New releases - 9th June
Blur – Under the Westway/The Puritan
EMI
Blur - Under The Westway (Live) by Minerva Noise
Released last Tuesday via a London rooftop, these two new songs catch Blur in all of the schizophrenic glory, each dealing with the general sense of British crapiness but sounding like they were plucked from different ends of their career.
Basically, ‘The Puritan’ is a ‘Damon’ song, complete with incessant synth line and a crescendo ending packed with ironic cheeriness. ‘Under the Westway’ on the other hand finds the band in full-on ensemble mode, and even if it does sound a bit like ‘Best Days’ off of ‘The Great Escape’, it seems to sum up the general feeling of hopeless resignation that comes from working a 9-5 in London. Combine them together and you’ve got a real tour-de-force. 4.5/5
DH
Jan Driver – Peaker
Boysnoize
Peaker by Boysnoize Records
Captain's log, Stardate 9529.1.
I was awoken from my quarters this evening by a thumping sound coming from the new gymnasium deck we've had installed at the request of some of the crew. I went to inspect the area but found nothing but a throbbing beat while several men lifted weights and made lingering eye contact with each other.
However, this infectious Earth music seems to have brought the crew closer than ever before. Scotty, who is obviously enjoying the benefits of his daily workout and has grown a thin moustache, tells me the music is that of Jan Driver, on Boysnoize Records, and has invited me to train with him tomorrow evening. 4/5
TA
Twin Shadow – Five Seconds
4AD
"He loved to push his luck, which like a cat he had way too much of." This song and accompanying video tells a condensed goodies vs baddies story, derived from a novel by George Lewis Jr himself. The plot centres around his alter ego Twin Shadow getting chased by a load of masked henchmen with baseball bats. It does serve to dramatise the song, which is agile, muscular rock, and surrounds it in mysticism - and also makes the motorbike obsessed Lewis Jr look really cool.
But let's forget about the story and how cool he looks standing on the seat of a bike for a moment. This is essentially '80s pop rock done well. 3.5/5
LC
The Vaccines – No Hope
Columbia
The Vaccines - No Hope by The Vaccines
Wow The Vaccines are trying so hard to be The Strokes with this one it's just embarrassing. You know how 'Is This It' was committed misanthropy of the finest kind, well, that's what The Vaccines have failed at here. It's not teenage angst or adult disillusion it's mid-twenties self-absorption and admitting it in the song won't win them any fans. Urgh, except me.
Against my will this has totally grown on me. But it's not distinct or remarkable, Dom says it's a rip-off of The Cribs and frankly, if you wanted this kind of cynicism, why wouldn't you just listen to The Strokes? 3/5
NK
The Cribs – Glitters like Gold
Wichita
It's a good job there's a half decent video to go with this song, because without it my mind would automatically switch to standby after 20 seconds.
I don't like The Cribs, with Johnny Marr, without Johnny Marr, I don't care. I want guitar music to kick the door to my ears open, bowl straight in, sit on the sofa and start drinking my booze. I don't want it to hang around pretending to wave to people inside waiting to be invited. It's annoying, grow some balls. 2/5
TA
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