New Releases - 10 August

New Releases - 10 August

05 August, 2009
by: Music Team

*Single of the Week*
Sean Paul – So Fine
Atlantic
 
Is it just me or is there something innately brilliant about Sean Paul? He's obviously terrible, but he just seems to be having so much fun all the time that it's impossible to hate him with the conviction that one might reserve for, say, Akon.

'So Fine' is a standard Sean Paul paean to some 'sexy chick', but livened up by such lyrical gems as 'You could be mine / You'll be my windchime... / ...For you I'd join the longest line'. Hahaha, he's like Kevin G but with Lilt instead of math. Amazing! 4/5
TJ


Mariachi El Bronx – Cell Mates
Wichita
 
It might seem like hardcore punk band The Bronx have gone loco by releasing a mariachi album, but they are deadly serious about it - in fact lead singer Matt Caughthran has said: 'Mariachi is every bit as much of a soundtrack to southern California as punk, so they actually work seamlessly.' What are people going to call it? Arribacore!
 
This first track off their debut album is a lovely slice of Mexican warmth; all trumpets, guitarrons, soft croons and maracas. I'd take it over screaming any day. 3.5/5
EM


Emmy The Great – Edward Is Deadward
Close Harbour

The seemingly endless search for musical originality often leads to a sound so generic that you could use it to lull a gerbil with ADHD to sleep. It is therefore refreshing to see Emmy the Great sticking rigidly to the formula for traditional folk, without singing through a toilet U-bend or playing the drums on lilypads.

More of an epic poem of bereavement than a folk song, she teams an innocent voice with her usual play on words to produce quite a beautiful cliché-embracing song. 3/5
GM


Bloc Party – One More Chance
Atlantic

'Just give me one more chance', Kele sings, 'this time things will be different.' Well no, they won't be will they, because what this single's done is reverted back to the same old formula which worked on the first album. Except this time they've chucked in some psychedelic piano for good measure.
 
This isn't a bad track, but that's no surprise considering it sounds like it's been lifted straight off their impressive debut, 'Silent Alarm'. Don't try and kid us Kele, this time things aren't different, they're back to where they started. 3/5
GS


The Killers – A Dustland Fairytale
Island Records

Another soaring, breathless number from The Killers, which, rather than the catchy and playful territory they formerly bordered, enters the realm of 'serious and meaningful'. 'A Dustland Fairytale' is said to be telling the story of Brandon Flowers' parents.
 
The video (directed by Anthony Mandler) features the exploits of a young couple in '60s America. 'Just another white trash county kiss'. It has a classic, all-American blue jeans vibe. It's a middle of the road track this one. OK but forgettable. 2.5/5
LC


Beyoncé – Sweet Dreams
Columbia

Beyoncé's double concept album 'I am... Sasha Fierce' contrives a dichotomy between the soft and feminine lover and the corset-wearing dominatrix who eats hustlers for breakfast. 'Sweet Dreams', taken from the latter half of the album, sits on the fence.

Beyoncé's vocal talent and hefty production budget will make it a hit, but what happened to the finger waggin', pissin'-on-your-steps attitude of 'Diva' or 'Single Ladies'? Even the vacuous lyrics are non-committal: 'you could be a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare'. Make up your mind love. 2/5
RC


Citadels – Golden Islands
Friends vs Records

I should love Citadel's 'Golden Islands'. It's plonky synth-lead uplifting indie-electro. I'm just not sure I get it. It's easy to see what they're trying to do, but they just don't manage it as well as other bands out there.
 
It's easy to predict the crowd Citadels will attract and I really thought this sort of music would have had its day by now. Apparently not. I suggest we form a mob and hunt them down before another indie kid gets his hand on a keyboard... 2/5
SL


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

  
Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
Polydor

Uh oh, BEP attempts a bit of Daft Punk but falls gigamiles short.  Wil.i.am, you lazy bugger. I'm guessing all you did was lay down some tracks, set them on repeat and then sneak off for a hot dog.

An ear-grating Euro-poppy bass line, over-processed vocals and monotonous lyrics about how 'tonight's gonna be a good night' make this bloated turkey of song a whole four minutes too long. Now, tonight's gonna be a crap night thanks to you. Argh. 1/5
SL


Flo Rida feat. Nelly Furtado – Jump
Atlantic 
 
Like a chipmunk on crack, Nelly Furtado squeals her way through another collaboration with 'Jump', this time alongside Flo Rida. Since ditching her hippy image the singer-songwriter has worked her way through the top names in R'n'B, and has had a couple of decent tunes. So, what evil person made her pair up with Flo Rida? Apart from 'Low' the guy is a disgrace. 
 
When Nelly Furtado says jump, I'm very tempted. 1/5
GB 


Don't do it Gemma! We actually listen to this pap in the office but a double header of Flo Rida vs Black Eyed Peas could cause an outright mutiny – they're both so perfectly dreadful. Good to see Sean Paul finally getting the critical respect he deserves, though. If you agree or don't, comment below and quickly, join the Facebook Group before your mates find out you haven't already and start teasing you for being lame. Do it now.

Music Team