29 August 2008

Feeder - Tracing Lines
It is amazing that Feeder are still going. On the one hand they could almost be considered perennial underdogs. Trudging along the path from Smashing Pumpkins wannabes to middle of the road Brit-rock kings they have never been fashionable or cool. ‘Tracing Lines’ is a solid and catchy rocker filled with stone cold hooks and a killer chorus.

Nine Days To No One - Disrecordings
Apocalyptic post-metal racket that opens with such furious intent it is hard not to be taken aback somewhat. ‘Gala Contemplating…’ is a raging charge through hell only slightly let down by some cheap production and not wholly convincing singing. The rest of EP whilst not lacking in ambition doesn’t quite live up to this opener. This could just be the start of something beautifully heavy if it wasn’t for the fact they are splitting up.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Glue Girls / Modern Mystery
SSLYBY offer up more pretty little Superchunk/Weezer inspired power-pop goodness. The Teenage Fanclub jangle of ‘Glue Girls’ is just plain lovely even when it threatens to get a little too cutesy. ‘Modern Mystery’ is a little too OC friendly and maudlin but still has a winning way that will turn frowns upside down.

Air France - Collapsing At Your Doorstep
Heavenly vocals, an array of samples and warm strings all help put the POP in Air France’s tasty populism. It is blander than a thousand Molokos but nowhere near hateable either.

Alphabeat - Boyfriend
This cheesy disco tub thumper with its hands in the air singalong chorus is what it is. It is a simple and efficient dance floor filler.

Dan Black - Hypntz
‘Hypntz’’s melancholy electro-pop manages to be both evil and strangely moving. Despite its self conscious attempts to be cooler than cool with its roll call of name checks and über-hip references there is a prettiness here that can’t be hidden.

Black Tide - Shout
Black Tide appear to be the new young metal hopes lauded by anyone who enjoys lauding. Even though they sound like the kind of metal band parody you hear on television adverts and part of Hollyoak’s sonic wallpaper there is no doubt the muscular melodicism of ’Shout’ has its anthemic charms.

Dananananaykroyd - Pink Sabbath
The worst kind of heartless and soulless British art-rock. It is bottom of the barrel scrapings that seems to think making a wild and wacky US punk rock influenced noise will make up for flailing lack of ambition. This is the sound of tight trousered insincerity.

The Dandy Warhols - Mission Control
The Dandy Warhols shouldn’t still exist. Their panto decadence should have consigned to the dustbins a long time ago. This weird piece of electro tinged indie-rock is equally shameless and pointless.

Finger Eleven - Paralyser
Finger Eleven disturbingly enough sound like Disturbed attempting electro-rock in the same ham fisted way they attempted rap-rock. The chorus is as subtle and as appealing as a sledgehammer to the head and yet perversely appealing.

Glasvegas - Daddy’s Gone
More girl group drums, shoegazery naval gazing and hard luck stories sung in a strong Glaswegian accent. It’s more of the same from a band that initially seemed to offer something different.

Nick Harrison - Oi Rude Boy
The sound of now destined to be forgotten by tomorrow. Vaguely likeable ska-pop that’s a little bit Lily Allen, a little bit Ordinary Boys and a little bit Police. It is as glossy and as hollow as the NME.

Lykke Li - Breaking It Up
‘Breaking It Up’ is as close to pure pop as most modern pop music gets today. It is fun, fluffy and silly little concoction that has genuine cool and charisma. Handclaps, school children backing voice and Lykke Li deliciously smooth voice all weave their magical ways into one deliriously upbeat spell.

The Miserable Rich - Pisshead
Irritatingly eccentric Brit-folk. It is a plinky plonky hoe down of exasperating schmindieness.

Conor Oberst - Souled Out!!!
Like most people New Noise assumed Bright Eyes was a Conor Oberst solo project. The jangly indie-pop of ‘Souled Out!!!’ is surprisingly vivacious and free of the floppy fringed pontificating that made Bright Eyes such a chore.

Red Blooded Women - You Made Your Bed
A girl band that can’t just be a half decent girl band but an indie-friendly Kraftwerk loving girl band. ‘You Made Your Bed’ really sounds no different to a million other 80s influenced electro-pop songs released over the last few years.

Sergeant Buzfuz - Here Come The Popes (Part Three)
Jaunty, string driven, too smart for its own good indie-pop. It is a perfectly pleasant smug piece of lightweight summer fluff.