THE SHINING - I WONDER HOW
Hmmm. I'm not so sure about this. If the band didnt feature two ex-verve members, I doubt very much if they'd be getting any press. Anyway, it sounds a bit like The Verve (no, really!) but without Richard Ashcroft's distinctive vocals, or lyrics. Still, this is their first release, and I dont want to prejudge them too much...But dont bother buying this on a whim without hearing it first. Release Date: 24th June. Link: Official Site: http://www.theshiningarehere.com/
THE VINES - GET FREE
My record collection is littered with so many bands that the NME has sworn are the next big thing - and 99% of them have faded in to obscurity after one dodgy album. And The Vines no doubt will too. Sure, they've got the image, they've got the prerequisite crazyness thang going on for them, but they sure as hell aint got the tunes. Dull Stooges-esque punk pop, this just lacks any kind of fun edge. Ignore what everyone's been saying about them, and this latest single too. Release Date: 17th June. Link: Official Site: http://www.thevines.mu/
MUSE - IN YOUR WORLD / DEADSTAR
Fuck it. I cant resist em any more. For years I’ve always kinda liked Muse, but they’ve never bought me over whole heartedly. But now they have, because their latest release is, quite simply, bloody fantastic. In Your World and Deadstar are both full on rock affairs, full of chunky guitars, and great vocals and riffs that I just know I’m going to dance myself stupid too at this year’s Carling Fest. Deadstar’s the slightly better of the two, but hey, both will drive the crowds wild. Release Date: 17th June. (AF)
Long-term favourites of mine; they hit the right notes straight away with Dead star; an anthem of gothic angst set to a backdrop of Matt Bellamy trademark tremolo-picking, slides, and shape throwing we've all come to know and love. All this using his custom built guitar(s), which built in midi, phaser, and all the other wizadry going on inside there. In your world is more like Space Dementia meets Sunburn, but is just as anthemic. I just hope they evolve or take a different direction/come with something fresh for the new album, but this is great for the time being. (CA)
Link: Fansite: http://www.musenet.co.uk/
ELVIS VS. JXL - A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION
What does it say about the state of modern music, when this is heralded as one of the best releases of the year? Sigh. God, I sounded old there. Ahem, anyway, yep, you've all heard it, most of you have bought it, so there's no need to go in to the details. Release Date: June 17th.
MUSE - IN YOUR WORLD
SOPHIE ELLIS BEXTOR - GET OVER YOU
Now this is just lazy. Whilst Murder on the Dancefloor became one of those 'Ahhhh I cant get this fucking song out of my head' pop 'classics', this sees Sophie on auto-pilot, with even tackier lyrics than previously thought possible. Alas, this song, and especially the chorus of "You drive me crazy, up the wall, goodbye Mr-Know-It-All" is probably going to lose her a lot of respect. Poor. Release Date: 10th June. Link: Official Site: http://www.sophieellisbextor.net/
PAPA ROACH - SHE LOVES ME NOT
The Evolution from nu-metal to straightforward rock promised by the band takes subtle effect with this record. Formerly Coby Dick, now Jacoby Shaddix, et al return with the first single of the Love Hate Tragedy album. It is reported to be the only single that Jacoby raps on, and it is forgiven for that, because it is all out angst, which may have been done a zillion times before, but is still effective here. Release Date: June 10th. Link: Official Site: http://www.paparoach.com/
LIGHTNING SEEDS, BADDIEL & SKINNER - 3 LIONS 2002
Yet another release for what's turned out to be the best footie single of the last twenty years. Hell, if ever, really. But there really is no need for yet another re-release as surely either everyone has got it by now, or knows it word for word anyway. Still, the Lightening Seeds probably desperately need the money, so for charitable reasons alone we'd recommend buying it if you've yet to. Release Date: 3rd June. Link: Official Site: http://www.lightningseeds.com/
LAMBCHOP - IS A WOMAN
Slow, basic start suddenly breaks in to an almost funkily Marley-ish kind of thang (though still in that unique Lampchop way) and you think oh god what have they done. But on repeat listens it starts to work. And with each and every further listen, you'll smile more. If you've yet to discover Kurt Wagner's unique take on the world, this is the perfect place to begin, and if you have already, you'll be buying this anyway. Release Date: 3rd June. Link: Fansite: http://lambchop.info/
NO DOUBT - HELLA' GOOD.
Gwen Stefani and the boys have gradually moved away successfully from the wonderful balladry of Don't Speak, and finally created brilliantly ska and funk laden pop records of the ultimate variety. Better than Hey Baby, and a great return to form. Release Date: 3rd June. Link: Official Site: http://www.nodoubt.com/
CINERAMA - QUICK BEFORE IT MELTS
David Gedge's dryly honest take on drunken sex is yet another pretty fantastic release from this massively under-rated band who deserve more success that Gedge's former band, The Wedding Present, ever did. The band that I wished, and still vaguely hope, that Pulp will one day sound like. Oh and the b-sides are of equal, if not better, quality, which makes such a pleasant change. Release Date: 3rd June. Link: Official Site: http://www.cinerama.co.uk/
ALPINESTARS FEAT. BRIAN MOLKO- CARBON KID
I'd written Placebo off as a 'one great debut album but that's about it' kind of band, but here the band's frontman Brian Moloko hopefully gives signs of a new direction with a less distraught and far more direct effort. So good, infact, that perhaps it's time for Brian to start thinking about dropping out of the band and joiing up with the Alpinestars permanently. Release Date: 3rd June.
INCUBUS - ARE YOU IN?
Yet more proof that the whole nu-metal thang has run out of steam. Sounding more and more like the Red Hot Chilli Peppers by the day (not a good thing) this is trivial, uninspiring and tiresome rock at it's dullest. Buy only if you have really, really bad taste in music. Release Date: 24th June. Link: Fansite: http://www.incubusonline.com/
JIMMY EAT WORLD - SWEETNESS
Hey, wait a minute, this isnt nu-metal. It's indie pop at it's most traditional, chunky guitars and oh so average vocals. Impossible to feel anything for other
EMINEM - WITHOUT ME
SUM 41 - WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT
More rap rock. The chorus is "Rock, its what we're all about, it's what we live for, we wanna shout it out". I don't like it. You can fill in the rest yourselves. Release Date: Link: Fansite: http://www.xtremepunk.com/
OASIS - STOP CRYING YOUR HEART OUT
Sigh. Now I've never had but a passing interest in Noel and co, and think they peeked with Whatever, but this isnt funny any more. Sounding, if this is possible, even more Beatles-y than ever before, how can anyone give a fuck about what the idiotic Gallagher brothers have to say anymore, when how they say it is so unoriginal and, well, shit basically. The reason why everyone lost faith in Britpop, it's time for them to fuck off and leave us all alone. Alright? Release Date: June 17th. Link: Fansite: http://members.lycos.nl/tristanvdv/
BADLY DRAWN BOY - SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT
The second release date from the About A Boy Soundtrack, and nowhere near as heartbreakingly enticing as Silent Sigh, but still a deliciously gentle slice of summery pop. The whole soundtrack's not up to the standards of the singles so far released from it, but still definitely worth seeking out too. Release Date: 3rd June. Link: Official Site: http://www.badlydrawnboy.co.uk/
MAY 2002
SEX PISTOLS - GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
Re-released solely so that Johnny Lydon can avoid having to get a proper job, if you dont know this, then you really need to get out (to your local record store) more. Okay, so at the time of it's release maybe it was something innovative, but in this day & age it just sounds so, well, childishly pathetic. Maybe that was the point, but I really don't care. And if I never have to hear this again, well, then that'd just make my day. Release Date: 27th May. Fansite: http://www.sex-pistols.net/main.html
ENGLAND BOYS - GO ENGLAND
Based on The Jam's Going Underground, this is the best, and funniest, of this World Cup's footie singles. Most will no doubt still be singing 3 Lions or Vindaloo, but this deserves to join them in the drunken singing in pubs and terraces. Release Date: 27th May. Link: Official Site: http://www.virginradio.co.uk/extra/goengland/
Oh god, what have the record company bosses done to the poor lad. This is a tired, passionless and slowed down version of the Doors classic, and utterly insipid. Christ, even the version he did on Pop Idol was better than this. Not that I care in the slightest, but surely he's gonna have to do much better than this to keep on making the top half of the charts. Release Date: 27th May. Link: Fansite: http://www.itswillyoung.co.uk/
PUDDLE OF MUDD - BLURRY
Well, okay, fair enough, this is better than the majority of nu-metal and emo originating from the States at the moment, but that's no excuse for something which is just all too Metallica-lite and utterly inspiring. Release Date: 27th May. Link: Fansite: http://www.puddleofmudd.fr.st/
AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE - JUST SO YOU KNOW
More late-nineties angry sounding nu-metal. Sounds like every other average nu-metal band. Listening to it made me bored than I thought it was possible to be. Please make it stop. Release Date: 27th May. Link: Official Site: http://www.headcharge.com/
EMINEM - WITHOUT ME
You cant but love him - fuck yeah, he's said some dumbass stuff in the past (don't even get me started on the homophobic aspect of his work), but the audacity and honesty found in most of his lyrics just has to be applauded. Rarely has any artist been so aware of the idiocy of the music world (and the real one, for that matter) and yet made it so amusing at the same time. Musically this has moved on from the last album, sounding a little more like his work with D12, stronger and fuller. Release Date: 20th May. Link: Fansite: http://www.eminem2000.com/
ATOMIC KITTEN - IT'S OK
Strangely likeable pop pap, which, if it has to be made, is how it should be done. Not quite as good as Holly Valence's recent no.1, but still worth listening to if for some reason you like this kind of stuff. Release Date: 20th May. Link: Official Site: http://www.atomickitten.com/
A - STARBUCKS
More US sounding wank metal from the once ok UK act. It's impossible to get excited, involved or even interested in something so bland, so pointless and so throwaway. And though they desperately cry that they 'don't want your job in Starbucks' it's hard to imagine that in about five years time they'll have any choice. Hopefully, anyway. Release Date: 20th May. Link: http://www.a-communication.com/home.html
OOBERMAN - BLUEBELL MORNING EP
The first single that has sent shivers down my spine in all too long. I was worried about Ooberman for a while, that they'd lost their way - but this is the band back on form - more than that, a band who are really hitting their stride, and this just gets better with every listen. Danny's lyrics have matured since the last album (where occasionally they were a little mawkish), and soundwise this is just beautiful.It's as simple as that. And the other four tracks on the EP are of equal quality - something which so rarely occurs with any band. Go, buy, now, please. Regret will take place if you don't. Release Date: 13th May. Link: Fansite: http://www.themagictreehouse.co.uk/
A1 - MAKE IT GOOD
And so another boy band try to go serious and end up sounding like Bryan Adams on prozac. Yawn yawn yawn. Please go away now. Thank you. Release Date: 13th May. Link: Official Site: http://www.a1-online.com/
LIBERTY X - JUST A LITTLE
So the popstars rejects have finally hit the big time with a by the numbers, lyrically nonsensical track. And as always, the kids love it. I know the whole thing's supposed to be plastic, but these guys look like they've had all their skin removed and replaced with silicone. Horrible. Release Date: 13th May. Link: Fansite: http://www.ukbritney.tv/libertyx/
THE HIVES - MAIN OFFENDER
More wide-eyed punk pop from everybody's fave new band but mine if the NME is to be believed. Hate To Say I Told You So was a great slice of three minute pop madness, but this is near on identical, and lyrically it's just not that impressive. No doubt destined to be one of those bands you don't mind watching at a festival, but will never pay to see by choice. Release Date: 6th May. Link: Fansite: http://www.hives.2ya.com/
HUNDRED REASONS - SILVER
Showing that we can do nu-metal as insipidly as anyone else, Hundred Reasons are better than Linkin Park or Jimmy Eats World, but they're still all too trifling, and they're never going to produce anything which would ever be anyone's favourite song. Riffs you've heard a million times before, lyrics that only mean anything to the band themselves, it's just not worth bothering with. Trust me. Release Date: 6th May.
ELECTRIC SOFT PARADE - EMPTY AT THE END
Ah, the joys of re-releasing. Brothers Tom and Alex White capitalise on the loss-making success of their radio-friendly debut "Silent to the Dark" with guitar pop from the days of the Boo Radleys, Ash, and Britpop bands that should have been noticed. Flawless for three minutes, and one of the top tracks on the album "Holes in Wall". Who says young people have no talent? Release Date: 6th May. Link: Official Site: http://www.electricsoftparade.com/
Click here to read reviews of singles released between: March and April 2002.
Click here to read reviews of singles released between: January & February 2002.
Click here to read reviews of singles released between: November & December 2001.
Or here to read reviews of singles released between: September & October 2001.
Or here to read reviews of singles released between: May and August 2001.
Or here to read reviews of singles released between: January and April 2001.
Or here to read reviews of singles released between: June and December 2000.
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