Playlouder - Music is the Network

SINGLE OF THE WEEK!

Be Be See - 'Disney Eyes'
(At large)

A winning, soulful sing-along, unpretentious and full of character, driven by an addictive piano/guitar interplay, a warm voice and engaging lyrics, it's as wholesome (but not as bland) as the institution evoked by their playful moniker, and as mesmerising (but not as soul-corroding) as that in the title.

The Union Trade - 'Now the Swell' (EP)
(Tricycle)

Atmospheric indie with enough depth to drown an average sized man, leading track 'Strings Break' is a shoegaze extravaganza, well balanced and layered, like a very fine cake: "She likes the sound your guitar makes / when the strings break." Track two is more standard post rock with vocals used perhaps too sparingly; it's difficult to get excited about, never quite living up to the 'Violent and beautiful' title. Still, there is an impressive sense of the band's ability to effortlessly mix country, post rock, indie &c. to the desired degree, track by track. We look forward to the album.

Filthy Pedro - 'Rock 'n' Roll Points'
(Blang)

I'm suspicious of anti-folk; take a perfectly good song with charming, witty lyrics and do your best to make the vocals sound like they were recorded on a windy day at Beachy Head. Why? Still, this is much better than most things ever recorded in an expensive studio. 'Rock 'n' roll Points', a beginner's guide to debauchery, is still great: "Pull a girl, that's five points, then throw up on her, that's another ten." Anglesey's answer to Adam Green? Maybe not: Filthy Pedro, for better or worse, makes a lot more sense. Probably not the best example of that, taken from the equally good and vocally clearer B-side, 'History Lover', is "Be my Cleopatra, smack my bollocks with a spatula."

Queens of the Stone Age - 'Sick, Sick, Dick'
(Interscope)

Distorted rock you can dance to, but would you really want to? Less endearing than Primal Scream, and that's saying something. QOTSA are an insult to the intelligence of rock music and fans thereof, and this isn't even their best effort. They should really fuck off.

My Vitriol - 'A Pyrrhic Victory' (EP)
(Xtra Mile)

Aha! The eagerly awaited return of Feeder's edgier cousins. Sounds like they've regressed to the late eighties. Well, they're allowed. But what's changed? The enthusiasm of yore has been replaced by trudging Americana and quasi-industrial balladeering (a track officially suffixed 'mellow version'. Eugh). These are songs that are difficult to sit through. For a moment I thought I'd spotted a saving grace: no it's a cover of 'Toy Soldiers'. Ask yourself this, My Vitriol; does the world need you to cover that song? The answer is 'No', isn't it, My Vitriol? Is there such a thing as a pyrrhic defeat? If so, this may be it.

Billy Talent - 'Surrender'
(Atlantic)

What a wet squid. I was hoping for one of their explosive 'Ouch, get your voice out of my ears' three minute pop-punk assaults. No such luck. If you didn't like those, you definitely won't like this. We simply don't need Billy Talent for this grating toddler emo, so maybe we don't need them at all.

The White Stripes - 'Icky Thump'
(XL)

Lots of noodling in this, in amongst the caveman beats and riffs that could cut cheese. At times it's difficult to tell what the hell Jack's going on about, and then he'll yell "Why don't you kick yourself out? You're an immigrant too." You don't really need to be told what a White Stripes song sounds like, but for the record I was quite shocked by how fresh they can still sound.

Hot Chip - 'My Piano'
(!K7)

It's like Zoot Woman never happened, or at least, never bothered to write a decent tune.

Hinder - 'Lips of an Angel'
(Universal)

A rawk song in celebration of infidelity and gravely voices. This is quite funny. Are they a real band? Oh, okay: off with their nuts. (You know which nuts.)

Maxïmo Park - 'Books From Boxes'
(Warp)

Class B indie; I might indulge a couple of times a year, and I do enjoy it, but I know it will ultimately make me a worse person if I use it too regularly. I wouldn't buy it, but if my mates had some, you know, I might try it. It's not that addictive anyway, is it? Hmm, actually, maybe this is big and clever. I'm starting to get a taste for it. This one's free you say? If I want more I can just come back? Cheers. If they stop cutting it with chalk dust and sherbet it might really start doing things for me. It doesn't make me want to vomit like it did first time around, anyway. Only remains to be seen what it's like in greater quantities.

Nate James - 'Kingdom Falls'
(Frofunk)

R and/or B with a dark little guitar backing, a hot beat and cheeky stabs of trance keyboard amongst the layers of strings. Yeah, I could get down to this, or (which is more likely) listen to it while drinking my tea. A pretty flawless vocal performance and great melody, Nate James apparently wrote 'Kingdom Falls' after a visit to war torn Rwanda, although lyrically it could be compared to any of your apocalyptic folk coming out of Germany at the moment. We recommend highly.

Good Shoes - 'Morden'
(Bang On)

It must have been fucking tough for these little chaps with good shoes growing up in Morden, which is a place you (can but don't) get to via the bank, so I've heard. It sounds like The Mystery Jets covering The Jam, which they probably do anyway. Still, if you're a nihilist (like me) then things like originality, attitude, not sounding like you're thirteen, they just don't matter. Calling it a 'lyrical assault' is a bit strong though.

Gossip - 'Listen up!'
(Bang On)

Bland funk tripe merchants Gossip return without the 'The' to foist this rotten meat on you. Now Beth Ditto's friends with Kate Moss perhaps we can all just agree that being size zero is just as morally reprehensible as being obese, and that the advocacy of either should be punishable by death. Both being in the same place at the same time, perhaps… you know… two birds? One stone? Well, about thirty stone, probably. Anyway, this record's shite.

Seafood - 'Lovesong' / 'I'll Be Here in the Morning'
(Cooking Vinyl)

Isn't this a Cure song? Oh, wait, that's the point: a download only single of two covers, the other one I'm unfamiliar with 'I'll Be Here In The Morning', originally by Townes Van Zandt. It's a beautiful song, and both are reminders of why Seafood don't suck.

Nine Inch Nails - 'Capital G'
(Interscope)

None more sacred than the cow that is Trent Reznor, with a billion fans and a pocket full of decent songs; this torturous scuzz-funk isn't one of them. "I used to stand for something, now I'm on my hands and knees." Keep it to yourself mate.

thesvenhunter