Single File/Happy Birthday Madonna

It's hard to believe but Madonna is 50 years old today! It only feels like yesterday when she was cavorting around singing about holidays and being a virgin. So a very happy birthday to the Material Girl and this week's batch of new singles will be reviewed against the following Madge-related ratings.

***** Like A Prayer
**** Justify My Love
*** Borderline
** 4 Minutes
* Madonna's movies

"She Left me" - Go: Audio
I'm not surprised she ran a million miles if this is the best they can come up with.
Like a poor McFly b-side. And considering McFly's a-sides are crap, that is stinging criticism indeed.
*

"Man-Sized Wreath" - REM
Another superb example of their magnificent return to form with this year's Accelerate album.
Fuzzy guitars, great harmonies - vintage REM and, at just two and a half minutes, it doesn't out stay it's welcome.
*****

"Spiralling" - Keane
Bless 'em, they are still trying. But the harder they try the further down and down and down they go.
This just sounds like an attempt to jazz up their usual style but it only mamages to come across like an 80s cast off.
*

"Mercury" - Bloc Party
This is one of those that you'll either love or hate, so to help I'm going by sitting on the fence.
On one hand, it's a slightly disappointing effort compared with Silent Alarm but on the other hand, it's brooding, dark and awkward, daring to be different. Oh, make your own minds up...
***

"The Perfect Boy" - The Cure
The final of their four "13th" singles which precede the new album out on September 13.
Not a bad single but not as good as the previous three. Still, the new album is set to be a fine addition to the Cure back catalogue.
***

"Keep It Simple" - Delays
This has bugged me pretty much since they released "Long Time Coming" three or four years ago, but Delays are criminally under-rated.
And this gem of a track probably won't propel them into the bigger leagues - because people are dumb.
****

"See You Again (Rock Mafia Remix)" - Miley Cyrus
As you all probably know, her dad is country star Billy Ray Cyrus! And that's probably the most interesting thing about the Hannah Montana star.
Because don't tell my ears, my achy breaky ears to listen to this weak, poor man's version of an Avril Lavigne song ever again.
*