Short Cuts! New Releases 14/12/09

*** Brief run-down of this week’s new releases, including track recommendations from THE POPSCENER***

Former Ghosts – Fleurs

One could – and some certainly will – attempt to provide a grandiloquent celebration of this collection of ambient, murky, and occasionally noisy electronica. However, reduced to its constituent parts, this is the Postal Service’s whirs, clicks and dance-claps with Ian Curtis vocals and a similarly miserable post-punk outlook. Luckily for Former Ghosts, it mostly works, only becoming tiresome when the female vocalist is allowed to wail along too prominently in the foreground.  Free advice for Former Ghosts: don’t let her next time.

Choice Cuts: ‘Mother’, ‘Hold On’

7/10

Alicia Keys – The Element of Freedom

Where Keys’ last offering, As I Am, tentatively opened doors between her piano based balladry and a genuine pop career, this one goes one further: it moves beyond the average domain of R’n’B infused pop to create something smart and inventive. The growling synths that lurk in the background of songs like the splendid ‘Wait Till You See My Smile’ rather suit Keys slightly breathy vocals, the limitations of which mercifully prevent the seemingly de rigueur tonsil hysterics of her contemporaries. Bravo! Next task: fix the rhyming-dictionary lyrical nadirs (“Night/Right/Right/Fight/Night” from ‘This Bed’ – ouch).

Choice Cuts: ‘Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart’, ‘Wait Till You See My Smile’

7.5/10

Animal Collective – Fall Be Kind

Although armed with the same schizophrenic rhythms and scatterbrained sounds, Fall Be Kind sounds ever so slightly warmer to me than this year’s full lengther. Unfortunately, for all the kudos, I still really couldn’t care less for the band’s laboriously cluttered prog take on indie-electronica. Thanks to the hype I specifically gave this one extra spins, but it turns out I was right all along: this IS overrated pap with occasional flashes of worth – principally ‘On a Highway’, which sounds just enough like Sonic Youth for the iPod generation to appease me into giving it a bonus point.

Choice Cuts: ‘On a Highway’, ‘Graze’

6/10

Short Cuts! New Releases 7/12/09

*** Brief run-down of this week’s new releases, including track recommendations from THE POPSCENER***

Comanechi – Crime of Love

A reckless attempt at avant-garde punk, this bassless fuzz careers along with White Stripesian insouciance but lacks the requisite pulse to endure. As noisey as it is tone deaf, the pervading headache of the music is permeated only by piercing vocals which rather recall a nuisance pneumatic drill’s affect on an existing hangover. At ninety seconds this racket is annoying, at six minutes (see final track ‘R.O.M.P’) it’s unbearable.  Prize for most apt song title: ‘Why?’.

Choice Cuts: ‘Naked’

2.5/10

30 Seconds to Mars – This Is War

The actor turns singer-songwriter-bandleader paradigm never has anyone coming up smelling particularly of roses (Keanu anyone?!), so credit to Jared Leto’s crew that they have survived to a third album. Nevertheless, as can be expected from an actor turned singer-songwriter-bandleader, here the lyrics are the usual emo guff and the songwriting formulaic, with Leto covering his bases from Linkin Park (‘Night of the Hunter’) to My Chemical Romance (‘A Call to Arms’). That said, the vocals are credible – best served on the shameless U2/Bono rips ‘Kings and Queens’, ‘Search and Destroy’ and ‘Alibi’.  More appropriate album title: This is U2 (sort of).

Choice Cuts: ‘Kings and Queens’

5.5/10

BlakRoc – BlakRoc

This rock/hip-hop/rap crossover protests loudly that it arose from organic beginnings – wunderkind producer Damon Dash supposedly decided the Black Keys were his new favourite band and decided to have them cut a record with a plethora of rappers. Regardless of the fact that the whole concept and sound barely updates the blueprint of beatsy guitar grooves built tall with rapping bon mots popularized by The Roots and more recently sent into hyperspace by Madcon’s ‘Beggin You’, it largely works. For every turgid ‘Coochie’, there’s a glorious ‘On The Vista’, and either way, as Pharoahe Monche suggests, “if it don’t make dollaz, then it don’t make sense”, right?

Choice Cuts: ‘On The Vista’, ‘Stay Off the Fuckin’ Flowers’

7/10

Short Cuts! - New Releases 30/11/09

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

Attack of the compilations! It must be Christmas soon...

Fall Out Boy – Believers Never Die

Obligatory Greatest Hits compilation following a fifteen minutes of fame but that’s now lasted 6 years and apparently sold 12 million (!) records. Remains predominantly for people who like their emo sugary; or their pop angsty – teenagers, then – but the best ones (those from Under the Cork Tree and ‘Thnks fr th Mmrs’) at least threaten to challenge the homogeneous arse-end of Generation Y appeal. And in spite of myself I find a toe tapping away to the ‘Beat It’ cover, providing I ignore the John Mayer co-credit. Docked a point for the nauseatingly twee/ clever-clever-but-not-actually-that-clever song titles, but overall not too bad.

Best Tracks: 'Sugar, We're Goin Down', 'Thnks fr th Mmrs'

6/10

 

The Bravery – Stir The Blood

A case study in overwrought try-hardiness and affected vocals, Sam Endicott still believes he’s Marc Almond playing in a punk band. Sure, it’s outmoded, jaded, and self-important, but you’ll hear far worse than the first half of this record. Whilst side B is weaker, the derision with which these lot are treated does rather beg the question – why is everyone making such a big deal about The Big Pink when they so often sound EXACTLY THE SAME? Prophetic line: “I can still remember your sound, it’s cut cut cutting me down, like slow poison” – food for thought Mr Endicott...

Best Tracks: 'Slow Poison', 'Adored'

6/10

 

NOFX – Cokie The Clown E.P.

Fat Mike is convinced he’s best at doing clumsy politics or clumsier sex/drugs montages. Of course, anyone with any sense knows his most relevant songs are increasingly the personal anecdotes sparingly sprinkled across a NOFX record. And so, skip to a tender acoustic version of ‘My Orphan Year’ – the best song from recent full-length Coaster – and enjoy the title track’s music without bothering with the lyrics sheet.

Best Tracks: 'Cokie the Clown', 'My Orphan Year (Acoustic)'

6.5/10

 

Seal – Hits

Seal has undergone the familiar regression from interesting, occasionally vital artist to adult-contemporary inconsequence, a fact documented by this second Greatest Hits compilation. As such, revel in early techno-infused hits ‘Crazy’ and ‘Killer’, marvel at the untouchable ‘Kiss from a Rose’, and use ‘I Am Your Man’ as a ticket to unhurriedly relieve yourself. That said; enjoy Seal’s soulful tone even whilst wading through the MOR debris. Destined, perhaps unfairly, to peak as every third auntie’s Christmas present.

Best Tracks: 'Crazy', 'Kiss from a Rose'

7/10

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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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November 16th Subba-Cultcha Roundup

*ALL REVIEWS BY THE POPSCENER*

'Climb Up' by Apse

In a word: Steep 
Review @ Subba-Cultcha.com

'Bye Bye Baby' by Pure Soundart

In a word: Impure

Review @Subba-Cultcha.com

'Hors D'Oeuvres' by Tickley Feather

In a word: Appetising

Review @ Subba-Cultcha.com

'The Unforgettable Fire - 25th Anniversary Edition' by U2

In a word: Incendiary

Review @ Subba-Cultcha.com

November 9th Subba-Cultcha Roundup

*ALL REVIEWS BY THE POPSCENER*

'Hopes and Fears Deluxe Edition' by Keane 
In a word: Keen

Review @ Subba-Cultcha.com
 

'African Elephant' by Dead to Me

In a word: Alive-'n'-Kicking

Review @ Subba-Cultcha.com

'Is and Always Was' by Daniel Johnston

In a word: Up-'n'-Down

Review @ Subba-Cultcha.com

COMPILATION: 'Twilight: New Moon Soundtrack' by Various Artists

In a word: Half-moon
'Twilight: New Moon Soundtrack' by Various Artists - Review at Subba-Cultcha

ALBUM: 'Raditude' by Weezer

In a word: Saditude

'Raditude' by Weezer - Review at Subba-Cultcha

ALBUM: 'New Worlds' by Charlotte Hatherley

In a word: Colourful

'New Worlds' by Charlotte Hatherley - Review at ClickMusic

SINGLE: 'Virgins' by The Chapman Family

Release Date: 19/10/09 

Can be heard at: www.myspace.com/thechapmanfamily

Another in the recently fruitful line of pretty good bands from the North-East, Stockton-on-Tees’ The Chapman Family succeed where recent efforts from Maximo Park and The Futureheads have failed: this track oozes balls. Building on the visceral explosion of previous single ‘Kids’, on ‘Virgins’ the band marry the familiar bludgeoning drums and wailing wall-of-sound guitars to dangerous hints of melody and more dynamic vocals. This is a song which sounds good enough on the stereo, but will surely sound fantastic live – you can well imagine an army of teenagers and twenty-somethings with their fists in the air, replicating the perfectly placed chorus kiss-off “I don’t think I like what you’ve become” word for word.

By contrast, second track ‘Good Times’ is a fairly sombre affair, sounding like a lazy cast-off from the recent Twilight Sad record, and should remain firmly in the ‘forgotten b-sides’ category. Nonetheless, on the strength of ‘Virgins’, The Chapman Family should expect to please existing fans and turn the heads of a growing number of listeners.

Rating: 3.5/5

SINGLE - 'Bang/Last Dance' by The Raveonettes

Release Date: 12/10/09

Can be heard at: www.myspace.com/theraveonettes

The Raveonettes are one of those bands who have often featured on highly tipped lists, lauded by various elements of the music press, but have largely failed to progress beyond the second division of indiedom.

Based on the evidence of this double A-side single, it pretty easy to see why. Both songs deliver the same simple, fuzzy pop in the vein of the more woebegone end of the Jesus and Mary Chain back catalogue that Raveonettes fans will be accustomed to, but neither ‘Last Dance’ or ‘Bang!’ (decorated with a laughably underserved exclamation mark) ever move out of a lethargic, uninspiring second gear.

Whereas earlier efforts from the Raveonettes often had darker undertones, nothing of the like is present here. Both tracks are syrupy to the point of irritation, with jaded lyrics – such as “if this is the last dance then save it for me baby” – delivered in the standard Scandinavian-tinged English. The melodies may be sweet but are completely predictable and, despite gratuitous repetition, ultimately (or mercifully) forgettable. In short, this effort is probably best summed up by guitarist/vocalist Sune Rose Wagner – according to him this single finds the Raveonettes “not giving a shit”. Be warned: it shows.

Rating: 1.5/5

LIVE: The Maccabees @ 02 Academy, Brixton

In a word: Friendly

The Maccabees LIVE @ 02 Academy, Brixton - Review at God is in the TV

SINGLE: 'Let's Go Surfing' by The Drums

In a word:   Joyous
'Let's Go Surfing' by The Drums - Review at ClickMusic

ALBUM: 'Do the Job' by Baddies

In a word:  Baddie
 'Do the Job' by Baddies - Review @ Clickmusic

E.P.: "The Most Powerful E.P. in the Universe" by Dinosaur Pile-Up

Can be heard at... www.myspace.com/dinosaurpileup

 

Likely to appeal to...
Those who long for the halcyon days when ‘cool’ meant clothes could be baggy and hair unkempt

Review...
Long hair? Check. Plaid shirts? Check. Crunching guitars? Check. Odd looking drummer? Check. Thanks to these attributes, Dinosaur Pile-Up are likely to make (and indeed already have had) poorly informed music critics mention them in the same breath as a certain Nirvana. This is perhaps an understandable reaction given the recent resurgence, or at least re-emergence, of the Pixies, Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam. Coupled with the refusal of Chris Cornell to go away this leaves only a Nirvana-shaped hole where grunge used to exist.

ALBUM: "Two Dancers" by Wild Beasts

Can be heard at... www.myspace.com/wildbeasts; spotify

Likely to appeal to...
Anyone and no-one. Aside from that, art-schoolers and open-minded students

Review...
It seems to be increasingly rare these days that you come across something wilfully different that doesn't smack of some conceited behind the scenes fabrication. Instead of the organically original coming to the fore, one gets the impression that instead overpaid men in suits work out some kind of random formula for passing off garbage as new and exciting, like Simon Cowell plotting a reggae-death metal mash up sung by a Romanian asylum seeker (Susan Boyle anyone?). Or bands trying to sound as wacky as possible in lieu of having any noteworthy talent, whilst music critics positively salivate over the brilliant ingenuity (see New Rave circa 2007). Thankfully, this is one of those satisfying occasions where a band makes you genuinely sit up and think: "oh...yeh... this really is kind of... INTERESTING".

ALBUM: 'Ignore the Ignorant' by The Cribs

Likely to appeal to... Lank-haired indie kids north of the Watford Gap, Smiths obsessives

Can be heard at... www.myspace.com/thecribs; spotify

Review...

The Cribs have always tried desperately hard to cultivate the image that they aren't trying desperately hard. On their previous effort Men's needs, Women's Needs, Whatever they preached "I've never been impressed by your friends from New York and London", whilst on breakthrough record The New Fellas they bemoaned “scenesters” within the musical community. Guitarist/vocalist Ryan Jarman promptly shacked up with Kate Nash. Ok, so they might not have been falling out of soho clubs at 3AM with powdered nostrils and supermodels in tow a la John Taylor, but brothers Gary and Ross might as well have simultaneously stepped out with Lily Allen and Peaches Geldof. As if to redress the credibility balance, which presumably they themselves had adjudicated on, the brothers Jarmans took the only action possible: recruit such a venerated 'indie' figure, oozing understated cool, that any relationship based faux pas would be forgotten. Enter ex-Smith and recent mercenary style hired guitar hand Johnny Marr. Presumably the fact that Marr was not from New York or London sealed his swift entrance into the Jarman fold.

LIVE: The Lemonheads at the HMV Forum, Kentish Town

Can be heard at... www.myspace.com/thelemonheads; spotify

Review...

Perhaps the best word to describe The Lemonheads’ career is overshadowed. Despite perfecting a distinctly alluring form of grunge-lite in the wake of Nirvana’s Nevermind explosion in the early 1990s, they retained only a fleeting moment of mainstream success, and even then largely due to an average cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Mrs Robinson’ which has long since been disavowed. Similarly, whilst more revered indie-alternative bands such as the Pixies and Pearl Jam have sparked widespread interest (not to mention overblown remasters and box-sets) with their naughties reunions, the return of the Lemonheads since 2006 has come with more of a whimper than a bang, with two moderately received studio albums and a series of smallish tours.