag
Oh yeah, yeah, I know this girl: Sound Of 2011, right? Does it like a dude? Fond of crotches and hats and…waydaminnit! Light, skippy, cuss-free pop music? A wholesome message for humanity? A tune you can WHISTLE? Is this really what people want from their cutting-edge these days? I mean it’s very nice, and those harmonies right at the end are lovely, but this had better be an attempt to broaden her appeal after a very strident first single, or I want my money back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByOxsH-N5PQ&hl=en&fs=0&rel=0&autoplay=0&showsearch=0&showinfo=0&iv_load_policy=0
Advertisement

The Phoenix Foundation – Buffalo
I am all for a bit of ambition in music, so a spirited attempt to capture the rolling sweep of the sea, and the aquatic mammals that do dwell within, using just instruments and voices, well that is only to be applauded. However, singing “I am the buffalo,” as the Foundation do, before adding, “through the oceans I do roam,” is a gross factual inaccuracy, and will not stand. The word they are looking for, you see, is WHALE, although I would also accept walrus or manatee, even though they don’t eat plankton.

Hercules And Love Affair – My House
Certain songs can leave you feeling like a badger being shown Facebook – bewildered, hostile, and desperate to return to the comfort of your set. This song is hugely confusing, because the singer doesn’t seem to exist in the same key as the bassline. Is that what we’re doing now? Jamming musical things together at random? Cos everything I have learned until now points to that being a bad thing. So what is everyone looking so pleased about? Why are they dancing? I’m so confused!

Clinic – Bubblegum
Ah, the true sound of an urban summer. Beatific music, soft and warm, sung through desperately-clenched teeth, as if depicting a crazed attempt to sunbathe on a traffic island, at rush hour. Let’s hope February is a scorcher or this may not find the audience it deserves (e.g. city nudists with extreme allergies.)

Enrique Iglesias – Tonight (I’m F**kin’ You)
Oh is that tonight? Cos I have it down in my diary as NEVER.

Ringo Deathstarr – So High
It’s a shame we do not live in a world in which Ringo Deathstarr is the name of Liam Gallagher’s new band. Or even a world in which Ringo Deathstarr is the name of Noel Gallagher’s firstborn son. Hell, I would settle for a world in which Ringo Deathstarr was the name of Paul Gallagher’s cat. As it is, it’s the name of these Lush revivalists, and to be fair, they seem to be having a lot more fun with it than those other guys, so maybe all is well after all.

Advertisement

This week’s new albums reviewed

10 tracks you have to hear this week

Other songs you can buy:

Barbarellas – ‘Body Rock’
B.o.B – ‘I’ll Be In The Sky’
Camo & Krooked – ‘Nothing Is Older Than Yesterday’
Cornelia – ‘By The Fire’
Cut Copy – ‘Sun God’
Drop The Lime – ‘Hot As Hell’
John Giovanni – ‘Take Off’
The Guilty Hands – ‘Gregory’
Elton John / Leon Russell – ‘When Love Is Dying’
Imelda May – ‘Inside Out’
Jamiroquai – ‘Lifeline’
Pete Lawrie – ‘Fell Into The River’
Loick Essien – Stuttering
MEN – ‘Who Am I?’
Metronomy – ‘She Wants’
Model 500 – ‘OFI’
Nelly feat. Akon & T Pain – ‘Move That Body’
Neon Trees – ‘Animal’
Sugarland – ‘Stuck Like Glue’
Talay Riley – Sergeant Smash
Telekinesis! – ‘Please Ask For Help’
True Tiger feat. Professor Green – ‘In The Air’
Yasmin – ‘On My Own’

7”s
Scott Cunningham – Morning Madness
Deerhoof/Physical Forms – ‘Hoofdriver’
Exit – ‘Detroit Leaning’
Harry’s Gym – ‘Old Man’
Imperial Wonders – ‘Love Me To The Music’
Sophia Knapp – ‘Nothing To Lose’
La Sera – ‘Never Come Around’
Papercuts – ‘Do What You Will’
Standard Fare/One Happy Island split 7”

12”s
Luke Abbott – ‘Trans Forest Alignment’
Benoit & Sergio – ‘Where The Freaks Have No Name’
Bozeman & Roberts – ‘Workin’ Mama’
Brokenchord – ‘Girl of 13 Summers’
Chromeo ft Elly Jackson – ‘Hot Mess’
Cos/Mes – ‘Naruto’
Darand Land – ‘Foregrounds and Backgrounds’
David ID – ‘Gangs EP’
Deep Space Orchestra – ‘Last Exit EP’
Ali Love – ‘Moscow Girl’
David Lynch – ‘Good Day Today’ (deluxe vinyl)
Punks Jump Up – ‘Blockhead’
Sepalcure – ‘Fleur EP’
The Shoes – ‘Shoes of Roy Ayers’
Suddenly Sunshine – ‘Summer Days EP’
Westwood/Cash – ‘Psycho For Your Love’

Leave a comment below if I’ve missed anything amazing…

This week’s new music releases, 24 January 2011

You May Also Like

Advertisement

TRENDING

Advertisement

More Stories