Singles
Friday, 11 Apr 2008 11:04
Brit & Alex want to let it go this week
The knights of the turntable once again do battle with the latest offerings from the music industry, revealing their humble opinions on this week's brand new singles including Brit & Alex, Jack Johnson and Sia.
Single Of The Week
Brit & Alex: Let It Go
Interscope/Hometown; out April 14th
Sexy R 'n' B lite from the dreamy duo that is Brit and Alex. It has all the right touches; delicate piano intro; the urban backbeat; breathy, feisty vocals; the raunchy phoned-in segments and orchestral-like interludes.
Let It Go is the debut single from the two 22-year-old sisters, and is featured on the soundtrack of Step Up 2: The Streets.
Listen to it once, and fall head over heels in love with Brit and Alex.
Check out the video below
Sia: The Girl You Lost
Monkey Puzzle Records; out April 14th (digital), April 21st (physical)
This new single from New York-based Aussie Sia Furler is a decent enough slab of rock-pop that will find a home on Radio 2.
It's driving music as summer sunshine splashes off your bonnet.
To watch the video, click here
Simple Plan: Your Love Is A Lie
Atlantic Records; out April 14th (digital), April 21st (physical)
After treating their fans to a magnificent 'Camden takeover' which saw them play three sell-out London gigs in one day earlier this year, the rocking five-piece unleash the second single from their self-titled album.
Anthemic vocals and big riffs underscored by a delicious guitar melody, proves these canny Canucks have what it takes to play in the emo/rock leagues. Most notably on the excellent B-side which is the album version of the title track.
Kanye West: Flashing Lights
Mercury Records; out April 14th
My God! A Kanye single that is thankfully free of his overblown ego and boasts a superb funk-edged melody.
This single, from his best-selling album Graduation is eminently listenable, and helped by slinky vocals from Dwele.
On the strength of this, I may forgive you for the dross that was your collaboration with Estelle.
Jack Johnson: Hope
Brushfire Records/Island Records; out April 14th
Take some reggae, a little honkytonk piano and Johnson's lazy afternoon vocal delivery and leave to simmer all summer long.
That's if we get a summer although this excellent track from Johnson's number one album
Sleep Through the Static can easily transport you to a balmy beach in June.
Jack Johnson plays four UK venues this July. He performs at Hyde Park in London on July 2nd; Birmingham NIA (3rd); Newquay Watergate Bay (5th and 6th) and Manchester MEN Arena on July 7th.
To watch the video for Hope, click here
Esser: I Love You
Merok; out April 14th
From the same label as Crystal Castles and Klaxons, Esser is the brainchild of Ben Esser, who used to be a drummer in a covers band at Pontins.
I Love You overlays Blur in their Britpop days onto Pennies From Heaven or Umbrella (the 30s/40s standard) but tries way too hard to be hip. End result? You find your nerves grating.
B-side Long Arms has to be a parody of Blur. Get your writs out, Damon.
Sarah Brightman: Symphony
Angel Music Group/EMI; out April 14th
And we're transported to a West End stage with the theatrical trappings of Miss Brightman’'s new album.
Admittedly, I only have a sampler to work with which features We Run 'Til It's Gone but it's lush stuff; romantic, sweeping and cinematic.
Symphony re-unites Brightman with the astounding Andrea Bocelli and includes a collaboration with KISS rocker Paul Stanley.
The album took four years to record, and Brightman worked with her long-time producer Frank Peterson on the LP.
Let We Run 'Til It's Gone wash over you and you'll be smiling warmly, and possibly shedding a tear. It's a beautiful track and this week's Single Of The Week runner-up.
Said Sarah Brightman: "Whereas most singers gravitate toward vocal works, I have always been far more drawn to symphonic work, where the composer paints a story that the listener can see without opening their eyes."
Take a sneak peek at the album here
Hayseed Dixie: When Washington Comes Around
Cooking Vinyl; out April 14th
Lifted from their No Covers album, When Washington Comes Around is a blast of bluegrass rock from the Hayseed good ol' boys.
The lyrics seem to have a satirical zing to them and the music itself is extremely good; insistent, haunting and powerful.
Catch Hayseed Dixie at London's Shepherds Bush Empire on April 19th.
Mariah Carey: Touch My Body
Island/Def Jam Music; out now
This radio-friendly smoochfest from Mimi is the first single taken from her new album E=MC2 out April 14th.
Touch My Body was written and produced by Mariah, C 'Tricky' Stewart and The Dream. It oozes 90s bonhomie and a luxuriant sexiness.
If the single is any indicator, Mariah Carey is en route to her best form yet with honey-smooth vocals and skin-tingling instrumentation.
To watch the video here on inthenews.co.uk, click here
Also released
Goldfrapp: Happiness
EMI, out April 14th
A wonderfully odd, dreamlike video accompanies vocals from Alison that sooth and swirl like something from another world.
Lee Davis
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