23 November 2007 Pt. II

Bloc Party – Flux
This is one of the singles of the year, and the best thing the band has done, demonstrating that the band still has it despite a ropey second album. It sounds a lot like Bloc Party without much sounding like anything they’ve done before – it’s led by electro and beats, with guitars hidden in the mix, making it much ravier and not really rock at all. He’s clearly been boning up on dance music, has Kele, cos 'Flux' has a drop and everything. As such, it’s bona fide treat of the highest order.

Bi-Polar Baby – Suicide Girl
The good: the cover of this single is strategically adorned by a metally, tattoed girl with sumptuous-looking breasts. They have done this to sell more records. The bad: the entire single is fabulously awful, a testament to the fact that it is self-released.
Kaiser Chiefs – Love’s Not A Competition (But I’m Winning)
Of course not.

The Vincent Black Shadow – Fears In The Water
An oddly rad pastiche of Evanescence, this; one which, we presume, is unencumbered by evangelical Christianity. Shallow and gothy, but guiltily entertaining

The Hold Steady – Massive Nights
This hoary labour-rock is what happens when someone lets old men be in a band. Ageist, perhaps. Shittist, definitely.

The Zico Chain – Where Would You Rather Be?
‘British rock band in NO HYPE shocker,’ chunters the press release. To listen to this millionth rate Nirvana knock-off nonsense, the reason for this makes itself readily apparent.

Unkle – Hold My Hand
Unkle have one good song, and they released it to critical acclaim over 100 years ago. James Lavelle is now cordially invited to fuck off until he gets another idea.

Little Man Tate – Boy In The Anorak
My even bothering to listen to this is a wonder. Like everything else they’ve written, this song is the worst song ever.

Guile – Love Around Here
We are normally in favour of threatening Jesus & Mary Chain-style menace-rock, but this as an attempt at it is really quite poor.

Holy Hail – Cool Town Rock
Understated girl-boy duetting indie rock appears to be the order of this day. It’s hard to go wrong with indiepop, unless it’s bad. This isn’t bad at all, it’s satisfying.

Shy Child – Drop The Phone
Angular hipsterboogie can so bad so easily. When it sounds, though, like The Faint in neon Wayfarers, everyone is a winner. Except for the sax solo, though, which is taking the conceit TOO FAR.

Scanners – Raw
This is good shit, discernment fans. Strong female vocal, good hooks, judicious synths, daft remixes: eminently danceable. Splenners.

A Thousand Suns – Destroy Create EP
Welsh metal speaks for itself. NN has no wish to add to the cacophony.

O’Death – Down To Rest
Self-conscious gypsy nonsense. To the bin with you!

Architecture In Helsinki – Hold Music
Why do people fawn over AIH so? It’s bobbins.

The Raveonettes – Dead Calm
Spot-bloody-on tinny shoegaze here from The Raveonettes, in an astonishing career volte-face of epic proportions. It is sophisticated and richly atmospheric, and disliking it would be philistine.

Nephu Huzzband – Papers EP
If Nephu Huzzband had spent even a fraction of the time on their name as they had copying the 80s, they would have had a bloody amazing name. As it is, they must have spent all the extra time they got from not thinking of a good name on copying the 80s. Can’t make the mind up on this one.