subject: Review Of This Week's New Single Releases [print this page] KLAXONS - Echoes KLAXONS - Echoes
There was a brief period when Electric Banana were quite fearful that the Klaxons' new stuff was going to be embarrassingly awful. The alarm bells started ringing after an album being scrapped for being crap and the news that album was being produced by metal numpty Ross Robinson, we quite understandably assumed that the fantastic debut album was either a bit of a ruddy fluke or the band were just a one-album wonder.
However, this new song is actually rather fine. Sure, it sounds slightly like a rockier (and chilled out) version of Madness' Our House being covered by MGMT - although I may be the only person who thinks this, but it is an impressive comeback despite this bizarre comparison. Electric Banana would like to apologise for out lack of faith. Please accept our apologies. Phew!
4 out of 5
THE DRUMS - Let's Go Surfing
Electric Banana faves The Drums re-release the song that brought the band to our attention in 2009. The indie popsters might cause rolls of the more cynical of you, but is writing such a fantastic pop song a crime? You snobs! Anyway, it still sounds suberb to us.
The combination of a Beach Boys I Get Around-style pop song with added Joy Division/indie basslines and jolly whistling makes the silly surfing idea seem like a great idea - even to us poor landlocked folk. However, we have just researched online and there are no surfing outlets in the Midlands. Bugger! This song just misses out on being our highly respected single of the week due to being "an old song" and having already received the fabulous honour.
4 out of 5
DEAD CONFEDERATE - Giving It All Away
Who are the Dead Confederate you ask? Well, the band's sound has been described as a mix of alternative country (yikes!) and greasy grunge and has drawn comparisons to Nirvana and My Morning Jacket. Basically, it sounds very American.
The bands featured in the previous paragraph can be misleading though, as this new single has a definate spaced-out Kings of Leon vibe on the go here. This blues-rocker would be enough to keep the pigeons away, but enough good tunage to keep (the original) fans of KOL interested. They are giving this away for FREE from their website. However, this lovely free-ness has not effected their high grade. It's just a very good song - thumbs up.
4 out of 5
BLOOD RED SHOES - Heartsink
This Brighton duo have been doing the rounds since 2004 and the new single Heartsinkis taken from the second album Fire Like This. Steven Ansell and Laura-Mary Carter claim to have written 'a perfect rock song'. They haven't. It is pretty good though.
Blood Red Shoes do the messy Pixies and Sonic Youth thing magnificently. Take a pop song, add a bit of edge and half-arsed production, then you've pretty much got this satisfying result! The result here is very decent rock music. Give this song and, perhaps subsequently, this badly named, but underrated band a go!
4 out of 5
KELE - Everything You Wanted
With Bloc Party now an almost distant memory, Kele releases a song from his recent solo album The Boxers - which is like a jab to the face but is sadly far away from landing a knockout blow.
This shows Kele's sappy romantic, introspective side like Coldplay with added pulsating electro beats. Nothing wrong with this, as it is melodic stuff, but it just lacks the added clout needed to make this soar and set it apart from his other work. Solid effort though. Kele just about wins on points.
3 out of 5
ONE NIGHT ONLY - Say You Don't Want It
We don't want it. One Night Only should be filed next to bands like Scouting For Girls in the "I Would Bitch-Slap My Own Granny For A Hit Single" file. Lets get one thing straight it is NOT an awful song, but it we suspect that they have shamefully jumped onto the 1980s bandwagon with dollar signs in their greedy eyes.
The synths and guitars collide in bright, breezy fashion ideally suited for Radio 2. It's a fun return that bodes well for their fans. Fact fans, the video features Emma Watson, who was Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films - if you decide to watch the video.
2 out of 5
ROLL DEEP - Green Light
The London-based collective are back with another fantastic attempt slab to fill dancefloors across the UK with complete morons. Sadly, we believe that this is the perfect song for these misguided people to enjoy themselves.
Yep, you guessed it. This is a hefty big slab of grime/trance/pop. Anyway, Green Light isn't as good as their last single Good Times. Err...not that we liked that single, but at least it was catchy. However, I would prefer a role as a One Night Only roadie than to be put through something so vile ever again. By the way, isn't that the ugliest cover you have ever seen? Red light.
