CHARLOTTE CHURCH - CRAZY CHICK
Poor old Charlotte, the end's going to be coming far sooner than she thinks. Not that it should be, soundwise she's still at the top of her game (though live it's beginning to tell that she gets through twenty a day), but I just can't see anyone identifying with lyrics like these, which ramble on about wanting to see a therapist with a phd and how she's going all crazy and everything. Now if she'd sung about the joys of happy slapping, her target audience might've been interested, but this self-obsessed nonsense? Nah, can't see it myself. (AF). Release Date: June 27th. Link: Fansite: http://www.charlottechurchfans.com/
FEEDER - PUSHING THE SENSES
Pushing the senses...by sounding like every other song you've ever written? Feeder more than almost any other band suffer from SSS, "Same Sound Syndrome", and it began to grate oh so long ago. Without wishing to court controversy, without the tragic death of Jon Lee they would have been forgotten about years ago, and it was only misplaced sympathy which has seen them in the limelight for so long now. Ignore them, please, and hopefully they'll finally go away soon. (AF). Release Date: June 27th. Link: Fansite: http://feederfansite.moonfruit.com/
STEREOPHONICS - SUPERMAN
And so order is restored to the Universe once again as the Stereophonics go back to releasing crap music. To be fair this isn't an atrocity on the level of Mr Writer, and sonically it's all okay, with an undeniably catchy chorus. If only we wouldn't listen to those pesky lyrics, eh Kelly? Then everything would be okay. But we did. They annoyed. We recommend only die hard fans bother. End of. (AF). Release Date: June 20th. Link: Official Site: http://www.stereophonics.com/home.php
MELANIE BROWN – TODAY
So Scary Spice returns with a sound that's well, not scary. 'Mature' may be the word bounded about on press releases, but it's more in line with the shiny happy poppy stuff you'd normally associate with those lovely young upstarts McFly. Her voice may not be best suited to this sort of thing, having the lowest lead voice in the Spice Girls, but avoids being too baritone so sounds less monotone than usual. What lets it down are the lyrics - unmistakably repetitive. The use of the same unmistakably repetitive lyrics for verses has you tiring of a song that has strong mainstream hit written all over it at first, but becomes unmistakably repetitive all too easily. Release Date: June 13th. Link: Fansite: http://www.melanie-b.org/
U2 - CITY OF BLINDING LIGHTS
There's something cold and mechanical about U2 that despite Bono's passion and the huge sound they produce, their songs mean absolutely nothing to me. There's lots of nice sentiment within the lyrics, but it's never heartwrenchingly beautiful. Or anywhere even close to this. If it's ever revealed that they're infact robot's from the future, sent only to annoy, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. They've not quite turned in to The Rolling Stones just yet, but judging by this it's only a matter of time. (AF). Release Date: June 6th. Link: Fansite: http://www.atu2.com/
THE ORDINARY BOYS - BOYS WILL BE BOYS
Switching influences may confirm to most cynics that Preston and co. were reading their Morrissey and Gene songbooks a touch too much on the first record, and some paranoid fear of being found out so easily led to a rethink over sound and style. Truth is, of the singles released off Over the counter culture - the Jam inspired stuff like Talk Talk Talk and Week in, Week out was best for it's pace, energetic hooks, and empathic portrayals of the working man and his drab working life, but presented with zest and zeal. In the City meets Heaven Know's I'm miserable now, if you will. This single, off new album "Brass Bound" has the same energetic rhythmnic trance that will cheer up anyone long for the classic skanking days of The Specials, The Beat, Selecter, and Madness (on a more commercial note). This really pleases me. Not as much as 'Rat Race' or 'Stereotype' do, but there could be few better torchbearers of the two-tone legacy for this song to be damned. (CA). And how depressingly ordinary they are. There's hints of Morrisey and Madness soundwise, but the lyrics, well, you can probably guess where I'm going with this review. They must have known when choosing the name they'd make it easy for critics to throw out a hundred word review centring around how ordinary these boys are. And yes, it is lazy journalism. But when they put so little effort in to the music, why should anyone put effort in to reviewing this derivative, bland, tedious crap? (AF). Release Date: June 6th. Link: Official Site: http://www.theordinaryboys.co.uk/
MAY 2005
COLDPLAY - SPEED OF SOUND
Most bands who suddenly become ridiculously popular lose it. They either settle down, get married, and write pointless ballads about The Trees, or they rehash the sound that made them so popular in the first place to the point that people are physically ill upon hearing it. I'm not kidding either, I've witnessed someone vomit upon hearing Oasis' Lyla. Though questionably a large amount of tequilla might've been to blame too. I'm admitting nowt. And the point of all this is? Well, despite having married a Hollywood Superstar, and creating a stupidly named child, Chris Martin's still making fairly likable music. Speed of Sound's a great example of a song which sounds instantly forgettable when you first hear it, but it gradually knaws away in to your mind until you find yourself humming it at inappropiate moments. One day they'll no doubt lose it, but let's hope that such a day is a long way away. (AF). Release Date: May 23rd. Link: Official Site: http://www.coldplay.com/index.php
KAISER CHIEFS - EVERYDAY I LOVE YOU LESS AND LESS
For the record, I never loved them in the first place. The "Oh My God" song wound me up before I was even half way through listening to it, and this follows the same formula - catchyish chorus repeated ad nauseum, with insipid and pointless verses inbetween. Why they've become so popular is a mystery that not even Sherlock Holmes could have solved, as with cliched and songs like this why anyone likes them is utterly confusing. (AF). Release Date: May 16th. Link: Official Site: http://www.kaiserchiefs.co.uk/
KT TUNSTALL - OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD
I saw Ms Tunstall play a free gig at the Virgin Megastore when this was released. A good friend couldn't stand listening to her for more than one song though, and I can't argue with that. Think Katie Melua, think Amy Whitehouse, think of all those others fairly pleasant but rather bland singer songwriters who had one brief shot at fame before disappearing, and yep, that's the kind of artist KT is. If you like you're music to be safe, unsurprising and never challenging, you'll like this. Everyone else won't. (AF). Release Date: May 9th. Link: Official Site: http://www.kttunstall.com/
THE CORAL - IN THE MORNING
Here's the definition of bizarre for you - The Coral write what must be the most Summery tune in the long history of Summery tunes, and their record company decides to release it during a damp and cloudy early May. If had come out two months later it'd have been the soundtrack to the hottest season, as it is, all it will be remembered for is it's laid back, beautifully lazy sound, that everyone liked for about two weeks before instantly forgetting about. (AF). Release Date: May 9th. Link: Fansite: http://www.zionegg.tk/
WILLY MASON - SO LONG
The phenomenal alt.country / blues / folk artist that is Willy Mason deserves so much more fame than he's currently getting. Everyone liked Oxygen, the album got to number 14, and now he's been forgotten about. Which is a travesty, as he really should be on the front page of the NME at least once a month - that is if they actually covered decent music and not just the flavour of the month. Anyhoo, this is one of the weaker tracks on the album, yet still absolutely stunning lyrically, and everyone should have bought it. And yet they didn't. Hmmmm. (AF). Release Date: 2nd May. Link: Fansite: http://www.willymason.co.uk/
FOO FIGHTERS - BEST OF YOU
I’d thought we had already one Sunkist California sounding O.C. hip band? True, Phantom Planet are flogging themselves dead on the basis of one tune which typifies all that is superficial about ‘The millennium’s answer to Beverly Hills 90210.’ Grohl’s voice wanders through tuneful and mild to passionate and angered, but the music just seems so uninspiring. I was eagerly hoping it would rival Colour and the Shape, but perhaps it rivals Led Zeppelin III in terms of acoustic reference, but not as good. Who would have thought a hard rock band would include a bosa nova featuring
Norah Jones. Alright, it has John Paul Jones too, but have the Foos become too muso? (CA). Release Date: May 30th. Link: Official Site: http://www.foofighters.com/
THE WHITE STRIPES - BLUE ORCHID
If there was going to be a departure from Seven Nation Army, this is as good as any. Dirty riff encompassing the track, and trashcan cymbal enveloping the sound. Yes, Jack and Meg have taken blues-rock and economised it. As far away from infectious as you could hope for, I am hopeful it will not become another overplayed ringtone. Taken from Get behind me Satan. To show my appreciation of this track, I will do my own minimalist interpretation of this track in my review, and say no more. (CA). Release Date: May 30th. Link: Fansite: http://fan.single-thread.net/stripes/
TURIN BRAKES - FISHING FOR A DREAM
Olly and Gale were the unfortunate individuals to be saddled with a number of other similar artists in 2001 with clearly the worst label in recent memory; the New Acoustic Movement. Clearly taking their influences from Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, and Southern Blues, The Optimist was a refreshing glimpse of letting the songs shine under economic production limited to two guitars as the focus. The follow up was more involving, and arguably a touch more simplistic, and had a few enjoyable jaunts (notably 5 mile), but otherwise seemed a duller affair. Now, they have seemingly taken their cue from fellow former comrades in Acoustic, Kings of Convenience. Like Norway’s answer to Paul and Art, they seem to have gone back to the marriage of intricate acoustic parts, and Olly’s voice sounds as silky as it has always done. Unfortunately they again seem to have unwittingly fallen into a trap of other artists going for the Country Americana when they added the Hammond organ, notably the Thrills and Josh Rouse’s excellent “Nashville” album. It is all very Radio 2, but is pretty intricate and decent enough to warrant further listening. (CA). Release Date: May 16th. Link: Official Site: http://www.turinbrakes.com/
STEVIE WONDER - SO WHAT THE FUSS
Stevie Wonder. The name is iconic. Of the child stars, he was always the one muso’s championed, whilst Jackson was a performer who worked with gifted musicians and good producers. Wonder’s Motown records and seventies releases will stand the test of time long after you or I are around on this planetary domicile. Granted, his eighties and nineties stuff relied too much on the artificial synths and lacked all the soul of earlier releases, but were adequate enough for mainstream audiences. Looking back briefly, Hotter than July was his last great album. His last album was 10 years ago. His career has been tarnished only slightly with that Blue collaboration, but harmonica solos on Eurhythmics and Prefab Sprout singles redeem his tastes in choice of artist to collaborate with. Question is, is he relevant in 2005? Well, he tries to be. Featuring fellow Renaissance man Prince guesting on guitar, the synth-funk is very now, but very indistinct, and the UK radio edit features a rap with QTip, continuing his trend of bland uninteresting rap. It treads the fine line of being hip/overproduced. I don’t know, you wish maybe he’d returned to show Joss Stone how retro soul is REALLY done. (CA). Release Date: May 16th. Link: Fansite: http://www.stevie-wonder.com/
OASIS - LYLA
If ever the term ‘boozer’s anthem’ needed to be used, it’s here. Sober, it sounds like they are ripping off the Beatles as usual, but this time, they’ve gone and added mandolin and are going for the Faces pastiche and offering up a plodding, posturing single which retains Liam’s whining which given the influence of the Beatles on Crowded House, either Finn’s voice would obliterate Gallagher the younger’s with style. The climactic chord change in the opening verse promises much, but it did with Hindu Times. (CA). Release Date: May 16th. Link: Fansite: http://www.live4ever.us/
AIMEE MANN - GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS
Reasons to like Aimee Mann: 1. She was the inspiration behind Magnolia (which featured ‘One Is The Loneliest Number’, ‘Save Me’, and the truly excellent ‘Momentum’ in the soundtrack) 2. She appeared in the Big Lebowski as one of the nihilists (along with Peter Stormare and Flea). Reasons to not like Aimee Mann: 1. One Is The Loneliest Number was ripped off and used in an ad. 2. This is the least eccentric, interesting track I’ve heard from her. It borders Sheryl Crow / Josh Rouse territory, but mirrors the mainstream accessibility of Sheryl Crow and Tori Amos, which will delight coffee-table owners everywhere, but may disappoint hardened aficionados. (CA). Link: Official Site: http://www.aimeemann.com/
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AUDIOSLAVE - BE YOURSELF
The Led Zeppelin/Rage riffs are very much withdrawn in Audioslave’s returning single. Here Chris Cornell seems to seek self-imposed rock god posturing and balladry from his Euphoria Morning release. The problem? It is hard to not like this, but it is equally hard to say it is something you can’t do without. In the coming years, Audioslave could be another of these bands that were there and just did alright, like Ash, Foo Fighters etc. Nice, but not exactly earth shattering. (CA). I think Craig's being a little harsh here, okay, it's nowt stunning, but a fairly addictive song, that always makes me wryly smile. It's only single of the month because there's so little else to recommend though. (AF). Release Date: June 6th. Link: Fansite: http://www.audioslaved.com/
ALSO RELEASED IN JUNE:
June 6th:
The Bazaars - I Want You Dead
Billy Corgan - Walking Shade
Bon Garcon - Freek U
Colour - Mirror Ball
The Departure - All Mapped Out
Dinosaur Jr - Freak Scene/Bulbs Of Passion
Gratitude - Drive Away
John Legend - Ordinary People
Jonathan Rice - Behind The Frontlines
LCD Soundsystem - Disco Infiltrator
Lou Barlow - Holding Back The Years
Paddy Milner - You Think You’re So Damn Funny
Queen Adreena - Medicine Jar
Rebelski - Little White Lights
St Etienne - Side Streets
Trap 2 - Low Without Sound
UB40 - Kiss And Say Goodbye
Vetiver - Between EP
Via Tania - True
June 13th:
Arcade Fire - EP
Bark Psychosis - 400 Winters EP
The Brakes - All Night Disco Party
Brooke Valentine - Girlfight
Daft Punk - Technologic
The Dead 60s - Loaded Gun
Editors - Fingers In The Factory
The Engineers - Home
The Fallout Trust - When We Are Gone
Fightstar - Paint Your Target
Fischerspooner - Never Win
Garbage - Sex Is Not The Enemy
Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends
The Longcut - A Quiet Life
Millionaire - For A Maid
Mint Royale - Singing In The Rain
Patrick Wolf - Wind In The Wires
Shameless - Outta My Face
Special Needs - Blue Skies
Van Der Kill - Echo Beach
VHS or Beta - Night On Fire
June 20th:
Airbiscuit - Lately
The Black Velvets - Glamstar
The Checks - What You Heard
Colder - Wrong Baby
D4 - What I Want
Damien Dempsey - Sing All Our Cares Away
Days Of Worth - State Of Me
Drinkme - Manifesto
The Giraffes - Having Fun EP
Hard-Fi - Hard To Beat
Juliet - Ride The Pain
Ladytron - Sugar
Lyca Sleep - Closer In
Martha Wainwright - When The Day Is Short
Maxim - I Don’t Care
MIA - Bucky Done Gun
M.V.P. - Rock Your Body
Narco - Worth It
Offspring - Can’t Repeat
Soulshaker Ft Lorraine Brown - Hypnotic Erotic Games
The Subways - Rock N Roll Queen
Tom Vek - CC (You Set Me On Fire)
The Undercut - To Die For
Warren Suicide - I Know You
June 27th:
Alkaline Trio - Time To Waste
Backstreet Boys - Incomplete
Ben Moody Ft Anastacia- Everything Burns
Bizarre - Rockstar
The Chalets - Feel The Machine
Dirty Paris - Lovers Heart
The Early November - Acoustic EP
The Faders - Jump
Kevin Mark Trail - Last Night
The Mystery Jets - On My Feet
Papa Roach - Scars
Part Chimp - War Machine
Royksopp - Only This Moment
She Said - Black Leather
The Tears - Lovers
Telepopmusik - Into Everything
Towers Of London - **** It Up
Youth group - Shadowland
SYSTEM OF A DOWN - B.Y.O.B.
ALSO RELEASED IN MAY:
May 2nd:
A - Rush Song
Akon - Lonely
Chemical Brothers - Believe
The Dears - 22/The Death Of All Romance
The Duke Spirit - Love Is An Unfamiliar Name
The Earlies Ft Sara Lowes - I’ve Been Waiting [7” only]
El Presidente - 100 MPH
Eminem - Mockingbird
Helen Love - Bubblegum Killers EP
Hood - The Negatives
House Of Love - Gotta Be That Way
Idlewild - I Understand It
Johnny Panic - Minority Of One
The Killers - Smile Like You Mean It
Lucie Silvas - The Game Is Won
Maximo Park - Graffiti
Modey Lemon - Sleepwalkers
Roy Harper - Death Of God
Rytmo Dynamic - Calinda '05
Shaggy - Ready Fi Di Ride
The Stooges - Extended Play
Tiesto - Adagio
Weezer - Beverly Hills
Without Gravity - Beautiful Son
Wolfman - Ice Cream Guerrilla
May 9th:
Azur - Stay With Me Till Dawn
Candee Jay - Lose This Feeling
Doves - Snowdon
The Game Ft 50 Cent - Hate It Or Love It
Go Team - Bottle Rocket
Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc
Hot Snakes - Peel Sessions EP
Jim Bob - Dumb And Dumber
Kelly Osbourne - One Word
Lemon Jelly - Make Things Right
Ludacris - Number One Spot/Get Back
Midlake - Balloon Maker
Mohair - Keep It Together
Nine Black Alps - Not Everybody
Rob Thomas - Lonely No More
The Stands - Do It Like You Like
Stonebridge Ft Ultra Nate - Freak On
Thee More Shallows - Cuts Plus Two
Vanlustbader - Power Makes Sense
May 16th:
Adult - Dume EP
Alabama 3 - Hello, I’m Johnny Cash
Ben Adams - Sorry
Cousteau - Sadness
The Engineers - Home
Ga Gas - Left Of Centre
Gadjo - So Many Times
Gledhill - Resurrect Me
Ian McNabb - Let The Young Girl Do What She Wants To Do
K-OS - Crabbuckit
Keith - Hold That Gun EP
The Kills - Love Is A Deserter
Kings Of Tomorrow - Another Day
Leaves - The Spell
Long cut - A Quiet Life EP
Magic Numbers - Forever Lost
Mylo - In My Arms
New Order - Jetstream
Soho Dolls - Stripper
Spoon - I Turn My Camera On
Steeple Remove - In The Solitude
Trick Daddy - Sugar
Turin Brakes - Fishing For A Dream
May 23rd:
Amerie - 1 Thing
The Blood Arm - Say Yes
The Bravery - Fearless
British Sea Power - Please Stand Up
Do Me Bad Things - Move In Stereo
Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl
James Blunt - You’re Beautiful
Joy Zipper - You’re So Good
M83 - Teen Angst
Morning Runner - Drawing Shapes EP
Motley Crue - If I Die Tomorrow
My Chemical Romance - Helena
Poker Pets ft. Nate James - Lovin' You
Riot Act - California Soul
Roman Flugel - Geht's Noch?
Sons and Daughters - Dance Me In
Soulwax - NY Excuse
Therese - Time
Winterville - Shotgun Smile
May 30th:
Chromeo - Rage
Common - The Corner
Funeral For A Friend - Streetcar
Lady Sovereign - Blah Blah
Martin Grech - Guiltless
Nelly - N Dey Say
Noise Next Door - She Might
The Real Tuesday Weld - Terminally Ambivalent Over You
Rifles - When I’m Alone
St Etienne - Side Streets
Supafly vs. Fishbowl - Let's Get Down
Tori Amos - Original Sinsuality
Triple 8 - Good 2 Go
Alex Finch, Craig Aston.
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