So this week we found out that Natalie Imbruglia should definitely stick to dating Royals and that our Editor in Chief loves a bit of sleazy, sexist RnB. Nice.
*SINGLE OF THE WEEK*
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti – Round and Round
4ad
If all pop music came in the brand of Ariel Pink’s, the world would be a much better place for it. Unfortunately, it can’t. As for this track? It’s great, but of course it’s great, it’s Ariel Pink.
'Round and Round' is fairly standard Haunted Graffiti fare – vintage sounding pop overlaid with his Everly Brothers-esque vocals – however it sounds to me as if the man has stepped out of the bedroom and into a professional studio, and on the basis of this, what a great idea that was. 4.5/5
RM
Timbaland ft Justin Timberlake – Carry Out
Polydor
How many double entendres can you ram into one hot little song? The premise of this is that girls are like carry outs. You can order them, devour them, then go for desert. This is just the kind of low-slung, sleazy, sexist RnB which inexplicably appeals to the baser part of my nature. I shouldn’t like it…but I really do.
Deep, down and dirrrrty with JT and Timbaland making pantomimic sex gestures at a load of hot girls. It’s got the vibe of ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ but with more raunch. “Baby I know how you like it supersize…” 4/5
LC
Memoryhouse – To the Lighthouse
Evident Records
When you hear about a band that started out as a 'multimedia art project', alarm bells tend to start ringing. But in the case of Canadian duo, Memoryhouse, those bells fade away to be replaced by hazy ambient electronica, layered over with eerily gentle vocals.
It's all a bit of a soft-focus retro dreamscape – complete with nostalgic '70s film montage – but on a calm and nearly summer day, that's no bad thing at all. 3.5/5
TJ
LCD Soundsytem – Drunk Girls
DFA Records
'Sound of Silver' has to be one of my favourite albums so this first release from their follow-up (maybe last) album came as a bit of a disappointment. In typical LCD style, it starts off with a simple bassline and builds into cacophonous punk-rave with James Murphy's trademark vocals bellowing and yodelling over the top.
The lyrics lack the wit of, say, 'Losing My Edge', but it's still fairly amusing stuff: "They steal, they steal from the cupboards...Drunk girls wait an hour to pee". One of the shortest tracks on the album, this is more radio-friendly but it will be longer tracks like 'I Can Change' and 'You Wanted a Hit' that earn the kudos. 3/5 (5/5 Video)
EM
Thrones – Late For Dinner
Conspiracy
A sludge metal veteran, and fairly certainly having not been off drugs since 1968, Joe Preston is mentioned in awed whispers by stoner rock fans. This latest 7" from his solo project (it's literally him on bass, drums, and hitting a crapload of pedals to provide synth, vocal and guitar effects – like a stoned Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins, if you will) is pure blistering, bass-laden rock indulgence.
As dense as chocolate mud cake and as doom-laden as early Black Sabbath, it certainly won't appeal to everyone, but it's nonetheless deserving of respect. 3/5
SK
Best Coast – Something In The Way
Postpresent
Singer-songwriter, Bethany Cosentino, gives us no surprise whatsoever. It's a cool tune full of lazy summer sun and the beach. The rough doo-wop and muffled sound has charm, hitting the ears like a song off 40 year old vinyl, but it's a little unoriginal.
It's as though she has listened to great artists from the '50s and '60s and instead of drawing inspiration from them, became a bit of a copycat. 2.5/5
SC
Big Pink – Tonight
4ad
Bits of this I like, bits I don't. The synths are quite good and the whole electronic thing going on is alright. But the lyrics, the vocals, in fact everything that occurs when either Robbie Furze or Milo Cordell (I can't tell who's who) open their mouths is just awful.
It all ends up sounding a tad like Kasabian or some other irate, swaggering 'alternative rock' loud mouths who I can't quite put my finger on. 2/5
LR
The Qemists – Your Revolution
Ninjatune
This new Pendulum single is rubbish, I've never liked Pendulum, their music has always seemed overly contrived. It's even worse when someone else makes it. "So you can keep your revolution, all this disillusion, oh it's making me feel ill" go the lyrics. Well Qemdulum, equally you can keep your rubbish tune, all this plastic drum 'n' bass, oh it's making me feel ill.
For the sake of the kids, they should've banned this crap along with methadrone. 2/5
TO
Natalie Imbruglia – Scars
Island Records
I curse you Fox and I especially curse you E4! I curse you for making Glee so ubiquitous that anything slightly drippy reminds me of it and I don't even watch it! (that much).
Should this banal effort from that one what did 'Torn' find its way onto the set of Glee, it would be sung by Rachel, as she laments over being rejected by whoever is rejecting her lately while she looks on at various manicured couples exaggeratedly sucking face and having fights. 'Tis dull. 1/5
NK
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