Gemma Thomson
Film taste: pretentious art house nonsense
Music taste: anything with cowbell
Hangout: wherever my dancing feet take me
Most likes (about London): music
Least likes: tfl
Me in 10 words: i know it's only rock 'n' roll but i like it
Reviews
artist Jet
Thursday, 20 August
SINGLES REVIEWS - 24th August 2009
Jet – She's a Genius
Eleven Seven Music
I usually hate it when bands shamelessly rip off legendary tunes, but despite all reasonable logic dictating otherwise, I actually love this song a little bit.
Yes, it sounds exactly like 'My Sharona' and no, Jet isn't exactly my favourite band, but for some inexplicable reason that goes against my better judgement, I can't get enough of this song. In the immortal words of Arctic Monkeys, here's the proof that love's not only blind but deaf. 4/5 (sorry)
GT
Jet – She's a Genius
Eleven Seven Music
I usually hate it when bands shamelessly rip off legendary tunes, but despite all reasonable logic dictating otherwise, I actually love this song a little bit.
Yes, it sounds exactly like 'My Sharona' and no, Jet isn't exactly my favourite band, but for some inexplicable reason that goes against my better judgement, I can't get enough of this song. In the immortal words of Arctic Monkeys, here's the proof that love's not only blind but deaf. 4/5 (sorry)
GT
artist Miike Snow
Tuesday, 18 August
SINGLES REVIEWS - 10th August 2009
Miike Snow – Animal
Downtown
Apparently these dudes are the next big thing in electro-pop. Two of them are the brains behind Britney's super hit 'Toxic' and the other one has co-produced with Ronson. Oh, and they're Swedish, and those Swedes sure know how to make good pop.
So naturally I'm expecting to be totally blown away by this single. But guess what? I'm not. And don't even get me started on the video. Maybe they're too hyped up. Or maybe I'm just not down with the kids. 1/5
GT
Miike Snow – Animal
Downtown
Apparently these dudes are the next big thing in electro-pop. Two of them are the brains behind Britney's super hit 'Toxic' and the other one has co-produced with Ronson. Oh, and they're Swedish, and those Swedes sure know how to make good pop.
So naturally I'm expecting to be totally blown away by this single. But guess what? I'm not. And don't even get me started on the video. Maybe they're too hyped up. Or maybe I'm just not down with the kids. 1/5
GT
artist Young Rebel Set
Tuesday, 18 August
SINGLES REVIEWS - 3rd August 2009
Young Rebel Set – If I Was
Our Broadcast
Young Rebel Set's début single is a beautiful folk ballad about love, hopes, dreams, regrets and the woes of being a young musician struggling to find a balance between music and romance.
It opens with a solitary guitar and simple vocal melody, then gradually introduces tambourine followed by a single drum beat, before all seven band members get involved and guitars, mandolin and bass kick in. Despite the slightly worn-out indie-band-token-northern-accent and grating pronunciation of the words 'much' and 'love', it's actually rather lovely. 3.5/5
GT
Young Rebel Set – If I Was
Our Broadcast
Young Rebel Set's début single is a beautiful folk ballad about love, hopes, dreams, regrets and the woes of being a young musician struggling to find a balance between music and romance.
It opens with a solitary guitar and simple vocal melody, then gradually introduces tambourine followed by a single drum beat, before all seven band members get involved and guitars, mandolin and bass kick in. Despite the slightly worn-out indie-band-token-northern-accent and grating pronunciation of the words 'much' and 'love', it's actually rather lovely. 3.5/5
GT
artist The Voluntary Butler Scheme
Friday, 24 July
SINGLES REVIEWS - 20th July 2009
The Voluntary Butler Scheme – Tabasco Sole
Split
Haven't we heard enough MJ tributes already? Evidently not. One-man band Rob Jones aka The Voluntary Butler Scheme appears to have 'borrowed' the guitar riff from The Jackson 5's 'I Want You Back'.
I'll forgive him though – the video for 'Tabasco Sole' has cheered me up no end. It features some 'King Of The Rodeo'-style line dancing, only instead of the lovely Followill boys, there are four middle-aged women from Oxfordshire. Delightful. 2.5/5
GT
The Voluntary Butler Scheme – Tabasco Sole
Split
Haven't we heard enough MJ tributes already? Evidently not. One-man band Rob Jones aka The Voluntary Butler Scheme appears to have 'borrowed' the guitar riff from The Jackson 5's 'I Want You Back'.
I'll forgive him though – the video for 'Tabasco Sole' has cheered me up no end. It features some 'King Of The Rodeo'-style line dancing, only instead of the lovely Followill boys, there are four middle-aged women from Oxfordshire. Delightful. 2.5/5
GT
artist Spinnerette
Friday, 24 July
SINGLES REVIEWS - 13th July 2009
Spinnerette – Baptized By Fire
Anthem Records
Is this a piss-take? It must be, surely. There's no other explanation for it. No one in their right mind would dream of releasing such a nauseating combination of rock and that repetitive dance beat (think Ibiza circa 2001) and expect to be taken seriously.
The video does nothing to discourage my suspicions – it features a woman dressed in a floaty black dress flailing around on a beach. I hope for everyone's sake they're being ironic. 1/5
GT
Spinnerette – Baptized By Fire
Anthem Records
Is this a piss-take? It must be, surely. There's no other explanation for it. No one in their right mind would dream of releasing such a nauseating combination of rock and that repetitive dance beat (think Ibiza circa 2001) and expect to be taken seriously.
The video does nothing to discourage my suspicions – it features a woman dressed in a floaty black dress flailing around on a beach. I hope for everyone's sake they're being ironic. 1/5
GT
artist The Maccabees
Tuesday, 07 July
SINGLES REVIEWS - 6th July 2009
The Maccabees – Can You Give It
Polydor
I can't listen to this song without having painful flashbacks of being completely battered by over-excited pogo-ing indie kids and getting absolutely soaked with wayward-flying beer. Ah, fun times.
The video is also rather good. It offers some fascinating insights into the crazy world of cheese rolling. Definitely worth a watch. Cheese aside, it's actually a very good song. Kind of makes you want to jump up and down and throw beer everywhere. 4/5
GT
The Maccabees – Can You Give It
Polydor
I can't listen to this song without having painful flashbacks of being completely battered by over-excited pogo-ing indie kids and getting absolutely soaked with wayward-flying beer. Ah, fun times.
The video is also rather good. It offers some fascinating insights into the crazy world of cheese rolling. Definitely worth a watch. Cheese aside, it's actually a very good song. Kind of makes you want to jump up and down and throw beer everywhere. 4/5
GT
artist A Mountain of One
Tuesday, 07 July
SINGLES REVIEWS - 6th July 2009
A Mountain Of One – Bones
Ten Worlds
Woah, this tune is, like, totally dreamy, man. Or something to that effect.
Slightly more upbeat than their usual 'Dark Side Of The Moon'-inspired chill-out music, 'Bones' nonetheless exudes all the ambience, elegance and serenity of A Mountain Of One's spaced-out-after-a-heavy-night-of-techno sound. It combines psychedelic pop with elements of prog rock, melodic electronica and ambient techno. Sounds a bit like the stuff dreams are made of. 3/5
GT
A Mountain Of One – Bones
Ten Worlds
Woah, this tune is, like, totally dreamy, man. Or something to that effect.
Slightly more upbeat than their usual 'Dark Side Of The Moon'-inspired chill-out music, 'Bones' nonetheless exudes all the ambience, elegance and serenity of A Mountain Of One's spaced-out-after-a-heavy-night-of-techno sound. It combines psychedelic pop with elements of prog rock, melodic electronica and ambient techno. Sounds a bit like the stuff dreams are made of. 3/5
GT
artist Rumble Strips
Tuesday, 30 June
SINGLES REVIEWS - 29th June 2009
The Rumble Strips – Not The Only Person
Island Records
Hurrah! The Rumble Strips are back! And this first single to be released from their second album, 'Welcome to the Walk Alone', is totally brilliant.
It's The Rumble Strips as we know and love them, only this time the sound is even bigger; a full-scale orchestral affair with Charlie's distinctively powerful vocals backed by a monumental string arrangement. It's epic. Hardly surprising though – the album was produced by Ronson after all. 4/5
GT
The Rumble Strips – Not The Only Person
Island Records
Hurrah! The Rumble Strips are back! And this first single to be released from their second album, 'Welcome to the Walk Alone', is totally brilliant.
It's The Rumble Strips as we know and love them, only this time the sound is even bigger; a full-scale orchestral affair with Charlie's distinctively powerful vocals backed by a monumental string arrangement. It's epic. Hardly surprising though – the album was produced by Ronson after all. 4/5
GT
artist The Voodoo Trombone Quartet
Tuesday, 30 June
SINGLES REVIEWS - 29th June 2009
The Voodoo Trombone Quartet – South Westerly
Freshly Squeezed
Cult London band The Voodoo Trombone Quartet's new single opens with a triumphant-sounding horn, before launching into a ska-laden reggae beat and a happy little vocal melody courtesy of band founder, Paul Thorpe, who proceeds to sing an upbeat ditty about the ocean, sailing, wind directions and all things nautical. There's even some impressive marine terminology thrown in there such as 'helm' and 'vessel'.
It's pleasant enough, but not particularly striking or memorable. 3/5
GT
The Voodoo Trombone Quartet – South Westerly
Freshly Squeezed
Cult London band The Voodoo Trombone Quartet's new single opens with a triumphant-sounding horn, before launching into a ska-laden reggae beat and a happy little vocal melody courtesy of band founder, Paul Thorpe, who proceeds to sing an upbeat ditty about the ocean, sailing, wind directions and all things nautical. There's even some impressive marine terminology thrown in there such as 'helm' and 'vessel'.
It's pleasant enough, but not particularly striking or memorable. 3/5
GT
artist TEETH!!!
Monday, 01 June
TEETH!!! at Stag and Dagger, 21st May 2009
Woah! TEETH!!! are absolute mentalists. In a good way. Vocalist Veronica So kicks off proceedings sporting some kind of warrior helmet, of which I only get a brief glimpse before her overzealous head-thrashing results in it falling off, never to be seen again.
Their electrifying experimental punk set concludes with quite possibly the most extreme stage invasion I've ever witnessed, with more people on stage than in the audience. 'Anyone else?' Veronica shrieks as she grabs people by the arm and hauls them onto the stage. It's utter madness: there are people banging drums, some are thrashing around wildly, while others are happily dancing along with their eyes closed. It's a suitably crazy finale to an equally crazy gig. GT
Woah! TEETH!!! are absolute mentalists. In a good way. Vocalist Veronica So kicks off proceedings sporting some kind of warrior helmet, of which I only get a brief glimpse before her overzealous head-thrashing results in it falling off, never to be seen again.
Their electrifying experimental punk set concludes with quite possibly the most extreme stage invasion I've ever witnessed, with more people on stage than in the audience. 'Anyone else?' Veronica shrieks as she grabs people by the arm and hauls them onto the stage. It's utter madness: there are people banging drums, some are thrashing around wildly, while others are happily dancing along with their eyes closed. It's a suitably crazy finale to an equally crazy gig. GT
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