New Releases - 25th May

New Releases - 25th May

20 May, 2009
by: Music Team

*Single of the Week*

Graham Coxon – Sorrow's Army
Trangressive

Hey! What happened to the power pop, Coxon? And when did you become Woody Guthrie? They said this record was quite a departure from the old stuff and they weren't kidding.

Showcasing the singer-songwriter's folkier side, 'Sorrow's Army' is sort of like the antithesis of 'Freaking Out'. A drawling, blues-like riff overlaid with a laid-back vocal line that still manages to sound like Elvis Costello when he was good, this song shows off those easy-going pop sensibilities that Blur has been missing since he left. 4.5/5
DH


You Me at Six – Finders Keepers
Slam Dunk Records

I don't care. I'm not budging, despite there being a high chance of a lynching. I like You Me at Six. I'd even go so far to say I love them. They make me giddy like a school girl.

'Finders Keepers', despite managing to be even more commercial than the band's previous efforts, is catchy, bouncy and makes me feel like it's sunny outside. Now, I'm going to go and stare lovingly at my Fall Out Boy posters... 4/5
SL


Sky Larkin – Antibodies

I had the good fortune to hear Sky Larkin early on in their career thanks to the fact that they lived in Leeds and I found myself pretending to study up there. They were impressive then and continue to be now.

The latest EP which includes 'Antibodies' exemplifies all that is best about this trio: great lyrics, strong female vocals and catchy little riffs. Even better, this EP comes as an old-skool cassette with some very quaint artwork. 3.5/5
GS


Cass McCombs – Dreams Come True Girl
Domino

Cass McCombs' new single comes off his 5th album 'Catacombs'. A lilting country lament, it features McCombs musing on the healing properties of true love. Featuring gorgeous vocal support from Karen Black, this is a '50s-tinged last dance song that will have couples walking home arm-in-arm all summer long.

It's haunting and ethereal, though it's perhaps telling that the most interesting point of this song is that the video comes across like some countrified version of the Sonic Youth '100%' video. 3.5/5
JS


Homecut – I Don't Even Know
First Word Records

'I Don't Even Know' is a gentle slice of downbeat R&B from producer Homecut's forthcoming debut album. Some quirky lyrics, a bit of dissatisfied rap and a neat piano refrain combine to produce almost exactly the sum of their parts.

Textural variety comes courtesy of a smattering of Soweto Kinch sax doodling and the candied melancholy of Corinne Bailey Rae's vocals. It's pleasant enough, but hard to feel particularly strongly about either way. 3/5
TJ

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart – Young Adult Friction
Fortuna Pop

The Pains of Being Cheesy. I'm not saying it's not catchy. But this is the sort of twee indie they play on Skins when some spoiled 15 year-old takes a melodramatic stroll to dwell on the cruel realities of being 15 in this brutal world of mutability and loss.

I'm sure a million teenagers will pelt me with tear-stained copies of Point Romance for saying this: but unless you're 15 I think you've probably grown out of this by now. 3/5
MD


Howling Bells – Digital Hearts

I'd make a proper attempt to describe this track were it not for the fact that, although it ticks all the right boxes (think British Sea Power, Interpol and Elastica thrown into an Xfm-shaped blender), it's about as forgettable as England's recent Test match series victory over the Windies.

Yeah, it's got nice vocals, nice guitars, nice drumming and all the rest of it, but so has every other bloody song that makes it onto play.com. Apparently this band used to be interesting. Support duties for Razorlight have obviously taken their toll. 2.5/5
MB


Duchess Says – Begging the 3 Ts
Back Yard

Someone throw this irate lady a packet of Lockets and a strong dose of Valium! Admittedly, it's not the first time, but Annie C's unrestrained raspy screams and growls conjure disturbing and slightly psychotic thoughts in my mind (I'm blaming her for these on this occasion).
 
Once I'd got over the fact that Annie C is possibly just a tad stressed and all evil thoughts had fled my mind, I realised I was actually pretty fond of the angry rock chick meets grimey electronic punk sound and, lo and behold, found myself listening to it again...and again. 2.5/5
LH


Gold Teeth – Tasty
Unsigned

Madness and Blur meet up for a game of footie and end up smoking a few doobies in the park. Five young kids are there, mucking around, but edging ever closer, clearly trying to eavesdrop on their chat. The bands start trying to out-mockney each other in that 'unique' monotone manner they have.

By this time the kids have surrounded them. Damon Albarn remarks on the coincidence that they all have massive gold teeth which keep catching the sun. It's weird. 2/5
LC


Little Boots – New In Town
679/Atlantic

Gah! Another electro-pop record, why do I keep choosing these?!

'New In Town' begins well with sultry vocals and a drum and synth combo that sounds like it might be going somewhere good, but then we get to the refrain and it all falls apart as the synths start imitating a game of Tetris while Little Boots sings whiney lyrics like 'I want to take you out tonight / I'm gonna make you feel alright / I don't have a lot of money, but we'll be fine'. Next week: NO ELECTRO! MUST TRY HARDER! 2/5
EM


All in all, a pretty average week this time around. Lots of 2s and 3s means our Music Team isn't happy. The message is clear: make better music people! Apart form you Graham, you did a good job this week. Well done.

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Music Team