Lady Gaga, Everything Everything, Panic! at the Disco singles

A few single reviews for you this week...

Lady Gaga – Born This Way
Lady Gaga is back with a classic pop track that is a more generic outing, lacking the quirky shimmer of previous singles. However, ‘Born This Way’ is sure to be a massive hit and an instant floor-filler, deservedly so.

Everything Everything – Final Form
This low key single is well-composed, with delicate layers of vocals and subtle electronic melody. ‘Final Form’ isn’t the most accessible of songs, yet it shows off Everything Everything at their best.

Panic! At The Disco – The Ballad of Mona Lisa
Following the departure of half the band members, Panic! At The Disco have finally regrouped and return with an excellent new track. The folky Beatles sound of previous album ‘Pretty. Odd.’ has fortunately vanished and the loss of primary lyricist Ryan Ross hasn’t impacted the band’s ability to come up with original, memorable music at all. ‘The Ballad of Mona Lisa’ matches the creepy cabaret atmosphere of first album ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out’ with Fall Out Boy style pop rock to make a track that has definitely been worth the wait.

Dinosaur Pile-Up – My Rock ‘n’ Roll

Dinosaur Pile-Up – My Rock ‘n’ Roll

This grunge-tinged track is a winner, matching a chaotic breakdown with fun vocal harmonies. This has all the ingredients to do well in the mainstream, yet is still undeniably rock music.

I interviewed the band ahead of their show at Bristol O2 Academy last week and I will be playing the interview on my radio show on Monday at 3pm, so make sure you listen online!

Twin Atlantic – Edit Me

Twin Atlantic – Edit Me

The storming new single from Scottish rockers Twin Atlantic is a high-powered affair, more hard-hitting than their previous singles. Definitely a sign that the new album is likely to be just as good.

Call the Doctor – Take It Out

Call the Doctor – Take It Out

Featuring understated sultry vocals, this post-punk single could do with a bit more vitality to give it that extra kick. The instrumental parts are more infused with energy, which doesn’t match up with the vocals. Worth listening to, but definitely leaves you wanting a bit more. B-side ‘Gregory, You’re a Star’ has the punk edge that ‘Take It Out’ lacks, and would work well in a live setting.

You Me at Six ft Chiddy - Rescue Me

You Me at Six ft Chiddy - Rescue Me

This single sees the Surrey five-piece lose a little of the punk attitude and energy that made their debut album stand out, but shows they definitely have the talent to compose unique pop songs. The unexpected collaboration with Chiddy shows that You Me at Six aren’t one trick ponies, yet this Airplanes-esque track certainly isn’t groundbreaking.

Belle and Sebastian – I Want the World to Stop

Belle and Sebastian – I Want the World to Stop

The breezily melancholy new single from indie titans Belle and Sebastian is lifted from the band’s eighth studio album. Catchy as ever, the strong vocal line is supported by gentle backing singing. The band maintain their high standards of musicianship with the inclusion of a variety of instruments, pushing the boundaries of pop in their own understated way.

Release date: 28th February 2011

The Bees - Winter Rose

The Bees - Winter Rose

From The Bees’ recently released fourth album, ‘Every Step’s A Yes’, ‘Winter Rose’ is a relaxing indie track with a reggae feel. The bluesy guitar riff goes well with the syncopated rhythms. The range of influences shows off the strong songwriting skills of a band that have developed their sound over the years.

Listen to them here.

School of Seven Bells – I L U

School of Seven Bells – I L U
This dreamy track from two-piece School of Seven Bells is a fairly standard female-fronted alt pop affair. ‘I L U’ lingers halfway between ethereal and edgy, failing to immediately grab the listener’s attention, yet the song is definitely a grower. Alejandra Deheza’s delicate vocals and Benjamin Curtis’ electro-influenced instrumentation work well together.

Check them out here.

Melissa Auf der Maur - Meet Me On The Dark Side

Melissa Auf der Maur - Meet Me On The Dark Side

Layered vocals lend an eerie air to the latest single from Melissa Auf der Maur’s second solo album. This ethereal rock track is well worth a listen and typical of Auf der Maur’s mature take on the genre. If you enjoy this, the rest of the album is definitely one to check out.

Listen here.

The Phoenix Foundation - Pot

The Phoenix Foundation - Pot

New Zealand band The Phoenix Foundation return with a new song from their forthcoming album, ‘Buffalo’. ‘Pot’ is a seemingly ordinary slice of folk pop along the lines of Mumford & Sons, with added handclaps. Halfway through, some interesting electronic bleeps kick in, elevating the song from an indie standard to something more innovative.

Check them out here.

My Chemical Romance - Na Na Na

My Chemical Romance - Na Na Na

The first single from My Chemical Romance’s fourth album is a complete change in direction, taking the relentlessly upbeat mood of songs such as ‘Dead’ and ‘Give ‘Em Hell Kid’ to the next level altogether. The catchy refrain repeated throughout the song makes this a perfect live anthem. Despite being a clear departure from the more pensive ‘The Black Parade’, this song already shows that My Chemical Romance are back on form and set to make an explosive return to the music scene.

Check them out here.

Four Year Strong - Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)

Four Year Strong – Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)

While it isn’t as heavy as some of the other songs on the latest Four Year Strong album, ‘Wasting Time’ is a momentum-filled pop punk anthem that has a strong melodic line. This incredibly catchy track is an excellent song for the summer.

Foals - Spanish Sahara

Foals – Spanish Sahara

‘Spanish Saraha’ is a crescendoing whirl of abstract music, with a fresh atmosphere. Foals have paired beautiful electronic sounds with a gentle vocal line, which melts into a rougher guitar riff. While this may not be single material, it is a superb piece of music that has many layers of instrumentation.

I have also edited my photos from Lostprophets:

(Single decent shot of Sharks...sadly Kids In Glass Houses had mental lighting that my camera could not cope with, no pictures of them.)





More here!

LA Shark - A Weapon

LA Shark – A Weapon

‘A Weapon’ is a decent indie-pop single. Whilst the vocal technique isn’t brilliant, the group vocals meld with the 80s beats and throwback bass riff. The structure of the song is a bit random, with sudden loud sections, but this works quite well.

The B-side isn’t as enjoyable, featuring a strange accompaniment that sounds rather like and electronic harpsichord, which jars with the standard rock drumming. The vocals are a bit tuneless in places, which detracts from the fairly catchy refrain.

We Are Scientists, Ash and more...

Some new reviews...I do write these every week, so I'm going to make more effort to get links/text up on here.

Ash - War With Me
The keyboard introduction to this song is rather difficult to listen to,
sounding somewhat like an eight year old's attempt to play the
piano. The vocals seem a bit too languid and don't fit well with the
deep tones of the piano. The chorus is slightly more listenable that the
verse, with a laid back guitar riff that melds well with the vocals. It
seems that Ash would probably have been better off creating an album in
the conventional style, rather than rushing to record a collection of
sub-standard singles.

We Are Scientists - Rules Don't Stop
This is a funky, catchy track that shows the New York band haven't
dropped their game. It maintains the more relaxed atmosphere present on
second album Brain Thrust Mastery, but is as catchy as debut single Nobody
Move Nobody Get Hurt. Even after five years, We Are Scientists are
continuing to produce quality material.

And now some links to reviews I've written online in the past few weeks:
Straight Lines - Persistence In This Game
Owl City - Ocean Eyes

I went to see Errors on Saturday, they were absolutely phenomenal. The venue was a bit strange; the "stage" was absolutely tiny. It's one thing listening to their records at home, but they really excelled themselves live and it was great fun to watch.

I also (finally) saw Lostprophets last weekend, that was epic and wonderful, which is all I have to say about it. (: