The Ting Tings – Shut Up And Let Me Go

The Ting Tings finally are releasing “Shut Up And Let Me Go.” The song was featured in the current Ipod adverts which, will sell the song itself. The most notable part of the song is the drumming which really stands out and it is the most essential part of the track. That drumming keeps the song together and gives it that nice stomping feeling. The track runs in at under three minutes and it does not to try to do to much or go to far off the map. It is just a solid piece of electro pop that will get over played this summer.

By John Siwicki

Styrofoam – A Thousand Words

Styrofoam is the work of Belgian man Arne Van Petegem. Arne has said of this release that the album will place more emphasis on his vocals more than previous releases. This is also the first Styrofoam record that was no self produced as WAX LTD is responsible for production duties. This is the first Styrofoam record I have heard so I can not gauge if the sound has changed much. “A Thousand Words” starts off with the beautiful track “After Sunset.” The easy comparisons can be made to The Postal Service and other indietronic bands out there. I just learned that phrase “indietronic.”

“No Happy Endings” is a duet with Erica Driscoll. The song starts off with this funky beat that progresses into something a little organic/acoustic sound. Then the next track “Microscope” features this singer Blake Hazard who will be someone to look out for later. Her voice fits in really complimentary with Styrofoam. “Other Side Of Town” has a lot of bright summer harmonies that are so warm and comforting.

“A Thousand Words” gives you a little surprise at every corner. The record is much more diverse and well crafted than one might imagine going in.

By John Siwicki

Foals – Red Socks Pugie

The latest single from Foals’ massive album “Antidotes” will sell them even more records and will end up on a few best song of the year lists. The drum into for the song will immediately grab your attention and you just don’t hear a song started with that loud beat that sounds like it is popping in your ears. There are a few elements in the song that can be traced back to Battles’ album “Mirrors” but the band do things right and give the sound their own touch. The vocals are focused and intense. The song never has a dull moment in its five minute length and it is the type of track that you can hear over and over again. There are not many tracks that impress me but there is something about the drums in this track that just get pounded into your head.

By John Siwicki

Coldplay – Violent Hill

It is hard to argue that after 2005’s “X&Y” Coldplay was just about the top band in the world. “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends” is Coldplay’s fourth studio album and this record is largely being produced by Brian Eno. About a month ago, the band decided to give “Violent Hill” away for a week on their website as free download for a week and nearly two million people downloaded that track during that time. The band also release the song on a 7” that was in an issue of the NME. One listen to “Violent Hill” shows that this is not the same band from three years ago. The song starts off with a very Eno like intro. There are guitars and drums everywhere and it sounds a little bit heavy for a Coldplay track. This is one of the first times I immediately liked the first single off a Coldplay album. This either means I am getting older or the band are just fine tunning their craft. Also, after hearing another track from the record Coldplay are going for it this time.

By John Siwicki

Mark Morriss – I’m Sick

The Bluetones’ leading light, Mark Morriss takes time off to wander towards a darker, cosmopolitan, Mediterranean instrumental and self-pitying lyrical concealing direction. This single is part of the build up towards solo debut album, ‘Memory Muscle’ (out 02/06/08 on Fruitcake Music.) Morriss is keen to slow down and labour his vocals to achieve a more pedestrian lob, in order to show the difference between this and his main project.

That now infamous instrumental adventure is still there, but some lyrical mournfulness shows Morriss in a more sombre guise. This indicates that he has a genuine reason for going solo and those fearing that The Bluetones maybe running out of ideas need not worry, the lead man is simply exploring his soul.

By Dave Adair

A.Rex – Who Said I Was Running?

“Who Said I Was Running?” is the new EP from the band A.Rex. This is the bands third release to date. The release is an interesting hybrid of a young Wilco meets The Lemonheads. The record starts off with “Too Smart For Me” and you can hear a young Jeff Tweedy in the vocals and those melodies are right out of the Wilco playbook. “Don’t Let Me Get Away” has a great little piano hook and a tight melody. “Not Like We’re In Love” is the type of song that could become the bands trademark. It has a great anti-love feel in the lyrics and for the scorned lovers out there this is a nice tough. A.Rex are good guyswho write a lot of enjoyable and sweet songs. They are the type of guys who you wish all the success to and one day it will come for them.

By John Siwicki

The Charlatans – The Misbegotten

The Charlatans are releasing their album “You Cross My Path” in stores this May after giving it away as a download a few months back. “The Misbegotten” is the first single to get released in a physical format but it is really the third single from the album. The album is a really smart choice for a single and remains remarkably strong for a third single. The opening is really cool with some wacky little darting effects and then some crashing drums come in and Tim starts with some ‘uhs.’ The first few seconds are really attention grabbing. Then the song continues along at the same pace and never really changes much. The song does manage to stick in your head with those ‘uh uhs” coming up and Tim’s classic delivery. It sucks you right in and it is a great mix of classic Charlatans with a slightly modern twist.

By John Siwicki

The Sword – The Gods Of The Earth

The Sword is a heavy/metal progressive band from the lands of Austin, TX. If we can quote my older bother for a moment “everyone once in awhile you need some metal in your life.” If you buy one metal album this year make it The Sword because these guys are really on their own other platform then everyone else. In a lot of metal albums they over do it with all the rusty and falsetto vocals. For me, I listen to hard stuff to get those monumental licks and some loud banging drums. I don’t want the songs to be full of songs about mythical dragons and warriors. Let’s look at “Fire Lances Of The Ancient Hyperzephrians” one of the more vocally led tracks but you can even make out what he is saying but it is so intense and so powerful all around him. Then you get a track like “The Sundering” that is the most unrelenting two minutes on this album.

“The Gods Of The Earth” is as solid as they come in the metal community. The record is fast and unforgiving. We will all fall victim to The Sword.

By John Siwicki

Thea Gilmore – Liejacker

Over the years, many people have swung with the moods of the Oxfordshire thinking person, Thea Gilmore. Including such roving forays as the Shania Twain spirited celebration of the independence of her gender, in her spunkiest album ‘Lipstick Conspiracies’, to the more brooding ‘Rules For Jokers,’ as well as the classic pop nostalgia embracing covers collection of ‘Loft Music’. Will have been saddened and a little upset to hear of this genuine lady’s battle with the demon that is depression. However, although a little clichéd, every cloud does have a silver lining and it appears that this new album has been used as a therapy session. It shows that this artist is at her most contented with a guitar in hand and a mic in front of her.

Opener ‘Old Soul’, featuring Mr. The Zutons himself, Dave McCabe is a warm hug of a duet as the pair search warmly through the versus and meet up for a heart-melting folk/pop bolstered chorus. A slow building, journeying lag attaches to the reflective, forward looking and acoustic threading ‘Dance In New York’, lighting up the fact that a lot of thinking has been done in the build up to this foraging full-length.
‘Rosie’ is a Leonard Cohen flavoured blues pushed, poetic insight into the mind set of one with a mature outlook and the troubles that naturally attached themselves to it. It is through ‘Roll On’ that a country/soul coated Sheryl Crow pitch rides along a slow throbbing guitar and pulsing dream beat base, providing reflection and slow rhythm. As the album builds, you sense that Thea slowly feeling more and more comfortable at re-opening her world to the public. That said her material is very much shrouded in philosophical imagery, ‘Icarus Wind’. It also features a rippling piano element, something that has been deployed with heart tugging precision over her ten year career.
A longing theme is instilled through a slower vocal injection than you would normally expect from this independent minded muso. This is helped by a seeping acoustic element that litters tracks like ‘Slow Journey’, as well as ‘And You Shall Know No Other God But Me’. Those who have followed Thea throughout her career will know that her profile was greatly helped, when several years back she was personally invited to tour with Joan Baez. Therefore, ‘The Lower Road’ that features Joan Baez oozes nostalgia, as her weather worn vocals mingle succulently with Gilmore’s polished contribution, something that was a signature of Baez in her early days.

This is a ranging, well thought out and slow swaying release from Gilmore and it also restores some faith in human nature. No matter how down you get there is always a back, just ask Thea!

By Dave Adair

Electrocute – On The Beat

Electrocute’s follow up to “Troublesome Bubblegum” is being produced by the legendary Junkie XL. The band guessed stared on the Junkies album either this year as well and that song was featured on the film soundtrack for “21.” Now, onto the good part. Electrocute is an eclectic electropop/clash electronic pop group from LA. The band is also know how to write a pop song that is clever, hip and really fun. Also, the EP format for this type of the band works the best. You never really get annoying with them but you the process starts. “Saturn Rings” is one of the most enjoyable times I had with a song in a long time. The cutesy lyrics and that classy organ give the song a great retro sound. “I wanna be your Saturn rings and go round and round you” come on those are some great lyrics right there. Then the title track sounds like a mix of The Pipettes meets The Go Team. “On The Beat” is cheeky, sexy and really well crafted EP.

By John Siwicki

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