Two bits of shocking news this week - Tom can't be funny all the time, and Eddie Vedder has no balls.
Future Islands – Undressed
Thrill Jockey
On the whole, Future Islands are on the more sombre end of the whole glo-fi thing. While Washed Out are making music to drive your Testarossa too, these Baltimore natives are making music that you’d imagine Bill Murray listening to in Lost in Translation when he's sitting in his hotel room forlornly looking out over Tokyo.
‘Undressed’ contains four tracks that give a fairly good snapshot of what Future Islands are all about. In places it sounds like David Bowie, and it reminds me of Ratatat in others. Basically, it’s amazing. 4.5/5
DH
Jolly Boys – Rehab
GeeJam Records
Before dancehall, before reggae, before ska, there was mento. The Jolly Boys formed in 1955 and have just recorded a new album of rock covers.
As the house band for GeeJam, now a hotel but previously a residential recording studio, they’ve entertained Amy Winehouse amongst others, and I hope she loves this cover of her tune as much as I do. To not like this you’d have to be a totally heartless member of the Nazi youth who thinks contraception and gays are evil…or the Pope. 4/5
TO
Egyptian Hip Hop – Some Reptiles Grew Wings
Moshi Moshi
Egyptian Hip Hop’s second EP is largely an indie dance affair – the soundtrack Alex Zane should demand if he were ever to make a sitcom starring himself.
‘Moon Crooner’ is all high hats and horns with deep bass grooves, while ‘Rad Pit’ slows things down. Think MGMT’s ‘Kids’ but not as epic – or depressing, if you’re over the age of 17 and have realised that life is not as “full of opportunity” as your sixth form teacher told you it would be. ‘Middle Name Period’ is largely an instrumental track full of bass. It’s the type of song you’d feel turning your stomach in KOKO. 3/5
JG
Scissor Sisters – Any Which Way
Polydor
There's not really all that much to say about this track, the second single off Scissor Sisters' latest album, 'Night Work'. Basically if you like their brand of high-camp disco razzmatazz then you'll bloody love this – it's catchy and fun and packed with ever so slightly baffling innuendo.
If however you find them a bit hollow or tedious – they have been peddling the same thing for ever it seems – then you'd probably be better off just going to listen to something else. Sorry, can't think of anything funny today. 3/5
TJ
Eddie Vedder – Better Days
Monkeywrench
If I wasn't paying attention, I'd think this was god rock. The dude from Pearl Jam, who it's safe to say is The Dude, sounds more like Lifehouse than anyone ever should. He's even got this song on the soundtrack of Eat, Pray, Love for crying out loud!
You have to be in the mood for this Polyphonic Spree-tinged folksy twanging but be warned, it does grow on you. Goddamnit the future really is paved with 'Better Days'. 2.5/5
NK
Alex Gaudino – I'm In Love
Ministry of Sound
Needless to say, another run of the mill summer euro dance pop track: piano melody, whiny female vocalist, etc etc.
I'm sure it doesn't matter who likes it or hates it, this will lodge itself within the Top 10 and infiltrate afternoon commercial radio playlists so that he can continue to roll around in piles of cash with many scantily clad ladies. 1.5/5
CW
Kurran and Wolfones – Your Four Limbs
Rough Trade
I'm bored of all this cutesy folk stuff now – I was bored as soon as it started. Whose idea was it to put indie and folk together anyway? All the songs sound samey, and 'Your Four Limbs' is no exception: it's so bland that I forgot I'd listened to it almost the second it was over... which is probably a good thing.
It's not all bad news for Kurran and The Wolfnotes though – the song does have a cool xylophone bit in it, and I like xylophones so that took the edge off my boredom a bit. A really tiny bit. 1/5 (1 for the xylophone)
LBH
A-Ha – Butterfly, Butterfly (The Last Hurrah)
Universal Music Norway
This song is so bland, so bland in fact that I have absolutely nothing to say about it other than I remember that every Christmas my parents would put on 'Take On Me' when we put up decorations. Yes, that story is more interesting than this song.
At the end of the video for this the whole of A-Ha turn into butterflie,s which is a really big event due to the nothingness of the Take That-like drivel you've just listened to. 1/5
LD
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Frieze Art Fair to launch new section for young galleries in 2012
Frieze have today announced details for the 2012 edition, their tenth art fair in London. Taking place...