Subba-Cultcha Roundup 23/11

*ALL REVIEWS BY THE POPSCENER*

Kingskin - Slug
Slimy yet satisfying

Swell Season - Strict Joy
Strict Indifference

The Courtesy Group - Tradesman's Entrance
Discourteous

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Short Cuts! - New Releases 23/11/09

*** 50 word run-downs of this week’s new releases, including track recommendations from THE POPSCENER***

Note: Don’t get your hopes up for this week...

Adam Lambert – For Your Entertainment

Overly long sheen-heavy pomp-rock record for teenage girls and 3^rd generation Bon Jovi fans. Lowlights: Pitch perfect reprisals of Matt Bellamy’s vocals in ‘Soaked’ and risible Peter Frampton-esque talking guitar in ‘A Loaded Smile’. Unfortunate line: “I was born with glitter on my face” from ‘Sure Fire Winners’.

Best Tracks:  ‘Pick U Up’, ‘Broken Open’

4/10

Rihanna – Rated R

 “Baby I’m a rockstar” protests Rihanna on ‘Rockstar 101’. She’s not of course, actually she’s a better than average Thriller-era synth-pop temptress, abetted by dark license and liberal doses of sex. This one lacks the songs of its predecessor and consequently may not sell as many despite the “Brown-gate” intrigue. Mystifying lyric: “I may be dumb but I’m not stupid” from ‘Stupid in Love’ – but ofcourse!

Best Tracks: ‘Wait Your Turn’, ‘G4L’

6/10

Susan Boyle – I Dreamed a Dream

Unlikely to be adorning many teenage boys’ walls in the near future, Simon Cowell must think she can rely on her not inconsequential warble and jerking enough tears from the over 50s in the lead up to Christmas. The cover of ‘Wild Horses’ is oddly listenable; the rest is dross. Minus one point for poor grammar (er, it’s ‘Dreamt’ thanks). Biggest disappointment: realisation that ‘Cry Me a River’ wasn’t a JT cover – rats!   

Best Tracks: ‘Wild Horses’

3/10

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