We don't ever want to feel like we did that day...
Pissed Jeans – Sam Kinson Women
Sub Pop
For a band who once described their music as the sound of a toilet being flushed, Pissed Jeans’ new one ‘Sam Kinson Women’ is a bit of a departure from the normal Black Flag style sludge-core we’ve come to expect over the years.
Thundering along like the bastard son of Fucked Up and The Germs, it’s a pulsating, fist pumping song that pummels you into a bloody, meek pulp like some cop with a billy club. Remember when all hardcore was this good? No, me neither...4/5
Fergus and Geronimo - Turning Blue / Never Satisfied
Hardly Art
Texas seems to be pretty good at popping out quality musicians. Over the years she’s spawned Willie Nelson, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, and err, Kenny Rogers, and in my humble opinion, Fergus and Geronimo are no exception.
‘Never Satisfied’ is the new (non album) single from these psychedelic garage-poppers. It’s a scratchy, lo-fi grumbler of post-punk disillusionment. While its jolty stop-starting gives a sense of dissatisfaction, and the vocals are all drawling ‘can’t-be-arsed’ petulance, the whole thing still has a dry sense of humour. 4/5
Let’s Wrestle/Young Governor – Crushing Nerves/Old Hat
Tough Love
Apparently Young Governor, a.k.a Fucked Up guitarist Ben Cook, only agreed to a Tough Love split release if it was with Let’s Wrestle. We don’t blame him, the London-based three piece have a habit of bashing out wonderfully catchy indie-rock anthems, and ‘Crushing Nerves’ is no exception.
Unfortunately the brilliantly witty, self-deprecating lyrics and sing-long chorus kind of outshine Young Governor’s ‘Old Hat’ which is an enjoyable but unremarkable 2 minutes of fuzzy garage rock. 4/5
James Blunt – Stay The Night
Atlantic Recording
I've had a bit of a soft spot for James Blunt ever since I saw his soulful rendition of 'My Triangle' on Sesame Street, so I'm willing to overlook the slightly dodgy lyrics of his new song and concentrate on the music.
Like his Sesame Street appearance, this song makes me happy, and if it came up on my iPod on my journey to work I think it might lift a bit of the misery that the Tube makes me feel. I might tap my toe and annoy the other commuters, however. 4/5
Chapman Family – All Fall
Electric Toaster
The three short minutes of this track are packed with relentless, energetic drumming, hinting at the cacophony of noise which cascades onto the unsuspecting listener in its last third.
There's no messing around, no long intros, no calm before the storm - just noise followed by more noise. Luckily it's not mindless instrument bashing but a considered attack on the ears, short but … um... sweet? Not a word one would associate with this song, but you get the point. 3/5
Jamiroquai – White Knuckle Ride
Mercury
Whatever your opinion of him, if you made as much money as Jay Kay I think you would buy 27 cars, light cigars with £50 notes and take several models back to your Buckinghamshire mansion every night too. Don't even try to make out like you wouldn't.
And so he returns, with an appearance on the X factor, and a new single that, as expected, is exactly the same as his previous album tracks, but he gets to fly a helicopter and drive a car around in the video. It begs the question- is he broke, or just bored? 2.5/5
Diana Vickers – My Wicked Heart
RCA
Apparently the Red Hot Chilli Peppers are considering bringing legal action against Vickers because they reckon that the chorus to her new ditty is a little too much like 'Under The Bridge' for their liking.
For my money, DV sounds like nothing else on earth (and not in a good way) With vocals that are so unintelligible they sound as if they're being delivered through a mangle, the Chillis might not want to admit anything to do with this disaster. 1/5
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