Singles Friday
jamie on July 8th, 2005
The recent lack of major album releases has sent me scouring the internet for new singles…this is what I’ve got today:
Switchfoot - Stars
I like Switchfoot- they’ve just got a really tight, poppy sound, and seems to be able to write catchy emo hooks that induce massive sing-along-in-your-car outbursts at will. Stars is no different in this regard. It’s got a crunchy, catchy guitar riff, a soaring vocal chorus, and a positive outlook that will help it find its way to movie soundtracks (a common occurance for Switchfoot songs).
Missy Higgins - Scar
My favorite song so far this year is being re-released as a single in the US. The mix is a lot busier, with various parts weaving in an out of focus, and tempo seems a bit quicker than originally recorded. I’ll keep the original on my iPod, but I sincerely hope that I wind of sick to death of hearing this song everywhere. Missy Higgins is amazing!
Brie Larson - Life After You
For a pop-princess-wannabe, I really liked Larson’s earlier single She Said, so I thought I’d give the new track a try. Not surprisingly, it’s a likeable blend of pop sounds. The formula is simple: 60% teen-beat, 20% pop-punk (ala Lavigne), and 20% guitar-pop. This formula makes a good first impression, but will get boring really fast, I’m sure.
Bloc Party - Tulips
With an intor seemingly made to be remixed, Tulips is a pretty straight-forward love song sung over a tight beat and crisp guitars. The remix is a bit to drone-like for my liking, but I can see it fitting in perfectly at a trance club. In that light, the vocals take on a more strung-out-by-love feel, and Okereke’s voice more desparate, even if it’s the same vocal track. The beauty of remixes.
Antigone Rising - Don’t Look Back
All-female alt-country-slash-folk-rock (I’m really into hyphenated descriptors today) outfit Antigone Rising puts a amiable breaking-up song up for their AAA entry. It’s a solid song, in the mold of Indigo Girls or Melissa Etheridge, but I feel it’s lacks a driving rhythm that might make it stand out.
Big Dume - Mexico
I had never heard of Big Dume, but from the opening licks of jazzy vocal blues, I was hooked. It’s like Los Lonely Boys with Jason Mraz’s pop sensibility, and a whole heaping dose of jazz influence. Unfortunately, other than the audio streams on the nice-looking flash website for Big Dume, every info section replied “Section Coming Soon”, so I know nothing else of this guy/band. I would recommend going over to bigdume.com, just take a listen though.
Kate Earl - When You’re Older
Kate Earl’s voice is beautifully thin on this track, adding a sense of fragility this track. The 22 year old Alaska native grew up listening to old records and, apparently, Bjork. While the influence is clear, Earl has a voice of her own, and it really works for her. Telling largley autibiographical stories in her songs gives a listener a small window into this girl’s world. I especially like it in another track Office, when she sings: “I’m not drunk, I just want to go home, officer”. I think I’m going to be a fan of Kate Earl…
Marjorie Fair - Empty Room
As it turns out, Marjorie Fair is NOT the solo-female-singer-songwriter I had expected from their name. Nope, this all-male 4-piece is more a blend of Flaming Lips and The Thrills. Empty Room is less noise-pop than the Lips, and less baroque than the Thrill, and do I hear a little Richard Ashcroft in the vocals, or am I still thinking of Chris Martin wishing he sang like that…
Day of Fire - Fade Away
Christian rock crossovers are everywhere today. Not that it hasn’t always happened- Amy Grant and What’s-his-name-w-smith-or-something did it over a decade ago, and Switchfoot (see above) is an awesome crossover band. Even P.O.D. are all for the jesus-rock. But jsut because you’re a crossover act and have an “alternative” sound, doesn’t mean you’re good. This track just blends into the masses of “alt” acts with deep-voiced singers and low-strung guitars. They even add a string track at the end..sheesh. Skip the Day of Fire, and go see Switchfoot.
Program the Dead - Point The Finger
Hmm, I’m torn on Point The Finger. At the start, the driving drums crunchy-whaw guitar is cool. Then the vocals enter, and I cringe a little- but only a little, because it all seems to fit together somehow. It even has a catchy and singable hook.
Aslyn - Gotta Get Over You
Atlanta native Aslyn hooked me with her lead-off single Be The Girl, and follows with the second single Gotta Get Over You, which strays from the girl-pop-rock that Be The Girl was, and gets a little swing in her beat (actually, this is more the style of the album in general, with Be The Girl as the exception). It’s a good track, but too much like something L-Lo might sing for her next flick.
Marques Houston - Naked
There’s nothing in slow jams for me. I mean, the best use for a track like Naked would be at your flat, late night, after the clubs close, as a backdrop for sex- so I’ve got no use for slow jams. If I did, this would be THE one though. Former television guest-star (Sister, sister) Houston breaks it down slow and sweet, like Boyz II Men could. There’s just enough beat-n-bass to keep things moving steadily forward as you strip off your clothes, heading for the bedroom. The lyrics paint a perfect picture of what’s to come, so just go with it, right?
Yummy Bingham - Come Get It
Yummy, indeed. The opening loop bulds into a wicked scratch-beat, to which Bingham adds her unique voice and lyrical style. Think big-label influence on a London garage beat track with a young, sailing R&B voice on it. Jadakiss steps in to spit for a verse, rounding out the sound of American big-label hip-hop.
Singles I wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole: Jessica Simpson - These Boots Were Made For Walking
Bo Bice - Vehicle
Jae Millz - I Like That / Stop
Uncategorized
