Bleedmusic Singles Reviews 11/11/02
Single Reviews - November 11th
Listening to “Whispering Street”, I imagine Barry Adamson looks a little like Hawaiian 80s pop heartthrob Glenn Medeiros.
I know better of course. Barry Adamson's pedigree as past member of such landmark bands as Magazine and The Bad Seeds is completely sidelined with this aged sounding, tinnily remixed pap pop. He might have a way with words (which isn't even in evidence here) and a syrupy, melt-the-ladies voice but this is a poor show.
There are lots of wishy-washy noises at the beginning of the Athlete single, “Beautiful”. And the main body of the song continues in the same vein really. It doesn't have the same easy charm that “You Got The Style” had. B-side “On and On” is much more like it. Leave the sweeping anthems to someone else boys, and stick to the jaunty little numbers you're best at.
Up next is Finland's finest rock band, Sweatmaster. They win my award for Best Single of All Time by a Scandinavian Band just because “I Am A Demon And I Love Rock'n'Roll” is the best song title of all time. The song itself is huge fun and the cheese factor is off the scale. The lyrics rival that of Poison's “Talk Dirty To Me” for downright ridiculousness and it makes me want to go out, buy a pair of spray on bleached jeans, grow a Dave Mustaine haircut and shake it around whilst scaring old ladies with my rock salute in Sainsbury’s. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Whilst in Sainsbury’s, I found Craig David in the freezer section attracting odd looks with his new single, “What's Your Flava?” The guy has a worrying obsession with ice cream. He takes it on dates and everything. His lactose fetish aside, this song is a cheddar-fest beyond belief. If I could believe he's ever pulled in his life, it wouldn't be so bad. But they just don't hold no truck with that kind of behaviour in Swindon.
Lomax's “Anglicised” sounds like The Clash. It's nowhere as near as good as the other track on this AA side. Which is fortunate as I'll choose “Last Meal For Jeff” as my A side. It's a simple and effective musing on Jeffery Dahmer, The Milwaukee Cannibal. How could they have known that I was reviewing the singles this week, and that I have a real soft spot for songs about cannibalistic sociopaths? Spooky. Go and buy it now...
I don't know. Is Jon Spencer Blues Explosion actually any good? Or is the band just some tinpot, middle-of-the-road, poor excuse for musicians? I'd much rather listen to BB Mak...
“Out of my Heart” is the first single from their new album from this decade's The Fixx. Their success in the States is unsurprising given this saccharine-soaked slab of pop. Anyone remember Toad The Wet Sprockett? This is they. With different faces, of course.
John Squire has that wobbly, comedy-scouser voice which Ringo uses to great effect on Thomas the Tank Engine. Squire takes this approach with single “Joe Louis”. There is a very Beatles-ey vibe to this song, but it's a somehow more ballsy, super-strength version. Which is more than can be said of the music that awful hippy band he used to be in made.
Despite an apparent speech impediment, Beth Orton does alright with "Anywhere". It 's got a good beat, and her voice is really quite nice. Other than that, there's not anything that grabs me about it. Or maybe it's just quite mediocre. Really. I'm that apathetic about it.
I could see myself dancing to Radio 4's "Dance to the Underground", after rather a lot of alcohol and little sleep for a few days. It's one of those songs that you have to be a bit fucked up to listen to. And at 4pm, despite Bleed's reputation, I'm not quite there. So it's a bit like having an insect in my ear. The bass line is brilliant. If this song was just the bass line, I'd be in love with this band. As it goes, they're better than The Strokes – but that’s not necessarily a compliment.
Aaah, Darius. He's my favourite popstar at the moment. And there's no hint of irony or sarcasm there. The man who writes his own stuff and plays his own guitar is back with another easy-on-the-ear, singalong tune where he can wander through the desert in the video looking enigmatic. “Rushes” is as lovely as the man is ambitious. And whilst his reality TV show companions are crying on telly, being crushed under Jordan's ample bosom and turning more into Norman Wisdom everyday, Darius is getting on with the music. And I love him for it.
If Darius is this week's clean cut young man; Missy Elliott with “Work It” is a naughty little minx indeed. Is this the best hip hop single of the year? Very probably. She's reportedly lost around four stone in weight, but this song packs a fuck-off right hook. So... be off with you. Go out. Shake yer tush, talk backwards and make yer arse go vroom.
Fremme Neppa Venette indeed.
Listening to “Whispering Street”, I imagine Barry Adamson looks a little like Hawaiian 80s pop heartthrob Glenn Medeiros.
I know better of course. Barry Adamson's pedigree as past member of such landmark bands as Magazine and The Bad Seeds is completely sidelined with this aged sounding, tinnily remixed pap pop. He might have a way with words (which isn't even in evidence here) and a syrupy, melt-the-ladies voice but this is a poor show.
There are lots of wishy-washy noises at the beginning of the Athlete single, “Beautiful”. And the main body of the song continues in the same vein really. It doesn't have the same easy charm that “You Got The Style” had. B-side “On and On” is much more like it. Leave the sweeping anthems to someone else boys, and stick to the jaunty little numbers you're best at.
Up next is Finland's finest rock band, Sweatmaster. They win my award for Best Single of All Time by a Scandinavian Band just because “I Am A Demon And I Love Rock'n'Roll” is the best song title of all time. The song itself is huge fun and the cheese factor is off the scale. The lyrics rival that of Poison's “Talk Dirty To Me” for downright ridiculousness and it makes me want to go out, buy a pair of spray on bleached jeans, grow a Dave Mustaine haircut and shake it around whilst scaring old ladies with my rock salute in Sainsbury’s. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Whilst in Sainsbury’s, I found Craig David in the freezer section attracting odd looks with his new single, “What's Your Flava?” The guy has a worrying obsession with ice cream. He takes it on dates and everything. His lactose fetish aside, this song is a cheddar-fest beyond belief. If I could believe he's ever pulled in his life, it wouldn't be so bad. But they just don't hold no truck with that kind of behaviour in Swindon.
Lomax's “Anglicised” sounds like The Clash. It's nowhere as near as good as the other track on this AA side. Which is fortunate as I'll choose “Last Meal For Jeff” as my A side. It's a simple and effective musing on Jeffery Dahmer, The Milwaukee Cannibal. How could they have known that I was reviewing the singles this week, and that I have a real soft spot for songs about cannibalistic sociopaths? Spooky. Go and buy it now...
I don't know. Is Jon Spencer Blues Explosion actually any good? Or is the band just some tinpot, middle-of-the-road, poor excuse for musicians? I'd much rather listen to BB Mak...
“Out of my Heart” is the first single from their new album from this decade's The Fixx. Their success in the States is unsurprising given this saccharine-soaked slab of pop. Anyone remember Toad The Wet Sprockett? This is they. With different faces, of course.
John Squire has that wobbly, comedy-scouser voice which Ringo uses to great effect on Thomas the Tank Engine. Squire takes this approach with single “Joe Louis”. There is a very Beatles-ey vibe to this song, but it's a somehow more ballsy, super-strength version. Which is more than can be said of the music that awful hippy band he used to be in made.
Despite an apparent speech impediment, Beth Orton does alright with "Anywhere". It 's got a good beat, and her voice is really quite nice. Other than that, there's not anything that grabs me about it. Or maybe it's just quite mediocre. Really. I'm that apathetic about it.
I could see myself dancing to Radio 4's "Dance to the Underground", after rather a lot of alcohol and little sleep for a few days. It's one of those songs that you have to be a bit fucked up to listen to. And at 4pm, despite Bleed's reputation, I'm not quite there. So it's a bit like having an insect in my ear. The bass line is brilliant. If this song was just the bass line, I'd be in love with this band. As it goes, they're better than The Strokes – but that’s not necessarily a compliment.
Aaah, Darius. He's my favourite popstar at the moment. And there's no hint of irony or sarcasm there. The man who writes his own stuff and plays his own guitar is back with another easy-on-the-ear, singalong tune where he can wander through the desert in the video looking enigmatic. “Rushes” is as lovely as the man is ambitious. And whilst his reality TV show companions are crying on telly, being crushed under Jordan's ample bosom and turning more into Norman Wisdom everyday, Darius is getting on with the music. And I love him for it.
If Darius is this week's clean cut young man; Missy Elliott with “Work It” is a naughty little minx indeed. Is this the best hip hop single of the year? Very probably. She's reportedly lost around four stone in weight, but this song packs a fuck-off right hook. So... be off with you. Go out. Shake yer tush, talk backwards and make yer arse go vroom.
Fremme Neppa Venette indeed.
posted by Luci @ 6:45 AM
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