*Single of the Week*
Teenagers in Tokyo – Isabella
Back Yard Records
There's something vaguely spooky about Teenagers in Tokyo. I can't be sure whether its lead singer Samantha's ghostly sounding voice, or the band's pared back sound which gradually builds into a haunting echo of guitars and drums; but it all helps to make them sound like a 21st century version of The Cure.
Double A-side release 'Isabella' and 'Long Walk Home' is an impressive debut from these Antipodeans, and I reckon we can expect even more greatness from their debut album released this week. 4.5/5
GS
Ravonettes – Bang/Last Dance
Fierce Panda
My one qualm with shoegaze is that it can be a bit depressing. Yeah, My Bloody Valentine are one of the most amazing bands ever conceived, but try throwing them on when you're next having a house party. Instant LOLkiller.
That's why I'm slightly thankful Dutch duo The Ravonettes have ripped up the script and released not one, but two slices of euphoric pop that sounds like Phil Spector-era Ramones meeting The Jesus and Mary Chain. Utterly brilliant. 4/5
DH
Lofty Heights – Eye Contact
Unit Rad
No you haven't just switched on Hallmark to a '70s TV show re-run; 'Eye Contact' is the latest musical effort of Lofty Heights. Pumping out lyrical heartache about the dangers of holding hands, these boys have nailed emotional surf ditties spot on.
Their inoffensive hand clap-fuelled, smile-inducing indie pop leaves you with that feeling you get when you run down a hill as fast as you can: a coalescence of inane happiness and morbid fear that once you come down, you'll be left toothless and alone once more. 4/5
GM
AFI – Medicate
DGC/Interscope
AFI are on the more likable end of emo-punk: a nice balance between the screamo style of Enter Shikari and the tortured whininess of The Used. A lot of it is down to singer Davey Havok's richly textured voice.
Worryingly then, this catchy, fast-tempo single would slip into pop-punk mediocrity were it not for an unexpected break halfway through. Melancholy arpeggios and layered vocals save the day, as does a frenzied guitar solo that exquisitely sweeps the song towards a heartfelt climax. 3.5/5
NH
Wolfmother – New Moon Rising
Island
This track is a belter, combining an uncanny Led Zep rip-off with a bit of that Stone Roses indie churn and echo effect. Like if Robert Plant had been into long sneers on the chorus and Jimmy Page had been a bit of a mod.
What am I talking about? Stadium rock with a hippy theme and a hard edge would be absolutely brilliant but for one thing: it's completely derivative to the point where they sound like a Page/Plant tribute act. 3/5
JH
Ghosts on Tape – Predator Mode
Wireblock
You learn something new every day in this job. 'Tropical Bass' - familiar? Well if like me you assumed it was some kind of fish marinated in Umbongo, you should know that it's actually a genre of music encompassing Dancehall, Electro, Baile Funk, Grime, Soca, Dubstep, Nu Rave, Rap and plenty of bass.
So this track involves some of those things spliced
together with samples and laser quest effects over the top. I really should go into music journalism full time. This was quite enjoyable in the end, annoying
bleeps aside. It's not as bad as it sounds. 3/5
EM
Spinnerette – All Babes Are Wolves
Anthem Records
I'm a little bit in love with Brody Dalles. She has a raunchy, razor wire voice that makes you want to dive headfirst into a mosh pit/pack of wolves/double bed with a bottle of tequila/cutlass/hottie and thrash around/fight to the death/fill your boots.
'All Babes Are Wolves' is a lot more industrial than her previous project. Sort of thrashy punk rock. And although I prefer The Distillers, this still has the right kind of raw punk passion (as seen in The Dead Weather, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, et al) to push my buttons. 3/5
LC
Lostprophets – It’s Not the End of the World
Visible Noise Records
I think it's in number9dream that David Mitchell writes something about the quality of a movie being inversely proportional to the number of helicopters that feature in it. This thought crossed my mind whilst watching the video for the latest grandiose emo-piffle from Lostprophets.
Not that there actually are any helicopters, but the point remains the same. Big shiny buildings are dramatically destroyed whilst even bigger, shinier haircuts somehow remain resolutely intact. They say you can't polish a turd, but Lostprophets give it a damn good go. 2/5
TJ
Paper Planes – Doris Day
Lucky Number Nine/Say Dirty
It's all a bit Karen O. In fact, if I didn't know that it wasn't Karen O, I'd probably think that it was Karen O. Three quarters Scottish and one part American, Paper Planes have successfully taken our lady's name in vain with this yelping rock contribution to music.
Or maybe it's a bit of an attempt at a Juliette Lewis... who cares? It's certainly nothing new. 2/5
DR
Ash – True Love 1980
Atomic Heart Records
I like New Order as much as the next man, but if you delve into their back catalogue you quickly find that for every 'Blue Monday', there are about 20 'Rock the Shack's. On this, the 'A' of Ash's bloated 52-week, 26-single A-Z marathon, they emulate the worst of the post-Curtis Mancunians.
From the title to the tinny synths and Tim Wheeler spilling out oh-so-trite lyrics with his best Barney Sumner impression, it is a tribute that comes off as pastiche. If this is how Ash's alphabet soup begins, God help us when they get to 'L'. 1.5/5
MF
If haircuts could kill, the Spoonfed office would sure be in one hell of a pickle! And what a surprise, Marcus is bottom of the pile again. But can you blame him considering the slop he got doled out?
Don't agree? Have your say and leave a comment below, or if you're feeling political join our Facebook Group.
The XX win The Mercury Prize
So it's the announcement literally hundreds have been waiting for: The Mercury Music Prize 2010. T...