New Releases – 20th April

New Releases – 20th April

15 April, 2009
by: Music Team

*Single of the Week*
Slayer – Psychopathy Red
Columbia

Ever since the mid-nineties Slayer have done away with the thrashing aspects of their sound and have instead concentrated on being the most brutal band possible. Admirable yes, but a bit boring.

However Slayer seemed to have time warped back to their best . 'Psychopathy Red' is a throw-back to Seasons in the Abyss style thrashing – a two and a half minute dropkick of a song.  OK, it's not as scary as 'Raining Blood', but you can't be genre defining all the time. 4.5/5
DH


The Von Bondies – Pale Bride
Craze Factory

Detroit's burning, Rock City is bailout central USA, there's a wave about to crash and wash the whole mess into the eastern seaboard. So tonight's the night to party like Bruce Willis can't save the world!

Thank the lord then for bands like Rock City natives The Von Bondies who make tracks like 'Pale Bride', classic US College rock, intelligent, concise and catchy as hell. 'Pale Bride' is hot like summer in Hades, so turn on tune in and go out dancing! 4.25/5
JS


Golden Silvers – True Romance
XL

Who could resist that irresistible Duran Duran hook? New romance, meet 'True Romance', your latest worldly incarnation. Today it's a swagger, not a stomp, and it's been tempered with some brilliant lyrics.

An intelligent, carefree attitude buys you a pint and gets you dancing while it hands you back your faith in music. This also manages to hang on to a perfect minimalism while borrowing all it needs from funk, soul and disco. Less is definitely more, Golden Silvers. Nice work. 4/5
MD


Okkervil River – Pop Lie
Jagjaguwar

All you need is love? Sometimes you get what you need? I will be your hero, baby?? ALL LIES. And it's about time someone called out those lying singers for selling unattainable dreams of love and happiness. Thanks, Okkervil River!

'Pop Lie' is catchy and has that enjoyable head-boppiness of self-righteous pop/rock songs but some lyrics are cringeworthy and there are a few really odd bits including an incongruous ending that might make you wonder if you'd just prefer the lies. 4/5
MF


Bruce Springsteen – What Love Can Do
Columbia

Twenty-four albums in and still going strong, is there anything negative we can say about the great Bruce Springsteen?

I'm having trouble thinking of anything. OK I don't think that latest single 'What Love Can Do' will go down in the annals of time as one of Springsteen's true classics but that's not to take away from the catchy well crafted tune that it is.

But don't take my word for it, go, buy the new album in fact, buy all 24. 4/5
GS


St Vincent – Actor Out Of Work
4AD

A gang of out of work actors audition to appear in a pop video in which they audition to play a gang of out of work actors in a pop video. Simple eh? Said actors are made to cry on command by Annie Clark (St Vincent) as this lively and actually pretty decent song builds to a rocking crescendo which coincides with all the unemployed thespians Clark is abusing bursting into very real tears.

'You're an extra, lost in the scene' she scolds them all. Heartless woman. 3.75/5
LC
 

The Temper Trap – Science Of Fear
Infectious

The Temper Trap are that most duplicitous of beasts, the Australian rock band. In the same way that UK bands can play arenas and live like royalty at home whilst remaining a mystery to LA kids, Australian bands often pass under UK radar despite actually being rather good.

The Temper Trap trade in the veritable quagmire of atmospheric, anthemic, indie-rock. Yet, as 'Science Of Fear' shows, they bring honesty and intrigue to a sound that walks a path parts Verve, parts Sigur Ros and parts underrated Britrockers Headswim. Winner! 3.75/5
JS


Modest Mouse – Satellite Skin
Epic Records

Modest Mouse are a slightly schizophrenic band. The singles they release are highly popular, yet parts of their albums cross that fine line between experimental and just plain odd.

Sadly, their latest outing 'Satellite Skin' hovers somewhere between these two extremes which just makes it a little dull. Brock's vocals are still genius though. 3.5/5
SL


Phenomenal Handclap Band – 15 to 20
Tummy Touch

Remember chanting times tables in maths class at school? Well this New York disco-funk übergroup takes it one step further and transforms the five times table into a '70s-tinged dancefloor anthem, complete with thumping bass, groovy beats, funkilicious guitars, smooth, soulful vocals courtesy of The Lady Tigra and a spattering of electro noise for good measure.

Entertaining AND educational. No one ever need forget their five times table again. No handclapping though. 3.5/5
GT


Violet Violet – C-C-C-Cat
NR One Records

Even though they come from Norwich, this bunch of girls are propping up the table – not because their DIY stomp-rock stutter-fest is bad. Just because everyone else is in such a good mood. Sorry girls!

It's a charming, guile-less effort with formation drum and guitars, shout-girl lyrics and one of those semi-breakdowns where they go 'Woooo!' If I've one criticism, the song is not in any way shape or form original. But still, perky enough – don't fear the relegation zone girls! 3/5
JH


Special props to the Slayer fan video. That's the spirit!

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Music Team