Single Reviews - Jun 07

Words - Suzy Sims
Previously published on Native.tv http://www.native.tv in June 2007
(c) Niche News & Publishing Ltd


The Mules - Polly O
Organ Grinder Records / Kartel , 11th June 2007

Now we have a bit of a soft spot for the people we’ve interviewed. But it is easy to have a soft spot for a band whose tunes are razor sharp, spiky to the touch and impossible to hold because they roll around in your hands? Er, yes.

‘Polly O’ is a typical arty thumper where all the individual violent parts fit together like a jigsaw, albeit a jigsaw you have to hammer and splinter into place because it keeps trying to hop off the table and bite your fingers. We like their fury and Ed’s snarling, howling vocals of angst. Not necessarily comfort listening, but we’re interested in playing it at an indie disco to see exactly what jerky movements everyone would come up with. ‘Watching Polly O / I love her so’.

B-side ‘O Grandfather’ was recorded live. ‘O Grandfather untie me from this bed please’. Eh what?? Step away from that scene, thank you very much… It’s unsettling, brooding and dark, yet entirely fascinating.

The Mules

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Paramore - Misery Business
Fueled By Ramen, 18th June 2007

Very American-sounding, emo(ish) rock with a crunching guitar bassline and Hayley’s passionate and excitable vocals let loose over the top. ‘It was never my intention to break’. 'Misery Business' isn't too heavy, so it's going to be one for the pop punk kids out there.

It’s got plenty of crisp energy and a soft bit in the middle, so if you have been crowdsurfing / having it / body popping you can have a brief rest before dancing again to the guitar solo. It’s not life changing music but this kind of stuff is good listening and definitely still big chartwise, so Paramore are only onto a good thing.

Paramore

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Queens Of The Stone Age - 3's & 7's
Interscope, 4th June 2007

‘3’s & 7’s’ is the first track taken from Queens Of The Stone Age's forthcoming album 'Era Vulgaris'. has a teasing guitar hook and a pleasing rocky sound, especially on the chorus where it darkens. The song pauses shortly before the end – but there’s more to come, a nice jam part for all your rockers to bounce about to. B-side ‘Christian Brothers’ starts off as a gently strummed track ‘No bad dream fucker’s gonna boss me around.’ It’s steady but still with that classic QOTSA powerful presence. A good summer wind down song.

Also available from QOTSA is the download-only 'Sick, Sick, Sick' punching its way through all manner of walls while vocals are casually drawled over the top. It’s fuzzy, with some top, rousing guitar to get the blood pumping, the fists flailing, the head banging etc etc etc. It’s so heavy, you could probably use it to anchor a boat, while it sits fizzing away angrily in the water several feet below. Check out the howling whines and zombie backing vocals halfway though. Sick? Hell, yes. Thank goodness for that. ‘Don’t resist’.

Queens Of The Stone Age

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Scott Matthews - Elusive
Island, 25th June 2007

Someone's just won an Ivor Novello Award for 'Best Song Both Musically And Lyrically'. Ooh, get you Scott Matthews! According to the press blurb, he was crowned at a ceremony in Central London. Crowned! For a song! Even Oscar winners only get some sort of plastic child-friendly statuette. Don't chew it.

Anyway, said prizewinning song is 'Elusive', especially re-released for those who missed it last time round. With a dark and soft opening, the song hangs delicately in the air like a wreath of curling cigar smoke (not indoors of course). The other instruments and backing vocals sneak in from underneath quietly and the song loops in and out before gently wafting off. It's a nice experience and a calming, mature song.

Scott Matthews

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Scouting For Girls - It's Not About You EP
Epic / Sony BMG , 25th June 2007

Just picking up this CD, I had the urge to sing McFly's 'It's All About You' out loud. Just because of the track name, you understand. Nothing else. But I fought the urge and shoved 'It's Not About You' into the player. Turns out I recognise this from constant radio play, I just hadn't realised it was Scouting For Girls. 'She said it's not about you... It's not about you, it's me'. It's got classic piano, a catchy tune and a feeling of sweeping grandeur. 'I don't know how to love you more my friend... I guess we got nothing to say'. The chirpy tune sort of hides the disappointment in the lyrics.

'Keep On Walking' is another upbeat downbeat song which keeps up a pleasantly cheery exterior, but you know that after performing it with smiles the band are just going to sit in a corner nursing a pint and looking miserable. 'I'll keep on walking 'til the sun comes up'.

As far as pop goes, it's quite mature and grown up. 'Mountains of Navaho' has a nice fuzzy, old-fashioned dancing-in-a-pub quality and humour. 'I'll never be a guy like He-Man / I'll never be a girl like She-Ra'.

I feel a bit guilty saying it, but their unhappiness is our pleasure. And I enjoy it.

Scouting For Girls

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Trabant - The One
Southern Fried Records, 4th June 2007

'The One' is full of 1980s fizz and fuzz. I'm sure it'll be popular in the indie clubs. "I never wanted to be the one." The melancholy and wistful lyrics are contained within vocals almost whispered over the top of the spitter-spatter of keys and the warm music. It has a slight sense of lost and longing about it. This is the Filthy Dukes Radio Edit...

...while the album version has pretty bells, clashes and clonks throughout. This one's slower yet brimful of charm and synthesisers. The more I hear it, the more beautiful I think it sounds. The album version sounds cheaper but sweeter than the radio edit, and you just want to hold it in your hands and stroke it until everything is better again.

Trabant


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UNKLE - Burn My Shadow
Surrender All, 25th June 2007

'Burn My Shadow' is one cool CD, all transparency and distorted skulls. The mournful almost Johnny Cash voice of Ian Astbury intones over a break in the furious, dark and twisting music. It builds into a frenzied whirlwind of drums, vocals trying to be heard above the misty roar, tortured squeals and a bassline so raw it's obviously been barbequed by my mate Darren.

It's brilliant, but thank goodness for the quiet chants in it because otherwise I was going to rise up in inner fury and start tearing at my hair. It's not easy to listen to, but it's worth it.

Unkle