Kayne West is back with his most recent single from Graduation: Flashing Lights. Is it any good?
This song takes a little while to get into - it’s a little bit slower and more chilled out than some of his other singles, but it’s incredibly catchy and the lyrics as per usual, are very clever. I liked Stronger a lot better, but this is still pretty good.
Cute pop pixie Kylie Minogue is back in the charts with latest single In My Arms, from the album X. X has been heavily criticised for being over produced, so it is a big relief that In My Arms doesn’t fall into that category.
Although not as good as Two Hearts or Wow, In My Arms is still quintessential Kylie - camp disco mixed with sultry vocals, and it sounds like a perfect summer hit.
Kylie Minogue has had ten albums: Kylie (1998), Enjoy Yourself (1989), Rhythm of Love (1990), Lets get to it (1991), Kylie Minogue (1994), Impossible Princess 1997, renamed Kylie Minogue in the UK), Light Years (2000), Fever (2001), Body Language (2003) and X (2007). (Click to Buy albums by Kylie Minogue)
Foals is an alternative group who are headed by Yannis Philippakis. Cassius is the first track to be released from debut album Antidotes.
Cassius is definitely grower, I didn’t rate it when I first heard it but after a few listens I started getting into it. The tune itself is quite odd, from the irregular time scales to the weird horn section which comes in at the end of the song. This song won’t be for everyone, especially if you’re not into the more arty stuff, but it’s an incredibly interesting effort nonetheless.
After Hours is the first single to be released from We Are Scientists most recent album, Brain Thrust Mastery. I saw this band live when they toured with the Kaiser Chiefs back in 2007 and I really liked them - but is this track the right one to release as a single?
After Hours is a pretty sounding track, with slick harmonies, twinkly bells and a catchy chorus. However, five minutes after you’ve heard it, you’ll be hard pushed to remember what the song sounded like - whereas previous tracks such as Nobody Move Nobody Gets Hurt stuck in your head for ages and ages and refused to leave. It’s a pleasant enough ditty, but if you’re looking for American bands doing the British Indie thing, The Killers probably do it a little bit better.
When I’m gone is the latest single from Canadian Rockers Simple Plan.
Admittedly I’ve not really been a fan of Simple Plan (although I am a poet and I don’t know it), but this song is quite nice. The vocals are good and the lyrics are clear and easy to sing along to. A bit MOR perhaps, but this song is a lot better then the majority of the dross in the charts at the moment.
A couple of years ago, the Futureheads became the most famous band to come out of Sunderland - with their signature track being a cover of Kate Bush track Hounds of Love. However, their career began to falter and they became the second most famous band to come out of Sunderland after Maccam rockers Maximo Park.
However, the band are now back with a new track from their third album, and I’ve got to admit that it’s pretty kick-ass. The Beginning of the twist is a rockin’ three-and-a-half-minute stomper which shows that the guys are back on form. It isn’t as arty or complex as a lot of their previous stuff, but this certainly isn’t a bad thing. Fingers crossed that the rest of the new album is just as brilliant!
The Futureheads have had three albums - The Futureheads (2004), News and Tributes (2006) and This is Not the World (due to be released May 2008)
I know Indiemonkey is the music reviewer, but I’m sure she won’t mind me posting this, as I think this is the best vid to be released so far this year.
Having seen Utah Saints in the middle of a boggy field at York many years ago, I was suprised to hear the haunting sounds of Kate Bush once more on MTV, and the vid is excellent.
New York duo MGMT are one to watch in 2008 and their first full length album Oracular Spectacular has already gained critical acclaim. Time to Pretend is the first single to be released.
Time to Pretend made me think of the Polyphonic Spree on a bit of a bender. The vocals are very pensive (and like all good rock songs, are about drugs) whilst the music is happy and cheery, with drum crashes and synth aplenty. A bit of a mismatch perhaps, but the song works really well, and I couldn’t get it out of my head for ages.