Noisettes-Wild Young Hearts
Mazda’s advert, the one that rips off that White Stripes video, featuring Don’t Upset the Rhythm has already ensured that The Noisettes are going to enjoy much more success this time around after the rather brilliant single Don’t Give Up in 2007 failed to bring staying power to the London trio. Hopes are high this time with an album of sweet and soulful pop largely accountable to vocalist Shingai Shoniwa’s clear-as-a-bell vocals and eccentric yet empowering manner.
The Perils-Good People Do Bad Things
Same old name, clichéd lyrics, overly familiar subject matter, worn-out melodic patterns…the old indie landfill’s really taken a hit this time. I’m warning you people, sooner or later it’s going to fill up and there’ll be no space left. Then what’s going to happen eh? Put down the guitars, remove the trilbies and step away from the recording equipment. It’s been eight years, move on.
Friendly Fires-Skeleton Boy
Anyone not lucky enough to have seen this band yet; get your greedy little fingers tapping away at eBay ASAP and pay whatever those penny pinching touts are charging for the upcoming tour. Playing recently at the NME Awards the reserved-looking threesome exploded in an all out, beautiful mess of funk, trumpets, confetti and of course, Rio Carnival dancers. Skeleton Boy continues the band’s triumphant rise to the top despite sharing an almost identical melody to 90’s club hit You’re Not Alone.
The Shortwave Fade-Deletia
A sort of psychedelic Keane, The Shortwave Fade are yet another midlands band with zilcho dress sense and even less talent for writing lyrics. Deletia consists of eleven tracks set to a non-varying electro-rock backdrop which vocalist Chris Holloway‘s weak voice contends with in a struggle to make heard their tired and unadventurous lyrics (and if we die right here without a sound/I just want to say/I just have to say/I knew you were right). At their age they were over before they began.
Asher Roth-I ♥ College
Considering some of the main consumers of hip hop in the United States are middle-class, suburban-grown college kids, it was only a matter of time before one of them decided to have their go on the mic. Asher Roth, plucked from his sophomore year of university, now signed to Universal, is a white kid from the ‘burbs of Philadelphia. Single ‘I ♥ College’ sees a refreshing take on a music genre monopolised by consumerism and sexism, and although it’s also a far cry from the intelligent rap of Lupe Fiasco and Kanye, (See lyrics such as ‘Chug! Chug! Chug!’) the single has a home-grown easy attitude clearly reminiscent of late nineties/early noughties college favourites Dave Matthews Band and OAR; discussing relevant subject matter with a laid-back, ‘it’s all good,’ disposition.
