James Arden checks out the garage rockers latest album.
The Christian rock band from Brighton bring religion to the masses.
Recipe for modern R'n'B album: liberal helpings of guest rappers and an overdose of sexual euphemisms.
After a week where it seems like things couldn’t possibly get worse for politicians, the PM must be praying for a change in fortune akin to the musical turnaround that his compatriot Paolo Nutini appears to have taken. ‘Candy’, the taster-single from his forthcoming album ‘Sunny Side Up’, is a beautifully paced folk ballad laden with twinkling acoustic guitars and Dylan-esque vocal delivery, a breath of fresh air after Nutini’s cringe-pop debut. It also contains the highly politically relevant lyric: ‘I’m often false explaining’…
Rich Powell
Their first foray into late frontman Richie Edwards’ lyrics since Everything Must Go, ‘...Question Time’ presents some of Edwards’ late writing accompanied by a punchy guitar-led backing which harks back to the Manics' best early work. In the face of potential commercial meltdown, their latest offering will rightly restore faith in what they’ve been getting upto; it’ll be difficult to deny that whilst the original speaker may have left the house, the Manics’ party is far from finished.
Pete Burgess
A middle-of-the-road dance track, there is more gravity in the title than the music. Heavy on synthesizers and foot-tapping drum beats, it proposes nothing new; like an unelected government. It’s shiny, polished and ticks all aims of its ‘make-up’ list (obviously wasn’t left in a cab) but is too in-your-face. The audience is left saturated by the repetitive thumps, like the usual overdone media coverage of political scandals. Nothing to claim expenses on.
Jonathan Wilkes
On first listen, it was hard to see a link between this chirpy upbeat pop song and political sleaze. Yet it soon becomes clear that the lyrics tell of a lust-fuelled library session "among the dust and the microfiche". OK, this may not reach the scandal level of Prescott's affair or porn expenses, but it does show how 'Young Adult Friction' requires a few listens to be truly appreciated. The band's '80s influences are clear but they strike an altogether more cheerful note than their predecessors. The chiming guitars and organ notes are perfectly accompanied by the hazy fragile vocals of singer Kip Berman.
Hannah Barrett
Check into the Singles Club next week for the likes of TV On The Radio and Little Boots.
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