New Releases - 30 Nov

New Releases - 30 Nov

25 November, 2009
by: Music Team

*Single Of The Week*
Ian Brown – Just Like You
Fiction Records

Despite the lazy name and laughable front cover shot, Brown's recently released sixth album 'My Way' has yet again produced an assured hit in the form of new single 'Just Like You'. The former Stone Rose gives us another synthy foot stomper which manages to be both powerful and brooding yet incredibly uplifting.

The melodic chorus delivers a punch every time and the whole thing oozes with attitude and confidence - much like the man himself in the slick and unfussy video. 4/5
AW


Slagsmalsklubben – Brutal Weapons
Kitsune

Getting picked up by that arbiter of hipness, Kitsune, is a sure sign of success. But sometime soon the backlash will begin and this new wave of Justice copycats will remix themselves to oblivion, their legacy reduced to neon colours, hi-tops and Ray Bans.

And yet, a fun track is a fun track. This Swedish sextet have created a deliciously bouncy beat, with sounds beaming in and out like little lasers – it reminds me of playing Mario Go-Kart. Fluffy and satisfying. 3.5/5
NH



30 Seconds to Mars – Kings and Queens
EMI

I hate this kind of music: dirgy, shouty, emo-rock nonsense, all sub-Zep symbolism, guyliner and David Icke-conspiracy pap. Like Muse, but simultaneously sillier and more joyless.

And yet. Surprisingly, I quite like this grandiose string-filled epic from ‘90s teen heartthrob Jared Leto and his band of identikit 'troubled' rockers. It’s moody, portentous, overblown and the lyrics make no sense. But it kinda works. 3.5/5
TJ


We Were Promised Jetpacks – It's Thunder and It's Lightning/Ships With Holes Will Sink
Fatcat Records

After suffering at the inept blundering hands of First Connect's inability to efficiently run a train service this morning, I was all ready to vent my spleen on some mediocre tosh, invoking the Simon Cowell inside me (now there's a disturbing thought).

Unfortunately for me, We Were Promised Jetpacks have actually made two surprisingly competent and thoughtful indie rock songs about broken relationships and domestic violence for this AA-side release. The selfish pricks. 3/5
PL


Pearl Jam – Got Some
Universal Records

Debate on the blogs about whether this song is a rip off of Devo's 'Gut Feeling'. Eddie Vedder is a massive Devo fan apparently – which makes me think that this song must be an homage rather than a straight melody theft – so similar are the two tracks. When you listen to them side by side the only real difference is 'Got Some' is shorter and rockier.

'Got Some' is good, but 'Gut Feeling' is amazing. Respect to Vedder for his recognition of this. Copy or not, it's good to see the old rockers return. 3/5 
LC  


Ke$ha – Tik Tok
RCA Records

Shh! It's a guilty pleasure that I don't like to admit, but I kinda like the music world's latest onslaught of essentially laughable white girl rappers. Ke$ha's digitally altered, old skool computer game beeper 'Tik Tok' could easily be mistaken for a track by potty-mouthed superstar Uffie, but let's not get our panties in a twist: it's just a party track kids, not a talent competition.

Plus, any girl that brushes their teeth "with a bottle of Jack" gets a thumbs up from me. 3/5
DR


NOFX – Cokie the Clown
Fat Wreck Chords

Ah NOFX. Even though a long line of baggy-panted teenie boppers have killed skate punk deader than a dodo, only you guys can make a song about a clown that walks around parties toting a flower that sprays a mixture of K and gak in people's faces.

The effort's commendable, but wallet chains and hair dye is all so 1997. We've all kind of moved on. 2/5
DH


The Wild Swans – Liquid Mercury
Occultation

For a band formed from members of The Teardrop Explodes and Echo and the Bunnymen, The Wild Swans' latest single should sound way better than some horrible Cast-like dirge about the old days in Liverpool. In fact, could scousers give it a rest about Liverpool? There are worse places. People attempt to live in Harlow and Bradford for example, you don't hear them banging on about it.

I wish I has listened to this instead. 2/5
DH


Alicia Keys – Doesn't Mean Anything
Columbia

Alicia Keys is one of my favourites. If I can just burn a horrible image onto your brain forever I like nothing better than a good shower sing-along to 'If I Ain't Got You'.

She's amazingly talented and has shown as recently as 'Empire State of Mind' that she can still pick a hit. So why does this release, perfectly timed to follow up her VMA tour-de-force with Jay-Z, sound like a Leona Lewis track? It's just so bloody boring! Fail. 0/5
JH


So, it seems that First Connect have more control over life - otherwise known as the Spoonfed single reviews - than anyone considered. No more delays please or Piers may bring out the Cowell.

Disagree with Dom's digs about Scousers? Think that Alicia Keys' 'fail' is actually an (easy) win? Then do comment below. And if you like this kind of thing, the Facebook group will keep you in the loop.

Music Team