16 July 2008

CSS - Left Behind
Sleek state of the art electro-pop that makes itself impossible to dislike no matter how hard you try which is a pity because CSS are a band worth hating. ‘Left Behind’ glides with a global sensuality.

A Silent Film - You Will Leave A Mark
Pounding anthemic piano led indie-rock that pretty much rips off Keane and various Keane rip offs but adds a little something called heart and soul. Despite its complete lack of originality A Silent Film really do leave a mark.

Die Die Die - Sideways Here We Come
Die Die Die dress like dirty indie scenesters but sound like all the best bits of all your favourite US alt rock acts of the 80s and 90s. The buzzing ‘Sideways Here We Come’ is a dark, dramatic and melancholic fusion of Slint, the Pixies and Sonic Youth. B-Side ‘People Talk’ doesn’t reach the same inspired heights though.

The Chakras - We The People
Whiny voiced atmospherica that tries to achieve what A Silent Film did with ‘You Will Leave A Mark’. The Chakras completely fail in their attempt lacking the soaring melodies and glossy sheen that separates the men from the boys.

David Cronenberg’s Wife - Runaway Pram
If Monkey Island were smart arse indie poseurs then they might sound a little like the smugly named David Cronenberg’s Wife. It is dead headed angular and vaguely arty Brit indie-rock at its aggravating worst.

Funeral For A Friend - Beneath The Burning Tree / Waterfront Dance Club
FFAF seem like sincere people. They certainly make sincerely earnest hard rocking emo-arena-punk. This double A-Side is another professional and glossy presentation that like most other FFAF affairs never really tries to break the boundaries they have set themselves.

Golden Silvers - Arrows Of Eros
Middling and diddling pop that tries to be all things to all people. It’s a bouncy mass of mediocre nothingness and empty promises.

Mama Shamone - Over EP
Mama Shamone’s noisy electro-funk-rock mash up is obnoxious, annoying and pretty darn catchy. It clatters the listener over the head with punk rock authenticity while Mama’s bombastic vocals and the zeitgeisty electro rhythms ensure the ’Over EP’ is as entertaining as it is irritating.

Nomad Jones - The TV Light EP
Wimpy indie-folk-pop that is a cynically fluffy mess. ‘Through Skylight’ is a drag that gets lost amidst its contrived post-Bright Eyes sensitivity. ‘TV Light’ is self indulgent student bed-sit nonsense.

Rosie And The Goldbug - War Of The Roses EP
This upbeat EP should stink of the fetid stench that reeks from Virgin Radio and XFM playlists. Instead Rosie And The Goldbug offer up some driving, and very cheesy, Blondie-esque power-pop.

The Rushes - What You Waiting For
For a few seconds everything feels like it is going to be alright and then the sensitive piano tinkling and over emotive singing  burst in. ’What You Waiting For’ resembles an unholy collision between Coldplay and Maroon 5.

The Vivians - A Human Angle
Another blast of loud and lairy punk-pop pointlessness. It isn’t band, it isn’t good, it isn’t even average, it just is.

Martha Wainwright - You Cheated Me
Whilst Martha might be infinitely preferable to her brother ’You Cheated Me’ is three minutes of inoffensive nothingness. It is nice enough but nice just isn’t enough on this occasion.