THE DARKNESS – GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY WOMAN
Set to upstage Def Leppard in their support slot this year, this is under 3 minutes of hard rocking, with a tap-esque wail over the top, and is just great for it. Just crunching guitars at a 'Stone Cold Crazy Queen' style pace, and is such a lot of fun to listen to. Guaranteed to send you into playing full-throttle air guitar. (CA). Release Date: 24th February. Link: Official Site: http://www.thedarknessrock.com/
KINGS OF LEON – MOLLY’S CHAMBERS
Under-produced Alt-Rock. Comparisons with Foo Fighters appear to be unfounded, if this single is anything to go by. It is OK as a record, but doesn't have anything to grab your attention for any length of time. (CA). Release Date: February 17th. Link: Official Site: http://www.kingsofleon.com/
NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS – BRING IT ON
Mmm, lovely, lovely stuff from Mr Cave, slightly less morbid than usual, and a rare case of an artist still improving after, well, decades. There are few real poets in music, and even fewer ones who are as touching as Mr Cave, and its about time he was not seen as a second rate Leonard Cohen, and got the recognition that he’s always deserved. (AF). Release Date: 24th February. Link: Fansite: http://www.bad-seed.org/cave/
TOM JONES – BLACK BETTY
Oh my Lord what does he think he’s trying to do here? A cover of a rather fun eighties tune (and you won’t hear me say those words often), it’s beyond embarrassingly, weakly done with no conviction whatsoever, and well there’s little good that can be said about it at all other than it’s not as bad as his last release, Tom Jones International. But then that’s like comparing Cancer to Aids really. Yep. That bad. (AF). Release Date: February 24th. Link: Official Site: http://www.tomjones.com/
AINSLIE – KEEP ME A SECRET
Blimey, this is, er, rather fine. In an indie-lite pop kind of way of course, but it’s massively better than anything any of the other Fame Academy / Pop Idol muppets have produced, and whilst it falls in to the ‘I’d never buy it but don’t mind hearing it on the radio’ category, well, it’s just not that bad at all, and I’d rather the kids listen to this than Darius, Gates, Sneddon et al. (AF). Release Date: 24th February
M.A.S.S. – LIVE A LITTLE / GIVE ME A BREAK
Goddamn special track, that rocks, baby, and never fails to leave you grinning afterwards. A mix of male and female vocals, it’s one of those rare indie tunes that from the first listen you want to meet the band, marry them, and have children with them. (AF). Release Date: 24th February. Link: http://www.targo.co.uk/mass/
MASSIVE ATTACK FEATURING SINEAD O’CONNOR – SPECIAL CASES
The first album to be made by only one of the founder members, 3D, this is too laid back, too minimalist, and well, too normal for a song by the band who have previously produced so many classic tunes. Sinead’s vocals are tedious too, and well, this doesn’t bode well for the forthcoming album. Okay, but that’s all really. (AF). Release Date: 24th February. Link: Official Site: http://www.massiveattack.co.uk/
THE DELGADO’S – ALL YOU NEED IS HATE
First single Coming In From The Cold disappointed a little at first, and I wrote a fairly mixed review, but now I’ve got their latest album, Hate, and listened to it a little more it’s really grown on me. This is even better than that track though, a bile filled sem-epic, that rivals anything from The Great Eastern (which was fan-bloody-tastic just in case you didn’t know), and proves that they’re one of the greatest bands Scotland has ever produced. Strong words, perhaps, but they really are that special. (AF). Release Date: February 24th. Link: Official Site: http://www.chemikal.co.uk/delgados.html
MELANIE C – HERE IT COMES AGAIN
Supposedly ‘the talented one’ from the spice girls releases this, the first track from her second solo album. And well, it’s better than anything Geri or Mel B have released. And, er, well, look, she’s trying to be a bit indie, a bit pop and it’s all a bit of an average mix. Her nasally vocals annoy too, and well, whilst it’s better than most manufactured music (which she laughably claims this isn’t) it’s not very good really. Oh well, tis hardly a tragedy eh? (AF). Release Date: 24th February. Link: Fansite: http://www.melaniec2k.com02.com/
MOLOKO – FAMILIAR FEELING
Sleep inducing stuff, Roisin Murphy’s vocals are too droney and it reminds too much of polite after dinner jazz. Yes, it’s that bad. Still thinking of buying it? Well, if you do your friends and family will most likely disown you if they find out, and you surely don’t want that do you? (AF). Release Date: 17th February. Link: Official Site: http://www.moloko.co.uk/
APPLETON – DON’T WORRY
Horribly poor nonsense, supposedly written at least in part by the girls themselves, which just goes to show that they’re as untalented as everyone always suspected. So plain, so nothingy, so useless. Hopefully they’re record company will do the decent think and drop them after this album. (AF). Release Date: 10th February. Link: Fansite: http://www.allsaintsi.com/apple/
IDLEWILD – MODERN WAY OF LETTING GO
Finally a song by Roddy and co. with some fucking oomph, frenetic guitars and emotive vocals for once, angry ones too, and this feels like Captain-era Idlewild and is all the better for it. It’s short too, which is always good for this sort of thing. (AF). Release Date: 10th February. Link: Official Site: http://www.idlewild.co.uk/
NADA SURF – HI-SPEED SOUL
Well this is a pretty pleasant surprise from a band who previously I’d had little time for. It’s a more pyschedelicy sound than what they usually do, and well, whilst not as good as anything by The Flaming Lips or Mercury Rev, rather rather pleasant stuff. Which may once again may sound like faint praise, and well, you’d be right. (AF). Release Date: 10th February. Link: Official Site: http://www.nadasurf.com/
SARAH WHATMORE – AUTOMATIC
Another month, another pop idol reject pops up for her 1.3 seconds of fame (the new amount allocated for reality tv stars). It’s got an R’n’B flavour, but only in a naff middle class white girl kind of way, and as you’ve probably already guessed, it’s a big pile of shite. (AF). Release Date: 10th February. Link: Official Site: http://www.sarahwhatmore.com/
JOHNNY – JOHNNY’S THEME
Delightfully strange slice of indie madness, which reminds of Ooberman and The Coral, but in a slightly more melodic way. The kind of song which should be released in the Summer though, so you go out in to your garden whilst listening to the radio and just kick back and relax. (AF). Release Date: 10th February. Link: We cant find one. But if you know of one, please email us at the usual address.
THE DATSUNS – 'HARMONIC GENERATOR
Ignore everything you’ve been told, The Datsuns are nowt special at all. They do clean, tight rock as it was done in the early eighties, but without the histronic warbling found back in those days, but every single bloody song sounds near on identical, and those that don’t are horribly dull anyway. The band the phrase ‘one trick pony’ was invented for. (AF). Release Date: 3rd February. Link: Official Site: http://www.thedatsuns.com/
TURIN BRAKES – PAINKILLER
Apparently this is T’Brakes first effort at writing a happy song. But can you tell just by listening to it? Well it doesn’t seem like it to me. I’ve wanted to like them for a while now, but well, there’s simply not enough going on here to be interested in anymore. Sorry. (AF). Release Date: 17th February. Link: Fansite: http://www.mindovermoney.co.uk/
THE MUSIC – THE TRUTH IS NO WORDS
If Rage Against the Machine, and Audioslave had never happened, this would be a great way to hear Led Zeppelin-esque blues psychedelia in the new millennium. But they did, so it just feels like we have a saturation of the same sound, and quite frankly, all the bands mentioned here are good; but Rage mixed hip-hop vocals with Zeppelin riffs, and proficient guitar playing from Tom Morello; Audioslave has the experience, and the top rock vocalist in Chris Cornell; so unfortunately, The Music do not sound as intricate as their idols. To be perfectly honest, stick with the original and best of this bunch, Led Zeppelin. (CA). Release Date: February 10th. Link: Official Site: http://www.themusic.uk.com/tm/index.cfm
THE POLYPHONIC SPREE – LIGHT AND DAY
Unapologetically upbeat and bloody lovely. Sure they may be a little too hippyfied for some people’s liking, but for christ’s sake, when so few bands out there are making such beautifully joyous music like this why complain? I’ll be seeing them support Supergrass on the 25th of Jan, so expect a gushing live review soon too. (AF). Release Date: 10th February. Link: Official Site: http://www.thepolyphonicspree.co.uk/
Click here to discuss all / any of these reviews on our music forum.
JANUARY 2003
SUPERGRASS – SEEN THE LIGHT
Short but oh sweet track from the new and rejuvenated Supergrass who have discovered how to rock again. As mentioned in our recent live review of them (which if you want to read just click here), it sounds like they’ve been listening to The Stones a lot, but hey, when’s that ever been a bad idea? (AF). Release Date: 27th January. Link: Fansite: http://www.childrenofthemonkeybasket.com/
STONE SOUR – BOTHER
Used as part of the Spiderman Soundtrack, and chalking up major sales in the US, Corey Taylor (Lead singer of Slipknot) decides to descend into rock MOR, with this Staind/any other nu-metal ballad of this ilk type offering. It is a decent song, but any fans of 'Get inside' or Taylor's work with Knot, will be pulling out there nose-rings in disgust. (CA). Release Date: 27th January. Link: Fansite: http://www.stonesour.tk/
T.A.T.U. – ALL THE THINGS SHE SAID
Okay, their two girls from Russia, one’s 17 and the others 18, they’re lesbians and they wear school uniforms in the video whilst snogging each other a lot. And if this doesn’t get to number one and stay their for about 200 weeks I’ve seriously misjudged the great British public. The Daily Mail will no doubt go absolutely fucking ballistic over this, but the real surprise here is that the song itself isn’t actually that bad – kind of Natalie Imbruglia-ish but in a very catchy kind of way, and whilst I’ll never buy it of course, I’d rather see this sort of thing fill the charts than Blue or Girls Aloud. (AF). Release Date: 27th January. Link: Official Site: http://www.tatugirls.com/
EASYWORLD – JUNKIES (AND WHORES)
Fairly heavy Indie, but nice. It opens with some Celtic overtones, then into the melodic verse, then heavy chorus. It is catchy enough, but lacks that something extra special. (CA). I couldn’t agree more, there the sort of band who sound nice another, but there’s no spark, no real reason to fall in love in with them. So fine, but nowt more. (AF). Release Date: 27th January. Link: http://www.easyworldinfo.co.uk/
THE LIBERTINES – TIME FOR HEROES
Ah, bless the Libertines for proving that three minute guitar pop efforts which sound like they could have been made in the middle of the britpop years. This is more of the same, less catchy than What A Waster or Up The Bracket, maybe, but its still a fun, jaunty slice of pop loveliness. (AF). Release Date: 13th January. Link: Fansite: http://www.thelibertines.org/
REEF – GIVE ME YOUR LOVE
Put out as part of the "Together" Best of, this harks back to the sound of Black Crowes and 'Remedy', which is good to hear to be honest. There's no denying that Reef are not the sort of band to break new ground. They've always wanted to sound like Free, and have always had that retro feel about themselves, apart from the Getaway', where they became a precursor for "Busted" or one of those bands. The good news is they've returned to the rawer sound of the band, and it is certainly one of their best singles to date: Far better than that Melody Maker play on words cobblers in "Superhero". (CA). Release Date: 13th January. Album to follow. Link: http://www.reef.co.uk/
ZWAN – HONESTLY
I HONESTLY don't know what happened with this single. You take the best part of the Smashing Pumpkins (Chamberlain and Corgan), Two impressive underground guitarists (Matt Sweeney and David Pajo), and A Perfect Circle's bassist Paz Lenchantin. Conseqently you have an ubersupergroup, and unfortunately a disappointing debut single. Disappointing, as it is not going to inspire anyone as much as early Pumpkins records. At one point, it sounds like I'm listening to Oasis. That is territory I do not want to be in. It's clear why they went with the single; it's poppy, up-beat, and unlike anything the Pumpkins ever did. Unfortunately there is not enough going on to make listening to it consistently enjoyable. (CA). Release Date: 28th January. Link: http://www.zwan.com/
JOHNNY MARR AND THE HEALERS – BANGING ON
Now why does one of the most influential guitarists not get more mainstream exposure? On the evidence of this single, it is hard to figure out why. Almost as hard as it was to understand why Morrissey could not get a record deal, but I digress. Sounding a mile fresher than all the bands Marr influenced, and boasting a proficient rhythm section in former Kula Shaker bassist Alonza Bevan, and Zak Starkey, who has a famous Dad. It sounds like a heavier version of Electronic, but without the synths and Bernard Sumner on vocals of course. Unlike anything in the shops presently, the drumming is pacey, the bassline is tight, and as usual Marr's guitar work is under-stated but impeccable. Worth listening to. Album out now. (CA). Release Date: 20th Jan. Link: Official Site: http://www.jmarr.com/
EIGHTIES MATCHBOX B-LINE DISASTER – PSYCHOSIS SAFARI
More crazy numetal stomping kind of stuff, that occasionally sounds like Vic Reeves doing his club singer impression on Shooting Stars. They’re never going to go down as anyone’s favourite ever band, but they do novelty nu-metal well, and are simply a lot of fun. So for that reason alone, at least once a night request this at your local indie/rock disco. (AF). Release Date: 13th January. Link: Official Site: http://www.tembd.co.uk/
AUDIO BULLYS – WE DON’T CARE
This is all The Streets fault, and only serves to make me hate them more. So yes, all we’ve got here is some piss poor rapping (and barely that, more monotonous rambling) over a crappy background of samples and, um, well that’s about it. About as dumb as music gets, and just so fucking annoying. Ahhh! Please God, make me never have to listen to this again… (AF). Release Date: January 6th. Link: No. We refuse to link to them.
FEEDER – JUST THE WAY I’M FEELING
Well, I’m trying to feel slightly enthusiastic about this I really am. I mean, um, er, damn, it’s just no good, other than Just A Day, no track they’ve ever released has been even slightly better than mediocre and this is more of the same, guitarry wimp rock, and painfully uninspiring. (AF). Release Date: January 6th. Link: Fansite: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~collie/feeder.htm
BADLY DRAWN BOY – BORN AGAIN
A return to a more earnest sound after the whimsical previous single You Were Right, it’s fine enough, but simply impossible to get excited about. BDB should definitely stop trying to release so many albums per year and settle for just making one decent album every so often like nearly everyone else does. (AF). Release Date: 6th January. Link: Official Site: http://www.badlydrawnboy.co.uk/
ELECTRIC SIX – DANGER! HIGH VOLTAGE
Bizarre but ridiculously fun shouty stuff, with a slight hint of the Hives on the side. It’s too soon to say whether or not Electric Six are also a one trick pony, but godammit, considering all the other absolute nonsense that’s been released over the Christmas / News Years period, this is a breath of semi-fresh air, and should be sought out asap. (AF). Release Date: January 6th. Link: Official Site: http://www.electricsix.com/
AUDIOSLAVE – COCHISE
The formerly called civillian arrive with the first release from eponymous debut. The ability is unquestionable; Former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell teams with remaining Rage Against the Machine Members to produce the latest in a line of supergroups, which include Queens of the Stone Age, and Billy Corgan's Zwan. "Cochise" is similar to Rage, except Cornell cuts a great rock vocal, compared to Zach De La Rocha's yelling. It is a blistering rock track, and shows much promise for the album. (CA). Release Date: January 13th. Link: Official Site: http://www.audioslavemusic.com/
AVRIL LAVIGNE – SK8ER BOI
Fnur, funur. Do you see what she's done with the word Skater? and what about Boi? OK, that's my NME pastiche out of the way. Avril came at us first with the massively overplayed, tame Alanis Morrisette ballad "Complicated", which was no more grunge than say Five were Rock Gods. Sk8er Boi offers a punkier sound, but the clever girl has still managed to keep it catchy enough to hit the top 10 at least. If you want to ween your kids on to Grunge-Lite stuff first, this is fine. Play them the Nirvana and Soundgarden when they've grown tired of this. They may be less catchy, but they mean so much more to the definitive characteristics of the uprising of Seattle bands. (CA). Release Date: January 6th. Link: Fansite: http://www.alavigne.com/
MULL HISTORICAL SOCIETY -
THE FINAL ARREARS
AND ALSO RELEASED IN FEBRUARY:
03/02/03
Alexia - 'Ring'
Big Brovaz - 'OK'
Clipse - 'Grindin'/When The Last Time'
Counting Crows & Vanessa Carlton - 'Big Yellow Taxi'
Dee Dee - 'The One'
Julia Fordham - 'Wake Yo With You (The I Wanna Song)'
Good Charlotte - 'Lifestyles Of The Rich & Famous'
Grand Popo Football Club - 'Each Finger Has An Attitude'
Ed Harcourt - 'All Of Your Days Will Be Blessed'
Jody Lei - 'Showdown' Masai - 'Do That Thang'
Sean Paul - 'Gimme The Light'
Red Hot Chili Peppers - 'Can't Stop'
Sash! - 'Ganbareh'
Thunderpuss & Chris Barnes - 'Head'
Justin Timberlake - 'Cry Me A River'
10/02/03
2-Pac - 'Thugz Mansion'
Aquagen - 'Hard To Say I'm Sorry'
Blazin' Squad - 'Reminisce/Where The Story Ends'
Cradle Of Filth - 'Dark'
Delta Goodrem - 'Born To Try'
JJ72 - 'Always & Forever'
Kira - 'I'll Be Your Angel'
LL Cool J - 'Paradise'
Mario - 'Just A Friend'
Matchbox 20 - 'Disease'
Moony - 'Acrobats (Looking For Balance)' Mya - 'People Change'
Novaspace - 'Time After Time'
Sinead Quinn - 'I Can't Break Down'
The Revs - 'Loaded'
Rezonance Q - 'Someday'
Rhianna - 'I Love Every Little Thing About You'
Roxette - 'A Thing About You'
Rui Da Silva - 'Feel The Love'
Stabb - 'This Joke's On Me'
Sum 41 - 'The Hell Song'
17/02/03
Athlete - 'Westside'
B2K feat P Diddy - 'Bump Bump Bump'
Interactive - 'Forever Young'
Jakatta feat Beth Hersh - 'One Fine Day' Shaggy - 'Strength Of A Woman'
Simply Red - 'Sunrise'
The Ones - 'Superstar'
Jan Wayne - 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart'
24/02/03
Christina Aguilera - 'Beautiful'
Amber - 'Anyway (Men Are From Mars)'
Toni Braxton - 'Hit The Freeway'
Vanessa Carlton - 'Pretty Baby'
Chicane feat Peter Cunnah - 'Love On The Run'
Cradle Of Filth - 'Dark'
Def Leppard - 'Long Long Way To Go' Des'Ree - 'It's OK
DJ Sammy - 'Boys Of Summer'
Pippa Fulton - 'I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing' Jennifer Love Hewitt - 'Can I Go Now?'
J.C.A. feat Dannii Minogue - 'I Begin To Wonder'
Junior Senior - 'Move Ya Feet'
Beverley Knight - 'Shape Of You (Reshaped)' Nelly feat Justin Timberlake vs Jason Nevins - 'Work It!'
LeAnn Rimes - 'Suddenly'
Smoke 2-7 - 'Envy'
THE FLAMING LIPS - YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOTS PT.1
AND ALSO RELEASED IN JANUARY:
06/01/03
Richard Ashcroft - Science Of Silence
Audio Bullys - We Don't Care
Badly Drawn Boy - Born Again
Busted - Year 3000
Lucy Carr - 'Missing You'
Default - 'Wasting My Time'
Divine Inspiration - 'The Way (Put Your Hand In My Hand)'
Erasure - 'Solsbury Hill'
Flip & Fill - 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'
InMe - 'Crushed Like Fruit'
Jaheim - 'Fabulous'
Masai - 'Do That Thang'
Riva - 'Time Is A Healer'
Who Da Funk - 'Sting Me Red'
Wilt - 'Understand'
13/01/03
Zoe Birkett - 'Treat Me Like A Lady'
Cosmic Gate - 'The Wave'/'Raging'
Dario G - 'Heaven Is Closer (Feels Like Heaven)'
Jaimeson feat Angel Blu - 'True'
Layo & Bushwacka - 'Love Story Vs Finally'
More Fire Crew - 'Back Then'
Nas - 'Made You Look'
Panjabi MC - 'Mundian To Bach Ke'
Puressence - 'She's Gotten Over You'
Rosie Ribbons - 'A Little Bit'
John Silver - 'Come On Over'
Bob Sinclair - 'The Beat Goes On'
David Sneddon - 'Stop Living The Lie'
20/01/03
Asian Dub Foundation - 'Fortress Europe'
Badfellas CK - 'Soc It To Me'
Chicane feat Maire Brennan - 'Saltwater 2003'
Coolio - 'Ghetto Square Dance'
Craig David - 'Hidden Agenda'
Decoy & Roy - 'Inner Life'
DJ Sneak - 'Fix My Sink'
Driftwood - 'Freeloader'
Robin Gibb - 'Please'
Darren Hayes - 'Crush (1980 Me)'
Hell Is For Heroes - 'You Drove Me To It'
Jay-Z feat Beyonce - '03 Bonnie & Clyde'
Lemon Jelly - 'Nice Weather For Ducks'
Lifehouse - 'Spin'
No Doubt - 'Running'
Kelly Osbourne - 'Shut Up'
Soft Cell - 'The Night'
Syntax - 'Pray'
Underworld - 'Dinosaur Adevnture 3D'
Jurgen Vries feat CMC - 'The Opera Song (Brave New World)'
The Wildhearts - 'Stormy In The North, Karma In The South'
Wilt -'Understand'
27/01/03
3rd Edge - 'Know You Wanna'
Aaliyah - 'Miss You'
Beenie Man - 'Street Life'
Blackstreet - 'Wizzy-Wow'
Cam'Ron - 'Hey Ma'
Conjure One' - 'Sleep'
The Devlins - 'Static In The Flow'
Martin Grech - 'Push'
The Licks - 'Heavy Load'
Mint Royale - 'Blue Song'
Jason Nevins vs Eric B & Rakim - 'I Know You Got Soul 2003'
Nu Circles feat Emma B - 'What U Need (Tonight)'
O-Town - 'These Are The Days'
Oakenfold feat Nelly Furtado & Tricky - 'The Harder They Come'
One Minute Silence - 'Revolution EP'
Pablo - 'Y Bryon'
Busta Rhymes feat Spliff Star - 'Make It Clap'
Kelly Rowland - 'Stole'
Supergrass - 'Seen The Light'
Transplants - 'Diamonds & Guns'
Who Da Funk & Terra Deva - 'Sting Me Red (Clever)'
Click here to discuss all / any of these reviews on our music forum.
Alex Finch, Craig Aston and Izzy Brooks.
The Singles Review Archive:
November and December 2002
September and October 2002
July and August 2002
May and June 2002.
March and April 2002.
January and February 2002.
November and December 2001.
September and October 2001.
May and August 2001.
January and April 2001.
June and December 2000.
Contact Us - About Us - Recommended Links - More Links - Forums - Search This Site